Patriarch Sako Meets Lebanese President, Calls for Peace and State Building On Sunday, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Baghdad to discuss the region's unfolding crises. The Chaldean Patriarchate announced that Sako called for empowering the Church's role in assisting impoverished families by developing housing complexes that uphold human dignity and provide a decent life, affirming the vital role that religious and political authorities can play in promoting a culture of peace and coexistence in a region facing mounting challenges. Both sides stressed the importance of joint efforts to build a "strong state governed by the rule of law, rooted in inclusive citizenship, with arms confined solely to the state and firm action against all forms of corruption," the statement read. During this first visit to Iraq, Aoun met today in Baghdad with the Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 It was before 7 a.m. on the Friday before Memorial Day weekend when the wife of Charlottesville public defender Donald Bellah, asleep inside the couples rural Albemarle County residence, was awakened by two FBI agents. They told her they wanted to speak with her husband. Around that same time, other agents were arriving at other lawyers homes. There was no attempt to contact any one of us other than just showing up at our houses at the same time, Bellah told The Daily Progress. Im angry; it was intending to intimidate us. Bellah represented one of the two men detained April 22 inside the Albemarle County Courthouse in downtown Charlottesville by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That raid provoked widespread criticism after videos showed three ICE agents dressed in plain clothes refusing to show badges or arrest warrants to bystanders who questioned the men. One of the ICE agents wore a balaclava, masking his identity in possible contravention of Virginia law. Shocking, was how Abigail Spanberger, the Democrat and former three-term U.S. representative running for governor in Virginia this year, described what transpired to The Daily Progress. The two detained men, Teodoro Dominguez-Rodriguez, a 41-year-old native of Honduras, and Pablo Aparicio-Marcelino, a 32-year-old native of Mexico, remain at the Farmville Detention Center, according to an ICE database. While the Albemarle County sheriff who controls courthouse security asserted that the agents presented their credentials to her deputies in advance, Spanberger, whose career includes stints as both a CIA operative and a U.S. Postal Service inspector, joined Charlottesville and Albemarle Countys delegation to Richmond state Sen. Creigh Deeds and Del. Katrina Callsen in expressing concern. Deeds and Callsen have filed a public records request seeking more information about what happened at the courthouse. On May 15, the Charlottesville Albemarle Bar Association approved a resolution condemning what happened as a threat to public safety. Now, news of the unannounced visits to the lawyers homes has fueled outrage from one of that resolutions supporters: Doris Gelbman. This is precisely the thing our resolution was intended to address, the intimidation of attorneys and defendants, Gelbman told The Daily Progress. Bellah works from the Office of the Public Defender in the former Daily Progress office on Market Street in downtown Charlottesville. Why not just go to the public defenders office and say wed like to speak with these people or call in advance? asked Bellah. Why would you go to our residences, which you had to have looked up? Bellah wasnt impressed with the FBIs explanation. They told my wife, he said, that they wanted to catch me before I went into work. As it turned out, the U.S. Army veteran was not at home because he was in Northern Virginia in part, he said, to pay a visit to Arlington National Cemetery to see the grave of a military mentor. You had to have found each of our residences to hit us, said Bellah. You had to coordinate it to get the same time. Bellah said that he and two colleagues, whom he declined to identify, subsequently received phone calls from the FBI asserting the reason for the visits: that the agents wanted witnesses with information for an obstruction complaint against the two women seen questioning and at times blocking the ICE agents in the courthouse on April 22. The FBIs policy is to neither confirm nor deny if we are conducting an investigation, FBI spokeswoman Leslie McLane told The Daily Progress. As such, I cant speak to if we are conducting the obstruction investigation you referenced. Bellah stopped short of asserting that all three public defenders received residential visits, since one was not at home at the time of the other two visits. Thats not the way you normally do a witness interview, said Bellah. That is the way you would do it if you wanted to talk to people that you thought were involved in a conspiracy. Intrigued enough to violate his own advice to clients about refraining from speaking to authorities, Bellah subsequently accepted an invitation to confer last Wednesday at the FBIs Charlottesville office at 2211 Hydraulic Road. I said, Before we get started, am I a target, a person of interest or a subject of the investigation? recounted Bellah. And they said, Right now we look at you more as a witness. Bellah said it was clear the primary targets were the two women seen during the courthouse confrontation, both of whom wore masks. They showed me a picture of one of them and asked me if I knew the person, said Bellah. I asked them if they had done a national agency check or local agency check on me, and there was a delay. The agents alleged refusal to answer that question gave Bellah some information. That was as good as a yes, said Bellah. He said he then terminated the interview, shook hands with the agents and left. After the courthouse raid, ICE scolded the two women who attempted to intervene and announced that the U.S. Attorneys Office intends to prosecute those individuals. The spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Virginia, citing routine policy, has declined to comment on the existence of an investigation. But for Bellah, theres evidence of a zeal to prosecute. What resources are they using to go after three lawyers in the public defenders office? he asked. Why would you spend that kind of resources? This past week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, published a list of sanctuary jurisdictions across the U.S. that it says are circumventing federal immigration laws. Both Charlottesville and Albemarle County made that list, which also included the nonexistent locality of Martinsville County. Both Charlottesville and Albemarle County have denied they are in any way skirting federal immigration law. Pakistan and Afghanistan on Sunday agreed to advance a vital railway line project, considered a key step for regional connectivity. read more Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to move forward with the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) railway line project, a key step toward enhancing regional connectivity, the Pakistani Foreign Office said Sunday. The agreement was reached during a phone call between Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Afghanistans Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Both leaders emphasized the importance of the project and committed to working closely to finalize the framework agreement soon. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The development follows Pakistans May 30 announcement to upgrade diplomatic relations with Kabul to the ambassador level, a move Afghanistan has agreed to reciprocate, according to the Foreign Office. The UAP rail project aims to improve trade and transport links across Central and South Asia, fostering economic cooperation and stability in the region. Both leaders also reviewed implementation of decisions taken during DPM/FMs visit to Kabul on April 19 and vowed to continue working together to establish mutual trust between the two brotherly nations. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan had come under stress after Islamabad accused Kabul of sheltering Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists. Observers opine that the ties are apparently improving due to efforts of China, which is using a trilateral mechanism involving the foreign ministers of the three countries to sort out differences. The railway project to link Pakistan with Central Asia through Afghanistan is an important project to improve interconnectivity in the region. Dars interaction with Muttaqi comes a day after he held a telephone conversation with Uzbekistans Foreign Minister Saidov Bakhtiyor Odilovich on Saturday. They discussed the modalities for early finalisation of the framework agreement for the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (UAP) Railway Line Project, including details of its signing ceremony in consultation with leadership of Afghanistan, the foreign office said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies The Pakistani prime minister was addressing military personnel in Quetta on Saturday as he admitted the countrys financial woes read more In what comes as a huge embarrassment for Pakistan, PM Shehbaz Sharif has recently revealed that none of Islamabads allies expected him to come to them with a begging bowl. His statement came amidst Pakistans heightened tensions with India and weeks after a four-day military conflict with the Indian armed forces. Sharif said both the government and the army were no longer willing to carry the weight of the countrys economic dependency. The Pakistani prime minister was addressing military personnel in Quetta on Saturday (May 31). In his speech, he called China a time-tested friend and Saudi Arabia a trusted ally. Pakistan reportedly used China-made military equipment, including jets, in its conflict with India in May. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China is the most time-tested friend of Pakistan. Saudi Arabia is one of the most reliable and trustworthy friends of Pakistan. This applies to Turkey, Qatar and the UAE, he said. But let me point out abundantly here that they expect us now to engage them in trade, commerce, innovation, research and development, education and health, investments, and profitable ventures mutually. They no longer expect us to go there with a begging bowl, PM Sharif added. Sharif emphasised that Pakistan must fully leverage its natural and human resources to overcome economic difficulties, stating that both he and Field Marshal Asim Munir are unwilling to continue bearing the weight of dependency. I am the last person, along with Field Marshal Asim Munir, to carry this (economic) burden any more on our shoulders. The Almighty has blessed us with natural and human resources. We must make full use of them and deploy them for these very profitable ventures, he further said. The Pakistani PMs comments were made as allies like Turkey supported Islamabad and criticised Indias strikes on terror camps in the neighbouring country. On May 7, India initiated Operation Sindoor , targeting nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. The operation resulted in the deaths of 100 terrorists from Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A victory for Rafal Trzaskowski, 53 of the centrist Civic Platform party would deepen Polands integration with EU, ease the near total abortion ban and bolster LGBTQ+ rights. In contrast, Karol Nawrocki, 42, is a nationalist who appeals to traditional, Catholic voters. His focus is on stricter curbs on immigration read more This combination of photos shows Rafal Trzaskowski, left, in Warsaw, and Karol Nawrocki, right, in Warsaw, Poland. File image/ AP Voters in Poland went to the polls on Sunday (June 1) in a high-stakes presidential election that pits two sharply contrasting visions for the countrys future- one rooted in pro-European Union liberalism, the other in nationalist conservatism. The outcome could significantly influence Polands stance within the EU, its domestic social policies, and its position on the war in Ukraine. With polls showing a dead heat between Rafal Trzaskowski, the pro-EU mayor of Warsaw and ally of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Karol Nawrocki, a right-wing historian backed by the conservative opposition, the election is being watched closely both at home and abroad. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rafal Trzaskowski, 53, represents the centrist Civic Platform party and has campaigned on a progressive, pro-European platform. A victory for him would bolster the reformist agenda of Prime Minister Donald Tusks government and open the door to significant changes such as: Legalising civil partnerships for same-sex couples Easing the near-total abortion ban Deepening Polands integration within the EU Trzaskowski is seen by supporters as internationally respected, liberal-minded, and committed to restoring democratic norms. Hes educated, speaks many languages, is intelligent, just all round great, said Agnieszka Lewinska, a 56-year-old voter near Warsaw. In contrast, Karol Nawrocki, 42, is a nationalist who appeals to traditional, Catholic voters and has the backing of the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which ruled Poland from 2015 to 2023. His platform emphasises: National sovereignty over EU integration Stricter curbs on immigration and refugee benefits Reinforcing Catholic values and conservative policies Supporters like Lila Chojecka, a 60-year-old pensioner in Warsaw, say Nawrocki represents hope for Poland and a return to Catholic values. Why does this election matter beyond Poland? The result will have significant implications for the European Union, NATO, and Ukraine. Poland is a key EU member and one of NATOs most active supporters of Ukraine. Trzaskowski supports continued military and humanitarian aid to Kyiv and aligns closely with Brussels on foreign and security policy. Nawrocki, however, has voiced skepticism about expanding NATO to include Ukraine and opposes offering long-term social benefits to the more than one million Ukrainian refugees in Poland. In his final campaign appearance, he visited a memorial for Poles killed by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II, calling it a genocide against the Polish people. For Ukraine, the result may shape Polands future support as the war with Russia drags on and Kyiv seeks greater diplomatic backing. Domestically, the Polish presidency holds the power to veto legislation and command the armed forces, making it a key check, or enabler, of the ruling governments agenda. With 336 electoral districts and nearly 38 million people, Polands presidential race is expected to be decided by narrow margins. The far-right, which earned over 21 per cent in the first round, could swing the final result, especially if its voters rally behind Nawrocki. Trzaskowski edged ahead in the first round with 31 per cent of the vote, just one point above Nawrockis 30 per cent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Exit polls are expected shortly after voting ends at 9:00 pm local time (1900 GMT), with final results due by Monday. The election, described by political analyst Anna Materska-Sosnowska as a real clash of civilisations, will set the course for Polands political and social identity for years to come. At least 32 people have lost their lives in the last two days as heavy rain triggered floods and landslides across several northeastern states. The situation has put authorities on high alert, with severe damage reported in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Mizoram. read more At least 32 people have died over the past two days as heavy rainfall triggered floods and landslides across several northeastern states, The Times of India reported. Authorities across the region have been placed on high alert following Fridays downpour, which the India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed to a depression over Bangladesh. In Arunachal Pradesh, seven people were killed after a landslide on National Highway 13 swept a vehicle into a gorge between Bana and Seppa in East Kameng district on Friday night. Two more deaths were reported in a separate landslide in the Lower Subansiri district. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In Assam, intense rainfall caused severe urban flooding in Guwahati, bringing the city to a standstill. Five people were killed in a landslide in Bonda, on the outskirts of the city. Schools and colleges in Guwahati and Kamrup district were closed on Saturday, and the state government announced special casual leave for employees required to travel to work. Floods affected 12 districts in Assam on Saturday, with three people dying in flood-related incidents in Golaghat and Lakhimpur districts. In Mizoram, the State Disaster Management Authority reported landslides at 113 locations across the state. Five fatalities were confirmed. At least seven people died and 30 were injured when a passenger train derailed in Russias Bryansk region after a bridge suspected of collapsing. The train was travelling from Moscow to Klimov. read more At least seven people were killed and 30 others injured after a passenger train derailed late Saturday in Russias Bryansk region, Reuters reported, quoting regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. The train was heading from Moscow to Klimov when it went off the tracks in the Vygonichsky district after a bridge collapsed. The trains locomotive and several cars derailed due to the collapse of a span structure of the road bridge as a result of an illegal interference in the operation of transport, Russian Railways said on the Telegram messaging app. A train has derailed while going over a bridge in Russia's Bryansk region. pic.twitter.com/ys9YPKThwj Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) May 31, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Regional governor Alexander Bogomaz confirmed the incident on Telegram, saying emergency services were at the scene. The derailment happened near a federal highway, and several rescue teams were deployed, according to Russias emergency ministry. Russian state news outlets RIA and TASS reported that the trains driver was among the dead. Independent Telegram channels Baza and SHOT, known for citing law enforcement sources, claimed the bridge may have been deliberately blown up, though this has not been confirmed. Russias ministry of emergency situations said on Telegram that its main efforts were aimed at finding and rescuing victims, and that some 180 personnel were involved in the operation. Photos released by government agencies showed train cars badly damaged and scattered among broken pieces of the collapsed bridge. Videos on social media also showed vehicles narrowly avoiding the collapse just moments before it happened. A bridge collapsed overnight in Russias Kursk region, causing a freight train to derail, just hours after a passenger train derailed in nearby Bryansk region, killing at least seven people. Authorities are investigating both incidents which occured near the Ukraine border. read more Russia: After Bryansk, fright train derails in Kursk as second bridge collapses in 24 hours. Image: Reuters Another bridge collapsed overnight in Russias Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, causing a freight train to derail , the regional governor said on Sunday (June 1). The incident occurred just hours after a passenger train derailed in Bryansk , another region near the Ukraine border, in which at least seven people were killed and over 70 injured. Last night in the Zheleznogorsk district, a bridge collapsed while a freight locomotive was passing. Part of the train fell onto the road beneath the bridge, Alexander Khinshtein said on Telegram. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 7 killed, many injured At least seven people died and 30 others were injured when a passenger train derailed late Saturday in Russias Bryansk region, Reuters reported, quoting regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. The derailed passenger train was travelling from Moscow to Klimov when it went off the tracks in the Vygonichsky district after a bridge collapsed . Russian Railways said on Telegram that the trains engine and some carriages derailed because part of the bridge fell, caused by illegal interference with the transport system. This is a developing story. At least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed and more than 60 were injured in a Russian missile strike on the location of a Ukrainian army training unit Sunday, according to a statement from the Ukrainian Ground Forces. read more A Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian army training facility killed at least 12 soldiers and wounded more than 60 others on Sunday, according to the Ukrainian military. The attack targeted a training unit location, with casualties confirmed by 12:50 p.m., the army said in a statement. Meanwhile, Moscow claimed its forces had captured another village in Ukraines northern Sumy region, where Kyiv has warned of a potential large-scale cross-border offensive. Russias defense ministry said its troops had liberated Oleksiivka, a village roughly 7 kilometers from the Russian border. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD he training unit is located to the rear of the 1,000-kilometer active front line, where Russian reconnaissance and strike drones are able to strike. Ukraines forces suffer from manpower shortages and take extra precautions to avoid mass gatherings as the skies across the front line are saturated with Russian drones looking for targets. If it is established that the actions or inaction of officials led to the death or injury of servicemen, those responsible will be held strictly accountable, the Ukrainian Ground Forces statement said. The strikes come amid continuing uncertainty as to whether Kyiv diplomats will attend a new round of peace talks proposed by Moscow for early next week in Istanbul. Ukrainian officials have called on the Kremlin to provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the more than three-year war before the meeting takes place. Moscow previously said it would share its memorandum during the talks. In his evening address Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Moscow to stop playing with diplomacy by withholding the document. At this point, we dont have any clear information about what the Russians are planning to do in Istanbul, he said. Of course, everyone in the world wants diplomacy to work and a real ceasefire to happen. Everyone wants Russia to stop playing with diplomacy and end the war. Everyone wants serious peace, and Russia must agree to this. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The escalation comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to make hardline demands in peace negotiations, insisting on terms rejected by both Ukraine and the West. Despite ongoing missile and drone attacks, Putin has tried to maintain a diplomatic posture, praising U.S. President Donald Trumps role and expressing theoretical openness to talks. Trump, who has repeatedly claimed he could end the war in 24 hours, has drawn criticism for undermining Kyiv and holding direct talks with Putin. However, he has also warned Moscow not to tap me along and threatened further sanctions if his peace initiatives are not taken seriously. With inputs from agencies International and Ukrainian media have reported a massive Ukrainian drone attack on frontline Russian bases, citing sources from Ukraines Security Service (SBU) read more A screenshot from a video of the alleged attack released by the SBU on June 1, 2025 (Source: Ukraine's Security Service via Kyiv Independent) At least 40 Russian bombers and military aircraft were reportedly hit in an operation by Ukraines Security Service (SBU) on Sunday (June 1) in a drone attack that targeted several air bases near the frontlines, reported Reuters, citing sources in the security agency. The Ukrainian media has also reported the development, citing sources from the SBU. Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia this is the result of a special operation by the SBU, a source told the Kyiv Independent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Right now, the Security Service of Ukraine is conducting a large-scale special operation to destroy enemy bomber aircraft in the rear of the Russian Federation, the source added. SBU drones are practicing on aircraft that bomb Ukrainian cities every night. Currently, more than 40 aircraft are known to have been hit, including the A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22 M3. According to reports, one of the airbases that suffered major damage was Belaya air base in Russias Irkutsk Oblast. The governor of Russias Murmansk Oblast confirmed that enemy drones have attacked the territory of the Murmansk region without providing further details. None of the claims made by the sources could be verified independently. Russian state-backed news broadcaster RT reported that several drones targeted a military installation in Irkutsk Region, central Russia. Local Governor Igor Kobzev said it was the first UAV raid in Siberia. This Ukrainian drone attack came a week after Russian forces unleashed 367 drones and missiles across Ukrainian cities, marking the wars largest aerial attack to date. Although Ukraines air force shot down 266 drones and 45 missiles, the damage was extensive, affecting apartment blocks and infrastructure significantly. The Russian attack followed Moscows claim of intercepting and destroying about 100 Ukrainian unmanned weapons, some targeting the capital, just hours earlier. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Defence Ministry stated that its air defence units intercepted or destroyed 95 Ukrainian drones over four hours, including two near Moscow, with the majority downed over Russias central and southern regions. These recent clashes occurred as the US urged Russia at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to agree to a comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine, describing it as Russias best possible outcome and encouraging President Vladimir Putin to pursue peace. The US proposal, already accepted by Ukraine, involves a 30-day cessation of all hostilitiescovering land, air, sea, and attacks on critical infrastructurepending Russias approval. As you type South Korea in a North Korean mobile, it auto-corrects to puppet state. The phone takes screenshots every five minutes and stores them in a folder inaccessible to the users read more In North Korea, you cant type words in your mobile phone that are closely associated with the South In an era of information explosion, North Koreans access to the global internet is still non-existent, and the key to this solid firewall is the states control of personal mobile phones. Now, a detailed report around a phone smuggled out of the country has revealed insane measures that the regime of dictator Kim Jong Un enforces to insulate its people from the influence of South Korean culture. Wild autocorrections In North Korea, you cant type words in your mobile phone that are closely associated with the South, revealed a BBC report. One such word is South Korea itself. The phone autocorrects it to puppet state, reflecting the states official line in which Seoul is considered a vassal state of the US. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Similarly, as you type Oppa, a warning flashes on the mobile screen, saying the word can only be used for siblings. In the Korean language, the word literally means elder brother but is mostly used to refer to boyfriends in South Korea. As you type Oppa, North Korean phones will automatically change it to Comrade. Random screenshots The surveillance and control measures are not limited to the keyboard. The phones take screenshots every five minutes and store them in a folder inaccessible to the users. They can only be accessed by the authorities, allowing them to monitor user activity in detail. In North Korea, communication devices like radios and smartphones are preset to receive only state propaganda and are sealed to prevent any alterations. Modifying these devices to access external content is considered a severe criminal offence. A recent report, based on testimonies from 649 North Korean defectors, reveals that Kim Jong Uns regime has intensified its efforts to combat Western influence and the influx of outside information. Officials frequently inspect mobile phones for names, language, and slang indicative of exposure to South Korean culture. Additionally, Kim has banned K-pop and K-dramasSouth Korean music and television dramas that have gained global popularityto limit foreign cultural influence. This election, held two years ahead of the originally scheduled 2027 vote, was necessitated by Yoons ouster following his declaration of martial law in December 2024, which was widely condemned and eventually led to his impeachment by the National Assembly and removal by the Constitutional Court in April 2025 read more A South Korean soldier casts his early vote for the upcoming presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea. Reuters South Korea will conduct a snap presidential election on June 3, 2025, following the impeachment and dismissal of President Yoon Suk Yeol. This election, held two years ahead of the originally scheduled 2027 vote, was necessitated by Yoons ouster following his declaration of martial law in December 2024, which was widely condemned and eventually led to his impeachment by the National Assembly and removal by the Constitutional Court in April 2025. South Koreas constitution requires a fresh presidential election within 60 days following a permanent vacancy in the President. As a result, the administration set June 3 as the election date. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Early voting commenced on May 29 and concluded on May 30, with a record turnout of over 12 million votersmore than a quarter of South Koreas 44.3 million eligible voters. More from World South Korea votes in record numbers in polls trigged by controversial martial law The main contenders in this election are: Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, a former governor and labor activist. Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, a former conservative minister. Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party. The outcome of this election is expected to have significant implications for South Koreas domestic policies and international relations, particularly concerning its ties with the United States, China, and North Korea. Five years have passed since the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Floyds death was the latest in a string of high-profile killings of Black men by law enforcement. Video filmed by a bystander went viral and catalyzed the Black Lives Matter movement into months of nationwide protests. Richmond with its attention-grabbing Confederate monuments became the eye of the storm in Virginia. The pressure revived criticisms of the Richmond Police Department from 2018, after the death of Marcus-David Peters, and drew fresh criticisms after the same department deployed tear gas on protesters. Protesters sought wholesale change; some demanded police be abolished. And many changes were promised. How many of those promises were kept? With President Donald Trump in office, some experts also wonder if scrutiny of policing will survive into the future. On Wednesday, the administrations Department of Justice announced that it would abandon oversight of nine police agencies, including the Minneapolis Police Department. University of Virginia professor Brian N. Williams, an expert on police-community relations, described the pendulum shifting back to before Floyds death. From my perspective, its a really terrible time, said Williams, citing the Trump administrations funding cut to community violence interrupters in Charlottesville. The Richmond Times-Dispatch looked at areas where police reform advocates demanded change and spoke with experts and advocates familiar with where those changes stand today. Decertifying the bad apples Lawmakers special session in 2020 delivered changes to the way the state monitors police officers. The state could now more easily decertify officers accused of wrongdoing. Decertified officers are barred from working in any law enforcement capacity under state code. Between 2000 and 2020, around 80 Virginia law enforcement officers had been decertified, and typically for the most severe offenses. But since the law change, more than 300 law enforcement officers have been removed from the profession, according to records from the Department of Criminal Justice Services. A majority of officers were decertified for lying, forging records or otherwise making untruthful statements during internal affairs investigations, the state records show. Their cases are heard by a board of prosecutors and police chiefs. The hearings were once public but have since been made secret due to a law change in 2024. Lawmakers believed the secrecy would encourage more police departments to engage with the decertification process. Police lobbyists and the NAACP backed the legislation. The change has shuttered a window for the public to see how law enforcement agencies police themselves. Transparency remains a fight Virginias public records laws, which are viewed as quite weak by transparency advocates and some state legislators, shield police departments from having to release most types of records. Still, some agencies offer up critical records willingly. The Richmond Police Department is among those. It shares body-worn camera footage of police shootings within two weeks of an incident, as well as use of force statistics and an annual list of officers with the most internal affairs complaints. Other departments have seemingly gone the other direction. The Chesterfield County Police Department and the Hanover County Sheriffs Office have, for several years now, fought to keep one of the most basic records private: the names of their employees. A court of appeals recently ruled they did so in violation of public records laws. JaPharii Jones, a protester with the Virginia Beach-based chapter of Black Lives Matter, said their group continues to struggle with police transparency as well. This year, three sheriffs deputies were indicted for second-degree murder in the death of Rolin Hill, whose death in custody was ruled a homicide by a medical examiner. The Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office has not released body-worn camera footage of the incident, although the group has seen a snippet of the footage in a bond hearing for the officers. The video shows a deputy punching Hill in the head while restrained. Hills death was initially announced as a medical emergency. We never see body-cam footage, said Jones. I dont feel like theres been any significant change, and I also feel like its not even on the forefront. You dont hear any of these political campaigns running off of criminal justice, police reform, ending qualified immunity, everything we were talking about in 2020. Virginia police shootings trend up Well before the turmoil caused by Floyds murder, lawmakers tasked state police to track the number of times police use lethal force. Annual tallies show that the number has trended upward since 2016 a potentially anomalous year with only four lethal shootings. Nearly all the shootings were ruled as justified by local commonwealths attorneys who reviewed the cases, including the 2023 shooting of Charles Byers in Chesterfield County. That year, Virginia reported 40 police shootings, up from 27 the previous year. A shooting in Fairfax County did lead to criminal charges for Wesley Shifflett, a Fairfax police sergeant who killed an unarmed, fleeing shoplifter. A jury sentenced Shiflett to three years imprisonment for reckless handling of a firearm, but Gov. Glenn Youngkin commuted his sentence in March. State: Traffic stops still show disparity In 2020, the legislature required police to begin collecting data on traffic stops. Each time an officer made a stop, they were required to report the race of the driver. Year after year, state reports analyzing that data continue to find racial disparities. The most recent edition of that report found that Black and Hispanic drivers were also more likely to result in a search or an arrest than stops of drivers from other racial groups. In 2024, the most recent full year of data, 53% of drivers stopped by Richmond police officers were Black, while 37% were white and 7% were marked as unknown, the data show. According to the census, Richmonds racial demographics are 42% Black and 42% White, with a caveat that some of the data is muddied because the census tracks mixed-race residents separately. Richmonds police department adamantly defended its policing last year, when a judge found that it made discriminatory stops of Black motorists. The judge made that ruling looking at an early batch of data on traffic stops for six months in 2020, which found that 77% of drivers stopped by police were Black. Gerald Smith was the departments police chief during that time. The departments current police chief pushed back on U.S. District Judge John A. Gibneys comments from the bench. The Richmond Police Department does not stop motorists based on race, Police Chief Rick Edwards said. Edwards said the department uses data to regularly analyze where to best allocate resources in an effort to decrease injury and loss of life. Edwards has previously called these areas hotspots. Murder, shootings, shootings into occupied vehicles and occupied dwellings these are the violent crimes we are attempting to decrease with the presence of officers, Edwards statement reads. Officers deployed throughout the city perform other duties to include making traffic stops when a violation is observed. Gibneys ruling was also lampooned by lawyers for the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, which warned that a rise in crime was sure to follow Gibneys ruling. This federal court judge has essentially said that any minority driver pulled over in the state of Virginia can now have his or her charges dismissed just because he or she isnt white, wrote Zack Smith, a lawyer for the group, in an op-ed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch last year. But advocates heralded the decision, saying it laid the groundwork for others to challenge their convictions. In February, advocates took the issue to Richmond City Council. Yohance Whitaker, an advocate with the Richmond Transparency and Accountability Project, says the data tell the story of daily abuses felt by Richmond residents. Thats why many of us still feel that lives are at risk every time we encounter police during a traffic stop, said Whitaker. The Richmond Police Department does engage in discriminatory traffic stops. Its a daily thing. The warrants stemmed from four separate corruption investigations focused on Istanbul and follow the March 19 arrest of Imamoglu, the most high-profile challenger to Turkish President Erdogan. Imamoglu says the charges are politically motivated read more FILE PHOTO: Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has long been seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most formidable rival. File image/Reuters Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for 47 municipal officials and staff across Istanbul, the latest escalation targeting city administration since the imprisonment of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. State news agency Anadolu reported on Saturday (May 31) that the warrants stemmed from four separate corruption investigations focused on Istanbul. Anadolu did not disclose how many individuals were actually taken into custody. According to Anadolu Agency, among those targeted by the new warrants are a former opposition lawmaker and five district mayors within Istanbul. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nine district mayors arrested Private broadcaster Halk TV, perceived to be aligned with the opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP), Imamoglus political party, reported that nine district mayors out of Istanbuls total of 39 have now been arrested and remain in custody, AFP reported. Separately, police in Istanbul on Saturday also arrested dozens of protesters commemorating the twelfth anniversary of a wave of anti-government protests, lawyers said. Police barriers stopped demonstrators from gathering at Taksim Square, adjacent to Gezi Park, a green space that was the heart of protests in 2013 over plans to redevelop it. The Association of Progressive Lawyers said on X that at least 87 people were arrested in the Turkish city, scene of a fresh wave of protests in recent months. Several young people published a message on X saying: We have been arrested. Imamoglus arrest sparked tensions Imamoglus arrest and detention on March 19 sparked Turkeys largest street demonstrations in decades, prompting significant public backlash against Erdogans government. Since Imamoglus imprisonment, nearly 70 additional people linked to Istanbul City Hall, including Imamoglus private secretary and bodyguard, have been detained in police raids. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The CHP, which has chosen Imamoglu as its candidate for Turkeys presidential elections scheduled for 2028, did not immediately comment on the latest round of arrest warrants. With inputs from agencies Ukraine launched a large-scale drone assault on multiple Russian air bases Sunday (June 1), reportedly striking more than 40 military aircraft. Separately, the Ukrainian Air Force on Sunday said that Russia launched 472 drones and seven missiles overnight read more In this photo taken from video distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, April 18, 2025, Russian soldiers launch a Supercam intelligence unmanned aerial vehicle towards Ukrainian positions in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP) Ukraine launched a large-scale drone assault on multiple Russian air bases Sunday (June 1), reportedly striking more than 40 military aircraft in what could be one of the most damaging Ukrainian drone attacks since the war began, Reuters cited a Ukrainian security official as saying. The official said the strikes were carried out by Ukraines SBU domestic intelligence agency and targeted four Russian military airfields simultaneously. Among the aircraft reportedly hit were Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers long-range jets that Moscow has used to launch missile attacks against Ukrainian territory. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If confirmed, the strikes would mark a significant setback for Russia, as strategic bombers have been a key component of its aerial assault campaign. Video footage shared by the source appeared to show several large aircraft engulfed in flames, some resembling Tu-95 bombers. Reuters said it could not independently verify the claims or the authenticity of the footage. Ukraine, which lacks the long-range missile capabilities of Russia, has increasingly relied on domestically developed attack drones to target Russian military infrastructure and energy facilities Russian drone attacks on Ukraine Separately, the Ukrainian Air Force on Sunday said that Russia launched 472 drones and seven missiles towards Ukrainian territory overnight a record since the beginning of the war. Ukraines air force said that 385 of the aerial weapons launched by Moscow were neutralised. AFP cited an air force spokesperson as saying that it was the largest Russian drone attack since the invasion in February 2022. Both these developments have come ahead of talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul. With inputs from agencies Ukrainian negotiators at talks scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul will present to the Russian side a proposed roadmap for reaching a lasting peace settlement read more Ukrainian negotiators are set to present a formal peace proposal to Russian officials at talks in Istanbul on June 2, , according to a copy of the document seen by Reuters. The roadmap outlines a phased plan to end the war, starting with a 30-day full ceasefire, the return of all prisoners and repatriation of Ukrainian children taken to Russian-held territories followed by a summit between Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The blueprint also proposes that Ukraine, Russia, the US and European nations work together to negotiate a final settlement to the three-year conflict Europes largest war since WWII. Kyivs terms remain unchanged: no limits on Ukraines military post-war, no recognition of Russian sovereignty over occupied territories, and reparations from Moscow. Negotiations over disputed land would begin from the current front lines. Russias recent public demands remain far apart from Ukraines conditions, casting doubt on any imminent breakthrough. US President Donald Trump has urged Moscow and Kyiv to work together on a deal to end their war, and Russia has proposed a second round of face-to-face talks with Ukrainian officials next week in Istanbul. Kyiv said earlier this week it is committed to the search for peace, but that it was waiting for a memorandum from the Russian side setting out their proposals which has not materialised. Nevertheless, Zelenskiy said on Sunday that he will send a delegation of his officials to meet their Russian counterparts in Istanbul. With inputs from agencies China condemned French President Emmanuel Macron after he compared the Taiwan issue to that of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war during his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore read more China slammed comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron, who compared Beijings dispute over Taiwan to that of Russias aggression in Ukraine. The remarks from the French leader came during his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore on Friday night. Macron warned that the unchecked Russian aggression in Ukraine could set a precedent in Asia. If Russian President Vladimir Putin could take Ukrainian territory without any restrictions, without any constraints what could happen in Taiwan? What will you do the day something happens in the Philippines? Macron said at the event. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Shortly after Macrons remarks, Chinas embassy in Singapore condemned his comments and denounced it. Comparing the Taiwan question with the Ukraine issue is unacceptable, Chinas embassy in Singapore said in a Facebook post on Saturday. The two are different in nature, and not comparable at all, the embassy added, accusing Macron of a double standard. Chinese aggression at the centre of Shangri-La Dialogue Interestingly, Macrons remarks against China came a day after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told the Shangri-La forum on Friday that a threat from China in Asia could be imminent. Theres no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent, Hegseth said. Any Chinese military move on Taiwan would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world, he added during his address at the summit. Meanwhile, Macron also warned that Europes credibility was at stake over the perception it had given a free pass to Israel, which has brought Gaza to the brink of famine and led to the death of more than 50,000 civilians since October 2023. If we abandon Gaza, if we consider there is a free pass for Israel, even if we do condemn the terrorist attacks, we kill our credibility in the rest of the world, Macron said. Since Trump returned to the presidency, he has slapped sweeping tariffs on most US trading partners, with especially high rates on Chinese imports. New tit-for-tat levies on both sides reached three digits before the de-escalation this month read more President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to speak soon to resolve ongoing trade disputes, including recent tensions over critical minerals, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday (June 1). On Friday, Trump accused China of breaching a bilateral agreement to mutually reduce tariffs and ease restrictions on trade in critical minerals, which are vital for industries worldwide. What China is doing is they are holding back products that are essential for the industrial supply chains of India, of Europe. And that is not what a reliable partner does, Bessent said in an interview with CBS Face the Nation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I am confident that when President Trump and Party Chairman Xi have a call, that this will be ironed out. But the fact that they are withholding some of the products that they agreed to release during our agreement - maybe its a glitch in the Chinese system, maybe its intentional. Well see after the President speaks with the party chairman, he added. China confirmed in April that Xi and Trump had not communicated recently. Trump, however, said on Friday (May 30) he anticipated speaking with Xi soon. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said no specific date has been finalized for the conversation, but discussions are underway for a dialogue regarding last months Geneva agreement addressing tariff issues. President Trump, we expect, is going to have a wonderful conversation about the trade negotiations this week with President Xi. Thats our expectation, Hassett said. China-US trade tensions Since Trump returned to the presidency, he has slapped sweeping tariffs on most US trading partners, with especially high rates on Chinese imports. New tit-for-tat levies on both sides reached three digits before the de-escalation this month, where Washington agreed to temporarily reduce additional tariffs on Chinese imports from 145 percent to 30 percent. China, meanwhile, lowered its added duties from 125 percent to 10 percent. With inputs from Reuters US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Australia to increase its defense spending to 3.5% of gross domestic product during a meeting with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, the Pentagon said on Sunday. read more US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has called on Australia to increase its defense budget to 3.5% of gross domestic product, according to a Pentagon statement Sunday. Hegseth requested talks with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles. The two also discussed key security topics, including accelerating the deployment of US defense capabilities in Australia, enhancing cooperation between their defense industries, and strengthening supply chain resilience. The meeting highlights ongoing efforts to deepen military ties amid growing strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On defense spending, Secretary Hegseth conveyed that Australia should increase its defense spending to 3.5 percent of its GDP as soon as possible, the statement said. The ministers meeting on Friday on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asias premier security forum, is only the second between the security allies since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January. Marles said after the meeting they did not discuss a specific percentage of GDP to raise Australian defense spending. With inputs from agencies Russian President Vladimir Putin is stalling at the peace table while preparing a new military offensive in Ukraine, two senior US senators warned Sunday, arguing that the next two weeks could shape the future of a war that has already smashed cities, displaced millions and redrawn Europes security map. read more Russian President Vladimir Putin is delaying peace negotiations while planning a major new offensive in Ukraine, two senior US senators warned Sunday, saying the next two weeks could determine the wars future. Speaking in Paris after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal accused Putin of using the Istanbul peace talks as cover for military escalation. Both senators described the wars toll as staggering and called on the US Congress to act swiftly. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What I learned on this trip was hes preparing for more war, Graham said, while Blumenthal warned, It is crunch time for Putin and for the world. At the heart of their push is a bipartisan sanctions bill, backed by nearly the entire US Senate but still facing uncertain odds in Washington. It would impose 500% tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports, targeting nations like China and India that account for roughly 70% of Russias energy trade and bankroll much of its war effort. Graham called it the most draconian bill Ive ever seen in my life in the Senate. The world has a lot of cards to play against Putin, he said. Were going to hit China and India for propping up his war machine. Peace talks are scheduled to resume on Monday in Istanbul. But Ukrainian officials say Moscow has yet to submit a serious proposal a delay both senators described as deliberate and dangerous. Putin is playing President Trump, Blumenthal said. Hes taking him for a sucker. The senator said Putin is, in effect, stalling and stonewalling, prolonging the conversation so that he can mount this offensive and take control of more territory on the ground. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Graham added: We saw credible evidence of a summer or early fall invasion, a new offensive by Putin. Hes preparing for more war. Trump has yet to endorse the sanctions bill, telling reporters Friday: I dont know. Ill have to see it. Graham said the legislation was drafted in consultation with Trumps advisers. Graham backed the presidents diplomatic instincts but said, By trying to engage Putin by being friendly and enticing its become painfully clear hes not interested in ending this war. Blumenthal hoped the bipartisan support for Ukraine at least in the Senate and the personal testimonies they plan to bring home to Congress and the Oval Office may help shift the conversation. He needs to see and hear that message as well from us, from the American people, he said of Putin. In Kyiv, the senators said, the wars human toll was impossible to ignore. Graham pointed to what Ukrainian officials and Yale researchers estimate are nearly 20,000 children forcibly deported to Russia calling their return a matter of justice, not diplomacy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Blumenthal described standing at mass grave sites in Bucha, where civilians were executed with shots to the head. The destruction, he said, and the stories of those who survived, made clear the stakes of delay. Putin is a thug. Hes a murderer. Both said that failing to act now could pull the U.S. deeper into conflict later. If Putin isnt stopped in Ukraine, Blumenthal said, NATO treaty obligations could one day compel American troops into battle. After a one-hour meeting with Macron in Paris, both Graham, of South Carolina, and Blumenthal, of Connecticut, said they left convinced Europe was ready to toughen its stance. This visit has been a breakthrough moment because President Macron has shown moral clarity in his conversations with us, Blumenthal said. Today, he is 100% aligned with that message that we are taking back to Washington. Blumenthal pointed to the rare bipartisan unity behind the sanctions bill. There are very few causes that will take 41 Republicans and 41 Democrats and put them on record on a single piece of legislation, he said. The cause of Ukraine is doing it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ahead, Ukrainian military leaders are set to brief Congress and a sanctions vote could follow. President Trump said well know in two weeks whether hes being strung along, Graham said. There will be more evidence of that from Russia on Monday. The White House confirmed on Saturday that US envoy to West Asia, Steve Witkoff, sent a nuclear deal proposal to Iran after several rounds of talks with Tehran in Oman and Rome read more After multiple rounds of talks , the United States has sent Iran a proposal for a nuclear deal between the two nations. The news was confirmed by both the White House and the Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi. The Iranian side noted that they have been presented with elements of a US deal by the Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi during his brief visit to Tehran. Interestingly, the confirmation of the American proposal came after a report by the UN nuclear watchdog said Iran had further stepped up its production of enriched uranium, a key component of making nuclear weapons. While speaking on the proposal, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Saturday it was in Tehrans best interest to accept the deal, adding: President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD During the press conference, Levitt stated that a detailed and acceptable proposal had been sent to Iran by US President Donald Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff . Meanwhile, Araghchi noted that Iran will soon respond to the American proposal. The US proposal will be appropriately responded to in line with the principles, national interests and rights of the people of Iran, Araghchi wrote on X. The IAEA report that calls for concern The precise details of the deal have been kept under wraps by both nations. Earlier this week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released a report which revealed that Iran now possesses over 400kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity, BBC reported. It is pertinent to note that Uranium needs to reach 90 per cent purity for it to become weapons-grade uranium. What is concerning is that the 60 per cent figure is still well above the level of purity sufficient for civilian nuclear power and research purposes. IAEA noted that if it is further refined, it can produce 10 nuclear weapons, making Iran the only non-nuclear armed state producing Uranium at such a high level. The report now paves the way for the US, Britain, France and Germany to push for the IAEAs board of governors to find Iran in violation of its non-proliferation obligations. Meanwhile, Iran insists that its program is peaceful. On Saturday, the Iranian state media described the IAEA report as politically motivated, containing baseless accusations. Iran maintained that it will implement appropriate measures in response to any effort to take action against Tehran at the IAEA governors meeting, BBC reported. Since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House, the United States has long sought to limit Irans nuclear capacity, with talks between the two nations being conducted since April. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump has been gunning for a new nuclear agreement with Tehran after pulling the US out of a previous nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers in 2018. The initial deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA , was signed in 2015 by Iran and the US, China, France, Russia, Germany and the UK. On June 1, 2025, Ukraines Security Service (SBU) executed Operation Web, the largest long-range drone strike of the Russo-Ukraine War to date. For more than a year, Ukrainian planners discreetly prepared first-person-view (FPV) unmanned aerial systems (UAS) armed with explosive warheads, concealing them inside modified containerized launch modules loaded on trucks. When these mobile cabins reached positions near Russian airfields, remote-controlled hatches opened to release the drones toward parked strategic bombers and airborne early warning aircraft located in those bases, effectively bypassing standard defense measures. Operational Overview and Planning Under tight secrecy, the SBU repurposed standard cargo containers by installing wooden stowage cells for drones, photovoltaic arrays to maintain battery charging, and satellite communications uplinks. Ukrainian sources confirm that these containers were likely assembled and loaded on Russian soil, masking their true purpose until launch day. The entire operation resembles, in some form, Israels supply chain operations that provided Hezbollah with explosive personal radios and pagers. The drones were also smuggled from Ukraine and most likely assembled in safe warehouses in Russia. Russian sources claim that geolocation indicates the Ukrainian drone assembly facility depicted in these photos was a rented warehouse in Chelyabinsk, a village near the Kazakhstan border. Once assembly and setup were completed, the containers were loaded onto flatbed trucks (possibly rented in Russia) and transported across thousands of kilometers, capitalizing on the vastness of Russian territory. Once in proximity to the target airbases, remote signals triggered roof-hatch removal, allowing FPV drones to launch in rapid succession toward high-value aircraft parked on the aprons. Scope of the Strike Simultaneous strikes targeted four major Russian airbases: Belaya Air Base (Irkutsk Oblast, Siberia): Approximately 4,300 km from Ukraine, Belaya hosts Tu-95MS Bear and Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers, alongside A-50 Mainstay AEW&C aircraft, critical for Russias strategic aviation. Olenya Air Base (Murmansk Oblast): Roughly 2,000 km from Ukraine, Olenya supports Arctic-region bomber sorties. Dyagilevo Air Base (Ryazan Oblast): Home to Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 Blackjack platforms used for long-range missile strikes. Ivanovo Air Base (Ivanovo Oblast): A key node in Russias power projection network for strategic aviation assets. Drone imagery and video shared by Ukrainian authorities show large bombers engulfed in flames and plumes of smoke rising from multiple aprons. Although Russian officials have provided limited confirmation, Ukrainian statements claim that 41 aircraft were neutralized, with estimated losses exceeding $2 billion. Execution and Methodology Each containerized launch module was camouflaged to resemble a standard freight container. Inside, FPV drones were pre-assembled and pre-programmed with automatic target recognition (ATR) algorithms trained on characteristic signatures of Russian bombers. At launch time, remote commands opened the hatches and released the drones. Under real-time control via video linksaugmented by satellite relays or utilizing local Russian cellular networksthe operators guided the drones to lock on specifically vulnerable areas of the parked aircraft. Some sources indicate the use of fiber-optical drones, but this is not evident from the available videos and images. The combination of ATR and FPV control enabled precise kinetic strikes before Russian air defenses could react, demonstrating Ukraines ability to project unmanned systems deep into Russian territory. Local authorities in Irkutsk and Murmansk acknowledged drone incursions but downplayed their impact. Russian air defense batteries reportedly engaged the swarms, yet eyewitness accounts suggest that the systems were overwhelmed by the speed and number of attacking UAS. Russian media outlets minimized reported losses, while independent analysts noted significant vulnerabilities in Russian rear-area air defenses. Notably, the Web operation coincided with a massive Russian drone and missile salvoover 470 UAS and multiple cruise missileslaunched at Ukrainian targets the same night, indicating reciprocal escalation in multi-domain drone warfare. After all the drones cleared the launch pad, the container exploded. According to Ukraine sources, some modules operated fixed-wing drones, but these configurations could not be confirmed. Strategic and Operational Implications Neutralizing more than 40 Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 bombersas well as at least one A-50 AEW&C platformstrikes at the core of Russias long-range strike capability. The A-50 fleet numbers fewer than ten worldwide; losing a third of these assets further degrades Russias aerial situational awareness. In the short term, Russia will face reduced sortie rates and limited cruise missile deployments against Ukrainian targets. For Ukraine, Operation Web exemplifies an evolved drone warfare doctrine: blending extended operational planning with technical innovation in containerized UAS teams. The success of this mission will likely prompt Russia to redeploy scarce S-400 and S-350 batteries, reinforce base perimeters with additional short-range air defenses, and harden satellite communications links against jamming. Operation Web occurred just weeks before scheduled peace talks in Istanbul, potentially aimed at strengthening Ukraines negotiating position. The reciprocal drone barrages underscore a shifting paradigm in which unmanned systems play a decisive role in strategic leverage. Moving forward, both sides are expected to invest heavily in electronic warfare countermeasures, aerial perimeter defenses, and counter-UAS strategies. The Web operation also signals to other actorsstate and non-statethat even rear areas once deemed secure are now vulnerable to deep-strike drone tactics. As drone technology becomes more accessible, defense planners worldwide must reassess conventional assumptions about rear-area sanctuaries. Operation Web stands as a testament to the changing nature of aerial warfare: where a relatively small fleet of FPV drones can inflict outsized damage on critical strategic assets and redefine force-protection priorities across vast distances. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024. In early 2024, Jill Layton sat in on the Grand Junction Business Incubator Centers Circular Economy Roundtable with Gov. Jared Polis, then hoping for her own future in business. Less than a year and a half later, Layton welcomed the governor to her own business at the center, demonstrating her work to Polis as well as State House District 54 Rep. Matt Soper (R-Delta) on Friday. Laytons business, SURPStone, repurposes single-use, non-recyclable plastics into durable concrete pavers and planters. Layton believes that SURPStone embodies the circular-economy ideal by taking trash that would have found its way to landfills or trails and giving it purpose. Layton spoke to The Daily Sentinel about the difference one year can make. Its very exciting. The Business Incubator Center (BIC) has given me such a platform to show off what I do, Layton said. It shows me to important people in this community and the state. Its all thanks to them. SURPStone was one of the businesses the BIC highlighted to Polis during a tour led by the BIC CEO Dalida Bollig, Economic Development Director Mike Ritter and Board of Directors Chair Kimberly Clemmer. The BIC campus is home to 76 locally owned businesses. When Polis, Soper and others on the tour visited ExoPower a company developing technology to let mobile robots and, eventually, electric cars charge themselves without having to stop they were treated to a demonstration in the form of a robot moving around a charging track that fed it power as it moved. Were creating the next generation of wireless charging right here in Colorado. Its significantly cheaper and safer than current methods today. The big kicker with it is that it works in motion. Were talking about vehicles that charge while they drive. Can you imagine the HOV lane also doubling as a recharge lane? You could eliminate downtime for charging altogether. This is a big idea, said ExoPower owner and founder Brandon Regensburger. Regensburger, who said hes basing this technology off his studies at the University of Colorado Boulder and Cornell University, said the companys first focus will be on the more immediate massive market of warehouse automation. He hopes that, after pilot meetings and mass-scale certification this fall, the company will quickly strike deals with companies like Amazon, UPS and Walmart that implement thousands of robots in their warehouses. Each Amazon distribution center has about 5,000 of those kinds of robots running around, but they charge about 10% of the time. Thats 10 minutes every two hours. That doesnt sound bad, but 500 of those robots are down and being charged at any time, so to compensate, they buy 500 more, Regensburger said. Thats completely inefficient and expensive. With ExoPower, robots charge while theyre working. They never stop and never need to be plugged in. He activated a robot provided by Ocado Intelligence Automation, which moved around one area of the room while he talked with Polis. So you could basically run this for a day? Polis asked. Absolutely, Regensburger responded. Polis then asked if the market for inductive charging is competitive. Regensburger responded that the market was competitive but that ExoPower had a leg up in prioritizing mobile charging. Polis also met with Grand Valley Micro Farms Co-Founder Phil Strouse, who founded the business with his brother Nate. Both are Air Force veterans. Grand Valley Micro Farms, illuminated by LED lights over various plants, leverages vertical stainless-steel shelving biospheres to cultivate nutrient-dense greens like arugula, sunflower, mustard, broccoli, radish and kale ready to harvest every 10 days all year long. The company prioritizes humidity, light, ventilation and water control in its operations, supplying greens to local chefs, food trucks, specialty markets and Community Food Bank. One more business highlighted was 579 Construction, a woman-owned firm specializing in core-and-shell commercial construction like hospitals, community centers, schools and office buildings. 579 Owner Lori Siegesmund spoke with Polis about her business. Were a specialty contractor, but we kind of creep up to the (general contractor) line a little bit, so we do a lot of metal stud framing and insulation and ceilings, Siegesmund told the governor. Right now, were working on the Grand Junction Rec Center and a lot of big projects around here. Were all over the state here. Weve been here with the incubator from the start. Theyve been awesome. They helped us grow from the beginning. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Russo-Ukraine War - 31 May 2025 - Day 1193 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 since the beginning of this day, there have been 141 combat encounters. Russian invaders launched 2 missile and 8 air strikes today, used two missiles and dropped 24 controlled bombs, fired 1423 kamikaze drones and carried out 4728 shells at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the Kharkiv direction, the Defense Forces successfully stopped two Russian attacks, towards the settlement of Liptsi and near Vovchansk. In the Kupyansky direction, the Russian aggressor committed nine offensive actions in the areas of the settlements of Pietsnna, Stepova Novoselivka and Zagrizove. Four enemy attacks are ongoing so far. In the Lyman direction, Russian invaders 18 times attacked the positions of Defense Forces in the direction of Green Valley, Karpivka, New World, near Grekivka, Torsky, Serebryansky Forest and Ridkodub. Fourteen attacks have already been knocked down, four are ongoing. In the sivers komu direction, the Russian enemy attacked in the areas of grigorivka and towards the verkhn okamans kogo. In general, since the beginning of the day, there have been two clashes that Ukrainian defenders have successfully stopped. In the Kramatorsky direction, the Defense Forces repelled two Russian assaults in the areas of the settlements of Chasiv Yar, Bila Gora and towards Kurdyumivka, three fighting are still ongoing. In the Toretsky direction today, Ukrainian soldiers repelled eight Russian attacks in the areas of the settlements of Crimea and Toretsk, so far one combat is ongoing. In the Pokrovsky direction, since the beginning of this day, Russian forces attacked 36 times near the settlements of Zorya, Nova Poltavka, Peace, Malinivka, Elizabeth, Dachenskie, Lisivka, Udaachne, Novosergiyivka, Kotlyarivka, Andriyivka, as well as towards the settlements of Novomykolaivka, Oleksiyivka, Popiv Yar, Poltavka. Seven brawls are ongoing so far. Russian forces launched an aviation strike on the settlement of Zorya. Today, in this direction, according to preliminary data, Ukrainian soldiers znezkodili 180 Russian invaders, 98 of them - irrevocably. 14 vehicles, five unmanned aircraft, two ATVs and seven motorcycles were also destroyed, two cars, one tank and three occupant artillery systems were damaged. In the Novopavlovsky direction, Russian forces made nine attempts to break through Ukrainian defense in the areas of Gorikhovoy, Bagatir, Zelenoy Pol, Novopol and Free Pol. Currently, one combat confrontation is being sharpened. Russian forces caused aviation strikes in the areas of novodarivka, olgivs kogo, piddubnogo and novopol. In the direction of Gulyaipils komu, the Russian zagarbniki launched air strikes on the settlements of Malinivka, Gulyaipole, Dolinka, Verhnya Tersa, Temirivka and Poltavka. In the Orihiv direction, the Russian zagarbnik tried to advance towards Pavlivka, Novodanilivka and near Stepovoye and Maliy Scherbakov - Ukrainians repelled all the Russian attacks, so far one confrontation is ongoing. In the pridniprovsk direction, Ukrainian troops stopped one Russian attack, Russian forces made aviation strikes on the settlement of lviv. Thirty-four encounters occurred in the Kurs komu direction today. At the same time, Russian forces launched sixteen air strikes, dropped thirty-four guided bombs in total and fired two hundred-thirteen artillery shells, including one of the reactive systems of raft-fire. In the rest of the directions, the operational environment of special changes did not experience. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 01 June 2025 - Day 1194 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential. Since the beginning of the day, there have been 107 fighting clashes, the Russian enemy launched 3 missiles and 50 air strikes, six missiles and 50 guided airstrikes, 1396 kamikaze drones strikes, over 4000 shells of Ukrainian troops and settlements. In the Kharkiv direction, the Defense Forces repelled a Russian assault in the area of Figolivka, two more clashes continue in the areas of Deep and Red First. The Russian enemy has attacked Ukrainian fortifications in the Kupyansky direction seven times in the areas of the settlements Stepova Novoselivka and Nova Kruglyakivka, one confrontation is still ongoing. In the Lyman direction today, Russian troops stormed positions of Ukrainian defenders 19 times near the settlements of Grekivka, Novomikhailivka, Nadia, Ridkodub and Yampil, three clashes are ongoing so far. In the Siver komu direction, the Defense Forces repelled eight assaults of Russian troops in the area of Bilogorivka, Verkhnyokamiansky and towards Grigorivka. Today Ukrainian troops repelled three Russian attacks in the area of Chasovoy Yar and towards the White Mountain in the Kramatorsky direction, another fight is currently ongoing. In the Toretsky direction, the Russian occupiers for today 11 times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders near Toretsky and Diliyivka. In the Pokrovsky direction throughout the day, Russian forces committed 47 assault and offensive actions. The activity of Russian occupiers was observed in the areas of popiv yar, Myrolyubivka, Malinivka, Lisivka, Udachne, Novosergiyivka, Novomikolaivka and Andriyivka. The fights have not subsided so far in three locations. According to preliminary calculations, today Ukrainian soldiers eliminated 145 and wounded 140 Russian occupiers in this direction; destroyed BTR, 13 vehicles, nine motorcycles, 31 BPLAs, two REB vehicles, Murom-M visual surveillance station, six mannets; also damaged enemy mortar. In the Novopavlovsky direction, the invaders carried out 14 attacks on the position of Ukrainian troops, Russian forces tried to advance in the areas of Novosilka, Green Field, Novopol, Vilny Field, Bagatyr, Konstantinopol and Odradny. One confrontation is currently underway. In the Orihiv direction, Ukrainian defenders twice repelled the attack of the Russian enemy near the settlement Stepovo. Defense Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk direction today repelled 16 attacks of the Russian Zagarbnytsky army, three more fighting remain unfinished; Russian forces launched five aerial strikes, dropping 14 KABs, also carried out 195 shells, six of which were from blatant fire systems. In other directions, there have been no significant changes in the environment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address BALTIMORE, May 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- It doesnt look like a revolution. But it might be. In a recent briefing from Enrique Abeyta, he explains how Elon Musks quiet rollout of his proprietary supercomputer, Dojo, is more than just a chip announcement . According to the former hedge fund manager, its the creation of a new kind of infrastructure one designed to control machines in the real world, without humans in the loop. This isnt about automating tasks, Abeyta explains. Its about building the command layer for an AI-powered world. No Wheel. No Pedals. No Human Input. On June 1st, Tesla is expected to debut a robotaxi with no steering wheel, no pedals, and no manual controls. The system behind it Dojo doesnt run on traditional code. It learns directly from Teslas global fleet, analyzing 160 billion frames of real-world video daily to adapt its own behavior. Dojos AI has already demonstrated it can drive without assistance. Now, it will attempt to operate publicly, independently for the first time. Musks Total Control Strategy After chip shortages disrupted Teslas growth, Musk dropped Nvidia and built his own solution. Dojos custom chip is now six times more powerful than Nvidias most popular processor, designed specifically for vision-based machine learning. I think this requires that we put a lot more effort on Dojo I see a path to being competitive with Nvidia, Musk said. This isnt just vertical integration. Its an attempt to own every layer of the AI value chain from hardware to deployment. Dojo Isnt a Product. Its Infrastructure. Abeyta believes Dojo isnt just powering a car. Its laying the foundation for vision-based AI that could soon control drones, robots, logistics systems, and even defense networks. The car is the first test. But the play is much bigger, he says. And with recent executive orders from the Trump administration accelerating American AI development, Dojos strategic importance is only growing. About Enrique Abeyta Enrique Abeyta is a former hedge fund manager who spent 25 years analyzing power shifts across markets, tech, and infrastructure. After managing nearly $4 billion in institutional capital, he now leads Breaking Profits, a research platform dedicated to exposing under-the-radar systems that are reshaping the economy, society, and control. REGINA, Saskatchewan, May 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Skills/Competences Canada (SCC) released the final medal results of the Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) 2025. Over the past week, over 500 students and apprentices from across the country competed for the title of national champion in over 40 Skill Areas at the REAL District. The complete list of medalists is available on the Skills/Competences Canada Website. In addition, the official members of WorldSkills Team Canada 2026 were announced. They will be competing at the 48th WorldSkills Competition, in Shanghai, China, in September 2026, and will begin training for this prestigious competition. Approximately 250 medals were awarded to the top competitors in six skilled trade and technology sectors, including: transportation, construction, manufacturing and engineering, information technology, services and employment. The competitors were evaluated based on strict industry standards and competed against the best in Canada. During SCNC, thousands of student visitors, industry leaders, government officials and industry celebrities were in attendance to take part in the onsite activities such as the Skills Showcase featuring First Nations, Inuit and Metis Skills, the Empowering Women in the Trades initiative and over 50 Try-A-Trade and Technology activities. Celebrities included Sherry Holmes, Contractor, TV Host and DIY Enthusiast and Arianna Dyck, Miss Rodeo Queen Agribition Alumni 2023 2024 and Welding Apprentice, who are both strong advocates for women in skilled trades. The goal of SCNC is to engage Canadian youth and promote the rewarding and lucrative careers that are available to them in the skilled trades and technologies. It is the only national multi-trade and technology event of its kind for young students and apprentices in the country. "The Skills Canada National Competition connects us with the next generation of skilled professionals, showcasing the vast opportunities in skilled trades and technologies. Through hands-on activities, students can explore exciting, in-demand career paths, said Shaun Thorson, Chief Executive Officer, Skills/Competences Canada. In addition, RBC Future Launch awarded successful participants from each province and territory with a $1,500 RBC Best of Region Award at the Skills Canada National Competition. The annual award recognizes these leaders as they continue their education and training in the skilled trades industry. According to an RBC report, Powering Up: Preparing Canada's skilled trades for a post-pandemic economy, Canada will face a shortage of 10,000 skilled trade workers by 2026. The Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) is supported by our Funding Partner the Government of Canada, as well as our Presenting Sponsors, UA Canada, Cenovus Energy, Home Hardware and Regina Hotel Association. SCNC 2026 will be held at the Exhibition Place, in Toronto, Ontario, on May 28 and 29, 2026. About Skills/Competences Canada Skills/Competences Canada was founded in 1989 as a national, notforprofit organization that works with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trade and technology careers among Canadian youth. For more information visit: www.skillscompetencescanada.com Follow Skills/Competences Canada on X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok. The event hashtag is #SCNC2025. PHOTOGRAPHY and VIDEO View the Skills/Competences Canada Flickr page to access and upload hundreds of high resolution pictures of competitors in action. View the highlight video of SCNC 2025. View SCCs YouTube channel to view the livestream of the event and catch all the action. You can also access the video footage of day one and two of the competition by clicking on these links. View the cue sheets for the livestream of day one and day two. MEDIA CONTACT: Michele Rogerson, micheler@skillscanada.com, 613-266-4771. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/97b4defd-9f7a-4a84-9cf8-4edd330a5a1f London, United Kingdom, June 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In 2025, investors are opting into AI-driven cloud mining sites to enjoy the significantly high returns they offer. Cloud mining platforms like ZA Miner utilize automated crypto mining to ensure high yield. With the global crypto market gradually growing, crypto investors are progressively looking for efficient, compliant, and secure investment opportunities. The most recent hot news highlights ZA Miner as the top choice in the crypto mining space, leading with AI mining algorithms and the highest profitability. Let's dive in and review ZA Miners key advantages, unrivalled contracts. Start today to figure out your professional investment strategy! Explore Exceptional Crypto Earning Opportunities ZA Miners exceptional passive income generation sets it apart, allowing crypto investors to earn up to $23,803.20 and more daily. Additionally, the platform rewards contract purchase of up to $30,000.00 immediately after an investor's purchase. With ZA Miner, the journey to financial stability is seamless and hands-free. Its users can enjoy contract referral bonuses of up to $1,888 or 7% + 1% direct and second-level referral commissions. If you are looking to acquire consistent and significant passive income minus the constant hassle or complex infrastructure, ZA Miner offers the best investment plans. Built for Security, Designed for Sustainability In the crypto mining ecosystem, trust, credibility, and security are essential. ZA Miners core mission is safety and high profits, committing to transparency and legality to ensure users' investments are protected. The platform's remote mining farms use green energy to power their AI-optimized infrastructure, making the process carbon-neutral. Additionally, clean energy helps ensure high yields, allowing every investor to reap outstanding benefits. ZA Miner employs We use the latest ASIC miners, GPU equipment, creating an extensive experience in cloud mining operations and competitive mining technology. Backed by strong security measures like McAfee SECURE protection and Cloudflare SECURE protection, the platform provides top-notch security. ZA Miner: Redefining Cloud Mining with Powerful Advantages Maximized profitability: AI-automated algorithms constantly evaluate mining pools, switching to the most profitable one, ensuring the highest possible way to make money. Advanced mining equipment: The platform utilizes cutting-edge infrastructure hired from leading machine manufacturers like Antminer. Bitmain and Giant Energy Combination Miner. This ensures steady mining operations and efficient returns capacity ZA Miner VIP membership benefits. Investors can get up to $500,000 in benefits by acquiring the VIP club membership. Amazingly, there are 10 levels permitting users to upgrade. Compliant and accessible worldwide: ZA Miner was legally launched in Middlesex, United Kingdom, in 2020, fully under the UK government. In the last 5 years, the platform has gained more than 10 million real users globally. Intuitive user interface: ZA Miner's friendly UI allows easy navigation for every crypto investor. ZA Miner is a multi-crypto platform: it supports DOGE, BTC, ETH, USDC, USDT, BCH, LTC, XRP, and SOL for settlement. Sustainable passive income: ZA Miner contracts generate high profits every 24 hours, with guaranteed principal returns. High-yielding affiliate program: allows individuals to refer friends and get up to 7% in referral commissions. Join ZA Miner in Just 3 Easy Steps: Register today and receive a $100 sign-up bonus. Investors are only required to have an email address. Choose your preferred investment plan. After completing the registration process, users pick a mining contract that suits their budget and investment strategies. Here are some of ZA Miner's contracts: Start making money every 24 hours. Your selected plans automatically start instantly after the contract purchase. ZA Miner ensures fixed daily passive income hands-free. ZA Miner: Leading 2025 as the Trusted Name in Crypto Cloud Mining and Smart Investments ZA Miner cloud mining has not only been providing crypto investors with safe and reliable investment opportunities but also revolutionizing the space with AI and green energy. The platform is tailored to provide easily accessible investment solutions for a substantial boost and constant wealth accumulation. Join ZA Miner now and embrace life-changing opportunities in the crypto landscape. Start building your crypto wealth today! #crypto mining #cloud mining #Blockchain #Best earning platform #High profit platform Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and the possibility of losing funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor. WASHINGTON, June 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Everyones chasing AI. But according to former hedge fund manager Enrique Abeyta, its not the models or the algorithms that matter most. Its the data. Abeyta explains in his recent briefing how Elon Musks Dojo platform may be the first system designed from the ground up to collect, process, and dominate real-world visual data at scale turning cars into cameras, roads into training grounds, and movement itself into leverage. This is how power works now, Abeyta says. He who owns the data writes the rules. A Global Eye That Never Stops Learning Dojo is fueled by Teslas fleet which now collects 160 billion frames of real-world video per day. That data is piped into a custom-built chip thats reportedly 6x faster than Nvidias best AI processor, enabling Dojo to learn, correct, and evolve without human supervision. And on June 1st, Tesla plans to activate the first fully autonomous robotaxi with no wheel, no pedals, and no driver. Every mile driven, every stop sign seen, every erratic pedestrian encountered becomes another training loop refining the AI, sharpening the system, and growing Musks private dataset of the real world. From Road Maps to Strategic Maps Abeyta doesnt see this as a tech story. He sees it as a territory story. Just as satellites mapped the earth for governments, and Google mapped it for search engines, Dojo is mapping it for machines in real time, with full feedback, at street level. Thats why, he argues, this system is no longer just a Tesla project. One of the companies involved in its development is now expecting to receive billions of dollars from the Trump administration, according to internal briefings. If you can control what AI sees, you can control how it behaves thats the endgame here, Abeyta notes. The Arms Race Isnt Code. Its Collection. While others race to build the smartest models, Musk is building the largest sensory field in the world one that never sleeps, always watches, and trains itself constantly. Abeyta warns that the world may be entering a new kind of arms race not over weapons, but over the training environments machines use to understand the world. About Enrique Abeyta Enrique Abeyta is a former hedge fund manager with 25 years of experience following macro shifts in capital, power, and infrastructure. After managing nearly $4 billion in institutional capital, he now runs Breaking Profits, a research platform focused on identifying the hidden systems behind the next wave of global control from AI to autonomy to state-aligned tech. TORONTO and LONDON, Ontario and OSHAWA, Ontario and PETERBOROUGH, Ontario and THUNDER BAY, Ontario, June 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Injured & ill workers will gather at Queens Park and across the province as they have done every June 1st for 43 summers. This year, however, they come together for the first ever provincially proclaimed Injured Workers Day, thanks to the passage of Bill 118 The Injured Workers Day Act. Making Injured Workers Day official helps make our long-term struggle visible in Ontario, says Janet Paterson, president of the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups, but until it is accompanied by meaningful action to help address the poverty we face, it isnt enough. In the last year alone, the Ontario Government and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) have handed over $4.5 billion dollars in rebates to employers bringing the total handouts to over $20 billion since 2017 while overall benefits paid to workers are near historic lows amidst a culture of claims denial, claims suppression, and benefit cuts by the WSIB and rich employers. For too many workers in Ontario, an injury means poverty and pain. This is the Premier and the WSIB reaching into injured workers pockets and taking our money in order to hand it over to their rich friends the bosses who did this to us in the first place, said Wayne Harris, executive vice-president for ONIWG. These are not taxpayer dollars, they comes from a fund that employers pay into that is meant to look after the workers that they injure. Injured, ill, and migrant workers demand that this reckless practice of corporate handouts ends until their basic needs are met. The government and WSIB must immediately: Stop deeming injured workers by pretending we have jobs that we cant get. Provide real healthcare to injured & ill workers. Stop practices that systematically discriminate against migrant workers. This years Injured Workers Day events took place in six cities. Details below. Event Details & Media Contacts Toronto : June 1st Queens Park 11am to 1pm Provincial Media Coordinator Matthew Pi: 416-461-2423 London : June 1st Victoria Park 11am to 1pm Northwest Corner Rally organizer Kevin Jones Home phone: 519- 936-6715 Kevin will also be available at event for media inquiries Oshawa : *THURSDAY MAY 29th Justice for Injured Workers Event hosted by Durham Regional Labour Council 6:30pm 8:30pm IBEW East Hall 1001 Ritson Rd. S. ONIWG VP Wayne Harris: 289-830-2103 Peterborough : June 1st Millennium Park Noon North end of the pathway Peterborough Occupational Disease Action Committee Rep Sue James: 705-876-1150 Thunder Bay : *FRIDAY MAY 30th City Hall 10am. ONIWG VP Eugene Lafrancois: 807-767-7827 TORONTO, June 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- One year after celebrating the successful second reading of the Injured Workers Day Bill, the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) proudly stands today with injured workers, community groups, allies, ONDP Leader Marit Stiles, and ONDP MPP and Shadow Minister for Labour, Mining, and Energy, Jamie West to mark the first officially recognized Injured Workers Day in Ontario. For over four decades, injured workers have fought to be seen, heard, and protected, said Laura Walton, OFL President. Today, we can proudly say their fight is recognized in law, but the work to fix a broken workers compensation system is far from done. In Toronto, injured workers and allies gathered at Queens Park for a rally featuring speeches from injured workers, MPP Jamie West, and supporters. Rallies also took place in London, Oshawa, Peterborough, Thunder Bay, and Windsor, led by the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG). Jamie West added the collective effort behind the legislation: Whenever Im congratulated for passing my bill, I remind people this is really our bill. I tabled Bill 118: Injured Workers Day Act, but it wouldnt have existed without the injured worker groups who made it clear that June 1 had never been officially recognized by the province. In April 2024, the OFL partnered with ONIWG and launched the Injured Workers Bill of Rights, outlining a bold, worker-driven platform for justice. Today, the OFLs Injured Workers Committee continues to push for those urgent and unmet demands which include, full and fair compensation, an end to deeming, equitable healthcare access, and strong protections for migrant and precarious workers. David Newberry from Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic added, This years official proclamation of Injured Workers Day by the legislature is very exciting and deeply meaningful, but it needs to be followed up with meaningful action that makes a material difference in the lives of the workers who lost their health at work and are struggling in poverty and pain. The OFL and its allies will continue the fight to transform Ontarios workers compensation system, because recognition alone is not justice. No worker should be punished or neglected for being injured at work. Media Contact: Jenny Sellathurai Director of Communications, Ontario Federation of Labour jsellathurai@ofl.ca | 416-894-3456 cj/COPE343 All patients in the treatment arm remain disease-free after a minimum of 2-year follow-up in the randomized Phase I trial in resected HPV-negative locally advanced head and neck cancer Demonstrating clinical proof of principle for TG4050 Single agent TG4050 induced long-lasting neoantigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses Treatment was well-tolerated with no unexpected safety signals Data presented during rapid oral session at ASCO 2025 Conference call scheduled on Friday June 6, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. CET (in English). See details below Strasbourg, France & Tokyo, Japan, June 1st, 2025, 7:15 p.m. CET Transgene (Euronext Paris: TNG), a biotech company that designs and develops virus-based immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, and NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701), a leader in IT, network and AI technologies, have presented new positive data on TG4050 in a rapid oral presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. These positive data confirm that individualized neoantigen therapeutic vaccine TG4050 is safe and feasible in the adjuvant setting of resectable HPV-negative locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). TG4050 induces, as monotherapy, long-lasting immune responses to vaccine neoantigens sustained for up to 2 years, and these results met all trial endpoints (NCT04183166) including safety, feasibility, immune activation and disease-free survival (defined as survival without recurrence or death for any cause). TG4050 is based on Transgenes myvac platform and powered by NECs cutting-edge AI capabilities designed to optimize antigen selection. Positive data from Phase I, confirming proof of principle of Transgenes viral vector based individualized cancer vaccine TG4050 in HPV-negative locally advanced head and neck cancer 100% disease free survival at a minimum of 2-year follow-up of treated patients (median follow-up: 30 months) in the Phase I part of the trial: all patients in the TG4050 treatment arm remain disease free while 3 patients in the observational arm have relapsed. all patients in the TG4050 treatment arm remain disease free while 3 patients in the observational arm have relapsed. Persistence of neoantigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses over 2 years after the start of TG4050 has been observed. Dr. Alessandro Riva, CEO of Transgene, commented: The sustained clinical and immunogenicity outcomes observed over two years of TG4050 monotherapy, along with the positive safety profile, mark an important milestone for Transgene. These results reinforce both the clinical promise of TG4050 and our commitment to accelerate the development of this individualized immunotherapy in adjuvant setting for patients with HPV-negative, locally advanced head and neck cancer. Motoo Nishihara, Corporate EVP, and CTO, at NEC, commented: This positive readout, combined with the durability of the efficacy data at two years, underscore the clinical potential of individualized cancer vaccine programs. It is a strong validation of our innovative AI platform and our dedication to advancing solutions that deliver meaningful, long-term value to patients and healthcare systems alike. Ongoing Phase II part of Phase I/II clinical trial of individualized neoantigen therapeutic cancer vaccine TG4050 TG4050 is being evaluated in a randomized multicenter Phase I/II trial as a single agent in the adjuvant treatment of HPV-negative head and neck cancers (NCT04183166 ) . Based on the promising data obtained in the Phase I part of the trial, Transgene and NEC extended the joint development of TG4050 in this indication with a Phase II extension of the trial. The Phase II part of the trial, aimed at confirming the encouraging results in a larger patient population and evaluating both immunological and clinical outcomes, is currently underway. All patients are expected to be randomized by Q4 2025. Altogether, the Phase I/II study will comprise approximately 80 patients. Dr Christian Ottensmeier, MD, PhD, FRCP (University of Liverpool, La Jolla Institute for Immunology), will discuss the data presented at ASCO 2025, the unmet medical need and current treatment landscape for patients suffering from head and neck cancers in a live virtual event taking place on June 6, 2025 (9:00 p.m. ET; 3:00 p.m. CET). Webcast link to English language conference call: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/x49uzc62 Please log in to the following link to obtain your personal telephone IDs: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BId8c981041ca84dad92bb2faa73fc5344 A replay of the call will be available on the Transgene website (www.transgene.com) following the live event. *** Contacts Media: Investors & Analysts: Caroline Tosch Lucie Larguier Corporate and Scientific Communications Manager Chief Financial Officer (CFO) +33 (0)3 68 33 27 38 Nadege Bartoli communication@transgene.fr Investor Relations Analyst and Financial Communications Officer MEDiSTRAVA +33 (0)3 88 27 91 00/03 Frazer Hall/Sylvie Berrebi investorrelations@transgene.fr + 44 (0)203 928 6900 transgene@medistrava.com NEC Corporation: NEC Corporation: AI Drug Development Division Joseph Jasper contact@aidd.jp.nec.com j-jasper@nec.com +81-3-37986511 About Transgene Transgene (Euronext: TNG) is a biotechnology company focused on designing and developing targeted immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. The Companys clinical-stage programs consist of a portfolio of viral vector-based immunotherapeutics. TG4050, the first individualized therapeutic vaccine based on the myvac platform is the Companys lead asset, with demonstrated proof of principle in patients in the adjuvant treatment of head and neck cancers. The portfolio also includes other viral-vector-based immunotherapies: TG4001 for the treatment of HPV-positive cancers, as well as BT-001 and TG6050, two oncolytic viruses based on the Invir.IO viral backbone. The Company also conducts innovative discovery and preclinical work, aimed at developing novel viral vector-based modalities. With Transgenes myvac platform, therapeutic vaccination enters the field of precision medicine with a novel immunotherapy that is fully tailored to each individual. The myvac approach allows the generation of a virus-based immunotherapy that encodes patient-specific mutations identified and selected by Artificial Intelligence capabilities provided by its partner NEC. With its proprietary platform Invir.IO, Transgene is building on its viral vector engineering expertise to design a new generation of multifunctional oncolytic viruses. Additional information about Transgene is available at: www.transgene.com Follow us on social media: X (formerly Twitter): @TransgeneSA LinkedIn: @Transgene Bluesky: @Transgene About myvac myvac is a viral vector (MVA Modified Vaccinia Ankara) based, individualized immunotherapy platform that has been developed by Transgene to target solid tumors. myvac-derived products are designed to stimulate the patients immune system to recognize and destroy tumors using their own cancer specific genetic mutations. Transgene has set up an innovative network that combines bioengineering, digital transformation, established vectorization know-how and unique manufacturing capabilities. Transgene has been awarded Investment for the Future funding from Bpifrance for the development of its platform myvac. TG4050 is the first myvac-derived product being evaluated in clinical trials. Click here to watch a short video on myvac. About TG4050 TG4050 is an individualized immunotherapy being developed for solid tumors that is based on Transgenes myvac technology and powered by NECs longstanding artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) expertise. This virus-based therapeutic vaccine encodes neoantigens (patient-specific mutations) identified and selected by NECs Neoantigen Prediction System. The prediction system is based on more than two decades of expertise in AI and has been trained on proprietary data allowing it to accurately prioritize and select the most immunogenic sequences. TG4050 is designed to stimulate the immune system of patients in order to induce a T-cell response that is able to recognize and destroy tumor cells based on their own neoantigens. This individualized immunotherapy is developed and produced for each patient. About the Phase I/II clinical trial TG4050 is being evaluated in a Phase I/II clinical trial for patients with HPV-negative head and neck cancers (NCT04183166). An individualized treatment is created for each patient after they complete surgery and while they receive adjuvant therapy. Half of the participants received their vaccine immediately after completing adjuvant treatment. The other half were given TG4050 as an additional treatment at the time of recurrence of the disease as an additional treatment to standard of care (SoC). This randomized study is evaluating the treatment benefits of TG4050 in patients who are at risk of relapse. In the Phase I part, thirty-two evaluable patients have been included. The Phase II part is currently enrolling patients internationally. About NECs Neoantigen Prediction System NECs neoantigen prediction system utilizes its proprietary AI, such as graph-based relational learning, trained on multiple sources of biological data to discover candidate neoantigen targets. These targets are carefully analyzed using proprietary machine learning algorithms that include in-house HLA binding and antigen presentation AI tools to evaluate the likelihood of eliciting a robust and clinically relevant T-cell response. With NEC OncoImmunity now on board, NEC continues to strengthen its top-class neoantigen prediction pipelines with the aim of maximizing the therapeutic benefits of personalized cancer immunotherapy for patients worldwide. For more information, please visit NEC Bio at https://www.nec-bio.com or https://www.nec-bio.com/en_DD/research-and-innovation/our-approach/ About NEC Corporation NEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of Orchestrating a brighter world. NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. The occurrence of any of these risks could have a significant negative outcome for the Companys activities, perspectives, financial situation, results, regulatory authorities agreement with development phases, and development. The Companys ability to commercialize its products depends on but is not limited to the following factors: positive pre-clinical data may not be predictive of human clinical results, the success of clinical studies, the ability to obtain financing and/or partnerships for product manufacturing, development and commercialization, and marketing approval by government regulatory authorities. For a discussion of risks and uncertainties which could cause the Companys actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors (Facteurs de Risque) section of the Universal Registration Document, available on the AMF website (http://www.amf-france.org) or on Transgenes website (www.transgene.fr). Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and Transgene undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Attachment BERLIN, June 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- After more than 15 years operating quietly under the name BERGER KOMMUNIKATION, one of Europes most trusted backend communication infrastructures has officially rebranded and relaunched as KONTAKTUM. KONTAKTUM will now operate independently, with a sharpened focus on the wellness and health supplement industry across the EU. The new identity reflects the companys deep specialization in backend revenue systems from multilingual customer support to advanced sales reactivation flows for brands that ship thousands of units daily across Europe. While BERGER KOMMUNIKATION built its name in high-performance outbound operations, KONTAKTUM expands the model into a more modern, full-stack backend solution. That includes welcome call systems, cart recovery outreach, localized reactivation campaigns, and multilingual voice support all designed to improve customer lifetime value (LTV) without disrupting frontend operations. Most brands focus on acquisition, says a KONTAKTUM team lead. But the real margin lives in what happens after the sale and thats exactly where we operate. The new KONTAKTUM brand brings together years of operational know-how, a fully native-speaking team across 8 European languages, and a distributed team based in Berlin, Paris, Milan, and Barcelona. The company also confirmed the rollout of its proprietary backend management interface, internally known as SignalDesk a platform that allows wellness brand operators to monitor backend flows, agent performance, and reactivation ROI in real time. This level of visibility is rare in the post-purchase ecosystem, especially in multilingual markets. With GDPR-compliant infrastructure and a white-label approach, KONTAKTUM acts as the invisible layer behind the most profitable wellness brands in the region. Brands remain in full control of the customer experience, while KONTAKTUM ensures that revenue is recovered, retained, and scaled silently in the background. The split from BERGER KOMMUNIKATION also comes with internal expansion: KONTAKTUM now manages over 1.8 million customer records per quarter, and the team has grown by over 60% in the past six months. Were not an agency. Were infrastructure, says the KONTAKTUM operations team. That means brands plug us in and see the numbers move quietly and consistently. Although no client names have been disclosed, industry insiders confirm KONTAKTUM is currently working with multiple top-5 EU advertisers in the wellness space, handling full backend delivery for both new and recurring customer flows. For wellness brands looking to improve retention, reduce refunds, or build a backend that actually converts KONTAKTUM appears to be the new name to know. Media Contact: Felix Hoffman press@kontaktum.com Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the Kontaktum. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/93bcc491-73bb-4827-8f66-64c967d015f1 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d25df817-f8d8-4b71-a3fe-33925c2ac0ec DOHA, Qatar, June 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its mission to introduce world-renowned brands to Qatar, Msheireb Properties celebrated its partnership with Liberty - the leading British luxury retailer and design house, during Libertys 150th anniversary celebrations in London. The partnership will see the opening of a Liberty Home showroom and a Liberty-branded cafe concept at Msheireb Galleria later this year, further establishing Msheireb Downtown Doha and Doha Design District as a leading destination for global creativity, design and innovation. Msheireb Properties celebrated the partnership during Libertys anniversary event earlier this month at its flagship London store. The event previewed the I Am. We Are. Liberty. exhibition, showcasing one of the most significant and expansive design archives in the United Kingdom. The exhibition shines a light on the creative spirit and wide-ranging cultural influences that have shaped and contributed to the retailer and design house since its founding in 1875. Representing Msheireb Properties and the Doha Design District at the event was Shaikha Al-Sulaiti, Senior Concept Manager, who joined Libertys global design community and celebrated a partnership rooted in shared values of craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and forward-thinking design. We congratulate Liberty on 150 years of excellence in design and innovation, our partnership reflects a shared belief in preserving cultural identity while embracing contemporary creativity, said Eng. Ali Al Kuwari, CEO of Msheireb Properties. Design has always been a fundamental pillar for Msheireb Downtown Doha, with every space reflecting Qatars architectural heritage with modern, sustainable form and function. The Liberty Home showroom at Msheireb Galleria, further strengthens Doha Design Districts position as a dynamic regional hub for creativity, collaboration, and cultural exchange. This latest partnership underscores Msheireb Properties ongoing commitment to positioning Doha as a destination for world-class design and lifestyle brands. By welcoming Liberty, the British luxury retailer and design house at the cutting edge of the decorative arts since 1875, to Msheireb Downtown Doha, the company continues to expand the global footprint of the Doha Design District. Adil M-Khan, CEO of Liberty Group, added: We are honoured to share with Msheireb Properties in Doha our artistic vision for craft, fabric, interiors, beauty, and living. As Liberty celebrates 150 years of commitment to good design, we have partnered with Msheireb Properties to present a unique interiors destination in Doha. Our joint commitment to art and innovation aspires to both delight and express our gratitude to Qatari customers and visitors from around the world. The Liberty Home showroom will feature Libertys celebrated collections of interior fabrics, home accessories, and fashion fabrics in a space that seamlessly blends with the architectural identity of Msheireb Downtown Doha. The showroom design will integrate elements that complement the architectural language of Msheireb Downtown Doha, creating a harmonious space that honours both British and Qatari design sensibilities and offers a curated environment that invites exploration and connection. This partnership is part of a wider initiative by Msheireb Properties and the Doha Design District to grow Qatars creative economy through targeted global partnerships, immersive retail experiences, and sustained support for cultural and design industries. Photos accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/15832b7e-503f-4db6-869f-4a6cd749e08d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/093904a5-8034-4510-9d21-73f49016c3a5 Barcelona admits F1 race alternation possible It is possible Barcelona's grand prix could be saved by accepting a proposal by Formula 1 to annually rotate some key European events. Isack Hadjar, Spanish GP 2025 Red Bull Some expected the event to defy the odds this weekend and announce that a deal to extend its contract with F1 beyond 2026, notwithstanding Madrid taking over the official 'Spanish GP' title next year. However, the Catalonia government's business minister Miquel Samper says the negotiations are still progressing - slowly. The best cooking is slow cooking, he smiled. "Little by little, little by little. It takes a few days, a few weeks, a few months - we'll see. And what would the event even be called? That's part of the negotiation, he admitted. It has already been announced that Spa-Francorchamps is only keeping its famous grand prix alive for the future by not welcoming F1 each and every year. There are several possibilities on the table, Samper said when asked if Barcelona could only join in with the alternation scheme. There are two parties negotiating that are not minor, he said. "It's an entire government and an entire Formula 1. So there are many possibilities, and that's why this is dragging on. We're analysing all the pros and cons, but you can't even imagine the demand from countries wanting to host grands prix. Therefore, this requires a great deal of professionalism in management and a great deal of discretion, the minister concluded. (GMM) FIA not ruling out dynamic flexi-wing checks The FIA is not ruling out 'dynamic tests' to clamp down even harder on flexible wings in Formula 1. Liam Lawson, Spanish GP 2025 Red Bull Nikolas Tombazis, the Paris-based federation's single-seater chief, has had a busy weekend in Barcelona as tough new flexibility checks debuted for McLaren-style bendy front wings. It has had little impact on the pecking order, with McLaren still 1-2 in qualifying. What a waste of money, seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton is quoted as saying by La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Nothing has changed. Everyone's wings are still bending - they're just getting halfway to the bending point now and everyone has had to build new wings and spend money to make them. It would have been better for everyone to donate the money to charity, the Ferrari driver added. Tombazis doesn't deny that the teams are still up to clever flexibility tricks even in Barcelona. The teams arrived prepared with more rigid wings and some aerodynamic modifications, he told Sky Italia on Saturday. Tombazis admits that dynamic tests - checks evaluated by the FIA when the cars are actually running on track - are now a possibility . First, the issue is to better understand the precision of the measurements, he added. For now, we use dynamic tests to calibrate the static tests. Also tested by the teams on the FIA's behalf this weekend have been new steel materials underneath the car instead of the usual spark-producing titanium. For now it's an experiment, Tombazis said, "so it's too early to judge. It weighs more, but it's the same for everyone. We think the consumption is similar. Some think it's a shame that the steel will not produce the same spectacular sparks, but Tombazis clarified: The intention is to use them only on tracks where there is a risk of fires. (GMM) Ex-convict Hajia 4Reall drops new song after $2M fraud jail time Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Jun - 01 - 2025 , 09:32 2 minutes read Ghanaian socialite and musician Mona Faiz Montrage, popularly known as Hajia 4Reall, has announced her comeback to the music scene following her release from prison in the United States. On June 1, 2025, Montrage marked her return with a video preview of her latest song titled Move. The track begins with the line, Life is a testimony, and sees her reflect on resilience and bouncing back after her time behind bars. Known to her fans as Queen Mona, the influencer-turned-artiste was released on May 22, 2025 from the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia after serving a one-year and a-day sentence. According to information from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons, her release was followed by immigration proceedings and a voluntary return to Ghana. Her sentence stemmed from a conviction for conspiracy to receive stolen money, tied to a West Africa-based criminal network engaged in internet fraud and romance scams. She was extradited from the UK to the U.S. in May 2023 and pleaded guilty in February 2024. She was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken on June 28, 2024. U.S. prosecutors said she was involved in a scheme that defrauded older Americans of over $2 million. Montrage personally received funds from about 40 victims through U.S.-based bank accounts under false pretences. Some of the fraudulent narratives used included transporting gold, resolving a fake FBI case, and assisting a fake U.S. Army officer in accessing funds. Court documents revealed she controlled accounts that received more than $2 million in fraudulent proceeds. In addition to her prison sentence, Montrage was sentenced to three years of supervised release, ordered to forfeit $216,475, and pay restitution totaling $1,387,458. Her legal team negotiated a return plan to Ghana, which the sentencing judge approved. They stated in court that she was ready to start over and contribute positively to society. From Big Brother to Isolationist: Trumps visa halt reshapes Americas image Gilbert Attipoe Opinion Jun - 01 - 2025 , 10:17 6 minutes read In a sweeping and contentious decision, President Donald Trumps administration has suspended all new student visa interviews at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, effective May 27, 2025, as part of an effort to expand social media vetting for applicants. This policy, combined with actions like the attempted revocation of Harvard Universitys ability to enroll international students and the termination of federal aid to foreign nations, marks a significant shift in U.S. policy. These moves raise profound questions about Americas commitment to globalization, its role as a global leader, and the potential for international retaliation. This article examines the consequences of these policies for the United States, their implications for the interconnected global village, and the likely responses from other nations. Globalization, the intricate web of trade, culture, and education that binds nations together, has long defined modern international relations. The United States has historically been a beacon of this interconnectedness, drawing over 1.1 million international students each year who contribute roughly $44billion to the economy and sustain more than 378,000jobs, according to the Institute of International Education. These students, particularly in STEM fields, drive innovation and bolster U.S. competitiveness on the global stage. Yet, the Trump administrations recent actionshalting student visa interviews, intensifying scrutiny of social media for perceived anti-Semitic or pro-terrorist content, and targeting universities like Harvard for their alleged liberal biasessignal a retreat from this global framework. The decision to cut foreign aid, a cornerstone of U.S. soft power, further distances America from its international partners. These policies prompt a critical question: Does President Trump believe in globalization, or is his administration prioritizing isolationism under the pretext of national security? The suspension of student visa interviews and the imposition of stricter vetting carry significant consequences for the United States, both economically and geopolitically. International students are a vital economic engine, injecting billions into universities and local economies. A prolonged halt or heightened barriers could deter students from choosing U.S. institutions, leading to a decline in enrollment and revenue, particularly for public universities reliant on full-tuition-paying international students. This could strain university budgets and reduce funding for research and development, where international students play a pivotal role. Beyond economics, the U.S. risks losing its edge in innovation. Foreign-born students make up one in five STEM workers in the U.S., addressing a domestic shortage of graduates in these critical fields, as noted by the National Science Foundation. By restricting access, the U.S. may drive talent to competitors like Canada, Australia, or China, which are actively welcoming international students. The damage extends to Americas global reputation. Long viewed as a welcoming destination for education and opportunity, the U.S. has cultivated an image as a global big brother. However, the visa halt, coupled with actions against elite universities like Harvard for their perceived failure to combat antisemitism, risks portraying the U.S. as hostile or unreliable. International students and their home countries may turn to alternatives, diminishing Americas soft power and influence in academic and cultural spheres. Domestically, these policies have sparked legal and political backlash. A federal judge temporarily blocked the attempt to revoke Harvards ability to enroll international students, and over 100 lawsuits from affected students forced the administration to restore thousands of visa registrations in April 2025. These legal battles underscore the contentious nature of the policies and could further polarize opinion, alienating universities and advocacy groups whoargue that the measures infringe on free speech and academic freedom. The halt on student visas and the reduction of foreign aid could provoke retaliatory measures from other nations, undermining the spirit of the global village. Countries like China, which has publicly urged the U.S. to protect its students rights, may impose reciprocal restrictions on American students or professionals seeking to study or work abroad, disrupting educational and professional exchanges. Nations that send large numbers of students to the U.S., such as India and China, may redirect their talent to countries with more welcoming policies, like Canada or Australia, which have already seen increased interest due to U.S. restrictions during Trumps first term. The decision to cut foreign aid could further strain diplomatic relations with nations reliant on U.S. support, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These countries may reduce cooperation on critical issues like trade, security, or climate change, viewing the U.S. as an unreliable partner. The European Union, which has criticized Trumps policies as undermining global cooperation, has hinted at potential countermeasures, signaling broader diplomatic friction. President Trumps actions suggest a deep skepticism of globalization as traditionally understood. His America First agenda prioritizes national security and economic protectionism over international collaboration. The student visa halt and the revocation of foreign aid align with a pattern of policiessuch as trade tariffs and immigration crackdownsthat favor unilateralism over interdependence. While Trump has expressed support for retaining talent, such as proposing green cards for foreign graduates during his campaign, his administrations actions create barriers for the very students he claimed to value. This approach challenges the concept of the global village, where nations rely on mutual cooperation. By targeting international students and cutting aid, Trump appears to prioritize short-term political goalsappealing to his base by cracking down on immigration and perceived liberal institutionsover long-term global engagement. Other nations are already responding to these policies. China has called for the protection of its students rights, signaling potential diplomatic tensions. Countries like Canada and Australia are likely to position themselves as stable, welcoming destinations for international students, capitalizing on Americas restrictive stance. The European Unions mention of countermeasures suggests a broader pushback against U.S. unilateralism, which could manifest in trade disputes or reduced cooperation on global issues. For the U.S., the path forward requires balancing national security with the benefits of global engagement. Restoring student visa processing with clear, transparent guidelines could mitigate economic and reputational damage. Reinstating foreign aid, even selectively, could rebuild trust with allies. However, the administrations current trajectory suggests a continued emphasis on isolationist policies, which may further strain Americas role as a global leader. In conclusion, President Trumps suspension of student visa applications and the reduction of foreign aid represent a significant departure from the principles of globalization that have shaped U.S. policy for decades. The consequences economic losses, diminished innovation, and a tarnished global reputationcould weaken Americas standing as a global leader. Other nations are likely to respond with reciprocal restrictions, redirected educational alliances, or diplomatic pushback, challenging the notion of a global village. While the administration frames these measures as necessary for national security, they risk alienating talent and allies at a time when global cooperation is critical. The world is watching, and the United States must decide whether it will lead or retreat in an increasingly interconnected world. Writer's email: [email protected] The rocky road to Ashesi - Occasional Kwatriot Kwesi Yankah writes Kwesi Yankah Opinion Jun - 01 - 2025 , 20:13 3 minutes read My arrival at Ashesi last Thursday couldnt have been better timed. I parked close to a group of visitors just arrived on a formal visit. Americans, I guessed; you could tell from their biceps, wide-eyeballs, accent and all. A motor dispatch rider had escorted them from Accra partly for safety, partly for comfort, but largely as protocol cover to one of Africas Top Ten universities, Ashesi; founded 2002. Situated on a hilly terrain, Ashesi makes you feel proud as Ghanaian taunting the laurels of a small university with a big name. Hear this awesome summary of honors: 1500 student enrollment; leader in undergraduate education, second best in Ghana, among top Ten in sub-Saharan Africa (THE); innovative and forward thinking; 50% women, 50% on financial aid; 25% paying nothing to attend; 27% international students, 32 nationalities represented, and more. That should quietly explain the rich mix of guests that defy the odds and trek to Ashesi daily for formal visits and educational tourism. Ashesi is indeed a tale of treasure buried in rugged landscapes, hard to reach, and crying for constant dialog between gown and town. Simply said, the rocky road to Ashesi frustrates access by certified residents themselves; and could weaken the Universitys global stature if public goodwill does not intervene on a rescue mission. Why this desperate cry? Whether approaching from Dome-Ashongman suburbs of Accra or Aburi, one cannot avoid the rocky ride to the small Berekuso township that hosts Ashesi. It begins with three kilometers of rugged pot holes from Dome Roundabout to the outskirts of Ashongman, where assorted manholes and craters takeover leaving in their trail, dispersed islands of bitumen. And when you thought you were half way through, you despair hearing that the trip has just begun. The nine-kilometer stretch of rocky laterite, is laced with a spread preparatory schools, small scale enterprises, elegant houses and retail stores wrapped in nimbus clouds of dust. Then come sharp-edged gravels that leave souvenir blisters on Michelin tyres; but also part-submerged boulders, free style erosion, mid-road rivulets plus split rocks: collectively signaling no entry to Ashesi University. Looking ahead, you are comforted sighting a beeline of commercial vehicles also picking their way on thorns in your direction, swaying, jerking, and rocking: weep not, you are not alone, is their message. You plough through the painful stretch only to hear there are two more peaks ahead--the most prickly as you approach Berekuso. its here vehicles often surrender, and wheel caps fall apart. Well trained drivers alight to check loose body parts rattling beneath trucks, and pay heed to yelling axles and squeaking ball joints. If vehicle tyres have survived to this point, its only by Providence. On this journey, no overtaking road signs are not needed; vehicles can only crawl. The entire ordeal wears down humans on board, even more than vehicles in motion. Arriving finally on Ashesi campus, it takes only a minute and a deep sigh of relief to dissipate your anguish. A captivating spectacle awaits surviving pilgrims: the majestic Ashesi campus sprawling up and downhill, and delivering world class education to some 1500 students. That is your prize, the hidden trophy, the gold beyond the toil. It is indeed a rocky venture carved only for believers in quality education, who will stop at nothing to give their wards a springboard to be world leaders. This Friday, 6th June marks Ashesis 7th graduation since they obtained a charter to award their own degrees. It will welcome thousands of parents, guardians, and sponsors to experience commencement of the 2025 batch. Ashesi shines brighter every year, and in 2025 introduces Ashesi Law in its curriculum. But Ghanas tertiary education will enjoy a greater boost, if access routes to this University are refined to befit the global standards Ashesi has attained in the name of Ghana. JM, please come to the rescue of Ashesi University. Email: [email protected] See the new guidelines for 2025 BECE school selection and placement Jemima Okang Addae Education Jun - 01 - 2025 , 08:56 1 minute read The Ministry of Education has introduced a new set of guidelines for selecting schools for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates. These updated guidelines are intended for the 2025 Second Cycle Schools selection and sensitisation exercise. Candidates aspiring to enter Senior High Schools (SHS), Senior High Technical Schools (SHTS), or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions are required to choose a total of seven schools. Out of these seven, five must be main school choices selected from Categories A, B, and C. Additionally, two extra schools are to be chosen as alternatives, in case the candidate is not placed in any of the five primary selections. When making selections, candidates may choose a maximum of one school from Category A, up to two schools from Category B, while all five main choices may come from Category C. Candidates must also indicate their preferred academic programmes and residential options, with a maximum of three boarding schools and two day schools among their selections. The Ministry further indicated that TVET candidates are expected to choose all five main selections from TVET institutions, while STEM candidates may select science or STEM-related options for all five of their main choices. KALBAJAR, Azerbaijan, June 1. A mine explosion has been reported in the Susuzluq village area of Azerbaijans Kalbajar district, Trends Karabakh bureau reports. The incident occurred when a tractor struck a landmine, causing an explosion. The driver, identified as Rashadat Asadov, a 1989-born resident of Kurdamir, was injured in the blast and taken to hospital for treatment. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Gender Ministry opens child caregiving centre to support staff Jemima Okang Addae Jun - 01 - 2025 , 08:50 2 minutes read In a step towards promoting work-life balance and early childhood development, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has inaugurated a 'Child Caregiving Centre' on Friday, May 30, 2025 at the ministry's premises. The centre is designed to offer a safe and nurturing environment for the children of Ministry staff, with particular support for nursing mothers. This is to empower working parents, especially mothers, by enabling them to thrive professionally while ensuring their young children receive appropriate care and developmental support. At the launch, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, highlighted the ministrys responsibility in protecting vulnerable groups, particularly children. She stated that this responsibility begins with the Ministrys own workforce, acknowledging staff as an essential pillar of productivity and national development. The Minister emphasised the value of early childhood development, identifying the early years as critical for building children's cognitive, physical, and social capabilities. She further explained that the initiative aligns with President Mahamas commitment to prioritise early childhood care by creating nurturing spaces where young children can flourish. She encouraged staff to utilise the centre fully, as it is designed to enhance both working conditions and overall wellbeing. The Chief Director of the Ministry, Dr Afisah Zakariah, described the centre as a strategic move to support working parentsespecially mothersby providing a secure and supervised space for children aged zero to three years. She noted that the facility allows staff to focus on their duties with confidence, knowing their children are in a caring and protective environment. The Australian Ambassador to Ghana, Berenice Owen-Jones, applauded the Ministry for this initiative and recommended that similar models be adopted across other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. Ghana launches renewable energy project for rural areas Jemima Okang Addae Jun - 01 - 2025 , 08:53 3 minutes read The government of Ghana has launched a renewable energy project aimed at improving electricity access in some underserved communities. The launch event took place in Lala, located in the Sene East District of the Bono East Region, marking the commencement of the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programme (SREP), which is set to bring clean and sustainable power to over 70,000 people. Speaking at the launch, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, underscored the transformative potential of the initiative, particularly in rural communities. As a Ministry, we are not just installing solar panels or building infrastructure, we are lighting up lives, empowering communities, and bridging the rural-urban energy divide, he stated. The SREP will involve the construction of 35 mini grids and the installation of 1,450 solar home systems across the Bono East, Oti, and Savannah regions. Additionally, 12,000 net-metered rooftop solar PV systems will be deployed nationwide to support Ghanas green energy transition. Mr Jinapor acknowledged the endurance of people in off-grid areas who have awaited electricity for years. He encouraged community involvement in the building and maintenance of the new energy infrastructure, urging local leaders to take ownership of the project and contractors to hire local artisans. He further outlined the Governments broader ambition of achieving universal electricity access by 2030, revealing that feasibility studies have been completed for 150 island and lakeside communities in the Afram Plains, with plans to construct 150 more mini grids in the future. We are confident that by 2030, we will have over 200 mini grids operational, delivering on our last-mile electrification target of 99.8%, he declared. The event was attended by key stakeholders including representatives from the Swiss Embassy, African Development Bank, Volta River Authority (VRA), Electricity Company of Ghana, and the Energy Commission. Mr Jinapor expressed the Governments gratitude to the Swiss Government and the AfDB for their continued support. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Climate Investment Fund, the Swiss Government, and the African Development Bank. The Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Eunice Biritwum pledged the Commissions full support for the successful implementation of the SREP. She emphasised the Commissions active role in developing the programme since its inception in 2013/2014. The Energy Commission is glad to be associated with the SREP, which aims to deploy mini grids and off-grid solutions in unconnected areas, as well as roof-mounted solar PV systems in urban and peri-urban locations, she stated. She reaffirmed the Commissions commitment to supporting the Governments flagship programme in its goal to increase solar energy use and achieve universal energy access in line with national renewable energy targets. Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority, Edward Kenzo reiterated the Authoritys dedication to the long-term sustainability, efficiency, and responsible management of the mini grids after construction. We understand that infrastructure is the initial step, but it is the continuous delivery of quality service that ensures lasting change. We are committed to upholding a proper maintenance culture to benefit communities for generations, he assured. Delivering a speech on behalf of the Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Simone Giger, the Deputy Head of Cooperation, Magdalena Wust, reaffirmed Switzerlands commitment to supporting Ghana in achieving access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for all. She noted that energy security is essential for any nations development and highlighted the importance of the strong bilateral relationship between Ghana and Switzerland under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which fosters joint climate action and long-term energy sustainability. Previous article: The 5 key issues Ken Ofori-Atta is being investigated for as deadline to report to OSP expires on June 2 PassionAir refutes fuel shortage claims after Accra-Takoradi flight returns mid-air Kweku Zurek Jun - 01 - 2025 , 11:08 2 minutes read Domestic airline, PassionAir has denied reports that one of its domestic flights returned mid-air to Accra due to a fuel shortage, describing the allegations as false and misleading. In a press release issued on Saturday, May 31, 2025, the airline clarified that Flight OP 122, which was scheduled to fly from Accra to Takoradi, departed Kotoka International Airport at 6:18 a.m. but returned approximately six minutes into the flight after the captain received an onboard indication unrelated to fuel. "Approximately six (6) minutes after takeoff, the Captain elected to return to base due to an indication received in the flight deck not related to fuel," the statement read. "The aircraft landed safely in Accra, and our ground engineers immediately began diagnostics to address the issue." The airline emphasised that all passengers were disembarked safely in accordance with standard operating procedures. Once the fault was identified and rectified by engineers, the aircraft was cleared for service, refuelled per normal procedure, and resumed operations under the designation Flight OP 122A without incident. PassionAir expressed regret over the circulation of what it described as unverified and inaccurate information, assuring the public that passenger safety remains its highest priority. "We operate in strict compliance with standards set by our aviation regulator," the airline stated. The management of PassionAir also extended an apology to passengers affected by the disruption and thanked the public for their understanding and cooperation. Next article: Stay away from these blacklisted unlicensed mobile lending applications Cyber Security Authority to public Public drama over elite arrests weakens trust in justice system - Franklin Cudjoe Mohammed Ali Jun - 01 - 2025 , 10:04 2 minutes read The President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has criticised what he described as a needless public spectacle surrounding the arrest and detention of politically exposed persons, warning that such behaviours weaken trust in Ghanas justice system. Speaking during an a discussion programme on Channel One TV on Saturday, May 31, 2025, Mr Cudjoe questioned why the legal troubles of political figures often spark loud public outcry when ordinary citizens go through similar processes without attention. Ive never understood why common invitations to security services should turn into some sort of circus, he said. When ordinary people are arrested for committing crimes, no one masses up or makes noise. But when it involves a politically exposed person, the whole country must stop? Mr Cudjoe expressed concern that these episodes are often used as platforms for political grandstanding instead of allowing the legal process to unfold without interference. According to him, such actions send the wrong signal to Ghanaians and create the impression that justice is not applied equally. This sort of behaviour irritates me, he said. We must stop turning arrests into theatre. If a person is accused of wrongdoing, allow the process to play out. No one is above the law. He also raised questions about the continued detention of suspects who have been granted bail but are yet to meet the conditions. While acknowledging that the law permits such custody, Mr Cudjoe called on lawyers to challenge what he described as overly harsh bail requirements. You can go to court and ask for a variation, he said. The law allows for that. Bail conditions are not meant to punish. Mr Cudjoe noted that the lawful process should continue, but without unnecessary public spectacle. He commended individuals who quietly helped to meet bail requirements behind the scenes, describing such efforts as a more reasonable approach. He also criticised political actors and supporters who seize on such situations to whip up public emotions or display political relevance, adding that these behaviours do not serve the countrys peace or legal order. When people are caught up in legal issues, lets not raise tensions, he said. Others go through the same without calling on their entire community. Its unfair and dangerous. The 5 key issues Ken Ofori-Atta is being investigated for as deadline to report to OSP expires on June 2 Enoch Darfah Frimpong Jun - 01 - 2025 , 11:28 3 minutes read The deadline for former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta to report to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) expires on June 2, 2025. The OSP has stated that if Mr Ofori-Atta fails to appear, his name will be added back to the list of wanted persons and he will again be declared a fugitive from justice. In such case, the OSP will also begin the process to request an INTERPOL Red Notice against Mr Ofori-Atta. The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is investigating Mr Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, a former Minister of Finance, over five major issues during his tenure in office under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo: The Key Issues under investigations are: Petroleum and Minerals Revenue Assurance: Contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). Electricity Company Contract Termination: The termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC). National Cathedral Project: Procurement procedures and financial transactions related to the National Cathedral. Ambulance Procurement: A Ministry of Health contract with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for purchasing and maintaining 307 ambulances. GRA Tax P-Fund Management:Handling and disbursement of funds from the Tax P-Fund Account of the GRA. In January 2025, the OSP officially notified Mr Ofori-Atta that he was a suspect in five separate cases and asked him to appear in person on February 10, 2025. Mr Ofori-Atta's lawyers informed the OSP that he was abroad indefinitely for medical reasons, and offered to represent him in his absence. The OSP rejected the claim of indefinite absence and demanded a firm return date by February 10, 2025, and warned of legal consequences for failure to comply. It also reminded that legal representatives cannot respond to criminal charges on behalf of clients. On February 10, 2025, Mr Ofori-Atta's lawyers submitted a doctors note stating he was undergoing tests and possibly surgery, with no clear return date. On February 12, 2025 the OSP declared Mr Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice, acting on an arrest warrant. On February 18, 2025, Mr Ofori-Atta appealed to the OSP to remove his name from the Wanted List and provided a definite return date in May 2025. The OSP accepted his assurance and subsequently took his name off the list In March 2025, Mr Ofori-Atta filed a lawsuit against the OSP and the Special Prosecutor, seeking compensation for what he called an unlawful declaration of him as wanted, and asked for the removal of related publications from the OSPs social media. The High Court in Accra (Human Rights Court) heard an interim application from Mr Ofori-Atta, asking that the OSP be barred from declaring him wanted again on March 28, 2025. Following this the OSP gave a deadline of June 2, 2025 for Mr Ofori-Atta to report in person to the OSP headquarters. According to the OSP, if he fails to appear, his name will be added back to the list of wanted persons and he will again be declared a fugitive from justice. In such case, the OSP will also begin the process to request an INTERPOL Red Notice against him. Next article: I'll establish public university in Ahafo Region to train students in agric President Mahama UNDP reaffirms support for Ghanas fiscal and sustainable goals Jemima Okang Addae Jun - 01 - 2025 , 08:46 2 minutes read The Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has emphasised the crucial role of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in supporting Ghanas efforts towards fiscal stability, climate resilience, and sustainable development. He made these remarks during a courtesy visit by the UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Niloy Banerjee, and his delegation to the Ministry of Finance. Mr Ampem reaffirmed the governments strong commitment to its longstanding partnership with the UNDP and highlighted the alignment of the agencys interventions with the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. He noted that this alignment is vital as Ghana progresses with its post-COVID-19 recovery and pursues its medium-term development goals. The Deputy Minister commended the UNDPs joint efforts in supporting Ghanas Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) and in boosting the nations resilience and access to climate finance. We recognise UNDP as a thought leader and strategic partner and value the organisations support in bridging financial gaps and fostering economic development, he stated. Mr Ampem further acknowledged that UNDP has provided over $60 million in financial support over the past five years for initiatives related to governance, youth employment, climate action, and digital innovation. He praised UNDP for its instrumental role in driving various development efforts, including sustainable finance and capacity building, and expressed appreciation for the agencys consistent commitment to Ghanas national development. He added that further assistance in strengthening the countrys revenue mobilisation capacity would be especially welcomed. Key areas of UNDPs support include contributions to the INFF, development of a climate finance strategy, and the SDG Investor Map, which identifies private sector investment opportunities in sectors such as agriculture and infrastructure. UNDP Resident Representative Mr Niloy Banerjee commended Ghana for its transformative economic measures and reaffirmed the UNDPs commitment to expanding and deepening its collaboration with the Government. Mr Banerjee also pledged UNDPs support for Ghanas debt restructuring efforts and highlighted continued cooperation under the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 20232025, which focuses on governance, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth. Previous article: Stay away from these blacklisted unlicensed mobile lending applications Cyber Security Authority to public YEA partners Shatta Wales SHAXI to support drivers with fuel coupons Mohammed Ali Jun - 01 - 2025 , 09:07 1 minute read The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) has announced a new arrangement with musician Shatta Wale and his SHAXI ride-hailing service to help create jobs for young Ghanaians in the transport sector. Under the agreement, the YEA is to provide fuel support to the first 2,000 vehicles that join the SHAXI platform. Each of these vehicles will receive fuel coupons worth GH500 every month for six months. The scheme is intended to reduce the day-to-day running costs of commercial vehicles while encouraging young people to enter the transport business. In a Facebook post on Saturday, May 31, 2025, the Chief Executive Officer of YEA, Malik Basintale, said the initiative is one way to address unemployment among the youth through practical support. This move is designed to ease the operational cost for drivers and encourage more youth participation in the transport business, Mr Basintale said. He also noted that SHAXI vehicles that operate around the clock would receive extra support. SHAXI, which was launched by Shatta Wale in 2021, is a technology-based transport service created to give unemployed youth a chance to work and earn an income. The YEAs involvement is expected to help the service grow and reach more communities across the country. Law must override emotion in corruption cases - NACOC deputy Mohammed Ali Politics Jun - 01 - 2025 , 09:03 2 minutes read A Deputy Director at the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Twum Barimah, has said emotionally driven reactions to legal proceedings involving high-profile figures should be discouraged and allow legal institutions to operate without interference. He was speaking in a television discussion programme on TV3s Key Points programme on Saturday, May 31, 2025, While addressing recent developments involving the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, Mr Barimah said the arrest and investigation of Mr Boasiako were carried out in line with legal procedures. He explained that the police initially visited the NPP chairmans residence in Kumasi following a complaint. Mr Boasiako subsequently reported to the police headquarters in Accra on the following Monday and Tuesday. On the second day, he was taken into custody by personnel from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). He said EOCO was acting within its powers under Act 804, which gives the office authority to investigate financial crimes, including fraud, money laundering and cross-border offences. Mr Barimah noted that questions had been raised about EOCOs involvement despite the case already being handled by the police. But he said multiple state institutions could operate simultaneously in such matters. You can have concurrent cases with the police, NIB or EOCO, it doesnt change anything, he said. He commended Mr Boasiakos lawyer, Mr Andy Appiah-Kubi, for recognising that the arrest was lawful. If theres a warrant of arrest against you, authorities can arrest you, whether youre already with another institution or not, he said. Commenting on the bail granted to Mr Boasiako, Mr Barimah said it was processed on the same day as the arrest. He dismissed suggestions that the bail conditions were excessive, saying: If 500 million or 100 million was acceptable, why is 50 million considered outrageous? He added that individuals granted bail must meet the conditions set by the authorities. If youve been granted bail, meet the conditions and go home. If you cant, dont blame anyone else, blame yourself and those around you, he said. Mr Barimah also responded to protests by some Members of Parliament, who staged a sit-in over the arrest. He said while they had a right to express their views, such actions would not alter legal procedures. The law will remain the law and will be applied fully, he stated. ] NPP should avoid lawlessness and use the court law professor Mohammed Ali Politics Jun - 01 - 2025 , 10:00 3 minutes read A law professor at the University of Ghana has criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for resorting to street protests over the bail conditions of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Mr Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, describing their actions as an unnecessary display when proper legal channels were available. Professor Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, an Associate Professor at the Law Faculty of University of Ghana, said in a television discussion programme on Channel One TV on Saturday, (May 31, 2025) that the NPPs decision to march from Parliament to the EOCO headquarters amounted to an overreach that encouraged avoidable lawlessness. The NPPs actions, leaving Parliament to stage a protest on the police premises, were unnecessary and created drama. This led to lawlessness, Prof Appiagyei-Atua stated during the television discussion programme. He explained that while bail was a constitutional right, the EOCO acted within the law by imposing the GH50 million bail condition on Mr Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi. The party chairman has been arrested over alleged money laundering, fraud and causing financial loss to the state. Given the nature of the allegations, the GH50 million bail condition does not strike me as excessive. Legally, EOCO acted within their authority, Prof Appiagyei-Atua said. He noted that there were clear legal avenues available to anyone who considered bail conditions to be too harsh. If the bail terms are thought to be too stringent, the proper legal step is to apply to the High Court for a variation. Thats the course Mr Antwi-Boasiakos lawyers should have taken, he said. Prof. Appiagyei-Atua added that it was particularly concerning because many of the NPP Members of Parliament who took part in the protest were themselves lawyers. The MPs, many of whom are lawyers, are familiar with legal procedures and have followed them before. Opting for this extralegal approach suggests an intention to politicise the matter, he remarked. Although he condemned what he termed a Rambo-style arrest of the party chairman, Prof. Appiagyei-Atua maintained that the subsequent bail process was consistent with the law. He said bail conditions were generally determined by assessing several factors, such as the risk of flight, likelihood of reoffending, potential interference with investigations, and the seriousness of the alleged offence. He suggested that the NPPs response reflected their adjustment difficulties following their transition from government to opposition. It appears the NPP is still grappling with the reality of being out of power. They seem intent on showing their supporters that they stand by their own, especially a prominent figure like Mr Antwi-Boasiako, Prof. Appiagyei-Atua observed. He urged political actors to adopt more measured responses that blend legal processes with political engagement, without losing control of the situation. They should have pursued legal and political strategies in balance, rather than letting things spiral, he advised. The controversy followed the arrest of Mr Antwi-Boasiako over alleged involvement in money laundering. Prof. Appiagyei-Atua also stressed the principle of equality before the law in Ghanas democratic system. The law is no respecter of persons. It must apply to everyone, regardless of political party or position, he said. SUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 1. The International Children's Art Festival, which has been held in Shusha for the third year in a row, will become an important platform in the future for strengthening friendly ties between children of Turkic peoples, Deputy Minister of Science and Education of Azerbaijan Firudin Gurbanov told journalists about this, Trend reports. "This festival is of great importance. Here children not only meet and communicate, but also demonstrate their creative abilities. This is very important, since creatively gifted children play a key role in the future development of the country. Therefore, it is necessary to create a sustainable system of support for children's creativity in Azerbaijan", the deputy minister stressed. Next article: NPP should avoid lawlessness and use the court law professor Pan-African Progressive Front prepares for 80th Congress Anniversary in Ghana Edith Mensah Politics Jun - 01 - 2025 , 13:39 4 minutes read The Pan-African Progressive Front, in collaboration with the Socialist Forum of Ghana, is ramping up preparations for a major historic commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Fifth Pan-African Congress set to take place in Accra this October. The commemoration will not only celebrate a defining moment in Africas liberation history but also examine the relevance of Pan-African ideals in todays global context. The original Congress, held in Manchester, England, in 1945, is widely recognised as the political catalyst that ignited widespread calls for independence across Africa and the Caribbean. To lay the groundwork for the anniversary, a virtual conference was convened on Thursday, May 29, drawing more than sixty progressive Pan-Africanists from 32 countries, including representatives of the diasporas of the United States and Brazil, joined the online conference from Pan-African activists across the continent. The session, moderated by renowned Pan-Africanist Alby Walls, provided a platform for reflection and forward-thinking discussion. Central to the conference agenda were issues relating to the contemporary relevance of the Fifth Pan-African Congress, the crafting of a modern Pan-African agenda and strategic plans for the upcoming commemoration. Speaking in a virtual session, Ghanaian journalist and Pan-Africanist Kwesi Pratt Jr., alongside Senegalese activist Roland Digne, delivered key addresses and stressed the urgent need to reclaim and reignite the continental unity movement. Participants of the session agreed that the 80th anniversary should not only honour the past but also serve as a springboard for decisive action. Among the proposals raised was the implementation of Pan-African unity projects with a call for reparations from Western powers emerging as a powerful example of a cause that could rally broad continental support. The veteran journalist noted, The time has come to move from rhetoric to real, united action. Our heroes didnt gather in Manchester just to talk. They mobilised a movement. Mr Pratt Jr., also a member of the Pan-African Progressive Fronts organising committee, laid out a proposal to establish a dedicated committee to oversee preparations for the 80th anniversary event. He stressed the importance of referencing the original Congress's goals and measuring the progress made so far. He called for the formation of specialised commissions on trade union matters, womens rights, youth engagement, and grassroots political mobilization. He further highlighted growing concerns about foreign military interventions in Africa, particularly the NATO presence in the Sahel. Echoing the words of Kwame Nkrumah, he warned that Africa must be rebuilt without bombs. "The Fifth Pan-African Congress of 1945 was a defining moment that brought together influential leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah, W.E.B. Du Bois, George Padmore, Jomo Kenyatta, and Patrice Lumumba all of whom played crucial roles in shaping Africas post-colonial trajectory. Their bold stand against colonialism and vision for African self-determination continue to inspire generations. Accra is a fitting venue, it reminds us of Nkrumahs dream and Ghanas pivotal role in African unity. Let this be more than a commemoration and let it be a call to continue the struggle. Alby Walls, a representative of the All-African People's Revolutionary Party and moderator of the event, underscored the exceptional importance of the Manchester Congress. He described it as not only a foundational moment in the fight against imperialism and colonialism but also a model of ideological unity and strategic focus. He emphasised the need for todays Pan-African movements to define clear steps towards unifying progressive African efforts across sectors. The second speaker, Roland Diagne from Senegal's FERNET organisation, provided a historical overview of events following the 1945 Congress. He noted the enduring relevance of its resolutions, particularly in confronting neocolonialism in regions like the Sahel. There is a resurgence of patriotism and a deep desire for sovereignty, he said. He added that ECOWAS must return to its original mandate of peace and self-determinationa task he hopes Ghanas new government will champion. The interactive session saw 18 participants actively engage in debate. Imani Na Umoja, representing the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), advocated for a fully-fledged congress, not just a celebration. Ouzayrou Mamane, of the Pan-African Movement for Reparations, Justice and Restoration of Historical Memory, called for reparations to be central to Africas push for economic independence. Reparations are a historical necessity, he stated. Amina Hamani of the Niger-based MORFEPAN womens group stressed that Pan-Africanism must evolve from symbolic rhetoric into a tangible tool for securing independence and resisting foreign interference. Saddam Alktif of the CODESA organisation spotlighted the issue of Western Sahara, insisting that true Pan-African goals cannot be achieved while parts of the continent remain under occupation. Humphrey Quaye, representing the Pan-African Progressive Front, reiterated the movements commitment to fighting neocolonialism and invited like-minded organizations to join the campaign for a united and self-determined Africa. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is now available in the US as the pre-order period ended on Friday. That means no more free storage upgrade, but it also opens a path for some discounts. Amazon pairs the S25 Edge with a $50 gift card and, if you buy the 512GB model, you will also get a $70 discount. Its not much, but the phone has been on sale for only a few days and it does mean that the difference between 256GB and 512GB is only $50. The Edge may be impressively thin (5.8mm) and light (163g), but it is also the most expensive Galaxy S25 model at the moment. Yes, the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a higher MSRP, but it also has much bigger discounts at the moment. The base 12/256GB model is $50 less than the Edge (or the same, if you include the gift card) and the 512GB model is only $20 more. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is bulkier (8.2mm, 218g), but it has a larger battery (5,000mAh vs. 3,900mAh) and a larger display (6.9 vs. 6.7). It also has a 200MP camera and can leverage two telephoto modules for zooming in a 50MP 5x periscope (111mm) and a 10MP 3x tele (67mm), not to mention that its ultra-wide camera has a 50MP sensor (vs. 12MP). The extra bulk also helps with cooling, so the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy has better sustained performance in the Ultra than in the Edge. The Samsung Galaxy S25+ is the same height and width as the Edge, though it is thicker and heavier (7.3mm, 190g) check out the 3D comparison to see how they stack up. The Plus doesnt have a 200MP camera instead it is equipped with a 50MP main and a 10MP 3x (67mm) tele, its ultra-wide is the same as on the Edge (12MP). The battery is 1,000mAh bigger than the Edge. And here is the best part the S25+ is $350 less than the S25 Edge. If weight is a concern, the vanilla Samsung Galaxy S25 weighs 162g thats 1g less than the Edge. Impressive engineering on the Edge, considering that the vanilla model has a 6.2 display, not a 6.7 one. However, the battery continues to embarrass the Edge it is the smallest in the S25 family with the vanilla model beating it by 100mAh. The camera situation is the same as on the S25+. In terms of price, the S25 is under $700. The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is even cheaper the 8/128GB model is $545 at the moment, but you probably want the 256GB model as storage will get pretty tight over the years. That one is $610 just $75 less than the vanilla S25 and $140 less than the S25+. The FE has a 6.7 screen like the S25+ (well, not quite, its not an LTPO panel) and a similar camera setup (50MP main, 8MP 3x/75mm tele and 12MP ultra-wide). However, it uses the Exynos 2400e a good chip, but not as good as the Snapdragon 8 Elite. You may want to spend extra and get an S25 flagship model as the savings with the FE arent that big. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ is a 12.4 tablet powered by the Dimensity 9300+. It has DeX multitasking in all its forms on its own screen and on external ones (both wired and wireless). The tablet is rated IP68 for water resistance and ships with an S Pen. It has expandable storage, four AKG speakers and a 10,090mAh battery with 45W charging. We also checked out Apples offerings and the iPad starts at just over $300. This is the refreshed model from March with the Apple A16 chip making it the one current iPad not to support Apple Intelligence. Oh well. This slate has an 11 IPS LCD (60Hz, of course) with Apple Pencil support. The Apple iPad Air 11 and 13 were also refreshed in March and now feature Apple M3 chips. These are massively powerful, but iPadOS doesnt quite know what to do with all that power. Yes, there is Stage Manager (Apples multitasking solution for iPad), but its not on the same level as DeX. Even the 13 Air costs less than the Galaxy Tab S10+, though, so it should be considered. Note that storage is not expandable. You can go a step up in power with the Apple iPad Pro 11 and 13 these have the Apple M4. Again, you cant get quite as much use out of the M-series chip as you would with a MacBook. Still, the Pros have better displays bright tandem OLEDs with 120Hz refresh rate, compared to the 60Hz IPS LCDs of the Airs. Note that the variants linked below have the regular glass. If you get a 1TB or 2TB model, you can also pick the nano-textured glass option (which cuts down on reflections), but that is a $100 upgrade (on top of a pricey storage upgrade). The Apple iPad mini was refreshed late last year with an Apple A17 Pro chipset, which does run Apple Intelligence. The petite tablet is up to $100, depending on which storage option you pick. We dont see many small tablets with high-end chips these days, making the iPad mini something of a rarity. Finally, we noticed that the PlayStation 5 Pro is $50 off its launch price. That caught our eye because Sony recently raised prices in other parts of the world. You can also pick up an additional controller the basic DualSense or the DualSense Edge. The Edge has extra controls (paddles on the back), remappable buttons and replaceable analog sticks. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Chinas nuclear arsenal is the fastest growing in the world, and one of the fastest growing tools in that arsenal are missiles the media has dubbed the Guam Killer, according to security and geopolitics analyst Ankit Panda, who spoke at a virtual forum hosted by the Guam-based think tank Pacific Center for Island Security. Panda, Stanton senior fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, spoke during the Security and Insecurity in Micronesia virtual forum this past week. According to Panda, its unclear why exactly China has moved to grow its nuclear arsenal in recent years, but the move is fueling a regional arms race and tensions in Washington, D.C. Chinas military possessed just 200 nuclear warheads in 2019, but that number has more than tripled, to 700 warheads since, Panda said. China is now building up to what the U.S. thinks will be 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035, he said, in a push that started under Chinese President Xi Jinping. It still has far fewer warheads than the U.S., he noted, but enough to bring China into the ballpark of being an American nuclear peer. The arms buildup was a notable change from the lean nuclear force the country had maintained since the 1960s, according to Panda. He also pointed to the buildup of nuclear capable missiles, particularly the DF-26 ballistic missile, which American media has dubbed the Guam Killer. Panda previously said the missile appeared to be developed specifically to strike Guam from mainland China. Chinas nuclear buildup presented a unique problem for U.S. nuclear strategists who for years have shaped policy based on Russia and the former Soviet Union, which owns the worlds largest stockpile of nuclear weapons. American nuclear doctrine has operated on the assumption that a nuclear force capable of deterring Russia would be enough to deter China, according to Panda. That may not be the case any longer, and its a fact thats fueling anxieties in Washington, D.C. If Russia and China begin to cooperate, we might see simultaneous crises in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, he said. The possibility of China using a European conflict to seize Taiwan, though considered unlikely by experts, is something now being considered, according to Panda. There is also the problem of nuclear-capable North Korea, he added, which together made U.S. allies in the region more uneasy, he said. That uneasiness has been fueling an arms race thats putting the Pacific into a security dilemma as countries move to build up their stockpiles. South Korea, Japan, Australia, the Philippines, Taiwan, all perceive a more dangerous region for the reasons Ive just described, Panda said. South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan are all seeking greater missile capabilities over concerns of conflict, while Australia is moving to procure nuclear capable submarines. Its unclear in Washington, D.C. how far out the American nuclear umbrella stretchedwhether the nation would be willing to use nuclear force to respond to conflicts in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, or even allies. Why the arsenal? Why exactly China might pursue a bigger nuclear arsenal was not clear, according to the analyst, though he said nuclear dominance was an unlikely aim. Another possibility was that the nation sought a more resilient nuclear force to communicate to the United States that the U.S. cant reasonably disarm China in a crisis. Finally, it might simply be a matter of internal pressure for China to have a world-class, nuclear capable military, he said. In any case, the buildup and increasing tensions had big implications for Guam, he noted. Federally funded reports have flagged Guam as a likely target if a U.S.-China conflict over Taiwan goes nuclear. Last year, China fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific, and local missile defense troops tracked as it passed over Guam. Panda last week said it was a good sign that China had notified the U.S. of the test ahead of time. One of the more uncomfortable and unthinkable possibilities is the idea that the U.S. or China might use a nuclear warhead to achieve some limited goal in the Pacific, a tactical nuclear strike, he said. The U.S. could use a nuclear weapon to offset its conventional inferiority and destroy a Chinese flotilla, or China might detonate a nuke to deter U.S. intervention. Even if things did not go nuclear, there were considerations for a conflict. Guam today has no nuclear operational role, but it is absolutely central to how American military planners think about any scenario involving a conflict with China, Panda said. Guam is the only place in the region where the U.S. military could act without restriction from, he said, which, of course, puts Guam in the crosshairs. The U.S. military now had the aspiration of making Guams airspace the most densely defended airspace against long range missile threats, he said, referring to ongoing missile defense plans. Panda noted that missile defense was meant to increase survivability of military assets, and from a civilian protection perspective, missile defense just does not have that role. Civil defense was a big omission from missile defense planning, and something that likely wouldnt be left if the lower 48 states were being considered. What are we doing to ensure that the people of the region are going to have the ability, in a time of war, to take shelter and to best protect themselves? he said. Long term, there needed to be a focus on raising regional issues in Congress, and talking about civil defense, which is totally not on the agenda in Washington, according to Panda. The U.S. and China are not doomed to go to war, and he stressed the role of diplomacy, in addition to any advanced military technology. "Diplomacy has a really important role to play in also improving security in this part of the world, he said. The U.S. needs to think much more creatively about how to improve its own security, and the security, of course, of this very important sub region, I think, through non-military means, he added. For each day of the two years that Aubry Duenas owned and operated a Crumb Artisan Bakery at Micronesia Mall Pay-Less, she knew she needed a bigger kitchen and wished every day she had one. Her dream finally came true recently as Duenas, her husband Christopher Carriaga and their merry crew of bakers opened a standalone bakery in Tamuning. In just a few weeks, word had spread and customers found a new spot to enjoy pastries, grab-and-go meals and savory items. Duenas said the total space of their former location was even less than her current lobby area, a cozy corner with white countertops, a cash register and and gleaming display cases of glass-guarded delectable delights. A simple menu adorns a part of one wall. Duenas divided her menu and tuned it to her specialties: croissants, breakfast pastries, sweets and wholesome. Menu items range from $2.50 for cream puffs to $3 for a caramelized croissant, cake pop or banana bread and up to $6 for cake slices, $6.50 for a trifle and $7.75 for a pistachio croissant. Her wholesome menu offers chia pudding and overnight oats for $5.50, parfaits for $5.75, sandwiches for $6.50 and salads for 9.99. Her establishment is never shut down for the day. Her staff rotates on shifts that require someone on the clock at all times. She said its a far cry from the 4-year-old aspiring patissier who loved to bake cookies with her mom, Zenia Duenas. I think shes just been an inspiration and you know, giving me the foundation of my skills, she said. Her recipes are still top secret. She still has a hard time sharing them. I think Im the only one she shares with. Duenas said shes always had a passion for cooking and baking, she had just never chased it as a career. She immersed herself in cooking 11 years ago and her early employment includes running the kitchen for Infusion, as well as a pastry chefand eventual chef de partieat Dusit Thani Guam Resort. She said working inside of Pay-Less was a good start, even though she knew she needed much more space. She said the store was a good partner, and that she developed a regular customer base over time. Now with bigger kitchen, Duenas said she can now execute menus that she had only wished for before. She now has the space to focus on more detailed products such as celebration and wedding cakes. Crumb is also an absolute family affair. The three dots in her logo represent her three sons. She has a brother and his girlfriend also slinging dough, and she has even seen her HVAC-certified husband develop into a fine baker. He handled all the construction and painting, following his wifes vision toward an artisanal-style product. Duenas purchased the operation from the former tenant, pattycakes, and then designed her new spot to align with her philosophy of food as love, handled with respect and presented simply using top-tier ingredients. She said shes especially happy to become part of the Tamuning community, and has met many people who work in the area who promised they would become her new regulars. As for the Dededo customers she moved further away from, she knows that they will always know how to find her. Crumb has always had an active social media presence, so she recognizes that many customers have made the drive from up north to get their favorite pastry fix. With an efficient and talented staff, a new location and lots of dishes soon to go from thought to reality, Duenas said she has no complaints. Im really blessed to have the staff that I have. You can tell how they work that they love the food, too, she said. And its still fun. We all have fun when we work. Roy Gamboa is a gifted storyteller: His clear voice, inflected by memory, takes his audience island hopping and even globe trotting on moments from his life and career. Gamboa was one of three featured speakers at Marianas Storytelling Land and Lineage Part III of IV: Cultivating Connections through Celebration and Commemoration. He followed Robert Underwood, Guams former delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives and president emeritus of the University of Guam. Underwood showcased the Guam Beteranu.org project he spearheaded through Humanities Guahan and the Kumision i Fino CHamoru, or CHamoru Language Commission. The Guam Betaranu was the first wave of post-WWII CHamorus to serve in the military. Underwood emphasized the cultural importance of honoring all veterans, and especially those, because they established a high standard. Gamboa spoke about an uninspired stint with one military branch, then how he was drawn to the U.S. Marines for a second go-round serving Uncle Sam. He was also deployed twice, he said, and his experiences would haunt him for the rest of his life. He shared how he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, saying, It is very real. Gamboa founded the non-profit group Got Your 671, a group of veterans who share their time or resources with other veterans. After responding to a few emergencies, the group became known as perfect responders, helping veterans deal with the everyday challenges of life. Conversation on stage moved to the kitchen table, providing a spontaneous, casual atmosphere in a safe forum. Event speaker and retired Maj. Gen. Esther Aguigui shared her growing up experience as a girl who liked to do boy things, about the admiration she had for her father, and how that influenced her life choices. She drew similarities with Gamboa as two who grew up in southern Guam before joining the military. She was happy to make her dad proud, she said. Those who seek more information on the recent series segment can email executive@guammuseumfoundation.org or call (671) 689-1111. Since taking office on Jan. 6, 2025, I have made Bill 11-38, the rollback of Guams business privilege tax from 5% to 4%, one of my top legislative priorities. In the months since, Ive spoken to countless people across our island, taxpayers from Yigo to Malesso, and their message has been clear: the BPT rollback is needed now. Why? Every day, residents are exposed to news about record revenues, budget surpluses, and public sector pay raises. The headlines in this paper and other publications, hourly talk radio updates, and evening news segments have fueled growing calls for relief from the BPT, not just from business owners, but from the working families they employ and serve. For Guams 52,240 private sector workers and business owners, many of whom continue to face rising costs, the BPT remains a real burden. And lets be clear: they are no different from the 11,980 employees across the executive, judicial, and legislative branches. Me included. We are all taxpaying citizens of Guam. A public hearing on the rollback of the BPT from 5% to 4% is set for Monday, June 9. I hope that before the hearing and in the few days after the Legislative Committee on Finance and Government Operations meets, the whole of the 38th Guam Legislature can get your collective input on this important policy proposal. I am asking that you attend the hearing at the Guam Congress Building, if you are able. I hope you will watch the live deliberations on the Guam Legislature YouTube Channel. Please review it upon its completion when you can. I join so many Guam residents in the belief that Bill 11-38 will go a long way to help our whole island community. I believe this legislation can create real, tangible benefits. The 1% reduction in BPT will allow local businesses to reinvest, creating jobs, training workers, upgrading equipment and facilities, and improving goods and services for customers. This isnt theoretical. These are real plans being discussed by business owners throughout our island. Putting these funds back into the private sector will have ripple effects that benefit the wider community. Its an investment, not just in business, but in people. The multiplier effect of this single public policy will be significant. A good investment in our people. Ive heard support for this measure from both public and private sector families. Whether its a mom-and-pop store in Mangilao or a gas station in Hagat, the concerns are the same. People want relief. They want growth. They want fairness. I believe that Bill 11-38 will not undermine the governments ability to provide critical services. When the BPT was raised in 2018, it was meant to be temporary. The policy discussion then was about protecting core government services during a time of need. Now, years later, with residents seeing daily reminders of increased government spending and public pay adjustments, many believe its time to fulfill that original promise. Lets work together to deliver the relief our island has waited too long for. I respectfully ask for your support of Bill 11-38. Haiti - Security : PM announces strengthening of Haiti's Armed Forces On Friday, May 30, 2025, as part of the Ministry of Defense's capacity building efforts, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime visited the Haitian Armed Forces (FAd'H) training camp in Clercine. The Head of Government praised the efforts undertaken to professionalize and structure the Armed Forces and announced that, as part of international military cooperation, 150 of the best recruits will be sent to Mexico to undergo specialized training and receive advanced technical support. In addition, 250 new recruits will be integrated in the coming days into the Clercine military base, which has been specially equipped for this purpose. This initiative reflects the Government's commitment to equip the country with a modern, efficient national army capable of meeting current security challenges. Through this qualitative increase, the objective is to ensure territorial security, support civil authorities, and actively participate in the restoration of public peace. This initiative is part of a broader government agenda, which also includes ongoing preparations for the constitutional referendum and general elections, in partnership with the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP). HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Education : Ministry provides assurances regarding preparation for State exams During a press conference, officials from the Ministry of National Education provided details on the progress of the process leading to the holding of State examinations. According to Yves Roblin, Director General, the Ministry is making considerable progress in the preparation and organization of these examinations. Regarding the 9th years fundamental exams, Director Roblin reiterated that the Ministry has decided to extend the candidate registration period until June 2nd https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44992-haiti-news-zapping.html . After this deadline, no applications will be considered. Renan Michel, Director of the National Office of State Examinations, draws the attention of the education community to the case of certain school principals who are registering 8th year students for the official 9th year exams. Therefore, in order to validate these registrations, the Ministry requires schools to submit a list of students who have completed the 8th year of fundemental education and admitted to 9th year. In the absence of a class decision list, the registration will be invalidated. If, once the registration process is complete, the Ministry finds that school principals have made false declarations, not only will these students not be allowed to take the exam, but sanctions will also be imposed. For his part, Kendy Nicolas, Director of Basic Education, detailed all the actions already carried out by the Ministry to ensure the smooth running of 9th year exams and student success. One of these actions concerned the content taught in class and the exam model administered by schools throughout the year. After analysis, the Directorate of Fundamental Education has established a list of essential educational content which it has made available to school principals, teachers, parents and students. The Ministry encourages schools to use this content, as it does for compensatory learning courses. In the same vein, the Ministry tested the exam models with a sample of public and private schools. It verified whether the time given to students to write each subject was reasonable and whether they understood the instructions. In addition, the Ministry verified whether the exam texts respected the principles of fairness and were consistent with the way teaching was delivered in the classroom and with the official curricula. Miguel Fleurijean, Director of Secondary Education, reviewed all the activities carried out by the Ministry to improve the quality of the preparation and organization of the official exams for the fourth year of secondary school. He first recalled that the entire process is based on a document defining each step and specifying the procedure to be followed and the structure of the examination texts. On this last point, the Director of Secondary Education explained that all final examination texts will consist of three parts. The first part will assess the simplest knowledge (40%), the second the slightly more complex knowledge (40%), and the third the most complex knowledge (20%). Other work carried out to improve success in these exams involves critical work on last year's exam texts (2024) based on the correction grids. This work allowed the Ministry to provide an in-depth assessment of the work actually carried out by teachers in the classroom and the quality of student learning. With this in mind, in accordance with the advice of Minister Augustin Antoine, the Ministry carried out this work for the West and Artibonite departments, which account for more than 60% of candidates in 4th year of secondary. For example, in a subject like chemistry, the evaluation of the correction grids shows that 62% of students are able to recognize formulas, while less than 10% are able to use them correctly and find answers to questions. In philosophy, 90% of students work well on the introduction to the essays they are required to write and answer the questions, while only 1% are able to discover the philosophical significance of the texts to be analyzed. In mathematics, 73% of students did not achieve an average grade. In languages, 93.9% of students demonstrated linguistic skills, 29% demonstrated text interpretation skills, while only 6.5% demonstrated argumentation skills. According to Miguel Fleurijean, these analytical methods help the Ministry understand the difficulties encountered by teachers in their work and those encountered by students in the quality of their learning, and this helps the Ministry make decisions to improve the teaching and learning process. In preparation for the upcoming final exams, Miguel Fleurijean guarantees that all baccalaureate texts will be ready by June 12. According to him, editors, supervisors, proofreaders, and those responsible for proofreading the texts will work tirelessly this year to meet the deadlines. Official Examination Calendar 2025 : 9th grade of fondamental edducation : June 30 to July 3rd, 2025; Ecole Normale Superieure : June 30 to July 4th 2025; Family Education Center : June 30 to July 4th, 2025; Baccalaureate : July 14 to 17, 2025; Technical and Vocational Training : July 7 to 18, 2025. HL/ HaitiLibre The AI accelerators from Chinese company Huawei could be faster than previously assumed. According to Nvidia boss Jensen Huang, Huawei's accelerators achieve the AI computing power of Nvidia's H200 from the Hopper series. This would put Huawei just one generation behind, although the Chinese company only has limited access to chip manufacturing technology. Anzeige In an interview with Bloomberg after the announcement of the latest business figures, the Nvidia boss described Huawei as a "formidable technology company" that is "looking for ways to compete". Nvidia has a lot of data to support these assumptions. Three chip sources Huawei's fastest AI accelerator is called Ascend 910C. It is assumed that some of the compute chiplets used there are manufactured by the Chinese chip contract manufacturer SMIC using 7-nanometer technology. However, some of these chiplets are also said to come from the global market leader TSMC via mid-tier companies. Officially, TSMC is no longer allowed to supply Huawei due to export restrictions. Reports have also recently emerged that Huawei is now producing chips itself. In the interview, Huang also discussed Huawei's cloud matrix system. He admits that with 384 AI accelerators, it scales even higher than Nvidia's server offerings, such as the current GB200 NVL72. Huawei makes up for the per-chip disadvantage with sheer numbers. The new US export restrictions on AI accelerators to China were the biggest topic at the announcement of Nvidia's latest financial results. In the annual report, the new US export restrictions were addressed directly in the second paragraph. In the subsequent analyst conference, the word China was mentioned 27 times. According to Nvidia, it is losing 15 billion US dollars in sales due to the restrictions. Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen. Preisvergleiche immer laden Preisvergleich jetzt laden (mma) 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. Discussions on the development of road and rail corridors between member states were held in Tehran with the participation of representatives of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states, adviser to the Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Amin Taraffo said, Trend reports. According to him, the 13th meeting of experts from ECO member countries took place on this day, during which key areas of development in the transport sector were considered. The discussions focused on measures to simplify border crossing procedures, promising programs in the field of maritime and air transport, digitalization of processes for the electronic exchange of transport and cargo documents, as well as the development of sustainable, "green" and safe cargo transportation. Issues of commercialization of existing transport corridors were also touched upon. Taraffo noted that the 13th meeting of the ECO Ministers of Transport and Roads will be held in Tehran on June 1-2. To note, the Economic Cooperation Organization includes 10 countries: Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkiye and Uzbekistan. Support for recognition has increased slightly since the previous poll in summer 2024, when 41 percent were in favour and 17 percent were against. The share of undecided respondents has dropped from 42 percent to 31 percent, suggesting firmer opinions are forming. A new poll shows that 44 percent of Finns support the recognition of Palestinian statehood, while 25 percent oppose it. The remaining 31 percent are undecided, according to a survey commissioned by Yle and conducted by Taloustutkimus. The findings come amid international debate, with countries such as France and the United Kingdom reportedly considering recognition. Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognised Palestinian statehood in May, further intensifying the discussion in Finland. President Alexander Stubb has stated that Finland could recognise Palestine if other major powers move in that direction, adding that Finland will do so at some point. The government led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has not issued a unified position. The poll revealed sharp divisions along party lines. Voters of the Left Alliance and Green Party showed the highest levels of support, with more than two-thirds in favour. Social Democrat voters also leaned strongly toward recognition. In contrast, more than two-thirds of Finns Party supporters opposed recognition, making them the most resistant among major party voters. Christian Democrat supporters were mostly opposed, though not as uniformly as the party's parliamentary group, all of whom opposed recognition in a recent straw poll. Among National Coalition Party voters, more opposed than supported recognition. Centre Party voters leaned in favour. A notable gender gap was also observed: women were more likely than men to support recognition. Age differences were less pronounced. Senior researcher Timo R. Stewart of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs said the issue has become increasingly tied to domestic identity politics. In recent years, its become a kind of identity politics, which is evident in the positions people take on Palestine, Stewart said. He noted that Finland has traditionally supported a two-state solution, and support for Palestinian independence has spanned political lines in the past. The recent polling, however, suggests a widening divide between left- and right-leaning voters. The survey was conducted in May and included responses from a representative sample of the adult population across Finland. HT In Helsinki, an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 teenagers gathered in Kaivopuisto park, where officers dispersed the crowd after a series of incidents, including fireworks set off among groups, beer cans thrown at police, and fights breaking out. Police intervened in several cities across Finland on Saturday night as end-of-school celebrations by thousands of young people led to disturbances, violence and confiscations of alcohol and weapons. In Oulu, hundreds assembled in Kiikkeli, prompting a public appeal from local police urging parents to retrieve their children. Some of those detained had to be restrained due to violent behaviour, police said. Officers issued fines for underage drinking and seized alcohol, knives and fireworks. Similar scenes were reported in Oulus city centre and surrounding districts. The pattern was repeated in several other regions, including Eastern and Western Uusimaa, Southeast Finland, Hame, and Lahti. Officers dealt with intoxicated minors, assaults, and unauthorised use of fireworks. Western Uusimaa police said the most serious disturbances occurred in Espoos Haukilahti, Liessari in Lohja, and at Nummelanharju School in Vihti. The beach in Haukilahti was cleared due to rising disorder. At Nummelanharju School, the grounds were evacuated after some youths attempted to obstruct police work. In Espoo and Lohja, police seized dozens of litres of alcoholic beverages, much of it in the possession of underage partygoers. In Lahti, police responded to multiple assaults involving minors near the harbour. Tampere saw the largest single gathering of the night, with around 4,000 young people gathering at Rosendahl beach. Despite the numbers, no major disturbances were reported. Considering the number of attendees, the night was quite peaceful overall, said Emmi Erkkila, coordinator of youth services for the City of Tampere. Weather conditions were cooler than in recent years, which police believe may have helped limit the scale of the gatherings in some areas. Police and local authorities across the country issued reminders in advance about restrictions on alcohol use, fireworks and public safety measures. Officers were on heightened alert in anticipation of school-leaving celebrations, which are known to attract large crowds of minors to parks, beaches and urban spaces. The end-of-term weekend is one of the busiest periods of the year for youth policing in Finland. Most schools closed for the summer on Friday. HT The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed it has concluded its probe into the Cook Islands-flagged vessel, which allegedly dragged its anchor across the seabed for over 100 kilometres. Authorities suspect this action severed the EstLink 2 power cable and four telecommunications cables linking Finland and Estonia. Three crew members of the oil tanker Eagle S are suspected of aggravated sabotage and disruption of telecommunications following a police investigation into damage caused to critical infrastructure in the Gulf of Finland last December. Yle Svenska, the Swedish-language service of Finlands national broadcaster, reported that the charges relate to incidents that took place around Christmas 2024. Three individuals, the captain, first officer and second officer, remain under suspicion. They have been barred from leaving Finland since the ship was detained in Porvoo in December. There are now three crew members suspected, said the shipping companys legal representative, Herman Ljungberg, speaking to Yle on Friday. The matter has been handed over to a prosecutor. The identities or nationalities of the suspects have not been officially disclosed. The crew reportedly includes Georgian and Indian nationals. In January, the ships captain Davit Vadatchkoria gave an interview to Yle. The Eagle S was seized while anchored between the EstLink 1 and EstLink 2 cable routes and remained in Finnish custody until March, when police completed the initial phase of their investigation. It has since been released. The EstLink 2 electricity connection is a vital link in Finlands power grid, managed by Finnish operator Fingrid. The cable transmits electricity between Finland and Estonia. Fingrid announced on Friday that repairs are nearly complete and that the connection is expected to be restored by 25 June, earlier than previously estimated. The alleged damage to four separate telecommunications cables disrupted data traffic in the region and triggered an extensive international investigation involving both Finnish and Estonian authorities. The cables support services used by private firms, government agencies and critical communication systems. Under Finnish law, aggravated sabotage can carry significant prison sentences, especially when it involves deliberate damage to national infrastructure. Disruption of telecommunications traffic, if deemed aggravated, is also treated as a serious criminal offence. According to information obtained by Yle Svenska, a trial could begin in late August or early September, depending on the prosecutor's decision. The Finnish Defence Forces and Coast Guard monitored the situation closely after the initial reports of cable disruption, amid heightened tensions in the Baltic Sea. Authorities have not commented on possible motivations or whether there is evidence of intentional harm. The NBI has only confirmed the technical aspects of the damage and the status of the suspects. The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued further statements on the diplomatic implications of the case. The Estonian government has also refrained from public comment while legal proceedings are pending. The incident prompted discussions at the EU level concerning the security of subsea infrastructure. Investigations are ongoing in several countries, including Estonia, Sweden and Germany, into similar cases involving possible cable damage in the Baltic region over the past two years. HT Russia is continuing its attacks. The only way forward is for the West and like-minded nations to increase pressure and help Ukraine defend itself, Orpo said. Speaking on Yle Radio Suomi on Sunday, Orpo said the United States, European Union, and other allies must step up sanctions and military support for Ukraine. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) has urged Western allies to increase pressure on Russia, warning that President Vladimir Putin has shown no willingness to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. He added that Europe is preparing a new package of sanctions, while the United States already has what he described as a very tough sanctions package ready. Orpo said he hopes Washington will recognise that Russia is playing for time and implement those sanctions soon. The remarks followed his recent visit to Kyiv, during which he met with Ukrainian officials and viewed some of the destruction caused by the war. The level of suffering is shocking, Orpo said, adding that his visit reinforced the need for further Western commitment to Ukraines defence. Orpo also defended his visit to a Hesburger food processing facility near Kyiv, which drew criticism in Finland after images circulated showing the prime minister sampling hamburgers during a time of missile strikes on Ukrainian cities. This visit was part of a wider programme to support Ukrainian businesses and daily life, Orpo said. Its strange that this has become the main topic. People in Ukraine want to live a normal life despite the war, and we want to support that. The programme was organised by Finlands foreign ministry and included several engagements with Ukrainian civil society and business sectors. Turning to defence policy, Orpo addressed Finlands military spending ahead of a Nato summit set to take place after midsummer. According to Orpo, Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has proposed that member states allocate 3.5 percent of GDP to defence, along with an additional 1.5 percent for related investments. These figures are now part of the discussion. We will know more at the summit, Orpo said. He acknowledged that the financial burden is considerable but described it as essential. If our defence capability is not sufficient, we are putting the safety of the entire nation at risk, Orpo said. Finlands defence spending is expected to increase sharply in the coming years following its accession to Nato in 2023. The country has already committed to exceeding the alliances 2 percent GDP target. The interview was the last of Orpos scheduled prime ministerial media sessions for the spring. It was conducted by journalists Elina Kervinen (Helsingin Sanomat), Markus Maki (Uutissuomalainen), and Paivi Lakka (Yle), and moderated by Matti Koivisto. HT A shift in public attitude has seen fewer families providing devices to children under the age of nine. Operators DNA and Elisa both reported steep declines in the number of smartphones being purchased for first-graders. Finnish parents are delaying smartphone purchases for children starting school, according to new data from mobile operators and research institutions. DNA said only 36 percent of children turning seven now receive a smartphone, compared to over 70 percent one year earlier. The figures include smartphones, basic phones, and wearable communication devices. Jussi Malkia, Brand Director at DNA, said the new trend reflects growing awareness. Theres not necessarily any need to buy a device for a child starting school, Malkia said. Laura Puusaari, Business Director at Elisa, said their latest customer survey found that most parents now view age nine as the appropriate time for a first smartphone. We now have a better understanding of the risks children face in open internet environments and on various social media apps, Puusaari said. Both companies now advise against smartphones for younger children, and note that some families are waiting until children are 11 before introducing them to personal digital devices. The new advice marks a contrast with earlier years, when parents were more eager to give young children smartphones to help them build digital skills. Silja Martikainen, Associate Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology at the University of Helsinki, said the shift is supported by research. Its great to see growing awareness of research on how excessive screen time affects young childrens development and wellbeing, Martikainen said. She cited links between prolonged digital device use and lower academic performance, poorer mental health, and reduced physical activity in children. A report from the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare also identified growing concern about youth screen use. It found that two out of five young people in Finland now spend more than four hours daily on their phones. Cyberbullying was also reported to be worsening. The findings come after the Finnish Parliament passed legislation allowing schools to ban mobile phones on campus. The bill grants individual institutions the authority to limit device use during school hours. Schools are expected to implement rules by the start of the next academic year. Elisa and DNA said they are now adjusting their business models to reflect changing customer expectations. Malkia said staff are trained to advise parents on device options, including communication-only wearables such as smartwatches. If a parent is determined to buy a device, we explain the pros and cons. The decision is theirs, but we want to provide information and give our perspective, Malkia said. According to Elisa, nearly half of all first-grade children in Finland are expected to begin school this autumn with a smartwatch instead of a smartphone. The watches provide basic calling and messaging functions, allowing families to maintain contact without enabling broader internet access. Martikainen said technology bans and device restrictions are not enough on their own. The real problem isnt the devices, but the gap between children and adults, she said. She warned that strict policies often result in confrontation. Instead, she called for more active engagement from parents. Martikainen advised parents to show interest in how children use their devices, including who they interact with online. She said phones can serve positive purposes when used with support and supervision. Instead of just setting limits, we should think about how to keep the conversation open with our children and teenagers, Martikainen said. While commercial providers and health experts share concerns over early smartphone use, both camps agree that technology will remain part of childrens lives. DNA and Elisa said their future guidance will continue to evolve based on customer feedback and new data on child development. HT According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the targets included the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk, Siberia, and the Olenya airbase near Murmansk, less than 200 kilometres from Finlands eastern border. Ukraine's intelligence service says it has carried out its most extensive drone attack on Russian strategic bombers since the war began, destroying up to 40 aircraft at two military airbases deep inside Russian territory. The claim, if verified, would mark the single largest loss of Russian long-range bombers during the war. Both regional governors in Russia have confirmed the drone attacks, though Moscow has not provided casualty or damage figures. Videos circulating on social media, which cannot be independently verified, appear to show drones striking parked bombers on the ground. Ukrainian sources say the aircraft destroyed include Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers, as well as at least one Beriev A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft. The A-50, which can detect aircraft, missiles, and armoured vehicle movements up to 250 kilometres away, is a key asset in Russias battlefield command. Prior to the war, Russia reportedly had only eight such aircraft in service. Ukraine now claims to have destroyed at least three of them. Governor Igor Kobzev of Irkutsk said the drones were launched from lorries positioned near the airfields, suggesting they were not launched directly from Ukraine. This detail adds to speculation that Ukraine is increasingly relying on sabotage teams or covert operatives operating near or inside Russian territory. Russia has traditionally stationed its strategic bombers far from the Ukrainian border to protect them from long-range drone and missile strikes. These aircraft typically fly over the Caspian Sea to launch cruise missiles at Ukrainian targets, a strategy aimed at reducing the risk of malfunctioning ordnance crashing into populated areas. According to the World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft, Russia had 120 active strategic bombers at the end of 2024. These included 58 Tu-22s, 47 Tu-95s, and 15 Tu-160s. A loss of 40 aircraft would represent one-third of the total fleet. Not all remaining bombers are airworthy. Russian forces have faced ongoing maintenance challenges due to international sanctions and shortages of spare parts. The Ukrainian attack also comes amid growing pressure on Russia's ability to conduct long-range strikes, with reports of increased cruise missile failures and delays in aircraft refurbishment. Finnish authorities have not commented on the proximity of the Olenya strike to Finlands border. The Olenya base has previously been identified as a key hub for Russian air activity in the High North. HT Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. On June 2-4, Azerbaijans capital will once again take center stage on the global energy calendar with the launch of Baku Energy Week - one of the industrys most important international gatherings. This year marks the 30th edition of the event, reaffirming Bakus reputation as a respected global energy hub that brings together interests from Europe to Asia. Baku Energy Week will feature three major events: the 30th Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition, the 13th Caspian International Power and Green Energy Exhibition, and the 30th Baku Energy Forum. The events format reflects a key trend in todays energy sector - the growing synergy between traditional resources and the global transition to green energy. Global reach and growing international interest This years event will host 267 companies from 39 countries, covering the full spectrum of the energy sector from Europe and the Middle East to Asia and Africa. Among the participating countries are Germany, the UK, Italy, Japan, the US, France, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the UAE, and many more. Notably, 35% of this years exhibitors are new to the event, and about 70% of participants are international companies. This highlights the growing global interest in Azerbaijans energy potential and its role in shaping a resilient, diversified energy landscape across Eurasia. What to expect: new deals and a sustainable energy future As in previous years, Baku Energy Week is expected to deliver a series of important agreements and contracts. This year, several new deals and memorandums are anticipated, covering both traditional oil and gas ventures and renewable energy projects. Azerbaijans commitment to a balanced, forward-looking energy policy was evident at last years event, where deals were signed for three renewable energy projects with Masdar, totaling 1,000 MW. Agreements included an addendum to an investment deal between Azerbaijans Ministry of Energy, Azerenerji, and Masdar for the 445 MW Bilasuvar Solar Plant, 315 MW Neftchala Solar Plant, and the 240 MW Absheron Wind Farm in Garadagh. The Garadagh Wind Farm project itself was also approved, alongside power purchase agreements, grid connection contracts, and land lease deals. Additionally, on June 4, SOCAR and BOTAS signed four cooperation agreements covering the transit of Azerbaijani gas to Europe via Turkiye, gas supplies to Nakhchivan from Turkiye through the Igdir-Sadarak pipeline, the transit of Turkmen gas to Turkiye via Azerbaijan, and an extension of the Shah Deniz Stage 1 gas supply contract from 2025 through to 2030. Reliable energy partner for Europe Azerbaijan continues to strengthen its position in the European energy market, establishing itself as a reliable, predictable, and long-term partner. Amid growing global uncertainty and the urgent need to diversify energy supplies, European nations are increasingly turning to Azerbaijan as a stable and strategic supplier. The country has demonstrated its commitment to energy solidarity by expanding export routes, upgrading infrastructure, and increasing supply volumes. Its deepening energy dialogue with Europe - both bilaterally and through multilateral platforms - is contributing to the creation of a collective, secure, and diversified energy network. As President Ilham Aliyev stated during the 11th Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting and the 3rd Green Energy Advisory Council Ministerial earlier this year, geography of Azerbaijans gas supplies will definitely grow through different ways, including interconnectors. "Today, Azerbaijan supplies natural gas to 12 countries 10 of them are European, and eight of those are members of the European Union. The geography of our gas supply in Europe will definitely grow, because today we are already involved in the creation of gas distribution networks in some European countries. Some of them do not have one, some of them need to expand it, and Azerbaijan, as an investor, is planning to do that," President Ilham Aliyev said. Driving the green transition At the same time, Azerbaijan isnt limiting itself to conventional energy sources. The shift toward a green economy has become a national priority, with the country actively partnering with international players in renewable energy and rolling out large-scale solar and wind power projects. These efforts underscore Azerbaijans commitment to sustainable development and its integration into the global climate action agenda. Azerbaijan is working closely with international firms like Masdar and ACWA Power, alongside infrastructure initiatives backed by international financial institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). These partnerships reflect Azerbaijans strategic focus on renewable energy growth and its role in building a sustainable energy system for the region. This balanced approach - combining traditional energy resources with a strong push for green energy investments - positions Azerbaijan as not only a key player in Eurasias energy sector but also a vital partner in Europes current and future energy security. Baku Energy Week is further proof of this strategic direction and of the countrys growing influence in the global energy arena. Iran's Central Bank discloses import-related provided funds Irans Central Bank allocated $8.9 billion for imports and foreign services from March 21 to May 27, 2025. Of this, $1.98 billion went to essential goods and pharmaceuticals, $6.67 billion to trade goods, and $254 million to foreign services. Major imports included cars, electronics, medical supplies, chemicals, and clothing. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register When the sun sets in Puerto Rico, a concert begins, with thousands and thousands of frogs singing coqui, coqui until dawn. Its the sound of a small amphibian, named after that iconic call, which is endemic to the island and under threat: three of its 17 species have already disappeared, and four others are endangered. The main culprit is climate change, but recently the frogs are also facing another aggressor: tourists. A social media post about a traveler searching for a spray to silence the coquies has sparked a wave of outrage among Puerto Ricans, for whom the frog is a symbol of identity, but also of their resistance to a crisis of excess tourism and gentrification that is forcing the displacement of their people and the death of their wildlife. The controversy began a couple of weeks ago, after a Reddit user shared a post in a forum with over 750,000 members dedicated to tourism in Puerto Rico. The tourist asked for help dealing with the noisy coquies: I overheard a couple at a restaurant in Condado (in San Juan, the capital) talking about spraying at their Airbnb to keep the frogs from croaking all night long as they are extremely loud, and they said it worked. I didnt catch what type of product it was and they left before I got a chance to ask them, and I havent found anything online or in stores. Anyone know what they might be using? I definitely would like to get some, I love nature, but my God, those things are so loud at night and a little annoying. The post thread, which was later deleted, quickly filled with responses from Puerto Ricans outraged by what they considered not only an attack on an endangered native species, but also a show of disrespect toward the islands culture. The issue has gone beyond Reddit, where the tourist appears to have deleted their account. Comments such as If you dont like the sound of the coqui, get out of Puerto Rico, Does anyone know of a spray to keep gringos away from Puerto Rico? and Educate yourself and respect our home have appeared on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Even Bad Bunny, a global star and a source of pride for the island, joined in the criticism and posted on his Instagram story the part of his song LO QUE LE PASO A HAWAIi where the frogs call can be heard. Its hard to know for certain what product the tourist was referring to. Most likely, it was some kind of chemical such as a pesticide or bleach that is killing the coquies, not just silencing them, explains Rafael Joglar. The professor and researcher in the Department of Biology at the University of Puerto Rico has been studying the frog for over five decades and is the founder of Proyecto Coqui, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and research of amphibians and reptiles. Our group is very alarmed because were concerned about continuing to lose more species. We have a delicate situation in Puerto Rico with the coquies, he says over the phone. According to the expert, if the coqui stops singing, it stops communicating and therefore does not reproduce. And if it doesnt reproduce, it gradually disappears as three coqui species already have. Only the male sings, and he actually produces two distinct notes: the co and the qui. The co is to warn other nearby males not to enter his territory. Its a sound that only males can hear, Joglar explains. As for the qui, its a sound only females can hear, and its an invitation for a night of romance. The human ear, however, picks up both sounds in the repeated coqui, coqui that continues throughout the night. The song sometimes varies if, for example, two males are communicating, they repeat only the co. Or if a female approaches, the frog emphasizes the qui. Theyre very intelligent animals, Joglar notes. They position themselves in strategic spots. They get into house windows, for instance, or into tree trunks, to create an amplification effect. Its as if theyre looking for microphones. The researcher acknowledges that the sound can be difficult for foreigners visiting the island to get used to, especially when trying to sleep. Were used to these animals culturally, socially, and even physiologically, to the point that we barely hear them. We dont even realize theyre singing. But for someone arriving here for the first time, the sound is very loud. And I know of people who kill them, he says. Joglar hasnt been able to identify what the supposed spray to silence them is, but he confirms that in his years of research, he has come across cases of tourists killing coquies. The tourist as an invasive species Violence toward the coqui is happening within the context of excessive tourism on the island, which has created a housing and displacement crisis particularly driven by American tourists. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, and its inhabitants are U.S. citizens, but they cannot vote for the president and lack meaningful representation in Congress. The island has its own local government, which, along with the federal government, has for decades promoted the gentrification of the Caribbean territory by offering tax incentives to investors and tourists in exchange for relocating to Puerto Rico and buying land, buildings, homes, schools... This has caused housing prices to skyrocket and made the island increasingly uninhabitable for locals. Thats why so many Puerto Ricans have seen themselves reflected in the attacks against the coqui. For Arturo Massol Deya, a biologist at the University of Puerto Rico, the desire to spray coquies is very symbolic of what an invasive species represents. An invasive species is one that is introduced into an ecosystem different from its natural habitat and causes harm in its new environment. When you think about the coqui and recognize that this is its natural ecosystem, you have to ask: who is the one in the wrong place? And the one in the wrong place is not the coqui. That is a natural treasure and a national treasure, the expert says over the phone. If the sound bothers you, its because clearly youre not from here. It symbolizes how these people come to occupy these spaces and are bothered by the coqui, by Puerto Ricans, and by our culture. And just like they want to spray the coqui, theyd spray Puerto Ricans too, says the executive director of Casa Pueblo, a community self-management organization that fights for the conservation of local natural resources and promotes the use of solar energy. The problem isnt the coqui; its the invader who is in the wrong place with an attitude that everything can be solved through extermination. Faced with this reality, Massol Deya emphasizes the importance of educating tourists about the islands natural attributes and the need to protect them: Puerto Rico has great potential to attract a different kind of tourism. Because I believe that people from other places coming to learn about and enjoy the countrys wildlife is precisely one of the qualities that can attract visitors and contribute to the countrys development. Joglar, from Proyecto Coqui, agrees: If a gringo comes and the coquies bother him, we can teach him. And if it still bothers you, just put in some earplugs and thats it. Joglar is more concerned about what climate change means for this species. Amphibians worldwide are extremely threatened, and the main threat is climate change. That is the real danger for the coqui, he asserts. The expert denounces that in Puerto Rico, the local government is increasingly promoting the use of natural gas and carbon, while in Washington, the current president is also expanding the use of fossil fuels. Convincing the gringo tourist not to bother them anymore isnt that complicated, but convincing Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez and President Donald Trump to use renewable energy? Thats impossible. And its leading to a massacre of coquies, he warns. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The relationship between Alexandria and the sea is profound, complicated. The Egyptian city, the most densely populated of the southern Mediterranean basin, is quite narrow, elongated and coastal-facing. It is sometimes a blessing, and sometimes a curse, to never be too far from the ocean. The Mediterranean can be felt throughout the metropolis. The waves of vehicles that drive down its miles of seaside promenade present a stark contrast to the calm of the people who sit along its seawall. The ocean filters into the citys core, which is full of fish markets and seafood restaurants that can be difficult to find in the interior of the predominately arid country. It is even present in its Roman ruins, Andalusian holdovers, buildings designed by Italian architects and Greek social clubs. A view of the breakwaters placed in front of the bay where the small eastern port of Alexandria, mainly a fishing port, is located, on May 4, 2025. Marc Espanol Alexandria is among Africas densest cities, and one of the worlds most exposed to the effects of climate change, including rising sea levels and increasing storms and cyclones. This combination is especially worrisome, given that more than half of its residential areas are informal neighborhoods located near the water, where dozens of buildings are already beginning to crumble. Alexandria, the city of Alexander the Great, is one of the first great historical cities to begin partially collapsing in modern history under the effects of climate change, say coastal landscape transformation expert Sara Fouad and space scientist Essam Heggy, who have studied the phenomenon. And it is probable that the pace of its collapse will increase notably if measures of mitigation are not soon adopted, they warn. City among the waves Alexandria was once at a similar crossroads in ancient times, when it was best known for its imposing lighthouse one of the seven wonders of the world and its famous library. In fact, parts of its royal quarter and other areas were swallowed up by the sea due to natural causes such as tidal waves. Today, many of these remains still lie on the seabed, a reminder of an age-old struggle. Alexandria sits on a privileged position along the Nile, nestled between a lake to the south and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. Over the centuries, however, its location has become a dangerous trap. Theres nowhere for the city to retreat, despite the fact that it is sinking due to tectonic forces, and its coastline is receding due to the Niles sediments, as sea levels gradually rise and seawater increasingly penetrates the citys foundations. Currently, the level of the Mediterranean in the Alexandria area rises by a yearly average of 1.5 millimeters, according to Essam Fouad, a researcher at Egypts Coastal Research Institute. Meanwhile, the land on which Alexandria is located sinks each year between one and 1.5 millimeters. And though it varies by neighborhood, latest studies calculate that the Alexandrian coast experienced an average erosion of nearly 12 feet every year between 2001 and 2021. Mohamed Abdrabo, director of the Alexandria Research Center for Adaptation to Climate Change thinks that contradictory and occasionally doomsday studies on rising sea levels have led many locals to be skeptical. He thinks that another challenge presented by such gradual change is that it is difficult to see and doesnt often lead to a great sense of urgency. In Egypt, we give priority to the present, says the researcher, who underlines that many people think that someone will take care of all of that when it is time. If you mention climate change in Alexandria, people talk about two things that they are starting to observe: storms and street flooding in the winter, [and then] the hottest summer theyve ever experienced, he says. A fresh fish stall at a market in the Mansheya neighborhood of Alexandria, May 4, 2025. Marc Espanol But a study published in February by the scientific journal Earths Future had its gaze on another tangible effect: the collapse of housing. Its research analyzed the collapse of more than 280 buildings in Alexandria between 2001 and 2021, concluded that the incidents were accelerating, and that they are related to the serious erosion of the coast and the rise in sea levels, of the intrusion of seawater and subterranean saline water. Until now, the collapse of Alexandrian buildings has tended to be linked to factors like poor maintenance and sewage infrastructure. Theyve also been seen as tied to inadequate regulations and, following the 2011 revolution, to uncontrolled urban expansion and unlicensed home construction. But such factors are also common in cities located in the countrys interior, where there have been comparatively fewer collapses. In Alexandria, coastal erosion leads seawater to filter into coastal aquifers, increasing subterranean levels of salt water, which alters the stability of the citys ground and corrodes the foundations of its buildings, which in the long term increases the risk of collapse, according to the study. The high frequency of Mediterranean cyclones, which are also associated with climate change, is causing additional wear and tear to the citys buildings. The correlation between coastal retreat, land subsidence and building collapse in Alexandria was not entirely unexpected, as the regions vulnerability has long been recognized, Fouad and Heggy wrote in an email. But we were surprised by the magnitude and scale of the areas vulnerable to future collapses, they acknowledged. In their research, they observed that the highest number of building collapses took place in a western part of the city, the Gharb district, which is located around a half-mile from the area of the coastline that has undergone extreme erosion. The study also warns that around 40% of the buildings in Alexandria are located less than .6 miles from the sea and that there are at least 7,000 buildings in the city that run the risk of collapsing. Aside from climate phenomena, the researchers placed part of the responsibility for these collapses on management by authorities. Alexandria has been left behind due to a deficient mitigation of climate change driven by its denial, say Fouad and Heggy. The cause [of this crisis] is not solely the seriousness of climate change, but also its denial among the politicians in charge and in public opinion, they say. The researchers have continued documenting building collapses in Alexandria and report that between January 2023 and April 2025, they registered a total of 43, both total and partial, which left 32 dead and 37 wounded. This confirms the trends that we predicted in the study, in the sense that the incidents will shoot up over time, until mitigation is increased, they state. Rethinking the city Fouad and Heggy say that Alexandria has various options to collectively consider. Among them are hard solutions, for example, structures like dykes, and softer options like rehabilitating beaches and changing the use of coastal ecosystems. Infrastructure adaptation should also be considered and, in the most extreme cases, relocation of residents. If theres no intervention, this growing vulnerability combined with the aging of infrastructure, excessive urban development and the intensification of climate pressures such as rising sea levels, an increase in tidal waves and storms, and coastal erosion will continue to undermine the structural integrity of buildings at an accelerated rate, they predict. Specialists like Fouad and Heggy think that Alexandrias rehabilitation attempts are relying too heavily on hard protective measures, particularly with the installation of seawalls along large sections of its waterfront. Only in a few specific areas of the city, including some of those most affected by erosion, are other soft measures being adopted in parallel, such as beach regeneration. Abdrabo thinks that Egyptian authorities are being primarily reactive in their response to the effects of climate change. He cites as an example the drain system that they have begun to install along the citys promenade due to the increase in heavy winter rains of recent years. The rainfall sometimes paralyzes the city, but it does offer an additional source of water that can be reused. For their part, Fouad and Heggy believe that authorities must give greater priority to mitigation techniques that are based less on cement and more on landscaping, including green streets. But they also emphasize that any strategy must include better coordination between municipal and governmental entities and the active participation of residents. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition When Ayo Edebiri, 29, became a massive international star, she was already well-acquainted with the ins and outs of show business. Still shy of 30, she had experience in nearly every role possible, having gotten her start as a production intern and as a stand-out writer for Comedy Central, in addition to racking up co-signs from some of the biggest names in U.S. stand-up. It was much to her surprise that her promising careers real glow-up came not thanks to her acidic feminist and anti-racist jokes, but rather, a drama about two career chefs obsessed with the pursuit of excellence. In her role on FXs The Bear alongside co-star Jeremy Allen White, Edebiri brought home the laboral and personal travails of a cook at a small Chicago restaurant. In so doing, she racked up nearly every recognition an actress could hope for. She won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Critics Choice and a SAG Award. The unanimous admiration for her work placed her in the tiny group of people who had arrived at Hollywoods highest heights. From then on, her phone hasnt stopped ringing. Luca Guadagninos After the Hunt is one of her most recent projects to see the light of day, and she also just wrapped filming on the latest installation of The Bear. Im starting to prepare for press for season four [which will be available on Hulu starting June 25]. Im writing and preparing for the Met Gala [around the corner, at the time of this interview]. Thats been taking up a lot of time, but in an exciting way, she says, in explanation for having moved the date of the video call several times. Ayo Edebiri in a shirt and Nappa leather short trenchcoat, both by LOEWE. AB+DM STUDIO Question. Did you ever imagine that being a star would be so exhausting? Answer. I dont know if I did I mean, maybe I did a little bit, I never imagined doing this. I really thought I was going to be a writer, though Ive always loved performing. I did a lot of improv in theater throughout middle and high school. I just never anticipated that it would be to this degree. I never thought I would be getting to do work as diverse as Ive been able to do. I definitely thought it would be solely comedy, and its been really interesting the past few years that Ive been getting to do different types of things, especially with After The Hunt about to come out. Q. What was it like working on that film with Luca Guadagnino? A. It was amazing. It was such a beautiful and freeing experience, I just felt like I was learning something new every day. He allowed all of our performances to grow, because of how beautifully the set was run, how amazing and collaborative it was, from every department, hair and makeup and costume and camera. It created an environment where we were able to go to some really exciting and complicated places together. Q. The director has said that youre funny and extremely beautiful and that is a very rare combination. Do you think thats the key to your success? A. Well, first of all, I paid him to say that [laughs]. I dont know. I think Im a very fortunate person. I have no idea what the key to anything is. Hes one of the many people that Im just fortunate to be around. I think if there is any key, its the people who are around me who are generous with their time, with their energy, with their knowledge. They show things to me, and that gives me new goals to set for myself, places where I want to grow. Ayo Edebiri shines in a draped multi-color top, black cotton and cashmere pants and laced shoes, all LOEWE. AB+DM STUDIO Q. You say you are a product of Boston Public Schools. A. I grew up going to public schools. As a country right now, were in a very interesting moment as far as public services. I am the child of two immigrants, and if I hadnt gone to well-funded public schools that were diverse, had people of different ethnic and religious and political backgrounds, I would not be who I am today. If I didnt go to a school that cared just as much about arts and the humanities as it did about STEM, I would not be who I am today, as open as I am as a person. The world is a more compassionate place when you fund public education. Q. Later in college, you had to work while you were going to school. A. Absolutely, I had to pay rent. I went to NYU, which is a very interesting school because it doesnt really have a campus. At my jobs, there were other artists who had been doing theater, TV, music. I was able to learn from them about how I could get an internship at a production company, and turn that internship into a production assistant job, and that PA job into a writer assistant job. Q. If you had a magic wand to change something in Hollywood, what would you change? A. I would make it so there would be more movies in theaters for longer amounts of time, and that studio heads really prioritized that and cared about that. Some of the most formative experiences of my life have been in communal spaces, there is a magic that happens when you see movies as theyre supposed to be seen, with people in a theater. It is really gutting when theres a movie that changed your life and its in one theater for one week. All of our attention spans are getting shot by the day. [The theater is] a really sacred space where you get to be off your phone, away from all the distractions. Ayo Edebiri in a black and white draped vest and sandals, all by LOEWE. AB+DM STUDIO Q. After your role in the movie Bottoms, you became a queer icon. Do you like being a reference for the LGBTQ+ community? A. Like, thats a blessing to me. I think, one of the greatest compliments that we get about this movie. That was our intention making it, that it feel like a movie people wish they had when they were younger. I think any project that people feel is a space of expression and freedom we were all saying the things that we wanted to say, and we were going as far out as we wanted to go. That is very, very, very special. Q. The Bear has made you an international star. Do people still say Yes, Chef to you when youre walking down the street? A. Sometimes, yeah [laughs]. Mostly like, if Im in a restaurant or something, or if somebody like, passes by, theyll say it. Its cute. Last year, I went to a friends wedding in Mexico City and I was surprised how much it happened there. That was really when I realized that the series was an international success. Black wool and silk cape by LOEWE. AB+DM STUDIO Q. On The Bear, weve seen you cook a lot. Are you a cook? A. Yeah, I love to cook. Im from a really big family, so thats how we communicate and how we connect big gatherings, lots of food. I definitely think the show has increased my interest in food and food knowledge. Its made me more adventurous when I cook for myself at home, which has been really fun. Q. What can we expect from season four? A. Im never allowed to say anything, but I was really excited by the journey that [my character] Sydney gets to go on in this season. Theres a lot of dimensionality and change that she gets confronted with. For season three, I got to direct an episode, and on season four, I got to write one. That was a really exciting and rewarding challenge, and as with most challenges, equally terrifying and exciting. Q. When you won the Golden Globe, you thanked your managers and agents assistants, as you said, the people who answer my emails. A. Ive done that job before. Its very hard work and often, thankless. It just came into my head, I felt like it was true. Floral dress by LOEWE. AB+DM STUDIO Q. Youve been the host of Saturday Night Live. How does an actress prepare for something so big? A. I asked a lot of friends advice who have hosted the show, what theyve enjoyed, if there was anything that they wish they had done or known. Because of my history with comedy and stand-up, I have friends who work on the show presently or have before, so I asked them. And then I just tried my best to listen and then in the best way forget it and be open to my own experience and have fun. Q. You come across as a very confident person. Have you had to work on it, or does it come naturally? A. Its one of those hard things to answer, because sometimes you have a different memory of yourself. I remember myself as like, Oh, Im so young and shy and nervous and then I hear from other people like, Youve always been funny, which to me is crazy. I did go to my high school recently and one of my teachers was like, You were always inquisitive. That trait has definitely been a throughline. I think also, this industry can be so volatile, and when you make art, which is such a personal thing, you have to work on your confidence. When people respond positively, its a reflection of you and the choices youve made. But when they respond negatively, it can feel twice as tough. You do have to have a sense of belief, and to a certain extent, a sense of delusion, to carry you through. I think its important to check in with the voice in your head that doubts, even if its just to prove that voice wrong. Q. You can see that confidence on the red carpet. How have you built a style with so much personality? A. I have amazing collaborators in my stylist, Danielle Goldberg, and everyone who does hair, makeup, nails. I love clothes. My mom is an incredibly fashionable woman. I grew up going to a Pentecostal church where everybody wore their Sunday best. There were a lot of things that I couldnt wear, and I fantasized about when I was young. Now Im at this place where I can wear whatever, so I think its like, lets do it. Lets have fun. Q. Do you like working with brands like LOEWE? A. Definitely. Also like, Jonathan (JW Anderson) is a visionary. To be able to work with somebody and with a team of people who are thinking in a 4-D way, its just a blast. Multi-color shirt, green khaki pants and Nappa leather jacket, all LOEWE. AB+DM STUDIO Q. Changing the subject now: The world is a bit perplexed with Trumps way of doing politics. It must be hard to listen to his racist and xenophobic rhetoric. A. My hope is that this awakens people, that we dont grow complacent. There are very real threats to our industry right now, like China saying that they might not import our movies, when theyre a large fraction of the money we make. I just hope that people start to think about whose best interests theyre operating in, and not just post about wanting change, but actually do things. Its a strange, worrying time, that makes you go Im an actor, Im one person, what can I do? But Ive been trying to stop myself because when everybody thinks that way, then the choice that we make is to do nothing, actually. But Ive also been seeing very beautiful things, people gathering. It might not be the type of thing that you see on social media or on the news, but people are connecting, theyre seeking change and working to make it happen. Q. You are the daughter of immigrants and Trump is being very hard on them. A. Ive told my parents to get copies of all their documents. Thats not something that I would have ever wished, I hate that sometimes Im careful about how much I say, because its scary to think of any retaliation of any sort. I think everybody sort of feels that way. Im a person whose parents were not born here, and came here legally and did all the work. You can see on the news that there are people who have done that, and theyre still not allowed back in our country. I think about the world that I grew up in, I had friends whose parents were Republicans. We had different beliefs, but it felt like there was still a universal truth and a universal hope for this planet being a better place where we could all live equally. Q. Even with all the bad things that are happening, are you optimistic? A. I think I have to be to some extent, because if I cant imagine the world I want to live in, whats the point? I have to have hope, and continue to create my own work and produce, its like speaking to futures that I want to see. Team Styling Fabio Immediato Makeup Dee Carrion (Paradis NYC) Hair Jacob Aaron Dillon (Opus Beauty) Nails Naoko Saita Set design Maxim Jezek (WSM) Production Cristina Serrano Local production Cynthia Hadden (Lyric Productions) Set production Daniel Scott Styling assistant Catalina Cooper Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition A luggage rack carrying 2,000 bags from countries across the world welcomes visitors to the Fenix, a new Rotterdam museum that explores migration via art. The installation in question is named Suitcase Labyrinth and was created to reflect the universal nature of human displacement. For a fortunate few, such moves stem from a personal and voluntary decision, lovingly made but for the majority of those who undergo the process, it can be painful, forced. Fenix is located in a historic port warehouse from whose site some three million people departed by ship for the United States and Canada between the 19th and 20th centuries. Their journey into the unknown with the Holland-America Line shipping company is preserved in a collection of personal objects, videos, photographs and works of art that reflect hope for a better future. The museum, which is located in a city of 670,000 residents of 170 nationalities, features no explicit political agenda. Nonetheless, its opening, which featured the presence of Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, does coincide with the progressive strengthening of anti-immigration laws in the country, where the extreme right holds the governmental majority. Meanwhile in the United States, the Supreme Court has allowed President Donald Trump to cancel temporary residency permits for 350,000 Venezuelan migrants, who are now vulnerable to potential deportation. This is the context in which, on May 16, hours before its opening, the museums head of exhibition and collection Hanneke Mantel emphasized that the facility wants to share peoples stories, because migration is timeless, universal and human. Greece, 2015. A boat full of refugees arrives on Lesbos. Its Turkish trafficker was later arrested. Sergey Ponomarev Weve brought together a combination of pieces, from high art to more folk art to personal objects, says Wim Pijbes, the former director of Amsterdams Rijksmuseum who now leads the Droom en Daad (Dream and Deed) Foundation. That organization has been a primary driving force of the Fenix, and was created by the Van der Vorm family, descendants of the owners of the Holland-America Line shipping company. The museum is the centerpiece of the redevelopment of Rotterdams port, which has previously served as the citys red-light district and Europes oldest Chinatown. Suitcase Labyrinth is the first stop for the buildings visitors, on its ground floor. One enters it to left, as if accessing a shipping station, and traverses aisles formed by lashed-together suitcases. From some, electronic devices hang that allow visitors to listen to the stories of the luggages owners. Such as that of Celine Peerenboom, who never returned after being sent to a World War II concentration camp. And that of Wijnand Tollenaar, who gambled away his familys few belongings and out of shame, fled to the Dutch East Indies colony (Indonesia) in 1909. We have been displaced since the dawn of humanity and will continue to be, due to love, work, war, freedom or out of the desire to go to another place, said the Fenixs director, Anne Kremers, at the museums inauguration. In every family, there is a migration story. The Suitcase Labyrinth installation at Rotterdams Fenix Museum, during the buildings inauguration. Peter Dejong (AP) Visitors then proceed to The Family of Migrants, an exhibition that pays homage to the memorable Museum of Modern Art, New York City 1955 photography show The Family of Man. Its Rotterdam reincarnation includes 194 photographs from 55 countries. Taken by 136 photographers, they are dated from as far back as 1905 (a shot from the United States) and as recently as contemporary times (as is an image from Syria). The show features a young Spanish refugee writing a letter during his countrys Civil War, in a photo taken by David Seymour in 1936. And Manju Patel, waiting to be deported by the United Kingdom to India with his three children, in a Polaroid shot by Ian Tyas in 1979. Theres an Italian family bidding goodbye to its emigrating son, in a moment captured by Herbert List in 1959. On one of the walls, Albert Einstein gazes out, in an image from when he got his U.S. citizenship in 1940, taken by an anonymous shutterbug. Upon leaving, Mantel hopes that the public, feels part of this family of migrants that they have contemplated. Morocco, 2021. A mother and her children from the nomadic Beni Guil community, forced to settle in one location by climate change. Yzza Slaoui In the middle of the lobby, between these first two exhibitions, rises the Tornado, a double staircase with a wooden base and stainless-steel steps that form a spiral crowned by a panoramic view. It rises from the bottom of the building to well above its roof, and there are two staircases instead of one because migration is a road, a journey, but it is not linear, in the words of its designer, Chinese architect Ma Yansong, founder of the Beijing-based firm MAD. When Ma was invited to see the 172,000-square-foot former warehouse that was to house the museum and told of its cultural project, it seemed to him a story that was all about movement. His Tornado has 1.86 miles of tubing and 12,500 planks of wood, an architectural feature that appears to be suspended above the city, a metaphor for the journeys of migrants who passed through this building, according to its creator. Ecuador, 2015. As a demolition takes place, a child plays in a new recreation area in Guayaquil. Santiago Arcos But before arriving to the Tornados viewpoint, one encounters the museums third installation, entitled All Directions: Art That Moves You. It is formed by 150 pieces, acquired over the last five years, that range from historic to contemporary art, with pieces as varied as their creators. Here stands an astronaut in search of refuge from an Earth destroyed by climate change. It is the fourth work from the ongoing Refugee Astronaut series by Yinka Shonibare, a British artist of Nigerian descent. Refugee Astronaut IV by the artist Yinka Shonibare, at the Fenix Museum. Peter Dejong (AP) The exhibition also features a work by Willem de Kooning, the Dutch painter who eventually became a U.S. citizen, who left Rotterdam in 1926 aged 22, bound for New York. The piece is entitled Man in Wainscott, named for a town in Long Island where De Kooning built his studio. It has been erected in one of the museums windows. Alongside that window, there is an actual boat that arrived in 2022 at the Italian island of Lampedusa, with 19 people aboard. And next to that, an irregular cement wall with a mirror reflecting distortions of the surrounding pieces, created by Italian artist Vincenzo de Cotiis. In a display case sits a Nansen Passport, a document that was issued to stateless refugees by the League of Nations between 1922 and 1938. Nearby is The Bus by Red Grooms, a life-sized recreation of a New York City bus made from heterogenous fabrics, a reflection of the metropolis itself. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Montgat, a town of 12,600 inhabitants located less than nine miles (14 km) from Barcelona, has become a prime example of the impact of climate change on the Catalan coast. In less than a decade, this location has lost almost all of its beaches. Previously, the railway line ran parallel to the beach, but now the tracks are just a few feet from the water. Sandy areas such as Can Tano, Montsolis and Toldos have disappeared. Other strands such as Les Barques have lost more than 70% of their sand. The situation is desperate in a municipality that, until recently, had beach tourism as one of its main sources of income. Spains Ministry of Ecological Transition has a plan on the table to build submerged breakwaters and prevent the last of the sand from disappearing. Even so, studies are still needed to start building what would be the last chance for Montgats beaches. Stairs that lead straight to the sea. Albert Garcia Joan has been walking along the beaches of his town for 30 years. Its a shame. Decades ago, the beach was three times what it is now, he recalls as he puts on his flip-flops at the top of Riera de la Font. At that point, there is not a grain of sand. In fact, the stairs that used to go down from the promenade are suspended in the air. There is no beach. Just a few feet away, a security guard at a for-pay parking zone states the obvious: Without a beach, fewer and fewer people come and, therefore, fewer people pay to park. The Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB), which manages the beaches in the area, presented its study on climate change trends on Barcelonas beaches in February. The data in the report was not encouraging: The sea level of the metropolitan coast has not stopped rising and the waves are getting higher and higher, it says. Since 2003, the sea level has risen by 5.6 mm per year and the rise in the last 25 years amounts to 14 cm (5.5 inches). The report pointed to Montgat as the most critical case in the entire metropolitan area, one that is the subject of an ongoing political dispute. A narrow strip of sand on the beaches. Albert Garcia Rosa Funtane, of the separatist party Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), was mayor of Montgat between 2015 and 2019. Since then, she has been a member of the opposition. Plenary session after plenary session, we ask for explanations not only about the disappearance of the beaches but also about the work on the promenade. We urge that things be done because we are losing heritage and economic activity without any reaction from the local government, she says. The spokesman for the leftist political group Montgat En Comu Podem, Daniel Fuentes, is also critical of the local authorities. We know that the municipality does not have jurisdiction over the beaches, but we must try to recover them while halting the environmental impact, he says. This year the authorities have raised the IBI (a local property tax payed by homeowners) by 50%. An increase that is partly due to the fact there is a deficit from services such as the Blue Zone (for-pay parking spots) that no longer brings in the traditional revenue because tourists no longer come. Fuentes says that the authorities are not addressing the problem of the beaches correctly and are trying to compensate the drop in revenue with an increase in the IBI tax, triggering local outrage. The local authorities include a coalition between the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC), Som de Montgat and Junts. On May 23, the mayor, Andreu Absil (PSC), visited the beaches together with a Spanish government official, Carmen Garcia-Calvillo, and the person in charge of coastal affairs, Ana Castaneda. The purpose of the visit was to assess the state of the promenade and the seafront. The first deputy mayor, Raul Abad (SOM), told EL PAIS, Of the five or six beaches that Montgat had, only two remain. We are waiting for a project similar to the one carried out in Premia de Mar where submerged breakwaters were installed. The project has been drafted, but the [central] Ministry is analyzing its environmental impact. We will have to wait two or three years for it to become a reality. Two bathers go down to what used to be a beach. Albert Garcia The AMB report maintains that 391,383 cubic meters of sand are needed to minimally regenerate the beaches of Montgat an Olympic swimming pool holds 2,500 cubic meters. In addition to the project with the Ministry, we agreed with the AMB to install a hose and dredge the sand from the Masnou port. The problem is that this year, that sand has moved to the port of Balis in Sant Andreu de Llavaneres and the cost of bringing the sand is more expensive. We dont have enough budget on our own, Abad says. In fact, the authorities have just spent 1.5 million on decontaminating a part of the coastal area to lengthen the promenade. These are outlays being made without tourism revenue to shore them up. Since the pandemic, we have lost about 1 million each year due to the beach situation. We used to have five beach bars and each one paid 50,000 for a license to be there. Now there is no room for beach bars. People came to our beach, went to restaurants, paid for the Blue Zone parking area... In summer, we used to collect 80% of the years Blue Zone revenues. Now it barely gets to 30%, says Abad. The municipal budget of Montgat is 15 million, so the drop in income from tourism is a blow. The Ministry has prioritized municipalities such as Premia and Masnou and that is harming us, he adds. There is almost no sand left on the beaches of Montgat. Albert Garcia Silvia Capo runs the Banys Verge del Carme restaurant on the beachfront. I think we had less sand last year, she says. This restaurant has been going for 97 years and I know that the future does not look good. I dont think we will last many more decades. But, for now, they should leave us alone and let tourists come to Montgat, he says. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Barbara F. Walter, in a provided image. Barbara F. Walter, 60, has spent her entire career studying what drives countries to civil war and how to avoid such conflict. Born in Bronxville, New York, shes a professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego. During Donald Trumps first term particularly in the wake of the pandemic and the assault on the Capitol she began to have the uneasy feeling that the signs of instability she had seen in places like Yugoslavia, Syria and Iraq were beginning to appear in her own neck of the woods. In 2023, the publication of her book, How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them, caused a considerable intellectual impact in the United States. In the book, which includes interviews with civil war survivors and presents all the precedents to internal conflict with scientific rigor, before issuing a diagnosis, she argues that her country meets the two requirements that usually occur before a fratricidal conflict: the emergence of two factions organized on either side of the lines marked by race, religion, or identity and the fact that U.S. has fallen, for the first time since its founding, into the group of what the Center for Systemic Peace (CSP) calls anocracies. These regimes fall somewhere in the gray area between full democracies and pure autocracies two systems that, for opposite reasons, never slide into civil war. This is a scale on which the former are rated +10 and the latter -10. In between are the anocracies, countries that rank between -5 and +5. Some of these ideas which generated an interesting debate and earned Walter accusations of alarmism and practicing the dangerous art of self-fulfilling prophecies later entered pop culture with the film Civil War (2024), a dystopia that imagines a United States in the midst of a civil war between a despotic federal government and secessionist militias. Walter gave this interview to EL PAIS on Thursday, May 22, via videoconference from California. Question. Did you enjoy the movie Civil War? Answer. You know, they invited me to the premiere in New York and I didnt go because I didnt want to be seen as legitimizing the movie. I would have bet [that it was] going to be a terrible movie, but I watched it and I thought they did a very, very good job of giving Americans the sense of what a civil war would feel like. Q. It wouldnt look like the first one: North versus South A. [There wouldnt be] soldiers and tanks. I mean, that came at the end [of the film], but that middle section of the movie when theyre traveling to Washington, DC and theyre stopping, for example, at a gas station and they see these men strung up thats what a 21st century civil war looks like. Its anarchy that allows all these sub-plots and sub-fights to happen. So, you [may] have a rebel group fighting the government but then you have energy at the local level, where, if your neighbor [wants] a piece of your farm, they just walk into your house and kill you. And Americans dont realize that [a civil war] could unleash a whole series of micro-events. They just want to have hope that things will work out. An image from the film 'Civil War' (2024), directed by Alex Garland. Q. Its been two years since you published the book. Whats changed since then, with Trumps return to the White House? A. A lot has happened, but the conditions I describe [in the book] remain the same. Or worse. We are fully ensconced in an anocracy. With Trumps return, theres been a drastic decline in the quality of the [democratic] system. Its happening quickly and everything indicates that the president wants to weaken it further. If he can, he will eliminate the checks and balances on the executive branch. I can imagine a scenario in which hes successful in creating a dictatorship. Q. When did the United States join that anocratic club? A. In December of 2020, we were at +5. It was the first time we hit it in the history of the United States. This lasted until early 2021, when it became clear that Trump would actually leave the presidency peacefully and that his successor (Joe Biden) wouldnt try to exploit the undemocratic features of the U.S. system. We rose to +8. Id now say were at +3, possibly lower. The risk of civil war isnt just if youre in this [anocracy] zone which we now are but its exacerbated if you get there very rapidly, if you have a two-point or more change in this score. We had at least a five-point change in a matter of months. So, this is extraordinarily rapid, which tends to be quite destabilizing. Q. In 2023, when your book came out in the U.S., the main risk for a civil war was a victory for the Democrats. Is the danger lessened now, given Trumps victory? A.The risk isnt less, but its different. The way civil wars break out, [theyre] usually [started by] the group thats losing power, or is out of power. So, if Biden [or Harris] had won, then [this group] would be Trump supporters in the far-right. The MAGA movement is heavily driven by white Christians: the declining population in the United States are whites. And so, had Biden won, historically, this would be the group that you would see mobilize. But they won, right? If Trump is successful in fixing elections if hes able to suppress the vote and if hes able to purge voting rolls it becomes very hard for Democrats to win again. This would be the [Viktor] Orban model. If we have elections, but Trump always wins, or the Republicans always win, then youll probably have more than half the American population essentially excluded from government. They become the group thats out of power. And I think they would eventually begin to mobilize to demand reform [but if it became] clear that they were never going to go get back into power through nonviolent means, I could see extreme elements [emerge] within the Democratic Party. Trump, pictured on April 8, 2025, during a White House executive order signing ceremony. Al Drago (Bloomberg) Q. The expansion of executive power is one of the factors that as you point out in the book defines the progressive loss of democracy. Perhaps this trait is what most defines the early stages of Trumps second presidency A. Anybody who studies democracy in the 21st century knows that theres this new phenomenon, whereby autocrats have figured out that they dont have to launch a coup. The easiest way to become a dictator is to run as a populist, get elected in a perfectly legal fashion and then, very slowly, behind the scenes, start to eliminate checks and balances on executive power. And Orban [in Hungary] was really the first to do this. He created what people call the authoritarian playbook. And Trump was watching, Bolsonaro was watching, Duterte [was watching]... Trump was very forthright that this is what he intended to do. He didnt hide anything. And, oftentimes, these types of individuals dont hide: [they demonstrate] bravado and their supporters often like that. And then, you know, he wrote his own playbook or he had a team who wrote it for him which was Project 25. Anybody who read that knew exactly what he was going to do. Hes following that exactly. This isnt a surprise. Q. In your book, you advise Americans to wake up to the reality that theirs is no longer the oldest uninterrupted democracy. Do you think they listened? A. No, most American citizens dont have any understanding of our political system, which is quite complex. They dont know anything besides democracy. I think if I were to ask most Americans if they believe were still a democracy, they would say of course. And they would call me an alarmist. Nothing will stop Trump unless the American public is willing to take to the streets and demand that he stop. Q. Is the dormant resistance weve seen in Trumps first few months another characteristic of an anocracy? A. It takes a while for people to protest. Most people, initially, are in shock and Trump was smart about doing things very, very quickly, so that people didnt quite understand what was going on. When an individual or a business or a university is under attack, the first thing they do is try to protect themselves. They go inward. Theyre like: What do I have to do to preserve my institution, my university? They take very self-interested measures. And of course, we know that, if everybodys acting in their own self-interest, everybody ends up being worse off. So, they have to coordinate. University presidents should be getting together: they should have a coordinated strategy against the Trump administration. [This would] actually be much more effective than each of them making concessions to Trump, which only feeds the beast. Q. What do you think of the decision by Professors Timothy Snyder, Marci Shore and Jason Stanley, three scholars of fascism, to leave Yale and move to Toronto? A. Theyre quite wealthy. And so, financially, it really didnt hurt them. Now theyre in a situation where theyre living in a beautiful North American city and they dont have that overhanging threat. They can write whatever they want, free of fear. Thats a nice place to be. I can completely understand why they did what they did. And they can be even more effective, in some ways, writing from Toronto than they could from New Haven. I dont trust universities to protect any of us, any of the academics who are out there criticizing the Trump administration. I suspect if Trump came after us, our universities would not protect us. Enrique Tarrio, leader of the Proud Boys extremist militia, speaks to the press at Miami airport after being pardoned by Trump on January 20, 2025. He had been sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in the Capitol attack. Giorgio Viera (REUTERS) Q. Returning to the subject of the book: what can we expect in a fratricidal scenario from the 1,600 prisoners who attacked the Capitol, whom Trump pardoned on his first day in office? A. If Trump decides to run for a third term or if he loses the next election and doesnt want to leave the White House I definitely see them coming to his defense. They already did before they would do so now, with even more reason. Theyre not going to let their country be taken away from them. Q. The Constitution doesnt allow for a third term... A. Everything about Trump indicates that theres no reason he would ever want to give up power. We have a precedent for a third or fourth term, [under Franklin D. Roosevelt]. Now, that was at a time of war but actually, the United States being at war with another country or some violent extremist group benefits Trump. I could imagine Trump using that strategy which I think is a strategy [Israels Benjamin] Netanyahu has used, for example to provoke an outside attack on the United States, or start a war against a weaker country. Then, he could declare emergency powers. [In such a scenario], the American public is more apt to rally around him and say, Well, its too dangerous to change presidents right now. We need stability in the White House. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition What for years had been the beating heart of the Dominican community in Puerto Rico is now a city under siege. At ten in the morning on a hot, idyllic May day, the streets of Barrio Obrero located in San Juan, the capital of the U.S. territory are nearly empty. Before, by this time you could already hear the velloneras, laments Pastor Nilka Marrero, who has spent over a decade serving the areas immigrants. Shes referring to the record-playing machines in the businesses surrounding the neighborhoods main square, once a lively gathering spot that today stands deserted. They used to play salsa: Del Barrio Obrero a la 15, un paso es she sings, quoting Puerto Rican salsa artist Willie Rosario, as she taps out her own rhythm on the table. But not anymore. Months of immigration raids ordered by the Trump administration have silenced this neighborhood, where the fear of being detained or deported is overwhelming. This is a city under siege you never know when theyre going to come and arrest you, sometimes without a warrant or any explanation. Its terrifying, adds the reverend of the San Pablo Methodist Church, located on the corner of the Antonio Barcelo Plaza in Barrio Obrero. On Wednesday morning, she is coordinating a team of volunteers gathered in the congregations dining hall to bag food canned vegetables, beans, various types of cookies, juices. In the afternoon, theyll distribute the bags throughout the neighborhood, going directly to the homes of immigrants who, out of fear of being detained, have given up even going to the supermarket. Some of the volunteers say that the community is so terrified that sometimes people dont even want to open the door of their homes to receive the food. Volunteers pack bags of food for needy families. Ricardo Arduengo In Puerto Rico, the first immigration raid of Donald Trumps second administration took place on January 26, six days after the president took office. The small Caribbean island of 3.2 million people is a U.S. territory, and although it has its own local government and constitution, it is controlled by the federal government. Therefore, the policies dictated by the Trump administration in Washington including those pertaining to immigration also apply here, where the population is made up of U.S. citizens who cannot vote for the president and have no meaningful representation in Congress. That January Sunday marked a turning point in Barrio Obrero. Around noon, federal agents descended on the area in patrol cars and even an armored military vehicle. They detained people on their way to Pastor Marreros church, one man who was heading out to buy an avocado to go with his lunch, others were simply hanging out in front of a local business... They started breaking down doors violently. Right across the street, they took two fishermen. The daughter, who has cancer, lost her father and brother the ones who supported her, the pastor recalls. In total, authorities arrested 47 individuals, two of whom were later released because their papers were in order. The message was clear: Puerto Rico is not exempt from Trumps detention and deportation machine. Since that day, 445 people have been detained on the island, according to data provided to this newspaper by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The vast majority are men, and nearly 72% of those detained are Dominican citizens, followed by Haitians, Venezuelans and Mexicans. Of the total, 81 people have been removed to their country through voluntary departure or expedited removal, according to Sandra Colon, spokesperson for the DHS office on the island. According to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau, around 90,000 immigrants were living in Puerto Rico in 2022. It is estimated that more than half are Dominicans. The number of undocumented individuals remains unknown. Just like in the mainland United States, authorities on the island have claimed that the detentions are focused on immigrants with criminal records. But when asked how many of those detained actually had criminal backgrounds, Colon responded: We are not recording that information. Moreover, according to DHS figures, only 74 of the arrests (16.6% of the total) have been criminal, while the rest have been administrative meaning they were due to violations of immigration laws or procedures. The detentions have disrupted not only the immigrant community on the island, but the entire territory. In just a few months, the perception that Puerto Rico was a sanctuary for immigrants has been shattered a place where foreign communities had coexisted for years with the local one, enriching Puerto Rican society. A small piece of land in the Caribbean that feels more a part of Latin America than the United States, where Spanish is spoken, where fellow Latin American brothers and sisters are welcomed, and where immigrants are allowed to open bank accounts, obtain a special drivers license, and begin a new life. Raids have always existed, as have racism and prejudice, but never at the level seen now. Detained and without access to legal representation One of the most recent large-scale raids took place on May 8 at a luxury hotel in the tourist district of Condado, also in San Juan. Around 53 Dominican workers were arrested at the La Concha resort while doing construction work. The group was taken to a processing center near the capital, where they spent several days sleeping on cots on office floors. The executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Puerto Rico, Annette Martinez Orabona, went to the facility to inquire about the status of the detainees. She asked whether the immigrants were being provided with legal assistance. The security at the center assured her that they were given a list of lawyers to contact, but when Martinez saw the list, it was for lawyers in Florida none on the island. In Puerto Rico, detentions occur, but due to a general practice of the U.S. government, practically all detained migrants are transferred out of Puerto Rico. After detention, they may remain in Puerto Rico for 24 to 78 hours until they are moved, explains Martinez Orabona from a conference room in the ACLU offices in San Juan. From the island, detainees are sent to centers in states like Texas or Florida. Although transferring immigrants from center to center is a common practice, the ACLU stresses that the case of those moved out of Puerto Rico is especially concerning because it not only means separating them from their families and community but also from their legal representation. Its something that creates a great difficulty because people who had ongoing immigration cases here have been detained meaning their legal representation is in Puerto Rico, the lawyer points out. I know its terrible anywhere in the United States, but in Puerto Ricos case, its worse because we are not contiguous to the mainland. Its not a matter of just getting in a car and getting there, she insists. I know its terrible anywhere in the United States, but in Puerto Ricos case, its worse because we are not contiguous to the mainland. Its not a matter of just getting in a car and getting there" Annette Martinez Orabona, director of the ACLU in Puerto Rico A united front against Trumps immigration policies Since the raids intensified in January, the ACLU has led several initiatives to protect the local immigrant community. Among them, three months ago they formed an alliance with the Puerto Rico College of Surgeons, through which they provide health services, such as telemedicine, and medical guidance to immigrants regardless of their status. In February, the two organizations set up a phone line to assist the community, which has received 20 calls to date. 01:00 Barrio Obrero One of the videos shared by residents of Barrio Obrero, showing one of the raids by immigration authorities. Most of the calls were from people seeking guidance and asking, for example, if undocumented individuals could go to the doctor. However, eight of those calls were for medical attention injuries, uncontrolled blood pressure, symptoms of dizziness. And the telemedicine doctors went to these peoples homes and treated them, says Dr. Carlos Diaz-Velez, president of the College of Surgeons, from his office in San Juan. Its humanitarian aid were providing, because you cant play around with health, he emphasizes. The initiative was launched after workers at medical centers located in areas like Barrio Obrero raised the alarm because many of their patients were not attending their appointments. There were patients who needed follow-up for certain conditions, such as people with cancer or pregnant women, but they were not showing up for their appointments, and medications were left waiting at pharmacies because they werent being picked up, recalls Diaz-Velez. And when we called them to ask why they werent going to their appointments, they said they didnt want to leave their homes for fear of being intercepted on the way, or that they would be in a pharmacy or a laboratory and end up getting arrested. In the weeks after the raids intensified, school attendance in predominantly immigrant areas also dropped significantly. In February, schools with a high number of Dominican students reported absentee rates of up to 70%, the islands Department of Education warned at the time. That percentage has been decreasing, according to Mercedes Martinez, president of the Puerto Rico Federation of Teachers: Parents have found ways for their children, for the most part, to get to the classroom either by sending them alone or asking someone else to accompany them to school. But that doesnt mean they arent still scared, she assures. Its a terrifying situation for students with migrant families. Its something that affects their emotional health and academic performance. Its a terrifying situation for students with migrant families. Its something that affects their emotional health and academic performance" Mercedes Martinez, president of the Puerto Rico Federation of Teachers In response to this situation, the local Department of Education established a closed-gate protocol at schools, denying access to any federal agents or immigration officials to public schools unless they have a court order. But for Martinez, its not just about protecting the schools. The problem is what happens on the way to school or on the way home, she points out. And also in the homes of migrant parents. Many of them are unemployed because they dont dare to look for work. They cant work, they cant pay rent, they cant pay for food. It creates an unprecedented social crisis because even if the student goes to school, if theyre not properly fed, dont have a safe roof over their heads, and are living in fear, they may be physically at school but emotionally carrying significant damage, she laments. An apathetic local government The local government has done little to challenge Trumps immigration measures. On the contrary, the ACLU asserts that there is an intentional effort to facilitate the implementation of those policies. The governor, Jenniffer Gonzalez, a Republican who supports Trump, initially assured that the presidents immigration policies would not affect the immigrant community in Puerto Rico. Since then, however, she has said that the island cannot afford to ignore the administrations guidelines on immigrant detentions because Puerto Rico would risk losing federal funding. Federal funds that Trump already withheld from the island during his first term, and which the local government is accused of mismanaging. EL PAIS received no response when contacting the governors office for this report. In the local legislature, there is a bill promoted by the ACLU that seeks to establish a series of sensitive locations, such as schools, hospitals, community centers or churches, where collecting information about a persons immigration status would be prohibited unless strictly required by law. It would also require the creation of clear protocols for possible immigration interventions in these places. These protections are similar to the federal mandate that Trump ended in January, which prohibited raids in these areas. For now, the future of the local legislation is uncertain. But Pastor Marrero remains hopeful, although she is aware that even if the bill passes the legislature, Gonzalez could give in to Trumps pressures and refuse to sign it: Our governor, unfortunately, has taken on an apathetic role, showing little compassion. Pastor Nilka Marrero at the Barrio Obrero Methodist Church in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on May 21. Ricardo Arduengo The reverend knows that immigration agents could burst into her church at any moment. One day, theyre going to break down my door, she whispers. As the volunteers some of them immigrants prepare the food bags, her eyes constantly scan the windows facing the street, suspicious of any vehicle that might signal the start of a raid. As soon as theyre around, I go out into the street. As soon as they arrive in the neighborhood, people text me and we head outside, she says. In addition to distributing food to the community, the Methodist Church of San Pablo in Barrio Obrero offers workshops, prepares hot lunches, and donates clothing. Soon, a clinic providing legal and psychological assistance for affected immigrants will be opened, and tutoring for their children will be available. A long-distance runner practices every day; weve been at this for 10 years, says Marrero. This church is made up of migrants. Across the street, in the Barcelo Plaza, the few who dare to be seen in the early afternoon barely raise their eyes. A small group of men playing dominoes in the plaza remain silent when asked about the raids, about how they have been affected by them. An older man, with a Dominican accent, finally responds: We are sad because they are taking our people away. How often do you get together to play dominoes here? Every day of the year. And with the raids, are there fewer people coming to play? A lot are missing. Nobody wants to come anymore. Sign up forour weekly newsletterto get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Matthew Desmond is one of the most respected sociologists in the United States. He is also a man of action. To write Evicted, which won him a Pulitzer Prize in 2017, he lived for years in a Milwaukee RV park, seeing fellow tenants struggle against heartless landlords on the front-lines of U.S. poverty. He took some 4,000 pages of notes that he later turned into a powerful book. Desmond welcomed us into his Princeton University office at the end of March, weeks after having conquered a space not typically designed for professors like him: The Daily Show, Jon Stewarts famous political humor show. The comedian had invited him on to speak about a book that Desmond published two years ago, Poverty, by America. In the book, the author asks why poverty rates in the United States, the richest country in the world, are higher than any other advanced democracy. Question. So why are they? Answer. Because a lot of us benefit from it. We consume the goods the working poor produce. Half of us are invested in the stock market, our returns go up like magic, even when that comes at a human sacrifice. We have this imbalanced welfare state. Were giving the most money to families that need it the least, in terms of tax breaks. We do a lot more to guard fortunes than to fight poverty, and the country continues to be super-segregated. And we remain a deeply segregated society: so many of us build walls around our communities, and we hoard opportunities behind those walls. Q. So its not about blaming the 1%, but rather, the 90%. A. More like the 70 to 80%. Its not just about a guy who is richer than you. Yes, we need to have a conversation about the top 1%, but that doesnt absolve the top 10% or 20%. During the pandemic, the country bought 300,000-some speed boats. That wasnt just the billionaires. Q. Your book includes a startling statistic: with $177 billion, it would be possible to end poverty in the United States. A. It doesnt seem to be much money. Q. Especially since right now, public discourse is dominated by Trump and his oligarchs, who rather obscenely talk about billions and trillions of dollars. A. Its less than 1% of our GDP. Theres a study that showed that if the top 1% of income earners just paid all their federal income taxes, we could net about $175 billion more a year, just about enough to close the poverty gap. Americans believe we cant solve this problem, when its clear that we can. A sensible tax reform would be enough. The problem is that those of us that are benefiting from those tax breaks really like them. Q. In the book, you make the case for becoming poverty abolitionists. What is the basic guide to making that happen? A. If were connected to that imbalanced tax system, we should try to divest from it. In America, we have this mortgage interest deduction. Most of this benefit goes to families making six figures a year or more. Eighty-four percent of the benefit goes to white families. I qualify for this, which I think is really impossible to justify on moral grounds. So what do I do about that? What we do as a family is we calculate what we get, and we give that money away to the local homeless shelter and eviction defense. Its not enough to simply avoid investing in weapons or fossil fuel companies. We need to start asking whether the companies we give our money to are exploiting their workers. We must stop profiting from those living in poverty who bring us our food or deliver our Amazon packages. We have to be anti-segregationist too. We should build affordable housing in our own communities. Q. Trump started his career in real estate by evicting poor tenants from their homes. What can be expected from the second Trump administration? A. It does seem that the cuts the Trump administration is proposing will be borne heavily on the back of the most vulnerable folks to fund an extension of tax breaks, and that half of those benefits will flow to the top 5%, the folks making over $300,000 a year. There doesnt seem to be any serious policy ideas to help the most vulnerable, including so many of those voters who supported him on his message of economic populism. Q. Evicted can be read as the B side of the American dream. Living in this supposed land of opportunities leads to the realization that it is as least as easy to fall as it is to rise. A. Poverty is like a vicious circle, one problem piled on top of another. An eviction forces you to move to a worse neighborhood, to lose your job. It has long-term mental health issues. Something as innocent as falling two months behind in rent can lead to all these compounding problems. Q. Where do you see resistance to Trump? A. One of the interesting things thats happened recently is these rallies that AOC [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] and Bernie [Sanders] have had. Their message is that were not going to allow an oligarchy to take shape, and were also going to fight for working-class people. Q. Meanwhile, the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, has been brandishing his chainsaw. How have the actions of his Department of Government Efficiency affected the fight against poverty? A. In his first term, Trump wanted to cut food stamps by 25 to 30% over 10 years, huge slashes. He proposed cuts to Medicaid and rolled back worker protections. He limited overtime pay and proposed limiting benefits for kids with disabilities. Whats happening in the government right now with DOGE is that many of the cuts are going to be borne by our most vulnerable families. Q. One of Trumps favorite sayings is that the federal government is full of fraud, waste and abuse. I was surprised to read in your book that much of the money earmarked for alleviating poverty is not even used. A. We thought that the problem was stigma, that people were embarrassed, but it seems like its just inefficiency, red tape and bureaucracy. In California to get food stamps, you have to fill out 260 questions. Q. Im going to read a phrase I underlined in your book: complexity is the refuge of the powerful. A. Thats right. They use it to make us think that a problem, like poverty, is really impossible to fix. They do it by forming a lot of committees. Q. Were sitting here in one of the United Statess most prestigious universities. Would you say that institutions are showing enough bravery in the face of Trumps attacks? A. I feel like thats a little out of my pay grade. I guess one of the things Ive been feeling is that liberal establishments, including the Democratic Party, need to have a full-throated defense of their existence. I think that the university can make an incredibly strong case for all the things that its done for America. Q. Do you feel afraid? A. Theres something weird about studying poverty. Im working on my next book, a deep reporting project. Im spending a lot of time with folks that are going through hardship. Im paying attention to the political system, and obviously Im deeply concerned. But the problem I work on is a long, old problem. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Trump's steel tariff hike not raised in Japan-U.S. talks: negotiator TOKYO - Japan's chief tariff negotiator said Sunday that his U.S. counterpart had not touched on President Donald Trump's decision to double tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 percent during their talks in Washington late last week. Trump's announcement came on social media on Friday, the same day that Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's minister in charge of economic policy, met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other officials for the fourth round of bilateral tariff negotiations. ---------- Japan, Philippines agree to reinforce ties between defense forces SINGAPORE - The Japanese and Philippine defense ministers agreed in Singapore on Sunday to step up collaboration between their forces in the face of China's maritime assertiveness in the East and South China seas. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, meeting on the sidelines of an annual Asia security forum, also agreed to promote cooperation on arms exports and maintain close communication between the countries' defense authorities. ---------- Japan, South Korea open tourist fast-track entry system for ties anniv. TOKYO - Japan and South Korea on Sunday opened dedicated entry lanes for tourists visiting each other's countries at four airports, marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties. The lanes were implemented to improve convenience for inbound travelers by speeding up the immigration process. They will remain in use through June 30 at four airports -- Haneda in Tokyo, Fukuoka in southwestern Japan, Gimpo in Seoul and Gimhae in Busan. ---------- Man held for upskirt video at popular Nara Park, police warn foreigners NARA, Japan - A 59-year-old Japanese man was arrested Saturday for allegedly taking an upskirt video of a woman at Nara Park, a popular tourist spot, police said, warning that foreign visitors may be targeted in similar incidents. The man, who claims to be unemployed and resides in Osaka Prefecture, has admitted to the charges, saying that posting such videos on YouTube increases views and boosts revenue, according to the police. ---------- Rugby: Brave Lupus outlast Spears for back-to-back League One titles TOKYO - Former All Black star Richie Mo'unga led Brave Lupus Tokyo to back-to-back Japan Rugby League One titles in a tightly fought 18-13 win against the Kubota Spears in Sunday's championship decider. The 31-year-old flyhalf scored the opening try and set up his team's second, while adding eight points with the boot in front of 51,009 at Tokyo's National Stadium. ---------- Japan, U.S. vow to spur cybersecurity cooperation amid rising threats SINGAPORE - Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth agreed Saturday to boost cybersecurity cooperation, following Japan's enactment of a law allowing the government to monitor online communications amid rising cyber threats. After their talks in Singapore, meanwhile, Nakatani did not clarify whether Hegseth had requested Japan pay more for defense during their meeting. U.S. President Donald Trump views the long-standing security treaty with Japan as unfair and one-sided. ---------- Japan prisons to place more focus on rehabilitation than punishment TOKYO - An amendment to the Penal Code placing greater emphasis on rehabilitation efforts in prison took effect Sunday, marking the first time changes have been made to the forms of punishment under Japan's more than a century-old crime laws. Imprisonment is no longer divided into the categories of with and without labor, and prison work is no longer mandatory for inmates, allowing more time to be allocated for rehabilitative guidance and education to reduce recidivism, according to the Justice Ministry. ---------- Japanese pianists win 2nd, 5th prizes at Queen Elisabeth Competition BRUSSELS - Japanese pianists Wataru Hisasue and Masaya Kamei won the second and fifth prizes, respectively, at the Queen Elisabeth Competition, a prestigious contest for international musicians held in Brussels. The organizers announced the results after the final round ended Saturday in the Belgian capital. First prize went to Nikola Meeuwsen of the Netherlands. Video: Osaka Expo maritime parade TOKYO - Japan's chief tariff negotiator said Sunday that his U.S. counterpart had not touched on President Donald Trump's decision to double tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 percent during their talks in Washington late last week. Trump's announcement came on social media on Friday, the same day that Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's minister in charge of economic policy, met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other officials for the fourth round of bilateral tariff negotiations. After returning to Tokyo, Akazawa, a close aide to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, told reporters at Haneda airport that the Japanese government would "closely watch the specific details of the measures that will be revealed in the future" by the United States. Later Sunday, Akazawa met with Ishiba at the prime minister's official residence to report the outcome of the latest talks. He said he was instructed to "continue negotiating to the utmost of your ability and with the highest priority of reaching an agreement." Trump on social media cited national security behind his decision to raise tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from the current 25 percent, and said the new rate charged to most nations would go into effect on Wednesday. Regarding the plan by Nippon Steel Corp. to acquire United States Steel Corp., Akazawa said, "We are looking forward to a very optimistic announcement" from the Trump administration. Japan and the United States are making arrangements to hold a meeting between Ishiba and Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Canada in mid-June after a fifth round of tariff talks, Akazawa said. Under Trump's so-called reciprocal tariff regime, announced April 2, Japan faces a country-specific tariff of 14 percent for a total rate of 24 percent. Along with others, Japan has also been hit by the Trump administration's additional 25 percent tariff on automobiles and other sector-based levies implemented on national security grounds, on top of the baseline duty of 10 percent that is part of its reciprocal scheme. Related coverage: Trump lauds Nippon Steel as "great partner" for U.S. Steel Japan, U.S. agree tariff talks making progress toward deal Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell denied intentionally releasing the names of immigration agents, as alleged by Republican lawmakers and the Trump administration, which claimed the disclosure put agents' lives at risk. At a Friday press conference, O'Connell explained that the names were unintentionally included in a report produced under an executive order requiring city employees to notify the mayor's office of all interactions with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "We've had a training process, and I will say our Metro Nashville Police Department has been very effective in this. We will be reviewing not just how that information is recorded as it comes into publicly available processes, but also then what does get posted," O'Connell stated, according to reporting by WKRN. "The interest here is just in transparency. It is not in obstruction or doing anything that would be considered harmful," he added. Unrelated to the name disclosures, O'Connell is now under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following his public condemnation of ICE operations in Nashville earlier this month. In May alone, nearly 200 immigrants were detained, many without criminal records. The mayor called for the release of their names and charges earlier this month. The U.S. House Committees on Homeland Security, chaired by Republican Tennessee Rep. Mark Green, and the Judiciary stated that the federal probe will examine "state and local jurisdictions that endanger American communities through efforts to obstruct the work of federal immigration officials," according to reporting by News Channel 5. O'Connell addressed the investigation at Friday's press conference, stating, "My job is to protect residents. That means both getting violent criminals off the streets and protecting innocent Nashvillians." Originally published on Latin Times The explosive trial of alleged rapist and hip hop mongul Sean 'Diddy' Combs, 55, became even more complex following the disappearance of a key witness. Known initially only as 'Victim Number 3,' the woman's scheduled testimony was expected to significantly bolster the prosecution's case. Her unexplained absence has ignited a storm of speculation and concern regarding her safety and whereabouts. Now, three weeks and 21 witnesses into the trial, her identity is knownVictim Number 3 is Virginia 'Gina' Huynh, 33, one of Combs' ex-girlfriends, whose shocking allegations have reshaped public discourse surrounding the case. This update comes as Combs' former stylist revealed that the producer threatened ex-girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura with revenge porn. Battering And Anguish: Huynh's Horrific Timeline of Abuse Gina Huynh raised the alarm regarding Combs' sickening behaviour in a 2019 podcast, long before Combs faced federal charges. Huynh explained she first met Combs in 2013 in Las Vegas. By 2014, they had begun a five-year relationship filled with brutal violence, manipulation, and coercion. In one harrowing instance, Huynh described the moment Combs' abuse caused her to suffer a miscarriage. 'He stomped on my stomach really hardlike, took the wind out of my breath,' she explained. 'I couldn't breathe. He kept hitting me. I was pleading to him, "Can you just stop? I can't breathe."' Combs appeared normal in public, but became a monster behind closed doors. Huynh recalled one particularly vicious episode following a birthday party for rapper Meek Mill, where Combs became enraged after she shook Mill's hand. 'He took one of my heels and tried to throw it at me,' Huynh recounted. 'He mushed my face really hard and made my nose bleed.' The physical abuse escalated until Combs, as alleged by Huynh, directly caused her miscarriage. Huynh's Allegations of Coercion And Abandonment Combs seemed vehemently against having any children with Huynh, allegedly offering her 37,115 ($50,000) after she terminated a pregnancya sum she says she turned down out of misplaced love. 'I wanted to... I was, like, trying to prove that I wasn't the girl that wanted him for money,' Huynh explained. 'I just cared about him. I just wanted him to be nice to me. That's it.' While the couple was on a trip and Huynh was pregnant with their second child, Combs began pushing for another abortion and providing her with alcohol. When Huynh refused, Combs remained steadfast, telling her, 'Well, you're going to get an abortion anyways.' After returning from their trip, Huynh claims Combs left her to have the abortion and went to see Ventura. 'When I had the second abortion, I had to go to home two days later because he went on a trip to Burning Man,' she revealed. 'He left me f**ked up. I couldn't get a hold of him. I was just at home by myself, just f**ked up in my head. He didn't even care.' In hindsight, Huynh was able to admit to herself the truth of the situation: 'He was mentally, emotionally and physically abusing me.' One of his tactics, verified by Ventura, was systematically breaking down his victims, instilling self-doubt in them to attain control. The Overlap Between Huynh And Ventura's Experiences Combs ingrained a sense of worthlessness within Huynh, consistently pitting her against his on-and-off partner, Ventura. 'He would always compare me to Cassie and tell me that I'm the bad one, she's a good one,' Huynh explained. Ironically, it was Huynh's presence in Combs' life that put an end to his relationship with Ventura. As she explained in her testimony, Ventura broke up with Combs after finding a photo of him and Huynh in August 2018. Her text messages to the producer read, 'I just don't trust anymore. That last shot put the nail in the coffin. [...] I promised myself I wouldn't be with you anymore if you did that to me again. You lied to me. [...] she never went away.' Though Huynh and Ventura's claims carry a consistent narrative of Combs' physical and mental abuse, trial sources have told Daily Mail the former does not wish to testify. A source close to Combs, however, believes it goes deeper than that. Diddy's Former Guard Claims Huynh Was Paid Off On 28 May, Combs' former bodyguard Gene Deal told the Art of Dialogue Podcast that Huynh could be an asset to the defence. Amid concerns that Combs is involved in Huynh's disappearance, Deal believes Combs' defence wants her to be found and questioned, as 'they know she's a hostile witness.' Deal believes that for the right price, she could testify against Ventura and harm the sex trafficking case by claiming the acts were consensual. Additionally, he confirmed that Huynh is Victim Number 3, explaining: ''That's the girl who took off the payment. She took the $2 million (1.4 million) payment from Diddy Nim, when she got on Tasha K. I think Diddy may have gave her $2 million or something like that. Got her in school, gave an apartment out in LA. Still was messing with him.' Though the reason for Huynh's absence is currently unknown, Ventura and members of her staff are making waves with their shocking, deeply disturbing testimonies. Ventura's Hairstylist Reveals Revenge Porn Threats Deonte Nash, who worked for Combs from 2008 to 2018, testified on 28 May. He described Combs as a violent man who was violent with both Ventura and Nash on multiple occasions, recalling how they both hid 'too many times to count' to avoid his wrath. Nash highlighted an incident in which Combs assaulted Ventura, continuing his attack even after she hit her her on a bed frame and began bleeding. In another instance, Combs physically retaliated against Nash because he disapproved of how he styled Ventura's hair. In addition to the physical violence, Combs was also threatening Ventura with sending their sex tapes and 'freak-off' videos of her to their professional contacts. The latter is a code word used to refer to his infamous orgies at his Los Angeles mansion, where drugs and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil were found. According to Nash, Combs also threatened Ventura's parents. Charged with sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy, Combs is expected to receive a sentence of 15 years to life in prison if convicted. Though the disgraced hip-hop mogul denies all allegations, it is clear that his actions have left long-lasting scars on those he was meant to treasure. As the trial unfolds, Huynh's whereabouts remain unknown, and it is unclear whether her absence is a matter of safety, silence, or strategic withdrawal from the legal and media frenzy. What is certain, however, is that her voice echoes through the courtroom regardless of her absence. Since the jury is expected to reach a verdict in July, it is still possible we might see the elusive figure at one of the most well-known trials of the last decade. Originally published on IBTimes UK OSAKA - The new head of the operator of Universal Studios Japan has expressed eagerness to expand the park's themed areas, building on the success of attractions such as Super Nintendo World based on the universe of iconic video game character Mario. "We will develop in accordance with the market," said Taku Murayama, 53, who assumed his new leadership post at USJ LLC, which operates the theme park in Osaka in western Japan, effective Sunday. Universal Studios Japan will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2026, having regained popularity after 2014 when it launched The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, an area centering on the British boy wizard series. It broadened the zone featuring characters from gaming giant Nintendo Co. last year with the introduction of the world's first attraction area based on the popular Donkey Kong series, aiming to garner more visitors from abroad as well as Japan. Murayama, who joined USJ in 2000 after receiving a master's degree from a U.S. university, added that the World Exposition in Osaka, which opened in April, is an "extremely good touchstone" for the growth of the area around the amusement facility. "I want to help enliven" Osaka together, Murayama said, referring to the integrated resort facilities, including a casino, taking shape next to USJ. He voiced hope that their proximity would be mutually beneficial in attracting visitors. With the service industry struggling to secure human resources as part of Japan's nationwide labor shortage trend, Murayama said, "We will actively adopt digital services and operate efficiently," adding he would also strive to improve the work environment. Originally from Tokyo, Murayama succeeded JL Bonnier, who had led USJ since 2015. Related coverage: Shanghai to open Harry Potter theme park in 2027 Ghibli Park to exhibit anime director Hayao Miyazaki's beloved car Disney-themed Shinkansen trains to begin service in Japan from Feb. 21 Images taken before and after Berkshire Concrete took remediation steps by putting down erosion control fabric and hydroseeding. The space in the center has not been touched as the company plans to continue excavation there. Images of the site taken on April 3. PreviousNext Berkshire Concrete Abuttors Want More Action Unauthorized Dig Site DALTON, Mass. Residents impacted by Petricca Industries' unauthorized dig site say, "it's time to stop reacting and start acting." For the last seven months, several dozen residents have been going to numerous meetings in town urging action to stop sand from leaving parcel No. 105-16, owned by Berkshire Concrete, a subsidiary of Petricca Industries. The residents organized a Clean Air Coalition to provide updates on what they described as slow progress towards a resolution. Although coalition members thanked the town for the work it has done to aid them, they also expressed their frustration with the lack of action taken. On April 29, Berkshire Concrete's attorney Dennis Egan Jr., of Cohen Kinne Valicenti and Cook, informed the town that the company's mitigation plan is complete. The planned improvements include planting 20 white pine trees along a gravel berm, reclaiming unused areas, and backfilling those areas with clean soil. It also involves grading to create a gentle slope, followed by loaming and hydroseeding with a tackifier to encourage grass growth and prevent erosion. Additionally, a 20-foot-high earthen berm, approximately 250 feet long, will be constructed, and some sloped areas will be stabilized with stone. "These measures are intended to reduce airborne dust and reclaim and restore unused or disturbed areas. We are confident that these steps will mitigate dust at the Dalton gravel pit and demonstrate BCC's ongoing commitment to working with the town of Dalton," Egan said in a correspondence to the town. Egan initially believed that all the mitigation work was done. However, on May, 20, he informed the town that the final task, of installing a fence, had yet to be complete because the recent rain prevented the contractor from accessing the berm and work on the muddy conditions would cause "significant damage to the recently tacked and grassed areas. Several members of the coalition, members of various town board, Town Manager Thomas Hutcheson, Town Planner Janko Tomasic, Berkshire Concrete CEO Peri Petricca and Chief Operating Officer Alan LeBihan, and Berkshire Concretes' attorney discussed the situation during a site visit at parcel No. 105-16. The media was not permitted to participate in the site visit. In an Open Meeting Law complaint, an Eagle reporter claimed when they were "denied access" to the meeting and quoted an email from Petricca saying "while we understand your interest in participating in the site visit we do not believe it is appropriate for The Eagle to be there." However, a newsletter from the coalition claimed that during the site visit, Petricca apologized for the company's mistakes and said he was not aware of the scope of the problem. "The company insisted that the sand was not a health problem just a nuisance," the newsletter said. The coalition claimed that Petricca was "reluctant to have continuous dust pollution monitoring installed on the perimeter of Lot 105-16 and other key areas on the eastern edge of Berkshire Concrete's operation." "[Dave Pugh of the coalition] advocated for this multiple times so that the town and BC can take proactive steps and corrective measures to reduce dust from leaving the property," the newsletter said. The newsletter also stated that Petricca and Alan LeBihan plan to apply for a special permit in June or July to continue excavating on lot 105-16, located toward the backside of Raymond Drive, which is why a portion of the lot was not remediated. "As some of you may have seen in pictures from Tom Powers, the full site has still not been abated. Their attorney tells us they are finished. He doesn't get to make that decision we do as a town. They don't get to make that decision. The town does. They don't decide when they're finished. We tell them when they're finished and they're not finished," Clean Air Coalition member Lisa Pugh said. Her husband, David Pugh, added to that saying, "When you look from the base [and] the air it looks like more than half of the exposed area on 105-16 is still exposed." On one half the grass is growing nicely but the other side has not been remediated. "The other half really needs to be taken care," he said. During the Select Board meeting on Tuesday night, the board approved several actions addressing residents' concerns, including writing a letter requiring Berkshire Concrete "immediately cover up" the unremediated area. Additionally, the board approving a special town meeting warrant that had an article requesting funds to obtain "professional and technical work including the possibility of a lawyer and engineering company to ensure," Berkshire Concrete Corp.'s compliance with their special permit and town orders. Also approved was the establishment of a Clean Air Ad Hoc Committee, which would be charged reviewing the special permit and ensure compliance. The committee would be made up of one Select Board member, Board of Health representative, Planning Board member, and concentration commissioner. Each of these bodies will also have one alternate. Additionally, the committee will include two citizen members: one representative from the Dalton Clean Air Coalition and and a citizen. In the future, the town plans to hold a meeting involving the residents of Berkshire Concrete and the Clean Air Ad Hoc Committee. During this meeting, Select Board member Marc Strout recommended that the town secure an attorney to represent both the town and its residents, as it is likely that Berkshire Concrete will bring its own legal counsel. The board also approved, pending legal counsel review, a motion to order Berkshire Concrete to conduct air monitoring along their fence perimeter and report results to the town. During the meeting on Tuesday, residents outlined the extensive process they have gone through, which began with testing the sand in February. During the last several months, a "clerical error" was discovered omitting parcel No. 105-16 from the permit application, which resulted in a cease and desist order to stop the dust from leaving the site. The coalition attended several town meetings to obtain clarification on how to gather evidence to hold Berkshire Concrete accountable and demand action to stop the sand, which the state Department of Environmental Protection had deemed a nuisance, rather than an air quality health concern. These results indicate that the town is the regulatory authority responsible for ensuring Berkshire Concrete mitigates the dust. Boards have sent letters to Berkshire Concretes' attorneys requiring that Berkshire Concrete develop a mitigation plan or face fines. These letters were characterized as performative and do not resolve the issue. "The Board of Health does have the power to assess fines. They even warned Berkshire Concrete that they would do that, and yet they still refused to issue a fine. Why are they using their authority that they've been given," Lisa Pugh said. "Back in February [Michael Gorski, director of the DEP's Western Regional office] told the [Board of Health] 'Town authorities can order Berkshire Concrete to implement an air monitoring program at their fence line perimeter and report results to the town on an established basis.' Why hasn't this been done, that was three months ago." Tina Samson of the North Adams Veterans Office was recognized in 2019 as the Massachusetts Veterans Administrative Assistant of the Year for the work she does helping veterans. PreviousNext Community Hero: Tina Samson Tina Samson, in red, sits with veterans at one of the events she helps organize. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Veterans' Services Administrative Assistant Tina Samson has been selected as our May Community Hero of the Month. Samson has been with the North Adams veterans office for 14 years, during which time she has rallied community members and organizations to help meet the needs of veterans. "My heart's there with all my veterans. We serve over 100 of them in different communities," she said. Headquartered in North Adams, the shared services office serves the communities of Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Dalton, Florida, Lanesborough, Savoy and Williamstown. "My dad was a veteran. My grandfather was a veteran. My heart is just with them. They fought for us, so I'm fighting for them," Samson said. Over the years, Samson said the veterans she serves have transitioned from strangers to friends, and she is dedicated to assisting them at any time of day. Her dedication was exemplified by Senior Clerk Pamela Sisto, in the City Clerk's Office. She shared an instance in which Samson organized a group on short notice to place Memorial Day flags at Southview Cemetery. Samson collaborated with her husband, community members, and a youth group from First Baptist Church to carry out this task, Sisto said. Additionally, she and her husband, along with Veteran Services Director Kurtis Durocher, braved the pouring rain to attend to the flags at Hillside Cemetery, she said. The office assists veterans in various ways, including helping them file claims and find resources for financial support, transportation, food assistance, shelter, clothing, medical, and dental care. Samson also runs a food pantry for veterans, along with clothing and necessities. Despite being a poor area, the community generously contributes when asked for help, she said. The office receives donations from approximately 15 organizations to help address community needs. Support includes both financial and other resources from organizations such as the North Adams Elks, American Legions, Mountain One, the Salvation Army, and the First Baptist Church youth group, among others. Additionally, they have received food donations from sources including Whitney's Farm, Wild Oats, Williams College, Big Y, and more. "I try to kind of stay in the loop to see what's out there because if you don't, then you're not going to get anywhere," she said. Samson said the office aims to create an environment where veterans can feel comfortable and cared for through its community outreach initiatives and coordination of events, such as picnics and other community gatherings. "This is what we're here for, to make them feel comfortable knowing that they've got a space to come to," she said. Samson collaborates with numerous organizations to help raise awareness about veterans' needs or to fund raise. "Unfortunately, for decades past, not so much these days, but veterans have kind of been forgotten about. I think the Vietnam guys and women who served in Vietnam know that firsthand," Durocher said. "So, it's just important that the outreach is there, that they know there's help for them, that there are organizations that are willing to put them first." Samson emphasized the importance of listening to veterans and highlighted how many may be struggling with mental health disorders caused by their experiences in war. "Tina Samson is a true definition of a community hero in the sense that she cares immensely about the citizens that she serves she takes care of the people that she governs, and she's just a ball of energy to get people together and to recognize veterans," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey "She has been such an asset in organizing events, to bring community together, to share veteran stories, to respect veterans, and most importantly, she's also been instrumental in helping me when we have tours here at City Hall on teaching kids about what veterans do. So she's just an overall very good person, and we're very fortunate to have her on staff here at the city of North Adams." Samson advocates for veterans by guiding family members on how to help and support their loved ones, emphasizing that they may not fully understand because they are civilians who have not experienced the same challenges as the veterans. "A community hero is somebody who has an all-inclusive mindset, brings everybody together and takes care of everybody in a broad sense," Durocher said. "I think for Samson, she's always outgoing. She's always planning things for the veterans in the area, as well as the dependents and spouses, and just making sure that the veterans in the area are taken care of and that their needs are addressed." The community needs caring people like Samson. People like her give from the heart, are genuine, and important, Macksey said. "The community knows they can count on her, they can count on the office, they can count on the veterans officer, but most importantly, people feel comfortable with her, because she cares so much," she said. 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 China has accused the US of "fear-mongering" after Donald Trumps defence secretary Pete Hegseth said a Chinese invasion of Taiwan could be imminent. China's foreign ministry objected to Mr Hegseth calling it a threat in the Indo-Pacific, describing his comments as "deplorable" and "intended to sow division". Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the American defence secretary said China was "actively training" every day to take Taiwan. Beijing claims the self-governed island to be part of its territory and has not ruled out reuniting Taiwan with the mainland by force. China has stepped up military and political pressure to assert those claims in recent years, including ramping up the intensity of war games around the island. Taiwan's president William Lai Ching-te, right, meets with Rep Bruce Westerman, chair of the House Natural Resources Committee in Taipei, Taiwan Mr Hegseth said that China's army "is rehearsing for the real deal," adding: "We are not going to sugarcoat it the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent." He argued that China launching an invasion of Taiwan would have devastating consequences. China said Mr "Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely called China a 'threat'". "The United States has deployed offensive weaponry in the South China Sea and kept stoking flames and creating tensions in the Asia-Pacific, which are turning the region into a powder keg," the ministry said in the statement. Separately, China's ambassador to New Zealand criticised Mr Hegseth in a post on X, saying: "If this is not sabre-rattling or fear-mongering, then nothing is." Wang Xiaolong said the defence secretary was "doing this to shore up the USs imaginary continued dominance in the region", fan an arms race to promote business deals for the American military industry and disrupt peace and "nonpareil prosperity" in the region. "However, it will be a stretch of imagination to think that many, if any at all, in the region would buy that unfounded, self-centric and delusional rhetoric," Mr Wang added. Mr Hegseth had called on allies in the Indo-Pacific region, including key security ally Australia, to spend more on defence after warning of the "real and potentially imminent" threat from China. Asked about the Trump administrations call for him to boost defence spending, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said his government had pledged an extra A$10bn (4.7bn) to defence, while rebuffing the idea of foreign pressure on the Australian budget. "What we'll do is we'll determine our defence policy," he told reporters on Sunday. As part of Washington's longstanding defence ties with the Philippines, the US military this year deployed Typhon launchers that can fire missiles to hit targets in both China and Russia from the island of Luzon. China and the Philippines contest sovereignty over some islands and atolls in the South China Sea, with growing maritime run-ins between their coastguards as both vie to patrol the waters. 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 Prosecutors in Bangladesh have formally charged ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina with crimes against humanity for her alleged involvement in mass killings during last years anti-government protests. Ms Hasina fled by helicopter to India after a student-led protest turned into an anti-government uprising against her 15-year-long authoritarian rule in the South Asian country. The UN estimates up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August last year during the monsoon protests when Ms Hasina's Awami League government launched its crackdown on demonstrators in Dhaka. Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) found that Ms Hasina directly ordered state security forces, her party and affiliated groups to conduct operations, which resulted in mass casualties. "Upon scrutinising the evidence, we reached the conclusion that it was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack," Mohammad Tajul Islam, ICT chief prosecutor, told the court. "The accused unleashed all law enforcement agencies and her armed party members to crush the uprising," he added. Mr Islam had filed charges against Ms Hasina and two other officials, who were also officially charged on Sunday, for "abetment, incitement, complicity, facilitation, conspiracy, and failure to prevent mass murder during the July uprising". Prosecutors argued that Ms Hasina, as the then-head of the government, was responsible for the security force operations during the unrest. The ICT in October last year issued arrest warrant for the former prime minister as well as 45 of her cabinet ministers, advisors, and military and civil officials. She continues to live in New Delhi, close to the corridors of power in the capital, evading an extradition bid. The power vacuum in Bangladesh was quickly filled with a caretaker government led by long-time Hasina critic and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who returned to the country to be named interim leader. Almost a year since the protests, Bangladeshis await a democratic election to pick their new leader. However, in a controversial move, Bangladeshs Election Commission this month cancelled the registration of Awami League, preventing it from participating in the next national election, which is expected to be held by June next year. The interim 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". Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Obese patients are being denied life-changing hip and knee replacements and left in pain in a bid to slash spiralling NHS costs, The Independent can reveal. One-third of NHS areas in England and multiple health boards in Wales are blocking patient access based on their body mass index (BMI). The move, deemed unfair and discriminatory, goes against guidance from the National Institute for Care Excellence (Nice), which states BMI shouldnt be used to restrict patients access to joint replacement surgery. Patients are instead being told they must lose weight before they are eligible but waiting lists for NHS weight loss programmes have ballooned, with some people waiting up to three years to be seen while other services have shut, unable to cope with demand. The Royal College of Surgeons of England criticised the policy, saying that denying patients care could cost them their mobility and cause their health to deteriorate, while Tory peer and former health minister James Bethell called on the government to do more to tackle the obesity crisis and end the misery for millions. More than 64 per cent of adults in England were overweight or living with obesity in 2022-23, up from 63 per cent the year before, the most recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows. The news comes as 7.4 million people were waiting for NHS treatments in March, while health service leaders have warned they are being forced to cut services to meet tough savings demands from the government. The shocking revelation of surgery refusals was uncovered in an audit of referral criteria used by NHS bodies in England by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). It found 15 of 42 areas are restricting access to surgery by BMI, while The Independent discovered at least two health boards were doing the same in Wales. Thresholds varied by area, with some limiting access to those with a BMI of less than 35 (patients who are obese) or 40 (severely obese). Dr Joanna McLaughlin, lead researcher and NIHR clinical lecturer at the University of Bristol, told The Independent that through her research, policymakers, commissioners and surgeons acknowledged that NHS financial pressures were a main driver for BMI threshold policy use, and that they didnt have confidence that the policies were based in evidence of health benefits. The research also found that NHS weight management support services were inadequate and could not ensure that those excluded from surgery could be supported to lose enough weight. Some patients had resorted to paying privately for surgery. Dr McLaughlin said: The variety in the BMI limits and in the requirements to prove patients have made attempts at weight loss chosen by different ICBs [integrated care boards] highlights the postcode lottery and inequalities created by these policies. Several ICBs identified by the study told The Independent that some patients with a high BMI could still access care if they passed an assessment, while others said they would need to prove they were fit for surgery. Ducking this choice will cause misery for millions, warned former health minister James Bethell ( PA Media ) But medics told The Independent that BMI should not be used as a sole restrictive measure. Tim Mitchell, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, said losing weight before surgery could reduce the risk of complications, and patients should be supported in this. However, he said that BMI alone should not be a barrier, adding: We must not penalise those who are less fit but still eligible for surgery, as this approach is unfair and ignores clinical guidance. Mark Bowditch, president of the British Orthopaedic Association, said: Losing weight before surgery can be very difficult for people with limited mobility issues. Furthermore, obesity is more likely in people from certain socioeconomically deprived areas or ethnic groups, so care must be taken to avoid unintentionally disadvantaging certain patient groups. Deborah Alsina, chief executive of charity Versus Arthritis, said: We hear heartbreaking stories from people desperate for the pain to stop, and accounts from people who face barriers to access even when they are referred for the surgery they urgently need. We frequently hear of people denied a referral, or being taken off the waiting list because of their weight, with body mass index being cited as a rationale. We must make sure this discriminatory practice doesnt become standard. Lord Bethell said the row over BMI thresholds for operations showed the NHS needs to make a choice over preventing disease with weight-loss jabs, which cost 100 a month, or to treat obesity-related diseases, such as those that lead to hip operations, which can cost 10,000. He said the government has a choice to either crack down on Junk Food Britain with a tough food strategy or to give the NHS a lot more money to pay for the consequences of a sick population. He added: Its one or the other. Ducking this choice will cause misery for millions, the bankruptcy of our nation and the end of the Starmer administration. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said it expected ICBs to comply with Nice guidance. They added that the departments Plan for Change for the NHS includes rolling out weight loss drugs to those who need it most. TOKYO - Japan and South Korea on Sunday opened dedicated entry lanes for tourists visiting each other's countries at four airports, marking the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties. The lanes were implemented to improve convenience for inbound travelers by speeding up the immigration process. They will remain in use through June 30 at four airports -- Haneda in Tokyo, Fukuoka in southwestern Japan, Gimpo in Seoul and Gimhae in Busan. Park Kyung Mo, a 40-year-old tourist visiting Japan with his family, said he likes the neighboring nation, and he expressed hope that the two countries will deepen their relations. It is the first time a Japanese airport has designated a lane for a specific nation, according to the Immigration Services Agency. People who have visited the respective countries within the past year and have registered in advance are eligible to use the perk, which is available for flights arriving between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Japan and South Korea, although often at odds over historical and territorial disputes, have become popular tourist destinations for each other in recent years, with many people drawn to pop culture, drama and food. The two nations signed on June 22, 1965, a basic treaty that led to the normalization of diplomatic ties. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Peak tick season is approaching across the U.S and researchers are expecting this summer to be particularly brutal. But, is it the worst ever? University of Rhode Island entomologist Dr. Thomas The TickGuy Mathers told The Independent that its too early to call it but the numbers are looking worrying hes received more submissions of nymphal blacklegged ticks, which carry Lyme disease, to the universitys TickSpotters platform so far this month than the weekly average for the same period over the last decade. I dont know the answer just yet, if its a trend going up but I suspect it is, just based on the number of nymphal blacklegged ticks Ive seen in the past couple of weeks, he explained. Mathers noted that federal data shows emergency room visits related to ticks are up this year, with visits nearly doubling from 70 in April, to 131 in May. open image in gallery Experts are seeing more reports of blacklegged ticks this year. They carry Lyme disease ( CDC ) Other researchers who also count ticks are noticing a significant jump in specimens. Dr. Saravanan Thangamani, a professor at New Yorks SUNY Upstate Medical University who runs the Upstate Tick Testing Laboratory, has warned that more ticks are being sent to the lab than at the same time last year, marking a 217 percent increase. Based on the trend in tick submission I have observed thus far, I expect a tick season that is worse than the previous years, he cautioned. But, Rutgers University professor and entomologist Dina Fonseca is not ready to make that call quite yet. Shes a part of the submission project called New Jersey Ticks 4 Science! She said people say its the worst year for ticks every year, noting theres no standardized tick surveillance. Theyre seeing more submissions, as well, but they dont know if its just because more people are reporting them. Frankly, we dont have enough data over time to be able to say, Is it a worse year than normal or a better year than normal? We dont know, explained Fonseca. What threats do US ticks pose? Whatever the case may be, the heightened activity between June and July leaves Americans exposed to 90 species of ticks and the diseases they can carry. Although ticks are on both coasts, theyre largely found in the eastern U.S. Some, like brown dog ticks and blacklegged ticks, are located more widely. Not being prepared for ticks while doing outside activities and camping could carry a death sentence although thats an extremely rare outcome. People bitten by ticks may be exposed to Powassan virus, Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, Tularemia, Lyme disease, and other pathogens that can cause human disease. People can be affected by multiple diseases at once. The nymphal blacklegged ticks are the ones Fonseca says people really need to worry about, as they can be infected with four different disease agents. That includes Lyme disease, which may lead to facial paralysis and irregular heartbeat if untreated. Although larger than larval ticks, nymphal ticks are only the size of a poppy seed. They may be hard to spot even for people who are aware of their regions ticks and where they live. Look at the bowtie of Lincoln on a penny; thats the size of a nymphal blacklegged tick, Fonseca said. open image in gallery Nymphal blacklegged ticks are no larger than a poppy seed. They may be hard to spot initially ( CDC ) Exposure and prevention While its easy to miss ticks, it can take about two days for any transmission to occur after a bite. People who find ticks on their skin should remove them with tweezers as soon as possible. Those who develop a rash or fever after removal should consult a doctor. As far as prevention goes, knowledge is power. Reducing exposure is the best way to avoid negative health outcomes. Mather advises that people follow what he calls the three Ts. Wear tight clothing, tuck in shirts and pants legs, and wear clothes treated with 0.5 percent permethrin repellent. If you dont apply repellent, they can be ruthless, Fonseca said, recalling a time when she picked 30-to-40 ticks out of her hair. Mathers remembers a trip to Fire Island that resulted in the exposure to literally hundreds of fast-crawling ticks. Unfortunately, with a changing climate comes additional chances to pick up the blood-sucking hitchhikers. With a warmer atmosphere comes a wetter world, and parasites thrive in those conditions, and ticks have been observed moving north. Southern aridity is their enemy. One of the easiest ways to kill a tick is to dry the heck out of them, said Fonseca. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A naked British Airways crew member was discovered dancing in a business class toilet while on shift mid-flight after allegedly taking drugs, according to reports. The Sun reported the steward was supposed to be serving meals to passengers on a recent flight from San Francisco to London Heathrow, but had disappeared. When the double-decker Airbus A380-800 was searched, it is claimed that the in-flight crew manager discovered him naked and dancing in the Club World cabin toilet. Staff reportedly dressed their colleague in a spare pair of pyjamas used by first-class passengers before buckling him into a first-class seat, where he stayed for the remainder of the 10-and-a-half-hour trip. The Metropolitan Police said a 41-year-old man on a flight from San Francisco to London Heathrow Airport was arrested on suspicion of being unfit for duty. The force said officers were called by cabin crew over concerns for the welfare of a man just after 9.30am. When the plane landed, he was taken to hospital for treatment, before being arrested and later released under investigation as enquiries continue. British Airways told The Independent the incident is a matter for the police. The Met said in a statement: At 9.32am, police based at Heathrow Airport were called by cabin crew following the concern for welfare of a man on an inbound flight from San Francisco. A 41-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment once the flight had landed. Officers arrested the man after he received medical attention. He was arrested on suspicion of being unfit for duty. He has since been released under investigation. Enquiries remain ongoing into the circumstances, and an investigation has been launched. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A British man has been charged with spying for allegedly trying to smuggle "sensitive American military technology" to China. The US Justice Department said John Miller, who is from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, is accused of interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit interstate stalking, and conspiracy, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act. The Justice Department added that the US is seeking to extradite Mr Miller from Serbia, along with his co-accused, Cui Guanghai, 43, of China. The most serious offence they are accused of violation of the Arms Export Control Act carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. According to the Mail on Sunday, a neighbour said Mr Miller, 63, often travelled to the Far East for work. Court documents released by the US Attorneys Office said the pair solicited the procurement of US defence articles, including missiles, air defense radar, drones, and cryptographic devices with associated crypto ignition keys for unlawful export from the United States to the Peoples Republic of China. The pair reportedly discussed ways to export a cryptographic device from the US to China, including concealing the device in a blender, and shipping the device first to Hong Kong. Court documents said they paid around 10,000 dollars (7,400) as a deposit for the cryptographic device via a courier in the US and a wire transfer to a US bank account. open image in gallery If convicted Mr Miller could also face the maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for interstate stalking, and 10 years in prison for smuggling ( AFP via Getty Images ) The two men are also said to have been part of a plot to prevent an individual who had been critical of Chinas President Xi Jinping from protesting his appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in November 2023. In the weeks leading up to the Apec summit, they are accused of coordinating an interstate scheme to conduct surveillance on the victim by installing a tracking device on his car and slashing its tyres. Another offence relates to the spring of this year, when the dissenter announced that he planned to make public an online video feed depicting two new artistic statues of Mr Xi and his wife. In connection with these plots, the accused are said to have paid two other individuals approximately 36,500 dollars (27,010) to convince the victim to desist from the online display of the statues. These two individuals were affiliated with and acting at the direction of the FBI. Deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said: As alleged, the defendants targeted a US resident for exercising his constitutional right to free speech and conspired to traffic sensitive American military technology to the Chinese regime. This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems. We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge. open image in gallery The pair reportedly discussed ways to export a cryptographic device from the US to China, including concealing the device in a blender, and shipping the device first to Hong Kong. ( Shutterstock / Dzelat ) US attorney Bill Essayli, for the Central District of California, said: The indictment alleges that Chinese foreign actors targeted a victim in our nation because he criticised the Chinese government and its president. My office will continue to use all legal methods available to hold accountable foreign nationals engaging in criminal activity on our soil. Akil Davis, the assistant director in charge of the FBIs Los Angeles field office, said: The FBI will not tolerate transnational repression targeting those in the United States who express dissenting opinions about foreign leaders. Both defendants face serious stalking charges in Los Angeles and my office intends to hold them accountable for bullying a victim, a critic of the PRC (Peoples Republic of China), and targeting him with violence. If convicted Mr Miller could also face the maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for interstate stalking, and 10 years in prison for smuggling. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The UK is facing a child poverty crisis, with The Independent revealing the number of parents struggling to feed and clothe their children is rocketing. Baby bank use surged 35 per cent last year, according to data shared with this publication, as more and more families seek support amid the cost of living crisis and record-high child poverty levels. Celebrities, including actor Giovanna Fletcher, MPs and campaigners have demanded to know how this can be happening in the UK, as they call for more support for families. open image in gallery More and more families are turning to baby banks for support amid the cost of living crisis and record-high child poverty levels ( Save the Children UK/Baby Bank Alliance/Anna Gordon ) But in the meantime, parents are struggling to afford key items for their children, which is where the help of baby banks comes in. Often run by volunteers from community halls, warehouses and even front rooms, baby banks are a lifeline for families, providing a safe, supportive service for those in need. This is primarily in the form of giving out essential items like clothing, nappies, toys, prams and more but also in offering a safe space. However, many dont know that baby banks exist, or if they do, dont know where their nearest one is. Therefore, here is a map of locations of baby banks across the UK: The families this publication spoke with said they had not heard of baby banks before they started using them. But the need is only increasing as stark government figures show that the number of impoverished youngsters in Britain soared by 200,000 from 4.3 million to 4.5 million between 2023 and 2024. More than 3.5 million essential items were handed out by baby banks in 2024, including nappies, clothes and cots, according to the data from the Baby Bank Alliance (BBA) an increase of 143 per cent on the previous year. open image in gallery (Left to right) Adam Coggins, a father of two, Sam, a mother of one, Giovanna Fletcher, and Kirsty-Louise Fulford, a mother of two, speak at Bicester Baby Bank ( Save the Children UK/Baby Bank Alliance/Anna Gordon ) The new figures come after Labour delayed its flagship plan to cut child poverty until the autumn, although it insists the strategy will be ambitious. Meanwhile, ministers debate whether or not to scrap the two-child benefit cap as the cost of living crisis continues to bite, and statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) remains equivalent to less than half the 2025 national living wage. Parents said they wanted to draw awareness to baby banks so other families can benefit and to encourage people to donate. Single father Adam Coggins, 34, was living in temporary accomodation with his daughters, aged two and three, and worrying about being able to feed them when a health visitor suggested he go to a baby bank. It was difficult to start with, Ive always paid my way, he said. [But] its surprising when you go there how many people are there needing the help... surprising how many people have stories like mine. You see how much the community comes together its becoming a popular, useful place for lots of struggling people. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Demand for help from baby banks from parents struggling to feed their children has surged by more than one-third in a year, The Independent can reveal, amid record-high levels of child poverty. As the cost of living continues to rise, a growing number of families are having to turn to baby banks, with new data showing that more than 3.5 million essential items were handed out in 2024, including nappies, clothes and cots an increase of 143 per cent on the previous year. Describing the rising need as absolutely shocking, actor and podcast host Giovanna Fletcher questioned how this is happening in the UK as she joined forces with MPs and childrens charities to urge the government to take action. The new figures come after Labour delayed until autumn its flagship plan to cut child poverty, although it insists its strategy is ambitious. Meanwhile, ministers are debating whether or not to scrap the two-child benefit cap as the cost of living crisis continues to bite, and statutory maternity pay remains equivalent to less than half of the 2025 national living wage. open image in gallery Parents including Adam Coggins (left) and Kirsty-Louise Fulford (right) speak with Giovanna Fletcher (second from right) at Bicester Baby Bank ( Save the Children UK/Baby Bank Alliance/Anna Gordon ) Single father Adam Coggins said the pressures of parenthood took a toll on his mental health and forced him to reach out to a baby bank for the first time, as he feared that without help he would be unable to feed his daughters, aged two and three. The 34-year-old told The Independent: I was so uncomfortable going there, because Ive never had to ask for help before. I felt like a failure; that was hard. [But] without these people, we would be in trouble. Theyve saved a lot of people [and] especially when youve got two young kids, you need that help. That could be the difference between getting a couple of meals for them. Getting two packs of nappies saves you money to get food for them. Mr Coggins and his daughters are among the 219,637 families supported by UK baby banks in 2024 alone an increase of 35 per cent on the previous year, according to data from the Baby Bank Alliance (BBA), an organisation that supports the more than 400 baby banks nationwide. Stark government figures show that the number of children in poverty in Britain soared by 200,000, from 4.3 million to 4.5 million, between 2023 and 2024. The BBAs analysis of its latest annual survey of members found that baby banks are stretched to the limit. Almost two-thirds (65 per cent) reported receiving more requests for help than they could meet, with referrals rising by 30 per cent last year, while over two-thirds (69 per cent) said they have waiting lists for key items. This marks a crisis given that baby banks are a lifeline for families, providing essential items such as clothing, nappies, toys, prams and food, as well as a safe space. They are often run by volunteers, operating out of community halls, warehouses and even front rooms. Fletcher, a bestselling author and podcast host, recently visited baby banks in Leeds, Bedford and Bicester. Criticising the governments current approach and urging it to implement long-term solutions, she told The Independent: They have to take stock and look at the data. So many [parents] are now having to make impossible choices about how to feed their family, how to clothe their family and theyre always coming up short, and thats such a massive pressure. open image in gallery Single father Adam Coggins, 34, said the pressures of parenthood took a toll on his mental health and forced him to reach out to a baby bank for the first time as he feared that his daughters, aged two and three, would not have enough to eat ( Save the Children UK/Baby Bank Alliance/Anna Gordon ) Mother of two Kirsty-Louise Fulford spoke with Fletcher at Bicester Baby Bank. The 31-year-old and her partner sometimes rely on the baby bank for formula for their 16-month-old daughter and food for their son, aged three, as well as for nappies and baby wipes. Without the baby bank, I dont think Id be able to cope, she said. Jennie Bayliss, the baby bank lead at Faces Bedford, which runs Bedford Baby Bank, said the facility is completely reliant on donations and that it is only getting busier, with at least 30 requests coming in every week. Clive Lewis, the Labour MP for Norwich South, said: That baby banks even exist in one of the richest countries on Earth is an indictment of our political choices. The fact theyve now seen a 35 per cent surge in demand speaks to a crisis not of resources, but of priorities. If we can afford tax breaks for the wealthy, we can afford dignity for children. Ending child poverty is a political decision. This government is choosing not to make it. The Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, Kim Johnson, described the fact that baby banks have become a lifeline for so many as a national disgrace, with families now being pushed to the brink. She said: Nappies, formula, and clothing are not luxuries they are essentials for a childs wellbeing. No child should be growing up in poverty in one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Yet baby banks are being left to do the job of government. Also calling on the government to end child poverty, Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central, said: The greatest impact of poverty can be found in the first years of life. No parent should have to depend on food, baby and multi-banks. They should have enough support to care for their baby. open image in gallery Leeds Baby Bank was set up in 2017 and currently supports 250 families each month ( Save the Children UK/Baby Bank Alliance/Anna Gordon ) A charity worker who wished to remain anonymous said that the homeless charity she works for is currently referring three or four survivors of domestic violence to baby banks per week. Without that support, she said, the women and children would have nothing and may find it hard to survive. Dani Adams, executive lead at the BBA, said: Families shouldnt have to worry about having a safe space for their children to sleep, or whether they have enough clothes to keep them warm, but the sad reality is that they are. open image in gallery Kirsty-Louise Fulfords partner cannot always get enough work, so the couple sometimes rely on the baby bank for formula for their 16-month-old daughter and food for their son, aged three, as well as for nappies and baby wipes ( Save the Children UK/Baby Bank Alliance/Anna Gordon ) Dan Paskins, the director of UK impact at Save the Children, added: Scrapping the two-child limit to benefits and the benefit cap would be a start in alleviating the pressure not only on families but also on the baby bank community. The UK governments long-awaited child poverty strategy is a pivotal moment to begin making positive changes for children. A government spokesperson said: The government is determined to bring down child poverty. Weve already expanded free breakfast clubs, increased the national minimum wage for those on the lowest incomes, uprated benefits, and supported 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a fair repayment rate on universal credit deductions. We will publish an ambitious child poverty strategy later this year to ensure that we deliver fully funded measures that tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty across the country. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Britain will build up to 12 new nuclear-powered submarines, Sir Keir Starmer will announce as he unveils his much-anticipated defence review. In a bid to ensure the UK rises to the challenge of growing global security threats, the prime minister will say that the 130-page review is a radical blueprint signalling a wave of investments into military infrastructure and weaponry. An extra 15bn will be spent on new nuclear warheads for the UKs nuclear deterrent. open image in gallery Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and defence secretary John Healey visit a Vanguard-class submarine off the coast of Scotland ( Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street ) The plans will significantly increase the UKs conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet, with the new vessels built under a joint deal with the US and Australia, known as the Aukus partnership. Heres all you need to know about the UKs fleet of nuclear-deterrent submarines, and the proposed plans for its future: How many submarines does the Royal Navy currently have? The Royal Navy currently operates nine submarines, including five Astute-class conventionally armed nuclear-powered attack vessels. The Astute class is Britains largest and most advanced fleet of submarines. The remaining four are Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), which carry the UKs Trident nuclear missile system. A new group, the Dreadnought class, will be introduced in the early 2030s. These will be both nuclear-powered and ballistic missile-armed. How many submarines will the UK have in the future? Two further Astute-class submarines, HMS Agamemnon and HMS Agincourt, are set to enter service in late 2025 and late 2026 respectively. Agamemnon is currently going through trials with the Royal Navy as part of a test and commissioning programme, while Agincourt remains under construction. As part of the joint defence deal between the US, Australia and the UK - known as Aukus - the UK is set to significantly boost its fleet of submarines following the defence review. An added 12 submarines would bring the UKs fleet up to more than 20 in total. This remains far smaller than the USs fleet of 71, and China and Russias fleets of 66 each. open image in gallery The HMS Agamemnon nuclear submarine seen docked at the BAE systems factory in Barrow-in-Furness ( Getty ) How powerful are the UKs submarines? The Astute class is the latest class of nuclear-powered attack submarines and is constructed by BAE Systems Submarines. Submarines of this class can fit dozens of weapons - up to 38 - and are armed with Tomahawk IV cruise missiles, which can strike targets at a range of well over 1,600km away. But the UKs nuclear deterrent is found in the four Vanguard-class boats, which use the Trident missile system. Each boat can carry up to 16 Trident missiles, which can carry up to 12 nuclear warheads each. The Dreadnought class will be both nuclear-powered and ballistic missile-armed. Where are they kept? The Royal Navy Submarine Service base is found in HMNB Clyde, in Scotland, known by Navy personnel as Faslane. It is 25 miles west of Glasgow and is found off the Firth of Clyde. The base is one of Scotlands largest employers, employing more than 6,000 military and civilian personnel. Situated in a relatively secluded area, the base sits among deep waters with quick access to submarine patrolling areas in the North Atlantic. What are they used for today? One of the key roles of the submarines is to act as the UKs nuclear deterrent. Our Vanguard class submarines - the UKs strategic nuclear deterrent force - are continually in operation: patrolling the worlds oceans undetected, ready to strike at any time, the Royal Navy website reads. Their presence alone sends the most powerful message to anyone who would do us harm, it adds. With the Astute class of attack or hunter-killer submarines, the Royal Navy can attack surface vessels, other submarines, and targets hundreds of miles inland. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice After months of behind the scenes wrangling, the governments long-awaited Strategic Defence Review (SDR) is finally set to be published on Monday. The flagship review, which was promised by Sir Keir Starmer immediately after assuming office, is intended to address the true state of the armed forces and the money available to spend on it. Whenever ministers have faced questions over Britains ailing military in the past few months, they have pointed to the SDR as a fix-all remedy. But when the review is published on Monday and inevitably pored over by defence experts, journalists and MPs there will no longer be anywhere for the government to hide. Sir Keir Starmer with defence secretary John Healey ( PA ) The key question hanging over the review is whether or not it will be ambitious enough to address the problem at hand Britains armed forces have been chronically underfunded for years. Troop numbers are down and ageing equipment is in a bad state. Meanwhile, it is being published in an increasingly fraught landscape for global defence. Pressure on Britain and the rest of Europe to ramp up their defence spending has been rapidly increasing since the election of Donald Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to pull out of Nato if Europe does not pull its weight. While the Nato defence spending target is 2 per cent of GDP a benchmark that a number of European nations fall short of Trump has gone so far as to suggest that US allies should be spending 5 per cent, amid mounting global threats from Russia, China and Iran. Britain has already set out plans to reach 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027 and on Friday, defence secretary John Healey went even further, committing to spending 3 per cent by 2034. Although it sends a strong signal of ambition ahead of Mondays review, the near decade it will take us to get there shouldnt be overlooked. In the meantime, Britain will be lagging behind Baltic states like Estonia, Poland and Finland. While it is an encouraging start, the resounding response is that the UK must move faster if it wants to remedy the hollowing out of the armed forces that has occurred after years of chronic underfunding. In April 2024, the army fell below its recruitment target for the first time since it was set, with personnel numbers at the lowest level since the Napoleonic wars, at around 73,000 troops down from 110,000 in 2010. A commitment to increase troop numbers is likely to feature in the SDR, but the problem wont be fixed overnight. There is a major cultural issue with recruitment and retention in the armed forces. MoD figures from June 2024 revealed that more than 15,000 personnel quit in the 12 months previous, while just over 11,000 signed up. The governments suggestion of putting peacekeeping troops in Ukraine is only adding to this pressure, with former head of the British army Richard Dannatt last year warning that the UK simply doesnt have the numbers or the equipment to make this plan viable. Spelling out the scale of the problem at a Royal United Services Institute conference in December, defence minister Al Carns a former special forces soldier admitted that the whole army could be dissipated within a year if it was dragged into a conflict similar in scale to the Ukraine war. After years of chronic underfunding, Mondays report will be a difficult read. Its unsurprising, therefore, that the process of drafting it has not been plain sailing. When Lord Robertson one of the people tasked with leading the review slapped a version on Healeys desk in December, one source said he was told to go away and give it another go. By February, the review is understood to have already been on its fifth draft, and nobody seemed happy with it. Every time it landed back on MoD desks, it was met with horror at the scale of the holes in Britains armed forces. It was hoped the review would be able to highlight issues and propose viable solutions. But the further along it got, the more it made for depressing reading, sparking growing concern from figures inside the MoD that it could actually cause more problems for the government than it solved. Just days out from the reviews publication, defence sources said the final details were still being ironed out. To make matters worse for Healey, Starmers dash to get his beleaguered Chagos deal over the line meant the treaty was signed just two weeks before the reviews publication raising questions over how much of the defence budget would be swallowed up by the agreement. According to conservative estimates from the government, the deal will cost 101m annually, split between the Foreign Office and the MoD. But just two weeks out from the reviews publication, there was still some toing and froing over which department would foot the bill. How the cost would be shared, ministers couldnt say. A few big-ticket commitments have also been briefed out to the media ahead of Mondays publication. Britain is looking to purchase fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons, a move that would be the biggest expansion of the nuclear deterrent since the Cold War. While 1.5bn will be spent on building six new munitions factories. These pledges like the 2034 deadline for hitting 3 per cent on defence spending send the right signal: an acknowledgement that Britain is facing the most treacherous period since the Cold War. But this will need to be echoed across the report as a whole, rather than displayed in just a few headline pledges. And the nine-year time lag before we hit the 3 per cent target doesnt convey the sense of urgency that many had hoped the review itself would. The main purpose of the SDR is to provide solutions to the problem of Britains ailing military. Certainly, it is meant to answer more questions than it poses. But with the global landscape becoming increasingly treacherous, and with the government dragging its heels on defence spending, there is a high chance Mondays publication will only bring more questions over how the UK defends itself in an increasingly unstable world. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The moment that determined the outcome of Labours defence review could be judged to be just over three years and three months ago when Russia invaded Ukraine. And, indeed, the 130-page detailed document will draw heavily on lessons learned from the war currently raging on the edge of Europe. As the defence secretary John Healey said on Sunday, the governments response has been designed to send a message to Moscow. But, in reality, the most important moment in the run up to the review happened in January when Donald Trump entered the White House for the second time. open image in gallery US president Donald Trump and prime minister Sir Keir Starmer ( PA Wire ) The US president has consistently pressed Nato allies, of which the UK is one, to increase how much they spend on defence or else. In response, Keir Starmer announced a hike to 2.5 per cent of GDP within the next two years. And Mr Healey went further this weekend, saying he had no doubt it would reach an ambition of 3 per cent by 2034. Like all major European leaders, the prime minister knows how much Nato depends on the US, and how much its current leader wants to hear of other countries stepping up. The review itself has been written jointly by Labour grandee George Robertson, who is himself a former Nato secretary general, as well as Richard Barrons, a retired British army general, and Fiona Hill, a former adviser on Russia to one Donald Trump. This strategic defence review will not just send a message to the Kremlin, but to Washington as well. open image in gallery Sir Keir meeting British soldiers ( PA ) But will it be enough? The president has called on Nato countries to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence. And Lord Ricketts, a former national security adviser, has suggested that ultimately the UK would have to rise to 3.5 per cent of GDP, warning that one of the lessons of Ukraine was the effect of sheer numbers, whether that be in terms of manpower or equipment. As part of the review, the UK will build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines, as part of a joint programme with the US and Australia, called Aukus. Other decisions could see the UK buy US equipment. On Sunday, Mr Healey also appeared to confirm he wanted to buy American-made planes armed with tactical nuclear weapons, in what would be seen as a major expansion of the deterrent intended to counter the growing threat posed by Russia. The full scale of the governments response to the review - it is thought to have accepted all 62 of its recommendations - will reset the UKs defence strategy for the next decade. Downing Street will be listening out for the response from the Kremlin, and the White House. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The defence secretary has hit out at shocking scenes of migrants being picked up by people smugglers like a taxi to be brought to the UK on dangerous small boats while French police stand by. A furious row has erupted over the lack of action after more than 1,000 people crossed the channel in a single day on Saturday. French police officers were seen watching as migrants, including children, boarded at a beach in Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk, while authorities were then pictured escorting the boats. John Healey said it was a big problem that French police had not intervened to intercept the boats in shallow waters despite an agreement to do so. The authorities in France have to stop these people in the boats, not just on the shore, he added. open image in gallery People thought to be migrants board a small boat leave the beach at Gravelines, France ( PA Wire ) Mr Healey told the Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme on Sky News that Saturdays scenes were pretty shocking. He added: [The] truth is, Britains lost control of its borders over the last five years, and the last government, last year, left an asylum system in chaos and record levels of immigration. He said it is a really big problem that French police are unable to intervene to intercept boats in shallow waters. We saw the smugglers launching elsewhere and coming around like a taxi to pick [the migrants] up, he said. Ministers are pressing the French government to put new rules into operation that would allow them to intervene, he added. Theyre not doing it, but for the first time for years, weve got the level of cooperation needed, he said. Weve got the agreement that they will change the way they work, and our concentration now is to push them to get that into operation so they can intercept these smugglers and stop these people in the boats, not just on the shore. open image in gallery French police officers watch a group of people thought to be migrants board a small boat leaving the beach at Gravelines, France ( PA Wire ) A total of 1,194 people made the journey in 18 boats on Saturday, bringing the provisional total for this year so far to 14,811 42 per cent higher than at the same point last year, and 95 per cent up on the 7,610 who had crossed by this point in 2023. It is still lower than the highest daily total of 1,305 arrivals since records began in 2018, which was recorded on 3 September 2022. Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to crack down on crossings, including with measures that target smuggling gangs. A Home Office source said: We have developed strong cooperation with the French, and it is important that they have agreed to disrupt these boats once theyre in the water and not just on the shore. This vital step now needs to be operationalised to protect border security and save lives. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said that Saturday was a day of shame for Labour as he claimed the party had completely lost control of our borders. So far, this is already the worst year on record. Labour have failed on every front, and Britain is paying the price, he added. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice British citizens will be required to have their fingerprints scanned whenever they go to the European Union due to delays in the development of digital biometrics software. Every UK passenger entering the Schengen area will need to exit their car to be photographed and fingerprinted individually. A spokesperson for the Port of Dover, which facilitates transit and trade with countries like France and the Netherlands, told The Independent the plans will be rolled out in the autumn. This is because a new biometric entry-check system for non-EU citizens was expected to be implemented last year, but this has been postponed. The Independent initially reported on the delay to the new system at the end of 2024, with suggestions that the demand for fingerprints may quietly be dropped. Every UK passenger entering the Schengen area will need to exit their car to be photographed and fingerprinted individually ( Gareth Fuller/PA Wire ) Doug Bannister, the ports chief executive, told The Guardian it will be business as usual this summer but said a big change in travel will be phased in from November. An individuals fingerprint or a picture of their face will be checked alongside their passport number on every trip. The technology is being utilised to eliminate "wet stamping" of passports and enable an automated recording of the duration of visitors' stays in mainland Europe. In time, an app installed on UK Border Force tablets is intended to be passed into the car to verify each persons fingerprints. However, Mr Bannister said the app, which has been developed by the EUs border agency Frontex, wont be ready any time before November, but hopefully it could come swiftly after that. Frontex said it was up to each member state to implement its use. Mr Bannister admitted second, third, fourth time travellers still need to have a biometric captured at the border. This means that passengers will still be required to step out of their vehicles every time until the app is ready. There will be significant infrastructure improvements in Kent in an effort to reduce disruptions to cross-border transport. To accommodate passengers getting off cars and buses, the Port of Dover is reclaiming 13 hectares of land. In a solution supported by the UK and French governments, the port said it will create a virtual system around 1.5 miles across the ports surrounding area for checks. Mr Bannister is certain that the upcoming inspections at the port, which handles up to 10,000 trucks and 15,000 passenger cars every day during the summer, will require only an extra six minutes to each trip. TOKYO - North Korea lifted a ban on the military use of space for national defense purposes by amending its space development law in 2022, analysis by 38 North, a U.S.-based organization monitoring the nuclear-armed nation revealed Sunday. Language opposing the militarization of space and limiting its use to peaceful purposes was removed, while the revised law includes a warning that countermeasures will be taken against any country attempting unfriendly acts, the analysis said. As the United States, Russia and China have advanced the military use of space, North Korea claims to have put a reconnaissance satellite into orbit for the first time in 2023, underscoring its stance of actively promoting the domain. The organization obtained a smartphone sold in 2024 in North Korea. The device contained an app referencing the law, making the details of the legal reforms clear and showing that the number of articles in the law has increased from 23 to 48. A researcher at 38 North said the amendment suggests North Korea's space strategy is maturing. The results of the analysis are expected to be posted on the organization's website soon. The space development law was enacted in 2013. North Korean state-run media reported that it has been revised but has not provided specifics. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Britain is being attacked by Russia every day, the defence secretary has warned hours before Keir Starmer unveils his plans to make the UK ready for war. John Healey said Russia was "attacking the UK daily" in cyberspace as part of 90,000 assaults on Britains defence systems linked to different states. Asked if he expected a real-world attack, he added: "We have to be prepared. Nato has to be prepared. We see Putin in Ukraine trying to redraw international boundaries by force... it's part of the growing Russian aggression." open image in gallery Keir Starmer in front of one of the UKs aircraft carriers ( Richard Pohle/The Times/PA Wire ) That was why the UK and Nato are "stepping up our ability to deter as well as to defend in the future," he added, saying we prepare for war in order to secure the peace. He also appeared to confirm reports Britain wants to purchase fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons, in a recognition the world has entered a more dangerous era, saying he would not get into discussions that need to remain private". But he admitted that plans to increase the size of the army would not happen until after 2029 at the earliest, as ministers scramble to halt the decline in numbers seen in recent years. Overnight, both Mr Healey and Sir Keir warned the UK must be war-ready. The PM described the review, which is set to be unveiled on Monday, as a radical blueprint that would lead to investments in cyber defences and drone technology. The threats we face are no secret. War in Europe. New nuclear risk, he wrote in the Sun on Sunday. The Kremlin is working hand in hand with its cronies in Iran and North Korea The Royal Navy has chased off Russian spy ships loitering in our waters. The RAF has scrambled to intercept Russian planes that menace our skies. He pledged to make the UK armed forces a formidable, integrated fighting machine, ending the disgraceful hollowing out which he said had happened under 14 years of Conservative rule. We will invest in a fighting force that is more integrated, more ready, more lethal than ever putting Britain back where it belongs as a leader in defence and a leader in Nato, he said. open image in gallery The size of the Army will not begin to grow until 2029, defence secretary John Healy has admitted ( PA ) Mr Healey said it was time for the UK to move to warfighting readiness to deter our adversaries and that the measures unveiled in the review would be a message to Moscow. He has already announced plans to spend 1.5 billion on at least six new munitions factories, to deliver 7,000 UK-built weapons designed to deter adversaries like Russia. His warning over cyber attacks was backed by the former cabinet secretary Simon Case, who said Britons should be concerned. I think we should, he said, this battle has been going on in cyberspace for a very long time Im afraid there is real reason for concern. Mr Healey also insisted that current spending plans would be enough to deliver the "vision" of transforming the armed forces to be set out in the strategic defence review (SDR). Plans to reach 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027 and 3 per cent before 2034 were "enough to deliver the SDR's vision that sets out tomorrow, and that vision is a transformation of Britain's armed forces." He reiterated that there was "no doubt" the government would reach 3 per cent in the next parliament. open image in gallery Defence secretary John Healy said the review was a message to Moscow ( EPA ) The strategic defence review is a "message to Moscow", he added. "This is a message to Moscow as well. This is Britain standing behind, making our armed forces stronger but making our industrial base stronger, and this is part of our readiness to fight, if required," he told the BBC's Sunday Morning With Laura Kuenssberg programme. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick welcomed the plans to increase defence spending but said he was "sceptical" it would happen as he called on Labour to meet the 3 per cent target before the next general election in 2029. "We think that 2034 is a long time to wait given the gravity of the situation," he told the Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme on Sky News. He added: "Since the general election, all I can see are broken promises from (the chancellor) Rachel Reeves. The review to be published on Monday is expected to warn of an "immediate and pressing" threat by Russia and draw heavily on the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. It is thought cyber experts will also be sent to the front line alongside regular forces in a move designed to modernise the British military. Ministers have already announced they are to spend an additional 1.5 billion fixing up military houses amid claims years of neglect has led to troops quitting. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to consider the overwhelming evidence from New Zealand to consider banning smartphones from schools. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, New Zealands education minister Erica Stanford said she has heard overwhelmingly positive feedback about the world-leading phone ban in her country, with more engagement and less cyberbullying in schools. The New Zealand National Party government now hopes to take it further and introduce a ban on social media for under-16s. It comes as Sir Keirs government is under increasing pressure to introduce similar measures in English schools, with the Tories and campaign groups pressing for a ban. open image in gallery Campaigners say banning phones in school makes students more focused ( Alamy/ PA ) New Zealands government introduced a ban on mobile phones in schools last year. Ms Stanford told The Independent: Ive been told students are much more focused on their learning in class, they are engaging with their peers, reading more books, spending more time playing outside, and there are fewer reports of cyberbullying. I am committed to ensuring children are not only safe but remain focused in the classroom. Taking away the distraction of cellphones ensures better engagement in class and improves student achievement and wellbeing. In the UK, a recent push by the Tories to add an amendment to the Childrens Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would require schools to prohibit phone use during the school day, was shut down by the government. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has urged ministers to reconsider after Sir Keir Starmer labelled the amendment as completely unnecessary, claiming almost every school already bans phones. Ms Badenoch claimed: The prime minister is wrong: not all schools do this. Only one in 10 schools is smartphone-free. Despite the governments stance, education secretary Bridget Phillipson has commissioned a review into whether schools in England are banning childrens phones and whether bans are effective. In New Zealand, the National Partys election promise was greeted with scepticism, criticism, and an assumption that students would become sneakier. Now, its being praised by students and educators. Anna Wilson, acting principal of Wellington East Girls College in the nations capital, said the state-funded school has seen only positive results from the ban. She said: We see a lot more social interaction at break times, such as playing cards, volleyball on the courts, joining in on lunchtime activities and clubs that are student-led. The nationwide ban came into effect in April last year, but Ms Wilsons school introduced the policy slightly ahead of the nationwide rollout, embedding it firmly into school life from the start of the year, and the momentum continued across the year. Although they took charge with the ban, she said, The government policy across all schools was helpful as collectively each school was doing it at their campuses at the same time. open image in gallery New Zealand education minister Erica Stanford ( National Party New Zealand ) Fred Oppenhuis, head prefect of Wellington College, an all-boys secondary school, told The Independent the ban had a positive impact on students. He said: I think that the phone ban has significantly increased engagement and efficiency in class because students know that if they check their phone or bring it out without teacher permission, there are well-known consequences. Oppenhuis said the initial reaction came with concerns as the thought of not having a phone at school was daunting. But, he said it didnt take long for students to adjust, and most students said it wasnt as bad as they had anticipated. One of the loudest advocates for phone-free schools has been Jonathan Haidt, a prominent US social psychologist and author of the bestselling book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. She said that two years after schools go completely phone-free, they always seem to report big drops in disciplinary problems and increases in student engagement in class. My favourite outcome: teachers and administrators say, We hear laughter in the hallway again. The New Zealand ban applies to all state schools and expects cellphones to be off and away during the day. However, schools are allowed to decide how to enforce it. Mobile phones can only be used for educational purposes, but there is an exemption for students who need their phones for learning challenges or health reasons. Parents and guardians must contact their child by going to the school office. However, some doubts have been raised by the Labour Party in New Zealand. Willow-Jean Prime, the New Zealand Labour oppositions spokeswoman for education, told The Independent: It is important young people are able to focus at school, and phones can be a distraction; but on the flipside, many students need cellphones, for example, for accessibility reasons. In New Zealand, it is individual school boards of trustees that set the rules for the operation of schools. Schools have always been able to ban cellphones at school if they believe this is appropriate, and many already did. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Keir Starmer has unveiled the results of his root and branch review of Britains armed forces, with a pledge to make the UK battle-ready. The prime minister has ordered up to a dozen new attack submarines, 15bn worth of nuclear warheads and thousands of new long-range weapons after the report concluded that the country should prepare for war. Here The Independent looks at what is in the prime ministers long-awaited strategic defence review, which warns of the threat posed by Russia and draws heavily on the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. A more lethal army and other immediate steps Ministers have announced they will implement all 62 of the reports recommendations in full but there will be a number of immediate steps. These include creating a British Army that is ten times more lethal with more personnel, long-range missiles and land-drone swarms. As well as the new nuclear warheads and nuclear-powered attack submarines, ministers will also buy new autonomous vessels to patrol the North Atlantic and beyond, create a next generation RAF with F-35s, upgraded Typhoons and autonomous fighters. They will also spend 1bn on a homeland defence system to protect the UK from drones and missiles, use defence spending to drive economic growth and create a 400m defence innovation fund. Review backs spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence The PM is embroiled in a row over defence spending after he failed to make a firm commitment to hike it to 3 per cent of GDP by 2034. The defence reviews authors say the governments ambition to spend 3 per cent of GDP on defence is good news, but they add: However, as we live in such turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster. open image in gallery Sir Keir Starmer ordered a review of Britains defence capabilities within weeks of taking office(Andy Buchanan/PA) ( PA Wire ) It is understood that the report was written with the assumption that ministers would meet the 3 per cent target. Behind the scenes, Donald Trump has also been pressuring Sir Keir to hike Britains defence spending, as the US president seeks to wean Europe off dependence on the US for military support. Alongside this, Donald Trump has been pressuring Sir Keir to hike Britains defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP years earlier than planned, as the president seeks to wean Europe off dependence on the US for military support. The UK must move to war fighting readiness One of the themes of the defence review is to make Britain war-ready, including protecting critical infrastructure in the event of a crisis. open image in gallery John Healey said cyber is now cyber is now the leading edge of conflict between countries ( Sky News ) The SDR calls for a new Defence Readiness Bill, which would give ministers powers to respond effectively in the event of an escalating conflict. Already ministers have announced they will respond to the call for always on munitions by building up to six factories to create more weapons on British soil. Equipment and new technology will win future conflicts In the foreword to the review, the defence secretary John Healey writes: "Whoever gets new technology into the hands of their armed forces the quickest will win. Ministers have already announced plans for up to 12 new nuclear attack submarines, 15bn of investment in the nuclear warhead programme and 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons. At the weekend Mr Healey appeared to confirm he wants to purchase fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons, a major pledge which would signal the UK recognised the world had entered a more dangerous era. The report also calls for greater use of AI as well as a new Digital Warfighter Group, which it says should not be held back by constraints on how much it can pay its staff, calling for appropriate recruitment and pay freedoms. The SDR also says at least 10 per cent of the MoD equipment procurement budget should be spent on new technologies every year, and it urges ministers to remove red tape and other barriers to collaboration with industry partners. Already Mr Healey has announced a cyber command to counter a continual and intensifying level of cyber warfare as well as plans to invest more than 1 billion into a new digital targeting web to be set up by 2027, to better connect weapons systems and allow battlefield decisions targeting enemy threats to be made and executed faster. Starmer told to increase the size of the army The strategic defence review calls for a small" rise in the size of the regular army as a priority although it does add when funding allows. On Sunday, however, the defence secretary said that would not happen before 2029 at the earliest. The other recommendations include that the UK should have a minimum of 100,000 soldiers - of which 73,000 are regulars. Ministers should hike the number of active reservists by 20 per cent, when funding allows, and new joiners should be offered shorter periods of services including the MODs planned gap years to aid recruitment. The government should cut costs by slashing the civil service defence workforce by 10 per cent and automating 20 per cent of HR, finance and commercial functions in the next three years as a minimum first step. Red tape and excessive bureaucracy created by people policy, process and assurance should be removed, the report says. Ministers have also announced they are to spend an additional 1.5bn fixing up the military at home amid claims years of neglect have led to troops quitting. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Britain is set to build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines in response to rapidly increasing global threats, Sir Keir Starmer will announce as he unveils his long-awaited defence review. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) will also spend 15bn on new warheads for the UKs nuclear deterrent, the prime minister will reveal for the first time, as part of plans to make the country ready for war. Ministers must act decisively to face down Russian aggression and ensure Britain is secure at home and strong abroad, the defence secretary John Healey warned. Sir Keir has called the 130-page review, which is set to be published on Monday, a radical blueprint, and pledged it will lead to a wave of investments in shipbuilding, drone technology and cyber defence. Announcing the plans which he will claim will create a defence dividend that supports tens of thousands of highly skilled jobs Sir Keir is expected to say they will ensure the UK rises to the challenge and our armed forces have the equipment they need that keeps us safe ... while driving greater opportunity. Among the reports 62 recommendations, which are all expected to be accepted by the government, are: A landmark shift to war readiness to deter growing threats Up to six new munitions factories that can be scaled up in response to a crisis A new stockpile of 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons A new cyber command to counter a continual and intensifying level of cyber warfare 1.5bn for military housing amid claims that years of neglect have led to troops quitting The nuclear investments announcement comes just weeks after the Labour leader pledged to destroy Vladimir Putins shadow fleet of ships, which evade international sanctions. The Royal Navy is also increasingly concerned about hostile state activity by Russia in the Arctic, a key flank of Europe and Britains security, amid fears about the threat to critical infrastructure such as undersea cables that provide power to the UK. open image in gallery The Strategic Defence Review was launched by the prime minister last year ( PA Wire ) The plans will significantly increase the UKs conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet, with the new vessels built under a joint deal with the US and Australia, known as the Aukus partnership. At the moment, the MoD has five Astute-class attack submarines, a figure that is due to rise to seven by the end of next year. A separate fleet of nuclear-armed submarines will also receive a boost from a previously announced warhead programme, which ministers have put a 15bn price tag on for the first time. The MoD predicts that the nuclear investments will support 30,000 highly skilled jobs across the UK, while the plans will require significant modernisation of infrastructure at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston. Mr Healey said: Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression. With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad. On Sunday, Mr Healey described the review as a message to Moscow and said Britain was facing daily cyber attacks from Russia, as part of 90,000 assaults on Britains defence systems linked to different states. Asked if he expected a real-world attack from Russia in the coming years, he said: We have to be prepared. Nato has to be prepared. We see Putin in Ukraine trying to redraw international boundaries by force... Its part of the growing Russian aggression. This is why the UK and Nato are stepping up our ability to deter as well as to defend in the future, he added. We prepare for war in order to secure the peace. But plans to increase the size of the army will not come into effect until after 2029 at the earliest, he conceded. open image in gallery Defence secretary John Healey says Britain must act decisively to face down Russian aggression ( PA Wire ) Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said: All of Labours Strategic Defence Review promises will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show there will actually be enough money to pay for them. Whereas, far from guaranteeing the funding, John Healey has been hung out to dry by Rachel Reeves. As recently as Thursday, Healey promised that defence spending would definitely hit 3 per cent, but today hes completely backtracked. These submarines are not due to enter service till the late 2030s, so how can we have any confidence Labour will actually deliver them when they cant even sustain a policy on defence spending for more than 48 hours? Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson Helen Maguire said: This signals absolutely the right intent about the need to bolster the UKs defences in the face of Putins imperialism and Trumps unreliability. But this must come with a concrete commitment and detail on full funding. Labours mere ambition rather than commitment to reach 3 per cent of GDP on defence leaves serious questions about whether the money for these projects will actually be forthcoming. The 2034 timeline suggests a worrying lack of urgency from the government. Unless Labour commits to holding cross-party talks on how to reach 3 per cent much more rapidly than the mid-2030s, this announcement risks becoming a damp squib. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick welcomed Mr Healeys comment that he had no doubt that defence spending would rise to 3 per cent of GDP by 2034, but said he was sceptical it would happen. We think that 2034 is a long time to wait given the gravity of the situation, he told the Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme on Sky News. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Philippe Sands has dismissed reports of rampant antisemitism at Harvard University, amid the conflict between the Trump administration and the Ivy League school. Donald Trump has slashed Harvards federal funding, after accusing the institution of being too left-wing and of failing to combat antisemitism when pro-Palestinian protests have taken place on campuses. Sands, a lawyer, author and visiting professor at Harvard Law School, commented on the fallout during The Independents News Review event at the 2025 Hay Festival, telling the audience: "As someone teaching [at] a Harvard Law School, I can certainly tell you that, around the law school and the surrounding areas, the idea that there is rampant anti-Semitism at Harvard is just hopeless, I mean it is just not the situation. He added: "As in any place in the world, there will be examples of antisemitism, no question at all, but the idea that it is rampant and all over the place is complete nonsense." Sands, along with philanthropist Sigrid Rausing and academic Adam Rutherford, were being interviewed by The Independents Chief International Correspondent Bel Trew. His comments came as part of a discussion on the Trump administrations attack on the USs oldest and wealthiest university. Earlier this month, it was announced that eight federal agencies would terminate a further $450m in grants to Harvard University, due to what officials have framed as inadequate responses to antisemitism on campus. Those funding cuts came after the administration axed $2.2bn in federal funding to the university, bringing the total financial penalty to around $2.65bn. Trump in Pennsylvania this month ( REUTERS ) Harvards campus, once a symbol of academic prestige, has become a breeding ground for virtue signalling and discrimination, read a statement from Trump administrations task force to combat antisemitism. This is not leadership; it is cowardice. And its not academic freedom; its institutional disenfranchisement. This week, the Trump administrations antagonisation of the prestigious university escalated further, with the announcement that officials are set to start vetting the social media accounts of visa applicants who plan to attend, work at, or visit Harvard University for any signs of antisemitism. Harvard has become a punching bag for the administration, after its leadership refused the governments demands for an audit to determine the extent of its ideological capture by the radical left. Trumps government is blocking Harvard from enrolling international students and is forcing currently enrolled foreign students to leave the university or risk losing their legal status in the US. The university is suing the US government over both the suspension of its federal funding and the cancellation of its permit to enrol foreign students. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Harsh storms hit a remote area of central Kentucky on Friday morning, injuring seven and leaving one person dead. Washington County Judge-executive Timothy Graves said two or three houses were destroyed and downed trees temporarily blocked roads. We were fortunate this was located in a remote part of the county, Graves said. Gov. Andy Beshear canceled a visit planned for Friday to Pulaski and Laurel counties, which were hit by a tornado earlier this month. That storm left 19 dead in the state. Officials were responding to reports of a possible tornado in Washington County, he said in a social media post. This level of severe weather was unexpected, with a system still moving through the state, Beshear said. We also expect to see additional storms today with Eastern and Southeastern Kentucky facing a risk of more severe weather. Please be alert this morning and stay safe. Graves said he believed a tornado hit the area, but officials were waiting on confirmation from the National Weather Service. Three of the injured people were taken to University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington. County Emergency Management Director Kevin Devine said the county was not expecting harsh weather Friday morning. In a social media post, the sheriffs office asked people to stay home to allow emergency workers to do their jobs. The National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings in the region on Friday morning. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Approximately 17,000 residents have been evacuated from their homes as wildfires rage across the Canadian province of Manitoba. The mass evacuations are a result of nearly two dozen active wildfires spreading across the province. Among those displaced, over 5,000 people are from Flin Flon, a city located roughly 645 kilometers (400 miles) northwest of Winnipeg, the provincial capital. The immediate forecast offers no hope of rain, exacerbating concerns that a shift in wind direction could bring the fire into the town, although there have been no structure fires in the city as of Saturday morning. Manitoba declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, as fires burning from the northwest to the southeast prompted evacuations in several communities. The province is located directly north of the US states of Minnesota and North Dakota, and smoke from the fires is being pushed south, causing air quality to deteriorate in some parts of the US. Other provinces have also been affected, with thousands displaced by wildfires in Saskatchewan and Alberta. In the community of Swan Hills, northwest of Edmonton, 1,300 people have been forced to evacuate. open image in gallery A water bomber aircraft battles a wildfire in southeast Manitoba ( Manitoba government ) In northern Manitoba, a fire knocked out power to the community of Cranberry Portage, leading to a mandatory evacuation order for approximately 600 residents on Saturday. People living in smaller nearby communities have been told to prepare for potential evacuation as a fire jumped a highway. Please start getting ready and making plans to stay with family and friends as accommodations are extremely limited, Lori Forbes, the emergency coordinator for the Rural Municipality of Kelsey, posted on social media. Evacuation centers have opened across the province for those fleeing the fires, including one as far south as Winkler, Manitoba, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the US border. Evacuations that started earlier in the week for Pimicikamak Cree Nation ramped up Saturday, when five flights were expected to take residents to Winnipeg. The wildfire has crossed the main road, and the area remains filled with smoke and ash, Chief David Monias wrote on social media. Winnipeg has opened up public buildings for evacuees as it deals with hotels already crammed with other fire refugees, vacationers, business people and convention-goers. The fire menacing Flin Flon began Monday near Creighton, Saskatchewan, and quickly jumped the boundary into Manitoba. Crews have struggled to contain it. Water bombers have been intermittently grounded due to heavy smoke and a drone incursion. The 1,200 or so residents of Creighton have also been ordered out, many of whom have gone to nearby Nipawin, Saskatchewan. In total, more than 8,000 people have fled wildfires in Saskatchewan. Canadas wildfire season runs from May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months. Before he set foot in 200 Independence Avenue, Washington DC, Robert F Kennedy Jr, US president Donald Trumps secretary of health and human services, had raised more than a few eyebrows from Americas medical establishment. Around 17,000, to be precise thats how many doctors signed a letter from the Committee to Protect Health Care urging senators to reject his nomination, saying he was unqualified to lead and was actively dangerous. Their petition failed. Today, Kennedy Jr, better known as RFK, is head of an agency with an almost two trillion-dollar budget and a little over 80,000 employees. Last week, Trump unveiled The Maha Report, the administrations blueprint for making our children healthy again. This report reflected Kennedys most contentious views on vaccines, pesticides, prescription drugs, and a description of Americas children as overmedicated and undernourished. Never in American history has the federal government taken a position on public health like this, Kennedy told a group of supporters. The Washington Post reported that medical experts said some of its suggestions stretched the limits of science. In an interview to coincide with its release, Kennedy said parents should be sceptical of any medical advice and should do their own research something Kennedy critics say amounts to a dangerous rejection of scientific consensus; a call for Americans to replace peer-reviewed evidence with internet rabbit holes. As one critic noted, researching a vaccine isnt like shopping for a toaster. But in Kennedys world, health policy becomes a choose-your-own-adventure, and critics say the consequences for public trust and child health are real. The mission of Kennedys Department of Health and Human Services is to enhance the health and wellbeing of all Americans by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. Yet Kennedy is one of Americas leading vaccine conspiracy theorists, even campaigning against the Covid shot designed to help stem the tide of a disease that has killed more than seven million worldwide. In 2021, Instagram disabled his account for repeatedly sharing debunked claims about the vaccine. Since releasing the report, which cited hundreds of studies, critics have found that some of those studies did not actually exist, something which has now been acknowledged by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. However, while she told reporters this week that the report will be updated, she doubled in her defence of RFKs vision, saying: It does not negate the substance of the report, which, as you know, is one of the most transformative health reports that has ever been released by the federal government. The rise of the so-called Maha movement within the Trump administration is, according to its some, a chilling embrace of figures and ideologies that undermine established public health principles. Earlier this month, Trump announced his nominee for surgeon general: Casey Means, a medical doctor who dropped out of her surgical residency due to disillusionment with healthcare and who subsequently chose to practise functional medicine, a form of alternative medicine, and is now known for her wellness advocacy. open image in gallery After months of chaos, Elon Musk has finally left the White House - but it is JFK Jr who is now the main concern ( AFP/Getty ) Among Kennedys many claims: that vaccines cause autism; that psychiatric drugs cause mass shootings; that HIV is not the cause of Aids and instead its due to recreational drug use. He has said Covid was targeted to attack caucasians and Black people and argued that exposure to pesticides is a cause of gender dysphoria. In early May, during a televised town hall, he claimed, without evidence, that Darpa, the US Defence Departments research and development arm, is spraying Americans with chemicals via jet fuel, reviving long-debunked chemtrail conspiracy theories. He has also made controversial statements about raw milk and fluoride in drinking water (Florida governor Ron DeSantis just signed a bill banning the addition of fluoride to public water supplies, making Florida only the second state to outlaw a practice long considered a cornerstone of public health). open image in gallery Kennedy being sworn in as secretary of health and human services in February ( Getty ) Since taking office, Kennedy has fired 10,000 staffers before admitting some programmes were mistakenly cut and would be reinstated. A couple of weeks back, he appeared before Congress to ask for less money for the agency, planning drastic cuts in line with Trumps agenda. Like Kennedy, Casey Means is sceptical about vaccine safety and calls for more research on their cumulative effects, despite there being no evidence that the current Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) schedule is unsafe. Timothy Caulfield is a health law and science policy professor at the University of Alberta in Canada, and an expert in debunking pseudoscience in wellness culture. He is convinced the Maha movement at the centre of the US government will do harm for generations to come. Their erosion in trust in scientific institutions is tremendously damaging, Caulfield says. open image in gallery Experts are fearful that a rise in vaccine scepticism could have catastrophic consequences ( AFP/Getty ) Following the disruption of the Trump administration, it was reported that 75 per cent of scientists who responded to a survey in Nature were planning to leave the country, with Europe and Canada among the top choices for relocation. One of my greatest fears is the degree to which theyre undermining institutions like the National Institutes of Health and the CDC, which is going to make it more difficult to point to the truth, Caulfield says. [Kennedys] resurrection of the lie around vaccines and autism is a really good example of this because he tries to position himself and his team as being on the high ground. There have been more measles cases in the US during the first three months of 2025 than in all of 2024, according to the CDC. While Kennedy seems to have made a volte-face on vaccinations, acknowledging recently that they are the best way to avoid spreading measles, he has also downplayed the seriousness of infections, actions experts see as damaging confidence in vaccines. The roots of this scepticism lie with former British doctor Andrew Wakefield. Wakefield was struck off the UK medical register after his 1998 paper suggesting a link between the MMR vaccine and autism sparked a major health scare. I interviewed Wakefield some years ago and he remained defiant, despite his discredited idea that theres an autism-vaccine link. His distrust of the medical establishment has found a new platform in Maha. open image in gallery Anti-vaxxers during a rally at the Golden Gate Bridge in 2021 ( Getty ) Caulfield adds that having people who trained as medical doctors can make the movement seem more legitimate. He points to Dr Mehmet Oz, a TV staple of American daytime television, who Trump recently nominated as the administrator for Medicare and Medicaid, government programmes that provide health insurance for pensioners and people on low incomes. Dr Oz almost made it noble to open your mind to embracing fringe ideas and disproven ideas, Caulfield says. Oz has promoted the antimalarial hydroxychloroquine as a cure for Covid. If Kennedy, Means and Dr Oz are the political wing of the Maha movement, the crunchy mums are its foot soldiers. A loosely defined but increasingly vocal group, theyre just as likely to be found on Instagram as in a food co-op, posting about raw milk, cloth diapers, or the dangers of seed oils. But what began as a subculture rooted in environmentalism and food equity has morphed into a more politicised movement that blends wellness, parental autonomy, and deep mistrust of mainstream medicine. And Kennedy is their leader. His anti-establishment rhetoric against Big Pharma, food additives, and what he sees as the corrupt medical-industrial complex, has found fertile ground among mothers who feel dismissed or ridiculed by conventional health authorities. For them, its about reasserting control over their families health in a system they no longer trust. Kennedy speaks their language and validates their deepest fears. open image in gallery Kennedy, a man in charge of a multi-trillion-dollar department, is one of Americas leading vaccine conspiracy theorists ( Getty ) But his critics warn of the real-world consequences of promoting medical misinformation. Jonathan Jarry is a science communicator with McGill Universitys Office for Science and Society. He says RFK is part of a much larger wellness movement that has, for many years now, told people what they should blame for their health problems. Basically, modernity itself has been turned into the bogeyman, Jarry says. Everything that screams modernity, like pesticides and food dyes and even vaccines. Anything that your grandma didnt have access to. But, Jarry says, theres always a kernel of truth buried inside the messaging from Maha thats what makes it so effective. Of course, there are issues with ultra-processed foods. And so when people hear RFK and other Maha leaders identify a problem, it often has a ring of truth to it. People say, Finally hes talking about this thing we knew was bad, Jarry says. But the problem is that the solution theyre offering is completely wrong. Thats what happens when you have somebody who says, I see your pain and I know whats causing it; I know what we can blame for this, so follow me and together we will enact the right solutions even when those solutions are completely pseudo-scientific. open image in gallery Anti-vaxxers take part in a rally against Covid mandates, in Santa Monica, California, in 2021 ( AFP/Getty ) Jarry says we know what it takes to be healthy, and none of this is revolutionary. Of course, theres a kernel of truth in the idea that corporations dont necessarily have our best interests at heart. But [Kennedy] will demonise the entire pharmaceutical industry and anybody who works in health regulation or vaccine development. And that can be appealing to people looking at these giant institutions that are raking in millions and millions of dollars, thinking theres something wrong there. Dr Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and an expert on vaccines, told Mother Jones magazine that he was deeply concerned that the vaccine ecosystem could collapse and we could see polio in the wastewater and the return of regular measles and pertussis outbreaks. Jarry says he shares Hotezs fear. I think that it is very likely that were going to see a resurgence of vaccine-preventable illnesses. Were already seeing whats happening with measles and theres going to be more. And unfortunately, these diseases dont stop at the border. And so there will be ripple effects on other countries throughout the world. Add to that the complete evisceration of the biomedical research funding apparatus in the United States and [I think] were going to go backwards to a time when these infections were spreading routinely and people are going to suffer and die for no good reason. And this is whats really horrifying. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The head of the United States Institute of Peace says its Washington, D.C. headquarters near the Lincoln Memorial was left to rot after billionaire Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency took it over in March, resulting in water damage, graffiti and, worse yet, an infestation of roaches and rats. After DOGE replaced the independent, fully government-funded nonprofits board with MAGA loyalists and fired the entire staff, Musks crew left it with a level of staffing woefully insufficient to properly protect and maintain the $500 million Moshe Safdie-designed concrete-and-glass structure, according to a May 23 affidavit filed in D.C. federal court by USIP President and CEO George Moose. Vermin were not a problem prior to March 17, 2025, when USIP was actively using and maintaining the building, Mooses affidavit states. The filing, which is part of a broader legal action by USIP in an attempt to regain full control of the organization, was first reported on Friday in the weekly Court Watch newsletter . The office, which is congressionally funded but is not part of the U.S. government, was established in 1984 by Ronald Reagan with a stated mission to advance international stability and conflict resolution. Still, shortly after he was sworn in for his second term as president, Donald Trump issued an executive order taking aim at USIP as unnecessary. open image in gallery George Moose (left), then the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, seen here in 1997 with French Foreign Minister Herve de Charette, was unceremoniously booted by DOGE as president of the United States Institute of Peace ( AFP via Getty Images ) On Friday, March 14, Moose, a career diplomat who served as U.S. Ambassador to Benin and Senegal in West Africa, was abruptly terminated by the White House. He went back to the office on Monday and was removed from the USIP offices by police and replaced by Kenneth Jackson, a DOGE administrator, a move Moose immediately vowed to fight. Speaking to reporters outside after he was shown the door, Moose dubbed USIPs unilateral annexation an illegal takeover by elements of the executive branch of a private nonprofit corporation, saying it had been very clear that there was a desire on the part of the administration to dismantle a lot of what we call foreign assistance. On May 19, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the DOGE seizure of USIP was unlawful , and ordered Moose and his staff reinstated. In handing down her opinion, Howell said Trumps efforts here to take over an organization represented a gross usurpation of power and a way of conducting government affairs that unnecessarily traumatized the committed leadership and employees of USIP, who deserved better. The following day, Moose became concerned after hearing from USIP employees that the buildings condition had been allowed to deteriorate, his affidavit states. With the help of his attorneys, and following Judge Howells order, Moose arranged to get back into USIP headquarters on May 21. open image in gallery Vermin began to run wild after Elon Musk's DOGE seized control in March of the United States Institute of Peace, its reinstated president says ( Getty Images ) When my team and I arrived, the only persons in the building were two security guards and a small cleaning crew, he says in the affidavit. In my experience, that level of staffing is woefully insufficient to properly protect and maintain the building. However, Moose told reporters that, at first glance, nothing immediately seemed amiss. We just did a quick walk-through externally, visibly, things look to be in pretty good shape, he said . I didnt see anything, any destruction, if you will, no damage that I can see that is visible. Yet, the following day, a more thorough inspection turned up myriad problems, according to Mooses affidavit. On May 22, members of my staff, including our chief of security and our contract building engineer, spent the day surveying and documenting the condition of the building, to include photographs, he stated. They reported evidence of rats and roaches in the building, which he said was a first. open image in gallery Elon Musk is now out at DOGE, while George Moose is back in at USIP ( Getty Images ) Moose says in his affidavit that staff reported other deficiencies in the maintenance of the building, including the failure to maintain vehicle barriers and the cooling tower, water leaks, damage to the garage door, and missing ceiling tiles in multiple places in the building (which I have been told suggest likely water damage). In addition, the affidavit contends, I learned from my team that sometime in the past several days, before we regained control of the property and assumed control for security, someone had scrawled graffiti on one of the outside spaces. This occurred, according to the affidavit, because the building ha[d] been essentially abandoned for many weeks, during which time DOGE left USIP HQ with only a few security guards on site, with no perimeter patrols. According to Mooses affidavit, he immediately resumed his duties at USIP, and reached out to staff and board members to begin working there again. It says USIP has once again assumed control of their building, has engaged a private security firm to guard the premises, and has taken over responsibility for the buildings maintenance. At the same time, Musk is leaving DOGE as his 130-day tenure as a special government employee comes to an end. Trump and DOGE have appealed Howells ruling. Moose did not respond on Friday to The Independents requests for comment, nor did the attorneys representing him and USIP in court. Messages seeking comment from Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Carilli, DOGEs lawyer in the case, and the White House, also went unanswered. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Elon Musk departed Washington this week, bringing one of the weirdest sagas in the history of the presidency to a close. Not everyone leaves DC with their reputation intact. But most people manage to get through it without their bladder control abilities making it into a New York Times expose. So ends the Elon show. On Sunday, Washington saw its last gasp a final, awkward sitdown between Musk and CBS Sunday Morning. Despite an awkward attempt by Musk to change the terms of the interview last-minute and bar any mention of politics, he answered questions about the end of DOGE and the budget reconciliation plan endorsed by Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson and the majority of House Republicans. In his interview, Musk made it clear he hadnt gotten the memo that Johnson and other Republicans want their caucus to lie about the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score, which the speaker and others are now unconvincingly pretending is a group of liberal activists. Meanwhile, conservatives in their own caucus the same deficit hawks who held Johnson to cuts of nearly $1 trillion affecting Medicaid continue to cite the CBOs methodology as they hammer Johnson and their colleagues for insufficient deficit spending cuts. Musks comments on that budget bill, released in the lead-up to CBSs interview last week, set off a firestorm in Washington. There was an obvious reason: Musk, in one fell swoop, undermined the entirety of the budget plan and essentially made Johnson out to be a liar if you believe Musk, who no longer has a reason to play nice in Washington. "I was, like, disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, doesn't decrease it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing, Musk told CBS News. Musks demeanor was similar to the eyebrow-raising performance he delivered during his final press conference this week with Donald Trump when he seemed visibly distracted by the gold ornamentation of the room and stood in a decidedly odd manner next to the (literally) sitting president of the United States. open image in gallery Elon Musk stands alongside President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on his last official day as a special government employee. ( Supplied ) "I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful," he went on. "But I don't know if it could be both. My personal opinion." Oops. With that quote, Musk did damage that was still being felt on Sunday, when the rest of his interview aired. At practically the same moment that his comments were re-broadcast, Speaker Mike Johnson was facing an uncomfortable grilling from NBCs Meet the Press about the bill and whether it cut the deficit significantly, or even at all. "I sent my good friend Elon a long text message explaining it can be big and beautiful," Johnson claimed. He repeated his insistence that the bill is not going to add to the debt during his own interview, despite the CBOs outlook. Certainly, the guy who brought the motto move fast and break things to Washington is going to read that text. Regardless of how that particular conversation turns out, the damage is done. Johnsons problem is simple: his own caucus does not believe his insistence about the big, beautiful bill being deficit-neutral. Why should anyone else? Johnson wishes it were as simple as convincing Americans (and the media) that Democrats are the only ones opposed to his deficit math. In reality, some of the staunchest debt hawks in Washington all conservatives are in the same camp. If one needs proof, they can simply ask Chip Roy, one of the leaders of those debt hawks. Roy, in his final statement about the bills passage in May, explained that he voted for the bill to achieve deficit cuts but even he lamented that the bill did not go further in that regard. The good news is that the bill technically held true to that framework by yielding modest deficit reduction over a 10-year budget window, said Roy. Importantly, it does this by cutting spending $1.5 trillion over 10 years, reforming programs like Medicaid and SNAP with work requirements. It should be obvious, but just to be clear: modest deficit reduction does not equal a budget that is deficit-neutral. The one big, beautiful bill is still projected to add nearly $4 trillion to the deficit after those cuts, according to the CBO and other analysts. This offhand comment from Musk wont make his life any harder. He returns to Tesla, now bearing the brunt of a stunning drop in profits tied directly to his political activism. By doing so, he exits an unfamiliar arena: Washington, a place where public perception matters and can change on a dime. open image in gallery Musk showed up to his final press conference with a black eye under a cloud of drug abuse allegations ( Getty ) It will, however, make things a lot harder for Johnson and Senate Republican leadership, the latter of whom will now oversee the bills fate for the next month. Already, Republicans are talking about changing the bill including, potentially, by splitting one big beautiful bill into several. Those Senate Republicans only acquired more ammunition to defy the White House and Johnson on Sunday. One of those Republicans is Ron Johnson, who, like his conservative allies in the House, has been one of the most vocal deficit spending watchdogs in Congress. Even before Musks latest comments, Johnson was publicly prepared to buck the White House over the bills price tag. After Sunday, the combination of the Musk interview and the Senates hair-thin margin may give him all the political cover he needs. Republican leaders repeatedly say, We don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem, Johnson tweeted before the bill passed the House. Right now, it doesn't appear that they are willing to fix it. I am going to insist that we do, he warned. TOKYO - An amendment to the Penal Code placing greater emphasis on rehabilitation efforts in prison took effect Sunday, marking the first time changes have been made to the forms of punishment under Japan's more than a century-old crime laws. Imprisonment is no longer divided into the categories of with and without labor, and prison work is no longer mandatory for inmates, allowing more time to be allocated for rehabilitative guidance and education to reduce recidivism, according to the Justice Ministry. The revised law, which will affect people convicted from Sunday, stipulates anew that imprisonment consists of "confinement in a penal institution" and that inmates can be assigned to undertake "necessary work" or can undergo "necessary guidance" for rehabilitation and improvement. Prior to the change, the treatment of inmates was largely based on the likelihood of reoffending, potentially subjecting an elderly repeat shoplifter and a yakuza gang member to the same regime. The new system sets up 24 programs tailored to an inmate's age, characteristics and other factors, including a Daily Care-Senior curriculum for those aged 70 and older and suffering from dementia and Addiction Recovery targeting drug abusers. Other programs target those aged between 20 and 26, and those facing prison terms of at least 10 years. Elderly inmates are expected to be able to focus more on maintaining their physical and cognitive functions rather than engaging in typical prison work, while younger inmates will undergo a program to enable their return to school after leaving prison, according to the ministry. Inmates will be sent to prisons that can offer appropriate programs for them. Their situation will be reviewed every six months, enabling them to switch to different treatment programs if needed. Japan's Penal Code was enacted in 1907. The legislation to realize the latest change was enacted by parliament in 2022. Related coverage: Japan Diet enacts law against predatory practices at male host clubs Japan police to fine minor rule-breaking cyclists from next April Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has warned that China isnt the biggest threat to the U.S., its the enemy within. Dimon appeared at the Reagan National Economic Forum in Simi Valley, California, on Friday, arguing that tectonic plates are shifting. Those tectonic plates are the geopolitics with these terrible wars, terrible proxy terrorist activity around the world, North Korea, the potential proliferation of nuclear weapons over time, which is the greatest threat to mankind, said Dimon, one of Americas top bankers. He said the other tectonic shift is the global economy, before going on to seemingly criticise the aggressive trade policies and the apparent breaking up of traditional Western alliances by President Donald Trump. The other tectonic shift is the global economy. So the global military umbrella of America, and then the global economy, of which trade is a part, he said. The other parts are, do people want to partner with you? Do you have your alliances? You have investment agreements and all those various things. And they're changing. Jamie Dimon fired a warning shot while speaking in California on Friday, saying the U.S. was rife with mismanagement ( AP ) Then our debt We added $10 trillion in five years, he noted about the national debt, which stands at more than $36 trillion. You had [former President Ronald] Reagan up there talking about deficits. The debt-to-GDP was 35 percent, and the deficit was three and a half percent. Today, it's 100 percent debt to GDP and a deficit of almost seven percent. We go into recession, that seven percent will be 10 percent, and so we have problems, and we've got to deal with them. And then the biggest one underlying both, that is the enemy within, he said. China is a potential adversary theyre doing a lot of things well, they have a lot of problems, Dimon added. But what I really worry about is us. Can we get our own act together our own values, our own capability, our own management? The CEO made the comments amid a sharp decline in trade between China and the U.S. following the implementation of Trumps widespread tariffs. The president's trade policy has been in flux amid new agreements and court rulings. The tariffs have prompted further uncertainty in a trade relationship that significantly impacts the rest of the world. The dispute with China escalated on Friday as Trump claimed the Chinese totally violated the most recent trade agreement. Theyre not scared, folks. This notion theyre gonna come bow to America, I wouldnt count on that, said Dimon. He added that he concurs with Warren Buffett, the outgoing Berkshire Hathaway CEO, that while the U.S. is usually resilient, this time could be different. We have to get our act together, said Dimon. We have to do it very quickly. The CEO argued that the U.S. has a mismanagement problem and that a litany of things needed to be done, including fixing regulations, permitting, immigration, taxation, inner city schools, as well as the health care system. Dimon said the U.S. could grow three percent a year if those things are taken care of. Referencing previous speakers at the conference, Dimon said: What you heard today on stage was the amount of mismanagement is extraordinary. By state, by city, for pensions and that stuff is going to kill us. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, has described his Trump-centric family life days after his wife left her administration post to work for Elon Musk. After discussing Trumps construction of the MAGA movement, his immigration stance, and Democrats unsellable ideology, Miller explained his personal ties to President Donald Trump in a softball Fox News interview with Lara Trump, the presidents daughter-in-law. The Saturday evening interview comes days after his wife Katie Miller reportedly left her role as an adviser at the Department of Government Efficiency to work full-time for Musk, who once led the cost-cutting arm. Its unclear when the interview was recorded, and his wifes departure from the administration wasnt discussed. But Millers appearance seemed to serve as a counter to any rumors that theres a rift between Musk and Trump. The worlds richest person left DOGE after a turbulent few months taking a chainsaw to federal agencies; his 130-day special government employee status came to an end last week. The deputy chief of staff emphasized how large a role the president and his White House have played in his family life. open image in gallery White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller discusses his personal ties to the Trump administration days after his wife is reportedly leaving to work for Elon Musk ( AP ) Miller described meeting his wife during the first Trump administration. When I first met her, she was the communications director at the Department of Homeland Security, so its very on-brand, the relationship, because we were on conference calls every day on border security. The pair even got married at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, according to the New York Times. Miller is considered the architect of the controversial family separation policy in Trumps first term. His wife, then a spokesperson to Vice President Mike Pence, was sent to a child detention center at the southern border to make her more compassionate, but it didn't work," she told reporter Jacob Soboroff. open image in gallery Katie Miller listens as U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Musk. She is reportedly leaving the ( Getty Images ) Miller then told Lara Trump about his own children. Asked about whether his children have met Trump, Miller said he has a photo of his daughter with the president when she was just a newborn. He claimed: "My daughter is always asking to see the president againShes always desperate for any chance to get face time with the president. He added that the president is great with kids, describing him as a kid magnet and a child whisperer. Under Trump, apparently, children are always welcome at the White House. This is the most family-friendly work environment. You can bring your kid to work any time you want, he added. Hes been in Trumps orbit for a decade, but to him, sometimes it only feels like its been a year. 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 A Ukrainian drone attack destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep in the countrys territory, Ukraine's Security Service said on Sunday, while Moscow pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones just hours before a new round of direct peace talks in Istanbul. The so-called Spider Web operation, carried out by Ukraines SBU security service, saw drones smuggled thousands of kilometres into Russian territory using lorries, before they were unleashed to destroy the aircraft, the SBU said. In his evening address on Sunday, Volodomyr Zelensky said that 117 drones had been used in the operation. He claimed the operation had been headquartered out of an office next to the local FSB headquarters, the Russian intelligence and security service. Russia confirmed that Ukraine attacked airfields across five regions, causing several aircraft to catch fire. The attacks occurred in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur regions. Air defences repelled the assaults in all but two regions, Murmansk and Irkutsk, Moscows defence ministry said. open image in gallery Ukrainian drone attack on a military unit in the Sredny settlement, Usolsky district of the Irkutsk region ( Reuters ) Vladimir Putin will be infuriated by the unprecedented attack if it is as damaging as Kyiv claims, Russia expert John Lough told The Independent, describing it as a huge win for Ukraine that will boost morale within the military. Its an embarrassment [for Russia]. Its just another humiliation at a moment where Putin is very keen to show the Americans in particular that Ukraine is losing, and [that] its only a matter of time before the Russians roll them over, said Mr Lough, head of foreign policy at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre. Around 18 months in the planning, Ukraine says operation Spider Web appears to have dealt a heavy blow to the aircraft used by Russian forces to launch long-range strikes on Ukrainian cities, including Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers. open image in gallery Vladimir Putin will be furious after the attack, Russia expert says ( AFP/Getty ) The attack came hours after Russian forces launched the biggest overnight air attack on Ukraine since its full-scale invasion three years ago, according to Kyivs air force, which said 472 drones and seven missiles were fired. Mr Zelensky also confirmed on Sunday that he would send a delegation for direct peace talks in Istanbul on Monday, despite Moscows refusal to heed Kyivs calls for it to provide a promised memorandum setting out its demands for a ceasefire before the talks. The talks will begin at 1300 local time [GMT 1000], a Turkish source said. One of the Russian airbases struck by Ukraine in the Irkutsk region is more than 4,000km (2,485 miles) from the Ukrainian border, an SBU source told The Kyiv Independent. This is unprecedented. They havent been able to hit this number of aircraft on this scale, going to those regions of the country, Mr Lough said. To go out to east Siberia is absolutely phenomenal. open image in gallery Ukrainian drone attack in Olenegorsk of the Murmansk region, Russia ( Reuters ) Emil Kastehelmi, a military analyst for the Black Bird Group, told The Independent that, if the scale of damage is verified, the attack is really, really significant. Explosive-laden drones were hidden in the roofs of wooden sheds, which were then loaded onto trucks and driven to the perimeter of the air bases, according to a Ukrainian security official. The roof panels of the sheds were lifted off by a remotely-activated mechanism, allowing the drones to fly out and begin their attack, the official said. The operation does not appear to have gone entirely to plan, Mr Kastehelmi said, explaining that it is very likely that one or two of the trucks carrying the drones into Russia exploded before they could reach their targets. Meanwhile, seven people were killed and dozens injured after huge explosions caused two bridges to collapse and derailed two trains in western Russia overnight, officials said on Sunday, without saying what had caused the blasts. open image in gallery A bridge collapse in the Bryansk region of Russia yesterday ( Reuters ) The first bridge, in the Bryansk region on the border with Ukraine, collapsed on top of a passenger train on Saturday, causing casualties. The train's driver was among those killed, state-run Russian Railways said. Hours later, officials said a second train derailed when the bridge beneath it collapsed in the nearby Kursk region, which also borders Ukraine. Russia's Investigative Committee, the country's top criminal investigation agency, said explosions had caused the two bridges to collapse without giving more detail. Several hours later, it edited the statement to remove the words "explosions", but did not explain why. The committee said that it would be investigating the incidents as potential acts of terrorism. 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 At least 31 people have been killed and more than 170 wounded on Sunday while on their way to receive food in the Gaza Strip after Israeli forces opened fire, according to health officials. Eyewitnesses said the IDF fired on crowds around 1km from a new aid site run by an Israeli-backed foundation in the al-Mawasi area of western Rafah, according to the Palestinian Authoritys Wafa news agency. Witnesses said Israeli forces fired directly from tanks and drones. The Palestinian Red Crescent said its medical teams had recovered the bodies of 23 people and treated another 23 injured at the aid site set up by the US-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Most people were shot "in the upper part of their bodies, including the head, neck and chest," said Dr Marwan al-Hams, a health ministry official at Nasser Hospital, where many wounded were transferred from the Red Cross-run field hospital. He said 24 people were being treated in Nasser Hospital's intensive care unit. A colleague, surgeon Khaled al-Ser, later said 150 wounded people had arrived, along with 28 bodies. The Israeli military claimed it was currently unaware of injuries caused by [Israeli military] fire within the humanitarian aid distribution site. The matter is still under review, the military added. Backed by the US and Israel but not endorsed by the UN, the GHFs distribution of aid has been marred by chaos, and multiple witnesses have reported incidents of Israeli troops firing on crowds near the delivery sites. Before Sunday, at least six people had been killed and more than 50 wounded, according to local health officials. open image in gallery Palestinians injured by a drone strike on their way to a food distribution centre are taken to hospital on Sunday ( AFP ) The foundation says the private security contractors guarding its sites did not fire on the crowds. The GHF claimed it delivered aid "without incident" early on Sunday. Chaos ensued when Israeli forces began firing at a roundabout around 1km from the distribution site, according to multiple eyewitnesses. Amr Abu Teiba, who was in the crowd, told the Associated Press that there was fire from all directions, from naval warships, from tanks and drones. Ibrahim Abu Saoud said troops opened fire at people moving toward the aid distribution centre, killing dozens, including women. He said he saw many people with gunshot wounds, including a young man who he said had died at the scene. We weren't able to help him, he said. open image in gallery Five year-old Osama al-Raqab, suffering from severe malnutrition, undergoes treatment at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Youni in the southern Gaza Strip ( EPA ) Mohammed Abu Teaima, 33, said he saw Israeli forces open fire and kill his cousin and another woman as they were heading to the hub. He said his cousin was shot in the chest and died at the scene. "They opened heavy fire directly toward us," he said as he was waiting outside the Red Cross field hospital for word on his wounded brother-in-law. Journalist Mohammed Ghareeb told the BBC that rescue crews could not access the area, which is under Israeli control. This forced residents to use donkey carts to transport victims to the field hospital. open image in gallery Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip ( AP ) The foundation began aid deliveries last Monday after Israel lifted its aid blockade. But Palestinians appeared to have heeded warnings, including from Hamas, about biometric screening procedures employed at the foundation's aid distribution sites. Israeli officials said the process allowed screening of recipients to exclude anyone found to be connected with Hamas. The UN and other aid agencies have refused to work with the new system, citing a violation of humanitarian principles as it allows Israel to control who receives aid. Israel and the GHF last week accused Hamas of trying to block civilians from reaching the aid distribution centre. Hamas denied the accusation. In an earlier statement, the GHF said it distributed 16 truckloads of aid early on Sunday without incident. It dismissed what it referred to as false reporting about deaths, mass injuries and chaos. The UN has described Gaza as the hungriest place on Earth while Israel allowed only a trickle of food into the enclave, with 300 aid trucks unable to offload due to operational bottlenecks. As a small flow of aid has resumed, Israeli forces now in control of large parts of Gaza have kept up attacks on various targets around the enclave, killing 3,901 Palestinians since a two-month ceasefire collapsed in mid-March, according to the health ministry in Gaza. More than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's air and ground war, Gaza health authorities say. The offensive was launched following a cross-border Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, during which 1,200 people died and 251 hostages were captured. C&C must get back to basics on brands, says CEO of Bulmers firm Acquisitions not key focus as CEO Roger White says drinks group 'needs to love what we have got a bit more first' 'We need to be really clear how we are going to support and get behind some of these smaller brands like Five Lamps,' says Roger White Sean Pollock Sun 1 Jun 2025 at 03:30 The CEO of Bulmers producer C&C has promised to go back to basics as the London-listed drinks group works to bring excitement back to its alcohol brands. Cap on passenger growth at Dublin Airport is no help to regional aviation hubs in fact, it just threatens them If not for the passenger cap, we could be even better connected to the world A transatlantic flight comes in to land at Dublin Airport. Photo: Getty Sarah Ryan Sun 1 Jun 2025 at 03:30 Oscar Wilde said there is only one thing worse than being talked about, and thats not being talked about. Government urged to end to tax barriers of moving companies into employee ownership The Irish ProShare Association (IPSA) said reforms would ultimately protect jobs at firms that could otherwise be dismantled after sale Stock image Sean Pollock Sun 1 Jun 2025 at 03:30 The Irish ProShare Association (IPSA) has held talks with the Government in a bid to overhaul the tax treatment of Employee Ownership Trusts and stimulate their use across the country. Courts An Irish billionaire has shot back at the US governments claim he should not be allowed to bear arms in America because he renounced his citizenship, arguing the law was unconstitutional. In February, John T Dorrance III, an heir to the Campbells Soup fortune, took a legal action against US attorney general Pam Bondi complaining he cant legally hunt with a firearm while visiting his 16,000-acre ranch in Wyoming. This was due to him renouncing his US citizenship in 1993 and subsequently becoming Irish. Any Other Business: Former RTE executive might have been caught for a few drinks at Joe Duffys leaving do TOKYO - Japanese universities have obtained a total of around 2.7 billion yen ($19 million) over nine years since the Defense Ministry started subsidizing security-related technology in fiscal 2015, a Kyodo News tally showed Sunday. The result suggests that domestic universities, particularly those outside Tokyo, are seeking research funds amid budget constraints, despite growing criticism of the government's eagerness to expand defense spending to strengthen its capabilities. As operational subsidies to national universities in Japan continue to decline, the ministry's program has become an important source of funding for researchers, while the number of students is decreasing against a backdrop of the country's low birthrate. An expert, however, expressed concern, saying, "It is essentially a system through which the Defense Ministry uses a substantial budget to draw researchers in. The risk of military applications should be taken into account." The Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency under the ministry said the subsidy budget at the beginning of the program was 300 million yen, targeting not only universities but also public research institutes and private companies. In fiscal 2017, the program was opened to applications for large-scale research projects, raising the total allocation to 11 billion yen. The funding for fiscal 2023 increased to 11.4 billion yen and by the end of the year 22 universities had received subsidies. Under the program, some universities are working on state-of-the-art projects, such as developing sheets that absorb harmful gases and verifying systems that use artificial intelligence to detect cyberattacks, the ministry said. Adrian Weckler: Loophole obscures whether gardai can legally use AI facial scanning in public European Unions AI Act specifically says Ireland is not bound by the acts rules Fears about facial recognition technology are well established. Photo: Getty Adrian Weckler Sun 1 Jun 2025 at 03:30 Ireland may be sleepwalking into giving gardai extensive surveillance powers that they would otherwise be barred from using, under the European Unions AI Act. Court hears thefts were made to feed a serious gambling addiction A son of well-known Irish hurling manager and former player Davy Fitzgerald was given a fully suspended 12-month prison sentence after he admitted stealing 35,000 from his then employer, Bank of Ireland, to feed his out-of-control gambling addiction. Colm Fitzgerald, (28), of Castlequinn, Sixmilebridge, Co Clare, stole the money while employed to be in charge of cash at a cash counter, at Bank of Ireland, Shannon Industrial Estate, Shannon, Co Clare, on seven separate dates in 2023, the court heard. Mother of Irish soldier killed in Lebanon takes State and UN to court, alleging negligence Natasha Rooney filed a High Court case last week seeking damages over death of her son Sean in 2022 Private Sean Rooney was killed while on duty with the UN. Photo: Rooney family Mark Tighe Sun 1 Jun 2025 at 03:30 The mother of an Irish soldier killed in action in Lebanon has taken legal action to sue the State and the United Nations for alleged negligence contributing to his death in 2022. LATEST | Sean McGovern's partner remains in Dubai as senior Kinahan cartel member faces murder and gangland charges Kinahan lieutenants partner remains in United Arab Emirates as he is extradited over murder and gangland charges Sean McGovern and Anita Freeman Patrick O'Connell Sun 1 Jun 2025 at 12:18 The partner of senior Kinahan lieutenant Sean McGovern remains in Dubai under the watchful eye of his cartel associates, after the 39-year-old was extradited back to Ireland to face a murder and gangland charges. Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin will host its first ever queer history tours in June celebrating Pride and exploring LGBTQ+ life in Ireland since the 1800s. The tour has been researched and written by Glasnevin Cemetery tour guide and researcher Anna Collins who said it will capture stories that have largely gone untold until now. This year is a great year to do it because it is 10 years since marriage equality, but what has made it easier is that there is much more queer history being researched by historians, Anna said. Anna Collins, tour guide in Glasnevin Cemetery Today's News in 90 seconds - 1st of June The research is pretty new and I dont think I would have been able to write this tour five years ago. Anna has spent about six months preparing the tour, and while it will reflect the style of other Glasnevin tours, they said it will be different to the revolutionary period tours the cemetery is often associated with. This tour goes beyond the time period people know us for, it is more contemporary the oldest person on it was born in 1850 and the youngest died in 1995 so it is a broad range of time. That captures more vibrancy and colour that helps to make Dublin what it is today, Anna added. Its not that queer history is a tiny niche, it is a vital part of the vibrancy of the city and we need to capture that as well. Some people from the Republican era will feature in the tour, such as Margaret Skinnider, Helena Molony, Elizabeth OFarrell and Julia Sheila Grennan women who played roles in the Easter Rising. Thom McGinty, a popular street and mime artist known as The Diceman, will feature in the tour, as will Davy Byrne whose pub was known as an early queer friendly bar. My favourite one is a guy called Jack Saul, he also went by John Saul, who was a sex worker in Dublin in the Monto red-light district when it existed. I have just finished reading his autobiography and the life he led was crazy, Anna said. The tours will run from June 20 to June 22. Women in Ireland will be able to avail of free hormone replacement therapy (HRT) treatment from today. The medicine-based treatment for symptoms of menopause, perimenopause and postmenopause will now be available for free when HRT has been deemed clinically appropriate and is prescribed by a healthcare provider. People without medical cards who wish to avail of free HRT will also have to register for a Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) card. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. Photo: PA Today's News in 90 seconds - 1st of June A tool for finding which pharmacies are taking part in the free HRT scheme has also been created by the HSE. 20 million in funding for the introduction of the scheme was included as part of Budget 2025. The free HRT scheme was originally planned to be rolled out in January after the former Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced the passing of legislation paving the way for the scheme last year, but it was met with delays. Successful talks involving the Government and pharmacists earlier this year paved the way for the scheme to go ahead. Last month, there was confirmation the free HRT scheme would be going ahead following negotiations between the Department of Health and the Irish Pharmacists Union (IPU), with the IPU agreeing to endorse the scheme. Pharmacists had rejected a 5 dispensing fee for HRT products and said the fee was unsustainable, and the Government has since agreed to cover the fee. In order to incentivise pharmacies to sign up to the scheme, Government will also give each participating pharmacy a one-off 1,000 grant for the establishment of the scheme. HRT treatment was already free to medical card holders but is now available free to all women, saving between 30 and 70 per month. The products have also been subject to shortages both in Ireland and abroad. "Free HRT is available for women from today, Sunday, June 1, at participating pharmacies all over Ireland. This is a fantastic support for women and a significant milestone in our commitment to womens health, Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said. From today, every woman in Ireland has free access to both essential HRT products and the dispensing fees, removing financial barriers and providing vital support during all stages of menopause. I thank the Irish Pharmacy Union for their partnership in this initiative and those pharmacies right across Ireland that have signed up. I encourage women to log on to the HSEs pharmacy finder to locate their nearest participating pharmacy. Hes not capable of murder US relative of man who was arrested over Mike Gaines killing Michael Kelley was described as a gentle lion and highly intelligent Michael Kelley was arrested and released without charge. Photo: Domnick Walsh Ali Bracken and Daniel Bates Sun 1 Jun 2025 at 03:30 A family member of a man arrested over the murder of Kerry farmer Mike Gaine has said they cannot conceive that he could be capable of murder. A group that includes New York-based Irish hotelier John Fitzpatrick has called on the Transport Minister to re-open the tender for the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter service. In a letter to minister Darragh OBrien, his junior minister Sean Canney and their department secretary general Ken Spratt, the four signatories raise concerns about a rushed transition to a new operator and the use of a helicopter they claim is too small for this critical service. Ive given up on the idea Sex and the City actress Sarah Jessica Parker on her chances of becoming an Irish citizen US star said she wont be following in the footsteps of Rosie ODonnell Sarah Jessica Parker has "given up" on the idea of being an Irish citizen Donal Lynch Sun 1 Jun 2025 at 03:30 Star of Sex and the City, Sarah Jessica Parker, has said she has given up on the idea of being able to call myself an Irish citizen. A current defence strategy in defamation cases which has yet to succeed is to be strengthened under proposals from Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan. A law lecturer in Trinity College Dublin said no defence under Section 26 of the Defamation Act 2009 which allows publishers to argue publication was fair and reasonable and in the public interest has ever succeeded in this country. It comes as Gerry Adams was last week awarded 100,000 in damages after being defamed in a BBC documentary and news article. The jury last week rejected defences put forward by the BBC that the allegation was published in good faith and that it was fair and reasonable to do so. Section 26 of the Defamation Act 2009 outlines the possible defence of fair and reasonable publication, citing the need for the publication to be in good faith and for the public benefit. As our legal team made clear, if the BBCs case cannot be won under existing Irish defamation law, its hard to see how anyones could, said the head of BBC Northern Ireland Adam Smyth, speaking after the jurys decision. Defamation reforms passed committee stage in the Dail at the end of April and are being passed as a matter of priority Eoin ODell, a law lecturer in Trinity College Dublin, said that no Section 26 defence has ever succeeded in this country. He said the Adams case shows how limited a defence it is for media. He said the defence needs to be simplified, as had happened with defamation law in England. The Department of Justice confirmed that Jim OCallaghan intends to bring forward an amendment to provide for a clearer and simpler defence of fair and reasonable publication in the public interest. The Government has also promised to pass defamation law reforms with safeguards against strategic lawsuits against public participation, also known as SLAPP suits. Defamation reforms passed committee stage in the Dail at the end of April, and are now being passed as a matter of priority, said the spokesperson at the Department. Sinn Fein sources this weekend said that even though they believe the former party leaders reputation has now been restored, he will not be running in the race for the Aras later this year. Sinn Fein members have been asked by party headquarters for their ideas on how the party should approach the presidential election. The Turkish Black Sea city of Rize and China's porcelain capital Jingdezhen celebrated their shared cultural heritage on Friday, honoring centuries-old tea traditions during their Friendship Day. Know why its important to inspect and replace your wiper blades, especially during summer If your wipers leave streaks or smears, make squeaking noises, or show visible signs of wear like cracks or splits, its time to replace them. Photo: Getty Why is it important to inspect and replace wiper blades during the summer months? Irish summers are famously unpredictable. One minute, the sun is out; the next, youre caught in a sudden downpour. In such conditions, worn or damaged wiper blades can dramatically reduce visibility and compromise road safety. Its also worth noting that UV exposure even on cloudy days gradually breaks down rubber. Its crucial to check your wipers regularly during summer and make sure theyre ready for whatever the weather throws your way. What are the signs that my wiper blades need replacing? If your wipers leave streaks or smears, make squeaking noises or show visible signs of wear like cracks or splits, its time to replace them. Blades that dont make full contact with the windscreen are also ineffective. And dont forget your rear wiper rearward visibility matters just as much, especially in wet conditions. How often should I replace my wiper blades? Most manufacturers recommend replacing blades every six to 12 months, depending on usage and weather exposure. In harsher conditions, inspect them every three to six months. Given the mix of UV, rain and road grime typical in Irish summers, do a seasonal check especially at the start of summer. If my wiper blades need replacing, whats the best approach? You can buy replacement blades from motor factors, online retailers or service centres and opt to fit them yourself. Start by confirming the correct size your vehicle manual or online registration-based tools can help. Clean the windscreen, place a towel under the wiper arm to protect the glass, then lift the arm, unclip the old blade and fit the new one. Make sure its the correct length for each side and that any clips are properly secured. Lower the arm carefully and test the blades with washer fluid. Some motor retailers offer fitting often while you wait for a small fee. David Quinn: Who is to blame for the housing crisis? Every cowardly politician in power Our political leaders wont tell us what we seem to believe anyway namely, that immigration needs to be slowed down Recent data from Daft.ie showed that average monthly rentals in Ireland are over 2,000 a month. Stock image David Quinn Sun 1 Jun 2025 at 03:30 The Government is failing miserably on both the supply and the demand side of the housing and rental accommodation shortage. If it had actively conspired to bring about the present situation it could hardly have done worse. Naoise Dolan: As the Government drags its heels on Occupied Territories Bill, how many Palestinian deaths will it take to push it through? Politicians have turned us into murderers by declining to sign a piece of paper Mourners pray during the funeral of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, at Al Shifa hospital, in Gaza City. Photo: Reuters Naoise Dolan Sun 1 Jun 2025 at 03:30 If theres one thing we can rely on our Government to do, its to lag behind public opinion. This papers polling shows a gap between democratic will and government policy on Palestine. Its a British tradition so antiquated that even they have banned it. Oscar Wilde once called it The unspeakable in pursuit of the uneatable. The British aristocracy introduced it to Ireland in the 1840s, and now hundreds of their descendants holiday here to partake in it with us and to spill blood on Irish soil. Elders of Corks Traveller community draw on their memories of days of old to inform new archive The project was funded by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and supported by the Heritage Council Rebel County Traveller Archive launch at Cork Public Museum on Thursday Martin Mongan Corkman Sun 1 Jun 2025 at 09:00 An online archive focused on preserving and sharing cultural heritage while keeping the stories of Cork Travellers documented and accessible for future generations was launched in Cork on Thursday. The Garda member was struck by an e-bike which failed to stop A Garda member has been injured following a hit-and-run incident in Dublin. A Garda spokesperson said they had responded to a report of an e-bike causing a disturbance in Porterstown Park, Dublin, on Friday. The spokesperson said: At approximately 2.30pm, a male Garda approached two males on the e-bike directing them to dismount. The e-bike then accelerated striking the Garda who was taken to hospital and subsequently discharged following treatment for non life-threatening injuries. The driver and passenger of the e-bike failed to remain at the scene. Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage is asked to make this footage available to investigating gardai. Earlier this month, Garda member Kevin Flatley died after he was struck by a motorcycle at a speed checkpoint in Co Dublin. A team from CBS The Green in Tralee 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 25 and 26, with the CBS The Green team of MJ McCarthy, Ethan Ward, Kim Escobar and Aodhan Morrison claiming the 2,000 first prize for their school. The four victorious students, along with their teacher Ms Caroline Dillane, were recently presented with their prizes at their school by Munster Rugby stars Alex Nankivell and Shane Daly. 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 seventh 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 CBS The Green 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. Meath native Anne-Marie Doyle has seen her life taken away from due to debillitating effects of Lyme Disease. Daire Fitzpatrick and his wife Ann-Marie Doyle pictured in healthier times. Anne-Marie has, for the past three years, been suffering with the debilitating effects of Lyme Disease. Theres simply no other way for Daire Fitzpatrick and his wife Anne-Marie Doyle to put it other than the last three years for them have been a type of hell. Thats how long Meath native Anne-Marie has been living and dealing with the debilitating effects of chronic Lyme disease, the symptoms of which have robbed her of so much of who she used to be. Now though, they are hoping that a GoFundMe page set up to help her receive promising albeit expensive treatment at the Klinik St Georg in Germany. This was described by Daire as the only chance to get some of her [Anne-Maries] life back. A lover of all things outdoorsy and described by Daire as being in the prime of her life at 33, Anne-Marie would once have thought nothing of heading off up Irelands highest mountain, Carrauntoohil, if the mood took her. She was trained in social care and was heavily involved in supporting women and children fleeing domestic violence, survivors of the Magdalene laundries, and children with special needs. Now though, the 36-year-old struggles to make to it the end of her street approximately a 200-metre distance and even if she does, the only reward for her efforts is a week spent languishing in bed, drained by fatigue. Daire added that she is now almost fully dependent on him and others for even the most basic of needs, including showering and eating. It was in February of 2022 that Anne-Marie first began to feel unwell, eventually becoming bedbound and barely able to muster enough strength to eat or even speak. Unable to sleep for more than a few hours, even with the help of medication, her weight dropped to a mere 48kg, just 7.5 stones. What followed was three years of the couple going to see countless specialists including cardiologists, neurologists, immunologists, infectious disease specialists, gastroenterologists, sleep and respiratory experts, and many more. As well as this, Daire said that she became so frail she didn't have the strength to put a jumper on herself or pull the blankets up over herself. She had severe light and sound sensitivity and has had to spend most days and nights in a dark room with noise-cancelling headphones and an eye mask on, in pain, and unable to sleep. Having exhausted all of the treatment options available here in Ireland, the couple have moved back in with their parents in an effort to save money and have been forced to turn to crowdfunding to help raise enough money to get Anne-Marie the potentially life-saving treatment at a prestigious clinic in Germany. Daire, also a Meath native, spoke to the Irish Independent this week about the fundraiser it currently sits at just over 26k raised of their target amount of 62k and explained, in heartbreaking fashion, just exactly what this disease has cost them both. "It [Anne-Marie's illness] is our everything. It's something that we manage sometimes from hour to hour, day to day. "The disease takes everything from you. Anne-Marie was a very active person before all this. Down in Killarney, we used to love hiking and we would have lived right next to one of the access points to Carrauntoohil. We'd have been up there any time the sun was shining, he said. "Now though, the simple act of walking to the top of the street which is 200 metres maybe, this will leave her in bed for the rest of the week, he continued. Getting sick right at the tail end of COVID, Daire said, was possibly the worst timing as he believes that early Lyme disease symptoms were crucially missed by medical professionals here in Ireland. "I think the first 14 months were probably the hardest. We just didn't have a clue, we were grasping at straws and relying on a system that doesn't know this disease well and it was also at a time, in the country, when the health service was firefighting the last of the bad COVID waves." "To be sick in that climate, we were being told that some of the more ambiguous symptoms of Lyme were probably just COVID and we ended up in this misdiagnosis loop and you start losing time, he said. With almost half of the money now raised from the fundraiser, Daire is, thanks to talking to others who have been through the treatment in the clinic that Anne-Marie can get back to something resembling her normal life. "There's a high percentage of success there. The clinic has some people who don't respond but we've spoken to quite a few Irish people who have been there. One of them actually was a young lady from Kerry, Karen O'Shea. She went over there to the clinic in a wheelchair and after the treatment, she was able to walk onto her flight. It was a huge night and day turnaround for her." "A lot of the patients from the clinic that we've spoken to are all in the same boat. They might not have the full lease of life that they had before but at least they are no longer constrained/stuck in their bedrooms or prisoners in their own home." The treatment, he says, will be intensive. "They will give the person a triple course of IV antibiotics on the week leading up to a hypothermia session where they'll then put the person under anesthetic before bringing their core temperature up to 42 degrees. This is right on the threshold of what the human body can tolerate. They'll keep it at this temperature for multiple hours with the idea being that the heat is able to access places that the antibiotics can't go to and that the Lyme likes to hide in." Follow Independent Meath on Facebook In total, the in-patient treatment in the clinic will be five weeks long and there will be six months of follow-up after this when Anne-Marie is at home. All money raised from the treatment will go towards: Life-saving medical treatment at Klinik St Georg Transport to and from the clinic Accommodation expenses during the treatment To provide a carer to support her during treatment. Post-treatment care and medication. To support the fundraiser for Anne-Marie, search on gofundme.com for Annemarie fight lyme disease your support matters Members of the local community also came to celebrate the milestone. Its been 50 years since the school amalgamated to join together both boy and girl students. Current and past students made up the large crowd who gathered together to mark the 50TH anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes Primary school in Bunclody. The school was officially opened on September 25 in 1975 by the then Tanaiste Brendan Corish. This was a significant event as it marked the amalgamation of female and male students for the first time. Many members of the community attended to celebrate the occasion, including Bishop Ger Nash, Cllr Barbara- Anne Murphy, and FCJ Secondary School principal Brendan Daly. Two former as well as the current principal, gave speeches as they reflected over how far the school has come over the years. Michael Dee spoke about how surprisingly seamless the entire process had been when opening the school, while James Roberts took great pride in leading the school to become more involved in the Rackard League and getting more funding for class equipment. Current principal Tomas Moriarty, who has been at the helm since 2019, spoke about how special working in the school has been, despite the obstacles created by Covid-19 soon after he took on the role. "From my first visit, to meet James Roberts and the children, it was clear that OLOL NS was a special place. Walking in through the gates, I remember that the school grounds were sparkling in the early Summer sun and from the first meeting with the children and staff I was made feel welcome, he said. A special mass also took place on the day, as well as refreshments, with music proudly provided by students on their instruments. Catherine Connaughton from the Southern Regional Assembly, Philip Knight District Manager, Norma Quinsey and Liz Stanley at The Market House Gorey Public Open Day. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Philip Knight District Manager, Norma Quinsey, Liz Stanley and Catherine Connaughton from the Southern Regional Assembly at The Market House Gorey Public Open Day. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Catherine Connaughton from the Southern Regional Assembly, Liz Stanley, Norma Quinsey and Philip Knight District Manager, at The Market House Gorey Public Open Day. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Catherine Connaughton from the Southern Regional Assembly, Philip Knight District Manager, Norma Quinsey and Liz Stanley at The Market House Gorey Public Open Day. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench Wexford County Council hosted successful Open Days at the Gorey Market House recently, where members of the community and visitors to Gorey were given the chance to see the iconic building as it stands before the initial phase of the regeneration project begins. The Market House, located on Main Street, holds a significant place in the towns history. The affection the local community have for the building was evident in the interest and enthusiasm shown for the regeneration project during the open days. District Manager Philip Knight expressed his gratitude to the large public turnout, highlighting the strong community connection to the building. We are thrilled by the overwhelming interest and support shown during these Open Days. The Market House will soon be transformed into a vibrant social and community hub, inspired by the innovative European Bauhaus Principles that guide this regeneration project, he said. During the open days on Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24, local historian, Willie Willoughby, conducted talks on the rich history of the Market House. Attendees were captivated by stories recently uncovered, including the early days of the Gorey Credit Union operating within the building and a story about how a friendship began when two ladies received keys to their new home many years ago in the chamber office. Throughout the Open Days, video interviews were conducted with local residents, business owners, and community groups to capture their memories and hopes for the future of the Market House. These interviews will form part of ongoing project updates to keep the public informed as the regeneration progresses. Catherine Connaughton, Project Officer from the EU Programmes Division of the Southern Regional Assembly, was also present for the open days. The incredible community response to the Gorey Market House Open Days reflects exactly what THRIVE is all about, putting people, place and pride in local heritage at the heart of local development. "By working with the community to reimagine this historic space, were supporting a shared vision for a vibrant, inclusive town centre. It was a pleasure to hear memories from those connected to this building over the years, said Catherine. The Gorey Market House project is co-funded by the Government of Ireland, the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 20212027, and Wexford County Council. From making Zongzi to crafting scented sachets, international students gathered in China's Xiamen for the celebrations of the Dragon Boat Festival that fell on Saturday. #GLOBALink The popular Speed Quizzing Night returns to OSheas Corner in Wicklow town, taking place on Wednesday, June 11, and starting from 8pm. All you need to bring along Is a few brainy friends and a smart phone/tablet. Speed Quizzing is an interactive quiz game hosted from a laptop computer and played on smartphones and tablets. Players take part in the same way they would a pen and paper quiz, but instead of pens and paper, each team uses a free app on their smart device, with the presenter reading questions from a laptop computer. 2. Greystones Orchestras Summer Concert Sunday June 8 at St Patricks Church, Greystones. Tickets from 10-20 via eventbrite. Greystones Orchestra is performing its summer concert in the beautiful St Patricks Church, on Sunday June 8 under the baton of musical director, Cillian OBreachain. This special evening will feature two beloved masterpieces by Mozart, alongside a vibrant and captivating orchestral suite by the 20th-century Hungarian composer Ferenc Farkas. 3. The Voices of Bray Community Choir Thursday, June 5-Saturday, June 7 at Mermaid Arts Centre. Tickets 20 from mermaidartscentre.ie. The Voices of Bray Community Choir is taking over Brays Mermaid Arts Centre for three nights, from Thursday, June 5, to Saturday, June 7, as it performs its Songs on a Summers Evening show of classic hits. 4. Tinahely concert Music Network will bring its spring season to a thrilling close with a performance by outstanding saxophonist Emma Rawicz at the Tinahely Courthouse Arts Centre on Saturday, June 7, at 8 pm. Rawicz will perform with an exceptional quartet featuring Ivo Neame on piano, Kevin Glasgow (bass) and Asaf Sirkis (drums). Tickets are 20/22 via courthousearts.ie 5. Teen Disco The Rathdangan teenage disco for students from first to third year will return to Rathdangan Hall on Friday, June 6, from 8 pm to 10.30 pm. Strictly supervised, the highly anticipated night has a 10 entry fee, with drinks available for 1 and all proceeds going towards an upgrade of the hall. There are no vapes, bags, cans or bottles allowed. For tickets, contact Tess at 0876173879 or Angela at 0876440751. The Eircode for the hall is W91F897. 6. Brockagh Market The monthly market and car boot sale returns to the Brockagh Resource Centre on Sunday, June 8, and will be open to the public from 10am to 3pm. Keen bargain hunters should enjoy browsing through all the affordable gifts. Tea, coffee and food snacks are available. Tasty hot dogs and burgers will also be available. All stallholders must pre-book their space or there will be no entry on the day. The market takes place once a month on the second Sunday, except for January and February. 7. Family Fun Day Coral Leisure Wicklow are hosting a family fun day with Volvo Bolands of Wexford on Saturday, June 8. There will be bouncy castles, games, face painting, ice cream and more. Mum and dad can also get the opportunity to test drive one of the stunning Volvos on show, including the all new XC60. The family fun day runs from 11am to 4pm at the Coral Leisure Wicklow, Wicklow town. Youth groups and non-profits can apply for funding towards community youth support projects Sponsored by Vhi As the world around us continues to change, young people are met with exciting new opportunities but also complex new challenges. One of the most pressing is the rise in anxiety and mental health issues among young people today. Good health in childhood lays the foundation for confidence, stability, and strong decision-making in adulthood, but todays children are facing growing threats to their wellbeing, and the challenges they face are far-reaching. Across Ireland, youth organisations are creating safe spaces where young people can feel supported, seen and empowered to prioritise their mental and physical health. Their work is vital but also requires time, compassion and most critically, funding. Thankfully, the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund is on a mission to support the programmes making a meaningful difference in the lives of young people. Tackling anxiety one project at a time Recent research by the Irish Youth Foundation revealed that 75pc of youth workers regularly observe anxiety in the young people they support, while lack of funding remains their biggest challenge. In 2021, the Irish Youth Foundation released a study which showed that a majority of the 6000 people on a waiting list to see a psychologist were children. Health officials have since reported a four- to six-fold increase in referrals of children under 12 for mental health evaluations through GPs. Since 2020, Vhi, in partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation, has been helping youth organisations through the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund, supporting initiatives that focus on tackling anxiety and strengthening resilience in young people across Ireland. Lifechanging support from the grassroots This years campaign ambassador, Jack Woolley, knows the importance of resilience better than most. The two-time Olympian and Dancing with the Stars contestant has been open about his own experience managing anxiety and staying mentally strong in the face of challenges, both on and off the competition stage. Growing up, my community and local youth groups played a huge role in supporting my Olympic dream, and they have encouraged me through all the highs and lows of my career so far, Jack said. I've seen first-hand how important it is to maintain a healthy mind and body to reach your full potential. Vhi is providing vital funding to youth groups around Ireland who help young people to manage symptoms of anxiety and build resilience, and Id encourage all youth groups to check it out and apply. Since its launch, the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund has supported 44 youth-led projects in counties including Dublin, Cork, Kilkenny, Galway, Limerick and Donegal, reaching over 6,000 young people directly and over 200,000 indirectly through wider community impact. For 2025, Vhi is making 85,000 in funding available to non-profit and youth organisations working in these counties. The goal: to support projects that empower young people to build resilience and manage anxiety with a focus on early intervention and prevention. Sarah Edmonds, CEO of the Irish Youth Foundation, explained the importance of having the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund available as a resource saying, Young people are increasingly exposed to situations which create anxiety, and they often do not have access to necessary supports which can help improve resilience. The impact of the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund since 2020 has been inspiring and I am looking forward to seeing similar results in 2025. I would encourage all organisations working in the youth sector to apply. Brian Walsh, CEO of Vhi Group, also emphasised the funds long-term vision: Now in its fifth year, the fund demonstrates our firm commitment to support programmes that are making a meaningful difference in the lives of young people. By investing in community-based projects that tackle anxiety and build resilience, we are fostering a healthier and more sustainable future. The Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund is a lifeline for non-profits and youth groups doing this crucial work. If youre part of a youth-focused organisation with a vision for helping young people navigate anxiety and build resilience, now is the time to apply. The impact of the Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund since 2020 has been inspiring and Vhi is looking forward to seeing similar results in 2025. Vhi is encouraging all organisations working in the youth sector to apply. For more information, or to make an application, visit https://iyf.ie/grants/. Applications are now open and will close at midnight on Wednesday, 11th June 2025. Gabriel Byrne on Adolesence and how drama can help teens express their feelings: It opens up ideas in your head and that transforms you When Gabriel Byrne started amateur drama in the 1970s, he found an outlet to express his feelings. Now the Golden Globe winner and youth theatre patron wants to champion that same outlet for todays adolescents who are struggling in an online world Actor Gabriel Byrne talks about the mental health of young adults who are navigating a digital age. Photo: Alissa Hessler Ciara Dwyer Sun 1 Jun 2025 at 03:30 Gabriel Byrne wants to talk. He watched the TV drama series Adolescence and is still reeling from it. You can watch all the documentaries you like, but drama is the thing that really connects with other people, says the Dublin-born actor and writer. It changes you. It has that power. A Ukrainian drone attack has destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep in Russias territory, a Ukrainian security official told The Associated Press on Sunday, while Russia pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones a day before the two sides meet for a new round of direct talks in Istanbul. FAN EXPO Dallas Texas' biggest pop culture celebration returned to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center from May 30 to June 1, 2025, bringing together fans, stars, and unforgettable moments. One such moment came courtesy of WWE icon and Hollywood actor John Cena, whose candid comment during a panel quickly lit up the BTS fandom, ARMY. While answering questions during a Q&A, Cena was asked about his thoughts on K-pop, especially given his well-documented admiration for BTS. Staying true to his straightforward charm, he replied, "I don't necessarily like K-pop I gravitate toward BTS." His honesty struck a chord with fans, many of whom took to social media to say: same. John Cena mentioned j-hope and bts at Fan Expo in Dallas Jc : " j-hope is my guy" [] Jc : I dont necessary like K-Pop, I gravitate towards BTS! pic.twitter.com/vPy4r6Keqa - (@jhopetrends__) June 1, 2025 John Cena reveals his bias Cena went on to reveal his BTS bias without hesitation: "J-hope is my guy," he said, earning cheers from the crowd and sparking fan celebrations online. But it was his next statement that struck a deeper chord. "What BTS specifically did for me is they found me at the right time in my life to give me hope and inspiration through who they are as people," he shared. "They reached a 48-year-old dude who was struggling with self-worth." JOHN CENA RECENTLY MENTIONED HOBI AND BTS :j-hope is my guy :I dont necessary like K-Pop, I gravitate towards BTS! What BTS specifically did for me is they found me at a right time in my life to give me hope and inspiration through who they are as people they reached pic.twitter.com/Se7o3ktgvK Carolyne (@mhereonlyforbts) June 1, 2025 ARMY relates deeply Clips of Cena's heartfelt words quickly went viral among fans, many of whom echoed similar sentiments that BTS came into their lives during difficult times and helped them feel seen, supported, and inspired. For ARMY, Cena's message wasn't just celebrity praise; it was a reminder of the universal impact BTS has had on fans worldwide, regardless of age, background, or even music preferences. The way he mentioned that bts found him when he was struggling with self worth is so army coded way to talk bout bts sai (semi ia) (@joonstalk) June 1, 2025 That's so good to hear. It's true that BTS finds you when you need it most I'm so glad John Cena is sharing his beautiful connection with the boys' music. siri (@purple_glow_) June 1, 2025 John Cena's love for BTS The wrestler and actor has never shied away from expressing his admiration for BTS and their message of self-love. The group, he revealed, helped him through a personal "moment of weakness" and even inspired him to write his books. His support goes beyond words he's shared photos of BTS members, especially J-Hope, on his social media, proudly showing his appreciation as a true fan. When John Cena appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2021, he opened up about a difficult period in his life and how BTS played an unexpected role in helping him through it. "Around four years ago, I decided to have a vulnerable moment and post something thought-provoking on Twitter," he shared. "Back then, a lot of what I wrote was about self-love because I was in a rough place I didn't see myself as enough." As it happened, BTS had just released their Love Yourself album, and Cena's posts struck a chord with the group's fanbase, ARMY. "It was amazing timing," he said. "Here I was, a 16-time WWE champion, talking about vulnerability, self-worth, and not being ashamed of who you are things people didn't expect from someone like me." However, to his surprise, ARMY embraced his message. "I was essentially saying the same things as BTS, and their fans supported me. These books I've written now? They exist because the BTS ARMY was brave enough to lift me up when I was being open and honest. That support turned into a passion." He concluded, "I really have to thank K-pop and especially BTS for being there in a moment of weakness and inspiring me to grow." For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here. Tighter restrictions around US student visas are leading many Indian families to consider the EB-5 visa route, which allows foreign investors to apply for permanent residency by investing $800,000 (approximately 7 crore) in targeted US projects. The shift is particularly evident among international students aged 19 to 24, especially those studying computer science, biotech, and finance. This visa is now being viewed as a reliable alternative to the traditional student visa path. EB-5 applications rise among Indian F-1 visa holders Immigration lawyers report a noticeable increase in interest from Indian students currently on F-1 visas. Rajneesh Pathak, founder of immigration law firm Global North Residency and Citizenship, stated that while the EB-5 route was earlier dominated by H-1B visa holders, the interest from F-1 visa holders has risen by 100% over the last few months. This trend gained traction during the final phase of President Donald Trumps second term, when many began reassessing their long-term residency options in the US. Political climate drives parents toward investment visas Parents are also playing a significant role in the shift. Given the unpredictable political environment and increasing scrutiny of international students, families are opting for the EB-5 route as a precaution. Pathak noted that many parents are willing to invest in EB-5 to secure the future of their children. With F-1 visa processes becoming less predictabledue to delays, stricter social media monitoring, and tighter work permissionsthe EB-5 is viewed as a more dependable alternative. Indians shift to EB-5 visa as F-1 uncertainties grow | Credit: X High demand meets limited supply: A visa cap challenge Despite its advantages, the EB-5 visa has a fixed annual cap. India is allotted approximately 700 EB-5 visas per year, including for family dependents. With over 86,000 Indian students studying in the US in 2024 alone, experts predict rising competition for these limited slots. Legal advisors warn that this increasing demand could eventually lead to longer processing times, which may impact applicants looking for faster pathways to residency. A premium option for those who can afford it The EB-5 visa differs significantly from the F-1 student visa. While F-1 is a temporary, non-immigrant visa with limited work flexibility, EB-5 provides a direct route to a Green Card. For those who can afford the investment, the program offers long-term security, fewer restrictions, and faster processingsome green cards are reportedly processed in as little as three months. As political and administrative uncertainty grows, the EB-5 program is emerging as a serious alternative for Indian students looking to secure their future in the United States. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Delhi-Dehradun Expressway: Planning a weekend getaway to Mussoorie from Delhi? Your travel time is about to get shorter and smoother. With the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway nearing completion and a new elevated road to Mussoorie under construction, the journey from Delhi to the Queen of Hills will soon take just 4 hours instead of half a day. Delhi-Dehradun Expressway Nears Completion The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway project, which spans multiple cities like Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, and Saharanpur, is almost ready for public use. This expressway from Delhi to Dehradun is designed to support high-speed travel at 100 km/hr, drastically reducing travel time between the national capital and Uttarakhand. 26 KM Elevated Road from Dehradun to Mussoorie A 26 km elevated road is being built to connect the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway directly to Mussoorie. This route will allow travelers to skip traffic-heavy and hilly patches, making the ride faster and more comfortable. As per News18, this Mussoorie elevated road will pass along the Rispana and Bindal rivers, requiring land acquisition in 26 different zones. Delhi to Mussoorie: Cost and Construction Details The estimated cost of the elevated road to Mussoorie is 6,100 crore. Around 2,614 houses may be demolished for the project, and the government will offer compensation to property owners. Final decisions on land acquisition and compensation are expected soon. Key Features of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway Total cost: 12,000 crore Top speed: 100 km/hr Route: Akshardham (Delhi) Baghpat Baraut Shamli Muzaffarnagar Saharanpur Dehradun Wildlife Corridor: 12 km long inside Rajaji National Park Mussoorie Elevated Road: 26 km, under development When Will the New Delhi-Mussoorie Route Open? The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway is expected to open to the public very soon. The new route is expected to increase tourism by making weekend trips from Delhi to Mussoorie easier and faster. The Dehradun-Mussoorie elevated road project is in the planning and land acquisition stage and will begin construction after approvals. Once both projects are complete, travelers will be able to reach Mussoorie from Delhi in just 4 hours. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. An IndiGo flight from Raipur to Delhi experienced strong turbulence on Sunday evening due to a sudden dust storm over the capital. Flight 6E 6313, which was approaching the Delhi airport, had to abort its landing after the wind speed crossed 80 kmph. The pilot regained altitude and circled in the air before eventually landing safely once conditions improved. Passengers were informed mid-flight about the strong winds and the decision to delay the landing. High winds disrupt flight operations across Delhi-NCR On Sunday, several parts of Delhi-NCR recorded gusty winds and brief rainfall. The wind speeds reached 66 kmph over Safdarjung during a short thundersquall, while Pragati Maidan reported the day's peak at 76 kmph around 4:45 pm. Palam and Jharoda Kalan also experienced strong winds of 65 kmph and 37 kmph respectively. Between 5:00 pm and 5:30 pm, four flights were diverted from Delhi two from Jaipur, and one each from Chandigarh and Amritsar due to unsafe flying conditions. #WATCH | An IndiGo flight number 6E 6313 from Raipur to Delhi experienced turbulence due to a duststorm, prompting the pilot to climb up again when the aircraft was about to touch down at Delhi airport. The aircraft landed safely at Delhi airport after making many circuits in the pic.twitter.com/TtDUwIH79b ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2025 Delhi Airport issued a statement on social media, saying, Due to inclement weather conditions in Delhi, flight operations at Delhi Airport are impacted. It added that ground teams were coordinating with stakeholders and advised passengers to contact their airlines for updated information. Srinagar-bound flight previously caught in hailstorm, denied access to Pakistani airspace The Delhi turbulence incident came just days after another IndiGo flight encountered severe weather. A Srinagar-bound flight from Delhi faced a strong hailstorm near Pathankot shortly after takeoff. To avoid further turbulence, the crew requested entry into Pakistani airspace. However, the request was denied by both the Indian Air Force's Northern Control and Pakistans Lahore Air Traffic Control. The refusal came amid strained diplomatic relations, which currently restrict Indian flights from entering Pakistani airspace. During the flight, the aircraft briefly descended sharply at one point dropping at 8,500 feet per minute before stabilising and landing safely in Srinagar. The aircraft's nose radome sustained damage due to the storm. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. ARMYs, the moment we have been waiting for is finally here. The 2025 BTS Festa has officially started, and this year, its more exciting than ever. Not only does it mark BTSs 12th debut anniversary, but it also celebrates their long-awaited comeback after a three-year break. To make the occasion extra special, BIGHIT MUSIC has announced a special in-person event that promises unforgettable experiences for fans. When and where is the 2025 BTS Festa event? The BTS Festa 2025 event will be held over two daysFriday, June 13, and Saturday, June 14, 2025in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. The event will take place at KINTEX 2, in Exhibition Halls 9 and 10, located in Ilsan Seo-gu. Gates will open at 9 AM KST, and fans can enjoy the booths and activities from 10 AM to 7 PM KST. BIGHIT has planned a wide range of interactive experiences to celebrate BTS with ARMYs in person. What to expect at the event ARMYs can look forward to tons of BTS-themed zones and photo opportunities. Youll be able to explore areas like the ARMY Bomb Photo Spot, Whale Photo Spot, Trophy Zone, Archive Zone, and the AR Photo Zone. There will also be fun activities like photo card printing, a colouring wall, and even a DIY zone (yes, there are two!). Another fan favorite is the BTS Locker experience, where you can peek into the groups secret spaces. You can also visit the Voice Zone, where youll hear audio messages from BTS members filled with love and gratitude. One of the highlights of the day will be a special ARMY Bomb light show that takes place at the top of every hour starting from 12 PM. In addition to that, fans can enjoy a BTS Spotify playlist, try their hand at BTS-themed games, and relax in the HYBE Zone while enjoying curated content related to the group. Entry rules and age limits To attend the event, fans must be at least 14 years old for safety reasons. Entry may be restricted if the venue gets too crowded, and youll need to rejoin the line if you leave and want to re-enter. Make sure to bring a valid ID if age verification is needed. If youre under 9 years old, unfortunately, you wont be allowed to entereven with a guardian. The organizers may ask for documents like a family relation certificate or a youth ID card. Accessibility and other guidelines If you use a wheelchair or have limited mobility, staff members nearby will be available to assist you. However, assistance may be limited depending on the day, and you might need to show a medical or disability certificate. To keep everyone safe and happy, check the list of banned items before arriving. Food items and other restricted belongings wont be stored by the staff, so plan accordingly. Additional checks and restrictions may also apply based on the security staff's discretion. Please note that only lines officially managed by the organisers will be recognised. If you try to join an unauthorised waiting line, the organisers wont be responsible for any problems that may come up. Jin and J-Hope kick off Festa celebrations BTS kicked off their 12th debut anniversary celebrations with the launch of 2025 BTS FESTA, featuring a quirky news broadcast video titled [2025 FESTA] BTS News on their YouTube channel. Jin and J-Hope starred as anchor and field reporter, delivering witty banter and joyful chemistry. The theme, Twelve OClock, references their track 00:00 (Zero OClock), symbolising new beginnings and a hopeful future with ARMY. Jin explained it represents the future they'll walk together with fans, humorously claiming, "The highlight is my face" during a photo shoot, prompting J-Hope's agreement. They teased fans with promises of more content, saying "No spoilers" with a smile. A BTS comeback like no other The 2025 BTS Festa isnt just about celebrating another year; its about coming back together. With BTS reuniting after their long break, this years event feels especially meaningful for ARMYs around the world. The highly anticipated BTS reunion will take place on June 21, after RM, Suga, V, Jimin, and Jungkook complete their mandatory military service. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Taylor Swift marked one of the biggest milestones of her career this weekend, and she did it with one of her closest friends by her side. On Saturday night, Swift was seen celebrating in New York City with Selena Gomez, just one day after revealing she had officially regained ownership of all her master recordings. The pair were photographed having dinner together, and the image quickly made the rounds on social media, sparking a wave of excitement among fans. | Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez hanging out TONIGHT! pic.twitter.com/4A59z01FEi Taylor Swift News (@blessedswifty) June 1, 2025 Taylor Swift's fight for ownership of her music comes to an end Swifts celebratory dinner came on the heels of a major announcement: she now owns the masters to every song shes ever released. She broke the news on Friday via Instagram and her official website, writing, All of the music I've ever made... now belongs... to me. The announcement marked the end of a very public, years-long battle that began in 2019 when her original masters were sold without her consent. According to Billboard, Swifts purchase of her masters is valued at an estimated $360 million. Its a staggering number that reflects not just her commercial success but also the cultural impact of her work. The move is being hailed as a landmark moment in the conversation around artist rights and control in the music industry. Selena Gomez cheers her on with heartfelt message Selena Gomez didnt just join Swift in personshe also publicly supported her friend online. Shortly after the announcement, Gomez reposted the news to her Instagram Story, writing, YES YOU DID THAT TAY!!! SO proud! Fans quickly screenshotted the post, praising the show of friendship and loyalty between the two artists. Credit: Instagram/@selenagomez Fans erupt over Swift and Gomez sighting The joint outing in New York only fueled fan excitement. Seeing Swift and Gomez together right after such a major announcement led to a flood of speculation and joy online. Many joked that Gomez was dishing out some serious tea, with comments like Selena always has the juiciest gossip and Taylors face says it all. The lighthearted speculation only added to the charm of the moment. This is iconic behavior, one fan posted on X. Two legends, one victory dinner. One fan wrote, "Some things really never change between Selena Gomez and taylor swift," sharing a collage of the bestie duo always dishing out some major tea to each other. some things really never change between selena gomez and taylor swift pic.twitter.com/qkre8QfkKa The Immortal (@TheImmortal007) June 1, 2025 Another said, "Selena always has that one gossip which gags Taylor Swift." Selena always has that one gossip which gags Taylor Swift Abhay (@SGxTS_abhay) June 1, 2025 A third user added, "Selena always gags Taylor I want to know the kind of tea she spills." Selena always gags Taylor I wanna know the kinda tea she spills pic.twitter.com/Om9Nb1z2Km HARRYS HOUSE (@HARRYSHOUSE3) June 1, 2025 One user said, "I think Selena is spilling wedding details to her," while another mentioned, "One thing about them is they're always going to be gagging at the tea they spilled." one thing about them is they always gonna be gagging at the tea they spilt jayden (@tayvooodoo) June 1, 2025 Meanwhile, with her masters now secured, fans are eagerly awaiting Taylor Swifts next move. Although she confirmed that Reputation (Taylors Version) is not yet complete, she hasnt ruled out its release entirely, keeping hope alive among Swifties. Selena, on the other hand, will return for the next season of Only Murders in the Building. For more news and updates from the world of OTT, as well as celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. JERUSALEM, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Sunday that it, together with the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, killed a Hamas cell commander during an airstrike on Friday in Gaza. Khalil Abd al-Nasser Muhammad Khatib, cell commander in Hamas's Al Mawasi battalion in central Gaza, was identified during a reconnaissance mission on Friday, and was hit and killed by an aircraft directed by IDF troops, the IDF said in a statement, without specifying the location of the attack. According to the statement, the Hamas commander was responsible for an attack that killed 21 IDF soldiers in central Gaza's Al Mawasi area in January 2024, and also led other attacks against IDF troops. Hamas has yet to comment on the Israeli claim. In a separate statement, the IDF said its troops struck and dismantled the booby-trapped structure from which an explosive device was activated against IDF soldiers on May 20, killing Israeli soldier Danilo Mocanu. IDF troops also dismantled tunnel shafts and observation posts they deemed as "threats." Israel resumed its assault on Gaza on March 18, following a two-month truce with Hamas. Since then, 4,149 Palestinians have been killed and 12,149 injured, according to Gaza-based health authorities on Sunday. Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed unshaken confidence in retaining power come 2026, assuring members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state that the battle for his re-election is already settled by God. The governor, speaking during the May edition of the monthly Evening of Praise and Worship held in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, reacted to the Independent National Electoral Commissions (INEC) announcement of June 20, 2026, as the date for the governorship election in the state. Oyebanji, who described himself as Gods project, said his political journey was a divine assignment and therefore beyond human orchestration. He stated, I am not worried, I am excited. I have nothing to fear because we serve a living God. Advertisement READ MOREhttps://www.informationng.com/2025/05/i-didnt-vote-for-tinubu-because-he-lacks-leadership-skills-rotimi-amaechi.html He further urged APC members to stay calm and trust in divine providence, noting that the election victory had been spiritually secured. Let me encourage all APC members the battle is of the Lord, and He has given us victory. I am Gods project, I am on assignment, and the Lord that sent me is more than able, he said. Oyebanji highlighted his administrations achievements in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economic development over the last two and a half years as evidence of purposeful governance and a solid foundation for progress. Dignitaries at the event included Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye, House Speaker Adeoye Aribasoye, Secretary to the State Government Prof Abibat Adubiaro, and Ekiti CAN Chairman Rev Emmanuel Aribasoye. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has openly declared himself and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, as conspirators in a united political front against President Bola Tinubus administration. Atiku made the remark while speaking at Amaechis 60th birthday celebration in Abuja on Saturday. The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate accused the Tinubu-led government of weaponizing poverty and using state resources to inflict economic hardship on Nigerians. Advertisement He emphasised that the opposition coalition, which he and Amaechi are part of, is determined to reverse these policies. You may call me a conspirator or anything, but that is why we are in this alliance, to make sure we dont allow them to continue their weaponizing policies, Atiku said. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/tinubu-has-destroyed-nigerias-economy-in-two-years-peter-ameh.html One of our star conspirators is Rotimi Amaechi. Therefore, we are here to wish you many happy returns, and we will continue to conspire with you to minimize poverty and ensure that state machinery is not used to weaponize it. Atikus comments come amid growing talks of an opposition alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections. Reports indicate that Atiku, Amaechi, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other key figures are working behind the scenes to unseat Tinubus government. Just weeks ago, the opposition coalition held a meeting to finalize modalities for what they describe as a people-driven movement. Atikus remarks not only highlight the deepening cracks in the political elite but also signal the oppositions readiness to challenge Tinubus leadership head-on. The use of the term conspirators by Atiku is seen as a bold defiance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and a rallying cry for Nigerians dissatisfied with the current administration. Former Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, has issued a pointed warning to key figures in Nigerias emerging political coalition, including Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, and Nasir El-Rufai. Speaking at the 60th birthday celebration of Amaechi in Abuja on Saturday, Dickson took aim at the political heavyweights for their role in ousting former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 and for failing to bring about meaningful change since then. The event, which brought together several opposition figures, also saw Atiku describing himself, Amaechi, and El-Rufai as conspirators united against President Bola Tinubus administration. Advertisement Reacting to the declaration, Dickson cautioned them to reflect deeply before embarking on another coalition movement. He reminded them of the consequences of their past political actions. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/06/unity-among-nigerians-could-topple-tinubus-government-amaechi.html When I came in here and climbing up here, Ive seen a lot of you. And as my brother said, there are a number of you who are expert conspirators, who know how to assemble coalitions and then take out governments, as you did to my party in 2015, Dickson said. He added, And when you did so, particularly to a clueless government, so-called, now 11 years down the line, we thought that there would have been no weaponization of poverty and that all the challenges of Nigeria would have been gone. And the only advice I can give, not being a professional coalition builder and conspirator as some of you are, is at this time, shine your eyes. Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has debunked viral claim saying that many properties belonging to private citizens were destroyed while constructing Coastal Highway in Lagos State. Umahi noted that Federal Government did not touch any part of Landmark Africa, as it was been discussed by Nigerians on social media. The Minister made the clarification during the commissioning of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Phase 1 in Lagos State on Saturday. Advertisement INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that management of Landmark, operators of Landmark Beach, had sought compensation for the alleged demolition of its property worth billions of naira by the President Bola Tinubus administration, during the road construction. READ MORE: Coastal Highway: Landmark Boss Playing Politics, Facilities Not Destroyed Umahi Umahi told Tinubu that no property of the private company was touched, emphasizing that what was touched was Landmarks encroachment on the front shoreline. He said: Mr President, I want to state that we did not harm Landmark Property. As you are going, sir, you will see where this dual carriageway is divided into two. It is by your order that we should save as much infrastructure as possible, even though they violated the gazetted route, we did that, Mr President. The Landmark infrastructure is intact; what went off was their encroachment on our front shoreline. And the Supreme Court ruled that 250 metres from the shoreline belong to the Federal Government, and so we didnt do that. Operatives of Enugu State Police Command have rescued 19 kidnapped victims in Uvuru-Ukpata forest, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state. It was gathered that one yet to be identified suspect was also neutralized during the operation. Confirming the development in a statement over the weekend, Force Spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed that the success was as a result of police efforts to tackle crimes in parts of the country. Advertisement He said: Upon picking up the trail, the operatives engaged the kidnappers in a fierce gun duel, overpowered them, and successfully rescued 9 kidnapped victims. READ MORE: Delta Police Recover AK-47, Arrest Kidnappers Linked To Enugu, Rivers, Imo Prior to this, police operatives had earlier rescued two men in a forest at Amalla-Egazi after they were kidnapped on 16th May 2025 at the Ezimo community. The rescued victims have been reunited with their families. Similarly, on 23rd May 2025, Police operatives attached to the Enugu State Command, working in collaboration with local security outfits, on the trail of a gang of kidnappers, stormed a forest along the Enugu-Kogi border. During the operation, a gunfight ensued, where one of the kidnappers was neutralized and others escaped with various degrees of gunshot injuries. Eight kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt in the process. Efforts to track down the fleeing suspects are ongoing. Nollywood icon Omotola Jalade Ekeinde has officially stepped into the world of directing, marking a major milestone in her decades-long career with the release of her first feature film, Mothers Love. Having starred in over 300 productions, the celebrated actressfondly known as Omosexynow adds director to her list of achievements. The new film, which she also co-produced alongside Tyna Obahiagbon, delves into emotionally rich themes such as a mothers sacrifice, personal redemption, and the inner resilience of women facing lifes toughest challenges. Advertisement READ MORE: Social Media Now Justifies Child Abuse, Immorality Rita Edochie Ive always believed in the power of African stories told by Africans, and after years in front of the lens, I felt compelled to shape narratives from the directors chair, Omotola said, reflecting on her decision to transition behind the camera. She added, Mothers Love is a story close to my heart, and Im proud to launch this next phase of my career with a film that centers our voices and lived realities. Shot in Nigeria, the film features a diverse ensemble cast that includes Ifeanyi Kalu, Noray Nehita, Olumide Oworu, Lilian Afegbai, and Baba Rex. It uses a blend of English and Pidgin to capture the cultural authenticity of its setting. Mothers Love marks a bold new chapter for Omotola, reinforcing her long-standing commitment to storytelling that reflects African identity and strength. The Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA), Makurdi Diocese, has sounded the alarm over escalating attacks by armed herdsmen in Benue State, where over 50 people have reportedly been killed and 15 Catholic churches shut down in the past month. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Chairman of NCDPA, Revd. Fr. Joseph Beba, accused the military of inaction and complicity. He cited several attacks, including the shooting of Revd. Fr. Solomon Atongo near a military checkpoint, with no response from troops. Advertisement Among those affected are Catholic priests, and this has led to the closure of 15 parishes in Makurdi Diocese alone, he stated. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/05/tinubus-tough-choices-saving-nigeria-not-sinking-it-many-nigerians-have-lack-of-memory-onanuga.html The priests described the killings as a calculated attempt to wipe out Tiv communities, labeling the assaults inhumane, barbaric, and a gross violation of the sanctity and dignity of human life. They also pointed to recent testimonies by Bishop Wilfred Anagbe abroad as a possible trigger for the violent reprisals. Fr. Beba and his colleagues called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to defend his people, warning that failure to act would be seen as indifference or complicity. They demanded that President Bola Tinubu declare war on the attackers, described as foreign terrorist elements. We are not sure whose side the military is on. Their behavior raises serious suspicions of complicity, they said, urging Nigerian youths to be ready to defend their land, lives, and faith. The right to self-defence is inalienable for all citizens, the priests declared, emphasizing that the silence of the government could no longer be tolerated. The Lagos State Police Command has detained three suspected cult group members following a tactical operation in Owode-Ikorodu, Lagos. CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the commands spokesperson, revealed on Sunday that the suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence that led officers to their hideout. The statement read, The Lagos State Police Command have arrested Adenuga Tosin m, Jesutofunmi Ezekiel m, and Adeniji Juwon m, suspected cultists found in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The arrest and recovery followed a credible tip-off, which led to a well-coordinated, intelligence-led operation along the Owode-Ikorodu axis by one of the Commands tactical teams. Advertisement READ MORE: Police Nab Six Suspected Drug Dealers In Anambra During the operation, the suspects were found in possession of a locally made pistol and six live cartridges. Investigations revealed that they are active members of a cult group known for its involvement in violent crimes. Hundeyin further explained that ongoing investigations uncovered the suspects involvement in coordinating the transportation and distribution of illegal weapons throughout Lagos State, creating a major risk to the safety of the public. He also stated that efforts are underway to capture additional wanted members of the group, and that the arrested suspects will be prosecuted in court following the completion of the investigation, in line with due process and the rule of law. Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has urged President Bola Tinubu to show leadership by ensuring Nigeria complies with rulings of the ECOWAS Court of Justice. Falanas remarks came on Sunday while reacting to Tinubus speech at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos. Tinubu, who currently chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, had praised the regional blocs commitment to democratic values and institutions such as the ECOWAS Court. Advertisement But Falana sharply disagreed, stating, With respect, the ECOWAS leaders have failed to uphold democratic norms and the rule of law. Hence, the region continues to witness unconstitutional changes of government. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/06/coastal-road-we-didnt-demolish-any-property-landmark-infrastructure-intact-umahi.html He described the persistent disregard for ECOWAS Court rulings as a major setback to regional justice, revealing that as of December 2024, Nigeria leads the chart with 44 unenforced judgments. Other countries on the list include Togo (27), Guinea (15), Mali (10), and Sierra Leone (9). Falana also pointed out the irony that several former West African leaders who once ignored ECOWAS Court rulings later turned to the same court for human rights protection after leaving office. In 2014, Nigeria designated the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice as the competent authority for enforcing ECOWAS Court judgments, he said. It is embarrassing that Nigeria, under President Tinubus leadership as ECOWAS Chairman, is leading the list of violators. He called on Tinubu to direct Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi to immediately enforce all pending judgments to restore Nigerias credibility and strengthen regional legal integrity. Former Spokesman of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has expressed his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu. Speaking on Saturday after attending the commissioning of 30km of Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, Omokri noted that President Tinubu renewed his hope in Nigeria. He also endorsed the former Lagos State governor for the 2027 general election, saying that the country has become a better place to be under the current administration. Advertisement Omokri said: I met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu today and reaffirmed my full, unequivocal, and unwavering support for his Renewed Hope agenda and the goal of making Nigeria a better place for all Nigerians under his Presidency. READ MORE: Stop Attending Owambe, Build Wealth, Not Aso Ebi Reno Omokri Advises Lagosians By the grace of God, my prayer is for his Presidency to last for another six years and naturally end on May 29, 2031, after he must have served two terms in office, God sparing his life. Proud to have attended the commissioning of kilometre 30 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with President Tinubu, our beloved President and Omo Ologo. Happening Now: Supporting the Renewed Hope Agenda with the most honest individual in Nigeria, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, at the commissioning of Kilometre 30 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway by our great leader, President Bola Tinubu. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rekindled my hope for a greater future for Nigeria. With him as President until 2031, God sparing his life, a new Nigeria is not just possible (pun intended), it is BATifically realisable. This undated photo provided by interviewee shows Zhang Shucheng, a 10-year-old student, reading a book at his home in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Xinhua) BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhua) -- As International Children's Day fell on Sunday, 10-year-old Zhang Shucheng excitedly opened his gift -- a book that brings to life the dramatic story of the Chongqing bombing during World War II (WWII). Japanese warplanes indiscriminately bombed Chongqing, then China's provisional capital, and nearby cities more than 250 times between 1938 and 1944, killing and injuring more than 32,000 people. "It is a dark chapter in our history," said the student in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province. "But I feel obliged to know more about it, from which we can draw lessons." This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and of the World Anti-Fascist War. Although the flames of war have long since extinguished, books depicting that tumultuous period and the bravery of those who lived through it continue to captivate young people in China, encouraging them to delve into that important chapter of history. Zhang could not remember when his interest in this phase of history first began. Perhaps, it stems from the bedtime stories his parents would tell him. Thirsty for knowledge, he happily reads at least two books about the war a year. Among his favorites is the cartooned novel Sparkling Red Star, a WWII coming of age story about a boy growing into a soldier. When he has questions, he tries to discover the answers together with his parents and classmates. "Sometimes we found it difficult to answer his questions, so we had to check the history books or look online for related data to 'make up for the lesson'," said Zhang's mother Jiang Nan. She said her son is not alone, as she had seen an increasing number of children show an interest in the history of WWII, and together they have discussions. Li Keran, a 55-year-old owner of a bookstore in northeast China's Jilin Province, also observed the change. His bookstore in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, sells picture-story books, which used to be popular among his peers. He told Xinhua that his customers mostly fall into two groups: nostalgic people of his generation and primary school students. "When I was a child I used to be fascinated by the picture-story books," he said. "They could easily appeal to children, and are a good way to tell the younger generation our history so that they will work hard to build our country into a stronger one." An online database on the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and modern Sino-Japanese relations, jointly set up by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Chinese Academy of History, the National Library of China and the National Archives Administration of China, offers more than 60 million pages of materials. Last year the database received a total of about 4.95 million visits from around 740,000 people. The number of visits and visitors increased by about 1 million and 110,000 respectively compared with 2023. In the first three months this year alone, the database has been visited 1.25 million times, with new users accounting for an average of 27 percent of monthly traffic. Literary works in China about the war of resistance first appeared in the 1930s and 1940s, when the country was struggling for survival, and were used to mobilize citizens and boost their morale. They continued to be popular after the People's Republic of China was founded. Some of the characters were once household names across China. In recent decades, especially in the wake of reform and opening up, people have more access to foreign literary works and tastes have diversified. However, the children's book market witnessed a peak in the publication of war-themed books in 2015, the 70th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. Zhang Sining, a researcher with the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, explained that such literary works fall into two categories: fiction and non-fiction. "The fictions are based on real stories reflecting the real history and real spirit of heroes in that era," she said. The scholar noted that in foreign countries there are also similar classics based on particular historical moments, like Molodaya Gvardiya of the Soviet Union and Les Miserables of France. "Literary works could arouse people's interest and lead them to learn about real history events," she said. "People believe that some literary works have vitality because they can share the emotions of and find solace from them," said writer Yang Xiaoyan. A playwright of several famous TV dramas, she herself is also author of several novels about the war for children and teenagers. "The wartime stories are by no means merely tragic narratives. They carry the power to strive for survival and keep moving forward, offering hope in the harshest circumstances," she said. She told Xinhua that while trying to avoid direct depictions of bloody scenes so that the books were suitable for younger readers, she also would like to send her readers messages of peace and love. At the end of a book, she wrote, as a comment in the memorial hall guestbook that main character of the novel saw, that "History is not horrible. What is horrible is the disregard for and oblivion of history. May peace prevail." Many Chinese schools also hosted various activities to encourage students to read more of such "red classics." For instance, in Anying Primary School in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, which was named after a war hero, October has been designated as a "reading month." During this time, students are encouraged to show the results of their reading in forms of plays, paintings and speeches. "Those books provide a bridge for parents and children to have dialogues with their predecessors which transcends time and space," said a teacher Chen Ming. "It is our hope that students could draw wisdom and strength from the books and form a sense of social responsibility, forging ahead bravely in their journeys of the new era." Zhang Shucheng has worked for more than two years in Gansu Provincial Museum as a volunteer guide, sharing insights with visitors based on what he has learned from books. "In the old days our predecessors were ill-equipped, but they still achieved victory by relying on their unwavering beliefs and indomitable spirit," he said. "We will also encounter difficulties in life, but as long as we persist, we will surely push forward." This undated photo provided by interviewee shows Zhang Shucheng, a 10-year-old student, reading a book at his home in Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Xinhua) Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has declared that the opposition coalition is capable of removing President Bola Tinubu from power due to the growing hunger and dissatisfaction among Nigerians. Speaking during his 60th birthday celebration in Abuja on Saturday, the former governor of Rivers State said Nigerians are grappling with severe economic hardship, including himself. We are all hungry. All of us are. If you are not hungry, I am. So, for us the opposition, if you want us to remove the man in power (Tinubu), we can remove him from this power, Amaechi said. Advertisement Reflecting on his days as a student activist, he recalled how unity and shared purpose helped mobilize young people across the country against past military regimes. He referenced protests against former military rulers Ibrahim Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari as examples of the power of collective action. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/06/2026-governorship-election-part-of-divine-plan-oyebanji.html As students, we organized the Tai Solarins protest against Babangida and we organized protest against Buhari there was no North and South among the students, he stated. According to him, national unity then was stronger and not clouded by tribal or political divisions. You will see a young handsome Northerner and Southerner feel free and eat the same kind of food, but today we have poisoned the minds of our young men. They cant even liberate themselves, we were able to liberate ourselves, he added. Amaechis comments come at a time of rising political tension and coalition-building by opposition figures ahead of the 2027 general elections. His remarks signal growing dissent within the political elite, especially among former allies of President Tinubu. National Chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje has urged people of the South East to support President Bola Tinubu in developing the country by voting for him in the 2027 election. Ganduje led this out in Bende, Abia State, on Sunday during the inauguration of Renewed Hope Partners by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu. The former governor of Kano State, who was represented by South East zonal Chairman of APC, Emma Enukwu, appealed to South Easterners to give 99 per cent of their votes to President Tinubu. Advertisement According to him, the zone stands to gain more projects and experience more economic advancement if President Bola Tinubu is re-elected. READ MORE: I See Everything Turning Around For You In 2027, More LP Senators To Join APC Akpabio Tells Tinubu He said: You can see that all the governors of South South are collapsing into APC. Come let us join hands to make sure that 99 per cent of the votes cast in the South East are for Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu. INFORMATION NIGERIA recall that Tinubu polled 127, 605 in all South East states, while Peter Obi of Labour Party, won the region with 1, 960, 569. NEW YORK Krista Vasquez had her heart set on getting married in a body-hugging, halter-style gown from Spain. In April, the Atlanta paramedic learned her dream dress would cost nearly $300 more because of new U.S. tariffs on imported goods. With little wiggle room in her timing, the bride-to-be quickly checked around for similar styles. The story was the same: any dresses from Europe would come with tariff-driven price increases ranging from $150 to $400. And that was before President Donald Trump said he would increase the tariff on goods produced in the European Union from 10% to 50%. Advertisement Vasquez, 33, went with her first choice, fearing shipping delays or additional costs like a rush fee before her October wedding if she placed an order elsewhere. Its already expensive enough to get married, she said. It just kind of made me a little sad. Wedding cakes, decor, attire, flowers, party favors, photo and video equipment, tableware, wine and champagne. Not many goods used in the wedding industry remain untouched by the tariffs Trump has imposed since returning to office. How much of the import taxes get passed down to consumers is up to florists, photographers, caterers, and myriad other vendors and intermediaries, such as wholesalers. Olivia Sever, a 28-year-old online content creator in San Diego, has a lot of wedding shopping ahead of her. Much of what she wants may cost more because of tariffs. An immediate concern is some of her paper goods. Her wedding planner has already flagged a 10% price increase for the menus, place cards, and signage she wanted for her September celebration in Hawaii. Sever said shifting to American goods isnt always cost-effective. For instance, flowers grown in Hawaii are in high demand, with increased prices to match, in response to 10% tariffs imposed on a large number of imports around the world. That includes flowers from Ecuador, Colombia, and other countries that grow the bulk of the flowers the U.S. imports. Theres just so many unknowns, but we have our budget and were trying to work within our budget" Sever said. If that means we cant get these, you know, specific shell cups I want, then we just wont get them and well get something else. Heres a look from inside the wedding industry on tariffs. The wedding cake industry Clients of Phoenix cake artist Armana Christianson pay roughly $750 to $800 for one of her creations. She spent two years perfecting the 16 flavor combinations she offers. They range from simple vanilla bean, made with vanilla bean paste imported from Mexico, to dark chocolate raspberry with a whipped hazelnut ganache thats dependent on chocolates and powders from Belgium. Not all of Christiansons cost woes are tariff-driven. The chocolate industry was already struggling because of a cocoa bean shortage. Im a small business with just myself as my employee. Ive seen at minimum a 20% increase in just the chocolate I use. Its a type of chocolate that Ive built into my recipes. Changing brands isnt acceptable, Christianson said. The imported white chocolate in her white chocolate mud cake, a popular flavor, shot up from $75 or $100 per cake to $150. She used nearly 10 pounds of it in a recent order, a cake that had five tiers. Christianson may have to come up with new recipes based on less expensive ingredients. In the meantime, she said, shes eating the cost of tariffs for clients already on her books. I dont have it in my contract where I can raise prices for unexpected events like this, she said. Unfortunately, thats something I have to add to new contracts for my future couples. The wedding dress industry Almost all bridal gowns are made in China or other parts of Asia and so are many of the fabrics, buttons, zippers, and other materials used, according to the National Bridal Retailers Association. Manufacturing in those countries, where labor generally costs less, has put the price of high-quality bridal gowns within reach for many American families. Retailers and manufacturers say the U.S. lacks enough skilled labor and production of specialized materials to fully serve the market. Skilled seamstresses are hard to find and often come from older generations. The materials that we sell in a bridal shop include lace, beadwork, boning for the corsetry. We dont really make stuff like that in this country. There just arent very many designers who create and put their whole looks together in this nation, said Christine Greenberg, founder and co-owner of the Urban Set Bride boutique in Richmond, Va. The designs done here are normally very simple designs. You dont see a lot of American-made gowns that have a lot of detail, a lot of embroidered lace, and thats a really popular wedding gown style, she said. Many designers with gowns labeled made in the U.S. still are using imported materials, Greenberg noted. If Trumps highest tariffs on China are reinstated, Greenberg said, her small business will pay between $85,000 and $100,000 extra in import taxes this year. For a small, family-owned business that only hosts one bride at a time, this will absolutely lead us and many others to close for good, she said. We cant buy American when the products dont exist. The cut flower industry Roughly 80% of cut flowers sold in the U.S. come from other countries. And lots of quality faux flowers are made in China. Colombia is a large supplier of roses, carnations, and spray chrysanthemums. Ecuador is another major rose supplier. The Netherlands produces a huge share of tulips and other flowers. In addition, some of the cut greens used as filler in flower arrangements and bouquets in the U.S. are imported. If youre talking about cars and computer chips, theyve got inventory thats sitting there. Its already stateside. Our inventory turns in days and we saw the impact almost immediately, said Joan Wyndrum, co-founder of the online floral distributor Blooms by the Box. Were all absorbing a little bit, but its inevitable that it comes out on the consumer end of it. Wyndrum, who works directly with wholesalers and growers, said the U.S. flower industry isnt capable at the moment of absorbing all the production from elsewhere. She does a lot of business with U.S. suppliers, though, and sees a huge opportunity for growth stateside. Theres a benefit to the U.S. bride to have flowers grown here. Its the simple reason of freshness, she said. The wedding industry overall Jacqueline Vizcaino is a luxury wedding planner and event designer in Atlanta. Shes also national president of the Wedding Industry Professionals Association, a 3,500-member, education-focused trade group whose members include transportation and photo booth providers, makeup artists, caterers, linen distributors, and planners. Any one wedding may involve 40 or more vendors, Vizcaino said. Huge jumps in costs are already widespread due to tariffs, she said, florals and fabrics among them. With many weddings planned up to a year or more in advance, she and others in the industry are girding for more bad news. Were going to see a lot of interactions that arent so pleasant in the next eight to 12 months, she said. Tariffs have delayed decision-making among many couples planning weddings. Decisions are taking double the time because of the uncertainty. People are shopping around more and wanting [vendors] to lock in at the lowest price possible, Vizcaino said. However, throwing new uncertainty into the future of U.S. trade, the federal Court of International Trade ruled Wednesday that Trump exceeded his authority in imposing broad tariffs on imported goods. Then, as the Trump administration appealed the decision, on Thursday a federal appeals court temporarily halted the order, allowing tariffs to continue to be collected, for now. NEW YORK Weddings in the United States are often dependent on goods imported from countries hit with new tariffs. Vendors and engaged couples are navigating higher prices and supply worries after President Donald Trump went to war over trade around the globe. Exports from dozens of countries, including major centers for goods such as cut flowers, wedding gowns, and decorations, are now subject to extra taxes when they reach the U.S. Advertisement Wedding professionals see potential for pivots to alternative sources. Here are some recommendations for people who are planning a wedding while the tariff situation remains in flux. Rethink how you buy Buy local. Buy from nontariff countries. Buy used. Buy from vendors that promise not to pass on the new taxes. Some businesses are breaking out line items stating what new costs theyre imposing on consumers. Some are not. Without that information, its harder to gauge quality by price. Does something cost $25 because its worth $25 or because its a $10 item with a huge markup slapped on? Dig into reviews if buying online. If buying offline, take an up-close look at textiles, candles, and other goods. A warehouse by any other name ... Katie Sexton in Chicago is a project manager for an international e-commerce shipping company. Shes also getting married in June 2026. She has warehouse-size thoughts on getting around tariffs. The best bet to see the full pricing picture of an item is to find brands that are shipping it from within the U.S., she said. A company doing that will most likely have adjusted their prices higher already to include the tariff cost they incurred upon importing to the warehouse. That means fewer surprises at checkout. Transparency is a friend as tariff drama plays out. Work with existing inventory Weddings are often heavy on rentals of all kinds: tables, chairs, linens, glassware, dinnerware, dance floors, lighting, tents. And companies special order items all the time. Tariff uncertainty has complicated custom orders because of pricing instability a year or more before a wedding, said Morgan Montgomery, co-owner of the rental company Paisley & Jade in Richmond, Va. She buys rental items from China. If they wait to make a decision now, we will need to re-quote, as our suppliers are tweaking prices constantly, she said. The solution? Work with the existing inventory of your vendor, even if it stifles your creative vision. Think long and hard about contracts Vijay Goel, co-owner of Los Angeles venue 440 Elm and caterer Bite Catering Couture, is among wedding vendors pointing to the need to tweak contracts. He recommends booking for rental goods with a substitution clause. That would allow a couple to switch to something else if the price of an item rises closer to their wedding date. Maybe Napa sparkling wines will make more sense than French champagne? Select vendors that have a flexible mindset and the ability to help you navigate choices, Goel said. Is it a destination wedding? Pack it rather than ship it Jaime Coast, who designs wedding invitations and other stationery as owner of the online shop Cotton & Bow, recently had clients in the U.S. get married in Canada. They needed paper goods shipped to their wedding planner before their big day. I tried to estimate what the taxes would be in advance on the Canadian government website, but the calculators hadnt been updated yet. What was estimated to be a $60 bill turned into a $500 bill upon pickup, she said. Her tip? Bring items with you when possible and avoid shipping altogether. Not all flowers are created equal Kimberly Sisti, owner, lead florist, and wedding planner for Sisti & Co. in San Diego, said prices are already out of control. And that includes U.S. growers who are seeing higher demand and may be taking advantage of tariff chaos by raising prices. She has an unusual tip: Look for a florist whose prices already well exceed business costs. If you have a healthy markup on your labor and goods, then a 10% tariff shouldnt break the bank and affect your customers at all, she said. In fact, you can probably absorb the cost and keep your clients confident and happy. Police officers at the Fairmount Stage as gates open for the first day of the Roots Picnic. Read more Police were out in force at the Roots Picnic in Fairmount Park on Saturday, just five days after still-unidentified shooters fired into a Memorial Day crowd at nearby Lemon Hill, killing two people and wounding nine others. The music and concert festival took place at the Mann Center, across the river and about three miles from Lemon Hill, a popular gathering spot that overlooks Boathouse Row. On Saturday before the gates to the venue opened, about seven police cars, a dozen officers, and two ambulances were stationed by the entrance to the Mann. Festival organizers expected nearly 30,000 people to attend each day. Advertisement People can expect to see an increased police presence at various events throughout the city this weekend, including the Roots Picnic, said Jasmine Colon-Reilly, a police spokesperson. An officer at the Mann, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media, confirmed that officers from the police departments counterterrorism unit were also present, mainly for crowd control. Despite long lines and a two-and-a-half-hour delay opening the gates on Saturday, many concertgoers were just excited to see performers like Maxwell (a last-minute replacement for DAngelo), Miguel, Meek Mill, and others. They were comforted or largely unconcerned by the added police presence. There are plenty of police out here, said Alicia Maulseed, 60, adjusting her Eagles bucket hat. Things are going to happen We cant avoid it. We paid good money to stand in this line, and I know how to run. Her friend, Fairhill resident Danielle Myers, 45, said she was pleased to see the number of police officers stationed throughout the park. I have seen quite a few, even walking through the crowd, that makes me feel safe, Myers said. Star McKinney, who came to Philly from Cleveland, to attend her first Roots Picnic, said she wouldnt let anything mar the experience. When you spend so much money on something like this, you gotta roll with the punches, she said. Plus, everywhere you look theres a cop, so I feel safe. Others lamented the heavier-than-usual police presence. Hope Jones, wearing bright pink bows in her hair, said she had briefly interacted with some officers but the experience had left a sour taste in her mouth. We asked them for help about the line and they wouldnt even talk to us, Jones, 42, said. That doesnt make me feel safe, that they will protect me. Germantown resident Jalen Harris, 25, said he thought security could have been even stricter. Nobody in this crowd got checked for anything yet, Harris said. We walked right in. It is a busy weekend for big crowds across the city, with West Philly Porchfest, the DIY concert festival, taking place on Saturday, and the Philly Pride March, the Philly Run Fest, and the American Cancer Society Bike-A-Thon all occurring on Sunday, in addition to the two-day Roots Picnic. The gathering on Memorial Day, when police believe six guns fired dozens of shots into a crowd of young people hanging out at Lemon Hill, was not a formal event like those taking place this weekend. Two people Mikhail Bowers, 21, and Amya Devlin, 23 were killed in the shootings, and nine others were wounded by the gunfire. Police said those nine victims were stable as of Tuesday. Police have not recovered any of the weapons used or identified any suspects, and do not know what the motives were for the attack, Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said Thursday. Police believe at least one of the guns was equipped with a switch, allowing it to shoot faster and effectively mimicking a machine gun. That devastation seemed far away from the eager crowds descending on the Mann Center on Saturday. Tori Wills, 31, woke up early to drive from Baltimore to Philadelphia for the weekend. If somebody is going to do something, they are going to do it with or without police presence, Wills said. While making sure her red sneakers fit snugly, she added, If it happens, Im gonna duck, Im gonna cover, Im gonna run. Always wear sunscreen. You might need it on the unemployment line. This springs commencement speeches just wrapped up, and most college grads got the usual good if vague advice. Eagles star receiver A.J. Brown told the University of Mississippis graduating seniors that your discipline is your product, your name is your brand, your habits are your investments. At Maryland, Sesame Streets Kermit the Frog kept it simple in his much-ballyhooed address: Life is like a movie. Write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending. Advertisement But the most important message for 2025 grads last month wasnt uttered on a college campus. AI artificial intelligence is starting to get better than humans at almost all intellectual tasks, and were going to collectively, as a society, grapple with it, Dario Amodei warned. Whos Dario Amodei? Good question Id never heard of him either before last week. Hes the 42-year old CEO of a leading AI firm called Anthropic, and he has a better understanding than most folks about where the 2020s fast-moving revolution in generative artificial intelligence is headed. And where that is, he claims, is a wipeout for many jobs, but especially the kind of white-collar entry-level positions where 22-year-olds used to head with their sheepskin. Amodei said the result could be 10-20% unemployment in a year to five years roughly Great Depression levels. Most of them [workers] are unaware that this is about to happen, Amodei told Axios. It sounds crazy, and people just dont believe it. Hes right. Americas policy makers and lawmakers led by a president who sees the AI revolution as very much compatible with his anti-democratic new world order are sleeping through an earthquake no one was ready for. And 2025 graduates are already feeling the first tremors. Some have taken to sites like Reddit, wondering why after borrowing heavily to earn degrees in finance or computer science no one has responded to the hundreds of resumes theyve sent out. I just feel pretty screwed as it is right now, psychology major Julia Abbott, graduating from Virginias James Madison University, told NBC News in a report on this summers slowing job market. She said shes applied to over 200 roles in social media and marketing, but minimal interviews come out of it. To be sure, corporations race to task AI-driven computers with work once performed by humans isnt the only reason the once white-hot employment scene for entry-level jobs has cooled down. Many firms are rattled by Donald Trumps wildly erratic tariff policies, and related predictions that the U.S. economy is headed for a recession. But most experts say the slow drip of robots taking our jobs is accelerating, and the numbers back this up. Oxford Economics is reporting that the jobless rate for college grads ages 22 to 27 has spiked to 6%, compared to 4% for the general population. This suggests that essential work like construction or nursing is still doing OK but the job market for data analysts or code writers might be slipping. One bellwether company is Facebooks parent Meta, where CEO Mark Zuckerberg has already said hes cutting the workforce by 5% as he looks for AI to replace human workers like mid-level engineers or the companys risk assessment team. A long time ago, in an America that seems far, far away, the top political mantra was: Its the economy, stupid. And so you might expect that the body politic would spring to action to regulate the new technologies with an eye toward saving jobs, jobs, jobs ... but thats not whats happening. READ MORE: Can America save democracy when no one is even reading about it? Trump owes his election in good measure to his alliance with a Mountainhead of free-spending Silicon Valley tech billionaires, led by Elon Musk (with Xs AI platform Grok and Teslas self-driving cars) and his record $277 million investment in the GOP candidate. The president has placed Musk pal David Sacks in charge of AI, which is kind of like naming Colonel Sanders to oversee the poultry sector. Even smart, respectable lawmakers say we need to go all-in on AI to stay ahead of China. When the grand prize is a 1930s soup kitchen economy? Really? Summer is upon us: that anticipated season with the most memorable songs and an electric vibe that make you want to hang a name upon those hazy, hot, endless days. In 1967, a patchouli-scented season of love-ins at Golden Gate Park amid a soundtrack of Sgt. Pepper and Jefferson Airplane gave America the Summer of Love, despite the irony that riots ripped apart major U.S. cities like Newark and Detroit. Some 58 years later, our nation is experiencing an acid flashback, the Summer of Hallucination. This is true on several levels, one of them almost literal. Thats because those big corporations racing to fire their engineers or writers and replace them with AI arent giving their new robots a drug test. Hallucinations happen in artificial intelligence because these machines that sift through so much data so fast not unlike your Fox News-addicted uncle cant easily tell whats truth or fiction. For all of Silicon Valleys futuristic bravado, AIs hallucinations are getting worse, not better. And the consequences can be serious. Last month, Trumps Department of Health and Human Services issued a Make America Healthy Again report it hailed as the centerpiece of its strategy for improving child health, even as it disputed accepted vaccine and other medical science. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the findings were gold-standard research, but reporters found the document was not only riddled with errors but cited seven scientific studies that dont exist possibly the most hallucinations to come from an RFK Jr. product since his drug-dealing days at Harvard. But its not just government. My own newspaper, The Inquirer, was embarrassed recently when it distributed a syndicated supplement from a longtime-trusted partner, King Features (the Sunday comics folks), whod hired a writer who used AI to compile a list of 2025s hot summer books. Most of them as youve probably guessed by now were never written. Yes, robots can do some things better than humans none more so than spread disinformation. And yet the real reason were living through the Summer of Hallucination runs much deeper. Its all too fitting that for the last year, the avatar of American politics arguably, at times, more so than Trump has been the worlds richest person, Musk. The Silicon Valley mogul took a chainsaw to the federal government after a fall campaign season during which, according to the New York Times, the Tesla CEO was overdoing his acknowledged ketamine use but also dabbling in Ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms. But turn on the news this morning and youll be wondering if its Musk thats hallucinating, or us. Even the true headlines from the serious of immigrant college kids snatched off the streets by government men wearing ski masks, to the sublime of Trumps commencement speech that told West Point grads to avoid trophy wives are shrouded in an aura of utter disbelief. But underneath youll find a cesspool of disinformation thats migrated from Fox News to Macedonian teenagers to AI robots. Garbage in, garbage out. No wonder our world feels drenched in electric Kool-Aid, and yet no one is willing to stand athwart this robot Ecstasy bash and yell, Stop! Trumps so-called big, beautiful bill that just passed the House and could become law includes a provision that would bar states from regulating AI for 10 years, ensuring that the Silicon Valley-purchased Trump regime will let Big Tech stamp its robot revolution in indelible ink. Theres been little or no public debate about the lack of AI regulations, even as the warning of a human job apocalypse isnt the only way that programs like OpenAIs ChatGPT are threatening the planet. The massive energy demand for powering these supercomputers makes little sense amid a crisis of global warming, and overuse of AI by students could turn the brains of our younger generations into pulp. Yet in Americas Summer of Hallucination, no one is seeing through the purple haze. We are now closer than ever to a world in which tech companies can seize land, operate their own currencies, reorder the economy and remake our politics with little consequence, Silicon Valley journalist and author Karen Hao wrote in the New York Times. That comes at a cost when companies rule supreme, people lose their ability to assert their voice in the political process and democracy cannot hold." Exactly. It seems trite to say that creating a future that harnesses what is actually good about AI and regulates the bad should be a front-burner issue in the 2028 presidential campaign, because in three and a half years our new robot overlords may already be running things. A more likely scenario is that 20% unemployment will trigger massive social unrest among torch-wielding 23-year-olds replaced by computers. If society continues to do nothing, the nightmare potential of AI is worse than your wildest hallucinations. But like Kermit says: Keep believing, keep pretending. READ MORE: SIGN UP: The Will Bunch Newsletter LaVawn Green, chief steward of AFGE Local 940 and an authorization quality review specialist, stands outside the Department of Veterans Affairs at 5000 Wissahickon Ave. Read more When employees at the Philadelphia Department of Veterans Affairs were required to return to full-time in-office work earlier this month, it happened to be Public Service Recognition Week. At a regional office in Germantown, managers hosted trivia contests and offered free refreshments to celebrate, but returning workers feelings were complex, one employee said. Advertisement Theres people that are happy to be back, and theres people that are really upset about being back, and then theres a bunch of us in the middle, said the Veterans Benefits Administration employee, who has worked at the agency for more than 20 years and spoke anonymously for fear of workplace retaliation. [Were] happy to see people that we havent seen in a long time, but also wondering, like, why are we here? the VBA worker said. President Donald Trump signed a directive in January terminating remote work for federal workers. VA Secretary Douglas A. Collins directed employees within 50 miles of an office to return May 5. Those who live farther away have until late July to come back full time. More than 20% of the departments employees had telework or remote work arrangements, according to the VAs return to in-person work policy announcement in February. VA press secretary Peter Kasperowicz told The Inquirer that more than 60,000 VA employees are back to the office so far, where we can work better as a team to serve veterans. Philadelphia employees, who handle veterans benefits and medical needs, came back to a changing work environment. Mass layoffs loom and theyve received offers to resign, while also facing mandatory overtime requirements. Meanwhile, the union they turn to for help with workplace issues is facing challenges, too. The VA stopped withholding union dues from most employees paychecks in late April, and many have yet to set up their payments to the union through a separate system, local union leaders said, so technically they are no longer members. A union representative, who asked to speak anonymously out of fear of workplace retaliation, said theyre worried about the number of veterans the benefits administration will be able to serve due to morale being horrible, work-life balance being destroyed, the constant threat of termination, even as employees continue to work hard. Returning to the office has been chaotic, to say the least, said Yul Owens Jr., executive vice president of AFGE Local 1793, who represents Philadelphia VA workers, including those at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in West Philadelphia. Mass layoffs at the VA and other federal agencies are currently on hold after a California judge extended an order last week blocking the firing. If that is removed, more than 80,000 VA workers are expected to be cut nationwide. Some are already making their way toward the exit in Philadelphia, applying for retirement or deferred resignation. The VA is already understaffed in some areas, said Owens. Philadelphia VBA employee LaVawn Green said she was in a complete deep state of depression and cried every day in the weeks following Trumps inauguration. Green is chief steward of AFGE Local 940 and an authorization quality review specialist. Now, she says, the Trump administration seems to have slowed its culling of federal workers. Trumps billionaire adviser Elon Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency inspired the layoffs, announced Wednesday that his time with DOGE is coming to an end. Still, Green and her colleagues are bracing for more. Everybodys holding their breath, waiting for the next shoe to drop, Green said. VA says Trump is fixing the agency Kasperowicz, the VA press secretary, said in a statement to The Inquirer that the Trump administration inherited a VA that is in dire need of reform, blaming former President Joe Bidens administration management. He said the VA was preoccupied with DEI and liberal telework policies for employees and distracted by out-of-touch, woke causes, such as gender dysphoria treatments and pronouns in email displays and signatures. The Trump administration has been more broadly targeting DEI programs in both the government and the private sector, as well as in schools. The president also signed an order saying there are only two sexes, male and female. At the VA, Kasperowicz said, the Trump administration has improved processing rates for disability claims and decreased the case backlog. He said the administration is fixing these and other serious VA problems and that government union bosses, the legacy media and some in Congress dont want us to reform anything. At the VBA, employees have been told they must work mandatory overtime to address a backlog of cases 10 hours between May 19 and May 31 and 25 hours in June. Its the first time since pre-pandemic that theyve had to do mandatory overtime, the 20-year VBA employee said. The details remain up in the air, and thats a little scary, the employee said. Kasperowicz confirmed that claims processors have been asked to take on 25 hours of overtime per month. This is the right decision for Veterans, who are waiting too long to get the benefits theyve earned, he said. Logistical challenges and privacy questions in the office Transitioning back to the office has been a mess for some local VA employees, said Karen Ford-Woods, president of AFGE Local 1793, which represents employees at the VA Medical Center in West Philly and other area facilities. They include nurses, pharmacists, and social workers. Some people just needed to stay at home, Ford-Woods said. Theyre more productive [at home]. Its less hassle. Some returning to the hospital in West Philly for in-office work have struggled to find parking there, now that more people are driving in, union leaders said. And now we have the SEPTA [cuts] looming in the background, that could really impact federal employees who have been told to return to work, said Ford-Woods. Kasperowicz said that the agency is making accommodations as needed so employees have enough space to work and will always ensure that Veterans access to benefits and services remains uninterrupted as employees return to in-person work. Some workers have shared concerns about the confidentiality of their work, said Ford-Woods and Owens. It was just more privacy working from home, Ford-Woods said, though she has not heard complaints of any actual breach. The union is working with management to address these concerns, Ford-Woods said. In-person connections between pharmacists and veterans can be tricky with the amount of space available at the West Philly medical center, said Owens. You kind of hear the background noise of that conversation while youre servicing the veteran you have in front of you, he said. Kasperowicz noted that workers returning to the office without appropriate space itself is a violation of VAs return-to-in-office-work policy and that the notion that workers returning to the office represents a privacy risk is specious and dishonest. Some Philly VA employees are on their way out Workers are stressed and anxious, said Owens, and some are coping by taking time off. Others are making plans to leave their jobs altogether. The VA was already understaffed in Philadelphia before Trump started his second term, Owens said, and particularly in housekeeping, nursing, food service, and pharmacy. Although, he said, since the COVID-19 pandemic, the VA has hired a lot of management positions. Ford-Woods said more than 40 employees at the medical center have applied to a recent deferred resignation program, which was first offered earlier in the year and gave workers the option to resign while continuing to receive payment for some months. Workers that have applied to this iteration of the program are sill working as of late May, she said. If they all end up leaving, that could greatly impact services, said Owens. Were already behind in a lot of services and maintaining as best as we can with the staffing that we have. Retirements, which typically happen at the end of the year because of how leave is accrued, have been taking place throughout the year, said Ford-Woods. The federal government was the greatest employer ever, but right now, were not feeling it, Ford-Woods said. Kasperowicz did not confirm the number of VA employees taking retirement or deferred resignation, saying that information was hearsay from a union representative. He said, only non-mission critical VA employees or those whose departure will not negatively impact VA health care or benefits will be approved for the DRP. The agency is also conducting a review with the aim of eliminating duplicative, unnecessary layers of bureaucracy that do nothing to serve our Veterans and actually hinder our mission, he said. As part of this review, mission-essential jobs like doctors, nurses and claims processors will be maintained, while positions like administrators, advisers, and middle managers will be reduced. Navy veteran: VA employees arent the problem John Pilat, who served in the Navy between 1977 and 1981, would spend long stretches of time crouched in aircraft carrier engine rooms and kneeling or laying on his back to work on equipment. The work took its toll, and he had knee replacement surgery at the VA Medical Center in West Philly in December. Hes applied for disability benefits and healthcare through the department as well. The people there are very cooperative and very helpful, Pilat, 66, of King of Prussia, said of VA employees. Generally speaking, the people are not what I would consider the problem with the VA or with the system. Pilat said the system has always been cumbersome, and hes noticed an added element of uncertainty in recent months. Union representatives at the medical center and VBA say that the quality of their work in the face of recent challenges wont waver. Our members and employees there, we will jump in and try to help to take care of a veteran in a heartbeat, Ford-Woods said. We know veterans. We specialize in veterans. Nobody does it better than the VA and federal employees, because federal employees have always made America work. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker speaks in City Council chambers as Council President Kenyatta Johnson looks on. Read more Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Philadelphia City Council are in the final stages of negotiations over the next city budget, and things had been looking relatively harmonious. Then President Donald Trump got involved. Advertisement The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Thursday included Philadelphia in a list of sanctuary jurisdictions that may lose federal funding for declining to assist federal immigration enforcement. Its far from clear what that will mean for Philly. Trump may not follow through with funding cuts to cities. And if he does, those cuts may be overturned in court. And so far, city officials have largely taken a wait-and-see approach to the news out of Washington. Still, Philadelphia received $2.2 billion in federal funding in 2024, the last full year that has been tallied, and losing that money could be catastrophic, especially for public health programs and social services. READ MORE: How much could Philly lose if Trump cuts funding to cities? Heres what you need to know. Welcoming and protecting our neighbors is a moral and political imperative, Councilmember Nicolas ORourke said Friday, and if federal dollars are used to punish our values, then we must seriously consider how we fund our city in ways that reflect our commitments not Washingtons threats. Heres what you need to know about the state of play in city budget negotiations. Where do things stand? Parker in March proposed a $6.7 billion city general fund budget, and lawmakers held eight weeks of hearings to kick the tires on her taxing and spending plans. Now, theyre meeting behind closed doors, with Parkers administration going back and forth with Council President Kenyatta Johnsons team. The critical day in the negotiations is Wednesday, when a series of key committee meetings are scheduled. If things go smoothly, lawmakers that day will approve amendments to Parkers proposals that Council negotiated with the administration, setting up the budget and the H.O.M.E. initiative for final passage votes on June 12, the last day before Council adjourns for summer recess. If talks break down, the committee meetings may come to naught, and Johnson could schedule additional legislative sessions in June. The final deadline is July 1, the start of the next fiscal year. Projections for the current budgets fund balance a key cash reserve that represents the amount of money left unspent have been growing, and the surplus is now projected to be a healthy $882 million, freeing up more money that will roll over into next year and giving elected officials more wiggle room. The increase has been driven by better-than-expected tax collections and city agencies spending less than they are budgeted, in part due to the citys continuing struggles with hiring. The extra money should make it easier for the administration to fulfill individual Council members wish lists of priorities, theoretically making the final phases of budget negotiations more smooth. We are having meaningful discussions, Finance Director Rob Dubow and Budget Director Sabrina Maynard said Friday. Will tax rates be cut? The citys business and wage tax rates will almost certainly be cut. The question is by how much. Johnson is leading a charge to dramatically reduce and eventually eliminate the business income and receipts tax, or BIRT. Last year, he convened the Tax Reform Commission, which recently recommended doing just that, as well as making wage tax cuts. Parker is supportive of tax cuts, but she so far has not been willing to be as aggressive. Her budget proposal called for cutting the BIRTs tax on business gross revenue from 0.1415% to 0.141% next year and its tax on profits from 5.81% to 5.71%. Her budget proposed a small cut to the wage tax, an increase in the real estate transfer tax, the elimination of the 1% construction tax, and no changes to the property tax. It also included an unusual 13-year schedule of future tax cuts, the most severe of which would begin as she would likely be leaving office. External factors are pulling the debate in different directions. Progressives have said Trumps threats to cut federal funds from cities means its no time to turn away revenue. Meanwhile, Parker has thrown a curveball into talks over the business tax this year when she announced in March that her administration was asking Council to eliminate a popular tax break known as the BIRT exclusion that primarily helps small businesses. The administration said the move came in response to a lawsuit contending that the exclusion, which exempts the first $100,000 of business income from taxation, violates the state constitutions so-called uniformity clause. Council is H.O.M.E.-ward bound As part of her H.O.M.E. initiative, Parker has asked Council to approve seven bills, and lawmakers appear likely to advance five of them before their summer recess. All members of Council are supportive of the H.O.M.E. plan, so thats a good start, Johnson said Thursday. Its just working out the details and what we all feel comfortable with in terms of [what we can] support. Most importantly, Council has scheduled a Wednesday committee meeting to consider a bill that would allow the administration to issue $800 million in city bonds to pay for the initiative, indicating its on track for passage. The other four are relatively minor zoning bills meant to facilitate rapid development and density of housing. The two that have not progressed have something in common: They would limit Councils role in land use and development issues. One would streamline the process of moving property into the Philadelphia Land Bank by removing a step that depends on Council action. Another would create preapproved lists of city-owned properties that the city could sell without Council having to approve each transaction. Council could take those up in the fall. But its far from clear theres any appetite among legislators to adopt those types of policies. White House wild card So far, the Trump administrations inclusion of Philadelphia in its list of sanctuary jurisdictions at risk of losing federal funding has not had a direct impact on city budget negotiations. Thats largely because the federal government has not yet attempted to cut off funds in relation to its sanctuary crackdown, and the Parker administration said it hasnt received any communications from Washington. We are aware that the Department of Homeland Security has published a list of jurisdictions across the country, including Philadelphia and other cities and counties in Pennsylvania, City Solicitor Renee Garcia said Thursday. Philadelphia has not received any formal notification from DHS. We will review any communications carefully. The dynamic could change in the coming days if the White House makes more concrete moves to pare back funding. Staff writers Fallon Roth and Jake Blumgart contributed to this article. Students queue to wash their hands at the courtyard of a school in Port Sudan city, eastern Sudan, on Feb. 26, 2025. (Photo by Fayez Elzaki/Xinhua) KHARTOUM, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen-year-old Muayad Kamel weaves through the central market in southern Khartoum, clutching a small plastic box filled with rosaries, tissues, and masaweek -- teeth-cleaning twigs. Each step reflects a burden far too heavy for someone his age. The market, centered around a once-bustling bus station, was slowly stirring back to life, humming with vendor calls and the steady buzz of generators -- the only source of electricity. Kamel slips quietly between the idle vehicles, moving through rows of half-loaded buses. He lifted his box toward the windows, calling out his wares, his voice barely audible. A fine layer of dust coats his face and clothes, worn thin by long days in the heat. "I used to be one of the top students," he said softly, when asked why he left school. "But now I have to help my family." His father is sick. He has younger siblings. Kamel works over 10 hours a day, arriving early and leaving before sunset. On a good day, he earns around 5,000 Sudanese pounds (less than 2 U.S. dollars). "This isn't enough for more than a simple meal of fava beans for the family," he said, wiping sweat from his brow. "But I'm glad I can help. I just hope this nightmare ends, and we can return to a normal life," the boy added with a faint smile. Behind that smile lies a quiet sorrow, shared by countless Sudanese children whose lives have been upended by the ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. As the conflict stretches into its third year, children are paying a heavy price, as their lives, education, and hopes for the future hang by a thread. According to a report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) released on April 15, the number of children needing humanitarian aid has doubled from 7.8 million in early 2023 to over 15 million in 2025. In a makeshift school established by activists in Khartoum's Al-Inqaz neighborhood, 10-year-old Muram sits on the ground, carefully drawing a dove in her notebook. "I learned that the dove is a symbol of peace, and I pray that peace will spread across our country and that life will return to normal," she said, her voice brimming with hope. Muram is one of about 15 children attending the temporary school, a modest effort to restore a sense of learning and routine after education was abruptly halted by the outbreak of conflict in mid-April 2023. With no desks or chairs and barely any materials, the school relies on improvised methods to get by, a reflection of the wider economic struggles. Still, Muram beams at the chance to learn again. "I lost my school bag, books, and pens because of the war," she said, "but I'm happy to be back in school." Muram misses the friends and classmates she left behind at her original school. "Many of my classmates were displaced to other areas and now live in camps," she said. "The war took away our dreams of learning and forced us from our homes." "More than 17 million children are entirely out of school because of the war and its devastating impact," said Abdul Qadir Abdullah Abu, secretary-general of the Sudanese National Council for Child Welfare. "Millions are without education or shelter, while others are displaced and living as refugees," Abu told Xinhua. He estimates around 8 million children are displaced within Sudan, and another 1.5 million have fled as refugees. According to UNICEF, Sudan is grappling with the world's largest child displacement crisis, putting the future of its 24 million youngest citizens at risk. At a displacement camp in Port Sudan, currently serving as Sudan's temporary capital, 11-year-old Kamal tried to play a musical instrument provided by a local band during a rare recreational event for children. Though he tried to hide it, sadness was plain on Kamal's face. His fingers trembled over the instrument, betraying the tension and fear weighing on his young mind. "I don't feel at home here," Kamal said quietly. "We had a lovely house in Khartoum, and I wish we could go back." Kamal now lives with his mother and brothers in a camp set up inside a school in Port Sudan's Al-Sika Hadeed neighborhood. His father passed away several years ago. Although the family has been here for over a year, Kamal still hasn't adjusted, describing the place as "strange and desolate." "There's no playground here, and my mother won't let me go outside. I feel trapped," he said. Living in displacement camps poses serious challenges for children, said Sudanese psychologist Ibtisam Al-Tayeb. "The spaces are extremely cramped, with three or four families often forced to share a single room or classroom," she explained. "Growing up in displacement camps leaves lasting marks on children's behavior, thinking, relationships, and mental well-being," she told Xinhua. "We fear that the future of these children will be shaped by a legacy of ignorance, violence, and displacement, a burden that could weigh heavily on generations to come," she noted. Children have fun at a play room inside a school in Port Sudan city, eastern Sudan, on Feb. 27, 2025. (Photo by Fayez Elzaki/Xinhua) Children are pictured inside a classroom at a school in Port Sudan city, eastern Sudan, on Feb. 27, 2025. (Photo by Fayez Elzaki/Xinhua) A student writes on a notebook inside a classroom at a school in Port Sudan city, eastern Sudan, Feb. 27, 2025. (Photo by Fayez Elzaki/Xinhua) This photo taken on Feb. 27, 2025 shows children having snacks at the courtyard of a school in Port Sudan city, eastern Sudan. (Photo by Fayez Elzaki/Xinhua) Students are pictured inside a classroom at a school in Port Sudan city, eastern Sudan, on Feb. 27, 2025. (Photo by Fayez Elzaki/Xinhua) Students walk in line as they leave their school in Port Sudan city, eastern Sudan, on Feb. 26, 2025. (Photo by Fayez Elzaki/Xinhua) This photo taken on Feb. 27, 2025 shows a mother escorting her disabled daughter to school in Port Sudan city, eastern Sudan. (Photo by Fayez Elzaki/Xinhua) It's not your average route to market: from living out of a car to starting your own business while in emergency accommodation. But thats the journey undertaken by one young homeless entrepreneur, inspired by his one-year-old daughters health issues. Sean Fox has come through addiction, health scares, and homelessness in the past few years, so launching a start-up on a second-hand laptop is just another chapter. He has plans to move his online business into markets in Dublin and Cork. Goosey Goo, created with his partner Clodagh Kelly, sells organic hypoallergenic clothing for infants, clocking up almost 2,000 in sales since its inception last month, no mean feat for a business created on a battered second-hand laptop. The company is already in talks about linking up with a prominent Irish investor. All that would have seemed in a different world not so long ago for 26-year-old Sean, who hails from Finglas in Dublin, who stumbled his way through the education system. I failed my junior cert and then I got about 250 points in my Leaving Cert. I studied computers in Blanchardstown IT, but never completed it," said Sean. I went on undiagnosed with ADHD and found it hard to stick to things that didn't pique my interest. I fell into drug addiction on and off from the time I left school. Cocaine abuse and alcohol abuse were filling a void. I felt like I was lost and without purpose. Sean Fox with his partner Clodagh and their daughter Eabha. Photograph Moya Nolan "I had a bad relationship with my father growing up. He was a drug addict himself and that was my whole life in my teenage years. He'd pick me up on a Friday to bring me over to his place but it was always be a thing where hed end up on the session and but I'd be left crying at the window every weekend. I think all of that had a part to play in where I found myself. You know, I went out looking for love through the street. I didnt always find it at home, so I looked elsewhere. I end up finding other things, and falling into addiction. The negative spiral saw Sean going in and out of jobs for seven or eight years. I went back to college a second time during covid; I studied automotive management and technology in Bolton St. I did that for two years before I dropped out. With cocaine, Id have about six months and let me life get turn to ruin, then get back on my feet and get a job then would end up falling off again. Two events got Sean on the road to recovery: meeting partner Clodagh, and the death of his father. When my father passed away about three years ago, I got myself back on the straight and narrow. I started going to NA meetings and started to get my head together. Meeting Clodagh brought another positive into his life. By the time they found out Clodagh was pregnant with baby Eabha, Sean was already started on his journey of recovery, settled and was working as a service advisor for a national car firm. I had worked hard, and then I got an offer to work as a service advisor across the city with better money and. It was a dream. Eabha was born in July 2023, and life was looking up, when fate too another twist. A trip to the dentist saw a sore on his lip misdiagnosed as a squamous cell carcinoma. It turned out to be benign but when Sean told his employer he believed he had oral cancer, he was still on probation in his job. He was let go days later. The young couple, with baby in tow, now had no income and had to leave their accommodation. I come from a big family, so there was no space for us in my mothers house in Finglas. We ended up sleeping out of the car, and my Ma would take the baby at night, and wed call to her during the day. I was sacked at start of January 2024, and in mid February we got emergency accommodation, in a converted hotel. We were then moved to an old Magdalene laundry, where my grandmother had been 56 years before. Eabha had developed eczema, which was another worry. It was severe. It was literally head to toe and we'd be wake in the morning, and she'd be scratching her neck. When your child has a skin condition you are cutting back all your other spending about 20% for medications and for different skincare products. And like us, when Eabha was raw head to toe, you need specific clothing. Bamboo clothing is realy soft to the touch and children dont sweat as much. But it was expensive, it could cost 30 a piece, said Sean. The friendships we had in homeless accommodation helps get you through, and one evenig we were sitting down with a few of those friends having dinner, when Clodagh saw bamboo clothing could be purchased online. The cogs started turning in my head, said Sean. Why dont we sell our own clothing? I just started working from my old laptop. Sean Foxs Goosey Goo baby clothing orders ready for postage. I have no background in business. I started getting in contact with suppliers,. It was literally me and Clodagh paying our social welfare to pay for the samples. I put everything into it, this became like a drug to me." The business needed a name. Sometimes we'd call baby Eabha our little Goose so we said what about Goosey Goo? Sean created a goose design emblem and started putting together a business plan. He enrolled in the Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers national entrepreneur development programme, which supports start-ups in Ireland. One of his mentors there was Dr Colin Keogh, a leader in the Irish start-up space, and a specialist in commericalisation, who helps companies and entrepreneurs to bring research and ideas to reality. I deliver a lot of content on those courses around the country teaching and training entrpreneurs on building companies. Sean told me his story fully, and that sort of honesty is quite rare in the start up space. It was so impressive, said Mr Keogh. Building the brand has taken on a life of its own in the year since. Sean sourced a supplier in China who could supply Ecotech standard 100 FSC-certified organic bamboo, hypoallergenic and antibacterial. Bamboo keeps the skin about two degrees cooler than cotton. The babywear prints are designed in Ireland, manufactured in China. The Goosey Goo website gooseygoo.ie is up and running, with babygrows selling for 15. We are solving affordability of organic materials for children who suffer from severe skin conditions, said Sean. Last February, Clodagh was attacked by a service user at the homeless accommodation the family were using, so the family were moved to a new emergency accommodation flat across Dublin city. Thats now serving as HQ for Goosey Goo, which was incorporated as a business in April, with the first products ready for market. Its my office, my fulfillment centre, team meet-up spot, everything, said Sean. Clodagh acts as the eyes and ears of the business, the creative director and company secretary. Nicola, who the couple described as their homeless mum in their previous accommodation, previously worked in corporate travel before she found herself and her family homeless. She is now acting as operations director for Goosey Goo. The company even has a young marketing professional on board. Alan has just finished his degree in marketing and communication so is jumping on board to gain experience with social media and website marketing, said Sean. Dr Colin Keogh and Goosey Goo founder Sean Fox speaking to students at the ID8 hub in Dublin. The website is live and the company has sold almost 2,000 of babywear since April. Sean is now looking at the next step in the companys development. I'm looking at getting into the Herbert Park market and the St Anne's Park market in Dublin, and Id like to go down into Cork's Marina Market, which has a huge footfall, said Sean. Im hoping to do 500 units a month. That might drop off in summer, but should pick up again towards the winter. This week, Sean was a guest speaker for third level students at the ID8 innovation hub in Dublin who are looking at becoming innovators themselves. He has also held discussions with an angel investor interested in taking a stake in the company. That would be a gamechanger but we don't have a valuation yet. Ive worked so hard to set up this up, I don't want to give it away, said Sean. Colin Keogh works with entrepreneurs and business leaders of the future every day, at Trinity, UCD, and other institutions around the country. He doesnt hold back in his praise for Sean. Ive been in the start-up space for 10 or 15 years, Ive started seven or eight companies and I have been involved in 40 or 50 others. Ive seen some companies fail, lots of companies grow. Seans dedication is unmatched, despite the fact he had less resources and much more precarious life situation. Goosey Goo has found a massive need. I have an 18-month old so I am aware of the cost, particularly for people that cant afford expensive clothing. "This isnt going to be Seans only company because he has that bug now that he knows what is possible. Theres lots of entrepreneurs, a handful may have once been homeless, but to be actively homeless setting up a business, Sean is a one in a million. Teagasc is proud to announce the launch of the Stay Safe with Jessy farm safety art competition and webinar, a new initiative aimed at promoting farm safety among children. The competition invites all primary school-going children across Ireland to participate in creating pieces of art that highlight the importance of safety practices in agriculture and on Irish farms. The art competition will be followed by a live webinar on Thursday, June 19, at 11am. This 40-minute webinar, hosted by Alison Maloney of Teagasc, will be live-streamed from the Teagasc studio in Oak Park, Carlow. Joining Alison in the studio will be Jessy the Sheepdog and Francis Bligh, Farm Safety Specialist in Teagasc. They will be going live to St Josephs National School in Rathwire, County Westmeath, where Alma Jordan from Agrikids will be discussing farm safety with students. During the webinar on June 19, winners of the art competition will be announced. There are three prize categories in the art competition, with an overall winner and runner-up in each. The categories are: Junior and Senior Infants; 1st3rd Class; and 4th6th Class. Get your entries in quickly, as the closing date is Friday, June 6 at 5pm. Prizes include Smyths Toys vouchers to the value of 100 for each category winner, and an Agrikids Farm Safety Workshop with Alma Jordan for their school during the 2025/2026 school year. Each runner-up will receive a 25 Smyths Toys voucher. In addition, each winner will receive a Lily Nolan Memorial Trophy for their school. Jessy the Sheepdog was originally developed in 2007 by the late Lily Nolan of Teagasc and the HSA. The storyline in the original book follows a dog called Jessy and her three puppies as they encounter various dangers on the farm. The book is available to download here. Francis Bligh, Farm Safety Specialist in Teagasc, said: Farms can be dangerous places, especially for children. Through this campaign, we will be highlighting the main dangers and risks on farms, how to avoid them, and how to stay safe. Alison Maloney, Digital and Online Communications Specialist with Teagasc, said: Im looking forward to hosting the Stay Safe with Jessy event. Im thrilled to see Jessy come to life, and I would encourage all teachers and parents to support children in participating in the campaign. Its a great opportunity to start the conversation around farm safety with children who live on or visit farms. Its been a real privilege to work alongside Teagasc on the Stay Safe with Jessy campaign, added Alma Jordan of Agrikids. This initiative is specifically focused on children, who can be powerful messengers for safety at home and on the farm. By making these lessons engaging and age-appropriate, were helping to build safer habits from a young age and that can have a lasting impact. It all starts, as so many dog rescues do, with my WhatsApp pinging. A picture message. I dont recognise the number its been sent from, its not from a friend or a member of the family back home. So I can be pretty sure that the image Ive received will be of a dog and its probably not going to be a cute awww kind of one. In those few milliseconds as I wait for it to download, theres a familiar sense of dread of whatevers coming next. It wasnt long after getting sober that my mission to save the street dogs in Thailand began. Ive grown used to the fact that Im like the fourth emergency service out here. For humans theres the fire, ambulance and police services for dogs, however, well, its fair to say Ive become the go-to in that department. It seems to take an age for the image to become clear. Living in Koh Samui, a tropical island off the east coast of the country, has many wonderful things going for it clear blue skies, fluffy white clouds and luscious jungles to explore. It even has some of the fastest WiFi in the world but today it was taking forever. A little anxiety seeds in my tummy. Come on then, how bad will it be? Youd imagine Id get hardened to seeing upsetting pictures of mistreated animals after all this time. Some are cruelly abused by humans, others were just unlucky enough to be born. Unwanted and unloved by anyone. Suffering, because the world just isnt always fair. Yet despite all the horrible states Ive found animals in, I never get desensitised. Im a big softie I suppose, theres always something that can still shock me, make me wince, or induce flashes of utter fury sometimes. (Never aimed at the poor wretched animal. Im only ever angry at the humans whove neglected them or, worse, maliciously inflicted the damage. Or just society as a whole for not caring as we should.) Niall Harbison: "Tina had spent so many unhappy years being used for breeding puppies, which had completely worn out her body." A first look at Tina As the picture on my iPhone finally crystallises with definition, turning from a blurry shape into a clear photograph, I see its a dog on a chain. The fur is fair, thin and matted in places, while sparse in others; theres some expanses of sore-looking skin exposed. I peer closer and notice the poor thing has been lying in its own toileting. Eugh. But the dogs face is long and noble somehow, and poking out from the fur obscuring the poor things vision are the most vulnerable-looking dark eyes Ive ever seen. The expression is of complete dejection, one of the saddest-looking animals Ive ever seen. I groan audibly and put my head in my hands briefly. It is impossible to tell the breed of the mutt from the picture, and lets be honest the breeds in Thailand are way more loosely based on the intended breed. Most of the dogs out here in Koh Samui are a mix-up of all sorts as theyve haphazardly mated on the street and multiplied (and multiplied, and multiplied ). All sorts of doggy DNA exists, born by accident and not design. And in my opinion theyre just as beautiful as any pooch who might be showcased at glamorous dog shows like Crufts in the UK or the National Dog Show in the US. And their life is every bit as valuable. I just wish there werent quite so many of them. I read the rest of the text that follows the picture. This particular poor mite had been spotted by a tourist in the mountains earlier that morning. That part of the island isnt one I was so familiar with. I have to admit, I still dont know every corner of Koh Samui. (The fact that for the first couple of years of living in this paradise I was mostly steaming drunk definitely didnt help me in that regard.) I rub my eyes again. God, Im knackered. I want my dinner, I want a shower, and I want to curl up on the sofa with my own dog Snoop. But this is one of those moments when you just know you have to drop everything. Just go, Niall. I know in every bone of my body that here is a dog in dire need; he or she simply could not spend another night in that miserable dirty state. Whoever it belongs to, and however it got there, I need to go and help it. Immediately. Why opt for sterilisation Spring was fast approaching and Tina had long settled in and had really seemed to be thriving. She was well enough, we decided, to have a sterilisation operation. It was espe cially important to have that taken care of now that she was out and about having fun and socialising with other dogs on our walks. Tina had spent so many unhappy years being used for breeding puppies, which had completely worn out her body, getting the operation was particularly symbolic and a start of a better future ahead. Dogs cant talk to us but they can to each other. You can clearly see Hank here looking on and telling her itll be ok here. And its clear Chance knows that too. Hank is my secret weapon (7/7) pic.twitter.com/vpJeBW0YoJ Niall Harbison (@NiallHarbison) May 27, 2025 I felt incredibly proud of her as I got her ready to be sent off to the vets, like we did with all the others. It was hard to know exactly how old she was, to tell you the truth, but the vet guessed around eight, which meant she could still technically get pregnant, and that was the very last thing Tina needed or any of us for that matter. It might seem like a small footnote in the bigger scheme of things for Tina, but it still felt like a significant moment of closure for this wonderful lady. Dont you worry, angel, I kissed her affectionately on her wet snout before she went under the general anaesthetic. Were just making sure you never have to have another puppy in your life again. Not only would her ill health not have coped with a pregnancy, but I felt she deserved to just focus on being a dog for the first time in her life, and sharing all the amazing love and affection she had to give. To be very precise Tina was the 521st dog we have sterilised since starting this mission to solve the street dog problems in Thailand. And yes, I really do keep count of each and every one, as it just means so much to me. I used to keep a count in my head but now Ive developed a helpful spreadsheet. I know their little quirks, like who doesnt like the rain, or who needs their skin checked during the wet season. When a dog is walking a little gingerly, I can look at them and know if its serious or not. If they are a little underweight or need to see a vet. I dont have kids but I guess this is a similar way parents would know through intuition about their kids. With 80 dogs to look after, I know the odds are stacked against me in terms of keeping them all healthy and alive, but they are my pride and joy. I think of it as having 80 pets that happen to live on the streets. Street dogs across the world I think theres 500 million street dogs in the world thats more than the population of America and I want to halve that in my lifetime. Sounds crazy, but I think I can do it, and Im really proud of the fact that we now have eight other partners in three countries, not just Thailand but Sri Lanka and Indonesia, too. Until as recently as 2022, I wasnt even aware of what neutering was. In the space of just two and half years, we have amazingly reached 90-95% coverage of dogs sterilised here on the island of Koh Samui. We can never get to having 100% of the dogs sterilised in any given area because some locals wont allow their dogs to be done; there are still, sadly, some dog breeders who want to make money from puppies, and dogs are still being brought in by workers. But weve stopped a vast amount of unwanted, unloved and uncared lives being brought into this world. Tina: The Dog Who Changed the World (HarperCollins) is out now @NiallHarbison instagram.com/niall.harbison/ Two people have been shot dead at a popular Irish bar in a Costa del Sol holiday resort. Despite police sources initially describing the two men killed as Irish and saying one was 41, Spain's National Police subsequently confirmed both were Scottish. A masked man is said to have entered Monaghans Fuengirola and killed his victims in front of horrified tourists and expats enjoying a drink after the end of the Champions League final before fleeing in a getaway vehicle. Images from the scene of last nights shooting, which occurred around 11.30pm, show a man lying lifeless on an outside terrace at the Irish bar. There are no reports yet of any arrests, although police set up roadblocks in the area after the shooting to try to catch those responsible. Unconfirmed local reports are pointing to the crime being a possible gang-related shooting because of the way it was executed. A spokesman for the National Police in Malaga said: Around midnight an incident with firearms occurred in Fuengirola, specifically at an entertainment venue along the seafront. Two males died as a result from gunshot wounds. The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made so far. One of the men killed is said to have died instantly after being shot in the chest. The other also died at the scene despite desperate efforts to save him before he could be transferred to hospital. The latest gun murders follow the fatal shooting nearly six weeks ago of a 32-year-old British man in nearby Calahonda. He was shot dead around 8pm on April 21 in a professional hit as he headed back to his car after finishing a football match with friends. The killers fled in a getaway car that was later torched. Police are investigating the brutal assassination as a drug-related gang shooting but have yet to make any arrests. Reports at the time described the incident as the fourth shooting so far that month on the Costa del Sol, where rival gangs have increasingly used extreme violence to settle scores and a number of international mafias are known to have a base. A motorcyclist injured in a collision in which a Garda member was killed, has died in hospital. A Garda spokesperson said the man aged in his 30s died in Beaumont Hospital on Saturday evening. Gerry Adams claim that his libel case against the BBC was about putting manners on the broadcaster has been described as chilling by a senior union figure. Seamus Dooley, the Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), also said the high profile case showed the need for reform of Irelands defamation laws, saying the public would never know why the jury made its decision. Former Sinn Fein leader Mr Adams took the BBC to court over a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, which he said defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement. A jury at the High Court in Dublin awarded him 100,000 when it found in his favour on Friday, after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. Seamus Dooley from the NUJ said the verdict would make journalists pause for reflection (Liam McBurney/PA) It also found the BBCs actions were not in good faith and the corporation had not acted in a fair and reasonable way. Mr Adams legal team said the verdict of the jury was a full vindication for their client while the BBC said it was disappointed with the outcome. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent over 20 years. Mr Dooley told RTEs This Week programme that it was a verdict which would make journalists pause for reflection. He said: The first thing we should say is Gerry Adams was entitled to take his case. I found that a chilling comment actually. He referred to putting manners on the BBC, to me that means putting them back in their box But it does have profound implications for the practise of journalism and I think it has implications both in terms of defamation law but also for me in terms of journalism in Northern Ireland and the relationship between Sinn Fein and journalists in Northern Ireland. Speaking outside court on Friday, Mr Adams said taking the case was about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation. He added: The British Broadcasting Corporation upholds the ethos of the British state in Ireland, and in my view its out of sync in many, many fronts with the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Dooley said: I found that a chilling comment actually. He referred to putting manners on the BBC, to me that means putting them back in their box. The reality is that Spotlight has, for over 40 years, done some of the most amazing investigative journalism. Representatives from the BBC speak outside Dublin High Court on Friday (Brian Lawless/PA) Margaret Thatcher tried to ban Spotlight because of their coverage of Gibraltar Three, they exposed Kincora at the heart of the British establishment, recently they did work on Stakeknife, and in fact the Sinn Fein mayor of Derry led the campaign to save BBC Radio Foyle news service. I found the attitude quite chilling but also unfair and unreasonable in the circumstances. Mr Dooley said that Mr Adams was a figure of huge significance to journalists, historians and academics and had influenced the shape of history of Northern Ireland. He added: On that basis, any journalist has a right, any academic, to question and probe. He said the case underpinned the need for a review of defamation laws in Ireland. For many years the NUJ was in favour of retaining juries. I have now reached the conclusion in defamation cases that juries are not appropriate He said: First of all we need to look at the defence of honest opinion and how you square that circle in the context of journalists right to protect sources, it is a real difficulty. For many years the NUJ was in favour of retaining juries. I have now reached the conclusion in defamation cases that juries are not appropriate. One of the reasons is we will never know why the jury reached this decision. If, as in Northern Ireland, had Mr Adams taken his case in Northern Ireland, the case is heard before judges, you have the benefit of a written judgment, you have the benefit of a detailed explanation of the reason why a verdict is given. That provides an insight and a guide. Here we dont know. Denis Donaldson (centre) was shot dead in 2006 in Co Donegal (Paul Faith/PA) Mr Dooley also pointed out that proceedings in the case had been running since 2016. Former Sinn Fein member Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent over 20 years. In the Spotlight programme broadcast in September 2016, an anonymous source given the pseudonym Martin claimed the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and that Mr Adams gave the final say. In 2009, the dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing and a Garda investigation into the matter remains ongoing. Mr Adams had described the allegation as a grievous smear. A new exhibition is set to bring never-seen-before memorabilia of Richard Harris back to his native Limerick. From Dickie to Richard - Richard Harris: Role of a Lifetime' is the first ever public exhibition of items drawn from the actors own collection, including personal letters and annotated scripts to rare photographs, poetry, recordings, and sporting memorabilia. A collaboration between the Harris Family, the Hunt Museum and University College Cork (UCC), the immersive exhibition will draw on the treasures of the Harris Archive, donated by the actors family to UCC in 2022. The exhibition will run at the Hunt Museum in Limerick city from July 4 to November 16. Speaking on behalf of the family, Damien, Jared and Jamie Harris, said: Richard was a prolific writer and kept everything: Poems. Short stories. Scripts. Whether finished or works in progress. This exhibition gives people a sense of the depth and humour behind the public image. It means a lot to us to see it here in Limerick. Barry Monahan, Department of Film & Screen Media, University College Cork, said the exhibition "offers the public fans of Richard, of the arts, and of Irish culture a wonderful glimpse into the mind and creative energy of this impressive and enigmatic Irishman, and it sheds light on the times and places in which he lived and worked. CEO of the Hunt Museum, Teresa Crowley described the exhibition as a homecoming for Richard. It not only honours his extraordinary career but celebrates his Limerick, Munster, and Irish roots, offering the public a unique opportunity to explore his artistic and sporting world in the city where his journey began, Ms Crowley said. In addition to the main exhibition, an exciting series of public talks, film screenings, and events will accompany the show throughout its run with full details to be announced in the coming weeks. The Richard Harris International Film Festival Meanwhile, last October, The Richard Harris International Film Festival (RHIFF) in Limerick had to be postponed due to financial constraints. The festival, which has been running for over a decade, was due to take place from October 23-28. RHIFF festival director, Zeb Moore, told the Irish Examiner: Were delighted to see the arrival of the exhibition to the home of Richard Harris. We are looking forward to possible collaborations over the tenure of the exhibition. The RHIFF did not secure any State funding in 2023 or 2024, which put a strain on resources. Despite what was described as a "setback", the team behind the festival said they are still exploring all avenues so the event can go ahead in October 2025. We look forward to welcome back our international guests to the city and showcase what Limerick and the surrounding regions have to offer to the film industry, Mr Moore added. Over the years, RHIFF has grown into one of Ireland's premier film festivals, showcasing more than 1,000 films, including Irish and international features, shorts, documentaries, and animation. From 2017 to 2019, the festival was selected by the Department of Foreign Affairs to represent Ireland at the Global Irish Festival Series. The festival has been recognised for its programming, which includes special tributes to Richard Harris, workshops, and panels that offer insights into the world of cinema. Last year, actor Jamie Dornan was honoured by the festival for "outstanding talent". Free sunscreen should be provided at all schools and public buildings to combat the rise of skin cancer and the likelihood it will increase with hotter weather due to climate change. Currently more than 11,000 new cases of melanoma are diagnosed every year and projections suggest that by 2045 they will more than double. On foot of these figures Cork County Council is to write to minister for health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill urging the government to provide sunscreen at all local authority offices, libraries, schools, third-level institutions, etc just like the roll-out of hand sanitisers during covid. The motion was proposed by Fine Gael councillor Aileen Browne, a healthcare worker, who said it would reduce the instances of skin cancer, which is now the most common cancer in Ireland. The financial argument is just as compelling. Treating advanced melanoma can cost our health service over 122,000 per case. Compare that to just over 4,000 for early-stage treatment. Prevention doesnt just save lives, it saves resources. It relieves pressure on an already overstretched health system, Ms Browne said. She added that Irish people are vulnerable to the cancer because of fair skin. She said: And while clouds may block the warmth, they do not block UV rays. Your skin can burn, even when the sun is hidden. This motion supports Action Area One of the National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan to improve awareness and promote behaviour change. It aligns with the Healthy Ireland framework and the National Cancer Strategy, both of which call for cross-sectoral collaboration to embed preventive measures in everyday life, Ms Browne added. Social Democrats councillor Ann Bambury, a mother of four young children, said it makes sense in an increasingly warming climate and added that the government should remove VAT from it as sunscreen is currently classified as a cosmetic. Independent councillor Ben Dalton-OSullivan said the HSE implemented a pilot sunscreen dispensing system at Fountainstown beach last year and he had asked some of its officials to roll it out to all beaches in Co Cork this summer. He didn't say if they had responded favourably to his request yet. County council chief executive Moira Murrell said she would fully support any such initiative, and the local authority already provides sunscreen to its outdoor workers. The county council is also rolling out the provision of free menstrual products at its offices which will be available to both staff and the public. This is being done following a request from Fianna Fail councillor Gobnait Moynihan. Her party colleague Gillian Coughlan, who chairs Cork ETB, said she has proposed to it that the same initiative is also undertaken in all schools in the region. Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, even as Russia pounded Ukraine with a missile strike that killed 12 soldiers and the biggest drone assault of the three-year war. In a statement on Telegram, Mr Zelenskyy said that defence minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation. We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people, Mr Zelenskyy said. Ukrainian officials had previously called on the Kremlin to provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the war before the meeting takes place. Moscow had said it would share its memorandum during the talks. Russia launched the biggest number of drones on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion three years ago, Ukraines air force said on Sunday. The air force said 472 drones were launched over Ukraine. Russian forces also launched seven missiles alongside the barrage of drones, said Yuriy Ignat, head of communications for the Ukrainian air force. Earlier on Sunday, Ukraines army said at least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed and more than 60 were injured in a Russian missile strike on an army training unit. The strike happened at 12.50pm, the statement said, emphasising that no formations or mass gatherings of personnel were being held at the time. An investigative commission was created to uncover the circumstances around the attack that led to such a loss in personnel, the statement said. The training unit is located to the rear of the 620-mile active front line, where Russian reconnaissance and strike drones are able to strike. Ukraines forces suffer from manpower shortages and take extra precautions to avoid mass gatherings as the skies across the front line are saturated with Russian drones looking for targets. If it is established that the actions or inaction of officials led to the death or injury of servicemen, those responsible will be held strictly accountable, the Ukrainian Ground Forces statement said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone strikes were reported deep in Russian territory on Sunday, including in the Siberian region of Irkutsk, more than 2,800 miles east of Moscow. It is the first time that a Ukrainian drone has been seen in the region, governor Igor Kobzeva said, stressing that it did not present a threat to civilians. Other drone strikes were also reported in Russias Ryazan region and the Arctic Murmansk region. No casualties were reported. Kyiv has destroyed more than 40 military aircraft in a drone attack deep in Russia, a Ukrainian security official said. The attack on Sunday came as Russia pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones a day before the two sides meet for a new round of direct talks in Istanbul. The official said the attack took more than a year and a half to execute and was personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The operation saw drones transported in containers carried by trucks deep into Russian territory, he said. We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people The drones reportedly hit 41 bombers stationed at several airfields, including the Belaya air base in the Russian region of Irkutsk, more than 2,500 miles from Ukraine. It is the first time that a Ukrainian drone has been seen in the region, local governor Igor Kobzev said, stressing that it did not present a threat to civilians. The attack was disclosed on the same day as Mr Zelenskyy said Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday. In a statement on Telegram, Mr Zelenskyy said that defence minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation. We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people, Mr Zelenskyy said. Volodymyr Zelensky personally supervised the attack, an official said (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) Ukrainian officials had previously called on the Kremlin to provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the war before the meeting takes place. Moscow had said it would share its memorandum during the talks. Russia on Sunday launched the biggest number of drones 472 on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraines air force said. Russian forces also launched seven missiles alongside the barrage of drones, said Yuriy Ignat, head of communications for the air force. Earlier on Sunday, Ukraines army said at least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed and more than 60 were injured in a Russian missile strike on an army training unit. The training unit is located to the rear of the 620-mile active front line, where Russian reconnaissance and strike drones are able to target. Russian strikes have caused extensive damage in Ukraine (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Ukraines forces suffer from manpower shortages and take extra precautions to avoid mass gatherings as the skies across the front line are saturated with Russian drones looking for targets. If it is established that the actions or inaction of officials led to the death or injury of servicemen, those responsible will be held strictly accountable, a Ukrainian ground forces statement said. Russias Ministry of Defence said on Sunday that it had taken control of the village of Oleksiivka in Ukraines northern region of Sumy. Ukrainian authorities in Sumy ordered mandatory evacuations in 11 more settlements on Saturday as Russian forces make steady gains in the area. Speaking on Saturday, Ukraines top army chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said that Russian forces were focusing their main offensive efforts on Pokrovsk, Toretsk and Lyman in the Donetsk region, as well as the Sumy border area. A child distributes tomatoes at Huiai Farm in Yangliuqing Town, Xiqing District, north China's Tianjin, May 31, 2025. Huiai Farm covers an area of approximately 80 mu (about 5.33 hectares) and was jointly initiated and built by 8 families, whose children were diagnosed with autism or intellectual disabilities. Huiai Farm considers farm work as a means for children to get closer to nature and encourages families to bring their children here to participate in farm work together with children with autism or intellectual disabilities, enhancing the social interaction skills of them in a real community environment. (Xinhua/Li Ran) A volunteer dots cinnabar on a child's forehead on the Dragon Boat Festival at Huiai Farm in Yangliuqing Town, Xiqing District, north China's Tianjin, May 31, 2025. Huiai Farm covers an area of approximately 80 mu (about 5.33 hectares) and was jointly initiated and built by 8 families, whose children were diagnosed with autism or intellectual disabilities. Huiai Farm considers farm work as a means for children to get closer to nature and encourages families to bring their children here to participate in farm work together with children with autism or intellectual disabilities, enhancing the social interaction skills of them in a real community environment. (Xinhua/Li Ran) A child clears weeds at Huiai Farm in Yangliuqing Town, Xiqing District, north China's Tianjin, May 31, 2025. Huiai Farm covers an area of approximately 80 mu (about 5.33 hectares) and was jointly initiated and built by 8 families, whose children were diagnosed with autism or intellectual disabilities. Huiai Farm considers farm work as a means for children to get closer to nature and encourages families to bring their children here to participate in farm work together with children with autism or intellectual disabilities, enhancing the social interaction skills of them in a real community environment. (Xinhua/Li Ran) Volunteers and children play games on the Dragon Boat Festival at Huiai Farm in Yangliuqing Town, Xiqing District, north China's Tianjin, May 31, 2025. Huiai Farm covers an area of approximately 80 mu (about 5.33 hectares) and was jointly initiated and built by 8 families, whose children were diagnosed with autism or intellectual disabilities. Huiai Farm considers farm work as a means for children to get closer to nature and encourages families to bring their children here to participate in farm work together with children with autism or intellectual disabilities, enhancing the social interaction skills of them in a real community environment. (Xinhua/Li Ran) A volunteer teaches a child to make zongzi, a traditional Chinese food to mark the Dragon Boat Festival, at Huiai Farm in Yangliuqing Town, Xiqing District, north China's Tianjin, May 31, 2025. Huiai Farm covers an area of approximately 80 mu (about 5.33 hectares) and was jointly initiated and built by 8 families, whose children were diagnosed with autism or intellectual disabilities. Huiai Farm considers farm work as a means for children to get closer to nature and encourages families to bring their children here to participate in farm work together with children with autism or intellectual disabilities, enhancing the social interaction skills of them in a real community environment. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) A child picks tomatoes at Huiai Farm in Yangliuqing Town, Xiqing District, north China's Tianjin, May 31, 2025. Huiai Farm covers an area of approximately 80 mu (about 5.33 hectares) and was jointly initiated and built by 8 families, whose children were diagnosed with autism or intellectual disabilities. Huiai Farm considers farm work as a means for children to get closer to nature and encourages families to bring their children here to participate in farm work together with children with autism or intellectual disabilities, enhancing the social interaction skills of them in a real community environment. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) A child and his families walk to a field to pick tomatoes at Huiai Farm in Yangliuqing Town, Xiqing District, north China's Tianjin, May 31, 2025. Huiai Farm covers an area of approximately 80 mu (about 5.33 hectares) and was jointly initiated and built by 8 families, whose children were diagnosed with autism or intellectual disabilities. Huiai Farm considers farm work as a means for children to get closer to nature and encourages families to bring their children here to participate in farm work together with children with autism or intellectual disabilities, enhancing the social interaction skills of them in a real community environment. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) Children and their families play games on the Dragon Boat Festival at Huiai Farm in Yangliuqing Town, Xiqing District, north China's Tianjin, May 31, 2025. Huiai Farm covers an area of approximately 80 mu (about 5.33 hectares) and was jointly initiated and built by 8 families, whose children were diagnosed with autism or intellectual disabilities. Huiai Farm considers farm work as a means for children to get closer to nature and encourages families to bring their children here to participate in farm work together with children with autism or intellectual disabilities, enhancing the social interaction skills of them in a real community environment. (Xinhua/Li Ran) A child and his families clear weeds at Huiai Farm in Yangliuqing Town, Xiqing District, north China's Tianjin, May 31, 2025. Huiai Farm covers an area of approximately 80 mu (about 5.33 hectares) and was jointly initiated and built by 8 families, whose children were diagnosed with autism or intellectual disabilities. Huiai Farm considers farm work as a means for children to get closer to nature and encourages families to bring their children here to participate in farm work together with children with autism or intellectual disabilities, enhancing the social interaction skills of them in a real community environment. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) More than 25,000 residents in three provinces have been evacuated as dozens of wildfires remained active on Sunday and diminished air quality in parts of Canada and the US, according to officials. Most of the evacuated residents were from Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last week. About 17,000 people there were evacuated by Saturday along with 1,300 in Alberta. About 8,000 people in Saskatchewan had been relocated as leaders warned the number could climb. Smoke was worsening air quality and reducing visibility in Canada and some US states along the border. An aircraft drops water on a wildfire in south-east Manitoba (Manitoba government via The Canadian Press via AP) Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour, Saskatchewans Public Safety Agency warned. As smoke levels increase, health risks increase. Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe said ongoing hot, dry weather is allowing some fires to grow and threaten communities, and resources to fight the fires and support the evacuees are stretched thin. The next four to seven days are absolutely critical until we can find our way to changing weather patterns, and ultimately a soaking rain throughout the north, Mr Moe said at a news conference. In Manitoba, more than 5,000 of those evacuated are from Flin Flon, located nearly 400 miles north-west of the provincial capital of Winnipeg. In northern Manitoba, fire knocked out power to the community of Cranberry Portage, forcing a mandatory evacuation order on Saturday for about 600 residents. The fire menacing Flin Flon began a week ago near Creighton, Saskatchewan, and quickly jumped the boundary into Manitoba. Crews have struggled to contain it. Water bombers have been intermittently grounded due to heavy smoke and a drone incursion. Smoke in the air in British Columbia (Nasuna Stuart-Ulin/The Canadian Press via AP) The US Department of Agricultures Forest Service deployed an air tanker to Alberta and said it would send 150 firefighters and equipment to Canada. In some parts of the US, air quality reached unhealthy levels on Sunday in North Dakota and small swathes of Montana, Minnesota and South Dakota, according to the US Environmental Protection Agencys AirNow page. We should expect at least a couple more rounds of Canadian smoke to come through the US over the next week, said Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the US. Separately, a fire in the US border state of Idaho burned 50 acres and prompted road closures, according to Idaho State Police. Evacuation centres have opened across Manitoba for those fleeing the fires, one as far south as Winkler, 12 miles from the US border. Canadas wildfire season runs from May through to September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months. Several people were injured and some may have suffered burns on Sunday in what the FBI immediately described as a targeted terror attack at an outdoor mall in Boulder, Colorado, where a group had gathered to raise attention to Israeli hostages held in Gaza. One man, who authorities did not immediately identify, was taken into custody. Video from the scene showed a witness shouting, Hes right there. Hes throwing Molotov cocktails, as a police officer with his gun drawn advanced on a bare-chested suspect with containers in each hand. The attack took place at a popular pedestrian mall in Boulder where demonstrators with a volunteer group called Run For Their Lives had gathered to raise visibility for the hostages who remain in Gaza as a war between Israel and Hamas continues to inflame global tensions and has contributed to a spike in antisemitic violence in the United States. Law enforcement officials investigate after an attack on the Pearl Street Mall (AP/David Zalubowski) It occurred more than a week after the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington by a Chicago man who yelled: I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza as he was being led away by police. FBI leaders in Washington said they were treating the Boulder attack as an act of terrorism, and the Justice Department, which leads investigations into acts of violence driven by religious, racial or ethnic motivations, decried the attack as a needless act of violence, which follows recent attacks against Jewish Americans. This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts. We will speak clearly on these incidents when the facts warrant it, FBI deputy director Dan Bongino said in a post on X. Israels war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250 others. They are still holding 58 hostages, around a third believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israels military campaign has killed over 54,000 people in Hamas-run Gaza, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The offensive has destroyed vast areas, displaced around 90% of the population and left people almost completely reliant on international aid. Law enforcement officials investigate after an attack in Boulder (AP/David Zalubowski) Police in Boulder were more circumspect about a motive. Police Chief Steve Redfearn said it would be irresponsible for me to speculate while witnesses were still being interviewed but noted that the group that had gathered in support of the hostages had assembled peacefully and that injuries of the victims ranging from serious to minor were consistent with them having been set on fire. The violence comes four years after a shooting rampage at a grocery store in Boulder, about 25 miles northwest of Denver, that killed four people. The gunman was sentenced to life in prison for murder after a jury rejected his attempt to avoid prison time by pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. Multiple blocks of the pedestrian mall area were evacuated by police. The scene shortly after the attack was tense, as law enforcement agents with a police dog walked through the streets looking for threats and instructed the public to stay clear of the pedestrian mall. Colorado Governor Jared Polis said in a statement that he was closely monitoring the situation, adding that hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable. This photo taken on May 23, 2025 shows a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) training program held by the 20th batch of the Chinese medical team to Senegal at the Fann National University Hospital Center in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. (The 20th batch of the Chinese medical team to Senegal/Handout via Xinhua) DAKAR, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The 20th batch of the Chinese medical team to Senegal has lately launched a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) training program, which enrolled over 30 local health workers and medical students. The training, held at the Fann National University Hospital Center in Dakar, consisted of 12 sessions covering fundamental TCM theories, clinical practice and demonstrations based on real cases. It emphasized both practicality and systematization, aiming not only to spread Chinese medical culture but also to promote TCM techniques suited to local healthcare needs, lead instructor Zhuang Chen told Xinhua. "I had only read about TCM in academic papers before. This training gave me a firsthand experience of how TCM is practiced," said Ngor Side Diagne, professor at the Faculty of Medicine at Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar. Fall Amet, a rehabilitation physician from northern Senegal, drove six hours to attend the training. "Learning authentic TCM techniques is well worth the effort. I want to bring this knowledge back to my hometown so more people can benefit from the wisdom of Chinese medicine," he said. The Chinese medical team also introduced a special session on seasonal health preservation, based on the TCM philosophy of harmony between humans and nature. "This natural, preventive approach to health is very enlightening, especially for tackling seasonal diseases. It deserves wider promotion in Senegal," said participant Diouf Marie Francoise. Yang Yiguo, head of the 20th batch of the Chinese medical team, noted that under the Belt and Road Initiative, TCM is becoming a new bridge connecting Chinese and African people. In addition to providing medical services and supplies, the Chinese medical team will offer more TCM training programs in Senegal to bring the benefits of TCM to more local people, he said. (250601) -- DAKAR, June 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on May 31, 2025 shows a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) training program held by the 20th batch of the Chinese medical team to Senegal at the Fann National University Hospital Center in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. (The 20th batch of the Chinese medical team to Senegal/Handout via Xinhua) (250601) -- DAKAR, June 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- This photo taken on May 23, 2025 shows a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) training program held by the 20th batch of the Chinese medical team to Senegal at the Fann National University Hospital Center in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. (The 20th batch of the Chinese medical team to Senegal/Handout via Xinhua) ( Middle East Monitor ) On Sunday, June 1st, a small ship from the International Freedom Flotilla Coalition will set sail from the port of Catania in Sicily (Italy). The coalition named the ship Madeleine in honour of Palestinian fisherwoman Madeleine Kullab, the youngest professional fisherwoman in the world and the only one in Palestine. The ship also carries a number of international activists and a cargo of symbolic humanitarian aid intended to be delivered to Gaza. Most importantly, it carries a message of solidarity with Gaza, a message of defiance and determination to continue popular efforts to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, and an affirmation of the Palestinians fundamental right to communicate with the world by sea and their right to establish a humanitarian corridor to bring in aid and relief supplies during the war of extermination waged by the Israeli occupation state against Gaza. The departure of this ship comes less than a month after an Israeli drone attacked the Dameer ship in international waters off the coast of Malta, which was en route to Gaza. Our message as an international committee to break the siege on Gaza; as a founding member of the Freedom Flotilla International Coalition; and as international solidarity movements is first and foremost to our people in Gaza. It means that we, as international activists, as Palestinians abroad, and within solidarity action groups, affirm that feelings of inadequacy, abandonment, and helplessness weigh heavily on us and could kill us. However, we are working hard and trying, within our capabilities and in every possible way, along with solidarity activists from among friends of Palestine, defenders of Gaza, and those who reject the crimes of the occupation. We raise our voices loudly that we are with you and that we are striving to impose an influential popular stance that rejects the war and demands the opening of the crossings and the entry of relief aid and essentials to the people of Gaza. This is the least we can do toward those who sacrifice themselves and everything they own for freedom and dignity, for the homeland, and for the holy sites. The second message is to emphasise that the targeting of ships attempting to break the siege and Israeli piracy in international waters will not deter us from continuing our efforts to break the siege and to exert pressure for the opening of the crossings and the entry of aid and essentials. We are undertaking this risky effort, knowing the extent of the crimes committed by the apartheid and settler colonial state, Israel. However, these crimes will not prevent us from fulfilling our humanitarian duty. We say to the occupying state that these crimes will not bring peace and stability to the Israeli people in the region. There can be no peace without ending the occupation and restoring the land and rights to the indigenous people. Our small ship, the Madeleine, will set sail, carrying a limited number of international activists who refuse to remain silent and submit; who refuse to accept the continued crimes of the occupation; and who refuse to accept the positions of their countries, which have remained inactive and have not taken tangible measures to stop the war. Indeed, many of these countries are accomplices in this crime through their silence and by providing the occupation with all forms of military, political and intelligence support. Our ship, the Madeleine, carries a message of love, peace, and support for our people in Gaza, along with activists, and a message of protest against all countries of the world that remain silent about the continued blockade and the prevention of food and basic necessities for more than two million Palestinians in Gaza. It sends a special message to neighbouring countries that are only separated from Gaza and Palestine by the decisions of their rulers, their positions of abandonment, and their fear for their thrones from an erratic US president, Trump, and his agent in the Middle East, Netanyahu. This ship, the Madeleine, and other ships breaking the blockade, also say to Arab and Muslim rulers: Shame! This silence and abandonment of their families and neighbours is unbecoming of the innate loyalty of Arabs and Muslims. What will history record about your positions at this most critical stage in the history of the Palestinian cause and the entire region? However, the rulers abandonment of Gaza does not absolve peoples of their humanitarian responsibility and their duty to act, each according to their circumstances and ability. No human being with dignity and humane feelings can stand idly by and watch what is happening to our people in Gaza, let alone if he were an Arab and Muslim, and Gaza, the land of pride and sacrifice, was only a stones throw away from him. Solidarity events in Catania before the launch of Madeleine to Gaza. [Facebook/@zaher.birawi] This maritime movement is paralleled by a popular land movement attempting to reach the Rafah crossing, break the land blockade, and bring in aid that has been accumulating in Arish and Rafah for months. This movement is represented by three major international events. The first is the Global March for Gaza, which calls on activists worldwide to travel to Cairo, from where they will organise themselves to move toward Gaza. They hope that the Egyptian authorities will facilitate their movement, or at least refrain from placing obstacles and barriers in their path, citing security pretexts that are convincing to no one. The second of these land movements is the Arab Steadfastness Convoy, which will travel from Tunisia to Libya, then to Cairo and Rafah, arriving in Gaza. Like its predecessors, we will receive support from the International Committee and the International Coalition to Break the Siege on Gaza. The third movement is the diplomatic and human rights convoy launched by Palestinian human rights organisations, coordinated with numerous countries, and supported by hundreds of solidarity and human rights organisations worldwide. This effort aims to pressure for the opening of the crossings, especially the Egyptian Rafah crossing, which has been closed most days since the beginning of the war in October 2023. The closure has been tightened further over the past three months. This contradicts international laws, morality, values and the principles of Arab brotherhood. It is a betrayal of the rights of neighbours; especially during a time of the insane war that spares no effort and uses starvation as a deadly weapon to achieve Netanyahu and Trumps plans to empty Gaza of its people or kill them. Worse still, their ultimate aim is to impose absolute hegemony of the occupying state over the entire region and crown Netanyahu as the sole leader of the Middle East. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment. Via Middle East Monitor ( RFE/ RL ) The awarding of the prestigious Palme dOr to It Was Just An Accident, the latest film by Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi, has sparked widespread reactions in Iran and across the global Iranian diaspora. The accolade at the 78th Cannes Film Festival marks a significant milestone for Panahi, a director long known for his dissident stance and creative resilience in the face of government censorship. Panahi, who has previously faced imprisonment and a travel ban imposed by Iranian authorities, used his acceptance speech to call for unity among Iranians in pursuit of freedom. Following the announcement, over 150 artists, writers, and civil society activists from inside and outside Iran issued a joint statement celebrating Panahis achievement. They praised his perseverance and creativity and described the award as evidence that the voice of truth and art will never be silenced in the face of oppression. This award is a kind of endorsement of independent cinema outside the supervision and rules of the Islamic republic, Mana Neyestani, a France-based Iranian cartoonist and one of the statements signatories, told RFE/RLs Radio Farda. And, at the same time, it supports the freedom-seeking movement of the Iranian people. Frances Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called the award a symbol of resistance against the oppression and tyranny of the Iranian regime, and said it revives hope in the hearts of all freedom fighters around the world. Barrots comment led to the Iranian Foreign Ministry summoning the French charge daffaires, condemning the ministers remarks as baseless claims. Similarly, state-affiliated media in Iran were not impressed with Panahis achievement, dismissing the award as a political maneuver orchestrated by Cannes and foreign actors. The Iranian judiciarys news agency, Mizan, described the awarding of Panahis movie as evidence of the Cannes Palme dOr falling into the trap of political games, adding that Barrots message was part of a pre-planned political scenario at Cannes, to be executed with the help of anti-Iranian actors. Turning Point For Iranian Cinema Still, some Iranian outlets acknowledged the historic nature of Panahis win, describing it as a turning point for Iranian cinema. Notably, It Was Just An Accident was produced clandestinely, outside official channels, and Panahi dedicated the film to banned Iranian filmmakers particularly women who have faced persecution for supporting the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. Panahi told reporters in Cannes that he would return to Iran immediately after the awards ceremony, and he landed in Tehrans Imam Khomeini International Airport early on May 26 to cheers from his supporters. The Cannes victory comes amid heightened government crackdowns on artists and activists in Iran, especially following the 2022 protests for womens rights. Many filmmakers and actresses have been banned from working or traveling, and some have faced legal repercussions for defying the states strictures. Jafar Panahi by Kacy Bao Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.. Via Wikimedia Commons Before the Cannes festival began, Radio Farda sources reported that the creators of It Was Just An Accident were facing increased pressure, including contacts from security organizations and summonses for questioning. Oscars 2025: Iranian Hopefuls Wanted A Miracle. They Got Two. Panahis Palme dOr is only the second in Iranian cinema history, following Abbas Kiarostamis Taste Of Cherry in 1997. With the win, Panahi joins only three other filmmakers in history Michelangelo Antonioni, Robert Altman, and Henri-Georges Clouzot to have achieved the triple crown of European cinema: The Cannes Palme dOr for It Was Just an Accident, the Berlin Golden Bear for Taxi, and the Venice Golden Lion for The Circle. Via RFE/ RL Copyright (c)2025 RFE/RL, Inc. Used with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina orchestrated a "systemic attack" on protests against her government, Bangladeshi prosecutors said on Sunday at the opening of her trial over the deadly crackdown. "Upon scrutinising the evidence, we reached the conclusion that it was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack," Mohammad Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor at Bangladesh's domestic International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), told the court in his opening speech. "The accused unleashed all law enforcement agencies and her armed party members to crush the uprising". Hasina, who remains in self-imposed exile in India, has rejected the charges as politically motivated. As well as Hasina, the case includes ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun -- who is in custody, but who did not appear in court on Sunday -- and former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who like Hasina, is on the run. Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 when Hasina's government launched a brutal campaign to silence the protesters, according to the United Nations. Islam has brought charges against Hasina and the two men of "abetment, incitement, complicity, facilitation, conspiracy, and failure to prevent mass murder during the July uprising". Islam vowed the trial would be impartial. "This is not an act of vendetta, but a commitment to the principle that, in a democratic country, there is no room for crimes against humanity", he said. Hasina, 77, fled by helicopter to her old ally India in August 2024 at the culmination of a student-led mass uprising that ended her 15-year rule, and has defied an extradition order to return to Dhaka. The prosecution of senior figures from Hasina's government is a key demand of several of the political parties now jostling for power. The interim government has vowed to hold elections before June 2026. Fugitive former prime minister Sheikh Hasina orchestrated a "systemic attack" to try to crush the uprising against her government, Bangladeshi prosecutors said at the opening of her trial on Sunday. Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 when Hasina's government launched its crackdown, according to the United Nations. Hasina, 77, fled by helicopter to her old ally India as the student-led uprising ended her 15-year rule, and she has defied an extradition order to return to Dhaka. The domestic International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is prosecuting former senior figures connected to Hasina's ousted government and her now-banned party, the Awami League. "Upon scrutinising the evidence, we reached the conclusion that it was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack," Mohammad Tajul Islam, ICT chief prosecutor, told the court in his opening speech. "The accused unleashed all law enforcement agencies and her armed party members to crush the uprising." Islam lodged charges against Hasina and two other officials of "abetment, incitement, complicity, facilitation, conspiracy, and failure to prevent mass murder during the July uprising". - 'Not an act of vendetta' - Hasina, who remains in self-imposed exile in India, has rejected the charges as politically motivated. As well as Hasina, the case includes ex-police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun -- who is in custody, but who did not appear in court on Sunday -- and former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who like Hasina, is on the run. The prosecution of senior figures from Hasina's government is a key demand of several of the political parties now jostling for power. The interim government has vowed to hold elections before June 2026. The hearing is being broadcast live on state-owned Bangladesh Television. Prosecutor Islam vowed the trial would be impartial. "This is not an act of vendetta, but a commitment to the principle that, in a democratic country, there is no room for crimes against humanity," he said. Investigators have collected video footage, audio clips, Hasina's phone conversations, records of helicopter and drone movements, as well as statements from victims of the crackdown as part of their probe. The ICT court opened its first trial connected to the previous government on May 25. In that case, eight police officials face charges of crimes against humanity over the killing of six protesters on August 5, the day Hasina fled the country. Four of the officers are in custody and four are being tried in absentia. The ICT was set up by Hasina in 2009 to investigate crimes committed by the Pakistani army during Bangladesh's war for independence in 1971. It sentenced numerous prominent political opponents to death and became widely seen as a means for Hasina to eliminate rivals. Earlier on Sunday, the Supreme Court restored the registration of the largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, allowing it to take part in elections. Hasina banned Jamaat-e-Islami during her tenure and cracked down on its leaders. In May, Bangladesh's interim government banned the Awami League, pending the outcome of her trial, and of other party leaders. Chilean President Gabriel Boric announced Sunday that a prison housing inmates convicted of human rights abuses during the 1973-1990 military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet will be converted to a common penitentiary. The Punta Peuco facility north of capital Santiago holds about 100 former military dictatorship personnel who committed crimes against humanity and other rights violations, but live out their days in better conditions than those endured by the rest of Chile's prison population. "From my point of view, there is no justification for this privilege," Boric said during his latest report to Congress in the port city of Valparaiso. The leftist president ordered the Ministry of Justice to transform Punta Peuco "into a common prison that allows segregating people according to the requirements of the gendarmerie" -- the national prison service military. Justice Minister Jaime Gajardo said the decision on who stays and who is transferred elsewhere would be a "technical decision by the Chilean Gendarmerie." Human rights groups for years have called for Punta Peuco to be closed and its inmates integrated into other correctional facilities. On her final day in office, in 2018, president Michelle Bachelet ordered the shutdown of Punta Peuco. But her justice minister refused to comply, claiming the decree was legally flawed. Boric on Sunday also announced that the expropriation order for the former Colonia Dignidad, a German-themed settlement in southern Chile where a brutal cult carried out the torture and killing of dissidents under the Pinochet dictatorship, will be carried out in June. Last year he ordered the requisition of 116 hectares of the 4,800-hectare site to make way for a center of remembrance. Some 3,200 people died under the dictatorship and over 38,000 cases of torture were recorded. Afghan children are seen at a temporary camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 2, 2025. A total of 500,000 Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland Afghanistan from neighboring Pakistan and Iran in April and May, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KABUL, June 1 (Xinhua) -- A total of 500,000 Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland Afghanistan from neighboring Pakistan and Iran in April and May, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "Support is needed more than ever as returnees face an uncertain future and struggle to rebuild their lives," said the UNHCR in a statement on Sunday. Over 2 million Afghans have reportedly returned home from neighboring Pakistan and Iran in the past year. The Pakistani government is set to expel 3 million Afghans to their home country in 2025, while Iranian officials have asked undocumented foreign nationals to end their illegal stay and return to their homes. 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. Afghans are seen at a temporary camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 2, 2025. A total of 500,000 Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland Afghanistan from neighboring Pakistan and Iran in April and May, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) An Afghan child is seen at a temporary camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 2, 2025. A total of 500,000 Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland Afghanistan from neighboring Pakistan and Iran in April and May, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Newly arrived Afghan refugees settle into a temporary camp in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 2, 2025. A total of 500,000 Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland Afghanistan from neighboring Pakistan and Iran in April and May, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Saturday, May 31, 2025 - Embakasi police officers have apprehended two key suspects tied to a string of housebreakings and thefts in Utawala and its surrounding areas. The arrests follow a report from a resident who returned to his rented house at Haiza Apartment in Utawala, only to discover it had been ransacked, with valuable belongings stolen. Acting swiftly, detectives launched investigation, and through forensic leads, they trailed the suspects getaway vehicle to Thogoto. There, they spotted the vehicle, a Mazda CX5, deceptively fitted with a counterfeit license plate (KDC 077P instead of its true registration, KDD 677P), parked outside a local bar. Four occupants were inside, but as officers closed in, two managed to slip away. Undeterred, the team apprehended the driver, Kelvin Kasyoki, and his accomplice, Wilson Waweru. A search of the vehicle uncovered a cache of tools tailored for crime: fake vehicle registration numbers and alphabets printed in black on white and yellow backgrounds, crowbars designed for breaking into homes, and master keys capable of unlocking car doors. Kasyoki and Waweru are currently in custody, undergoing processing as they await their day in court. The Mazda CX5 and the recovered items are being detained as exhibits. Meanwhile, investigators are relentlessly pursuing additional leads to round up other members of this criminal network. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, May 31, 2025 - A middle-aged woman is recuperating at Sultan Hamud Sub-County Hospital after a brutal assault by her estranged husband in Kitaingo, Kilome, Makueni County. The victim, Naomi Ndanu, suffered deep machete cuts to the head, blunt force trauma from a rungu, and bite wounds to her ears in what authorities have described as a horrific case of domestic violence. Ndanu told police that her former husband had called her under the pretense of collecting her belongings. Upon arrival, he allegedly locked the door and launched the vicious attack, leaving her for dead. Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspect and are appealing to the public for any information that could lead to his arrest. In another shocking case within the same area, another woman is receiving treatment at Makueni Referral Hospital after she was attacked by her ex-husband. The man is also accused of killing the womans father, who had reportedly rushed to her aid. Authorities have confirmed both incidents, raising concerns over rising domestic violence cases in the region. Saturday, May 31, 2025 - Journalists from the Standard Group were on Saturday, May 31st, denied access to State House during the official visit of Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar. While other media houses were allowed in, specific instructions were issued to block Standard Group reporters from covering the event. The exclusion comes amid growing tensions between the Government and the Mombasa Road-based media house over its critical reporting and bold newspaper headlines targeting President William Rutos administration. In recent weeks, several senior Government officials have accused the Standard Group of misreporting facts and attempting to tarnish the Government's image. The fallout has led to the withdrawal of Government advertising contracts from the media house, further escalating the standoff. On March 26th, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen publicly criticized the Standard, especially after a headline described him as a Below Average CS. President Musar is in Kenya as the Chief Guest for the Madaraka Day celebrations scheduled for June 1st in Homa Bay County. Gerry Adams claim that his libel case against the BBC was about putting manners on the broadcaster has been described as chilling by a senior union figure. Seamus Dooley, the Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), also said the high profile case showed the need for reform of Irelands defamation laws, saying the public would never know why the jury made its decision. Former Sinn Fein leader Mr Adams took the BBC to court over a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, which he said defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement. A jury at the High Court in Dublin awarded him 100,000 euro (84,000) when it found in his favour on Friday, after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. It also found the BBCs actions were not in good faith and the corporation had not acted in a fair and reasonable way. Mr Adams legal team said the verdict of the jury was a full vindication for their client while the BBC said it was disappointed with the outcome. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent over 20 years. Mr Dooley told RTEs This Week programme that it was a verdict which would make journalists pause for reflection. He said: The first thing we should say is Gerry Adams was entitled to take his case. But it does have profound implications for the practise of journalism and I think it has implications both in terms of defamation law but also for me in terms of journalism in Northern Ireland and the relationship between Sinn Fein and journalists in Northern Ireland. Speaking outside court on Friday, Mr Adams said taking the case was about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation. He added: The British Broadcasting Corporation upholds the ethos of the British state in Ireland, and in my view its out of sync in many, many fronts with the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Dooley said: I found that a chilling comment actually. He referred to putting manners on the BBC, to me that means putting them back in their box. The reality is that Spotlight has, for over 40 years, done some of the most amazing investigative journalism. Margaret Thatcher tried to ban Spotlight because of their coverage of Gibraltar Three, they exposed Kincora at the heart of the British establishment, recently they did work on Stakeknife, and in fact the Sinn Fein mayor of Derry led the campaign to save BBC Radio Foyle news service. I found the attitude quite chilling but also unfair and unreasonable in the circumstances. Mr Dooley said that Mr Adams was a figure of huge significance to journalists, historians and academics and had influenced the shape of history of Northern Ireland. He added: On that basis, any journalist has a right, any academic, to question and probe. He said the case underpinned the need for a review of defamation laws in Ireland. He said: First of all we need to look at the defence of honest opinion and how you square that circle in the context of journalists right to protect sources, it is a real difficulty. For many years the NUJ was in favour of retaining juries. I have now reached the conclusion in defamation cases that juries are not appropriate. One of the reasons is we will never know why the jury reached this decision. If, as in Northern Ireland, had Mr Adams taken his case in Northern Ireland, the case is heard before judges, you have the benefit of a written judgment, you have the benefit of a detailed explanation of the reason why a verdict is given. That provides an insight and a guide. Here we dont know. Mr Dooley also pointed out that proceedings in the case had been running since 2016. Former Sinn Fein member Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent over 20 years. In the Spotlight programme broadcast in September 2016, an anonymous source given the pseudonym Martin claimed the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and that Mr Adams gave the final say. In 2009, the dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing and a Garda investigation into the matter remains ongoing. Mr Adams had described the allegation as a grievous smear. BEIJING, June 1 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday began implementing a trial policy that unilaterally grants visa-free entry to citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. It is the first time that China has extended such access to nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Under the policy, which will remain in effect through May 31, 2026, holders of ordinary passports from these five countries can enter China without a visa for up to 30 days for purposes including business, tourism, family visits, cultural exchange, and transit. The move is part of China's broader efforts to expand visa-free access in line with its commitment to high-level opening-up. With this expansion, China now offers unilateral visa-free entry to 43 countries. Once made difficult by distance and complex visa procedures, travel between Latin America and China is increasingly accessible thanks to improved air connectivity and relaxed entry policies. In 2024, a direct flight was launched between Mexico City and south China's Shenzhen, spanning a distance of over 14,000 kilometers to become China's longest direct international passenger route. Other routes, such as the Beijing-Madrid-Sao Paulo, Beijing-Madrid-Havana and Beijing-Tijuana-Mexico City routes, have also strengthened links between China and Latin America and the Caribbean. Carolina Araya, a Chilean citizen and Spanish instructor at Anhui International Studies University in east China, was quick to share the news on social media after learning of the new policy, garnering many likes from friends and family. "With this visa-free policy, it will be so much easier for my parents to visit us," she said. "I'm looking forward to welcoming them here in China." Carola Ramon with the Argentine Council of Foreign Relations noted that recent years have seen growing cooperation between Argentina and China in areas such as student exchange, cultural collaboration and sports. She believes China's visa-free entry initiative will enhance people-to-people ties and broaden exchange -- not only between China and Argentina but across the broader China-Latin America region. Economic ties between China and Latin America have also deepened significantly. Bilateral trade has doubled over the past decade, surpassing 500 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Chinese exports, including electric vehicles, are increasingly popular in the region, while Latin American goods such as Chilean cherries and Argentine beef have become Chinese household staples. China has been steadily adjusting and optimizing its visa policies to boost cross-border mobility. Since late 2023, the country has rolled out a series of traveler-friendly measures. In late May, it announced that citizens of four Gulf countries -- Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain -- will also enjoy visa-free entry for up to 30 days, from June 9, 2025, through June 8, 2026. Additionally, China's visa-free transit period has been extended to 240 hours for travelers from 54 countries. These policies have already had a notable impact. In 2024, China recorded 3.39 million entries under its unilateral visa-free policy, representing a 1,200 percent increase from the previous year. During this year's May Day holiday alone, 380,000 people entered China visa-free, a 72.7 percent year-on-year jump. Yu Haibo, an associate professor of tourism management at Nankai University in Tianjin, said that China's continued expansion of its visa-free policies reflects its commitment to high-standard opening-up. "These measures demonstrate China's resolve to foster a more dynamic, inclusive and resilient form of economic globalization," he said. WASHINGTON, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The White House said on Saturday that U.S. President Donald Trump will soon announce a new nominee for the head of NASA, following his decision to withdraw former candidate Jared Isaacman, a close ally of Elon Musk. "After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA," Trump wrote on his Truth Social site. "I will soon announce a new Nominee who will be Mission aligned, and put America First in Space." Late last year, Trump named Isaacman, a billionaire and private astronaut, as the nominee for NASA chief. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved his nomination in late April. Isaacman, a close associate of Musk and a major client of his company SpaceX, has purchased several private spaceflights from the company with hundreds of millions of dollars. David Seymour said: Not only is our mission fundamentally hard, but sometimes weve made it harder than necessary. I hesitate to bring it up, but weve burned ourselves on one or two of our own brushfires along the way. Our perk buster took a perk. Our tough on crime guy got convicted. Our leadership had a civil war. We were subject to an unconventional coup. In 2012 I wrote an obituary for the ACT Party. I said: Trauma surgeons at Wellington Political Hospital announced today that the ACT Party was judged clinically dead after succumbing to a grievous assault from Kim Dotcom. Surgeons battled all night to save the political party, but the accumulated trauma from years of abuse meant that the patient was already in critical condition when Dotcom fell on it, crushing the remaining life out of the teenage political party. I traversed their many challenges: Stepdad Richard Prebble moved out, and Father Roger disapproved of Rodney, the new stepdad. They started to argue in front of the kids. Even worse, suave Don stole away ACTs first girlfriend, so at age 12 ACT got reduced to two MPs in 2005. Rodney and Heather just wouldnt stop throwing things at each other. ACT didnt even know who started the fights, but it normally ended up in the middle with the bruises to show from the domestic abuse. CYFS were called in, but the fighting and abuse continued. A worse bruise came when Rodney and his girlfriend were playing with their model plane and it ended up scarring and concussing ACT. ACTs friends say that ACTs good looks never fully recovered from that. But worse was to come when David stole someones wallet and ID as a joke. It was no joke, when it turned out that David had done this before, and ACT knew about it and never told anyone. ACT got beaten up by all its mates at school for not telling them about this earlier. Even at this stage, ACT had some hope of a normal life ahead. But then Don turned up again and told ACT that he was going to take over or he would beat ACT up so badly it would die. So ACT was forced to become friends with Don and Don then got ACT stoned on cannabis. Some kids can handle cannabis, but not ACT. It fell off a cliff breaking its arms and legs. I concluded: ACTs friends are very sad at this prognosis. They recall the good times they had with ACT. They remember the good things ACT achieved. They dont want to see ACT dead and buried, but they know that true friends dont let mates suffer in agony. They know it is time to turn off the life support, and let ACT die. ACT had got 1.1% at the 2011 election and only hing on with John Banks winning Epsom. They generally polled around 0.5% for the next three years and got 0.7% in 2014, again just winning Epsom with David Seymour as the sole MP. 2017 saw an even worse result with just 0.5%. The thought that in eight years time Seymour would be Deputy Prime Minister would have got you locked up in Carrington. And in 2018, ACT continued to poll under 1%. But in 2019 their support ticked up to 2% and just before Covid struck they even made 3.5%. Covid-19 saw their support drop back to 1.8% but then it climbed and by June they had hit 5%, then 6%, then 7% and got 7.6%. An amazing performance, and not a flash in the pan due to an election debate worm. Then despite all those new MPs, the much larger caucus kept it together and as National has internal issues, ACT hit 18.5% in late 2021. They dropped back as National recovered but still went on to get an increased vote of 8.6% in 2023, and the coalition agreement that saw David Seymour become Deputy Prime Minister on Sunday. I am very glad I was wrong in 2012, and it is a tribute to ACT and Seymour that they have gone from a 0.5% party to a major force in NZ politics. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High near 85F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. President Donald Trump walks with workers as he tours U.S. Steel Corporation's Mon Valley Works-Irvin plant, Friday, May 30, in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Communities Unlimited hosted an entrepreneur summit for those looking to start their own businesses This photo released by Moscow Interregional Transport Prosecutor's Office on June 1, 2025 shows rescuers working at the site of a passenger train derailment in Bryansk Oblast, Russia. Seven people were killed and 35 others injured on Saturday following a passenger train derailment in Russia's Bryansk Oblast bordering Ukraine and Belarus, caused by the collapse of a road bridge above the train tracks, Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz said on his Telegram channel. (Moscow Interregional Transport Prosecutor's Office/Handout via Xinhua) MOSCOW, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Seven people were killed and 35 others injured on Saturday following a passenger train derailment in Russia's Bryansk Oblast bordering Ukraine and Belarus, caused by the collapse of a road bridge above the train tracks, Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz said on his Telegram channel. The accident occurred in the Vygonichsky District at 10:50 p.m. Moscow time (1950 GMT). The debris from the collapsed bridge fell onto the train traveling underneath, causing serious casualties, Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations was quoted by TASS news agency as saying. Passengers on the train have been evacuated to temporary shelters and will continue their journey on a replacement train. Additionally, a truck traveling on the bridge was also damaged in the collapse. Rescue operations are still underway. This photo released by Moscow Interregional Transport Prosecutor's Office on June 1, 2025 shows rescuers working at the site of a passenger train derailment in Bryansk Oblast, Russia. Seven people were killed and 35 others injured on Saturday following a passenger train derailment in Russia's Bryansk Oblast bordering Ukraine and Belarus, caused by the collapse of a road bridge above the train tracks, Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz said on his Telegram channel. (Moscow Interregional Transport Prosecutor's Office/Handout via Xinhua) Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. MEMBERS from the Laois branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) travelled to Leinster House to call on the Government to address the cost of disability in Budget 2026. The Advocacy Manager of Irish Wheelchair Association Joan Carthy who led the delegation said: Choosing between eating or heating is an impossible choice many people with disabilities face every winter in Ireland. Members of Laois IWA travelled to Dublin to call on the Government to finally address the cost of disability in the upcoming budget. She said: In its 2026 pre-budget submission the IWA is urging the Government to introduce a realistic cost of disability payment. In a survey Ms Carthy said that 92% of IWA members reported that they incur extra costs related to their disability. These span across equipment, heating, medical and transport, as people with disabilities often have to rely on costly taxis to get them to and from appointments. The IWAs survey also found that 89% reported that the Housing Adaptation Grant didn't cover the costs of the adaptation - 70% incur medical related costs. 69% incur transport related costs - 66% incur equipment costs and 65% incur additional heating related costs. Ms Carthy said: Disability poverty doesnt happen by accident. Its the result of a system that fails to recognise and respond to the real costs of living with a disability. This budget must be the turning point. We need choice, not charity. The submission made to Government draws from consultation with over 700 people with disabilities nationwide and makes urgent recommendations, including: A minimum increase of 78 in the weekly Disability Allowance (from 244 to 322). A Cost of Disability Payment to reflect the extra living costs incurred by people with disabilities and pay parity for Section 39 workers, who deliver vital disability services. One IWA member from Portlaoise Evan Power, who travelled with the delegation, told how his heating bills reach up to 700 a month during the winter months. After paying his bills, hes left with just 30 to live on during the summer but in the winter, he could be left with nothing. He said: Im very good at budgeting and manage my money well, but the truth is, once I pay my bills, I have 30 left over each week. Being in a wheelchair with limited mobility means its harder to stay warm as my movement is limited, so in the lead up to and during the winter months, Im totally focused on ensuring Ive enough money to pay my heating bill, which can go up to 700 a month. Ms Carthy said: People with disabilities want to contribute, belong and live independently. But the cost of doing so is being ignored. Some members have told to us that they are having to choose between heating their homes or eating. Over half of our members state they do not have enough Personal Assistant hours. She said: We have had good engagement with the Minister for Disability and the Department, but this is the Governments chance to take action through funding and strategic planning for the future of people with disabilities in Ireland. A LOCAL TD has called for traffic calming measures to be installed in a number of locations along the N80 that runs through Laois. Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley says residents living along sections of the N80 in both Arles and Mountmellick, are being failed by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), who have refused to put traffic calming measures on crucial sections of this road. Deputy Stanley said: In the past week I have met residents in both Arles Village and Graigue and Chapel Street, Mountmellick who are extremely concerned about road safety in their localities. I have personally witnessed vehicles travelling way in excess of speed limits and driving in a dangerous manner at both locations. He said that calls from both Laois County Council and residents in the affected areas to have effective traffic calming and road safety measures put in place have been ignored by TII. There is an accident history in both Graigue and Arles Village, said Deputy Stanley, and residents have explained to me the danger they face daily from speeding trucks and cars. In the case of Arles, householders in the village have signed a petition demanding that TII work in conjunction with Laois County Council to put a pedestrian crossing in the vicinity of the school. There is also a clear need for effective traffic calming at each end of the village along with the extension of the 50km speed zone. It is particularly dangerous for children of Radharc Alainn housing estate crossing to attend the local school. Householders in the village of Arles have signed a petition demanding that TII work in conjunction with Laois County Council to put a pedestrian crossing in the vicinity of the school, said Deputy Brian Stanley He said: The residents of Graigue and Chapel Street, Mountmellick are being placed in danger from vehicles speeding in from the Tullamore side of the N80. Some obvious measures need to be taken such as, reducing the 100km limit area to 80km and 60km and 50km incrementally as you come closer to the town. Speed flashing warning signs and traffic calming would also help alleviate the situation. An old pathway adjacent to the road could also be reinstated with very little work to allow residents in the Graigue safe space for walking. These areas have not got the attention that other towns and villages have rightly been given on the N80 and N77. For example, Killeigh and Stradbally have effective traffic calming at the entrances to their villages and towns, as does Durrow on the N77. I am making representations to TII and to Laois County Council to put together a safety plan for both areas to prevent serious accidents from occurring in the future and to treat these with a sense of urgency, said Deputy Stanley. IN A QUAINT village nestled between the rolling hills and valleys of Mount Kilimanjaro, Thomas, a humble farmer, faced a severe drought that threatened his crops and livelihood. With each passing day, the parched fields seemed to mock his efforts. Desperation crept in, and Thomas turned to God for guidance. One night as he knelt in prayer, a vision filled his mind: a vivid image of a bountiful harvest and abundant rainfall. Emboldened by this revelation, Thomas decided to plant seeds despite the arid conditions. His friends mocked him, the villagers laughed at him. On the verge of doubt, he wanted to stop, but devoted his thoughts to making an irrigation system and a water reservoir. It's been months since he planted his crops. One day, he stood on this farm, and in a loud voice he prayed. He reminded God of the dream he had some months ago. The sun scorched on his skin until tiny sores emerged and sweat rolled on his face like showers. After planting the last seed, he removed his hat and wiped his sweat away with the back of his palm. Miraculously, a cold drop fell on his arm. He looked at it and glanced up at the bright sky. Suddenly, gentle rain began to fall and Thomas could hear the villagers jumping for joy. The field transformed the cracked earth turned to fertile soil. Thomass joy knew no bounds, his land was wet and the reservoir was filled with water. His plants grew as he watered his crops day and night. The villagers marveled as Thomas's crops flourished, defying the odds. News of this miraculous harvest spread, and he became a rich farmer. He used his wealth to renew the faith of his entire community. Planting seeds of hope during adversity can yield miraculous results. The once-barren fields now stood as a testament to the power of belief and the unexpected blessings that can sprout from the seeds of faith. Speaking in Rome recently, Pope Leo gave a wonderful catechesis on the Gospel parable of the Sower and the seed. He described the radical and generous love of God, who boldly scattered seeds everywhere, including on arid and fertile soil. Pope Leo continued to reflect: I have in mind that beautiful Van Gogh painting The sower at sunset. That image of the sower under the scorching sun also speaks to me of the peasants toil. And Im struck by the fact that, behind the sower, Van Gogh depicted the already-ripe wheat. It seems to me an image of hope: one way or another, the seed has borne fruit. We dont quite know how, but it is so. "At the centre of the scene, however, is not the sower who is to one side. Rather, the entire painting is dominated by the image of the sun, perhaps to remind us that it is God who moves history, even if he sometimes seems absent or distant. It is the sun that warms the earth and ripens the seed. It's lovely to see the fresh strawberries and new potatoes on sale again. Mother Nature is producing rich fruits, especially after a glorious month of May. As we begin the month of June, traditionally associated with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I pray that God's love and health will bless all our lives. This can be a very challenging time, especially for our leaving and junior certificate students. I pray again that the spirit of wisdom and knowledge will bless our young students. I pray that young people will be full of hope and embrace the power of the possible. I love the following prayer Thank you, O Lord, your love is boundless Thank you, that I am full of you Thank you, you make me feel so glad and thankful as I do. Thank you for all the grains of wheat Thank you for all the bread we eat Thank you for all the turf we gather Thank you we will have plenty heat Thank you for all the ripe bananas Thank you for orchards in the field. Thank you for all the new potatoes Thank you for all the beans and peas Thank you for all our gifts and talents Thank you we share with those in need. Thank you I see your world has meaning Thank you I know your spirit here Thank you because you love all people Those both far and near. James Cox Here, we have a look at the topics likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come. Coalition tension? The Coalition has struggled from day one due to its association with the Regional Independent Group. The role of Michael Lowry in government formation talks was hugely controversial, and the subsequent disruption over speaking rights for Independent TDs delayed the nomination of the Taoiseach and formation of Oireachtas committees. The understanding that Regional Independent TDs will vote for the Government meant it was a price Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris were willing to pay. That means the first instance of these TDs voting against the Government will be a worry to ministers. Two TDs who are part of the Coalition-supporting Regional Independent Group voted against the Government on Wednesday night on Sinn Fein's Israeli bonds bill. Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole voted with the Opposition. TDs voted 87-75 against a motion brought by Sinn Fein to force the Irish Central Bank to end its role in facilitating the 'Israeli war bonds' in the EU. Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has previously said the Sinn Fein motion was unworkable and inconsistent with EU law. Members of the Opposition held up signs saying "stop funding genocide" as they failed in the Dail vote. In a statement, Mr Heneghan said he voted in favour of the Sinn Fein motion because Ireland shouldnt facilitate the sale of bonds that help fund the devastation in Gaza. Im voting for the bill because Ireland shouldnt facilitate the sale of bonds that help fund the devastation in Gaza, he added. This is about standing up for international law and basic human rights. Mr Heneghan said he was fully committed to the Programme for Government, adding as an Independent TD, I reserve the right to act on matters of conscience. The situation is urgent, and Ireland must show leadership, he said. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael tied in poll, Sinn Fein fall Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are neck and neck in the latest opinion poll. Sinn Fein has dropped two to 20 per cent, after leading in recent polls. Fianna Fail is down two points and Fine Gael is up ond point. The Coalition partners are both on 21 per cent in the Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll which was published today. The Social Democrats are up one to 9 per cent. Independents and others are on 10 per cent, while Independent Ireland, Aontu and Labour are all on 5 per cent. Solidarity People Before Profit is on 3 per cent, while the Green Party is on 1 per cent. Taoiseach Micheal Martin remains the most popular party leader with an approval rating of 46 per cent, unchanged from the last poll. Tanaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris is up one to 41 per cent, while Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns' approval is unchanged at 40 per cent. Labour leader Ivana Bacik's popularity rating has dropped one point to 36 per cent, and Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has also dropped one to 35 per cent. Ireland's subsea infrastructure and gas pipelines 'very vulnerable' Ireland's critical subsea infrastructure is extremely vulnerable due to the under-resourcing of the Defence Forces and Irish Navy, a former TD and deputy commander of the Army Ranger Wing has warned. Ireland's maritime footprint is seven times the country's land area and is home to the majority of transatlantic data communications. For example, the AEC-1 cable connects New York with Ireland, landing at Killala, Co Mayo. It is 5,534 km long and has been operating since 2016. The system primarily serves telecommunications providers, cloud service providers, content delivery networks, and enterprises that require efficient data transport solutions. These undersea cables are crucial to various aspects of daily life, including cloud storage and banking systems. Around three-quarters of Ireland's national gas is also imported via undersea pipelines. Tanaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris has said he expects contract negotiations for the supply of advanced sonar technology to conclude within a number of months. However, the first sonar systems are not expected to be operational until July 2027, meaning Ireland is largely dependent on foreign navies to detect threats. In an interview with BreakingNews.ie, former TD and soldier Cathal Berry said Ireland's undersea cables and gas pipelines are "very vulnerable". "All our data centres, all our video footage of our families, our photographs are stored in data centres, not on our phones. We're hugely vulnerable because the umbilical cords between Europe and North America are very vulnerable. "There are about a dozen data cables coming into Ireland. More importantly, we have two gas pipelines coming in from Scotland, which are even more strategically crucial because Ireland has no natural gas." Abroad In the US, billionaire Elon Musk has departed Donald Trump's administration. Mr Musk is leaving his position spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency, and he will be rededicating himself to running his businesses, including electric carmaker Tesla, rocket company SpaceX and social media platform X. In the UK, Keir Starmer's Labour government and the Conservative Party are trying to issue warnings about the dangers of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, as it surges in popularity in opinion polls. By Nurul Fitri Ramadhani JAKARTA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia has been pushing for the expansion of the use of Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS), aiming to achieve its economic sovereignty and have its own financial system. Launched in April 2019, the QRIS has been a pioneering innovation that makes digital payment easier for people in Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy. Previously, people had to swipe their cards provided by Visa or Mastercard in every digital transaction. But now, they only need to scan the QR code provided by the tenants. For every transaction, they need only one code for all platforms and the most widely used banks in Indonesia. For now, the cross-country QRIS has been available for transactions in Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore. Indonesia's central bank, Bank Indonesia (BI), has recently announced that starting August 17 this year, the digital payment system will be able to be used by Indonesian citizens in Japan and China. The Indonesian government has agreed on a number of technical steps until the trial stage and finalized business, technical, and operational arrangements with the payment system authorities from both countries, according to Bank Indonesia Deputy Governor Filianingsih Hendarta. "Hopefully, if there are no obstacles, we can launch the trial of the use of QRIS on August 17," Hendarta said in Jakarta. She said that the Indonesian government was also exploring a potential expansion to India, and technical discussions were still ongoing with the Indian authorities. It goes the same with South Korea, where Indonesia is still in the process of studying and finalizing cooperation at the industrial level. Indonesia is also discussing QRIS implementation with the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority to be able to use it in the Middle East country. Amid concerns of rising protectionism in the world, the QRIS system has now become one of the most important systems in supporting Indonesia's position in global trade. During the first quarter of 2025, transaction volume using QRIS jumped 169 percent year-on-year, contributed by a continuous increase in the number of users and merchants, according to a BI report. In the first quarter of this year, PT Bank Central Asia (BCA) recorded a year-on-year growth in transaction frequency of 117 percent and transaction value of 135 percent. During the same period, PT Bank Mandiri posted a sharp growth in cross-country QRIS services, with the total frequency and volume of transactions growing 3.8 times compared to last year. In April, however, the U.S. government highlighted concerns regarding the QRIS. In the Foreign Trade Barriers document issued by the United States Trade Representative, the country noted that U.S. companies, including payment providers and banks, during the process of making the QR code policies, international stakeholders were not informed about the nature of potential changes nor given the opportunity to explain their views on the system, including how the system could be designed to interact most smoothly with existing payment systems. Aknolt Kristian Pakpahan, an economic expert from Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung, said that QRIS was basically designed to build a more independent domestic payment ecosystem, so that Indonesia would not be completely dependent on foreign payment services such as Mastercard and Visa. The existence of QRIS, he said, was part of the implementation of broader national interests, including maintaining digital sovereignty. "QRIS has become an alternative that facilitates financial transactions, especially for business actors and consumers who do not have international credit cards. This system also allows more accurate monitoring of financial transaction traffic in the country. This system is a real form of the sovereignty of Indonesia's payment system," he said. In the beginning of the bookish Internet, Jessa Crispin made waves with her irreverent online literary magazine, Bookslut. Shes gone on to publish another magazine, Spolia, as well as the 2015 book The Dead Ladies Project, a collection of essays that weaves her time abroad with research about displaced writers and artists of the 20th century. Many of Crispins dead ladies -- including writer William James and Margaret Anderson, who published James Joyces work in the The Little Review -- make cameo appearances in her new book The Creative Tarot (Touchstone: 327 pp., $22), out this week. Advertisement While The Creative Tarot is a guide to the fortune-telling cards and how to use them, the book is designed to spefically chart readings for working artists and writers. The tarot cards a person draws, Crispin suggests, can be source material, help guide a work in progress, or even indicate when its time to walk away from a project. We sat down to talk at Tianti Books, a specialty bookstore in Manhattan with titles on meditation lining its walls; the interview has been edited for length and clarity. You open the book talking about a down-to-earth tarot reader. Could you talk about that? I dont think I would have gotten into the tarot if it hadnt been for this woman. Because Id had readings before, and theyd all been super mystical woo-woo, which I have a very limited amount of patience for. Apparently you can wear some really nice pants and a button-up shirt and some lipstick and read tarot cards, and thats fine. That was the first time I realized, oh, this has a value outside of woo-woo land. The more I became a writer, the more my [tarot] readings became about my work. How did you create tarot readings specifically for creative people? Because of my job, because of Bookslut and Spolia and all the writers I know, all of my initial readings were about creativity. It was just kind of trial and error, [figuring out] what people wanted to know and what would be useful to them. Advertisement I think its really helpful to figure out who you are in the situation. Do you have any power? Are you wandering off into the weeds, or do you kind of know what youre doing? I think thats an interesting way to start. What is it about tarot that helped you and your work, or has helped others work? Well, for my own work, it was more about how integrated my life was going to be with my creativity. Im trying to be thought of as an intellectual, and here I am reading tarot cards. I think the weirder you allow yourself to become and admit that you already are, then the more fun you have. But at the same time, public perception does change. Ive already gotten a lot of weird pushback about the tarot book, from mostly men, and when I wrote a piece about St. Theresa for The New York Times, I got weird email about how sorry people felt for her that she had this belief in God. And I was like, It worked out fine for her! She did a lot with it. Why not have critics writing about mystical topics? Im fine with being known as a mystical weirdo. Advertisement Theres something really grounded about this book, though. Its extensively researched, talking about historical artists and writers and the ups and downs of creativity. I was 19 before I ever went to an art museum. It just was not valued in my family. The access you get then comes from biopics about artists, and always has this stupid narrative about genius, knowing from a very young age that youre meant to be a great painter or composer. But if you actually read people [describing] their process, you realize that its mostly trying, failing, trying, failing. That its not so mysterious after all, that its just a person doing work. I actually loved reading those stories. It was very reassuring to me. In the book, you explain that sometimes failure is necessary, because it gets you to another place. Yeah. I mean, it still feels like failure. It still feels like [the card] the Ten of Swords looks, which is totally gruesome and dire and terrible. ... I think the way we talk about art and artists and genius and creativity is mostly wrong, that there had to be some way of deconstructing genius and art, and whos allowed in and whos not. Even David Bowie was on the dole for a long time. What kind of support systems would you like to see artists have? I lived in Germany for five years, and I was a member of a writers union; I had half of my health insurance paid for, I had a pension. There was a subsidized transit system, subsidized opera, free art museums half the time -- it was just access. What would you know, those were my most productive years. What is the project that youre working on now? Its a feminist manifesto for Melville House called Why I Am Not a Feminist: A Feminist Manifesto. [This became public when] I was so incredibly stuck on it. It was going to be an obvious failure if I didnt finish. Advertisement Swords all over it. Ten of Swords all over it. But maybe thats good because thats how I moved to Berlin. I sort of just told everyone I was moving to Berlin, and then it would be embarrassing if I didnt move -- then I had to go. Evans is a freelance writer who lives in Pennsylvania. The expansion, supported by Pennsylvania's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program Grant, aims to increase enrollment and strengthen the Lehigh Valley arts community. Courtesy of Baum School of Art At 99 years old, the Baum School of Art is still breaking ground on behalf of local artists. Local dignitaries joined administrators in May at the historic Allentown institution to celebrate a multi-million-dollar expansion that will ensure the organization can support local arts for the next hundred more years. The renovations will dramatically transform and modernize the school. A new three-story wing will be added to the buildings southeast face and include a gallery space, classrooms and an artists studio. The school will officially turn 100 years old in 2026. Baum School of Art Executive Director Shannon Fugate said she hopes to see the schools enrollment grow with the expansion, as well. This groundbreaking represents not just an expansion of our physical space, but an expansion of our mission and impact, she said. The Baum School of Art is a non-profit community art school with a roughly 4,000 student enrollment, including children, teens and adults. More than 300 classes are taught year round. The renovation project was made possible through crucial support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvanias Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program Grant, with additional backing from the governors office and state and local representatives. The expansion will allow future generations of artists and professionals to pursue their passions and ensure the Lehigh Valley remains a place where arts and culture thrive, said state Sen. Nick Miller, whose district includes parts of Allentown. Pennsylvania legislators earmarked at least $2 million to go toward the renovations. Construction on the Baum School of Art will be executed by North Star Construction Management, a firm based in Allentown. Thank you for supporting our journalism. Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or at glenn_epps_ on Instagram, Facebook and Threads. Pennsylvania officials on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center in Cumberland County announced an initiative offering free menstrual products in 68 state parks breaking down access barriers and advancing menstrual equity across Pennsylvania, officials said. Commonwealth Media Services (PAcast) Pennsylvania has made free menstrual products available in 68 state parks, including several in the Lehigh Valley region. State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the initiative Wednesday at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center in Cumberland County, alongside first lady Lori Shapiro and members of the Governors Advisory Commission on Next Generation Engagement. The products are now stocked in the parks offices, visitor centers and environmental educational centers at participating parks, offering a convenient and essential resource for visitors, according to the announcement. Signage in English and Spanish helps park visitors locate where products are available. Wednesdays announcement coincides with Menstrual Hygiene Day, highlighting the importance of addressing period poverty through public policy and access, according to a DCNR news release. Its part of Gov. Josh Shapiros administrations efforts to make public spaces statewide more accessible and supportive for all, the release states. No one should have to cut an outdoor adventure short because of their period. DCNR has you covered, Dunn states in the release. We are committed to creating inclusive, welcoming outdoor spaces and that means meeting peoples basic needs without stigma or barriers. Officials budgeted $38,000 for the rollout of the menstrual products in state parks, according to a DCNR spokeswoman. It follows $3 million secured by the governor in the current fiscal years budget to provide free menstrual products in K-12 schools statewide. Shapiros 2025-26 budget proposal continues the school program. DCNR officials plan to evaluate the programs success and expand it to additional park locations in the future. The DCNR release says free menstrual products in state parks provide: A basic necessity: Just like toilet paper and hand soap, menstrual products are essential and should be freely available. Outdoor access for all: No one should have to skip a hike or camping trip because of their period. Health and hygiene: Free products prevent the use of unsafe alternatives and support clean, healthy choices. Help in an emergency: Periods are unpredictable, so its essential to have products available when theyre needed State parks in the immediate Lehigh Valley region stocked with free menstrual products include Beltzville State Park, Delaware Canal State Park and Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. A Circuit Court Judge wrote to the Courts Service warning that Portlaoise Courthouse is at crisis point due to rats, mould, damp and cramped conditions. Judge Keenan Johnson said consideration should be given to moving the courts from Portlaoise to the more modern courthouse in Tullamore, Co Offaly, if no improvements are made. Details of correspondence from Circuit Court Judge Keenan Johnson and District Court Judge Andrew Cody to Court Service officials -including one addressed directly to Court Services Chief Executive, Angela Denning- were released to the Leinster Express/Laois Live under Freedom of Information(FOI). They outlined the concern the judges have for the staff, gardai, legal professionals, prisoners and members of the public due to the condition of Portlaoise Courthouse. Both Judges suggested using an alternative court venue if improvements are not made to the courthouse facilities in Portlaoise, with Judge Cody suggesting Portlaoise Courthouse should be condemned as an unsuitable and unsafe work space. The correspondence was sent in June 2024 not long after a rat had crawled into a courtroom while court proceedings were underway and just days after a solicitor had been seriously assaulted in a cell of the building. The unsatisfactory condition of the courthouse building is negatively impacting on everyone who has to work there. Catherine Magner(Portlaoise Courthouse Manager) and the staff in Portlaoise are fantastic public servants who go above and beyond the call of duty to deliver a fast, effective and professional service. It is not acceptable that they have to work in such unsatisfactory conditions, Judge Johnson wrote in an email addressed to Assistant Secretary, Head of Courts, Tom Ward. Judge Johnson said it is no exaggeration to state that the lack of facilities in Portlaoise and the condition of the existing premises has reached crisis point. At an absolute minimum the premises has to be made habitable, free of vermin and safe to work in, with either the windows being repaired so that they can be opened or the provision of portable air conditioning. In addition to this the premises needs to be repainted and deep cleaned. He called for a programme of works to make the building fit for purpose as a matter of urgency. In tandem with this funding will have to be obtained as a matter of urgency for the new court premises, he stated. The existing premises are totally inadequate for the level of business that is now conducted in Portlaoise. The new courthouse will need a minimum of four to five courtrooms. Currently Portlaoise only has the benefit of two courtrooms which is completely inadequate and makes the provision of service to the public extremely challenging, he said. He noted the chamber that serves the District Court in Portlaoise is an absolute horror show. It is damp, mouldy and infested with vermin. It is not fit for human habitation. In the email CCd to the Chief Executive of the Courts Service, Angela Denning, Judge Johnson, said a special plea should be made to the Department for funding to carry out essential repairs to the building. If this is not feasible, then consideration will have to be given to moving court sittings from Portlaoise to Tullamore. There is precedent for this as Mullingar Court sat in Tullamore for 10 years until the courthouse premises in Mullingar was renovated, Judge Johnson wrote. District Court Judge Andrew Cody emailed Ms Denning after a rat emerged in a courtroom while he was sitting at Portlaoise District Court. For the past few days, I have been hearing "scratching" in my chambers in Portlaoise. The maintenance company had requested the attendance of an extermination company. This afternoon at 2pm to everyone's horror a rodent appeared in the courtroom and the consensus among the amateur zoologists present was this was a small rat. Thankfully, the extermination company arrived in the nick of time, and it was "euthanised" and removed to allow us to continue the court list, Judge Cody wrote. He said it wasnt the first time a rat had been seen in the building as one had appeared during his lunch. To have a place of work with a rat infestation is totally unacceptable for the staff but also for the public who had to dodge a rat at the door as they left the courtroom, Judge Cody stated. He said rats carry disease and can also cause electrical and fire hazards by gnawing through cables and electrical equipment. He described conditions at the courthouse as unacceptable and said the windows dont open and there is no air conditioning resulting in sweltering conditions. We had a serious assault of a solicitor in the cells earlier this week where there appears to be no ability to consult with a prisoner in a safe and secure manner. The cells are inadequate to cope with the number of prisoners and this time last year we had 19 prisoners on one day between the Circuit and District Court and only three cells to accommodate them. The result was several prisoners being held in prison vans, on the street, in sweltering heat, wrote Judge Cody. He pointed out that unlike other courthouses we have two prisons in Portlaoise, the Midlands Prison and Portlaoise Prison including the National Violence Reduction Unit. Prisoners are regularly brought in for offences committed in prison. Judge Cody described the facilities for jurors as appalling and said the consultation rooms which are up two and three floors were virtually useless." Judge Cody said crowd control can be a serious problem particularly when two courts are sitting as the hallway areas are very limited. This often results in assaults and intimidation of witnesses. There are only two courtrooms and due to the unavailability of courtrooms and the volume of business conducted, it is planned to have 16 sittings of Portlaoise District Court in Tullamore next year, he stated. In summary, Judge Cody said Portlaoise Courthouse unsuitable and unsafe for the staff, Judges, the legal profession, Gardai, the public, and prisoners. Judge Cody said there didnt appear to be any prospect of a new courthouse being built in Portlaoise in the next seven to ten years. The day is fast approaching when there may be a refusal by Judges to sit in Portlaoise as it should be condemned as an unsuitable and unsafe workplace. I cannot see this courthouse lasting until a new one is built. We are just one major event away from the closure of the courthouse and the risks are omnipresent, he warned. Judge Cody suggested that in those circumstances, it is my view contingency plans should be put in place to source an alternative venue pending the construction of a long promised new courthouse. In response to Judge Codys email, Mr Ward apologised for the conditions and assured Judge Cody that pest control contractors and electrical and mechanical staff would carry out a thorough inspection of the building to ensure it was safe. I would agree with you that the facilities in Portlaoise are not at the level to facilitate the delivery of modern courts services. Catherine Magner and her team are continuing to do what they can to deliver the best service possible, bearing in mind that the courthouse was built at a time where service expectations were completely different. Unfortunately, the problems with Portlaoise are not unique but we remain committed to building a modern court facility for the people living in County Laois and neighbouring counties, when resources are available, he wrote. He said the Courts Service continues to advocate for funding to provide new or refurbished courthouses in cities and county towns where facilities remain substandard. Unlike other counties, we own a site in Portlaoise at Kylekiproe which will be used to build a new courthouse once funding becomes available. I am sorry that I cannot give a timeline for this but will keep you and your colleagues up to date with any developments, Mr Ward wrote. The Leinster Express/Laois Live contacted the Court Services to determine whether any additional funding or resources had been allocated to Portlaoise Courthouse following the correspondence. A spokesperson said all courthouses would have an annual programme of works to keep them maintained. The spokesperson was not aware of any additional specific allocation for Portlaoise Courthouse. The draw for the preliminary quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup has been made on Sunday evening, with Laois handed a tough away trip to Westmeath to be played on the weekend of June 7/ June 8. Laois finished on four points in Group 2 alongside Offaly and Wicklow. It was the latter who finished top of the group on points difference after they hammered Waterford 3-29 to 0-21. Laois' dramatic two-point victory over Offaly wasn't enough for Justin McNulty's side to leapfrog their neighbours in the standings so Laois finished third, which meant they had to be drawn away from in the preliminary quarter-finals. Westmeath finished second in Group 3 having beaten Antrim and London in their opening two games, but were defeated by Limerick in a top of the table clash in Portlaoise on Saturday. A win for Laois next weekend would see them drawn away to a county that finished top of their group (Limerick, Fermanagh or Kildare). The full draw is as follows: Offaly v New York Sligo v Carlow Wexford v Antrim Westmeath v Laois The exact fixture details are not yet known, but it'll likely be on Saturday, June 7, as the Laois hurlers are playing in the Joe McDonagh Cup final in Croke Park on Sunday, June 8 at 1.45pm. Statement by Minister Guilbeault on Italian Heritage Month Government of Canada issues statement to mark Italian Heritage Month. OTTAWA, ON, June 1, 2025 /CNW/ - In June, we celebrate Italian Heritage Month. People of Italian descent have been in Canada since the 1880s and are an integral part of our society, making it more dynamic. Our country's first Italian community numbered around 2,000 people at the end of the 19th century. In the 2021 census, more than 1.5 million people claimed Italian origins. Home to one of the largest Italian diasporas in the world, Canada is proud of this community's vibrant, shared culture. For generations, people of Italian descent have enriched Canadian society, thanks in part to the Little Italy neighbourhoods in many major Canadian cities that have helped make our country more diverse and more open to the world. The contributions made by people of Italian descent don't stop at the gates of these neighbourhoods. They have also made notable impacts in finance, politics, cuisine, music, entrepreneurship, education, science and many other fields. Italian Heritage Month is a time to recognize the rich culture and traditions of Italian Canadians and to celebrate the spirit of community that brings us together. Let's take this opportunity to come together and learn about the heritage of our neighbours of Italian ancestry! Happy Italian Heritage Month everyone! SOURCE Canadian Heritage 1 june 2025 at 09:30 News published onand distributed by: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (R) casts her vote during the judicial election in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, on June 1, 2025. (Photo by Montserrat Flores/Xinhua) MEXICO CITY, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Saturday urged citizens to participate in Sunday's judicial election, the first time the public will directly select members of the federal judiciary. Sheinbaum hailed the vote as a "historic day" for Mexico, depicting it as a step toward building a "fair, people-centered judiciary" whose legitimacy stems from the will of the people. "For the first time, we will all decide who we want as justices of the Supreme Court," Sheinbaum said. "This is the great transformation our country is experiencing." Sheinbaum dismissed accusations that the vote could lead to executive overreach or partisan control. "Those who want to preserve a system of corruption and privilege claim the election is rigged. That is completely false," she said. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (2nd L) casts her vote during the judicial election in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, on June 1, 2025. (Photo by Montserrat Flores/Xinhua) Members of the High-Level Indian government delegation were received at the Roberts International Airport by Liberian government officials and Indian Embassy officials. One of the solar lights that was donated by ULIBAAA to the UL Pre- Clinical Campus that has been planted. LIMERICK Chamber has called for immediate action around the development and delivery of Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs) for the west coast of Ireland, in order to unlock the floating offshore renewable energy potential available in the Atlantic. Speaking on behalf of businesses across the Mid-West and West of Ireland, Limerick Chamber CEO Michelle Gallagher urged the government to prioritise floating offshore wind as a cornerstone of Irelands clean and energy secure future. We are at a critical juncture, said Ms Gallagher. If we are serious about achieving our climate targets, decarbonising our economy, and building energy security, then the west coast must not be left behind. Floating offshore wind represents Irelands single biggest renewable opportunity, but that opportunity is slipping away without concrete DMAPs and a timeline industry can rely on. READ ALSO: Hundreds of jobs lost in Limerick as health firm confirms exit from Irish market The west coast of Ireland has been identified as one of Europes most resource-rich areas for floating offshore wind, with upwards of 70 GW of generation potential available in Atlantic waters. Unlike fixed-bottom offshore wind, which is limited to shallower waters and predominantly suited to the east coast, floating offshore wind unlocks deeper, high-wind areas further offshore, a perfect match for the wests natural maritime conditions. The added value of floating wind is that it is much further out from the shoreline, minimising planning risk seen with fixed bottom developments, added Ms Gallagher. Limerick Chamber emphasised that timely delivery of the west coast DMAPs is not only a planning necessity but a confidence-building milestone for industry stakeholders. Investors and developers need certainty, Ms Gallagher said. Delays send the wrong signal and risk displacing capital to other jurisdictions. Delivering DMAPs for the Atlantic coast is the clearest signal we can send that Ireland is serious about its offshore ambitions. Ms Gallagher, who was appointed CEO of Limerick Chamber in September 2024, further added that the slow pace of delivery in Ireland is ensuring that we are losing out on investment to other EU countries. France has already issued winning tenders for its 250 MW Pennavel project off the coast of Brittany, she said. Portugal has 25 MW installed floating capacity, enough to supply 25,000 households per year, since 2020 with its WindFloat Atlantic Project. The EFTA Surveillance Authority has approved Norway providing state aid to its floating offshore wind farm at Utsira Nord delivering 1.5 GW of floating offshore wind capacity. Norway already has 88 MW of floating offshore energy capacity at its Hywind Tampen wind farm. France, Norway and Portugal have already pilot and demo-scale projects operating, meanwhile Ireland has none. READ ALSO: Lilly's billion dollar expansion in Limerick gets the green light Spain has launched a 200-million-euro fiscal war chest to bring forward testing platforms, build new infrastructure as well as adapting port infrastructure, it is reported, while the UK currently have one of the largest floating offshore wind initiatives in the world with their Celtic Sea leasing round 5, aiming for up to 4.5GW of floating renewable energy. Limerick Chamber stressed that EU neighbours are also investing in ports with France investing in the likes of Port-la-Nouvelle and Spain investing in Ferrol. In addition to the environmental benefits, Ms Gallagher highlighted the broader economic and energy diversification advantages of floating offshore development. Floating offshore wind represents a once-in-a-generation chance to transform our regional economy, strengthen our energy independence, and develop a world-class marine supply chain right here in Ireland, she said. But ambition without action does not build confidence. We need timelines. We need delivery. Ireland has what it takes, the wind, the coastline, the innovation, the talent. Now we need the will and the action to match. The time to lead is now. FOR Limerick woman Megan Ryan, a diagnosis of dyslexia, a non-traditional Leaving Cert, and a flawed lottery system stood between her and her calling. Now, thanks to a radically different approach to education, shes well on her way to the career she was born to do and gearing up to commence a degree in Nursing at MTU Tralee. The Elton native said she always knew she wanted to care for others and became accustomed to this in her youth as she often helped to look after her aunt Maggie who has an intellectual disability. Megan struggled in school, particularly with maths and studied social care after completing the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme at John the Baptist Community School in Hospital. Megan said the LCA was a great programme. It's great for people that really do struggle with the Leaving Cert because the Leaving Cert isn't for everybody. READ MORE: New state-of-the-art cancer care centre confirmed for Limerick She would like to see more schools offer the LCA programme as she feels she really would have struggled to undertake the traditional Leaving Cert. I probably would have been very hopeless after it. It's very tough when you're dyslexic trying to learn and to retain all that information. Megan then studied social care but said it wasn't exactly what she wanted to do. As part of her work placement for the course, she worked with children with autism in a primary school in Cashel. I just loved the job that they did and how they looked after the children and the bond that they had with the kids. I just knew then that it was nursing that I wanted to do. The Limerick student first began applying to study nursing through the Central Applications Office in 2020 and undertook a pre-nursing course in Croom, earning eight distinctions. Megan also applied to study nursing as a mature student but was unsuccessful. Finally, she heard about the National Training Organisation (NTO) on the radio and discovered a more accessible route. She likened the NTO interview process to how nursing candidates were once selectedbased more on passion and motivation than academic records. Megan will start her first year of a Bachelor of Science in General Nursing at MTU Tralee later this year. It doesn't feel real yet, said Megan. READ MORE: 'My heart broke': Limerick mum gets Cervical Check letter for daughter who died six years ago I feel like it's going to be a big chapter in my life, and it's something I'm very looking forward to. Megan said she was delighted to finally be accepted into a nursing programme and she is currently looking for accommodation in Tralee for the upcoming academic year. When Megan initially went for interview to pursue the course, an educator at the college assured her that she was a good candidate and that this route to education would be a good opportunity for her. She said that I had good dedication and I do. I really have dedication for it as something that I really want to do... I keep trying till I do succeed and do get it because I know it is so difficult to get. I work with some nurses, and they have had to go to England and had to go to Scotland to get their nursing, explained Megan. The aspiring nurse knows many other people who wanted to study nursing but were unsuccessful. They just didn't get it and then gave up in the end and that's kind of heartbreaking to hear, added Megan. They could be lovely nurses and they have that passion for it, but they just didn't meet the traditional requirements. Speaking about the lack of nurses and healthcare staff across the country, Megan said: I think it's an important thing to look at because there is a shortage of nurses in this country, and I do feel like a lot of people would go for nursing if they had this option... I feel like it will create more opportunity for people and for health care in this country. Megan previously worked at Ard na Ri Nursing House in Bruff for three years. It got me really just focused on becoming a nurse then and what I wanted to do. It helped me grow as a person, she said. She has been working as a Health Care Assistant for Milford Care Centre since 2021. The ambitious woman thrives in a health care setting but admits she still experiences challenges learning about anatomy and physiology as she didn't study biology in school. Looking to the future, Megan would love to specialise as a palliative care nurse. Milford have community staff nurses, and they go out and look after people in the community... I just aspire to be one of those nurses. I just think it would be a job worth doing and it's something I would love to do and to achieve. She also aspires to work in emergency departments or in the area of pediatrics. I haven't worked in a hospital setting before, so it's going to be very exciting, she enthused. The National Tertiary Office was established in 2023, representing a new era in Further and Higher Education, providing enhanced access for people of all ages, some of whom may not be able to earn a Bachelors Degree otherwise. Tertiary Bachelor Degrees see students commence their degree journey in an Education and Training Board, with a seamless transition to Higher Education Institutions. Entry is not based on points and there are no tuition fees for the first one to two years. A MUSIC collective of Limerick natives is returning to their home county for a pop-up session. Headzy Bop, the house music events brand, returns to Limerick on Saturday, June 7, for a special event at Dolans Kasbah. After building momentum with a string of secret events around the Gold Coast, Australia and a sold-out debut in Limerick last year, Headzy Bop is back to celebrate where it all began, and bring something a little different to the local music scene. Growing up in Limerick, Dolans was one of the only venues where you could find quality electronic music events says Intka, the man behind Headzy Bop. READ ALSO: Putting the life back into Limerick nightlife as new initiative launched Nights like D.I.E. and Macronite were some of the first opportunities we had to experience what has now become our passion, and coming back to run an event there is really exciting. Well be bringing our evolved sound and energy back to a place that inspired us. The event promises a night of deep minimal tech, chunky house, and rolling basslines served with warmth, soul, and that unmistakable Headzy Bop energy - its for a crowd thats all about the music. With roots in the bush doof scene and a growing community between Ireland and Australia, Headzy Bop is building inclusive spaces where everyone is welcome and a carefully curated music program is accompanied by a good helping of fun, joy and laughter. Some of Indias largest pharmaceutical firms, including Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd, are priming the next generation of their promoter families to take over the reins. On 20 May, Torrent Pharma announced the appointment of Aman Mehta (33), son of chairman Samir Mehta and a third-generation member of the Torrent Groups founder family, as managing director effective 1 August. The company said in a press statement that the appointment was part of our long-term strategic vision and succession planning". The same week, Sun Pharma announced the appointment of Vidhi Shanghvi, daughter of founder and managing director Dilip Shanghvi, as a whole time director. A few months ago, Sun Pharma elevated Aalok Shanghvi (40), Dilip Shanghvis son, as chief operating officer. Other pharma companies like Lupin Ltd too have seen the next generation of their promoter families take charge in recent years. With the Indian pharmaceutical industry growing at a significant rate, the top companies in the sector are being closely watched for the evolution they are undertaking. Key Takeaways Top pharmaceutical firms like Sun Pharma and Torrent Pharma are actively grooming next-generation family members for leadership roles. These successions are part of long-term strategic planning aimed at ensuring continuity and stability in business operations. Experts emphasize that successors should gain diverse experience across business functions and not be "parachuted" into leadership. A phased transition, where seasoned executives mentor and gradually step back into advisory roles, helps ensure leadership continuity and organizational resilience. While legacy and family leadership are important, successors must develop their own leadership styles to sustain growth. Family-led businesses must also plan for contingencies, including situations where no suitable family successor existshighlighting the need for professional management integration and strong governance frameworks. Experts believe such successions must be planned with foresight, factoring in ideal transition times, grooming, and the role of other veteran executives in shaping up the incoming leaders. If one has to think about a template, I think a good template is one where there is a fair bit of overlap between the senior generation and the next generation. And the next generation gets a good chance to actually experience different parts of the business," said Amit Misra, managing director with consultancy firm Alvarez and Marsals healthcare and life sciences practice in Mumbai. Aman Mehta, the newly appointed managing director of Torrent Pharma, is a whole-time director at Torrent Pharma. He was appointed as a director in 2022 and has been primarily involved with Torrent Pharmas India business, the companys largest revenue contributor. View Full Image Aman Mehta is the newly appointed managing director of Torrent Pharma, According to Torrents press statement, Mehta played an instrumental role in the integration of the Unichem Laboratories Ltd acquisition and the strategic identification and integration of Curatio Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. Torrents acquisition of Unichems branded India and Nepal business in 2017 significantly boosted its presence in key segments. Torrent acquired 100% of Curatio in 2022. Similarly, Aalok Shanghvi, who was brought into the Sun Pharma fold in 2006, has handled various roles in marketing, research and development, project management, purchase, and communications, according to information on the companys website. Over the past two decades, Shanghvi has headed Suns business in Bangladesh and later emerging markets, spanning 80 countries. Subsequently, he also took charge of Suns global generic R&D, global generic business development, and API (active pharmaceutical ingredients) functions. Vidhi Shanghvi began her career at Sun Pharma in 2012 as a brand manager within the India business, and took over as business head of Sun Pharmas consumer healthcare business in 2015, following its merger with Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd. Promoters need to not parachute their progeny into the boards, but groom them from the shop floor, be it in an accelerated manner, and then expose them to internal and external stakeholders," said Shriram Subramanian, founder and managing director of InGovern Research Services. The role of incumbent senior executives and how they evolve must also be planned, he said. At least the senior level executives succession planning should be a process and discussed at the board level," Subramanian said, adding that uncertainties around leadership must be factored in and planned for. An ideal transition would involve a transition of erstwhile leadership as well, said Misra of Alvarez and Marsal. In the sense that when you are bringing in the next generation side by side, you also start to help them choose their team, while some of the stalwarts remain in advisory positions," he explained. Also read | Mint Explainer: What sparks family feuds in Indian corporations? Corporate successions: A tricky path Indias corporate landscape is riddled with high-profile family disputes even in instances where the promoter families had drawn up legal frameworks to ensure a smooth transition. Factions of the Kirloskar family are feuding over a 2009 deed of family settlement that outlined the distribution of ownership, management, and control of various Kirloskar entitiesincluding Kirloskar Brothers Ltd and Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltdamong different branches of the family. Babasaheb Kalyani, the billionaire promoter of the Kalyani group, and his sister Sugandha Hiremath have been in a dispute for longer than a decade over the familys group companies such as Bharat Forge Ltd and Kalyani Steels Ltd, as well as private assets like land, real estate, and jewellery. The Lodha brothersreal estate developers Abhishek and Abhinandanonly last month resolved their dispute over the Lodha brand identity after a longdrawn mediation and with the guidance of their parents. Messy legal disputes aside, corporate successions tend to be mired in other seemingly mundane challenges that need to be factored in. For instance, corporate successors following in the footsteps of senior family members who built successful businesses would want to develop their own styles and strategies while continuing the companys growth and legacy. The challenge for the next generation is to retain the differentiating factor or the competitive edge as far as the company is concerned," Misra said. If a successor tries to just cut copy-paste, it won't work because that did not work even in the case of the previous generation," he added. Also read | Why do business families delay the inevitable: Succession planning? For companies facing a vacuum when it comes to finding successors from within the family, the focus needs to be on bringing in professional talent who align with the firms culture and vision, while also fostering loyalty and longevity in this leadership. Take the case of Cipla. After heir apparent Kamil Hamied, nephew of Cipla doyen Dr. Y.K. Hamied, stepped down as chief strategy officer in 2015 to pursue personal interests, the company brought in Umang Vohra, former head of Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltds North America business, as its global chief financial officer. In 2016, Cipla appointed him global CEO and managing director. What is important for the continuity of a successful business is empowering the successorsbe it family members or a professional teamand ensuring they understand the companys needs, experts said. The point remains that even in cases where the vacuum is not there, empowering some of these people so that their leadership styles start getting noticed and they get the opportunity to be known, is extremely important," Misra emphasised. NEW DELHI (Reuters) -The airport in India's financial capital of Mumbai, run by the Adani Group, has triggered a lobbying effort by top carriers IndiGo and Air India after it changed payment rules, citing financial needs and a risk of airline defaults, documents show. Also Read | Air India lobbies government to axe IndiGo lease with Turkish carrier: Report The airport is one of India's busiest at a time when dozens are being added in one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets. It is the biggest of seven managed by a group led by billionaire Gautam Adani. Confidential letters seen by Reuters show the intense pushback to the change, which seeks a compulsory cash deposit in a bank as security against charges such as landing and parking fees, instead of a long-standing practice of bank guarantees. "None of these airlines normally pay on time ... we want to align our cash flow with the airlines' cash flow," said Arun Bansal, the chief executive of Adani Airport Holdings, which has a stake of 74% in the airport. Also Read | IndiGo announces new direct flight between Adampur to Mumbai Details here "They have taken advantage of our niceness," he added, referring to resistance to the new payment system from IndiGo and Air India since the change eight months ago in October. Airlines often delay payments beyond a due date at month-end but the airport has to pay authorities earlier, creating working capital challenges that can be resolved by using the security deposit when needed, Bansal said. IndiGo and Air India, which together have a share of 91% of the market in India, did not respond to queries from Reuters. A source with direct knowledge of the matter said the new policy would require the two airlines to make deposits of about 2 billion rupees ($23 million), taken together. For Air India, owned by the Tata Group conglomerate, such payments could strain its finances after racking up losses of $521 million last year, in addition to monthly costs of $50 million after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines. Also Read | IndiGo can't use Turkish Airlines aircraft after 31 August The Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), which serviced 53 million passengers last year, also faces financial challenges, after posting losses of $71.11 million on revenues of $461 million last year, disclosures show. In a December 31 letter to an airlines body, the airport justified the change by pointing out its "deteriorating financial position" and "significant debt obligations". "The deposits will help MIAL's financial stability and credit rating," it added. Default Risk, Air India Push The change also aimed to protect the airport from risks such as an airline going bankrupt, as carriers Jet Airways, Go First and Kingfisher Airlines have done in the last few years, Bansal said. The Mumbai airport has the right to cancel the slots of airlines that do not follow the new policy, but does not intend to do so in the interest of passengers, he added. Also Read | IndiGo plans new overseas, domestic flights in FY26 to expand network The International Air Transport Association, representing both Air India and IndiGo, wrote to India's civil aviation ministry in December, calling the change a bid to use airline deposits to fund the airport's need for working capital. India's civil aviation ministry did not respond to Reuters' queries. The government has a stake of 26% in the Mumbai airport. In a letter on April 2, the Federation of Indian Airlines told the airport it disagreed with the contention that airline payments were not timely. Air India has lobbied the Indian government, saying the industry was already facing "immense financial pressure" in an April 15 letter. "It is highly likely that other airports across the country could adopt similar measures, leading to widespread financial strain," Air India said in the letter, seen by Reuters. Children stage a performance in celebration of the International Children's Day at the Chinese Embassy in Japan, in Tokyo, Japan, June 1, 2025. Hundreds of Chinese and Japanese children gathered here on Sunday to celebrate the International Children's Day. (Xinhua/Yang Guang) TOKYO, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Chinese and Japanese children gathered at the Chinese Embassy in Japan on Sunday to celebrate the International Children's Day. The celebration featured lively programs, including group performances of Japanese and Chinese songs, dances and a humorous recitation of My Detective Mom. The event climaxed with a chorus of the classic poem Spring Dawn. Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao presented holiday gifts and shared cake with the children, encouraging them to continue learning Chinese and participate actively in future events. After the performances, children watched together the classic Chinese animated film The Monkey King: Uproar in Heaven. Visiting the Chinese Embassy for the first time, Japanese student Satoko Kanzawa said she had a great time watching performances and films, and spending the day with Chinese friends. Children stage a performance in celebration of the International Children's Day at the Chinese Embassy in Japan, in Tokyo, Japan, June 1, 2025. Hundreds of Chinese and Japanese children gathered here on Sunday to celebrate the International Children's Day. (Xinhua/Yang Guang) Children stage a performance in celebration of the International Children's Day at the Chinese Embassy in Japan, in Tokyo, Japan, June 1, 2025. Hundreds of Chinese and Japanese children gathered here on Sunday to celebrate the International Children's Day. (Xinhua/Yang Guang) New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) Amid supply chain woes, Air India has decided to retrofit its 13 legacy A321 ceo planes that were earlier planned to be taken out of service while the first of the airline's legacy Boeing 787-8 aircraft will go for retrofit in July. Air India, which is slowly expanding its fleet and networks, has a total of 191 planes, including 64 wide-bodies and 127 narrow-bodies. Airline's CEO and MD Campbell Wilson told PTI that the first batch of the B 787s will go in for retrofit in July as there has been a little bit of push back because of certification delay of seats. "By the end of this financial year, hopefully about 68 per cent of the wide- body fleet will be upgraded and the complete fleet will be upgraded sometime in calendar 2027," he said in an interview. There are 27 legacy B787-8s with Air India. The carrier has already started the heavy refresh programme of the legacy B777s and two of them are already back in service. Heavy refresh of an aircraft includes having new carpets, seat covers, cushions and fixing broken seats. The refresh of these planes is expected to complete by the end of this year. According to Wilson, the supply chain situation is getting progressively better. "I believe 65-68 per cent of the narrow-body fleet has been upgraded. We are eyeing to complete all of them by the end of this year. We decided to extend the life of 13 aircraft (A321 ceos) that previously were to leave the fleet and those will be upgraded in the early part of next year. "Effectively, the narrow-body fleet (upgradation) will be completed this year," he said. In the wide-body category, Air India now has 6 A350s, 19 B777-300 ERs, 5 B777-200 LRs, 7 B787-9s and 27 B787-8s. Among the narrow-body fleet are 6 A319s, 94 A320 neos, 4 A320 ceos, 13 A321 ceos and 10 A321 neos. Aircraft deliveries as well as upgradation are getting delayed for many airlines, including Air India, mainly due to global supply chain woes. "I think it (supply chain situation) is getting progressively better. There are still constraints in a number of areas... it is progressively getting better over the years but it will still take I believe until 2029 or 2030," Wilson said. According to him, the bottlenecks are different for different aircraft. Tata Group-owned full-service carrier Air India is reportedly in talks with US-based aircraft maker Boeing and French manufacturer Airbus to potentially order 200 new narrow-body aircraft on top of the previous bulk order amid its ongoing renovation plans, reported the news agency Reuters, citing people aware of the development. Also Read | IndiGo to buy 30 Airbus A350 aircraft, doubling its fleet According to the agency report, the deal can also involve hundreds of aeroplanes in total, spread across various sizes, on top of the previous orders. The airline booked its largest new aircraft order in 2023 after its Tata Group buyout. The exact number of potential fresh orders remained unclear. However, a person aware of the deal said that it involved a provisional total of 200 narrow-body planes. Air India, in the majority, uses narrow-body planes for its operations. Air India places a record-breaking order of 470 aircraft from both Boeing and Airbus in 2023 and another 100 Airbus orders in 2024. The report also mentioned that all three companies, Air India, Airbus, and Boeing, refused to comment on the development of the potential new order. This development comes as the two largest aircraft manufacturers struggle with delivering the new aircraft orders due to a massive supply chain issue, which causes several delays in aircraft delivery and a shortage, according to the agency report. IATA Summit International Air Transport Association (IATA), an aviation industry body, began its World Air Transport Summit 2025 on Sunday, 1 June 2025, and is scheduled to close by Wednesday, 3 June 2025. This development of a potential Air India fresh order of aircraft comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the summit on Sunday. The official data also shows the rising demand for air travel in the Indian market. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data shows that the number of passengers carried by domestic airlines during the January to April 2025 period witnessed a 9.87 per cent rise at 575.13 lakhs, compared to 523.46 lakh in the same period a year ago. New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) Air India will look to send its wide-body planes, whose heavy maintenance is being done by Turkish Technic, to other MRO entities, as part of recalibrating its plans taking into cognisance the recent developments related to Turkiye, according to the airline's CEO Campbell Wilson. Against the backdrop of Turkiye backing Pakistan and condemning India's strikes on terror camps in the neighbouring country in May, aviation security watchdog BCAS, on May 15, revoked the security clearance for Turkish company Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd in the "interest of national security". On May 30, aviation safety regulator DGCA granted a one-time final extension of three months to IndiGo on damp leasing of two Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines till August 31 but directed the airline to terminate the lease within the three-month period. When asked about some of Air India's wide-body aircraft being sent to Turkish Technic for maintenance works, the Air India CEO and MD said it is a global business and a global supply chain. "It does take a while to adjust when the circumstances change around us but we are obviously sensitive to the national sentiment and perhaps the national wishes. So, regardless of which country we are talking about, we would clearly take cognisance of what people like us to do and expect us to do," he told PTI in an interview. Heavy maintenance works of some of the airline's wide-body B777s and B787s are done by Turkiye-based Turkish Technic. In the short-term, Wilson said the airline needs to send some aircraft for MRO works overseas to places in the Middle East, South East Asia, the US and in a couple of cases, business to Turkish Technic as it will take some time for India to have the capacity to do such works. "With this most recent development, we will look to recalibrate where we sent our aircraft, reduce the amount that we are sending to Turkiye and send it to other places. "But that does take some time because aircraft have to be maintained... we are cognisant of recent developments and we will look to adjust our plans," he said. MRO refers to Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul. London-based airline operator British Airways Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sean Doyle expects India's big and emerging middle class to fuel the nation's travel demand in the next 10 years amid the company's expansion plans with help from the India-UK free trade agreement. I think that the growth is going to be incredibly exciting, and something that you won't see. It's a once-in-a-generation growth opportunity here, what's happening in India, the CEO told the news agency PTI. In an interview with the news agency, the CEO, Sean Doyle, said that the company plans to further expand its air routes, flight frequencies, and cargo operations, leveraging the India-UK free trade agreement. According to the agency report, the airline currently operates 56 flights from five Indian cities every week. These flights include three weekly flights from Mumbai, two daily flights from Delhi, and one daily flight from Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Doyle also highlighted that India serves as a very important market for British Airways, as the airline plans to reintroduce first-class seats in the Boeing 787-9 aircraft flying between Mumbai and the London Heathrow route later this year. I think we want to be part of the growth of aviation in India. We have been part of it for 100 years... about 2,500 people work for British Airways in India... outside of the United States, our biggest single market is India, Doyle told the news agency. Also Read | India to introduce global tendering for public procurement post UK FTA Cargo Rise, Tariff Uncertainties British Airways CEO Sean Doyle expects more cargo opportunities between India and the United Kingdom (UK) due to the two nations' Free Trade Agreement (FTA). I expect more cargo being exported from India under the FTA. And I would expect as well that it would be an increase in certain niche exports coming into India as well. Not necessarily out of the UK but also out of the surrounding kind of markets that we serve, the airline CEO told the news agency. As the world still remains uncertain about the US President Donald Trump's imposed tariffs, Doyle said that everyone is still watching what is happening and the impact of these import duties. President Trump's decision to impose reciprocal tariffs on all good imported from other world nations fueled a international tariff war which is raging and causing concerns of uncertainty to date. Also Read | IndiGo announces new direct flight between Adampur to Mumbai Details here Indian Aviation Demand Data collected from India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), shows that the number of passengers carried by domestic airlines during the January to April 2025 period witnessed a 9.87 per cent rise at 575.13 lakh or over 5.75 crore, compared year-on-year (YoY) with 523.46 lakh or more than 5.23 crore in the same period a year ago. The passenger air traffic also witnessed an 8.45 per cent growth on a month-on-month (MoM) comparison from March 2025 to April 2025. Passengers carried by domestic airlines during January-April 2025 were 575.13 lakhs as against 523.46 lakhs during the corresponding period of the previous year thereby registering an annual growth of 9.87% and monthly growth of 8.45%, said DGCA in its monthly traffic data release. (Bloomberg) -- Raging Western Canadian wildfires that have forced thousands of people from their homes are now also prompting evacuations from oilsands projects in northern Alberta. A fire near Cold Lake, Alberta is bearing down on oilsands operations and curtailing production in the region as employees are told to leave. Out-of-control fires in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are threatening towns and mining operations as crews fight to contain the blazes. Canadian Natural Resources Ltd., the largest oil and gas producer in the country, said Saturday it had evacuated workers from its Jackfish 1 oilsands project and halted 36,500 barrels per day of bitumen production. All workers are safe and accounted for with no reported injuries, the Calgary-based company said in a statement. Similarly, MEG Energy Corp. said late Saturday it had proactively evacuated all non-essential personnel from its Christina Lake project and that the wildfire had caused an outage to a third-party power line, disconnecting it from the grid. The company said it is still producing oil from the project, though the startup of an additional 70,000 barrels per day of production will be delayed as a result of the power loss. We are working closely with authorities and coordinating with our industry peers to support each other and resume normal operations, MEG President and CEO Darlene Gates said in a statement. Earlier, Cenovus Energy Inc. put customers on notice that it may not make some oil deliveries from one asset and evacuated staff from another in the Cold Lake region. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- Emirates plans to keep its giant fleet of Airbus SE A380 double-deckers in operation until the end of next decade, as the worlds largest international airline seeks to extend the lifespan of an aircraft that helped lay the foundation for its dominance on global routes. The Dubai-based carrier will introduce one more upgrade to the aircrafts first-class cabins before retiring the planes at the end of next decade, Emirates President Tim Clark told journalists at an aviation gathering in New Delhi on Sunday. Emirates is already pouring billions into a refresh of its fleet of A380s as it seeks to extend the jumbo jets lifespan. Airbus announced early in 2019 that it would cease making the plane because of slim orders, with only Emirates buying the giant plane in large quantities, with a fleet of more than 100 units. Many other carriers have retired their fleets, and switched to smaller variants like the Airbus A350-1000 or the Boeing Co. 777. Clark is pushing the lifespan of the planes because Emirates lacks an obvious replacement at this stage. The airline hasnt ordered the A350-1000 because Clark has been openly critical of the durability of the aircrafts engines, made by Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc. And the Boeing 777X model wont arrive before sometime next year, he said. Boeing is providing clearer messages on its delivery program for the 777X, the next iteration of its popular widebody aircraft, Clark said, with an entry into service in global fleets possibly toward the fall of next year. The refreshed A380s come with a four-class layout consisting of first, business, premium economy and economy class. Emirates equipped its original first class with extras like enclosed cabins and even showers, while business-class passengers can mingle at a communal bar on the upper deck. While the A380 is a hit with the flying public because of its imposing size and often luxurious layout, airlines struggled to make it operationally viable given the high fuel costs and complexity to operate a plane of that size on many routes. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) Indian carriers having more planes in their fleets provides businesses a rationale to invest in the country's aviation space as there will be a local market as well as an export market for services and support, according to Air India chief Campbell Wilson. In an interview to PTI, Wilson said there is a lot of interest in India and a lot of people are keen to partner with Air India. "There is an air about India". The country's aviation industry directly employs 3,69,700 people and generates USD 5.6 billion of GDP. When indirect, induced and tourism impacts are included, the total rises to 7.7 million jobs and USD 53.6 billion of GDP (1.5 per cent), as per global airlines' grouping IATA, which is holding its annual general meeting in India after a gap of 42 years. "There is a lot of confidence people are drawing from the transformation of Air India but also Indian aviation. (People are more) willing to invest in India. "The fact that there is going to be a much more sizeable Indian-domiciled fleet gives all sorts of businesses a rationale to invest because there is a local market in addition to an export market for services and support. So, surely the interest is coming and I think the benefits will accrue in the years to come," the Air India CEO and MD said. More than 2,500 civil aircraft are expected to come into India in the next 20 years. Air India and IndiGo have placed orders for more than 1,000 planes in recent years. The Tata Group-owned Air India is also in the middle of a five-year transformation plan. Wilson also stressed that there is a healthy competition in India among airlines. While emphasising that there is an air about India, Wilson, who has been helming Air India for nearly three years, also said the country is having an increasing say and an increasing share of voice at the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). "The biggest aircraft orders in history have been made by the Indian carriers in the last couple of years. India is a large market and by far, the fastest growing large market in the world," he said. On Friday, IATA Director General Willie Walsh said India's place in global aviation has changed dramatically, particularly over the last decade. The country has seen record aircraft orders, impressive growth, and world-class infrastructure developments, he added. India's largest airline operator, IndiGo, on Sunday, 1 June 2025, announced that the company has signed an agreement with the foreign airline companies Delta Air, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic as the firm aims to expand its long-haul services, reported multiple news agencies. The low-cost airline plans to expand its services to North America, Europe and the United Kingdom (Britain) by leveraging Delta's strength in North America, Air France-KLM's reach in Europe and North America, and Virgin Atlantic's presence in the U.K. and transatlantic operations. We are particularly excited to start our long-haul expansion from this Summer and connect with our partners networks to provide greater access to Europe and North America. This strategic partnership enables a compelling combined customer proposition in the form of comprehensive intercontinental connectivity, seamless experience and great loyalty value, said the IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers in the official statement. Also Read | IndiGo can't use Turkish Airlines aircraft after 31 August IndiGo's global ties Through this new deal, IndiGo welcomed Delta Air to the partnership as the Indian airline company has been collaborating with Air France-KLM since 2022. After all the regulatory procedure is completed, the IndiGo customers will be able to book onward travel on select flights operated by foreign airlines. This makes it easier for customers to book it directly from the IndiGo website. The partnership will give IndiGo customers access to KLM flights from Amsterdam to 30 points within Europe, Delta or KLM flights from Amsterdam to the United States and Canada, and Virgin Atlantic flights from Manchester to the United States. According to the official statement, Air France-KLM will begin selling IndiGo flights to 24 destinations beyond Hyderabad after the route's launch in September 2025. The release also mentioned that Delta Air plans to resume its services between Atlanta and Delhi, subject to regulatory and government approvals. The service dates will be announced later, according to the press release. The MoU also creates a framework for deeper collaboration between the carriers on a bilateral and multilateral basis; contemplates commercial collaboration including network, loyalty, cargo and sales, said the companies in the official release. Earlier, IndiGo announced that the company has damp-leased six Boeing 787 aircraft later in 2025, and placed an order of 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft with an option to extend it to 70 aircraft. Indias largest airline IndiGo said on Sunday it had placed an order to buy another 30 Airbus A350 aircraft in addition to the 30 already in place. "We are placing a firm order for 30 Airbus A350-900s," said IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers. In April last year, the airline had placed an order for 30 A350 aircraft and there was an option to order 70 more such planes. The airline, founded in 2006, has over 900 planes on order that are to be delivered in the coming years. Also Read | IndiGo can't use Turkish Airlines aircraft after 31 August Expanding International Network IndiGo is expanding its international network and is set to operate flights to 10 new overseas cities with leased Boeing 787 planes in the current fiscal year. IndiGo, Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic on Sunday announced plans to build an industry-leading partnership connecting India with Europe and North America. Elbers said: "IndiGo has embarked on an ambitious journey to become a global airline by 2030. This partnership represents another important milestone to pursue commercial synergies, operational excellence and innovation. This announcement not only expands our relationship with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic but also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as we welcome Delta Airlines as a valued partner. " "We are particularly excited to start our long-haul expansion from this Summer and connect with our partners' networks to provide greater access to Europe and North America. This strategic partnership enables a compelling combined customer proposition in the form of comprehensive intercontinental connectivity, seamless experience and great loyalty value. It also lays the groundwork for us to exchange best practices in areas of technology, operational excellence and service delivery," the IndiGo CEO added. Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, said, "This agreement is another example of our commitment to making travel more connected, more inclusive and more accessible. Combining our strengths with those of IndiGo, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic will enable us to offer unparalleled connectivity and convenience, ensuring that our customers enjoy the highest standards of service and reliability across the globe." Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, said: "We are very glad to extend our existing partnership with IndiGo and to do so alongside our partners Delta and Virgin Atlantic. India is a strategic market for Air France-KLM, where we have a strong and historic presence, soon to increase. We look forward to welcoming IndiGo customers on our flights and to play an active role in the country's connectivity." IndiGo on Sunday said it will comply with the government's decision to not let the company to damp lease two Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines beyond August 31. Speaking at an event in New Delhi, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said that the company still has time to find a solution for its customers on the issue. This is the government's decision and we will comply with the government's decision. We have the coming month to find a solution for the customers which were booked, he said. On May 30, aviation safety regulator DGCA granted a one-time final extension of three months to IndiGo on damp leasing of two Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines till August 31. Acknowledging the government's decision, Elbers said that the extension will help IndiGo get more time to address the issue and the company will look at how to incorporate the same. The extension helps us to have more time to get that addressed, and we'll look at how to address it and how to incorporate it. We still have time for the next few months to do that. The DGCA in its order directed IndiGo to terminate the Turkish Airlines aircraft lease within the three-month period. The development came against the backdrop of Turkiye backing Pakistan and condemning India's strikes on terror camps in the neighbouring country earlier this month. Meanwhile, IndiGo on Sunday also announced placing a firm order for another 30 wide-body A350 planes with Airbus, taking the total number of such aircraft to 60. The airline has over 900 planes on order that are to be delivered in the coming years. Air India to recalibrate contract with Turkish firm Air India on Sunday said it will look to send its wide-body planes, whose heavy maintenance is being done by Turkish Technic, to other MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) entities. The action will be taken as part of recalibrating its plans taking into cognisance the recent developments related to Turkiye, according to the airline's CEO Campbell Wilson. A fire breaks out at a residential building in the Al-Riggae area in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, June 1, 2025. Three people were killed and several others injured on Sunday in a fire that broke out in two apartments of a residential building in the Al-Riggae area southwest of Kuwait City, the Kuwait Fire Force said in a press statement. (Kuwait Fire Force/Handout via Xinhua) KUWAIT CITY, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and several others injured on Sunday in a fire that broke out in two apartments of a residential building in the Al-Riggae area southwest of Kuwait City, the Kuwait Fire Force said in a press statement. Firefighting teams, along with personnel from the Search and Rescue Department, responded swiftly to contain and extinguish the flames, read the statement published by the official Kuwait News Agency, without identifying the cause of the fire. Several injuries were treated at the scene by emergency medical teams, while others requiring further medical attention were transported to nearby hospitals, read the statement. The Kuwait Fire Force also issued a public safety reminder, urging building and facility owners to strictly adhere to safety and fire prevention requirements, removing all obstacles from external walkways to protect lives and property. Local Kuwaiti media outlets have reported differing casualty figures. Daily newspaper Al-Rai quoted Director of the Public Relations Department at the Kuwait Fire Force Mohammed Al-Gharib as saying that six people were killed and five others critically injured in the fire, whereas some other reports suggested more than 15 injuries. The local reports noted that the affected building is inhabited by workers of African and Asian origins. This photo shows the residential building after a fire in the Al-Riggae area in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, June 1, 2025. Three people were killed and several others injured on Sunday in a fire that broke out in two apartments of a residential building in the Al-Riggae area southwest of Kuwait City, the Kuwait Fire Force said in a press statement. (Photo by Asad/Xinhua) This photo shows the residential building after a fire in the Al-Riggae area in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, June 1, 2025. Three people were killed and several others injured on Sunday in a fire that broke out in two apartments of a residential building in the Al-Riggae area southwest of Kuwait City, the Kuwait Fire Force said in a press statement. (Kuwait Fire Force/Handout via Xinhua) (Bloomberg Opinion) -- In the bond world, not calling a perpetual is bad. But not repaying coupon? Thats way worse. Hong Kong-based New World Development Co.s decision to defer interest payments on four perpetual notes took investors by surprise. While this is by no means an action of default a perpetual resembles an equity when business conditions get tough its nonetheless a highly unconventional move. As such, the real estate developer, controlled by the family empire of tycoon Henry Cheng, must clarify the confusion it has created among investors and bankers. There are three main questions worth asking. First, why is New World deferring its coupon payments now? Its negotiating with banks HK$87.5 billion ($11.2 billion) of refinancing in the hope of completing a deal by the end of June. As of Friday, lenders had committed more than HK$35 billion, or about 40% of the total. Its worth noting that this deferral could save the developer only about HK1.8 billion annually. By all means, not paying perpetual coupons is a credit-negative event, especially in the eye of Chinese banks, which might be stepping in to replace foreign lenders if the latter cut their credit lines. On the mainland, most perpetuals are issued by creditworthy state-owned companies, such as big banks and industrials, which habitually redeem at the first reset date and repay all interest. So why is New World rocking the boat when it should put on a performance and behave like a pristine investment-grade borrower instead? This brings us to the second question: How tight is New Worlds liquidity position? Companies with decent cash flow might want to keep paying coupons until the mega loan deal is sealed first. Up to the companys surprise announcement, investors could have been forgiven for thinking that the developer was troubled but not distressed. After all, New World has got some strong tailwinds. A recent plunge in Hong Kongs benchmark borrowing rate is boosting demand for home purchases. Last week, a luxury residential project in the citys southern district, which New World owns 50% of, pulled in more than HK$1 billion. For the fiscal year ending June, Bloomberg Intelligence expects the company to beat its Hong Kong sales target of HK$11 billion by 10%. Business is picking up in mainland China as well. The developer has raised its sales target by 27% to 14 billion yuan ($2 billion). Going forward, investors will be skeptical of New Worlds liquidity position. As of 2024 year-end, it had HK$21 billion in cash. But the company does not disclose what percentage is being held in mainland China, which has various capital controls. In other words, money onshore may not be easily transferred to Hong Kong for debt repayments. In addition, is that seemingly large cash pile from five months ago still unrestricted? Third, will there be any spillover? The Cheng family is probably trying hard to ring fence and ensure New Worlds woes dont affect other parts of its business empire, such as Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Ltd., or toll roads operator CTF Services Ltd. But for the rest of us, the more pertinent question is whether Hong Kongs reputation as a creditworthy community is still intact. Unlike mainland Chinese companies that dont have a long track record and thus have to swallow stringent lending conditions, the citys blue-chip names have for decades enjoyed lenient and cozy relationships with creditors. Unfortunately, New Worlds surprise coupon deferral is eroding that mutual trust and raising some very uncomfortable questions. More From Bloomberg Opinion: This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Shuli Ren is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asian markets. A former investment banker, she was a markets reporter for Barrons. She is a CFA charterholder. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion Patanjali Foods Ltd on Sunday junked reports of Patanjali Ayurved Limited receiving notice from the Ministry of Corporate affairs, saying it has not received any communication. In a stock exchange filing, Patanjali Foods said its sister concern Patanjali Ayurved is not being investigated by the Centre. Pursuant to Regulation 30(11) of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, based on confirmation from Patanjali Ayurved Limited, we may clarify that Patanjali Ayurved Limited has not received any communication from Ministry of Corporate Affairs(MCA) for the proposed investigation by MCA as appearing in mainstream media, the filing noted. Patanjali Ayurved is exploring legal options to address the issue, the company said. Their legal counsels are examining appropriate action in this regard, Patanjali Foods said. Patanjali Ayurved under Centre's lens: Report In a report on May 30, Bloomberg reported that yoga guru Baba Ramdev's company Patanjali Ayurved is under the scrutiny of Centre due to suspicious activities. The Centre has asked Patanjali Ayurved to explain some transactions deemed suspicious, according to the report quoting people familiar with the matter. As per the report quoting unnamed sources, the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs sent a notice to the company after the federal economic intelligence wing found transactions it said was abnormal and dubious. The sources quoted by Bloomberg did not however reveal the exact amount of transactions involved in the case. They cited early stages of investigation as the reason. The company will have about two months to respond to the notice, according to the report. The corporate affairs ministry will further confirm if the company committed any corporate governance breaches and fund diversion. While Patanjali Ayurved is a closely held company, its unit Patanjali Foods Ltd. is publicly traded. Patanjali's face, Yoga Guru Ramdev, found himself in a soup earlier this year regarding some controversial comments. On May 2, Ramdev gave an undertaking in the Delhi High Court saying he will not issue any disparaging statement or publish on social media, posts similar to his "sharbat jihad" remark against Hamdard's Rooh Afza. A similar undertaking was also tendered by Ramdev's Patanjali Foods Ltd. The court passed the order while dealing with a lawsuit by Hamdard National Foundation India against Ramdev and his Patanjali Foods Ltd over the controversial remarks. Russias main investigating authority has initiated criminal probes after two bridges blew up in regions bordering Ukraine, crushing passing trains that caused at least seven fatalities and widespread injury. Authorities have classified the incidents as terrorist attacks, the countrys Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said Sunday in comments broadcast by state TV channel Rossiya 24. A section of the road bridge in the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, struck a passenger train en route to Moscow shortly before midnight on Saturday, the regional governor Alexander Bogomaz said in a Telegram post. The number of injured stands at 66, he said. Hours later, a similar incident occurred in Kursk, which also borders Ukraine. There a railway bridge collapsed as a freight train was passing, Governor Alexander Khinshtein said. The engine crew was hospitalized. Its unclear whether there is a connection between the two. The incidents occurred just as a Russian delegation prepares to travel to Turkey for a second round of peace talks with Ukraine this week. The opening round on May 16, the first in more than three years, ended with a prisoner exchange agreement and discussions on a potential ceasefire. Russias government, including Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, has been notified of the two incidents, state news agency Tass reported, citing Transportation Ministry head Roman Starovoit. So far, Russia has not signaled if the incidents may affect the talks. Ukraine has so far made no official comment on the incidents. However, Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian Center for Countering Propaganda, said on Sunday the Kremlin may be preparing the ground for disruption of the talks, adding its not the first time Russia conducts false-flag attacks. Pushing Forward Ukraine has no motive to disrupt the Istanbul summit. On the contrary, Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire long ago, Kovalenko said in a Telegram post. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said last week Kyiv is in favor of pushing forward with negotiations, but has been awaiting a memorandum from Moscow laying out its position before a follow-up meeting takes place a position the Kremlin said was unconstructive. Ukraine came under one of the longest barrages from Russian missiles and drones early Sunday, with air sirens sounding for more then nine hours. The scope of the damage is yet to be assessed. Ukraines Military Intelligence Service said a military train exploded in the Zaporizhzhia region, which is partially occupied by Russia, without giving details on how the blast occurred. The explosion disrupted logistics between the area and the Crimea peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, the service said. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Defense officials from Europe and Southeast Asia called for stronger collaboration to protect the global network of subsea cables as concerns grow over threats to this vital infrastructure. Countries like Singapore and Malaysia are becoming key hubs for the roughly 600 fiber-optic cables that carry nearly all of the worlds data. Meanwhile, a spike in cable damage in European waters, particularly in the Baltic Sea, has heightened fears about the networks vulnerability. We need to work together to defend the entire network, Singapore Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing said at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue security forum on Sunday. Theres no point trying to defend the integrity and security of a submarine cable by looking at a point. We need both ends to be secure. The issue came up repeatedly during the two-day summit in Singapore, with European officials keen to share what theyve learned from the recent rise in subsea cable damage. Today, the global undersea cable network stretches about 1.4 million kilometers (870,000 miles). With the demand for data center power projected to surge significantly with the advent of intensive AI platforms, more cables are essential. Protecting them has become a key imperative in Europe since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with incidents in its waters mostly involving tankers traveling to and from Russia, and in at least one case, a Chinese vessel. Despite suspicions of sabotage, theres been no strong evidence pointing to deliberate attacks, with the incidents more likely to be accidents or careless behavior. Still, NATO countries have increased patrols in key areas to ensure the safety of undersea infrastructure. The European Unions top diplomat Kaja Kallas urged European and Asian partners to work together at sea to tackle covert shadow fleets of tankers and review maritime security laws. Protecting digital cable infrastructure is important for the Philippines too, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said in an interview. He added that his country, which is locked in a long-running dispute with China in the South China Sea, is working to build up its capabilities to address the threat. Thailand also called the issue a pressing concern, with Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai saying the country is collaborating with Singapore and Brunei. He added undersea infrastructure faces risks not only from sabotage, but also from accidents and natural disasters. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com The Trump administration ordered another power plant to remain operational by invoking emergency powers for a second time, a day before the facility in Pennsylvania was scheduled to close. Constellation Energy Corp.s Eddystone Generating Station, which was set to shut down its last remaining units on Saturday, will be required to remain online under a Energy Department order, which invoked a section of federal law typically reserved for emergencies such as extreme weather events and war. The plant located just south of Philadelphia began operations in 1960, and has two remaining units that can burn either natural gas or oil during periods of high power demand, according to Constellation. The Energy Department said the decision followed recent testimony from the areas grid operator that its system faces a growing resource adequacy concern because of increasing power demand, plant retirements and other factors. The department last Friday ordered the aging J.H. Campbell coal-fired power plant in West Olive, Michigan, to remain operating past its May 31 shutdown date. The move, which the Trump administration said was necessary due to factors that included a shortage of electricity, drew criticism from analysts as well as the chair of the Michigan Public Service Commission, who said no emergency existed. The Department of Energys move to keep these zombie plants online will have significant public health impacts and increase electricity costs for people in Michigan and Pennsylvania, said Kit Kennedy, a managing director at the Natural Resources Defense Council. These dirty and expensive fossil plants were slated to close because they could not compete with cheaper, cleaner alternatives. The Energy Departments second order Friday came after PJM Interconnection LLC, the regions grid operator, accepted Constellations retirement notice for its Eddystone plan after studying if such a move would threaten grid reliability. But in a statement Saturday, PJM, which manages the largest US grid roughly spanning from Washington DC to Illinois, said it supported the Energy Departments order. Constellation said in a statement Saturday it was taking immediate steps to continue to operate the remaining units at its Eddystone power plant throughout the summer and would investigate the possibility of operating them for longer until it can complete work to restart Pennslvanias shuttered Three Mile Island nuclear plant. The company said it was working with PJM to accelerate the restart of that nuclear reactor, with a goal of putting it online in 2027. Previously, Constellation has said it expected the reactor to be online in 2028. With assistance from Naureen S. Malik. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. The UK will create an always on munitions production capacity to allow it to scale-up its defense industry when needed, as it increasingly shifts to a war footing with Russias assault on Ukraine showing little sign of ending. Prime Minister Keir Starmers government will invest 1.5 billion to build six munitions factories, designed to bolster its defense industry and stockpile weapons to meet greater demand, the Ministry of Defence said. The review will also focus on the UKs warfighting readiness designed to deter enemies. The move comes ahead of the publication of a new defense strategy on Monday thatll set out the biggest threats Britain faces and whether it has the resources to meet them. The UKs ordnance stockpiles have run dry following decades of under-investment as well as the recent support for Ukraine. While it does manufacture much of its own munitions, a decision by the last Labour government meant that it outsourced its explosives manufacturing to the likes of the US and France. The UK, is in part, addressing its chronic reluctance to invest in its own defense industry for decades, which has seen the size of its own army fall to its smallest since the Napoleonic era. It recently announced that the new strategy will end the hollowing out of the UK armed forces, which loses as many as 300 personnel a month, by investing an additional 1.5 billion to improve military accommodation. We are strengthening the UKs industrial base to better deter our adversaries and make the UK secure at home and strong abroad, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, said. The Ministry of Defence declined to say which defense companies would build the new factories. The additional funding, which will take the UKs munitions spend to 6 billion over the next four years, will create more than 1,000 new jobs and help the armed forces endure prolonged campaigns and support them in warfare, the ministry said. The government has also promised to invest more than 1 billion to establish a Digital Targeting Web to better connect Britains weapons systems and speed-up decisions for targeting enemy threats on the battlefield. The review, to be published Monday, is also in response to US President Donald Trumps demand that Europe take more responsibility for its own security, and the increasing military and cyber threats against the UK. Just weeks after Trump came into office, Starmer announced that the UK would increase defense spending from 2.3% to 2.5% by 2027, with a further rise to 3% in the next parliament, to bolster its military capabilities. UK defense chiefs have privately warned the government that plans to raise military funding to 2.5% of economic output wont be enough and cuts will still need to be made as a result of the underfunding. Starmers office and the Treasury were told earlier this year that the 0.2% increase will merely allow the UK to stand still and maintain current capabilities, Bloomberg reported in February. UK Military Chiefs Warn Treasury 2.5% Spending Goal Falls Short Despite the significance of the review, Starmers administration is likely to come under pressure to increase its spending on defense even further as Europe and NATO look to up investment at its June summit. That target is set to be 5% of economic output, with 3.5% on hard defense spending, and 1.5% on military-related expenditures like cyber and border security by 2032. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) Gross GST collections rose 16.4 per cent to over 2.01 lakh crore in May, as per government data released on Sunday. This comes after a record high Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection in April, when the revenues touched an all-time high of 2.37 lakh crore. In May, gross revenues from domestic transactions rose 13.7 per cent to about 1.50 lakh crore, while GST revenue from imports grew 25.2 per cent to 51,266 crore. In May, the gross Central GST revenues stood at 35,434 crore, State GST revenues at 43,902 crore and Integrated GST at about 1.09 lakh crore. Revenues from Cess was at 12,879 crore. In May, 2024, the mop up was 1,72,739 crore. Also Read | Govt relaxes rules to boost GST registration among small businesses Meanwhile, total refunds during the month fell 4 per cent to 27,210 crore. Net GST mop-up stood at about 1.74 lakh crore, a 20.4 per cent year-on-year growth. Deloitte India Partner M S Mani said the wide variations in the growth of GST collections across states require a thorough analysis across the sectors that are important in each state. While large states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have reported collection increases of 17 per cent to 25 per cent, similar large states like Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have shown increases of up to 6 per cent. Some states like Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan have shown median increases of 10 per cent. U.S. schoolsand one prestigious institution in particularhave long offered up-and-coming Chinese officials a place to study governance, a practice that the Trump administration could end with a new effort to keep out what it says are Chinese students with Communist Party ties. For decades, the party has sent thousands of mid-career and senior bureaucrats to pursue executive training and postgraduate studies on U.S. campuses, with Harvard University a coveted destination described by some in China as the top party school" outside the country. Alumni of such programs include a former vice president and Chinese leader Xi Jinpings top negotiator in trade talks with the first Trump administration. In an effort announced Wednesday by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. authorities will tighten criteria for visa applications from China and aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields." The statement didnt say how the Trump administration would assess Communist Party ties or what degree of connection would result in revocation of visas. In China, party membership is widely seen as helpful for career advancementin government and the private sectorand is typically a prerequisite for officials seeking high office. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Thursday that the U.S. move seriously damaged the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students." Alleged ties with the Communist Party have emerged as a leading line of attack in President Trumps pressure campaign against Harvard. The Trump administration said on May 22 it was revoking Harvards authorization to enroll foreign students, accusing the university of working with the Communist Party, though it later gave Harvard 30 days to contest the decision. Harvard has filed a lawsuit to keep its foreign enrollments. Harvard didnt respond to questions for this article. Some U.S. politicians have said that Chinas Communist Party is harvesting expertise in American academia to ultimately harm U.S. interests. The Trump administration has cited these criticisms among others to back its efforts to force a major cultural shift in U.S. colleges, which many conservatives regard as bastions of liberal and left-wing ideology. American universities have played leading roles in shaping Chinas overseas training programs for mid-career officials, which Beijing started arranging at scale in the 1990s as a way to improve governance by exposing its bureaucrats to Western public-policy ideas and practices. Other U.S. colleges that have offered executive training to Chinese officials include Syracuse, Stanford, the University of Maryland and Rutgers, according to publicity materials and other disclosures. Syracuses Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, for instance, helped set up postgraduate programs in public administration at Chinese universities in the early 2000s. Beyond the U.S., Chinese officials have also flocked to leading universities in countries including Singapore, Japan and the U.K. Singapores Nanyang Technological University is among the most popular, having trained thousands of Chinese officials since the early 1990s, mostly through postgraduate programs colloquially known as the Mayors Class." Li Yuanchao, shown during his time as Chinas vice president, went to Harvard Kennedy School in 2002. Harvard enjoys a sterling reputation among Chinese officials thanks to its record in training highflying bureaucrats who went on to take senior government roles and, in some cases, join the partys elite Politburo. Some observers dubbed Harvard a de facto party school," as the partys own training academies for promising bureaucrats are known. If we were to rank the Chinese Communist Partys overseas party schools, the one deserving top spot has to be Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government in the U.S.," said a 2014 commentary published by Shanghai Observer, an online platform run by the citys main party newspaper. Li Yuanchao, a former Politburo member and Chinas vice president from 2013 to 2018, attended a mid-career training program at Harvard Kennedy School in 2002. He was the party boss of the central city of Nanjing at the time, and his first class at the school focused on crisis management, he recalled in a speech when visiting Harvard in 2009. The training proved invaluable when Li, after his return to Nanjing, had to deal with a mass poisoning in the city that killed dozens of people. More than 200 lives were saved in time, and the suspect was captured within 36 hours. We were praised by the local people and the central government for this," Li said in the 2009 speech. So, when I come here again today, I want to say: Thank you, Harvard!" Liu He, a retired vice premier who was Xis top trade negotiator in talks with the first Trump administration, earned a masters degree in public administration from Harvard Kennedy School in 1995. Current Politburo member and senior legislator Li Hongzhong attended a short-term program at Harvard in 1999. Liu He, seen during a 2023 meeting with then-Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, attended Harvard in the 1990s. While Harvard Kennedy School hosted Chinese students as early as the 1980s, Beijing started sending officials for mid-career training there in a more organized manner in the following decade, according to Chinese media reports. One program, launched in 1998, offered fellowships and executive training courses to around 20 senior officials each year. In the early 2000s, Harvard launched another program, Chinas Leaders in Development," through which Chinese officials would undergo a weekslong training course split between Harvard and Beijings prestigious Tsinghua University. The program was designed to help prepare senior local and central Chinese government officials to more effectively address the ongoing challenges of Chinas national reforms," according to Harvard. According to newsletters published by the Kennedy Schools Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, the Harvard segment of the program has featured classes on subjects including public management, economic development and social policy, as well as visits to U.S. government organizations. Some children of top Communist Party officials have also attended Harvard for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Xis daughter, Mingze, attended Harvard as an undergraduate in the early 2010s under an assumed name, though Harvard administrators and some faculty members were aware of her identity. She had enrolled while her father was Chinas vice president and leader-in-waiting and graduated after he took power. Other Harvard alumni with elite backgrounds include Alvin Jiang, a grandson of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, as well as Bo Guagua, the son of the former Politburo member Bo Xilai. Bo Guagua, son of former politician Bo Xilai, walks offstage after receiving his Harvard masters degree in 2012. Bo Guagua attended Harvard Kennedy School from 2010 to 2012 and earned a masters degree in public policy. His father was purged in 2012 and was sentenced to life imprisonment the following year on charges of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power. Harvards China connections have also helped some of its top scholars gain access in Beijing. Graham Allison, a former dean of Harvard Kennedy School, has been granted meetings with Xi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi over the past year, during which the professor spoke about his views on U.S.-China relations. Write to Chun Han Wong at chunhan.wong@wsj.com Bank holidays this week, June 2-8: Banks will be closed for two days this week in some parts of India, due to Id-ul-Adha (Bakrid) and Bakri ID (Id-Uz-Zuha), according to the bank holiday calendar by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Banks will also be closed on Sunday, June 8, 2025 across the country. Bank holidays in India differ from state to state and are based on national, regional, and religious observances. Bank holiday on June 6 Banks in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram will be closed on Friday, June 6, 2025, to mark Id-ul-Adha (Bakrid), an Islamic festival that recognises Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, as an act of obedience to God. Bank holiday on June 7 Banks across the country, except Ahmedabad, Gangtok, Itanagar, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, will be closed on Saturday, June 7, 2025, on account of Bakrid, also known as Id ul-Zuha. Commonly known as the goat festival, the bank holiday designated regions will celebrate the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son on this day. Also Read | Kotak Mahindra Bank elevates Paritosh Kashyap to exec director Are all banks open or closed on Saturday, June 7? Banks in Ahmedabad, Gangtok, Itanagar, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram will be open on Saturday, June 7, 2025, since it is the first Saturday of the month. As per the RBI calendar, banks are typically closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. Notably, banks are closed on all Sundays of the month. Hence, banks will be closed on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Also Read | Needed: A hard policy reset to make Indian banks shape up Other bank holidays in June 2025 Apart from Id-ul-Adha (Bakrid) and Bakri ID (Id-Uz-Zuha) banks are scheduled to be closed for three days except weekends in the month of June. June 11 (Wednesday) Sant Guru Kabir Jayanti / Saga Dawa Banks will be shut in Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh. June 27 (Friday) Ratha Yatra / Kang (Rathajatra) Banks closed in Odisha and Manipur. June 30 (Monday) Remna Ni Banks closed in Mizoram. Also Read | Sebi bars former IndusInd Bank CEO, four others from market What services are available on a bank holiday? Online banking services will be available across the country during bank holidays. Customers can use these services for convenient financial transactions. State-owned Canara Bank announced that, effective Sunday, 1 June 2025, the institutional lender has waived the average monthly balance (AMB) requirement for all types of savings bank accounts. According to Mint's earlier report, this means that customers will not be charged for failing to maintain the minimum balance requirement for all savings accounts from 1 June 2025. A minimum average monthly balance is the lowest amount that a customer has to keep in their account every month; failure to do so will attract additional penalties. With this new policy, all Canara Bank SB account holders will now enjoy true no penalty on minimum balance for all SB accounts, free from any AMB-related penalties or fees, said the bank in an official statement. Here's what other banks charge Axis Bank: According to the official fees and charges structure released by the bank, effective 1 April 2024, the average balance requirement criteria for a Priority Savings Account is 2,00,000 or 2 lakh per month for all Metro, Urban, Semi Urban, and Rural accounts. The average monthly balance required across all locations is 10,000 per month for a semi-urban or rural branch or an FD of at least 50,000 for a tenure of 12 months or more. If a customer fails to maintain the minimum balance, 6 per cent of the shortfall from the Average Balance Requirement will be charged. According to the tariff structure effective 1 April 2023, this charge can go up to a maximum of 600. HDFC Bank: In a regular savings bank account with HDFC Bank, the customers are mandated to maintain a minimum average monthly balance of 10,000 or a fixed deposit of 1 lakh for a minimum time period of 1 year 1 day for only Urban branch offices. In case of a Semi-urban branch, the average monthly balance will be off 5,000, or a fixed deposit of 50,000 for a minimum 1-year 1-day period. In case of a Rural bank account, the customers will have to maintain an average quarterly balance of 2,500 or a fixed deposit of 25,000 for the same period of time as the other branch locations. If customers fail to maintain the balance, the bank can charge up to a maximum of 600 for the urban account. The bank has different slabs for penalty charges for non-maintenance of this balance. SBI Bank: According to the official State Bank of India website, the basic savings bank account from the largest PSU Bank does not require a minimum balance to be maintained monthly or quarterly. The website also shows that the Savings bank account and the Savings Plus bank account from the institutional lender do not have a Monthly Average Balance component. ICICI Bank: The official website of ICICI Bank shows that customers with an Easy Receive Account with the private lender must maintain a minimum balance of 10,000 for Metro and urban locations. In case of Semi-urban and rural locations, the minimum balance amount is set at 5,000. If customers fail to maintain the minimum monthly average balance, they will be charged a maximum of 450, depending on the difference between the minimum balance and the location of the branch. CAIRO, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's startup sector attracted 228 million U.S. dollars in funding from January to May, marking a 130-percent increase compared to the same period last year, the Egyptian government said on Sunday. A total of 16 deals were executed during the five-month period, including 11 with disclosed investment volumes totaling 156 million U.S. dollars. Additionally, real estate startup "Nawy" and fintech company "MNT-Halan" secured debt financing worth 23 million and 49 million dollars, respectively, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation said in a statement. "These indicators reflect the continuous activity in Egypt's startup market, particularly with the measures taken by the state to improve the investment climate and business environment," said Rania Al-Mashat, minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and head of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship. She added that the government had taken significant steps to empower startups and enhance their ability to attract larger investments, "notably including tax incentives for companies with revenues less than 20 million Egyptian pounds (about 400,000 U.S. dollars)." The property technology sector led in terms of venture capital investment volume, accounting for 33 percent of total investments, while the financial technology sector led in the number of deals, with five transactions representing 32 percent of the overall investment, the ministry noted. The Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship was launched in September 2024 to foster Egypt's startup environment through policy coordination, funding initiatives, and new proposals aimed at supporting early-stage companies, according to the statement. Changing consumer preferences are breathing new life to several nearly-extinct mango varieties like Husnara, and Ratol as growers are shifting their focus to meet rising demand beyond just popular Dussehri, that has long dominated the Indian mango market. Known for producing the world-renowned Dussehri mango, the orchards of Malihabad are witnessing a revival of demand for once-popular varieties such as Husnara, Totapari, Ratol, and Langda. These varieties, which had faded from mainstream cultivation over the past few decades, are now finding a place on mango lovers' plates once again. Talking to PTI, All India Mango Growers Association president Insram Ali said in response to growing market demand, farmers are now increasing cultivation of mango varieties other than Dussehri. "About 50-60 years ago, farmers grew multiple varieties alongside Dussehri, as there was a widespread appreciation for the different flavors. However, over time, the market was dominated by Dussehri, Chausa, and Safeda," he said. "Now, with a renewed interest in diverse mango flavors, producers are returning to traditional varieties." Ali added that growers are particularly focusing on red-fleshed varieties such as Surkha Matiyara, Amrapali, Malka, Tommy Atkins, Husnara, Totapari, Ratol, and Tuqmi. "These varieties offer unique flavors and aromas, and fetch higher market prices typically between 80-120 per kg, compared to 4060 for Dussehri, Chausa, or Safeda," he said. While it is still too early to estimate the total production of these revived varieties, the trend is clear. Pervez Khan, a prominent mango grower from Lucknow, confirmed the shifting trend. "About 50 years ago, we had to cut down trees of other varieties due to lack of demand. But now, connoisseurs are showing keen interest in those flavors again," he said. Khan, who cultivates around 25 bighas of orchard land, grows nearly 22 different mango varieties including Surkha Matiyara, Gilas, Johri Safeda, Khaas-ul-Khaas, Pakeeza, Haathi Jhool, Hamil Tahseel, Banarasi Langda, Chausa, Amin Abdul Ahad, Husnara, and Lucknowa Safeda. In particular, the Ratol variety native to Ratol village in Baghpat district has been making a strong comeback. Known for its sweet taste and intense aroma, the small-sized Ratol mango was once popularized internationally by former state cabinet minister Merajuddin Ahmed, who showcased it across countries such as the US, China, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Oman. Ahmed's son, Faiz Mahmood, told PTI, "The Ratol mango is so fragrant that one can smell it from a distance when it ripens on the tree. My father organized several grand exhibitions of Ratol, attracting mango lovers from around the world. Now I am continuing this tradition to bring its royal taste to a global audience." However, the mango revival comes with challenges. Unfavorable weather conditions and rising production costs have impacted profitability this year, even as output increases. Insram Ali said that Uttar Pradesh is expected to produce around 3 million metric tonnes of mangoes this year a figure higher than last year's 2 million tonnes, but still below the anticipated output based on early flowering. Rising input costs are also eroding profits, he said. "Due to counterfeit pesticides in the market, farmers have to spray larger quantities to combat pests. Earlier, a one-bigha orchard required 10,000 worth of genuine pesticides; now the cost has risen to 18,00020,000. With average earnings of 40,000 per bigha, profits have dropped from 30,000 to around 20,000 22,000," Ali said. He urged the government to establish a dedicated lab in the state for pesticide verification and disease diagnosis in mango trees. "Weve submitted complaints about fake pesticides several times, but no action has been taken. A proper testing facility is urgently needed, he added. On Thursday morning, Welspun Corp stock was up 10% on highest volumes of shares traded on any day in the past twelve months. The stock closed at its 52-week peak of 895 on the BSE. The company, which makes steel pipes for transporting oil, had just announced its Q4FY25 and FY25 results, reporting a 67% increase in consolidated net profits over the previous financial year despite a 19% fall in annual revenues. The sudden confidence of investors should come as a surprise. There was some serious uncertainty surrounding its business after President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on steel imports into the US in early March. Welspun, which has a pipe making factory in the US, imported steel as raw material, which made the landed cost of the metal highest compared to anywhere else in the world. It looked like Welspun Corp was staring at a prolonged downturn. A month after Trump announced tariffs, the stock was down 15%. B.K. Goenka, chairman of Welspun World, says: Trumps big support for the local US oil industry is seeing a surge of investments in the sector. There is a huge demand for pipes, causing their prices to increase and we are doubling down on the business. Welspun disclosed that it has an order book of 19,500 crore, while its US steel mill is booked for the next 8 quarters. Also Read: India's Welspun One raises Mumbai warehouse investment to meet cargo demand Impact of Trump's new rules It is not just in the pipe business that Goenka is exuding confidence. As luck would have it, yet another company of the $5 billion Welspun group has its business fortunes linked to the US market. Welspun Living, which is the largest maker of bath towels in the world, accounts for every fifth towel sold in the US. Just like steel, garments exports to the US were also affected by Trump's new rules, which saw import tariffs increase from 4.57% to 30.57%, according to textile industry portal Fibre2Fashion. In its Q4FY25 results announced on Thursday, Welspun Living said that its home textiles grew at 1.7% year-on-year (y-o-y) in the quarter, even though the growth stood at 10.8% in FY25. The company's total revenue rose 1.2% to 2,648 crore in Q4FY25. For the full fiscal year, it rose at 8.9% to 10,697 crore. A research report by institutional equities firm Systematix titled Indian Textiles, published after India signed its free trade agreement FTA with the UK in the first week of May, says: The FTA is poised to bring far-reaching benefits to Indias textile and apparel sector. The agreement can double bilateral trade between the two countries. The sectors export accounted for 12% of UKs $15.3 billion imports from India and the report expects a 9% increase in Welspuns export to the UK, boosted by the agreement. In many ways, the two Welspun firms have come to be good examples of how Indian companies are working the way around Trumps tariffs, which have got the attention of senior business leaders, policy makers and investors in the past two months. Also Read: Welspun Living eyes 1,200 crore from domestic branded business by FY27 Immediately, we will face some issues in our export to the US because of tariffs but we must understand that the main focus of the US is to reduce its reliance on China. To that effect, the real China+1 effect is going to play out only now. In the coming years, we expect our exports to the US to grow 20%, says Goenka. Now, the biggest chunk of Chinese exports to the US markets come from synthetic textile and garment, while Indian exports are based on cotton. We may not gain from Chinese exports going down as much as getting our shares from countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka which also face higher tariffs in the US. We have better access to capital and that will help us scale up faster," Goenka says. "India has a unique advantage in home textiles as well-run companies like Welspun Living have easier access to capital markets and also locally-made cotton. It is placed better than competitors like Pakistan and Turkey in terms of US tariffs," says Arvind Singhal, founder and chairman of retail industry consultancy KSA Technopak. Singhal, until last year, was a board member of Welspun Living. On the other hand, since the price of oil pipe will be directly linked to that of steel, Goenka expects to pass any price increase to customers. The price of US steel has already gone up after tariffs were announced and there is going to be parity to imports, he says. In the case of Welspun Corp, there are other levers too by which Goenka is trying to generate value. To deploy some of its cash, Goenka took control of plastics storage and furniture maker Sintex after the company filed for bankruptcy. The interest in Sintex stems from Goenkas interest in the water business, which he thinks will grow into a substantial one in the coming years. Starting from treatment, whether fresh water treatment or desalination, then transporting, and having a small loft tank, pipes, tap and small effluent sewage treatment can all be done by Sintex as a package unit," says Goenka. In FY26, we will do about 800 crore of revenue but the profits wont by much because of old losses or restructuring. But, we have 10% margin in the business. Diversifying beyond core offerings "Welspun has diversified beyond its core offerings into building materials and plastic segments. Such expansion enables it to align with favourable dynamics across the industrial, consumer and residential markets," wrote Shweta Dikshit, analyst with Institutional equities firm Systematix in a May 19 note on the company. The firm recommended a buy on the stock with a target price of 1,006. Elsewhere, Goenka is focusing on reducing his costs in the textile business and is implementing a solar power project in Anjar, Gujarat. That project was commissioned with an intention to ensure that 80% of the power for the textile plant came from renewable sources in FY26 and 100% by FY30. Connectivity to the grid is still an issue. We will commission a part of it by September this year and the rest by December," Goenka says. American cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase disclosed a major data breach on May 15 that cost the company up to $400 million, affected more than 69,000 customers. Known to be its biggest security failure to date, this incident occurred after hackers bribed customer service workers in India to leak sensitive data, according to a report by Fortune. The report revealed that a loose network of young English-speaking hackers was partially responsible for the scam. Additionally, business process outsourcing units (BPOs) also played a role as a weak link in its security operations. Was TaskUs targeted by hackers? The employees of a US-based customer support company, TaskUs, handling support for Coinbase since 2017, were targeted by hackers. With a significant presence in India, TaskUs laid off 226 Indian staff in Indore, weeks after the security breach was reported. The company paid salaries in the range of $500-$700 per month. Because of low salaries, some employees in India were convinced to transfer confidential customer records for bribes. Coinbase stated it had severed relationships with those individuals and other foreign agents implicated. Obviously thats the weakest point in the chain, because there is an economic reason for them to accept the bribe, Sergio Garcia, founder of the crypto investigations company Tracelon, told Fortune. Also Read | US banks tiptoe toward crypto, awaiting more green light from regulators Impersonation of Coinbase staff Hackers used to impersonate Coinbase staff, convincing customers to give up their crypto assets, as stolen information was not enough to get the crypto vaults of the company. This led to huge financial losses. The crypto company has not revealed the exact number of users who have lost money. However, it plans to reimburse the affected customers. Legal challenge for TaskUs A class action lawsuit has been lodged on behalf of Coinbase customers in New York against TaskUs, alleging negligence. The company maintains that all the accusations lack merit, and they are improving security protocols. TaskUs claimed that two agents were involved in a wider plot targeting several service providers associated with Coinbase. Also Read | When crypto meets Kaka: Explaining Bitcoin to my Gujarati uncle Who is responsible for the security breach? The Comm or Community," a loosely connected group of young English-speaking cybercriminals who use Telegram and Discord to communicate, are expected to be responsible for the security breach. The group is often motivated by attention seeking or the thrill of mischief, the report states. They also compete with one another to see who can steal more. Penny stock below 2: Murae Organisor share price will remain in focus in Monday's trading session after the company announced the record date for 1:2 stock split. Murae Organisor stock rose over 4.71 per cent on Friday to close at 1.78 apiece after the announcement, against previous close at 1.70 on Thursday. Murae Organisor stock split details In an exchange filing on May 30, the company said that the board has set Wednesday, June 11 as the record date for this sub-division of equity shares. Shareholders holding one equity share of face value 2 as of the record date will receive two equity shares of 1 each. We wish to intimate you that Murae Organisor Limited (Formerly known as Earum Pharmaceuticals Limited) (the Company) has fixed Wednesday,11 June, 2025 as Record Date for the purpose of determining the eligibility of shareholders of the Company for Sub-division (stock split) of every 1 (One) equity share of face value of Rs. 2.00/- each into 02 (Two) equity shares of Face Value of Rs. 1/- each. as approved by the shareholders through Postal Ballot on May 29, 2025, the company said in the filing. Earlier, the company had announced its intent to acquire agricultural land in the strategically vital region of Kutch, Gujarat. This acquisition underscores the companys commitment to broadening its business horizons into agriculture and industrial sectors. The proposed acquisition involves an investment estimated between 200 million and 250 million. This initiative is contingent upon thorough due diligence processes and the requisite regulatory approvals and statutory clearances. Additionally, the company plans to set up a state-of-the-art distillery facility on the acquired premises, significantly broadening its operational capacity and enhancing its product offerings. This diversification into value-added products in the industrial segment positions the company strategically in an under-explored yet lucrative market segment, promising substantial margin improvement and sustainable long-term growth. Also Read | Stocks to buy under 100: Sumeet Bagadia recommends 3 shares to buy on Monday For the financial year ended March 31, 2025, the company reported total revenue of 85.48 crore, a staggering increase compared to just 0.25 crore in FY24. The full-year net profit stood at 7.51 crore, against 5.31 lakh in the previous year, signaling a strong earnings rebound. The Q4FY25 net profit alone was 2.85 crore, underscoring consistent quarterly performance. Murae Organisor share price saw a significant surge of nearly 31 per cent in last one month despite volatility in the Indian stock market. However, the scrip has descended over 17 per cent in over six months. One of the more enjoyable oddities of postmodern literature is the breathless, single-sentence composition. Gabriel Garcia Marquezs short story, The Last Voyage of the Ghost Ship was written as one sentence, as were Bohumil Hrabals novels Dancing Lessons for the Advanced in Age and Vita Nuova . In Matriarchs, Cows and Epic Villains , an anthology of Suniti Namjoshis writing, the fable Broadcast Live spans just one sentence of 60-odd words, but ends up unleashing an entire chapters worth of commentary. The Incredible Woman raged through the skies, lassoed a planet, set it in orbit, rescued a starship, flattened a mountain, straightened a building, smiled at a child, caught a few thieves, all in one morning, and then, took a little time off to visit her psychiatrist, since she is at heart a really womanly woman and all she wants is a normal life." With that devastating final clause, Namjoshi indicts decades of popular culture that ran cover for a patriarchal vision of societywhere the good" woman is rewarded" with heteronormative nirvana (societally approved marriage, babies), whereas the evil" woman is banished to spinsterhood. The preceding clauses are a broadside pastiche of hero narratives", another recurring theme with Namjoshi. Broadcast Live is a typical example of the authors satirical style, one which has served her well for over four decades now. The fables, poems and stories compiled here have been picked from her collections, Feminist Fables (1981), The Blue Donkey Fables (1988) and Saint Suniti and the Dragon (1993). These super-short entries (seldom over a page or so) make up almost 60-odd pages, while the bulk of the book is abridged versions of two previously published novellas, The Conversations of Cow (1985) and The Mothers of Maya Diip (1989). The latter, a modern classic, is frequently taught at Indian universities. Also read: Satyajit Ray's 'blackface' moment at Cannes 2025 In the introductory essay, writer Gillian Hanscombe (who is also Namjoshis partner) compares Namjoshis mind to a combination of Jonathan Swifts and Lewis Carrolls. As comparisons go, its exceedingly apt, since satire and fabulism are Namjoshis spear and shieldthe spear" punctures hypocrisy while the shield" offers the protection (and plausible deniability) of timelessness. Case History is a brief but horrific upending of the tale of Little Red Riding Hood, while A Moral Tale is a plaintive remix of Beauty and the Beast featuring a lesbian Beast (Thats why its love for Beauty was so monstrous", Namjoshi deadpans). In From the Panchatantra, the brahmin central character (the Panchatantra is believed to have been composed by brahmin scholar Vishnu Sharma) prays until Lord Vishnu appears before him and grants him a boon. What follows is classic Namjoshi, sociological missives wrapped up in screwball comedy. The highlight of the collection remains The Mothers of Maya Diip (the lightly abridged version here is 120-odd pages long), Namjoshis allegorical, uproarious novella set in what appears to be a matriarchal utopia at first glance. Maya Diip, however, is a place that takes convictions to their logical endpointsmale babies are ruthlessly abandoned here and only female babies are nurtured and cared for. All women are divided into grades A, B and C mothers. The islands leader Mayas daughter Asha helms a rebel faction of women and men who oppose the islands discriminatory practices. The Mothers of Maya Diip is a pointed parody of the novel Herland (1915) by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, initially serialised in feminist magazines and only published in novel form in 1979. Herland imagined a feminist utopia where society is free from men and asexual reproduction (via parthenogenesis) is the norm. In her parody, Namjoshi plays dialectic ping-pong, commenting on both the cruelty of patriarchal systems and the limitations of second-wave feminism (especially its laser focus on reproductive freedom). A particularly funny scene involves Valerie, an immigrant from the West (hinted to be American) who has been living in Maya Diip for years. In the following passage, Valerie is trying to describe a patriarchal society from scratch, to somebody who has no conception of what it looks like. Ashans in my country have enslaved the Mayans in order to force them to have their babies; Ashan and Mayan babies then belong to a particular Ashan. Think of it this way Every Ashan thought of himself as a kind of farmer and every Mayan as a bit of land or a field which could be his property. The babies are branded by his specific genes. An Ashan is always the grade A mother, and a Mayan is always the grade B mother... but the Ashan delegates his duties to the Mayan." Like the short fiction of her exact contemporaries Angela Carter and Margaret Atwood, Namjoshis fables are premodern literature deconstructed and refashioned as postmodern commentary. This anthology worthy of her fabulous" career and a delightful body of work. Also read: Neeraj Ghaywan on Homebound: If I dont tell my stories, who will? While the North-East has a long tradition of brewing rice to make beer and wine, efforts to brand and bottle them are yet to catch on. The relative success of fermented rice beverage brands like Judima and Xaj from Assam has now brought young entrepreneurs from Meghalaya to package and promote the local rice beer of West Garo Hills chubitchi or bitchi . Startups such as 7 United run by Keenan K. Marak and Chuchekra by Tengnang D. Sangma are trying to preserve the heritage drink and reach a wider market. Bitchi is made using a starter culture or yeast that has been passed down for generations. It is this yeast that makes it lighter and milder compared to most other rice beers in the North-East. Locals also use a special earthenware jar called diktom that stores the sticky rice while it ferments. We received a GI tag for bitchi in 2024, and therefore only rice grown in these hills can be used to make it. The sweet and smoky taste is unique to the rice beer from these parts," says Marak. Sangma says that the early makers divided the spirit into gender-specific terms, making it one of the only spirits to be classified into male and female sections, depending on its flavour. If the bitchi tastes bitter, it is known as Bitchi Bipa (male) and if it tastes sweet, it is called Bitchi Bima (female)," he says and adds, The diktom jar is considered as female genitalia inside which bitchi is created and is called as the brew of the gods passed down to humanity." Every village in Garo Hills celebrates their harvest festival known as Wangala where bitchi is distributed to appease Minima Rokimi, the local deity of rain, prosperity and fertility. The yeast used to make bitchi is used to mark the face during weddings, birthdays and funerals. Even today, if you go to smaller villages, you will be treated with bitchi and not tea," says Marak. The idea to bottle bitchi came to both entrepreneurs during the covid-19 pandemic. Marak had just graduated from St Josephs College in Bengaluru before heading back home during the lockdown. He started making fruit wines and moved to rice beer. The first couple of iterations learnt from YouTube went horribly wrong and made him realise he needed to learn from the local communities. View Full Image Chuchekra bitchi. Also read: The new wave of North-East Indian food in Andheri It took me around four months to learn the process. I realised the younger generation was out of touch with their tradition, so I decided to make a trendy rice beer," says 26-year-old Marak, who put up an Instagram post in August 2022 about the product, and got hundreds of followers overnight enquiring where they could buy it. 7 United is the first bottled bitchi and comes in an aluminium can instead of regular glass bottles. Marak says he studied cola and beer brands, and wanted to prevent glass breakage, especially since he adds extra carbonation to the spirit to make it easier to drink, and bring down the ABV to 7%. The brand is available in Tura in West Garo Hills, and debuted in Shillong last year. Marak has also applied for a grant from the state government to launch a new variant even as he eyes Assam next after selling 28,000 cans last year. For 34-year-old Sangma, who is an anthropologist and musician, the workings of the Garo community, especially the way they treat their yeast used to make bitchi, like a family heirloom, drove him to start Chuchekra. Its an old word that many people have forgotten, but its the literal term for storing bitchi," he says. Chuchekra is made from the first extract of the distilled rice after it is stored in a diktom jar for one month. The brand launched in 2022 and is available by direct order or at cultural festivals and local events in Shillongthey make about 4,000 litres a year. He is also keen to serve traditional bitchi without adding carbonation, and looking to expand to Himachal Pradesh next, followed by Goa and Bengaluru.. The potential for rice beers is seemingly huge given that soju and sake, with similar taste profiles, are still in the nascent stages of adoption for the wider Indian audience. At a conference last month in Vienna, Marak took a few cans for sampling and was blown away by the response. When you say rice beer, most people automatically think of soju or sake, but as Indians, we are never proud of what we already have. This product can change global perspectives," he says. With a consolidated movement towards popularising heritage spirits in the North-East and young, passionate founders looking to expand in India and beyond, its time this unique rice beer gets its due. Also read: North-East food creators get candid on cuisine Priyanko Sarkar is a Mumbai-based writer covering the F&B industry. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday extended greetings to the Government and people of Samoa on their Independence Day observed on 1 June every year. Taking to the microblogging platform X, Jaishankar further said: "Committed to strengthening our Pacific Islands partnership." Here are ten things to know about Samosa: First Pacific Nation to Gain Independence: Samoa became independent in 1962, the first in the Pacific to do so. UN Membership: Samoa joined the United Nations in 1976, embracing the Charter and advocating for Pacific voices on global platforms. Graduation to Middle-Income Status: Samoa transitioned from a Least Developed Country to a Middle-Income Country in 2014. Commitment to Sustainable Development: Samoa adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has submitted two Voluntary National Reviews to the UN's High-Level Political Forum. SAMOA Pathway Leadership: Samoa is the custodian of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) agenda, known as the SAMOA Pathway, and co-chairs the SIDS Partnership Steering Committee with Portugal. First Female Prime Minister: Fiame Naomi Mataafa became the first female Prime Minister of Samoa, a milestone in gender equality and leadership. Human Rights Achievements: Samoa has ratified 6 of 9 core UN human rights treaties and has the only A-status National Human Rights Institution among Pacific Island nations. Labour Reforms and Tripartism: Samoa ratified all 8 Core ILO Conventions by 2008 and institutionalized tripartite consultation with ILO Convention 144. CRC Session in Samoa: In 2020, Samoa hosted the 84th session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the first treaty body meeting ever held outside Geneva or New York. New Delhi: Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal began a three-day official visit to France on Sunday as part of a five-day European trip that will also take him to Italy. The focus of the visit is to strengthen Indias economic ties with key European partners and push the ongoing India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) talks, the commerce ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The visit comes as India expands its global trade engagements through several bilateral and regional negotiations, while trying to position itself as a trusted partner in a rules-based global trading system, it said. Goyals trip is seen as part of Indias broader strategy to attract more investment, build technology partnerships and secure better access to European markets. Also read: India-US trade deal nears the finish linefinal talks are set for early June In Paris, Goyal is scheduled to meet French ministers Eric Lombard (Economy) and Laurent Saint-Martin (Trade) to strengthen the Indo-French economic relationship, the ministry said. The discussions are expected to focus on trade facilitation, new investment opportunities and deeper cooperation in sectors such as green energy, infrastructure and innovation. Goyal will also meet senior leaders of major French companies, including Vicat, Total Energies, LOreal, Renault, Valeo, EDF and ATR, the ministry said. Two major eventsthe India-France Business Round Table and the India-France CEO Forumwill allow direct interaction between top Indian and French business leaders and are expected to result in new investment and partnership proposals. Also read: US trade deficit claims are misleading, it earns billions from Indian purchases of services: GTRI Goyals visit coincides with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris. He will participate in an informal WTO ministers gathering on its sidelines, where he is expected to present Indias views on key global trade issues, including food security, sustainability, and changes needed in global trade rules amid rising protectionism. The minister will also hold bilateral meetings with trade ministers from the United Kingdom, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Nigeria and Brazil. Significantly, Goyal will also meet EU Commissioners Maros Sefcovic and Christophe Hansen, with the aim of giving fresh momentum to the India-EU FTA, which is now in advanced stages of negotiation. With both sides showing political will to conclude the deal, the discussions are expected to help bridge remaining gaps, especially in areas such as tariffs on automobiles and market access for Indian services," said Dattesh Parulekar, assistant professor of international relations at Goa University. Goyal will travel to Italy next, where he is expected to continue high-level talks with government and industry leaders to boost bilateral trade and investment. Also read: Govt to hold talks with e-commerce platforms over dark patterns Earlier, Mint reported on 29 May that Goyal would be leading a business delegation to France and Italy and was also expected to take a separate delegation to Switzerland soon after as part of Indias broader global trade outreach. Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann on Sunday took over as Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of Western Air Command, Indian Air Force, informed the Ministry of Defence. Prior to the appointment, he was serving as the Director General (Weapon Systems) at Air Headquarters. He is is a recipient of the Presidential awards Ati Vishist Seva Medal and Vayu Sena Medal. Also Read | Who is Niketa Pandey? SC asks Govt to not release officer linked to Ops Sindoor The Air Marshal is an alumni of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the IAF on 16 December 1989. He has flown over 3000 hours primarily on various types of fighter aircraft. Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann is a qualified Pilot Attack Instructor, who served in various operational roles including commanding a fighter squadron, serving as Chief Operations Officer of a forward base and Air Officer Commanding of a premier fighter station. He also directed major joint military training exercises with the Republic of Singapore Air Force in 2017 and the United States Air Force in 2018. Among others, Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann even served as the Senior Officer-In Charge Administration and the Air Defence Commander of the Central Air Command. He is also an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff and the Royal College of Defence Studies in London. Air Marshal Manish Khanna becomes AOC for SAC: Apart from this, Air Marshal Manish Khanna assumed command of the Southern Air Command (SAC) as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief on 1 June 2025, at Thiruvananthapuram. He is a recipient of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VM). Commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1986, Air Marshal Manish Khanna is a Category A Qualified Flying Instructor and an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College, College of Air Warfare, and National Defence College. Covid-19 Update: India now has over 3,500 active cases of Covid-19, with 363 cases being reported in the last 24 hours, according to data from the Union Ministry of Health on Sunday. As per the Covid-19 dashboard of the health ministry, the number of active cases in India as of June 1 is 3,758, up from 3,395 a day ago. Covid-19 in India Latest updates Two deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, one each from Karnataka and Kerala. In Karnataka, a 63-year-old man with Pulmonary TB, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of buccal mucosa and incidental Covid-19 positive status died, the ministry said. A 24-year-old woman in Kerala died on Sunday. Along with Covid-19, she was suffering from Sepsis Hypertension and DCLD. While India reported 363 Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the number of active cases as mentioned above stands at 3,758. Kerala has the most number of active cases at 1,400, up by 64 since yesterday. Maharashtra and Delhi follow Kerala, with 485 and 438 Covid-19 cases respectively, as per the data. West Bengal reported 82 new cases in the last 24 hours, the highest among all states, followed by Kerala at 64 and Delhi at 61. Karnataka issues advisory Amid a surge in Covid-19 cases in Karnataka, the Department of Health and Family Welfare Services on Saturday requested people to stay calm, remain vigilant, and work with health authorities to prevent further spread and ensure public safety. It further asked people to maintain safety by wearing masks in crowded places, maintaining physical distancing, and practicing good hygiene. In light of the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in Karnataka, the state continues to monitor and manage Covid-19 through on-going efforts to prevent transmission, detect cases, and provide care. The Department of Health and Family Welfare requests all citizens not to panic, but stay vigilant and actively support public health efforts, the advisory said. Delhi reports first death Delhi on Saturday reported its first Covid-19 related death amid the recent spike in cases. A 60-year-old woman who tested positive for Covid-19 has died, officials said on Saturday. The woman was suffering from acute intestinal obstruction post-laparotomy. The Covid-19 finding was incidental, an official said. This photo released by Israel Defense Forces on June 1, 2025 shows Israeli troops operating in the Gaza Strip. At least 31 Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli gunfire near a humanitarian aid center in southern Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via Xinhua) GAZA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- At least 31 Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli gunfire near a humanitarian aid center in southern Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. At least 31 people were killed and dozens of others seriously injured in the morning when Israeli forces opened fire near a humanitarian aid distribution point in Rafah, southern Gaza, where residents were gathering to receive aid, Gaza-based health authority said in a statement. Most of the injuries were in the upper body, and the death toll could rise due to the severity of the wounds, said Mohammed Abu Afash, director of the Medical Relief Organization in Gaza, adding that ambulances have difficulty reaching the scene due to ongoing Israeli military activities. Eyewitnesses told Xinhua that thousands of people had arrived at the aid center since early morning hours when gunfire and explosions erupted. Calling the incident part of a "pattern of repeated targeting" of aid distribution locations by Israel, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said in a press statement that the area was operating in coordination with an American-Israeli company and under the supervision of Israeli forces. Also on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that it is unaware of injuries caused by its fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site, and that the matter is still under review. Israeli media cited military sources as saying that Israeli military operations in the area were aimed at targeting "terrorist elements." Israel closed border crossings and curtailed the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza on March 2. Limited access has been permitted since May 22. Israel resumed its assault on Gaza on March 18, following a two-month truce with Hamas. Since then, 4,149 Palestinians have been killed and 12,149 injured, according to Gaza-based health authorities on Sunday. This photo released by Israel Defense Forces on June 1, 2025 shows Israeli troops operating in the Gaza Strip. At least 31 Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli gunfire near a humanitarian aid center in southern Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via Xinhua) This photo released by Israel Defense Forces on June 1, 2025 shows Israeli troops operating in the Gaza Strip. At least 31 Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli gunfire near a humanitarian aid center in southern Gaza, according to Palestinian sources. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via Xinhua) From Assam, Tripura to Arunachal Pradesh 30 people have died across several states as the Northeast continues to reel under heavy rainfall battering the region with floods and landslides. In its latest bulletin, the IMD has issued a red alert for West Tripura and Khowai warning of possible traffic disruptions, flash floods, landslides, crop damage, and power outages across the state. 1300 families shifted to relief camps In the wake of the heavy rainfall, and the devastating floods, a total of 1,300 families were shifted to relief camps in Tripura, and security forces evacuated stranded people in Imphal. Amit Shah speaks to Assam, Manipur, Sikkim CMs Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Chief Ministers of Assam, Manipur, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh, assuring them of every possible help." Death toll mounts Seven died in Arunachal Pradesh after a devastating landslide on National Highway 13 sent a vehicle plunging into a deep gorge between Bana and Seppa in East Kameng district late Friday night. Guwahati: Rescue personnel assist affected people in moving to a safer place after waterlogging due to heavy rainfall, in Guwahati, Assam, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (PTI Photo) (PTI05_31_2025_000187B) In another incident linked to the heavy rains, two more people were killed in a landslide in Lower Subansiri district, adding to the tragedy unfolding across the state. Also Read | Assam floods: 5 dead as raging floodwater invades houses In Sikkim, one person was killed, two injured, and eight others went missing when a vehicle in which 11 tourists were travelling plunged into the Teesta river in Mangan district on Thursday. Tourists stranded in Sikkim The incessant rainfall across Northeast states not only led to the deaths, but also left as many as 1,500 tourists stranded in various parts of north Sikkim on Saturday. Mangan: Rescue work underway after a vehicle carrying tourists plunged into the Teesta river, in Mangan district, Sikkim, Friday, May 30, 2025. At least one person was killed, two suffered injuries and several others went missing in the incident. (PTI Photo)(PTI05_30_2025_000267B) Swelling waters of the River Teesta have damaged key infrastructure in the region, with the Sankalang bamboo bridgea critical link to the Dzongu constituencycollapsing. Meanwhile, the Phidang Bailey Bridge, connecting Mangan to Chungthang, has suffered base damage. Train services hit Severe weather conditions have disrupted train services in the region. A spokesperson for the Northeast Frontier Railway said that due to continuous heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours and water overflowing onto the tracks in the BaraigramDullabcherra section, the DullabcherraSilchar passenger train has been cancelled for the day. Also Read | Assam on RED ALERT as rains, floodwater wreak havoc Additionally, the DullabcherraGuwahati Express will now originate from Baraigram instead of Dullabcherra. Farmers advised to postpone sowing of crops In Tripura, farmers were advised to postpone sowing of crops such as rice, maise, and jute, and avoid working in fields during thunderstorms. Indian Armed Forces Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Anil Chauhan said that India went 300kms inside Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and penetrated with pinpoint accuracy. Adding to new details about Operation Sindoor, CDS Chauhan further added that the coveted operation has drawn a new red line of intolerance against terror. CDS Anil Chauhan made the comments during an interview with Bloomberg TV on Saturday, while attending the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. We were able to penetrate air defence as long as 300 km with pinpoint accuracy and targets, airfields and infrastructure, deep inside Pakistan," said General Anil Chauhan. From Pakistan's Muzaffarabad to Bahawalpur, India struck key terror hubs long believed to harbour Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad operatives on May 7 the DGMOs had said during earlier briefings on Operation Sindoor. The Operation lasted around 25 minutes. Operation Sindoor drew new red line Chauhan also downplayed Pakistans claims about the effectiveness of weaponry deployed from China and other countries, saying they didnt work." He added that Operation Sindoor had drawn a new red line of intolerance against terror. Also Read | Did Pakistan down Indian jet during May conflict? What CDS Anil Chauhan said Reports had been doing the rounds about Indian fighter jets downed during the conflict with Pakistan. Without going into specifications of those, CDS Chauhan said India swiftly rectified its tactical mistakes. Good part was being able to understand the tactical mistake CDS Chauhan added that India learnt from the incident and resumed high-precision strikes deep in Pakistani territory. The good part is that we are able to understand the tactical mistake which we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days and flew all our jets again, targeting at long range, Chauhan said. Pakistan's claims absolutely incorrect Apart from elaborating on the mistakes made, and the lessons learnt by India, CDS Anil Chauhan flagged Pakistans claims that it shot down six Indian warplanes as absolutely incorrect." Without getting into further details about Indian fighter planes being downed, Chauhan added: What is important is that, not the jet being down, but why they were being down. In this image via X/@mindefsg on Sunday, June 1, 2025, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan in a meeting with Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore. (X/@mindefsg via PTI Photo) (PTI06_01_2025_000129B) Why they were down, what mistakes were made that are important, Chauhan said when asked about the fighter jets.Numbers are not important, he added. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted a massive search operation at 15 locations across eight states on Saturday in connection with a Pakistan-linked espionage case. According to news agency ANI, searches were conducted at the premises of suspects linked with Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) in the states of Delhi, Maharashtra (Mumbai), Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam and West Bengal. Also Read | China is blocking UN sanctions on THESE 5 Jaish and Lashkar terrorists NIA teams reportedly seized several electronic gadgets and sensitive financial documents, along with other incriminating materials, during the searches. "These are being extensively examined for clues to the espionage racket being run by Pakistan-based operatives as part of an anti-India terror conspiracy," the report added. Also Read | Malegaon blast case: Special NIA court likely to deliver judgement in July The NIA's investigations revealed that the suspects targeted in the searches allegedly had connections with Pakistani operatives, and acted as financial conduits for carrying out espionage activities in India. The searches followed recent arrest of a trooper of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for spying for Pakistan, officials told news agency PTI. Also Read | NIA takes over Pahalgam terrorist attack case The NIA had registered a case on May 20, following the arrest of the suspended assistant sub inspector (ASI) of CRPF, Moti Ram Jat, who had allegedly shared sensitive information with the PIOs since 2023 and had received funds through various conduits in India in lieu of leaking classified information related to national security. Jat had been dismissed from service by the CRPF, PTI reported. The anti-terror agency is continuing with its investigation in the case, registered under different sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Official Secrets Act and the Unlawful Activities(Prevention) Act, the statement said. Also Read | NIA conducts searches at 10 locations in Neemrana hotel firing case Post Operation Sindoor, police across states are nabbing Pakistani spies. On May 18, the Haryana Police arrested several individuals, including YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who allegedly performed espionage activities for Pakistan. The Delhi Police also arrested a man, Kasim, from Rajasthan for allegedly aiding Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) by supplying Indian mobile SIM cards for espionage activities, officials said on Thursday. Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor has questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government's decision to agree to a cessation of hostilities with Pakistan after four days of military action post Operation Sindoor last month. The political strategist-turned-politician suggested that by halting action India may have been a missed opportunity for the Indian Army to push its advantage further. Kishor said, going by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's statement, Pakistan wanted the the cessation, indicating that neighboring country was under pressure and fearful of defeat. "I'm thinking, if Pakistan wanted a ceasefire, as our Foreign Minister is saying, that means our army was doing a good job, we were defeating Pakistan. It must have been out of fear that Pakistan wanted a ceasefire. So if Pakistan wanted a ceasefire, why did we agree to it? The Army should have let it go on for two more days," Kishor said during a press conference in East Champaran on 31 May. Kishor praised Jaishankar calling him very educated and sensible. "Regarding the issue of the ceasefire, our country's EAM Jaishankar is a very educated and sensible person. I have great respect for him. I read his statement where he said the ceasefire was done at Pakistan's initiative," he added. India carried out precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, on 7 May in response to the 22 April Pahalgam terror attackthat killed 26 people, mostly tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. Following the Indian action, Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on 8, 9 and 10 May. The Pakistani attempts 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. The two nations, however, agreed on an understanding to halt military action on 10 May. Kishor said the situation on the ground suggested that India's military was in control. 'We had them on the back foot' "That's exactly what our army personnel are saying, what the citizens of this country are saying, that during the fight, we had them on the back foot, sirens were going off, people were hiding, Pakistan was on the defensive, begging for a ceasefire." Kishor was referring to Jaishankar's comments in which he had said that it was the militaries of the two nations that negotiated directly and resolved the conflict through agreement and understanding for a cessation of fire and military action. Then why did you halt the action? It should have continued for a few more days. And if you did go for a ceasefire, why mislead the public? Its clear that what hes saying is wrong You cant achieve anything by simply distributing boxes of sindoor (vermillion) after that, he said Kishor also challenged claims made by foreign leaders about who led peace efforts. "Although, Trump said something else, that he did it and that he deserve da Nobel Peace Prize, from brekenring peace. But why should we believe what Trump said? We will believe our own Foreign Minister," Kishor said. On May 23, days after United States President Donald Trump claimed that he played a role in settling the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Jaishankar reiterated that it was the militaries of the two nations that negotiated directly. You cant achieve anything by simply distributing boxes of sindoor. Kishor's statement comes ahead of the Bihar Assembly election to be held in October-November this year wherein the NDA, which consists of the BJP, JD(U), and LJP, will be once again looking forward to returning to power. In contrast, the INDIA Bloc will be giving competition to the incumbent Nitish Kumar government. Kishor's party Jan Suraaj is contesting first Bihar assembly election this year. A day after Instagram influencer Sharmistha Panoli was arrested from Gurugram by Kolkata Police, BJP MP and Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has condemned the move, urging the West Bengal government not to try to make the state into North Korea. Speaking to the media on Panoli's arrest, Ranaut stated that harassing someone in the name of law and order is not good, as everyone has democratic rights. Also Read | Nagpur Violence: BJP responsible for rise in communal clashes Ranaut said, as quoted by ANI, Harassing someone in the name of law and order is not good. When someone has apologised and deleted the post, but putting her in prison, torturing her, ending her career and raising questions on her character is very wrong. This should not happen with any daughter. I urge the West Bengal government not to try to make the state into North Korea. Everyone has democratic rights. She has apologised for her indecent remarks. She had said everything in general and today's generation uses such language very normally- both in English and in Hindi. She should be released soon because she is a very young woman. She has her whole career and life ahead of her... Not only Kangana, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan too came in support of Panoli and condemned her arrest by Kolkata police over an allegedly communal video. According to him, 'secularism must be a two-way street'. He said that while "blasphemy must be condemned," secularism should not be wielded as a shield. Also Read | Priyanka Gandhi's Wayanad poll victory challenged by BJP candidate Navya Haridas Kalyan took to X and wrote, During Operation Sindoor, Sharmista, a law student, spoke out, her words regrettable and hurtful to some. She owned her mistake, deleted the video and apologised. The WB Police swiftly acted, taking action against Sharmistha. But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is called 'Gandha Dharm'? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest? The actor-turned-politician further said, Blasphemy must be condemned, always! Secularism isn't a shield for some and a sword for others. It must be a two-way street. West Bengal Police, the nation is watching. Act justly for all. #IstandwithSharmistha. #EqualJustice About Sharmishta's arrest: Instagram influencer Sharmishta Panoli was arrested by Kolkata Police from Gurugram in Haryana for allegedly sharing a communal video which triggered significant outrage online. She in the video allegedly criticised Bollywood celebrities for staying silent on Operation Sindoor. After intense trolling and threats in the comments, Panoli removed the video and issued a public apology on 15 May. Also Read | Muslim body urges secular parties' MPs to vote against Waqf Bill in Lok Sabha However, an FIR had already been registered in Kolkata. Police said multiple attempts were made to serve legal notices to Panoli and her family. She was later arrested and then Alipore court in Kolkata sent her to 14-day judicial custody. Police sources confirmed that Panoli has been booked under sections 196(1)(a) (promoting enmity between groups based on religion or community), 299 (acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), and 353(1)(c) (inciting public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) India will flag its concerns on issues pertaining to agriculture, fisheries agreement, China-led proposal on investment facilitation and dysfunctional appellate body of the WTO during an informal meeting of about 25 trade ministers in Paris on June 3, an official said. The mini-ministerial meeting will be held on the margins of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will participate in this meeting. He is on a five-day visit to France and Italy from June 1. The official said that India will raise its concerns on all key issues of the WTO including agriculture (finding permanent solution to the public stock holding); fisheries agreement, investment facilitation proposal, reforms in the WTO and dysfunctional appellate body of the Geneva-based forum. India is against the move led by countries such as China to push a proposal on investment facilitation at the World Trade Organization (WTO). A China-led group of 128 countries is pushing for the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) proposal. Since 2009, WTO's dispute settlement mechanism is not functioning properly as the US has stalled appointments of members in the appellate body. Meanwhile, a commerce ministry statement said that during his stay in Paris, Goyal will participate in the informal gathering of trade ministers from countries including the US, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Nigeria, Brazil, and Israel. "At this crucial forum, he will engage with global counterparts on key multilateral trade issues and articulate the perspectives and priorities of India," the ministry said. Goyal is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with French ministers, including Eric Lombard, Minister of Economy, and Laurent Saint-Martin, French Trade Minister. The discussions will focus on strengthening the Indo-French economic partnership and exploring new avenues for enhancing trade and investment cooperation. He will also meet top leadership of major French companies such as Vicat, Total Energies, L'Oreal, Renault, Valeo, EDF and ATR, besides attending the India-France Business Round Table and the India-France CEO Forum. As part of the visit, the minister will hold a series of high-level bilateral meetings with key international partners. These include the UK's Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds; Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong; and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Commerce, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Kasabi. Goyal will also engage with Israel's Minister for Trade and Investment Nir Barkat; Nigeria's Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment Jumoke Oduwole OON; Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Marcos Sefcovic; and Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Luis Iecker Vieira. "These dialogues are aimed at advancing strategic economic cooperation and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships across regions. They will also provide significant impetus to India-EU FTA (free trade agreement) negotiations," it said. One person was killed in Serchhip, while a building collapsed in Lawngtlai town of Mizoram which is experiencing continuous heavy rains and landslide over the last three days. Heavy rains have wreaked havoc across several parts of the state, resulting in significant property damage, road blockages, and flood like situation. A landslide in Serchhip town claimed the life of Ramzolura, a resident of P&E Veng, said Mizorams Directorate of Information & Public Relations in a statement. "The incident occurred amid ongoing landslides and flooding triggered by incessant rainfall over the past two days," said the statement. Four houses collapsed due to landslides at the Dinthar Veng area, caused by an accompanying earthquake, blocking roads. 30 people die in northeast states due to flash floods, landslides At least 30 people have been killed in India's northeast states due to flash floods and landslides after torrential rains. Eight people died in Assam, nine in Arunachal Pradesh, five people in Mizoram, six in Meghalaya, one each in Nagaland and Tripura. Rivers swollen by the lashing rain -- including the mighty Brahmaputra, which rises in the Himalayas and flows through the northeast towards its delta in Bangladesh -- broke their banks across the region. The Indian Army said that it had saved hundreds "in a massive rescue operation" across Manipur state. Also Read | Assam floods: 5 dead as raging floodwater invades houses "People have been shifted to safer places", the army said on Saturday. "Food, water and essential medicines were provided." The flood situation in Assam was grim on Sunday as 10 major rivers were flowing above the danger level and 78,000 people people affected by the deluge in more than 15 districts. PM Modi inaugurates Satna & Datia Airports: To boost the regional connectivity in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday virtually inaugurated two airports in Madhya Pradesh. By launching the newly developed Satna Airport and the upgraded Datia Airport, the government aims to extend the benefits of air travel to the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand regions of the state under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme. The two airports will connect the historic townsDatia and Satna to the national aviation map. The operationalization of Satna and Datia Airports is expected to yield substantial economic and social benefits, providing improved connectivity, creating direct and indirect employment, and catalyzing the growth of related sectors such as hospitality, retail, education, and healthcare, the government said in a statement. About Satna Airport The Satna Airport has been developed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at a cost of 36.96 crore. It is set to serve as a major regional hub in northeastern Madhya Pradesh. The terminal building, spread over 768 square meters, is equipped to handle 50 peak-hour passengers and up to 2.5 lakh passengers annually. The Satna district is known for its cultural and industrial prominence. Its new airport will provide seamless connectivity to religious and industrial centers such as Chitrakoot and Maihar. The airport has modern passenger amenities, a recarpeted runway, apron facilities for Dornier-228 aircraft, and dedicated infrastructure including an ATC tower and fire station. It also has sustainable features such as 100% LED lighting, solar streetlights, and treated water reuse for horticulture. About Datia Airport The upgraded Datia Airport has been constructed at a cost of 60.63 crore. Its terminal building is spread over 768 square meters with the capacity to handle 150 peak-hour passengers and an annual footfall of 2.5 lakh. Delhi weather: Gusty winds and storms, followed by rains sweeped through the national capital on Sunday evening, impacting flight operations at the Delhi Airport. 14 flights were diverted between 4:30 PM and 6:10 PM due to the inclement weather conditions. Rains accompanied by strong winds gusting up to 80 kmph, along with thunderstorms and lightning, is expected to continue across most parts of Delhi over the next hour, potentially resulting in moderate cumulative rainfall (over 15.4 mm). In Safdarjung, thundersquall was reported with wind speeds reaching over 60kmph. Another thundersquall was reported over Palam. Meanwhile, dust storms with wind speeds between 40 and 75 kmph, along with scattered light to moderate showers, are also likely to affect Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida, and surrounding areas over the next two to three hours. IMD's multi-hazard warning In addition to the storm warning, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a multi-hazard warning for Delhi, Haryana, other states forecasting thunderstorms and heavy rainfall on Sunday, June 1. IMD forecast Regions Thunderstorm with lightning, gusty winds Isolated places over Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Manipur, Mizoram Heavy to very heavy rainfall Arunachal Pradesh, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim Heavy rainfall Isolated places over Kerala, Mahe, Coastal Karnataka, Nagaland Thunderstorms with lightning Isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu Flight operations impacted at Delhi Airport Given the sudden change in weather conditions, flight operations were impacted at Delhi's Indira Gandhi National Airport, authorities posted on X. IndiGo issues travel advisory Following the thunderstorms alert, budget carrier IndiGo issued a travel advisory, urging passengers to keep a check on their flight status. SpiceJet says departure/arrivals might get affected Airline operator SpiceJet also posted on X, that all departures, arrivals and their consequential flights from Delhi might get affected due to inclement weather conditions in the capital. As a result, SpiceJet requested its passengers to keep checking their flight status. Earlier, the IMD had forecast a cloudy sky with thunder and lightning on Saturday and Sunday in Delhi-NCR with a dust storm with 40-50 kmph wind followed by rainfall. India's private telecom operators have alleged that the pricing for satellite spectrum recommended by the telecom regulator is non-transparent, unjustified, and does not lead to a level-playing field. The concerns were conveyed in a letter to the Centre from the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), which represents Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. The letter, a copy of which has been seen by Mint, also refers to the trillions of rupees pumped in by Indias terrestrial internet operators in spectrum auctions over the years, and insists that satellite internet will compete with terrestrial services, rather than being complementary. Further, the letter says that the objective of using satellite services to bridge the urban-rural digital divide will not be met with the current recommendations, and has urged the Centre to form a committee for a comprehensive review. Also read: Bharti Airtel Q4 preview: Low-margin business exit to weigh on revenue growth The concerns have come at a time when satellite internet service providers such as Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, Jio Satellite and Amazon's Kuiper, among others, are preparing to launch services in India. Currently, the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) are pending with the department of telecommunications (DoT). Trai had recommended administrative allocation of spectrum, as opposed to auctions, for satellite internet services. It said satcom companies will have to pay annual spectrum charges of either 4% of their adjusted gross revenue (AGR) or 3,500 per MHz, whichever is higher. To be sure, satcom operators will also have to pay an annual licence fee of 8% of AGR to the government, as per current authorization terms of the DoT. Additionally, Trai has recommended an additional annual charge of 500 per subscriber for such service providers in urban areas. The recommendation of spectrum usage chargesset at 4% of AGRwithout any entry fee/upfront payment is inconsistent with the approach followed so far in case of administrative spectrum allocations, and is without any rationale, empirical analysis, international benchmarking or economic justification," S.P. Kochhar, director-general of COAI, wrote in the letter dated 29 May to telecom secretary Neeraj Mittal. Also read: Next-gen telecom tech to get 1,000-crore yearly R&D boost under telecom policy The letter was also marked to Trai chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti, economic affairs secretary Ajay Seth, DPIIT secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia, MeitY secretary S. Krishnan, and members of Digital Communications Commission (DCC). DPIIT refers to the department for promotion of industry and internal trade, and MeitY refers to the ministry of electronics and information technology. A government official told Mint on the condition of anonymity that the same issue of level-playing field was raised by telcos during the consultations. Trai took a note of all of that and its recommendations are based on facts," this official said. Now, DoT (department of telecommunications) has to take a call." Queries sent to COAI, DoT, and Trai on Sunday did not elicit any response till press time. Level-playing field, or not Kochhar said in the letter that Trai has not given a clear rationale for the 3,500 per MHz charge. According to telecom operators, the price per MHz should be equivalent or at least comparable for both terrestrial and satellite internet services, especially when used to reach the same consumers for identical services. Equity and non-discrimination principles require that if spectrum for Satellite based services are to be assigned administratively rather than through auction, its pricing must reasonably reflect parity with auction-discovered rates applicable to terrestrial spectrum in comparable frequency bands," Kochhar said in the letter in response to Trais recommendations. To be sure, telecom operators like Bharti Airtel and Jio have partnered with American satcom player SpaceX to distribute Starlink's satellite services in India. Still, the operators have flagged concerns over the sustainability of satcom services in case Trais recommendations are implemented in present form. A key issue for the operators is Trais alleged underestimation of the potential capacities of satellite networks while possibly overstating those of terrestrial networks while arriving at the pricing, the operators have alleged. Also read: Airtel, Google team up to counter Jios free cloud blitz with 100 GB storage This resulted in a flawed foundation for the entire exercise," Kochhar said in the letter to the DoT. Use of accurate capacity data from both terrestrial and satellite operators would have yielded a more transparent and reliable assessment of respective capacities of satellite and terrestrial networks." Trai in its recommendations said the network capacities of the major satellite services providers for providing satellite broadband in India is estimated in the order of 0.6 Tbps to 3 Tbps in the near-to-medium term compared to 168 Tbps for terrestrial networks. However, the telecom operators have said that companies such as Kuiper and Starlink are expected to have capacities of 51 Tbps and 83 Tbps over India. With this explanation, the operators have countered Trais argument that satellite internet services will be complementary to telecom operators. On 9 May, Trai chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti said during a media briefing that after detailed examination of real competition vs level-playing field, Trai has found that satellite services will be complementary and not competing with the terrestrial services". Since satellite spectrum is a shared pool, the two (terrestrial and satellite) cannot be priced at par," Lahoti said, adding that it has recommended to assign spectrum for five years as satcom is currently in a nascent stage, and their business potential would emerge after some years of operations. Rivals, not partners The telecom operators said with planned capacities of 29 billion GB data per month, companies like Kuiper and Starlink are well-positioned to serve a significant portion of Indias growing telecom data demand. This is greater than operators 23 billion GB current data traffic, according to the letter. Trais recommendations create a substantial regulatory arbitrage, the letter said, as they fail to appreciate that in reality, satellite communication services are fast emerging as full-fledged competitors in the broadband market and the leading NGSO-constellation (non-geostationary) are actively targeting retail and enterprise users in all geographies, including urban and well-connected regions. The operators also raised the issue of upfront spectrum cost committed by telecom operators, which stands at 1.93 trillion for Jio, 1.88 trillion for Airtel, and 1.64 trillion for Vodafone Idea. Unlike telecom operators, there are no upfront spectrum fee/entry charges recommended by Trai for satellite internet firms. In stark contrast, terrestrial operators are required to pay substantial upfront auction-determined charges, often amounting to thousands of crorestranslating into an effective spectrum cost of 18% to 53% of present AGR. By comparison, the nominal fee of 500 per subscriber per year in urban areas recommended by TRAI will not address the significant regulatory imbalance arising from the absence of upfront charges," Kochhar said in the letter. For targeted subscribers in unserved or underserved regions in rural and remote areas, the regulator has recommended that the government consider a subsidy for each fixed user terminal at an appropriate amount. The amount of subsidy may be decided by the government, Trai said, adding that the government can give the subsidy either through direct benefit transfer (DBT) to eligible subscribers or to the operators through Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) fund. According to Trai, the one-time hardware cost for a user terminal ranges between 20,000 and 50,000. The additional proposal to subsidize user terminals or satellite operators through the DBN fund further tilts the level playing field against the terrestrial operator, especially given that a majority of the DBN levy is contributed by competing terrestrial operators," Kochhar said. To be sure, telecom operators contribute 5% of their AGR to the DBN fund, used to connect underserved areas and bridge the digital divide. According to the telecom operators, the Trais recommendations rely heavily on the objective of bridging the digital divide as a justification for recommending very nominal spectrum pricing for satellite-based communication services. Despite relying on this aspect, TRAI does not recommend any mandatory obligations of minimum connections in rural areas before provision of services in urban areas," Kochhar said. Therefore, using the digital divide appears to be only to support ultra-low spectrum pricing framework at the cost of national exchequer instead of benefitting only the uncovered rural and remote areas," he said, adding that the rationale should have been applied equitably across all communication service providers, both satellite-based and terrestrial, rather than being limited to a single technology. In the letter, the telecom operators have urged the government to form a committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the recommendations in their entirety, ensuring the process is guided by principles of fairness, transparency, and equity. The same should also give an opportunity to telecom operators to share their views regarding the same, COAI said in the letter. According to the telecom operators, higher user terminal costs today do not justify lower spectrum pricing. In India, over 85% of households lack fixed-line broadband access. This large untapped market offers satellite operators significant potential for scale, which will, in turn, drive down equipment costs," Kochhar said in the letter. To attract users, satellite providers are already aggressively reducing terminal prices. For example, in the US and other markets, providers like Starlink now offer zero-cost equipment under 12-month commitment plans, the telecom operators said. Representatives from UN agencies in Laos visit the Vang Vieng freight business yard in Laos, May 30, 2025. Representatives from UN agencies in Laos visited the China-Laos Railway to learn about the project's achievements in promoting regional connectivity, enhancing livelihoods, and advancing sustainable development, as well as to explore opportunities for future cooperation. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) VIENTIANE, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from UN agencies in Laos visited the China-Laos Railway to learn about the project's achievements in promoting regional connectivity, enhancing livelihoods, and advancing sustainable development, as well as to explore opportunities for future cooperation. At the invitation of Chinese Ambassador to Laos Fang Hong, nearly 20 representatives from 10 UN agencies in Laos, including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), took a train at Vientiane Station of the China-Laos Railway on Friday. Along the route, they visited several key sites, including Vang Vieng Station, the Vang Vieng Freight Business Hall and Yard, Luang Prabang Station, and the Luang Prabang Maintenance Management Center. During the visit, the delegation held in-depth discussions with railway operators and staff to gain a comprehensive understanding of the railway's infrastructure, passenger and freight operations, management systems, safety protocols, and workforce development. The UN representatives praised the China-Laos Railway for its positive impact on Laos' economic and social development. They highlighted the railway's role in improving travel convenience, offering training and employment opportunities for Lao youth, boosting tourism, and strengthening regional connectivity. The delegation also expressed interest in exploring future cooperation with the railway to further support Laos' development. The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Laos Bakhodir Burkhanov noted that the China-Laos Railway has significantly enhanced Laos' transportation infrastructure, strengthened connectivity between provinces and communities, and enhanced accessibility for both residents and tourists. The railway holds great potential, and the UN will seek opportunities for future cooperation to further support local economic development and improve people's livelihoods, he added. Representatives from UN agencies in Laos communicate with crew members on train K12 of China-Laos Railway in Laos, May 30, 2025. Representatives from UN agencies in Laos visited the China-Laos Railway to learn about the project's achievements in promoting regional connectivity, enhancing livelihoods, and advancing sustainable development, as well as to explore opportunities for future cooperation. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) Representatives from UN agencies in Laos communicate in front of a train at Vang Vieng Station in Laos, May 30, 2025. Representatives from UN agencies in Laos visited the China-Laos Railway to learn about the project's achievements in promoting regional connectivity, enhancing livelihoods, and advancing sustainable development, as well as to explore opportunities for future cooperation. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) Advancing monsoon rains wreaked havoc across several regions in India over the past few days, especially in northeastern states, Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Let's have a look at updated death toll across states due to rain-related incidents. Death toll in Karnataka Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's office issued a statement on Saturday, underlining that the state recorded the highest rainfall in May and in the pre-monsoon season in the last 125 years. In May, the state usually receives around 74 mm of rainfall on average but this time a whopping 197 per cent uptick in rainfall was registered which is much higher than the normal range. In the last two months, 48 deaths were reported in rain-related incidents which occurred due to falling of trees, collapse of houses, drowning, landslide and electrocution. As per the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) statement, excessive pre-monsoon showers claimed 71 lives since April. The state government announced an emergency compensation of 5 lakh for the kins of the deceased. Death toll in Maharashtra Around 16 individuals were reported dead in Maharashtra on May 29 since May 24 after heavy rains lashed the state. As per Disaster Management Department data, the state recorded various rain-related incidents including tree falling, structural collapses and lightning. Death toll in Arunachal Pradesh As many as 9 were reported dead in Arunachal Pradesh after massive landslides wreaked disaster, ANI reported. The state government will be offering ex-gratia worth 4 lakh each to the kin of the victims. Amid rivers flowing above danger mark, the authorities urged residents in vulnerable areas to move to safer locations as incessant rainfall caused severe waterlogging across the state. Death toll in Mizoram Massive landslide triggered by relentless downpour led to destruction of 13 houses in Mizoram and claimed one life. Also Read | Assam floods: 5 dead as raging floodwater invades houses Death toll in Assam In Assam, as many as eight individuals were reported dead following incessant rainfall over the past few days, PTI reported. According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) landslides killed 5 in Kamrup Metropolitan district. Meanwhile, floods and landslides caused massive inundation in 17 districts and impacted lives of over 78,000 people. As knee-deep waters invaded houses and inundated streets, massive waterlogging was reported in the state's capital Guwahati. The flood situation was aggravated due to rainwaters coming from upstream stretch of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. Amid swelling rivers, embankments were breached and several districts by severely impacted by raging floodwater, including Dhemaji, South Salmara, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Darrang, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Kamrup, Biswanath Tinsukia and Karbi Anglong West. Death toll in Meghalaya In Meghalaya, 3 deaths in rain-related incident were reported. An emergency ex gratia of 4 lakh each for the kins of the deceased will be offered by the state, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced. "Nearly 1,100 in 49 villages have been affected by landslides, flash floods and power line disruptions," a senior official informed PTI. Death toll in Tripura In Tripura, low-lying areas were inundated after heavy rain and one individual drowned in the floodwaters. Tech billionaire Elon Musk spoke about the Trump administration during a recent interview, striking a careful balance between agreement and distance. And you know, its not like I agree with everything the administration does, Musk said, speaking with CBS. I agree with much of what the administration does. But we have differences of opinion I dont wanna, you know, speak up against the administration, but I also dont wanna take responsibility for everything this administrations doing. On the tax bill: Big or beautiful not both Musk criticised the administrations latest spending bill, which he believes undermines the goals of DOGE the Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative associated with government cost-cutting. I was, like, disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, doesnt decrease it, Musk said. It undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing. I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, he added with a laugh. But I dont know if it could be both. My personal opinion. On tariffs and trade wars: Affect things a little bit Asked whether his multi-industry businesses were affected by tariffs and global trade tensions, Musk acknowledged a moderate impact. You know, tariffs always affect things a little bit, he said, without elaborating further. On immigration policy: Lets stick to spaceships When asked about proposed restrictions on foreign student visas a topic especially relevant to Musk, an immigrant entrepreneur he pivoted away from the political discussion. Yeah. I mean, I think we wanna stick to, you know, the subject of the day, which is, like, spaceships, as opposed to, you know, presidential policy, Musk said. When pressed further, he simply responded, No, wellno. DOGE firestorm: Became the whipping boy Musk defended DOGE amid public backlash for cuts in government services, arguing that the agency had become a scapegoat. Its a bit unfair because DOGE became the whipping boy for everything, Musk said. If there was some cut, real or imagined, everyone would blame DOGE. Ive had people think that, like, somehow DOGE is gonna stop them from getting their Social Security check which is completely untrue. Ideology over understanding Addressing criticisms that DOGE moved too fast without understanding the agencies it was defunding, Musk framed it as a matter of ideology. Im like a proponent of smaller government, not bigger government, he said. So if somebodys a proponent of more government programs theyll be fundamentally opposed to DOGE. My frank opinion of the government is that, like, the government is just, like, the DMV that got big. So when you say, Lets have the government do something, you should think, Do you want the DMV to do it? Also Read | Trump shares baseless post that claims Biden was replaced by clones after 2020 Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently appeared on a CBS interview on June 1, which started off with his take on the recent US-China trade scenario. The "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" show saw Bessent claim that President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will have a conversation soon amid the tariff standoff. Bessent confident Trump-Xi will talk 'soon' Bessent claimed that he is "confident" that the details of a US-China trade agreement "will be ironed out" when they converse. During the show, Bessent stated that China is withholding its manufactured products from the rest of the world, which is otherwise necessary for the industrial supply chains of India, Europe, and other regions. This, according to him, is not what a reliable partner does. He also highlighted China's activities during COVID, saying, I think that what Secretary Hegseth did was remind everyone that during COVID, China was an unreliable partner, and what we are trying to do is to de-risk. We do not want to decouple, but we do need to de-risk, as we saw during COVID, whether it was with semiconductors, medicines, the other products we are in the process of de-risking. Regarding the 'possible' talk between China and US, Bessent was quoted as saying, "Well, we will see what the consequences are. I am confident that when President Trump and Party Chairman Xi have a call, this will be ironed out. So- but the fact that they are withholding some of the products that they agreed to release during our agreement- maybe it's a glitch in the Chinese system, maybe it's intentional. We'll see after the President speaks with the Party chairman." When asked by show host Margaret Brennan about the fact that President Trump has said a few times that he was going to speak to President Xi, but no such conversation has happened so far, Bennett responded, saying, I believe we'll see something very soon, Margaret. Juneteenth National Independence Day is fast approaching, and it's more than just a federal holiday it holds deep historical and cultural significance for the United States. It also commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom. The historic day symbolizes the end of slavery in the US and celebrates African American resilience, culture, and the ongoing pursuit of equality. What is the significance of Juneteenth? Juneteenth National Independence Day was officially brought into recognition by the Biden administration back in 2021, following the concept of a national day of reflection, education, and unity. It honors the struggles and contributions of Black Americans, amplifies conversations about racial justice, and reminds all citizens that freedom and equality are foundational ideals that need collective action. Top Juneteenth Wishes, Quotes, and Messages "Juneteenth is not a Black holiday, but an American holiday. It is a second Independence Day that reminds us freedom is a journey, not a destination." Celebrate freedom!" "Happy Juneteenth! Today, we honor the past, celebrate progress, and recommit to building a future of true equality. Let freedom ring!" "Juneteenth is our reminder to soar. Wishing you strength and joy as we celebrate the unbreakable spirit of freedom!" "To my family: May Juneteenth remind us of our ancestors courage and inspire us to create a legacy of justice. Together, we rise!" "Juneteenth marks the day delayed justice finally arrived. Lets educate, elevate, and celebrate freedoms promise. Happy Juneteenth!" "May the light of Juneteenth guide us toward a world where equality isnt a dream. Its reality. Keep pushing forward!" "This Juneteenth, lets uplift one another, honor our history, and strengthen our communities. Freedom is ours to cherish and protect!" "Sending love and pride this Juneteenth! Reflect, rejoice, and remember: Freedom is our birthright." We have simply got to make people aware that none of us are free until were all free. Celebrate freedoms dawn today and every day. Happy Juneteenth! Also Read | Is the US stock market closed this Juneteenth? All you need to know Tim Walz, the reigning Governor of Minnesota, was slammed by social media users and Donald Trump's MAGA supporters for showing support towards Pride Month in the United States. The running mate of Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris in the US Presidential polls 2024 had to face an onslaught of hate comments under his post captioned, No matter who you are or who you love, you are welcome here. Happy Pride Month, Minnesota! Tim Walz issues proclamation In the post was his official proclamation of Pride Month, bearing the Great Seal of the State of Minnesota. The first segment of the proclamation reads, "In 2025, we commemorate the 56th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which began as a response to a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York, where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people fought back during days of protest and demonstrations against police harassment and violence towards LGBTQ+ people; and..." "The Stonewall Riots and the broader LGBTQ liberation movement were shaped by the leadership and resistance of transgender and lesbian women of color, including Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Storme Delarverie. Their courage laid the groundwork for generations of advocacy, visibility, and justice; and...", the proclamation continues. What more did Tim Walz' post say? The last segment of Tim Walz' official proclamation spoke about the importance of the identity of the LGBTQ community and the resilience to keep fighting for justice and equality. "Each June, people in Minnesota and around the world observe Pride as a time to celebrate LGBTQ identity, community, and resilience and to continue the fight for justice, equity, and liberation. Pride honors the legacy of resistance and protest of the Stonewall Riots and affirms that the fight continues against discrimination, violence, and systemic barriers, and We affirm that LGBTQ+ people deserve respect, compassion, and a place to be their authentic selves, and we recommit to the safety and support of all our community members, and we celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout Minnesota," the proclamation read. Democrat VP nominee gets slammed online Soon after the post, Walz had to bear the wrath of MAGA activists and supporters. A MAGA supporter wrote, Are you really this much of a predator? Another social media user wrote, Would a conservative white man be welcomed? Others began commenting about the "real" Pride Month. "This is the real 'Pride" Month, Tim," a comment read. One of the replies to this comment thread said, May is veterans month, but you don't know that because you don't actually care. Hamas said it submitted a response to the US proposal for a truce in Gaza, but Trump administration envoy Steve Witkoff quickly dismissed it as totally unacceptable. Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward, Witkoff said Saturday in a post on X. He added that further talks on a truce can begin immediately this coming week. The key differences between the US proposal and Hamass response appeared to be the duration of any truce and the extent to which Israeli forces withdraw. Hamas responded earlier in the day to the US proposal with changes that aimed to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Strip. As part of the agreement, Hamas said in a statement it would release 10 living Israeli prisoners and return 18 bodies, in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners, according to the statement. The group didnt specify whether it was accepting or rejecting the proposal. Israel had earlier accepted the US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, which Witkoff said on social media involved a 60-day ceasefire and the release of half the living hostages and half of the dead ones. Israeli officials familiar with the matter said the proposal would also restore United Nations-led aid distribution to the Palestinian territory. Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US, European Union and many other countries, is seeking amendments to some points, including the timing of the hostage release, delivery of aid and withdrawal of Israeli forces, the Associated Press reported, citing an unidentified official. An earlier ceasefire ended in mid-March and talks over a new truce have stalled as Hamas has insisted on a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while the Israeli government wants the group to disarm and disband. International pressure to halt the protracted war has grown as the humanitarian crisis worsened in Gaza. Relief agencies say more than 2 million civilians in the ruined coastal enclave have been brought to the brink of famine by Israels 11-week blockade. While food deliveries resumed this week under the auspices of a Swiss-based nonprofit Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the rollout has been dogged by delays and chaos. While its unclear whether Israel will accept any new conditions or amendments to the US proposal, at least some members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government expressed optimism over the prospects for a truce. Speaking to Channel 12 TV on Saturday following reports of the Hamas response, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen, a member of Netanyahus security cabinet, said: I assess that time is not on the side of Hamas, and therefore that it will ultimately agree to the Witkoff proposal. With assistance from Dan Williams. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Bangladeshs International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday formally indicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others on multiple charges, including mass murder, in connection with thier alleged violent crackdown on student-led protests that rocked the nation last year. A three-judge bench of the ICT took cognizance of the charges after prosecutors accused Hasina and her former colleagues of using brutal force against protesters. We do hereby take into cognizance the charges, the three-judge ICT bench said, reported PTI. Proceedings against Hasina broadcast on national TV The tribunals proceedings, broadcast live on national television for the first time in the countrys history, mark the beginning of Hasinas trial in absentia nearly ten months after her ouster. The court also issued fresh arrest warrants for Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. The third accused, former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, is in custody and will stand trial in person. Charges against Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina has been charged with exercising unchecked authority to violently quash the protests, while Kamal and Mamun face accusations of instigating, abetting, and facilitating the crackdown, as per PTI. All three were accused of superior command responsibility for the crimes. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam went a step further, urging the tribunal to declare Hasinas Awami League a criminal organisation, claiming the violence was orchestrated on partisan lines. If convicted under the ICT-BD law, the accused could face the death penalty. Bombs hurled ahead of trial The trials start was briefly delayed after three crude bombs were hurled at the tribunals gates early Sunday morning. Two exploded, while the third was defused. Police are reviewing CCTV footage to identify and arrest the perpetrators. Sheikh Hasina's ouster Sheikh Hasina, ousted on August 5, 2024, following the widespread unrest, now faces multiple cases in Bangladesh. A previous arrest warrant led the interim government to formally request her repatriation from India via diplomatic channels. New Delhi has acknowledged the request but has not issued a response. Almost a year after uprising, the new Bangladesh administration on Sunday issued new banknotes, replacing designs featuring its founding president, the late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reported AFP. According to the report, Bangladesh's notes featured the portrait of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's late father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led the country to independence from Pakistan in 1971 until soldiers assassinated him and most of his family in a 1975 coup. Also Read | Bangladesh tribunal indicts ex-PM Hasina on mass murder charges Details of news notes: "Under the new series and design, the notes will not feature any human portraits, but will instead showcase natural landscapes and traditional landmarks," Bangladesh Bank spokesman Arif Hossain Khan told AFP. Providing more details, Hossain stated that the designs in the Muslim-majority nation are images of Hindu and Buddhist temples. The new notes also include artwork of the late painter Zainul Abedin, depicting the Bengal famine during British colonial rule. Another note will depict the national martyrs' memorial for those who died in the independence war against Pakistan. The Bangladesh Bank released notes for three of the nine different denominations on Sunday. Also Read | Bangladesh govt deploys paramilitary forces, SWAT amid service law protests "The new notes will be issued from the central bank's headquarters, and later from its other offices across the country," he added. "The other denominations of the notes with new designs will be released in phases". In the meantime, the existing notes and coins will remain in circulation alongside the new notes. Previous patterns: Though it is not new in Bangladesh that the design has changed to reflect changing politics. Earlier in 1972, after Bangladesh changed its name from East Pakistan, initial notes were issued that featured a map. Later the design included Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which Hasina also led during her 15 years in power. Also Read | Bangladesh's Yunus not stepping down amid growing unease When the country was dominated by the powerful Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the notes had historic and archaeological sites The authorities banned the Awami League in April pending the trial of Hasina and other party leaders. The former Bangladesh PM, Sheikh Hasina is currently in self-imposed exile in India, and has defied an extradition order to attend her trial. After an exit poll showed Polish centrist Presidential candidate Rafal Trzaskowski leading on Sunday, he made a big claim to his party members. Liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, known for his strong European Union ties, is on course for a narrow and tight win in the Polish Presidential elections. According to a Reuters report, he "appeared set for a razor-thin win in Poland's presidential election on Sunday", based on an exit poll on Sunday. Meanwhile, an already elated Trzaskowski told jubilant party members, "We won. I will bring people together, I will be constructive, I will be a president for all Poles. I will be your president," after the exit polls came out, nearly claiming his victory. Official results of the Polish Presidential elections were due Monday, but a late poll was expected to be released overnight. This late poll mixes some results with exit surveys, according to Reuters, and carries an error margin of two points. The exit poll curated by Ipsos for broadcasters TVN, TVP, and Polsat claimed that Trzaskowski of the ruling centrist Civic Coalition (KO) could win the polls by amassing 50.3% of ballots. His rival, a conservative historian and amateur boxer, Karol Nawrocki, backed by nationalists Law and Justice (PiS) as well as the Donald Trump administration, stood at 49.7%. The election, seen as a fight between a pro-European course versus Donald Trump-style nationalism, is turning all the more interesting by the minute. For now, however, pro-European Union candidate Trzaskowski, currently the Mayor of Warsaw, holds a narrow lead in the polls. Climate activist Greta Thunberg and 11 others set sail for Gaza on Sunday aboard the Madleen, a ship operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, in a bold attempt to break Israels siege of the war-torn territory. The vessel departed from Catania, a port in southern Italy, and aims to deliver humanitarian aid and spotlight the deepening crisis in Gaza. Speaking at a press conference in Catania before departure, Thunberg became emotional while describing the urgency of the mission. We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying, she said, tearing up. Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And no matter how dangerous this mission is, its not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the live-streamed genocide. Passengers onboard Joining Thunberg on the Madleen are several notable figures, including Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham and French MEP Rima Hassan, who is of Palestinian descent. Hassan has been barred from entering Israel due to her vocal opposition to the war in Gaza. Previous aid attempt foiled by drone attack This is the Freedom Flotillas second recent attempt to reach Gaza. A May effort was abandoned after the Conscience, another of the coalitions vessels, was struck by two drones in international waters near Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack. Ongoing war and accusations of genocide The mission comes amid growing international concern over conditions in Gaza. Nearly 19 months into the conflict, Gazas Health Ministry reports over 52,000 deaths mostly women and children due to Israeli airstrikes and ground assaults. Israel, which says its operations target Hamas militants, firmly rejects allegations of genocide. Israels blockade and hostage crisis Israel maintains its blockade, citing pressure on Hamas to release hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attack, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 abducted. As of now, 58 hostages remain in captivity, 23 of whom are believed to be alive. Breaking the siege by land and sea Activist Thiago Avila emphasized that this maritime effort is part of a broader movement to challenge the blockade: We are breaking the siege of Gaza by sea, but thats part of a broader strategy of mobilizations that will also attempt to break the siege by land. He highlighted the upcoming Global March to Gaza, set to begin in Egypt in mid-June, where participants including doctors, lawyers, and media will attempt to reach the Rafah crossing to call for an end to the offensive and reopening of the border. Humanitarian crisis at breaking point Despite Israel slightly easing restrictions in mid-May, aid groups and UN agencies warn that famine looms in Gaza. They cite Israeli policies, lawlessness, and looting as major barriers to aid delivery to Gazas 2 million residents. The Madleens voyage is expected to last about seven days unless it is intercepted. Organizers say the mission is both symbolic and urgent, aimed at drawing global attention to Gazas humanitarian catastrophe. (With AP inputs) Also Read | Hamas answers Gaza ceasefire offer with new demands: 10 key points DUSHANBE, June 1 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese delegation visited Tajikistan from Friday to Saturday and attended the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation. The delegation was headed by Shen Yueyue, vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairperson of the Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, who met with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, held talks with Faizali Idizoda, speaker of the lower house of the parliament, and attended the unveiling ceremony of the Health Express China-Tajikstan Blindness Prevention Center. Conveying Chinese President Xi Jinping's warm greetings to Rahmon, Shen said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Tajikistan in the new era has maintained good momentum for growth. China is willing to work with Tajikistan to follow through on the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and push for solid progress in building a China-Tajikistan community with a shared future, she said. Depicting China as a proactive participant and contributor in global ecological governance and glaciers' preservation, Shen voiced China's readiness to work with all parties to fulfill common but differentiated responsibilities, so as to build a clean and beautiful world. Asking Shen to extend his sincere greetings to Xi, Rahmon reiterated that Tajikistan actively participates in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and firmly supports the three major global initiatives proposed by Xi, and pledged joint efforts to build the China-Central Asia mechanism. He also voiced willingness to work with China to deepen cooperation in various fields and international collaboration on issues including addressing climate change. Multiple explosions were heard near the Olenya Air Base in Russias Murmansk region, local media reported on Sunday. As per reports on social media platform X, at least 10 explosions were heard at the air base before a fire broke out. Murmansk governor confirmed the strike, saying enemy drones attacked the region. Local media also uploaded footages of smoke rising near the air base. The Olenya Air Base is close to Ukraine border. Videos on social media also showed Russian heavy bombers on fire. The flight line at Russia's Olenya Airbase is ablaze. Multiple Russian Tu-95 heavy bombers are burning after a massive Ukrainian FPV drone strike, a social media channel said, sharing videos of smoke rising from the flight line. Olenya Air Base is one of Russias key strategic aviation facilities, hosting aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons. If they are confirmed, it will be one of the most sensitive strikes on Russia ever since the war with Ukraine started. The air base is situated approximately 1,800 kilometres away from the Ukraine border. Also Read | Russia Probes Rail Incidents in Regions Near Ukraine Border Also Read | Russia to Attend New Talks as Ukraine Demands Peace Outline Ukraine's domestic security agency, the SBU, conducted a large drone attack on over 40 Russian military aircraft on Sunday, an SBU official was quoted as saying by Reuters. The struck aircraft included Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers, which Russia uses to fire long-range missiles at Ukraine, as per the report. Days prior, several Tu-95 aircraft were reportedly spotted at the Olenya Air Base. Two Russian bridges collapse in Russia after explosion Earlier, explosions caused two bridges to collapse and derailed two trains in western Russia overnight. Russia is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. In one of the incidents, seven people were killed and dozens were injured. Both the explosions occurred in Russian regions bordering Ukraine. A section of the road bridge in the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, struck a passenger train en route to Moscow shortly before midnight on Saturday, the regional governor Alexander Bogomaz said in a Telegram post. The number of injured stands at 66, he said. Also Read | 7 dead, nearly 70 injured as train derail after bridge collapses in Russia Hours after the collapse of the Bryansk region bridge, officials said a second train was derailed when the bridge beneath it collapsed in the nearby Kursk region, which also borders Ukraine. Prince Harry reportedly sought advice from Princess Dianas brother, Earl Spencer, about changing his family name to Spencer, according to a report which cited its source as saying. The Duke of Sussex is said to have actively explored the possibility of abandoning the Mountbatten-Windsor surname currently used by his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, reported dailymail.co.uk. A friend of Harry, as per the report, revealed, "They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step." The discussions reportedly took place during a rare visit by Harry to Britain. However, legal challenges were deemed insurmountable by Earl Spencer. A symbol of the rift with the Royal family The fact that Harry consulted his late mothers family over his own royal surname highlights the ongoing "toxic rift" between him and other members of the Royal Family, the news report noted. Changing the surname would have likely caused upset, especially for his brother Prince William and father King Charles. Mountbatten-Windsor: The Royal family name Mountbatten-Windsor is the surname designated for descendants of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. It merges the royal family name Windsor and the adopted surname Mountbatten of the Duke of Edinburgh. Archie and Lilibets full names are Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, respectively. Royal author Tom Bower was quoted as saying in the report, Meghan decided her real object in life was to be Diana, suggesting that the proposed name change was part of a larger tribute. Had the change succeeded, Meghan and Harrys daughter would have been named Lilibet Diana Spencer. Significance of the Mountbatten name to King Charles The Mountbatten name holds particular sentimental value for King Charles, as it was adopted by his grandfather, the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, a mentor to Prince Philip and an important figure in the royal family. Philip himself adopted Mountbatten upon becoming a naturalised British subject in 1947. King Charles and Queen Elizabeth II decided in 1960 that their direct descendants would use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. Legal process and name sensitivities According to the UK Government, changing a surname does not require a formal legal process but often involves a deed poll to update official documents like passports or driving licenses. The topic of names and titles is sensitive for the Sussexes. Meghan Markle has publicly emphasised the importance of her surname, saying on her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, You know Im Sussex now. It just means so much to go This is OUR family name. Our little family name. Royal titles of Archie and Lilibet The Sussex childrens royal titles were confirmed on the official Royal Family website following their grandfather King Charless accession. They are now styled as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex, ranked sixth and seventh in the line of succession. A spokesperson for the Sussexes said, The children's titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace. Also Read | Prince Harrys travel to China raises eyebrows Russian investigators are probing the explosions which caused two bridges to collapse and derailed two trains in western Russia overnight, as acts of terrorism. In one of the incidents, seven people were killed and dozens were injured. Officials did not mention what caused the blasts. Both the explosions occurred in Russian regions bordering Ukraine. The incident comes just a day before the Russia-Ukraine talks scheduled for Monday, June 2. Bryansk region bridge collapses The first bridge, in the Bryansk region on the border with Ukraine, collapsed on top of a passenger train on Saturday, causing the casualties. "The bridge was blown up while the Klimovo-Moscow train was passing through with 388 passengers on board," Alexander Bogomaz, the region's governor, told Russian television, mentions a Reuters report. Kursk region bridge collapses Hours after the collapse of the Bryansk region bridge, officials said a second train was derailed when the bridge beneath it collapsed in the nearby Kursk region, which also borders Ukraine. In the second collapse, a freight train was thrown off its rails onto the road below as the explosion collapsed the bridge, local acting Gov. Alexander Khinshtein said Sunday. The crash sparked a fire, but there were no casualties, he said. Also Read | 7 dead, nearly 70 injured as train derail after bridge collapses in Russia Photos shared by government agencies from the site in Russias Bryansk region showed train carriages torn apart and scattered among chunks of concrete from a collapsed bridge. This handout photograph posted on the Telegram account of Kursk region acting governor Alexander Khinshtein (Telegram/@Hinshtein) on June 1, 2025 shows a train carriage on a rail bridge following its collapse in the Kursk region. Seven people were killed and dozens injured after bridges in two separate Russian regions bordering Ukraine collapsed overnight, officials said Sunday, with rail authorities blaming at least one incident on 'illegal interference'. Other videos circulating on social media, purportedly recorded from inside vehicles that narrowly avoided driving onto the bridge moments before it gave way. Russia-Ukraine conflict The Russian regions bordering Ukraine have been subject to frequent attacks by Ukraine since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Both sides accuse the other of targeting civilians, and both deny such accusations. Although there was no immediate comment from Ukraine about the explosions, Russian politicians lined up to blame Ukraine, saying it was clearly sabotage aimed at derailing the peace talks which the United States has demanded, reported Reuters. Also Read | Germany to Help Kyiv Build Long-Range Missiles to Strike Russia A smartphone smuggled out of North Korea has uncovered shocking evidence of the regimes extreme surveillance tactics and linguistic manipulation, shedding light on how Kim Jong-uns government continues to tighten its grip over the countrys population. The device, obtained by the BBC in late 2024 and analysed by tech experts, reveals that North Korean smartphonesrunning a heavily modified version of Androidare embedded with tools specifically designed to enforce state ideology, censor foreign influence, and monitor citizens every digital move. Words rewritten by the State One of the most disturbing features is the phones automatic rewriting of certain terms. Typing South Korea into the phone replaces it with puppet state, a derogatory term used in North Korean propaganda. Similarly, the word oppa, a common South Korean expression for an older brother or boyfriend, is forcibly changed to comrade, accompanied by a warning: This word can only be used to describe your siblings. These changes reflect North Koreas broader policy of linguistic controlredefining language itself to shape perception and loyalty. Constant surveillance, no privacy The phone is also equipped with hidden surveillance functions. It silently takes screenshots every five minutes and stores them in a hidden folder that is inaccessible to users but available to state authorities. This, as stated by a reporter for the BBC, allows officials to monitor individual behavior in real-time and maintain complete control over what citizens are doing on their devices. Internet access is entirely blocked. Instead, North Korean users are restricted to a closed intranet system known as Kwangmyong, which hosts only state-approved content and offers no connection to the outside world. A rare glimpse into a closed regime The phones escape from North Koreabelieved to have been smuggled across the Chinese border via defector networks or underground routesoffers a rare window into one of the worlds most secretive and tightly controlled regimes. A digital iron curtain North Koreas information lockdown is among the most comprehensive in the world. Citizens are systematically cut off from foreign news, media, and culture, particularly from South Korea, which is officially considered an enemy state. The smartphones software plays a key role in this digital iron curtainsubverting words, spying on users, and shaping minds in service of the regime. As North Korea escalates its information war against outside influence, the smuggled phone stands as stark evidence of a society where even casual conversation is controlled. Also Read | Multiple explosions heard near Russian Air Base close to Ukraine border | Watch Ukraine's Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the nation's domestic security agency, carried out a massive drone attack against Russia on Sunday, 1 June 2025, hitting more than 40 Russian military aircraft, reported the news agency Reuters, citing SBU officials aware of the development. Also Read | Multiple explosions heard near Russian Air Base close to Ukraine border | Watch The report also highlighted that the drone attack struck military aircraft, including Tu-95 and the Tu-22, which are the strategic bombers for the Russian Air Force. Russia reportedly used these aircraft to fire long-range missiles at Ukraine. A video went viral on the social media platform X, which showed military aircraft on fire, alleging that those were the Russian Tu-95 heavy bombers, which were ablaze due to the Ukrainian drone strike. Also Read | Top defense officials say Ukraine war has blurred lines, exposing global threats Russia's Murmansk Governor also said that the Ukrainian drones attacked the region, according to a separate report from the news agency. However, the news agency could not verify the development. LiveMint couldn't independently verify the report. Ukraine Drone Attack Details According to the local news portal, The Kyiv Independent's report, citing people aware of the development, Sunday's drone attack was a special operation from the SBU. Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia this is the result of a special operation by the SBU, they told the news portal. Right now, the Security Service of Ukraine is conducting a large-scale special operation to destroy enemy bomber aircraft in the rear of the Russian Federation, they said. According to the news portal's report, at least one of the airfields hit in the drone attack was the Belaya airbase in Russia's Irkutsk Oblast, which ranges more than 4,000 kilometres from Ukraine. However, the news portal could not verify the claims separately. In March 2025, Ukraine reportedly announced that it had developed a new drone with a range of 3,000 kilometres; however, they did not give any details of the drone's capability or features, or when it would go into mass production. Another report from RBC Ukraine said that the special operation has been named Spiderweb, and has caused damage to Russia of more than $2 billion. Ukraine came under one of the longest barrages from Russian missiles and drones early Sunday, with air sirens lasting for more then 9 hours, ahead of planned talks between Kyiv and Moscow this week. A strike on a military training center killed 12 people and wounded 60 others, Ukraines Land Forces said in a Facebook post, without providing details of the centers location. Another person was killed and at least a dozen injured while residential areas, as well as civilian infrastructure, were damaged in central Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, southern Odesa and northern Kharkiv regions, local authorities reported on Telegram. The capital Kyiv and surrounding region also came under attack beginning Saturday night, with local governor Mykola Kalashnyk saying that Russia has increased the number of strike drones to attack civilian settlements. There were no injuries, though a dozen residential houses were damaged, he added. While Russia claims to be preparing for meetings to discuss peace, what it actually does is attack, terrorize, and destroy, Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X. The attack came ahead of a planned second round of negotiations to end the war, preliminary scheduled for Monday in Istanbul. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Saturday announced new diplomatic steps with Europe and the US, while reiterating that theres still no clear information about what exactly the Russians plan to bring to the table for talks. We dont have it, Turkiye doesnt have it, the United States doesnt have it either, and neither do other partners. And at this point, it looks far from serious, Zelenskiy said in his regular address to the nation late Saturday. For now, however, we are only seeing new Russian strikes and new Russian assaults. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. New chilling details have emerged as Ukrainian drones on Sunday reportedly destroyed at least 40 Russian planes in an attack on the eve of peace talks between the two countries. According to a social media post by Murtaza Hussain, a journalist at Drop Site News, the FPV drones used by Ukraine were launched from trucks parked inside the Russian territory. The FPV drones were reportedly launched from trucks parked inside Russian territory and deployed from the top of removable roofs, he said on X. Hussain described the attack as modern Pearl Harbor. Despite losing territory to Russian advances in recent months the UA has pulled off a modern Pearl Harbor. I would brace for serious retaliation. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise air raid by Japan on the US in 1941, in the midst of the World War II. Russia has also confirmed that several of its military aircraft "caught fire" after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack. Also Read | Ukraine destroys dozens of Russian warplanes hours before talks What we know Ukraine's surprise drone attack on Russia In a surprise drone attack, Ukraine claimed to destroy more than 40 Russian planes deep in Russias territory, as per a report by The Associated Press quoting sources. While the official source quoted by AP could not share operational details, they said the attack took over a year to execute and was personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The drones were transported in containers carried by trucks deep into Russian territory, as per the report. Also Read | Ukraine drone attack hits 40 Russian military aircrafts in massive attack The drones hit airfields including the Belaya air base in Russias Irkutsk region, more than 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Ukraine. It is the first time that a Ukrainian drone has been seen in the region, local Gov. Igor Kobzeva said, stressing that it did not present a threat to civilians. The attack was disclosed on the same day as Zelensky said Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday. Also Read | Multiple explosions heard near Russian Air Base close to Ukraine border | Watch In a statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy said that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation. We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people, Zelensky said. Twin train bridge collapses in Western Russia kill 7, injure dozens Two train bridges collapsed in western Russia overnight, killing seven people and injuring dozens, Russian officials said Sunday. One bridge in Bryansk collapsed onto a passenger train, while a second in nearby Kursk caused a freight train derailment. Authorities initially blamed explosions but later edited statements to remove the term. Russia's Investigative Committee is treating the incidents as possible acts of terrorism. Photos showed wrecked train cars amid collapsed concrete. Some of the injured were taken to Moscow for treatment, and Bryansk declared three days of mourning. Damage to other tracks in the area was also reported. Ukraines military intelligence claimed responsibility for destroying a separate Russian military train en route to Crimea, but did not comment on the bridge incidents. What we know so far: There were several unverified videos and pictures posted on social media showing Russian strategic bombers on fire at the Belaya air base north of Irkutsk. All these bombers' sole purpose is to drop nuclear bombs on distant targets. Also, the governor of Irkutsk Igor Kobzev said that there was a drone attack on a military unit near the village of Sredny in the Usolsky district. According to open sources, the Belaya or Sredny airbase hosts the Tupolev Tu-22M supersonic long-range strategic bomber. The Ukrainian drones also hit Murmansk region of northern Russia, where Olenya airbase is situated, added the report. 11:44 Zelensky says Ukraine hit Russian airbases with 117-drone strike "A total of 117 drones were used in the operation. And a corresponding number of drone operators worked," Zelensky said in a statement, adding that "34 percent of the strategic cruise missile carriers at the airfields were hit". 23.20 Zelenskyy meets top ministers ahead of Istanbul talks Zelenskyy holds meeting with top ministers ahead of direct Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul. Defence Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation at the negotiations. The meeting comes as Ukraine and Russia prepare for a new round of peace discussions. 22.50 Ukraine says $7 billion worth of Russian warplanes hit Ukraine's SBU (Security Service) carried out a series of long-range drone strikes on Russian air bases. The attacks reportedly took place thousands of kilometres behind the front lines, far inside Russian territory. The strikes targeted Russian military planes, specifically strategic aviation assets. Ukraine estimates the total value of damage at $7 billion, highlighting the cost to Russias air capabilities. "$7 billion: This is the estimated cost of the enemy's strategic aviation, which was hit today as a result of the SBU's special operation," the agency said in a social media post. 21.35 Russia accuses Ukraine of 'terrorist attack' on military airbases Russia accuses Ukraine of terrorist attack on military airfields across multiple regions. More than 40 Russian military aircraft targeted in strikes on bases in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur. Russian Defence Ministry claims it repelled attacks at three airfields. Fires broke out at some bases; no casualties reported; all fires have been extinguished. Several participants detained, according to Russia. 21.00 Ukraine to propose 30-day ceasefire, full prisoner swap at peace talks Ukraine will propose a 30-day ceasefire at the upcoming peace talks. Kyiv seeks the return of all prisoners held by both sides. The roadmap calls for a direct meeting between Presidents Zelenskyy and Putin. Ukraine demands no restrictions on its future military strength after a peace deal. Ukraine insists on no international recognition of Russian sovereignty over occupied territories. (Sky News) 20.30 12 Ukrainian troops killed, 60+ injured in Russian missile strike on training site At least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed and over 60 injured in a Russian missile strike on Sunday. The missile hit a Ukrainian army training unit, located behind the active 1,000-km front line. The attack occurred at 12:50 p.m., according to the Ukrainian Ground Forces. Ukraine clarified that no mass formations or gatherings were taking place at the time of the strike. An investigative commission has been formed to determine the circumstances behind the strike and the resulting casualties. (AP) 19.55 Istanbul peace talks scheduled to start at 11 a.m. UK time at Ciragan Palace, Turkey Istanbul peace talks scheduled to start at 11 a.m. UK time at Ciragan Palace, Turkey. Ukraine confirms attendance; Defence Minister Rustem Umerov to represent Kyiv. Zelensky states key issues in talks can only be resolved by the leaders. Ukraine expected to present specific conditions during the talks. First round of Istanbul talks lasted less than two hours. No ceasefire agreement reached in first talks. First meeting resulted in the largest prisoner swap of the war so far. 19.10 Russian delegation heads to Istanbul for peace talks with Ukraine A Russian delegation has departed for peace talks in Turkey, as reported by RIA news agency. Ukraine and Russia are set to meet in Istanbul tomorrow for the second round of talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed earlier today that Kyiv will attend the talks. Ukraines delegation will be led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. The meeting will take place at Ciragan Palace in Istanbul. 19.22 Ukraine says over 40 Russian Mmlitary jets destroyed in drone attack A Ukrainian security official has told the Associated Press that Ukraine destroyed more than 40 Russian military aircraft in a large-scale drone strike deep within Russia's borders. The official, speaking anonymously to discuss sensitive operational details, said the ambitious attack took over 18 months to plan and was personally overseen by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 18.51 Explosion reported at Russias nuclear submarine base, but official refutes A powerful explosion was reported in Severomorsk, in Russias Murmansk region, home to the countrys nuclear submarine fleet, according to Russian Telegram channels. However, the citys head, Vladimir Yevmenkov, denied any such incident, stating the reports were false. 18. 40 Collapsed Bryansk bridge deemed beyond repair, replacement planned Bryansk train wreckage cleared as crews move in. Collapsed bridge beyond repair, replacement already planned. The first bridge, located in Russia's Bryansk region near the Ukrainian border, collapsed onto a passenger train on Saturday, resulting in multiple casualties. According to state-run Russian Railways, the train's driver was among the deceased. Images shared by Bryansk government agencies showed mangled train carriages scattered beneath large slabs of fallen concrete from the collapsed structure. Just hours later, authorities reported that a second train derailed after the bridge beneath it gave way in the nearby Kursk region, which also borders Ukraine. Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the SBU Ukraines domestic security agency attacked over 40 Russian military aircraft on Sunday with drones, reported Reuters quoting an sources. According to the details, the struck aircraft included Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers, which Russia uses to fire long-range missiles at Ukraine. Confirming the attack, the Russian governor of the Irkutsk region said that Ukrainian remote-piloted aircraft attacked a military unit in the village of Sridni which is first such attack in Siberia. RT also shared a video of a drone attacking a military unit in Russia's Irkutsk region. President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Sunday that Ukraine had successfully conducted a large-scale covert drone operation deep inside Russian territory, striking strategic military targets and dealing what he described as truly significant losses to Russias air capabilities. It took place on enemy territory and was aimed exclusively at military targets specifically, the equipment used in strikes against Ukraine, Zelensky stated. According to the president, the meticulously planned operation involved 117 drones and hit 34% of Russias strategic cruise missile carriers. The missions coordination center, he noted, was located next to an FSB headquarters in a Russian region. Planning, organization, every detail was perfectly executed Whats most interesting and this can now be stated publicly is that the office of our operation on Russian territory was located directly next to FSB headquarters, he said. Zelensky credited Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk and all involved for executing what he called an absolutely unique operation that took over a year and a half to prepare. Rising Russian drone threats Even as Ukraine strikes back, Zelensky warned that Russia is escalating its drone and missile attacks. Last night, there were nearly 500 Russian drones, attack drones. Each week, they have been increasing the number of units used per strike. He also confirmed that Kalibr missiles launched from Russian naval carriers are being readied for future assaults. Zelensky urged Ukrainians to remain vigilant and take air raid alerts seriously in light of mounting threats. Ceasefire still on the table, says Zelensky Despite the intensifying conflict, Zelensky reiterated Ukraines openness to a full and unconditional ceasefire, stressing that Ukraine had not wanted this war. Not for a single second did we want this war. We offered the Russians a ceasefire. Since March 11, the U.S. proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire has been on the table. He added that Russia had not provided any formal response to Ukraines peace proposal and had not shared its so-called memorandum with Ukraine, Turkey, or the US. High-level defense talks before Istanbul meeting Zelensky convened an extended meeting with Ukraines defense and foreign ministers, intelligence chiefs, and top military leadership to discuss the upcoming peace talks in Istanbul, scheduled for Monday. The Ukrainian proposal we presented to the Russians is logical and realistic Despite this, we will attempt to achieve at least some progress on the path toward peace. Frontline report and new casualties Zelensky also received a frontline update from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, specifically on the Kursk operation, and praised the continued resilience of Ukrainian troops. However, he confirmed that a Russian missile strike on a military training facility in the Dnipro region had resulted in casualties. Unfortunately, there are casualties. Our servicemen were killed Every life must be protected. All necessary decisions to that end will be made. The US wants my business, but not so much that it would make it easy for me to buy its most popular product. I have been willing to give away a portion of my savings to send my child to America as a customer of American college education. I am not a great admirer of college education anywhere. It is akin to a caste system designed to keep unlucky children out of some rooms forever. But I am an incurable admirer of the West, and of young people escaping India, even if only briefly. But now, America is too risky for foreign students. Even if they gain admission somehow, find the money somehow, are granted a visa somehow, there is no guarantee their welcome will not be revoked. The US government has stated that it will revoke student visas for sloppy attendance. Students fear that a misdemeanourlike getting involved in a scufflecould annul their visa. At the time of writing, the US government has announced a global pause on all student visa interviews. This, it says, is to allow officials more time to screen applicants more thoroughly, including social media scans. As a result, for the first time in decades, the young in all developing nations have been denied their American dream. Also Read: Columbia missed the bus of academic freedom that Harvard took President Donald Trump wants a closer look at international students before letting them enter the US because he does not want agitators. He does have a point. As US secretary of state Marco Rubio said, If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckuswere not going to give you a visa." Like activism in general, student activism is not the moral force its noble themes of struggle may suggest. There is something absurd about foreign students from developing nations protesting for democracy and other human values in the US. Many can afford an American education because they are beneficiaries of inequality. Some of that wealth is probably from corruption and oligarchies. A few student activists admit such contradictions in their lives. Their hyper-morality often has the quality of a luxury product that seems to fill a void in their lives. Often, it is also an extension of a right-wing agenda. What is conservatism in one region, such as Arab nationalism, may appear to be a liberal struggle in another. Also Read: Americas harsh treatment of foreign students will come back to haunt it For instance, on an American campus, it could be expressed as humanitarian outrage on behalf of Palestinians. The cause is also dear to many student activists who are neither Arab nor Muslim, because it can be a thrill to back the weak. Israels great PR problem has always been that it is a prosperous, formidable nationa place that makes for bad photojournalism. The liberal arts outrage against Israel on American campuses is decades-old and an important part of the Palestinian movement. In fact, it was probably part of the calculations of Hamas in its terror strikes against Israel. Not surprisingly, just hours after Hamas massacred over 1,000 Israelis on 7 October 2023, there were mass student protests in America against Israel. In the past, such protests have often been effective in controlling Israeli retribution. This time, they failed. Also Read: Lets not forget Western universities need Indian students more than ever There is a Jewish view that student movements against Israel are a form of anti-semitism. You may think this is excessive extrapolation. But they have a point. At least a strand of the Palestinian movement in America may be interpreted as anti-Jewish. A shade of anti-semitism seems to persist in the US even today, with envy of Jewish prosperity and influence mixed with an old religious prejudice that has lasted for centuries. So, Jews are not wrong in classifying a strand of the Palestinian movement as an expression of anti-semitism. Also Read: Manu Joseph: Migrating to the US has long been a rite of humiliation Also, students might be too young and naive to see how they may be getting used as a political instrument by unseen handlers. Most street movements appear to be righteous battles waged by the oppressed or on behalf of them. But behind the scenes, activism is usually a clash between two unseen elites, somewhere, who need to recruit the naive to fight for them. In some cases, it appears, activism could also be a magnet for people with depression. Their conditions could be made worse in a pit of ceaseless bad news, as wars produce. Through the strife of the wronged across the world, some activists may thus be seeking a grander purpose for personal dejection. In that way, their unnameable sorrow finds a name. Also Read: Manu Joseph: America and the bearable loneliness of losing the West There is also something amusing about student protests for democracy in America. For decades, the US exported student activism to other nations, apparently to create favourable chaos as part of a larger project to control those regions. Student activism, though central to US political life when practised by US citizens, was also in some ways a foreign-policy strategy. That is one reason the American right-wing takes it seriously. They know it can work. It can create chaos. The Trump administration does not want a particular kind of migrant, and to achieve that objective, it has changed how America is perceived by non-Americans, especially students. There are other advanced economies that have excellent colleges, like the UK. But those nations are mostly in limbo, or the slow decay of old money. None of them has the vibrant promise of America. Yet, the American dream might be over for the Indian student. The author is a journalist, novelist, and the creator of the Netflix series, Decoupled During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, Anju Ancient Town in Tongliang, Chongqing, hosted its annual intangible cultural heritage festival, featuring traditional dragon boat races and the lively "River Grabbing" competition, where rowers dived into the water to catch ducks and geese. The event also showcased a high-pole boat acrobatic performance from Zhejiang Province, highlighting the diversity and rich heritage of Chinese folk sports. Produced by Xinhua Global Service One of the biggest misconceptions about the recently suspended military conflict between India and Pakistan has been around the concept of deterrence. A number of commentators have used it as a frame to assess the objectives and outcomes of the brief but intense bout of warfare between the two countries. Some have argued that the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir marked a failure of deterrence. Others claim that Operation Sindoor restored that deterrence. Yet others claim that Sindoor itself is a failure because it will not prevent Pakistan from instigating terrorist attacks in the future. Much of the confusion comes from the lazyand inappropriateuse of the term deterrence in the context of terrorism and its punishment. Also Read: Nitin Pai: Operation Sindoor leaves India better placed for the next round Deterrence is a situation in which an adversary is persuaded not to take a particular action by holding out a threat of punishment. In the context of India and Pakistan, we can say that there is mutual nuclear deterrence because each side knows that it would suffer unacceptably severe damage. So, neither side will use nuclear weapons unless its red lines are crossed. These deliberately set the bar very high: India will not use nuclear weapons unless it is first attacked with them; Pakistan will use them only if its existence is threatened. Now heres the point: the existence of nuclear deterrence does not mean other types of conflicts are also deterred. Since the mid-1980s, Pakistan believed and convinced many foreign strategiststhat it could use its nuclear weapons to deter a conventional military attack. This emboldened its leaders to pursue a proxy war first in Punjab and later in Jammu and Kashmir with impunity. The calculation was that nuclear weapons not only neutralized Indias stronger conventional forces, but also afforded Pakistan space to promote terrorism and insurgency. Also Read: World should take note of Paks nuclear bombs The post-Uri surgical strikes, the Balakot operation and now Operation Sindoor have shown that Pakistan can no longer assume that it can deter India at the conventional level. Operation Sindoor, particularly, demonstrated New Delhis willingness and capacity to hit Pakistani targets along the entire length of the border. Contrary to subsequent media hype, the targets were chosen to keep the nuclear angle out of the picture. The message was clear: nuclear weapons will not deter India from engaging in conventional warfare with a punitive intensity. India, for its part, had never been able to deter Pakistan from using terrorism. The bad news is that despite the military response, it will remain nearly impossible to do so in the future. As I have argued in recent columns, India has over the past three decades raised Pakistans costs, leading to a reduction in the frequency and intensity of terror attacks. Also Read: Nitin Pai: Operation Sindoor sets a new normal for Indias strategy Operation Sindoor has managed to ratchet up those costs significantly. It is possible to raise them further, but, unfortunately, never to a level that is prohibitive to the other side. So, it is a matter of time before another Pakistani general is tempted to take anotheralbeit more expensiveshot at the countrys old game. Operation Sindoor is, thus, about dissuasion, discouragement and disincentivization. Contrary to intuition, the fact that India is prepared to suffer damage in order to punish Pakistan makes this strategy all the more credible. The Pahalgam attacks are a reminder that the task of dissuasion is continuous and multipronged. It starts with policies that reduce the impact of terrorism. It is obvious that the Pakistani establishment uses terror attacks not only to trigger a disproportionate security response that alienates the local population in Kashmir, but also to spark communal tensions across the country. To the extent that Indian society is united, harmonious and at peace with itself, even a big terror attack will only have a small political impact. Second, India should continue to systematically engage Pakistans key foreign partners and persuade them that terrorism being fuelled by Pakistan is not in their interests. Over the past three decades, Indian diplomacy has been successful in getting the United States, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates to stop rewarding Rawapindis capers. There should be no let up on this front and it is a job for Indias professional diplomats. Third, intelligence capabilities and the security architecture need constant attention. This is all the more challenging because the restoration of democratic politics and normal life in Jammu and Kashmir requires a relaxation of security arrangements. It is not surprising that the Pahalgam attack took place in a period of transition. Finally, the military balance must overwhelmingly be in Indias favour across the Line of Control as well as the border. This is a corollary of the post-Sindoor normal. It is not just a comparison of troop numbers and arsenals, but a matter of the size of the qualitative edge. There are indications that Chinas support for Pakistani military operations went beyond supplying equipment. This ought to change our calculations of the military balance required to dissuade Rawalpindis generals. The author is co-founder and director of The Takshashila Institution, an independent centre for research and education in public policy. Germanys top military officer said the country would continue to play a role in Asia-Pacific security, even as the US urges European nations to focus more on the threat from Russia. We have to do both, Chief of Defence Carsten Breuer said in an interview with Bloomberg TV on the sidelines of the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue conference in Singapore. Its in Germanys interest to support the rules-based international order and protect freedom of navigation in the Asia-Pacific region, he said. Germany, along with other European countries, has been building stronger defense relationships in Asia and has sent warships through the region, such as the German frigate Bayern, which visited Japan and other locations in 2021. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Saturday that Europes top priority should remain its own region, especially with the ongoing war in Ukraine. He said the US would focus on addressing the threat from China. Hegseth also urged Asian nations to follow the lead of Europe in increasing defense spending. He pointed out that members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, including Germany, are committing to spending 5% of their gross domestic product on defense. Breuer said its actually the threat from Russia thats driving Germany and others to boost their military budgets. For him, the focus isnt just on hitting spending targets but about building the right capabilities. Its of course air defense where we have to speed up, its main battle tanks, its infantry fighting vehicles, its the delivery of ammunition, he said. He said Chinas global role, including its ties with Russia, make it harder to treat global threats as separate. You have to see the spillover effect from Europe toward Asia, and vice versa, he said. As for Ukraine, Breuer said Germany recently brought in a 4 billion support package to help Ukraine better defend itself. This is mainly to strengthen the Ukraine defense industry so that its self-sustaining for the future, he said. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. South Koreas presidential front-runner Lee Jae-myung has pledged to keep nuclear power for the time being, but plans a long-term shift to renewables if elected June 3 a stance that could undermine the nations atomic energy expansion plans at home and abroad. Lee, a member of the opposition Democratic Party, unveiled an energy expressway policy framework that relies on renewables, like offshore wind, to supply industrial hubs. His strategy calls for phasing out coal by 2040, curbing consumption of natural gas, and forming a ministry tasked with meeting South Koreas 2050 net zero goal. Lee supports extending the life of existing nuclear plants, but opposes new reactors, citing land constraints and waste management issues. Nuclear power is inherently dangerous and there are sustainability issues, Lee said in a May 18 debate. Lets utilize it, but not too much. And we should transition to renewable energy. At stake is South Koreas pro-nuclear policy enacted by impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who doubled down on atomic power as a long-term means to boost energy security and curb emissions. Yoon also sought to accelerate the export of Koreas nuclear technology in a bid to supercharge its industries. Kim Moon-soo, the nominee for the conservative People Power Party and Lees main rival, had previously vowed to eventually raise nuclears share to 60% of the mix up from about 32% in 2024 but later walked it back after criticism. Kim currently supports the addition of six new reactors, a policy that mirrors Yoons. Kim also promised greater support for offshore wind, hydro and other renewables, but highlighted that any such programs should benefit local firms and be balanced with atomic power. South Koreas latest energy blueprint aims for nuclear to make up 35% of the power mix by 2038, with renewables at 29%. If elected, Lee is expected to focus on renewables, potentially aiming to lift the energy source to more than 30% of the power mix by 2030, according to Han Byung-Hwa, an analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities. Meanwhile, Kim is likely to retain the current push for nuclear power, said Han. Both Lee and Kim support the development and export of small modular nuclear reactors. Lee is pushing for more profitability in foreign deals, after criticism that Koreas overseas contracts are underpriced. Still, potentially higher power requirements from the AI boom means that nuclears current role in the electricity mix likely wont change too drastically in the short term. One of the hurdles to entering the AI era is power, said Jaeseung Kim, an analyst at Hyundai Motor Securities. Whoever wins will have no choice but to accept and use nuclear power for the time being. With assistance from Heesu Lee. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Iran criticized a new report by the UN nuclear watchdog accusing it of nuclear violations, claiming the agency is motivated by politics and reiterating it isnt seeking atomic weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency said in a report released Saturday that Iran has significantly expanded its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium over the past three months, enough to fuel about 10 nuclear bombs. It also said Tehran failed to report nuclear material and activities at three undeclared locations, concluding it couldnt provide assurance that Irans nuclear program is exclusively peaceful. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected the agencys findings in a detailed letter on Sunday, saying they were based on fabricated data provided by the Zionist regime and describing them as unsubstantiated allegations intended for political exploitation against Iran. Iran is neither pursuing nuclear weapons nor does it possess any undeclared nuclear materials or activities, Gharibabadi said. So long as a countrys nuclear activities are under the IAEAs monitoring, there is no cause for concern. Following the report, Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi on Saturday, urging him to reflect the realities. Araghchi also warned that Tehran would respond appropriately to any improper actions by European parties. The UNs board of governors are set to meet later this month, where the report could serve as the basis for a resolution accusing Iran of breaching its nuclear obligations. The dispute comes as Oman-mediated talks between Tehran and Washington continue in hopes of reaching a new agreement over Irans nuclear program. Araghchi said his Omani counterpart, Badr Albusaidi, made a brief stop in Tehran on Saturday to deliver a US proposal, though he didnt provide details. Last month, US President Donald Trump said his administration had sent Iran a proposal on its nuclear program, warning that something bad would happen if Tehran hesitated to accept it, without offering specifics. --With assistance from Jonathan Tirone. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com The governments monthslong quest to wring savings from federal contractors is widening and entering a new phase. The next focus: tech companies. The Trump administration is moving its spending review beyond consulting firms such as Accenture and Deloitte to now scrutinize contracts at a collection of companies providing sometimes obscure technology services to federal agencies. The General Services Administration on Wednesday sent a letter to 10 technology contractors, including Dell and the IT provider CDW, asking executives to justify their work and find areas to cut. The U.S. spends $82 billion annually on IT products and services, and complex procurement processes have led to excessive markups and increased costs to the taxpayer," the letter notes. This must change." The letter, a copy of which was viewed by The Wall Street Journal, was sent by Josh Gruenbaum, commissioner of GSAs Federal Acquisition Service, who is overseeing the review of federal contractors. Responses by the companies are due June 11. Dell and CDW didnt respond to requests for comment. The Trump administrations review of contracts has rattled companies that serve the government and has already led to job losses inside some contractors. Booz Allen said last week that it would cut 2,500 jobs as the administration cracks down on spending. Though Elon Musk is stepping away from the Department of Government Efficiency, officials within the administration say the broader effort to reduce waste will continue. Since January, the federal government has canceled 11,297 contracts across 60 agencies, leading to $33 billion in overall savings, according to a person with knowledge of the GSAs efforts. Those cuts include everything from project management within federal agencies such as the Treasury Department to IT services no longer deemed necessary at the Education Department. For weeks, the GSA has been going back and forth with companiesincluding Booz Allen, Deloitte, Guidehouse and othersto pare back and reprice some consulting contracts. The government has terminated 2,809 consulting-specific contracts to date, according to a person familiar with the GSA review. Some meetings with consulting companies will continue in the coming weeks. The latest effort within the GSA is aimed at third-party technology firms known as value-added resellers, who often piece together different technology products and services for the government. President Trump signed an executive order in mid-April calling on the government to buy more off-the-shelf products directly from the companies that make them. The letter from the GSA to the 10 tech companies this week suggests that the government wants to cut out middlemen, when possible. It asks the firms to provide a detailed breakdown of their costs and markups on products. Evaluate whether the offered pricing is appropriate given best commercial industry comparables," it states. The GSA has been working with federal agencies to insist that existing government employees can take on projectswith not as much work necessarily needing to go to a federal contractor. We dont need to outsource everything; we dont need to always go and buy bespoke, specialized products and services," the GSAs Gruenbaum said in an interview. The point is, really, can you shape shift the way the federal government does business? We think unequivocally yes." Write to Chip Cutter at chip.cutter@wsj.com UPDATE: Chattanooga man charged with attempted first degree murder after shooting victim at an intersection A new dedicated Small Business Unit, based in the Department Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, will be focusing on the needs of small businesses across the country, including in Longford. Welcoming the establishment of the Unit, Deputy Micheal Carrigy said: SMEs are the backbone of the Irish economy, providing employment and economic benefit across the country. They employ two thirds of all people in Ireland and have faced significant cost pressures in recent years. The establishment of a new unit dedicated solely to addressing the issues and concerns of small businesses is a very timely development, and I know my colleague, Minister Burke, is eager to ensure no unnecessary red tape or costs are put on small businesses in Longford. Read more: Longford / Westmeath Minister of State launches new heritage research journal Fine Gael is the pro-enterprise party, and we can see our policies working in the latest jobs figures, which show over 90,000 new jobs were added to the economy in the last year. We must ensure we continue to support our small businesses in Longford and this focus on SMEs at the highest level is a signal of our intent." Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said: since my appointment as Minister I have put small businesses front and centre of my priorities. The Small Business Unit will focus on rigorously implementing the SME Test, to ensure the perspectives of small businesses are considered across Government before new legislation or regulation is introduced. The Unit will simplify the access to grants and supports for businesses through the National Enterprise Hub. It will also ensure the Local Enterprise Offices are properly resourced to help small businesses. Read more: Longford Pride is all set to return for another year A motorist, who was caught driving with no insurance or licence, has been fined but has avoided a disqualification. Slowomir Rogalski (51) of Moxham Street, Granard pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to the offence on April 22, 2025. Sergeant Mark Mahon said Gardai were carrying out a checkpoint on the Ballinalee Road, Longford at 8.30pm when they stopped the driver who had no licence or insurance. The vehicle was subsequently seized. Also read: Man captured on CCTV footage entering St Christophers to reappear in Longford court The defendant had no previous convictions. Solicitor Fiona Baxter said her client had a licence in his native Poland 20 years ago but he had not renewed it and he is trying to address matters. "He came to Ireland in 2006 and he has never found himself before a court before, she added. Ms Baxter said Mr Rogalski, who is expecting a child with his partner, has a very good work history and he is working in Longford. "To get to and from work he does avail of the Local Link bus service and he is using that service on a regular basis and he wants to assure the court that he will not drive again until he regularises his licence." Ms Baxter said her client was asking for a chance and not to be disqualified. Judge Bernadette Owens imposed a 450 fine with six months to pay. Also read: Irishman extradited from UAE charged with murder Use the Arrows < > above to go through the gallery It's as if Backstage Theatre Group can do no wrong. Their latest production Calendar Girls received a rapturous response from audiences on each of their four night run. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO Tim Firths play is based on the true story of eleven women who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund. When Annies husband John dies of leukaemia, she and best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They manage to persuade four fellow Womens Institute members to pose nude with them for an alternative calendar, with a little help from hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence. This show was directed by Charlie McGuinness, who has completed a trilogy with the Longford town amateur drama group having previously directed The Snapper and Sive. The strength of this production was largely down to the remarkable depth of female acting talent in BTG. Leading the charge were Christine OBrien as Chris and Janice Gibney as Annie. The two actors work incredibly well off each other, bringing a real sense of camaraderie, inviting the audience to be part of a close knit group. The photo shoot part of the play induced an ebullience to the theatre that crackled around the audience thanks to the performance of Niamh Hanley (Cora), Maureen Dunne (Jessie), Laura Brennan (Celia) and Aine Brady (Ruth). This was a large cast with strong performances from Dee Monahan (Marie); Mary McLoughlin (Brenda); Ger Rafferty (John); Phil Cox (Rod); Michelle Ciba (Elaine); and Anthony Heavey (Liam). A special mention must go to Davy Flaherty's Lawrence and Eileen Murphy's Lady Cravenshire, with both actors squeezing the audience for every laugh possible. The set had a simplicity to it, a wide space to accommodate the big story, with a lighting plan that retained the necessary intimacy. Sold out every night, the audiences were quick to their feet with their applause. Calendar Girls was staged at Backstage Theatre from Wednesday, March 12, to Saturday March 15. LONGFORD CAMERA CLUB We want your photos to feature on the website via our Camera Club. Do you have a great photo from life in the locality? Whether its a party, wedding, communion, landscape, a quirky shot from your archives, or a simple everyday moment, we want your snapshots. We are inviting people to share photos that capture the spirit of the county. From special occasions to quieter moments, your pictures help tell the story of everyday life in our community. To submit: Go to the Camera Club page and follow the instructions to upload your photo. Include your name, where it was taken, and a short caption if you can. Your photo could be featured on our website and newspaper and seen by readers across the county and beyond. TAP HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR PICTURES TODAY Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud speaks at a press conference following a virtual meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, Jordan, June 1, 2025. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) AMMAN, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The delegation of the Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee on Sunday reaffirmed its continued efforts to stop the Israeli war in Gaza and launch a process to secure the Palestinian people's right to an independent, sovereign state on their national territory. The delegation held a virtual meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman as Israel had blocked the delegation's planned visit to Ramallah, according to a statement by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry. During the meeting, Abbas praised the efforts of the ministerial committee in mobilizing international support to stop the war in Gaza, end the humanitarian "catastrophe" in the enclave, and advance the implementation of the two-state solution. He stressed the Palestinian government's commitment to its reform agenda and called for greater international political, economic, and security support for its efforts. At a press conference following the meeting, the delegation highlighted the two-state solution as the only path to a just and comprehensive peace in the region. The Arab ministers also vowed to intensify efforts to encourage more countries to recognize the State of Palestine. The delegation includes Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani speaks at a press conference following a virtual meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, Jordan, June 1, 2025. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty speaks at a press conference following a virtual meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, Jordan, June 1, 2025. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit speaks at a press conference following a virtual meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, Jordan, June 1, 2025. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi speaks at a press conference following a virtual meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, Jordan, June 1, 2025. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit (L to R, on stage) attend a press conference following a virtual meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, Jordan, June 1, 2025. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit (L to R, on stage) attend a press conference following a virtual meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, Jordan, June 1, 2025. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit (L to R) attend a press conference following a virtual meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Amman, Jordan, June 1, 2025. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) TWO burglars who were caught red-handed in a special garda operation which ended in Kildare were jailed for a total of of eight years and nine months at Tullamore Circuit Court. The court heard that Martin Connors (25), Carrigeen, Clonmel, Co Tipperary and Gavin Prentice (30), Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, Dublin 24 were involved in break-ins at two neighbouring houses in the Drom Liath estate in Tullamore where 24,000 was stolen, along with smaller amounts of money, plus a Raymond Weil watch. At a sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Jill Mangan, Trim Garda Station, confirmed to William Fennelly, BL, prosecuting, that on the evening of December 6 last year she was involved in a coordinated operation involving gardai from Trim and Mullingar with back-up from members of the garda special tactics and operations command. The focus of the operation was burglaries which were taking place in the Midlands and Offaly/Meath general area and a specific vehicle, a dark coloured Audi S1 was known to be of interest. That vehicle was seen parked at Parkwood Road, Tubber between Clara and Moate. It had five occupants wearing dark clothing and at 7.44pm it was seen again at Main Street, Clara and all of those on board were wearing balaclavas. By 8pm it was at Drom Liath, off Collins Lane in Tullamore, where it was driven to the end of a cul-de-sac and a man wearing dark clothes, a balaclava and gloves was seen going through a side gate and the sound of breaking glass was heard. Other males were seen, a car door was heard opening and closing and light were seen going on in the houses. Afterwards the Audi sped off and made its way to Kilmurray, Enfield, Co Kildare, near Johnstownbridge which had been a location of interest to the gardai. The vehicle was stopped in a very narrow laneway in Kilmurray at about 9.05pm and its occupants dispersed. Both Mr Connors and Mr Prentice fled from the vehicle but both were caught and arrested by gardai. A male juvenile was also arrested but the other two were not. The Audi was seized and a technical examination of the vehicle took place. It had been sold in Northern Ireland but was never reregistered and had false number plates. A total of 21,100 in cash was found in white envelopes in the glove compartment. The first name of the owner of one of the houses in Drom Liath was written on them. A registration plate was in the passenger footwell and gloves, hats, runners, walkie talkies, a bottle of Mr Muscle cleaner and a sledge hammer were also found. The Raymond Weil watch was found in Mr Prentice's pocket. Also found was a $5 bill, 105 in cash and 250, plus vouchers and clothes. The occupant of one of the houses notified gardai that his alarm had gone off and reported that 24,000 had been stolen from what was described as a discrete location. A total of 600 worth of damage had been done. Also, a woman living in the other house reported the theft of a number of items, including the watch. Neither house was occupied at the time of the burglaries. Both Mr Connors and Mr Prentice were subsequently interviewed by gardai but they exercised their right to silence. Detective Garda Mangan said that 2,900 was still missing but the rest was recovered. She added that Mr Connors had previous convictions for public order offences in Ireland and the UK, plus assault and theft in the UK, including Antrim Crown Court. Mr Prentice had 28 previous convictions, most of which were in the UK and among them were burglary, drugs, theft of a vehicle and tendering counterfeit currency. A victim impact statement from the man who had a large amount of cash stolen was read in court and he said he had a fear the thieves would come back. He was worried because the alarm had not been heard by anybody and the men were able to stop it. I feel that nothing is safe in my own home, he said. It's the attitude of these criminals that they think they can do what they want and don't care who suffers as a result of their actions. He said it was frustrating that he was out working to pay bills and these crimes were done by people who did not work at all. The injured party in the adjoining house chose not to make a victim impact statement but Det Garda Mangan said the woman had a teenage son who was no longer happy to stay at home on his own. When Colm Hennessy, BL, for Mr Prentice, put it to the court that both men were apprehended quickly, neither house was occupied, nearly all the property was recovered and they had admitted their involvement and pleaded guilty, Judge Keenan Johnson replied: They had no option but to plead. They were caught red-handed. Mr Hennessy said Mr Prentice had three children under the age of three but his partner had suffered the stillbirth of triplets and also had another miscarriage. Counsel said the man was originally from Ireland but had a troubled and sad upbringing, had no real relationship with his parents and went to live with a grandmother in the UK. He fell into the use of alcohol and drugs and left education early but now said he would like to get into construction and roofing when he got out of prison. He had missed the birth of two of his children because of incarceration, including the birth of a child only 11 days ago. He and his partner had been living in Essex and his wife had travelled to Tullamore for the sentencing hearing. Mr Hennessy said the accused man wished to apologise to the victims and was prepared to take the punishment for his crime. Mr Hennessy described the man's partner as an incredible woman and noted that she had written a letter to the court. David Nugent, BL, for Mr Connors, said the defendant had grown up in Tallaght and lost his father at the age of 10 to suicide. He never sought help for that loss and then when he was 20 he lost one of his brothers in a car crash in America, followed by the loss of a first cousin and two friends. Mr Nugent said Mr Connors had never really dealt with the trauma and it appeared the death of his brother in particular had triggered something and he acted out. A father of two children aged three and one, he was a man in whom his family were disappointed but having previously held a safe pass, he would now be seeking grief counselling, narcotics counselling, help with anger management and would go back to education. Judge Johnson pointed out that Mr Connors had convictions from 2018 which was before his brother died. READ NEXT: Motorist who was stopped at Longford Garda checkpoint had no insurance or licence Martin Connors had pleaded guilty to burglary, which carried a maximum sentence of 14 years, plus possession of articles used in a burglary and possession of 21,100 of stolen cash, which both have maximum sentences of five years. Mr Prentice had also pleaded guilty to possession of 21,100 of stolen cash and burglary. These type of burglaries are all too prevalent and the court has to send out a clear message that this type of behaviour will not under any circumstances be tolerated, said Judge Johnson. People are entitled to enjoy the privacy of their own residence. He said the negative impact on the victim was an aggravating factor in determining a sentence and also noted that while the men had pleaded guilty, they had also tried to escape when stopped by the gardai. He said Mr Prentice was at high risk of reoffending and Mr Connors' previous convictions were fewer. The judge said the letter from Mr Prentice's wife, who suffered from significant health difficulties herself, told of how he had been sent to England when he was 16 and had started mixing with the wrong people after a rough start in life with drug addicted parents. He was now suffering from depression and anxiety. Judge Johnson assessed the offences at the mid range of offending which meant the headline sentence for burglary would be seven-and-a-half years. He sentenced Mr Prentice to five-and-a-half years with the final nine months suspended for three years. He ordered that he move to Essex within a week of his release from prison. He sentenced Mr Connors to four years and nine months in prison, with the final nine months suspended for three years. Concurrent sentences of two years were imposed on both men for the other offences and the prison terms were back dated to December 6 last, when they first were put in custody. READ NEXT: Triggering offence: Man caught drink driving in Longford hit with 15 years road ban The family of Denis Donaldson suffered retraumatisation during Gerry Adams defamation case against the BBC, their lawyer has said. Solicitor Enda McGarrity said the family had to sit through the high-profile five-week case at Dublin High Court when their own efforts to pursue legal remedies have been stonewalled at every turn. Mr Adams was awarded 100,000 euros (84,000) by a jury over a 2016 BBC programme which alleged he had sanctioned the murder of Mr Donaldson, a former Sinn Fein member who had been exposed as a British agent. Mr Adams had described the allegation as a grievous smear. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006. In 2009, the dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing and a Garda investigation into the matter remains ongoing. Mr McGarrity told the RTE This Week programme the Donaldson family had been initially ambivalent as to the outcome of the case. He said: The case was seen as a sideshow in that the family was aware it wasnt the type of case which would assist them in their long and tortuous search for answers and accountability. But of course as the trial played out it became difficult to ignore and retraumatising in many ways. The family had to listen along as private and sensitive information was tossed around with little regard to the Donaldson family. Probably the most galling part for the family is that theyve had to sit through five weeks of hearings in a case which concerned the murder of their loved one Denis Donaldson, and yet when theyve tried to pursue their own legal remedies, theyve been stonewalled at every turn. The process has been an extremely difficult one for the family. Now that the libel case has concluded, Mr McGarrity said focus should turn to seeking answers for the Donaldson family. He said: It has been a tortuous 19-year search for justice and the family acknowledge this case was ostensibly about Gerry Adams reputation, not about uncovering the circumstances surrounding the murder of Denis Donaldson. However, what this case does do is shine a light on the wider, and clearly more important issue of the circumstances around Denis Donaldsons murder. The fact that the family have never had anything resembling an effective investigation into this murder highlights an uncomfortable truth for authorities on both sides of the border, particularly where legacy cases are concerned. The lawyer said the current Garda investigation was limited to who carried out the murder, not the wider circumstances. He said: When we look to mechanisms which could explore those you have things like coroners inquests, one of the practical difficulties is that the inquest has been adjourned 27 times, quite an unprecedented delay. It begs the question, how is justice to be delivered to the Donaldson family if the Garda investigation is only looking at a limited aspect of the murder and the coroners inquest wont begin until that process finishes. That has led the family to call for a commission of investigation to properly investigate these issues. Mr McGarrity said there was a unique cross-border element to the death of Mr Donaldson. He added: Who was behind it and who pulled the trigger isnt the only question. The circumstances leading up to that, how Denis Donaldson came to be exposed, how his location came to be known in Donegal, there are lots of ancillary questions. All of which I think the family are aware we may not get full unvarnished answers to every aspect, but at this point they havent even got close to the truth and they deserve answers and accountability. He said the Donaldson family would now be seeking a meeting with Irish Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan. This family are 19 years down the line and they are no further forward. There needs to be a discussion and we would certainly welcome prompt engagement with the minister. FBI investigating 'targeted terror attack' in Colorado in US, after multiple people injured National & World News By Long Island Published: June 01 2025 At about 1:26 p.m. officers with the Boulder Police Department were called to the county courthouse on Pearl Street for reports of a man, who had a weapon, setting people on fire, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating a "targeted terror attack" where multiple people were set on fire Sunday afternoon near Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado. At about 1:26 p.m. local time, officers with the Boulder Police Department were called to the county courthouse on Pearl Street for reports of a man, who had a weapon, setting people on fire, according to Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn. The attack took place near an event put on by "Run for Their Lives," a grassroot organization that facilitates global run and walk events calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. "We are aware of and fully investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder, Colorado," FBI Director Kash Patel wrote in a statement on X. "Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information becomes available." Police initially evacuated three surrounding blocks and later expanded the evacuation area. Redfearn said the area is not safe yet, as they are investigating a "vehicle of interest." The man, who has not yet been identified, was arrested at the scene without incident, Redfearn said. A video still from a Hamas propaganda video claiming it targeted an undercover Israeli force. Hamas published a propaganda video on May 30, claiming it had attacked an undercover Israel Defense Forces (IDF) unit in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. However, the video shows members of the alleged clandestine IDF unit with their weapons in plain view, which would be highly unusual for such a force, and analysts have argued that the individuals Hamas attacked were likely members of Yasser Abu Shababs Popular Forces (PF) militia. Hamass attack and publication of the video may have served as a warning to the nascent militia despite Hamas describing the armed men in the video as Israeli troops. In addition, the event would be the first time Hamas has published evidence demonstrating that it deliberately targeted an armed Palestinian organization in Gaza during the current war. Any such conflict underscores the growing internal challenges Hamas faces, not only from an increasingly frustrated civilian population but also from a rival armed group. The incident suggests that Hamas authority in Gaza is being tested on multiple fronts, revealing fractures within the broader network of Palestinian armed organizations that may no longer be fully aligned with Hamass leadership or strategic objectives. The PF is a recently established militia in southern Gaza led by Yasser Abu Shabab, who has been accused of looting aid trucks in the past. Haaretz reported that Shabab is a well-connected figure and a member of a powerful clan. The PF has been accused of collaborating with Israel and the Palestinian Authoritys security services, but no evidence has emerged to prove the allegations. Conversely, the PF has rejected claims that it is a militia or a newly formed faction, asserting instead that its members were compelled to take up arms in response to the security vacuum and lawlessness in Gaza triggered by the war. In a statement released on May 28, the group emphasized that its primary objective is to restore order, notably by safeguarding humanitarian aid deliveries. The PF pledged that each family would receive a bag of flour without facing humiliation or being subjected to political coercion, an implicit critique of Hamass previous control over aid distribution. Michael Milshtein, the head of the Palestinian Studies Forum, noted that Hamass attack on elements of the PF should be viewed as the opening shot in a potentially bloody conflict between the rival Palestinian organizations, which Israel should avoid getting drawn into. Hamas is currently fighting on several fronts. It has the Israeli military to contend with, an increasingly hostile civilian population, and an emerging armed group. Israeli security officials likely view this dynamic as a positive development in the war against the terrorist group. A senior Israeli defense official told reporters on May 30 that Hamas is losing its grip over the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. The official said that the newly established Israeli-supported aid mechanism is expanding efforts to prevent Hamas from seizing humanitarian assistance. As a potential ceasefire between Hamas, its allies, and Israel looms, it remains premature to assess whether the PF will achieve any meaningful gains against Hamas. While the group has emerged as a local force amid the war-induced power vacuum, its long-term trajectory depends on several unresolved variables. Additionally, the PFs influence may diminish if Hamas regains the capacity to reassert control during a ceasefire or if external actors begin to intervene in the postwar power landscape. Joe Truzman is an editor and senior research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian armed groups and non-state actors in the Middle East. Thousands of people gathered in dozens of cities across Bulgaria to protest against the adoption of the euro as authorities prepare to switch to the European Unions single currency early next year. Several thousand rallied in the capital Sofia on Saturday in one of numerous gatherings backed by the far-right Revival party. Protesters briefly blocked key crossroads while police had closed off parts of the city center in an effort to ensure peaceful demonstrations. The Balkan country is awaiting on June 4 whats expected to be a positive assessment of its readiness to adopt the euro by the European Central Bank and the European Commission, the blocs executive arm. Should the two institutions back its bid, Bulgaria may win the approval of all member states as early as next month to become the euro areas 21st member and abandon its national currency, the lev. Switching to the euro has for years been opposed by Revival, the third-largest party in Bulgarias parliament, which has also vowed to take the country out of NATO and renegotiate its EU membership. Revival, which has repeatedly echoed the Kremlins official stances, last month signed a cooperation agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putins United Russia party. Protesters on Saturday waved Bulgarian flags and showed off slogans such as Were protecting the Bulgarian lev and The future belongs to the sovereign states. The government in Sofia has said that adopting the single currency would help the Balkan country avoid being sidelined in the EUs decision-making process and further integrate its export-oriented economy into the bloc. But fears about rising prices have divided Bulgarians over the euros introduction, with less than half of them backing the 2026 target date, according ot recent polls. President Rumen Radev, who has called for a referendum on the accession date and claimed that Bulgarias lack of preparation for the euro may deepen poverty, backed the rallies. The protests were seeing, the opinion polls, the whole debate over a month now is showing that people want to be heard, Radev said, according to a report by the public Bulgarian National Radio. Theyre the ones that face the prices which the state obviously cant cope with. I love fresh, fruity rose wines. It tastes delicious at barbecues or on a sunny terrace as a light summer wine, and is also great for quenching a thirst (in moderation and with a glass of water in between, of course). Summer wine in increasing demand Most rose wines are produced for this purpose and are mainly drunk between April and September. Crus from Provence or Languedoc, with their light salmon/apricot colour, fit this profile perfectly and are the bestsellers in summer. And when it gets dark in the evening and the temperatures drop at least in our latitudes I like these roses a little cooler, because they taste rounder and more winey. Jan Eggers, organiser of the Cool Climate Wine Summit, particularly liked the Rose du Patron 2024 from the Kohll-Leuck winery: Based on the fantastic St. Laurent grape variety, this is a really great, complex, balanced wine that, in my opinion, simply cries out for scallops or other types of seafood. Photo credit: Claude Francois However, there is also a post-season for rose wines, especially for full-bodied, complex crus, as an alternative to white wines or even red wines if they contain quite a lot of tannins. Tavel, with its deep red colour, is a prime example of this type of rose. Wine sales are declining worldwide, but rose wines are an exception, with demand increasing year on year. This is a market that Luxembourgs winegrowers cannot afford to ignore. Many of them have been offering one or more roses for years and are very successful with their products. There is no typical Luxembourg rose (yet) However, there is no such thing as the Luxembourg rose (yet), as there are no rules governing how a Luxembourg rose should be produced, what it should look like or how it should taste. On the contrary, there are so many different rose wines on the market that it is difficult to keep track of them all. Fabienne Stanitz, founder of FabstWines, particularly liked the Cuvee Prelude Ianira 2024 from Domaine Mathis Bastian: With its beautiful, crisp acidity on the finish, which is very elegant, it would go well with a summer salad with fresh strawberries, white crab meat or fresh lobster. Photo credit: Claude Francois However, three profiles can generally be distinguished: single-varietal Pinot Noir roses, which are made exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes; rose blends with a predominant Pinot Noir content; and roses that are blended with all kinds of grape varieties. And within these profiles, there are rather dry crus, but also quite sweet ones... Exciting tasting with surprises Tasting Luxembourg rose wines is an exciting experience because you never know exactly what they will taste like. On 21 May, I invited two expert committees to the Remich Wine Institute to examine 30 different roses and a few Gris de Gris (rose-coloured Pinot Gris). It turned out that the roses made from pure Pinot Noir generally performed better, as the typical cherry and blackcurrant flavours of the variety shine through and a clear flavour profile emerges. Among the blends, i.e. wines made from a mixture of different grape varieties, those in which Pinot Noir dominates were particularly impressive. Rose wines in which red grape varieties play only a minor role were generally not rated as highly. Charlene Muller, directrice oenologique at Domaines Vinsmoselle, highlights the Pinot Noir Rose 2024 from Domaine Schumacher-Knepper: The intensity is moderate, exactly what you would expect from a Pinot Noir Rose. Very fresh attack, the finish is quite long and fruity. Photo credit: Claude Francois The following rose wines were the tasting panels favourites (detailed descriptions can be found in our video for this episode): Rose 100% Pinot Noir Pinot Noir Rose 2024, Caves St. Remy Desom, Remich (9.95) Pinot Noir Rose Edmond de la Fontaine 2024, Domaines Vinsmoselle (9.79) Prelude Ianira 2024, Domaine Mathis Bastian, Remich (13.30) Pinot Noir Rose 2024, Domaine Schumacher-Knepper, Wintrange (8.90) Pinot Noir De Nos Rochers vinifie en rose 2024, Caves St. Martin, Remich (10.26) Sunshine 2024, Domaine Keyser-Kohll, Ehnen (9.80) Lento 2024 (organic), Domaine Krier-Welbes, Ellange-Gare (11.90) Pinot Noir Cuvee dete 2024, Caves Rene Bentz, Wellenstein (11) Pinot Noir Rose 2023 Cotes de Machtum, Schlink domaine viticole, Machtum (11.30) Metty Krack from Restaurant Koeppchen (Wormeldange) liked the Pinot Noir Rose 2024 from Caves Desom for its dry, fruity style reminiscent of Provence wines. It is fruity, mineral and long, with a slight bitter note on the finish that suits it very well. Photo credit: Claude Francois Rose with Pinot Noir as the dominant grape variety Fresh & Fruity 2024 Organic, Domaine Krier-Bisenius, Bech-Kleinmacher (9.17); with Pinotin, Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois. Rose 2024, Domaine VitiKohll, Wintringen (12); with Rivaner. La Petite Fleur des Rochers Rose 2023, Clos des Rochers, Grevenmacher (16.93); with Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. La Plume Rosee 2024, Domaine Henri Ruppert, Schengen (9.90); with Merlot, Syrah, Gamay and Blaufrankisch. Gilbert Frisch, a passionate wine fan with a sommelier diploma, counts the Pinot Noir Rose Edmond de la Fontaine 2024 from Domaines Vinsmoselle among his favourites: A tasty rose with the typical notes of Pinot Noir, the taste of strawberry and cherry, long on the finish and a real terrace wine. Photo credit: Claude Francois Other rose blends Rose du Patron 2024, Domaine Kohll-Leuck, Ehnen (6.90); St. Laurent with Pinot Noir and Rivaner. Rose Kosettchen 2023, Schlink domaine viticole, Machtum (11.30); Pinot Gris with Pinot Noir, Auxerrois and Riesling. Simplement 2024, Caves Rene Bentz, Wellenstein (8); Rivaner with Auxerrois and St. Laurent. Jules Hoffelt, tasting world champion in 2022 (Revue des Vins de France), had a soft spot for the Cuvee La Plume Rose 2024 from Domaine Henri Ruppert: Somewhat restrained at first, the wine develops pleasant fruity notes, is floral and has a distinct cherry flavour. I really like the fine acidity on the finish. Photo credit: Claude Francois Aromatic alternative: Gris de Gris As an aromatic alternative to the more classic rose wines and white Pinot Gris, Gris de Gris has gained popularity in recent years. It gets its colour (ranging from dark yellow to pink to brownish) from several hours of contact with the grape skins. The commission tasted nine such crus from the 2024 vintage. Their favourites come from the Caves Berna (Ahn, 13.50), Linden-Heinisch/Schumacher-Knepper (Wintringen, 11.70), Mathis Bastian (Remich, 16) and Krier-Welbes (Ellange-Gare, 13.90) and Schram (Bech-Kleinmacher, 12.50). BRATISLAVA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Sunday that his government cannot support the European Union's (EU) proposal to completely halt nuclear fuel imports from Russia. Addressing a press conference, Fico said the plan would threaten the operation of nuclear power plants in Slovakia. The European Commission last month unveiled a new roadmap to end EU's reliance on Russian energy. The REPowerEU Roadmap sets out a phased and coordinated plan to halt imports of Russian natural gas, oil, and nuclear materials across the 27-member bloc, according to the Commission. "We've repeatedly declared this idea of the European Commission to be harmful, ideological and damaging to the competitiveness of the European Union," said Fico, adding that Slovakia will intervene in the EU to fight for its national interests in the preparation of legislative changes concerning oil, gas and nuclear fuel. As of April 2025, Slovakia has five nuclear reactors generating half of its electricity, according to the World Nuclear Association. Prince Harry reportedly contemplated a deeply symbolic break from royal tradition by exploring the possibility of changing his surname from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer, his late mother's family name. The Duke of Sussex is understood to have raised the idea during a private conversation with his maternal uncle, Earl Spencer, in the UK. Although the discussion was said to be amicable, Earl Spencer advised against the move, citing significant legal and practical complications. Despite this, the very fact that Harry considered abandoning the surname shared with his children - Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet - signals ongoing estrangement from the royal institution and his father, King Charles III. Mountbatten-Windsor is the hybrid surname created in 1960 by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, combining the royal house name of Windsor with Philip's adopted surname, Mountbatten. It has since been used by royal descendants without princely titles. Prince Philip had taken on the Mountbatten name upon becoming a British subject before marrying then-Princess Elizabeth. A Personal Identity Shift Rooted in Legacy Taylor Swift now owns her master recordings 'in spite of Scooter Braun, not because of him' Harry's interest in the Spencer name appears to reflect a desire to further align his identity - and that of his family - with his mother, Princess Diana, whose tragic death continues to cast a long shadow over his life. Had the change occurred, it would have marked a stark departure from royal lineage and may have deepened existing tensions with King Charles, who shares a deep emotional connection to the Mountbatten name due to its link to his mentor, the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma. The move would also have had symbolic weight for Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. According to biographer Tom Bower, Meghan has long admired Diana and aspired to emulate her influence. A name change to Spencer would have been seen by some as a deliberate tribute to Diana - and perhaps a rebuke to the monarchy that, in Harry and Meghan's eyes, failed to protect her. In contrast, Meghan has publicly embraced the Sussex surname. In her 2025 Netflix series With Love, Meghan, she corrected guest Mindy Kaling for referring to her as "Meghan Markle," explaining that she now shares her surname with her children and sees it as a vital part of their family identity. Archie and Lilibet, who were initially not given royal titles at birth, were formally recognized as prince and princess following King Charles's accession to the throne. This change aligned with the 1917 royal protocols established by King George V and was later reflected on the official royal family website. The Sussexes have made clear that names and titles carry significant meaning for them. From questioning decisions about their children's status in their interview with Oprah Winfrey to redefining their identities post-royal life, Harry and Meghan continue to navigate a complex space between tradition and independence. While the surname change ultimately did not proceed, Harry's exploration of the idea reflects the deep personal and symbolic shifts taking place as he redefines his role both within his family and in the public eye. The second victim in a double shooting that happened in Boston last weekend has died, police announced Sunday. Boston police identified the two men who were killed in the shooting as 36-year-old Quincy resident Walter Wilkens and 66-year-old Dorchester resident Anthony McIntosh. On May 24, officers responded to 38 Franklin Hill Ave. in Bostons Dorchester neighborhood shortly after 9:45 p.m. for a report of a person shot, Boston police said previously. At the scene, they found Wilkens and McIntosh with life-threatening gunshot wounds. An active-duty Rockport fire captain who died unexpectedly on Memorial Day is being remembered for serving the town with immense pride and dedication. Andrew Porter, 44, died at Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester surrounded by his loved ones, according to a press release from the fire department. He was a 25-year veteran of the department. Video News: [Video news] Sensibilisation ReUSE-ReVamp et MDPA sur le recyclage des Laptop et la technologie a Flacq[Video news] Dimans Politik[Video news] Coca Cola Food Fest 2025 avec Burna Boy[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 31 mai 2025[Video news] LEsperance en action: Caritas Ile Maurice marque 60 ans dengagement solidaire[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 30 mai 2025[Video News] Caritas a fete ses 60 ans de presence a Maurice[Video news] Lancement de Comme on dit [Video news] Huawei lance la WATCH FIT 4 Series a Maurice avec Ennoia[Video news] Formation pour les communicants et journalistes au Media Trust[Video News] Huawei a lance la WATCH FIT 4 Series a Maurice chez Ennoia[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 28 mai 2025La LGSC va recruter 2 245 travailleurs manuels, annonce Paul Berenger[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 28 mai 2025[Video news] la jeunesse mauricienne recompensee pour sa creativite et son engagement citoyen a travers lintelligence artificielle[Video News]Retour des Chagos : la reconnaissance dun drame humain et dun crime historique[Video et Photos news] Developpement durable : Telfair, le centre-ville de Moka, certifie par lexigeant U.S. Green Building Council[Video news] PhoenixEarth Initiative lance ses premieres Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) dans les locaux de PhoenixBev[Video news] Dimans Politik[Video News] Conference de presse du Groupe Refugies Chagos [24-05-2025][Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 25 mai 2025[Video news] Konpoz to Lamizik par le groupe Attitude est de retour pour sa quatrieme edition ![Video News] Conference de presse du gouvernement sur laccord concernant lArchipel des Chagos[Video News] Conference de presse de la Mauritius Meteorological Services[Video news] Point de presse de Navin Ramgoolam et Paul Berenger[Video news] Presentation de la 4e edition Konpoz to lamisik[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 20 mai 2025[Video News] La Fondation Antoine Tsia Lip Ken et la Fondation pour Lenfance Terre de Paix inaugure un nouveau centre deveil et de developpement du jeune enfant[Video News] Edition Speciale[Video news] Roshai Bhadain a dit[Video News] Forum de lAMM : Investir dans lindustrie manufacturiere : une urgence strategique pour Maurice.[Video News] Dimans Politik[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 17 mai 2025[Video News] Nando Bodha a dit[Video news] Forum de lAMM : Investir dans lindustrie manufacturiere : une urgence strategique pour Maurice.[Video News] Conference de presse de la Commission Economique du MSM du 14 mai 2025[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 14 mai 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 13 mai 2025[Video news] MCB Talk: Commerce avec lAfrique : entre perception et realite [Video news] Seance parlementaire du 13 mai 2025 en LIve[Video news] Le feu a LKS maitrise[Video News] Inauguration du Centre dEveil Les Mirablles a Coeur de Ville de Goodlands[Video news] 2e soiree festival du film europeen 2025[Video news] Analysis publie un rapport strategique sur les retours des employes mauriciens qui met en avant un marche de lemploi en transition[Video News] Incendie chez LKS[Video News] Atelier de travail sur la securite routiere a lecole St Enfant Jesus[Video news] Grays et LOccitane seduisent les Mauriciens avec un evenement Pop-Up inedit au Phoenix Mall ![Video news] Quelles sont les attentes au travail?[Video News] LOccitane de Provence a ouvert un Pop-Up Store a Phoenix Mall[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 10 mai 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 9 mai 2025Absa Maurice sengage contre le cancer en lancant Stories of hope[Video news] ABSA lance une campagne de trois ans pour combattre le cancer[Video news] Pravind Rughoo Automobilistes et etudiants, pren tou precaution [Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 7 mai 2025[Video News] Formation pour des journalistes dinvestigations[Video News] Dialogue entre lart et le gout de Nizam Peeroo[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 6 mai 2025[Video News] Conference de presse Platform Citoyen du 6 mai 2025[Photos-Video News] Travaux en cours sur lIle aux Benitiers[Video news] Seance parlementaire du 6 mai 2025 en Live[Video News] Soiree douverture du 6e Festival du Film Europeen[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 3 mai 2025[Video News] Premieres heures des elections municipales au Ward Un de Port-Louis[Video News] Conference de presse du Commissaire Electoral[Video News] Tee Off du Tamarina Mauritius Amateur Open 2025[Video news] E-meeting du 1er Mai 2025 du Reform Party[Video News] Depot de gerbes de la GSEA a St Jean[Video News] Gheerishsing Gopaul : Combat continue [Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 30 avril 2025[Video News] Reprise des activites economiques[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 29 avril 2025[Video news] Pravind Rughoo a dit[Video news]Municipales 2025 : Rencontre avec Ruben Grenade[Video news] La NIC epaule les petits entrepreneurs[Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 26 avril 2025[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 25 avril 2025[Photos/Video] Etat davancement des travaux de nettoyage et de ramassage de debris sur lIle aux Benitiers[Photos/Video] Grays, fier partenaire de Plastic Odyssey a travers la marque LOccitane en Provence[Video news] La NIC a lance deux nouveaux services pour les femmes entrepreneurs.[Video news] Conference de presse dEn Avant Moris du 24 avril 2025[Video News] Abiolabs celebre 10 ans dinnovation en sante preventive a loccasion de la Journee mondiale de lADN[Video News] Presentation de la 6e edition du Festival du Film Europeen[Video news] Presentation du HUAWEI MatePad 11.5[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 22 avril 2025[Video news] 10 ans dAbiolabs Ltd[Video news] Muncipales 2025: Rencontre avec Wersley Lachoumanan[Video news] Adil Ameer Meea a dit[Video news] 30e Assemblee Generale Annuelle de lAssociation of Mauritian Manufacturers[Video news]Le Professeur Serge Riviere et Dr Amaresh Ramlugan racontent la contribution des Colleges Royal[Video news] Lancement de Veni, Vidi, Vici [Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 19 avril 2025[Video news] Foundation Day pour les Nouveaux Democrates[Video News] La combinaison gagnante du Loto Vert du 18 avril 2025[Video News] Premieres Assises de levenementiel a Maurice : Exercice porteur despoir pour le secteur[Video New]Conference de presse du MSM du 17 aril 2025Parlons de :Leveque Murphy[Video News] Lancement de Les mains invisibles [Video News] Les numeros gagnants du tirage du Loto et Loto Plus du 16 avril 2025[Video News] Municipales 2025 : Rencontre avec Giovanni Lacle Two students wait for the final of the 18th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students in Zambia, in Lusaka, Zambia, May 30, 2025. The Confucius Institute at the University of Zambia on Friday hosted the final round of the Chinese language proficiency competition. The event featured 10 students competing in the final of the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Zambia, and nine students in the 18th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students in Zambia. (Xinhua/Peng Lijun) LUSAKA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Confucius Institute at the University of Zambia on Friday hosted the final round of the Chinese language proficiency competition. The event featured 10 students competing in the final of the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in Zambia, and nine students in the 18th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students in Zambia. Participants demonstrated their proficiency in the Chinese language and showcased their knowledge of Chinese culture through poetry recitations and performances of Chinese pop songs. Speaking at the opening of the event, Wang Sheng, minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, said the Chinese Bridge competition serves not only as a platform for language and cultural expression, but also as a bridge connecting China with the rest of the world. He encouraged the students to use the competition as a springboard for continuous personal development and cultural exchange. "I hope that through the Chinese Bridge competition, more and more Zambian youth will develop a passion for the Chinese language, master it, and gain a deeper appreciation of China from a multidimensional and comprehensive perspective," he said. Wang further said China and Zambia are all-weather friends and that cooperation in all sectors, including people-to-people exchanges, has grown, guided by the principles of mutual respect, equality, and common development. He urged young people to embrace the development opportunities brought about by the friendship between the two countries through learning the Chinese language. Felix Masiye, acting vice-chancellor of the University of Zambia, praised the Chinese language for being a vital bridge that connects nations and cultures, facilitates access to technology and business, and fosters people-to-people relationships. Masiye commended the Confucius Institute for its role in promoting the learning of Chinese in Zambia and for training local teachers. He said such efforts would significantly contribute to the widespread teaching and adoption of the language across the country. Mubanga Museba, a student at Kasama Girls Secondary School in northern Zambia, emerged victorious in the secondary school category. She expressed her joy over the victory, noting that the outcome was unexpected given the high level of competition among the contestants. Museba said she began learning Chinese out of love and passion for the language, as well as a desire for self-development. Earlier this month, the HeritACT Consortium convened for its highly anticipated Annual Consortium Meeting, bringing together delegates from its three pilot locations: Ballina (Ireland), Milan (Italy), and Eleusis (Greece). The event, held under the banner of HeritACT BALLINA, was dedicated to advancing cultural heritage as a catalyst for sustainable development and community well-being through the practice of inclusive placemaking. READ MORE: Marie Woods J-Dreaming exhibition to open in Westport The two-day meeting commenced on May 14 at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Dublin, where Ferghas OBeara and Senator Mark Duffy warmly welcomed attendees. Their opening remarks highlighted the significance of European policy in fostering collective and local community action, setting a thoughtful tone for the discussions ahead. The agenda featured a rich series of presentations and interactive sessions. The day began with an exploration of Ecosystem Mapping, showcasing the development of innovative tools such as the HeritACT and New European Bauhaus Compendium. These resources are designed to integrate with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring that heritage initiatives contribute meaningfully to global sustainability targets. A focal point of the meeting was the in-depth review of the HeritACT Digital Toolkit. Consortium members examined the design, development, and practical application of the toolkit, with a particular emphasis on its role in supporting pilot projects. Special attention was paid to Ballinas ongoing efforts to establish co-participatory mechanisms, enabling local communities to play an active role in shaping their heritage. READ MORE: Popular Mayo bar to mark special anniversary with weekend of celebrations On May 15, the meeting moved to the picturesque setting of Belleek Castle in Belleek Woods, Ballina, hosted by HeritACT Ballina and Mayo County Council. The sunlit venue provided an inspiring backdrop for sessions dedicated to core areas such as co-recognition, co-envisioning, co-design, and co-action processes. Attendees gained valuable insights into how each tool was collaboratively assessed, implemented, and integrated within diverse communities. The presentations underscored the importance of participatory approaches in ensuring that heritage projects are both relevant and impactful. The afternoon sessions focused on updates regarding impact assessment, the creation of guidelines and recommendations, and the development of participatory community monitoring and evaluation frameworks. Discussions also covered upcoming communication, dissemination, and exploitation initiatives, ensuring that the lessons learned and tools developed will reach a broad audience. A series of dedicated workshops allowed participants to delve into the planning and development of Ballinas activation events and to outline the next phases of the project. These sessions fostered lively exchange and collaboration, reinforcing the consortiums commitment to inclusive and sustainable heritage management. The HeritACT Annual Consortium Meeting 2025 demonstrated the power of collective action and innovative thinking in promoting cultural heritage as a driver of sustainable development. With its focus on inclusive placemaking and community engagement, the consortium is poised to make a lasting impact in Ballina and beyond, setting a benchmark for heritage initiatives across Europe. Creativity is in full bloom in Mayo schools. The Linenhall Arts Centre is delighted to showcase a collaborative exhibition featuring the work of pupils from Ballyvary N.S., Parke N.S. and Manulla N.S. This project celebrates the creative journey of the three schools over the past year as part of Creative Clusters. This is an initiative by the Department of Education and Youth, led by and in partnership with the Education Support Centres Ireland (ESCI). READ: The big failure was the utilities - Mayo County Council report on Storm Eowyn Each school worked with Westport based artist, Nicky Dowd designing a large scale, enchanting triptych based on the well-known legend, The Children of Lir. The children explored pattern, colour, texture and creativity to bring the story to life in art form. The colourful triptych is on display in the Linenhall Arts Centre until June 18th before the panels are returned to their permanent home in each school. The pupils and teachers from each school came together on May 8th to celebrate their achievements in the Linenhall. The gathering was the culmination of year one of a two-year project. It provided an amazing opportunity for the pupils to meet and appreciate their art on display in the gallery. Children also had the opportunity to engage in a visual art workshop with the Linenhall facilitators and a story-telling workshop with creative practitioner, Wayne OConnor. The project was a huge success and we look forward to continuing the cluster in year two. In addition to Creative Clusters, pupils in 1st and 2nd class took part in BLAST, another Department of Education initiative fostering creativity and critical thinking. This involved a six-week residency with local artist, Cas Mc Carthy. Pupils explored a variety of art forms and processes including 3D construction, drawing, collage and book making based around the theme of Belonging in Nature. A selection of the childrens art can also be seen as part of the current exhibition in the Linenhall. The schools are extremely grateful to the Linenhall Arts Centre, Mayo Education Centre, Carmel Balfe and all of the artists involved for creating opportunities to put the arts and creativity in the hearts of our pupils. They would also like to thank Albany Westport and Fleetwood paints for sponsoring the materials for the project. READ: Councillors at odds over future of historic Mayo hotel Sixteen young writers from Ballinrobe, Gaza and Cairo have come together to launch A Spinning Tyre, an anthology of work celebrating youth voices, international connection and the power of creative expression. The book emerged from a series of online and in-person writing workshops led by Liam Horan as part of the University of Limericks Creative Writers in the Community (CWIC) programme. Developed in partnership with the Hands Up Project a UK-based charity that promotes connection through storytelling between young people worldwide and those in Palestine the project sparked a collaboration across three communities. The featured writers are: Ben Egan, Caoimhe Macken, Dominic Brennan, Donal Lenihan, Jessica McMurray, Nathan Loughrey, Stephen John Feerick (Ballinrobe, Ireland); Alaa Kamal, Hala Aqel, Islam Kamal, Jaber Hammam Basal, Lama Ehab Sadi Kuhail, Leen Ehab Sadi Kuhail, Malak Basal, Marah Kamel Abu Shamla and Wadee Nasser Ahmed Shabat (Gaza and Cairo). READ MORE: Young Mayo innovators display STEM projects at Foroige/Microsoft showcase Writing in both English and Arabic, the students explore themes such as war, identity, resilience, loss and belonging. Their words are raw and imaginative, reflecting their individual experiences and cultural contexts. The bilingual format underscores the projects ethos of empathy and shared understanding. A Spinning Tyre is available for 10 at Martin Murphys Newsagents, Ballinrobe. The initiative was supported by Mayo Mental Health Association, whose advocacy for youth wellbeing and artistic expression made the project possible. This book is more than a collection of poems and stories. Its a testimony to the imagination, courage and emotional intelligence of our students and a reminder of the power of creative writing to break down borders, said Ms Lisa Connaughton, the coordinating teacher at Ballinrobe Community School. READ MORE: Public meeting about water quality to be held in north Mayo town This project proves that even in the most difficult of circumstances, young people have powerful stories to tell. Its been a privilege to help bring these voices together through creativity and compassion, said Nick Bilbrough, the Hands Up Project. The students worked hard to shape their ideas into strong, honest writing. What theyvecreated is an anthology that explores a wide range of topics, said Liam Horan. Photo Caption: Back row, l to r: Nathan Loughrey, Stephen John Feerick, Dominic Brennan, Ben Egan, Donal Lenihan, Liam Horan, editor/facilitator. Front row, l to r: Ms Lisa Connaughton, teacher, Caoimhe Macken, Jessica McMurray, Ms Julie Anne Collins, Principal. by Ray Schultz , June 1, 2025 McClatchy is shutting four titles In Touch, Life & Style, First for Women, and Closer. The final editions of the periodicals will appear between June 20 and 27, said Julie Pendley, a McClatchy spokesperson, in a statement to Hollywood Reporter. The staffs will reportedly also be eliminated. Despite the best efforts of many of our talented colleagues, we have been unable to develop a profitable business model for four of our magazine titles, Pendley said. Pendley added: "We are grateful for the meaningful contributions of the affected employees and are providing support during the transition." The celebrity-oriented publications, In Touch and Life & Style, were taken over by McClatchy when it acquired owner A360 Media in 2024. Alcohol-related deaths rose most in liver, colorectal, and esophageal cancers, highlighting growing concern. The escalating alcohol-related #cancer_mortality rate seems to be solely due to an increase among men. This gender disparity demands urgent attention. #alcohol #alcohol_awareness Public Unaware of Surgeon General's Alcohol-Cancer Warning Advertisement A recent study led by researchers at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has, for the first time, examined long-term trends in alcohol-related cancer deaths across the U.S. Researchers analyzed overall cancer deaths as well as thoseThe data revealed a sharp increase in alcohol-attributable cancer deathsfrom just under 12,000 annually in 1990 to more than 23,000 by 2021. The rise was most notable among men over the age of 55, who experienced a consistent annual increase of just over 1% in alcohol-related cancer deaths between 2007 and 2021.Earlier this year, the former U.S. surgeon general issued an advisory warning Americans of the strong links between alcohol consumption and increased risk of several types of cancer . Although many of these links have been well known among scientists for years, awareness of this connection among the general public is low.To understand how alcohol may be fueling rates of cancer-related deaths, researchers at Sylvester delved into data from the Global Burden of Disease database. This public dataset captures detailed disease information from around the world and estimates risk factors including alcohol consumption that likely contribute to diagnoses and deaths.Thats a big and concerning rise, said Chinmay Jani, M.D., a Sylvester hematology and oncology fellow who led the study and will present the research findings at ASCO; his abstract has also won an ASCO Merit Award. We need to increase awareness of this link among the general population and even in the medical field, he said. Theres a lot of awareness about, for example, tobacco and the risk of cancer. But for alcohol, that awareness isnt there.A 2019 survey from the American Institute for Cancer Research found that while 89% of American adults know that tobacco raises the risk of cancer, only 45% know that alcohol does as well. There are about 100,000 new cancer diagnoses related to alcohol every year in the U.S., or around 5% of all cancer cases, according to the surgeon generals report, and around 20,000 deaths due to alcohol-linked cancer. Thats significantly higher than the deaths caused by drunk driving every year.In women, both young and old, the rates have declined slightly since 1990. In men ages 20-54, the mortality rates increased slightly. However, the team also looked at proportions of cancer deaths due to alcohol and found that, even for cancers with declining mortality rates, the proportion due to alcohol for nearly all of them rose between 1990 and 2021, for both men and women. Among all cancers combined, theThat is, even if other factors, such as improved screening and treatment, are driving overall cancer deaths down, alcohol consumption is responsible for a larger percentage of cancer mortality than in the past.Colorectal and esophageal cancers saw the largest proportional increases. The researchers also looked at trends at the state level: The District of Columbia and Texas had the highest rates of alcohol-linked cancer mortality, while Utah had the lowest. State-level differences could reflect different drinking cultures in different regions, but could also be due to socioeconomic and health access differences, the researchers said.Besides calling for an increased awareness of the link between alcohol and cancer, Jani said it will be important to further tease out the biology behind this connection.Biological differences among people may impact how alcohol consumption raises their individual risk, and further understanding these differences could eventually allow physicians to screen for patients at highest risk and tailor counseling individually.We hope that our study will help educate the public on the impact of alcohol on individual cancer risk, as this is a potentially modifiable factor, said Gilberto Lopes, M.D., Sylvesters chief of the Division of Medical Oncology, associate director and medical director for International Affairs and senior author on the study.Source-Eurekalert A contestant takes part in the 2025 "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition in Luwero, central Uganda, on May 31, 2025. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua) KAMPALA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Learners of the Chinese language in Uganda showcased their skills during the 2025 "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition, held in the central Ugandan district of Luwero on Saturday. Secondary and college students demonstrated their command of the Chinese language and knowledge of Chinese culture through speeches, quizzes, and cultural performances. At the end of the five-hour event, held under the theme "One World, One Family," Derick Agaba was declared the winner in the secondary school category, while Moses Luwero took the top spot in the college category. Luwero, a second-year student at the Confucius Institute of Makerere University, said he joined the competition with the goal of winning and representing Uganda in China at the international level. He has studied Chinese as his major for the past one and a half years. "Such competitions are good because they help us as students engage with others and also allow us to assess the skills we have acquired or learned," he said. Speaking at the event hosted at Ndejje Secondary School, Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong praised the locally renowned school for hosting the competition. "Language is a tool to express yourself to the outside world, a tool to understand a different culture, to understand each other. I appreciate that you have chosen this tool for your future career. I hope you will be ambassadors for China-Uganda friendship," Zhang said. The ambassador noted that China is working closely with the Ugandan government in various sectors to accelerate development. He said bilateral trade between the two countries has increased significantly, reaching 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Hilda Ayebare, assistant curriculum specialist for foreign languages at the Uganda National Curriculum Development Center, said Uganda will continue to support Chinese language education at both secondary and advanced levels. "The center has encouraged more schools across the country to start offering Chinese language courses because it provides wide opportunities for students," Ayebare said. BEIJING (AP) China on Sunday denounced U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for calling the Asian country a threat, accusing him of touting a Cold War mentality as tensions between Washington and Beijing further escalate. The foreign ministry said Hegseth had vilified Beijing with defamatory allegations the previous day at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a global security conference. The statement also accused the United States of inciting conflict and confrontation in the region. Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation, it said, referring to the post-World War II rivalry between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union. No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the U.S. itself, it said, alleging that Washington is also undermining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific. Hegseth said in Singapore on Saturday that Washington will bolster its defenses overseas to counter what the Pentagon sees as rapidly developing threats by Beijing, particularly in its aggressive stance toward Taiwan. Chinas army is rehearsing for the real deal, Hegseth said. We are not going to sugarcoat it the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent. The Chinese statement stressed that the Taiwan question is entirely Chinas internal affair, saying the U.S. must never play with fire with it. It also alleged Washington had deployed offensive weaponry in the South China Sea, was stoking flames and creating tensions in the Asia-Pacific and "turning the region into a powder keg. In a Facebook post on Saturday, China's Embassy in Singapore said Hegseths speech was steeped in provocations and instigation. The U.S. and China had reached a deal last month to cut U.S. President Donald Trumps tariffs from 145% to 30% for 90 days, creating time for negotiators from both sides to reach a more substantive agreement. China also reduced its taxes on U.S. goods from 125% to 10%. But it's uncertain if a trade war truce will last. Trump in a social media post on Friday said he would no longer be nice with China when it comes to trade and accused Beijing of breaking an unspecified agreement with the U.S. Tensions escalated anew after the U.S. said on Wednesday it would start revoking visas for Chinese students studying there. At the Singapore forum on Sunday, Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro scoffed at the idea that the U.S. was the problem. His country has been involved in increasingly violent clashes with China over competing claims in the South China Sea. Teodoro said what the Chinese government saw as fair might be contrary to the norms accepted by the rest of the world. The Chinese Embassy in Singapore later posted three Facebook posts to address Teodoro's groundless accusations," arguing the South China Sea Islands are Chinas inherent territories. It said the troublemaker is not China, pointing to what it called recent illegal intrusions by the Philippines into the waters adjacent to two reefs. It also accused some outside power of posing the biggest threat to its peace with the deployment of offensive weapons and roping in allies for frequent military drills. Which country is coercing and bullying others, and instigating conflicts and confrontation in the South China Sea? The answer is clear to all, it said, without naming any nation. Separately, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore on Saturday criticized attempts to link the issue of Taiwan with that of the war in Ukraine after French President Emmanuel Macron warned of a dangerous double standard in focusing on a potential conflict with China at the cost of abandoning Ukraine. The embassy did not name Macron in its post on Facebook, but the post included a photo showing the French president at the Singapore forum. If one tries to denounce double standards through the lens of a double standard, the only result we can get is still double standard, it said. China, which usually sends its defense minister to the Shangri-La forum, this time sent a lower-level delegation led by Maj. Gen. Hu Gangfeng, the vice president of the Peoples Liberation Army National Defense University. PARIS (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin is stalling at the peace table while preparing a new military offensive in Ukraine, two senior U.S. senators warned Sunday, arguing that the next two weeks could shape the future of a war that has already smashed cities, displaced millions and redrawn Europes security map. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal spoke to The Associated Press in Paris after meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and touring neighborhoods shattered by what they called the worst Russian bombardments since the full-scale invasion began. In Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron who they say is 100% aligned with them on the war the senators warned the window to prevent a renewed assault is closing. A sweeping U.S. sanctions bill could be the Wests last chance to choke off the Kremlins war economy, they said. "What I learned on this trip was hes preparing for more war, Graham said of Putin. Blumenthal called the sanctions proposed in legislation bone-crushing and said it would place Russias economy on a trade island. It is crunch time for Putin and for the world because Russia is mounting a new offensive, he said. At the heart of their push is a bipartisan sanctions bill, backed by nearly the entire U.S. Senate but still facing uncertain odds in Washington. It would impose 500% tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports targeting nations like China and India that account for roughly 70% of Russias energy trade and bankroll much of its war effort. Graham called it the most draconian bill Ive ever seen in my life in the Senate." The world has a lot of cards to play against Putin, he said. Were going to hit China and India for propping up his war machine. Peace talks or stalling tactic? Peace talks are scheduled to resume Monday in Istanbul. But Ukrainian officials say Moscow has yet to submit a serious proposal a delay both senators described as deliberate and dangerous. Putin is playing President Trump," Blumenthal said. Hes taking him for a sucker. The senator said Putin "is, in effect, stalling and stonewalling, prolonging the conversation so that he can mount this offensive and take control of more territory on the ground. Graham added: We saw credible evidence of a summer or early fall invasion, a new offensive by Putin. ... Hes preparing for more war. Trump has yet to endorse the sanctions bill, telling reporters Friday: I dont know. Ill have to see it. Graham said the legislation was drafted in consultation with Trumps advisers. Graham backed the presidents diplomatic instincts but said, "By trying to engage Putin by being friendly and enticing its become painfully clear hes not interested in ending this war. Blumenthal hoped the bipartisan support for Ukraine at least in the Senate and the personal testimonies they plan to bring home to Congress and the Oval Office may help shift the conversation. He needs to see and hear that message as well from us, from the American people, he said of Putin. A moral reckoning In Kyiv, the senators said, the wars human toll was impossible to ignore. Graham pointed to what Ukrainian officials and Yale researchers estimate are nearly 20,000 children forcibly deported to Russia calling their return a matter of justice, not diplomacy. Blumenthal described standing at mass grave sites in Bucha, where civilians were executed with shots to the head. The destruction, he said, and the stories of those who survived, made clear the stakes of delay. Putin is a thug. Hes a murderer." Both said that failing to act now could pull the U.S. deeper into conflict later. If Putin isnt stopped in Ukraine, Blumenthal said, NATO treaty obligations could one day compel American troops into battle. They see resolve in Europe After a one-hour meeting with Macron in Paris, both Graham, of South Carolina, and Blumenthal, of Connecticut, said they left convinced Europe was ready to toughen its stance. This visit has been a breakthrough moment because President Macron has shown moral clarity in his conversations with us, Blumenthal said. Today, he is 100% aligned with that message that we are taking back to Washington. Blumenthal pointed to the rare bipartisan unity behind the sanctions bill. There are very few causes that will take 41 Republicans and 41 Democrats and put them on record on a single piece of legislation, he said. The cause of Ukraine is doing it. Ahead, Ukrainian military leaders are set to brief Congress and a sanctions vote could follow. President Trump said well know in two weeks whether hes being strung along, Graham said. There will be more evidence of that from Russia on Monday. The Rangers are placing right-hander Nathan Eovaldi on the 15-day injured list, according to a report from Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News. Right-hander Codi Heuer is being selected to the big league roster to replace Eovaldi on the pitching staff, while catcher Tucker Barnhart was designated for assignment to make room for Heuer on the 40-man roster. Its not yet clear who will replace Barnhart on the active roster. Eovaldi has been utterly dominant in his age-35 campaign, with a 1.56 ERA through 12 starts this year. His last start on May 27 was abbreviated due to fatigue in his right triceps, and his departure from that game was initially labeled as precautionary. Losing him for any amount of time is a brutal blow to an already struggling Rangers club, but the good news is that manager Chris Young told reporters (including McFarland) that this IL stint is still largely out of precaution; Eovaldi isnt dealing with any structural damage, but the team is just hoping to get the veteran additional time to heal up. His IL stint can be backdated to May 28, meaning that Eovaldi could return as soon as June 12 against the Twins. Eovaldis spot in the rotation is expected to be taken by Kumar Rocker, who Young suggested will come off the injured list on Wednesday. In the short-term, Eovaldis spot on the roster will go to Heuer. The right-hander turns 29 next month, but hasnt pitched in the majors since 2021. He excelled with the White Sox out of the bullpen during his rookie season in 2020 and then was included alongside Nick Madrigal in the trade that sent Craig Kimbrel from the Cubs to the White Sox at the 2021 trade deadline. At the time of the deal, Heuer looked like a future high-leverage arm and posted a solid 3.14 ERA in 28 2/3 innings of work down the stretch for the Cubs. Unfortunately, Heuer underwent Tommy John surgery in Spring Training of 2022. He missed that entire season, and then missed all of the 2023 season as well when he suffered an elbow fracture while rehabbing from that surgery. The devastating sequence of injuries led the Cubs to non-tender Heuer following the 2023 season. He signed a minor league contract with the Rangers prior to the 2024 season and has remained in the organization ever since. He finally made it back to a professional mound earlier this year and has pitched quite well at Triple-A, with a 3.27 ERA in 22 innings of work to go with a 26.3% strikeout rate. Heuer will now have an opportunity to re-establish himself as a potential late-inning arm in the majors for a Rangers club that could use additional help in the bullpen with top setup man Chris Martin on the shelf. As for Barnhart, the journeyman catcher is in his 12th season as a big leaguer. After winning two Gold Glove awards in his seven seasons as the primary catcher for the Reds from 2015 to 2021, Barnhart signed with Detroit for the 2022 season and appeared in 94 games but has bounced around the league as a part-time player ever since. After stints with the Cubs and Diamondbacks in 2023 and 24, Barnhart was serving as a third catcher for the Rangers this year while Kyle Higashioka was getting more regular reps at DH. He made it into just eight games with the club in total, however, and now the Rangers will have one week to either trade Barnhart or attempt to pass him through waivers. If Barnhart clears waivers, hell have more than enough service time to reject an outright assignment in favor of free agency. Scenes from Skyline High Schools 2023 commencement at Eastern Michigan Universitys George Gervin GameAbove Center in Ypsilanti in an MLive file photo. Sydney Verlinde | MLive.com With every spring comes another class of graduating Michigan seniors who may be college bound next fall. Some regions show a far higher percentage of collegians than others. Roughly 53.4% of the 100,344 seniors who graduated at the end of the 2023-24 school year had enrolled in college within six months, according to data tracked by the state of Michigan. HILLSDALE, MI A Florida man accused of sexually assaulting a teenager in Hillsdale 18 years ago is heading to trial. Vincent Allen Payne was bound over for trial proceedings Wednesday, May 28, after his preliminary examination in Hillsdale County District Court, records show. Payne, 60, is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old relative in his Hillsdale home in November of 2007. Charges were filed in 2010, but Payne could not be located, records show. He heads to trial facing a single count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, a charge punishable by up to life in prison. The case has been assigned to Hillsdale County Circuit Judge Sara Lisznyai. Payne remains lodged in the Hillsdale County Jail with bond set at $500,000. Payne was arraigned May 21 on sexual assault charges after being extradited from Florida with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Related: Florida man extradited to Michigan for 2007 sexual assault case The search for Payne and his extradition was part of Operation Survivor Justice, a program launched by Nessels office in August of 2024. The program is a partnership between the AGs Office, local county prosecutors, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Its goal is to locate, apprehend, and return to Michigan fugitive offenders with outstanding sexual assault warrants. Related: Michigan AG launches Operation Survivor Justice to nab, extradite sex abusers Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. The closure of a Catholic church in Bay City remains on hold after a meeting of the parishioners. Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com BAY CITY, MI The closure of a Catholic church in Bay City remains on hold after a meeting of the parishioners. Meanwhile, a historic home in Bay County is going to be demolished, but not before you can own a piece of it. Those stories and more are included below in this weeks roundup of Bay County headlines. Bay City Catholic church closure decision remains on hold after meeting The decision whether to close a Catholic church in Bay Citys south end remains on hold after members of the Saginaw Diocese heard feedback from parishioners this week. St. Hyacinth Church of the Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish was set to close Wednesday, May 28, following a final mass the night before. The closure was suspended on May 20, when Bishop Robert Gruss announced he wanted to have a meeting with registered parishioners to receive input on the decision. Read the full story here. This historic Michigan home is being demolished, but you can own a piece of its remarkable past Theres a chance next week to own a piece of Bay County history before its torn down. The Heritage House Farm Museum has been a part of Bay County since the 1870s. But due to its deteriorating nature, the house will be demolished soon. A liquidation sale, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, will allow the public to buy or bid on items at the housesome original to the home. Its a lot of historical Garber family items, things that were original to the home and things that were accumulated over the years by the museum, said Howie Diefenbach, who is assisting the Heritage House Farm Museum and Historical Foundation with the sale. Read the full story here. Former Delta College president Don Carlyon remembered as greatest of all time Delta Road had yet to be paved when Terry Rock started as a student at Delta College in 1967. Soon the president of the colleges student council, Rock took note of the dirt covered roadway that was treacherous during the winter months and in the spring thaw. So, we, the college council, wanted to do something about it, Rock recalled. Read the full story here. Mid-Michigan summer events 2025: What to do in June across the region The sun is out. The sky is clear. Summer is approaching, and with it comes plenty of events to take in. June serves as the quintessential month to kick off the good weather with events across mid-Michigan. From antiquing to live music to old-fashioned car shows, the Great Lakes Bay region has a little bit of everything for everyone to get summer started. Read the full story here. Check out these events at the Delta College Planetarium happening in June The Delta College Planetarium has a slew of upcoming shows and events for students -- adults and children alike. Located in downtown Bay City, the planetarium, 100 Center Ave., is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Its open 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday and 1-3:30 p.m. on Saturday. The planetarium is closed on Sunday. Read the full story here. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. Want to subscribe to our Hello, Bay City newsletter? Sign up for free here. GROSSE POINTE SHORES, MI In the summer, there is no better place to be in Michigan than on the water. Even more appealing? Walking out your back door and its only a few steps away. Located at 1010 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, this gem is listed at $3,499,000 through @properties Christies International Real Estate and Lux Partners Global with associate broker Nicholas Asplund. This one-of-a-kind property is one of the premier residences on the market currently. Homes across the state of various architectural styles and prices are showcased every week. Asplund said any of the homes in Grosse Pointe on the water are rare to hit the market. They dont come up often, Asplund said. This property is unique because it is waterfront but very private. From the gated and wooded drive into the motor court, to the private waterfront backyard, it feels like an up north retreat in the city. The breathtaking lakefront estate, built in 2002 with European architectural influences, is set on nearly two acres along the shores of Lake St. Clair. It was designed to blend elegance, functionality and global craftsmanship. Gated access and a wooded drive lead to a grand residence featuring a dramatic two-story domed foyer and floating staircase, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship throughout. With five private bedroom suites, including a main-floor primary sanctuary with stunning lake views, this home offers the perfect balance of luxury and comfort. The master suite is massive and faces the lake, designed to capture all of the water views. The main bathroom features dual vanities created from antique Chinese tables and sinks, hardware and light fixtures by Sherle Wagner. In total, the property has five bedrooms and eight bathrooms. The dining room has padded silk walls for luxury and acoustics. The living room and library each feature antique marble fireplaces imported from France. The library also includes etched antique French doors with a hunting scene motif. Expansive windows, French doors and a lakeside terrace create seamless indoor-outdoor living, ideal for both entertaining and quiet reflection. The estate has extensive custom cabinetry throughout the home; touch-latch with select drawers lined in Pacific Silvercloth for silver storage. A collection of built-in antiques and architectural elements from France, China, and Africa are integrated throughout the property. A dual kitchen makes this home perfect for dinner parties. The front kitchen, or show kitchen, features Fisher & Paykel dishwasher drawers, an ice machine and wine refrigerator. The working chefs kitchen has a fully professional layout and utility centered around a massive antique butcher block imported from France. It is hidden behind double swinging doors for catering or personal cooking use. The residence is perfect for hosting gatherings with a sound system, security system, a butlers pantry and a wet bar. Additional highlights include French doors throughout leading to lakefront terrace and lawn, a whole home generator, as well as hand-selected lighting, fixtures and textiles. The beautifully-landscaped grounds include a motor court, four-car garage and a sweeping lawn that leads to a steel seawall with a concrete walkway along the waters edge. The garage has heated flooring. The property is only minutes from Grosse Pointe Yacht Club, Country Club of Detroit and Lake Shore Roads scenic corridor. It also is located with quick access to I-94 and downtown Detroit. Offering unmatched privacy, elegance, and serenity, this rare waterfront gem is the pinnacle of refined living. Lakefront properties in Grosse Pointe are rare. We just sold a home on Windmill Pointe in Grosse Pointe Park last week for 500K over asking, Asplund said. We have a lot of interest from out-of-state cash buyers looking for better values than the major cities, and Lake St. Clair offers exactly that. We just sold a historic home by Harsens Island to a couple from the East Coast for 1,550,000 cash last month. They saw our home tour video online and fell in love with the waterfront home and boathouse. The schools, parks and lifestyle of Grosse Pointe are very sought after now, especially as downtown Detroit continues to grow and develop. International calls and inquires have increased dramatically. Scroll down to see 10 of the images from the photo gallery for a glimpse inside this home to see why its a premier featured residence. Exterior photographs at 1010 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, which just hit the market at $3,499,000 through @properties Christies International Real Estate and Lux Partners Global with associate broker Nicholas Asplund. (Photo provided by Lux Partners Global) Interior photographs at 1010 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, which just hit the market at $3,499,000 through @properties Christies International Real Estate and Lux Partners Global with associate broker Nicholas Asplund. (Photo provided by Lux Partners Global) Interior photographs at 1010 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, which just hit the market at $3,499,000 through @properties Christies International Real Estate and Lux Partners Global with associate broker Nicholas Asplund. (Photo provided by Lux Partners Global) Interior photographs at 1010 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, which just hit the market at $3,499,000 through @properties Christies International Real Estate and Lux Partners Global with associate broker Nicholas Asplund. (Photo provided by Lux Partners Global) Interior photographs at 1010 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, which just hit the market at $3,499,000 through @properties Christies International Real Estate and Lux Partners Global with associate broker Nicholas Asplund. (Photo provided by Lux Partners Global) Interior photographs at 1010 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, which just hit the market at $3,499,000 through @properties Christies International Real Estate and Lux Partners Global with associate broker Nicholas Asplund. (Photo provided by Lux Partners Global) Interior photographs at 1010 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, which just hit the market at $3,499,000 through @properties Christies International Real Estate and Lux Partners Global with associate broker Nicholas Asplund. (Photo provided by Lux Partners Global) Interior photographs at 1010 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, which just hit the market at $3,499,000 through @properties Christies International Real Estate and Lux Partners Global with associate broker Nicholas Asplund. (Photo provided by Lux Partners Global) Exterior photographs at 1010 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, which just hit the market at $3,499,000 through @properties Christies International Real Estate and Lux Partners Global with associate broker Nicholas Asplund. (Photo provided by Lux Partners Global) Aerial photographs at 1010 Lake Shore Road in Grosse Pointe Shores, which just hit the market at $3,499,000 through @properties Christies International Real Estate and Lux Partners Global with associate broker Nicholas Asplund. (Photo provided by Lux Partners Global) View the listing on the realtor website here. View all 44 photos of the home here. See more on MLive House of the Week features: Rare lakefront Michigan mansion hits the market at $5.25M. And its spectacular. Peace, quiet and trails galore: Immersive wilderness, privacy key for $1.2 million U.P. paradise Tranquility in northern Michigan: Magnificent log home hits market for under $1 million Impressive Michigan mansion boasts 23 rooms on 40 acres with an underground tunnel Floating fireplace, lavish manicured gardens accent rare $2.89 million Michigan mansion Hunting heaven: 3,000-acre property with near-lakefront lodge hits market for $5 million Historic Frank Lloyd Wright opportunity: Two houses being sold at once in same Michigan town SEOUL, June 1 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export marked the first fall in four months owing to the negative effect of the U.S. tariffs imposition, government data showed Sunday. Export, which accounts for about half of the export-driven economy, shrank 1.3 percent from a year earlier to 57.27 billion U.S. dollars in May, recording the first reduction since January, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Import dipped 5.3 percent to 50.33 billion dollars, sending the trade surplus to 6.94 billion dollars. The trade balance stayed in black for the fourth consecutive month. Of the country's 15 major export items, five products saw an increase in outbound shipment. Semiconductor export soared 21.2 percent over the year to 13.79 billion dollars in May due to strong demand for high-end chips, including double data rate 5 (DDR5) and high bandwidth memory (HBM) used in generative artificial intelligence (AI) chipsets. Mobile device shipment gained 3.9 percent to 1.30 billion dollars on robust demand for smartphones, but display panel export declined 18.0 percent to 1.34 billion dollars. Computer export added 2.3 percent to 1.07 billion dollars on solid demand for solid state drives (SSD) for servers. Automotive export retreated 4.4 percent to 6.20 billion dollars on lower demand for electric vehicles, and auto parts shipment decreased 9.4 percent to 1.66 billion dollars. Export for ships mounted 4.3 percent to 2.23 billion dollars, but general machinery shipment diminished 5.3 percent to 4.06 billion dollars. Export for oil products dived 20.9 percent to 3.58 billion dollars on the back of lower product price. Global prices for gasoline and diesel went down 17.7 percent and 18.4 percent each in May on a yearly basis. Petrochemical shipment dropped 20.8 percent to 3.24 billion dollars on the global supply glut and cheaper crude oil. Steel product export shrank 12.4 percent to 2.56 billion dollars, and secondary battery shipment slipped 18.4 percent to 520 million dollars. Export for home appliances and textiles slid in double digits to 610 million dollars and 850 million dollars. Export to the United States retreated 8.1 percent over the year to 10.05 billion dollars in May, continuing to fall for the second straight month on lower demand for cars affected by the U.S. tariffs imposition. Shipment to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) reduced 1.3 percent to 10.01 billion dollars owing to weaker demand for oil products and petrochemicals, but export to the European Union (EU) swelled 4.0 percent to 6.05 billion dollars. Export to Japan, Latin America, India and the Middle East was down to 2.38 billion dollars, 2.21 billion dollars, 1.62 billion dollars and 1.38 billion dollars each. Regarding import items, the import of three major energy sources, including crude oil, natural gas and coal, dropped 12.8 percent to 10.13 billion dollars last month. Non-energy imports slipped 3.2 percent to 40.20 billion dollars on lower demand for mobile phones and auto parts. Saurav Pandey is the Deputy Manager of Content at Moneycontrol, specialising in content strategy, execution and performance analysis. He integrates advanced SEO techniques to deliver high-impact, data-driven content formats. His expertise spans various beats, including education, career, science and others, where he adopts a technical approach to optimise visibility, improve search rankings, and drive organic traffic growth. He can be reached out at Saurav.Pandey@nw18.com. Saurav Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Did You Know? Kamal Haasan worked as a makeup artist on Sylvester Stallones Rambo III Palak Vij USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Hollywood actress Renee Victor, the voice of Abuelita in Disney's Coco, passes away at 86 M Snehanjali USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Palak Vij USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept M Snehanjali USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Stranger Things 5 set for three-part release, finale to come out on New Year's Eve 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept SINGAPORE, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region should be built on win-win cooperation instead of military deterrence, an Indonesian expert has said. China's practical cooperation with Indonesia and other regional countries has contributed greatly to the region's peace and development, said Veronika Saraswati, director of the Indonesia-China Partnership Studies Institute, in a recent interview with Xinhua. China has never engaged in the colonization of other nations. On the contrary, China itself suffered from colonialism in the 19th and early 20th century, the expert noted. "This shared experience has fostered solidarity between China and developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America," she said. Noting that China has long been Indonesia's largest trading partner, with fruitful cooperation in infrastructure, digital economy and other fields, she said, "Any rhetoric or action that undermines Indonesia-China relations would directly harm Indonesia's own development interests." "Over the past two decades, China has become an indispensable node in global supply chains, and cooperation between regional countries and China is crucial for maintaining stability and prosperity in Asia-Pacific," she said. On the issue of how to ensure long-term stability in the Asia-Pacific region, Saraswati described the Western concept of "peace through strength" as a profound paradox. "Throughout history, no lasting peace has ever been achieved through war," she stressed, adding that the approach to seek security via military deterrence will inevitably lead to arms races and heighten tensions. Moreover, Saraswati said that the idea that military deterrence serves as a "path to peace" is a narrative designed to justify the interests of the war industry of certain countries. "Behind the rhetoric of 'peace' lies a vast war economy," Saraswati said. In contrast, she said, China's approach is aimed at fostering longstanding peace. "True stability comes from trust-building, economic interdependence, and conflict resolution mechanisms, not zero-sum confrontation," she said. Saraswati strongly opposed the framing of regional security as a game between powers. "This Cold War mentality disrespects the strategic autonomy of ASEAN nations. Indonesia, for instance, pursues an independent foreign policy and refuses to be a proxy in great-power rivalry," she said. "ASEAN aims to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030, which requires stability and connectivity, not bloc confrontation. China's model of shared development, not military coercion, is the path to lasting peace," she added. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Air India in talks with Airbus, Boeing for new major aircraft deal: Report Tamal Nandi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Air India to recalibrate plans on Turkish Technic's maintenance works for its wide-body planes 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Manjiri Patil USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Viswanath Pilla is a business journalist with 16 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, Pilla covers pharma, healthcare and infrastructure sectors for Moneycontrol. Viswanath Pilla USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Arishaa Izaj USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Covid-19 in India: Cases surge to 3,395; 4 deaths reported in 24 hours heres what you need to know Arishaa Izaj USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept BERLIN, June 1 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out overnight at a hospital in the Hohenfelde district of the northern German city of Hamburg, killing three patients and injuring more than 50 others, local authorities confirmed on Sunday. According to the Hamburg fire department, two of the injured are in life-threatening condition, while 16 others sustained serious injuries and 36 suffered minor injuries. The fire started in the geriatric ward on the first floor of the hospital and spread to the second floor. Firefighters were alerted to the fire shortly after midnight. Thick smoke from the fire spread throughout every floor of the building, prompting a large-scale emergency response. Firefighters conducted rescues through open windows, and the fire was completely extinguished in the early hours of Sunday. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. From Nishikant Dubey to Tharoor, India speaks in one voice; multi-party delegation exposes Pakistans terror links Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Viswanath Pilla USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 'If my party is ready, I am ready to contest polls': Chirag Paswan's big remark ahead of Bihar election Siddharth Chakravorty USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Siddharth Chakravorty USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Pakistan is epicentre of Takfirism, should be put back on FATF grey list: Asaduddin Owaisi in Algeria Siddharth Chakravorty USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Shah speaks to CMs of rain-affected Assam, Arunachal, Sikkim; assures all help 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept ISTANBUL, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine and Russia will resume negotiations on Monday in Istanbul as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue, Turkish authorities announced on Sunday. According to the Turkish presidential office, the delegations are scheduled to meet at 1:00 p.m. local time (1000 GMT) at the Ciragan Palace on the European side of the city, along the shores of the Bosphorus Strait. The two countries held their latest round of direct talks on May 16 -- their first face-to-face negotiations since March 2022 -- in Istanbul, but the meeting ended without a ceasefire agreement. Shubhanshu Shukla set to script history as India's second astronaut in space 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Ria Kapoor USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Ankita Sengupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept From 'Oppa' to 'Comrade': Smuggled phone shows how North Korea uses tech to censor its people Ankita Sengupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Was pinched, made to sell cheap products on TikTok as Miss Grand International: Rachel Gupta Ankita Sengupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Why is Trump picking fights with Harvard? Biographer claims it's because he and his son didn't... Ankita Sengupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Ankita Chakravarti USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Mary Meekers AI Trends report: What the Queen of the Internet says about ChatGPT, Chinas AI race, and jobs in 2030 MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Shaurya Shubham USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Chhabi Kala USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept PARIS, June 1 (Xinhua) -- French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has condemned the acts of vandalism against five Jewish establishments in Paris, according to French news channel France 24. "I am deeply disgusted by these heinous acts targeting the Jewish community," Retailleau said on his X account. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo also condemned the acts of "intimidation" in the strongest possible terms. "Anti-Semitism has no place in our city or in our Republic," she said, cited by France 24. An unknown man vandalized overnight from Friday to Saturday with green paint the Holocaust memorial in Paris, two synagogues and a Jewish restaurant. According to the French news channel, the French Jewish community, one of the largest in the world, has for months been on edge in the face of a growing number of attacks and desecrations of memorials since the Gaza war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel launched a ground and air offensive in Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023 attack, in which Hamas-led fighters killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel closed border crossings and curtailed the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza on March 2. Limited access has been permitted since May 22. Israel resumed its assault on Gaza on March 18, following a two-month truce with Hamas. Since then, 4,149 Palestinians have been killed and 12,149 injured, according to Gaza-based health authorities on Sunday. Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Operation Spider Web: How Ukraine struck Russian bomber bases using drones hidden in sheds, transported by trucks Tamal Nandi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept South Korea to elect new president on June 3: Lee Jae-myung vs Kim Moon-soo - Key issues from economy to foreign policy Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Toyota to shift more car production from Japan to UK amid Trump's tariffs turmoil Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Karol Nawrocki (C), an independent presidential candidate, casts his ballot with his wife Marta Nawrocka and his children during the country's presidential runoff, in Warsaw, Poland, on June 1, 2025. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/Xinhua) WARSAW, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Karol Nawrocki is now narrowly leading Rafal Trzaskowski in Poland's presidential runoff on Sunday, according to a late poll conducted by Ipsos. Earlier exit poll results had shown Trzaskowski ahead. Nawrocki, a historian and head of Poland's Institute of National Remembrance, received 50.7 percent of the vote in the presidential runoff, ahead of Trzaskowski, the ruling Civic Coalition (KO) candidate and mayor of Warsaw, who garnered 49.3 percent, according to the late poll released by Ipsos at about 11 p.m. local time (2100 GMT). According to the Polish Press Agency, the late poll is based on official results from 50 percent of randomly selected polling stations where Ipsos conducted its survey. The statistical margin of error is estimated at 1 percentage point. Ipsos's earlier exit poll showed that Trzaskowski received 50.3 percent of the vote, while Nawrocki, an independent candidate backed by the opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party, received 49.7 percent. Voter turnout was estimated at 72.8 percent. Final results are likely to be announced on Monday morning or early afternoon, according to the Polish National Electoral Commission (PKW). A closely contested first round was held on May 18, in which Trzaskowski secured 31.36 percent of the vote, followed by Nawrocki with 29.54 percent. As no candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round, the election proceeded to a runoff. A man with his dog is seen at a polling station during the country's presidential runoff, in Warsaw, Poland, on June 1, 2025. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/Xinhua) A man in wheelchair casts his ballot at a polling station during the country's presidential runoff, in Warsaw, Poland, on June 1, 2025. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/Xinhua) Rafal Trzaskowski (C), mayor of Warsaw and candidate of the ruling Civic Coalition, gestures at an election event in Warsaw, Poland, on June 1, 2025. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/Xinhua) A citizen votes at a polling station during the country's presidential runoff, in Warsaw, Poland, on June 1, 2025. (Photo by Jaap Arriens/Xinhua) Trumps daily intelligence briefings may be redesigned to look like Fox News Manjiri Patil USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Tu-95, Tu-22, Tu-160: All you need to know about Russian strategic bombers allegedly hit by Ukraine Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Ukraine destroyed more than 40 military aircraft in drone attack deep inside Russia: Official 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Ukraine says Russia launched biggest number of drones in 3-year war on Sunday Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Kristi Noem's claim of immigrant threat to Trump unravels amid framing suspicions A claim by Governor Kristi Noem that an immigrant threatened the life of President Donald Trump has begun to unravel, as per a report in AP. Noem had announced the arrest of a 54-year-old man, who she said was living in the U.S. illegally and had written a letter threatening to kill Trump before returning to Mexico; this announcement garnered significant media attention and was highlighted by the White House and allies of Trump. However, investigators now reportedly believe the man may have been framed by someone else to ensure his arrest and deportation from the U.S. US sends new nuclear deal proposal to Iran amid reports of uranium enrichment Pragya Trivedi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Key Points Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) could pick up in the banking sector under the Trump administration, which plans to deregulate the sector. Large regional banks could experience consolidation. The large regional players need to scale if they want to compete with the likes of JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America. 10 stocks we like better than Comerica The banking industry is ripe for consolidation. Although there were more than 4,500 banks in the U.S., as of last year, four, in particular, collectively control trillions in assets: JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup. While smaller banks will keep gobbling each other up and merging to obtain scale, this could also take place in the large regional banking market, among banks with $75 billion to $700 billion in assets. Regulators under President Donald Trump's administration have given the sector the green light for mergers and acquisitions, a stance that wasn't embraced under former President Joe Biden's administration. If the large regional banks truly want to compete against the big four, they're going to have to get bigger. Acquisition candidates typically can command a nice premium for shareholders. Here are two banks that could get acquired during the next four years. 1. Comerica: Tough size, attractive markets At the end of the first quarter of 2025, Comerica (NYSE: CMA) had about $78 billion in assets and operates in attractive U.S. banking markets like Texas and states in the fast-growing Southeast of the U.S. This is an awkward size for a regional bank these days, because it is too big to be a local bank, but not nearly big enough to compete with the bigger players. Furthermore, $100 billion has previously been a battleground for banking regulators under various administrations when thinking about the size threshold they consider too big to fail -- meaning they're so crucial to the financial system that regulators will bail them out if they are at risk of failing. As such, investors frequently have to reassess regulations and capital requirements for banks around this size. Image source: Getty Images. Last year, Comerica announced it will not be extending a banking relationship with the U.S. Treasury Department that provided it with $3 billion in noninterest-bearing deposits, which is essentially a free funding source, although the agreement will continue for the next few years before the transition, which could partly explain its low valuation relative to peers. When looking at acquisitions, it's important to look at a bank's price-to-tangible book value (TBV), which shows its price relative to its tangible equity, or what the bank might be worth if it were liquidated. The higher a bank's price-to-TBV, the more likely it is to be a buyer because its stock currency is more valuable, so it could buy banks with smaller price-to-TBVs and see less dilution in an all-stock or part-stock deal. A new variant of COVID-19 may be driving up cases in some parts of the world, WHO says COVID-19 cases are rising again as a new variant begins to circulate in some parts of the world. The World Health Organization said Wednesday the rise in cases is primarily in the eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and western Pacific regions. Airport screening in the United States has detected the new variant in travelers arriving from those regions to destinations in California, Washington state, Virginia and New York. The new variant is called NB.1.8.1. It arrives as the United States official stance on COVID-19 vaccination is changing. On Tuesday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that COVID-19 shots are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women a move immediately questioned by several public health experts. The new variant, increasing globally, had by mid-May reached nearly 11% of sequenced samples reported. The WHO has designated it a variant under monitoring and considers the public health risk low at the global level with current vaccines expected to remain effective. The WHO said some western Pacific countries have reported increases in COVID cases and hospitalizations, but theres nothing so far to suggest that the disease associated with the new variant is more severe compared to other variants. The variant called LP.8.1 is currently the dominant version in the U.S. and globally. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. By CARLA K. JOHNSON AP Medical Writer Organisers of the upcoming First Ladies African Impact & Resilience (Flair) Summit in London are facing increasing pressure to reconsider the participation of Zimbabwes First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, following protests from exiled Zimbabweans. Mnangagwa, who also holds a position as a Zanu PF politburo member, is scheduled to be one of the speakers at the summit, which is set to take place between 16 and 18 June. However, her inclusion on the list of speakers has been met with strong disapproval by Zimbabweans living in the United Kingdom, many of whom say they were forced to flee their homeland due to Zanu PF policies. These diasporans have been actively lobbying the summit organisers to withdraw their invitation to Mnangagwa. Their efforts have already seen success, with a leading British parliamentarian withdrawing from the summit after Zimbabweans contacted her office. The office of Brent East MP Dawn Buttler stated that she was unaware of her inclusion as a speaker at the conference alongside Zimbabwes First Lady. They clarified that she had neither received an invitation nor agreed to participate in the event, despite the summits official website listing her as a key speaker. Sources have indicated that the organisers are planning to hold an emergency meeting to discuss whether Mnangagwa should remain part of the summit or be asked to withdraw. An emergency crisis meeting will be held on Monday to decide on whether the Zimbabwean first lady should remain part of the meeting following widespread concerns, an informed source revealed. While Flair co-founder Yvonne Thompson has not been available to confirm these developments, an insider told The Standard that the protests by Zimbabweans against Mnangagwas presence have created significant challenges for the organisers. Those opposing her trip to the UK are citing the Zimbabwean governments human rights record and ongoing political repression in the country. Critics have also pointed to accusations against President Emmerson Mnangagwa, including allegations of misgovernance and presiding over a corrupt administration. Zimbabweans have argued that the First Ladys association with a government accused of human rights abuses, corruption, and repression is incompatible with the summits stated values. One Zimbabwean living in the UK expressed their disappointment, stating that it was disheartening to see Mnangagwa masquerade as patron-elect for this Flair Summit, a clear sign that, like her Angel of Hope in Zimbabwe, her involvement is questionable. According to the Flair website, Mnangagwa has been chosen as the patron of the summit, although it does not specify when she was elected or by whom. In a statement published on the website, Mnangagwa says, As patron elect, I am committed to supporting the goals of the Flair Summit strategy, Africa, in particular, holds immense potential. By investing in the empowerment of women, we are unlocking a significant part of this potential. Women are the backbone of our communities; their empowerment leads to stronger, more resilient societies. When women thrive, everyone benefits including families, communities, and nations. The summit is expected to be attended by first ladies from across Africa. The event is intended to celebrate women who lead with compassion, integrity, and courage, qualities that critics argue are in stark contrast to the actions of Zanu PF on the ground. The forum was established by diaspora women leaders to collaborate with women in Africa for the betterment of society. The controversy surrounding Mnangagwas participation highlights the complex dynamics between Zimbabwes political situation and international efforts to promote womens empowerment and leadership. Breaking News via Email Related Pin Share Share 0 Shares Conor here: Sure seems like a case of everything going according to plan. As the following report notes, the Trump Department of Labor (DOL) says its Wage and Hour Division, who are responsible for investigating child labor, are exempt from the DOGE-inspired deferred resignation program. Even if they werent its difficult to imagine the situation getting much worse. As New York Times reported, under the Biden Administration the Wage and Hour Division was woefully understaffed and has been for ages: The department has 750 investigators overseeing fair labor standards at 11 million workplaces, including 3,000 slaughterhouses. Even when inspectors do catch child-labor violations, the maximum penalty per child is $15,000, and they usually fine only the subcontracted companies, not the brands themselves. Lawmakers have been pushing to increase the maximum fine, but Congress is gridlocked, with each party drafting its own bills and refusing to vote for legislation introduced by the other side. Despite rising child labor violations and new Senate demands to investigate the nations largest meat processor, the U.S. Department of Labor remains silent on whether it has the staff to conduct future probes amidst a major reduction in its workforce. At a May 22 congressional hearing, newly appointed Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said 2,700 department employees have taken a deferred resignation program offered to nearly all federal employees as a part of Trump administration-led staff reductions. However, she said enforcement staff with the Wage and Hour Division, who are responsible for investigating child labor, are exempt from the program. At the Department of Labor, our goal is to fully enforce the law and make sure that we are using the full enforcement capability of the Department of Labor to crack down if someone is knowingly breaking that law, and we will double down to do that, Chavez-DeRemer said. Federal agencies that enforce labor, environmental and agricultural laws have seen layoffs, budget cuts and attacks on federal workers in recent months under the Trump administration. Jessica Looman, former administrator for the Wage and Hour Division under the Biden administration, said she worries ongoing cuts to staff and budgets will have a chilling effect on the divisions ability to carry out its work. Enforcing federal child labor laws is one of the most important things that the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor does and its critical that they have the resources to be able to do that work, Looman said in an interview with Investigate Midwest. An excerpt from Sen. Josh Hawleys letter to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez DeRemer, dated May 6, 2025. The letter in full is available to read below. The Wage and Hour Division has roughly 1,400 full-time employees and a budget of $260 million as of fiscal year 2024, according to DOL budget documents and interviews with former staff. The agency has around 700 investigators tasked with enforcing federal child labor and other labor laws. In its 2025 budget proposal under the Biden administration, the Wage and Hour Division requested 50 additional full-time employees to continue investigating child labor. Over the last decade, WHD enforcement capacity has decreased from more than 1,000 on-board investigators to just over 720 investigators one of the lowest levels in fifty years, the document states. The DOL would not answer direct questions from Investigate Midwest about how federal budget cuts and deferred resignations have impacted the Wage and Hour Division, or how these changes would affect its ability to conduct child labor investigations. An excerpt from DOL Acting Administrator Donald M. Harrison IIIs response addressed to Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, dated May 12, 2025. The letter in full is available to read below. The concerns over cuts to staff responsible for child labor investigations come as multiple senators are calling for more investigations into potential child labor in meatpacking plants. This month, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, sent a letter to DOL Secretary Chavez-DeRemer demanding an investigation into Tyson Foods, the nations largest poultry processing company. Hawley said he was contacted by a whistleblower who previously worked for the company and claimed to have seen underage workers at a processing plant employed by a third-party contracting service, as well as hearing from other coworkers that underage workers were working at the facility. Theyre using child labor, theyre using illegal immigrant labor and theyre basically participating in an illegal human trafficking ring, Hawley said in an interview with Investigate Midwest. This has got to stop. Tyson Foods is still under investigation for the use of child labor at two of its facilities in Arkansas, according to a DOL statement from March. In a letter sent to Hawley, the Department of Labor confirmed the company is under investigation for child labor, but did not detail specific facilities. We do not allow the employment of anyone under the age of 18 in any of our facilities, and we do not facilitate, excuse, or in any other way participate in the use of child labor by third parties, a Tyson spokesperson said in a statement to Investigate Midwest. Hawley and Democratic New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker reintroduced legislation in March to prevent companies with child labor violations from obtaining federal contracts and funding. Nearly half of all child labor violations in the past two decades have come from agriculture industries, with the number of child labor violations increasing 35% in the past 10 years, according to DOL data. While crop production accounts for most of these violations, major meatpacking companies, such as Tyson Foods, JBS USA, Perdue Farms, Cargill and Mar-Jac Poultry have been fined and investigated for violating federal child labor laws in the past decade. In 2023, the Wage and Hour Division announced that Packers Sanitation Service, a company formerly based out of Wisconsin and now headquartered in Atlanta, employed more than 100 children ages 13 to 17 at 13 meatpacking plants across the country. The company was fined $1.5 million for child labor law violations. Some Worry Trumps Cuts Could Harm Future Enforcement Efforts With cuts going on in the Trump administration, we certainly have a fear that theres going to be even less capacity and less appetite for enforcing child labor laws, said Todd Larson, co-executive director for environmental and labor advocacy group GreenPeace, part of a coalition working to prevent child labor in meatpacking and food processing.. While its unclear how child labor in the U.S. will be affected by federal cuts, international enforcement already has seen an impact. The quasi-governmental Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, cut $240 million in funding for the Department of Labors International Labor Affairs Bureau in March, according to POLITICO. The office investigates global use of child labor in supply chains, as well as labor performed under human trafficking or coercion. In a letter to the DOL, Democratic members of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee called on the agency to reinstate funding to the bureau to prevent goods made under child labor conditions from entering the countrys supply chain and competing with the U.S. labor force. American trade policy relies on critical federal programs working overseas to challenge unfair competition from governments that commit egregious abuses in global supply chains, the letter states. By eliminating these and other technical assistance projects, the Administration is surrendering an essential tool for leveling the playing field and holding our trade partners accountable. Greetings gentle readers, welcome to another installment of The Sunday Morning Movie. Today I have a weird one for you: Fantastic Planet. Its a beautifully animated piece and pairs well with some high end weed. Reviews: Letterboxd says: -Perhaps one of the most unique films Ive ever seen. The score combined with the art animation makes for one hell of an experience. -This is the film equivalent of Salvador Dali doing acid with the Blue Man Group. -Yeah I probably should have watched this stoned. -A striking film that explores themes of revolt, oppression, resistance and power dynamics. Fantastic planet is one of those movies you cant stop thinking about, its so trippy, obviously strange but most of all it tells a powerful message!!! The score is beautiful, need to stream everything ASAP and the art style is eerie, making this movie even more memorable!!!! I love love love it -That was so cool, I love the way this looks so so so much. Its surreal and strange and beautiful. The political themes are interesting, and the soundtrack is so good and fitting. I love it. Metacritic says: -Thirty-five years later, Rene Lalouxs surreal animated film remains a singular psychedelic experience. For the uninitiated, think Yellow Submarine but way more arty, trippy and funky. Highly recommended. -Director Rene Laloux and his co-writer, illustrator Roland Topor, in adapting Stefan Wuls science-fiction novel Oms en Serie, have created a surreal nightmare worthy of Dali, one that is filled with seemingly magical phenomena and bizarre and dangerous flora and fauna. -Between the funky Alain Goraguer soundtrack, the sexy outfits, the surreal landscapes and the heavily metaphorical plot, the film still looks and sounds unlike anything else, either in animation or in sci-fi. Outlawvern says: FANTASTIC PLANET (La Planete sauvage) (1973) is a wholly unique experience in animated features. It was made a couple years before I even was, and to this day they dont make em like this. Soon, though. One of these days its gonna catch fire the way anime giant robots did, or fairy tale musicals, or computer animated comedy adventures with a high concept and its funny but then its serious but dont worry also its still funny, yet surprisingly sweet. Have you seen any animated movies like that? Ive seen a couple. I loved this movie since the first time I saw it. Its not the best written tale for sure, some of the reviewers on Metacritic would agree with this, but its so damned bizarre its worth the time. The mixture of surrealist imagery, the funky and at times erotic soundtrack, and the sexual themes all combine for an hour plus of oddness. Whats not to love? Director: Rene Laloux Spoilers! Synopsis: Set in the far future, humans (now called Oms) no longer inhabit Earth. They have been relocated to the planet Ygam by the enormous blue Draag, a technologically superior race. The Oms were brought as pets but many have escaped and live in tribes on the fringes of the Draag civilization. The Draag love their pet Oms but consider the feral Oms to be vermin. Periodically the Draag carry out cullings, or de-Omizations, to control the wild Om population. The story begins when an orphaned Om infant is discovered by Tiwa, the daughter of a high ranking Draag official named Master Sinh. Tiwa decides to keep the Om infant as a pet and names him Terr. Terr is raised as a pampered play-thing but with a secret. The collar Tiwa uses to control him has allowed him to listen in on her daily lessons, transmitted to her by a headset. Now well educated, Terr realizes there is a much larger world outside of the Draag home he has been inhabiting. When Tiwa begins to mature and lose interest in him he decides to make his escape and takes the headset with him. Wandering into an abandoned Draag park, he meets a wild Om who removes his collar and brings him to meet her tribe. After clashing with the tribes high priest, Terr convinces the tribe to use the headset to educate themselves. This allows them to read a sign posted on a nearby wall that warns of a coming de-Omization. The day arrives and while many die, some of the tribe escape and join with a formerly hostile tribe to try to escape the park. They encounter two Draag and a battle ensues in which many Oms and one Draag are killed. The survivors decide to make their way to an old rocket depot to hide from the Draag. Meanwhile, the death of the Draag who fought the Oms has sent shockwaves through Draag society and there are calls for greater de-Omizations. The Oms live peacefully in the rocket depot for years, studying Draag technology. Their plan is to build rockets that will carry them safely to the moon of Ygam, named the Fantastic Planet, to escape the reach of the Draag. That day comes when the depot is subjected to a terrible de-Omization that utilizes new weapons, killing many of the Oms. Terr and his companions board the rockets and flee to the Fantastic Planet. There they discover large statues being used by the Draag to conduct their strange mating rituals. The Oms destroy a number of the statues and the Draag realize they have underestimated the sophistication of the Oms. In order to preserve their civilization, the Draag end the mass killing of the Oms and a peaceful accord is reached. The Oms leave the Fantastic Planet for an artificial moon constructed by the Draag. Safe in their new home, the two civilizations live side by side, each benefiting from the others unique perspectives. As the press is wont to say, the large-scale Ukraine drone attacks on four Russian airbases are a developing story. However, as well discuss below, experts like Scott Ritter believe Ukraine must have had assistance from at least the Europeans, particularly the UK (recall their role in the Kerch Bridge truck bomb explosion). Ritter believes the US had no role but that this attack will force Trumps hand. More immediately, the question is what does Russia do next. My assumption is they still proceed with the Istanbul talks and launch the response shortly thereafter. Even though Russia may have many strike packages worked out, theres the question of what to do about the presumed European help, and whether they have firm enough evidence in hand to justify strikes outside Ukraine. Recall further the drone attacks on Putins helicopter on a recent visit to Kursk. Russia has been weirdly silent about that, which is now looking like a PR mistake. Both John Helmer and Ray McGovern in a talk on Dialogue Work argued that Russia would use this to test the US, since they do communicate on terrorist matters, as to see what there response was to a Russian query about what they knew when. But it looks like time for tests has passed. Ritter warned that Russias nuclear doctrine would allow for a nuclear strike in response to this attack. First to news reports. From Anadolu Agency in Ukraine hits over 40 Russian strategic bombers in large-scale attack: Media: Ukraines military conducted a large-scale attack on Russia, with state media claiming on Sunday that over 40 strategic bomber jets were destroyed in the strike using drones in various regions, including the Siberian region of Irkutsk, which is over 4,000 kilometers away from the border. The countrys Security Service (SBU) has conducted a large-scale special operation, codenamed Spider Web, to destroy Russian bombers, Ukraines state news agency Ukrinform reported, citing sources in the SBU. The report said SBU drones targeted planes used by Moscow in attacks on Ukrainian cities overnight. More than 40 bombers are currently known to have been hit, the report claimed, adding that preparations for the operation took more than a year and a half. The attack targeted four airfields at once, including Olenya, Ivanovo, Dyagilevo, and Belaya, according to the report. The Belaya airbase is in Russias Siberian region of Irkutsk, whose administrative center is more than 4,300 kilometers (2,670 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border. The source went on to describe the operation as extremely complex from a logistical point of view, with the SBU first transporting the drones to Russia, after which they were hidden under the roof of mobile wooden houses, which were then remotely opened. Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev on Telegram confirmed strikes on his region, saying a military unit in the settlement of Sredny was attacked by drones. Murmansk Governor Andrey Chibis and Ryazan Governor Pavel Malkov also reported drone attacks in their respective regions. The former, however, called information regarding explosions in the town of Severomorsk fake. The town serves as the main naval base for Russias Northern Fleet. So 40 strategic bombers is the Ukraine claim, with reports of at least one attack apparently exaggerated. Russia has confirmed that its air bases were hit but is characteristically tight lipped about the amount of damage. From BBC: The Russian Defence Ministry has confirmed in a Telegram post that several military planes have ignited as a result of drone attacks that were initiated from near Olenya air base in the Russian far-north region of Murmansk, and Belaya air base near Irkutsk in Siberia. Notice all the chatter about using long range missiles like the Taurus looks to have been a psyop, to get Russias defenses focused on a very different type of attack. For reference, charts on Russias air force as of 2025, from DWMMA: From the Financial Times, Ukraine stages audacious attack on airfields deep in Russian territory: Aircraft were burning at the Belaya airfield, located in south-eastern Siberia about 5,500km east of the Ukrainian border; at the Olenya air base on the Kola Peninsula near Murmansk; Dyagilevo air base 200km south-east of Moscow; and Ivanovo airfield, 300km north-east of the Russian capital, the official said. Video footage filmed by a Ukrainian reconnaissance aircraft and shared by the official appeared to show one Russian airfield in flames and drones attacking several planes. In another video, the voice of Vasyl Malyuk, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), is heard approving the attacks. Recall Ukraine has faked footage before but I would assume for now that the claimed strikes are real, and how severe the damage was is yet to be determined. However, the pink paper does not see this attack, although very impressive and no doubt a monster morale booster for Ukraine, as unlikely to reduce Russias ability to prosecute the war in Ukraine. And recall that the Financial Times is very much a Ukraine supporter: A former Ukrainian officer who runs analytical group Frontelligence Insight said that while the damage would probably not directly influence Russias position on the battlefield, it was still significant. It does reduce Russias strategic capabilities [which] mean the ability to project power globally, the ability to deliver nuclear strikes and overall military posture in Eurasia, he said. When [the Russian] general staff plans wars, they dont look just at one theatre of war or specific part of the front line. They assess the military capabilities and project how to execute the political will of leadership. Ukraines attack would dent Russias geopolitical confidence, he added. I dont buy the geopolitical confidence claim. Russia is still considerably outproducing the Collective West in pretty much every armament category that matters, save naval assets. This now gives them the justification that they did not have before, to take all of Ukraine if necessary to bring thme to heel. There is plenty of glee on Twitter: BREAKING: Ukraine unleashes its biggest strike on Russian Air Force yet. ~ Drones smuggled deep into Russian territory hit strategic airbases up to 40 AIRCRAFT reportedly DESTROYED. This marks a bold escalation. How will Russia react?pic.twitter.com/fanAFjIqHz The Analyzer (News Updates) (@Indian_Analyzer) June 1, 2025 This will be in textbooks. Ukraine secretly delivered FPV drones and wooden mobile cabins into Russia. The drones were hidden under the roofs of the cabins, which were later mounted on trucks. At the signal, the roofs opened remotely. Dozens of drones launched directly from the pic.twitter.com/sJyG3WyYYI Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) June 1, 2025 All of russia needs to look like this picturesque scene from the Belaya Airbase in Irkutsk Oblast. pic.twitter.com/LqzZDH6ZoK UAVoyager (@NAFOvoyager) June 1, 2025 Not a surprise: URGENT ALERT: Russian President Vladimir Putin convenes EMERGENCY Security Council meeting! Major response imminent rumors of possible NUCLEAR escalation in hours! #Russia #Ukraine #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/feY92jKFnX NewsDaily (@XNews24_7) June 1, 2025 To put it politely, Putins restraint now looks to have been unwise, but these events are path dependent. Russia has been running a coalition war, since it needs the economic support of key allies, most of all China, which has never been keen about Russia invading Ukraine even if it accepted the lack of other options. I dont see how Russia does not take the gloves off now. One move is to unleash its missiles and take out decision centers as in Kiev and the electrical grid in most if not all of Western Ukraine. Russia now needs to prostrate Ukraine. Scott Ritter, who admittedly likes to paint in bright colors, says it would be completely consistent with Russian nuclear doctrine to make a nuclear attack. From his post, Playing With Fire: Operation Spiderweb, the largescale assault on critical Russian military infrastructure directly related to Russias strategic nuclear deterrence by unmanned drones, has demonstrably crossed Russias red lines when it comes to triggering a nuclear retaliation Operation Spiderweb is a covert direct-action assault on critical Russian military infrastructure and capabilities directly related to Russias strategic nuclear deterrent capabilities This would be the equivalent of a hostile actor launching drone strikes against US Air Force B-52H bombers stationed at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota and at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, and B-2 bombers stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. The timing of Operation Spiderweb is clearly designed to disrupt peace talks scheduled to take place in Istanbul on June 2. First and foremost, one must understand that it is impossible for Ukraine to seriously prepare for substantive peace talks while planning and executing an operation such as Operation Spiderweb Moreover, this attack could not have occurred without the consent of Ukraines European partners, in particular Great Britain, France and Germany. Unknown is the extent to which President Trump, who has been pushing for successful peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, was knowledgeable of the Ukrainian actions, including whether he approved of the action in advance.. How Russia responds to this latest Ukrainian action is yet unknown.. But this much is clear: Ukraine could not have carried out Operation Spiderweb without the political approval and operational assistance of its western allies. Russia has in the past responded to provocations by Ukraine and its western allies with a mixture of patience and resolve. Many have interpreted this stance as a sign of weakness. The extent to which Russia can continue to show the same level of restraint as in the past is tested by the very nature of the attacka massive use of conventional weapons which struck Russias strategic nuclear deterrence force, causing damage We have reached an existential crossroads in the SMO President Trump, who has been claiming to support a peace process between Russia and Ukraine, must now decide as to where the United States stands considering these developments Ukraine, not Russia, represents an existential threat to humanity. NATO, not Russia, is responsible for encouraging Ukraine to behave in such a reckless manner. So, too, is the United States. The contradictory statements made by US policy makers regarding Russia provide political cover for Ukraine and its NATO enablers to plan and execute operations like Operation Spiderweb But it is Trump himself who must decide the fate of the world. Choose Ukraine and trigger a nuclear war. Choose Russia and save the world. We dont and probably wont know soon if at all how many bombers were irreparably damaged. That will play into Russias calculus of how to respond. But Russia clearly has to at least aggressively increase the tempo of the war and defeat Ukraine sooner rather than later. Irrespective of the military logic, the Russia public will be seeing red. The very ugly question is what does Russia do if it concludes the US had a hand in this attack. Comparable sales dropped 3.8% from last year in the first quarter, although operating income increased 13.6%. Same-day delivery increased 35% year over year, driving a 4.7% increase in comparable digital sales. This is where Target shines, even now. There are several reasons Target is under pressure today. Grocery, which as a category does well under most conditions, isn't as large a segment for Target as it is for some of its competitors. As customers have pulled back on discretionary purchases due to inflation, sales growth has been slow or non-existent, and it's had to mark down items to get them off shelves, cutting into its margins. It's been the target (no pun intended) of several politically based consumer boycott efforts, which cut into recent sales, and all of these things have led to reduced consumer confidence in Target. Now there's the looming threat of tariffs, which had some impact on Target's business in the 2025 fiscal first quarter (ended May 3), and are creating uncertainty about the near future. Jennifer Saibil (Target): Target is a great example of a company that's rebounded from challenges and gone on to soaring heights. It's in the dumps right now, but it's been there before. In fact, it was struggling right before the pandemic, and it invested in a robust omnichannel strategy before it was fashionable and just in time to benefit from a huge acceleration in e-commerce. Throughout its current struggles, its digital channels, including same-day and pickup services, continue to enjoy strong growth. That should give investors some confidence that it can rebound again under better conditions. While the near term could be rocky, investors who buy the following dividend stocks today could build up a rewarding stream of passive income for years to come. Here's why three Fool.com contributors believe Target (NYSE: TGT), Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), and Home Depot (NYSE: HD) are great dividend stocks to buy and hold for the next 20 years. This is a great time to consider adding quality dividend stocks to your investment portfolio. Recent headwinds in the economy have weighed on sales of leading retail and consumer goods brands, and this has driven their stocks down and their yields higher. This retailer will benefit from an eventual recovery in the housing market. Story Continues The future may be uncertain, but Target has a lot going for it in its nearly 2,000 stores, robust membership program, and strong digital channels. It has something else that investors love even today, and that's its dividend. Target is a Dividend King, and it has raised its dividend annually for the past 53 years. That's an elite class of dividend stocks that are reliable for passive income growth. Plus, at the current low price, Target's dividend yields a very attractive 4.6%, or more than 3 times the S&P 500 average. That's a great reason to buy it today. Starbucks stock: 31% off its highs John Ballard (Starbucks): Starbucks is one of the most ubiquitous consumer brands, with over 40,000 stores open worldwide. While it is currently navigating a challenging sales environment, it generates healthy margins that fund generous dividend payments to shareholders. The stock could deliver excellent returns from these lower share prices. Weak sales and earnings results have sent the stock down 31% from its previous peak. Comparable store sales were down 1% year over year in the most recent quarter. Investments to support the company's turnaround efforts are compounding the declines on the bottom line, with earnings down 50% over the year-ago quarter. The good news is that Starbucks has a new CEO focused on returning the company to growth. Brian Niccol came over from Chipotle Mexican Grill last year, and his strategy centers around improving the customer experience and better managing costs, which should continue to fuel Starbucks' dividend for years to come. The recent decline in earnings has raised the payout ratio to 85% on a trailing-12-month basis. Companies can't sustainably pay out over 100% of their annual earnings without risking a reduction in the dividend payment. However, the recent decline in earnings should be temporary, as Niccol has a great record from his time at Chipotle in expanding margins and growing earnings faster than revenue. Management's cost discipline should lead to the same outcome for Starbucks. The current quarterly payment of $0.61 brings the forward dividend yield to an attractive 2.82% -- the highest yield Starbucks stock has offered in years. Investors who buy today and hold for the next few decades should have a very rewarding income investment, and a stock that is trading at a much higher price. Home Depot: 15% off its highs Jeremy Bowman (Home Depot): Home Depot is one of the best-performing stocks of all time. The home improvement retailer went public early in its history when it only had a handful of stores and it has grown to dominate the industry, operating in a duopoly with Lowe's. More recently, the stock has struggled. Over the last three years, the stock has underperformed the S&P 500, gaining 19%, compared to 42% for the broad-market index. That's primarily due to a slowdown in the housing market as the lock-in effect from low rates during the pandemic and a jump in mortgage rates since then has cooled off demand. As a result, the company's growth has stalled. Comparable sales in the first quarter fell 0.3%, though overall revenue increased 9.4% to $39.9 billion due to its acquisition last year of building materials distributor SRS Distribution. No one knows when mortgage rates will fall again, but there's a housing shortage in the country that is estimated at around 4 million homes, which should eventually support demand for home improvement materials and drive a new cycle of growth at Home Depot. In the meantime, investors can capitalize on Home Depot's dividend as the retailer has long been an attractive dividend growth stock. As the chart below shows, the dividend has nearly quadrupled over the last 10 years. Currently, Home Depot offers a 2.5% dividend yield, and its quarterly payment is likely to continue to grow as the company has now raised its dividend for 16 years in a row. Despite the near-term challenges the company faces, Home Depot has everything you could want out of a dividend stock. It's an industry leader. It has a long track record of growth, and it has an affordable valuation. It's likely to reward any investor who holds it for the next 20 years. Should you invest $1,000 in Target right now? Before you buy stock in Target, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Target wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $638,985!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $853,108!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 978% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Dont miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Jennifer Saibil has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Jeremy Bowman has positions in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Home Depot, Starbucks, and Target. John Ballard has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill, Home Depot, Starbucks, and Target. The Motley Fool recommends Lowe's Companies and recommends the following options: short June 2025 $55 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Magnificent Dividend Stocks Down 15% to 64% to Buy and Hold for 20 Years was originally published by The Motley Fool The AI energy surge: How data centers are reshaping global electricity grids The rise of AI is driving an unprecedented surge in global electricity demand, with AI-related firms adding $12 trillion to the S&P 500 since 2022. Data centers, the backbone of the digital age, are experiencing explosive growth, consuming 1.5 percent of the world's electricity in 2024 (415 TWh). This is projected to more than double by 2030, reaching 945 TWh, surpassing Japan's total electricity consumption. The United States leads global data center electricity consumption at 45 percent, followed by China at 25 percent and Europe at 15 percent. In the U.S., Virginia alone consumes a quarter of the state's electricity due to its concentration of data centers. While AI can lead to emissions reductions, it also raises concerns about its environmental impact. The International Energy Agency (IEA) highlights the immense power requirements of AI, noting a shift in focus from renewables to economic growth. The AI energy surge presents both opportunities and challenges. It could lead to energy savings in sectors like transport through innovations like autonomous vehicles, but also risks increased personal mobility. In a world increasingly powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the electricity demand is reaching unprecedented levels. Since 2022, AI-related firms have surged into the S&P 500, adding a staggering $12 trillion to the market. This transformation is not just about technology; it's about the massive energy infrastructure needed to support it. As AI continues to evolve, data centers are becoming the new powerhouses of the global economy, consuming electricity at rates that rival traditional heavy industries. Data centers, the backbone of the digital age, are experiencing explosive growth. In 2024, these facilities accounted for approximately 1.5 percent of the world's electricity consumption, or 415 terawatt-hours (TWh). The United States leads the charge, consuming 45 percent of the global data center electricity, followed by China at 25 percent and Europe at 15 percent. This surge is not slowing down; by 2030, data center electricity consumption is projected to more than double, reaching around 945 TWh, surpassing Japan's total electricity consumption today. The scale of this demand is staggering. A typical data center already consumes as much electricity as 100,000 homes. However, the new generation of mega data centers under construction will consume 20 times more, equivalent to adding two million homes to the grid. In Virginia, the epicenter of industrial data, data centers consume a quarter of the state's electricity. This demand concentration is not evenly distributed, with nearly half of the U.S. data center capacity located in just five regional clusters. (Related: Ireland's electricity crisis: AI data centers to consume one third of national grid by 2026.) AI's insatiable appetite for power AI is the primary driver of this unprecedented energy demand. In the United States, data centers are expected to account for nearly half of the growth in electricity demand by 2030. By the end of the decade, the country will consume more electricity for data centers than for producing aluminum, steel, cement, chemicals and all other energy-intensive goods combined. The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently released a report highlighting the immense power requirements of AI. The report acknowledges that while AI can lead to emissions reductions, it also raises concerns about its environmental impact. The IEA's shift in tone, from emphasizing renewables to making excuses for industry, reflects a broader trend of prioritizing economic growth over environmental sustainability. Not all countries are equally equipped to compete. Australia, for example, faces challenges due to its ban on nuclear power and reluctance to build coal plants. Similarly, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Canada are lagging in the AI energy race. The ability to provide reliable and affordable electricity is crucial for countries looking to capitalize on AI's potential. AI's influence extends beyond data centers, with significant implications for energy efficiency and mobility. In the transport sector, AI applications are being used to manage traffic, optimize routes, predict maintenance needs and develop autonomous vehicles. These innovations could lead to energy savings equivalent to the energy used by 120 million cars. However, the widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles could also lead to increased personal mobility, potentially offsetting some of these gains. The AI energy surge is reshaping the global electricity landscape, presenting both opportunities and challenges. As data centers become the new powerhouses of the digital age, the demand for reliable and affordable electricity will only grow. The historical context of energy transitions underscores the importance of this moment, as countries with energy to spare are poised to dominate the AI landscape. The challenge lies in balancing the benefits of AI with its environmental impact, ensuring that the energy systems supporting AI are sustainable and equitable. Watch the video below that talks about data centers as massive resource users. This video is from Hammer It Out channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Microsoft scales back AI data center boom as China's DeepSeek upends the market. Sources include: ClimateDepot.com JoanneNova.com.au Brighteon.com Elon Musk steps down from government efficiency role as special employee term ends Elon Musk has officially stepped down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), concluding his 130-day term as a special government employee under President Donald Trump. Established by Trump on Jan. 20, DOGE is a temporary, cross-agency task force aimed at eliminating government inefficiencies, waste, fraud and overspending. It is scheduled to dissolve on July 4, 2026. Musk became the public face of DOGE, earning praise from Trump but facing backlash from Democrats and activists. His endorsement of Trump and involvement with DOGE sparked political controversy and affected Teslas stock. Both Musk and Trump had publicly acknowledged that the role was temporary. Musk stated in interviews and during a Tesla earnings call that his mission would largely be complete by late spring and his focus would return to his companies. Though stepping down from formal duties, Musk indicated he may continue to advise DOGE occasionally, dedicating one or two days per week to ensure the reforms he initiated are maintained. Elon Musk has announced that he is stepping down from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), marking the end of his temporary appointment as a special government employee under President Donald Trump. On Jan. 20, Musk began his tenure, following Trump's executive order establishing DOGE as a temporary, cross-departmental task force charged with rooting out government inefficiencies, overspending, corruption and fraud. DOGE is slated for dissolution on July 4, 2026, per the executive order. (Related: Trump's DOGE saves $1 BILLION daily.) Musk, known for his aggressive approach to cost-cutting and disruptive innovation, quickly became the face of the initiative. During his time with DOGE, Musk drew significant backlash from Democratic lawmakers and activist groups, some of whom organized boycotts and campaigns targeting his companies. Tesla stock has fluctuated amid the political turbulence, especially after Musk's high-profile endorsement of Trump following the failed assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, last July. Despite the firestorm, Musk remained a close ally of Trump throughout the campaign and into the new administration. Trump has repeatedly lauded Musk and his efforts, crediting the billionaire with helping to "slim down the bloat of bureaucracy." While Musk acted as the figurehead of DOGE, court documents in March clarified that he was not an official employee of the DOGE Service and did not report to its acting chief. His special employee status placed him outside traditional federal hierarchies, allowing him to influence policy without becoming enmeshed in bureaucratic structures. However, under the law, special government employees are only allowed to serve up to 130 days within 365 days. Musk's term concludes on May 30, the final day of his eligibility. Musk thanked Trump for the opportunity to serve. "As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President Trump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government," he posted on X Wednesday, May 28. The White House confirmed Musk's statement, adding that his off-boarding process began Wednesday night. Musk always viewed his DOGE mission as time-bound The departure of Musk from DOGE was long anticipated, with both the tech mogul and the president signaling for months that the arrangement was always intended to be temporary. In an April interview with Fox News' Bret Baier, Musk said he viewed his mission as time-bound. "I think we will have accomplished most of the work required to reduce the deficit by a trillion dollars within that time frame," Musk said when asked whether he would continue beyond the 130-day limit. Trump echoed the sentiment during a March 31 media availability, saying he respected that Musk needs to return to his business empire. "I think he's amazing. But I also think he's got a big company to run. And so at some point, he's going to be going back. I'd keep him as long as I can keep him. He's a very talented guy. You know, I love very smart people. He's very smart. And he's done a good job," the president said. Musk then reiterated this plan during the April 22 quarterly earnings call of Tesla. At the time, he disclosed that he planned to scale back his involvement with DOGE this May. "I'll have to continue doing it for, I think, the remainder of the president's term just to make sure the waste and fraud that we stopped does not come roaring back, which it will do if it has the chance. So I think I'll continue to spend, you know, a day or two per week on government matters for as long as the president would like me to do so and as long as it is useful," Musk said. He also emphasized that his priority was shifting back to Tesla and his other business ventures. "But starting next month, I'll be allocating far more of my time to Tesla now that the major work of establishing the Department of Government Efficiency is done." Visit BigGovernment.news for stories similar to this. Watch the video below that talks about Democrats freaking out over DOGE. This video is from the Son of the Republic channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Musk's DOGE cancels 180 federal contracts, saves $2.6 billion. DOGE targets IRS in sweeping government efficiency push. Second Trump admin's DOGE will DEFUND Planned Parenthood. Musk's DOGE cancels 180 federal contracts, saves $2.6 billion. Texas legislature adopts "DOGE" model to tackle government efficiency. Sources include: RT.com FoxNews.com Brighteon.com Gaza faces catastrophic medical shortages as WHO warns of stock zero crisis The WHO reports that Gaza's healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, with 64 percent of medical equipment, 43 percent of essential medicines and 42 percent of vaccines completely depleted. Hospitals lack basic supplies such as anesthesia, IV fluids and antibiotics. Health workers are operating in dire conditions with mounting patient needs and minimal resources. Despite the severity of the crisis, 51 WHO aid trucks remain stalled at Gaza's border, unable to enter due to a lack of clearance, following an 11-week Israeli blockade. WHO will not participate in the U.S.-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) initiative, citing concerns about neutrality, impartiality and independence. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher condemned the GHF approach, saying it risks worsening the crisis by tying aid to political and military goals and failing to reach all affected areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm over the rapidly deteriorating health conditions in the Gaza Strip, reporting that most medical equipment stocks in the region have been exhausted, with critical shortages in essential medicines and vaccines. According to the WHO report, the healthcare system in Gaza is now on the brink of collapse. Hospitals are struggling to operate without basic supplies, while health workers face mounting pressure to treat patients in extreme and often dangerous conditions. (Related: Gaza humanitarian crisis deepens despite ceasefire agreement.) The humanitarian crisis has escalated sharply amid an ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has gripped the region since October 2023. After an 11-week blockade, Israel allowed 100 aid trucks into Gaza on May 21, carrying flour, baby food and some medical supplies. However, none of that aid came from the WHO. Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, told reporters on Monday, May 26, in Geneva that nearly two-thirds of Gaza's medical equipment has run out, alongside 43 percent of essential medicines and 42 percent of vaccines. "We are at stock zero of close to 64 percent of medical equipment and stock zero of 43 percent of essential medicines and 42 percent of vaccines," Balkhy said. "Can you imagine a surgeon fixing a broken bone with no anesthesia? IV fluids, needles, bandages they do not exist in the quantities that are required," she said, noting that basic medications such as antibiotics, pain killers and drugs for chronic diseases were in short supply. Currently, 51 WHO trucks loaded with desperately needed medical aid are stalled at the Gaza border, still awaiting clearance to enter the besieged enclave. Balkhy then emphasized the severity of the shortages, noting that essential medicines such as antibiotics, pain relievers and treatments for chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension are becoming increasingly rare. WHO will not participate in the new U.S.-backed initiative to oversee aid distribution in Gaza Despite the ongoing and escalating healthcare conditions in Gaza, WHO clarified that it would not take part in the new U.S.-backed initiative to oversee aid distribution in the area. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), established in February in Switzerland, plans to begin operations in the enclave by the end of May. The foundation said it will implement a new model of aid delivery supported by private U.S. security and logistics contractors, UG Solutions and Safe Reach Solutions, at a time when traditional aid routes remain largely blocked amid ongoing conflict. A source familiar with the project said the GHF has already secured more than $100 million in funding, although the origins of the funding remain undisclosed. Acting U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Dorothy Shea recently told the Security Council that senior U.S. officials are working with Israel to enable the GHF's launch, urging UN agencies and NGOs to cooperate with the plan. However, UN officials are pushing back. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said the GHF initiative undermines impartiality and risks exacerbating the humanitarian crisis rather than resolving it. "It forces further displacement. It exposes thousands of people to harm. It restricts aid to only one part of Gaza while leaving other dire needs unmet. It makes aid conditional on political and military aims. It makes starvation a bargaining chip," Fletcher explained during the Security Council briefing. Head over to Humanitarian.news for related stories. Watch the video below that talks about trucks carrying humanitarian aid that have begun entering Gaza through the Rafah crossing. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Israeli leader calls for another DRESDEN & HIROSHIMA in Gaza: "Annihilate Gaza now!" War on Gaza: Israeli commander behind aid worker killings had demanded 'siege' of Gaza. If October 7 justifies the Gaza genocide, what acts of violence will the Gaza genocide justify? MIGRANT INVASION: "Large influx" of Gaza refugees coming Germany as Israel bombs them out of Gaza. Israel's U.S.-backed Gaza aid plan sparks global backlash. Sources include: JPost.com ChannelNewsAsia.com Reuters.com Brighteon.com Gov. Greg Abbott signs law that requires age verification, parental consent for app downloads Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the App Store Accountability Act on May 27, requiring tech companies like Apple and Google to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent for minors before allowing app downloads. The law takes effect in January 2026. The legislation responds to alarming mental health trends among American youth, with over half of teens reporting serious psychological struggles linked to excessive screen time and social media use. The law mandates age verification (using IDs or facial scans), parental account linkage for minors, accurate age-based app ratings and strict data privacy protections, including deletion of verification data and enhanced security. Apple and Google argue the law risks user privacy and could violate free speech by requiring all users, not just minors, to submit sensitive data. They advocate for less invasive, shared responsibility solutions. Apple plans to introduce an "age assurance" feature to share age ranges with developers without collecting sensitive documents. Both companies support legislation, but stress it must target social media harms while preserving user rights. Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a law that requires tech giants like Apple and Google to verify users' ages before allowing downloads from their app stores, amid mounting evidence of a mental health crisis among American youth fueled by the unchecked influence of digital devices and social media. According to recent data, 56 percent of teens aged 13-17 score in the struggling range on mental health assessments nearly triple the rate for adults. Fifty-one percent of American children report feeling detached from reality, with constant sadness, guilt and anxiety disrupting daily life. Meanwhile, younger teens (13-year-olds) exhibit alarming rates of anger, aggression and even hallucinations compared to older peers. The Facebook Files exposed how tech giants deliberately addict young users, harvesting their data while ignoring the psychological toll. Screen time has surged kids aged 8 to 12 spend four to six hours daily on screens; teens log up to nine hours nearly a full-time job; 95 percent of teens now own smartphones, up from 73 percent a decade ago; and nearly half (46 percent) are online "almost constantly," double the rate in 2014-2015. In line with this, the Texas App Store Accountability Act, signed into law on May 27 and set to take effect in January 2026, mandates app stores confirm users likely through government-issued IDs or facial scans and obtain parental consent for minors. The law, sponsored by Sen. Angela Paxton (SB 2420) and Rep. Caroline Fairly (HB 4901), seeks to address the digital harms facing children by placing greater responsibility on app store operators the primary gatekeepers of online content. Central to the bill is a requirement for robust age verification, with users categorized into specific age groups: child (under 13), younger teenager (13-16), older teenager (16-18) and adult. (Related: Utah introduces new digital ID blockchain law.) To ensure parental oversight, the legislation mandates that minors' accounts be affiliated with a parent or guardian, who must provide consent before any app downloads or in-app purchases are allowed. Additionally, app developers would be required to display accurate age ratings aligned with these new categories, promoting clearer guidance for families. The bill also includes strong data privacy measures, such as minimizing the collection of personal data, deleting age verification information once it is no longer needed and implementing enhanced security standards. To enforce compliance, the act designates any violations as deceptive trade practices, giving the Texas Attorney General authority to hold companies accountable. Tech giants push back on Texas age verification law, citing privacy and free speech concerns Major tech companies, including Apple and Google, warned that the legislation could compromise user privacy and infringe on free speech. "We believe there are better proposals that help keep kids safe without requiring millions of people to turn over their personal information," an Apple spokesperson said. The company contends that the legislation would force all users, not just minors, to submit sensitive personal data, such as a government-issued ID or facial scans, even for innocuous downloads like weather or calendar apps. Parental control features would also require guardians to provide additional documentation to verify custody. Both Apple and Google have advocated for more balanced alternatives. One proposal involves shared responsibility between app stores and app developers for managing age verification, with age data shared only on a need-to-know basis. Apple, for example, says it is preparing to roll out a new "age assurance" feature that would allow parents to share their child's age range with developers directly. This approach, the company says, avoids the need for app stores to collect and retain highly sensitive personal data like passports or driver's licenses. "If enacted, app marketplaces will be required to collect and keep sensitive personal identifying information for every Texan who wants to download an app," the company stated. Google senior policy executive Kareem Ghanem echoed a similar stance. "We see a role for legislation here," he said. "It's just got to be done in the right way, and it's got to hold the feet of Mark Zuckerberg and the social media companies to the fire because it's the harms to kids and teens on those sites that's really inspired people to take a closer look here and see how we can all do better." Visit PrivacyWatch.news for more stories like this. Watch this video to learn how the digital ID will control your life. This video is from the Data Dumper channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Digital ID system incoming: Nebraska now collecting citizens' digital health data. Australia following Communist China's footsteps with digital ID system. California expands digital ID initiatives with new pilots and partnerships. Scotland's digital ID system sparks "Big Brother" fears amid privacy backlash. One state's collection of health data sparks privacy and digital ID concerns. Sources include: ReclaimtheNet.org TexasPolicy.com CNN.com Brighteon.com Christian employee sues Generac after getting fired for refusing to use transgender colleagues pronouns Spencer Wimmer, a former employee of Generac Power Systems, filed an EEOC complaint alleging he was fired for refusing to use a transgender colleague's preferred pronouns due to his Christian beliefs, violating Title VII protections. Wimmer requested a religious exemption but was denied by HR and supervisors, who equated pronouns to nicknames and issued a disciplinary warning threatening termination for noncompliance. Feeling pressured to choose between his faith and job, Wimmer resigned but later sought to retract it after learning of potential legal protections. Generac rejected his reversal and terminated him immediately. The case may test the Supreme Court's Groff v. DeJoy (2023) ruling, which reinforced employers duty to accommodate religious practices unless they cause "undue hardship." Wimmer and his attorneys argue that Generac prioritized gender identity policies over religious freedom, refusing any compromise despite his willingness to maintain professionalism. The complaint demands an EEOC investigation into the alleged discrimination. A Wisconsin man has filed a religious discrimination complaint against his former employer, alleging he was fired for refusing to use a transgender colleague's preferred name and pronouns due to his Christian beliefs. Spencer Wimmer, who worked at Generac Power Systems, Inc. for nearly five years, claims the company violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by denying his request for religious accommodation and ultimately terminating him. The complaint, filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) this May with assistance from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL), accuses Generac of religious bias. Wimmer asserts that he sought an exemption from using a transgender employee's preferred pronouns, citing his faith, but was denied by human resources and his supervisor. According to the complaint, Generac issued him a disciplinary warning, stating that failure to comply with pronoun usage could result in termination. A Human Resources department representative allegedly dismissed Wimmer's religious objections, comparing preferred pronouns to using a nickname like "Lizzy" for "Elizabeth." Feeling pressured to choose between his job and his faith, Wimmer resigned on March 31, only to later learn he might have legal protections. When he attempted to rescind his resignation on April 2, Generac reportedly denied his request and terminated him on the spot. "Generac's bias and hostility toward Mr. Wimmer's religious beliefs including the company's discipline, harassment, denial of a reasonable accommodation and ultimate termination of Mr. Wimmer constitute religious discrimination under Title VII," the complaint concluded, requesting that EEOC open a formal investigation into the matter. (Related: Using the "wrong pronoun" in reference to transgenders an act of "violence," claims Rhode Island official.) Employers have become fixated on identity politics in the workplace, WILL attorney says In an interview with Fox News Digital, Cara Tolliver, an attorney with WILL, claimed that the case could test the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling in Groff v. DeJoy, which strengthened employers' obligation to accommodate religious practices unless they cause "undue hardship." "Employers, I think, have kind of become seemingly fixated on a lot of identity politics in the workplace, including the topic of gender identity," Tolliver said. "But it's crucial to keep in mind that even where Title VII may provide some protection to employees against workplace discrimination and harassment on the basis of a gender identity, this does not supersede or eliminate Title VII protections against religious discrimination and the fact that religious discrimination is illegal." Wimmer echoed a similar statement and insisted that he "never asked Generac to choose between me and this other individual." "There was absolutely a way for us to work together and have a compromise where we continue to have a professional environment," he said. "Unfortunately, there are individuals and there are organizations and structures in place that won't let you have compromise. The fact that you have these beliefs is unacceptable to them. So, no amount of compromise is possible." Visit GayMafia.news for more similar stories. Watch this video explaining why the gay agenda is destroying the world. This video is from the EARTH SHAKING NEWS channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: PRONOUN POLICE: U.K. government's business department tells civil servants to check their colleagues' pronouns. Social Justice Warriors want students to wear name tags that describe their "preferred gender pronoun." Biden's woke Navy now training sailors to create proper pronoun 'safe spaces' as Russia, China laugh. The English language is collapsing into "Idiocracy" gobbledygook on liberal college campuses as "gender pronoun" lunacy kicks into overdrive. Sources include: Infowars.com ChristianPost.com FoxNews.com Brighteon.com In the shadow of dissent: DIA insiders leak plot exposes deepening security challenges Pentagon IT specialist charged for alleged leak to foreign government amid Trump dissent. Arrested DIA employees actions highlight susceptibility to insider threats. FBI sting operation recovered documents hidden in socks, lunchbox and a thumb drive. Case adds to string of leaks, including Airmans discord postings and Pentagon workers Mexico trip. FBI warns of rising ideological risks in national security ranks. A Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) employee, Nathan Vilas Laatsch, 28, was arrested Thursday after allegedly attempting to provide classified U.S. national security information to a foreign government tied to his anti-Trump rhetoric, according to Department of Justice (DOJ) warrants. Laatsch, an IT specialist in the DIAs Insider Threat Division since 2019, faces charges of illegally transmitting defense secrets, marked as Secret and Top Secret, during a months-long undercover operation that detailed his ideological disdain for the Trump administration. The recent actions of the current administration are extremely disturbing to me, Laatsch reportedly wrote in an intercepted email to what he believed was a foreign representative. I do not agree or align with the values of this administration and intend to act to support the values that the United States at one time stood for. Leaks rooted in ideological clash The case underscores a growing concern among national security experts: the overlap between personal politics and access to top-tier secrets. Laatsch, tasked with monitoring colleagues for potential threats, allegedly began transcribing classified documents onto a notepad in March before concealing them in his socks and lunchbox for removal from the facility. Over weeks, undercover FBI agents posing as foreign officials negotiated his disclosures, culminating in a May 1 drop-off of a thumb drive at a public park in Northern Virginia. Federal prosecutors painted Laatschs motive as a blend of ideological rejection and personal grievance. This declaration of political difference goes beyond mere disagreement; it evidences intent to undermine U.S. interests, Special Agent Matthew T. Johnson wrote in his affidavit. Laatsch later expressed hope to secure citizenship in the foreign country, stating that things here to improve in the long term were unlikely. Sting operation uncovers tactical weaknesses The FBIs sting, launched after a tip in March, leveraged undercover agents to engage Laatsch in detailed discussions about his ideological grievances. Over emails, he elaborated on his belief that the Trump administration had abandoned foundational democratic values, framing his leak as a form of civic action. The calculus has not changed despite the risks, Laatsch allegedly wrote. The recovery of the thumb drive, containing sensitive intelligence on defense systems and global conflicts, came as part of a May 29 sting near his home. Authorities stressed that the foreign recipient was a longstanding U.S. ally, complicating the narrative of a hostile attack. The DIA declined to comment on specific safeguards preceding Laatschs recruitment into its Insider Threat corps. Context and consequences: A pattern of polarized leaks Laatschs case follows a troubling run of similar breaches. In 2023, Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira leaked hundreds of classified documents to the Discord platform, detailing Ukraine war tactics and triggering a 15-year sentence. Pentagon employee Gokhan Gun also faced charges last summer for attempting to flee to Mexico with Top Secret material. These incidents, combined with Laatschs ideological focus, have spurred calls for stricter vetting and monitoring of cleared personnel. The problem isnt just Chinese moles or Russian agents, said a senior national security official on condition of anonymity. The people most trusted to protect our secrets are sometimes the most vulnerable to their own biases. Balancing dissent and national security: A new normal FBI Director Kash Patel called the Laatsch investigation a critical win in combating insider threats but acknowledged systemic challenges. Political polarization has created fertile ground for individuals to mistake unfettered access for a mandate to judge policy, Patel stated on X. The line between free speech and treason is a narrow one when national secrets are at stake. As the case moves to court, the legal debate will hinge on whether Laatschs grievances meet the legal threshold for Espionage Act violationsa standard that has been invoked sparingly due to First Amendment concerns. Legal analysts caution that overzealous prosecution risks* chilling dissent among civil servants. Meanwhile, the DIA has launched a review of its employee screening protocols after learning an insider threat officer became the threat itself. A crossroads for national security ethics The arrest of Nathan Laatsch reframes debates about oversight, loyalty and reliance on human judgment within intelligence networks. While the case may become a precedent for confronting ideological leaks, it also expose flaws in trusting individuals to compartmentalize personal politics from vital national responsibilities. As tensions over executive policies escalate, Washington faces a stark choice: allocate more resources to monitor cleared personnel or risk repeating breaches that could redefine public trust in the security state. Sources for this article include: RT.com Yahoo.com BigNewsNetwork.com Hong Kong seeks to attract international students displaced by U.S. visa crackdown The U.S. revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students, citing alleged antisemitism, pro-Hamas sympathies and collaboration with China, impacting nearly 6,800 international students. Hong Kong urged its universities to assist affected Harvard students, offering streamlined admissions and support to attract global talent and reinforce its role as an education hub. Hong Kong universities like the University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology announced unconditional offers, fast-tracked admissions, and academic support for displaced Harvard students. Meanwhile, Ireland launched a program to attract researchers unsettled by U.S. visa restrictions, targeting fields like AI, semiconductors and healthcare to bolster academic and scientific sectors. Both Hong Kong and Ireland are capitalizing on U.S. policy changes to position themselves as alternatives for displaced students and researchers, emphasizing academic freedom and talent retention. The Hong Kong Education Bureau (EDB) has urged local universities to "open their doors and attract talent," following the Trump administration's abrupt revocation of Harvard University's ability to enroll foreign students. On May 22, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stripped Harvard of its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification due to alleged antisemitism and collaboration with the Chinese Communist Party. The revocation, set to take effect from the 2025-2026 academic year, leaves current international students with a stark choice: Transfer to another SEVP-certified institution or risk losing their legal status in the United States. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed Harvard failed to comply with federal demands for records related to its international student population. She then accused the university of fostering an "unsafe campus environment hostile to Jewish students, promoting pro-Hamas sympathies and employing racist 'diversity, equity and inclusion' policies." While students graduating this semester will be allowed to complete their studies, others must now seek alternative options unless the decision is overturned by a court. This directly impacts nearly 6,800 foreign students. As a response, the EDB reached out to universities in the Chinese special administrative region to facilitate admissions for eligible students, including those holding Harvard offers. (Related: Harvard University refuses to comply with Trump admin's demands to combat campus antisemitism.) "The [EDB] has promptly called on all universities in Hong Kong to introduce facilitation measures for those eligible with a view to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of students and scholars, and to attract top talent," the bureau wrote in an email. The bureau also contacted the Harvard Club of Hong Kong to offer support for admitted students, pledging to monitor the situation as global education policies shift. Ireland to launch global talent initiative to attract researchers amid U.S. visa restrictions Hong Kong, home to five top-100 universities in the Times Higher Education rankings, aims to reinforce its role as an "international education hub." The EDB continued that it "will continue to keep a close eye on the needs of students whose studies have been affected by the shifting global education landscape." The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have already responded. HKUST announced on May 23 that it would welcome Harvard undergraduates, postgraduates and admitted students with unconditional offers, streamlined procedures and academic support. "HKUST will provide unconditional offers, streamlined admission procedures and academic support to facilitate a seamless transition for interested students," the university said. Similarly, Ireland is launching a global talent initiative to attract researchers and academics unsettled by U.S. visa restrictions and funding cuts. Earlier in May, Ireland's higher education minister James Lawless secured government approval for a new program aimed at attracting early-career and established researchers to Irish institutions. The initiative, developed in partnership with Research Ireland, will focus on critical fields such as energy security, healthcare, life sciences, digital technologies and AI, food security, cyber security, semiconductors and quantum technologies. "In a time of uncertainty for the scientific community, Ireland remains firmly committed to investing in scientific excellence and upholding the core values of academic integrity and independence," Lawless said in a press release. "We are committed to supporting Irish researchers at home and also to welcoming exceptional global talent who might now be questioning where theyll be able to further their work." Head over to EducationSystem.news for more similar stories. Watch this clip about colleges facing backlash and potentially losing funding over allegations of antisemitism on campus. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: DHS cuts $2.7M in Harvard funding over antisemitism failures, left-wing indoctrination. Harvard adopts controversial IHRA antisemitism definition to block debate over Israel's genocidal actions in Gaza. Trump administration SUSPENDS federal grants to Princeton University amid antisemitism probe. Sources include: MiddleEastEye.net EconomicTimes.com 1 EconomicTimes.com 2 Brighteon.com Massachusetts considers controversial bill to curb car usage amid climate concerns Massachusetts Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem (D-MA) introduced Bill S. 2246 to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by promoting alternative transportation options like public transit, biking and walking, aiming to minimize reliance on personal vehicles. The bill proposes creating a commission to develop strategies for decreasing VMT, with the Department of Transportation (USDOT) setting statewide reduction targets for 2030 and every fifth year thereafter, integrating these goals into the state's climate plans. The bill grants the USDOT the power to implement measures, including rules and regulations, to create an equitable and reliable network of non-personal vehicle transportation options, emphasizing the development of walkable neighborhoods and affordable transportation alternatives. The proposal faces criticism from groups like the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, which argues it could impose undue burdens and track mileage with potential fines. Sen. Michael Barrett expresses skepticism about the bill's complexity and potential bias against rural areas with limited transit options. Senate Majority Leader Cynthia Stone Creem (D-MA) has introduced a bill aimed at reducing the number of miles residents drive in their cars. The proposed legislation, which seeks to "reduce the need for personal vehicles," has sparked intense debate across the state. Introduced earlier this year, the bill has garnered attention for its ambitious goals and potential impact on residents' daily lives. Creem's bill, known as Bill S. 2246, proposes the creation of a commission tasked with developing strategies to decrease vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in Massachusetts. The commission's ultimate goal is to minimize the reliance on personal vehicles by promoting alternative transportation options such as public transit, biking and walking. The bill outlines a framework for achieving these objectives, including the potential for fines for excessive driving and incentives for adopting "greener transportation methods." The bill includes provisions that would require metropolitan planning organizations and the state department to ensure that transportation plans and programs align with greenhouse gas emissions limits and VMT reduction goals. According to Section 81 of the bill, the secretary of the Department of Transportation must set statewide VMT reduction targets for 2030 and every fifth year thereafter. These targets will be integrated into the state's broader climate goals and roadmap plans. The bill grants the department the authority to promulgate rules and regulations to implement these measures. This includes assessing strategies to create an "equitable, interconnected and reliable network of non-personal vehicle transportation options." The plan also emphasizes the development of compact, walkable neighborhoods and the advancement of affordable transportation alternatives. Challenges and criticisms The proposal has not been without its share of critics. The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance posted a video on May 23 criticizing Creem's bill, arguing that it would impose undue burdens on residents. The alliance's tweet highlighted the potential for the bill to track mileage and impose fines on those who exceed certain limits, framing it as an example of "extreme, out-of-touch policymaking." At a hearing last week, Sen. Michael Barrett (D-MA), Senate co-chair of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee, expressed skepticism about the bill. He questioned whether the state was layering too many initiatives on top of each other, potentially complicating rather than clarifying the steps needed to achieve climate goals. Barrett also pointed out the unintended bias against rural Massachusetts, where transit options are limited and people often live far from their workplaces. The Old Bay State has been a leader in climate policy, with ambitious goals to reduce emissions and transition to renewable energy. However, the state faces challenges in implementing these policies, particularly in rural areas where transportation options are limited. In 2008, the state passed the Global Warming Solutions Act, which set binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The current bill builds on these efforts, aiming to further reduce emissions by addressing the transportation sector, which was deemed the largest source of emissions in the state. Public response to the bill has been mixed. While some residents support the goals of the legislation, others are concerned about the potential impact on their daily lives. The bill has sparked discussions about the trade-offs between environmental sustainability and personal freedom. The proposal to reduce vehicle miles traveled is a bold step that reflects the urgency of the climate crisis. However, it also raises important questions about the balance between environmental goals and the needs of residents. (Related: Insane EU emissions proposal would require people to buy new cars instead of maintaining existing ones.) Watch the Environmental Protection Agency chief telling climate-crazed Democrats that he refuses to waste tax dollars on "climate alarmism" measures. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Study: EV owners have BIGGER CARBON FOOTPRINTS than traditional car owners. Study finds electric vehicles pollute the environment 1,850 times more than gas-powered cars. EPA sets strict and unattainable emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks and buses to "combat climate change." Sources include: ClimateDepot.com X.com TheGatewayPundit.com Brighteon.com Trump administration suspends student visas amid crackdown on pro-Palestinian activism The Trump administration has ordered a temporary halt on new student and exchange visa applications to implement stricter social media vetting, particularly targeting pro-Palestinian activism. Secretary Marco Rubio confirmed the revocation of "thousands" of student visas, citing an obscure law allowing exclusions based on U.S. foreign policy interests, with a focus on pro-Palestinian protesters. The administration has framed pro-Palestinian demonstrations as "antisemitic" and "disruptive," justifying visa cancellations for students involved in peaceful activism, including divestment campaigns. Despite claims of supporting free speech, the policy contradicts these principles by penalizing students for political expression, raising concerns about authoritarian censorship. Previous attempts to revoke visas for thousands of international students faced legal challenges and public opposition, highlighting the controversial nature of these measures. The Trump administration has ordered a temporary suspension of student visa processing to scrutinize international students' social media activity, particularly those advocating for Palestinian liberation. According to the internal cable, issued on May 27 and signed by State Department Secretary Marco Rubio, U.S. embassies and consulates must halt all new student and exchange visa appointments pending further guidance on enhanced social media vetting. The cable also states that the department intends to implement stricter social media vetting for all such applications. While the suspension may be temporary, with new guidance expected in the "coming days," U.S. missions already face significant backlogs in processing visas. "The Department is conducting a review of existing operations and processes for screening and vetting of student and exchange visitor visa applicants and plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting for all such applicants," the cable stated. Additionally, the policy follows a series of aggressive measures against foreign students, including the revocation of hundreds of visas many from individuals engaged in pro-Palestinian activism. "We take very seriously the process of vetting who it is that comes into the country: It's a goal, as stated by the president and Secretary Rubio, to make sure that people who are here understand what the law is, that they don't have any criminal intent, that they are going to be contributors to the experience here, however short or long their status," spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said. Rubio revokes thousands of student visas amid pro-Palestine protests The Trump administration has increasingly framed campus protests against Israels military actions in Gaza as "antisemitic," leveraging visa restrictions to penalize students involved in such demonstrations. Last week, Rubio confirmed that his office has revoked "thousands" of visas since Trump took office in January, citing an obscure law allowing the State Department to exclude foreigners deemed contrary to U.S. foreign policy interests. (Related: Rubio: State Department has REVOKED over 300 visas of foreign students.) "I don't know the latest count, but we probably have more to do," Rubio said. "We're going to continue to revoke the visas of people who are here as guests and are disrupting our higher education facilities." The estimate represents a dramatic increase from late March, when Rubio said visa cancellations stood at 300. This latest move targets international students who have participated in or supported campus demonstrations advocating for Palestinian liberation, including demands for universities to divest from Israel. Widespread student protests are ongoing and escalating across U.S. campuses, where encampments and rallies have pressured schools to cut financial ties with Israel and condemn its military campaign in Gaza. The Trump administration has framed these demonstrations as disruptive and aligned with "radical left-wing" activism. Head over to EducationSystem.news for more similar stories. Watch this clip about colleges facing backlash and potentially losing funding over allegations of antisemitism on campus. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump Administration targets pro-Palestine activist for DEPORTATION, citing "foreign policy threat" in free speech crackdown. Jewish students endangered not because of anti-Israel protests, but because of police involvement and third-party doxing of participants. Arrest of a Columbia University graduate participating in campus protests against Israel ignites widespread outrage online. Zionist groups urge Trump to prioritize deportation of foreign students involved in anti-Israel protests. Pro-Palestine protesters burned American flag during Gaza solidarity march on Independence Day. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com LeMonde.fr Brighteon.com Like many tech giants, Apple is investing in artificial intelligence (AI), and it's developing its exclusive brand, Apple Intelligence, that offers a premium experience as part of the Apple package. Management expects AI to be an important growth driver for the next generation of Apple products. Investors have been worried about how tariffs will impact Apple's business, because iPhones are largely made in China, but management is working on long-term efforts to move more of its production to other countries to mitigate the impact of that part of the trade war. Apple fans love its user-friendly, innovative, and tech-strong products, and it has created an ecosystem of devices and services that work together, generating loyalty and additional sales. Shoppers typically upgrade over time to newer versions of their favorite products, keeping them in the ecosystem. Buffett only started a position in Apple in 2016, but it quickly moved into the top spot in the portfolio, reaching about 50% before Buffett and his team started selling some of it off last year. It now takes up a more reasonable amount of space, but it's still the largest position. Buffett said that Apple is an even better business than his perennial favorites, Coca-Cola and American Express, and he jested that CEO Tim Cook has made Berkshire Hathaway a lot more money than he ever has. Its top three holdings -- Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), American Express (NYSE: AXP), and Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) -- all do, and together, they account for almost half of the portfolio. Let's consider what makes them such winners by Buffett's standards. One feature Buffett loves in a stock is a dividend . Paying dividends suggests a company is mature, stable, and committed to rewarding shareholders -- all attributes that reinforce an investment thesis. Not all of the stocks in Berkshire Hathaway's $276 billion equity portfolio pay dividends, but most do. When Warren Buffett steps down as the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway at the end of this year, he will leave behind a legacy as perhaps the greatest investor of his time. As of the end of 2024, Berkshire Hathaway stock had gained an astounding 5,502,284% since Buffett took it over, and one way he turned it into a trillion-dollar company was by investing not in hot growth stocks, but strong value stocks. Apple has developed an ecosystem of tech devices that its customers love and are willing to trade up to have. Story continues Apple's dividend doesn't have a particularly high yield -- at 0.5%, it's well below the average yield for the S&P 500. However, management has been hiking the payout slowly and steadily every year for more than a decade, demonstrating its commitment to rewarding shareholders. American Express: 15.9% of the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio Buffett loves financial stocks, but American Express is his favorite. He appreciates its global brand and excellent management, and he tends to favor companies with varied earnings streams. As a bank that targets more prosperous individuals and small businesses, as well as a credit card network with fee-paying customers, American Express has several levers it can push to make money, and its excellent reputation and premium products attract affluent consumers whose finances tend to be more resilient even when the broader economy is under pressure. It has successfully captured a younger cohort of consumers who are driving its growth today and represent its future potential. Millennials and Gen Z customers accounted for 35% of its total U.S. consumer services billed business in the first quarter, and sales from that cohort increased by 14%, in comparison with a 7% overall gain. American Express continues to generate robust sales growth despite the challenging macroeconomic environment. Sales rose 8% year over year in the first quarter (on a currency-neutral basis) and earnings per share (EPS) rose 9% to $3.64. Delinquency ratios have stayed at 1.3%, with net write-offs at 2.1%.CEO Stephen Squeri credited that to the company's stellar risk management, which it has developed over its 150 years of operation, and its high-quality customers. American Express' dividend yields 1% at the current share price, and it's growing and reliable. Coca-Cola: 10.2% of the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio Coca-Cola stock is currently the longest-tenured holding in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio, and it's crushing the market this year. Investors consider it a safe stock because the company sells some of the world's favorite beverages, and people will continue to drink them even in times of economic uncertainty. With a portfolio of about 200 brands, it has something for everyone, although its core Coke-branded franchises drive its high sales. It has demonstrated strength over the past few years despite economic volatility, and after restructuring and slashing the brand portfolio from about 400 brands pre-pandemic, it has become more efficient and agile, and better able to weather the current storms. One factor that particularly favors Coca-Cola this year is that it has limited exposure to tariffs. Most of its products are produced and bottled in or near the countries in which they are sold, so it doesn't rely as much on imports or exports. CEO James Quincey said that the impact of new tariffs would be minimal and that the company has many ways to offset those higher costs. This is how investors can test the company's resilience, and it's a manifestation of what Buffett has long praised it for. The dividend is a major part of that, too. Coca-Cola is a Dividend King with 63 years of consecutive payout increases, a streak that's hard to top. At the current share price, the dividend yields 2.7% -- more than double the S&P 500's average yield. Coca-Cola isn't a growth stock, but it offers incredible value, reliable passive income, and protection for challenging times. Should you invest $1,000 in Apple right now? Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Apple wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $638,985!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $853,108!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 978% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Dont miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Jennifer Saibil has positions in American Express and Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 47% of Berkshire Hathaway's $276 Billion Warren Buffett-Led Portfolio Is Invested in 3 Dividend Stocks was originally published by The Motley Fool State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code Due to scheduled maintenance from Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 PM to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2 AM, there may be interruptions for our News Gazette Digital subscribers. During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance. A phase II clinical trial led by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology has met its primary endpoint, demonstrating that the combination of avelumab and cetuximab improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared to avelumab alone in patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). The results, presented as an oral abstract at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, suggest a promising new approach for patients with this aggressive form of skin cancer. These results show that combining immune checkpoint inhibition targeting the PD-1: PD-L1 pathway with avelumab plus EGFR-targeted IgG1 monoclonal antibody cetuximab can provide meaningful clinical benefit compared to avelumab alone for patients with advanced cSCC. It opens the door to future research and new strategies for improving outcomes in this difficult disease." Dan Zandberg, MD, principal investigator and Director of Head and Neck and Thyroid Cancer Disease Sections at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common cancers in the United States, with approximately 700,000 to 1 million new cases diagnosed annually. While most cases are treatable, over 12,500 cases progress to nodal or distant metastases each year, contributing to an estimated 2,000 to 8,000 deaths annually. Approved immune checkpoint inhibitors, cemiplimab and pembrolizumab have advanced the treatment landscape, but many patients still experience disease progression. Preclinical research suggests that combining blockade of the PD-1: PD-L1 pathway plus an IgG1 monoclonal antibody like cetuximab, which targets EGFR and activates innate immunity via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), may create a synergistic effect. The trial (Alliance A091802) was designed to evaluate whether this dual mechanism could improve PFS. Patients were randomized to one of two groups: avelumab monotherapy every two weeks or combination of avelumab plus cetuximab, also given every two weeks. Patients progressing on avelumab alone were allowed to cross over to combination therapy, allowing for evaluation of efficacy in both frontline and immunotherapy refractory settings. From 2019 to 2023, the study enrolled 60 patients with advanced cSCC in the United States; 57 were evaluable. The median age of participants was 72 years. The majority were white (96.5%), and male (91.2%), all patients were HIV-negative, and 75.4% expressed PD-L1. Most tumors (84.2%) originated in the head or neck region, and 47.1% of patients had distant metastases. Baseline characteristics were balanced across treatment groups, and the randomization was stratified by PD-L1 status. The combination of avelumab and cetuximab significantly improved the primary endpoint of PFS compared to avelumab alone. The median PFS was 11.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.6not reached [NR]) in the avelumab plus cetuximab group compared to 3.0 months (95% CI: 2.7-13.6) in the avelumab alone group, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.48 (95% CI: 0.230.97, p = 0.018). Nine patients in the avelumab monotherapy arm crossed over to the avelumab plus cetuximab group and the median PFS after crossover was 11.3 months (5.8-NR). The median overall survival (OS) of the avelumab plus cetuximab group was not reached (25.2NR) compared to the avelumab group which was 35.8 mo (18.6NR) HR 0.78 (0.341.80) p = 0.279 The confirmed objective response rate (ORR) was 27.6.% in the avelumab and cetuximab group and 21.4% in the avelumab alone group. Side effects related to treatment occurred in 93% of patients who received avelumab plus cetuximab; and in 78.6% of those who received avelumab. More serious side effects (grade 3 or higher) were seen in 48.3% of patients receiving avelumab plus cetuximab, and in 21.5% of those receiving avelumab treatment. The most common serious side effects in the combination group were rash (20.7%) and infusion related reactions (20.7%). There were no deaths related to treatment or unexpected toxicity. Alliance A091802 is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and is being led and conducted by the NCI-funded Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology with participation from the NCI-funded national clinical trials network (NCTN) as part of a collaboration with EMD Serono, a business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, who provided avelumab and trial support. To learn more about the study, visit ClinicalTrials.gov. [Support by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers U10CA180821 and U10CA180882 (to the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology); U24CA196171; U10CA180868 (NRG Oncology); U10CA180888 (SWOG); and EMD Serono, a business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany] Scientists have documented the way a single gene in the bacterium that causes bubonic plague, Yersinia pestis, allowed it to survive hundreds of years by adjusting its virulence and the length of time it took to kill its victims, but these forms of plague ultimately died out. A study by researchers at McMaster University and France's Institut Pasteur, published today in the journal Science, addresses some fundamental questions related to pandemics: how do they enter human populations, cause immense sickness, and evolve different levels of virulence to persist in populations? The Black Death remains the single deadliest pandemic in recorded human history, killing an estimated 30 to 50 per cent of the populations of Europe, Western Asia and Africa as it moved through those regions. Appearing in the 14th century, it re-emerged in waves over more than 500 years, persisting until 1840. The Black Death was caused by the same bacteria which caused Plague of Justinian, the first plague pandemic which had broken out in the mid-500s. The third plague pandemic began in China in 1855 and continues today. Its deadly effects are now more controlled by antibiotics but are still felt in regions like Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where cases are regularly reported. This is one of the first research studies to directly examine changes in an ancient pathogen, one we still see today, in an attempt to understand what drives the virulence, persistence and/or eventual extinction of pandemics." Hendrik Poinar, co-senior author of the study, director of the McMaster Ancient DNA Centre and holder of the Michael G. DeGroote Chair in Genetic Anthropology Strains of the Justinian plague became extinct after 300 years of ravaging European and Middle Eastern populations. Strains of the second pandemic emerged from infected rodent populations, causing the Black Death, before breaking into two major lineages. One of these two lineages is the ancestor of all present-day strains. The other re-emerged over centuries in Europe and ultimately went extinct by the early 19th century. Using hundreds of samples from ancient and modern plague victims, the team screened for a gene known as pla, a high copy component of Y. pestis which helps it move through the immune system undetected to the lymph nodes before spreading to the rest of the body. An extensive genetic analysis revealed that its copy number, or total number of pla genes found in the bacterium, had decreased in later outbreaks of the disease, which in turn decreased its mortality by 20 per cent and increased the length of its infection, meaning the hosts lived longer before they died. These studies were performed in mice models of bubonic plague. Conversely, when the pla gene was in its original, high copy number, the disease was much more virulent and killed each of its hosts and did so much quicker. The scientists also identified a striking similarity between the trajectories of modern and ancient strains, which independently evolved similar reductions in pla in the later stages of the first and second pandemic, and so far, in three samples from the third pandemic, found in Vietnam today. In both the Justinian and Black Death plagues, the evolutionary change occurred approximately 100 years after the first outbreaks. Scientists propose that when the gene copy number dropped and the infected rats lived longer, they could spread infection farther, ensuring the reproductive success of the pathogen. "The reduction of pla may reflect the changing size and density of rodent and human populations," explains Poinar. "It's important to remember that plague was an epidemic of rats, which were the drivers of epidemics and pandemics. Humans were accidental victims." Black rats in cities likely acted as "amplification hosts" due to their high numbers and proximity to humans. Because black rats are highly susceptible to Y. pestis, the pathogen needed rat populations to stay high enough to supply new hosts for Y. pestis to persist and allow the pandemic cycle to continue. However, the pla-reduced strains eventually went extinct, likely reflecting another shift in the host-pathogen relationship within their environment. When the researchers searched for signs of depletion in a large set of samples of the third pandemic preserved in a collection at the Institut Pasteur, they found three contemporary strains with pla depletion. "Thanks to our international collaborators who monitor local epidemics of plague worldwide, we were able to find the unique bacterial samples used for this project, akin to finding of three rare needles in a haystack," says Javier Pizarro-Cerda, co-senior author of the work, director of the Yersinia Research Unit and of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Plague at the Institut Pasteur. The institute houses one of the world's richest collections of modern Y. pestis isolates, adds Guillem Mas Fiol, co-lead author of the study and Postdoctoral researcher supervised by Pizarro-Cerda. "One of the most interesting aspects of our research was the possibility to explore a feature first observed in extinct plague strains, that could, for the first time, be experimentally tested in living contemporary bacterial strains," he says. "Although our research sheds light on an interesting pattern in the evolutionary history of plague, the majority of strains which continue to circulate today in Africa, South America and India are the more virulent ones, the ones that were previously responsible for massive mortality," says Ravneet Sidhu, co-lead author of the study, and PhD candidate at the McMaster Ancient DNA Centre. Apple stocks dropped after President Donald Trump threatened 'at least' 25% tariffs on foreign-made iPhones. Kevin Carter/Getty Images Apple is the worst-performing Magnificent Seven stock year-to-date by a large margin. Shares of the iPhone maker are down 20% in 2025, amid headwinds related to global trade and AI. Here's what Wall Street analysts and investors say about where the stock may be headed next. It's been a rough year for Apple. Shares of the iPhone maker were down 20% year-to-date through Thursday's close, making it the worst-performing Magnificent Seven stock in 2025. The only other stock in the mega-cap cohort that's down this year is Alphabet, which has lost about 9%. This embedded content is not available in your region. Analysts say the decline has been brought on by a whirlwind of factors outside the tech giant's control, like the trade war, but its plunge this year could be a buying opportunity for long-term investors. Angelo Zino, a senior equity strategist at CFRA Research, said investors are mainly fretting over the impact of tariffs. The vast majority of Apple's iPhones are assembled in China, which could leave the firm more exposed to the impact of price increases. President Donald Trump has also singled out Apple, calling for the company to make iPhones in the US or else pay a 25% tariff. While Trump's trade war hit legal stumbling blocks this week, the court battles add another layer of uncertainty to how the trade war could play out. Apple, Zino said, is uniquely exposed to trade headwinds. "Hardware is kind of in the middle, or in the eye of the storm, when it comes to the policy uncertainty, the tariff uncertainty that's sitting out there," Zino said, referring to how most tech hardware is manufactured abroad. James Demmert, the chief investment officer at Main Street Research, also thinks Apple's decline in the stock market this year is due to the company's lack of "game-changing" products. It was also late in implementing AI in its phones, and AI hasn't yet stimulated a boom in demand for iPhone upgrades. "In terms of a new creative, blockbuster device or applications, the future is still uncertain," Demmert told BI. But, overall, many are still optimistic about the tech titan's prospects and its ability to navigate the trade war. Here's what analysts and investors say about what's ahead for the stock and whether it's time to buy the dip. Goldman Sachs: Buy Apple stock looks attractive on the basis of historic price-to-earnings, Goldman Sachs said this month. The bank's analysts said big risks to the stock include weakening consumer demand, potential disruptions to Apple's supply chain, and the possibility that Apple will be under increased regulatory scrutiny in key markets. Tobacco-funded research is still appearing in highly-cited medical journals - despite attempts by some to cut ties altogether, finds an investigation by The Investigative Desk and The BMJ today. Although the tobacco industry has a long history of subverting science, most leading medical journals don't have policies which ban research wholly or partly funded by the industry. And even when publishers, authors and universities are willing to restrict tobacco industry ties, they struggle to identify funding sources because tobacco companies have funded front groups and have diversified into pharmaceutical and health technology fields. These investments include treatments for conditions caused or aggravated by smoking, such as lung cancer, heart disease, and asthma. These ties complicate ongoing efforts of researchers, scientific organisations and journals to distance themselves from the industry and has led to calls for journals to not only institute bans on research by tobacco companies but also on their subsidiaries. The Investigative Desk and The BMJ searched the PubMed database and found hundreds of relationships between Big Tobacco's medical and pharmaceutical subsidiaries and medical research. They also checked the tobacco policies of 10 leading general medical journals and 10 journals in each of the three therapeutic areas especially affected by smoking. Of those 40 journals, only 8 (20%) had policies prohibiting studies wholly or partly funded by the tobacco industry. Of the 10 journals in the field of respiratory medicine, six had a tobacco policy, but in oncology only one did, and in cardiology, none had one. Among the 10 general medicine journals, only The BMJ had such a policy. But even among the journals that have a policy, enforcement can be difficult when it involves subsidiaries or organisations associated with the tobacco companies. Last year, one of BMJ Group's titles, BMJ Open, retracted a paper after it became clear that the listed funder receives sponsorship from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, a group supported and fully funded by tobacco company Philip Morris International (PMI). Dutch researcher Wytse van den Bosch had a research grant from pharmaceutical company Vectura when the company was bought by PMI in 2021. Nevertheless, his study was still published in the European Respiratory Society (ERS) journal which said the research was not in breach of its policy as the grant from Vectura was initiated in 2018. Ruth Malone, professor of social behavioral sciences at the University of California and former editor-in-chief of BMJ Group's Tobacco Control journal, said that institutions, professionals and scientific journals should refuse involvement with the tobacco industry. Anyone who understands the history, extent and nature of the epidemic and the tobacco industry's strategic efforts to divide the public health community knows that industry money should be rejected." Ruth Malone, professor of social behavioral sciences, University of California Nicholas Hopkinson, professor of respiratory medicine at Imperial College London, notes that given the industry's "long-standing history of dishonesty" it is "very straightforward" that researchers should cut ties to companies after they are acquired by big tobacco, as otherwise they would be "working with the tobacco industry" and contribute to their profits. Today, BMJ also updates its 2013 tobacco policy. In addition to excluding research funded by the tobacco industry, BMJ journals will also exclude work where authors have personal financial ties to the tobacco industry. "The updated policy is one action BMJ journals can take to reduce the publication of content which downplays the harms of smoking or hinders the creation of a world free from the harms of smoking," explain editors. "Creating a stronger firewall between the tobacco industry and BMJ content will provide space for editors to curate and publish content that is more independent and trusted, and contributes to a healthier world." A large prospective, randomized clinical trial in patients with advanced breast cancer has found that the use of liquid biopsy blood tests for early detection of a treatment-resistance mutation, followed by a switch to a new type of treatment, substantially extends the period of tumor control compared to standard care. The SERENA-6 study, published June 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented concurrently at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology, was conducted at multiple medical centers, principally in Europe, East Asia and the United States, including at Weill Cornell Medicine and three affiliated NewYork-Presbyterian campuses: NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, and NewYork-Presbyterian Queens. It is one of the first demonstrations that treatment switching guided by liquid biopsy results brings better outcomes for patients. The main message here is that liquid biopsy technology allows us to intervene sooner when the tumor burden is lower and the chance of a good outcome is higher." Dr. Massimo Cristofanilli, study co-author, professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and an oncologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center Dr. Cristofanilli, an expert on the use of liquid biopsy technology for cancer monitoring and early cancer detection, helped design and oversee the SERENA-6 study as a member of its steering committee. The study, which was sponsored by Astra Zeneca, enrolled patients with advanced forms of estrogen receptor (ER) positive, HER2 receptor-negative breast cancer, which is driven by the overactivity of growth-promoting estrogen receptors on tumor cells. Standard treatment includes drugs called aromatase inhibitors that block the production of ER-stimulating estrogen hormones. However, tumors treated this way often start growing and spreading again because they develop mutations in the ESR1 gene that keep estrogen receptors active even when estrogen hormone levels are low or absent. The trial was set up to determine if patients would benefit from early detection of ESR1 mutations with liquid biopsy-type blood tests, followed by an immediate switch to an experimental new breast cancer drug called camizestrant, which reduces the number of estrogen receptors. The researchers screened more than 3,300 patients at 264 different clinical sites in 23 countries. The 315 who had detectable ESR1 mutations but no symptomatic or medical imaging evidence of tumor progression were randomly assigned to stop taking an aromatase inhibitor and start taking camizestrant, or to stick to standard treatment including an aromatase inhibitor. The results showed that patients who switched to camizestrant tended to have a longer period of tumor non-progression (median 16.0 months vs. 9.2 months), and a much longer time to deterioration in their overall health status and quality of life (median 23.0 months vs. 6.4 months). The researchers considered these differences to be both statistically significant and clinically meaningful. Camizestrant also was well tolerated, with low rates of treatment discontinuation. Dr. Cristofanilli, who is also the scientific director of the Englander Institute for Precision Medicine and the associate director of precision oncology at the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, said that he expects the strategy demonstrated in this study to be applicable more generally when doctors monitor for ER-positive breast cancer recurrence after treatment. He noted as well that not only breast cancer but also many other cancer types have potential treatment-resistance mutations that can be detected early with liquid biopsy techniques. Five held in Belagavi on charges of gangraping minor girl Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 21:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Belagavi (Karnataka), Jun 1 (PTI) A minor girl was allegedly gang-raped and the act was filmed by the accused to blackmail her at Kakati in Belagavi district, police said on Sunday. Five people have been arrested in this connection while a hunt is on to nab one more. Recommended Stories The victim lodged a police complaint on Saturday after the perpetrators allegedly raped her repeatedly and threatened her with the video of the initial assault. According to police, six months ago, the 15-year-old girl was taken to a hilly area and gang-raped. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The perpetrators recorded a video of the attack. The complainant alleged that she was lured to the hilly area by her boyfriend. PTI GMS ADB First Published: June 01, 2025, 21:15 IST IndiGo places order for 30 more wide-body A350 planes Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 21:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) IndiGo on Sunday announced it will place a firm order for another 30 wide-body A350-900 planes as the countrys largest airline steps up its efforts for long-term international expansion. In April last year, the airline placed a firm order for 30 A350 aircraft and there was an option to order 70 more such planes. Recommended Stories At a briefing in the national capital, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said that out of the option for 70 planes, it is now placing a firm order of 30 aircraft. The airline has over 900 planes on order that are to be delivered in the coming years. With ambitions to have more than 600 planes as well as become a global carrier by 2030, IndiGo is not only betting on more wide-body operations but is also expanding its partnerships to provide enhanced connectivity to Europe and North American destinations. On the sidelines of the IATA World Air Transport Summit (WATS) in the national capital, IndiGo inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to double its wide-body order from 30 to 60 firm Airbus A350-900 aircraft. This is yet another step in defining the airlines long-term plans of international expansion," the airline said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all IndiGo is also set to operate flights to 10 new overseas cities with leased Boeing 787 planes in the current fiscal year ending March 2026. Currently, the airline has more than 430 planes in its fleet and operates around 2,300 daily flights. PTI RAM DRR First Published: June 01, 2025, 21:15 IST Putin is preparing for more war, US senators warn Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 21:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Paris, Jun 1 (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin is stalling at the peace table while preparing a new military offensive in Ukraine, two senior US senators warned Sunday, arguing that the next two weeks could shape the future of a war that has already smashed cities, displaced millions and redrawn Europes security map. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal spoke to The Associated Press in Paris after meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and touring neighbourhoods shattered by what they called the worst Russian bombardments since the full-scale invasion began. Recommended Stories In Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron who they say is 100% aligned" with them on the war the senators warned the window to prevent a renewed assault is closing. A sweeping US sanctions bill could be the Wests last chance to choke off the Kremlins war economy, they said. What I learned on this trip was hes preparing for more war," Graham said of Putin. Blumenthal called the sanctions proposed in legislation bone-crushing" and said it would place Russias economy on a trade island". It is crunch time for Putin and for the world because Russia is mounting a new offensive," he said. At the heart of their push is a bipartisan sanctions bill, backed by nearly the entire US Senate but still facing uncertain odds in Washington. It would impose 500% tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports targeting nations like China and India that account for roughly 70% of Russias energy trade and bankroll much of its war effort. Graham called it the most draconian bill Ive ever seen in my life in the Senate." The world has a lot of cards to play against Putin," he said. Were going to hit China and India for propping up his war machine." Peace talks or stalling tactic? Peace talks are scheduled to resume Monday in Istanbul. But Ukrainian officials say Moscow has yet to submit a serious proposal a delay both senators described as deliberate and dangerous. Putin is playing President Trump," Blumenthal said. Hes taking him for a sucker." The senator said Putin is, in effect, stalling and stonewalling, prolonging the conversation so that he can mount this offensive and take control of more territory on the ground." Graham added: We saw credible evidence of a summer or early fall invasion, a new offensive by Putin Hes preparing for more war." Trump has yet to endorse the sanctions bill, telling reporters Friday: I dont know. Ill have to see it." Graham said the legislation was drafted in consultation with Trumps advisers. Graham backed the presidents diplomatic instincts but said, By trying to engage Putin by being friendly and enticing its become painfully clear hes not interested in ending this war." Blumenthal hoped the bipartisan support for Ukraine at least in the Senate and the personal testimonies they plan to bring home to Congress and the Oval Office may help shift the conversation. He needs to see and hear that message as well from us, from the American people," he said of Putin. A moral reckoning In Kyiv, the senators said, the wars human toll was impossible to ignore. Graham pointed to what Ukrainian officials and Yale researchers estimate are nearly 20,000 children forcibly deported to Russia calling their return a matter of justice, not diplomacy. Blumenthal described standing at mass grave sites in Bucha, where civilians were executed with shots to the head. The destruction, he said, and the stories of those who survived, made clear the stakes of delay. Putin is a thug. Hes a murderer." Both said that failing to act now could pull the US deeper into conflict later. If Putin isnt stopped in Ukraine, Blumenthal said, NATO treaty obligations could one day compel American troops into battle. They see resolve in Europe After a one-hour meeting with Macron in Paris, both Graham, of South Carolina, and Blumenthal, of Connecticut, said they left convinced Europe was ready to toughen its stance. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This visit has been a breakthrough moment because President Macron has shown moral clarity in his conversations with us," Blumenthal said. Today, he is 100% aligned with that message that we are taking back to Washington." Blumenthal pointed to the rare bipartisan unity behind the sanctions bill. There are very few causes that will take 41 Republicans and 41 Democrats and put them on record on a single piece of legislation," he said. The cause of Ukraine is doing it." Ahead, Ukrainian military leaders are set to brief Congress and a sanctions vote could follow. President Trump said well know in two weeks whether hes being strung along," Graham said. There will be more evidence of that from Russia on Monday." (AP) SCY SCY First Published: June 01, 2025, 21:15 IST Russia confirms Ukrainian drone strikes on 5 air bases Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 23:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Moscow, Jun 1 (PTI) Russian Defence Ministry on Sunday confirmed that five air bases were attacked by Ukrainian drones damaging an unspecified number of aircraft. Ukraine claimed that it has destroyed about 40 Russian aircraft including nuclear capable TU-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers in Sundays massive drone strikes on Russian bases in an operation prepared by Ukrainian Security Service SBU during 11 months. Recommended Stories Today, the Kyiv regime staged a terror attack with the use of FPV drones on airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur Regions. All terror attacks on military airfields in the Ivanovo, Ryazan, and Amur Regions were repelled," No casualties were reported either among servicemen or civilians. Some of those involved in the terror attacks were detained," the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement. For the first time it was established that Olenogorsk (Murmansk region) and Sredny (Irkutsk region in Siberia) were attacked from close proximity by using trailer trucks by the attackers. As a result of the launch of FPV drones from territories in the close proximity to military airfields in the Murmansk and Irkutsk Regions, several aircraft caught fire. The fires were extinguished," the Russian MoD said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Observers here speculate that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to pressurise Moscow on the eve of tomorrows second round of peace talks in Istanbul. The Russian delegation led by Kremlin aide Vladimir Medynsky has already reached Turkey for Mondays talks. However, experts opine that there is little hope of an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. PTI VS SCY SCY First Published: June 01, 2025, 23:30 IST Air India Express Starts Direct Flight Operations From Bengaluru to Kathmandu, Check Timing Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 11:49 IST The inaugural fares start at Rs 8,000 for Xpress Lite and Rs 8,500 for Xpress Value. Air India Express. (File photo) Air India Express launches daily direct flights between Bengaluru and Kathmandu on June 1. Interested passengers can now book the flight tickets for the route by visiting the airlines official website or any other major booking channels. The inaugural fares start at Rs 8,000 for Xpress Lite and Rs 8,500 for Xpress Value. As per the details shared by the news agency PTI, quoting the Managing Director of Air India Express, who said, The new route builds on our recent expansion into short-haul international leisure destinations such as Bangkok and Phuket." Recommended Stories Direct Flight Timing According to the details, the direct flight from Bengaluru will depart daily at 5.05 am, and it will depart from Kathmandu at 9.05 am daily. Amid this, the newly added route enables convenient one-stop connections to Kathmandu via Bengaluru from 20 cities across India. The list includes Bhubaneswar, Amritsar, Goa, Delhi, Hindon, Gwalior, Indore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kozhikode, Pune, Mangaluru, Surat, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. Talking about the international one-stop connections through Bengaluru, it is available from two international cities: Abu Dhabi and Dammam, according to the press release. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Network Meanwhile, Air India Express has been offering 450 weekly flights from Bengaluru daily, allowing customers to enjoy more than 30 destinations. It also flies to some of the top international cities from Bengaluru, making it more convenient for customers to enjoy direct flights. About the Author Shahrukh Shah Shahrukh Shah, Sub-Editor at News18, loves to write about everything that moves on wheels. With years of experience and the required skill sets, he is contributing to the auto section, where he let people know ... Read More Shahrukh Shah, Sub-Editor at News18, loves to write about everything that moves on wheels. With years of experience and the required skill sets, he is contributing to the auto section, where he let people know ... Read More Get the latest updates on car and bike launches in India including reviews, prices, specs, and performance. Stay informed with breaking auto industry news , EV policies, and more, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: June 01, 2025, 11:46 IST Kia India Reports 14.43 Percent YoY Growth, Sold 22,315 Vehicles In May 2025 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 16:57 IST Kia India said the company has seen a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth of 14.43%, which is higher than to same period last year News18 The leading player in the four-wheel segment, Kia, has been dominating multiple segment for years. The company has received an overwhelming response for its product range as well from Indian customers. Now, it has revealed a monthly sales report for May 2025, where it has reported strong growth momentum for the fifth consecutive month by dispatching 22,315 vehicles in the domestic market. Recommended Stories Positive Growth According to the details shared via official release, Kia India said the company has seen a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth of 14.43%, which is higher than to same period last year. It has been informed that the brand continues to dominate the SUV and mid-sized SUV segment effortlessly, and a big credit goes to its hot-selling products, Seltos and Sonet Response For Kia Clavis Apart from this, the company in its official release said the newly launched Carens Clavis also become the talk of the town. The model managed to get an overwhelming response from customers, reaffirming Kias ability to meet evolving consumer expectations and deliver aspirational, value-driven products. Heres What Top Official Says Speaking about the welcoming response for the model, the top official of Kia India, Hardeep Singh Brar, said, The tremendous response to the Carens Clavis underscores the deep trust Indian families place in the Kia brand. With Clavis, we are looking forward to setting new benchmarks in the segment and making it more dynamic than ever before". In addition, he said, Our strong sales performance in May reflects the growing resonance of Kias diverse offerings across segments. This momentum validates our ongoing efforts to expand and strengthen our product portfolio in line with evolving customer needs. As we continue to broaden our lineup, we remain dedicated to delivering future-ready mobility solutions that inspire confidence and delight our customers". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all . About the Author Shahrukh Shah Shahrukh Shah, Sub-Editor at News18, loves to write about everything that moves on wheels. With years of experience and the required skill sets, he is contributing to the auto section, where he let people know ... Read More Shahrukh Shah, Sub-Editor at News18, loves to write about everything that moves on wheels. With years of experience and the required skill sets, he is contributing to the auto section, where he let people know ... Read More Get the latest updates on car and bike launches in India including reviews, prices, specs, and performance. Stay informed with breaking auto industry news , EV policies, and more, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: June 01, 2025, 16:57 IST PM Modi To Address Global Airlines Meet As CEOs Jostle For Slice Of Indias Aviation Boom Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 21:36 IST PM Modi will address the 81st annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), where global airline leaders will discuss India's emergence as an aviation hub. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PTI Image) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to participate in the 81st Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Monday (June 2) at around 5 pm at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Indias largest aviation carrier, IndiGo, is hosting the IATA general meeting that began today and will last till June 3. The last AGM in India was held 42 years ago in 1983, according to an official statement. Recommended Stories PM Modi will address the gathering of global airline leaders following IndiGos significant deal with foreign airlines Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Delta to expand its services to North America, Europe and Britain. More than 1,600 leaders including top global aviation industry leaders, government officials and international media representatives are slated to attend the event, which will demonstrate the continued rapid growth of Indias aviation market. The aviation leaders and media representatives from around the world will also get to witness Indias remarkable transformation in the aviation landscape and its contribution to the countrys socio economic development. IndiGo Strikes Major Expansion Deal, Air India In Talks On Sunday, IndiGo on Sunday announced that it placed a firm order for another 30 wide-body A350 planes with Airbus, taking the total number of such aircraft to 60, after announcing new partnerships with Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Delta Airlines. The A350 planes, with ranges of up to 15,000 kilometres (9,300 miles), will allow it to further expand its network. IndiGo has placed orders for around 1,000 aircraft from the A320 family. This is yet another step in defining the airlines long-term plans of international expansion," said the company. Once the airline partnership is complete, IndiGo will be able to sell flights under its own name on those operated by its partners out of India, and onward travel from Amsterdam and Manchester, UK, on selected flights to Europe and North America. Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic already code-share on IndiGos domestic flights. Moreover, Air India said it was in talks with two of the largest aircraft manufacturers, Airbus and Boeing, for a major aircraft deal, including some 200 extra single-aisle planes. It is expected that the deal could involve hundreds of airplanes in total spread across various sizes. Getting new planes is crucial for Air India, which has suffered from years of under-investment under government ownership and is now undertaking an ambitious modernisation plan to recapture market share lost to global rivals. Indias Growing Aviation Market According to Airbus forecasts, Indias aviation market is expanding at some 7% a year, making it the fastest growing market. However, its growth remains hampered by weak infrastructure, fuel costs and high taxes. However, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson told CNBC TV18 said Indias position in global aviation is still in its early stages with significant room for growth. The last three years due to network restructuring," he said. Speaking at the airline summit in New Delhi, Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian announced that the airline plans to resume direct flights from the United States to India within the next couple of years. Theres not a more important market in aviation at the present time than in India," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said the development of Indias air connectivity in recent years has been nothing short of phenomenal". The growth of its economy has made India the worlds fourth-largest market, he added. (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 Get the latest updates on car and bike launches in India including reviews, prices, specs, and performance. Stay informed with breaking auto industry news , EV policies, and more, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: June 01, 2025, 21:36 IST No Charges On Zero Balance: This PSU Bank Removes Minimum Balance Rule From June 1 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 13:29 IST Canara Bank levied charges if the minimum average monthly balance (AMB) is not maintained in a savings account like other public and private lenders. Canara Bank removes minimum balance limit, allowing customers to keep minimal balance without any penalty. Canara Bank has brought significant relief to its savings account holders by eliminating the average monthly balance (AMB) requirement for all types of savings bank accounts. First Major Public Sector Bank to Remove AMB Charges Recommended Stories With this decision, Canara Bank becomes the first major public sector bank to abolish AMB-related penalties, allowing all savings account holders to maintain a zero balance without incurring any penalties. This initiative aims to enhance financial inclusion and improve customer convenience. Accounts Benefited by the Waiver The complete waiver will benefit various account holders, including those with savings accounts, salary accounts, and NRI SB accounts. Implementation Date and Statement Starting June 1, 2025, Canara Bank will establish itself as a leading public sector bank offering genuine no-penalty minimum balance requirements across a variety of savings bank accounts. This ensures that no savings bank customer will face charges for not maintaining a minimum balance in their accounts, as stated by the bank on Saturday. Previously, customers had to maintain a minimum average monthly balance depending on their account type, failing which they incurred penalty charges. The new policy will allow all Canara Bank savings account holders to enjoy a true no-penalty policy for not maintaining a minimum balance. To maintain an active savings account, account holders are required to adhere to a minimum balance based on the branch category. The Average Monthly Balance (AMB) varies according to the location of the branch Rs. 2,000 for Urban/Metro branches, Rs. 1,000 for Semi-Urban branches, and Rs. 500 for Rural branches. This move is expected to benefit millions of Canara Bank customers, including salaried individuals, senior citizens, students, NRIs, and first-time banking service users, facilitating everyday banking without penalties. What Were The Charges For Not Keeping The Minimum Amount? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Canara Bank levies charges if the minimum average monthly balance (AMB) is not maintained in a savings account. The charges differ based on the type of branchmetro, urban, semi-urban, or rural. For metro and urban branches, customers are required to maintain an AMB of Rs 2,000. If the balance falls between Rs 1,999 and Rs 1,500, a charge of Rs 25 plus GST is applicable. If the AMB is between Rs 1,499 and Rs 1,000, the penalty increases to Rs 35 plus GST. For balances below Rs 1,000, a higher charge of Rs 45 plus GST is levied. In semi-urban branches, the required AMB is Rs 1,000. If the AMB lies between Rs 999 and Rs 700, a fee of Rs 25 plus GST is charged. For balances ranging from Rs 699 to Rs 400, the penalty is Rs 35 plus GST. If the average monthly balance drops below Rs 400, Canara Bank charges Rs 45 plus GST. About the Author Business Desk A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More A team of writers and reporters decodes vast terms of personal finance and making money matters simpler for you. From latest initial public offerings (IPOs) in the market to best investment options, we cover al... Read More First Published: June 01, 2025, 13:29 IST Now, this digital self-service choice isn't just the norm -- it's the preferred means of handling most banking matters. A 2024 survey commissioned by the American Bankers Association and performed by Morning Consult found that 22% of bank customers in the United States now use their personal computers as their first choice for taking care of their banking business, while a whopping 55% of this crowd prefers a mobile app for handling banking matters. In-branch visits and phone calls, conversely, are only the first choice for 8% and 4% (respectively) of U.S. banks' customers. It also comes as no surprise that older consumers are less likely to use a mobile app or PC to do their banking, while digitally native younger customers are increasingly likely to do so. That might initially seem a bit nutty to investors who remember a time when online banking didn't exist at all, simply because the internet itself had not yet been invented. When brick-and-mortar banks added online self-service as an option, it was a game-changing add-on. On the off-chance you're reading this and aren't familiar with it, SoFi is an online bank offering all the services you'd expect from a more traditional brick-and-mortar banking company. Checking and savings accounts, loans, credit cards, investing services, and even insurance and travel planning are in its wheelhouse. Where SoFi Technologies differs is that it's only an online bank -- there are no physical branches to visit. Don't panic if you already happen to own a stake in Block. You're hardly doomed. While shares are still trading down more than 70% from their pandemic-inspired 2022 peak, analysts remain largely bullish, collectively rating the stock as a strong buy while supporting a consensus price target of $66.86 that is roughly 7% above this ticker's present price. Slow and steady long-term revenue and earnings growth are in the cards, even if that progress can run a little hot and cold. If you've only got room for one of these holdings at this time, however, choose SoFi. Here's why. Does your portfolio need a bit more exposure to the fintech space? There are plenty of great options out there, although payment technology platform Block (NYSE: XYZ) and online banking outfit SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ: SOFI) are a couple of investors' favorites right now. Either would likely work well enough for you. Investors are underestimating the potential of one of these young businesses while overestimating the upside of the other. Cryptocurrencies underlying blockchain technology, in the meantime, has been held up as a solution for a range of problems. Story Continues Connect the dots. Where SoFi Technologies already sits is where the world is going. That's what its results indicate, anyway. Its customer headcount has grown every quarter since the beginning of 2020, from just over 1 million members then to nearly 11 million members as of the end of this year's first quarter. It's expecting more of the same pace of growth this year as well, driving revenue and earnings higher in step with this ongoing expansion, thanks to a greater and more cost-effective scale. SoFi's full-year guidance is for top-line growth of around 25% and a near-doubling of per-share profits. Don't look for this growth to end then, however. An outlook from Precedence Research suggests the global online banking business is set to grow at an average annual pace of 40% through 2034. Although Europe is the biggest and apt to be the fastest-growing market, the North American market, where SoFi operates, isn't far behind by either measure. Just brace for the fact that you may not see big gains right away if you're going to dive in at this time. Shares are already priced near analysts' consensus one-year target of $13.70, and this crowd's collective rating on this ticker is a lukewarm hold. SoFi Technologies should only be viewed here as a long-term prospect. Why not Block Still, SoFi is arguably a stronger growth investment than Block is at this time for a couple of key reasons. But first things first. You may be more familiar with this outfit than you realize. This is the company formerly known as Square, which, of course, offers card payment acceptance technology to small businesses and sole proprietors that weren't being served by more conventional payment solutions providers. It still manages this business, too, but in 2021, it dove headfirst into the then-red-hot cryptocurrency arena by building a whole new technology around Bitcoin. Later that same year, Square changed its name to Block to better represent the new prioritization of its blockchain-based business. It hasn't been a terrible decision; obviously, these markets are still around and are still producing at least some growth. However, the payment-acceptance space is now both mature and crowded by entrenched powerhouses like PayPal, while technology companies like Alphabet's Google and even IBM are creeping deeper into these same spaces. The barriers to entry into these markets are now quite low, taking a toll on Block's pace of forward progress. To this end, the company is only expected to produce sales growth of about 4% this year, dragging per-share earnings lower with that slowdown. Revenue growth should slightly accelerate next year -- but only slightly -- to a modest pace of about 10%. Analysts don't expect it to ever get much better than that again, either, even though profit margins are likely to continue widening at a measurably faster pace. That's the first reason investors might want to opt for something more promising from the fintech space. As for the second reason to steer clear of Block, while the blockchain hype was once palpable, it's not unfair to say it hasn't exactly lived up to expectations. That's not to say it won't. If and when it happens, Block is ready to serve its targeted sliver of the business. That's mostly by offering a secure digital Bitcoin wallet. As it stands right now, though, neither consumers nor corporations seem as interested in cryptocurrencies or their underlying blockchain technology as much as previously hoped. Their security (or lack thereof) remains a reasonable concern, while blockchain itself is proving to be a complicated and costly solution to problems that don't actually exist. In the meantime, although Bitcoin currently accounts for 40% of Block's revenue, it still only makes up about 3% of the company's gross profits. Perhaps Block hitched its wagon to the wrong star. Never say never, of course. Things could change. There's also an obvious opportunity ahead for Block's well-established Cash App and payment-processing businesses, even if the business is crowded, as the world continues to wean itself from cash and even conventional credit cards in favor of more payments being made directly to and from bank accounts. As it turns out, these direct transfers are often more secure and typically cheaper than card-based payments. It's a shift, however, that still works to SoFi's advantage far more than it does to Block's. Should you invest $1,000 in SoFi Technologies right now? Before you buy stock in SoFi Technologies, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and SoFi Technologies wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $638,985!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $853,108!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 978% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Dont miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. James Brumley has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Bitcoin, Block, International Business Machines, and PayPal. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2027 $42.50 calls on PayPal and short June 2025 $77.50 calls on PayPal. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Better Growth Stock: Block vs. SoFi Technologies was originally published by The Motley Fool IndiGo Orders 30 A350s After Deals With Air France, Delta In Global Expansion Push Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 19:27 IST IndiGo on Sunday placed an order for 30 more wide-body Airbus A350 planes, taking the total number of such aircraft to 60. The airline has placed orders for around 1,000 aircraft. IndiGo (File Photo) IndiGo on Sunday announced that it placed a firm order for another 30 wide-body A350 planes with Airbus, taking the total number of such aircraft to 60. This came after the airline entered an agreement with Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Delta to expand its long-haul services to North America, Europe and Britain. Recommended Stories We are placing a firm order for 30 Airbus A350-900s," said Pieter Elbers, the CEO of IndiGo, a company founded in 2006 and already behind the largest contract by volume in the history of civil aviation 500 Airbus single-aisle aircraft by 2023. The company had placed a firm order for 30 A350 aircraft in April, and there was an option to order 70 more such planes. IndiGo is aiming to expand its international network and is set to operate flights to 10 new overseas cities with leased Boeing 787 planes. The A350 planes, with ranges of up to 15,000 kilometres (9,300 miles), will allow it to further expand its network. IndiGo has placed orders for around 1,000 aircraft from the A320 family. This is yet another step in defining the airlines long-term plans of international expansion," said the company. IndiGos Expansion Push Earlier today, IndiGo entered an agreement with Air France-KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Delta to expand its long-haul services to North America, Europe and Britain, the company announced. The partnership is expected to offer travellers broader access, smoother journeys, and a more consistent experience across continents. Once the airline partnership is complete, IndiGo will be able to sell flights under its own name on those operated by its partners out of India, and onward travel from Amsterdam and Manchester, UK, on selected flights to Europe and North America. Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic already code-share on IndiGos domestic flights. The Delta partnership is notable, as the US carrier has not operated flights to India since the Covid-19 pandemic five years ago. Speaking at an airline summit in New Delhi, Delta CEO Ed Bastian announced that the airline plans to resume direct flights from the United States to India within the next couple of years. Delta is planning nonstop flights between Atlanta and Delhi, which would be subject to government approval, according to a joint statement. Theres not a more important market in aviation at the present time than in India," Bastian said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said the development of Indias air connectivity in recent years has been nothing short of phenomenal". The growth of its economy has made India the worlds fourth-largest market, he added. (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 First Published: June 01, 2025, 19:16 IST Aligarh: College Teacher Charged With Sending 'Obscene' Messages To Student Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 20:19 IST Several students are demanding the arrest of Shajruddin, who has been suspended from Varshney Degree College for two months pending an internal inquiry. Officials stated that the victim had lodged a complaint with the police.(Representative/News18) A faculty member at an Aligarh college has been booked for allegedly sending obscene messages to a female student, police reported on Sundaym reported PTI. Officials stated that the victim had lodged a complaint with the police. The issue had been escalating for the past two days, with students, led by members of BJP Yuva Morcha and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), demanding the arrest of Shajruddin, who has been suspended from Varshney Degree College for two months pending an internal inquiry. Recommended Stories Students protesting on the college campus accused the police of official negligence and delay" in addressing the complaint. BJP Yuva Morcha leader Amit Goswami warned that if the faculty member was not arrested within 24 hours, their organization would initiate an agitation. In response to the protest, the college administration announced Shajruddins suspension for two months, pending an internal inquiry, the report added. Police confirmed that a case has been registered at the Gandhi Park police station. Additional Superintendent of Police (City) MS Pathak said the accuseds mobile phone has been seized. Further action will be taken after examining the evidence, including mobile phone records," he said. ALSO READ | Not A Criminal: Court Orders Release Of Maharashtra Student Arrested Over Post On Op Sindoor top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, last month, a disturbing video surfaced from an engineering college in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, allegedly showing the college principal molesting a female student. The footage showed a sick student lying on a hospital bed while the accused principal was seen touching her inappropriately from under a blanket. His furtive glances around the room suggest an awareness of wrongdoing, even as the act is caught on camera from the front. Thereafter, massive protests erupted at the engineering college. A purported video of the protest against the harassment shows students encircling an effigy of the principal, holding flashlights in their hands as the effigy is set on fire. An investigation committee was formed by the government and its head. 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: June 01, 2025, 16:14 IST SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025 Expected Soon On sbi.co.in, Check Latest Updates Here Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 12:36 IST SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025 soon: Candidates will be able to check their result by visiting the official website of SBI at sbi.co.in. This year, a total of 13,735 posts are being filled under the SBI Clerk Recruitment drive. (Representative/File) State Bank of India (SBI) has not yet declared the result of Clerk (Junior Associate Customer Service and Sales) Mains Exam 2025. It is expected to announce the result soon. Candidates will be able to check their result by visiting the official website of SBI at sbi.co.in. The SBI Clerk Mains exam was conducted on April 10th and 12th, 2025 at various examination centres across the country. A total of 190 questions were asked in the exam carrying a total of 200 marks. Recommended Stories The Main Exam consisted of questions from General/Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability and Computer Ability. Negative marking of one-fourth marks will be applicable for each wrong answer. SBI Clerk prelims exam was conducted on February 22, 27, 28 and March 1, 2025. Its result was released on March 28, 2025. Candidates who qualified in the preliminary exam were called for the main exam. This year, a total of 13,735 posts are being filled under the SBI Clerk Recruitment drive. SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025: How To Check? Step 1- Visit the official website of the State Bank of India, sbi.co.in. Step 2- Click on the SBI Clerk Notification link in the careers section on the homepage. Step 3- Click on the SBI Clerk Mains Result 2025 link. Step 4- Enter the required credentials and click on submit. Step 5- The result will be displayed on your screen. Check and download it. Take a printout for future use. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The SBI Clerk Mains result will be accompanied by a scorecard that provides the candidates individual performance, category-wise cut-off marks, and selection marks. While there are no minimum marks required for individual subjects, candidates must meet the overall qualifying criteria established by the bank. To be eligible for these positions, candidates must have graduated from a recognized institution. Applicants must be between 20 to 28 years of age, with their date of birth falling between April 2, 1996, and April 1, 2004. 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: June 01, 2025, 12:29 IST SSC GD Constable Result 2025 Date: Scorecards To Be Released Soon, Check Details Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 14:33 IST SSC GD Constable Result 2025: As soon as the result is released, candidates will be able to check it by visiting the official website of the commission, ssc.gov.in. A total of 53,690 posts will be filled through this recruitment drive. (Representational/File) SSC GD Constable Result 2025 Date: Staff Selection Commission (SSC) conducted a computer-based examination for the post of Constable (GD) between February 4 and February 25, 2025. Now the candidates are waiting for the declaration of its result, which is expected soon. As soon as the result is released, candidates will be able to check it by visiting the official website of the commission, ssc.gov.in. This exam was conducted in online mode (CBT). The exam was of 160 marks for a total of 80 questions, in which 2 marks were fixed for each correct answer. The entire exam had to be completed in 60 minutes. This exam was conducted in 15 languages which included Hindi, English as well as Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. Recommended Stories The provisional answer key of the exam was released on March 4 and the last date to file objections was March 9, 2025. The final answer key will be prepared only after reviewing the objections received by the Commission, which will be used in preparing the result. How To Check SSC GD Constable Result 2025? Step 1 Visit the official website of SSC ssc.gov.in. Step 2 Click on the Result" section on the homepage. Step 3 Select the Constable-GD" link. Step 4 Open the given PDF file. Step 5 Check your result in the list by your roll number. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The selection process for SSC GD Constable comprises three main stages: a written examination, followed by a Physical Efficiency Test (PET) / Physical Standard Test (PST), and a medical examination. This means, those who clear the CBT will next be called for the PET/PST round. The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) had revised the tentative vacancies for Constable (GD) in CAPFs, SSF, Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles, and Sepoy in the NCB Examination, 2025. The recruitment drive will now fill a total of 53,690 posts. Initially, SSC had announced 39,481 vacancies for the positions of Constable (General Duty) in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Secretariat Security Force (SSF), Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles, and Sepoy in the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). 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: June 01, 2025, 14:24 IST All Eyes On Sharmishta: Influencer Gets Dutch Leaders Support After Arrest By Kolkata Police Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 12:51 IST Sharmishta Panoli was arrested by Kolkata Police for allegedly making communal remarks on social media. She has now received support from a Dutch leader. Sharmishta Panoli gets Dutch leader's support (Photo: X, AP) Sharmishta Panoli, a 22-year-old Pune law student, who was arrested by Kolkata Police for alleged communal remarks on social media despite her unconditional apology, has received support from a far-right Dutch leader. Geert Wilders, an MP in the Dutch Parliament, who leads the right-wing Party for Freedom, described her arrest as a disgrace for the freedom of speech", and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to help her out of jail. Recommended Stories Dutch Leader Geert Wilders Supports Sharmishta Panoli Free the brave Sharmishta Panoli! Its a disgrace for the freedom of speech that she was arrested. Dont punish her for speaking the truth about Pakistan and Muhammad. Help her @narendramodi!" Wilders posted on X, sharing a picture of the arrested influencer, on which All Eyes On Sharmistha" was written. Free the brave Sharmishta Panoli!Its a disgrace for the freedom of speech that she was arrested. Dont punish her for speaking the truth about Pakistan and Muhammad. Help her @narendramodi! @AmyMek #Sharmishta#IStandwithSharmishta #ReleaseSharmistha #FreeSharmishta pic.twitter.com/YhGSLhuyr2 Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) May 31, 2025 Panoli was arrested by Kolkata Police yesterday for posting videos on social media, wherein she used strong language and alleged communal remarks. The student also criticised Bollywood actors for keeping mum during Operation Sindoor, while the nation backed the armed forces after the Pahalgam terror attack. She was arrested based on the FIR filed against her at a police station in Kolkata. The FIR alleged that she promoted enmity and hurt religious sentiments with her remarks in a video, which she deleted later, and apologised for. Political Row Erupts Over Arrest A political controversy has erupted over the arrest by Kolkata Police of a Panoli on charges of making offensive remarks on Operation Sindoor and allegedly passing communal statements on social media. The Bharatiya Janata Party lashed out at Mamata Banerjees police for their action, in which they travelled all the way to Gurugram to make the arrest within hours of the FIR, despite her unconditional apology and removal of the video. The BJP questioned the lack of action by the West Bengal Police in complaints against TMC leaders for their alleged provocative remarks for the Hindu community. Sharmistha Panoli, just 22 years old, has been arrested and sent to 14-day judicial custody over a video she had already deleted and publicly apologised for on May 15. There have been no reports of communal unrest linked to her remarks, yet the Kolkata Police is acting with uncharacteristic haste. This is no longer about law and order it is about selective enforcement," BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya posted on X. Alleging that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made far more divisive statements, which have had far-reaching consequences, including tragic loss of life and destruction of property on multiple occasions", Malviya questioned if law will be applied to her with the same urgency". India is watching. This isnt just a case in West Bengal it reflects how a young Hindu woman is being targeted to appease a vote bank. Justice must not be politically convenient," he said. West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari said that the nationalist lawyers" will take up her case. DG @WBPolice where have you locked up your spine when Anubrata Mondal threatens your subordinates wife and mother with rape? I would like to assure everyone that the Nationalist Lawyers are taking up Sharmisthas matter and the best legal defense will be provided to her, and I hope that she will be free from the clutches of the vile & vicious Mamata Police," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar said that her remarks did not create unrest at any place and she apologised for her remarks, yet the police arrested her not for justice, but for appeasement". Sharmistha Panoli, 22, law student, arrested for a now-deleted video and a public apology. No riots. No unrest. Yet Mamata Banerjees police acted overnight not for justice, but for appeasement. But when TMC leaders insult Sanatan Dharma, call Jai Shri Ram a gaali, mock Maha Kumbh, and push communal poison theres no FIR, no arrest, no apology. This is not justice. This is vote-bank vendetta. India is watching," he said. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More First Published: June 01, 2025, 12:28 IST 'Remarks Misconstrued': Malviya Junks Report On BJP Plan To Use Women Military Officers In Campaign Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 14:32 IST Amit Malviya shared a news report claiming that the BJP was set to use two women military officers as campaign faces. He termed the news report as "fake". Two women officers who became the face of military briefings during Op Sindoor (CNN-News18) Bharatiya Janata Party IT cell chief Amit Malviya on Sunday clarified that the BJP has no plans to use Colonel Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh who were the faces of the military during Operation Sindoor briefings as the partys campaign faces. Malviya flagged a report by Times of India as fake and said that the remarks made by BJP Minority Morcha President, Jamal Siddiqui, were misconstrued". Recommended Stories What Is The Matter? Times of India reported that the two officers will be the faces of an ambitious women-centric campaign scheduled to be rolled out by the BJP on the completion of 11 years of the Narendra Modi-led government on June 9." The news article was headlined Col Qureshi, Wg Cdr Vyomika set to be BJP campaigns faces". This is #FakeNews. The BJP has no plans to use either Col Sofia Qureshi or Wing Commander Vyomika Singh as campaign faces. The comments made by BJP Minority Morcha President Jamal Siddiqui have been misconstrued. He simply made a limited point about highlighting Col Qureshi as an pic.twitter.com/nPttvpTWMs Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 1, 2025 Malviya shared the news story and busted the claims, stating that Siddiqui made a limited point about highlighting Col Qureshi as an example of an empowered Muslim woman. This is #FakeNews. The BJP has no plans to use either Col Sofia Qureshi or Wing Commander Vyomika Singh as campaign faces. The comments made by BJP Minority Morcha President Jamal Siddiqui have been misconstrued. He simply made a limited point about highlighting Col Qureshi as an example of an empowered Muslim woman within the community," he posted on X. What Did Siddiqui Say? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The BJP Minority Front will launch a nationwide campaign aimed at connecting educated Muslim women with the armed forces from June 9. The main goal of the campaign is to encourage Muslim women and girls to think about joining the armed forces, using role models like Sofia Qureshi as inspiration. Siddiqui called her a source of pride for both the community and the country." About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More First Published: June 01, 2025, 14:31 IST Amit Shah Calls CMs As Rains Batter Northeast; IAF Deployed For Rescue Ops Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 23:18 IST Heavy rain in the Northeast has caused severe flooding, disrupting normal life. The IAF rescued 14 people in Arunachal Pradesh. Assam CM Himanta Sarma issued flood alerts. Troops conducting rescue operation in flood-hit Manipur As heavy rain continues to pound the Northeastern region of the country, it has thrown normal life out of gear. Several areas continue to remain inundated on Sunday. Earlier in the day, the Indian Air Force (IAF) was roped to assist in the rescue operation of people stranded amid floodwaters. Recommended Stories On Sunday morning, a critical humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission was launched by the IAF in response to a request received from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh administrations. As many as 14 people who were stranded in the middle of flooded Bomjir river in the Lower Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh (cut off from main land) were safely rescued to a safer place. The rescue operation was undertaken by Mi 17 helicopter. Amit Shah Dials CMs, Assures Help Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah dialed chief ministers of several northeastern states and assured them of all possible help in time of distress. Taking to X, Shah wrote, Spoke with the Chief Ministers of Assam, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh and Governor of Manipur in the wake of ongoing heavy rainfall in their states. Also assured them of every possible help to tackle any situation. The Modi government stands like a rock in support of the people of the Northeast. (sic)." Assam CM Issues Advisory Amid Rain Fury Further, in the wake of rain havoc, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday advised people residing in riverside and low-lying areas to remain alert in view of incessant rain in the state and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh. Flood Alert for Assam Heavy rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh Kibitoo (17 cm), Hayuliang (15 cm), Kalaktang (10 cm) may lead to a sharp rise in river levels downstream. Assam already witnessing intense rain in Silchar (42 cm), Karimganj (35 cm), Hailakandi (30 cm) and in Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) June 1, 2025 Taking to X, Sarma issued the flood alert and said heavy rainfall has been recorded in Arunachal Pradeshs Kibitoo (17 cm), Hayuliang (15 cm) and Kalaktang (10 cm), which may cause a sharp rise in river levels downstream. Assam is already witnessing intense rain in Silchar (42 cm), Karimganj (35 cm), Hailakandi (30 cm) and in nearby areas. People in low-lying and riverbank areas are advised to stay alert and follow local advisories. Stay safe, stay prepared," Sarma further wrote. Schools Closed In Aizwal In view of the flood caused by heavy rain in Aizwal, all schools in the district will remain shut on June 2, Monday, said an official statement by Aizawl District Disaster Management Authority. Due to torrential rainfall in the past few days within Aizawl District, which resulted in mudflows, landslides, rockfalls, and other calamities at various locations within the district, all the Heads of School within the Aizawl District are hereby directed to keep their concerned schools closed on 2nd of June (Monday)," the statement read. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Heavy downpour over the past few days has led to flash floods and landslides across several Northeastern states, triggering widespread destruction. So far, the rain fairy has claimed at least 30 lives in Northeast. The downpour has severely affected road connectivity and infrastructure, damaged homes, and disrupted power supply, leaving thousands in distress. About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Location : Guwahati [Gauhati], India, India First Published: June 01, 2025, 18:42 IST Elon Musk's Father In India, To Visit Ayodhya Ram Mandir And Have Business Meetings | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 02, 2025, 00:00 IST Errol Musk also plans on visiting Servotech's solar and EV charger manufacturing unit in Safiabad, Haryana, where state ministers and bureaucrats are also expected to be present. Errol Musk landed in India on June 1 (Credits: Screengrab of video shared on X) Elon Musks father, Errol Musk, landed in India on Sunday to visit the Ayodhya Ram temple. During his visit to the country, Errol is also scheduled to attend various business-related meetings. Notably, Errol is on a five-day trip to India, starting from June 1 till June 6. After concluding his visit, he will depart for South Africa. Recommended Stories Errol has recently been appointed a member of the global advisory board of homegrown company Servotech. A video shared by PTI showed Errol receiving a warm welcome at the airport after arriving in India. Reportedly, he will also meet policymakers, investors, business leaders, and senior bureaucrats from various ministries at a company event on June 2. VIDEO | Errol Musk, father of billionaire Elon Musk and a newly appointed member of the global advisory board of homegrown company Servotech, has arrived in India to visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya as part of his tour this month.Errol is scheduled to attend various pic.twitter.com/NEZbnAYLu7 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 1, 2025 He also plans on visiting Servotechs solar and EV charger manufacturing unit in Safiabad, Haryana, where state ministers and bureaucrats are also expected to be present, according to sources cited by PTI. Musk will also visit Ram Janmabhoomi Ayodhya Ram Mandir to seek blessings from Shree Ram Lalla, reflecting his engagement with Indias cultural and spiritual heritage," PTI had reported earlier, citing sources. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Errol Musk, known for his work in technology, infrastructure, and clean energy, will offer strategic guidance to Servotechs leadership team, the company said. As part of his engagement, Musk will participate in a tour of Servotechs manufacturing facilities in India. He will engage with key government and investor groups through curated roundtable sessions", according to a PTI report. First Published: June 01, 2025, 23:36 IST Covid-19 Surge: Active Infections In India Above 3,300; Gurugram Sees Four New Cases Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 23:02 IST Covid-19 Updates: The Karnataka Health Department issued an advisory asking government and private schools to take precautions in the interest of school children's health. In the FIR, the complainant said in 2021, during the pandemic, his wife tested positive for Covid-19 and was hospitalised for 10 days. (Image for representation: AP) Covid-19 cases are on the rise again across the country, with the total toll crossing the 3,300 mark on Sunday. Fresh infections have been reported in the national capital and surrounding regions. Gurugram confirmed four new cases, pushing Haryanas total active case count to 23. Health officials said the infected individuals are showing only mild symptoms and are currently in isolation as a precautionary measure. Recommended Stories A 60-year-old woman who was suffering from acute intestinal obstruction and had tested positive for Covid-19 died in Delhi. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday assured people that there was no need to panic. As India sees a spike in Covid-19 cases, lets take a look at the top updates: Odisha on Sunday reported two new cases, taking the total toll in the state to seven. Health Secretary Aswathy S advised all to remain vigilant in the wake of the changing weather. The Karnataka Health Department issued an advisory asking government and private schools to take precautions in the interest of school childrens health. The guidelines asked parents not to send their children to school if they develop fever, cough, cold, and another symptom. Total Covid-19 cases in Arunachal Pradesh reached three, with the state reporting one new case on Saturday. Maharashtra on Saturday reported 68 COVID-19 cases, taking the tally since the start of this year to 749, a health department official said. Of the new cases, 30 were detected in Mumbai and 15 in Pune Municipal Corporation limits. Cases were also detected in Kalyan-Dombivali and Raigad. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all 82 new Covid-19 cases were reported in West Bengal, taking the total number of active cases in the current wave to 287 in the state, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Sunday. Andhra Pradesh Information and Public Relations Minister K Parthasarathi on Sunday urged people to remain vigilant as Covid-19 cases are rising across the country once again. The minister said that senior citizens and pregnant women should avoid stepping out unnecessarily, and international passengers must undergo mandatory Covid-19 testing upon arrival in the state. First Published: June 01, 2025, 23:02 IST Covid-19 Toll Hits 26: What Precautions Are States Taking Amid Rising Cases? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 13:54 IST India reported 685 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, with active cases at 3,395. Kerala, Maharashtra, and Delhi are worst-hit. Centre is on high alert amid rising cases (AP File) Amid a spike in Covid-19 cases across the country, many states have started taking precautions to curb the infection. With India reporting 685 new cases in the last 24 hours, the active coronavirus case tally in the country stands at 3,395. Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi are the worst-hit states in the latest wave. As per official data, the active infections have surged from from 257 on May 22 to 3,395 as of June 1. Recommended Stories Toll Now 26, Most Cases in Kerala Further, four deaths one each in Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh- were recorded on Friday. This year, India has seen 26 deaths so far. Kerala tops the list of active Covid-19 case chart with 1,336 infections as it reported 189 fresh cases on Friday, according to Health Ministry data. Kerala is followed by Maharashtra (467), Delhi (375), Gujarat (265), Karnataka (234), West Bengal (205), Tamil Nadu (185) and Uttar Pradesh (117), Rajasthan (60), Puducherry (41), Haryana (26), Andhra Pradesh (17) and Madhya Pradesh (16). Other states are also seeing a surge in Covid-19 cases. Whats Driving Covid Surge In India The latest surge is being driven by the new variants that are sub-variants of Omicron variant, a strain that was behind the big Covid wave in India in 2022, according to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). These new variants are LF.7, XFG, JN.1 and NB.1.8.1, said ICMR. However, Rajiv Behl, Director General of the ICMR has said that there is no need to worryy. Meanwhile, Union minister of state for health and AYUSH (Independent Charge) Prataprao Jadhav on Friday asserted that the Centre is fully prepared to manage any developing situation in regard to Covid-19. Speaking to ANI, he said, Both our Central Health Department and the AYUSH Ministry are fully alert and closely monitoring the situation across all states. We have spoken with the respective Health and AYUSH Secretaries, as well as other concerned ministers." Precautions Taken By States: Karnataka: The Karnataka health department is actively tracking and managing the situation by focusing mainly on prevention, early detection, and patient care. As Covid-19 trends might shift, strict vigilance and adherence to guidelines remain essential. An advisory was also sent to Health Care Workers (HCWs) in all healthcare areas across the state. The advisory listed key instructions for healthcare staff: regularly screen and report cases of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI), Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI), and cases with co-morbidities through the P-Form on the IDSP-IHIP platform. Delhi: Earlier on May 23, the Delhi government advised city hospitals to ensure they had sufficient beds, oxygen, medications, and vaccines to battle Covid-19 wave. Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday reassured the public that they need not worry as the govt will handle the situation. CM Gupta said, 19 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised in Delhi, but there is no need to worry. The Delhi government is alert and hospitals are prepared to deal with any eventuality." The advisory emphasised on the need of all medical equipments including ventilators, Bi-PAP machines, oxygen concentrators, and PSA units being in working condition. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Odisha: While in Odisha, Health Secretary Aswathy S on Saturday asked the public not to panic. She confirmed that all Covid-19 patients in the state were stable. The latest ICMR report says that the present variant does not exhibit severe symptoms, and most cases are mild. Also, the Centre has not issued any guidelines, but advised all to remain vigilant in the wake of the changing weather," she said. All the state are actively monitoring the Covid-19 trends to tackle any potential threat. About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: June 01, 2025, 13:49 IST As of May 29, 2025, the Company had access to the following cash resources: Cash at bank $5.7M; Cash in escrow for eRapa Phase 3 program $4.4M; Undrawn CPRIT grant for eRapa Phase 3 program $11.9M; Debt $0.5M. The CPRIT grant, together with Company match means the eRapa Phase 3 program is substantially funded. Based on its latest projections, the Company has sufficient working capital to fund operations into the first quarter of 2026. Issued shares, total voting rights, market capitalization As of May 29, 2025, there were 50,506,308,922 ordinary shares, equivalent to 5,050,630 American Depositary Shares, outstanding. The Company holds zero shares in treasury and therefore the number of voting rights is the same as the number of ordinary shares outstanding. Based on the closing share price on May 29, 2025 of $1.06 per ADS, the Companys market capitalization was $5.4M.The Phase 3 study of eRapa in FAP is in the final stages of implementation. It will be a double-blind placebo-controlled trial in 168 patients, randomized 2:1 drug / placebo. It is expected the study will be conducted in approximately 30 clinical sites across the US and Europe. The US component of the study will be conducted by LumaBridge, based in San Antonio, Texas and the European component will be conducted by Precision for Medicine. All planned US sites and the majority of European sites have been identified. Recruitment is expected to begin in the next few weeks. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See Insiders Hot Stocks on TipRanks >> Read More on BDRX: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue 'Desist From Blaming Us': India Snubs Pakistan At UN Meet Over Shehbaz Sharif's IWT Remark Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 10:15 IST India ripped Pakistan at a UN meeting, stating that the neighbours violated the Indus Waters Treaty through terrorism and should not blame India for putting it in abeyance. India slams Pakistan at UN meet over IWT (Photos: PTI, X/ @KVSinghMPGonda) A day after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raked up the Indus Waters Treaty at a UN meet, New Delhi on Saturday ripped Islamabad over unwarranted references" to the treaty, stating that the neighbour itself violated it through terrorism. India further underlined that Pakistan should stop blaming it for the breach" of the 1960 treaty, as terrorism emanating from the other side of the border interfered with the treatys implementation. Recommended Stories India had put in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty on April 23, a huge non-military step taken a day after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians on religious lines. India Rips Pakistan At UN Meet Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singhs remarks came while addressing a plenary session of the first UN conference on glaciers in Tajikistans Dushanbe on Saturday. Shehbaz Sharif had raked up the Indus Waters Treaty a day ago on this platform, which was snubbed by India during its address. We are appalled at the attempt by Pakistan to misuse the forum and to bring in unwarranted references to issues which do not fall within the purview of the forum. We strongly condemned such an attempt," Singh said. The Minister pointed to an undeniable fact" that there have been fundamental changes in circumstances since the treaty was signed in 1960, and it requires a reassessment of the treatys obligations. These changes include technological advancements, demographic changes, climate change, and the ongoing threat of cross-border terrorism," he said. Singh also referred to the treatys preamble and said that it was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship and that honouring the treaty in good faith is essential. However, the unrelenting cross-border terrorism from Pakistan interferes with the ability to exploit the treaty as per its provisions. Pakistan, which itself is in violation of the treaty, should desist from putting the blame of the breach of the treaty on India," he said. Shehbaz Sharif Raked Up Indus Waters Treaty At Global Forum Addressing the International Conference on Glaciers Preservation on Friday, the Pakistani Prime Minister said that his nation would not allow India to cross the red line by holding the treaty in abeyance, which he alleged, endangered millions of lives for narrow political gains". Indias unilateral and illegal decision to hold in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of the Indus Basins water, is deeply regrettable," Pakistani newspaper Dawn quoted Sharif as saying. Pakistan has earlier described Indias suspension of the treaty as an Act of War", with several of its politicians, including sitting and former ministers, issuing brazen threats to India on the matter. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Indus Waters Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 with the World Bank as a guarantor. The agreement regulates the sharing of the waters of the Indus River system between the two neighbours. (With PTI inputs) About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Location : Tajikistan First Published: June 01, 2025, 09:42 IST Indus Waters Treaty: Pakistan's Bid To Prove India As Water Aggressor Baseless, Say Intelligence Sources Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 15:54 IST A top Pakistani military official's statement on the Indus Waters Treaty shows Pakistan is committed to responding with full force across the complete spectrum of national power Pakistan's chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General Sahir Shamshad Mirza declared any suspension or abeyance of the IWT as "acts of war" at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. (Image: Reuters) A statement on Indias abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty being an act of war" by a top Pakistani military official, is baseless and without understanding of the facts involved, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18. Pakistans chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General Sahir Shamshad Mirza declared any suspension or abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) as acts of war" at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Recommended Stories According to top intelligence sources, General Sahir Shamshad Mirzas statement shows that Pakistan is committed to responding with full force across the complete spectrum of national power. The neighbouring countrys aggressive rhetoric, framing Indias measures related to the IWT as an act of war", reflects a pattern of coercive diplomacy, the sources said. This has been reinforced by Pakistans National Security Committee (NSC), which warned that disrupting water flow will be treated as aggression. The senate standing committee on water resources condemned Indias abeyance as illegal and provocative, threatening international legal action while ignoring the absence of provisions on the treatys suspension. The sources said such narratives portray India as a water aggressor to fuel domestic nationalism. There is no actual suspension, but India declared the IWT in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack that it alleged has cross-border terror links, they said. They said this shows that this is a reversible diplomatic measure, and not a termination based on future negotiations on terrorism. The IWT does not have a clause for unilateral suspension, which makes Indias move to be against terrorism rather than legal withdrawal, they added. The sources further said Pakistan has labelled treaty adjustments as acts of war" while itself violating the IWT provisions. Pakistan is using the groundwater of the eastern rivers allocated to India before they cross into Pakistan, they said. The country is also constructing river training works, which is contributing to the flooding of the Rann of Kutch in India, they added. Pakistan has repeatedly denied links to cross-border terrorism despite attacks like Pahalgam in April this year and Uri in 2016. India has cited these deadly terror strikes to justify the raft of diplomatic countermeasures it took following the Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Framing water issues as an existential threat lowers the threshold for military retaliation and Pakistani generals only want it to remain in the business of war, the sources said. Pakistans threats risk closing doors to all functional diplomatic channels, they said. Indias abeyance" is a measured response to terrorism and not water warfare as suggested by Pakistani military officials, they said. Islamabads escalation rhetoric ignores both technical realities and its own treaty violations, while prioritising confrontation over cooperative water governance needed for climate-vulnerable regions, they said. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 First Published: June 01, 2025, 15:54 IST 'May Favour Terrorists': Amit Shah Targets Mamata Over Waqf Protests, Predicts TMC's 2026 Exit Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 17:05 IST Amit Shah criticized Mamata Banerjee over her opposition to the Waqf Act. He accused her of encouraging Murshidabad violence and supporting terrorists. Union Home Minister Amit Shah (File Photo) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a blistering attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her opposition to Waqf Act, saying the TMC supremo may oppose the Waqf till 2026 because after that she will not be the CM anymore" The Union Home Ministers remarks came during the inaugural ceremony of the new building of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Kolkata. Shah wondered who the West Bengal CM was trying to favour by opposing the Act. Shah asked the public if anything was wrong with the Act. Recommended Stories Addressing the BJP workers, Amit Shah said, Is something wrong with the Waqf Act? Should the land of Bengal be sacrificed because of Waqf? Who is Mamata Banerjee favouring by opposing the Waqf Act? Mamata Banerjee may oppose the Waqf till 2026 because after that she will not be the CM anymore" #WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal | Addressing the BJP workers meeting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, Is something wrong with the Waqf Act? Should the land of Bengal be sacrificed because of Waqf? Who is Mamata Banerjee favouring by opposing the Waqf Act? Mamata Banerjee pic.twitter.com/HK3DNcsDGO ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2025 Bengal Ministers Were Involved In Murshidabad Riots: Amit Shah He also hit out at Banerjee over Murshidabad violence against Waqf Act, saying her govt misused the BSF and encouraged the rioters. The BJP leader claimed that in Murshidabad, it was a state-sponsored riot which caused injustice to the Hindus." There was violence in Murshidabad. The Home Ministry insisted on calling the BSF, but they did not Our party workers went to the HC, and after the court order, the BSF came and protected the Hindus Mamata Banerjees minister abused the BSF, and your leaders were standing there and encouraging the rioters. The ministers of the Bengal government were involved in these riots. This was a state-sponsored riot which caused injustice to the Hindus Mamata Didi has crossed all limits of Muslim appeasement," Shah added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Shah also accused the Bengal CM of supporting Pakistani terrorists and said Operation Sindoor is not yet over." Shah reiterated anyone who dares anything will be given a proper answer" Mamata Banerjee may favour the Pakistani terrorists as much as she wants, but I want to tell her that this is PM Modis government and Operation Sindoor is not yet over. Anyone who dares anything will be given a proper answer," said Shah. About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More First Published: June 01, 2025, 16:26 IST No Eid Prayer On Kolkatas Red Road This Year, Army Says Venue Needed For 'Military Purpose' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 19:28 IST TMC Minister Javed Ahmed Khan, who is also a member of the Calcutta Khilafat Committee, confirmed that his organisation received a letter from the Army. Kolkata's Red Road has been a traditional venue to host Eid al-Adha Namaz | File Image/X The Indian Army denied permission to hold Eid-Ul-Zuha Namaz on Red Roada traditional venue for the eventlocated in front of its Eastern Command Headquarters at Fort William, citing military purpose" as the reason. The Army has also informed the Kolkata Police and the Calcutta Khilafat Committeethe organisers of the annual Muslim congregation that draws large crowdsabout its decision. Recommended Stories The permission for conduct of congregational prayer for Eid-Uz-Zoha" in general area Red Road on 07th or 08th June 2025 is not granted as the area is required for military purpose," said a Colonel-rank Army officer in charge of land under the Headquarters Bengal Sub Area in a letter addressed to the Calcutta Khilafat Committee. Like previous years, the Calcutta Khilafat Committee had applied to the Army on May 10, seeking permission to hold the Namaz from the Netaji Statue to the outer entrance of Fort Williams East Gate on Red Road. The forum received a response from the Army on Saturday. Javed Ahmed Khan, the Minister for State Disaster Management, who is also a member of the Calcutta Khilafat Committee, confirmed that his organisation received a letter from the Army. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all We have received the letter. A meeting has been called at our office on Zakaria Street in the afternoon. The members will discuss and take a decision on the matter," he said. Notably, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has previously attended and addressed Eid gatherings at Red Road, a traditional venue which has hosted Eid prayers for decades. About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More First Published: June 01, 2025, 19:27 IST Northeast Rains: 1,500 Tourists Stranded As Sikkim Cut Off; Assam-Meghalaya Key Road Washed Away Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 09:42 IST Authorities are monitoring the situation closely, prioritising connectivity restoration and evacuation of stranded tourists. Tourists Stranded As Sikkim Cut Off; Assam-Meghalaya Key Road Washed Away. (CNN News18) Swelling waters of the River Teesta have damaged key infrastructure in North Sikkim, leaving 112 tourists stranded in Lachen and 1,350 in Lachung, as confirmed by the Mangan District Administration. The surge has impacted the site of the previously destroyed Teesta Stage III dam in Chungthang, with construction workers seen clearing debris amid rising water levels. Recommended Stories The Phidang Bailey Bridge, connecting Mangan to Chungthang, has suffered base damage, while the Sankalang bamboo bridgea critical link to the Dzongu constituencyhas collapsed. Dzongu, comprising 13 GPUs, now stands completely cut off. The Chungthang Hydropower Project was previously damaged on October 4, 2023, and was being rebuilt, only to be engulfed once again by the Teestas fury. Night visuals from Phidang highlight the intensity of the rivers flow and ongoing structural threats. Rescue and relief efforts are underway amid challenging weather conditions. Authorities are monitoring the situation closely, prioritising connectivity restoration and evacuation of stranded tourists as North Sikkim grapples with yet another climate-induced crisis. Incessant rainfall lashed the district throughout the day, especially the Chungthang sub-division. officials said the Power supply, which was snapped on Friday afternoon, was restored this evening, while efforts are underway to restore the drinking water supply by Sunday, they said. The mobile connectivity was restored after nearly 24 hours, around 3 pm, they said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Mangans District Collector Anant Jain said he is stationed at the site where the tourist vehicle plunged into the Teesta and is overseeing the rescue efforts. The SP said, A continuous heavy rainfall and a swollen Teesta river have hampered the search to locate the eight missing persons. The search will resume as soon as weather conditions improve." He said four identity cards and six mobile phones have been recovered by the search team from the river banks near the accident site. Location : Sikkim, India, India First Published: June 01, 2025, 08:40 IST Pakistan Epicentre Of Takfirism, Must Be Brought Back To FATF Grey List: Owaisi In Algeria Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 07:23 IST Owaisi demanded Pakistan to be brought back to FATF Grey list and said that it would be in the interest of world peace that the rogue nation is brought under control. Owaisi exposes Pakistan in Algeria (PTI Image) AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday likened the ideology of Pakistani terrorists to that of Al-Qaeda and said that they believe they have a religious sanction" to kill others in the name of religion. Citing Pakistans sponsorship of terrorism across the globe, Owaisi said that it is in the interest of world peace to bring back the rogue nation back to the FATF Grey list. Recommended Stories His remarks came while addressing in Algeria, where the all-party delegation visited as part of the Centres global outreach to expose Pakistan and present Indias stance against terrorism. #WATCH | Algiers, Algeria | AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi says, Pakistan is the epicentre of Takfirism and there is no difference in ideology between the terrorist groups in Pakistan and Daesh and Al-Qaeda. They believe that they have a religious sanction, which is pic.twitter.com/yXkNSkk4Qd ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2025 Pakistan is the epicentre of Takfirism and there is no difference in ideology between the terrorist groups in Pakistan and Daesh and Al-Qaeda. They believe that they have a religious sanction, which is completely wrong. Islam does not allow the killing of any person, and unfortunately, that is their ideology," he said. Pakistan On FATF Grey List Pakistan had been in the Financial Action Task Force Grey list three times from 2008 to 2010, 2012 to 2015 and from 2018 to 2022. The last time it was placed in the Grey list was in June 2018 due to strategic deficiencies in its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) frameworks. The FATF provided Pakistan with a 27-point action plan to address these issues. However, Pakistan was removed from the Grey list in October 2022. After the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which killed 26 civilians, India is advocating putting Pakistan back on the Grey list. Owaisi Warns Of Pakistans Carnage Across South Asia The AIMIM MP warned the nations against the spread of Pakistans carnage to different parts of South Asia and said that it has to be thrown back into the FATF Grey list. Its not only a question of South Asia. We are the 4th largest economy. What will happen? Do you want all this carnage to spread to different parts of South Asia? No. It is in the interest of world peace to control Pakistan, which is the main sponsor of terrorism. It has to be brought back in the FATF Grey list," he said. Citing the benefit of putting Pakistan in the FATF list, Owaisi said, There was this one terrorist called Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi no country in the world would allow a terrorist whos facing a terror charge. He became a father to a son while sitting in prison. The trial progressed immediately when Pakistan was put on the Grey list." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Once you bring Pakistan back in the Grey list (of FATF), we will see a decrease in terrorism in India. Well see killings coming down. We have the 2018 experience when Algeria and other countries helped India," the MP added. India has sent its all-party delegations to various parts of the world to present its stand on terrorism. A delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor will also visit the US this week. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Location : Algeria First Published: June 01, 2025, 07:02 IST Taekwondo Player Alleges Gang-Rape In Ashram After Being Offered Spiked Laddoo Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 12:25 IST The survivor has provided a video to the police, which also circulated on social media, allegedly showing an elderly man assaulting her within the ashram premises. The woman alleged that her husband had turned violent and coercive after his HIV diagnosis. (Representative image) A national-level Taekwondo player has accused several individuals of gang-rape at an ashram near a police station in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The alleged incident occurred in January, but the complaint was filed four months later, various regional media outlets reported. An investigation is underway, and a video of the incident, which has surfaced on social media, is being examined. Recommended Stories The survivor, a resident of Kanpurs Govind Nagar, claims she met Govind Mahto while looking for a spot to sell used clothes. Mahto allegedly took her to the ashram, promising to introduce her to influential people who could help her find a location. The woman alleged that after being offered a laddoo at the ashram, she lost consciousness and was subsequently gang-raped by Govind Mahto, the ashrams mahant, and several others, including four named individuals who are temple priests. When asked why she waited four months to file a report, the survivor said she feared retribution due to the accused mens alleged political connections. The survivor has provided a video to the police, which also circulated on social media, allegedly showing an elderly man assaulting her within the ashram premises. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Mahesh Kumar confirmed that a complaint had been filed. The woman approached the DCP with her complaint, which was handed over to me for investigation. A video has also been submitted, and we have visited the ashram room shown in it. We are examining all aspects and will take further action accordingly," Kumar said. The ashrams priests responded to the allegations by claiming they were in Prayagraj, attending the Kumbh at the time of the incident. They provided photos and videos as evidence to support their alibi, which are currently being examined by the police. First Published: June 01, 2025, 12:25 IST Inside R Madhavans Luxe Life: Rs 115 Cr Net Worth, Dream Homes, And Superbikes Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 17:12 IST Actor R Madhavan turned a year older on July 1. Here's a look at his net worth on his 55th birthday. R Madhavan was last seen in Kesari: Chapter 2. Best known for his versatility and intensity, actor R Madhavan turned a year older. The actor is celebrating his 55th birthday today. He made his movie debut with Mani Ratnams Alai Payuthey. Just a year after that, he starred alongside Dia Mirza in Rehna Hai Terre Dil Mein. The movie made him an overnight sensation, and he went on to become one of the most sought-after actors in the industry. He has completed more than two decades in the film industry and has carved a niche for himself. On his 55th birthday, lets take a look at R Madhavans net worth. As per a report by Jagran English, the actor has an impressive net worth of Rs 115 crore. Recommended Stories View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sarita Birje Madhavan (@msaru15) How Much Does R Madhavan Charge Per Project? His earnings have seen a sharp rise over the years, from being paid Rs 65 lakh for 3 Idiots back in 2009 to charging a staggering Rs 10 crore for his 2024 release, Shaitaan. For major film projects today, Madhavan reportedly commands anywhere between Rs 1215 crore. His digital debut was no exception; for Amazon Prime Videos Breathe (2018), he was paid a solid Rs 8 crore. R Madhavans Properties View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sarita Birje Madhavan (@msaru15) Off-screen, Madhavan leads a life that reflects his success. He owns a stunning, spacious residence in Chennai estimated to be worth Rs 18 crore, along with properties in Mumbai and Dubai. In an earlier interview with Hindustan Times, Madhavan noted that he may not have a billion-dollar net worth, but he is not worried about that. He said, I spend on experiences. I never see how much a new experience costs. I just want to do it. Bahut se fizool me paise udaaye hain (I have splurged a lot needlessly). But for an actor, that is necessary. It is because of all those experiences that I have been able to become an actor today." A Motorhead View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sarita Birje Madhavan (@msaru15) top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all His love for luxury extends to his garage, too. He owns a Mercedes-Benz priced at Rs 80 lakh and a Range Rover worth Rs 1 crore. A motorcycle enthusiast, Madhavans collection includes a Roadmaster cruiser valued at Rs 40 lakh, alongside models like the Yamaha V-Max, BMW K1600 GTL, and Ducati Diavel. 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: June 01, 2025, 17:12 IST Miss World 2025: Thailands Opal Suchata Chuangsri Crowned Miss World 2025 in Hyderabad Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 08:20 IST Miss World 2025: Thailands Opal Suchata Chuangsri shines as Miss World 2025, crowned in a dazzling ceremony in Hyderabad Miss World 2025: Opal Suchata Chuangsri beams with pride as she is crowned Miss World 2025 at a star-studded finale in Hyderabad Thailands Opal Suchata Chuangsri has been crowned Miss World 2025 at a glittering ceremony held on 31 May at the HITEX Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad. She received the prestigious title from outgoing Miss World 2024, Krystyna Pyszkova of the Czech Republic. The 72nd edition of the global pageant saw 108 contestants from around the world competing for the crown. Ethiopias Hasset Dereje was named first runner-up, while Polands Maja Klajda secured the second runner-up position. Aurlie Joachim from Martinique rounded off the top four. Indias representative, Nandini Gupta, made it to the top 20. Recommended Stories Who is Opal Suchata Chuangsri? Born and raised in Phuket, Opal is currently pursuing a degree in international relations and works as a professional model. Her advocacy for breast cancer awareness stems from a personal experience at just 16, she discovered a lump in her breast, which, though non-cancerous, motivated her to become a voice for early detection and awareness in Thailand. Her advocacy initiative, Opal For HER, focuses on education and empowerment for women, and her finale gown was designed as a tribute to this mission embodying the symbolic strength, beauty, and transformation of the opal gemstone. Interestingly, Opal also competed in the Miss Universe 2024 pageant held in Mexico City, where she initially placed as the third runner-up. However, her ranking was later revoked after she accepted the Miss World Thailand title before completing her full reign as Miss Universe Thailand. A Star-Studded Finale The grand finale in Hyderabad was a celebration of beauty, culture, and purpose. It was hosted by former Miss World 2016, Stephanie del Valle resplendent in a traditional Indian lehenga and Indian television host Sachiin Kumbhar. The event featured energetic performances by Bollywood stars Jacqueline Fernandez and Ishaan Khatter, bringing an extra touch of glamour to the evening. The judging panel featured a mix of global personalities, including actor Sonu Sood who was honoured with the Miss World Humanitarian Award and Sudha Reddy, who currently serves as the Global Ambassador for the Miss World Foundations Beauty With a Purpose" initiative. Also on the panel were Dr Caryna Turrell (Miss England 2014 and public health expert from the University of Cambridge) and reigning Miss World Krystyna Pyszkova. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Opal Suchata (@suchaaata) Julia Morley CBE, the Chairwoman of Miss World, led the jury, while the event was graced by several Indian celebrities, including actors Manushi Chhillar, Rana Daggubati, Namrata Shirodkar, and politician Chiranjeevi. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was also in attendance, underscoring the events cultural significance. India Hosts Miss World for the Second Time in a Row top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This marks the second consecutive year that India has hosted the Miss World pageant the 71st edition took place in Mumbai in 2024. With Hyderabad now joining the ranks of global cities that have welcomed this iconic event, the pageant continues to highlight Indias growing prominence on the world stage. As the new Miss World, Opal Suchata Chuangsri will spend the year championing her platform and travelling the globe as an ambassador for causes close to her heart, continuing the legacy of beauty with a purpose. 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: June 01, 2025, 08:20 IST R Madhavan Birthday: How Rich Is Kesari 2 Actor At 55? Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 07:30 IST Happy Birthday R Madhavan: The actor recently made a surprise appearance at Maa's trailer launch in Mumbai. However, details about his role in under wraps. Happy Birthday R Madhavan: The actor will turn 55 on June 1, 2025. (Image: Instagram/actormaddy) Happy Birthday R Madhavan: Known for his versatile performances on screen, R Madhavan has carved out a niche for himself in the film industry. From his breakout roles in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein and Alaipayuthey to latest OTT projects like Decoupled and The Railway Men, the actor has consistently delighted the audience. On his 55th birthday, heres a look at his net worth and some of his movies you can add to your watchlist. R Madhavans Net Worth Recommended Stories As per several reports, R Madhavans net worth is estimated to be around Rs 115 crore. Recently, in an interview with Hindustan Times, the actor stated that he is not too money-conscious. He mentioned, I wish I was. My net worth would have been much higher than what it is. I spend on experiences. I never see how much a new experience costs. I just want to do it. Bahut se fizool me paise udaaye hain (I have splurged a lot needlessly)." R Madhavans Top Movies Alaipayuthey: The film directed by Mani Ratnam marks R Madhavans Tamil debut and delves deeply into the complexities of marital life between a young couple who elope. It has a philosophical undertone in which traditions and modernism are pitted against one another. The flick also stars Shalini, Jayasudha, Vivek, among others. Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein: Gautham Vasudev Menon wrote and directed the film, which stars R Madhavan, Saif Ali Khan and Dia Mirza as the leads. It is a remake of the Tamil movie, Minnale. RHTDM follows the love story of Madhav Maddy Shastri and Reena Malhotra. The latter is engaged to Rajeev Sam Samra, a young man living in the United States and Maddys former college adversary. The story takes a turn when Madhav impersonates Rajeev to win over Reena. Vikram Vedha: One of R Madhavans most iconic and popular flicks, Vikram Vedha, stars him opposite Vijay Sethupathi. Madhavan plays Vikram, an upright cop who is caught in a chase game with the cunning gangster Vedha. His portrayal of a morally upright yet troubled cop is captivating and demonstrates his command over dramatic roles. Shaitaan: Another R Madhavans film that has caused quite a lot of buzz. His portrayal of Vanraj Kashyap, a man who seizes control of a young girls body and tortures her entire family in the process, keeps the audience intrigued. The movie also stars Ajay Devgn, Jyothika, Janki Bodiwala and others. 3 Idiots: The film strikes a chord with the audience as it critically looks at the higher education system. Farhan Qureshi (R Madhavan), Raju Rastogi (Sharman Joshi) and Rancho (Aamir Khan) portray three friends who study together at a top engineering college in Delhi and challenge the system. Directed by Rajkummar Hirani,3 Idiots also stars Kareena Kapoor, Boman Irani and Omi Vaidya. R Madhavans Upcoming Projects R Madhavan has collaborated with Fatima Sana Shaikh for the romance drama, Aap Jaisa Koi, that follows the lives of two distinct persons, Shrirenu Tripathi and Madhu Bose. According to the teaser, Madhavan plays a Sanskrit teacher and Fatima a French professor. The movie is directed by Vivek Soni and produced by Karan Johars Dharma Productions. Meanwhile, his surprise appearance at Kajol starrer Maas trailer launch in Mumbai led to speculation that he might be a part of the film. Maa is reportedly set in the same universe as Shaitaan. However, details about his role remain under wraps. About the Author Bhaswati Sengupta Bhaswati Sengupta is a Sub-Editor at News18, where she works closely with the Web Stories and Photo Gallery team to create visually engaging and impactful digital content. She also contributes to Lifestyle sect... Read More Bhaswati Sengupta is a Sub-Editor at News18, where she works closely with the Web Stories and Photo Gallery team to create visually engaging and impactful digital content. She also contributes to Lifestyle sect... Read More First Published: June 01, 2025, 07:30 IST Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE:BURL) shares are trading slightly higher on Friday. On Thursday, the company reported first-quarter adjusted earnings per share of $1.60, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $1.41. Quarterly sales of $2.50 billion missed the Street view of $2.52 billion. The companys CEO, Michael OSullivan, stated that while tariffs are expected to significantly impact merchandise margins, he is confident the company can offset this pressure in other areas of the profit and loss statement, provided tariffs do not rise beyond current levels. Also Read: Shoe Carnival Stockpiles Inventory To Dodge Tariffs, Ramps Up Rebannering Here are the key analysts views on the company: Telsey Advisory Group analyst Dana Telsey reiterated the Outperform rating on Burlington, lowering the price forecast from $340 to $300. In an analyst note, Telsey noted that acquiring prime retail locations remains a key part of Burlingtons strategy to expand its footprint and draw in high-value customers, especially as consumers increasingly prioritize value. However, due to macroeconomic uncertainty and rising costs tied to acquiring leases from bankrupt retailers, Telsey lowered the firms price forecast. She highlighted that Burlington is adjusting its strategy and staying agile in response to current conditions. While tariffs are creating short-term challenges, management believes it wont cause lasting structural shifts in the retail sector. The companys FY25 outlook factors in a 30% tariff on imports from China and 10% on goods from other countries. To reduce its reliance on China, Burlington is collaborating with vendors and sourcing more products already located in the U.S., Telsey noted. She added that the company has several levers across the cost of goods sold and SG&A to help offset higher costs and support profitability. BofA Securities analyst Lorraine Hutchinson maintained the Buy rating on the stock, with a price forecast of $350. According to Hutchinson, the increased order volatility driven by shifting tariffs could actually improve merchandise availability for the off-price sector. She noted that Burlingtons direct sourcing exposure remains modest at 8%, mostly tied to categories like Home and gifting. The analyst has modeled a flat gross margin for the second quarter. She anticipates 60 basis points of pressure on gross margin in the second half of the year as tariffs begin to flow through. However, she suggested that mitigation strategies could offset this future pressure once Burlington and its vendors have had sufficient time to adjust their production processes and pricing structures. Kamal Haasans Effigy Burnt In Bengaluru Over Kannada Remark Controversy Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 10:12 IST Kamal Haasan refused to apologize for his 'Kannada is born out of Tamil' statement, causing protests by pro-Kannada groups who demand an apology and threaten to ban his film. Kamal Hassan's effigy burnt as protests. Kamal Haasan has refused to apologise for his Kannada is born out of Tamil statement, leading several pro-Kannada groups protesting against the actor in Karnataka. Groups like Kannada Rakshana Vedike and some politicians have asked Kamal Haasan to apologise publicly. They have also warned that they might stop his upcoming film Thug Life from releasing in Karnataka. And now, several videos and photos have appeared online showing members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike burning Kamal Haasans effigy and posters in different parts of the state. The protests are aimed at expressing anger over his controversial statement, with demands to ban his latest film Thug Life in Karnataka. Recommended Stories The situation became more intense when Kamal Haasan, at a different event, refused to apologise. He said, Love will never apologise. I will apologise only if I am wrong, if not, I will not. This is my lifestyle, please dont tamper with it. India is a democratic country, and I believe in law and justice." On Saturday, pro-Kannada groups, led by Lok Sabha MP LR Shivarame Gowda and other activists, visited many movie theaters in the city, asking them not to show Thug Life. Karnataka Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi stated that Kamal Haasans films would be banned in the state if the actor does not apologise for his remarks about the Kannada language. He added that this decision was made by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC). In the meantime, KFCC president M Narasimhalu shared that theatre owners and film distributors have chosen on their own not to show Kamal Haasans movie unless he says sorry. I have written a letter, After that, the film chamber of commerce has also taken a good decision and held a press meet yesterday saying that if he doesnt apologise in two days his film will be banned. I extend my compliments to the film chamber of commerce as the Minister for Kannada and Culture," Tangadagi said. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said that no matter how famous someone is, speaking against Kannada, Kannadigas, or Karnatakas land and water will not be accepted. He added that Kamal Haasan must apologise, or else, as decided by the film chamber of commerce, his films will be banned. We will not allow it, if he doesnt apologise. He should apologise. Any light comment against Kannada will not be tolerated. If he doesnt apologise, we will take our decision," he added. When asked if Kamal Haasans films would be banned if he didnt apologise, Tangadagi replied, Yes." Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, is set to release on June 5. First Published: June 01, 2025, 10:12 IST Opinion | Kamal Haasan's Linguistic Gaffe: Popularity Of Language Not Gauged By Antiquity But Usage Written By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 13:30 IST The debate over superiority of a particular language smacks of wastefulness and futility. Language and art are no longer tested on the touchstone of antiquity and provenance Actor Kamal Haasan might have deliberately made such a statement to cozy up to the present ruling dispensation in Tamil Nadu. (Image: PTI/Atul Yadav/File) India recognises 11 languages as classical languages: Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. These languages are acknowledged for their rich literary and historical heritage, with some dating back over 1,500 to 2,000 years. The initial six were Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014). On October 4, 2024, the Union cabinet added the remaining five to the exalted status. Recommended Stories Curiously, Hindi doesnt figure in the list of classical languages. We dont have to look too far to find the reason. After all, Hindi is spoken in several dialects. Bhojpuri, Brij, Maithili and so forth. So, it is possible the government is still examining the antiquity and heritage of each of the Hindi dialects. Punjabi, too, doesnt figure in the list but that doesnt raise the hackles of Punjabis who revel in and celebrate the flippancy and bluff lightness of the language. The redoubtable Rajaji, famed for his foresightedness and intelligence, committed about 55 years ago the same error as Kamal Haasan Kannada came out of the womb of Tamil. He, too, had hailed Tamil as the mother of Kannada. He post-haste tendered his apology for his insensitive utterance. Language and rivers have the knack of sowing seeds of dissension. The historical English-French rivalry harks back to the Norman Conquest of 1066 and subsequent Plantagenet rule, which led to French becoming the language of the English court and aristocracy, profoundly impacting the English language. This influence, while substantial, also fostered a sense of national identity that stood away from the French, contributing to a rivalry that extended beyond language. When one thinks dispassionately, the debate over superiority of a particular language smacks of wastefulness and futility. As wasteful and futile as trying to decipher the provenance of an art especially in the light of the modern trend to celebrate impressionist art as well in equal measure. On March 21, 2006, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey registered his first tweet, which read: Just setting up my twttr". This was the inaugural post on the platform, which was then internally codenamed twttr". The first tweet was later sold as a non-fungible token (NFT) and fetched a price of $2.9 million. To the art purists, NFT may be the ultimate in the dumbing down of art. Be that as it may. The point is language and art are no longer tested on the touchstone of antiquity and provenance. Coming back to Haasans seeming gaffe, well he might have done it deliberately to cozy up to the present ruling dispensation in Tamil Nadu. At least the timing suggests that hints of his impending nomination to the Rajya Sabha by the DMK government and his rash comment have almost coincided. That he implicitly denounced the other language while sharing the podium with Shivarajkumar, the son of late Dr Rajkumar the Kannada matinee idol is both cheeky and surprising given the fact Shivarajkumar sprang to Haasans defence though not then and there. People are also questioning Shivarajkumar, who did not counter Haasan on the stage. They argue that Kannada is an independent Dravidian language like Tamil and other languages. Maybe he was overawed by the seniority and popularity of the thespian. Logographic and hieroglyphs languages may mystify those not familiar with their scripts but each letter conveys a special meaning in a manner of picture story books that makes them superior in the eyes of those who have adopted them. What is important is that languages and dialects are unique to the defined ethnic groups. To the credit of English, it must be granted that it is the only language that is the language of science, commerce and international travel. Spanish and French despite their colonial links have remained confined to certain geographical segments. Truth be told, except English, all other languages have remained local by and large albeit rich with their unique cultural impressions. The wider appeal of the English language perhaps lies in the UK and the US spearheading scientific and commercial pursuits with all other languages languidly content in the cultural sphere. And BTW, despite the stiff upper lip caricature of the Englishman, English dictionary publishers have been open to enrichment of the language by foreign tongues. Guru and catamaran are just two of the Indian words adopted with alacrity by the English dictionaries uninhibited and unmarred by narrow considerations. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Despite its rivalry with French, English has borrowed loanwords from French like savoir faire. Ditto for German (The writer is a senior columnist. His X account is @smurlidharan. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views) First Published: June 01, 2025, 13:30 IST Chirag Paswan To Contest Bihar Assembly Elections, Seat Not Decided Yet: Sources Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Aanchal Sinha Last Updated: June 02, 2025, 09:11 IST Chirag Paswan will contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls from a general seat, as decided by the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). The seat is yet to be decided. Union Minister Chirag Paswan (PTI Photo) The parliamentary board of Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) has decided that Union Minister Chirag Paswan will contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls from a general (unreserved) seat, sources said on Sunday. According to the LJP sources, the seat has not been decided yet, but itll be a general seat. Recommended Stories Party leader and MP Arun Bharti took to X, confirming that a proposal was also passed unanimously that Chirag Paswan should contest the upcoming assembly elections himself. Our National President Shri @iChiragPaswan ji always says that his politics is Bihar-centric and his vision Bihar First, Bihari First" is a resolution for a developed and self-reliant Bihar. This is possible only when he stays in Bihar and leads," Bharti wrote on X. When I went from village to village as the state in-charge, people everywhere had only one demand that Chirag ji should now play a bigger role in Bihar. Recently, in the party executive meeting, a proposal was also passed unanimously that he should contest the upcoming assembly elections himself," he added. The Jamui MP said that Chirag Paswan is not just a representative", but the hope of the whole of Bihar." He said that the Union Minister will give a new direction to the politics of social justice, in which, along with representation, the fight for universal acceptance will also be fought. At the same time, there is a feeling among the workers that this time he should contest the election not from a reserved seat but from a general seat so that the message goes out that he is now ready to lead the entire Bihar and not just one section," Bharti added. Earlier this week, Chirag Paswan hinted at contesting the Bihar Assembly polls while speaking to reporters, suggesting it was part of the LJP(RV) and BJP-led NDAs larger strategy. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all I have left this entirely to my party. If the party wants, I am ready to contest the Assembly elections. Currently, it is conducting a survey to figure out whether my candidacy will help my party, my candidates and my alliance. Just like Lok Sabha polls, our strike rate should be impressive in Bihar elections," he said. The Bihar Assembly polls, whose schedule is yet to be announced, are anticipated to be a head-to-head battle between the NDA and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led Mahagathbandhan, although some opinion polls suggest Prashant Kishors Jan Suraaj party could play a significant role. Location : Bihar, India, India First Published: June 01, 2025, 13:37 IST 'Govt Misled Nation, Must Hold Special Parliament Session': Kharge After CDS' Op Sindoor Remark Published By : PTI Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 08:45 IST Kharge said his party demands comprehensive review of India's defence preparedness by independent expert committee, on the lines of the survey done by the Kargil Review Committee. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge | File Image/PTI Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accused the government of misleading the nation on the India-Pakistan conflict and demanded holding a special session of Parliament immediately, following Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhans acknowledgement of aircraft loss in the hostilities. Gen Chauhan, however, dismissed as absolutely incorrect" Islamabads claim of downing six Indian jets. Recommended Stories In a post on X, Kharge said his party demands a comprehensive review of Indias defence preparedness by an independent expert committee, on the lines of the survey done by the Kargil Review Committee. In the wake of the remarks made by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) in Singapore in an interview, there are some very important questions that need to be asked. These can only be done if a special session of the Parliament is immediately convened," he said. The Modi Government has misled the nation. The fog of war is now clearing." The Congress chief said the IAF pilots risked their lives fighting the enemy, and suffered some losses but our pilots were safe". He was referring to Gen Chauhans interview in which the CDS said that we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days and flew all our jets again, targeting at long range". The Congress president said his party salutes their resolute courage and bravery. However, a comprehensive strategic review is the need of the hour, he asserted. The Congress party demands a Comprehensive Review of our Defence Preparedness by an independent expert committee, on the lines of the Kargil Review Committee," he said. Citing Donald Trumps statements, Kharge said the US president has again repeated his claim about brokering a ceasefire". This is a direct affront to the Shimla Agreement. Instead of clarifying Mr Trumps repeated assertions, and the affidavit filed by the US Secretary of Commerce in the United States Court of International Trade, PM Modi is on an election blitz, taking personal credit for the valour of our Armed Forces, hiding behind their bravery and dodging the contours of the agreed ceasefire, which the Foreign Secretary announced on May 10, after Trumps tweet," Kharge noted in his post. Is India and Pakistan now again hyphenated? What are the conditions of the ceasefire agreement? The 140 crore patriotic Indians deserve to know this," the Congress chief asserted. In a separate post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also asked, It is an extraordinary and telling commentary on Emergency@11 that the PM will not chair all-party meetings and will not take Parliament into confidence but the nation gets to know of the first phase of Operation Sindoor through the CDSs interview in Singapore." Couldnt opposition leaders have been taken into confidence by the PM earlier?" he asked. Gen Chauhan, in the interview, asserted it is more important to find out why the aircraft were lost so that the Indian military could improve tactics and hit back again. I think what is important is not the jet being downed but why they were being downed," he said. The CDS was asked whether India lost combat jets during the four-day military clashes with Pakistan earlier this month. The good part is that we were able to understand the tactical mistakes which we made; remedied, rectified and then implemented it again after two days. We flew all our jets again targeting at long range," he said. Absolutely incorrect," Gen Chauhan said when asked about Pakistans claim of shooting down six Indian jets during Operation Sindoor. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Previously, Indian Air Forces Director General of Air Operations, Air Marshall AK Bharti, acknowledged that losses are a part of combat" and said all IAF pilots returned home safely. Air Marshall Bharti made the remarks at a media briefing on May 11 when asked about India aircraft losses during Operation Sindoor. Gen Chauhan is in Singapore to participate in the Shangri-La Dialogue. 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: June 01, 2025, 08:45 IST National Security, Illegal Infiltration: What Amit Shah's Speech In Bengal Said About BJP's Poll Focus Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 19:54 IST Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the West Bengal assembly election next year is not only about the state's future but also about safeguarding India's national interests Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah addresses an organisational meeting of the party at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on June 1. (Image: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra) The BJP has, so far, largely centred its campaign against the TMC on issues of poor governance and corruption. This time, however, Union Home Minister Amit Shahs speech in West Bengal has made it clear that the focus will be on national security for the assembly elections next year. Two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the state, Amit Shah took to the stage with the slogan: Lokhyo bijoy sankalp parivartan (Aim to win, determined to change). Recommended Stories This time, Bengals fight is directly linked to the security of the nation," Shah told party workers at an organisational meeting of the BJP in Kolkatas Netaji Indoor Stadium on Sunday. He was in the city for a day and inaugurated a central forensic laboratory followed by a visit to Swami Vivekanandas residence. Shah said the upcoming West Bengal election is not only about the states future but also about safeguarding Indias national interests. She (Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee) is facilitating illegal Bangladeshi infiltration through the border. This infiltration is happening with her blessings. Shouldnt this be stopped? Can Mamata Banerjee stop it? Only the BJP can put an end to it," he alleged. Given the domestic situation and evolving developments in Bangladesh, it is evident that the BJP plans to aggressively campaign on the issue of national security. According to senior BJP insiders, the party will try to convey to the people that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in pursuit of vote-bank politics has allowed large-scale infiltration. They alleged that this has led to demographic change and poses a serious national security risk. The party plans to make this a core issue during its campaign, they said. Alongside infiltration, the BJP will also capitalise on Mamata Banerjees remarks against Operation Sindoor, which were highlighted in Shahs speech. When the Prime Minister came here after Operation Sindoor, Mamata Banerjee opposed it," he said. She hurt the sentiments of crores of mothers and sisters. In the upcoming election, our women will teach her the value of sindoor." The BJP is expected to build its 2026 West Bengal campaign around several themes: vote-bank appeasement politics, opposition to Operation Sindoor, alleged persecution of Hindus, and the demographic impact of illegal infiltration. Experts suggest that the BJP will also highlight the situation in Murshidabad and Malda, where the party has claimed Hindus have been reduced to minority. It has said this is a direct consequence of unchecked infiltration. The home minister referred to recent violence in Murshidabad, stating: We kept asking the state government to deploy the BSF (Border Security Force), but they did nothing. Finally, our workers had to go to court. Only then did the BSF intervene and save lives. A state minister was present during the violence; this was a state-sponsored riot." The BJP believes that the Murshidabad violence, which targeted one particular community, will become a key issue in the 2026 poll campaign, party insiders said. The people of this country want a patriotic government, not an appeasement-based one," Shah said, underlining from start to finish, the tone the BJP intends to set during its campaign in Bengal. WHAT DID THE TMC SAY? The TMC strongly responded to Shahs remarks on national security and Operation Sindoor, accusing him of deflecting blame and failing in his responsibilities. The party said if infiltration is indeed taking place in Bengal, the responsibility lies with the home minister since the BSF functions under his ministry. The party also rejected his allegation that the TMC opposed Operation Sindoor. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Amit Shah is to be blamed. If national security is being compromised, then as the home minister, he should take responsibility and resign. He is a total failure who allowed terrorists to enter the country and kill 26 of our tourists in Pahalgam. Even before that, there were incidents like Pulwama, where paramilitary forces had requested to be airlifted, but the request was denied. This is all on record," said senior TMC leader Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar. Dastidar said a TMC delegation had recently visited Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, and witnessed firsthand the deep sense of insecurity felt by residents in the border villages. About the Author Kamalika Sengupta Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar... Read More Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar... Read More First Published: June 01, 2025, 19:47 IST Tharoor Reacts To Congress Colleague's Criticism Of Him: 'When We Get Back To India...' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 15:15 IST Shashi Tharoor has been facing criticism from his party colleagues over his remarks abroad in support of the Centre. He has reacted to a query on swipes by Congress leaders. Shashi Tharoor has been at the receiving end of Congress' criticism lately (PTI Image) Days after party leader Jairam Rameshs our MPs are roaming" remark, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said on Saturday (local time) that he will speak with his colleagues once he returns to India and is currently focusing on conveying Indias message regarding terrorism on global stages. Tharoors remarks came in response to a media query regarding criticism of his remarks abroad by his own party members. The Congress MP is leading one of the seven all-party delegations to several nations, including the US, which is their next stop after their Brazil visit. The government has sent delegations to different parts of the world as part of its global outreach to expose Pakistan and Indias stance on terrorism in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Recommended Stories When asked about the swipes by his party leaders upon his arrival in Brazil, Tharoor said, I think this is a time now for us to focus on our mission. Undoubtedly, in a thriving democracy, there are bound to be comments and criticisms, but I think at this point we cant afford to dwell on them. When we get back to India, no doubt well have our chance to speak to our colleagues, critics, media there. But right now were focused on the countries were coming to and getting the message out to the people here." #WATCH | Brasilia, Brazil: When asked about criticism and questions raised by Congress, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, I think this is a time now for us to focus on our mission. Undoubtedly, in a thriving democracy, there are bound to be comments and criticisms, but I think at pic.twitter.com/24bKFJ3dM5 ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2025 Last month, while criticising the government, Jairam Ramesh had said, Our MPs are roaming and terrorists (involved in the Pahalgam terror attack) are also roaming." Tharoors comments supporting Indias position during the India-Pakistan conflict have drawn appreciation from the ruling side and their supporters, however, they didnt go down well with many in his own party leaders. While the Congress had earlier supported the governments action after the Pahalgam terror attack, it later shifted its tone asking the government to explain why a ceasefire was agreed to and what role the US played in it. Tharoors support for the government and the decision to make him head of an Indian delegation upset some Congress leaders. Senior party member Jairam Ramesh even said Tharoors views did not reflect the Congress partys official position. Despite this, the government went ahead and picked him for the delegation, even though the Congress didnt include his name in its own list of suggestions. Tharoors remarks in Panama created another discomfort among Congress, after which the party dubbed him superspokesperson of the BJP". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all What has changed in recent years is that the terrorists have also realised they will have a price to pay. On that, let there be no doubt. When, for the first time, India breached the Line of Control between India and Pakistan to conduct a surgical strike on a terror base, a launchpad the Uri strike in September 2015. That was already something we had not done before," Tharoor had said in Panama. Even during the Kargil War, we had not crossed the Line of Control; in Uri, we did, and then came the attack in Pulwama in January 2019. This time, we crossed not only the Line of Control but also the international border, and we struck the terrorist headquarters in Balakot. This time, we have gone beyond both of those. We have not only gone beyond the Line of Control and the international border. We have struck at the Punjabi heartland of Pakistan by hitting terror bases, training centres, terror headquarters in nine places," he had noted. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Location : Brazil First Published: June 01, 2025, 15:08 IST 'Secularism Must Be 2-Way Street': Pawan Kalyan, Kangana Question Sharmistha Panoli's Arrest Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 11:55 IST The arrest of 22-year-old law student Sharmishta Panoli for a deleted video has sparked a political row, with critics accusing the West Bengal government of selective action. Her arrest came after the circulation of a now-deleted video in which she allegedly made communal remarks while criticising Bollywood actors. The arrest of 22-year-old law student and social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli has triggered a major political row, with several leaders accusing the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government of practising selective action and appeasement politics". Panoli, a student from Pune known for her outspoken social media content, often containing strong language, was arrested by West Police on Thursday from Haryanas Gurugram. Her arrest came after the circulation of a now-deleted video in which she allegedly made communal remarks while criticising Bollywood actors for not speaking up on Operation Sindoor. Recommended Stories Police said the video contained derogatory and disrespectful" language targeting a particular religious community. Panoli had later deleted the video and issued a public apology. ALSO READ: Who Is Sharmishta Panoli, Influencer Arrested For Controversial Remarks On Op Sindoor? Panolis arrest drew sharp criticism from political leaders, who took to X to voice their condemnation. West Bengal BJP President and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar said the arrest was politically motivated, claiming, Sharmistha Panoli, 22, law student, arrested for a now-deleted video and a public apology. No riots. No unrest. Yet Mamata Banerjees police acted overnight not for justice, but for appeasement. But when TMC leaders insult Sanatan Dharma, call Jai Shri Ram a gaali, mock Maha Kumbh, and push communal poison theres no FIR, no arrest, no apology." Sharmistha Panoli, 22, law student, arrested for a now-deleted video and a public apology.No riots. No unrest. Yet Mamata Banerjees police acted overnight not for justice, but for appeasement. But when TMC leaders insult Sanatan Dharma, call Jai Shri Ram a gaali, mock Maha Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) June 1, 2025 This is not justice. This is vote-bank vendetta. India is watching," Majumdar added. International voices also joined the debate, including Dutch MP Geert Wilders, who posted on X: Free the brave Sharmishta Panoli! Its a disgrace for the freedom of speech that she was arrested. Dont punish her for speaking the truth about Pakistan and Muhammad. Help her @narendramodi!." Free the brave Sharmishta Panoli!Its a disgrace for the freedom of speech that she was arrested. Dont punish her for speaking the truth about Pakistan and Muhammad. Help her @narendramodi! @AmyMek #Sharmishta#IStandwithSharmishta #ReleaseSharmistha #FreeSharmishta pic.twitter.com/YhGSLhuyr2 Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) May 31, 2025 Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut came out in defence of Sharmishta Panoli on Saturday, expressing concern via her Instagram Stories over what she called excessive punitive action. I agree that Sharmishta used some unpleasant words for her expression but such words most youngsters use these days," Kangana wrote. She apologised for her statements and that should be enough, no need to bully or harass her further. She should be released immediately." ALSO READ: Kangana Ranaut Demands Release Of Sharmishta Panoli: Stop Harassing Her Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also spoke out, saying Panoli had apologised for her words but was still punished. But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is called Gandha Dharm? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest? Blasphemy must be condemned, always! Secularism isnt a shield for some and a sword for others. It must be a two-way street. West Bengal Police, the nation is watching. Act justly for all," he wrote. During Operation Sindoor, Sharmistha, a law student, spoke out, her words regrettable and hurtful to some. She owned her mistake, deleted the video and apologized. The WB Police swiftly acted, taking action against Sharmistha.But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted pic.twitter.com/YBotf34YYe Pawan Kalyan (@PawanKalyan) May 31, 2025 Congress leader Karti P Chidambaram also took to X and condemned the arrest. These interstate arrests for social media posts (unless its clearly demonstrated that it has lead to a law & order situation) is blatantly a misuse of police powers," he wrote. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all These interstate arrests for social media posts (unless its clearly demonstrated that it has lead to a law & order situation) is blatantly a misuse of police powers. https://t.co/Dt02Dffpn0 Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) May 31, 2025 Maharashtra BJP leader Nitesh Rane als wrote: Ramgiri Maharaj speaks the truth..its a problem.. Sharmistha speaks the truth.. apologies about it.. deletes the posts.. its still a problem.. but when Sanatha Dharma is attacked every day by the WB TMC leaders .. there is no apology.. why ? Then the secular kidas come out to give lectures.. where is the so called Sarv dharma Sama Bhav gone then ? Jago HINDU Jago!" 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: June 01, 2025, 11:18 IST Will AI Wipe Out Humanity? Indian-Origin Expert Issues Apocalyptic Warning Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 20:34 IST Professor Subhash Kak warned that AI would replace "everything" in the future, leading to declining birth rates that would leave Earth's population at only 100 million by 2300. The advancement of AI recently has sparked fears about the future of advancement. (Pixabay photo) The rise of artificial intelligence in recent times has sparked concerns. People have warned that AI can replace several jobs in the future, and the emergence of ChatGPT, Google Veo and Grok has transformed the realm of AI to the extent that it is now part of our daily lives. In the meantime, an expert has warned that AI would replace everything", leaving the Earth in a dystopian future with a population of just 100 million roughly the size of the UK by 2300 or 2380, as major cities will turn into ghostlands. Recommended Stories Indian-origin computer science professor Subhash Kak, who works at Oklahoma State University, gave the dire warning to the UK-based daily The Sun, where he predicted that raising children would become increasingly difficult in a world with a shortage of jobs, as AI would have taken over many occupations. Everything Will Be Replaced Computers or robots will never be conscious, but they will be doing literally all that we do because most of what we do in our lives can be replaced. Literally everything, even decision-making in offices, will be replaced. So its going to be devastating for society and world society," he said. This situation would become so bad that the population of the world would shrink close to the size of Britains current estimated population of 70 million. Major cities like New York or London would become deserted ghost towns, Kak said. There are demographers who are suggesting that as a consequence, the world population will collapse and it could go down to as low as just 100million people on the entire planet Earth in 2300 or 2380. Just 100 million, right now its around 8 billion," he added. Will Human Life Be Extinct? Explaining further, Professor Kak said birth rates will plunge as people would be reluctant to have children who would grow to be unemployed. People have stopped having babies. Europe, China, Japan, and the most rapid fall in population right now is taking place in Korea," he said. This prediction echoed one made by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has long claimed that the human life could face extinction over AI and declining birth rates. Thats why Musk is saying maybe humans should go to space, maybe build colonies elsewhere, so that should such a tragedy hit Earth then it could be reseeded," Kak told The Sun. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The professor insisted that it was not just his personal opinion, citing the data from his book The Age of Artificial Intelligence, focusing on the advancement of AI in recent years. The growth of AI tools which are being used by businesses and individuals have sparked fears about the future of employment. At the AI Action Summit held in Paris in February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed the problem of job cuts. He reassured global leaders, saying that history has shown that work does not disappear due to technology, but its nature changes and new types of jobs are created. 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 News18 Tech delivers the latest technology updates, including phone launches, gadget reviews, AI advancements, and more. Stay informed with breaking tech news , expert insights, and trends from India and around the world . Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: June 01, 2025, 20:25 IST Indian YouTuber Swashbuckler Sparks Outrage With Derogatory Remarks On Turkish Women Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 12:28 IST Indian YouTuber Malik SD Khan, aka Malik Swashbuckler, sparked controversy with derogatory comments on Turkish women, leading to his alleged detention by Turkish police. According to a report in Turkiye Today, Turkish police detained Malik for posting offensive videos last week. (Image: X/@HunterKolu) A massive controversy has flared up over an Indian bloggers outrageous comments on a Turkish women. This comes at a time when India-Turkey ties have hit rock bottom over its support to Pakistan. Some unconfirmed reports suggest that the YouTuber, identified as Malik SD Khan aka Malik Swashbuckler, has allegedly been taken into police custody in Turkey. Khan drew sharp reactions, including alleged action by police, for a series of videos where he makes sexually-coloured remarks on women of Turkish ethnicity. Though the Indian blogger taken down his YouTube and Instagram accounts amid the row, his videos are still circulating online. Recommended Stories All About Malik Swashbuckler Controversy In the videos shared by Malik, he was heard making derogatory comments on Turkish women. Further, he used Hindi language in the video so his targets would not get what he was saying. However, things turned upside down when Turkish netizens flagged the videos, leading to outrage against the Indian YouTuber. Swashbuckler Spoke in Hindi To Avoid Getting Caught In his videos, the Indian blogger was heard using foul language several times. He did not even shy away from objectifying Turkish women. For example, in one of the clips, he was referring to a Turkish woman as maal" or item". In another clip, he was seen going inside a Turkish store and asking why they did not have an Indian flag on display. Here also, Malik was seen using odd language while interacting with the shopkeeper. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In one of the videos, he even crossed the limit as he mentioned rape. Malik, while speaking in Hindi, reportedly asked viewers if he should rape his Turkish guide at night. According to a report in Turkiye Today, Turkish police detained Malik for posting offensive videos last week. So far cops have not released an official statement on the issue. About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Turkey First Published: June 01, 2025, 12:23 IST Bangladesh Ex-PM Sheikh Hasina Charged With Crimes Against Humanity Over 2024 Unrest Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 14:23 IST Sheikh Hasina was charged with crimes against humanity for last year's student protests. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (Image: Reuters) Bangladeshs former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday was formally charged with crimes against humanity for allegedly ordering mass killings during a nationwide uprising last year. During a live televised hearing, Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) said the violence was planned and coordinated", not a spontaneous reaction. Recommended Stories The hearing was broadcast live on state-run Bangladesh Television the first time such proceedings have been aired in the countrys history. Upon scrutinising the evidence, we reached the conclusion that it was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack," Islam said in his opening remarks. The accused unleashed all law enforcement agencies and her armed party members to crush the uprising." According to United Nations estimates, up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024, when Hasinas government launched a crackdown on the protests. What began as a student-led movement against public sector job quotas escalated into some of the worst unrest Bangladesh has seen since independence in 1971. Hasina fled to India shortly after the violence. Hasina, who is now living in self-imposed exile in India, has dismissed the charges as politically driven. Also charged in the case are former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, who is currently in custody but did not appear in court, and ex-interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who is also believed to be in hiding. This is not an act of vendetta, but a commitment to the principle that, in a democratic country, there is no room for crimes against humanity," Islam said. As part of their investigation, officials have gathered video footage, audio recordings, Hasinas phone conversations, helicopter and drone activity logs, and testimonies from victims of the crackdown. The ICT court also opened its first related trial on 25 May, involving eight police officials accused of crimes against humanity for the killing of six protesters on 5 August 2024 the day Hasina fled the country. Four officers are in custody, while four others are being tried in absentia. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The ICT was originally established by Hasinas own government in 2009 to investigate atrocities committed by the Pakistani army during Bangladeshs 1971 war of independence. (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 : Bangladesh First Published: June 01, 2025, 13:40 IST Agentic AI isnt just another feature; its a transformative innovation capability tailored to redefine the future of supply chain commerce, Siotia said in a statement. By opening up Agent Foundry to our customers and partners, were ensuring that AI agent creation will not be constrained by vendor development cycles. This is part of Manhattans ongoing commitment to path-breaking technology that heightens efficiency and resiliency. Our best-in-class customer base now has the power to create thousands of digital agents, limited only by their imagination. Sanjeev Siotia, chief technology officer at Manhattan, said offering clients the chance to solve their own inefficiencies with technology directly will help them get ahead as they embrace emerging technology. Both Manhattan and SAP will also allow users to configure their own agents; that is to say, if the providers lack an agent with a specific function, users can build one to meet the task. In Manhattans case, that capability will be housed under a program called Manhattan Agent Foundry. It stated that customers will be able to create specialized agents tailored to their unique processes and preferences, drastically reducing time-to-value, increasing automation scalability, enhancing productivity and delivering tangible business value. Manhattan is far from the only company trying to bring agents to life across multiple functions; SAP announced at its conference, Sapphire, last week that it plans to unleash 40 agents with different functions by the end of the year. Manhattan said, to start out, it will drop an agent aimed at optimizing labor, a store management agent, an inventory research agent, an agent that can parse through data with context and more. It anticipates these upgrades will drive efficiencies for customers, because the agents will have access to clients own data embedded in Manhattans systems, making real-time decisioning and adjustments easier. Manhattan Associates announced at its annual conference, Momentum, last week that, beginning in the fall, it will launch agents designed to handle specific supply chain and logistics tasks. Agentic AI continues to surface to the top of conversations about emerging technologyagents are meant to autonomously deal with certain functions inside of organizations to free up users who would have otherwise had to tackle the same tasks manually. Byte-Sized AI is a bi-weekly column that covers all things artificial intelligence from startup funding, to newly inked partnerships, to just-launched, AI-powered capabilities from major retailers, software providers and supply chain players. Story Continues Salesforce spends $8 billion on Informatica acquisition, with agentic in mind Its all eyes on agentic for Salesforce. The technology giant announced this week it had agreed to acquire Informatica, a cloud data management company, for $8 billion as part of its quest to better enable the build-out of AI agents for its customers. Salesforce has put a great deal of resources into Agentforce, a platform of AI agents designed to autonomously handle tasks for companies. Saks has integrated Agentforce and uses it to handle processes like order inquiries and personalization. Salesforce executives said they expect the acquisition of Informatica, which is slated to close in early 2027, to allow the company to have a more trustworthy, well-governed data foundation on which to build agents with additional functions. Truly autonomous, trustworthy AI agents need the most comprehensive understanding of their data. The combination of Informaticas advanced catalog and metadata capabilities with our Agentforce platform delivers exactly this, said Steve Fisher, president and chief technology officer at Salesforce, in a statement. Imagine an AI agent that goes beyond simply seeing data points to understand their full contextorigin, transformation, quality and governance. This clarity, from a unified Salesforce and Informatica solution, will allow all types of businesses to automate more complex processes and make more reliable AI-driven decisions. Salesforce also plans to use Informaticas data capabilities to upgrade other systems, like its customer data cloud, to help unify organizations data, allowing for faster, better-informed decision making inside organizations. Amit Walia, CEO of Informatica, said the acquisition marks a turning point for the business and its ability to bring forth game-changing technologies at scale. Joining forces with Salesforce represents a significant leap forward in our journey to bring data and AI to life by empowering businesses with the transformative power of their most critical asset their data, Walia said in a statement. We have a shared vision for how we can help organizations harness the full value of their data in the AI era. Veho and Rivr team on AI-powered delivery robots Last-mile delivery company Veho and AI-enabled robotics company Rivr announced this week that they are collaborating on a pilot to use delivery robots alongside human delivery employees in Austin, Tex. If the deployment goes smoothly, the companies plan to expand it to other cities in the United States later this year. A human Veho delivery driver brings the Rivr robot along with them on their route, and while they deliver one parcel, the robot delivers another in immediate proximity. The robots are retrofitted with cameras, allowing them to snap photos of the delivered parcel to share with consumers. They also have been trained to follow customers delivery instructionsfor instance, if a customer requests that Veho leave the parcel in front of the garage rather than on the porch, the robot can handle such a request. Both companies contend that the idea is not to replace human operators, but rather to allow them to deliver more parcels in less time. Throughout the first phase of the pilot, a Rivr employee will accompany robots on their delivery routes to understand how well it handles requests and operations. Marko Bjelonic, CEO of Rivr, said the partnership is a step forward in matching consumers expectations for fast delivery, particularly in areas where addresses are packed together tightly. With the exponential rise in e-commerce, the last mile has become the most criticaland complexlink in the logistics chain. At RIVR, our mission is to put one million delivery robots into the field, leveraging General Physical AI to scale urban robotics to where its needed most, Bjelonic said in a statement. Our partnership with Veho is a major milestone on that journey to bring our technology to the U.S. As a leading parcel delivery platform in the U.S., Veho offers the ideal environment for deploying at scalehelping us deliver not just faster and more cost-effective service, but a smarter, more human-centered model for robotics in logistics. Pallet gets its Series B, led by General Catalyst Pallet announced this week that it had secured a $27 million Series B round, led by General Catalyst, with additional support from Activant Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners and individual angel investors. The round brings the companys total funding to $50 million. The California-based startup promises to help automate key moments in logistics workflows through its primary offering, known as CoPallet. The system uses various agents to complete repeat, manual tasks done by logistics operators today. It can ingest data from shipping documents, create freight quotes, track shipments in real-time with data from other platforms and more. The company contends its solutions can guide workflows 10 times faster than current capabilities while simultaneously cutting costs in half. Sushanth Raman, Pallets CEO and founder, said the company has seen demand increase because of uncertainties associated with President Donald Trumps tariff strategy. This wasnt a story about hype, it was a story about math, Raman said in a statement. Customers ran the numbers. A midsized carrier was able to reallocate 25 employees who were doing repetitive order entry, saving millions. With tariffs driving up costs across the board, the ROI was obvious and our biggest challenge became keeping up with demand. Pallet plans to use the funding to expand its engineering team and further build out the agentic AI models handling the workflows for logistics operators. The company serves brokers, third-party logistics players, forwarders and more, so broadening its capabilities remains important to its future value proposition. But investors already see the promise of the technology, Marc Bhargava, managing director at General Catalyst said. General Catalyst believes the next wave of iconic companies will come from applied AIpurpose-built systems that solve real, high-friction problems in massive industries, Bhargava said in a statement. Pallet is doing exactly that for logistics, and we believe has the potential to be a multi-billion dollar opportunity. Bangladesh's New Banknotes Replace Sheikh Hasina's Father With Temples, Mosques, Heritage Icons Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 16:20 IST The new Bangladeshi banknotes will now feature traditional landmarks of the country, replacing the portrait of the late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding president of the nation. Bangladesh will replace banknotes featuring the late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's portrait. (BD24NewsLIVE) Bangladesh issued new banknotes on Sunday, removing designs that previously featured the portrait of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas father and the nations founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Until now, all notes featured the portrait of the late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led Bangladesh from its independence from Pakistan in 1971 until soldiers assassinated him and most of his family in a 1975 coup. However, the new notes will now feature traditional landmarks of the country. Recommended Stories Under the new series and design, the notes will not feature any human portraits, but will instead showcase natural landscapes and traditional landmarks," Bangladesh Bank spokesman Arif Hossain Khan told AFP. The notes for three of the nine different denominations were released on Sunday. The new notes will be issued from the central banks headquarters, and later from its other offices across the country," Khan said. What Will Feature On These New Notes? Among the designs set to feature in Bangladeshs new banknotes are images of Hindu and Buddhist temples, as well as historical palaces. They would also include artwork of the late painter Zainul Abedin, depicting the Bengal famine during British colonial rule. Another note would show the national martyrs memorial to honour those who died in the independence war against Pakistan. The other denominations of the notes would be released in phases. It is not the first time that the design has changed to reflect changing politics. Initial notes issued in 1972, after Bangladesh changed its name from East Pakistan, featured a map. Later notes featured Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led the Awami League, which Hasina also led during her 15 years in power. Sheikh Hasina Formally Charged Today Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a massive student-led protest over a controversial quota system in August last year. She fled to India after being forced to flee as violence engulfed the neighbouring country On Sunday, Sheikh Hasina was formally charged with crimes against humanity for allegedly ordering mass killings during a nationwide uprising last year. During a live televised hearing, Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) said the violence was planned and coordinated", not a spontaneous reaction. According to United Nations estimates, up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024, when Hasinas government launched a crackdown on the protests. What began as a student-led movement against public sector job quotas escalated into some of the worst unrest Bangladesh has seen since independence in 1971. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Upon scrutinising the evidence, we reached the conclusion that it was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack," Islam said in his opening remarks. The accused unleashed all law enforcement agencies and her armed party members to crush the uprising." (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 : Dhaka, Bangladesh First Published: June 01, 2025, 16:08 IST Biden Is A Clone: Trump Spins Wild Theory, Says Predecessor Was Replaced In 2020 Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 21:31 IST Trump's remark came days after it was reported that Biden was diagnosed with an 'aggressive form' of prostate cancer. US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden (AP Image) US President Donald Trump recently shared a conspiracy theory claiming that former President Joe Biden died in 2020 and was replaced by a robotic clone. Sharing a late-night post on Truth Social, Trump cited a conspiracy theory and said that Joe Biden was executed in 2020. Recommended Stories There is no #JoeBidenexecuted in 2020. #Biden clones, doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see. >#Democrats dont know the difference," the post reads. Trumps remark came days after it was reported that Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form" of prostate cancer. Following Bidens health update, Trump had wished the former US President a fast and successful recovery. Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Bidens recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery," Trump had said on Truth Social. On Friday, President Biden made his first public comments since news of his cancer diagnosis emerged. Speaking at a solemn Memorial Day event, he later reassured reporters with a smile, saying hes feeling good." The expectation is were gonna be able to beat this," he said. Im feeling good." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recently, on Friday, Biden delivered his first remarks since the news about him diagnosed with cancer, spoke during a sombre Memorial Day gathering and later smiling and saying hes feeling good". Responding to question on his health Biden jokingly said, You can see that. Im mentally incompetent and I cant walk," adding that adding he could beat the hell out of both of them." Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: June 01, 2025, 21:09 IST Canadian Man Claims His Ex-Girlfriend Stole CA$5 Million Lottery Winnings, Ran Away With Lover Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 10:33 IST According to Camphell, McKay didn't return to their shared hotel room and cut off all contact. When he eventually found her, she was "in bed with another guy". Canadian Man Claims His Ex-Girlfriend Stole CA$5 Million Lottery Winnings. (Facebook) A Canadian man sued his ex-girlfriend, alleging that she absconded with his CA$5 million (about 30 crore) lottery winnings and fled with her new partner. Lawrence Campbell from Winnipeg claims he bought the winning ticket in 2024 but couldnt claim the prize due to lacking valid ID. Following lottery officials advice, he asked his then-girlfriend, Krystal Ann McKay, to collect the prize from Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) on his behalf. Recommended Stories Campbell told CTV News, he trusted McKay fully and was in a loyal, committed and promising romantic partnership" for over a year and a half and they were living together. Since he also didnt have a bank account, he allowed her to deposit the winnings in her name. Initially, everything appeared normal as the couple recorded a verification video at a Shoppers Drug Mart and posed for publicity photos with a giant cheque. However, McKay looked unenthused in the pictures. The win was publicly touted as a birthday gift from Mr Campbell to her. She had been asking me for three weeks to get a ticket, but I never went and got one," Campbell said. Then we drove by one, and I was like OK, I might as well go get you one right now.'" According to Camphell, McKay disappeared in a few days. She didnt return to their shared hotel room and cut off all contact. When he eventually found her, she was in bed with another guy", as per the lawsuit. She ghosted him, refused to take his calls or answer his messages, she blocked him on her social media accounts, and even took out a protection order," Campbells lawyer told CTV News. Meanwhile, Ms McKay has denied all allegations, her lawyer confirmed. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Campbells lawsuit, filed in Manitobas Court of Kings Bench, also targets Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) and Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, alleging they provided inadequate guidance and failed to warn him about the risks of having someone else claim his prize. This case is about systemic karma versus the system itself," said Campbells lawyer. A situation created, or at least enabled, by the state-owned lottery corporations administering claims in Manitoba." Location : Canada First Published: June 01, 2025, 10:33 IST Israel Denies Firing At Civilians Near US-Backed Aid Centres In Gaza Published By : AFP Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 23:40 IST Military, aid group say Hamas spreading false reports as death toll claims rise. People inspect the damage at the site of an Israeli strike that targeted a house in the Nuseirat camp for Palestinian refugees in the central Gaza Strip. (IMAGE: AFP) Gazas civil defence agency said Israeli gunfire killed at least 31 Palestinians near a US-backed aid distribution site on Sunday, with both the group in charge of the site and the military denying any such incident took place. Israel has faced growing condemnation over the humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where the United Nations has warned the entire population faces the risk of famine after no aid was allowed to enter for more than two months. Recommended Stories Israel recently eased its blockade and introduced a revamped aid mechanism in cooperation with a newly formed US-backed organisation, bypassing the longstanding UN-led system. The organisation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), says it has distributed millions of meals since operations began last week, but the rollout has been marked by chaotic scenes at the limited number of distribution centres. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that 31 people were killed and more than 176 injured after Israeli gunfire targeted thousands of civilians near the American aid centre in Rafah", in southern Gaza. AFP images showed Palestinians transporting bodies on donkey carts near the aid point as others carried away boxes and bags of supplies under the early-morning sun. Abdullah Barbakh, a 58-year-old Palestinian man, described chaos" at the site. The army opened fire from drones and tanks," he said. I dont understand why they call people to the aid centres and then open fire on them." Near another GHF aid centre in central Gaza, AFP images showed rescuers evacuating injured people. Bassal reported one dead and dozens wounded there, again blaming Israeli fire. The Israeli military said an initial inquiry found its troops did not fire at civilians while they were near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site and that reports to this effect are false". Hamas does everything in its power to undermine food distribution efforts in the Gaza Strip," it added, urging the media to be cautious with information published" by the group. A GHF spokesperson also denied any deaths or injuries took place, adding that these fake reports have been actively fomented by Hamas". Death follows you Sameh Hamuda, a displaced 33-year-old from northern Gaza, told AFP he had walked from Gaza City and spent the night with relatives near Rafah before heading to the aid centre around 5:00 am to wait among a crowd of people. Suddenly quadcopter drones opened fire on the people, and tanks started shooting heavily. Several people were killed right in front of me," he said. I ran and survived. Death follows you as long as youre in Gaza." At Al-Awda hospital in central Gaza, Umm Muhammad Abu Khousa told AFP her son was among those wounded near the other aid centre in Bureij. You feed me and then you kill me?" she said from her sons bedside. Victoria Rose a British surgeon visiting Nasser Hospital where many of the patients from Rafah were taken described in a video message from the facility a scene of absolute carnage", saying all the bays are full, and theyre all gunshot wounds". Speaking about the reported deaths to US broadcaster ABC, World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain said our people are reporting the same thing on the ground". Its a tragedy. And what we need right now is an immediate ceasefire, complete, unfettered access to feed people and stop this catastrophe from happening," she added. Only limited amounts of aid have entered Gaza since Israel eased its total blockade that began in March. The UN and the WFP have recently reported looting of some supplies, including by gunmen. On Friday a spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency called Gaza the hungriest place on earth". GHF, which uses contracted US security, said on Sunday that it had distributed more than 4.7 million meals worth of food so far. The United Nations and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the organisation, saying it contravened basic humanitarian principles and appeared designed to cater to Israeli military objectives. Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UNs agency for Palestinian refugees, said on Sunday that Gaza aid distribution has become a death trap". Aid deliveries and distribution must be at scale and safe," he added in a post on X. In Gaza, this can be done only through the United Nations including UNRWA." Truce offer Nearly 20 months into the war, negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage release deal have failed to produce a breakthrough. Since the last brief truce collapsed in March, Israel has intensified its operations to destroy Hamas, the Palestinian group whose October 7, 2023 attack triggered the war. Hamas said it had responded positively albeit with requested amendments to the latest US-backed truce proposal on Saturday, but US envoy Steve Witkoff criticised the reply as totally unacceptable", an assessment echoed by Israel. Witkoff urged the group to accept the framework proposal we put forward". Qatar and Egypt, which have served as mediators in ceasefire talks throughout the war, emphasised in a joint statement the importance of intensifying efforts to overcome the obstacles facing the negotiations". Defence Minister Israel Katz, meanwhile, said he had told the army to continue forward in Gaza against all targets, regardless of any negotiations". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says at least 4,149 people have been killed in the territory since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, taking the wars overall toll to 54,418, mostly civilians. Hamass 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. 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 : Rafah, Palestinian Territories First Published: June 01, 2025, 23:40 IST 31 Killed, Over 100 Injured In Israeli Strike Near Aid Delivery Point In Rafah Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 17:57 IST At least 30 people were killed in an Israeli strike near aid distribution point in Rafah on Sunday. Israeli strikes in Rafah killed at least 30 (AP Image, used for representational purposes) At least 31 people were killed, while over 115 others were injured in an Israeli strike near an aid distribution point run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in Rafah, Reuters reported, citing Hamas-affiliated media WAFA on Sunday. However, Israel has so far not reacted to the reported attack. Recommended Stories The GHF, which is also backed by Israel, had recently begun its operation in Gaza to provide humanitarian aid in the war-struck region. While some Palestinians voiced concerns about the systems neutrality and the biometric and other checks Israel planned to use, Israeli officials said the measures were meant to screen aid recipients and exclude anyone linked to Hamas. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On May 28, Hamas accused Israel of killing at least three Palestinians and leaving 46 others injured near one of the GHFs delivery points. The aid group had denied the charges. The Israeli military said its troops fired warning shots near the compound to regain control, after thousands of Palestinians crowded around an aid distribution site. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Location : Palestine First Published: June 01, 2025, 12:37 IST Mummy, Youre Never Here With Us: How Ghanas Naomi Is Rewriting Story Of Cancer Care In Africa Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 08:00 IST While nurses form the backbone of healthcare systems worldwide, studies show they continue to be underappreciated Vibha Salaliya from Gujarat and Sukhpal Kaur from Chandigarh next to nurse Naomi from Ghana (third from right) at Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award. Pic/News18 It was an emotional moment, not just for Naomi from Ghana, but for the entire nursing profession. A moment of long-overdue recognition for a profession too often viewed as merely supportive, rather than a central pillar of healthcare. Last week, the fourth edition of the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award honoured nurses who have gone beyond their defined roles, pushing boundaries to bring deeper meaning and impact to their work. Recommended Stories I used to come home every 15 days just to see my newborn daughter," Naomi recalls. My one-year-old daughter wouldnt come to meshe didnt recognise me as much as she did her grandparents or my husband. It broke my heart. But I had no choice. I had to leave her again and go back to my job." Even now, she says with a bittersweet smile, While my family and children are my biggest cheerleaders, they still gently complain, Mummy, youre never here with us." While receiving the award, Naomi dedicated the trophy to her patients and her family. In a conversation with News18, she elaborated on why these two groups mean everything to her. Known fully as Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana, she is a nationally and internationally recognised oncology nurse leader. Over the years, Naomi has earned several accolades for her contributions to cancer care, research, and education across Africa. She played a vital role in establishing Ghanas formal oncology nurse training programme, which has already trained over 60 oncology nurse specialists and 10 breast care nurses. Naomi also serves on the Education and Training Committee of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC). She has helped shape cancer nursing policy across Africa and mentored over 48 nurses from different African nations. She won the Aster award after being shortlisted from over 100,000 entries across 199 countries. The final selection was made by an expert jury and a grand jury panel and independently moderated by Ernst & Young LLP. Two finalists from India The list of top 10 finalists included two Indian nurses: Dr Sukhpal Kaur from Chandigarh and Vibha Salaliya from Gujarat. A trailblazer in evidence-based community care, Dr Kaur has spent over three decades pioneering nurse-led innovationsfrom cancer support apps to rural home-care protocolsbringing research-driven healthcare to Indias most underserved communities, whereas Salaliya, a Florence Nightingale Awardee, is transforming mental healthcare in Gujarat with her peer support volunteer model, helping thousands of patients become caregivers and reshaping recovery through innovation and dignity. While Aster stands out for its global reach and substantial monetary prize, there are a few other international awards also recognising nursing excellence, including the Florence Nightingale Medal (ICRC), the Queen Silvia Nursing Award, and the Christiane Reimann Prize. No journey is without pain and sacrifices I cant forget the face of a young patient with breast cancer. Her chemotherapy had stopped working, and she was in tremendous pain. I knew radiotherapy could have been the next option, but it wasnt widely available at the time. Maybe thats why the doctor didnt suggest it," Naomi recalls. That case changed me. I felt like I needed to do something." Many more, like her, lost their lives. But every loss only deepened Naomis resolve to improve systems and save those who still had a fighting chance. I started advocating for better patient outcomes. I believe every patient deserves quality care. If we empower nurses, who are capable and committed, they become valuable resources for doctors. We can help share their burden and improve treatment outcomes," she says. The challenges in cancer care are manifold: late detection, low health insurance coverage, costly treatments, and the lack of availability of certain therapies in Ghana. When I started, we had no standard operating proceduresno structured protocols on how to treat patients or manage their side effects. Now, weve built those systems," Naomi explains. She gives a stark example: Take febrile neutropenia, a condition in cancer care where a patients immune system crashes, making them vulnerable to infections. Its a medical emergency. If not treated within five hours, it could be fatal. Nurses who are trained and knowledgeable can save lives, just like doctors. Sometimes even more so, because we spend more time with the patient." She warns that in the absence of adequate training, nurses may misdiagnose such conditions. If they are not aware, they might mistake febrile neutropenia for malaria. Thats deadly, especially in countries like mine." With the $250,000 prize money from the Aster Award, Naomi plans to further strengthen oncology nursing across Africa. I want to develop core competencies in cancer care and harmonise oncology nursing education and training across the continent. Were also working on standards to support that mission." She is equally passionate about integrating genetic counselling and artificial intelligence into healthcare. If we dont adopt change, the change will change us. AI and machine learning are fascinating. Even if not used directly in treatment, they can help streamline training, education, and even administrative tasks." Currently, Ghana is just beginning to tap into such technologies. In some countries, nurses are empowered to help bridge the gap caused by doctor shortages. They are even allowed to prescribe medications within certain boundaries. Ghana is introducing a specialist programme for nurses. Patients are happy about itthey find it easier to talk to nurses. And trained nurses can offer faster emergency care and support doctors in critical decision-making," Naomi says. Nurses: Respected in practice, yet under-recognised Naomis story reflects a broader reality. While nurses form the backbone of healthcare systems worldwide, studies show they continue to be underappreciated. According to a Canadian survey, over 50% of nurses felt their managers showed little concern for their well-being. The lack of perceived respect was strongly linked to emotional exhaustion and job dissatisfaction. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Another study, done in Texas, revealed that 75% of nurses experienced violence or verbal abuse in the past year, often stemming from systemic understaffing and a lack of respect. In fact, in Ghana, research showed that over half of nurses had suffered verbal abuse, and 12% faced sexual harassment. These conditions severely affected their mental health and morale. (The writer was invited by Aster DM Healthcare to Dubai to attend and cover the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award ceremony.) About the Author Himani Chandna Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly pass... Read More Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly pass... Read More First Published: June 01, 2025, 08:00 IST Nepal's Former Home Minister Among Several Arrested During Pro-Monarchy Protest | Video Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 18:00 IST Nepal's former Home Minister Kamal Thapa and several others were arrested for trying to enter a restricted area during pro-monarchy protests in Kathmandu. Former Nepal Home Minister Kamal Thapa arrested in Kathmandu. (Image: X) Nepals former Home Minister Kamal Thapa and several others were arrested for trying to enter a restricted area during pro-monarchy protests in Kathmandu on Sunday, according to police. Pro-monarchy groups were protesting at the Narayan Chaur on the fourth day of the agitation. The agitation was aimed at reinstating monarchy in Nepal and establishing it as a Hindu state. Nepals authorities on Friday had banned protests and public gatherings around the Narayanhiti Palace area in the heart of Kathmandu amid demonstrations. Recommended Stories Rajendra Lingden, president of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and a strong pro-monarchy advocate, was leading the protest when demonstrators attempted to breach the security barricade and march toward Baluwatar, the official residence of the prime minister, leading to clashes with police, according to Kathmandu Valley Police spokesperson Apil Bohora. Thapa, the chairman of RPP-Nepal and former Nepalese home minister, was detained in the Narayan Chaur area for violating the restricted zone order declared around the Narayanhiti Palace Museum area, The Kathmandu Post reported citing police. The pro-monarchist groups, including the RPP and RPP-Nepal, had launched Kathmandu-centred protest programmes from May 29 with the objectives of reinstatement of the monarchy and establishment of a Hindu state in Nepal. The protests had been peaceful until today. About 1,200 pro-monarchy supporters, chanting slogans against the republican system and in favour of monarchy, participated in the protest, Bohara said. They carried photographs of former king Gyanendra Shah and chanted slogans against the Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli-led government. In 2008, Nepals political parties, through a parliamentary declaration, abolished the 240-year-old monarchy, transforming the former Hindu kingdom into a secular, federal, democratic republic. However, in recent months, there has been a wave of pro-monarchy protests in Kathmandu and several other parts of the country. In March, the Nepal government had reportedly initiated the process of revoking former King Gyanendra Shahs passport over his alleged involvement in inciting pro-monarchy protests, after violence broke out between the police and pro-monarchy activists in Kathmandu. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all (with agency inputs) 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 : Kathmandu, Nepal First Published: June 01, 2025, 17:53 IST Spencer, Not Spare: Prince Harry Eyes Mother Dianas Maiden Name Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 20:59 IST Traditionally, all descendants of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are entitled to use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor. Prince Harry has sought advice from maternal uncle to change name The UKs Prince Harry has reportedly sought advice from Princess Dianas brother, Charles Spencer, regarding changing his family name to Spencer, according to The Daily Mail. Prince Harry is exploring the possibility of adopting his mothers maiden name, which would mean relinquishing his official royal surname, Mountbatten-Windsor, currently used by his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Recommended Stories Some international media reports also suggest that Prince Harry received counsel from his uncle, who highlighted the symbolic and familial implications of such a change. Royal experts interpret Harrys interest in a name change as a further attempt to distance himself from the royal family. Traditionally, all descendants of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are entitled to use the surname Mountbatten-Windsor, a combination of the royal family name and Prince Philips adopted surname. They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step," a friend of Harry told The Daily Mail. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Duke and Duchess of Sussexs childrens birth certificates list their names as Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. Royal biographer Tom Bower has suggested that Meghan Markle sought to emulate Princess Diana. Had the surname change occurred, Meghans daughter, who reportedly has met the King only once, would have been named Lilibet Diana Spencer, a more pronounced tribute to Harrys late mother, as reported by The Daily Mail. Location : United Kingdom (UK) First Published: June 01, 2025, 20:41 IST Result Of Incitement: Netanyahu Asks Macron To Act After Holocaust Memorial Attacked In Paris Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 13:44 IST This comes after several Jewish sites, including Holocaust Memorial, was defaced in Paris this week. Shoah Memorial defaced with green paint (AP Image) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday lashed out at French President Emmanuel Macron over recent attacks on several Jewish sites across Paris and termed them a result of the rampant incitement against Jews in the European country. He asked Macron to act against antisemitism in France. Recommended Stories The attacks on synagogues and a Holocaust memorial in Paris are a direct result of the rampant incitement against Jews in France. President Macron should stop pushing for a Palestinian terror state in the heart of the Jewish homeland and start acting against antisemitism in his own country," Netanyahu said. President Macron should stop pushing for a Palestinian terror state in the heart of the Jewish homeland and start acting against antisemitism in his own country. Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) June 1, 2025 His remarks came a day after a number of Jewish sites were defaced with green paint in Paris. The vandalism that took place on the night of Friday to Saturday was discovered last morning, which targeted the Shoah Memorial, two synagogues and a Jewish restaurant in the citys historic Marais district, as well as a third synagogue in the 20th arrondissement (district). The local authorities launched an investigation into the attacks. Paris prosecutors office said it had initiated a probe for damage committed on the grounds of religion." Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed his immense disgust" over the vandalism targeting the Jewish community in a post on X. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all These incidents occurred just before the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, and the French Interior Ministry had already issued a call for increased security around Jewish sites over the weekend, due to rising global tensions. Macron has adopted a nuanced stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. While he condemned the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and affirmed Israels right to self-defense, Macron has increasingly criticised Israels military actions in Gaza, particularly concerning the humanitarian crisis. He has called for an immediate ceasefire and emphasised the need for humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Location : Israel First Published: June 01, 2025, 13:43 IST Russia Confirms Ukrainian Drone Attack On Military Aircraft, Suspects Detained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 22:05 IST Ukraine on Sunday launched a massive drone attack targeting four Russian airbases and at least 40 military aircraft, in one of Kyiv's biggest operations till date. Smoke rises following what local authorities called a Ukrainian drone attack, in the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (Reuters) Russia confirmed Ukraines massive drone attack on Sunday, which targeted four Russian airbases and 40 military aircraft in what is being called one of Kyivs largest operations till date. The Russian defence ministry on Telegram said several military aircraft caught fire" after the drone attack in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur areas. It said there were no casualties and that several participants" had been arrested. The ministry also accused Ukraine of carrying out a terrorist" attack. Recommended Stories Igor Kobzev, Governor of Russias Irkutsk region, which hosts the targeted Belaya airbase, said it was the first attack of this sort in Siberia". He urged the public not to panic and posted an amateur video apparently showing a drone flying in the sky and a large cloud of grey smoke. The governor of the Murmansk region where the Olenya base was located, Andrey Chibis, also said enemy drones" were flying overhead, and anti-aircraft defences were operating. ALSO READ: Ukraines Drone Barrage Hits Airbases Deep Inside Russia, Sets 40 Military Aircraft Ablaze According to Ukrainian media reports, the operation struck airbases deep within Russian territory, including the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk Oblast, approximately 4,300 km from Ukraine. Media reports also claim that the Olenya airbase in Murmansk Oblast, about 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine, was targeted. It was further claimed that Ukraine had damaged at least $2 billion worth of Russian aircraft parked inside the airbases. The former press secretary of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to X and shared a small clip of the attack, claiming that Ukraines Security Service (SBU) has carried out a large-scale drone strike, reportedly damaging over 40 Russian military aircraft. She also mentioned that the attack is said to have targeted high-value planes, including A-50 early warning aircraft, Tu-95 strategic bombers, and Tu-22M3 long-range bombers. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The assault took place on the same day as Kyiv revealed that a Russian military strike killed at least 12 soldiers at an army training site, leading to the resignation of the ground forces commander. (with agency inputs) 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 : Moscow, Russia First Published: June 01, 2025, 21:56 IST Despite big bets by financial giants like BlackRock, many investors still have trouble taking cryptocurrency seriously. And its not just the memes and quirky fans pushing people away. In 2022, about 8% of U.S. adults called cryptocurrency the best long-term investment around. That number has been cut in half ever since the collapse of crypto exchange FTX wiped out nearly $9 billion in customer funds. Now, just a few years later, crypto bull Kevin OLeary says those kinds of debacles are a thing of the past. Don't miss All the crypto cowboys are gone. Theyre all gone. Theyre all in jail, theyre felons, or whatever it is, he told the press in mid-May at the Consensus cryptocurrency conference in Toronto. They were the pioneers (but) theyve got arrows in their backs They didnt play by the rules. And the regulators proved who won that fight. Mr. Wonderful says he has reserved nearly 20% of his portfolio for crypto-related assets, including stablecoins, tokens and exchanges. His confidence is infectious, but curious investors still have to ask: Is the sun really setting on the Wild West era? Is more regulation the answer? OLeary is intimately familiar with crypto scams. He was a paid spokesman for FTX, and he claims the entire fiasco cost him millions. Now that thats over, we can move ahead, and I think everyone understands the potential of this market, he said. While OLeary likely didnt mean to imply all crypto scams are finished he seemed to be referring to embezzlement and fraud at trusted firms like FTX hes optimistic about the impact of two bills coming before Congress. One is the GENIUS Act, which would require stablecoin issuers to hold a 1:1 reserve of cash or another liquid asset, amid other protections. Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency that is pegged to another asset, usually the U.S. dollar. Thats why these digital currencies are considered more stable than other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Proponents like OLeary believe they will make global digital payments faster and cheaper. The other piece of legislation is the market infrastructure bill that would define each individual asset as a security or commodity so that the appropriate regulator either the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or the Securities and Exchange Commission can oversee it. Russia 'Immediate' Danger, China 'Persistent Challenge': UK Defence Review Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 09:35 IST The review comes ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague later this month, where allies are expected to agree on higher defence targets Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (AP file photo) UK Prime Minister Keir Starmers government is set to publish a strategic defence review on Monday, warning of an immediate and pressing" danger from Russia, and describing China as a sophisticated and persistent challenge". The strategic defence review also warns that Britain is entering a new era of threat", with new technologies like drones and artificial intelligence reshaping warfare more deeply than ever before. Recommended Stories The 130-page report was prepared by advisers to Starmer and led by Lord Robertson, former UK Labour Defence Secretary and NATO Secretary-General, The Guardian reported. The review will highlight how Russia continues to pose a direct threat to both the UK and Europe. Drawing heavily on lessons from the war in Ukraine, it suggests that Moscows cyberattacks and covert activities represent the most serious threat since the Cold War. Although China is not described as an enemy, the report raises concerns about its growing global influence, its cooperation with Russia, and its long-term strategic ambitions. It characterises China as a sophisticated and persistent challenge" to Western interests. The review also identifies Iran and North Korea as regional disruptors." The review comes ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague later this month, where allies are expected to agree on higher defence targets. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said the group is considering a goal of spending 5% of GDP on defence, with at least 3.5% going to core military needs. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The review does not say the UK is at war with Russia but warns of a blurring of lines between peace and conflict. It may also touch on the size of the British Army amid reports of internal debate over whether to increase troop numbers beyond the current target of 73,000. This is the first full strategic defence update since the UKs 2021 integrated review, which was refreshed in 2023 after Russia invaded Ukraine. 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 : United Kingdom (UK) First Published: June 01, 2025, 09:26 IST 'Track Every Word, React Calmly': Kremlin's New Playbook On Trump's Outbursts Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 17:27 IST The Kremlin noted that Moscow is also "carefully tracking" Trump's comments directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin against the backdrop of the Ukraine war. US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE) Amid the ongoing exchange between President Donald Trump and Russian officials, the Kremlin on Sunday said Russia should react calmly" to all US statements. It further noted that Moscow is also carefully tracking" Trumps comments directed at Russian President Vladimir Putin against the backdrop of the Ukraine war. Recommended Stories But any responses must be with Russias interests in mind and in the interest of repairing Russia-US relations," the Kremlin stated, as quoted by RT. In recent days, Trump has posted on social media that Russian President Vladimir Putin has gone absolutely CRAZY" and warned he was playing with fire" by continuing attacks on Ukrainian cities. Meanwhile, Moscow has responded cautiously, even as it carries out deadly strikes on Kyiv, warning Trump against an emotional overload" and stating that the only truly bad outcome would be WWIII." Lawmakers from both parties have used this change in tone to urge Trump to back his words with tougher sanctions on Russia. However, experts say its still uncertain whether he will follow up his strong statements with concrete action. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Were going to find out whether hes tapping us along or not. And if he is, well respond a little bit differently. But it will take about a week and a half, two weeks," Trump told reporters on Wednesday, when asked whether he believed Putin wanted to end the war. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 after building up troops near the border for weeks. Since then, tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides have been killed in over three years of fighting. About the Author Ronit Singh Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be... Read More Location : Moscow, Russia First Published: June 01, 2025, 17:27 IST Trumps Aide In Constant Contact With India To Finalise Trade Deal: Calling Every Day Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 20:00 IST His remark came at the time when the US president has been constantly mentioning trade pressure while claiming credit for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Donald Trump (Reuters) US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has said that Washington is in constant touch with New Delhi over trade deal discussions, adding that he has been speaking with Indias top trade official nearly every day. Speaking to CNBC, he also revealed that negotiations with Malaysia and Vietnam are also in line, which he plans to take forward during the upcoming Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) meeting next week. Recommended Stories According to the top American trade negotiator, Washington may finalise tariff deals with many major countries in the coming weeks. His remark came a day after US President Donald Trump cited trade pressure and claimed credit for being able to stop potentially a nuclear war" between India and Pakistan. Trump has claimed several times in the last few weeks that he told India and Pakistan that the US will stop trade with the two nations if they dont stop the conflict. However, India has always refuted all such claims, saying the issue of trade did not come up at all in talks between Indian and American leaders during its military clashes with Pakistan. Piyush Goyal Meets US Commerce Secretary Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently met US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington to discuss the proposed bilateral trade agreement currently under negotiation between the two countries. Held a constructive meeting with Secretary @HowardLutnick for a mutually beneficial trade agreement. Committed to enhancing opportunities for our businesses and people," Goyal said in a post on X following his meet on May 23. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On April 2, the US had imposed an additional 26 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods. However, the additional tariff has remained suspended for 90 days. Earlier, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also visited US, however, she had to cut her visit short following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: June 01, 2025, 19:32 IST UK Support For All-Party Delegation Derails ISI's Disruption Attempt | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Ronit Singh Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 23:01 IST During the event, groups of ISI-backed Khalistani protesters attempted to stage a demonstration at the Indian High Commission in London. The multi-party delegation is on UK visit from May 31 to June 3 | Image/CNN-News18 An all-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, which arrived in London on Saturday to reiterate Indias zero-tolerance stance on terrorism, received massive support from the members of the Indian diaspora. CNN-News18 learnt that over 1500 members of the diaspora rallied in support of the Indian delegations mission to expose Pakistan-sponsored terror activities, in the backdrop of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people. Recommended Stories The delegation, comprising political and diplomatic representatives, is visiting the UK to hold key meetings with local authorities and global stakeholders. Their focus is to highlight the atrocities committed by Pakistan-backed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, particularly its involvement in the Pahalgam attack and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks one of the deadliest terror strikes in Indias history that also claimed the lives of several foreign nationals. According to top intelligence sources, the delegation aims to present credible evidence and context on Lashkars operations, its Pakistan-based support network, and its continued threat to regional and global peace. The number of Indian people who reached the High Commission is really amazing. Usually on a Sunday, people dont come out of their homes, given the next working day. Around 1500 people have come, and the numbers are increasing every minute," Kuldeep Shekhawat, President of the Europe Chapter of Overseas Friends of India, told CNN-News18. ISI-Backed Disruption During the event, groups of ISI-backed Khalistani protesters attempted to stage a demonstration at the Indian High Commission in London. Denied permission at the premises, the protesters shifted to Trafalgar Square, waving Khalistani flags and banners. Top intelligence officials termed this move a desperate attempt by Pakistans ISI" to deflect attention from its support to terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. This is a clear attempt by Pakistan to change the narrative. With international pressure mounting over its links to terror, the ISI is using proxy elements to disrupt diplomatic efforts and mislead public perception," said a senior intelligence source to CNN-News18. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Despite these efforts, the Indian delegations outreach has drawn strong support from the global Indian community, reflecting unified condemnation of terrorism and growing awareness about state-sponsored extremist networks operating from Pakistan. The all-party delegation, led by Prasad, also comprises MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Ghulam Ali Khatana, Amar Singh, Samik Bhattacharya, M Thambidurai and former Union minister of state MJ Akbar and Ambassador Pankaj Saran. Location : London, United Kingdom (UK) First Published: June 01, 2025, 23:00 IST Ukraine's Drone Barrage Hits Airbases Deep Inside Russia, Sets 40 Military Aircraft Ablaze Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 23:04 IST Reportedly, 40 Russian aircraft have been hit by Ukraine in one of its largest operations till now. Ukraine launched drone-based operation on Russia ( Credits: X) Ukraine on Sunday launched a massive drone attack on Russia, in what is being called one of Kyivs largest operations to date, reportedly targeting four Russian airbases and 40 warplanes. According to Ukrainian media reports, the operation struck airbases deep within Russian territory, including the Belaya airbase in Irkutsk Oblast, approximately 4,300 kilometers from Ukraine. Recommended Stories Media reports also claim that the Olenya airbase in Murmansk Oblast, about 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine, was targeted. Several videos on X show explosions and smoke at these locations, though the extent of the damage remains unverified. The former press secretary of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to X and shared a small clip of the attack, claiming that Ukraines Security Service (SBU) has carried out a large-scale drone strike, reportedly damaging over 40 Russian military aircraft. She also mentioned that the attack is said to have targeted high-value planes, including A-50 early warning aircraft, Tu-95 strategic bombers, and Tu-22M3 long-range bombers. Kira Rudik, member of Ukrainian Parliament, reacted to the drone operation by Kyiv and said, Destruction of 40 Russian jets isnt random. Russia keeps launching 500 drones and missiles at usits only a matter of time before things start shifting on their end." The estimated cost of the damage exceeds USD 2 billion, making it one of the most expensive single attacks on Russias air assets since the war began, she claimed on X. In several social media videos, drones can be seen diving toward Russian airbases. Moments later, thick smoke rises into the sky as explosions light up the area. Holy shit, Ukraine is right now carrying out an unprecedentedly large operation to destroy multiple Russian strategic bombers at air bases across Russia.Over 40 Russian aircraft have been reportedly targeted within a short period. This is unprecedented. pic.twitter.com/mnL7XhGj4Q Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) June 1, 2025 One clip shows a drone slamming into a parked aircraft; seconds later, flames erupt, followed by a billowing cloud of smoke. These videos have been shared on X, and News18 cannot verify the authenticity of these videos. Russia Holds Emergency Meeting; Zelenskyy To Send Delegation To Istanbul For Direct Peace Talks With Russia According to Russian media reports, an emergency meeting is currently underway in the Kremlin following Ukraines massive drone strikes. The attack comes hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Moscow on Monday, according to a report by AP. Issuing a statement on Telegram, the Ukrainian president informed that the delegation will be led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state, and our people," Zelenskyy said. Germany Pledges To Help Ukraine Develop Long-range Missile Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Berlin and met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who assured him that he would help Kyiv produce its own long-range missile systems that would be free of any Western-imposed limitations on their use and targets. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Ukraine will be able to fully defend itself, including against military targets outside its own territory," with its own missiles, Merz said at a joint news conference. Germany has been the biggest military supplier to Ukraine after the United States. Location : Russia First Published: June 01, 2025, 17:32 IST Totally Unacceptable: US Envoy Says Hamas Reply To Gaza Truce Proposal Only Takes Us Backward Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: June 01, 2025, 08:51 IST Trump administration envoy Steve Witkoff criticised the Hamas' response to US truce proposal in Gaza and said that it "takes us backward". US Envoy criticises Hamas' response to US truce proposal in Gaza (AP Image) Hamas has said that it responded to the US proposal for a truce in Gaza, however, the Trump administration envoy Steve Witkoff immediately rejected it as totally unacceptable", stressing that it only takes us backward". I received the Hamas response to the United States proposal. It is totally unacceptable and only takes us backward. Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week," Witkoff posted on X. Recommended Stories I received the Hamas response to the United States proposal. It is totally unacceptable and only takes us backward.Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week. That is the only Office of the Special Envoy to the Middle East (@SE_MiddleEast) May 31, 2025 The main differences between the US proposal and Hamass response seem to be about how long the truce would last and how far Israeli troops would pull back. Earlier in the day, Hamas replied to the US plan with some changes. Their response focused on trying to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Strip." As part of the agreement, Hamas said in a statement that it would release 10 living Israeli prisoners and also return 18 bodies, in exchange for an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners. However, it did not clearly state whether or not it was accepting the proposal. Israel had previously agreed to the US ceasefire proposal for Gaza, which, according to Witkoff, included a 60-day truce and the release of half the living hostages and half of the bodies of deceased hostages. Israeli officials also said the plan would allow the United Nations to resume leading aid distribution in the Palestinian territory. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Hamas, which is designated a terrorist group by the US, European Union, and several other countries, is asking for changes to parts of the proposal mainly about when hostages would be released, how and when aid would be delivered, and the timeline for Israeli troop withdrawal, according to the Associated Press, which cited an unnamed official. A previous ceasefire ended in mid-March this year, and efforts to reach a new truce have since stalled. Hamas is demanding a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while the Israeli government wants Hamas to disarm and dissolve before agreeing to any new deal. About the Author Ashesh Mallick Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes... Read More Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: June 01, 2025, 08:36 IST Dell execs sound alarm with consumer comments originally appeared on TheStreet. Jeff Clarke was feeling the love. Clarke, vice chairman and chief operating officer of Dell Technologies (DELL) , was giving analysts the rundown on the tech company's first-quarter report. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter The report included a backlog of orders for confirmed artificial intelligence systems valued at $14.4 billion. "We love where the backlog is," Clarke said during the Round Rock, Texas, computer maker's earnings call. "It's healthy." He said Dell was off to a good start "but we have much in front of us." Related: Veteran trader makes bold move with Palantir, Rocket Lab and SoFi "The customer deployments that we have in front of us are large, theyre complex, they have very detailed scheduled deliveries," Clarke said. "Theres lots of dependencies on this. Weve talked about this business being lumpy and nonlinear." While AI momentum remained strong, he said, "given the scale of these opportunities, variability and timing and choices around technology, the inherent nonlinear nature of demand and associated shipments is likely to persist." Dell says it had more than $12 billion in AI orders.Bloomberg/Getty Images Dell CEO: consumer market challenged Dell's fiscal-first-quarter earnings missed Wall Street expectations, but the revenue number beat estimates and the forecast for the current quarter was stronger than Wall Street expected. Clarke told analysts that Dell executed very well in the quarter, "achieving growth across our core markets." Demand for AI-optimized servers was "exceptionally strong," he said. More Tech Stocks: Dell built "on the momentum discussed in February and further [demonstrated] that our differentiation is winning in the marketplace," he said, referring to the company's previous quarterly report. "We had over $12 billion in AI orders this quarter alone, which will drive significant revenue growth and EPS," he said. Still, Clarke said "the consumer market remains challenged." "Consumer revenue declined 19% and the industry pricing remained competitive," he said. Yvonne McGill, Dell's chief financial officer, said the company was expecting "subseasonal performance in traditional server and storage, our larger profit pools that provide scale, as customers evaluate their IT [spending] for the year given the dynamic [macroeconomic] environment." "We saw strong performance across small and medium business and large enterprise," she said. "In consumer, the demand environment remains soft and profitability remains challenged." A small batch of white Afrikaners quietly arrived in the US on Friday, as part of President Donald Trumps offer to resettle them amidst false claims of white genocide and persecution in South Africa. They are part of 8,000 who will be resettled within the next few months, according to Jaco Kleynhans, head of Public Relations for trade union Solidarity. Last month the first group of more than 49 white South African Afrikaners landed in the United States after a private plane was chartered for them. This after Trump in February issued an executive order where Washington cited the Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 as one that enables the persecution of Afrikaners. Kleynhans said the second group departed on a commercial flight on Thursday that landed in Atlanta in the US on Friday. It is a smaller group, including children. Several more groups will fly to the USA over the next few weeks. The US Embassy in Pretoria, in collaboration with the State Department in Washington DC, is currently processing 8,000 applications, and we expect many more Afrikaner refugees to travel to the USA over the next few months. "They are settling in states across the USA, but particularly southern states such as Texas, North and South Carolina, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, Kleynhans said. Reports indicate that the US embassy in South Africa is aware that 'refugees continue to arrive in the United States from South Africa on commercial flights as part of the Afrikaner resettlement programme's ongoing operations'. Solidarity said it has helped some people understand the application process better and referred them to the right people at the US embassy. They have also assisted the US government in determining the criteria for Afrikaner refugee status. Our primary focus is not refugee status for Afrikaners, but rather to find ways to ensure a free, safe, and prosperous future for Afrikaners in South Africa. We remain 100% convinced that South Africa can and must create a home for all its people, Kleynhans said. He added that at least 20% of Afrikaners have already left the country 'because if they stayed, they would have been unemployed'. Kleynhans said he was campaigning in at least ten countries to increase international pressure on the SA government in the run-up to the G20 summit. On criticism that this refugee path is politically motivated, Kleynhans said: The American refugee programs are paid for by American taxpayers and it is outrageous that international organisations and foreign groups think they can dictate to the Trump administration who should be eligible for refugee status. If Americans disagree with Trump on this, they can elect a different president in three years." IOL The rapid integration of artificial intelligence into daily life marks a significant shift online, with hundreds of millions of people relying on chatbots and generative tools for everything from research to image creation. But as AI use expands, its growing appetite for energy is becoming clear, prompting new research from the MIT Technology Review to quantify its footprint, and to uncover just how little is publicly known. AI's rise has broken the pattern set by past waves of digital growth, where better efficiency kept data centers' electricity use flat even as their numbers ballooned. However, AI-specialized hardware caused US data centers' electricity consumption to double from 2017 to 2023, accounting for 4.4% of national energy usea figure expected to triple by 2028 as AI becomes even more embedded. Training large AI models like GPT-4 can cost more than $100 million and use enough energy to power San Francisco for days. But the majority of AI's energy use now comes from inference, or responding to user prompts; generating high-quality text, images, or video with open-source models especially consumes measurable amounts of electricity. Most large AI providers, like OpenAI and Google, release scant details on this energy use, labeling such data as trade secrets. This lack of transparency makes it hard for scientists and regulators to gauge the true impact. "The precious few numbers that we have may shed a tiny sliver of light on where we stand right now, but all bets are off in the coming years," says AI researcher Sasha Luccioni. "Generative AI tools are getting practically shoved down our throats, and it's getting harder and harder to opt out." More here. More than 200 Ukrainian POWs have died while imprisoned since Russia's full-scale invasion three years ago. Abuse inside Russian prisons was likely a contributing factor in many of these deaths, according to officials from human rights groups, the UN, the Ukrainian government, and a Ukrainian medical examiner who has performed dozens of POW autopsies. A photo gallery curated by AP photo editors helps tell the story. Ukrainian soldier Serhii Hryhoriev is among the POWs who died while in captivity. A Russian death certificate said the 59-year-old died of a stroke. But a Ukrainian autopsy and a former POW who was detained with him tell a different story about how he diedone of violence and medical neglect at the hands of his captors. The AP details his story here. White House officials said Saturday that President Trump is withdrawing the nomination of tech billionaire Jared Isaacman, a close ally of Elon Musk, to run NASA. Trump made the decision after learning that Isaacman had made political donations to prominent Democrats, the New York Times reports. "It's essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump's America First agenda and a replacement will be announced directly by President Trump soon," assistant press secretary Liz Huston said, per CNN . NASA staff members and advocates had hoped that Isaacman would bring stability to the agency, per the Times, which has been run by an acting administrator since Trump retook office. It's now likely to be several months before NASA has a new boss in place. The president told associates that he found out Isaacman had given money to Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly, a former astronaut, and Bob Casey, who lost his reelection bid last fall, in addition to the California Democratic Party. Isaacman, 42, has twice gone to space on commercial missions that he funded, per NBC News. (The announcement came one day after Musk received a sendoff from Trump.) A devastating Ukraine drone attack deep in Russia struck several scattered airfields on Sunday, the day before peace talks are scheduled to begin in Turkey. Ukrainian officials said 41 "strategic aircraft" at four airfields, including strategic bombers, were destroyed. Local Russian officials confirmed the drones struck deep in Russian territory, the Washington Post reports, including Siberia for the first time. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who confirmed Sunday that a delegation still will attend the Istanbul negotiations, had supervised the planning of the operation for more than 18 months, government officials said. Intelligence officers from the security service launched the drones from trucks that had been placed and covered near Russian airbases thousands of miles from Ukraine, per Axios. Ukraine said the destroyed planes had been used to attack its cities, and Telegram channels tied to Russian security services said drones had attacked long-range bases in the Kola Peninsula and in the Irkutsk region. Usolye-Sibirskoye residents posted videos of drones buzzing overhead, as well as large explosions and plumes of smoke, per the Post. "Is this the 11th?" one witness says. Russian officials reported no injuries and said several suspects were being held. Russia's defense ministry said the attacks were fought off, though "several pieces of aviation equipment caught fire," per the BBC. Influential pro-war bloggers and military journalists in Russia called for retaliation. "This is a reason to launch nuclear strikes on Ukraine," one wrote on Telegram. Zelensky said that Russia has been given his terms for peace before the talks, per the Post: "The first is a complete and unconditional ceasefire. The second is the release of prisoners. The third is the return of the stolen children." Saying that the biggest issues can be negotiated only by the leaders, Zelensky also called for a meeting "at the highest level" to establish a lasting peace. Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and other 11 activists set sail on Sunday for Gaza on a ship aimed at "breaking Israel's siege" of the devastated territory, organizers said. The sailing boat Madleeoperated by activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalitiondeparted from the Sicilian port of Catania in southern Italy, the AP reports. It will try to reach the shores of the Gaza Strip in an effort to deliver aid and raise international awareness over the ongoing humanitarian crisis, the activists said at a press conference on Sunday before departing. The activists expect to reach their destination in seven days, if they are not stopped. "We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying," Thunberg said, bursting into tears during her speech. "Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And no matter how dangerous this mission is, it's not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the live-streamed genocide," she added. Israel, which was founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust, has adamantly rejected genocide allegations against it as an antisemitic "blood libel." In mid-May, Israel slightly eased its blockade of Gaza after nearly three months, allowing a limited amount of humanitarian aid into the territory. Experts have warned that Gaza is at risk of famine if more aid is not brought in. Thunberg, who became an internationally famous climate activist after organizing massive teen protests in her native Sweden, had been due to board a previous Freedom Flotilla ship last month, per the AP. That attempt to reach Gaza by sea, in early May, failed after another of the group's vessels, the Conscience, was reportedly attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off the coast of Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack. "We are breaking the siege of Gaza by sea, but that's part of a broader strategy of mobilizations that will also attempt to break the siege by land," said activist Thiago Avila. Fairbanks, AK (99701) Today Variable clouds with thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon hours. High 71F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy after midnight with light rain possible. Low 57F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. If youre seeking a dependable dividend stock with a generous yield, Altria Group (MO)the U.S. parent company of Marlborois hard to ignore. Offering a nearly 7% dividend yield and boasting over 50 years of uninterrupted dividend growth, Altria stands out as a true Dividend King. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Im bullish on the stock thanks to its strong track record of shareholder returns, not just through consistent dividend hikes but also through substantial and regular share buybacks. To top it off, the stock currently trades at an attractive valuation. Lets take a deeper dive into why Altria may deserve a spot in your income portfolio. Altria Group (MO) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) Over Half a Century of Dividend Growth Altrias most compelling feature is its impressive 6.76% dividend yielda figure that not only far exceeds the S&P 500s average yield of 1.3%, but also comfortably surpasses the 4.5% yield on the 10-year Treasury. That positions Altria as one of the few S&P 500 stocks offering such a significant income advantage. Beyond the headline yield, Altria offers remarkable consistency. As a Dividend King, the company has increased its dividend for 56 consecutive years, a streak that shows no sign of ending. Management understands that the companys shareholder base is primarily income-focused, and as such, continued dividend growth remains a central priority. While Altrias dividend payout ratio sits slightly above 75%a level that might raise concerns for somethis is largely by design. Given the mature nature of its core tobacco business, the company has minimal reinvestment needs, allowing it to allocate a substantial portion of earnings toward shareholder returns. In addition to dividends, Altria has aggressively pursued share buybacks. Between 2020 and 2024, it repurchased $7.9 billion in stock, including a massive $3.4 billion in 2024 alone. In Q1 2025, Altria bought back another $326 million, with $674 million remaining under its current repurchase authorization, which it aims to complete by year-end. Altria Group (MO) Stock Buybacks These buybacks not only reduce the share countboosting earnings per share and concentrating shareholder valuebut also signal managements confidence in the companys valuation. When a company returns capital this consistently, its a clear testament to its commitment to shareholder value. Between dividends and buybacks, Altria returned nearly $40 billion to shareholders from 2020 through 2024an impressive show of income strength and capital discipline. SAGA, Jun 02 (News On Japan) - A female employee was fatally stabbed at a child welfare facility in Saga City on May 31st. Police arrested a 28-year-old woman at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. The incident occurred shortly after 5:30 p.m., when police received a report that a woman armed with a knife was causing a disturbance and had injured someone at the facility. When officers arrived, they found staff member Chie Kawahara, 55, with stab wounds to her arms and other areas. She was transported to a hospital but later died from her injuries. The suspect, identified as part-time worker Miru Hirata from Takeo City, Saga Prefecture, was apprehended at the scene for attempted murder. Hirata is believed to have visited the facility to meet someone connected to her. During questioning, she reportedly said, "I don't know because I have no memory of it." Source: FNN GAZA, Jun 02 (News On Japan) - A Japanese woman working with Doctors Without Borders has delivered a harrowing account from Gaza, where severe food shortages and relentless Israeli airstrikes have pushed local hospitals and residents to the brink of collapse. Amid the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian enclave, distribution of humanitarian aidincluding foodwas halted for nearly three months by Israeli authorities, according to the Palestinian ambassador at a United Nations meeting. Although a new food distribution effort has since begun, supported by the American-led Gaza Relief Foundation, criticism has emerged over the groups operations being conducted outside UN frameworks and under Israeli coordination. During one such distribution, Israeli gunfire killed at least three people and injured 46 others. The head of the UN agency overseeing aid to Palestine warned that aid drop-off points were being selected in ways that endangered civilians. Crowds were seen moving en masse toward the designated delivery town of Muwasi, further aggravating fears of displacement. The backdrop to this, observers suggest, may include political ambitions of development involving resident relocationa policy previously promoted by the Trump administration. Working under such extreme conditions is Nao Muramoto, who arrived in Gaza last month as a logistician for Doctors Without Borders. Although not a physician herself, she has been responsible for securing medical supplies and setting up field hospitals in bombed-out areas. "There are drone sounds constantly, and we hear airstrikes every day, even here in our office," she said. Muramoto described scenes of children scavenging through garbage for scraps of food, highlighting the acute lack of nutrition in the territory. Compared to her last deployment in Gaza, the current shortage of supplies is markedly worse. Even Nasser Hospitalone of the facilities her team supportswas hit by an airstrike, destroying their last remaining stock of medical materials. "Weve run out of painkillers," she said. "Changing burn dressings has to be done without any anesthesia. You walk the halls and hear the screams of childrenits heartbreaking." Muramoto emphasized that food itself is being used as a weapon of war. "This is a blatant disregard for humanity," she said, calling urgently for a comprehensive ceasefire. "People dont know what theyll eat tomorrow, or where the next bomb will fall today." The program concluded with a sharp commentary on international responsibility. While some global leaders have only recently begun criticizing Israeli actions, critics argue that meaningful change will only come if those same nations take action beyond wordssuch as ending military support and defending freedom of speech for those protesting the ongoing violence. Source: TBS Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Affordable cosmetics company e.l.f. Beauty (ELF) has long relied on China to keep its prices low and create value-oriented "dupes" of higher-end products. Now, President Trumps economic agenda is putting that model to the test. E.l.f. sources 75% of its products from China, making it highly exposed to higher costs from Trump's tariffs (though less so than in 2019, when the company sourced 100% of its products from the country). In addition to the broad-based tariffs Trump has levied in his second term, e.l.f. faces a 25% tariff on its China-sourced products that Trump levied in 2019. With the most recent 30% tariffs that Trump imposed on Chinese goods, which are undergoing legal scrutiny, e.l.f.'s product imports to the US were subject to tariffs at the 55% level. Unlike other companies that have vocally pivoted to American onshoring to avoid being singled out by the president, CEO Tarang Amin said on the company's earnings call that e.l.f. remains committed to its Chinese suppliers. "We believe our unique China-based supply chain is an area of competitive advantage we've been honing for the past 21 years," Amin said. "It underpins our value proposition, delivering the best combination of quality, cost, and speed in our industry. We're ... committed to our China team and suppliers." Beauty products by e.l.f. cosmetics are seen on display at a Target store in Union Square on April 04, 2025, in New York, New York. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images But tariffs create a challenging situation for a company that prides itself on its affordability factor. E.l.f. recently took a rare step in announcing a $1 price increase on all items starting in August. In an interview with Yahoo Finance on Thursday, e.l.f Beauty CFO Mandy Fields did not say whether e.l.f. would pare back prices if tariffs were to come off. "There's just such a range of outcomes from a tariff perspective," Fields said (see video above). "I would say pricing is one lever that we have in our toolkit, but we're also looking at our supply chain to optimize that, and also looking at business diversification as we think about tariff mitigation." The beauty company also announced the acquisition of Rhode, a direct-to-consumer skin care brand founded by Hailey Bieber, for $1 billion. One of the reasons given for the deal was to help e.l.f. diversify its supply chain away from China. E.l.f. Beauty stock soared 23% on Thursday following the announcement. Smaller cosmetic brands 'have been relying a lot on China' Many beauty brands are going back to the drawing board in hopes of finding ways to deal with tariffs, starting by reaching out to their suppliers and finding new efficiencies. Goldman Sachs analyst Brooke Roach reiterated the Buy rating on Gap, Inc. (NYSE:GAP), raising the price forecast from $25 to $28. On Thursday, the firm reported first-quarter earnings of 51 cents per share, which beat the consensus estimate of 45 cents. Quarterly revenue came in at $3.46 billion, which beat the Street estimate of $3.42 billion. Gap has reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance, excluding any potential tariff-related impacts. While core business trends remain solid, the analyst highlighted that the investor sentiment may have been tempered by heightened expectations and Gaps acknowledgment of a larger-than-expected tariff headwind in the second half, even after mitigation, estimated at $100 million to $150 million. Also Read: Gap Stock Is Falling Friday: Whats Going On? Gap continues to shift its sourcing strategy to reduce exposure to China. The company expects less than 3% of its products to come from China by the end of 2025, down from under 10% in 2024. By the end of 2026, Gap aims to ensure no single country accounts for more than 25% of its sourcing. The estimated unmitigated tariff impact stands at $250 million to $300 million, while mitigation efforts could bring that down to $100 million to $150 million. However, this range is not formally included in the companys current outlook. Gap is using standard mitigation levers such as adjusting sourcing, manufacturing, assortments, and negotiating with vendors, but does not plan to raise prices in response to the tariff risk. Despite the uncertainty, the company is continuing to invest in key strategic initiatives and intends to reinvest a portion of its projected FY25 cost savings to support its growth plans. While the analyst has reduced Gaps second-half forecasts due to higher-than-expected tariff headwinds and expects this to weigh on the stock in the near term, Roach remained confident in the companys ability to manage these challenges into FY26 using additional mitigatory levers, including the unused option of pricing. The analyst added that Gap has additional mitigation tools available, including the option to adjust pricing, which it has not yet utilized. Roach stated that their 2025, 2026, and 2027 EPS estimates have been revised to $2.19, $2.34, and $2.61, compared with the previous forecasts of $2.28, $2.37, and $2.61. The update reflects Gaps strong first-quarter performance and incorporates the latest tariff guidance provided by management, the analyst said in the note. Price Action: GAP shares are trading lower by 18.2% to $22.87 at last check Friday. Noticing a haziness to the sky today? That is due to smoke from Canadian wildfires spreading across the eastern US. In our region, the smoke is aloft only and will not impact air quality. The smoky skies will likely linger at times into early next week. #PAwx #NJwx #DEwx #MDwx pic.twitter.com/cp452m6wGt NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) June 1, 2025 If you think the sky looks a bit hazy today, you arent seeing things. The National Weather Service in Mount Holly identified the haziness on Sunday as being due to smoke from Canadian wildfires spreading across the eastern US. In New Jersey, National Weather reported the smoke is aloft only and will not impact air quality. The smoky skies will likely linger at times into early next week, according to National Weather. On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said in a statement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service was deploying resources to assist the wildfire response currently impacting Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Alberta, Canada. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center raised the wildfire preparedness level to 5 on May 29, as the country is experiencing very high to extreme wildfire activity, Rollins said. Last year, the sky over the New Jersey and New York region filled with smoke drifting south from wildfires burning in Canada. Two years ago, there were days of hazardous air quality in New Jersey in early June due to hazy, smoky conditions from Canadian wildfires. The Christa McAuliffe Middle School in Jackson Township, New Jersey, is permanently closing after the last day of classes on June 23, 2025. Allison Erwin | Jackson school district An Ocean County middle school named for Christa McAuliffe is permanently closing in June but will get a proper sendoff from alumni and other admirers, officials said. The Christa McAuliffe Middle School in Jackson opened in 1993, seven years after the New Hampshire teacher who became an astronaut was killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. Visitors are being offered a final chance to tour the school on Monday, June 16, one week before the last day of classes. A two-hour open house will start at 4 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. ceremony, officials said. A quote attributed to McAuliffe I touch the future. I teach is inscribed on a hallway wall next to a display honoring her legacy. The case includes a framed photo of a teacher and students from 1997 dedicating a quilt with a rendition of McAuliffe and 11 other astronaut-themed images. We hope that it stands for a challenge to everyone to make Planet Earth the best it can be, reads the description. A quote attributed to Christa McAuliffe is part of a wall tribute honoring her service as a teacher and astronaut on display at the middle school named for her in Jackson, New Jersey. McAuliffe and six other astronauts were killed when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on Jan. 28, 1986. Allison Erwin | Jackson school district The Jackson school board voted in February to close the school at the conclusion of the 2024-25 academic year. The school district is preparing a commemorative video and asking former students, teachers, parents and staff members to submit anecdotes via an online form by June 2. The decision to close Christa McAuliffe Middle School was not an easy one, and we know this change brings many emotions. Through your stories, we hope to preserve the spirit of the school and celebrate the lasting impact it has had on generations of students and families, the district says on the website. Jackson has five elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. The school board voted to close the McAuliffe school as part of a district-wide restructuring attributed to budgetary constraints exacerbated by declining enrollment. It had planned to close the other middle school but changed course upon determining the McAuliffe buildings property is more valuable, the school boards president said at the time. The middle school will be the second Jackson school to close in a year. The Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School closed after 62 years in June 2024. While the elementary schools building was subsequently sold for $13.1 million, the district has not announced a plan for the soon-to-be vacant middle school. It is among about a half-dozen U.S. schools named for McAuliffe, who taught social studies at Concord High School in New Hampshire. Others include Christa McAuliffe Intermediate School 187 in Brooklyn, New York . The crew of the space shuttle Challenger is seen in this 1986 photo. From left to right: Ellison Onizuka, Mike Smith, Christa McAuliffe, Dick Scobee, Greg Jarvis, Ron McNair and Judith Resnik. (AP Photo/NASA) AP McAuliffe was selected by NASA in 1984 over 11,500 applicants seeking to become the first teacher in space. Her astronaut training drew international attention. She had planned to teach two short lessons to students from space via closed-circuit TV. All seven astronauts aboard the Challenger were killed when it broke apart 73 seconds after lifting off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. McAuliffe, 37, was married with two young children. Grace Corrigan, McAuliffes mother, attended the middle school dedication ceremony in 1993. Your future is only limited by your dreams, so reach for those stars. Im sure Christa is up there smiling, Corrigan said at the ceremony, the Asbury Park Press reported. She died in 2018. The middle school named for her daughter enrolls 659 students. As part of the restructuring, Jackson Memorial High School is being turned into a middle school and all high school students will attend Jackson Liberty High School, which is being renamed Jackson Township High School. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Three-time Tony winner Patti LuPone is apologizing for the first time. John Nacion | Variety via Getty Images Broadway star Patti LuPone is known for being frank and unapologetic. Now, shes apologizing. For as long as I have worked in the theatre, I have spoken my mind and never apologized, the actor said in an Instagram post Saturday. That is changing today. LuPones apology arrives a week before the 2025 Tony Awards, after 500 Broadway performers signed a letter condemning her comments about fellow Broadway actors Kecia Lewis and Audra McDonald in an interview with The New Yorker. The letter, sent to the American Theatre Wing and the Broadway League, said LuPone, a three-time Tony winner, should not be permitted to attend the Tonys on June 8 because of her remarks. Individuals, including Patti Lupone, who use their platform to publicly demean, harass, or disparage fellow artists particularly with racial, gendered, or otherwise violent languageshould not be welcomed at industry events, including the Tony Awards, fundraisers, and public programs," the letter said. LuPones remarks were connected to her experience performing in the Broadway play The Roommate, a production that shared a wall with the musical Hells Kitchen, which is inspired by the life of Alicia Keys. (New Jerseys Maleah Joi Moon won her first Tony for her starring role as Ali in the show, which was also her Broadway debut.) After LuPone complained to the theater owner about the volume of sound being heard through the wall, a change was made and the actor sent flowers to the cast and crew of the show. Audra McDonald and Patti LuPone, left, in 2011 and right, during rehearsal for "Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny" at the LA Opera in 2007. Bruce Glikas | FilmMagic; Richard Hartog | Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Kecia Lewis, who won the Tony for best featured actress in a musical last year for her performance as Miss Liza Jane in Hells Kitchen, took to Instagram in November and called LuPones complaint bullying, saying that her actions were racially microaggressive. You owe us an apology, not flowers, Lewis said in a video open letter to LuPone. The New Yorker asked LuPone about the post, which had been liked by Tony-winning actor Audra McDonald. LuPone called Lewis, 59, a b---- in the interview and said that McDonald, who has the most Tony wins of any actor (six), was not a friend. She also seemed to reject the notion that Lewis is a Broadway veteran, something she called herself in the video when speaking about how long she and LuPone had been working in theater. READ MORE: N.J. nominees at 2025 Tonys: Dead Outlaw, Romeo + Juliet, Maybe Happy Ending, John Proctor and more Gayle King asked McDonald, 54, about LuPones comments on CBS. I mean, if theres a rift between us, I dont know what it is, McDonald said. Thats something that youd have to ask Patti about. McDonald is nominated for a Tony this year for her performance as Rose in the Broadway revival of Gypsy, a role that LuPone won a Tony for in 2008. (LuPone also won for Company in 2022 and Evita in 1980.) I havent seen her in about 11 years just because weve been busy with life and stuff, McDonald said of LuPone. So I dont know what rift shes talking about. Youd have to ask her. Kecia Lewis with her Tony for "Hell's Kitchen." Bruce Glikas | FilmMagic In her apology, LuPone addressed her comments about Lewis and said she wanted to apologize to both Lewis and McDonald in person. I am deeply sorry for the words I used during The New Yorker interview, particularly about Kecia Lewis, which were demeaning and disrespectful, LuPone said. I regret my flippant and emotional responses during this interview, which were inappropriate, and I am devastated that my behavior has offended others and has run counter to what we hold dear in this community. I hope to have the chance to speak to Audra and Kecia personally to offer my sincere apologies." LuPone also addressed the open letter from the 500 Broadway performers. I wholeheartedly agree with everything that was written in the open letter shared yesterday, she said. From middle school drama clubs to professional stages, theatre has always been about lifting each other up and welcoming those who feel like they dont belong anywhere else. I made a mistake, I take full responsibility for it, and I am committed to making this right. Our entire theatre community deserves better." Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter/X, @amykup.bsky.social on Bluesky and @kupamy on Instagram and Threads. Port Authority police are credited with rescuing a 2-year-old child last week who climbed onto a luggage conveyor belt headed to an X-ray machine at Newark Liberty International Airport. Port Authority police officers assigned to Terminal A were alerted to the incident involving a child at 6:28 p.m. on Wednesday, an official said. The incident happened while the childs mother was at the JetBlue ticketing counter on the departures level. JetBlue couldnt immediately be reached for comment. The child, who was not injured, was located in the checked baggage room on the lower level, the Port Authority said. NYDailyNews.com identified the officers as Angel Paulino and Joe DeSilvio. The Port Authority Policemans Benevolent Association took to social media to praise the officers. Two Port Authority cops rescued a toddler who wandered onto a luggage conveyor belt in Terminal A, Newark Liberty International Airport. The cops, realizing the danger the child was in, without hesitation, entered the conveyor system and, after about four minutes, located the child who was headed for an x-ray machine, according to the social media post @papd911. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were requested as a precaution. The childs parents declined to have their child receive further treatment. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Stephanie Loder may be reached at SLoder@njadvancemedia.com. A thief attempting to steal a tire from an off-duty Newark police officers personal vehicle was arrested after fighting with the cop on Sunday morning, authorities said. The off-duty officer saw a man removing the tire at about 4:15 a.m. on the 300 block of Third Avenue West and approached him, Newark police said. As the two tussled, someone flagged down a police vehicle on patrol and the police took the man into custody, authorities said. One of the responding officers was taken to an area hospital with a hand injury. The off-duty officer and the man arrested were also brought to the hospital to be checked, officials said. The charges against the alleged thief werent immediately available. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Hollywood actors are often seen as financially set for life, with little reason to seek extra income elsewhere. But acclaimed American actor Josh Brolin revealed in an interview that he turned to stock trading to make ends meet during a difficult stretch in his Hollywood career. I Just Wasn't Making Money' Speaking with podcaster and journalist Guy Raz a few months ago, Brolin said he began stock investing to support his family during a time when his acting career hadn't taken off and he wasn't "cutting it." "I had children going to school and I just wasnt making money, man," Brolin said. "If youre lucky enough to make 100,000 a year, which I wasnt, then youre clearing 30,000 after taxes and commissions and if you have a lawyer and you have a manager and an agent and all this stuff that I had back then." Don't Miss: Brolin said he started taking interest in stocks after meeting entrepreneur and investor Brett Markinson, who introduced him to the technical details and dynamics of trading. Brolin started asking him everything about investing to understand the finer details of the industry. Later, Brolin's role in "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" gave him access to market experts and billionaires, with whom he discussed finance, discipline, and other key aspects of investing, he said. All of this proved worthwhile for Brolin, who said he earned more from investing than from his acting career. "I made more money than I had ever made acting for sure," Brolin told Raz. "It wasnt just because I got lucky with one stock that went to the roof, I was very disciplined in the breaths of upward momentum, you know, fairly solid stocks. So Id get it when it would go down, Id sell it when it would go up." Trending: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: Schedule your free call with a financial advisor to start your financial journey no cost, no obligation. From Day Trading to Long-Term Investing Brolin said that he is a long-term investor now because day trading requires a tight schedule and a disciplined routine. "If you do that, you have to be up at 4:30 every morning and you have to know your basket and you have done your due diligence for what youre trading for that day and the night before," according to Brolin. I Knew I Could Figure Financials Out' Brolin said he'd accepted early on that he'd spend his career as a working actor, constantly seeking roles to support himself. But he was also confident from the beginning that hed always be able to handle his finances and provide for his family. Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in Los Angeles, California won the $205 million jackpot on Saturday night. The cash option is worth $91.6 million. A 19-year-old Wood-Ridge man was arrested on child pornography and child abuse charges involving a juvenile from Nevada, authorities said. The Carson City Sheriffs Office launched an investigation in March 2024 into the production of child sexual abuse materials by a person using a social media platform, the office said in a press release. Authorities allege the Wood-Ridge man coerced a Carson City juvenile into producing the illegal material. Because of his age at the time of the alleged offenses, the New Jersey residents name was not released, the sheriffs office said. A detective with the Carson City Sheriffs Office traveled to New Jersey on Wednesday and with the help of the Bergen County Prosecutors Office Cyber Crimes Unit and the Bergen County Regional SWAT team executed a search warrant at the mans home. He was arrested and booked into the Bergen County Sheriffs Office Detention Center on charges of using a minor in producing pornography and child abuse as a result of exploitation, authorities said. This case is another example of the strength and necessity of inter-agency partnerships, said Jeff Angermeyer, Deputy Chief of Detectives for the Bergen County Prosecutors Office and a Public Information Officer. When it comes to online child exploitation investigations, no matter the distance involved or complexities of it, law enforcement everywhere will always rally around the universal mission of protecting children and families. The Carson City Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NJ Advance Media. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. 'I would think that everyone should be concerned or even outraged at some of the allegations," said state Sen. Joseph Vitale. Illustration by Andrea Levy New Jersey spends billions to help fund nursing home care for frail and elderly residents. But state officials are now questioning just how the money is being spent in the wake of a recent series by NJ Advance Media and its sister newsrooms across the country examining the inside financial dealings of the long-term care industry. By Allison McLeod A mentor once told me the easiest thing to ask a politician to do is to do nothing. Doing nothing is simple. Its free. It doesnt risk angering residents or voters. Doing nothing is usually the easiest course of action. But heres the thing anyone can do nothing. I can do nothing, sitting here on my couch. We dont elect politicians to do nothing. We elect them because we have the confidence theyll do the hard things the right things when the moment comes. Now is one of those moments. In 2020, Gov. Phil Murphy made a pledge to enact regulations to protect New Jerseyans against climate change. Its called NJPACT New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats. How we develop N.J.s coast The next round of rules is meant to address how we develop on our coast. It considers an estimated five feet of sea level rise by 2100 and says something very practical: If we are building today, we should build to withstand the sea level rise we know is coming. It doesnt make you retrofit existing homes. It doesnt make you buy insurance. It just does the bare minimum hey, if youre going to put a home somewhere thats going to be flooded, you better make sure it can withstand the tides. This doesnt sound revolutionary, so you may be surprised to know the NJPACT rules are facing enormous pushback so much that they still havent been published. If they arent published by August, they run out of time to be adopted in this administration. These rules save lives And that would be a stain on New Jersey, because these rules will quite literally save lives. In 2021, Hurricane Ida ripped through New Jersey, and 30 of our friends and neighbors tragically lost their lives in devastating flash floods. Many people who lost their lives were trapped in their cars. One victim was pulled into a storm drain. And four people horrifically lost their lives when flood waters overwhelmed their ground level apartment. These are the real impacts and consequences of a changing climate. While we cant go back in time and fix where and how we built those roadways and homes, why wouldnt we make our future homes more resilient, and protect our neighbors from the storms we know are going to keep coming? Opposition is shortsighted The opposition to NJPACT will vaguely tell you that this will destroy economic development. What theyre really saying is theyre worried its going to cost more money to build differently. But how can you put a price on someones life? Those opposing these rules will also say it will destroy affordable housing. To that, I say if your solution is to put low-income housing in places that you know will flood, you need to take a long, hard look at your priorities. Those in opposition, including developers and business and industry associations, will also tell you that we shouldnt project out to 2100 that we should revisit the benchmarks in 20 years. My house was built in 1963. If it flooded in 1983, should I have just up and moved it? It makes no sense. Houses last longer than 20 years, and we should make sure the houses were building today are safe not only for todays families, but for the children and grandchildren they will leave them with when were long gone. Those opposed to NJPACT will also tell you its going to destroy the insurance market. Respectfully, insurance companies arent waiting for state governments to act. They are already using the most up-to-date data to inform their policies. Theres a reason insurance companies are pulling out of Florida, and its not because they are too environmentally friendly. In fact, building more resiliently helps lower insurance rates, because it lowers your risk of loss. No bailout from the feds The NJPACT rules assume a moderate emissions scenario. With even moderate emissions, science tells us we can anticipate five feet of sea level rise by 2100 because in addition to rising seas, New Jersey is also sinking. (Lucky us.) The part no one wants to say is with a federal administration gung-ho on expanding coal, were not likely to achieve moderate emissions. In other words, five feet is literally the least we can do. And New Jersey is one of only two states on the eastern seaboard that doesnt have dedicated state funding for resiliency measures. Under the Trump administration, FEMA has signaled clearly that they wont be bailing us out after the next disaster. So if we arent funding resilience, and were not going to get any help recovering after the next storm, isnt building safer the absolute least we can do? So now is a moment, a testing ground. I implore you, Murphy and the state legislature dont do nothing. Do the right thing. Support the NJPACT rules. Youll be protecting New Jerseyans today, tomorrow, and in 2100, when many of us are long gone. Calling your elected representative in the state Assembly or Senate is the most effective way to influence policy. To find your state Assemblymember and Senator to voice your position, go to the New Jersey Legislature websites Legislative Roster. Allison McLeod is the deputy director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. The organization is the statewide political voice for the environment, which advocates for policies and passes laws to protect clean air, safeguard clean water, and ensure Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. By Mikie Sherrill I learned in the Navy to find a way or make one and that the worst thing you can do in a crisis is freeze. Thats the kind of decisive, strong leadership we need in Trenton right now. Because the challenges facing our state arent new, but to so many families, nothing ever seems to change. We cant afford the status quo. Our state is unaffordable for too many, and opportunity is slipping out of reach for our kids. Thats why Ill be a governor focused on making it easier for families to get by, and defending New Jerseys freedom just as Ive done my entire life. We also know the stakes could not be higher. Donald Trump told us that Jack Ciattarelli is now ALL IN on MAGA, and Ciattarelli even pledged not to sue the federal government over their unlawful executive orders. He may wave the white flag of surrender, but I wont. Im ready to lead our state as governor. But were not going to win with another career politician or, like some of my opponents, somebody whos never run against a Republican, much less beaten one. Ive won every single election by large margins because I build broad coalitions. I not only know how to win, I know how to deliver. Heres how Ill tackle some of the most pressing issues I hear about on the campaign trail: Housing thats affordable: Housing and rental costs are the number one issue I hear about whether its the woman in Jersey City paying 70% of her income toward rent, or the retiree in Paterson who had to take on a job just to keep up with the cost of living. As governor, I will: Build more homes to address the supply problem thats driving costs up by converting underutilized commercial properties like vacant strip malls and office parks into housing Reform our permitting process to cut red tape and reduce delays. Expand first-time homebuyer assistance and crack down on predatory landlords who collude to keep rent above market levels. Drive down prescription drug prices: Nobody should have to choose between filling a prescription or paying rent. Our health care system isnt working, especially when it comes to the cost of prescription drugs. As governor, I will: Take on the shady middlemen in the system called Pharmacy Benefit Managers that drive up the cost of medications, sometimes up to 10 times what consumers should be paying. Crack down on PBM practices that boost their corporate profits at the expense of New Jersey patients, like pushing patients towards higher cost drugs over more affordable alternatives. These reforms will lower costs and keep local, independent pharmacies in business. Lower utility costs: This June, New Jersey families are going to see their utility bills rise by about 20%. Thats because our regional grid operator, known as PJM, has outsized influence from big oil and gas companies and has refused to plug cheap, clean power into our grid. As governor, I will: Install new solar projects on closed landfills, car ports, and other state buildings and expand community solar in our state, which will drive prices down for consumers. Work with regional Democratic governors to hold PJMs feet to the fire and ensure they connect the backlog of clean energy projects. Upgrade our energy infrastructure and expand battery storage to ensure we can meet the needs of the future. Protect kids online: Im the only mom in this race and the only candidate with a plan to protect our kids and democracy online. This is personal to me. As a mom of four, Ive seen just how harmful social media apps and their algorithms have been to our kids. Since Washington is refusing to pass legislation, its on New Jersey to act. I will: Restrict the collection of kids personal data and give users control over their data. Enact an Age Appropriate Design Code that would require social media companies to prioritize the health, privacy, and safety of users under 16. Create a first-of-its-kind Social Media Addiction Observatory at one of New Jerseys outstanding public universities that will bring together experts to develop recommendations for promoting safer online experiences and share those tools with parents. These times have me thinking a lot about a quote from St. Augustine that was read at the funeral of my late friend, Rep. Bill Pascrell. It goes, Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are. I share the anger about the chaos and lawlessness were seeing from the Trump administration. But I also know New Jersey has the courage to do something about it. Ive never backed down from a tough fight, and Im not about to now. I hope to earn your vote on June 10, and together, we can chart a new course forward for our state. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, is a candidate for governor and currently represents New Jerseys 11th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, federal prosecutor, and mother of four kids. Editors note: We invited all 11 candidates running for governor to submit an op-ed to publish prior to June 3. Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. By Marc Katz In the months after October 7, I stood on the street corner in Montclair, witnessing a pro-Palestinian protest in one of the busiest street corners of my town. Though there was no unified message in their signage, one particular chant wove its way through the whole demonstration, Say it loud and say it clear, we dont want no Zionists here. The majority of American Jews would call themselves Zionists. Whether its 95%, like one controversial statistic often quoted says, or it hovers in the 70s and 80s like other studies, its clear that if you happen to stumble upon a Jewish person in America, it would be a good bet to assume that they would be offended if they heard this chant. Thats because among American Jews, Zionism is anything but monolithic. There is no agreed upon definition of Zionism. Many of Zionisms detractors look around at whatever the current Israeli government is doing and see their actions as a reflection of Zionism itself. They believe that to be a Zionists, you must align with the Netanyahu regime. Yet, I am a Zionist, and I abhor the current Israeli government. I celebrated the ceasefire this past winter and mourned alongside many when the fighting continued. And now, with Israel about to call up the reservists and step up their offensive, a shot in the dark that wont bring us any closer to bringing the hostages home or achieving any long-term stability, I am even more firm in my distrust of and anger against these politicians. The reason I too can be a Zionist is that the term is broad and vague. Thats the beauty. Even from its inception, it left room for divergent viewpoints. Early Zionists agreed that they wanted a homeland for the Jews. But once they settled on Israel as that land, a surprisingly difficult task that eventually won the day because of our ancestral tie to the region, their uniformity stopped there. These early Zionists fought over everything: where to draw the borders, whether the land should include the native Arab populations or be partitioned into two states, exactly how Jewish the Israeli culture should be, whether Zionism should embrace the universal values of the Enlightenment or the particularist leanings of the Romantics. Most of these disputes remain today. The details are different, but the broader arguments are the same. Zionism is the seat of a conversation not a closed doctrine. Yes, I know Zionists that could care less about Palestinians, who idolize the current government, who would rather see Gazans disappear than do the hard work finding a way to have a future side-by-side. At the same time, I know Zionists who want to find a way to have peace with Palestinians even if it means making hard sacrifices. I know Zionists who are against settlement expansions, who travel to Israel to help Palestinian residents in the West Bank with their olive harvest, who give charity both to the destroyed Kibbutzim of the south and to food programs to feed hungry Gazans. Zionism is a dream for a better tomorrow for the Jewish people in the land of their forefathers. The Jewish world is still working to figure out how that vision is manifest and what specific policies should be in place to build a bridge to that better tomorrow. In the future, when history looks back at this current moment, it will observe many steps forwards and backwards toward that goal. But missteps cannot and should not ever invalidate the journey as a whole. The danger in letting others define Zionism for us is that their definitions will be inherently less open, less expansive, less creative. Our society is plagued by a lack of nuance. Since we are so bad at thinking outside of binaries, we assume that every ideology must also be simple. Yet, Zionism is not simple, and it is not easily captured in a sound-bite. Like any country Israel has its racists, but it also has its activists and dreamers. It has hard-hearted politicians, but it also has its bleeding-hearted ones. When we let Israelis detractors hijack the ongoing conversation about what Zionism is and should be we force people into boxes that only polarize us further and fail to advance a productive conversation about what the future of Israel might look like. Rabbi Marc Katz is the rabbi of Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield. His most recent book is Yochanans Gamble: Judaisms Pragmatic Approach to Life. Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. The first two times Jack Ciattarelli ran for governor he tried to keep Donald Trump at arms length. This time around hes decided to take a different tack and go full blown MAGA. Full blown MAGA sounds more like a diagnosis than a political ideology, but this is the world we live in now. Ciattarellis embrace of Trump is simply acknowledging the political reality of 2025. If you want to win a Republican primary, in just about all 50 states, you are going to have to kiss the ring and whatever other parts the president specifies. All its going to cost you is your self respect, and probably a couple grand worth of crypto. Ciattarelli came perilously close to unseating Gov. Phil Murphy during the last election cycle and essentially never stopped running. He was challenged for the GOP nomination by a small clown car of competitors, all but one state Sen. Jon Bramnick trying to prove their MAGA bonifides and secure the grail of a Trump endorsement. There was no market for an anti-Trump candidate, at least in the primary, so Bramnick never broke through, former state Sen. Ed Durr dropped out after failing to raise the requisite campaign funds and talk radio host Bill Spadea spent most of his time trying to out-MAGA the rest of the field only to have Trump pick someone else. After a months-long courting process, Ciattarelli finally got the nod and a few weeks ago Trump gave him the seal of approval. Ciattarelli has been the frontrunner from pillar to post and locking down Trump basically puts the matter to bed. Somebody check on Spadea. Were reaching the point in the cycle where the frontrunners are starting to put some distance on the field. On the Democratic side Mikie Sherrill is emerging from a crowded field that includes some former and current mayors, a sitting congressman, a union leader and another former state senator, those guys are everywhere. Whoever ends up ultimately securing the nomination is going to tie Ciattarelli to Trump early and often, heck, they already are. If all you knew of the race came from campaign ads, youd be forgiven for thinking Donald Trump was the GOP nominee for governor. Every Democrat with the cash for an ad buy is running spots pledging to battle Trump and Elon Musk to the death. Only in the past few weeks since he secured the endorsement has Ciattarelli made an appearance and still the focus remains firmly on Trump. From Ciattarellis perspective, going all in makes sense. He tried running as Trump-curious a couple times and it didnt work out. Why not embrace your inner Darth Vader and go to the dark side? Can a Trump Republican win a general election in New Jersey? I guess well find out. Drew Sheneman has drawn political cartoons for The Star-Ledger since 1998. His work is syndicated nationally through Tribune Content Agency. Find him at Drew Shenemans Cartoon Cavalcade. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends. Here, they discuss the weeks political events with Star-Ledger editor Enrique Lavin. Q: President Trump and Russias Vladimir Putin appeared to have exchanged verbal attacks on each other last week and then Russia launched the largest aerial attack on Ukraine since the war started. Meanwhile, Ukraine has turned to Europe for military help, while some Republicans in Congress are urging Trump to embrace new sanctions on Moscow. What outcomes do you see? Mike: Well, it appears the war did not end in 24 hours after his inauguration as promised. Foreign policy by Twitter post doesnt seem to work. Julie: Please dont buy the BS. Putin humiliated Trump every day for the last several weeks, so Trump felt the need to talk tough. But actions speak louder than words and his actions show that he is still 100% percent in thrall to Putin. Thats why he isnt giving Ukraine the weapons it needs to adequately defend itself. Thats why he and his minions are still trash talking NATO. Thats why he refuses to impose additional sanctions or even tariffs on Russia. Once a Putin puppet, always a Putin puppet. One day, we will get to the bottom of why that is. Q: Two storylines from Trumps tariffs this week: First, the presidents new nickname: TACO (Trump always chickens out), coined by a financial reporter who observed every time the stock market tanks, Trump eases up on tariffs. Last week, Trump relaxed 50% tariffs on European goods. Is this sea-saw approach Art of the Deal stuff, or something else? Mike: The president fundamentally believes that tariffs are a good idea. He wants to remake how the federal government collects revenue, which is modeled on pre-20th century economic numbers. But, as tariffs have proven to be a bad idea economically, Trump will continue to ease up while trying to save face. Julie: This economic uncertainty is harming businesses and the markets. Look at how many ships have sailed from Asia towards American ports this year, versus this time last year, and you see the mess that Trump has gotten us into. As I keep saying, its going to be a painful back to school season. Q: Second, a federal court has blocked Trumps use of emergency powers to impose broad tariffs, ruling that his Liberation Day tariffs exceeded legal authority and undermined congressional oversight of trade policy. Hell likely appeal. How does this affect his agenda? Mike: This is a correct check and balance from the judicial system. Its important to note that one of the judges that ruled against Trump is a Trump appointee. Julie: The courts just gave him the biggest gift of all: an injunction on his tariffs, which will get him out of the financial mess he is in while giving him an excuse to blame the courts to pacify his base. He should be smart enough to take it. Q: U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rand Paul of Kentucky have indicated they will seek major changes in Trumps Big Beautiful Bill that passed by one vote in the House a week ago. Does this tap the breaks on Trumps agenda? Mike: This is the first time the Republican senators are being asked to vote for portions of Trumps agenda that directly impact their states in a negative way, and they will not simply go along at least not all of them. At the end of the day, the only person that most GOP senators care about more than Trump is themselves. They will protect their own political futures by doing whats right for their constituents, the invisible hand of democracy. Julie: You mean slashing healthcare for more than a quarter of his constituents is not something Rand Paul wants to go along with? This legislation is a complete nightmare and if it passes, these members will face significant problems, as people like Rep. Tom Kean who voted for it will find out at the ballot box. Q: Do Republicans truly believe immigrants are so damaging to our country that international student visas should be revoked? First the assault on Harvards foreign students, and this week revoking Chinese student visas. This move not only hurts universities financially, but economists also say it will hurt our economy. Whats the deal? Mike: Everyone needs to stop looking at every individual attack on higher end and analyzing it. Look at the big picture. Trump and many conservatives believe that higher ed is 90% dominated by liberals who oppose everything that conservatives stand for. Therefore, they dont believe government should be funding those who are constantly oppose to the agenda voters supported. So, they are going to make it harder for them to do business. Im not saying I agree, but there are consequences when an entire industry essentially supports one political party for generations. Higher ed also needs to look in the mirror as well. Julie: The problem is that Republicans never think Democrats will reciprocate in kind, but I promise you that many of us will not support a presidential nominee unless that person promises to play fire with fire. If this attack against Harvard is allowed to stand, Liberty University should be very frightened. So should every megachurch whose pastors campaign for Republicans from the pulpit. If you want to come after private institutions, we can play that game too. Q: Early primary voting begins June 3, seven days later its Election Day. What are you watching for as candidates make their final lap around the track? Mike: On the Democratic side, Im watching to see which candidate gets attacked the most. The person who gets attacked the most is generally the person who is winning in the polls. Right now, that candidate is Mikie Sherrill. The problem is, when a candidate in a field this big gets attacked, the votes that leave do not simply go to the attacker as would happen in the general election. The votes get dispersed to the five other candidates, so we have to see if it will be enough. On the GOP side, Ciattarelli is smartly touting the Trump endorsement, while his supporters keep up their attacks on Bill Spadea. You will now see all the candidates making their closing arguments. Julie: Look to see where the vote-by-mail applications are being returned at the highest rates. Even without the line, some county and local organizations are running a strong VBM campaign. Q: The Trump administration sued the Democratic mayors of Hoboken, Jersey City, Newark, and Paterson for allegedly refusing to cooperate with immigration enforcement. All of the mayors vowed they wouldnt back down. Who wins here? Mike: Trump wins, just as he has been winning on the illegal immigration subject for years. Voters see Democratic politicians fighting hard for non-citizens, and many voters see that as coming at their expense. Voters also see mayors refusing to follow the law, just because they dont like this particular law. Thats not how its supposed to work. Julie: Trump just did Steve Fulop and Ras Baraka a very big favor in their primary campaigns. A note to readers: Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we prove it every week with this Friendly Fire conversation. Mike and Julie are deeply engaged in politics and commercial advocacy in New Jersey, so both have connections to many players discussed in this column. DuHaime, the founder of MAD Global Strategy, has worked for Chris Christie, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and George W. Bush. Roginsky, a principal of Comprehensive Communications Group and author of the Salty Politics column in Substack, has served as senior advisor to campaigns of Cory Booker, Frank Lautenberg, and Phil Murphy. Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter. Residents will be able to go to the polls this week as early voting begins in a primary election that features a large slate of candidates seeking the major-party nominations for New Jersey governor. Voters can go to the polls in person from Tuesday, June 3 to Sunday, June 8. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday. Rick and Morty Season 8 is still going strong. The endlessly controversial, endlessly beloved sci-fi comedy series will air a new episode on Adult Swim/Cartoon Network on Sunday, June 1 at 11 p.m. You can watch it live on either Sling TV (half off first month) or DIRECTV (free trial). Heres a look at everything you need to know to watch the new episode, and the rest of season 8. While information about new episodes of this series is always a little scarce, we know that it will be called Valkyrick, a play on Ricks name, obviously, and possibly a riff on the 2008 film Valkyrie, starring Tom Cruise. It could also, of course, just be a reference to the Norse mythological figures who guide dead souls to Valhalla. Sling TV Sling TV offers tons of channels at the best price in the industry. Buy Now Rick and Morty follows the exploits of Rick Sanchez and his grandson, Morty, as they adventure across galaxies and dimensions. Sometimes Mortys sister, Summer, comes along, too. The show ruthlessly riffs on science fiction tropes and pop culture. It stars Chris Parnell, Sarah Chalke, and Spencer Grammer, along with Ian Cardoni and Harry Belden as the titular characters. Cardoni and Belden replaced Justin Roiland after Roiland faced various allegations of misconduct and abuse in 2023. How to watch Rick and Morty for free The cheaper way to watch Rick and Morty is to sign up for Sling TV, which will give you half off your first month. However, DIRECTV is also worth considering if youre looking for a solution to cutting the cord in the long term, with more channels and variety in addition to Adult Swim content. It also offers a free trial. Streaming Service Cost Free Trial? DIRECTV $74.99 Yes Sling TV $45-$60 No RELATED STORIES ABOUT TV STREAMING PLATFORMS Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Joseph Rejent covers TV, writing about live television, streaming services and cord-cutting. He can be reached at jrejent@njadvancemedia.com. By Jaiveer Shekhawat and Saeed Azhar (Reuters) -HSBC is exiting its business banking portfolio in the United States, as it continued to simplify operations and shift its focus to Asia and Middle East markets. "Following a strategic review of our business, we have decided to exit our Business Banking portfolio in the United States," it said in a statement. "We are supporting impacted clients while they transition to a suitable alternative provider and will retain some clients in our Mid-Market and Global Network Banking business," it added. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that HSBC's move would affect about 4,500 clients. The UK-headquartered lender has been reducing its global footprint in an attempt to boost profits and expand in Asia and Middle East markets. The bank said in January it would wind down M&A and some equities businesses in the Americas and Europe. The Wall Street Journal said HSBC laid off 40 employees in the U.S. business banking division. HSBC declined to comment, In 2021, the bank said it was withdrawing from U.S. mass market retail banking by selling some parts of the money-losing business and winding down others. It sold its Canadian business to Royal Bank of Canada in 2022 for C$13.5 billion. (Reporting by Jaiveer Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru and Saeed Azhar in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) Warm weather is ahead for New Jersey, according to the latest forecast. AccuWeather.com New Jersey residents can expect a gradual warming trend over the next few days, with temperatures climbing into the mid-80s by Wednesday, followed by increasing chances of showers and thunderstorms by late week. High pressure will shift offshore early this week, bringing dry conditions and progressively warmer temperatures. Monday will start with northwest winds around 5 to 10 mph and temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s. By Tuesday, temperatures will approach 80 degrees, with Wednesday expected to reach the mid-80s. The weather pattern will change significantly Thursday through Saturday, with a more unsettled conditions developing. Meteorologists anticipate increasing moisture and a higher probability of scattered showers and thunderstorms, particularly Friday and Saturday. The warmest day is predicted to be Thursday, with temperatures potentially nearing 90 degrees in inland areas. The extended forecast suggests above-normal temperatures will persist, with a series of weak weather systems moving through the region. There is some uncertainty about the exact timing and intensity of potential precipitation. Rip current risk remains low for New Jersey beaches through Tuesday, with wave heights around 1-2 feet and wind speeds generally under 10 mph. Residents are advised to monitor updated forecasts as the week progresses, particularly for potential storm activity Friday and Saturday. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Overcast. Low 63F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Six Orleans Justice Center inmates were rebooked after they allegedly shanked an inmate on a third-floor pod Wednesday morning, sending him to a hospital with as many as a dozen stab wounds to his head, neck and back, court documents show. It's the latest crisis to afflict the city's lockup, from where 10 inmates escaped last month. Two remained at large Friday. On a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, British comedian Jimmy Carr joined Joe Rogan for a wide-ranging conversation that took a serious turn when they began talking about corporate greed, education, and the crushing weight of student debt in the U.S. Rogan And Carr Criticize The Student Loan System Rogan didn't hold back when discussing the way student loans trap young people. "It's the one debt you cannot absolve in America even with bankruptcy," he said. "It's a scam. It's the dirtiest thing ever." Don't Miss: Carr agreed and argued that the U.S. and U.K. should cancel student debt altogether. "We mis-sold people some bullsh*t degrees," he said. "You're taking those people that took a chance and they went to university and they gave their time and they studied hard ... and then they can't buy a house because ... [their degree is] not in a STEM subject, it's in the humanities or something, and they don't get the lifestyle they worked hard for." Carr also pointed out that while socialism is often treated like a dirty word, most people accept its role in essential services like fire departments and public schools. "Everyone agrees, right?" he said. "If your house burns down, we're going to have a fire service. It's not like, Oh, we don't take care of that.'" Rogan added that corporations rarely aim to do good once they're public. "They never are satisfied," he said. "They never go, Guys, we're doing great. If we just make this amount of money every year, like, that's wonderful. Let's just hang back. I think our profits are very high. Let's do good.'" Trending: Invest where it hurts and help millions heal: Invest in Cytonics and help disrupt a $390B Big Pharma stronghold. The two also talked about how student loans mostly burden middle- and working-class kids, locking them out of upward mobility. Carr described education as a social equalizer. "The opportunity to educate yourself and to do better is likethat's sort of part of the American Dream, isn't it?" he said. Rogan agreed and noted that 18-year-olds often don't understand the long-term consequences of debt. "You're too young to be connected to a $50,000 debt when you're 18. You don't know what it means," he said. "The fact that it's going to follow you around forever and haunt you... I think it's evil." Job Corps There are about 150 Job Corps programs nationwide. Of those, two dozen are managed by the U.S. Forest Service. There are three such Job Corps in Oregon Wolf Creek, and ones in Yachats and Estacada. Wolf Creek is the only one that offers advanced forestry classes. Wolf Creek Job Corps was founded in 1965 as part of President Lyndon B. Johnsons War on Poverty. It is located on land that formerly housed the Wolf Creek Civilian Conservation. The stated mission of the Job Corps is to help young people ages 16-24 improve their lives by providing vocational and academic training aimed at gainful employment and career pathways and to help each student become the very best version of themselves. Wolf Creek Job Corps participants can choose from among seven different trades that are offered: forestry conservation and firefighting, advanced forestry technician, carpentry, cement masonry, culinary arts, office administration and welding. The program focuses on three main areas of learning: trades, education and life skills. Each participant can earn a high school diploma or GED, as well as a drivers license through an agreement with Umpqua Community College. Students can stay for up to two years, but the average stay is about a year. They receive a stipend of $40-$60 every two weeks, and up to $1,200 when they leave the program to help them get settled. Students can also work helping firefighters, earning as much as $4,500 by working 15-hour days for several weeks. During the program they are covered by health insurance, and get free dental and vision coverage. Wolf Creek has a nurse at the center daily, and a physician that comes twice a week. The Wolf Creek Job Corps is located on a campus deep in the woods. It features dorms, a dining hall, a theater, a gym with basketball courts and a weight room, pool tables, two gardens, a baseball field, and more. There are currently about 150 students on campus, roughly one-third of them female. Kim Jong Uns North Korea is secretly infiltrating American businesses via remote jobs, with the help of unwitting U.S. citizens. Christina Chapman, a Minnesota woman whose home functioned as a hub for foreign operatives posing as American IT workers, helped funnel millions into North Koreas economy while jeopardizing U.S. data security. What Happened: Christina Chapman, a 50-year-old former waitress turned TikTok personality, established what authorities call a "laptop farm" in her home, according to The Wall Street Journal. She had several laptops connected to remote access software, allowing North Korean workers overseas to pose as U.S.-based tech employees. They secured jobs at more than 300 American companies, collecting $17.1 million in pay. Don't Miss: Many companies, unaware of the scam, sent paychecks and devices to Chapman's address. She handled paperwork, assisted with job applications, and forwarded pay after taking a cut. Authorities say she shipped almost 50 devices abroad and helped create false tax records for more than 35 people. Why It Matters: With international sanctions affecting funding sources, North Koreans are turning to unconventional methods. As per blockchain firm Chainalysis, North Korean hackers have stolen $6 billion in cryptocurrency. Laptop farming is the latest tactic enabling the regime to manipulate the gig economy and draw salaries from unsuspecting businesses. "That's a material percentage of their economy," observed Gregory Austin, a section chief at the FBI. Adam Meyers, a senior vice president at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, said this is becoming a significant issue for employers who depend on remote workforces. CrowdStrike has identified almost 150 cases of North Korean workers invading customer systems, and farms have been located in at least eight U.S. states. "These DPRK IT workers are absolutely able to hold down jobs that pay in the low six figures in U.S. companies and sometimes they can hold multiple of these jobs," Austin added. Chapman was contacted on LinkedIn with an offer to "be the U.S. face" of a firm that managed overseas IT talent. As per court records, there is no indication that she was aware of the North Korean connection. Jerry Davich Metro columnist Follow Jerry Davich Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Twenty years of crisscrossing every crevice of Indiana. More than 400 towns and cities. Roughly 4 million photos capturing images of the Hoosier heartland. Its been a journey, thats for sure, Joey Lax-Salinas said as he opened his laptop to share part of his adventure. One folder displayed a map of the state with hundreds of red stars showing the cities and towns he has visited, from the southern tip of Lake Michigan to the state lines of Kentucky, Illinois and Ohio. His photography odyssey began in our corner of the state, initially in his hometown of Hammond, by compiling an extensive collection of images of every city and town in this five-county Region. His visual catalog has grown into the ultimate stock photos collection of Indiana. No ones done such a massive project in our state, and no one has been willing to do it, Lax-Salinas said. It takes a lot of hustle, countless miles of driving and a lot of talking with thousands of people across the state. They are a curious bunch, asking me questions about what Im doing and why. The 2003 Indiana University graduate has mastered a knack for capturing insightful photos of communities to reflect their heart, history or essence, and then transforming it into a collective mosaic of Indiana. Lax-Salinas uses external hard drives to store most of his 4 million-plus photos, totaling more than 60 terabytes of storage, with other images stored in the digital cloud. For comparison sake, one terabyte of data is equivalent to 728,177 floppy disks. Since 2005, he has visited many of those cities and towns multiple times, providing him with a unique perspective over time. One thing Ive learned is how cities across the state plan and develop, and how they compare to Northwest Indiana communities, said Lax-Salinas, who lives in St. John with his wife, Rose, and two young children. I cant think of any county that doesnt have a courthouse square, except in Indianapolis. When I first met him a decade ago, he had already captured more than 500,000 digital images of Northwest Indiana, most of them saved on external hard drives kept in a banks safety deposit box. Some of those photos were of welcome signs for Region towns and cities. Some cities here didnt have any photos on their Wikipedia webpage, so I added it myself. It felt like the right thing to do, Lax-Salinas said. I wanted to help show that Northwest Indiana is a place worth visiting. Some of my photos are still on those websites. He has learned to efficiently navigate the state to make the best use of his time and daylight for his photography. Lighting and timing are everything. Its easy to pass up a small town and not realize it until youre 100 miles away, Lax-Salinas said. Its mostly in small towns where he still spots ghost signs, the faded, hand-painted advertisements on buildings from decades ago that may have been preserved, either intentionally or accidentally. I find them mostly in small towns in disrepair, Lax-Salinas said, showing me dozens of images from his travels. Bigger cities will slap a coat of paint over a ghost sign or demolish the building entirely. For example, I cant find a ghost sign anywhere in Bloomington, where I attended college. He's finishing up his latest book, Fading Ads of Indiana, showcasing 175 of his photos, 20,000 words of his observations and 260 pages of oil-painted American history. It will be published later this year by Arcadia Press. Now I cant go into a town and un-see these signs, if theyre still there, Lax-Salinas said. What started as a sort of accident has turned into an adventure, and then this book. Last week, he drove to southeast Indiana, including Seymour, the birthplace of musician John Mellencamp, who often appears to look like a human ghost sign. I needed to find a ghost sign there for my book, Lax-Salinas said. He drove past an old building he was familiar with, and it had been completely refurbished with an original strip remaining stating Mail Pouch Tobacco, one of the most common ghost sign products. I had to go inside, Lax-Salinas said. He introduced himself to the owner, a Seymour native who returned there after living in California. Lax-Salinas had to thank him for saving the ghost sign on the side of the three-story building. If you think thats cool, I have two ghost signs upstairs that you should see, the owner replied. Lax-Salinas couldnt believe his good fortune. Again. I feel like the luckiest guy ever with this project, he said. Lax-Salinas uses screenshots of Google Maps locations to find ghost signs across the state, then captures them in photos for his massive collection. Some of the signs are restored. Others are deteriorated. Many are impossible to read, with letters and images barely existing. (View more photos of his work and watch a video at NWI.com.) There is a distinctive orange-ish brick building style that was built during a certain time period, between 1880 and 1920. Its a goldmine for these kind of ghost signs, Lax-Salinas explained. This kind of art died off in the 1950s and 1960s. Some Hoosier towns have embraced the remnants of ghost signs. Other towns have partnered with companies, like Coca-Cola, to restore these signs. Most cities demolish them, paint over them or ignore them. Im trying to capture the remains of whats left of them, Lax-Salinas said. "My book will chronicle my journey and, in a way, America's journey." In my next column, I will share an exclusive sneak peek of another project he just completed. It's a new childrens book, Sweet Dreams, Northwest Indiana, filled with iconic photos from the shores of Lake Michigan to farmland, urban cities and rural towns as the Region quietly settles in for a beautiful night. Dozens of Candidates and Rainbow Colors: Mexicos Sprawling Judicial Ballots In a judicial overhaul, Mexican voters are directly electing their judges for the first time in history. But long and complex ballots await. Leer en espanol These are the nine ballots that Mexico City voters will receive, asking them to choose more than 50 federal and local positions. These are the nine ballots that Mexico City voters will receive, asking them to choose more than 50 federal and local positions. These are the nine ballots that Mexico City voters will receive, asking them to choose more than 50 federal and local positions. Dozens of Candidates and Rainbow Colors: Mexicos Sprawling Judicial Ballots In a judicial overhaul, Mexican voters are directly electing their judges for the first time in history. But long and complex ballots await. Leer en espanol The plan is simple. Mexicans will vote on Sunday to elect judges across the country, in a vast overhaul that reaches from the Supreme Court to every level of the justice system. The execution, however, can boggle the mind. Voters are expected to choose nearly 2,700 judicial positions out of 7,800 candidates across federal and state elections, a huge undertaking whose complexity can be seen in the dizzying variety of color codings, candidate groupings and types of ballots that will be handed out. In one state, 155 candidates are on a single page, reflecting the ambitions of Mexicos governing Morena party to democratize the system. In another state, there is essentially no choice at all what critics call a sign of the overhauls deep flaws. The purple ballot for Mexicos Supreme Court election. This is the ballot for the Supreme Court, which all voters in Mexico will see. There are 64 candidates for nine seats. On the left, voters must choose among 33 women for five seats, including one who dropped out but whose name still appears in gray. Because of a gender parity law in Mexicos Constitution, voters must select five women and four men. Across the page on the right are 31 men vying for four seats. Each candidate was nominated by a branch of the government: the executive, judicial or legislative. This legend shows who backs each candidate, and who is currently a judge. The national election agency features a ballot simulator on its website, where citizens can practice voting and click on each candidates name to learn about that person. But if a voter took five minutes to study each candidate, that would amount to over five hours for this ballot alone. Voters will also elect 464 circuit court and 386 district court positions across Mexico. But these ballots vary by circuit and district. The multi-colored ballot for a circuit court election for a voter in Mexico City. This is a sample circuit court ballot for Mexico City, where voters are prompted to pick five women and five men. The colors represent different judicial specialties, such as administrative, civil and labor. The ballot instructs voters to fill multicolored boxes with numbers that correspond to their chosen candidates according to the positions for this district. But the colors of the boxes are merely suggestions. Voters can choose candidates of all the same specialty the same color if they want, said Norma Irene de la Cruz Magana, an official in the national agency that organizes elections in Mexico. Not everyone in the country will see the same specialties or vote for the same number of judges. In some densely populated areas, there are so many positions that the national election authorities used a lottery to split up which candidates appear on which ballots. We are only going to elect a small number of judges who are going to hear our cases, said Javier Martin Reyes, a law professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. State ballots vary widely All Mexican voters can cast ballots for federal candidates, but in 19 states, voters will have to choose local judges, as well, in some cases doubling the number of ballots that voters will have to sift through. (The remaining judicial positions will be elected in 2027.) In Chihuahua state, voters will have to elect 305 local judges from nearly 900 candidates, the most officials on the ballot in any state. Voters in this district of Chihuahua, Morelos, have to go through 13 ballots six federal and seven local to get to all the candidates. On this ballot for a low-level court, voters must choose five women and five men from 155 names. At the other end of the spectrum is Durango state, where there are 49 positions up for grabs in the local court system on Sunday and 49 candidates. All three branches of state government agreed on the same candidates drawing criticism from local residents and legal experts who say this will be a simulation of an election, not a real one. Those critics argue that the overhaul of the courts could give the governing party more power and open the door to underqualified or easily influenced candidates. Supporters of the overhaul, including Mexicos president, have downplayed those risks, saying that the vote will help root out corruption and nepotism by giving citizens the chance to pick their own judges, in contrast to the previous appointment-based system. But in Durango, at least, each candidate needs only one vote to win. The number of votes still matters, though, because it will determine term limits and who will be the presiding judge in some courts, according to state officials. On this page of the Durango ballot, eight women are vying for eight positions, and seven men are up for seven positions. For this juvenile court in Durango, the ballot has one candidate for one position. In the states of Coahuila and Quintana Roo, the ballot looks completely different. Instead of choosing individual candidates, voters in those states will choose one of three columns, each representing the group of candidates put forth by the states executive, legislative and judicial branches. The format is far simpler than the sprawling ballots that voters will receive in other states, but critics have argued that it gives voters fewer options and puts more power in the hands of those branches of government. A MAJOR sterilisation facility in Tullamore which will employ more than 30 people has been given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanala. A number of local residents had objected to the proposal which will involve the construction of a building on a greenfield site on the Clara Road. Synergy Health Ireland Ltd (also known as Steris) got the green light from Offaly County Council in January, 2024. There had been objections on a number of grounds, including the maximum height, which at 22.5m including a flue, will be about twice as high as any building in the neighbouring Axis Business Park. An inspector for An Bord Pleanala said she did not consider the proposed height either oppressive or obtrusive. The general locality from [Srah] to Ballyduff is associated with industrial buildings. The proposed development, in my opinion, will not look out of place, and represents a high quality design and finish, the inspector's report said. Objectors also had concerns about traffic and trucks and the company said there would be about 30 trucks in and the same number out each day. The inspector said she was satisfied traffic impact and safety issues had been adequately addressed by the applicant. She also noted plans for a two-metre wall at the boundary with one resident's site and 500 sq m of woodplanting and an extra five beech trees. The planting will serve to screen the facility form the adjoining residential properties north of the site. It is a condition of the permission that deliveries and loading to and from the site can only take between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday, 8am and 2pm on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays or public holidays. Noise limits have also been imposed. Synergy Ireland already has a plant in the IDA Business Park in Srah. The new development is a sterilisation technology facility which will have 6,726 sq m of floor space, including storage areas and offices. While the central part of the proposed building will be 19.6m high, it will be between nine and 12m high either side. The building is setback 40 metres from the roadside boundary. The building is 141.5m from the dwelling to the north. There is ample separation distance between the building and dwellings on the opposite side of the R420 (Clara Road) which acts as a physical buffer area, said the inspector. In relation to one comment from one of those who appealed against the council's grant of permission, she said: I do not agree with third party description that the proposal is primarily a warehouse and distribution centre. It is primarily a sterilization facility. She added: I am satisfied that a Sterilisation Technology Facility, with ancillary offices, is in keeping with the Business or Technology Park zoning objective of the site. The sterilisation process will be carried out using x-rays and there were concerns about the amount of electricity required. The inspector commented: There are no chemicals used to generate the x-rays used in the sterilization process. The x-rays are produced by the same electricity used to power the homes abutting the facility. The by-product of the process is heat, which will be captured and used to heat the buildings. This will reduce the buildings carbon footprint. The sterilisation process is safe, and there will be no hazardous emissions. READ NEXT: Local residents unite in opposition to proposed sterilisation facility READ NEXT: LIVE: 'White Irish adult male' dead at the scene of shooting incident in Carlow READ NEXT: WATCH: Scene in Carlow cordoned off as Gardai confirm death of man following shooting incident The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal has been called to Carlow after what gardai are describing as an 'incident' at retail premises Gardai say they are currently at the scene of an incident at a retail premises in Carlow town. The alarm was raised shortly after 6:15pm. The premises has been evacuated and the scene is preserved. The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team has been requested to attend. Gardai say that at this time, there is no further concern for public safety. Gardai are urging anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead to provide it to Gardai at Carlow Garda Station. Anyone with information is asked to contact Carlow Garda Station at 059-9136620 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111. Gardai say no additional information is available at this time. READ NEXT: Offaly pensioner tied up and robbed in his isolated rural farmhouse An individual who gardai have described as a 'white Irish adult male' is deceased at the scene of a shooting incident in Carlow. Gardai say that shortly after 6:15pm, they were alerted following reports of a firearm discharge at Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow. Gardai are currently at the scene, with the shopping centre and car park cordoned off. Gardai say the cordon will remain in place overnight. A white Irish adult male is deceased at the scene. READ NEXT: WATCH: Scene in Carlow cordoned off as Gardai confirm death of man following shooting incident The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team has been requested to attend. Gardai say a female juvenile received treatment from paramedics following the incident but did not require hospital care. It's undetermined at this time as to how those injuries were sustained. READ NEXT: BREAKING: Army Explosive Unit called to Carlow after 'incident' at retail premises Anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident is urged by gardai not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead to provide it to Gardai at Carlow Garda Station. Anyone with information is asked to contact Carlow Garda Station at 059-9136620 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111. LinkedIn's latest layoffs affected workers at its offices in San Francisco, above, Mountain View, Carpinteria and Sunnyvale. Software engineers were hit particularly hard, according to data. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) LinkedIn, the professional social network where people search for work, is shedding jobs. The Microsoft-owned tech company has cut 281 workers in California, a notice filed this week to the California Employment Development Department shows. Earlier this month, Microsoft said that it was terminating 3% of staff, or about 6,000 workers. The layoffs affected its California employees and LinkedIn workers. LinkedIn is among major tech companies that have slashed their workforces this year. Meta, Google, Autodesk and other tech companies have also been cutting workers, citing various reasons, including restructuring, investments in artificial intelligence and low worker performance. Read more: Bay Area tech workers thought their jobs were safe. Then the 'golden handcuffs' came off LinkedIn, headquartered in Sunnyvale and Mountain View, notified its employees about the layoffs on May 13. Workers posted about their pink slips on the social network, letting hiring managers and recruiters know that they were open to work. The company didn't respond to a request for comment. Its website says it has roughly 18,400 employees and offices in more than 30 cities globally. LinkedIn's California layoffs affected workers at its offices in San Francisco, Mountain View, Carpinteria and Sunnyvale. More than half of those cuts hit its workforce in Mountain View. Software engineers were heavily impacted by LinkedIn's California layoffs, according to data provided to the state. Talent account directors, senior product managers and other workers also lost their jobs. The cuts come as tech companies are releasing more artificial intelligence-powered tools that can generate code. Executives have also said that would impact engineering jobs. Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella said in April that as much as 30% of the companys code is written by AI. Nadella spoke during a conversation with Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg at the social networks AI developer conference. As Microsoft competes to release more AI tools, the company has said that it's trying to increase how fast it moves by reducing the number of managers and cutting down on redundancies. It's the latest cost-cutting round at LinkedIn. In 2023, the company laid off nearly 700 employees and said that it was trying to improve agility and accountability as part of a reorganization effort. Microsoft purchased LinkedIn for $26 billion in 2016. In April, the company reported that its revenue in the third fiscal year quarter reached $4.3 billion in the third fiscal year quarter, up 7% over last year. Plans have been approved to convert a former village pub into a 29 bed hostel. The Swan public house is located in the picturesque village of Clonaslee in the Slieve Bloom Mountains. Jam and Olives Ltd applied for permission to turn The Swan Public House into a hostel with seven bedrooms, a dining room and self catering kitchen in January. The plans have now been approved by the council subject to 17 conditions. According to the planning assessment report, the proposed development aims to revitalize the currently vacant building and provide accommodation for active tourism in and around the Slieve Bloom mountains and the Brittas Forest Recreation Area. It also states that the planned hostel will encourage visitors to the Slieve Bloom Mountains, and Brittas Forest Recreation Area to stay in Clonaslee during their visits and has the potential to revitalize the town and bring tourists and visitors to the towns business. The developers say the hostel will meet Failte Ireland Quality Standards. Planning approval was granted for: A. The conversion of The Swan Public House into hostel accommodation, comprising of 29 bed capacity over seven bedrooms with associated common room, dining room, self-catering kitchen, and associated office and ancillary spaces for administration of the development, and all associated site works. The plans include a new shopfront, additional windows, a rooflight and three masonry outbuildings with flat roofs within an existing courtyard. The plans were approved by Laois County Council subject to 17 conditions. READ NEXT: Offaly Style Icon wins stay at five-star castle at Guineas Festival at Curragh READ NEXT: Street in Tullamore to close on June Bank Holiday for special gathering An Offaly woman has won an exclusive Style Icon Award at The Tattersalls Irish Guineas Racing Festival at the Curragh Racecourse. The three-day event showcased world-class horse racing and refined style. Among the highlights of this prestigious event was the much-anticipated announcement of the Ashford Castle Style Icon Award winner for 2025. The title of Ashford Castle Style Icon 2025 was awarded to Offaly's Davinia Knight, whose impeccable style wowed judges Marietta Doran and Lisa Toomey. Davinias winning outfit featured a sunshine-yellow Needle & Thread dress rented from Nella.ie, a Bunclody-based company that champions sustainable fashion. To complement her look, Davinia donned a headpiece from Marc Millinery and carried a chic basket bag borrowed from her mothers wardrobe. Her shoes were also borrowed from a family member. READ NEXT: MEMORY LANE: A night out in Tullamore from the Offaly archives Davinia is no stranger to the fashion spotlight, as her twin sister Dawn and her sister Cleo, who won the Ashford Castle Style Icon Award in 2024, are known for their dedication to race-day elegance. Davinas was delighted saying, Im so surprised to have won today but Im so overjoyed; theres so much amazing fashion here today, everyone truly stepped up their game. Davina wins a two-night stay for two in a magnificent Junior State Room in Irelands first and only Forbes Five Star Hotel and Spa, the 5-star Ashford Castle in County Mayo. This unforgettable experience includes: TWO burglars who were caught red-handed in a special garda operation which ended in Kildare were jailed for a total of of eight years and nine months at Tullamore Circuit Court. The court heard that Martin Connors (25), Carrigeen, Clonmel, Co Tipperary and Gavin Prentice (30), Rossfield Drive, Tallaght, Dublin 24 were involved in break-ins at two neighbouring houses in the Drom Liath estate in Tullamore where 24,000 was stolen, along with smaller amounts of money, plus a Raymond Weil watch. At a sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Jill Mangan, Trim Garda Station, confirmed to William Fennelly, BL, prosecuting, that on the evening of December 6 last year she was involved in a coordinated operation involving gardai from Trim and Mullingar with back-up from members of the garda special tactics and operations command. The focus of the operation was burglaries which were taking place in the Midlands and Offaly/Meath general area and a specific vehicle, a dark coloured Audi S1 was known to be of interest. That vehicle was seen parked at Parkwood Road, Tubber between Clara and Moate. It had five occupants wearing dark clothing and at 7.44pm it was seen again at Main Street, Clara and all of those on board were wearing balaclavas. By 8pm it was at Drom Liath, off Collins Lane in Tullamore, where it was driven to the end of a cul-de-sac and a man wearing dark clothes, a balaclava and gloves was seen going through a side gate and the sound of breaking glass was heard. Other males were seen, a car door was heard opening and closing and light were seen going on in the houses. Afterwards the Audi sped off and made its way to Kilmurray, Enfield, Co Kildare, near Johnstownbridge which had been a location of interest to the gardai. The vehicle was stopped in a very narrow laneway in Kilmurray at about 9.05pm and its occupants dispersed. Both Mr Connors and Mr Prentice fled from the vehicle but both were caught and arrested by gardai. A male juvenile was also arrested but the other two were not. The Audi was seized and a technical examination of the vehicle took place. It had been sold in Northern Ireland but was never reregistered and had false number plates. A total of 21,100 in cash was found in white envelopes in the glove compartment. The first name of the owner of one of the houses in Drom Liath was written on them. A registration plate was in the passenger footwell and gloves, hats, runners, walkie talkies, a bottle of Mr Muscle cleaner and a sledge hammer were also found. The Raymond Weil watch was found in Mr Prentice's pocket. Also found was a $5 bill, 105 in cash and 250, plus vouchers and clothes. The occupant of one of the houses notified gardai that his alarm had gone off and reported that 24,000 had been stolen from what was described as a discrete location. A total of 600 worth of damage had been done. Also, a woman living in the other house reported the theft of a number of items, including the watch. Neither house was occupied at the time of the burglaries. Both Mr Connors and Mr Prentice were subsequently interviewed by gardai but they exercised their right to silence. Detective Garda Mangan said that 2,900 was still missing but the rest was recovered. She added that Mr Connors had previous convictions for public order offences in Ireland and the UK, plus assault and theft in the UK, including Antrim Crown Court. Mr Prentice had 28 previous convictions, most of which were in the UK and among them were burglary, drugs, theft of a vehicle and tendering counterfeit currency. A victim impact statement from the man who had a large amount of cash stolen was read in court and he said he had a fear the thieves would come back. He was worried because the alarm had not been heard by anybody and the men were able to stop it. I feel that nothing is safe in my own home, he said. It's the attitude of these criminals that they think they can do what they want and don't care who suffers as a result of their actions. He said it was frustrating that he was out working to pay bills and these crimes were done by people who did not work at all. The injured party in the adjoining house chose not to make a victim impact statement but Det Garda Mangan said the woman had a teenage son who was no longer happy to stay at home on his own. When Colm Hennessy, BL, for Mr Prentice, put it to the court that both men were apprehended quickly, neither house was occupied, nearly all the property was recovered and they had admitted their involvement and pleaded guilty, Judge Keenan Johnson replied: They had no option but to plead. They were caught red-handed. Mr Hennessy said Mr Prentice had three children under the age of three but his partner had suffered the stillbirth of triplets and also had another miscarriage. Counsel said the man was originally from Ireland but had a troubled and sad upbringing, had no real relationship with his parents and went to live with a grandmother in the UK. He fell into the use of alcohol and drugs and left education early but now said he would like to get into construction and roofing when he got out of prison. He had missed the birth of two of his children because of incarceration, including the birth of a child only 11 days ago. He and his partner had been living in Essex and his wife had travelled to Tullamore for the sentencing hearing. Mr Hennessy said the accused man wished to apologise to the victims and was prepared to take the punishment for his crime. Mr Hennessy described the man's partner as an incredible woman and noted that she had written a letter to the court. David Nugent, BL, for Mr Connors, said the defendant had grown up in Tallaght and lost his father at the age of 10 to suicide. He never sought help for that loss and then when he was 20 he lost one of his brothers in a car crash in America, followed by the loss of a first cousin and two friends. Mr Nugent said Mr Connors had never really dealt with the trauma and it appeared the death of his brother in particular had triggered something and he acted out. A father of two children aged three and one, he was a man in whom his family were disappointed but having previously held a safe pass, he would now be seeking grief counselling, narcotics counselling, help with anger management and would go back to education. Judge Johnson pointed out that Mr Connors had convictions from 2018 which was before his brother died. READ NEXT: Offaly pensioner tied up and robbed in his isolated rural farmhouse Martin Connors had pleaded guilty to burglary, which carried a maximum sentence of 14 years, plus possession of articles used in a burglary and possession of 21,100 of stolen cash, which both have maximum sentences of five years. Mr Prentice had also pleaded guilty to possession of 21,100 of stolen cash and burglary. These type of burglaries are all too prevalent and the court has to send out a clear message that this type of behaviour will not under any circumstances be tolerated, said Judge Johnson. People are entitled to enjoy the privacy of their own residence. He said the negative impact on the victim was an aggravating factor in determining a sentence and also noted that while the men had pleaded guilty, they had also tried to escape when stopped by the gardai. He said Mr Prentice was at high risk of reoffending and Mr Connors' previous convictions were fewer. The judge said the letter from Mr Prentice's wife, who suffered from significant health difficulties herself, told of how he had been sent to England when he was 16 and had started mixing with the wrong people after a rough start in life with drug addicted parents. He was now suffering from depression and anxiety. Judge Johnson assessed the offences at the mid range of offending which meant the headline sentence for burglary would be seven-and-a-half years. He sentenced Mr Prentice to five-and-a-half years with the final nine months suspended for three years. He ordered that he move to Essex within a week of his release from prison. He sentenced Mr Connors to four years and nine months in prison, with the final nine months suspended for three years. Concurrent sentences of two years were imposed on both men for the other offences and the prison terms were back dated to December 6 last, when they first were put in custody. READ NEXT: Large new department store with over 25,000 products 'coming soon' to Tullamore Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. The 50th anniversary of the publication of Seamus Heaneys collection North, which saw the poet directly address the Northern Ireland Troubles for the first time, is to be marked. A three-day conference at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queens University Belfast will bring together experts from around the world to discuss the significance of the Nobel laureate poets landmark work. The event, in partnership with Trinity College Dublin, takes place from June 5-7 and will also mark the first anniversary of the Belfast venue. Heaney, who died in 2013, was one of the worlds best known modern poets. Pulitzer prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon and Professor Edna Longley will be among authors, academics and poets discussing the significance of North 50 years on. There will also be a family friendly traditional music session and a screening of the documentary Heaney in Limboland, made for TV in 1970 and featuring Heaneys views on the rapidly deteriorating political situation in Northern Ireland. Upon publication in 1975, the American poet Robert Lowell said North represented a new kind of political poetry by the best Irish poet since WB Yeats and the anthology went on to win awards including the Duff Cooper Memorial Prize and the WH Smith Memorial Prize. Heaney himself admitted the collection took a hammering from other quarters, closer to home, for its representation of violence and gender politics. Many academics consider it to be a key moment in the evolution of Heaney from a significant Irish poet to a poet of international standing, culminating in his winning of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995. Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre, Professor Glenn Patterson said: Whichever way you come at it, in admiration, in awe or in search of an argument, there is no understanding poetry from these islands in the past half century, without North. There are not many books, of any kind, that merit an at 50 conference, but North seems only to grow in significance with every year that passes, and with every year that passes to attract new readers, and new critical thinking. The poets daughter Catherine Heaney, said: We are proud and honoured that the 50th anniversary of North is being marked with this conference, alongside Fabers reissue of the volume in its original jacket. The publication was such a seminal moment in my fathers life and career and it is testament to its staying power that, five decades on, it continues to resonate with readers and inspire scholarly debate. Dr Stephen ONeill from Trinity College Dublin said: Written under the strain of what Seamus Heaney called a very high pressure, North was a landmark in his writing career. It was and is also a landmark in criticism, as a subject for many of the leading critics of Irish literature then and now. Organised to coincide with Fabers anniversary republication of the volume, the conference is a chance to reflect upon the impact of Heaneys fourth collection and reassess its reception. All events will take place at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queens. Attendance is free but registration is required. The vibrant hues of cherry blossoms make the island country of Japan a region of reverie. The enchanting beauty of this nation in East Asia attracts travellers from across the globe, and the tourist footfall spirals every year. A few weeks ago, actress-vlogger Ahaana Krishna shared details of her travel to Japan, her love for cherry blossoms and also details of her visit to the iconic Myoryuji Temple, commonly known as Ninjadera. The Myoryuji Temple, situated in Ishikawa prefectures Kanazawa city, may look like any other Buddhist temple, but inside, its a different world. Even today, the temple, which was built in the 16th century, evokes awe and a deep sense of wonder. Interestingly, the age-old temple is a treasure trove of secrets. ADVERTISEMENT Is it a temple of ninjas? Ninjas are meticulously trained martial artists who lived in Japan centuries ago. They were mainly employed for espionage, reconnaissance, and ambush. However, the temple is not in any way associated with ninjas. The temple was named Ninjadera as its architecture and construction concealed many enigmatic defence mechanisms. Tokugawa shogunate, aka Edo shogunate, a powerful military government, ruled Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The government imposed strict restrictions for construction of buildings in a bid to rein in the regional feudal lords. The temple was designed by a samurai class known as Kaga to subvert these regulations and use it as a military outpost. If under attack, the temple had defence shields and many escape routes. The temple stands out with hidden tunnels, secret rooms, traps, and a labyrinth of corridors and staircases. ADVERTISEMENT Structure of the temple The temple from the outside looks like it has only two storeys, as the Tokugawa shogunate had banned the construction of buildings with more than three storeys. But in reality, the place of worship has six storeys with 23 rooms and 29 steps. The Myoryuji Temple is built around a well, which is around 25m deep, and it is said that the bottom of the well is connected with a tunnel leading to the Kanazawa fort. The main building of the temple has an intricate design. The structure has secret chambers, steps, door traps, secret tunnels and bottomless pits to hoodwink the enemies. You could get a birds eye view of the city atop the temple. The walls and roofs of the temple are so strong that they can withstand the rigours of typhoons and snowfall. ADVERTISEMENT When to visit? The best time to visit the temple is from March to November. During this period, you can also enjoy the pristine beauty of cherry blossoms and the autumn season. The regular visiting hours are between 9 am and 5 pm, and the entry fee is 500 to 800 Japanese Yen for a tour lasting 40 to 50 minutes. Tickets can be bought online, and you can also reserve them. Bookings can be made through the official website or travel agencies. Travel guides are available to explain the history of the famed temple. Plurality voting (PV) is an exceptionally simple and widely utilized voting system. Using PV, a voter's only option is to select exactly one candidate to support. This system is used in most U.S. elections, and fortunately, it does perform satisfactorily when there are no more than two candidates. But despite PV being unsuitable for the purpose, many American elections, particularly primaries, depend on it to choose even from many candidates. Ranked-choice voting (IRV) has been adopted for elections in a few states, so, at least within the U.S., many people are familiar with it. Unfortunately, too many people seem to think IRV is the only available alternative to PV. IRV is an exceptionally complex voting system, but it does encourage voters to vote for their favorite in an election. However, there seems to be little hope that with IRV, the electoral prospects of minor parties will improve much. Approval voting (AV) is mostly used internally, by academic organizations, so it fails to have much name recognition. But AV does readily accommodate the participation of multiple candidates. An election win by a minor party candidate using AV might be marginally improved in comparison with IRV or PV, but if so, that improvement seems, at best only very slight. Even less widely known is Balanced Approval voting (BAV); Wikipedia prefers to refer to this system as "Combined Approval Voting", a name that seems unrecognized, even among the few individuals familiar with BAV. BAV is commonly used in Latvia, often for multiple winner elections. BAV not only accommodates multiple candidates, it encourages their participation simply by turning the election of a minor party candidate into a realistic possibility. Based on familiarity, we should clearly rank these systems in the same order they are listed above. However, such a ranking is not particularly interesting. IRV asks a seemingly better question by asking voters to rank the candidates in decreasing order of that voter's personal preferences. As an exercise, let us see how such preferences might be arranged for an IRV election to select one of these voting systems. Take Your Pick; Rank them in order of preference. (Image by SplodgusMaximus from flickr) Details DMCA In several past articles, I have pointed out how unreasonable it is to expect voters to arrange candidates in order as IRV expects. One problem arises, for example, for a voter who considers several candidates to deserve equal support. In elections with many candidates, this is likely to be a common predicament, so the question is important. The only option for the voter is to somehow fabricate a web of lies. The voter must declare preferences between various pairs of them even though those preferences are pure fiction. And a voter may encounter an unfamiliar candidate on the ballot, so how can the voter rank such candidates? Unfortunately, as common a situation as this may be, IRV fails to permit the voter a satisfactory action. IRV does invite voters to omit candidates from the voter's ballot and a voter may assume that is the proper course to take. However, the effect on the election is appropriate for abstention. The effect is essentially to designate that candidate as being the worst of the worst, ranked even lower than the very last candidate that the voter does list. i ? ? i ? ? In IRV elections with multiple candidates, it is quite possible, even probable, that no ranking of candidates can honestly reflect a voter's opinions about the candidates. Mostly, the necessary fabrications will proclaim a preference not felt by the voter, but there can also be situations (such as a loop in the voters' actual preferences or perhaps only within the already fabricated preferences) where the voter can find no alternative but to omit mention of what is a true preference of the voter. In one way or another, the data collected from the voters in an IRV election will be distorted. The lies may even outweigh the truth and take control an election. In an IRV election conducted to choose which voting system to adopt, I could only choose to omit IRV from my list. Appropriately enough (in this instance) this expresses accurately that I consider IRV to be perhaps the worst but at least among the very worst of these four voting systems. To now consider PV, we first observe that in a PV election with three or more candidates, it is quite possible that a voter would find two of them to be equally qualified for the top rating. So, as with IRV, PV can force voters to make an arbitrary choice and cast a vote that is a lie. But with PV, the much more common corruption of the ballot data is the intrusion of electability as a driving factor for voters in choosing how to vote. In that all too common case, the election winner can easily fail to be the popular favorite among all the candidates; instead, the winner may be the favorite only from among the very few candidates that the voters consider most electable. With PV, electability is a self-enforcing prophesy on the part of people whose judgement on the matter is widely accepted, but no one can know who would be elected by PV if electability were not a consideration. Is there really a convincing reason to prefer PV over IRV or conversely? With either choice, the election data is apt to be seriously contaminated with many little white lies. But ultimately, all the ballots must be treated as if they were entirely accurate, with every stated preference treated as accurate. In conclusion, neither PV nor IRV vote tallies can be trusted as accurate reflections of voter opinion. I could include neither IRV nor PV in the ordered list on my IRV ballot. This effectively designates both systems as, in my view, simply unacceptable. The remaining two voting systems, AV and BAV are both evaluative voting systems, and that fact alone makes them more promising. Evaluative voting systems avoid asking voters to compare candidates with one-another. Demanding that level of voter opinion not only would invite error, but it asks for more detail from individual voters than is needed or even particularly useful. An evaluative voting system asks a voter merely to evaluate each candidate in isolation, on that candidate's merit. Only later do these systems evaluate such preferences by interpreting the vote tallies. The vote tallies do measure preferences but, rather than one voter at a time, averaged over all voters. Voting becomes easier, but more important is that the data collected on aggregate voter opinion is considerably less contaminated with errors. Unfortunately, some inaccuracies are probably unavoidable; voters inevitably make mistakes, for example. And some voters may choose to go rogue, deciding perhaps to pursue some strategic plan. But by not obligating voters to construct a series of lies, evaluative voting systems improve the credibility for election outcomes. Though not entirely eliminated, ballot errors in an evaluative election should be relatively few. No doubt, some voters will continue to be frustrated by their inability to express, in full and complete detail (perhaps being unable to express an actual preference between two candidates that are marked as equivalent); such problems seem unavoidable. Actual voter opinions can include fine grained nuance well beyond what should reasonably be captured on a ballot; and such details, despite seeming vitally important to a voter, may not be particularly valuable for determining the broad sweep of voter opinion. There remain two promising voting systems, and in this IRV election, we must still establish what preference is appropriate between AV and BAV. I will explain several reasons why I would rank BAV first, as my favorite of the two. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Police are investigating the cause of a Gresham crash that killed a pedestrian on Saturday. File photo A pedestrian walking down a Gresham sidewalk died on Saturday evening after being hit by a car, Gresham Police said. The person was walking on Northeast 181st Avenue near Northeast Pacific Street, around 5:30. p.m. when they were hit by a driver who also crashed into a power pole, police said. The street was closed for several hours on Saturday evening while police investigated the crash. A Multnomah County vehicle crimes team is investigating the cause of the crash, police said in a news release. The driver stayed at the scene of the accident and is cooperating with the investigation, police said. Most Americans are worried about money, especially when it comes to retirement. A 2025 survey by Capital One and The Decision Lab found that 77% of U.S. adults feel anxious about their personal finances. A separate Allianz Life survey reveals that 64% of adults fear outliving their savings more than death itself. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Active backpacker hiking in colorful nature. Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) One way to deal with this anxiety is to check whether your retirement savings are on track depending on your age and income. Analysts at financial giant T. Rowe Price published retirement savings benchmarks to aim for depending on age and salary. Having ballpark figures to aim for at different periods in life can help you understand whether youre on track or behind and motivate you to take action. Heres a closer look at the figures suggested by the T. Rowe Price team. How much you should have saved in your 30s Your 30s are a critical time to start building momentum with your savings. On one hand, your income is probably accelerating as you start to make strides in your career. On the other hand, this is also a period that involves some of your biggest expenses, such as buying a house or starting a family. For example, the median age of a first-time homebuyer is 38, according to the National Association of Realtors. These big-ticket expenses could make it difficult to save any of your income. However, you also have the luxury of time, which means you have multiple decades of saving, investing and compounding wealth to look forward to, so your money still has plenty of time left to grow. T. Rowe Price suggests having 1x to 1.5x your annual income saved by your mid-to-late 30s to stay on track for retirement. That means if you earn $70,000 each year, you need at least $70,000 to $105,000 saved in financial assets to be on track for a comfortable retirement. How much you should have saved in your 50s The average 50-year-old probably has a more established career, a lower mortgage and adult children that dont need as much financial assistance. In general, this is a great time to double down on your savings and investments to get to your retirement goal as early as possible. U.S. and Canadian flags fly together at the border at the Peace Arch Historical State Park, in Blaine, Wash. AP Several Eastside Catholic School students, nearly all of them students of color, were pulled aside and harshly questioned by a U.S. border agent on their return from a school trip to Canada, according to a letter sent to families earlier this week. The Sammamish private school said Friday it plans to file a formal complaint with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Karen Hatch, a school spokesperson, declined to provide more information about the incident, citing the privacy of students. CBP responded Friday, saying it firmly rejects the schools claims. In the letter sent to families, school president Gil Picciotto wrote that one agent accused students of attempting to enter the country illegally and questioned their affiliation with the school, despite the students being fully documented and accompanied by staff. The students were in Canada for a band and choir trip. Almost all students who were pulled aside were students of color, the letter reads. He praised the students and faculty for responding with grace in the face of harsh and xenophobic treatment. A statement issued by CBP said that U.S. Customs and Border Protection firmly rejects claims made by the Eastside Catholic School that students faced discrimination upon returning to the U.S. CBP is required to determine the admissibility of all travelers attempting to enter the U.S. Every admissibility inspection is unique and at times CBP officers may ask further questions to determine a travelers admissibility. Per policy, CBP does not discriminate based on religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other reason. The incident comes amid a wider immigration crackdown ordered by the Trump administration. More reports are emerging of detention and heavy questioning at U.S. entry points, affecting even tourists and U.S. citizens. CBP has beefed up security at the Blaine crossing, adding extra checkpoints and questioning drivers. The agency also plans to keep a record of everyone who leaves the country and crosses into Canada and Mexico. Like the school, other travelers have also accused border agents of racial bias while crossing into Washington from Canada. In 2020, several people of Middle Eastern heritage said they were held at the border for hours and questioned. All of them were either U.S. citizens or legal residents. Kelly McGowan, left, and Chris Kaelin, right, both senior scientists at the Greg Barsh Lab Department of Genetics at Stanford, pet Marlin, 2-years-old, at Pets In Need Redwood City in Redwood City, California, on Friday, May 23, 2025. TNS Nine thousand years ago, humans began domesticating cats. Nine hundred years ago, before the advent of intentional cat breeding, a genetic mutation gave rise to the first orange cat. Days ago, Stanford Medicine researchers revealed exactly which gene created the fuzzy fodders for Garfield, Puss In Boots and Toulouse from The Aristocats, to name just a few. Unlike any other ginger mammals, orange cats coloration owes to a sex-linked gene, which is why 80% of orange felines are fellas. The unique sex-linked orange genetic mutation remained enigmatic for years while scientists tried to figure out what induced cats pigment cells to produce yellow, orange or red coloration instead of the usual brown and black. Researchers from Brown University, the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research and Auburn University also contributed to the study. A team at Kyushu University in Japan published similar findings by studying the DNA of cats in Asia, furthering the understanding that the reason for orange cats is consistent worldwide. The only exception is the Norwegian forest cat, which manifests as orange because of the same genetic trait that causes red hair in humans. Stanford Medicines Christopher Kaelin, a senior scientist in genetics, Greg Barsh, an emeritus professor of genetics and pediatrics, and genetics researcher Kelly McGowan shared cat DNA samples with these groups to get a strong global sample. The team also attended dozens of cat shows from California to Brazil, approaching hundreds of orange cat owners for help collecting cat DNA. Kaelin found breeders and owners to be deeply supportive of cat research even if the collection process was challenging. At one large, three-day show in Cleveland, Ohio, Kaelin and crew swabbed 100 cats on-site by sticking a cotton swab into their mouths to collect a small bit of DNA from the inside of their cheeks. Spay-and-neuter clinics also contributed tissue after surgically sterilizing feral cats. The scientists sequenced the genomes from 200 out of 3,000 collected samples of orange cat DNA with non-orange DNA to extrapolate the differences. They found 51 possible variants on the X chromosomes of male orange cats and eliminated 48 of them after finding the genomes in some non-orange cats as well. Of the three remaining variants, a gene called Arhgap36 came into focus. Researchers in cancer and developmental biology were already studying this gene because its over-expression in neuroendocrine tissues led to tumors in various mammals. No one previously had made any connection to pigment cells. The mechanism they found, Kaelin said, is not located on a gene its located near a gene. In cats only, a small deletion of information on the X chromosome activates Arhgap36 in pigment cells where it is normally not active, triggering orange fur. Males have XY sex chromosomes and females have XX. Male cats with an orange X chromosome will be orange, whereas females need to inherit this trait on both of their chromosomes to be completely orange. Females with just one orange X chromosome can present as tortoiseshell or calico. These mottled and patchy coats are a visual manifestation of the genetic phenomenon of random X inactivation in all female mammals. In each cell of a female organism, one of the X chromosomes is turned off. In female cats, coat color shows whether the sex-linked orange is the chromosome thats on or off in the underlying pigment cells. Our ability to do this has been enabled by the development of genomic resources for the cat that have become available in just the last five or 10 years, Kaelin said. He has received a flurry of congratulatory texts from orange cat owners, breeders and fans whose cats participated in the study. Its an interesting mutation and unlikely to happen twice, said Kaelin, explaining why cat lovers and researchers want to know more. McGowan said that about 10% of cats in Northern California today are orange. The research publication cites the appearance of orange cats in 12th-century Chinese paintings and Renaissance paintings. Kaelin said scientists who examine ancient cat DNA continue seeking the origin of the first orange cats. The biobank of cat genes remaining from his teams orange cat research could aid in this pursuit, as well as further research about adaptation and evolution on the molecular scale in other mammals, including humans. Laura Birdsall, director of behavior and medical services at Pets in Need in Redwood City, said the shelter is having an unusual wave of orange cats during this springs delayed kitten season, when a new generation of feral cats blooms. Birdsall said that prospective cat adopters go by color and size preference when choosing kittens, and consider personality more when evaluating full-grown cats. She said orange cats found homes quickly for reasons of both standout appearance and personality. Im partial to orange cats, she shared. I grew up with an orange cat that was my baby. This is just my opinion, but they seem to be more outgoing and friendly. Kaelin, Barsh and McGowan havent found any other physical or behavioral quirks linked to Arghap36 other than coat color so far. For now, Kaelin hypothesizes that orange cats reputation as friendly agents of chaos might have something to do with their being mostly male. But who knows Kaelin pointed out that there havent been too many scientific studies about orange cats personalities, but that citizen studies often surveyed the public for commentary on their perceived quirks. #YR@ MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at mercurynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This image taken from video provided by Whatcom County Sheriff's Office shows a truck hauling an estimated 70,000 pounds of honeybee hives overturn on Friday, May 30, 2025 near Lynden, Wash. AP BELLINGHAM, Wash. There was a buzz in the air Friday in northwestern Washington state as about 250 million honeybees escaped a commercial truck that overturned. The truck hauling an estimated 70,000 pounds of honeybee hives rolled over around 4 a.m. close to the Canadian border near Lynden, the Whatcom County Sheriffs Office said in social media posts. It appears the driver did not navigate a tight turn well enough, causing the trailer to roll into a ditch, county emergency management spokesperson Amy Cloud said in an email. The driver was uninjured, Cloud said. Deputies, county public works employees and several bee experts responded to the scene. The box hives later came off the truck, and local beekeepers swarmed to help recover, restore and reset the hives, according to the sheriffs office. The plan is to allow the bees to return to their hives and find their queen bee in the next day or two, according to the sheriffs office. The goal is to save as many of the bees as possible. Thank you to the wonderful community of beekeepers: over two dozen showed up to help ensure the rescue of millions of pollinating honey bees would be as successful as possible, the sheriffs office post said. The public was advised to avoid the area on Friday, and sheriffs deputies dove into in their squad cars at times to avoid being stung. Honeybees are crucial to the food supply, pollinating over 100 crops including nuts, vegetables, berries, citrus and melons. Bees and other pollinators have been declining for years, and experts blame insecticides, parasites, disease, climate change and lack of a diverse food supply. In 2018, the U.N. General Assembly sponsored the first World Bee Day on May 20 to bring attention to the bees plight. Beekeepers often transport millions of bees from one location to another because leaving them in one location for too long can deplete resources for other pollinators, The Seattle Times reported. Alan Woods, president of the Washington State Beekeepers Association, told the newspaper the state should have a standardized emergency bee response for bee vehicle crashes. In 2015, 14 million bees escaped a truck north of Seattle on Interstate 5 and started stinging people, the newspaper reported at the time. By LISA BAUMANN, Associated Press Rep. Maxine Dexter held a town hall at Mt. Hood Community College on May 31, 2025. Tatum Todd/The Oregonian When U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter showed up for an 11 a.m. town hall at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham on Saturday, she had immigration on her mind. The showdown among Portland city councilors last month over a $1.9 million shift in the mayors proposed budget may seem out of proportion to the money at stake. The amount represents less than 1% of the funding that Mayor Keith Wilson has recommended for the Portland Police Bureau for the coming year. But the City Council instead voted 7-5 to move that portion to parks maintenance, restoring positions to ensure more frequent restroom cleanings, litter pickup and other upkeep. After all, several councilors pointed out, Wilsons budget spared police from the deep cuts he imposed on other bureaus. But those arguments ignore the biggest reason for the uproar and why Portland must keep investing in police including that $1.9 million. The citys police force, with 85 vacancies, has struggled to provide the 911 response, traffic enforcement and targeted initiatives that cut crime and bolster peoples confidence in the city. Half of the $1.9 million was intended for recruiting, hiring and training people to fill those vacancies. And Portlands revitalization necessary for generating the revenue needed for parks, roads, fire and so many other public services depends on re-establishing the safety and stability that encourage businesses, residents and visitors to bet on Portland. With the benefit of additional information from police, city councilors should vote to restore the money for the upcoming budget year. Certainly, the interplay in how the police bureau uses its funding is far from straightforward. The stark cuts facing the city also should prompt strong debate about different ideas, priorities and approaches. And the seven members who voted to move the money to parks Councilors Candace Avalos, Jamie Dunphy, Sameer Kanal, Tiffany Koyama Lane, Angelita Morillo, Steve Novick and Mitch Green raised legitimate questions that city staff and police should have been able to answer more clearly. That said, the vote suggests that the seven dont seem to recognize the vulnerable moment we are in even as the budget tells the story. Entrepreneurs dont open businesses in locations where their shops are targeted for break-ins or vandalism. People dont work or visit downtown if corners are taken over by drug dealing. Commuters dont ride public transit if they fear being victimized. But all of these, in varying levels of frequency and severity, are part of Portlands reality. Its not just the amount of crime, which, to be clear, declined in 2024 from the year before. Its also the random nature of crime that can deeply shake peoples sense of security. Knowing that the odds of something bad happening have decreased doesnt provide much comfort to residents if a police officer cannot respond quickly if something does. And the experience of those living on the eastern and western edges of the city where police response times can be 25-30 minutes is dramatically different from that of people living near the central core. Portland needs a police force large enough to respond to needs citywide, not just to those that are geographically convenient. Presentations last week by Portland Police Chief Bob Day and city staffers also show why councilors should figure out how to restore that money. As Day noted, the bureau eliminated its recruitment coordinator in 2020, later adding one or two officers to take on the responsibilities. Thats not the best use of trained officers and it forces others to backfill their positions. Day added that the bureau plans to expand marketing efforts to reach potential recruits and outlined other personnel efforts underway to fill vacancies. With an 18-month probation period for new hires, the urgency to step up recruitment now is clear. Day said the shift wont stop him from spending on recruiting and training. Adding officers is a priority, both to better serve the community and to relieve current officers of having to work so much overtime. But the loss of that $1.9 million representing roughly 21,000 hours of overtime pay means he will have to find other places to cuts. That will likely include fewer targeted missions to stop street racing, anti-human trafficking operations, stolen vehicle investigations and other activities, he said. As many councilors said at the May 21 meeting, the city does not have to choose between parks and police. District 4 Councilor Eric Zimmerman, who opposed the shift, pointed to $100 million in uncommitted contingency funds kept by the Portland Clean Energy Fund. Those dollars represent a whopping 50% of what the tax typically brings in every year and are used to cover unforeseen expenses and could be used for parks. District 1 Councilor Loretta Smith also decried the shift and the message it sends to her outer East Portland constituents who have long called for a faster police response. We cant start to defund the police in little ways, she said. While some may bristle at the defund comparison, councilors should also recognize the underlying concern. The citys ill-fated decision in 2020 to cut $15 million from police amid the George Floyd protests continues to loom large. Portland has turned the corner, but theres a long way to go. Before passing the final budget, councilors should ensure theres another $1.9 million for police to keep the momentum going. -The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board President Donald Trumps war on Harvard University hit a speed bump last week when a judge temporarily blocked the administrations effort to restrict the admission of foreign students. This was the latest in a series of directives and threats targeting the Ivy League university. Walt Handelsman leads the editorial cartoon gallery by imagining another Trump incursion: moving his birthday military parade to Harvard Yard. Nick Anderson highlights the irony of Trump telling Harvard how its done, after his own Trump University collapsed amid fraud allegations. Bill Bramhall mordantly jokes that college graduates should pick up their deportation orders when their names are called. Mike Luckovich sees Trumps attacks on higher education as leading to brain drain. Steve Breens trade school graduate drives a Mercedes, while the college grad drives a Honda. Another major topic this week is the federal budget bill passed by the House of Representatives and being debated in the Senate. Conservative-leaning cartoonists Michael Ramirez and Dana Summers complain that it raises the deficit and doesnt cut enough. Left-leaning cartoonists Handelsman, Bramhall and Drew Sheneman complain that it decimates safety net programs like Medicaid. Other news in this weeks gallery includes billionaire Elon Musk leaving government service to focus on his businesses; Trump pardons; Trumps so far empty threats against Vladimir Putin for not ending the Ukraine war; and the end of the penny. Cartoons were drawn by Jack Ohman, Nick Anderson, Bill Bramhall, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Scott Stantis, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Phil Hands, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and Mike Luckovich, Steve Breen and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate. In May 2020, The Oregonian/OregonLives newsroom was still grappling with many life-changing implications of the COVID-19 pandemic when Portland became the epicenter of some of the most sustained social justice protests after police killed George Floyd. The 2020 protests would challenge our journalists endurance and fearlessness. Newsroom leaders had decided early on we would not put anyone into a risky situation if they were concerned about exposure to the coronavirus. Due to the uncertainty around transmission of the virus at the time (we later learned outdoors was pretty safe), we ended up with a small, hardy band of reporters, photographers and social media producers who rotated covering every single night. The entire point of the protests was police conduct, so our journalists were committed to bearing witness to each and every night. Sometimes that was one team of two (for safety), a photographer and reporter. Sometimes that was multiple teams to cover larger events or moving protests. Along the way, our journalists were tear gassed, shoved by police, threatened by both police and protesters. And I became the unlikely purchaser of ballistic vests, helmets and gas masks (do you want the Syrian or Israeli model? the Andy and Bax salesman asked). Over time, our coverage would become a lightning rod for a small group of readers who seemed at times gleeful about Portlands struggles and saw them as evidence of its incompetent Democratic leadership. Other readers lashed out at us for perceived failures of law enforcement to crack down harder on the most destructive vandals. I think of the protests, broadly, as falling into three acts. The first consisted of peaceful, large demonstrations (folks lying on the Burnside Bridge), with more focused vandalism by smaller groups closer to midnight. The second segment came after President Donald Trump sent in unidentified federal officers, and those nights were violent and chaotic. Last was the direct action wave, where black bloc protesters moved into neighborhoods to target police buildings and provoke response through violence or vandalism. Footage of vandals smashing windows at Pioneer Place and the nearby Apple Store played for weeks on some national channels, and some viewers took that to be pervasive throughout Portland. Our journalists received concerned queries from family members who saw Portland portrayed as some sort of post-apocalyptic hellscape. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said the city was under siege. That federal press release led to an article where The Oregonian/OregonLives newsroom tried to put the destructive protests into context: The images that populate national media feeds, however, come almost exclusively from a tiny point of the city: a 12-block area surrounding the Justice Center and federal courthouse. A protest might be peaceful for hours but then, the article said, (A)lmost like clockwork, tensions flare late at night between law enforcement officers stationed at the Justice Center and courthouse and a crowd of 20- and 30-something demonstrators, a small number of whom toss projectiles at police, shine lasers in their eyes or otherwise poke and prod officers to engage. Could we have done a better job in real time covering the agitators, who came to be known as the black bloc? Absolutely. Our characterizations of the damage, while accurate, came across as minimizing the lawlessness to some readers. While we focused on the dynamic between protesters and police, I wish we had better captured the compounding impact of the riots and the sense of unpredictability on residents and businesses. Journalism is a human endeavor, and were not going to get it right 100% of the time. To be sure, more than just Portlands image suffered. Business owners dealt with pandemic vacancies but also broken windows and prolific graffiti. The small area near the courthouses did resemble a war zone at times. And the effects, as detailed in our series, Downtown in Distress, were long-lasting and remain challenging today. Our journalists also faced physical challenges. One photographer, retreating after being told to do so, was nonetheless shoved hard in the back by police. Another was struck in the thigh by a police munition around 1 a.m. during one raucous clash between police and protesters. Editors and social media producers took turns monitoring live streams from people at the protests. Typically, events would get interesting around 11:30 p.m. protesters setting fires or breaking windows and then chaos might break out with police rushing crowds, blasting warnings and the like. The black-clad young (mainly) men intent on provoking police action increasingly became hostile to the press, accusing us of being law enforcement agents by recording video or taking photographs (almost all had scarves or masks over their faces). They tried to intimidate us for simply doing our job. Despite the difficulties, the tear gas, the constant volatility, our journalists fulfilled their public service mission. Over 100-plus straight days and nights, they bore witness and braved danger to inform the community. From food service organizations to reproductive justice groups, Oregon doesnt lack for nonprofits, the author writes. But as funding shrinks, the state needs organizations to collaborate better and make the most of available dollars. Cory Morse, MLive.com Libra Forde For The Oregonian/OregonLive Forde is executive director of Womens Foundation of Oregon, a grant-making, research and policy advocacy organization in Portland. She lives in Damascus. Its time we confront a difficult truth in the social impact sector: we do not need any more nonprofits in Oregon. This may sound counterintuitive, even unconventional, especially to those who believe that the more missions we have in motion, the more communities we can serve. There is much respect for this thinking. But heres the reality - federal dollars are drying up, and the scramble for funding that nonprofits have always known is intensifying. As federal dollars diminish, the burden shifts to Oregons local governments, foundations and donors to fill the widening gap. This puts immense pressure on local dollars, which are now expected to do more with less supporting a growing number of nonprofits while struggling to meet the rising needs of communities. The result is a fragmented ecosystem where everyone is underfunded and overstretched. The warning signs have been with us for years. Even before the Trump Administrations slashing of funding to federal agencies, several Oregon organizations have laid off employees and pulled back, as Oregon Public Broadcasting reported last year. But changes on the federal scene are translating into even steeper cuts in grants and contracts for nonprofits. Nonprofits are chasing a dwindling pool of grants, donors and sponsorships. The result? A competitive, fragmented sector where Oregon organizations fight for survival instead of finding strength in collaboration. Oregon has hundreds of nonprofits with overlapping missions, all duplicating administrative structures, all scrambling for limited resources, while our communities wait for meaningful, sustainable solutions. We are entering a new era that requires bold, collective action. The answer is not in building more silos. The solution lies in building stronger bridges, airtight connections and community-focused actions. In Oregon, this call to unity is especially urgent. Our state has one of the highest numbers of nonprofits per capita in the country outside of New England, based on IRS figures. While this reflects a deeply caring and community-oriented population, it also creates inefficiency. Whether its in Portland, Pendleton, or Phoenix, Oregons nonprofits are too often working in isolation, competing for the same limited sources of funding, employees and expertise. Rural organizations are especially vulnerable; under-resourced, under-supported and left to fill gaps in services that should be addressed through systemic change. We see this across sectors: education, health equity, housing, reproductive justice and climate resilience. Imagine what would be possible if Oregon coordinated more intentionally; if we merged missions where possible, consolidated administrative costs, and focused on impact over ego. Oregons communities especially those furthest from opportunity - deserve this kind of collaboration and can create a much stronger future for the state. This is a moment for Oregon foundations and philanthropic institutions including the one I lead to step up, not just with more money, but with leadership. We must take a new kind of responsibility: support the gathering of nonprofits that are sunsetting, struggling or duplicative, and create intentional pathways toward collaboration, strategic merging and resource-sharing. We cannot stand by and watch those who cant make it, but instead honor the missions they were built upon and ensure their impact can continue through stronger, unified entities. Nonprofit mergers are often seen as failures. They should be seen as a strategy. A thoughtful merger can reduce overhead, deepen impact and offer communities a more consistent, coordinated response. Shared services models, backbone organizations and cooperative leadership are not theoretical; they are proven practices that must be scaled. This is not a time for division, it is a time for disciplined unity. We must shift from survival mode to systems thinking. Instead of asking how an organization can stay afloat, we should ask how missions can thrive; whether thats in the current form or in coalition with others. Communities deserve more than exhausted leaders supporting and managing underfunded programs and laws. They deserve ecosystems of care that are built to last. Foundations and philanthropy should support this shift.Lets stop building more nonprofits and start building more power together. Rep. Cliff Bentz must be held accountable by all in Congressional District 2 for passing a bill that is harmful and cruel, (Oregon Rep. Cliff Bentz insists Republicans not cutting Medicaid, SNAP, May 25). He could have been brave, like the late Arizona Sen. John McCain when he voted to save affordable health care in 2017, and voted no. In the next general election, vote Bentz out. Farmers have already been hurt by reckless tariffs. With the passage of the big ugly budget bill out of the House, Republicans, Independents and Democrats in eastern and western Oregon will be harmed. Everyone except billionaires will be adversely affected. Workers, seniors, students and those wanting health care - especially in rural areas - have been betrayed. The bill puts at risk free school lunches for students, Medicaid for millions of people, student loans, green energy initiatives, cancer screenings and reproductive care services and more. Hopefully the Senate will be able to insist on a fairer, cleaner bill that would actually benefit the majority of those they represent.Jeanne Raymond, Corvallis To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. Since Oregons early statehood, our communities have valued careful planning and fair cost allocation while balancing resource use, industry growth and sustainability. We face challenges in managing our energy future to accommodate growth and innovation while ensuring fairness. The growth of electricity demand from data centers and other large industrial users raises valid concerns about equitably upgrading the electric grid. House Bill 3546, the POWER Act, attempts to address these challenges by creating a new rate class specifically for data centers. Though well-intentioned, this approach sets a troubling precedent by targeting one industry and burdening state agencies with designing a discriminatory rate class. It also risks chilling Oregon investments by other high-load sectors. Utility rate-setting should maintain reasonable and non-discriminatory rates for all customers. The legislations narrow focus is misguided. Instead, lawmakers should adopt a measured, sector-neutral approach that maintains regulatory flexibility without creating rigid categories that undermine economic competitiveness. Oregons current rate structure ensures customers pay their fair share of electricity costs. With demand increasing across transportation, manufacturing and residential sectors, cost allocation policies should address evolving system needs without targeting specific industries. However, energy policy should not just be about cost allocation it should also encourage large-scale investments in clean energy. Data centers are among the few industries actively investing in renewable energy, such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power. Legislators should reconsider the narrow approach of HB 3546. Oregons energy future and its position as a hub for clean industry and innovation depends on getting this right. Skip Newberry, Portland Newberry is president and CEO of the Technology Association of Oregon. To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. The China market, once seen as a dependable pillar of growth, now represents a major wildcard for Nvidia. With U.S. firms locked out, Nvidia warned that losing access to this near-$50 billion AI accelerator market would materially benefit foreign competitors. While Nvidia continues to break records, it encountered the aforementioned geopolitical hiccup during the quarter. On April 9, the U.S. government abruptly required Nvidia to secure a license before shipping H20 chips to China. The problem? H2O was already deeply embedded in the company's go-to-market strategy and had generated $4.6 billion in revenue during the quarter. Nvidia was left holding the bag on $4.5 billion worth of unsellable inventory and was unable to ship an additional $2.5 billion in orders before the restrictions took effect. Additionally, Nvidia continued to return capital to shareholders, with a modest quarterly dividend of $0.01 per share, and repurchased $14.1 billion worth of shares during the quarter. Notably, the management has spent $40 billion over the past 12 months on share buybacks, decreasing its share count by just 0.8% due to the company's massive $3.4 trillion market capitalization. As for highlights, the company's data center revenue surged to $39.1 billion in the quarter, representing a 73% increase from the prior year. Management also announced that it will be building factories in the U.S. in partnership with others to produce artificial intelligence (AI) supercomputers, which may alleviate some tariff concerns. For the first quarter of fiscal 2026, Nvidia reported $44.1 billion in revenue , representing a 69% year-over-year increase and a 12% increase from its previous quarter, fiscal Q4 2025. Nvidia's net income totaled $18.8 billion, a 26% increase year over year, despite the company incurring a $4.5 billion charge related to new U.S. export restrictions. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) just delivered another record-breaking quarter, sending its stock up 5% and tying Microsoft as the most valuable publicly traded company by market capitalization , at the time of this writing. Despite the strong results, questions linger as the company faces mounting geopolitical pressure and tariff uncertainty. Let's break down the chipmaker's latest performance and explore what the current challenges mean for long-term investors to determine whether Nvidia is a buy, hold, or sell. Story continues Just after Nvidia released its fiscal Q1 earnings, another twist emerged: A federal court blocked President Donald Trump from using emergency powers to impose broad tariffs. While the decision, which the Trump administration intends to appeal, may ease trade tensions for now, it highlights how quickly trade policy can shift and put the brakes on Nvidia's unparalleled growth. Nvidia's Blackwell is its next growth driver Despite the company's geopolitical headaches, Nvidia continues to innovate. Its Blackwell chips -- designed for massive-scale AI workloads -- are the company's next big breakthrough, according to CEO Jensen Huang. To support its growth, the company launched Blackwell Ultra and Nvidia Dynamo during its latest quarter, designed to power the next generation of reasoning AI models. Huang said: Global demand for Nvidia's AI infrastructure is incredibly strong. AI inference token generation has surged tenfold in just one year, and as AI agents become mainstream, the demand for AI computing will accelerate. Countries around the world are recognizing AI as essential infrastructure -- just like electricity and the internet -- and Nvidia stands at the center of this profound transformation. To support the development of its Blackwell product, Nvidia announced in April that it will build and test these chips in Arizona and its AI supercomputers in Texas. Given the company's tariff concerns, it's an unlikely coincidence that management chose the U.S. as the location for manufacturing its newest product. Looking ahead, management projects $45 billion in revenue for its next quarter, plus or minus 2%. Notably, that outlook includes an $8 billion hit from ongoing H20 restrictions, which will continue to impact gross margins. When excluding the projected $8 billion loss, management believes it will achieve a range of "mid-70%" gross margins later in its fiscal 2026, which would be in line with its 75% gross margin for its previous fiscal year. Is Nvidia a buy, sell, or hold? Given Nvidia stock's meteoric rise, it still trades at a steep 45 times trailing earnings. Yet the company has largely grown into that premium, with a three-year median price-to-earnings ratio of around 63. As a clear leader in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence, Nvidia continues to break new ground, most recently with its next-generation Blackwell chips and AI supercomputers. For growth-focused investors seeking exposure to transformative AI technology, Nvidia remains a compelling long-term investment, even amid geopolitical risks and an elevated valuation multiple. Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now? Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Nvidia wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $651,049!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $828,224!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 979% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 171% for the S&P 500. Dont miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025 Collin Brantmeyer has positions in Microsoft and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Microsoft and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is Nvidia a Buy? was originally published by The Motley Fool In a May 2024 episode of Peak Northwest, hosts Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor share their favorite summer day trip destinations within a comfortable driving distance from Portland. Here are five takeaways from the conversation, highlighting accessible adventures that dont require overnight stays or extensive planning. Generative AI was used to summarize this May 2024 episode of the Peak Northwest podcast. This story was reviewed and edited by The Oregonian/OregonLive staff. Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach. Lizzy Acker/The Oregonian 1. Cannon Beach by bus offers a stress-free coastal experience While Cannon Beach is one of Oregons most popular destinations, Hale and Connor recommend taking the bus from Portlands Union Station instead of driving. This eliminates parking hassles in the notoriously crowded beach town, dropping off visitors just blocks from the beach and within walking distance of restaurants and shops. Hale described his experience as super easy, requiring just day bags with snacks, water and beach towels. For dining, they recommend Ecola Seafood for casual seafood, Crepe Neptune for handheld meals (especially the salmon crepe and strawberry dessert crepe), and Sleepy Monk Coffee, which Hale calls his hands down favorite coffee shop on the coast. A guest relaxes in the warm waters of the Meadow Pools at Breitenbush Hot Springs. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian 2. Breitenbush Hot Springs makes for a rejuvenating day escape About 2.5 hours from Portland, Breitenbush Hot Springs offers day passes for a rejuvenating day trip. The podcast hosts raved about the food quality, with Hale describing it as the best buffet Ive ever had. The clothing-optional hot springs feature multiple soaking pools of varying temperatures, including newly opened individual bathtub-style soaking tubs and a cold plunge. Day passes, which cost $35 per person, allow access from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., making it feasible as a day trip. Spring and fall are good times to visit, as the summer heat makes hot springs less appealing. The Wilson River Trail runs through the Tillamook State Forest, between Elk Mountain and Kings Mountain in the Coast Range. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian 3. Tillamook State Forest provides accessible wilderness experiences For those seeking forest immersion, Tillamook State Forest along Oregon 6 offers numerous options for outdoor recreation. The Wilson River Trail features multiple trailheads with day hikes of varying difficulties, from challenging summit climbs like Kings Mountain and Elk Mountain to gentle riverside walks. Hale notes that by parking at Kings Mountain trailhead but taking the Wilson River Trail instead of the summit route, hikers can find solitude away from crowds. The Tillamook Forest Center provides educational exhibits about forestry and ecosystems, plus a fire lookout tower with forest views. With picnic areas along the Wilson River, the forest makes an ideal escape on hot summer days, especially for those living in Washington County. The sun shines brightly over Mount Hood, seen from the fields of flowers at Draper Girls Country Farm outside Hood River. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian 4. Hood River Fruit Loop delivers agricultural abundance and activities The Hood River Fruit Loop features farms, orchards, wineries and food stands that showcase the regions agricultural bounty. While the hosts note its impossible to visit every stop in a single day, highlights include Draper Girls Farm for apple picking, Hood River Lavender Farms, Mt View Orchards for wood-fired pizza featuring fresh-picked ingredients, and several fruit stands that offer affordable produce. Connor recommends visiting on weekdays rather than crowded weekends, and suggests exploring during different seasons to experience various crops berries in early summer, apples and pears in fall. A visit in September resulted in a trunk full of flowers, fruit, and baked goods at reasonable prices. Vickie Connor, video producer at The Oregonian/OregonLive, treks up Mount Saint Helens on August 23, 2022. Courtesy of Sydney Borum 5. Mount St. Helens offers dramatic landscapes just across the Columbia Despite being in Washington, Mount St. Helens is only about two hours from Portland, making it a good day trip that Hale says Portlanders often overlook. The volcano offers distinct experiences depending on which side you visit the south side for climbing opportunities and the north side for easier access to trails around the Johnston Ridge Observatory (though the observatory and its trailheads are expected to be closed until 2027). Hale said that seeing a Cascade Mountain that has blown up so dramatically, so recently provides a unique experience unavailable elsewhere in the region, encouraging listeners not to let crossing the Columbia River deter them from visiting this remarkable landscape. Listen to the full Peak Northwest podcast episode that highlights the five day-trip destinations here: Subscribe to The Oregonian/OregonLives travel and outdoors podcast Peak Northwest on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Hosts Jamie Hale and Chiara Profenna take you to some of the greatest destinations in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Check out more Peak Northwest episodes below. An Oregon couple that has lived in the Willamette Valley for decades has made a difficult decision to leave the country to avoid being caught in the Trump administrations immigration crackdown. They will leave three adult children behind and their families. April 1, 2025 Beth Nakamura It was late on Nov. 5 when Estrella and her husband, Chivo, realized their lives were about to change. The couple had called Oregon home for decades, but as they sat in their living room that night, eyes glued to the election results appearing on TV, they inched closer to a life-altering decision. Why, why, why? Estrella asked in Spanish as Donald Trump won his bid to return to the White House. Chivo, 63, and Estrella, 60, are undocumented immigrants, and Chivo has a criminal record. They consider Trumps return to power, and the unsettling fear of being deported and losing all of their possessions, too big of a risk. So the couple have made the decision to leave Oregon, representing the small segment of undocumented immigrants who are heeding Trumps warnings and effectively deporting themselves to Mexico. He doesnt want us to be here anymore, Chivo said in Spanish, asking the newsroom to identify the couple by only the nicknames that some people call them to avoid becoming an immigration target before departing this fall. And before he locks us up, its better for us to find a path thats best for us. An estimated 120,000 undocumented immigrants live in Oregon and, advocates say, similar considerations are being made in households across the state, if not the nation. Trump has promised the largest deportation effort in American history and monthly arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have spiked to their highest levels in more than a decade. While deportations dont yet appear to be surging, the Trump administrations headline-grabbing controversies have been politically effective, stirring anxiety. Among other things, officials have forcibly removed immigrants and sent them to a notorious El Salvador prison under the 1798 wartime Alien Enemies Act, which was last invoked by a president after the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II. The administration is separately offering $1,000 payments to people who agree to voluntarily leave the country, although some attorneys have warned immigrants to be wary of the program. Estrella and Chivo had been debating whether to return to their hometown, near Guadalajara, to help care for Chivos elderly and ailing father. But they didnt settle on a decision until after they saw Trump was sticking to his aggressive immigration enforcement plans, which include targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal histories. Chivo fits that description. He was convicted three times for driving under the influence in the 1990s and 2000s, including once in 2007 when his blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit, according to court records. He was ordered deported in 2009 and he and Estrella left voluntarily, she said, but they returned in 2010. Chivo has no criminal history in Oregon in the years since. In all, Chivo has lived in the United States for more than 40 years. Hes planted pine trees, worked in a warehouse and at nurseries, and now does landscaping and construction. Estrella joined him more than 30 years ago and started in the fields before quickly finding steady work cleaning hotel rooms. Both pay income and Social Security taxes. They raised three of their four kids in Oregon, and are now actively helping with their nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Chivo, 63, and Estrella, 60, in their Willamette Valley apartment. April 1, 2025 Beth Nakamura Until a few years ago, the couple envisioned staying rooted in the Willamette Valley with their growing family. Oregons sanctuary law, approved in 1987, prohibits local officials from cooperating with immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant. The couple had been on edge during Trumps first term but thought the worst was over when Joe Biden defeated him in 2020. And if Kamala Harris had won, we would be more calm, Estrella said. But no, this chamuco (devil or troublemaker) entered. He is a chamuco, you cant call him any other way. Only 30,000 undocumented immigrants, or a quarter of Oregons undocumented population, have lived in the state for at least 20 years, according to an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute. Just 8,000 undocumented immigrants are 55 and older, like Estrella and Chivo. During a weekend in February, when the couples only son came to visit, Chivo confided that a decision had been made. They dont want us to leave, Estrella said. But what are we going to do? If they kick us out with nothing, its better to take our little belongings. Arriving in America The couple grew up on the same block, just a few houses away, in a village about 10 minutes from Cocula, Jalisco, called Santa Teresa Municipio de Cocula. They knew each other since childhood and even dated. But they never imagined they would end up marrying. Chivo left Mexico for the United States in 1979 in search of a job and a better life to escape poverty. A coyote, or smuggler, helped him cross the U.S-Mexico border through Tijuana, Mexico, he said. It wasnt as difficult to cross back then. Chivo remembers it being cold the night he and two of his uncles walked through the desert hills at midnight so they would be harder for border patrol to detect. We were coming north to make money, he said. I have always enjoyed working. Chivo settled in California. He started at a nursery, preparing plants for shipping, then found work picking daisies. In 1983 he moved to Oregon, where he planted and cut pine trees for Christmas harvests. Chivo would occasionally return to Mexico to visit family, and it was during one of those trips that he reconnected with Estrella, who had moved to nearby Guadalajara. They both went to their village in the fall of 1984 for their hometowns annual Fiesta de Santa Teresa. They saw each other at the celebration and the next day Chivo asked Estrellas family for her hand. Even I cant believe it, Estrella said on a recent afternoon, a smattering of boxes scattered across their apartment. That was a spontaneous (moment) we had. An undocumented couple who live in Oregon are preparing for their return to Mexico by filling moving boxes. April 1, 2025 Beth Nakamura The couple married and Estrella became pregnant with their first child. Chivo returned to Oregon for work but made it back to Mexico in 1985 to see the birth of his daughter. The pattern continued, with another daughter born in 1986, a son in 1987 and a daughter in 1991. Three years later, Chivo and Estrella decided she should move to Oregon and, if successful, the kids would eventually follow. Moving everyone at once would be too expensive. Estrella left her children with in-laws and used a coyote to cross the U.S-Mexico border at Nogales, Arizona. She remembers having to jump over a laminated fence before meeting a man who was waiting in America to help her and others in the group. Eventually she joined Chivo in Oregon. I was happy to see him, she said. But at the same time, I was sad because I had left my children. Every time I would talk to them, I would cry. Reuniting with family It took six years for the family to begin reuniting in Oregon. Crossing the border with coyotes, three of their four children arrived between 2000 and 2002, with the youngest choosing to remain in Mexico. The oldest kids moved to the Willamette Valley as teenagers with no English skills, navigating a different world. Only one of them, the second-oldest daughter, went to school while the other teens went straight to work at a food processing plant to make money, Estrella said. They were happy, she said. They didnt care whether they had papers or didnt have papers. The family liked Oregons temperate weather and lush landscape. They celebrated birthdays with special meals cooked inside their apartment. Eventually, each child moved out and started their own lives. Two obtained green cards granting U.S. residency, and the third is seeking one, their parents said. Life wasnt always easy. Chivo said he got the DUIIs because he used to like drinking but has changed his ways. Estrella said the last time Chivo drank was about six months ago, and only a small amount while at home. He would say, Only I know why I drink. Too many problems, she said of the time when he was drinking heavily. Chivos kids kept their distance from him back then, she added, but now hes the one doling out advice about the importance of driving only when sober. Theres a saying that says, The blows in life are what make you learn, she said. Festive decorations hang from the ceiling of an apartment in the Willamette Valley where an undocumented couple live. Their adult children often visit with their families. April 1, 2025 Beth Nakamura These days, the family still gets together almost every weekend to enjoy Estrellas cooking. Tamales, birria, pozole, tostadas, taquitos, sopes. She knows how to cook very well, Chivo said, thats why we dont go to restaurants. The aromas of authentic Mexican food waft through the apartment as children run around and adults go for seconds. The apartment gets loud. There are times when I tell them, Shhh, Chivo joked. But everybody is happy, Estrella added. They are here, they are eating. Estrella, 60, enjoys cooking and baking at home. She hopes to make money in Mexico by baking and selling bread. April 1, 2025 Beth Nakamura The couples oldest daughter said she treasures the family get-togethers, just as she did as a teen. She doesnt want to see her parents return to Mexico but said its their decision to make. The grandchildren, and especially her 14-year-old son, are attached to them, grandma in particular. We will miss them a lot, she said in Spanish. Packing for Mexico Chivo and Estrella are preparing for their move box by box. They dont have much: everything they own fits in their two-bedroom apartment, which they share with Estrellas brother. But those items have meaning and, in some cases, cant be easily replaced in Mexico. Ive tried to save and save, Chivo said. We are not rich but we are also not empty handed to say, well, we cant cover the cost of an illness. An Oregon couple is preparing boxes with their belongings for Mexico ahead of their departure this fall. Among the items the couple is shipping is a stackable washer and dryer and kitchen items, such as cookware. The couple say if they were deported, they wouldnt be able to take any of their belongings. April 1, 2025 Beth Nakamura They plan to ship nearly all their possessions to their familys small, three-bedroom home in Mexico, where their youngest daughter lives with Chivos 91-year-old father. Estrella is making plans to pack her best kitchen dishes, pots, pans and large mixer. The couple will also box up their clothing and a microwave, TVs and stacked washer and dryer. Electronic items typically cost more in Mexico, they said, and the brands arent as good. Coco and Lima, two parakeets that Estrella got as a birthday gift from her son and daughter-in-law three years ago, chirp in the background on a late afternoon in their apartment. Maybe they will go to Mexico as well, Estrella joked. At their age, the couple doesnt believe theyll land jobs in Mexico. Chivo expects to tend to his cows and Estrella plans to bake and sell bread from their house to help make ends meet. Chivo and Estrella say they worry about being arrested and detained in an immigration raid before they leave. But work is where they seek refuge from their worries, and to raise more money before returning to Mexico. I go to work and I feel comfortable, Chivo said. I get rid of all the thoughts, you see? The couple plans to leave Oregon in early October to make it back in time for their hometowns annual celebration, where they reconnected more than 40 years ago. Until then, they hope to spend as much time as possible with their family. No grand send-off is planned. I think I would feel sadder, Chivo said. I dont like saying goodbye. -- Yesenia Amaro is on the investigations team. Reach her at 503-221-4395, or yamaro@oregonian.com. An Oregon family is leaving the U.S. to protect their son, who is transgender, amid the Trump administration and its anti-LGBTQ executive orders and policies. AP The results of the U.S. presidential election would either bring tranquility to an Oregon family or disrupt their lives. In the months ahead of the election, the family had a serious conversation with their 14-year-old son, who is transgender, about leaving the country. They went to bed early on election night and, the next morning, the boy heard his mother crying in the kitchen. I didnt have to tell him directly, the mother said of the election results, her voice breaking. The thing I said to him is that I will never let anyone hurt him, and I will do whatever it takes to keep him safe and ensure that he continues to have access to the care that he needs. The family is now among a contingent of Oregonians who are planning to leave the United States over concerns that their lives could be upended by President Trumps controversial policies on issues like health care or deportation. They plan to depart in August and move to a country in Europe, which they chose based on its LGBTQ friendliness, access to gender-affirming care and visa requirements for Americans. They asked that their names and the country not be published to protect their sons identity. President Trumps return to office has not had a direct impact on the teens care, his mother said, and state officials said gender-affirming care has not been impacted in Oregon. Even so, the family doesnt want to wait around to see what the rest of Trumps term brings. We decided that we did not want to live under the constant threat of, Is this dam going to break, when is the federal government going to break the dam? the mother said. We just decided it was too much stress to just live under that constant threat. Were going to live our lives freely not worry that tomorrow I will not be able to get the care for my son. Life hasnt been easy for her son, she said. This was a kid, who before he was able to socially transition, was self-harming himself when he was 4 years old, his mother said. I have no doubt that I would be protecting my son from the threat of suicide if he did not have access to this care. Trump has already signed several executive orders targeting transgender and nonbinary people. The federal government now recognizes only two sexes, female and male, and it has banned transgender people from serving in the military, among other sweeping changes and reversals of prior policies. Trump seeks to end gender-affirming care for transgender minors and teens under the age of 19, and coverage would be excluded from Medicaid, Medicare and benefits packages for federal employees. His executive orders also seek to end federal research and education grants to medical institutions, such as hospitals and medical schools, that provide gender-affirming care to people under 19. Some hospitals have already canceled appointments, but the order is being challenged in court by several states, including Oregon. Franny White, a spokesperson for the Oregon Health Authority, said state officials are actively monitoring changes at the federal level for any impact on accessing quality and affordable health care in Oregon. Gender-affirming care, she said, has not been impacted. Recent federal actions have not changed Oregonians access to gender-affirming care, which is protected by Oregon state law, White said in an email. OHA and other state agencies follow Oregon law when it comes to protecting access to quality health care and improving the lifelong health of everyone in our state, including transgender and gender-diverse people. The Oregon Equality Act of 2007, for example, prohibits discrimination based on a persons gender identity, she said. A separate state law prohibits insurance companies from denying gender-affirming treatment that is medically necessary as determined by a qualified health care provider. The mother of the Oregon teen said they are afraid despite living in a state that offers protections. The teen transitioned when he was 5 years old and had a puberty blocker implanted in one of his arms at 10, the mother said. Just before he turned 13, he began testosterone treatment. He receives a weekly injection and has blood work done every six months to evaluate his testosterone levels at Oregon Health & Science University. Hes not permitted to do top surgery until hes at least 16 and bottom surgery until hes at least 18 under hospital requirements. The family decided to delay moving abroad until this summer, to allow their son to finish 9th grade and to help their daughter settle into college. And while it wont be easy to leave their lives in Oregon behind, their son will continue to keep his treatment on track in Europe without any threats, his mother said. We moved to Portland 20 years ago on purpose. We carefully selected it as a place to live, as a place where we would want to raise our children, she said. And we are leaving it because even here we are afraid, and that is devastating to feel forced out of your home. The family plans to take only their clothes, board games, photos, books and art the stuff that makes our home feel like a home and brings us together as a family, she said. They havent decided what the future may hold, including a potential return to America in 2029, when Trump leaves office. We are taking it year by year, she said. -- Yesenia Amaro is on the investigations team. Reach her at 503-221-4395, or yamaro@oregonian.com. The northern lights seen over Vista House at Crown Point early Sunday, June 1, 2025. Photo courtesy of Jay Shah Charged particles and magnetic fields produced by an eruption on the sun hit Earth early Sunday morning, creating a light show in the sky sooner than expected. On Saturday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Space Weather Prediction Center issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch. Brands Dr. Martens has appointed former Nike exec Paul Zadoff as its new president of the Americas as the British boot brand continues building the regions business, SJs sister publication, WWD, reported. In this role, Zadoff will lead the regional team in driving the performance, growth and profitability of the companys Americas business. He will join Dr. Martens global leadership team and report to chief executive officer, Ije Nwokorie. French multinational luxury goods company Dior has confirmed that Maria Grazia Chiuri has stepped down as womenswear artistic director at the LVMH-owned label after nine year run. The Italian designer was the first woman (ever) to lead Diors womens collections and carried the company through various billion-dollar global growth efforts with a feminist twist. Alice Hartley has joined Nike as director of waste and circularity, according to a LinkedIn Post. Hartley formerly served as Under Armours director of circularity for around 18 months, following an 11-year stint at Gap Inc., spending the last three as director of product sustainability and circularity. D-R-G-N Nascent streetwear brand D-R-G-N has named Ben Taverniti as creative director. Taverniti served as creative director at Hudson Jeans, working alongside Peter Kimfounder and former CEO of Hudson, and now CEO and co-founder of D-R-G-N. The emerging luxury menswear label was created in partnership with Bruce Lee Enterprises, honoring Lees legacy through elevated design and a commitment to his core philosophies. Textiles Infinited Fiber Companys co-founder and CEO Petri Alava has stepped down nearly a decade after founding the Finnish materials firm. Chief operating officer Sahil Kaushik will serve as acting CEO starting June 1 with Infinited Fibers next phaseindustrial scale-upon the horizon. Alava will continue supporting the company as senior advisor through the end of November. The board of directors has initiated the search for a permanent successor. Austrian fiber group Lenzing has appointed George Kasperkovitz as chief operations officer and a member of the managing board. In this role, Kasperkovitz will manage the company-wide fiber production sites and drive forward the groups ongoing performance program. At the same time, he will take over the responsibility for the site management in Lenzing (Upper Austria) as well. Kasperkovitz brings 15-plus years of experience in various management functions across relevant regions and markets. Raman Bhatia, CEO of Starling Bank, who is believed to be in line for a 600,000 bonus. Photograph: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile/Getty Starling Bank has handed its staff an almost fivefold increase in bonus pay despite an embarrassing regulatory fine and losses on government-backed Covid loans that the digital lender has blamed on its own weak controls. The digital-only challenger bank paid out 24.6m in bonuses for the 2024-25 financial year, compared with 5.3m a year earlier. Starlings annual report showed the banks remuneration committee approved a 600,000 bonus for its highest-paid director believed to be the chief executive, Raman Bhatia taking their total pay packet to 1.7m. It paid another 5.4m in bonuses to Starlings board members. The increase in the overall bonus pot which paid out in both cash and shares followed a difficult year for Starling, which was blighted by embarrassing revelations about the banks internal controls. The bank reported last week it was taking a 28m loss on its Covid-era bounce back loans (BBLs) after conceding it had lent money to some businesses without proper checks. This meant the loans were unlikely to qualify for the 100% government guarantee, which would have meant taxpayers footed the bill. Starling was fined 29m by the Financial Conduct Authority in Octoberafter the watchdog discovered shockingly lax financial crime controls at the bank. The FCA said Starling, which emerged in the mid-2010s, had left the financial system wide open to criminals and those subject to sanctions. The fine and loan losses ate into the banks annual profits, which tumbled 25% to 223m for the year to the end of March. Starling said the latest bonus pot did not take either the FCA fine or the Covid loan losses into account, given that they were legacy issues that did not reflect the staffs recent performance. It is important to note that the scheme reflects performance over the past 12 months, which includes the effective management of legacy matters, progress against key regulatory programmes, and the groups broader commercial performance, a spokesperson said. They added that a larger number of staff were taking part in its bonus schemes, which included a long-term incentive plan that was paid out in Starling shares. Bhatia told journalists last week that the bank might consider cutting or clawing back pay from executives over the FCA fine and Covid loan issue. We have discharged our duties to consider any impact on [remuneration] where appropriate. I cant share any further details, Bhatia said. It was not clear whether that could impact Starlings founder and former chief executive, Anne Boden, who stepped down in 2023 citing a conflict of interest between being a boss and a large shareholder in the bank. Bhatia took the helm midway through 2024. Very recently, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued three new sets of official resources to help Church members understand and answer their own questions and those of others on their respective topics. These three are focused on: There is much in these materials to learn and to ponder, and I think that members of the Church and the Church itself will be benefited if Latter-day Saints familiarize themselves with these new resources as well as with the resources (by now, a substantial library of them) that have been released previously. Questions, challenges, and criticisms rooted in these issues come up every single day. In the meantime, we remain a perennial focus of cable television writer, directors, and producers. Heres the latest entry in the field. While it doesnt directly involve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, its certainly Mormon-adjacent, and the distinction between the mainstream Church and some of its more colorful (not to say scandalous and even lethal) spin-offs will undoubtedly elude at least some in the audience: The Thirteenth Wife Escaping Polygamy: Eric Johnson on Playing Mormon Manson in Felicity Huffman Lifetime Movie. I know a lot about your church, an Australian government official once told me at a reception in (I think) Melbourne. My wife and I watch Big Love. Ive lately been reading Sam Parnia, Lucid Dying: The New Science Revolutionizing How We Understand Life and Death (New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2024), and finding it very enjoyable and quite stimulating. Dr. Parnia, M.D., Ph.D., is an associate professor of medicine at New York Universitys Langone Medical Center, where he is also director of research into cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In the United Kingdom born in London, he is a British subject he is director of the Human Consciousness Project at the University of Southampton. He received his medical degree in 1995 from Guys and St. Thomas Medical School (that is, from the Medical School of Kings College London and then earned a doctorate in cell biology from the University of Southhampton in 2007, followed by fellowship training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of London and the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Dr. Parnia has described himself, by the way, as not at all religious. For several years, this blog was graced with the presence of a resident atheist commentator who called himself gemli. His principal objection to the concept of near-death experiences he never really got beyond it was that, by definition, a near-death experience was not, could not be, an experience of death. Nearly dead, he told us over and over again, is not the same thing as dead. I think that its partly (but not solely) for that reason that Dr. Parnia rejects the term near-death experience, substituting in its place recalled experience of death. (Ill probably have more to say about his proposed new term, which he insists is more precise and more accurate, in a future post. It does have a couple of definite advantages, although its probably too late to dislodge near-death experience from widespread usage.) In this post today, I think that Ill share a couple of paragraphs that resonate very much not only with very many of the accounts that Ive read but with several accounts that Ive been given in person by those who had the experience: One of the most intriguing observations about the recalled experience of death is how different the experience is for the person dying and the people desperately trying to save him or her from death. People undergoing a life-threatening illness or accident may naturally experience a tremendous sense of panic, feat, and distress as their condition deteriorates and they fight for their life. Then suddenly everything goes blank, as they lose consciousness from the outsiders perspective. This person who had been teetering around death appears unconscious and seemingly dead, yet from the perspective of the person who is going through death, there is an inexplicable sense of continuation of consciousness, neither interrupted nor halted. Their consciousness now feels more lucid, with visual and auditory awareness regarding events. At the same time, the people on the outside, the doctors and nurses, are fighting to revive the individual. There is blood, shouting, calls for more equipment. Perhaps weeping loved ones in a corner. This inner perception is experienced as a separation of consciousness and selfhood combined with a vast expansion of consciousness, which is very much felt as a release and liberation from the body. This is all experienced without pain or distress, even if the person is undergoing seemingly painful lifesaving medical procedures. This individual wading deeper and deeper in the grey zone [a favorite expression of Parnias for the period (and the proecess) between the onset of dying and final irreversible death] may look at this frenetic activity with equanimity. What happens to this body on the gurney seems unimportant. (133) The distinction that Dr. Parnia sketches here between the subjective experience of a dying person and the objective observations of those around him or her (e.g., medical personnel, family members, witnesses) is, of course, the same that yields the hard problem of consciousness. Scientists can describe what transpires in the brain of an angry person or a person eating sugar, but such descriptions are of an entirely different nature than feeling anger or tasting something sweet. I also share a list that Dr. Parnia provides of fifteen distinct components, or sub-themes, that are characteristic of the out of body portion of a recalled experience of death: Theres nothing quite like seeing a blog post titled Black Magic Among Christians? to get your attention. That said post was on the Patheos Evangelical channel made it that much more interesting. Clickbait? Not really. Roger Olson is one of the better bloggers on the Evangelical channel anyone who preaches against Calvinism is a friend of mine. Or at least, someone I can have a reasonable conversation with. Heres the gist of his post: Recently, according to news reports, a leading mega church pastor and evangelist with close ties to President Trump promised followers that if they sent her ministry $1K she would provide them with blessings. One such was to be making God their enemies enemy. Olson condemns this statement and calls it black magic, which he defines as the occult practice of using powerful words and gestures and rituals to harm someone. Along with many witches and other magical practitioners, I no longer use the term black magic because of its racial connotations baneful magic works just as well. But theres no question the term is alive in the wider culture. And theres no question that Olson is right thats exactly what this pastor is doing. Grifters gonna grift It didnt take much googling to determine that this pastor and evangelist was exactly who I assumed it was: televangelist, prosperity gospel promoter, and Trump advisor Paula White. Heres the story from MSN the title tells you everything you need to know: MAGA pastor vows to direct God to be an enemy to your enemies for $1K. Im going to skip the political side of this. If youre shocked that Donald Trump would associate himself with someone like this, you havent been paying attention. Im going to skip the televangelist angle too. Grifters gonna grift. Instead, I want to explore this from a theological perspective. Just how small does Paula White think her God is? How powerful does she think she is? And what can Pagans and polytheists learn from all this? Reading with comprehension is necessary I do my best to avoid debating the Bible. When you debate the Bible you give it credibility it does not deserve, particularly for the majority of humans who are not Christians. Still, in this case I want to remove Im just quoting the Bible as an excuse. I havent watched Whites sermon and I dont intend to. But according to The Christian Post, she based it on Exodus 23. A simple reading of that chapter shows that the promise that I will be an enemy to your enemies refers to the Israelites as they were moving into their Promised Land. Its not a magical formula available to anyone for any reason, and its certainly not something that can be invoked by sending $1000 to a televangelist. Exodus 23 also includes the very clear commandment do not oppress a foreigner, something MAGA Christians do their best to ignore or rationalize away. The arrogance of a televangelist My theological thoughts on this are summed up in a comment I left on Roger Olsons post: This isnt just beyond the bounds of Christianity, its beyond the bounds of theism as its generally understood. Im a Pagan and a polytheist who practices magic, and I would never be so arrogant as to claim I could persuade (much less coerce) any God or Goddess to become someones enemy. It appears that this pastors concept of a God is very small. Or perhaps, her concept of her own power is vastly overstated. Or likely, both. If I wrote a blog post or posted a video where I said if you pay me Ill send the Morrigan to harass your enemies Im pretty sure the Great Queen would have something to say to me, and it wouldnt be pleasant. It might not even involve words. Just a spear. The Gods deserve reverence I dont see the debates on reverence vs. familiarity in the polytheist world that I saw ten years or so ago (has it really been that long?). I think this is a good conversation to have. While some of us are on somewhat familiar terms with deities with whom we have deep relationships, and while our Gods do not have fragile egos that require sycophantic praise, it is good for us to remember that they are Gods and we are not. We too have wisdom, power, and virtue, but theirs is orders of magnitude beyond ours. Humans discussing the Gods is like cats discussing humans. We know something of them, but not as much as we like to think we do. The point here is that not only is it not our place to command the Gods, we dont have the ability to command the Gods. And while a deity might respond with isnt that cute if a beginner tried to order them to do something, those of us who function as teachers and leaders are held to a higher standard and would likely face serious consequences (see spear above). The standard for an advisor to the most powerful man in the world is commensurately higher. Intercessory prayer is good but has boundaries But what about intercession? Perhaps what Paula White meant was that if you pay her $1000 shell pray to her God and ask him to go after your enemies. Intercessory prayer is a respected practice in many different religions and traditions. My relationship with the Morrigan began with intercessory prayer. I asked the Great Queen to help some friends in danger, and she did. Did I persuade her to intervene? Did she do it as a favor to me? Did she do it so she could come back and demand my services in reciprocity? Did she already know what was going on and would have intervened even if I hadnt asked? I dont know. I just know that it is good to express the yearnings of our hearts, and that the aftereffects of those prayers have been a very good thing for me. And I also know that please protect my friends from harm is a very different request from smite my enemies! Justice is a human endeavor The Gods do not micromanage our lives. They want us to learn and grow and take responsibility for ourselves, our families, and our communities. I recently had someone ask me where are the Gods of Justice in our current political environment. That raises the question of what justice is and isnt. I have my opinions, but I cannot look at the universe as it actually is and then insist that the modern, Western, liberal idea of justice as fairness, equity, and compassion is divinely mandated. Mind you, I support fairness, equity, and compassion, because I think thats the best way to promote mutual thriving among humans and other species. But thats a human ideal we have to promote and build. The Gods of Justice or otherwise arent going to build it for us. Protectors? Sometimes Attack dogs? Never Do our Gods protect us? Will they protect us? We should be careful what we assume and what we claim. Ive found intercessory prayer to be effective at times, though not always in the ways I would have preferred, nor as quickly as I would have preferred. Ive made it into my 60s and Im in a relatively good place. Some of that is my own efforts and some of it is luck, but Im sure that some of it is divine intervention. Having formal commitments with some deities has allowed me to more easily decline offers from other deities who I didnt really want to work for or with (me and trickster Gods are a poor match). Perhaps most importantly, following the Morrigan, Cernunnos, and the others with whom I have close relationships has kept me focused on doing things that bring me long-term satisfaction, and thus happiness. Having them in my life is a very good thing. But they are not an umbrella and they are not a sword. And they are absolutely not an attack dog I can send against people I dont like, much less against the enemies of people who send me money. The Gods do not work for us Im not surprised Paula White made the ridiculous claim she made. Those who give her money get what they deserve. Roger Olson is correct to call her outside the camp of Christianity I wish more Christians with a platform would do likewise. The lesson for us as Pagans and polytheists is to remember that while we are powerful and magical beings, our Gods and Goddesses are far more. When we are in alignment with their virtues and values we can work with them and work for them. Having them in our lives is a good and beneficial thing. But they never work for us. Ben Fullers journey to the Cross culminates in his upcoming album Walk Through Fire, a testament to transformation through faith. Set for release on June 6, the 13-track album chronicles Fullers dramatic life change, emerging from years of substance abuse and destructive behaviors to a life centered on hope. I found it in nothing besides the hope of Christ, Fuller said. In the fall of 2019, at age 32, he encountered the gospel message that would revolutionize his life. Growing up in Vermont, Fuller described a landscape where Jesus was a swear word, leaving him disconnected from any spiritual foundation. His life was characterized by cocaine and alcohol addiction, broken relationships, and a constant search for meaning. I was drinking 20 beers a night and was lost and looking for trying to be famous and, you know, trying to do all these things that just werent working, Fuller explained. I was lonely, I was afraid, I was running out of time. The albums title track, Walk Through Fire, speaks of his transformation. Its central hook declares, Thank God, I had to walk through fire reflecting Fullers belief that difficult experiences can lead to profound spiritual growth. Ive been through a lot in my life, Fuller said. So many of us have been through some really, really hard stuff thats almost near impossible to get through. To realize that he was with us in the fire, that he was walking beside us through all of it, is incredible. Now nearly six years sober, Fuller sees his music as a ministry of hope. Hes passionate about challenging church stigmas and demonstrating that spiritual transformation doesnt require perfection. You dont have to have it all together, and you dont need to put a suit and tie on to come to church and pretend like everythings okay, he emphasized. Jesus met me at my worst, at my lowest, and hell do the same thing for you. Fullers ministry extends beyond music. He has shared his testimony in unique environments, including San Quentin Prison and Louisiana State Penitentiary, believing that his story of redemption can inspire others. The albums diverse musical style defies easy categorization. When asked about genre, Fuller redirects focus to his primary message. I pray that they label it Jesus, he said. Its unashamedly the gospel, and thats what youre gonna get in the end. A standout track, Since Jesus, captures his personal transformation. The lyrics declare, I aint never been the same since Jesus. Aint a thing that hasnt changed since Jesus. He wrecked the plans of this broken man and turned a heart of stone to pieces. Fuller hopes the album will encourage listeners to slow down and reconnect with spiritual purpose. I pray that these songs are kind of a slowdown for whoever listens to them and that it just gives all honor and glory and praise to Jesus, he said. I knew who I was without him, and I dont want to go back to that guy. Walk Through Fire releases on June 6. Palestinians carry boxes and bags containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-backed organization approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) AP By Mohammad Jahjouh and Samy Magdy, The Associated Press RAFAH, Gaza Strip At least 31 people were killed and scores were wounded on Sunday as they were on their way to receive food in the Gaza Strip, according to health officials and multiple witnesses. The witnesses said Israeli forces fired on crowds around a kilometer (1,000 yards) away from an aid site run by an Israeli-backed foundation. The army released a brief statement saying it was currently unaware of injuries caused by (Israeli military) fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site. The matter is still under review. The foundation said in a statement that it delivered aid without incident early on Sunday and has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, which are in Israeli military zones where independent access is limited. The Gaza Health Ministry said 31 people were killed and 170 others were wounded. A new aid system marred by chaos The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation s distribution of aid has been marred by chaos, and multiple witnesses have said Israeli troops fired on crowds near the delivery sites. Before Sunday, at least six people had been killed and more than 50 wounded according to local health officials. The foundation says the private security contractors guarding its sites have not fired on the crowds, while the Israeli military has acknowledged firing warning shots on previous occasions. The foundation said in a statement that it distributed 16 truckloads of aid early Sunday without incident, and dismissed what it referred to as false reporting about deaths, mass injuries and chaos. The scene was horrible Thousands of people headed toward the distribution site hours before dawn. As they headed toward the site, Israeli forces ordered them to disperse and come back later, witnesses said. When the crowds reached the Flag Roundabout, around 1 kilometer (1,000 yards) away, at around 3 a.m., Israeli forces opened fire, the witnesses said. There was fire from all directions, from naval warships, from tanks and drones, said Amr Abu Teiba, who was in the crowd. He said he saw at least 10 bodies with gunshot wounds and several other wounded people, including women. People used carts to ferry the dead and wounded to the field hospital. The scene was horrible, he said. Most of the casualties were shot in the upper part of their bodies, including the head, neck and chest, said Dr. Marwan al-Hams, a health ministry official at Nasser Hospital, where many of the wounded were transferred after being initially brought to a field hospital run by the Red Cross. He said 24 people were being treated in Nasser Hospitals intensive care unit. Ibrahim Abu Saoud, another eyewitness said the military fired from about 300 meters (yards) away. Abu Saoud said he saw many people with gunshot wounds, including a young man who he said had died at the scene. We werent able to help him, he said. Mohammed Abu Teaima, 33, said he saw Israeli forces open fire and kill his cousin and another woman as they were heading toward the distribution site. He said his cousin was shot in his chest and died at the scene. Many others were wounded, including his brother-in-law, he said. Palestinians carry bags containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a U.S.-backed organization approved by Israel in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) AP They opened heavy fire directly toward us, he said as he was waiting outside a field hospital run by the Red Cross for word on his wounded relative. An AP reporter arrived at the field hospital at around 6 a.m. and saw dozens of wounded, including women and children. The reporter also saw crowds of people returning from the distribution point. Some were carrying boxes of aid but most appeared to be coming back empty-handed. Officials at the field hospital said at least 21 people were killed and another 175 were wounded, without saying who opened fire on them. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters. The Health Ministry provided the same toll and later updated it. The UN says new aid system violates humanitarian principles Israel and the United States say the new system is aimed at preventing Hamas from siphoning off assistance. Israel has not provided any evidence of systematic diversion, and the U.N. denies it has occurred. U.N. agencies and major aid groups have refused to work with the new system, saying it violates humanitarian principles because it allows Israel to control who receives aid and forces people to relocate to distribution sites, risking yet more mass displacement in the territory. The U.N. system has struggled to bring in aid after Israel slightly eased its total blockade of the territory last month. Those groups say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gazas roughly 2 million Palestinians. Experts have warned that the territory is at risk of famine if more aid is not brought in. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. They are still holding 58 hostages, around a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Palestinians pray during the funeral of a person who was killed while heading to a Gaza aid hub, along with three others who were killed during an Israeli strike, as they gather at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) AP Israels military campaign has killed over 54,000 people, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The offensive has destroyed vast areas of the territory, displaced around 90% of its population and left people almost completely reliant on international aid. On Sunday, Israel said its forces killed the commander of a militant cell it says was behind an attack that killed 21 soldiers in the early months of the war. It was among the deadliest single events for the military in 19 months of fighting, excluding Hamas initial onslaught. The soldiers were killed when a blast from a rocket-propelled grenade fired by militants triggered explosives they were laying to blow up buildings. Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report. Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Wildfire smoke hangs in the air above Highway 97 north of Buckinghorse River, British Columbia, on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Nasuna Stuart-Ulin/The Canadian Press via AP) AP FLIN FLON, Manitoba More than 25,000 residents in three provinces have been evacuated as dozens of wildfires remained active Sunday and diminished air quality in parts of Canada and the U.S., according to officials. Most of the evacuated residents were from Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last week. About 17,000 people were evacuated by Saturday, along with 1,300 in Alberta. About 8,000 people in Saskatchewan had been relocated as leaders there warned the number could climb. Smoke was worsening air quality and reducing visibility in Canada and into some U.S. states along the border. Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour, Saskatchewans Public Safety Agency warned Sunday. As smoke levels increase, health risks increase. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said ongoing hot, dry weather is allowing some fires to grow and threaten communities, and resources to fight the fires and support the evacuees are stretched thin. The next four to seven days are absolutely critical until we can find our way to changing weather patterns, and ultimately a soaking rain throughout the north, Moe said at a Saturday news conference. In Manitoba, more than 5,000 of those evacuated are from Flin Flon, located nearly 645 kilometers (400 miles) northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg. In northern Manitoba, fire knocked out power to the community of Cranberry Portage, forcing a mandatory evacuation order Saturday for about 600 residents. The fire menacing Flin Flon began a week ago near Creighton, Saskatchewan, and quickly jumped the boundary into Manitoba. Crews have struggled to contain it. Water bombers have been intermittently grounded due to heavy smoke and a drone incursion. The U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service deployed an air tanker to Alberta and said it would send 150 firefighters and equipment to Canada. In some parts of the U.S., air quality reached unhealthy levels Sunday in North Dakota and small swaths of Montana, Minnesota and South Dakota, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys AirNow page. We should expect at least a couple more rounds of Canadian smoke to come through the U.S. over the next week, said Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the U.S. Separately, a fire in the U.S. border state of Idaho burned 50 acres (20 hectares) and prompted road closures, according to Idaho State Police. Evacuation centers have opened across Manitoba for those fleeing the fires, one as far south as Winkler, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the U.S. border. Winnipeg opened up public buildings for evacuees as it deals with hotels already crammed with other fire refugees, vacationers, business people and convention-goers. Wildfire smoke hangs in the air above Highway 97 north of Buckinghorse River, British Columbia, on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Nasuna Stuart-Ulin/The Canadian Press via AP) AP Manitobas Indigenous leaders said Saturday at a news conference that hotel rooms in the cities where evacuees are arriving are full, and they called on the government to direct hotel owners to give evacuees priority. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson said it was one of the largest evacuations in the province since the 1990s. Its really sad to see our children having to sleep on floors. People are sitting, waiting in hallways, waiting outside, and right now we just need people to come together. People are tired, Wilson said at a news conference. Canadas wildfire season runs from May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months. Associated Press reporter Julie Walker contributed from New York. Donald Trump re-shared this post on his Truth Social account Saturday night claiming that Joe Biden was executed in 2020 and replaced by clones. Trump/Truth Social Donald Trump shared a post to his Truth Social account Saturday night that made some wild claims about former President Joe Biden. How wild? Well, the post Trump shared, from an account that has just more than 2,000 followers, read, There is no #JoeBiden executed in 2020. #Biden clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see. #Democrats dont know the difference. There is no evidence to support that Joe Biden was executed in 2020. There is no evidence to support the claim that Joe Biden was cloned. Joe Biden is currently battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, and Friday he spoke with reporters and said he was determined to beat the disease. Still, when the President of the United States of America shares a post that claims that the former president was executed and cloned five years earlier, folks take notice. Trump posts on Truth Social a post that say Joe Biden was executed in 2020, and clones and robots are what you have seen since, one account on X wrote while resharing a screen shot of the presidents post. Yes, this is a real Trump post! Trump just reposted this on Truth Social, another account wrote on X. There is no Joe Biden. Biden was executed and replaced by clones. Its confirmed. Trumps wild post comes just a day after he took heat for his comments about Bidens cancer battle. If you feel sorry for him, dont feel so sorry, because hes vicious, Trump said. What he did with his political opponent and all the people that he hurt he hurt a lot of people. I really dont feel so sorry for him. Theres a chance that, no matter where you live in Pennsylvania, youll have a rare opportunity to see the northern lights on Sunday night. A severe G4 geomagnetic storm (level 4 of 5) is set to hit the atmosphere Sunday and linger through Monday after an eruption on May 30. This means theres a high chance of a severe geomagnetic storm, potentially leading to aurora displays as far south as California and Alabama, and some disruptions to technology such as GPS and radio signals. The best times to see the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, are between 10 p.m. Sunday and 4 a.m. Monday, with midnight to 5 a.m. being more ideal because of the waxing crescent moon setting at 1:16 a.m. Monday. Per the National Weather Space Prediction Center: The brightness and location of the aurora is typically shown as a green oval centered on Earths magnetic pole. The green ovals turn red when the aurora is forecast to be more intense. Aurora can often be observed somewhere on Earth from just after sunset or just before sunrise. The aurora is not visible during daylight hours. The aurora does not need to be directly overhead but can be observed from as much as 1000 km away when the aurora is bright and if conditions are right. While the best chance to see this phenomenon is Sunday night, the Space Prediction Center noted that the opportunity could continue at least through Monday night before the storm levels start to subside on Tuesday. What causes the aurora to occur? Per NASA Space Place, some of the energy and small particles can travel from a solar storm down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles into Earths atmosphere. There, the particles interact with gases in our atmosphere, resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky. Oxygen gives off green and red light. The National Weather Service (NWS) out of State College posted a graphic on Sunday addressing the concerns that smoke from the wildfires in Canada, which continue to affect areas in several provinces, could impede tonights viewing. Wildfire smoke hangs in the air above Highway 97 north of Buckinghorse River, British Columbia, on Friday, May 30, 2025. (Nasuna Stuart-Ulin/The Canadian Press via AP) AP More than 25,000 residents in three provinces have been evacuated as dozens of wildfires remained active Sunday and diminished air quality in parts of Canada and the U.S., according to officials. Most of the evacuated residents were from Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last week. About 17,000 people were evacuated by Saturday, along with 1,300 in Alberta. About 8,000 people in Saskatchewan had been relocated as leaders there warned the number could climb, according to an Associated Press story. Per the NWS, the smoke might obscure your view (especially the vibrance/brightness of the colors), but the aurora occurs very much higher above the Earth than the smoke (and weather). Immigration and Customs Officers take a man into custody in Vineyard Haven on May 27. (Vineyard Gazette) (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Author: W. Carsten Andresen, St. Edwards University The second part of Lifetimes The 13th Wife: Escaping Polygamy will air tonight. The first part aired on Saturday, May 31, and will air again at 6 p.m. June 1, before the debut of part two. Part 2 starts at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 1, on Lifetime. LIVE STREAM: Fans can watch Lifetime without cable on 7-day free trial and costs just $28 a month, and SlingTV. Fans can watch Lifetime without cable on Philo, which offers aand costs just $28 a month, and SlingTV. The synopsis for part two from Lifetime is, Based on a true story. Following a failed attack, Ervils rage reaches an all-time high and causes Rena to fear for her life and her daughters safety. Determined to protect her daughter and break free from the horrific cult, Rena must navigate her way to safety without falling victim to Ervils paranoia or his violent followers. Against all odds, Rena finds the strength to break free from the cults grasp and escape with her daughter. Together, they begin a new life, determined to make amends for their role in the cults crimes. But will she ever really be able to escape the memory of Ervil? Lifetime said, The film is based on the extraordinary true story of Rena Chynoweth, a brave survivor and former wife of a manipulative polygamist group leader, who escaped a life of oppression and dedicated herself to freeing others. Present-day Rena is portrayed by Felicity Huffman. Olga Petsa is the young Rena. The film also stars Eric Johnson as Ervil LeBaron. When Rena and her family arrive in Colonia Le Baron, a secluded polygamist Mormon settlement in Mexico, they are commanded to relinquish all their earthly possessions and devote themselves to the doctrines of the LeBaron brothers, Ervil and Joel. However, as the brothers insatiable thirst for power ignites growing discord, the community fractures, and Renas family aligns with Ervil. As his teachings take a harrowing turn towards violence, Rena witnesses the transformation of devoted followers into ruthless killers, indoctrinated to carry out brutal acts. At just 16 years old, Rena becomes Ervils 13th wife, groomed to serve as one of his so-called holy assassins. After being coerced into committing murder against a rival polygamist, Rena miraculously escapes conviction, yet her fear for her life and her daughters safety becomes palpable. When Ervil is unexpectedly arrested, Rena seizes the opportunity to escape the oppressive settlement, bringing her daughter and other loved ones with her. Driven by her harrowing experiences, she vows to help others break free from the confines of a life she never wanted. What is Philo? Philo is a streaming service that offers more than 70 live channels and more than 70,000 titles on demand for $28 a month. Philo has a SEVEN-DAY FREE TRIAL. Channels include AMC, AMC+, A&E, MTV, BET, Discovery, VH1, Food Network, History, Nickelodeon, OWN, TLC, Lifetime, Hallmark, Paramount and TV One. Add-on packages include EPIX, STARZ and Movies and More. Philo offers an unlimited 1-year DRV. What is Sling TV? Sling streaming service is $45.99 a month for the Orange (35 channels) or Blue (43 channels) Levels. Orange plus Blue is $60.99 a month. Premium subscribers also can get a month of Showtime, STARZ and EPIX for free. Channels include CMT, Bravo, BET, Comedy Central, A&E, AMC, Animal Planet, Discovery+, Hallmark, History, National Geographic, Lifetime, TLC and USA. SlingTV is offering half off of the first month plus a month of AMC+ for free. Veteran trader makes bold move with Palantir, Rocket Lab and SoFi originally appeared on TheStreet. Admiral Ackbar knew when it was time to bail. The amphibious military commander of the Rebel Alliance achieved meme immortality when he uttered the fateful phrase "It's a trap!" in "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," after learning that the Death Star was fully operational and open for murderous business. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter TheStreet Pro's Stephen Guilfoyle isn't so sure. While the veteran trader doesn't have to contend with a planet-destroying space station, he does invest in stocks, which on some days can be scary enough to make Darth Vader cry for his mommy. Guilfoyle, whose career dates back to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in the 1980s, invoked the Ackbar meme in a recent column following the stock market rally on May 29. "Is this a trap?" he asked. "The answer is definitely 'maybe.'" Stocks surged after the Court of International Trade struck down President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff agenda on the grounds that he had overstepped his authority. A federal appeals court quickly paused the decision. Palantir CEO Alex Karp. The company is reportedly getting more government business.Image source: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Palantir getting more government business "That certainly tempered any enthusiasm that had existed, though I must say that most human traders had expected a quick appeal," Guilfoyle said. "The early-morning surge had something of a hollow, algorithm-driven feel to it." As far as trading goes, well, Guilfoyle did something he doesn't usually do: He took some money off the table without reaching specific levels. More Palantir "I did not cancel any target prices and still have large, long positions in several of my favorite names, but I used late-afternoon and after-hours strength and took an extra round of profit-taking across some of my beloved 'Stocks Under $10' plays, namely Palantir Technologies, Rocket Lab USA, and SoFi Technologies." So what's going on with these companies? Well, the Trump administration is expanding Palantir's (PLTR) work with the federal government, according to The New York Times. The big-data-analytics-software provider has received more than $113 million in federal spending since Trump took office, including additional funds from current contracts as well as new ones with the Department of Homeland Security and the Pentagon. These do not include a $795 million contract that the Department of Defense awarded the company last week. That money has not been spent. Furth Wins Second WSOP Bracelet; Denies Kabrhel in $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Claudio Elizalde Live Reporter Copy link Its often in poker that a big pot is lost and a player is left with only crumbs. The old phrase A chip and a chair is often thrown out in an attempt to spark a touch of hope when all feels lost. Caleb Furth, better known as Bruno, proved that a positive attitude and determination can overcome all odds. With only a single 100,000 chip at the 80,000 big blind level, Furth went on to spin his 1.25 big blinds to victory against some of the best in the world at Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas. Furth is no stranger to the bright lights, as this is his second bracelet in a Pot-Limit Omaha tournament; this one was special as it did provide a new high score of $620,696 for the young American pro. Furth prevailed over Event #5: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha, which attracted 757 entries, generating a total prize pool of $3,482,200. When asked how he felt about the spin-up to victory, he explained: Yeah, at that point, pressure was off. We had ten left so I was sure that I was going to be the next one out, so I was willing to gamble I did. Doubled up back to average an unbelievable journey. Im elated. Event #5: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Caleb Furth United States $620,696 2 Fabian Riebau-Schmithals Germany $413,762 3 Martin Kabrhel Czechia $288,775 4 Matthew Cosentino United States $204,808 5 Mark Aridgides United States $147,647 6 Noel Rodriguez United States $108,221 7 Jeremy Trojand Germany $80,673 8 Lawrence Brandt United States $61,179 2025 World Series of Poker Hub Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2025 WSOP is here. Click here Final Table Dynamics Despite battling back to average, the final table was no easy task Furth had to contend with German Pot-Limit Omaha specialist, Fabian Riebau-Schmithals, his eventual heads-up opponent. Riebau-Schmithals seemed to have a stranglehold in the final six, when he had over 25,000,000 of the chips in play, with the next closest stack sitting below 4,000,000. This predictably made life difficult for the table of short stacks, as they were all vying for massive pay jumps. Furth won a series of small pots but significantly closed the gap in a hand where he got three streets of value against the eventual runner-up. Once play got down to three players, Furth dispatched the divisive Martin Kabrhel, who seemed to make a few friends and many enemies along the way in this particular tournament. Furth had this to say about playing with Kabrhel, I think that he acts in a way to upset other people, hoping to get under their skin. It did work on me briefly. I was quite upset with him during the final table while he was wasting everyones time and defying the floor. Kabrhel had the clock called on him over twenty times in the span of the tournament. That concludes PokerNews' coverage of Event #5: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha. Stay tuned for more coverage of the 2025 World Series of Poker throughout the summer! Share this article 2025 WSOP Fantasy Draft with Joey Ingram & Christina Gollins | PokerNews Podcast #894 Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager Copy link In the 894th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, is joined by Mike Holtz, Christina Gollins, and Joey Ingram to draft their favorite teams for the 2025 World Series of Poker. Each of the four hosts can pick seven players and one alternate player who will score points throughout the 2025 WSOP. The hosts need to follow several rules, such as drafting at least one female poker player, and one poker vlogger/creator, as well as adding an alternate that they can swap in for any of their seven players. The rules of this draft are simple: WSOP Fantasy Draft Scoring Achievement Points Cashing an event 1 point Finishing in the top 2% 2 points Final tabling an event 5 points 2nd or 3rd place finish 7 points Bracelet win 10 points Only live bracelets count for points. Who are the 'blue chip', slam dunk, first-round pick players in this draft? And who is picked lower than they should? Find out in this episode what Chad, Mike, Christina, and Joey's favorite WSOP teams for the series are. This draft follows a very simple concept that can be recreated at home if you're interested in adding a little extra sweat during the series! If you're interesting in upping the ante a bit and adding a bit more complexity to your WSOP fantasy, check out our dedicated $25K Fantasy Draft blog on PokerNews to learn more about this widely popular draft format hosted by Daniel Negreanu and David "ODB" Baker. Inside Daniel Negreanu's $25K WSOP Fantasy Draft Time Stamps Time Topic 00:00 Welcome to the show 00:50 Rules of the fantasy draft 02:48 Whats at stake? 03:50 Scoring system 06:11 Choosing team names 08:40 Determining draft order 09:03 Let the draft begin 34:32 Selecting alternate Bonus Player 42:00 How many cashes does Joey have on Hendon? 45:00 Recapping the rosters Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here! You can also find us on Spotify as well as our new page on SoundCloud! Check Out Past Episodes of the PN Podcast Here! Share this article Everyone knew that Day 1e, the final starting flight, of Event #1: $1,000 Mystery Millions No-Limit Hold'em was going to be popular, but we don't think anyone expected 8,118 players to buy in at the Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas. Add together the entrants from the other four flights, and the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) edition of this event is the biggest of all time, with 19,654 entries! Only 451 of the 8,118 Day 1e starters made it through to Day 2, and nobody bagged more chips than Craig Mason. The New Yorker built a massive stack of 7,552,000 and will go into Day 2 with the overall chip lead. Mauricio Solano finished second in chips on Day 1e with 6,400,000. That sizeable stack places Solano second overall. Two-time bracelet winner Mark Seif rounded off the final flight's podium, bagging a most respectable 2,880,000 chips. Day 1e Top Ten Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Craig Mason United States 7,552,000 189 2 Mauricio Solano United States 6,400,000 160 3 Mark Seif United States 2,880,000 72 4 Nicholas Lee Canada 2,530,000 63 5 Sergio Soriano Spain 2,475,000 62 6 Javier Francort Netherlands 2,301,000 58 7 Matthew Peng United States 2,285,000 57 8 Eric O'Brien United States 2,255,000 56 9 Eric Taylor United States 2,115,000 53 10 Oliwer Sankiewicz United States 2,065,000 52 Scores of bracelet winners and 25K Fantasy Draft players entered on Day 1e; the lure of a $1 million top prize and $1 million mystery bounty proving too strong to resist. Among those who navigated to Day 2 are Brad Owen (1,535,000), Stephen Song (1,315,000), Alex Foxen (1,225,000), Chris Moorman (580,000), Allyn Shulman (560,000), and Dan Shak (355,000). Day 2 shuffles up and deals at 11 a.m. local time on June 1, with the returning 1,045 players starting play at Level 23, meaning the blinds are 20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 big blind ante. The official prize pool and bounty information will be available in time for the action resuming. PokerNews' traditional live coverage, the best in the business, starts on Day 2, so you will be able to follow your poker heroes and heroines as they battle it out for supremacy at the WSOP-branded felts. Will the $1 million mystery bounty be opened on Day 2? Join us from 11 a.m. local time on June 1 to find out. Wells Fargo has decided to exit its industry-leading position in the rail equipment leasing market, agreeing to sell its portfolio of railcars to a new joint venture for $4.4 billion. The joint venture between GATX Corp. and Brookfield Infrastructure is financing a portion of the transaction with debt namely a $3.2 billion term loan and a $250 million revolving credit facility provided by a consortium of lenders, including Wells Fargo Securities. David Marks, an executive vice president with Wells Fargo Commercial Banking, described the deal in a press release as being "consistent with Wells Fargo's ongoing strategy of simplifying our businesses and focusing on products and services that are core to our clients." A Wells spokesperson declined to comment further. The core of Wells' rail equipment leasing assets consists of 105,000 rail cars, which will be managed by Chicago-based GATX, itself a leading rail equipment lessor. Toronto-based Brookfield, one of the world's biggest infrastructure investors, is also acquiring a portfolio of 23,000 rail cars and 440 locomotives from Wells as part of the deal. READ MORE: Wells exits another consent order, leaving just the big one GATX will manage all of the assets included in the deal. The company will start with a 30% ownership stake in the joint venture, but it holds an option to acquire Brookfield's 70% stake over the next 10 years. "This is a really powerful element of the transaction," GATX President and CEO Robert Lyons said Friday on a conference call with analysts. "It allows us to phase in our investment over time, ensuring we can finance our initial stake and future call options via ordinary cash flows and financing activity." While Wells has been active in rail equipment leasing for more than three decades, its involvement deepened significantly after 2008. First, it acquired First Union Rail as part of its 2008 merger with Wachovia. It expanded further in 2016 by acquiring GE Railcar Services, and it renamed its business Wells Fargo Rail. GATX's Lyons described Wells as "a very experienced, sophisticated lessor with a diversified fleet." The San Francisco-based bank's concentration in freight cars dovetails nicely with GATX's existing emphasis on tanker cars to create a better-balanced combined fleet, Lyons added. "This [deal] makes GATX the unquestioned leader in this space," Paul Titterton, president of GATX's Rail North America subsidiary, said on the conference call. The deal with Wells is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, though GATX is hopeful that it can be completed more quickly. "We're all motivated to make it happen sooner," Lyons said. For Wells, the sale of its rail equipment assets fits into a larger simplification trend. The $1.9 trillion-asset company has been narrowing its focus to business lines that it believes provide the best pathway to increased growth and profitability. Its often in poker that a big pot is lost and a player is left with only crumbs. The old phrase A chip and a chair is often thrown out in an attempt to spark a touch of hope when all feels lost. Caleb Furth, better known as Bruno, proved that a positive attitude and determination can overcome all odds. With only a single 100,000 chip at the 80,000 big blind level, Furth went on to spin his 1.25 big blinds to victory against some of the best in the world at Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas. Lightning Strikes Twice Furth is no stranger to the bright lights, as this is his second bracelet in a Pot-Limit Omaha tournament; this one was special as it did provide a new high score of $620,696 for the young American pro. Furth prevailed over Event #5: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha, which attracted 757 entries, generating a total prize pool of $3,482,200. When asked how he felt about the spin-up to victory, he explained: Yeah, at that point, pressure was off. We had ten left so I was sure that I was going to be the next one out, so I was willing to gamble I did. Doubled up back to average an unbelievable journey. Im elated. Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Caleb Furth United States $620,696 2 Fabian Riebau-Schmithals Germany $413,762 3 Martin Kabrhel Czechia $288,775 4 Matthew Cosentino United States $204,808 5 Mark Aridgides United States $147,647 6 Noel Rodriguez United States $108,221 7 Jeremy Trojand Germany $80,673 8 Lawrence Brandt United States $61,179 Final Table Dynamics Despite battling back to average, the final table was no easy task Furth had to contend with German Pot-Limit Omaha specialist, Fabian Riebau-Schmithals, his eventual heads-up opponent. Riebau-Schmithals seemed to have a stranglehold on the final six, when he had over 25,000,000 of the chips in play, with the next closest stack sitting below 4,000,000. This predictably made life difficult for the table of short stacks, as they were all vying for massive pay jumps. Furth won a series of small pots but significantly closed the gap in a hand where he got three streets of value against the eventual runner-up. Martin Kabrhel Once play got down to three players, Furth dispatched the divisive Martin Kabrhel, who seemed to make a few friends and many enemies along the way in this particular tournament. Furth had this to say about playing with Kabrhel: I think that he acts in a way to upset other people, hoping to get under their skin. It did work on me briefly. I was quite upset with him during the final table while he was wasting everyones time and defying the floor. Kabrhel had the clock called on him more than twenty times during the tournament. Caleb Furth That concludes PokerNews coverage of Event #5: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha. Stay tuned for more coverage of the 2025 World Series of Poker throughout the summer! Few players have had a record of success at the WSOP like Dan Heimiller. Before today, Heimiller had two WSOP gold bracelets, 28 final table appearances, and had cashed in at least one event at every WSOP since 1997. He added to that legacy today at the 2025 World Series of Poker, held at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, with a victory in Event #6: $1,500 Seven Card Studending an eleven-year bracelet drought. Heimiller outlasting a field of 377 entries, last defeating mixed game legend David Bach in heads-up play to win his third WSOP gold bracelet and the top prize of $106,840. Heimiller, who described the win as "a long time coming", had one word to sum up what he felt was the key to his longevity and success at the WSOP over the past three decades. "Stubbornness. I wouldn't quit poker when I should have," Heimiller added with a chuckle. "I could have quit a long time ago, but I was persistent." Heimiller went into the heads-up match holding a massive lead over Bach, but the mixed game veteran wasn't going down easily and Heimiller noted that play could have dragged on for much longer if not for a timely run of good cards. "It looked like he was coming back for a while, so it was a little scary, and it looked like it was going to take a very long time. But fortunately, I had a lot more luck than him. I think all day, I was catching two pair on sixth or seventh street. I was just so damn lucky." Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Dan Heimiller United States $106,840 2 David Bach United States $70,568 3 Tyler Phillips United States $47,660 4 Jyri Merivirta Finland $32,921 5 MengQi Chen China $23,271 6 Kristan Lord United States $16,842 7 Sam Jaramillo United States $12,487 8 Greg Mueller Canada $9,490 9 Ian Gavlick United States $7,397 Final Day Action The day began with just six returning players, all of whom were guaranteed at least $16,842. Bach, who began the day in the middle of the pack, immediately got off to a hot start after cracking Kristan Lord's two pair with a straight to send Lord out in sixth. Just a few hands later Bach crushed MengQi Chen's stack and then won a sizable pot off Heimiller, overtaking him for the chip lead within the first hour of play. Chen couldn't recover and was out in fifth place shortly after. Tyler Phillips The pace of play slowed considerably with four players remaining. Heimiller and Bach went back and forth for the chip lead while Jyri Merivirta and Tyler Phillips saw their stacks dwindle. Phillips was on the brink of elimination with just over one big bet before doubling up three times in quick succession to nearly take the lead. Merivirta couldn't find similar momentum and bowed out in fourth place after Heimiller spiked two pair on seventh street. Heimiller never looked back following Merivirta's elimination. With sheer aggression, he soon found himself with half the chips in play with three players remaining. Phillips had gotten short once again and this time he couldn't recovereventually falling in third after Heimiller made trip jacks to crack his pair of aces. David Bach Bach had a tall order in front of him going into heads-up play against Heimiller, who held just over a 2:1 chip lead. Heimiller quickly extended that lead to nearly 20:1 but Bach, also known as "The Gunslinger," mounted an impressive comeback with three quick double-ups. A relentless Heimiller soon put Bach all in again for a fourth time, holding a pair of sixes on fifth street to Bach's pair of fives. A fourth double up, which would have put Bach right back in contention, seemed likely after Bach improved to two pair on sixth, but Heimiller made a stronger two pair on seventh to win the final hand of the evening. That wraps up this tournament's coverage, but stay tuned to PokerNews as its live reporting team continues to provide comprehensive coverage of the 2025 World Series of Poker. Reporter Carl Dawson covers education for the Aiken Standard. An Aiken County resident since 1990, his work has appeared in the Charleston News & Courier, the Tampa Tribune, the Atlanta Constitution and the Augusta Chronicle. He holds a B.A. in English from the University of South Carolina. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 94F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 74F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Growth & Development Reporter Caleb Bozard covers business, growth and development for The Post and Courier Columbia. He has previously written for The State and the Times and Democrat. He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2023. Editor and Publisher Brandon Roberts is Publisher and Managing Editor of Summerville Communications Inc., which prints The Summerville Journal Scene and The Berkeley Independent. He has worked as an editor for more than two decades in his native Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and North Carolina before coming to Summerville. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Cloudy with a few showers. Hot. High near 90F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 77F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Retirement should be about keeping your income steady and stress-free. The secret? Make smart financial moves that maximize returns while minimizing taxes. Trending Now: The Average Retirement Age in 2025: US vs. China Try This: 8 Common Mistakes Retirees Make With Their Social Security Checks Dividend stocks pay regular income to investors from a companys profits, offering retirees a steady cash flow. GOBankingRates spoke with Gil Baumgarten, wealth expert and president of Segment Wealth Management, to learn why dividend stocks can be a game-changer for retirement income. Dividend Stocks Offer Stability Dividend stocks can offer stability, but selecting the right ones is essential. High dividend stocks (over 4% annualized yield) tend to be more stable in price and lower in overall return than other stocks, Baumgarten said. However, high yields can sometimes signal corporate stress, so yield alone shouldnt be the primary focus. Instead, Baumgarten suggested looking for companies with low but rising dividends, which often signal strong financial health and better growth potential over the long term. These stocks can offer both stability and favorable after-tax returns. Up Next: 12 Surprisingly Affordable Cities With Great Weather for Retirees Maximize Tax Efficiency With Blue-Chip Stocks When it comes to taxes, dividend stocks hold a distinct advantage for retirees. Blue-chip stocks (those issued by prominent, well-established companies) or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) made up of blue-chip stocks tend to offer rising dividend payments to shareholders and compound the gains in share price over time, Baumgarten said. The real advantage comes with whats known as unrealized gains. These are gains that accrue as the stock price rises but are not taxed until sold. Under current U.S. tax laws, stocks held until death often qualify for a tax-free step-up in basis, eliminating accumulated capital gains over decades. For retirees, holding onto these investments for the long haul can result in significant tax savings. Unlike some other income strategies, where gains may be taxed at each transaction, dividend stocks allow retirees to defer and minimize taxes. The Tax Perks of Patience One major tax advantage of dividend stocks is their capped tax rate. Ordinary dividends are taxed at a maximum of 23.8%, roughly half the top tax bracket rate. However, the real benefit is the potential for tax-free growth. Baumgarten warns against frequent stock trading or portfolio churn, Transactional methods to swap one stock for another can render much higher taxes. He adds that this strategy also risks triggering taxes on gains that might otherwise be avoided, creating a hurdle to overcome, arguing for extreme patience. PR-Inside.com: 2025-06-01 02:40:42 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 399 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 31, 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=151103&wire=1&utm_campaign=10 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 The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced that the 2025 Arafah sermon will be broadcast live in 34 languages, including three major Nigerian languages of Hausa, Fulani, and Yoruba. The Chairman of the Edo Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board, Musah Muhammad-Uduimoh, disclosed this on Sunday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said the announcement was made in Saudi Arabia by the Presidency for the Religious Affairs of the two Holy Mosques on Saturday. Mr Muhammad-Uduimoh described the initiative as a landmark gesture of religious inclusivity that will allow Nigerian pilgrims to better understand the profound message of the Khutbah Arafah (Arafat Sermon), delivered on the sacred plains of Mount Arafat. This is a major step forward in making the Hajj more accessible and spiritually impactful for all Muslims, especially our people who speak Hausa, Fulani, and Yoruba. We thank the Saudi authorities for this thoughtful and commendable gesture, he said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later When people hear the sermon in a language they understand, he said, the spiritual message would become clearer, more personal, and transformative. This is how true unity in the Ummah is fostered, he posited. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sermon, scheduled for broadcast on 5 June, will be delivered by Sheikh Bin Humaid, a senior Imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, at Masjid Namirah. The sermon marks the most spiritually significant moment of the Hajj pilgrimage and is expected to reach millions of worshippers globally. Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the Edo Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abdulkabir Muhammadkabir, applauded the initiative, noting that it would enhance spiritual engagement and strengthen the pilgrims connection to the message of Islam. The Edo pilgrims, currently performing their rites in the Holy Land, are expected to join millions of other worshippers at Mount Arafat in what is regarded as the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print History was made on Saturday in Hyderabad, India, when 21-year-old model Opal Suchata Chuangsri was crowned the 72nd Miss World beauty pageant winner. For the first time in its 74 years of existence, a representative from Thailand won the pageant. Opal also won the contests multimedia component and topped the contestant app leaderboard with over 2.3 million views. Ethiopias Hasset Dereje was named first runner-up, while Polands Maja Klajda emerged 2nd runner-up. The Nigerian representative at the competition, Joy Raimi, aka Queen Tiwa, made it to the top 20 finalists. The competition kicked off on May 7 with 108 contestants, and it was pruned down to 40 quarterfinaliststen from each continental region: Africa, Americas & Caribbean, Europe, and Asia and Oceania. 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 From the 40 quarterfinalists, the competition was narrowed down to a top 20, then to a top eight, from which four Continental winners emerged. Victory speech In her first speech after receiving her crown, Queen Suchata thanked everyone for giving her a chance to hold her country with pride and give Thailand its first crown. I would like to say that I might be the one who was crowned tonight, but all of the girls that are with me, we are winners. All of us have our purposes and causes we hold in our hearts. I hope that all of you will continue to send love and support to not just me but to every girl going on the same journey with me. Thank you so much for sending us so much love and support in India and worldwide. I hope I will make you proud as your new Miss World, she said. Crowning the new Miss World, the outgoing Queen, Krystyna Pyszkova of the Czech Republic, said she is entering an excellent chapter filled with opportunity and potential. I know that you will be amazing. I cant wait to see you shine and make your mark. Ill be here to support you and cheer you on every step of the way, she noted. In an interview with NDTV, the new Queen described her victory as one of the best experiences in her life. We have met many people here, and theyve been very kind to us. We have visited so many beautiful places. But sharing this experience with my fellow contestants worldwide has made it even better than ever. In the next year, I would love to spend my time going around the world and help those who need help with both my project and other projects, she said. Representing Nigeria Meanwhile, Nigerias representative, a 24-year-old University of Port Harcourt graduate, has described her time in the competition as a journey of transformation. Queen Tiwa, who made it into the Top 20 in the competition, also joined four other African contestants in the semi-finals: Cameroons Princesse Issie, Ethiopias Hasset Dereje, Namibias Selma Kamanya and Tunisias Lamis Redissi. I woke up today and burst into tears; tears of appreciation, gratitude, appreciation and victory. What a journey it has been. Its been a journey of transformation, growth, and constantly pouring into myself, she wrote about her time in India. No stranger to pageantry, Queen Tiwa has a line of crowns on her shelf. In 2021, she won the Miss Port Harcourt City International title. She then won the 2022 Miss Intercontinental Africa title at the 50th edition in Egypt, beating 76 other contestants. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Atuma Brothers International Company(TABIC) premiered its latest movie, Imported Wives, in Lagos on Friday, with a nationwide cinema release following the debut. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the movie features Omoni Oboli, Nancy Isime, Patience Uzokwo, Joseph Benjamin, Linda Osifo, Funke Mallam and Ngozi Nwosu and reveals how migration destroys homes rather than better migrants lives against their expectations. The movie was shot in Nigeria and Canada. Speaking on the inspiration behind the movie at the premiere, the movie director and producer, Pascal Atuma, said it revolves around migration-focused marriage, where people are married for relocation reasons. And later develops into problematic affairs, where women will call on police to lock their husbands up, to the point UK police warned Nigerian women to stop reporting their husbands for domestic issues. He said, This movie is very family-oriented, and the message is powerful because anything that brings the death of human beings should be acted upon and exposed, so that is why we made the movie, Imported wives. Most parents daughters have an excellent relationship here in Nigeria, but when they see someone from the UK, US or Canada, they break that relationship and have these young girls marry a stranger. Then, when they get over there, they realise all that glitters is not gold. The director explained. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The film producer, the movies leading actor, spoke further on audience expectations, saying, The movie was filmed in two countries, Nigeria and Canada. So, we set a mirror for migration, especially regarding marriage and family. The audience should expect drama and comedy. It is all in cinemas in Nigeria and also the cinemas in Ghana. Moreover, reflecting the cross-cultural settings of the movie and possible partnership between the two countries, Nigeria and Canada, Pascal said, Canada only has a co-production treaty with South Africa, Zimbabwe and one other country. However, Nigeria does not yet have a production treaty with Canada because of our production level. So, for that to happen, we must step up our game. Our quality control is insufficient to meet the partnering standards with Canada. We are solid in storyline, acting and directing, but when we step up in quality control, the co-production treaty with Canada. On her part, while relating the movies plot with reality, the executive producer of Imported Wives, Joy Madubuike, said, Firstly, what convinced me is the authenticity of the storyline. It has been happening, and it is prone to people losing their lives. It is a lived experience for people out there. One of the ways to educate people is storytelling, which has been told clearly. Remarks, endorsements Moreover, at the movie premiere, Shaibu Husseini, the director-general of National Films and Video Censor(NVCB), gave his take on the new movie. In response to a question about steps taken to prevent the film from sharing the same storyline as earlier productions, Mr Shaibu explained that the board only has the authority to ensure films do not replicate exact storylines, not to regulate those with similar plots. Similarly, the National President of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Nigeria, Queen Ebigieson, endorsed the movie while addressing the audience and cast at the movie premiere in Lagos. While congratulating the movie director, Queen said: I just want to say we are proud of what you (the director) put together as your work, you have been doing well in the industry for over two decades, everyone, please, after seeing this movie, hashtag Imported wives Additionally, the newly appointed Eze of Umuihuocha, Okey Bakassi, also showed his support for the movie at the premiere, saying his presence at the movie debut was to encourage and promote the works of his colleagues. Addressing the growing trend of migration-driven marriages, he said: Is there anything we use here that isnt imported? So, we might as well import everything. But if I say imported wives is a problem, then Im implying a level of discrimination. If someone finds love, whether here or abroad, thats perfectly fine. Love can happen anywhere. Discriminating against marrying from outside means we also discourage others from marrying our own. We should promote the cross-fertilisation of ideas. The world has become a global village, Okey added. Funky Mallam Reflecting on the films cultural shock theme, Saheed Mohammed, popularly known as Funky Mallam, a cast member, noted that relocating a partner abroad for marriage is not a guaranteed solution to marital problems, as women are likely to change, particularly due to Western laws that tend to favour women. The actor said, For someone who comes back to Nigeria to marry a wife because she is well-mannered and cultured, unfortunately, how do you sustain this character or value when you take her there? She will have new friends and locations, and peer group is what can transform her to what you dont want when she acclimatises to the new situation, so you might end up being disappointed because that value you brought her with to foreign land might be change at the end of the day, so how will you grab that woman and put her in the level till the end of the day. Speaking further of the movies big lessons and essence, he stated, The film narrated how Africans in the Diaspora always want to come back home to grab their wives, and how women over there live their own lives due to the countrys laws. Women are given more power, and men are afraid to work hard. All of a sudden, the woman will take everything because the law favours the woman, especially during a crisis. So, because of that, they come back home to get women in the name of well-mannered and cultured women. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Two years into the Bola Tinubu presidency, insecurity has persisted in Nigeria, despite his vow to curtail the challenge in his Renewed Hope Agenda, an encompassing action plan for the countrys development. Mr Tinubu repeatedly vowed to curtail insecurity threatening Nigerias stability by reforming the countrys security architecture. Security shall be the top priority of our administration because neither prosperity nor justice can prevail amidst insecurity and violence, Mr Tinubu said in his inaugural speech on 29 May 2023. We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number. We shall provide better training, equipment, pay, and firepower. Since that declaration, armed non-state actors have intensified their attacks, mostly on rural communities, killing and kidnapping thousands of people. Although the administrations war against terrorism and banditry has yielded some results, emerging threats and sustained terror campaigns are frustrating its efforts. Key terror attacks Since Mr Tinubus government came to power in May 2023, Nigeria has suffered more than 20 terror attacks. He was barely three months in office when 36 military personnel were killed on 14 August 2023 while responding to terror threats in some communities in Niger State. That same day, a terror group led by notorious Dogo Gide also shot down a military aircraft on a rescue mission, although the Nigerian Air Force said the crash was an accident. 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 Three months later, Nigerians woke to shocking news from Bokkos and Mangu local government areas of Plateau State, where over 100 locals were killed on Christmas Eve. Violence has continued in the area with several attacks and reprisals. In March, armed terrorists abducted 137 students from elementary schools in Kuriga, Chikun LGA, Kaduna State. The students were released two weeks later, after an undisclosed ransom amount was paid. That same month, 15 military operatives consisting of two majors, one captain, and 12 soldiers of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, Nigerian Army, were killed by a mob of youths in Okuama, a village in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State. On 29 June 2024, multiple suicide bombings occurred in Gwoza, Borno State, targeting a wedding, a funeral and a hospital. These coordinated attacks resulted in at least 32 deaths and 48 injuries. On 3 September 2024, more than 50 armed jihadists attacked the district of Tarmuwa in Yobe State, killing at least 100 villagers. The assailants looted and set fire to shops, homes, and schools, targeting markets and places of worship. The attack was reportedly against villagers, whom the terrorists accused of collaborating with security forces. More recently, there have been clashes and violent attacks in Benue, Borno and other parts of the country, resulting in killings and abductions. Data on violence Amnesty International says over 10,000 people have been killed by non-state actors across Nigeria since Mr Tinubu assumed office. Although the Nigerian government disputes the figure, it has not provided any data to counter it. However, data gathered from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a global data hub that collects real-time conflict-related data, showed that 7,472 people were killed while 12,584 were abducted in the last two years. This data, spanning from 29 May 2023 to 19 May 2025, focuses exclusively on deaths and abductions perpetrated by terror groups. Compared to the first year of the administration, the rate of killings and abductions slightly reduced in the second year, according to PREMIUM TIMES analysis of the data. While 4,556 were killed and 7,086 kidnapped in the first year, 5,498 people were abducted and 2,916 were killed in the second year. This could be attributed to the ongoing offensives and negotiations with terror groups. Since 2023, Mr Tinubu has met several times with service chiefs, each time charging them to end the cycle of killings and abductions. The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, said the charge has yielded some results, with more than 13,000 terrorists killed in the insurgency-ravaged North-east alone. Mr Ribadu, who made a presentation at the national summit of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to mark the second anniversary of the administration, further disclosed that 124,408 other terrorists and their families in the troubled region surrendered to troops. On banditry in the North-west, the NSA said more than 50 kingpins, including Halilu Sububu, 70 deputy commanders, and hundreds of their foot soldiers, have been killed. Over 35 [bandit] warlords surrendered as part of our non-kinetic approach, which we call the Kaduna Model, Mr Ribadu said, noting a new programme code-named Operation Safe Corridor North-west has been designed to welcome and probably rehabilitate repentant bandits. In places like Kaduna and Katsina, community and government-led peace deals have stemmed violence in parts of the state. In what the government and experts now describe as the Birnin Gwari Model, some bandits [in Birnin Gwari and Chikun areas] of Kaduna State surrendered their arms, reducing killings and abductions. In Katsina, 14 bandit groups laid down their arms. However, similar truces consistently failed in Sokoto, Niger, Zamfara, and other northern states plagued by banditry, with the terrorists resuming attacks, imposing illegal levies, and unleashing violence without restraint. Resurgence of insurgency, emergence of new groups Even though some progress has been made in the war against insecurity in the last two years, the resurgence of Islamist insurgency in the North-east and the emergence of new terror groups in the North-central and North-west regions have added to the challenges. Recently, ideology-driven Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have stepped up attacks on civilians and security personnel in various parts of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. Tagged the BAY states by conflict experts, insurgents fleeing military offensives have now resorted to guerrilla warfare, taking personnel by surprise at military bases and retreating to other targets. In the North-central and North-west where locals are terrorised by bandits, new terror groupsthe Mahmuda and Lakurawaemerged, after years of maintaining sleeper cells in ungoverned areas of Gudu and Tangaza LGAs of Sokoto State, and the Kainji forest straddling Kwara and Niger states. PREMIUM TIMES understands that the emergence of these new groups is, in one way or another, associated with the spillover of violence in the Sahel. Zonal Security Reports: Insurgency, banditry, others The North-west tops the insecurity table with 2,456 deaths and 7,260 abductions recorded there in the last two years. The South-west region recorded the fewest cases of killings and kidnappings. In the North-west, Katsina recorded the most fatalities, but Zamfara had more cases of abductions. Jigawa and Kano are the least affected states in the region. North West Killed Kidnapped Kaduna 485 1,740 Kano 10 8 Kebbi 59 118 Katsina 781 1,163 Sokoto 442 836 Jigawa 16 3 Zamfara 663 3,392 TOTAL 2,456 7,260 Table 1: Casualties and abductions in North-west In the North-central region, 2,674 people were abducted and 2,291 people were killed with Benue recording the most fatalities, followed by Plateau and Niger states. Niger State recorded the most cases of abductions in the region with more than 1,000 locals affected. It was followed by the neighbouring Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where 459 people were kidnapped. North Central Killed Abducted Niger 381 1,051 Kwara 35 177 Kogi 84 374 Nassarawa 132 131 Benue 893 375 Plateau 677 107 FCT/Abuja 89 459 TOTAL 2,291 2,674 Table 2: Killings and abductions in North-central In the North-east, Borno State remains the epicentre of violence as Boko Haram and ISWAP continue their siege. In Borno, 997 people were killed and 640 others kidnapped. Taraba, always in the news for the farmers-herders crisis, came next, recording 207 deaths and 180 abductions. Gombe remains the most peaceful state in the region, with three abductions and deaths. North East Killed Abducted Adamawa 52 77 Borno 997 640 Bauchi 54 111 Gombe 3 3 Taraba 207 180 Yobe 144 19 TOTAL 1,457 944 Table 3: Killings and abductions in North-east While insurgency, banditry, and farmers-herders conflict rage on in the northern part of the country, cultism, militancy and communal clashes rage in the southern part, a further analysis of the ACLED data showed. In the South-east, where a separatist agitation dating back to the Nigerian civil war has reopened, at least 536 people were killed and 390 others abducted. Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu recorded most of the killings and kidnappings. South-east Killed Abducted Abia 37 46 Anambra 138 92 Ebonyi 102 25 Enugu 83 172 Imo 176 55 TOTAL 536 390 Table 4: Insecurity in the South-east Waterway abductions and killings by militants and other armed men were recorded in the South-south region, where 458 lives were lost and 811 people abducted. While Delta State accounted for the highest number of fatalities, Rivers recorded the highest for abductions. South-south Killed Abducted Akwa Ibom 39 37 Bayelsa 36 15 Cross River 63 176 Delta 110 177 Edo 109 224 Rivers 101 182 TOTAL 458 811 Table 5: Casualties and abductions in the South-south In the South-west, 274 people were killed and 505 others were abducted in the two years. Ogun State recorded the highest fatalities, followed by Ondo, Osun, Lagos and Oyo states. Kidnapping continues to linger in Ondo, where 209 people were abducted. The state recorded its worst experience in the 2022 ISWAP attack on a Church in Owo. South-west Killed Abducted Ekiti 10 44 Lagos . Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A new COVID-19 strain, NB.1.8.1, which has been linked to an increase in hospitalisations in China, has now been detected in the United States, including among international travellers arriving in major cities such as New York and Washington. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the variant was first detected in the country between late March and early April 2025 through airport surveillance testing, CBS reports. CDC is aware of reported cases of COVID-19 NB.1.8.1 in China and is in regular contact with international partners, a CDC spokesperson reportedly said in a statement. The CDC stated that there are few reported cases for the variant to be fully captured in national estimates; however, experts have warned that NB.1.8.1 appears to spread faster than other recent strains of the virus. What this means NB.1.8.1 is a subvariant of Omicron JN.1 and is considered highly infectious. It has been designated a variant under monitoring by the World Health Organisation (WHO) due to its increasing global prevalence and potential to evade immunity from previous infections or vaccinations. Recent WHO data shows the variant accounted for 10.7 per cent of sequenced COVID-19 cases globally between 21 and 27 April, an increase from 2.5 per cent the previous month. 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 While early findings suggest that the variant does not cause more severe illness than others, health authorities are monitoring it. Some reports indicate that symptoms include sore throat, fever, fatigue, muscle aches, nasal congestion, and, in some cases, gastrointestinal issues. Amy Edwards, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Case Western Reserve University, told CBS News there is some evidence in the lab that this variant binds more tightly to human cells, making it easier to transmit. Ms Edwards noted that although the variant doesnt appear more dangerous in terms of severity, what theyre seeing in China, Hong Kong and some other areas where this variant has surged is an increase in hospitalisations. Global spread and detection Beyond China and the US, NB.1.8.1 has been detected in countries such as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, France, Spain, and the Netherlands. In Australia, genomic sequencing showed that the variant now accounts for over 40 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Victoria and has become the dominant strain in wastewater samples in Perth. These developments have prompted renewed surveillance efforts in several countries. Officials in South Korea on Friday said its government is closely monitoring COVID-19 cases in China and Hong Kong. Despite the surge, WHO has stated that NB.1.8.1 is not currently considered a greater public health risk than previously circulating variants. However, its ability to spread quickly remains a concern. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in late 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has continued to evolve, leading to the emergence of multiple variants. These include the original strain, followed by Alpha, Delta, and Omicron, each marked by different levels of severity, transmissibility, and vaccine resistance. NB.1.8.1 is the latest from the Omicron lineage, which first appeared in late 2021 and became dominant worldwide due to its ability to spread rapidly. No reported cases in Nigeria As of the time of this report, Nigerian health authorities have not issued any formal guidelines or updates concerning NB.1.8.1. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has also not publicly acknowledged the variant or guided travel, testing, or potential local surveillance. PREMIUM TIMES observed that the NCDC has been giving fewer COVID-19 updates since global cases and deaths declined. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A renowned Nigerian public relations practitioner, Yushau Shuaib, has petitioned President Bola Tinubu, over what he described as unjust, humiliating, and deeply distressing treatment at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, where he was suspended from the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47 allegedly over harmless articles supporting the Presidents Digital and Blue Economy agenda. In his petition titled, Unjust Treatment at NIPSS Over Articles Supporting Digital and Blue Economy Reforms, Mr Shuaib, founder of PRNigeria, accused the institute of harassment, cyberbullying, and professional ostracisation, despite his full compliance with institutional guidelines and ethical publishing practices. Mr Shuaib revealed in his petition seen on Sunday by PREMIUM TIMES that following his suspension on 2 May, he was asked to vacate the NIPSS premises immediately. He noted that the abrupt action shocked his family and colleagues, who were left to speculate on the rationale, especially since all other participants remained in the programme. This petition sets the record straight and seeks to prevent false insinuations that could damage my reputation, he stated in the petition seen by PREMIUM TIMES. Nomination Mr Shuaib recounted that on 28 October 2024shortly after receiving the Golden World Award of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), he was nominated by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations NIPR) to participate in the prestigious SEC 47 Course. 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 Motivated by this honour, Mr Shuaib said he disengaged from his company, Image Merchants Promotion Ltd, and joined the course in good faith. However, on 21 March 2025, PRNigeria published a story titled NIPSS Goes Digital, which Mr Shuaib neither authored nor edited. The article commended the institutes transition to a paperless system and highlighted its alignment with the federal governments digital transformation agenda. Shortly after the publication, Mr Shuaib was issued a query by Nima Salman Mann, the Acting Director of Studies at NIPSS, and was subsequently pressured by A.A. Mustapha, a rear admiral, to discard his initial written defence and submit a revised version dictated by them. On 7 April, Mr Shuaib said, he was summoned before a disciplinary panel but was denied the opportunity to speak or present his case. The panel relied exclusively on the rewritten response imposed by Rear Admiral Mustapha, rather than the original defence he had prepared, Mr Shuaib said. He was then issued a final warning letter said to be his first and only formal warning since the commencement of the programme. Sanctions on other participants Aside from Mr Shuaib, other participants in Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47 also reportedly faced disproportionate sanctions. One was queried for commending infrastructural initiatives of Governor Caleb Muftwang of Plateau State during a vote of thanks in Jos. Another was punished for arriving late after a family emergency, and a third for representing NIPSS in an external engagement. On 28 April, Mr Shuaib received another queryless than two months after the first. This time, NIPSS cited a restricted internal PRNigeria editorial email dated 25 April, 2025, titled Understanding the Blue in the Blue Economy: A PR Perspective. In the article, Mr Shuaib provided insights into the governments Marine and Blue Economy agenda from a public relations standpoint and did not refer to NIPSS. Shockingly, Mr Shuaib said, NIPSS accessed the email before it reached its intended editorial recipient. Mr Shuaib added that the unauthorised interception of this internal correspondence constituted a serious breach of digital privacy and can rightly be described as cyberbullying and cybercrime. It is a clear act of unwarranted surveillance and professional misconduct, This act was not just a violation of privacyit amounted to cyberbullying and professional misconduct, he stated. Medical Impact and Forced Isolation Mr Shuaib said the mental strain from the ordeal reportedly led to him being diagnosed with hypertension at the NIPSS clinic. With no family nearby, I leaned on supportive colleagues. According to Shuaib, an official directive later barred other participants from interacting with him, leaving him completely isolated. In addition to his suspension and exclusion from all official communication platforms, Mr Shuaib was denied participation in the SEC 47 international study tours, despite having paid the full N18.2 million fee. All other participants were granted travel privileges and estacodes for official tours across Africa and other continents, he said. Mr Shuaib told an internal investigative committee convened after his suspensionthat while NIPSSs Terms of Undertaking emphasise confidentiality, they do not define what qualifies as public, restricted, or classified information, nor do they include a communication policy to guide media engagement. All my articles were based on publicly available national discourse and never revealed internal NIPSS content, he said. Following two appearances before the committee in Jos, Mr Shuaib said he received no further communication. Prayers In his concluding appeal to President Tinubu, Mr Shuaib urged an independent investigation into the disciplinary process and cyber-privacy violations and a review of his suspension and exclusion. He urged the establishment of a clear communication policy for participants at NIPSS. He also criticised what he described as the excessive militarisation of the academic environment at NIPSSan approach he says deviates from global best practices at institutions like Brookings (USA), Chatham House (UK), SWP (Germany), and RSIS (Singapore), where constructive dissent and academic freedom are valued. All I seek is the opportunity to complete the course, reclaim my dignity, and continue contributing meaningfully to the development of our great nation, he concluded. When PREMIUM TIMES contacted NIPSS for comment, the Head of Public Affairs Department, Sola Adeyanju, said he would addressed the issue in a statement to be released soon. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias policy think tank, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), has said a petition sent to President Bola Tinubu by one of the participants of its Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47 is counterproductive. In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, the national institute said it will not subject itself to blackmail by a candidate that refuses to obey simple rules and regulations. This newspaper reported on Sunday that a renowned Nigerian public relations practitioner, Yushau Shuaib, petitioned President Bola Tinubu over what he described as unjust, humiliating, and deeply distressing treatment at NIPSS, where he was suspended from the SEC 47 allegedly over harmless articles supporting the presidents Digital and Blue Economy agenda. In the petition titled Unjust Treatment at NIPSS Over Articles Supporting Digital and Blue Economy Reforms, Mr Shuaib, founder of PRNigeria, accused the institute of harassment, cyberbullying, and professional ostracisation, despite his full compliance with institutional guidelines and ethical publishing practices. Mr Shuaib said that following his suspension on 2 May, he was asked to vacate the NIPSS premises immediately. In his appeal to Mr Tinubu, Mr Shuaib urged an independent investigation into the disciplinary process and alleged cyber-privacy violations and a review of his suspension and exclusion. He also criticised what he described as the excessive militarisation of the academic environment at NIPSS. 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 However, in a swift response on Sunday, NIPSS Head of Public Affairs Department, Sola Adeyanju, countered Mr Shuaib, saying his case is that of someone who would not allow himself to be subjected to constituted authorities in the institute. One of the cardinal rules of the National Institute is to keep whatever is discussed within, particularly during plenary, confidential. This is a rule that all participants have signed to uphold. It is modelled along the Chatham House Rule, the think tank said, adding that the essence is to give all its resource persons the freedom of intellectual and academic independence to speak their minds. On 21 March, PRNigeria, Mr Shuaibs platform, published a story titled NIPSS Goes Digital, but was neither authored nor edited by Mr Shuaib. The article commended the institutes transition to a paperless system and highlighted its alignment with the federal governments digital transformation agenda. NIPSS noted that Mr Shuaib violated their rule by publishing what transpired in the institute. Whatever will be published should be after the course is concluded, the policy institute said. Mr Shuaib knows very well that he signed the document where he promised to abide by this rule. Upon violation, he was queried and he responded by apologising. Thereafter, he was warned that it should never happen again. However, it did not take Mr Yushau long before re-violating the same rule he was warned about. On 25 April, Mr Shuaib authored an article titled Understanding the Blue in the Blue Economy: A PR Perspective. The article was an appraisal of the federal governments Marine and Blue Economy agenda from a Public Relations standpoint. Mr Shuaib commended the presidents reforms of the new ministry. However, the publication led to Mr Shuaib receiving another query, less than two months after the first. He actually got it wrong by insinuating that he meant well, the institute said, dismissing Mr Shuaibs defence that the article was published to support the president. The truth is, the content is immaterial, the act of publishing when you are not supposed to is what matters, NIPSS said. The institute added that Mr Shuaib published the said article on the theme of the study given to the Senior Executive Participants of SEC 47, 2025, and NIPSS, which he belonged to, using his by-line. The study is still ongoing and should not, by any imagination, be published, in part or full, until the Course is over. This is in flagrant violation of the rules for which he was appropriately queried for the second time. However, instead of replying to the query accordingly, Mr Shuaib threw caution to the wind and decided to lecture and threaten the National Institute on the inappropriateness of issuing him a query, the research institute said. This he did in bad faith. Let us reiterate that the cheap blackmail of saying the content was to support Mr President on his agenda cannot hold. We are all working towards the success of Mr President, as exemplified in the many detailed research and other activities of the Institute being submitted to Mr President from time to time. Suspension On 2 May, NIPSS said it served Mr Shuaib with a suspension for six weeks after receiving the second query for the same offence. He was still serving the suspension when he sent a letter of complaint to the Daily Trust newspaper, insinuating bullying. We need to stress here that all we asked Mr Shuaib to do is obey laid down rules and regulations and this is not tantamount to bullying in whatever way. The newspaper did a story on this and the Director General gave a detailed response. As if that was not enough, his case is still being considered, as he has been invited by the Disciplinary Committee set up by the Management to look into his case and give him a fair hearing when he decided to publish (again) a petition meant for Mr President in the media, the institute said. Mr Shuaib told an internal investigative committee convened after his suspensionthat while NIPSSs Terms of Undertaking emphasise confidentiality, they do not define what qualifies as public, restricted, or classified information, nor do they include a communication policy to guide media engagement. All my articles were based on publicly available national discourse and never revealed internal NIPSS content, he said. In its official response to PREMIUM TIMES, NIPSS also accused Mr Shuaib of using his affiliation with the media for a negative cause. Contrary to his claims, he is actually trying to denigrate the very National think tank, which is the pride of Nigeria, for his selfish end. Mr Shuaib was nominated by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations NIPR to participate in the SEC 47 Course. That Mr Shuaib nomination came from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR (an organisation we are all proud of) speaks volume. He has not demonstrated the very tenet of public relations, as he has not only let himself down professionally, he has let his nominating agency down, NIPSS said. We are looking for leaders with emotional intelligence, not one that will betray his or her temperament when faced with issues of discipline. Without prejudice to the outcome of his letter to Mr President, let it be on record that the NIPR has also set up a panel of inquiry to look into his case. Sanctions on other participants Aside from Mr Shuaib, PREMIUM TIMES learnt that three other participants in SEC 47 also reportedly faced disproportionate sanctions. One was queried for commending infrastructural initiatives of Governor Caleb Muftwang of Plateau state during a vote of thanks in Jos. Another was punished for arriving late after a family emergency, and a third for representing NIPSS in an external engagement. NIPSS didnt respond to queries on other participants. Instead, it said, The questions Mr Shuaib should ask himself are; how many participants are in his Course and how many of them have been queried twice within two months. For the benefit of doubt, there are 96 of them and he is the only one who has gotten two queries. We leave this to the general public to judge. In concluding its statement, NIPSS said the disciplinary committee set up to look into Mr Shuaibs case has submitted its report to the management and the six weeks suspension has not lapsed. So we await the verdict of the Management on his case, until then we want to thank all our media organisations for holding on to the truth. The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies is a policy institute with the mandate to train top decision and policy makers in Nigeria, in both public and private sectors. It also has the mandate to make sure that it builds leaders worth their salt in all ramifications and those who are able to take effective decisions in their various offices and organisations for national development. In doing this, it has set some parameters along the lines of discipline, time management, emotional intelligence, respect for rules and regulations, respect for other peoples rights, and many more. The National Institute, in line with the dreams of its founding fathers, many of whom are still alive, will not reduce the standard of producing decent, courteous, sound and effective leaders for the country. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print At least nine travellers have been reported dead in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack at a bus stop in Mairari village, Guzamala Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State. According to Daily Trust, Abdulkarim Lawan, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, provided details of the explosion. The lawmaker said many other people were also injured in the Sunday incident and have been evacuated to the hospital. It is unfortunate that nine of my resilient constituents were killed by planted IEDs today while waiting to board vehicles at a local bus stop in Mairari village. May Allah grant their souls Aljanatul Firdaus, he was quoted as saying. Mr Lawan recalled that Mairari village was the only village in the Guzamala Local Government Area that was resettled twice with civil authority. He said the village has remained deserted again due to Boko Haram/ISWAP attacks. 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 As resilient people, most of them who are taking refuge in Monguno, Guzamala and Maiduguri usually visit Mairari community and engage in their farms, Mr Lawan said. Unfortunately, some terrorists who have been monitoring their movement went and planted IEDs at their local bus stop, which exploded while waiting to join commercial vehicles back to their area of abode. The lawmaker, who described the attack as inhumane, urged the military to seize the local government area from the grip of the Boko Haram insurgents. I know that the newly deployed Theatre Commander of North East Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar and his troops are doing well in the fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP. Let me reiterate my appeal for the military to take over the entire Guzamala Local Government Area, which has remained under Boko Haram territory, so as to restore civil authority. PREMIUM TIMES reports that Boko Haram and its breakaway faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have intensified attacks against civilians and military personnel. Last month, the insurgents attacked more than five military bases and also planted IEDs on the Maiduguri-Dikwa-Gamboru road, targeting commuters. However, the Nigerian military has been responding to the threats posed by these groups. On Friday, the army announced that it killed a wanted ISWAP commander, Abu Fatima, who had a N100 million bounty placed on his head. Also, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, recently disclosed that more than 13,000 insurgents were killed in the North-east in the last two years. He added that more 124,000 others have surrendered to the military. Nevertheless, the terror groups continue to wage their war on citizens and the state. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the terrorists killed at least 1,457 people in the North-east in two years of President Bola Tinubus leadership. More than 900 were also kidnapped in the region within the same period. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Education Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has refuted the claim that students in FCT schools were being indoctrinated into a particular religion against their wish. The Head, Information and Public Relations Unit of the secretariat, Kabiru Musa, made the rebuttal in a statement in Abuja on Saturday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an unidentified teacher had released a voice note, claiming that some students in FCT schools were being forced to accept another religion against their wish. Mr Musa said that the voice note recorded in the Hausa language, linking FCT schools to religious indoctrination, was misleading and malicious. He said that investigations had revealed that the areas and school locations mentioned in the voice note were not in the FCT, but Mararaba in Nasarawa, a neighbouring state. He identified the schools mentioned in the audio as Government Secondary School (GSS) Mararaba, GSS Bakin Ado, GSS Kurunduma and Aunty Alice School. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later We wish to irrevocably and categorically state that the claims in the said audio are false, baseless, and deliberately misleading. Let it be clearly stated that such divisive and harmful narratives aimed at destabilising our education system and creating religious tension will not be tolerated. The FCTA reserves the right to take legal and administrative action against individuals or groups propagating such falsehoods against its schools or territory. We urge the public, media, and stakeholders to disregard the viral voice note in its entirety and to rely only on verified information from official FCTA sources, he said. The head of the information unit stressed that FCT Schools were strictly secular institutions, where students practising different religions coexist peacefully. He added that the FCT Administration guarantees the freedom of worship and upholds the rights of every child to learn in an environment free from religious discrimination or compulsion. Our teachers and school administrators are highly trained professionals who operate strictly within the bounds of professional ethics and codes of conduct. They are dedicated to nurturing students into disciplined, responsible citizens without bias or prejudice, he said. Mr Musa further said that the education sector was undergoing transformation under the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike-led FCTA, with ongoing massive renovation, reconstruction, and accelerated rehabilitation of schools across the FCT. This, he said, was in addition to the provision of infrastructure and information and communication technology facilities in FCT schools across the six area councils. He added that the FCT Education Secretariat, under Dr Danlami Hayyo, the Mandate Secretary, was implementing a robust monitoring and feedback mechanism. According to him, the measure is to ensure that FCT schools remain centres of excellence, discipline, and inclusiveness. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has announced that Nigeria will host the next West Africa Economic Summit (WAES), which has been scheduled for next month. He made this announcement on Friday in a post on his official X account. According to Mr Tinubu, the summit will last for two days and will be held between 20 and 21 June. Today, I am proud to announce the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) 2025, which will be held in Abuja on June 2021, with the theme Unlocking Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Region, he wrote. PREMIUM TIMES reports that WAES is a new initiative which aims to bring together policymakers, business leaders, investors, and young entrepreneurs to discuss strategies for economic growth and regional integration within the region. Mr Tinubu described the summit as a part of his foreign policy to prioritise the prosperity and development of the country. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He said, Two years ago, I pledged to champion a foreign policy prioritising our people, our prosperity, and our place in the world. This summit is not just an event. It is a bold step toward a prosperous, integrated West Africa powered by trade, innovation, and our most valuable asset: our people. WAES 2025 will bring together Heads of State, CEOs, investors, entrepreneurs, youth innovators, and development partners to craft real solutions and unlock real opportunities. From the Presidential Roundtable to the Deal Room, from youth empowerment showcases to regional project partnerships this is where vision meets action, he added. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has said that it disbursed over N1 trillion to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country and supported more than 1.2 million jobs. The Managing Director of the bank, Tony Okpanachi, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings in Abidjan Mr Okpanachi described DBNs progress as a major milestone in its mission to enhance access to finance for Nigerias small businesses. We are proud to report that at the end of 2024, DBN had disbursed over N1 trillion to MSMEs through our partner financial institutions. The support has helped to stimulate economic activity and improve livelihoods, especially at the grassroots. In terms of job creation, we have been able to support over 1.2 million jobs directly and indirectly, he said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Okpanachi attributed the banks impact to its wholesale lending model, which channelled funds to commercial banks and microfinance institutions that then on-lend to small businesses. He, however, acknowledged that, while progress had been made, the financing gap in the MSME sector remained significant. The need is massive and we are not resting on our oars. There is still much more to be done to close the access gap and expand our reach, he said. The DBN chief emphasised the importance of building on the momentum through policy reforms, increased collaboration with development partners, and innovative financing instruments. He also praised outgoing AfDB President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, for his decade-long leadership at the bank, noting that his achievements had laid the groundwork for future growth. Under Adesina, AfDB has nearly tripled its capital base and disbursed more in ten years than it did in its first 50 years. That is no small feat, Mr Okpanachi said. He called for continuity in leadership and vision to sustain the gains made and drive Africas development agenda forward. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited over the failure to account for and explain the whereabouts of the alleged missing N500 billion, which the NNPCL failed to remit to the Federation Account between October 2024 and December 2024. The suit followed the recent allegations by the World Bank that out of the N1.1 trillion revenue from crude sales and other income in 2024, the NNPCL only remitted N600 billion, leaving a deficit of N500 billion unaccounted for. In response to SERAPs Freedom of Information (FoI) request, the NNPCL had claimed through its lawyers Afe Babalola and Co that the FoI Act does not apply to it. But in the suit number FHC/L/MSC/553/2025 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP is seeking: an order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPCL to account for the alleged missing N500 billion, which it allegedly failed to remit to the Federation Account between October 2024 and December 2024. SERAP is also asking the court to direct and compel the NNPCL to invite appropriate anticorruption agencies to investigate the spending and whereabouts of the said N500 billion and to ensure the prompt recovery and remittance of the money to the Federation Account. SERAP is also asking the court to direct and compel the NNPCL to identify those suspected to be responsible for the alleged missing oil funds, surcharge them for the full amount involved, and hand them over to appropriate anticorruption agencies for investigation and prosecution. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: The NNPCL has a responsibility to comply with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Freedom of Information Act, and the countrys international human rights and anticorruption obligations in the exercise of its statutory functions. SERAP is also arguing that, The missing oil revenues have further damaged the already precarious economy in the country and contributed to high levels of deficit spending by the government and the countrys crippling debt crisis. SERAP is arguing that, The missing oil revenue reflects a failure of NNPCL accountability more generally and is directly linked to the institutions continuing failure to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability. SERAP is also arguing that, The Supreme Court in a groundbreaking judgment recently declared that the Freedom of Information Act is applicable and applies to the public records in the Federation, including those kept by the NNPCL. The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Ms Oluwakemi Oni, and Ms Valentina Adegoke, read in part: Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of these missing public funds from the NNPCL meant for the economic development of the country. There is a legitimate public interest in providing the details sought. The NNPC has a legal responsibility to account for and explain the whereabouts of the missing oil money. The countrys oil wealth ought to be used solely for the benefit of the Nigerian people, and for the sake of the present and future generations. Without the full recovery and remittance of the missing N500 billion oil revenues, the dire economic situation may worsen and Nigerians will continue to be denied access to basic public goods and services. Nigerians have the right to know why the NNPCL failed to remit the subsidy removal savings to the Federation Account, and why the NNPCL is deliberately denying states and local governments their allocations from the Account, contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. The failure by the NNPCL to remit the money to the Federation Account is a grave violation of the public trust and the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, national anticorruption laws, and the countrys anticorruption obligations. Despite the countrys enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption, and the entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators. Combating the corruption epidemic in the oil sector would alleviate poverty, improve access of Nigerians to basic public goods and services, and enhance the ability of the government to meet its human rights and anti-corruption obligations. The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the countrys anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding the spending of their commonwealth. The Auditor-General of the Federation and Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) have for many years documented reports of disappearance of oil money from the NNPCL. The World Bank recently disclosed that out of the N1.1tn revenue from crude sales and other income in 2024, the NNPCL only remitted N600bn, leaving a deficit of N500bn unaccounted for. The revenue and other income were expected to be paid into the Federation Account and shared by all levels of government but the NNPCL reportedly failed to do so. SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on the NNPCL to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution. Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources. Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on the NNPCL to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds. These commitments ought to be fully upheld and respected. The missing oil revenue has also impeded Nigerians ability to enjoy their economic and social rights, and denied them access to essential public goods and services, especially at the time of cost of living crisis in the country. Had the NNPCL accounted for and remitted the alleged missing N500 billion to the Federation Account, it is likely that more funds would have been allocated to the fulfillment of economic and social rights, such as increased spending on public goods and services. The Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee to everyone the right to information on the whereabouts of the missing N500 billion of oil revenue. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The federal government says it will deploy seven million smart meters, through its Presidential Metering Initiative, to end estimated billing and revenue leakages. The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, Olu Verheijen, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday. Ms Verheijen, who was speaking on the second year anniversary of the Tinubu administration, said the smart meters would end collection losses for most of the customers who are on-grid and unmetered. She said the meter deployment is one of the initiatives of the administration to resolve and improve the commercial value chain of gas to power. There are a number of actions or interventions that we are taking to ensure that we improve the commercial viability of the gas-to-power value chain. We are developing the policy and the frameworks that enable us to transition to a system that allows us to charge the cost of delivering electricity, and more importantly, to drive efficiencies in arriving at that cost, she said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The special adviser said the government is also working to clear its legacy debt that accumulated as a result of inability to fund electricity subsidies. She said the debt also accumulated due to the Distribution Company (Discos) inability to collect and perform at the expected level. We plan to clear the legacy debt with a mix of cash and promissory notes to ensure that the generation companies and the gas suppliers are also paid. In addition to this, we are making sure that we improve revenue assurance by ensuring that most customers on the grid are metered. With this, ,we can end estimated billing and ensure that we reduce collection losses so that customers who get electricity are paying customers, she said In exchange for the resolution of the legacy debts, Ms Verheijen said the government would demand that all the actors and investors across the value chain improve their performance, deploy more capital to expand more on-grid access. She said the administration is working to ensure improvement in the governance of the Discos, being the cash engine of the entire value chain. She said, through the regulatory frameworks in place, government would ensure Discos financial and technical capacity to deliver more reliable power to Nigerian homes and businesses. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has directed its commanding officers to step up nationwide enforcement against overloading by vehicles and ensure public safety. The Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Olusegun Ogungbemide, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. Mr Ogungbemide dismissed accusations that the FRSC was not enforcing against overloading, describing it as not a fact established. There is no place where you visit today where you wont find overloaded vehicles being impounded for one infraction or the other. Evidence of ongoing enforcement is regularly shared on FRSCs social media platforms, including recent arrests made across various locations. In 2024, between January and December, the Corps impounded overloaded vehicles and arrested offenders in all the 12 zones of the FRSC. 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 For example, 777 overloaded vehicles were impounded in Kaduna zone, while 500, 489, 223, 489 and 89 vehicles where impounded in Sokoto, Oshogbo, Bauchi, Lagos and Yola zones respectively. Others include 289, 356, 140, 1,266, 440 and 157 overloaded vehicles impounded in Jos, Benin, Portharcourt, Abuja, Ilorin and Enugu zones respectively. This brings to the total of overloaded vehicles impounded as 5,217. So this is ongoing and we wont relent until road traffic crashes is curb to the barest minimum on Nigeria roads,he said. Mr Ogungbemide, however, acknowledged the challenge of recalcitrant offenders who persist in overloading vehicles in spite of repeated arrests, adding that the agency conducted daily enforcement operations nationwide. He said, We have not relented in advocacy, especially towards commercial drivers and commuters, to discourage entering overloaded vehicles. On measures taken to curb the practice, the CPEO stressed that enforcement remained the primary tool, backed by sustained public enlightenment campaigns. He added that commuters play a critical role in supporting the corps efforts by refusing to patronise overloaded vehicles Weve been doing this for 37 years, but unfortunately, some drivers are still bent on violating traffic safety rules. So, we are enforcing more and engaging the public directly. We also believe that if theres no market for these drivers, it wont be enticing for them. But when passengers are available, they take advantage and overload, he said. The FRSC spokesman also revealed that special directives had been given to command units, particularly in northern regions, to crack down on mixed loading. Mr Ogungbemide explained that mix loading, which was the transportation of passengers alongside goods and animals in the same vehicle, posed serious risks. As the country enters a busy travel season, the FRSC has increased its surveillance and engagement efforts to ensure safe transit for all road users, he assured. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The federal government has enrolled 18,670 Almajiri tutors into the conventional school system as part of broader efforts to integrate traditional education with modern education. The Registrar, National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), Yahuza Imam, disclosed this on Sunday in Kaduna, while assessing the impact of President Bola Tinubus administration after two years in office.. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Almajiri Education Programme is one of the initiatives of the federal government to address the problems of out-of-school children. NAN also reports that the programme provides access and equity to basic education for all Almajiri school-age children, discourages and gradually eliminates itinerancy and begging by Almajiris in the country. The programme also supports the emergence of an enabling environment that could facilitate the effective integration of Islamic disciplines into the basic education programme. The registrar said that, with deliberate efforts and actions taken to integrate Arabic and Islamic education with modernity, school enrolment has increased tremendously. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Imam added that the feat was achieved through stakeholders engagement, virtual meetings, courtesy visits to some State Governors and Ministries of Education across the country. Speaking on coverage, the registrar said NBAIS operates in 29 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) He said NBAIS had introduced a Special Programme for Huffaz (Quranic Tsangaya Tutors) known as Quranic School Integration Programme (QSIP). Mr Imam added that the board had introduced entrepreneurship education subjects in the integrated Arabic and Islamic schools. According to him, the board had also introduced Junior Arabic and Islamic Studies Certificate Examination (JAISCE) for accelerated basic education programme. To further promote and enhance Arabic language and integration of Islamic education, the registrar said NBAIS had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with some key stakeholders. The stakeholders included the Nigerian Arabic Language Village Ngala, Borno; Fountain University, Osun, Borno; Arabic and Tsangaya Education Board (BOSASEB) and Al-Amana Arabic &Islamic Board, Gambia. Others were the Yobe Arabic and Islamic Education Board (YSAIEB), Institute of Education, ABU, Zaria and Tsangaya Education Board Duste, Jigawa, among numerous others. On infrastructural development, Mr Imam said the board had constructed and furnished a one-storey building complex at the Zaria Main Operation Centre and provided backup solar power for it. He said that NBAIS had constructed its zonal office in Ibadan, Minna and Gombe while it had rehabilitated and equipped its administrative building at the headquarters in Kaduna. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu on Saturday warned property developers and landowners against building on federal infrastructure corridors and reaffirmed his administrations commitment to enforcing urban planning regulations. The president spoke at the inauguration of Phase 1, Section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The 750km project, which passes through Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states, respectively, is designed as a six-lane carriageway within a 60-meter corridor. Mr Tinubu stressed that the era of indiscriminate development and encroachment on public infrastructure was over. According to Mr Tinubu, the administration will not be disposed to paying compensation for buildings or developments that violate federal right-of-way regulations, saying, If you build illegally, you bear the consequences. He urged developers, traditional leaders, and local authorities to respect existing urban development laws, noting that illegal construction not only threatens the integrity of national infrastructure but also endangers lives and undermines economic growth. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Tinubu also called on Nigerians to treat public infrastructure as a shared national asset, emphasising that roads, bridges, and highways must be preserved and maintained through collective responsibility. These projects belong to all of us. They are not political trophies, they are lifelines for future generations. Every citizen has a role to play in keeping them safe, clean, and functional, Mr Tinubu stated. He appealed to communities along the coastal highway corridor to guard the infrastructure from vandalism, illegal dumping, and unauthorised modifications. He also emphasised the importance of government collaboration with professional bodies, civil society, and local councils to enforce maintenance culture across the country. Reflecting on the early challenges his administration faced in initiating the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, he recalled how critics dismissed the project as a venture that was not realisable. He said, Many critics dismissed it as impossible, citing the unpredictable and destructive nature of the Atlantic Ocean along the Lekki-Epe-Victoria Island axis. We were told it couldnt be done. Some said the Atlantic would devour us. But we stood firm. We rejected fear, and we embraced science, engineering, and courage. He said that through strategic coastal defences and the use of reinforced concrete pavement technology, his administration prevented what he described as a looming ecological disaster. A tsunami-like disaster would have washed away Ikoyi and Victoria Island. But today, we have not only tamed the ocean, weve turned a threat into a treasure, he said. According to him, the completed phase now stands as a testament to visionary leadership, resilience, and the strength of Nigerian engineering, protecting key economic and residential zones while unlocking massive economic potential along the southern corridor. As the project continues toward completion, Mr Tinubu reiterated that every Nigerian, whether developer, engineer, community member, or public servant, had a stake in its success. Let us build, not destroy. Let us protect, not abuse. And let us always remember: progress is not handed to us, we must shape it together, he said. The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended the presidents vision and execution, describing him as a leader blessed with both sight and vision. Mr President, I can confirm once again that with this commissioning today, you have proven that whenever the National Assembly says you are doing well, we are always right. Mr Akpabio reaffirmed the National Assemblys support for the presidents infrastructure agenda and lauded the coastal highway project as a generational gift to Nigerias economic and security future. Earlier, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, praised President Tinubu for the work he was doing across the country and for insisting that Nigerian youth should be made to learn the new technology. Mr Umahi said the real thing was the reinforced concrete pavement, which, according to him, can last between 50 and 100 years. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board in Plateau says Zainab Idris, one of its pilgrims, who found $5,000 and returned it to the rightful owner, has made the state and Nigeria proud. Its Executive Secretary, Daiyabu Daudu, said this while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the ongoing 2025 Hajj exercise in Makkah on Saturday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has acknowledged numerous returns of lost cash to the rightful owners by Nigerian pilgrims. Mr Daudu said that the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Plateau, was proud of Ms Idris for demonstrating the acts of honesty and integrity in returning lost cash to the rightful owner. For this woman, we are so proud of her. She found $5,000 and contacted us. She said she found it on her way to Haram. Luckily enough, the owner put his card and hotel details here in Makkah, and we used the contact to meet him and return his money. We are so proud of her. Honestly speaking, she has made us proud, he said. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The boards executive secretary also attributed the act to the messages given to the pilgrims by the state governor, Caleb Mutfwang, that they should be good ambassadors wherever they are. Our governor normally, in all his messages last year and this year, before our departure, emphasised to our people to be good ambassadors wherever they are. Not just the pilgrims, but anyone who is embarking on a visit to another country or state. What he always preaches is to be good ambassadors. This year, we did a four-day orientation, and coming to Medina and Makkah, every day, our Ulama are preaching to our pilgrims, he said. Ibrahim Galadima, a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly, representing Wase Constituency, said that the honesty demonstrated by the female pilgrim showed that she came from a disciplined family and had good parental care. Mr Galadima also attributed such an act to the efforts, resilience, and commitment of the organisers and the Ulama for preaching the gospel of God to the pilgrims. The woman came from a very disciplined family, and her parental care is evident. She has added value, not only to Plateau State but to the entire country. We are proud of her, and we are proud of our government that always preaches the gospel of peace, unity, togetherness, and inclusivity. So, we appreciate that, he said. NAN recalls that three Nigerian pilgrims also voluntarily returned two lost purses belonging to fellow pilgrims, a Nigerian and an Egyptian. One of the honest pilgrims, Bello Ajani from Ede Local Government Area of Osun State, discovered a purse containing 200 Saudi Riyals (approximately 53.31 dollars). He handed the item to NAHCON through the Special Assistant on Islamic Affairs to the Oyo State Government, Abdrasheed AbdulAzeez. Also, two other Nigerian pilgrims, Isiaka Olaosun from Kwara State and Alhaji Bakare Momodu from Edo State, both found lost purses. They also delivered the two purses to the owners through the Makkah NAHCON Office. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Visitors would expect to see images and artifacts from previous centuries in the Fredericksburg Area Museums newest exhibit, Living Legacies: African American History in the Fredericksburg Area. And there are plenty of them, but the exhibit also includes information about people they might see in a local restaurant or office, classroom or courtroom. Living Legacies pays tribute to once-enslaved men who served in the Union forces during the Civil War as well as modern-day re-enactors with the 23rd Regiment U.S. Colored Troops. The participants are well-known names in local circles, such as Steward Henderson with the National Park Service, the Rev. Hashmel Turner, Yvette Blake, Stafford County historian Frank White and Malanna Henderson. The exhibit also features stories about the 10,000 or so Fredericksburg-area enslaved people who freed themselves behind Union lines, before the Emancipation Proclamation. Chief among them is John M. Washington, who later wrote about his days in slavery at 900 Princess Anne St., the old Farmers Bank Building. Joy Crump is the chef at Foode, which operates in the building, and in a recording, she describes the connection she feels to Washington. The audio comes from two years ago, when a historic highway marker was dedicated in front of the building. Im really proud of all the ways we were able to create connections between the past and the present in this exhibition, which was one of my goals, said Dr. Gaila Sims, the museums vice president of programs and interpretation. Sims also is the driving force behind Living Legacies, an exhibit she started working on even before she joined the museum three years ago. Her first project was to display the former slave auction block, which had stood at the corner of William and Charles streets, and had been removed in 2020 after several years of discussions as well as court cases and protests. City officials decided they want to tell the complete story of African American history in the Fredericksburg region, a goal shared by long-time historian Sonny Holmes. Hes become one of Sims closest confidants, she said, and he urged her to look beyond the block where auctions involving at least 300 enslaved people were held, starting in 1843. The hand-written note from Holmes is framed and on Sims desk. Some of the items amassed by Holmes, a city history buff, are on loan for the Living Legacies exhibit. Holmes brought attention to a 1950 peaceful protest organized by seniors at what was then the all-Black WalkerGrant High School. The class planned to hold commencement ceremonies at the Fredericksburg Community Center, but it was during segregation, and students were told they couldnt enter through the front door because of the color of their skin. They held services at Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) instead, after holding signs in front of the center that read: This Entrance Closed to Us. The Living Legacies exhibit includes a painting Holmes had commissioned of the event framed art that had been hanging in his living room. Sims asked for two years if Holmes would let the museum use it. Its one of many pieces on loan for Living Legacies, which is displayed in FAMs largest space and represents the most time, and money, spent on an exhibit, museum officials said. The community has chipped in and created this, said Sam McKelvey, the museums president and CEO, adding that it can be difficult to tell several hundred years of history in one display. What Gaila has done is concentrate on that legacy piece, looking at those histories and those stories that come together to create the legacy of people here today. He also felt compelled to mention the grants from large institutions that helped fund the exhibit. They came from the National Endowment for the Humanities; Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Commonwealth History Fund presented by Dominion Energy; and the Virginia Humanities. Atlantic Union Bank also covered the costs of Friday nights block party to launch the exhibit and to keep Living Legacies open for three years. The exhibit covers the African American presence from Colonial times to 2020 protests in wake of the Black Lives Matter movement. Its not limited to Fredericksburg events or people, but includes panels and photos from John J. Wright School in Spotsylvania County and the Ralph Bunche High School in King George County. There are excerpts and pamphlets from the citys Civil Rights Trail and the work done by Chris Williams and Victoria Matthews to research the 21 stops. Another monitor will display the Stafford African American Heritage Trail and show visitors the 20 locations that detail more than 300 years of history. Living Legacies also feels like a whos who of accomplished people in the last century. There are panels about Johnny P. Johnson, an artist known for his stunning abstracts; Alda White, a Stafford resident and the first African American woman to serve as a county attorney in Virginia; Civil Rights activist James Farmer, along with the artists sketches that resulted in the bronze bust of him; and the Rev. Lawrence and Janice Davies, who remain two of Fredericksburgs most beloved figures. Sims wanted a gallery wall, a collection of photos of different sizes and types of frames, to look like her fathers living room, and Kylie Thomson, the museums collections and exhibitions coordinator, granted her wish. It also contains images of well-known people, such as Dr. Pamela Bridgewater, and her memoir of service as a U.S. ambassador, Dr. Marceline Catlett, Fredericksburg City Schools superintendent; and Xavier Richardson, Mary Washington Healthcare executive and long-time community mentor. There are also snapshots of modern families enjoying activities in the region as well as a black-and-white image of school children in the late 1920s. FAM will add to the gallery as more photos are contributed. One of the most compelling pieces of art is the first one visitors will see. Spotsylvania County artist Carlos Moore put together a collage incorporating hundreds of images of those featured in the exhibit. But its so multi-layered that Sims expects visitors to see something new every time they look at it. Moore gave the photos a weathered look so they pop against the background that intertwines excerpts from the Declaration of Independence with pages from hymnals. Next to an old photo of the Rappahannock is the song, Shall We Gather at the River? Sonja Cantu, spokesperson for the city, said she was blown away by the exhibit, and that Living Legacies provides the look at African American history the city had hoped. Its been a long time coming, she said. City Council is delighted, just delighted. Former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has said that Nigerian leaders and elites are not the countrys problem; rather, the problem lies with the followers. He also said he told President Bola Tinubu that he would neither vote for him nor work for him. Mr Amaechi made the remarks at a public lecture themed Weaponisation of Poverty as a Means of Underdevelopment: A Case Study of Nigeria, held to commemorate his 60th birthday in Abuja on Saturday. The former governor and ex-minister also blamed followers for not being proactive in holding their leaders accountable, which had allowed leaders to keep the people impoverished. Nigerian leaders and elites are not the problem of Nigeria; the problem of Nigeria is the followers. We say Nigeria is a capitalist country, but capitalists are those who invest in production. However, Nigeria does not produce anything; we just want to feast on the revenue gotten from crude oil. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He urged governments at all levels to create a viable environment for a productive economy instead of relying solely on revenue from oil. Mr Amaechi further said he was more concerned about advancing the country and respecting people with the necessary knowledge. I was ashamed of one of my appointees when I was Minister of Transport. I appointed her to improve and turn things around, but unfortunately, she was more interested in speaking Hausa/Fulani to the President. Nigeria is where it is today because many Nigerians vote based on religion and ethnicity. An ordinary northerner who is Muslim has no problem with an ordinary southerner who is Christian. The issue arises only during elections when religion is politicised. Let me tell you, no Nigerian leader cares for the poor because they know Nigerians can do nothing to them once they are in power, Mr Amaechi said. On why he refused to work for President Bola Tinubu, Mr Amaechi said he had already told the president that he would neither vote for nor work for him. I met President Tinubu in Yola and told him, I will not work for you and I will not vote for you. People say I do not work for either the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but that is because I was convinced there was a capacity issue. He called on Nigerians to stand up and hold their leaders accountable to reduce poverty and insecurity. Recalling his days as a student union activist with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Mr Amaechi said he and his colleagues used to meet in Kano under the cover of night and move about the city without fear. He noted that this was no longer possible due to abductions and other crimes, which he attributed to multidimensional poverty. Earlier, the guest lecturer, Chidi Amuta, observed that democracy in Nigeria had remained stunted because post-colonial parliaments were established on the backs of poor people. The form of political organisation preceded the content of the lives of the people. An unproductive political elite imposed formal democracy on a mostly poor population. This is why democracy has remained stunted in much of Africa. Mr Amuta also pointed out that the categorisation of poverty in Nigeria as multidimensional unsettled politicians. While politicians often say Nigeria has about 100 million poor people, the new National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) categorisation puts the poverty population at a staggering 133 million. This represents 65 per cent of the fictional total population of about 220 million. In simple terms, those who are not poor have now been overwhelmed by the poor. He said the future of democracy in Nigeria depended on the fight against the expanding frontier of aggressive poverty. Mr Amuta stated that the immediate challenge for democracy in Nigeria and Africa was to recalibrate its relevance from the perspective of the poor majority. He emphasised that democracy should be measured by how well it improved welfare and rescued people from the republic of poverty. Let us, therefore, define democracy by the living conditions of the poor, he added. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Anambra State say they have arrested two men who allegedly kidnapped and murdered a female bank manager after collecting N14 million ransom. The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday morning. Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, identified the two suspects as Monday Egbe, 32, and Kenneth Nnoga, 28. The spokesperson said Messrs Egbe and Nnoga allegedly murdered the victim on 13 January. He said the body of the victim was found along Nnobi Road, blindfolded, despite the kidnappers collecting the N14 million from the family of the deceased. The police did not mention the name of the victim or the bank where she served as the manager. 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 How they were arrested Mr Ikenga said, through investigations, the two suspects were trailed to their hideout and subsequently arrested on 28 May. Meanwhile, the suspects are currently undergoing interrogations for more insights into the modus operandi of the criminal gang and possible arrest of other gang members, he stated. The spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, has assured that the state police command will continue to ensure the safety of lives and property of residents. Mr Orutugu also assured that the police in the state will ensure that all cases were followed to a logical conclusion and justice served. Prohibited in Nigeria Nigeria, in May 2022, enacted the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2022), which outlawed all forms of kidnapping in the country. The Act prescribes a death sentence for kidnapping in a case where the abduction leads to loss of life and life imprisonment where there is no loss of life. It was an amendment to the now-defunct Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2013), which had prescribed a 10-year jail term for kidnapping. The new Act also prescribes at least a 15-year jail term for whoever pays ransom to free kidnapped victims. Similarly, murder is outlawed in Section 315 (6) of Nigeria Criminal Code Act. Offenders, on conviction, face the death sentence, section 319 (1) said. Several persons have been convicted of murder, while others have been convicted of kidnapping across Nigeria. A high court in Lokoja, Kogi State, in January 2022, sentenced a man, Muritala Dare, to death by hanging for stabbing his colleague to death with a broken bottle. Similarly, an Ikeja Special Offences Court, in September 2022, sentenced kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans, to 21 years imprisonment for kidnapping. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The federal government says it is converting Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSTC) to full-fledged Federal Technical Colleges (FTC) to overhaul technical education in the country. The Executive Secretary, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Idris Bugaje, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. Mr Bugaje said the reform was part of a broader strategy to reposition Nigerias Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector as a viable and attractive pathway for youth employment and economic development. According to him, the transition will begin in September, marking the start of a new admission cycle that will exclude science-based enrollments. He added that students already in the system would be allowed to complete their studies, but going forward, all new admissions would be strictly for technical education. That is a very smart, timely intervention. Before, there used to be federal technical colleges. Somebody came in and smuggled science into them. 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 So, when students register, they prefer to enrol into the sciences, and the technical aspects are ignored. This measure is taking effect immediately, this coming September, when all admissions will be for technical education, he said Mr Bugaje said the president had approved the provision of infrastructure, more equipment, and more facilities to make technical education attractive.. According to him, most polytechnics admit students from general secondary schools due to the limited number of technical colleges. He said there were only 129 technical colleges nationwide compared to over 15,000 conventional secondary schools. That is going to change. We expect state governments to follow suit by converting some conventional secondary schools into technical colleges. Technical colleges are the proper feeder institutions for polytechnics, he said. Beyond secondary education, Mr Bugaje explained that the government was also reviewing the status of higher institutions. Citing Chinas 2017 conversion of over 600 universities into polytechnics and skills training centres, Mr Bugaje proposed a similar approach to address the imbalance in the education system. Theres a troubling trend of polytechnics being converted into universities, which is repressive to the growth of technical education. However, if they must be converted, let them remain within the TVET familyas TVET universities. The minister has agreed to this, and with this policy shift, Nigeria is aiming for a renaissance in technical education that aligns with global best practices, he said. Mr Bugaje added that the policy shift would prepare the youth for employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation in a fast-evolving economy. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The planned industrial action of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) may kick off without full compliance on Monday as various federal judicial bodies records successful efforts talking them out of the strike. JUSUN chapters at the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the Federal High Court have announced their decisions to pull out of the planned strike barely 24 hours to its commencement. The national headquarters of JUSUN had directed its members in all federal courts and judicial institutions nationwide to withdraw their services from 2 June and embark on an indefinite strike. In a statement on Friday, Mustapha Laminu, JUSUN National vice-president, north-central, said the strike was to protest the non-payment of five months arrears of wage award, the non-implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage, and the non-implementation of the 25/35 per cent salary increase. However, following the strike directive, JUSUN of various federal judicial bodies said they held meetings with stakeholders to resolve all pending issues. They declared their stance, breaking with the national leadership of the union on the strike issue in separate statements. The statements dated 31 May (Saturday) were shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In one statement, judiciary workers at the NJC said they are withdrawing from the strike to give the Minister of Labour and other critical stakeholders two weeks to solve the pending problems with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation. In the light of the above, we wish to state clearly that the NJC JUSUN hereby directs all staff to come to the office on Monday, said Joel Ebiloma, spokesperson for JUSUN, NJC chapter, in a statement on Saturday. This is to allow the relevant stakeholders engage the necessary authorities to ensure that the Accountant General of the Federation releases the Statutory Allocations to the Judiciary based on the 2025 Appropriation in which the arrears Wage Award, minimum wage and the 25 per cent or 35 per cent salary increase have been captured. In the same vein, Danladi Nda, chairman of JUSUN, Supreme Court Chapter, said in a separate statement, also on Saturday, that the Supreme Court Chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) declined and will not be participating in the planned Industrial Action (Strike) FOR NOW! The executives of the staff union came to conclusion after careful assessment of the issues, and subsequent efforts of the Honorable CJN to resolve every outstanding, accruing to judiciary staff. We appeal to our members (Supreme Court Staff) insisting for participation in the strike to be patient, calm and persevere as we will continue supporting the Hon. CJN in the commitment of achieving the result of payment of all outstanding arrears to judiciary workers, Mr Nda wrote in the statement accompanied with the chapters communique. The communique from the chapters emergency meeting over the planned strike was signed by six out of a total of 12 executive committee members. Indirectly blaming the national headquarters of the union for its tardiness, the Supreme Court chapter said as of the time of its emergency meeting on Saturday, it had yet to receive the circular declaring the strike to commence on Monday. Similarly, members of JUSUN, Federal High Court chapter, withdrew their earlier notice of strike, saying it was inadvertently issued before the official communication from our National Headquarters. We hereby withdraw the same while awaiting the strike notice from the National Congress Office, a statement by Samuel Ikpatt, the FHC chapter chairman, reads. The withdrawal of the three chapters at, including Nigerias topmost court the Supreme Court and the Federal High Court with workers present in divisions across the country, constitutes a major setback for the planned strike. It is not clear yet if other chapters, including the Court of Appeal with divisions in most states of the country, will not join the wave of withdrawal from the strike. Apart from the Court of Appeal, other chapters that have yet to announce their withdrawal are the FCT High Court, the Federal Judicial Service Commission and the National Judicial Institute, all of which are based on Abuja. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Editor-in-Chief and Chief Operating Officer of Premium Times, Musikilu Mojeed, has urged journalists and content producers to prioritise empathy, ethics, and best practices when reporting on vulnerable communities Mr Mojeed, during his presentation at an event to mark the 2025 Communications Week in Abuja on Wednesday, noted that empathy is a powerful tool that can transform both the nature of media coverage and its wider social impact. He said empathetic reporting offers a vital way forward as Nigeria grapples with economic hardship, insecurity, and social division. It allows the media to move beyond headlines and reveal the human stories behind the statistics, highlighting the struggles and resilience of vulnerable individuals and communities, he explained. Mr Mojeed also emphasised empathys crucial role in storytelling, referencing Jenkins (2024) to show how increased compassion can inspire meaningful action at both individual and societal levels. He added that through empathetic storytelling, issues are humanised, and a moral imperative for change is created. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The 2025 Communications Week event was organised by the National Directorate of Social Communications of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN). Understanding the concept of vulnerability While the events overarching theme was Media with Gentleness: Narrators of Hope in a Distressed Nation, Mr Mojeeds presentation highlighted the pivotal role of compassion in storytelling, especially when covering marginalised or traumatised populations. He said understanding vulnerability is key to meeting the ethical demands of empathetic reporting, especially in a complex country like Nigeria. He said that journalists can better grasp the structural factors that shape lives and report more responsibly by examining what makes people vulnerable. This deeper understanding, he stressed, allows media practitioners to avoid simplistic or one-dimensional narratives and instead highlight the resilience and dignity of those often marginalised in mainstream discourse. Mr Mojeed also urged journalists to go beyond surface-level reporting and adopt a trauma-informed, context-sensitive approach that centres the dignity of those affected. He emphasised the importance of listening to peoples stories with humility and care, avoiding sensationalism or extractive practices that re-traumatise or dehumanise. Rather than speaking for vulnerable groups, he encouraged reporters to create space for them to speak for themselves, ensuring their voices are accurately and respectfully represented. Mr Mojeed noted that building trust and credibility when reporting on Nigerias diverse, vulnerable communities requires more than appropriate language. He said it demands understanding deeper cultural nuances and investing time to grasp these before engagement. Tackling challenges Mr Mojeed acknowledged that reporting on vulnerable communities in Nigeria presents unique challenges requiring professional rigour and strong ethical commitment. He said these communities, often affected by conflict, poverty, displacement, disability, or systemic neglect, need empathetic storytelling. He, however, said the realities journalists face can hinder accurate, sensitive, and safe reporting. Access and safety remain major hurdles, as journalists often struggle to reach conflict-affected areas where negotiating with local actors does not always guarantee safe or transparent passage, he said. Poor infrastructure and emerging support for ex-combatants further complicate sustained, in-depth reporting. He said journalists also face intense time pressures, with tight deadlines prioritising speed over depth, limiting the possibility of immersive storytelling and follow-up essential for driving meaningful public understanding and change. Mr Mojeed added that reporting on vulnerable groups also demands careful navigation of political and social sensitivities, as these communities often sit at the centre of tensions and conflicts. He said coverage of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and similar groups could easily be politicised or misinterpreted, requiring journalists to avoid fuelling existing divides or appearing biased. Furthermore, persistent stereotypes and misinformation frequently distort public perceptions, depicting marginalised populations in simplistic or harmful ways, he said. Despite these difficulties, Mr Mojeed stressed that journalists and media professionals are not powerless. He said through intentional ethical practices and sensitivity, they can overcome these obstacles and tell stories that truly respect and honour vulnerable communities. Best practices for journalists and content producers Mr Mojeed outlined best practices for journalists and content producers to guide sensitive and compelling storytelling on vulnerable communities. He emphasised the importance of active listening, prioritising genuine engagement to understand and reflect the perspectives of those affected. He stressed the need to contextualise individual stories within broader social, economic, and political landscapes that shape vulnerability. He said central to this approach is amplifying community voices, allowing people to tell their own stories rather than having journalists speak for them. He also advocated for a focus on solutions and resilience, encouraging coverage that highlights not only challenges but also the strength, resourcefulness, and positive efforts of vulnerable communities. This balanced storytelling, he said, can inspire meaningful action and counter prevailing narratives of helplessness. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In his family, Bala Wunti is not the oil executive; he is Abba a father who sits with his children, teaching them not just by advice but by example. A husband who understands that love is shown in small acts, in presence, in patience. He did not let success steal him away from those who mattered most. He carried them with him Now that his chapter in public service closes, many will remember him for the policies he shaped, the reforms he led, and the titles he bore. But I will remember him for something more enduring: the humanity he never let go of. If you asked Dr Wunti what his proudest achievements are, he would not point to the boardroom. He would likely tell you about the girl in Dass who got a scholarship and later became a pharmacist or the widowed mother in Katagum who now has a roof over her head. He would tell you about community boreholes, school renovations, and youths he mentored who are now leaders in their own right. He didnt just serve; he saw. He saw people not as statistics but as stories. And he listened. And when he could, he helped. Quietly. No cameras. No hashtags. It is difficult to put into words the story of a man whose life was not just lived but felt deeply, genuinely, and profoundly. Its over now, the last file signed, the final handshake exchanged, the door gently closed behind a man whose entire life has been anything but ordinary. As of 30 May, Mr Bala Maijamaa Wunti stepped out of public service, quietly bowing out from a remarkable journey that shook boundaries, lifted lives, and left behind a trail of courage, dignity, and truth. I find it not only fitting but necessary to say this: now that it is done, let this be my tribute. Much has been said, written, and whispered in admiration since the announcement of his retirement. But what I pen today is not a replica of what others have offered. This is personal. This is from a heart that was moved years ago when I sat quietly among students of ATBU Bauchi, listening to a man speak not as a bureaucrat, not as a technocrat, but as someone who had walked through fire barefoot and came out not burnt, but better. He wasnt speaking to impress. He was telling the truth raw and unfiltered. He spoke of days when meals were not guaranteed, when dreams seemed laughable in the face of brutal reality. He described the hunger, the worn sandals, the sleepless nights, and how faith became his pillow. I remember that moment clearly. That day, in that humble auditorium, something shifted. It wasnt just a speech. It was a defining moment for him and for us who listened. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later In that moment, Ive carried three life lessons from Mr Wunti ones he never explicitly taught but showed through his life. First: Prayer is not optional. I have never encountered a man more grounded in submission to the Divine. No matter how tight his schedule, how demanding the office, or how crucial the meeting, he found time to pause and connect with his Creator. And he did it not out of habit but conviction. It shaped everything about him: his calm, his clarity, his confidence. Second: He never forced what his heart didnt embrace. Mr Wunti did not do things just to tick boxes. If his soul wasnt aligned with a cause, he left it alone. This rare integrity gave his actions an unusual depth. Whether leading multi-billion-naira reforms or quietly helping an ailing community clinic, he did so with full acceptance and sincerity. Third: Compassion wasnt a virtue for him; it was a reflex. He gave not because he had to, but because he knew what it felt like to need and not have. Every school he built, every child he sponsored, every borehole he commissioned, and every hospital bill he paid all came from a heart softened by experience. He remembered. And in remembering, he uplifted. Born in Bauchi, in a household where survival often came before ambition, Bala Wunti grew up in the shadows of lack. But he did not let it define him. Instead, he let it refine him. He pushed through school with sheer determination from Chemistry at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, to earning his MBA in Marketing from ATBU Bauchi, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management. Mr Bala Wunti is an alumnus of the worlds prestigious universities, Oxford and Harvard. These were not just academic milestones; they were small battles won against the odds. Then came the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). He joined in 1994, and what followed was a remarkable odyssey. From Production Programming Officer to GM Corporate Planning, and eventually MD of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), he did not just fill positions he transformed them. His work at NAPIMS as Group General Manager changed the way Nigeria handled petroleum investments. Projects like Operation White restored sanity to a system many had given up on. But beyond strategy and structure, he brought the soul into the system. He refused to let numbers dehumanise policy. He saw the downstream sector not as a marketplace but as a lifeline, and he made it work for people, not just profits. In his family, Bala Wunti is not the oil executive; he is Abba a father who sits with his children, teaching them not just by advice but by example. A husband who understands that love is shown in small acts, in presence, in patience. He did not let success steal him away from those who mattered most. He carried them with him. Now that his chapter in public service closes, many will remember him for the policies he shaped, the reforms he led, and the titles he bore. But I will remember him for something more enduring: the humanity he never let go of. Some may chase greatness by building empires. But some, like him, choose to build people. And when people grow, they remember. They speak. They write. Just like I am doing now. Mr Bala Maijamaa Wunti didnt retire. He simply stepped into another phase of influence, one that does not require office walls or government files. His impact now lives in the echoes of childrens laughter in classrooms he built, in the gratitude of patients treated in hospitals he supported, and in the hearts of all of us who were lucky enough to know the kind of man he truly is. Thank you, sir, for rising and taking many of us along with you. This is not goodbye. Its an honour. Usman Abdullahi Koli write through [email protected] Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print God would have all men to be saved, but none will merit salvation. Jesus says: You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you. (John 15:16). When did He choose us? He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4). Since He chose us, that means we were predestined: (He) predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. (Ephesians 1:5). What is the good pleasure of Gods will? The good pleasure of Gods will is the salvation of souls. So, Jesus says: 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 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom.(Luke 12:32). Why did He choose us? He chose us: To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:6). We are saved by grace. We do not deserve to be saved, but we are saved. Jesus said to me, Femi, I dont give people what they deserve. Dont give people what they deserve. Give them what they do not deserve. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9). If we are saved by grace, it means we are elected. Paul says: At this present time, there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (Romans 11:5). If we are elected by grace, then we are predestined. We are new creations. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10). God prepared the works we are to do beforehand. That means we are predestined to do them. We do not even do them ourselves; Jesus does them through us: God (who) performs all things for (us). (Psalm 57:2). In Christ and Adam God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. But when we were born, we left Christ. When we are born, we are no longer in Christ, but in Adam. In Adam, we died. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22). In Adam, we were dead in transgressions and sins. That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (Ephesians 2:12). In Adam, the Prodigal Son left his father and went to a far country. When he left the Father, he died. He only came back alive when he returned home. Dead men have no free will. Dead men have no independent action. Satan propels their actions through the bondage of corruption, What does God say to Adamic man? He tells us to return to Him. You turn man to destruction, and say, Return, O children of men. (Psalm 90:3). Who turns man to destruction? God does. Why? Because we are all sinners. How and when can we come back to Christ? We can return when we are born again. And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:1). When we are born again, we go back from being in Adam to being in Christ. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17). What happens when we are back in Christ? We are blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus. We are holy and without blame. We obtain an inheritance. We receive the spirit of adoption by which we cry Abba Father. (Romans 8:15). We obtain an inheritance. We become heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17). God brought us back to life from the dead for His own good pleasure and not ours. Therefore, it is not our will but His that must be done. Gods Foreknowledge and Election Jesus berated the Sadducees, You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. (Matthew 22:29). Even today, many people are unfamiliar with the scriptures. Some know the scriptures but not the power of God. But both must be seen in tandem. Moreover, the power of God never contradicts the scriptures. God knows everything beforehand. He declares: I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure. (Isaiah 46:0-10). Gods foreknowledge should not be mistaken for foresight. God does not know future events and the actions of men because He foresees them. He knows them because He wills them to happen. Gods foreknowledge is by election. His foreknowledge is from His determination to bring certain people into a special relationship with Him. Accordingly, He says to Jeremiah: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born, I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5). If He looks down into history to choose only those who will love Him, He will end up choosing nobody. This is because: There is none righteous no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one. (Romans 3:10-12). God would have all men to be saved. Paul says, This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3-4). But none will merit salvation. All are dead in transgressions and sins. Therefore, rather than leave all men in condemnation, He decides to have mercy on a select few. He then decided that He would call the select few (or the elect) by the preaching of the gospel. Election By Predestination God predestines those He foreknew. He selects and elects them. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29). The people God foreknew are those He set His affections on. God is not a man. So His knowledge does not conform to that of men. Jesus says to some, I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity. (Luke 13:27). Surely, He knows them as men know others. He does not know them means He is not intimate with them. The Bible says, Cain knew his wife (Genesis 4:17). Adam knew his wife (Genesis 4:25). This knowledge refers to intimacy. God will only spend eternity with those He wants to be intimate with. And the power of God ensures that those He wants to be intimate with are precisely those who want to be intimate with Him. For this reason, Paul says: What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? (Romans 9:22-24). That is exactly what He does. How many people will then end up in heaven? Only the exact number that God has appointed. Not one more, not one less. Since (mans) days are determined, the number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass. (Job 14:5). Everything is carefully calibrated: You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. (Psalm 139:16). CONTINUED. [email protected]; www.femiaribisala.com Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not only delivered a scorecard he has charted a new course for the soul of the nation. And while challenges remain, the foundation has been laid. With sustained commitment, Nigeria is poised to become a continental leader in health resilience and equity. When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office in 2023, Nigerias health sector stood at a difficult crossroads. Stretched thin by decades of underfunding, weakened infrastructure, emigration of health workers, and low trust from the public, the task seemed daunting. Yet, within just two years, the winds of reform have begun to blow through the corridors of hospitals, clinics, laboratories, and primary healthcare centres across the nation. Under the banner of the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Tinubu administration has initiated a bold journey to reposition Nigerias healthcare system, restoring confidence, improving outcomes, and investing deeply in both people and institutions. Despite the laudable efforts, it is a journey still unfolding, but one that has already begun to transform lives and rewrite stories. The first sign of renewed commitment came in the form of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NSHRII) Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) Compact, signed in 2023 with governors, development partners, and private sector actors. This was followed by the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint, a document that would later become a guiding torch for reforms. At the heart of these reforms lies a fourfold mission: To strengthen governance and accountability across the health system; improve the quality and equity of care for all Nigerians; unlock the value chain of health products through local production; and boost national health security by enhancing preparedness and response mechanisms. 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 A sector-wide approach now anchors collaboration between federal, state, and local governments one that includes quarterly review meetings, joint communiques, and transparent performance tracking. The revitalisation of primary healthcare, the first and most crucial point of access for millions, has gained unprecedented momentum. By the first quarter of 2025 alone, over 37 million Nigerians had accessed services from revamped PHC centres. Model facilities in Rivers, Edo, and Plateau now serve as shining examples of what is possible when leadership meets investment. Beyond infrastructure, the administration has focused on maternal and child health through the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII). In just a year, six million pregnant women received essential micronutrient supplements, and more than 4,000 free caesarean sections were successfully carried out across empanelled health facilities. To further equip the frontlines, over 60,000 midwifery kits were distributed nationwide, an initiative led by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to empower nurses and reduce maternal deaths. Nigerias health workforce is being reimagined with bold steps to halt brain drain and strengthen training. Training capacity has increased by 32 per cent, with over 61,000 frontline health workers and 3,874 health managers trained since 2023. Enrolment in nursing programmes grew from 28,000 to 115,000, while 120,000 new workers are expected to be trained by 2027. The launch of the National Health Fellows Programme, which deployed 774 young health leaders, one from each local government, represents a long-term investment in leadership and innovation across the system. This effort was complemented by asynchronous learning sessions, boasting a 74 per cent module completion rate and near-perfect engagement in live sessions. In recognition of these efforts, President Tinubu was named the African Union Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery. For decades, Nigerias health insurance coverage stagnated at around 9 per cent, leaving the majority vulnerable to health-related financial shocks. That tide has now turned. Over four million Nigerians were newly enrolled within one year, including vulnerable groups covered under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF). The 2025 budget allocated 25 billion under the Catastrophic Health Insurance Fund, which now covers costly treatments such as cancer care and dialysis. The reform of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is unlocking private sector engagement, mandating individual coverage, and delivering access to high-impact services such as caesarean sections, VVF surgeries, and treatment at 106 CEmONC facilities across the country. In what can only be described as a watershed moment, Nigerias health sector is receiving record domestic funding. Over 86.8 billion has been disbursed under BHCPF from 2023 to 2024 alone. An additional $200 million was approved by the president to bridge funding gaps after the exit of key international donors. The Project HOPE initiative is set to inject over $1 billion into PHC infrastructure and services, while $3.4 billion in pooled funding is mobilised through the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative. Significantly, the administration has improved access to medicines by supporting pooled procurement and signing executive orders that waive import duties and VAT on essential raw materials and medical devices. The launch of the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) is building an enabling environment for local manufacturing. From ultrasound machines to rapid diagnostic kits, Nigeria is forging new partnerships with global health brands to begin in-country production. More than 70 bankable projects worth over $5 billion are now underway, supported by additional financing from development banks and the private sector. Tertiary hospitals across all six geopolitical zones are receiving historic upgrades. From advanced diagnostic centres in Ilorin and Enugu to cardiac and pathology facilities in Sokoto and Ibadan, the scope of transformation now touches 503 projects across 61 federal hospitals. The long-neglected battle against cancer is receiving renewed energy through dedicated infrastructure investments and targeted equipment procurement. Routine immunisation has recorded major successes. Two million children under age two receive Penta-3 vaccines quarterly. Twenty-five million children have been vaccinated against measles. Twenty-two million received Yellow Fever vaccines, and 14 million adolescent girls are now protected by the HPV vaccine. In addition, 105,000 children received the new malaria vaccine. In the face of the worst diphtheria outbreak in decades, the administration mounted a rapid and effective response. The same resolve led to the historic introduction of the Mpox vaccine, making Nigeria the first African country to do so. Public trust in the health system is rising steadily. In just two years, approval ratings have jumped, with 47 per cent of Nigerians affirming a positive direction, and 54 per cent expressing confidence in government health emergency responses a notable leap from 2023 levels. Citizens are not only benefiting but being heard. The government has prioritised citizen feedback and adapted accordingly, proving that governance is not just about delivering services but building trust. With strong foundations now laid, the next phase is focused on deepening impact and sustaining momentum. The expansion of the Vulnerable Groups Fund and Catastrophic Health Fund is underway. Completion of cancer treatment centres and rollout of advanced equipment are in progress. The administration is scaling up malaria control interventions and local net production, and delivering on the target of 17,000 revitalised PHCs. The Social Action Fund (SAF) is being operationalised to power community-led health solutions. The journey is still unfolding, but Nigeria is rising. With unity across federal, state, and community lines, the vision of a resilient, equitable, and people-centered health system is no longer a distant dream. It is becoming the new reality. And in the words of the president, No Nigerian should die because they are poor. Indeed, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the health of the nation is finally becoming the wealth of the people. Hence, from scaling up the MAMII initiative in 172 local government areas to completing cancer infrastructure and operationalising the SAF, the Tinubu administration is not slowing down. Plans are underway to scale malaria interventions, boost local production, and deepen citizen engagement. This is not just a transformation it is a reawakening. The health of Nigeria is finally being placed where it belongs: at the heart of national development. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not only delivered a scorecard he has charted a new course for the soul of the nation. And while challenges remain, the foundation has been laid. With sustained commitment, Nigeria is poised to become a continental leader in health resilience and equity. The journey has only just begun. Ebitimi Osaretin, an health sector expert, wrote from Abuja. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Your Excellency, I write to you with profound humility and a deep sense of civic responsibility as a patriotic Nigerian and PR professional, whose nomination to participate in Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Kuru you approved. This petition seeks to draw your attention to the unjust, humiliating, and deeply distressing treatment I have endured at NIPSS, Kuru, where I was abruptly forced to leave by the management. Upon my return home, my family, professional colleagues, and well-wishers were alarmed to see me back so unexpectedly, struggling to understand what could have warranted such an extreme measure especially when all other participants remained in the Institute. Beyond seeking justice, this petition serves to set the record straight and prevent any misleading insinuations or falsehoods that could tarnish my reputation as a law-abiding citizen. I have dedicated my professional career and platforms to advancing transparency, unity, and ethical governance principles that are clearly reflected in the referenced published articles. I now appeal for your intervention, not only to secure personal justice but also to uphold the credibility of NIPSS and prevent future injustices against other patriotic participants who may face similar unfair treatment. Despite my full compliance with all institutional requirements and my unwavering commitment to professionalism I have been subjected to harassment, cyberbullying, and systematic exclusion. This has culminated in my abrupt suspension, the issuance of a directive forbidding fellow participants from engaging with me, and my removal from all official communication platforms. 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 These punitive actions were taken against me solely in response to harmless and positive reports that aligned with and promoted the Digital and Blue Economy Agenda of your administration articles in which your name was prominently mentioned in a favourable light. 2. Nomination and Honourable Intent On 28 October, 2024, shortly after receiving the prestigious Golden World Award from the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) in Belgrade, I was contacted by Dr Ike Neliaku (fnipr), the president of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). He informed me that the NIPR Governing Council had nominated me to represent the Institute at SEC 47, NIPSS. Motivated by this honour, I formally disengaged from my company, Image Merchants Promotion Ltd (publishers of PRNigeria), before I began the course this year, with commitment, humility, and adherence to all guidelines. 3. Instances of Unjust Treatment a. The Digital Economy Incident On 21 March, PRNigeria published a news story, NIPSS Goes Digital: Launches Paperless Platform After Submitting Landmark Report to President Tinubu, which I neither wrote nor edited. Nonetheless, it was misinterpreted as a breach of NIPSS protocol. Despite my explanation that the article was public, positive, and published by other media, I was issued a query at the directive of Mr Nima Salman Mann, the acting director of Studies. A Directing Staff, Rear Admiral Mustapha, rejected my initial written defence, insisting that I tone it down and that I should remove certain sections of it. Though disheartened, I reluctantly revised and rewrote the response, as directed by directing staff, to avoid unnecessary conflict and protect my reputation. b. Disciplinary Panel and Final Warning Despite my full compliance, I was summoned before a disciplinary panel on 7 April, without being granted the opportunity to speak or present my case. The panel relied exclusively on the edited and rewritten version of my response, disregarding critical context. To my shock, I was subsequently issued a FINAL WARNING despite never having received any prior warnings and for an offence I did not commit. I was deeply alarmed to witness other participants at the panel facing similarly disproportionate sanctions for equally trivial matters. One individual was formally queried simply for acknowledging the infrastructural initiatives of Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State during a vote of thanks at Government House, Jos. Another was punished for arriving late due to a family emergency, while a third was reprimanded for positively representing NIPSS in external engagements actions that should have been met with understanding, not punitive measures. c. Second Query: A Harmless Commentary On 28 April, I received yet another query less than two months after the first this time citing a restricted internal PRNigeria editorial email dated 25 April, titled Understanding the Blue in the Blue Economy: A PR Perspective. The unauthorised interception of this internal correspondence constituted a serious breach of digital privacy and can rightly be described as cyberbullying and cybercrime. The article, which I authored, provided insights into the Marine and Blue Economy agenda from a Public Relations standpoint and did not refer to NIPSS in any way or manner whatsoever. Shockingly, the institute accessed the email before it reached its intended editorial recipient a clear act of unwarranted surveillance and professional misconduct. On 2 May, I was served a suspension letter by Professor Elias Wahab. The next day, a delegation from NIPR informed me that NIPSS had advised the Institute (NIPR) to consider withdrawing my nomination or risk future disqualification from the programme. Out of loyalty to my professional body, I complied with their request to apologise and withdraw my original response, despite the glaring injustice. Subsequently, I was removed from all official SEC 47 communication platforms. d. Medical Impact and Forced Isolation The psychological distress from this ordeal triggered a hypertension diagnosis at the Institutes clinic. With no family nearby, I leaned on supportive colleagues only to be officially alienated by a directive barring participants from interacting with me. 5. Suspension and Exclusion On 2 May, I was served a suspension letter by Professor Elias Wahab. The next day, a delegation from NIPR informed me that NIPSS had advised the Institute to consider withdrawing my nomination or risk future disqualification from the programme. Out of loyalty to my professional body, I complied with their request to apologise and withdraw my original response, despite the glaring injustice. Subsequently, I was removed from all official SEC 47 communication platforms. On 7 May, participants were formally instructed to cease all contact with me, treating me as a pariah and an outcast. 6. Investigative Committee and Communication Policy Despite clear instructions in my suspension letter to vacate NIPSS premises immediately which I complied with on 3 May I was unexpectedly summoned by phone to appear before an investigative committee on 8 May. Traveling from Abuja to Kuru, I attended two separate sessions and submitted a detailed written account of my experience. During the proceedings, which were fully video-recorded by the management, I emphasised a critical oversight in the NIPSS Terms of Undertaking while it stresses confidentiality, it fails to clearly define what constitutes classified, restricted, or public information. Additionally, there is no established communication policy to guide participants engagement with the media or digital platforms. I reiterated that all my published articles during my time at NIPSS were derived solely from publicly available information and national discourse, in full alignment with professional ethics. At no point did I disclose, reference, or misuse internal NIPSS content. Following my appearances, I was given no resolution only instructed to return to Abuja and await further directives, which never came. 7. Discriminatory Exclusion and from Study Tour Meanwhile, in addition to my abrupt suspension, the directive barring fellow participants from engaging with me, and my removal from all official communication platforms, I was also unjustly excluded from the international study tours an integral component of the SEC 47 programme. While all other participants were granted tour privileges (Estacodes) to Africa and other continents, I was denied this entitlement, despite having paid the full 18,200,000 course fee. As of today 30 May, the study tours had commenced, yet I have received no update or justification for my exclusion. Beyond these incidents, I also witnessed the undue humiliation of highly respected participants, including distinguished academics/professors and senior executives from both the public and private sectors. Such treatment is not only demoralising but also starkly contradicts the professional and intellectual environment that NIPSS is expected to uphold. 8. Other Humiliating Incidents Beyond these incidents, I also witnessed the undue humiliation of highly respected participants, including distinguished academics/professors and senior executives from both the public and private sectors. Such treatment is not only demoralising but also starkly contradicts the professional and intellectual environment that NIPSS is expected to uphold. From my inquiries, I have learnt that such excessive militarisation has never been the standard practice in previous courses over the past 47 years. This raises a critical question why the sudden shift toward excessive militarisation now? 9. Experience from other Strategic Policy Institutes NIPSS is expected to reflect the standards of globally renowned strategic policy think tanks such as the Brookings Institution (USA), Chatham House (UK), African Leadership Institute (South Africa), SWP (Germany), ENA (France), RISSI (Russia) and RSIS (Singapore), which prioritise research, strategic leadership and policy development. These institutions operate within well-defined communication frameworks, uphold academic freedom, and foster an environment that encourages intellectual exchange. In such settings, participants whether fellows or trainees are treated with dignity, respect, and professionalism. An environment where constructive dissent is encouraged and a non-punitive learning environment fosters open discourse without fear of intimidation. I had hoped that NIPSS would embody these same principles, ensuring an inclusive, fair, and intellectually stimulating experience. But I am indeed shocked by what happened to me. 10. Conclusion and Prayer for Justice I have dedicated my professional career and platforms to advancing transparency, unity, and ethical governance principles that are clearly reflected in the referenced published articles. I now appeal for your intervention, not only to secure personal justice but also to uphold the credibility of NIPSS and prevent future injustices against other patriotic participants who may face similar unfair treatment. I respectfully request that you: a. Intervene and review the suspension and exclusion from the SEC 47 programme. b. Order an independent investigation into the disciplinary processes, cyber privacy violations, and policy ambiguities. c. Mandate the establishment of a clear communication policy for participants at NIPSS to prevent further victimisation. All I seek is the opportunity to complete this course, reclaim my dignity, and continue contributing meaningfully to the development of our great nation. I sincerely appreciate your attention to this matter and pray for your continued success in leading Nigeria with wisdom, justice, and courage. Respectfully submitted, Yushau A. Shuaib (mnipr) Participant, SEC 47, NIPSS The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Omatsola Ogbe has been appointed into the Executive Board of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO). By the appointment, Mr Ogbe becomes Nigerias representative on the Board of the 18-member continental body, which has its headquarters at Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. Mr Ogbe was picked for this role by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who doubles as the Chairman of the NCDMB Governing Council. The notice of the Executive Secretarys appointment was conveyed in a congratulatory letter signed by the Director of Support Services, APPO, Mrs Philomena Ikoko, on behalf of the Secretary General of the organisation, Dr Omar Farouk Ibrahim. She applauded the NCDMB boss on the confidence reposed in him by the Minister, expressing her belief that he would make immense contributions to the development of the African oil and gas industry. She stated that Ogbe is joining the Executive Board of APPO at a challenging time for the oil and gas industry, especially in Africa. Your appointment is a major call to duty for Nigeria and the continent. The secretariat will give you the support you will need to make a success of your assignment, she promised. 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 NCDMB played key roles in catalyzing the operations of APPO and the development of local content in the African continent, providing institutional support and mentorship to several oil producing countries in their formulation of local content policies. NCDMB initiated the African Local Content Roundtable (ALCR) and hosted the inaugural edition at Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, in June 2021, which was attended by key officials of APPO and other oil industry players. The idea for the Africa Energy Bank (AEB) was mooted by NCDMBs officials at the event, as one of the strategies that would accelerate the growth of the African oil and gas industry and deepen local content. The Board also collaborated with APPO to host subsequent editions of the African Local Content Roundtable (ALCR), including the 2023 edition held at Abuja. The Africa Energy Bank, which APPO is setting up at Abuja is aimed at pooling financial resources needed to fund big-ticket oil and gas projects across the continent, and bridge funding challenges currently impeding the development of the sector. According to the APPO Secretary General, the Africa Energy Bank seeks to fund oil and gas projects across economies in Africa, helping to plug critical financing gaps that exist through the continents overreliance on financiers from the West. Each APPO member country is expected to raise $83 million with an objective of raising $5 billion capital for the establishment of the Bank. It was revealed recently that Nigeria, Angola and Ghana have contributed their share capital. The trios contributions represent 44 per cent of the minimum capital that is required from oil producing countries in the continent. At the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) held last week, NCDMBs Executive Secretary confirmed that the agency was part of key institutions that pooled resources for the formation of the Africa Energy Bank. He announced that the Bank will open for business before the end of the 2nd quarter in 2025, expressing hope that it will create more funding availability for local oil and gas projects and companies. Similarly, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr Lokpobiri stated at the Offshore Technology Conference that Afrexim Bank has already raised $19bn for the take-off of the Africa Energy Bank. $14 billion out of the funds represents the banks financial exposure on African oil and gas projects, with the additional $5 billion as take-off capital. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print When Richard Skorman launched Poor Richard's as a college senior 50 years ago, he didn't quite predict the bookstore would grow over the years into the Colorado Springs institution it is today. "My father always called my bookstore a hobby. 'When are you going to get a real job?'" Skorman recalled his father asking, a smile playing on his lips. Seated next to Skorman inside Poor Richard's Restaurant on North Tejon Street downtown, on the Friday morning ahead of the long Memorial Day holiday weekend, is his wife and business partner, Patricia Seator. The scent of fresh pizza dough wafted through the dining room as employees opened the restaurant for the day. "It's been a great adventure for both of us," Skorman said. "We love our customers. We have great employees; many of them have been here a long time. We have lots of regulars. We love that people make themselves at home, and that's been a huge part, I think, in our success, really from the beginning." He launched Poor Richard's Used Paper Books while he was a senior at Colorado College in 1975 after the bookstore where Skorman had been working went out of business. When his former employer handed him his last paycheck a stack of books instead of cash, because they had none the self-described book lover thought to himself, "Maybe I'll open my own bookstore." Skorman first sold books out of a home on North Tejon Street. His customers would help themselves to what they needed, then leave cash in the cash box he carried around. They calculated their own sales tax using a chart Skorman kept handy. Two years later, in 1977, the bookstore became Poor Richard's Feed and Read, opening in a brick-and-mortar location in the 300 block of North Tejon, a place where patrons could enjoy a bite to eat while losing themselves in their books. The Poor Richard's concept expanded a few more times over the decades, evolving into a community hub and landmark that now includes a book and gift store, a toy store, a restaurant and wine bar. It has served generations of visitors of all ages and from all backgrounds. At one time, Poor Richard's even included an on-site independent movie theater, the smallest of its kind in the country. Skorman and Seator eventually sold the theater side of the business to Kimball Bayles, who went on to operate Kimball's Peak Three Theater downtown. The theater has remained vacant since Bayles' death in January 2023. In 1986, Skorman sold Poor Richard's Feed and Read and moved to New York City, where he wrote and published a book about independent films and where he met Seator. In 1992, the couple returned to Colorado and to Poor Richard's. Skorman bought his business back that year. Seator and Skorman co-founded Little Richard's Toy Store in 1995, and a decade later in 2005 launched Rico's Cafe & Wine Bar. Also in 2005, the couple renamed the bookstore Poor Richard's Books & Gifts, offering a diverse selection of new and gently used books as well as gifts, stationery and greeting cards. "It's great because we will hear from people later, 'Oh, we decided to form this group or this nonprofit, and we met at Poor Richard's (to discuss it)," said Skorman, who also served on the Colorado Springs City Council four times between 1999 and 2021. "Or parents will come with their kids, and there's not a lot of places for kids to be welcomed downtown. Moms tell us all the time, 'We're so grateful you're here. Otherwise, I'd be at home; but I can come (here) and be on my computer a little bit and my kid can play.'" Carm O'Sullivan has been a Poor Richard's customer for more than three decades. Having lunch inside Rico's Cafe one early Friday afternoon with her friend, author and fellow Poor Richard's customer Michelle Stewart-Gardner, O'Sullivan remembered the days when she brought her children into the store and they would shop for books, toys and other items. "I love it here. I always come here to get books and gifts. I hope they keep doing what they're doing and never close. This place feels like home," O'Sullivan said. Stewart-Gardner and her husband are also regulars. Sign up for free: Gazette Business Receive a weekly roundup of business news around El Paso County. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Featured Local Savings "We shop local books, have food, and my husband loves the classic toy store. We always come here for Christmas (shopping)," Stewart-Gardner said. The community's love and support for Poor Richard's has been evident even in hard times. When the restaurant caught fire in 1982 and the business was underinsured by thousands of dollars, Skorman wasn't sure he'd be able to reopen. But friends, neighbors and even the prominent American poet Allen Ginsberg came together and raised funds to reopen the business. Poor Richard's growth through the decades helped the business weather economic and industry challenges, such as the rise of online retail giant Amazon, which began as an online bookstore when it was founded in the mid-1990s. "In the early 2000s, a lot of independent bookstores were going out of business and were really struggling because of Amazon. One of the ways that stores survived was through adding gifts," Seator said. At first, the gift selection at Poor Richard's was minimal, said Seator, the organization's lead buyer. The couple opened the cafe and launched its gift shop the day after Thanksgiving in 2005, with only about $10,000 or so budgeted to build up the store's gift inventory that first holiday season. The gifts concept took off. "By the end of January (2006), we had nothing left. I thought, 'Oh, I have to do this again!'" Seator said. "So I did, many times over the last 20 years. It just worked." When it comes to Amazon or other book retailers like Barnes & Noble, Seator says they don't compete with stores like Poor Richard's. "We aren't competing, because we're in a completely different realm than they are. We don't think of them as our competitors. What we're offering is traditional bookstore experience, with very knowledgeable staff who can make recommendations, who help people out," Seator said. When Tattered Cover, which was Colorado's largest independent bookstore and a Denver-area fixture for decades, opened a location at 112 N. Tejon St. in June 2022, two blocks south of Poor Richard's, Skorman and Seator had some concern, Seator said. "It was extremely unusual for an indy bookstore to open close to another one. ... So we were surprised and concerned because that is not a formula that has seemed to work across the country," Seator said. But Tattered Cover's brief 16-month stay in Colorado Springs didn't hurt sales too much at Poor Richard's. Tattered Cover closed its downtown Springs location in October 2023 after its parent company filed for bankruptcy that same month. Barnes & Noble later acquired Tattered Cover for $1.8 million last July. Sales of new books during the 2022-2023 holiday season went down 20% at Poor Richard's once Tattered Cover moved in, Seator said. But overall daily sales at Poor Richard's did not decrease and the business continued growing throughout the year. Instead, Tattered Cover's expansion into Colorado Springs highlighted the independent bookstores that were already doing business here. "People would write on social media that they were happy to finally have an independent bookstore downtown, and our customers would reply that Poor Richard's was already downtown. It really brought a lot more attention to the brick-and-mortar stores in town, which was helpful, I think, to all the bookstores downtown, to us," Seator said. Poor Richard's also succeeded in the face of challenges throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic, which shuttered businesses and forced business owners to get creative in order to stay open. During the pandemic, Skorman and Seator installed electric stove ovens, altered restaurant seating, created online retail and expanded their patio space to adhere to fluctuating local, state and federal health guidelines. At the end of 2021, Skorman stepped down from his latest stint as a city councilman so he could pivot back to focusing on his businesses. He ran for office in April of that year assuming the COVID-19-related challenges businesses were experiencing would ease as vaccines were introduced, but that had not been the case, Skorman said in November 2021, when he announced his resignation. "People in Colorado Springs really do like small businesses, and it's something that I think many people came from, maybe from smaller ... towns," Skorman said. " ... They like the idea of locally owned businesses, not just us. ... Thank you, Colorado Springs, for a great, great ride, an incredible way to make a living and to meet so many wonderful people. We appreciate you all." Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda has finalised procurement of cutting-edge medical equipment for Katsina States Ultra-Modern Radiology Centre and Central Reference Laboratory. The Governor took the landmark decision during a technical visit to Siemens Healthineers headquarters in Forchheim, Bavaria early this month. Mr Radda inspected state-of-the-art diagnostic technology during his tour of Siemens manufacturing and research facilities, including high-field magnetic resonance imaging systems, low-dose 128-slice computed tomography scanners, digital radiography suites, and fully automated laboratory analyzers. The governor also reviewed equipment currently undergoing factory acceptance testing, which will be shipped to Katsina within weeks to complete the Radiology Centre installation. Addressing the Siemens team after the comprehensive facility tour, Governor Radda emphasised his administrations commitment to revolutionising healthcare delivery under the Building Your Future agenda. Our administration is determined to give every Katsina resident access to cutting-edge diagnostic services without the burden of traveling hundreds of kilometres or bearing prohibitive costs, Governor Radda declared. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later He further stated that Siemens Healthineers is a proven global leader, and the procured MRI, CT, digital X-ray, and fully automated lab systemswill dramatically improve early detection of disease and clinical decision-making across the state hospitals. The procurement package includes a comprehensive technology-transfer programme: Siemens engineers will train Katsina-based biomedical technicians and radiographers, while clinical specialists will offer ongoing remote support through Siemens digital service platforms. This arrangement will guarantee sustainability, reduce downtime, and keep service charges affordable to the ordinary citizen, the Governor explained. Speaking during the visit, Siemens Healthineers senior leadership praised the states visionary healthcare investment and reaffirmed the company commitment to deliver equipment on schedule, provide continuous capacity-building, and collaborate with local stakeholders to ensure optimal utilization. In furtherance to this, the team disclosed that installation and commissioning of the equipment are scheduled to begin in July 2025, with pilot clinical services expected to commence by October 2025. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board (JSPWB), has secured tents for its Pilgrims at Mina for the completion of final Hajj rituals in Saudi Arabia. Over 900 pilgrims from the state had earlier completed their Umrah pilgrimage in Makkah, marking a significant achievement in the 2025 sacred journey. The pilgrims, after visiting the second holiest Mosque of Prophet Muhammad in Madinah, moved and performed the Umrah in the holiest Mosque in Mecca, now preparing for the main Hajj rituals. The final Hajj rituals is almost completed in the tent city of Mina where the pilgrims stay for three days between the 8th to the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah. Mina serves as the location for two fundamental Hajj rituals which include Ramy al-Jamarat (stoning of the devil) and Yawm al-Nahr (Day of Sacrifice). Officials of the states Pilgrims Welfare Board under the leadership of Ahmed Umar Labbo, visited Mina and inspected the tents secured for the Jigawa pilgrims. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later The pilgrims board comfirmed that each of the 930 pilgrims from the state has a bed space in a tent separated for male and female pilgrims with three square meals to be served to the pilgrims during the three-day stay in Mina. The states Amirul Hajj and Emir of Kazaure, Najib Hussaini Adamu, in a parley with the pilgrims on Saturday appealed to them to be patient and be of good hygiene and character during their stay in Mina. The amirul hajj also cautioned the state pilgrims to drink water more frequently to aviod dehydration to remain healthy while performing the Hajj rituals in Mina. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Ebere Josephine Uba, a Nigerian professional known for her contributions in digital transformation and innovation, was honoured with the Innovation & Technology Impact Award at the 2025 Global Excellence and African Union Agenda Womens Impact Awards, held on Saturday, 24 May 2025, at the Lagos Oriental Hotel. The award ceremony, organised by the Global Excellence & Summit Awards (GESA), is part of an initiative that recognises contributions to leadership, innovation, and socio-economic development across Africa and globally. The awards are presented in conjunction with the AU Agenda 2063 Ambassadorial Assembly Women & Gender Committee, which works to promote inclusive growth and sustainable development on the continent. Ms Uba was recognised for her contributions to technological advancement, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), AI regulation, cybersecurity, and digital innovation. According to GESA organisers, the award aims to highlight professionals who are shaping the digital landscape and influencing policy and implementation across sectors. This recognition is more than an award; its a call to action a renewed commitment to continue driving change and innovation, Ms. Uba said during her acceptance speech. Im truly honoured to have received the Technology & Innovation Impact Award. Being recognised for my contributions to digital transformation and innovation reinforces the impact of my thought leadership and ongoing work in technology. Its a powerful reminder that these efforts are not only meaningful theyre making a real difference in both business and society. She also extended appreciation to her supporters and the event organisers. Im deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me on this journey my firm, Aluko & Oyebode, my husband, my family, business partners, collaborators, and well-wishers. Your support has been invaluable, she added. Ms Uba further acknowledged GESA and its key convener, Fatoumatta Gaye, for establishing a platform that showcases work making measurable impact. According to the event organisers, the Innovation & Technology Impact Award was created to spotlight individuals whose work is not only innovative but also aligns with Africas long-term development goals. We are committed to recognising voices that are shaping the future through meaningful contributions to technology and innovation, said a GESA spokesperson. 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 Ms Ubas recognition at the Global Excellence Awards adds to her growing list of accolades. In 2024, she received the Gold Globee Award for Sustainable Digital Achievement at the 14th Annual Globee Awards for Business (International). The same year, she was named Outstanding Leader of the Year Global Edition at the Digital Revolution Global Awards and was awarded Leading Digital Transformation Expert 2024 and Digital Transformation Leader of the Year 2023 by the Media Innovator Awards (Global). She has also been shortlisted for the Outstanding Leader of the Year at the 2025 Digital Revolution Global Awards and nominated for AI and Data Science Leader of the Year at the 2024 WomenTech Global Awards. A member of ForbesBLK and the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, Ms Uba has been recognised with Mondaq Thought Leadership Awards from 2021 through 2024 for her work on AI, cybersecurity, cryptocurrency regulation, and compliance. Her contributions have appeared in publications such as Yahoo Finance, Business Wire, and Street Insider. She is also actively engaged in promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech space through organisations such as Women in AI, STEM Women Global, and the WomenTech Network. The 2025 award marks another chapter in Ms Ubas career, which continues to focus on the intersection of technology, governance, and inclusive development. As Africa and the global community grapple with the pace of technological change, voices like hers are expected to play an increasingly visible role in shaping technology and innovation landscapes. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print FLOUTING CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, DEFYING COURT ORDERS, AND DISREGARDING ARBITRATION: THE FACTS BEHIND HADIZA BALA USMANS ABUSE OF OFFICE AS NPA MD By BUA Group | May 31, 2025 We have taken note of recent public statements made by Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), who was removed from office. In her comments, she accused BUA Group and our Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, of breaching a concession agreement and distorting facts. These claims were made in response to our Chairmans interview and article, Two Years of President Tinubu: A Business Perspective (watch at https://bit.ly/pbatbua), which celebrated Nigerias reform trajectory and referenced prior instances of arbitrary disruptions to business operations, without naming anyone a situation that has now been curtailed by President Tinubus no-nonsense approach to bringing sanity and stability to the business environment in Nigeria. Ordinarily, we would not engage, but the distortions in her response necessitate this factual clarification, especially as they relate to her actions during her tenure as MD of the NPA. THE CONTRACT AND WHAT SHE OMITTED BUA entered into a valid long lease agreement in 2006 with the NPA to rehabilitate and operate Terminal B at Rivers Port in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Long before Ms. Usmans appointment, BUA had begun formal engagement with the NPA to address outstanding remedial works and infrastructural deficiencies. These discussions were near conclusion when she assumed office. 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 Rather than build on that process, Ms. Usman ignored BUAs requests and obligations under the agreement. In 2016, BUA wrote to the NPA under Article 8.4 of the lease, mandating concessionaires to report environmental and safety concerns and to seek approval for remedial works. Rather than act constructively, Ms. Usman used that letter as a pretext to issue a termination notice and summarily shut down the terminal, without providing any prior warning, consultation, or invoking the dispute resolution clause. She forgot or failed to disclose in her response that the NPA, under her leadership, was itself in material breach of core obligations including failing to hand over critical portions of the port, leaving derelict iron ore on the berths, failing to dredge or repair quay walls, and neglecting to provide mandatory security. These lapses were significant impediments to BUAs operations and, as a result, led to disputes between the parties. ILLEGALITY, CONTEMPT, AND DISREGARD FOR CONTRACTUAL MECHANISMS After the unlawful termination, BUA approached the Federal High Court, which promptly granted an injunction restraining the NPA from proceeding with termination. The NPA itself then referred the dispute to arbitration, as stipulated in Section 17.3 of the agreement, which clearly states: Any dispute, controversy or claim shall be exclusively and finally settled pursuant to the dispute resolution process prescribed in this Article. Despite this, Ms. Usman, against the advice of her agency, unilaterally decommissioned the berths, thereby violating both the agreement and a court injunction. To be clear, the concession agreement granted her no such power to decommission. If she believes otherwise, we invite her to publicly cite the specific clause that authorizes this action. To further compound the illegality, BUAafter providing the guarantees and indemnities requested by the NPAwas permitted to resume operations briefly. Merely three weeks later, the terminal was again shut down, this time by Ms. Usmans instruction. This left no doubt that her actions were motivated not by due process, but by personal animosity and abuse of office. BUA subsequently filed contempt proceedings and was looking at estimated losses in excess of $10 million. These proceedings were only withdrawn out of respect for national interest and following the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians within and outside the government. PRESIDENT BUHARI WAS NOT MISINFORMEDHE ACTED ON FACTS AND LAW Ms. Usmans claim that former President Muhammadu Buhari was misinformed when he reversed her actions is false, disrespectful, and disingenuous. Following a meeting that our Chairman had the privilege of holding with President Buhari in 2018, he presented the matter to the President, who then directed the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to conduct a thorough legal review and investigate the situation. The AGF invited all parties, including Ms. Usman, to several meetings. We never saw her at any of them. Nevertheless, the AGF proceeded to undertake a comprehensive review of the contract, the litigation, the arbitration clause, and all correspondence and actions by BUA and NPA. The legal advice (attached herewith) found that the termination was unlawful, the decommissioning was without any legal basis, and that BUAs rights should be reinstated. It was on this basis that President Buhari ordered the reversal of her unlawful actions. His intervention preserved the sanctity of the contract, saved over 4,000 jobs, and BUAs $500 million integrated investment cluster involving flour, pasta, and sugar processing facilities which were all dependent on terminal access. For this, we remain deeply grateful to former President Buhari. As our Chairman said in his interview, imagine if he wasnt privileged to have access. Nonetheless, this culture of impunity has been significantly curtailed under President Tinubus leadership, as many are aware they could be dismissed or imprisoned if they abuse their positions. POST-HADIZA: DUE PROCESS RESTORED, INVESTMENT RESUMED Following Ms. Usmans removal from office, the NPA, under new leadership, implemented the AGFs position. In 2022, BUA was granted formal approval to resume reconstruction works. The contract was awarded to TREVI, and BUA has since invested over $65 millionentirely self-funded and with no recourse to public funds or subsidies. Work is ongoing and completion is expected in the first quarter of 2026. THE REAL DANGER: INVESTOR CONFIDENCE AND RULE OF LAW We must state clearly that this matter goes beyond BUA. Had Ms. Usmans actions been allowed to stand, it would have sent a disastrous signal that contracts in Nigeria are worthless, court orders are optional, and public institutions or individuals can act unilaterally without consequence. We must never return to that era. Nigerias reform success today is rooted in respecting contracts, due process, and investor confidenceprinciples being restored under President Tinubus administration, under which BUA has committed over $1 billion in new investments across energy, food processing, manufacturing, infrastructure and social interventions. We wish to emphasise that Ms. Usman is entitled to her opinions, irrespective of how distorted they may be. However, she is not entitled to distort the facts or rewrite history. We do not seek a public spat and would like her to concentrate on fulfilling her duties in her new role under the strong leadership of President Tinubu. We therefore simply restate the facts that Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman had no authority to decommission Terminal B unilaterally. She also acted in defiance of a court injunction and contractual procedure and her actions caused significant economic loss of over USD10 million, reputational risk to BUA, and investor concern for Nigeria. Our core message remains the same: public office should be viewed as a position of trust rather than a platform for personal biases. Those granted public power need to resist the temptation to let prejudice, ego, and vendetta influence their actions. If Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman believes she acted lawfully, we challenge her to cite the specific clause or clauses that guided her unlawful actions. If not, let the facts remain where they belong in the public record. Signed, BUA Group May 31, 2025 Indictment of Hadiza Bala Usman as NPA MD_watermarked Ph port terminal decommissioning Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A human rights lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has asked the Nigerian government and Swiss authorities to probe the alleged killing of Michael Ekemezie, a 39-year-old Nigerian man in Switzerland. PREMIUM TIMES obtained a video clip showing a man said to be Mr Ekemezie being pinned to the ground allegedly by a Swiss police officer. Mr Ejiofor, in a petition to the Nigerian government, alleged that Mr Ekemezie died on 25 May after he was subjected to brutal and excessive force in Lausanne, Switzerland, by the Swiss police. The lawyer also copied the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and other government agencies in the petition dated 30 May 2025. He (Ekemezie) was the principal breadwinner of his family and is survived by a young wife, two infant children a two-year-old son and a three-month-old daughter, as well as four brothers and three sisters, all of whom were dependent on him, he said in the petition obtained by PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Ejiofor, in a statement on Friday, said the killing of Mr Ekemezie, an indigene of Anambra State, bears chilling similarities to the infamous murder of George Floyd in the United States, five years ago. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Mr Floyd, a black American, was killed by a Minneapolis police officer in the United States on 25 May 2020, which triggered a global wave of activism spread to more than 50 countries, including Nigeria and 16 other African countries. The lawyer said it is painful that, unlike the case of Mr Floyd, deafening silence has followed Mr Ekemezies brutal killing. This silence is both unacceptable and deeply troubling, especially as it suggests a deliberate effort to downplay or conceal the brutal nature of the killing. It further suggests that Michaels life, like those of many Africans, can be taken without consequence or even acknowledgement, he said. Like Nigeria, like Swiss authorities Mr Ejiofor stressed that it was improper that Swiss authorities had remained silent even as Nigerians and other Africans residing in Switzerland protested Mr Ekemezies alleged killing. READ ALSO: Simon Ekpa denies terrorism charges as Finnish court begins trial Swiss authorities response thus far has failed to meet the minimum threshold of transparency and urgency required in such egregious cases of state-sanctioned violence, he said. As we mourn the painful loss of Mr. Michael Kenechukwu Ekemezie, we reiterate our unwavering commitment to pursuing justice through all lawful and diplomatic means, for him, for his family, and for all those whose lives have been marked by violence and silence. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print NANJING, China, May 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanjing Leads Biolabs Co., Ltd. ("Leads Biolabs") today announced the presentation of groundbreaking clinical data from a multicenter phase Ib/II clinical trial evaluating LBL-024, an anti-PD-L1/4-1BB bispecific antibody, in combination with etoposide plus platinum-based chemotherapy for treatment-naive patients with advanced extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma (EP-NEC). The results were featured in an oral session at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. ASCO is recognized as the world's most prestigious oncology conference, serving as a global stage for unveiling transformative scientific and clinical advancements. The Oral Sessions are highly competitive, served for studies demonstrating significant clinical relevance or scientific innovation. In 2025, ASCO received a record-breaking 7,775 abstract submissions, with 32 Chinese-led studies selected for oral presentation - among them, the LBL-024 trial (NCT06157827). The study, led by Professor Shen Lin of Peking University Cancer Hospital and conducted across multiple clinical centers, evaluates the efficacy and safety of LBL-024 combined with etoposide plus platinum-based chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced EP-NEC. Robust Anti-Tumor Activity Observed with LBL-024 Plus Chemotherapy In 52 efficacy-evaluable patients, the overall response rate (ORR) across all dose levels was 75.0% and the disease control rate (DCR) was 92.3%, significantly outperforming historical ORR data (30%-55%) with chemotherapy alone. across all dose levels was and the was significantly outperforming historical ORR data (30%-55%) with chemotherapy alone. The 15 mg/kg in dose optimization demonstrated the strongest anti-tumor activity, achieving an ORR of 83.3% and a DCR of 100%. of and a of 57.7% (30/52) of the patients experienced >50% tumor shrinkage . of the patients experienced . As of April 15th, 2025 , with a median follow-up of 8.2 months , progression-free survival (PFS) data remains immature, but trends indicate promising durability across all the dose groups. , with a median follow-up of , progression-free survival (PFS) data remains immature, but trends indicate promising durability across all the dose groups. In the phase Ib dose escalation stage, no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed. Most treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were Grade 12 and manageable, primarily associated with chemotherapy, including hematologic toxicity and nausea. No unexpected safety signals were identified. Leadership Perspectives Dr. Charles Cai, Chief Medical Officer of Leads Biolabs, stated:" We are thrilled to share these exciting clinical data, which strongly support the advancement of LBL-024 into a pivotal phase III trial as a first-line treatment for EP-NEC. Our strategy prioritizes efficient development through single-arm registrational trial in underserved indications, while also maximizing value through broad indication expansion. LBL-024 received regulatory clearance in April 2024 to initiate a single-arm pivotal trial in China, marking the first 4-1BB targeted agent globally to reach this stage. With its expanded use now demonstrated in first-line settings and active studies in cancers such as SCLC and NSCLC, LBL-024 is poised to offer promising transformative therapeutic options for more cancer patients worldwide." Dr. Xiaoqiang Kang, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Leads Biolabs, added, "It is deeply encouraging to see LBL-024 featured consecutively in ASCO oral presentations. From target selection to molecular design, our R&D approach has focused on differentiated innovation to address pressing clinical challenges. The success of LBL-024 reflects our commitment to pioneering innovation at the sourcebreaking free from homogeneity to deliver genuinely impactful therapies. We remain dedicated to addressing unmet needs, advancing breakthrough therapeutics, and improving outcomes for patients across the globe." About LBL-024 LBL-024 is a potential first-in-class bispecific antibody simultaneously targeting PD-L1 and the co-stimulatory receptor 4-1BB. It is the first 4-1BB-targeting bispecific antibody globally to reach the single arm pivotal trial stage as a monotherapy and holds promise to become the first approved treatment specifically for extrapulmonary neuroendocrine carcinoma (EP-NEC), a malignancy with significant unmet medical need. Developed using Leads Biolabs' proprietary X-Body bispecific platform, LBL-024 features a 2:2 format with two binding domains each for PD-L1 and 4-1BB, and an optimized affinity ratio. This design allows LBL-024 to both reverse PD-L1mediated immune suppression and selectively enhance T cell activation, resulting in potent, synergistic anti-tumor effects. In Phase I/II clinical trials in China, LBL-024 has demonstrated promising efficacy and a favorable safety profile in patients with advanced EP-NEC, both as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy. The lack of a standard of care in EP-NEC supports the pursuit of accelerated approval through a single-arm pivotal study. In recognition of its clinical potential, LBL-024 received Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China (October 2024), and Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for neuroendocrine carcinoma (November 2024). Beyond NEC, LBL-024 has shown encouraging early activity in other tumor types, including small cell lung cancer (SCLC), ovarian cancer (OC), biliary tract cancer (BTC), and with strong potential for expansion into broader indications such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and gastric cancer (GC). About Leads Biolabs Founded in 2012, Leads Biolabs is a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of innovative therapies to address underserved medical needs in oncology, autoimmune, and other severe diseases both in China and globally. We are a front-runner in next-generation immuno-oncology treatments with a differentiated pipeline of 12 innovative drug candidates, including six clinical-stage drug candidates, of which four lead products are among the top-tier clinically advanced candidates globally. We adopt a science-driven R&D approach and have successfully established comprehensive R&D capabilities spanning antibody discovery and engineering, in vivo and in vitro efficacy evaluation, as well as druggability assessment. We have also developed multiple proprietary technology platforms, including LeadsBodyTM platform (a CD3 T-cell engager platform), X-bodyTM platform (a 4-1BB engager platform), which serve as the cornerstone for our continued innovation and have been validated by the clinical outcomes of our bispecific antibody portfolios. We have established integrated capabilities across early discovery, translational medicine, clinical development, CMC and business development. The innovative nature and competitive strengths of our drug candidates, coupled with our global perspectives, proactive strategy, and efficient clinical validation, have made us an attractive partner for leading industry players and venture capitals. For more information, please visit https://en.leadsbiolabs.com/ SOURCE Leads Biolabs Small Businesses, Local Financial Institutions and Consumers Temporarily Spared From Chaos While Federal Court Challenge Continues to Dismantle This Misguided Policy SPRINGFIELD, Ill., June 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Illinois General Assembly has delayed the implementation of the flawed Interchange Fee Prohibition Act to July 1, 2026, according to Guard Your Card Illinois. This law is currently being challenged in federal court, with a partial preliminary injunction giving protections to federally chartered and national institutions while leaving Illinois banks, credit unions, small business owners and consumers in the path of chaos. "We thank the Illinois General Assembly, House Speaker Chris Welch and Senate President Don Harmon for extending the effective date of the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act to July 1, 2026," said Ben Jackson, Executive Vice President of the Illinois Bankers Association. "This law will cause widespread economic disruption, and mounting evidence shows that the measure overwhelmingly benefits corporate megastores while placing an undue financial burden on small businesses and smaller financial institutions that form the backbone of our local economies. In the coming months, we will urge the Illinois General Assembly to act in the best interest of their constituents by fully repealing this law." Last May, an undebated, last-minute provision was included in Illinois' budget package that will establish Illinois as a radical outlier in the global payments system and will upend the way credit and debit cards work across the state. With no workable technology and no system in place as it has never been implemented anywhere in the world, it is unknown how Illinois financial institutions, business owners and consumers will be able to comply with the law. Illinois consumers could be forced to pay tax or gratuity in cash or by check, and purchases might require two transactions. "Credit unions across Illinois appreciate the General Assembly's recognition of the urgent need for relief from the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act," said Ashley Sharp, Senior Vice President of State Advocacy and Legislative Counsel for the Illinois Credit Union League. "This misguided policy will negatively impact the consumers we serve, and we will continue our efforts to have this law fully repealed." The Illinois Bankers Association and the Illinois Credit Union League were among a group of plaintiffs who filed litigation to challenge the law last August. A partial preliminary injunction was granted in December, ruling that national banks, federal savings banks and out of state banks would be exempt from complying from the law. However, Illinois' own state-chartered banks, as well as state and federal credit unions, will still have to comply with this law. "The Community Bankers Association of Illinois appreciates the General Assembly taking the prudent approach of delaying the implementation of the IFPA," said Jerry Peck, Senior Vice President of government relations at the Community Bankers Association of Illinois. "We look forward to continued conversations with lawmakers about the unintended negative consequences this deeply flawed law will have for consumers and small business." Last October, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which charters and examines national banks, filed an amicus brief stating that the IFPA "is an ill-conceived, highly unusual and largely unworkable state law," and "it is likely that fraud risk would increase significantly, consumer services would be constrained, and public trust would decline." Small businesses will be left with headaches from this law while corporate megastores will be the beneficiaries. A new study analyzing the cost implications of an Illinois credit card law shows 40 of the largest retailers will soak up nearly 40 percent of the estimated $118 million reduction in interchange. This is why corporate megastores have publicly supported similar legislation in other states. "The Illinois General Assembly took a step in the right direction by delaying the implementation of the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act, a law that will disrupt a system that has worked efficiently for decades and threaten the economic vitality of small businesses across our state," said Lou Sandoval, President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. "The Illinois Chamber of Commerce urges lawmakers to repeal this law and focus on policies that support small businesses across Illinois." The Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce have advocated for a repeal of this law due to the harmful impact it will have on small businesses across the state. "Delaying the implementation of this misguided policy gives small business owners the protections they deserve while the law continues to be challenged in federal court," said Larry Ivory, President and CEO of the Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce. "We urge Illinois legislators to repeal this law before it harms over one million small businesses across the state." "We welcome the decision to delay the implementation of IFPA, but it's clear that this law will have serious unintended consequences on small businesses who are the backbone of Illinois' economy," said Jaime di Paulo, President and CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "If enacted, this law will limit payment options for small retailers, disrupt existing financial systems, and ultimately increase costs for consumers. For Latino-owned businesses, many of which operate with thin margins and limited access to capital, this kind of disruption could be devastating. While the extension is a good start, we still urge the Illinois legislature to repeal this misguided law and prioritize the needs of our local entrepreneurs and communities." To learn more, visit guardyourcard.com/Illinois. SOURCE Guard Your Card Illinois CALGARY, AB, June 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Horizon Petroleum Ltd. (the "Company" or "Horizon") (TSXV: HPL) (FRA: HPM) (Tradegate: HPM) is pleased to provide an operations update on progress made towards first production from its cornerstone Lachowice gas development in the Bielsko-Biala concession, southern Poland. David Winter, CEO of the Horizon commented: " We are pleased with the continuing progress in our operations towards first production from the Lachowice 7 well. Board and Management recognise the efforts of our operating team in Poland in ensuring that the initial development program is executed as planned. We also recognise the very positive relationships that we enjoy with our neighbours at Lachowice, and the positive contributions from our contractors, local authorities and government. We look forward to our continuing work with all stakeholders and will update shareholders as the initial development program progresses". Assuming a successful workover result, gas and/or electrical power sales from the Lachowice 7 (L7) well will provide the Company with its first cashflow and will provide a long-term test of the production performance of the naturally fractured, Devonian aged, limestone and dolomite reservoirs in the L7 well. Preparatory work for the L7 workover is progressing on schedule: The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Permit for the L7 workover has been approved by the Ministry of Climate and the Environment (the "Ministry" ). ). With the funds from the recent successful debenture financing, long lead time materials and services have been sourced and ordered with expected deliveries in August and September. These materials include the tubing, wellhead and completion equipment. The Company has received confirmation from its electrical contractor that the local utility company will move the power line that crosses the L7 wellsite by the end of June. Final civil engineering design for the wellsite and access road has been completed and tendering for the construction works to be awarded in the next 3-4 weeks. Wellsite and access road construction to commence in July once the above-mentioned electricity line has been moved. The Company is working with a local service provider to choose the appropriate rig for the workover, now scheduled to commence in September with long-term production testing of the well in October. Early Production System (EPF ) The Company continues the work towards finalizing the early production scheme for the initial development at the L7 well following the workover and testing. As previously disclosed, the Company contracted a local electrical engineering company and a mechanical engineering company to review options to monetize gas production from the initial development at L7 and the full field development Lachowice gas field. The reviews and investigations are largely completed: Gas to Power: The company has identified two access points into the local electricity transmission grids. The first with 2MW capacity is located with 300m of the L7 wellsite. The second with 4MW capacity is located approximately 1km from the L7 wellsite. Horizon has made an application to secure the 2MW capacity that will be the first tie-in point for G2P. The company continues to work towards securing the 4MW at the second location. of the L7 wellsite. The second with 4MW capacity is located approximately 1km from the L7 wellsite. Horizon has made an application to secure the 2MW capacity that will be the first tie-in point for G2P. The company continues to work towards securing the 4MW at the second location. The preliminary design of the gas processing facility that will be required to separate the liquid condensate and any free water from the L7 gas stream has been completed. The Company has commenced sourcing the required vessels and other process equipment. Work on the EIA for the production facility is underway targeting submission in mid-June. Full Field Development Plan The Company has commenced the preliminary work for the EIA for the planned 100km2 3D seismic survey over the Lachowice gas field. A third-party evaluation has identified a high-pressure gas network tie-in point approximately 14 km northeast of L7, half the distance of the previous plan, which will result in reduced pipeline costs and faster approvals. Takeaway capacities have been confirmed and are consistent with Horizon's short and long-term forecast production volumes. The Company has commenced discussions with pipeline operator and owner to secure access and pipeline capacity. The Company will shortly commence the initial work on the EIA for the full field development facility site and commence the process to rezone the land for industrial use. Lachowice 7 Well Workover Operations Program The L7 workover is scheduled to be conducted in September/October of this year subject to receiving the necessary long lead items, equipment and services as planned. A detailed program has been completed and application to the Polish Mining authority for the program will be submitted shortly. The workover program will consist of: Upgrade the wellhead to execute the workover and eventual production. Drill out a surface cement plug and downhole mechanical plug in the wellbore. Pressure test the existing well casing to ensure wellbore security and integrity Drill and recover an existing packer located above the zone that originally tested up to 8.9mmscf/d gas Reperforate, acid stimulation and production test of this same zone Complete the well for production in anticipation of the EPF to be installed on site in first half 2026. The Company is targeting gas/electricity sales and first cash flow by the first half of 2026. About Horizon Petroleum Ltd. Calgary-based Horizon is focused on the appraisal and development of natural gas and oil reserves in Europe. The Management and Board of Horizon consist of oil & gas professionals with significant international experience. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, forecasts, estimates, expectations and objectives for future operations that are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Horizon. 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 or be achieved. This press release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to, among other things the timing of re-entry of the well, the moving of the infrastructure in the area, timing of sales gas, and other operational matters in this news release, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking information is based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks, which could cause actual results to vary and in some instances to differ materially from those anticipated by Horizon and described in the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Although Horizon believes that the material factors, expectations and assumptions expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available to it on the date such statements were made, no assurances can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements and such statements are not guarantees of future performance. SOURCE Horizon Petroleum Ltd. KNOXVILLE, Tenn., May 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Novoxel Inc. and GPOphtho announce their agreement to expand access to Novoxel's innovative Tixel device family across the United States. This collaboration aims to deliver breakthrough dry eye treatments and aesthetic procedures to eyecare physicians nationwide. Expanding Access to Advanced Dry Eye and Aesthetic Solutions "What sets Tixel i apart from other dry eye treatments is that it only takes 2 minutes for both eyes to be treated." Post this The agreement grants GPOphtho's network of ophthalmologists and optometrists discounted pricing and value-added packages for Novoxel's Tixel devices. Tixel i is specifically designed to treat Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), offering a fast and targeted solution for both upper and lower eyelids. A recent clinical trial (Sanni, et al, 2025) concluded that Tixel i is a safe, non-pharmacologic, first-line treatment for MGD. "What sets Tixel i apart from other dry eye treatments is that it only takes 2 minutes for both eyes to be treated. Unlike older technology, Tixel i safely treats upper and lower eyelids to maximize improvement," says Cynthia Matossian, MD, FACS, and CEO of GPOphtho. The FDA-cleared family of products provide year-round treatments for all skin types and age groups. They offer non-invasive rejuvenation without needles, bleeding, or pain, minimal downtime, no expensive consumables, and are radiation-free. Empowering Eyecare Physicians with New Revenue Streams "Eyecare physicians are uniquely positioned to incorporate aesthetic procedures into their practices due to their expertise in the periocular anatomy and their familiarity with ophthalmic laser technology," says Cynthia Matossian, MD, FACS, and CEO of GPOphtho. This agreement will enable eyecare professionals to easily integrate both functional and cosmetic procedures, creating new revenue streams and enhancing patient satisfaction. Both Novoxel and GPOphtho are committed to bringing innovative, cutting-edge technology to more patients and practices across the US. For product demos or pricing information, visit tixel.us/contactus . Existing GPOphtho members can inquire about adding Tixel through their GPOphtho contact. ABOUT NOVOXEL Established in 2011, Novoxel Ltd. focuses on scientific and clinical innovation. Novoxel has been granted numerous patents around the world. The company's Tixel family of products use proprietary Thermo-Mechanical Action (TMA) to deliver noticeable clinical results even though treatments are non-invasive. There is minimal downtime, no expensive single-use cartridges, no bleeding, and minimal/no pain. Because the affordable treatments are radiation-free, safety eyewear is not required for clinicians. Visit tixel.us/contactus for more information. ABOUT GPOPHTHO GPOphtho's mission is to save our members time and money for all of their business needs by becoming the most comprehensive ophthalmic group purchasing organization. By leveraging collective buying power, GPOphtho is able to negotiate discounted rates and value-added packages for a diverse range of products and services, allowing physicians and their staff to focus on providing the best care for their patients. Plus, members can take advantage of all GPOphtho's negotiated contracts without paying administrative fees. For more information, visit www.gpophtho.com . Interested eyecare physicians can join GPOphtho at no cost. SOURCE Novoxel Inc. Stephan Nagel has been named Vice President Global Partnerships. A highly recognised expert in the airline industry with a strong record in Global Alliances, Airline Partnerships and Strategic Planning, Nagel brings in more than 25 years of experience in aviation. He has held high-profile roles in Qatar Airways, Air Berlin, Star Alliance and Lufthansa, where he was instrumental in forging and nurturing comprehensive network strategies, business transformation and industry-leading strategic partnerships that have significantly expanded the global reach and operational efficiency of the airlines he has served. He is a familiar face and a trusted voice in oneworld, having served on the oneworld Management Board for 10 years. In his new role, Nagel will be responsible for advancing strategic partnerships across the alliance, including member airlines and key technology and loyalty partners. Chris Kelly Singley has been appointed Vice President Communications and Marketing. A highly respected communications executive with deep expertise in corporate reputation, stakeholder engagement and crisis management, Singley brings more than two decades of experience in the aviation and aerospace sectors. She has held senior roles at JetZero, Boeing, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, leading high-profile campaigns and strategic initiatives spanning global media relations, employee engagement and CSR. At oneworld, Singley will lead the alliance's global communications and marketing strategies, shaping its narrative and amplifying its impact among customers, partners and stakeholders. Guido van Til has been named Vice President Digital. A transformation leader with a strong track record across technology, customer experience, and digital innovation, van Til brings more than 25 years of experience in aviation and retail. He most recently supported top global brands including Rituals and Dyson through their digital transformation journeys, and previously spent more than 30 years at Air France-KLM, where he held several senior roles and reshaped the group's digital strategy, drove platform convergence, and spearheaded product development across all digital touchpoints. At oneworld, he will lead the alliance's digital strategy and delivery to ensure an integrated, customer-focused digital ecosystem. "Stephan, Chris and Guido are proven leaders with outstanding credentials and deep expertise across their respective fields. Each brings unique strengths to the alliance that will help shape the next chapter of growth and innovation for oneworld," said Nat Pieper, CEO of oneworld. "I'm delighted to welcome them to the team as we continue building on our 25-year legacy to deliver exceptional quality and service to our customers and partners around the world." For media queries, please contact [email protected] About oneworld oneworld brings together 14 world-class airlines Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Fiji Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian and SriLankan Airlines, and more than 20 of their affiliates. oneworld member airlines work together to consistently deliver a superior, seamless travel experience, with special rewards and privileges for its frequent flyers, including earning and redeeming miles and points across the entire alliance network, access to airport lounges, priority check-in and boarding, extra baggage allowances and more. Learn more about the the oneworld alliance at oneworld.com. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , X and LinkedIn . SOURCE oneworld Management Company, Inc The Precourt Healing Center, a new facility with 14 beds for adults and 14 for adolescents, has opened in Edwards. These are the only psychiatric beds in all of western Colorado, actually, between here and Salt Lake City. This is it, said Chris Lindley, executive director of Vail Health Behavioral Health. It also finds that 53% of voters believe MPs should support the Prime Minister and his government in the confidence vote, versus 37% who think MPs should vote "no confidence" and 10% who cannot say. Additional findings include: 87% demand that the vote be held publicly, with only 11% willing to allow a secret ballot. 74% want the President to remain limited to a single term, compared to 20% who would support a second term. 54% prefer a parliamentary system under the current Prime Minister, while just 32% would opt for a presidential system under the current President. More generally, 52% would prefer Mongolia remain a parliamentary democracy, and 41% would prefer for Mongolia to become a presidential democracy. 51% would rather the Prime Minister stay on with his coalition government, versus 38% who prefer an MPP-only government with a new president-appointed prime minister. 67% of voters would prefer a coalition government, to 26% who would prefer for the MPP to govern alone. These figures demonstrate that, as the vote of confidence approaches, public opinion remains in favor of continuity under Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene's coalition. Voters not only support his economic agenda - most notably the National Wealth Fund - but also oppose expansion of presidential powers. Sancrox Political Advisory is a leading international polling and strategy firm, providing political insight and public opinion research across the globe. Findings Representative poll of n = 1,140 Mongolian adults. Fieldwork conducted 2830 May 2025. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2700716/Image_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2700717/Image_2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2700718/Image_3.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2700719/Image_4.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2700720/Image_5.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2700721/Image_6.jpg SOURCE Sancrox Political Advisory WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Bogota : , June 1 (IANS) An all-party Parliamentary delegation, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, departed from Colombia on Saturday (local time) for Brazil, after concluding a successful and meaningful visit here, as part of India's efforts under Operation Sindoor to reach out to partner countries to highlight its firm stance in the fight against cross-border terrorism and its zero tolerance policy against terror. The Indian Embassy in Colombia said that India's steadfast commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms was conveyed in the clearest terms, adding that Operation Sindoor stands as a testament to India's zero-tolerance approach -- there can be no coexistence between terror and dialogue as well as between trade and bloodshed. "The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, headed by MP, Shashi Tharoor, departs Colombia after a successful and meaningful visit. India's steadfast commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms was conveyed in the clearest terms. Operation Sindoor stands as a testament to India's zero-tolerance approach -- there can be no coexistence between terror and dialogue, between trade and bloodshed," the Indian Embassy in Colombia said on Saturday on social media platform X. Earlier on Friday, the Indian Embassy in Colombia in another X post wrote: " India's Ambassador to Colombia, Vanlalhuma, hosted a reception for the visiting all-party Parliamentary Delegation. Members interacted with the Indian diaspora & Colombian citizens, highlighting India's resolute stand against terrorism and new strategies to counter cross-border terror." Apart from Shashi Tharoor, the delegation, comprising MPs -- Shambhavi of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Sarfraz Ahmad of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, GM Harish Balayogi of the Telugu Desam Party, Shashank Mani Tripathi of the BJP, Milind Murli Deora of the Shiv Sena, Bhubaneswar Kalita of the BJP, Tejasvi Surya of the BJP, and accompanied by Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu, arrived in Colombia on May 26 evening, as part of the Indian government's broader diplomatic initiative under Operation Sindoor. Earlier on Friday, taking to his official X account, Tharoor wrote: "The only way to achieve peace is for Pakistan to end its terrorist acts and for those identified as perpetrators of these acts, which have left only death and devastation in their wake, to be punished." BJP MP Bhubaneswar Kalita, a member of the all-party delegation led by Congress MP Tharoor, said on X: "India's all-party delegation continues its global outreach to build consensus against #terrorism. In #Colombia, held meaningful talks with key leaders of the National Congress who expressed strong support for India's sovereignty & resolute stand against terrorism." Another delegation member and Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora on X wrote: "Our visit to #Colombia ended on a high note with a lovely reception hosted by Indian Ambassador to Colombia, Vanlalhuma, and his gracious wife in #Bogota. I also finally caught up with my close friend Simon Gaviria Munoz, who's been a tremendous help throughout our visit. A true friend of India! India-Colombia #OperationSindoor." Earlier on Friday, Colombia's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio has said that her country was withdrawing its inadvertent statement expressing condolences over the deaths in Pakistan from 'Operation Sindoor', according to Congress MP Tharoor, who is leading the Parliamentary delegation. "The vice minister very graciously mentioned they have withdrawn the statement that we had expressed concern about, and that they fully understand our position on the matter, which is something we really value," Tharoor told the media after their meeting here on Friday. Tharoor had earlier expressed disappointment with Colombia's statement that appeared to give the impression of a false equivalency between the terrorists killed by 'Operation Sindoor' and their victims in Pahalgam. With Tharoor standing alongside, Villavicencio said, "We are very confident that with the explanations that we received today and with the detailed information that we now have regarding the real situation on what happened in Kashmir, we can now follow and continue the dialogue." Getting the message of the impact of terrorism to Colombia, a country that had suffered its ravages, is significant as it is expected to take a seat on the UN Security Council next year. It is running unopposed for the Latin American seat in next week's election. During a meeting with Colombian media on Thursday, Tharoor said that India was "a little disappointed in the reaction of the Colombian government, which apparently expressed heartfelt condolences on the loss of lives in Pakistan after the Indian strikes, rather than sympathising with the victims of terrorism" in Jammu and Kashmir. Instead of taking exception to the criticism, Colombia immediately took note of India's concerns about the statement issued before having a full understanding of the situation, and acted to mitigate it. Setting the stage for the withdrawal of Colombia's statement on Pakistan, former President Cesar Augusto Gaviria Trujillo, a leader of the largest party in Congress, said on Thursday, "Colombia has solidarity with India. We check any kind of terrorism, (and) be certain that under any circumstances, we will be on your side." The delegation has made headway on creating a nuanced understanding of the situation after the Pahalgam massacre by The Resistance Front, an affiliate of Lashkar-e-Toiba that is based in Pakistan and backed by it, and the rationale for 'Operation Sindoor'. Algiers, June 1 : The Indian all-party Parliamentary delegation, led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Baijayant Jay Panda, began their engagements in Algeria with a briefing by India's Ambassador to Algeria, Swati V. Kulkarni, on the North African country's approach to the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, Operation Sindoor, and counter-terrorism. India's Ambassador to Algeria highlighted cordial and friendly ties between India and Algeria, framing the context to deliver the message of India's unwavering stance on zero tolerance for terrorism. "India stands united to combat terrorism. Members of the All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Member of Parliament, Baijayant Jay Panda, lit candles in memory of the victims of #PahalgamTerroristAttack, at the iconic Basilique Notre-Dame d'Afrique (Basilica of Our Lady of Africa) in #Algiers. #NeverForgetNeverForgive #OperationSindoor," the Indian Embassy in Algeria said on Sunday on social media platform X. "Honouring the martyrs! The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Member of Parliament, Baijayant Jay Panda, visited the iconic monument, Maqam Echahid (Martyrs Memorial) in #Algiers. The historical landmark was erected to commemorate the sacrifices made during the Algerian War of Independence. The delegation also visited the National Museum of the Moudjahid, which commemorates Algeria's struggle for liberation," the Indian Embassy in Algeria said in another social media post on X. BJP MPs, Nishikant Dubey and Phangnon Konyak, shared the above social media post written by the Indian Embassy in Algeria on their respective official X accounts. "India and Algeria share deep bonds of history, struggle, and resilience. Today, along with our all-party delegation, we paid tribute at the iconic Maqam Echahid (Martyrs Memorial), honoring Algeria's brave martyrs, and visited the National Museum of the Moudjahid, reflecting on Algeria's heroic fight for independence. #OperationSindoor #IndiaAgainstTerror," Baijayant Panda wrote on his official X account. "Advancing India's unwavering stance against terrorism and deepening India-Algeria bilateral cooperation. Our visit to Algeria commenced with an insightful briefing by Ambassador Swati V. Kulkarni, highlighting the robust India-Algeria partnership, mutual concerns over terrorism, and the powerful global resonance of #OperationSindoor. #IndiaAgainstTerror," BJP MP Rekha Sharma, a member of the all-party delegation led by fellow party leader Baijayant Panda, said on X. "Taking forward India's zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and strengthening India-Algeria ties. We began engagements in Algeria with a detailed briefing by Ambassador Swati V. Kulkarni, covering the strong India-Algeria relationship, shared concerns on terrorism, and the global message of Operation Sindoor," BJP MP Panda posted on X on Saturday. The visit marks a continuation of India's strategic outreach, conveying the nations's resolute stance on terrorism to the global community, including Algeria. After concluding their successful engagements in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, the delegation arrived in Algeria on Friday and will hold various meetings till June 2 to garner international support against cross-border terrorism emanating from the soil of Pakistan. "A warm welcome to all-party delegation of Members of Parliament led by Baijayant Jay Panda, upon their arrival in Algiers. Ambassador Swati V. Kulkarni received the delegation at Algiers airport along with Mourad Heraki, Director (Ceremonial), and Zineddine Goufi, Deputy Director (Asia Oceania), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs of Algeria. Taking Bharat's message to the world," the Indian Embassy in Algeria posted on X. During the course of their stay in Algeria, the members of the delegation will highlight India's decisive and resolute stance on terrorism, particularly its fight against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, and emphasise the importance of international collaboration on counter-terrorism. Earlier on Friday the delegates concluded a productive visit to Saudi Arabia, reaffirming India's zero tolerance and 'New Normal' approach to terrorism. The visit further reaffirmed the shared commitment of India and Saudi Arabia in the fight against terrorism. "Concluded a highly productive visit in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming the deep Indiaa"Saudi Arabia strategic partnership -- from defence and security to trade and counter-terrorism. Our all-party delegation conveyed India's firm zero-tolerance and New Normal approach against terrorism, and we appreciate Abdulrahman Alharbi, Chair of the Saudi-India Friendship Committee, for his warm send-off," BJP MP Panda posted on X. The delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda, includes BJP MPs -- Nishikant Dubey, Phangnon Konyak and Rekha Sharma, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi, BJP MP Satnam Singh Sandhu, and former Indian diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla. The outreach is taking place in the immediate aftermath of the horrendous April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, and subsequent developments to foster global cooperation in countering terrorism. Algiers, June 1 : The Indian all-party Parliamentary delegation, led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Baijayant Jay Panda, on Saturday (local time), paid their tribute to the victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by lighting candles at the iconic Basilique Notre-Dame d'Afrique (Basilica of Our Lady of Africa) in the Algerian capital. "India stands united to combat terrorism. Members of the All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Member of Parliament, Baijayant Jay Panda, lit candles in memory of the victims of #PahalgamTerroristAttack, at the iconic Basilique Notre-Dame d'Afrique (Basilica of Our Lady of Africa) in #Algiers. #NeverForgetNeverForgive #OperationSindoor," the Indian Embassy in Algeria said on social media platform X. "Honouring the martyrs! The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Member of Parliament, Baijayant Jay Panda, visited the iconic monument, Maqam Echahid (Martyrs Memorial) in #Algiers. The historical landmark was erected to commemorate the sacrifices made during the Algerian War of Independence. The delegation also visited the National Museum of the Moudjahid, which commemorates Algeria's struggle for liberation," the Indian Embassy in Algeria said in another social media post on X. BJP MPs and delegation members, Nishikant Dubey and Phangnon Konyak, shared the above social media post written by the Indian Embassy in Algeria on their respective official X accounts. "India and Algeria share deep bonds of history, struggle, and resilience. Today, along with our all-party delegation, we paid tribute at the iconic Maqam Echahid (Martyrs Memorial), honoring Algeria's brave martyrs, and visited the National Museum of the Moudjahid, reflecting on Algeria's heroic fight for independence. #OperationSindoor #IndiaAgainstTerror," Baijayant Panda wrote on his official X account. Earlier in the day, the delegation, led by BJP MP Panda, began their engagements in Algeria with a briefing by India's Ambassador to Algeria, Swati V. Kulkarni, on the North African country's approach to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Operation Sindoor, and counter-terrorism. India's Ambassador to Algeria highlighted cordial and friendly ties between India and Algeria, framing the context to deliver the message of India's unwavering stance on zero tolerance for terrorism. "Advancing India's unwavering stance against terrorism and deepening India-Algeria bilateral cooperation. Our visit to Algeria commenced with an insightful briefing by Ambassador Swati V. Kulkarni, highlighting the robust India-Algeria partnership, mutual concerns over terrorism, and the powerful global resonance of #OperationSindoor. #IndiaAgainstTerror," BJP MP Rekha Sharma, a member of the all-party delegation led by fellow party leader Baijayant Panda, said on X. "Taking forward India's zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and strengthening India-Algeria ties. We began engagements in Algeria with a detailed briefing by Ambassador Swati V. Kulkarni, covering the strong India-Algeria relationship, shared concerns on terrorism, and the global message of Operation Sindoor," BJP MP Panda posted on X on Saturday. The visit marks a continuation of India's strategic outreach, conveying the nations's resolute stance on terrorism to the global community, including Algeria. After concluding their successful engagements in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, the delegation arrived in Algeria on Friday and will hold various meetings till June 2 to garner international support against cross-border terrorism emanating from the soil of Pakistan. "A warm welcome to all-party delegation of Members of Parliament led by Baijayant Jay Panda, upon their arrival in Algiers. Ambassador Swati V. Kulkarni received the delegation at Algiers airport along with Mourad Heraki, Director (Ceremonial), and Zineddine Goufi, Deputy Director (Asia Oceania), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs of Algeria. Taking Bharat's message to the world," the Indian Embassy in Algeria posted on X. During the course of their stay in Algeria, the members of the delegation will highlight India's decisive and resolute stance on terrorism, particularly its fight against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, and emphasise the importance of international collaboration on counter-terrorism. Earlier on Friday the delegates concluded a productive visit to Saudi Arabia, reaffirming India's zero tolerance and 'New Normal' approach to terrorism. The visit further reaffirmed the shared commitment of India and Saudi Arabia in the fight against terrorism. "Concluded a highly productive visit in Saudi Arabia, reaffirming the deep Indiaa"Saudi Arabia strategic partnership -- from defence and security to trade and counter-terrorism. Our all-party delegation conveyed India's firm zero-tolerance and New Normal approach against terrorism, and we appreciate Abdulrahman Alharbi, Chair of the Saudi-India Friendship Committee, for his warm send-off," BJP MP Panda posted on X. The delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda, includes BJP MPs -- Nishikant Dubey, Phangnon Konyak and Rekha Sharma, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi, BJP MP Satnam Singh Sandhu, and former Indian diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla. The outreach is taking place in the immediate aftermath of the horrendous April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor, and subsequent developments to foster global cooperation in countering terrorism. Addis Ababa, June 1 : The All-party delegation led by Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) MP, Supriya Sule, held fruitful interaction with top Ethiopian lawmakers, dignitaries and the African Union Commission, as part of India's efforts under Operation Sindoor to reach out to partner countries to convey India's 'New Normal' against cross-border attacks, zero tolerance for terrorism, and all political parties' resolve to stand united in all matters concerning national interest. The Indian Embassy in Ethiopia in a press statement on Sunday on social media platform X said: "The multi-party Indian Parliamentary delegation, which is on a visit to Ethiopia from May 30-31 and June 1, 2025, in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack, held fruitful interactions and intense discussions with top Ethiopian lawmakers, dignitaries, African Union Commission." The press statement also added: "The Indian delegation started their visit by meeting with Adem Farah, Deputy Chairperson of the Prosperity Party in the rank of Deputy Prime Minister. The visiting delegation conveyed India's unified and determined stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The Members of Parliament briefed on India's 'New Normal' against cross-border attacks, zero tolerance for terrorism, and all political parties resolve to stand united in all matters of national interest. Both sides reiterated their zero-tolerance approach to terrorism. The Deputy PM strongly condemned the terrorist act and expressed the need for collective international action. He also conveyed Ethiopia's strong commitment to work with India in the field of counter-terrorism." "Thereafter, the delegation had fruitful discussions with the African Union and exchanged views on ways and means to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It is worthwhile to mention that African Union has a well-structured definition for terrorism which clearly defines the acts which constitute terrorist acts. This interaction paves the ways for more focused engagement between India and the African Union on preventing and combating terrorism across the world," the statement said. "This was followed by meeting with Tagesse Chafo, the Speaker of the House of People's Representatives of Ethiopia. Both sides explored the possibility of strengthening cooperation between lawmakers of both the countries in carrying forward the message of zero-tolerance against the terrorism. The Speaker conveyed his deepest sympathy and expressed solidarity with the people of India. He underscored the need for urgent and coordinated action to deal with the issues of terrorism in all forms and manifestations." "During the meetings, the delegation members underscored the continued threat of cross-border terrorism and deliberate attempts to sow social discord in India. They highlighted that Operation Sindoor, conducted by India in response, was calibrated, targeted and proportionate, demonstrating India's commitment to countering terrorism without escalating tensions. The Ethiopian side emphasised its own zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and condemned the terrorists act committed on April 22 against innocent citizens. They expressed willingness to work together to address this global challenge," the statement added. "The day concluded with fruitful interaction with Indian community based in Ethiopia. The delegation recognised the vital contribution of diaspora and conveyed India's commitment towards its diaspora. They also commended the diaspora for upholding the Indian ethos of unity, pluralism, tolerance, civilisational principles of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and their contribution in resisting divisive forces in destabilising India's social fabric." After concluding successful visit to Qatar, the all-party delegation led by Supriya Sule comprises BJP leaders Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Thakur and V. Muraleedharan, Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Anand Sharma, Telugu Desam Party's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Aam Aadmi Party leader Vikramjeet Singh Sawhney, and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin. Responding to the press statement released by Indian Embassy in Ethiopia, NCP-SP MP Sule on Sunday on X wrote: "They reaffirmed India's unwavering commitment to combating cross-border terrorism and urged the Indian diaspora to continue to spread this message to every corner of Ethiopia. #OperationSindoor #zerotolerance." "They emphasised India's 'zero tolerance to terrorism' and conveyed the message that terror and talks cannot go together; blood and water cannot flow together," she said. "The delegation presented a unified front of India, clearly explained the role of Pakistan in the gruesome terror attacks in Pahalgam on April 22 and how India through Operation Sindoor destroyed the terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir," Sule added. Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Ethiopia On X wrote: "Meeting with Indian Community (31 May). All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Supriya Sule, interacted with members of the Indian community at the Embassy premises." "Meeting with the Speaker of the Ethiopian Parliament @TagessechaffoD and Members of the Ethiopian Parliament to convey India's firm stand against Pakistan sponsored Terrorism," Congress MP and Indian delegation member Manish Tewari said on X. "Floral Tributes to Mahatma Gandhi (31 May). Honouring Gandhi's enduring ideals of peace and tolerance, members of the All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Supriya Sule paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Embassy of India, Addis Ababa," said former Union Minister of State for External Affairs and BJP leader V. Muraleedharan, who is also an Indian delegation member, said on X. "Africa moving from non interference to non indifference in countering terror. Indian delegation & African Union officials discuss partnering to counter terror threats. #OperationSindoor #JaiHind," another delegation member, Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, said on X. The all-party delegation led by Supriya Sule comprises BJP leaders Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Thakur and V. Muraleedharan, Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Anand Sharma, Telugu Desam Party's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Aam Aadmi Party leader Vikramjeet Singh Sawhney, and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin. The delegation is a part of India's global diplomatic outreach campaign to highlight the significance of Operation Sindoor and India's continued fight against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism. The newly adopted city flags are displayed at the Salt Lake City and County building showing support for LGBTQ+ in defiance of their state's Republican-controlled Legislature on May 7, 2025, in Salt Lake City. Addis Ababa, June 1 : The All-party delegation led by Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) MP, Supriya Sule, held fruitful interaction with top Ethiopian lawmakers, dignitaries and the African Union Commission, as part of India's efforts under Operation Sindoor to reach out to partner countries to convey India's 'New Normal' against cross-border attacks, zero tolerance for terrorism, and all political parties' resolve to stand united in all matters concerning national interest. The Indian Embassy in Ethiopia in a press statement on Sunday on social media platform X said: "The multi-party Indian Parliamentary delegation, which is on a visit to Ethiopia from May 30-31 and June 1, 2025, in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack, held fruitful interactions and intense discussions with top Ethiopian lawmakers, dignitaries, African Union Commission." The press statement also added: "The Indian delegation started their visit by meeting with Adem Farah, Deputy Chairperson of the Prosperity Party in the rank of Deputy Prime Minister. The visiting delegation conveyed India's unified and determined stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The Members of Parliament briefed on India's 'New Normal' against cross-border attacks, zero tolerance for terrorism, and all political parties resolve to stand united in all matters of national interest. Both sides reiterated their zero-tolerance approach to terrorism. The Deputy PM strongly condemned the terrorist act and expressed the need for collective international action. He also conveyed Ethiopia's strong commitment to work with India in the field of counter-terrorism." "Thereafter, the delegation had fruitful discussions with the African Union and exchanged views on ways and means to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It is worthwhile to mention that African Union has a well-structured definition for terrorism which clearly defines the acts which constitute terrorist acts. This interaction paves the ways for more focused engagement between India and the African Union on preventing and combating terrorism across the world," the statement said. "This was followed by meeting with Tagesse Chafo, the Speaker of the House of People's Representatives of Ethiopia. Both sides explored the possibility of strengthening cooperation between lawmakers of both the countries in carrying forward the message of zero-tolerance against the terrorism. The Speaker conveyed his deepest sympathy and expressed solidarity with the people of India. He underscored the need for urgent and coordinated action to deal with the issues of terrorism in all forms and manifestations." "During the meetings, the delegation members underscored the continued threat of cross-border terrorism and deliberate attempts to sow social discord in India. They highlighted that Operation Sindoor, conducted by India in response, was calibrated, targeted and proportionate, demonstrating India's commitment to countering terrorism without escalating tensions. The Ethiopian side emphasised its own zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and condemned the terrorists act committed on April 22 against innocent citizens. They expressed willingness to work together to address this global challenge," the statement added. "The day concluded with fruitful interaction with Indian community based in Ethiopia. The delegation recognised the vital contribution of diaspora and conveyed India's commitment towards its diaspora. They also commended the diaspora for upholding the Indian ethos of unity, pluralism, tolerance, civilisational principles of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and their contribution in resisting divisive forces in destabilising India's social fabric." After concluding successful visit to Qatar and South Africa, the all-party delegation led by Supriya Sule comprises BJP leaders Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Thakur and V. Muraleedharan, Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Anand Sharma, Telugu Desam Party's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Aam Aadmi Party leader Vikramjeet Singh Sawhney, and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin. Responding to the press statement released by Indian Embassy in Ethiopia, NCP-SP MP Sule on Sunday on X wrote: "They reaffirmed India's unwavering commitment to combating cross-border terrorism and urged the Indian diaspora to continue to spread this message to every corner of Ethiopia. #OperationSindoor #zerotolerance." "They emphasised India's 'zero tolerance to terrorism' and conveyed the message that terror and talks cannot go together; blood and water cannot flow together," she said. "The delegation presented a unified front of India, clearly explained the role of Pakistan in the gruesome terror attacks in Pahalgam on April 22 and how India through Operation Sindoor destroyed the terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir," Sule added. Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Ethiopia On X wrote: "Meeting with Indian Community (31 May). All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Supriya Sule, interacted with members of the Indian community at the Embassy premises." "Meeting with the Speaker of the Ethiopian Parliament @TagessechaffoD and Members of the Ethiopian Parliament to convey India's firm stand against Pakistan sponsored Terrorism," Congress MP and Indian delegation member Manish Tewari said on X. "Floral Tributes to Mahatma Gandhi (31 May). Honouring Gandhi's enduring ideals of peace and tolerance, members of the All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Supriya Sule paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at the Embassy of India, Addis Ababa," said former Union Minister of State for External Affairs and BJP leader V. Muraleedharan, who is also an Indian delegation member, said on X. "Africa moving from non interference to non indifference in countering terror. Indian delegation & African Union officials discuss partnering to counter terror threats. #OperationSindoor #JaiHind," another delegation member, Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, said on X. The all-party delegation led by Supriya Sule comprises BJP leaders Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Anurag Thakur and V. Muraleedharan, Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Anand Sharma, Telugu Desam Party's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Aam Aadmi Party leader Vikramjeet Singh Sawhney, and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin. The delegation is a part of India's global diplomatic outreach campaign to highlight the significance of Operation Sindoor and India's continued fight against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism. Kuala Lumpur, June 1 : An all-party delegation led by Janata Dal United MP, Sanjay Kumar Jha, arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday (local time) after concluding a successful visit to Indonesia, as part of India's global efforts to convey India's national consensus and collective resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Kuala Lumpur, June 1 (IANS) An all-party delegation led by Janata Dal United MP, Sanjay Kumar Jha, arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Saturday (local time) after concluding a successful visit to Indonesia, as part of India's global efforts to convey India's national consensus and collective resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The Indian Embassy in Malaysia posted on X photos of the delegation being received by India's High Commissioner to Malaysia, B N Reddy. "All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, arrived in Kuala Lumpur. The delegation will meet with Malaysian Ministers, Members of Parliament, representatives of think-tanks, academia, media and Indian community to convey India's national consensus and collective resolve to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. #OpSindoor #NeverForgetNeverForgive #IndiaAgainstTerror," the Indian Embassy in Malaysia said on social media platform X. Earlier, the delegation led by JD-U MP Sanjay Kumar Jha departed from Indonesia on Friday afternoon for their last leg of foreign visit to Malaysia. The Indian Embassy in Indonesia in a press statement on X said: "The Multi-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by Sanjay Kumar Jha, on the successful completion of their Indonesia Mission today afternoon, departed from Jakarta for their last leg of the tour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia." "Through their several interactions in Jakarta in the last three days with a cross-section of important stakeholders, the delegation was able to firmly articulate India's principles and resolute stance of zero tolerance against terrorism and garner unequivocal support from all the interlocutors in Indonesia," the press statement added. The delegation also had meaningful discussions with researchers and scholars of various think-tanks and academia in Indonesia. After concluding visit to Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, the delegation led by JD-U MP Jha for last leg of the foreign tour in Malaysia also includes BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Hemang Joshi and Pradan Baruah, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Barittas, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, and Former Indian Ambassador to France, Mohan Kumar. The delegation is one of the seven multi-party delegations India has tasked to visit 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community to emphasise Pakistan's links to terrorism. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7. Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10. The Indian side responded strongly to the Pakistani actions. The on-ground hostilities ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10. Jerusalem, June 1 : Israel's military has confirmed the killing of Mohammed Sinwar, a senior Hamas commander and head of the group's military wing in Gaza, in an airstrike earlier this month. In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency said on Saturday that Sinwar was killed on May 13 in a targeted strike on an underground command centre located beneath the European Hospital in southern Gaza. The military accused Hamas of using the medical facility as cover, putting civilians at risk, Xinhua news agency reported. Sinwar, 49, was described by the IDF as one of Hamas' most senior and long-serving military leaders, with a key role in planning the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that ignited the current conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had disclosed Sinwar's death earlier this week in a speech to the Israeli Parliament. The strike also killed two other senior Hamas commanders: Muhammad Shabana, who led the group's Rafah brigade, and Mahdi Quara, head of the Khan Younis battalion. The IDF said both men were involved in the October 7 assault and later directed attacks against Israeli troops, including the management of hostages and rocket fire. Gaza's health authorities previously said the strike killed at least six people and wounded 40. Hamas has not issued an official statement confirming Sinwar's death. Mohammed Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the former Hamas leader in Gaza, who was killed during a clash with the IDF in October 2024. Separately on Saturday, the IDF reported rocket fire from Gaza, with several projectiles landing in open areas near the southern communities of Ein Hashlosha and Nirim. No casualties were reported, according to Israel's emergency medical service, Magen David Adom. Israeli media outlet Channel 12 said three rockets were fired. Gaza health officials said the death toll from Israel's military campaign since October 7 has reached 54,381, with 124,054 wounded. Since the resumption of hostilities on March 18, 4,117 people have been killed and 12,013 injured, the authorities said. Chennai, June 1 : In a landmark move to preserve urban biodiversity, forest officials in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, have launched a special initiative to identify and protect rare, ancient, and ecologically significant trees by designating them as 'heritage trees'. These trees will receive special protection owing to their ecological, cultural, historical, and aesthetic value, officials said. Tamil Nadu Forest Secretary Supriya Sahu, announcing the initiative, said the move is aimed at conserving living botanical landmarks that have silently stood witness to the evolution of the city and its environment. "These heritage trees are a vital part of our urban ecosystem. They connect us to our natural past and deserve recognition and protection," she said. The initiative, currently focused on Chennai, is a collaborative effort between the Chennai Forest Division, eminent botanist Professor D. Narasimhan, and the city-based environmental NGO Nizhal Trust. The team undertook meticulous fieldwork to identify trees that meet the criteria of heritage status, including age, ecological relevance, historical significance, and cultural value. A special task force, led by District Forest Officer V.A. Saravanan, carried out the survey and identified 104 trees across Chennai that qualify as heritage trees. These trees span various species and locations, some nestled within school campuses, temple grounds, and historic institutions. Among the most iconic is the Adyar Banyan Tree, estimated to be over 450 years old. Located near the Theosophical Society campus, this massive tree has long been considered a symbol of Chennai's natural legacy and cultural depth. Its expansive canopy and complex root system make it a natural wonder and a vital part of the local ecology. Another notable example is the African Baobab tree on a school campus in Rajapalayam, Virudhunagar district, believed to have been planted over a century ago by Arab travellers. A second Baobab tree also stands on the grounds of the Theosophical Society in Chennai, reflecting Tamil Nadu's long history of cross-cultural botanical exchanges. The forest department plans to expand the initiative to other districts in the coming months. These efforts include creating a comprehensive database of heritage trees, installing signage, and conducting awareness campaigns in schools and local communities. "The goal is not just conservation, but also education," said Sahu. "By recognising these trees as heritage symbols, we hope to instil a deeper environmental consciousness and sense of pride among citizens, especially the younger generation." The initiative is expected to become a model for urban ecological preservation across India. Moscow, June 1 : At least seven people lost their lives, and 30 others were hospitalised after a railway bridge collapsed, causing a train derailment in Russia's Bryansk region, which shares a border with Ukraine. Authorities have cited "illegal interference" as the reason behind the incident, which occurred early Sunday. Russian Railways, in a post on Telegram, stated that the train's locomotive and several cars derailed "due to the collapse of a span structure of the road bridge as a result of an illegal interference in the operation of transport." Bryansk region governor Alexander Bogomaz said two children were among those hospitalised, with one in serious condition. The locomotive driver was among those killed, according to Russian state news agencies citing medical sources. The Ministry of Emergency Situations said on Telegram that around 180 personnel were deployed to the scene, with the primary focus on locating and rescuing any remaining victims. Reports from Russia's Baza Telegram channel, which frequently shares information sourced from law enforcement and security services, suggested that preliminary findings indicated the bridge may have been blown up. However, the channel did not provide evidence to support the claim. Since the onset of the war, the Bryansk region -- along with the neighbouring Kursk and Belgorod regions -- has repeatedly faced cross-border shelling, drone attacks, and covert incursions from Ukrainian territory. The train was en route from Klimovo to Moscow when it collided with the collapsed bridge near a federal highway in the Vygonichskyi district of the Bryansk region, Governor Bogomaz added. The district is located approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the Ukrainian border. In the broader context of the ongoing conflict, US President Donald Trump has called on both Moscow and Kyiv to collaborate on a peace deal to bring the war to an end. Meanwhile, Russia has proposed a second round of direct negotiations with Ukrainian officials, slated for next week in Istanbul. Ukraine, however, has yet to confirm its participation in the proposed talks on Monday, stating it first needs to review the specifics of Russia's proposals. Chennai, June 1 : The Tamil Nadu government has stepped up enforcement against the sale and distribution of tobacco products near schools and colleges, as part of its ongoing public health efforts. In an official release, the government said it had instructed the Tamil Nadu Police, Food Safety Department, and local bodies to undertake focused enforcement drives to ensure strict adherence to anti-tobacco laws in areas surrounding educational institutions. To facilitate these efforts, 391 joint inspection teams -- comprising officials from the Police, Food Safety and Standards Department, and the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department -- have been formed to conduct routine checks near schools and colleges across the state. The manufacture, storage, transport, distribution, and sale of oral tobacco products such as gutkha, pan masala, Cool Lip, and other forms of chewable tobacco remain banned in Tamil Nadu under a Government Order issued under Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The state has been running an extensive enforcement campaign since November 2023. According to the government, the Food Safety Department has inspected over 5.2 lakh shops and transport vehicles during this period. Of these, 13,642 shops were found selling prohibited tobacco products. Authorities have seized 1.8 lakh kilograms of banned tobacco, including 5,258 kg of the product Cool Lip. A total fine of Rs 39.14 crore has been imposed on violators by the Food Safety and Standards Department. In a parallel effort, the Tamil Nadu Police have registered 43,167 cases and confiscated over 4.1 lakh kg of banned tobacco items. Reaffirming its stance, the government said: "The Tamil Nadu government reiterates its unwavering commitment to protecting public health, particularly children and young adults. On this World No Tobacco Day, the state calls on all citizens to support and cooperate with these enforcement efforts and to work towards a tobacco-free environment around educational institutions." The initiative underscores the state's continued focus on reducing tobacco use and ensuring a safe and healthy atmosphere for students and youth. Ganderbal, June 1 : As the sacred annual Mata Kheer Bhawani Mela draws near, large numbers of pilgrims have begun arriving in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district, undeterred by the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. With unwavering faith in the Indian Armed Forces, devotees, particularly from the Kashmiri Pandit community, are preparing to celebrate one of their most revered festivals on June 3 at the historic temple of Ragnya Devi in Tullamulla. The shrine, dedicated to Goddess Ragnya Devi -- a reincarnation of Goddess Durga -- becomes a focal point of religious fervour each year as devotees from across India and abroad converge for the Mela. Despite heightened tensions following the brutal April 22 Pahalgam terror incident, the spirit of the pilgrims remains unshaken. Extensive security arrangements have been deployed across the region to ensure the safety of the devotees. Authorities have assured that all necessary measures -- including drinking water supply and essential amenities -- are in place to provide a worry-free experience for pilgrims. Kashmiri Pandits, many of whom were displaced during the 1990 exodus, have expressed that their devotion remains stronger than ever. They also lauded the Indian government and armed forces for launching 'Operation Sindoor' in response to the Pahalgam attack, calling it a fitting reply to Pakistan-backed terrorism. "The terrorists tried to spread fear, but our devotion has only grown," said a pilgrim from Chandigarh, speaking to IANS. "They want to derail tourism, but Kashmir is a part of India. We will keep coming here. No one can frighten us." Another devotee, Sunita, who migrated to Delhi during the 1990s, expressed deep emotional resonance on returning to the shrine for the first time. "We're not scared even after the terror attack. Mata Kheer Bhawani called us. We are here because of her and because of PM Modi. This is all possible because of him," she told IANS. Umar Raina, another pilgrim, told IANS, "We only pray that Kashmiri Pandits are able to come back to their motherland. We want peace to prevail in Kashmir and to return to our homes." Sharing similar sentiments, Shriti Dhar, a regular visitor to the Mela, said, "Our armed forces have always protected us. We are proud of them. The arrangements this year are really good. We've witnessed violence since our childhood, and the Indian Armed Forces have always been our shield." Meanwhile, top officials, including IGP Jammu and Kashmir Police, DC Jammu Sachin, and Relief Commissioner Arvind, flagged off the Mata Kheer Bhawani Yatra in Jammu. New Delhi, June 1 : In a bid to strengthen maritime ties, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, is set to embark on a five-day official visit to Norway and Denmark, beginning June 2. The visit holds strategic importance as the minister will lead the Indian delegation comprising senior officials from the Central and state governments, along with leading players from the private sector. "The maritime sector is a cornerstone of economic growth and national development. Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has not only become the world's fourth-largest economy but is also working towards securing its place as a major maritime nation," said Sonowal. "As we move forward toward realising the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, it is vital that we unlock the full potential of our Blue Economy, which offers immense opportunities in trade, connectivity, clean energy, and innovation," he added. During the visit, Sonowal will address a high-level meeting on oceans at the 60th edition of the Nor-Shipping event in Oslo and inaugurate the first 'India Pavillion' there. He will also chair the India@Nor-Shipping Country Session and hold global outreach for the upcoming 'India Maritime Week 2025' scheduled from October 27-31 in Mumbai. On the sidelines of Nor-Shipping event, the minister is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his ministerial peers from Japan and Norway, and meet leading European shipping companies, component manufacturers and technology developers. Sonowal will also visit Oslo Port Authority. The India Pavilion also has a dedicated pavilion of 'National Maritime Heritage Complex' and engage global delegates on India's 5000-year-old civilisational maritime heritage and global linkages, according to the ministry. While in Denmark, among other engagements, he will interact with the students of 'Blue MBA' at the Copenhagen Business School on the economic opportunities that India's high-growth journey presents for future managers and leaders. "My visit to Norway and Denmark both recognised as global maritime leaders is aimed at building strong, future-ready partnerships. These engagements will help us exchange best practices, explore joint ventures, and align efforts for a greener and more resilient maritime ecosystem," said the minister. IANS na/ Chhatarpur, June 1 : Bageshwar Dham's chief priest, Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, has voiced strong opposition to the practice of animal sacrifice, particularly during the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha, also known as Bakrid, and remarked that no one has the right to take life. Shastri, known for his influential spiritual presence, emphasised the need to embrace non-violence in modern society and urged all communities to move beyond rituals involving harm to living beings. Interacting with the media in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur, Shastri, talking about goat sacrifice on Bakrid, said, "Violence against living beings is not acceptable in any community, culture, or religion. If we cannot save a life, then no one has the right to take it." He acknowledged that animal sacrifice was historically present in various traditions, including Sanatan Dharma, but firmly stated that such practices are outdated in the current era. He explained that the modern age offers more compassionate and humane alternatives to religious expression. "We are not in favour of any form of sacrifice. Therefore, we are not in favour of Bakrid either. Times have changed. Now we have treatments, prayers, and other means of support. We are all civilised and educated people. Hence, we believe violence against any living being must be stopped," Shastri said. Citing the core Hindu philosophy of non-violence, Shastri added, "We must walk the path of 'Ahinsa Parmo Dharma', non-violence is the highest duty." He concluded by appealing to followers of all faiths to reflect on the sanctity of life and adopt more peaceful, compassionate practices. "Stopping violence against living beings will benefit all religions and give rise to a new inspiration and resolve that every creature has the right to live," Shastri stated. Thiruvananthapuram, June 1 : Trinamool Congress state convenor and former Nilambur MLA P.V. Anvar will officially contest the upcoming Nilambur by-election, putting an end to days of political speculation and back-and-forth over his candidature. Party sources confirmed that Anvar is expected to file his nomination papers on Monday. The Trinamool national leadership has already allotted him the party symbol, and a formal announcement of his candidature is anticipated soon. Anvar's candidacy has stirred interest in Kerala's political circles, particularly after his earlier statement on Saturday declaring that he would not enter the fray. Citing financial constraints, Anvar remarked that he lacked the crores of rupees typically needed for an election campaign and had no plans to contest. He also dismissed any ongoing political ties with the United Democratic Front (UDF). However, in a surprising shift later the same day, Anvar appeared to reconsider his decision. "What can I do if so many common workers come to visit me with Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, pleading with me to contest?" he said, suggesting mounting grassroots pressure had influenced his change of heart. Adding intrigue to the unfolding developments, Youth Congress state president Rahul Mamkoottathil paid a late-night visit to Anvar's residence in Malappuram on Saturday. While the content of their discussion remains undisclosed, confirmation of Anvar's candidacy surfaced within hours of their meeting, fuelling speculation about behind-the-scenes political negotiations. Anvar has also been engaged in earlier talks with the UDF regarding the Trinamool's potential inclusion in the alliance. Although Congress leaders reportedly offered the Trinamool associate membership status, Anvar rejected the offer, insisting instead on full membership for his party. The stalemate over this demand had cast uncertainty over his political direction -- until now. Anvar, known for his unpredictability and populist appeal, appears poised for a high-stakes return to electoral politics in Nilambur, a constituency he once represented. With the Trinamool banking on his local clout and grassroots connect, the Nilambur by-election is likely to witness a keenly watched political battle. Crossing the Continental Divide Colorado Springs company Reclaiming Civility is teaming with national group Braver Angels to host a series of events designed to help people practice civility with others. Kickoff meeting is 6 p.m. Monday at Library 21c, 1175 Chapel Hills Drive. The free gathering will introduce the concept of civility, show a Braver Angels video and lead attendees through two activities designed to decrease polarization. Day-long training and debates will be held in Black Forest throughout the summer. Morning sessions provide people with tools and techniques. After lunch, which is provided, participants will put the training into practice by participating in debates between Blue (liberal) and Red (conservative) participants. Advance registration required. Donations accepted. Topics to be covered: June 21: Parental rights and gender identity in public schools July 19: Colorados gun laws Aug. 16: Freedom of religion vs. freedom from religion For information and to register, see: www.tinyurl.com/Civil2025 or https://co-sfra.braverangels.org/news-and-blogs/2025-summer-series Brasilia, June 1 : An all-party parliamentary delegation from India, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, arrived in Brazil on Sunday as part of the government's ongoing diplomatic outreach under Operation Sindoor to consolidate global support against cross-border terrorism and to present India's zero-tolerance stance on terror. The delegation, which includes members from across the political spectrum, is on a five-nation tour and reached BrasAlia after completing visits to Guyana, Panama, and Colombia. Upon arrival, the team was received at the airport by Sandeep Kumar Kujur, Charge d'Affaires at the Indian mission in Brazil. Tharoor stated that Brazil is a crucial partner, and it is vital to keep them fully informed of India's stance on terrorism. Speaking to IANS, Tharoor said, "We are on a five-country visit. We've done three countries already -- Guyana, Panama, and Colombia. Now we are in Brazil. Today is a rest day, which the team has earned after a fairly hectic program since we left. We have full-day meetings scheduled in Brazil next, before proceeding to Washington, which is the final leg of our journey." Tharoor highlighted the importance of the visit, stating, "Brazil is a major power in the region. It's a BRICS partner of ours, and our relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership in 2006. Although Brazil is not currently a member of the UN Security Council, we felt it important to keep them fully abreast of our position on terrorism and continue our open channels of dialogue." The Congress MP also reflected on the delegation's reception in earlier stops, noting widespread understanding and support for India's position. "Feedback has been very positive in both Guyana and Panama, which are Security Council members. There was tremendous understanding and solidarity for our fight against terror," he said. In Colombia, Tharoor mentioned, the delegation successfully persuaded the government to withdraw an earlier statement that had sympathised with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, without acknowledging the Indian side. "We met with the government and Parliament. They rectified the statement and instead issued a strong message of support -- both from the executive and more emphatically from the legislature," he said. During their stay in Brazil, the Indian delegation will hold meetings with several key Brazilian leaders and lawmakers. The list includes Ambassador Celso Amorim, Head Adviser to the President; Ambassador Maria Laura da Rocha, Secretary General of Foreign Affairs; Senator Nelson Trad, Head of the India-Brazil Friendship Front at the Brazilian Senate; and Federal Deputy Filipe Barros, President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defense of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. Apart from Tharoor, the delegation includes MPs Shambhavi (Lok Janshakti Party - Ram Vilas), Sarfraz Ahmad (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), GM Harish Balayogi (Telugu Desam Party), Shashank Mani Tripathi (BJP), Milind Murli Deora (Shiv Sena), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), and Tejasvi Surya (BJP). Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu is accompanying the group. The visit is a key part of India's diplomatic strategy to build international consensus and counter-narratives surrounding Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism. New Delhi, June 1 : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Sunday expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of law and order in different states, especially in Uttar Pradesh. "Due to the dominance of feudal and criminal elements in various states of the country, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, acts of casteist and communal hatred, violence, injustice and oppression and displacement of people, etc., prove that the rule of law is not functioning properly here," Mayawati wrote in a post on X in Hindi (loosely translated). She also expressed concern that the new chief of UP Police faces a big challenge in controlling crime and establishing the rule of law in the state. "In such an environment, the new chief of UP Police faces a big challenge to control crime and establish the rule of law in the state and provide proper relief to the people of all sections of society. The state government and the people of the ruling party also need every kind of cooperation and activism in establishing the rule of law in UP," said Mayawati. The BSP chief emphasised that Uttar Pradesh should play a pivotal role in the multidimensional development of India and contribute significantly to the progress of its vast population. However, she questioned whether the state's reputation is being overshadowed by negative discussions, particularly those focused on crime control and the poor law and order situation. She lamented that instead of being seen as a growth engine for the country, UP is often associated with these challenges, which could be detrimental to both public perception and national interest. Earlier in May, Mayawati also criticised the 'deteriorating condition' of government-run primary schools in Uttar Pradesh, calling the situation "very pathetic". She warned that if it continues, it will threaten the educational future of marginalised communities. Describing this trend as "serious and worrying," the BSP supremo said the government must recognise the importance of basic education and take urgent corrective measures. "The poor condition of the government school system shows the lack of proper attention towards the educational needs of the underprivileged. The government must act to improve infrastructure and learning standards in schools," she said. Begusarai, June 1 : Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing him of questioning the valour of the Indian armed forces by demanding proof of damage inflicted during Operation Sindoor. Singh criticised Kharge for his remarks in the wake of Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan's statement on "aircraft loss" during the recent hostilities and rejecting Pakistan's claims of downing six Indian jets as "absolutely incorrect". "It is unfortunate for the country that the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha is from Congress and is raising such questions. If they still want proof of Operation Sindoor, they should go to Pakistan and ask for evidence. Pakistan is unable to provide any, and it is unfortunate that the Congress party has always demanded proof of the valour of the army," Singh told reporters. "Operation Sindoor is being lauded by the world. It was carried out in retaliation for the targeted attacks in Pahalgam. Unlike them (Pakistan), we carried out precision strikes against terrorists without harming civilians; this is being praised globally," he added. Giriraj Singh further accused Kharge of playing into the hands of India's adversaries. "Kharge is speaking Pakistan's language. He should be ashamed that, being the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, he is making such comments," Singh said. Kharge on Saturday had demanded that the Centre convene a special session of Parliament following General Chauhan's remarks in an interview in Singapore. The Congress leader also called for a comprehensive independent review of India's defence preparedness, akin to the Kargil Review Committee. General Chauhan had categorically dismissed Pakistan's claims in the interview, saying that the claims are "absolutely incorrect". Meanwhile, previously, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti, Director General of Air Operations, had also stated, "Losses are a part of combat", while affirming that all Indian Air Force pilots had returned safely. New Delhi, June 1 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two persons, including a senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer in the national capital, and his aide, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh. The accused were identified as a 2007 batch senior Indian Revenue Service (IRS) Officer, Amit Kumar Singal, who is presently posted as Additional Director General, Directorate of Taxpayer Services, New Delhi, and his aide, Harsh Kotak, the CBI said in a statement. The duo was arrested for demanding and accepting Rs 25 lakh as part payment of the total bribe of Rs 45 lakh from the complainant. The CBI registered a case on Saturday on allegations that the accused public servant demanded illegal gratification of Rs 45 lakh from the complainant in exchange for extending favourable treatment from the Revenue/Income Tax Department. "The demand was accompanied by threats of legal action, imposition of heavy penalties, and harassment in case of non-compliance," said the investigative agency. The CBI laid a trap and caught the accused private person red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from the complainant on behalf of the accused public servant at Singal's residence in Mohali, Punjab. Singal was also apprehended from his residence in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. Later, both accused were arrested, said the CBI, adding that the two will be produced before the Competent Court. After the arrests, CBI teams carried out search operations at multiple locations linked to the two accused in Delhi, Punjab, and Mumbai. The agency said the operation is ongoing, and further investigations are underway to uncover the full extent of the corruption. Mumbai, June 1 : Actress Namrata Shirodkar, who was crowned Femina Miss India in 1993, expressed her happiness for all the Miss World 2025 contestants, remarking on "so much beauty, elegance, and heart on one stage." She went on to cheer for Miss Thailand, Opal Suchata Chuangsri, who won the coveted crown. Namrata also met Julia Morley, Chairwoman and CEO of the Miss World Organization, which organizes the Miss World and Mister World pageants, and said that it was lovely meeting her. Sharing a string of pictures from the event featuring her alongside Julia, Sonu Sood and Manushi Chhillar, the wife of Mahesh Babu wrote: "So much beauty, elegance, and heart on one stage congratulations to all the amazing contestants. You were all incredible." "What a magical evening! It was also so lovely meeting the wonderful #JuliaMorley Biggest cheers for @suchaaata Miss Thailand Miss World 2025!" Thailand's Opal Suchata Chuangsri has been crowned Miss World 2025 in a star-studded grand finale ceremony which was held on Saturday in Hyderabad, Telangana. She edged out Hasset Dereje Admassu of Ethiopia in the grand finale as the latter emerged as the runner-up. For the ceremony, Suchata donned a white gown adorned with opal-like florals. The gown symbolised both healing and strength. The event saw the reigning Miss World Krystyna Pyszkova from the Czech Republic pass on her crown to the new titleholder. This marks Thailand's first win in the beauty pageant arena. India's hopes to get the coveted title were crushed in early rounds as Nandini Gupta, who represented India, failed to enter the Top 8 finalists. India had dropped out of the Top 4 in Miss World 2024 as Miss India Sini Shetty didn't make it to the Top 4. Sini Shetty was in the race till Top 8 but her answer during the Top 8 resulted her in being ousted from the competition. She was asked how social media can be instrumental in the empowerment of women. She said that social media has the power to change the world and that it has led to increasing participation of women across different fields. She said that social media can place the world on a progressive march. Kuala Lumpur, June 1 : An all-party Indian delegation on the Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach, led by JD-U MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, paid heartfelt homage to the Malaysian national who lost her life in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. The Indian High Commission in Malaysia took to X to highlight the solemn moment and the delegationas engagement with Malaysian civil society and media. "All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Honable MP Mr. Sanjay Kumar Jha, interacted with representatives from leading Malaysian media houses and social media influencers. Briefed them about the purpose of their visit, meetings with Malaysian interlocutors and the new normal in Indiaas zero tolerance against terrorism. The delegation also paid homage to the Malaysian national who lost her life in the Mumbai terror attack in 2008 (26/11 attacks) and brought out the threat posed by terrorism to whole of mankind," the Indian mission posted. Earlier, the delegation engaged with members of the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur, reiterating Indiaas unwavering and principled stand against terrorism. They highlighted the long-standing challenges India has faced due to cross-border terrorism, referencing specific incidents such as the brutal attacks in Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir. The briefing also included a detailed account of Operation Sindoor, emphasising India's evolving and resolute policy framework in combating terrorism globally. Diaspora members, including prominent voices from the Malaysian Indian Muslim community, expressed strong solidarity with Indiaas anti-terror efforts and unequivocally condemned acts of terrorism. The Malaysian leg of the visit marks the delegation's final stop in a multi-nation tour that included Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Indonesia. Apart from JD-U MP Jha, the high-level delegation includes BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Hemang Joshi, and Pradan Baruah, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI-M Rajya Sabha member John Brittas, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, and former Indian Ambassador to France, Mohan Kumar. Their mission reflects a unified Indian voice against terrorism and aims to foster greater international cooperation in addressing the global menace. Shimla, June 1 : To promote eco-tourism in unexplored areas by developing infrastructure there, the Himachal Pradesh government has launched a project, officials said on Sunday. Under an eco-tourism policy, the government aims to develop 77 eco-tourism sites in various forest circles, besides emphasis will be on the promotion of local cuisines, folk artistes, local artisans, culture, tour and eco guides. With this initiative, the government is eyeing to generate revenue of Rs 200 crore in five years. Also, the aim, said a government official, is to attract tourists closer to nature, creating local jobs, and helping the economy grow in a clean and sustainable way. The state economy is highly dependent on tourism, besides hydroelectricity and horticulture. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the government is working to make Himachal a famous eco-tourism destination, said the official. With its snow-covered mountains, thick forests, clean rivers and rich wildlife, Himachal Pradesh has always been a favourite place for nature lovers. Now, the new eco-tourism policy aims to bring the tourists closer to nature, but in a responsible way. The Eco-Tourism Policy of 2024 aims to keep both tourism and nature safe. Under this policy, 77 eco-tourism sites are being developed across the state. They mainly fall in Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Bilaspur, Rampur, Solan, Nahan, Hamirpur, Nalagarh, Dharamsala, Palampur, Chamba, Dalhousie, Nurpur and Rekong Peo. Out of these, eco-tourism operators have already been selected for seven popular sites: Potter Hill and Shoghi in Shimla, Solang Nallah in Kullu and Kasol in Parvati Valley. The rest of the sites are being developed in phases. Visitors can enjoy trekking, bird watching, forest camping, jungle walks and nature interpretation trails. An important part of the eco-tourism policy is to involve locals. Eco-tourism committees have been formed in each forest circle, a government statement said. Local youth are being trained as nature guides and workers. At present, more than 70 guides and 135 multi-purpose workers have been trained by the Himachal Pradesh Eco-Tourism Society (HPECOSOC). To make bookings easier, the government has started online booking in 100 forest rest houses and camping sites. They can be booked through the HPECOSOC website. A trekking management system has also been introduced. More than 245 trekking routes have been marked and listed based on difficulty levels. A mobile app is also being made to guide the tourists. Himachal Pradesh, known for apples and picture-perfect tourist spots, attracted more than 181.24 lakh tourists, including 82,000 foreigners, in 2024. Last year's footfall was a rise of 13.24 per cent in comparison to the previous year. Since tourism contributes 7.78 per cent to the stateas Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), this new policy is expected to further strengthen the state's economy, believes the government. Mumbai, June 1 : A new report on Sunday raised serious concerns about the growing threat of illegal online gambling platforms in India, especially to vulnerable groups like minors and young adults. The report by public policy think tank CUTS International warns that these platforms are not only targeting impressionable users with addictive, high-risk games but are also bypassing basic safety checks, such as age verification and identity confirmation. It highlights that the scale of the problem is massive. Between April 2024 and March 2025, there were more than 5.4 billion visits to the top 15 illegal gambling platforms, spread across 40 mirror websites. Some platforms like Parimatch, 1xBet, Stake, Fairplay, and BateryBet are among the most visited. In fact, Parimatch's web traffic in March 2025 was higher than popular platforms like Google India, Amazon, Wikipedia, and Hotstar, revealing the alarming reach of these operations. CUTS International estimates that users are depositing close to $100 billion annually into these illegal betting platforms. Many of these platforms are based overseas and use loopholes in Indiaas payment systems and advertising networks to operate freely, posing a major risk to both consumer safety and national security. Pradeep Mehta, Founder and Secretary General of CUTS International, said that illegal gambling operators are exploiting India's digital infrastructure while evading any form of accountability. "This presents a major national security threat and also exposes Indian consumers to serious harm," Mehta said at the reportas release. One of the most disturbing findings of the report is how easily minors can access these gambling sites. These platforms often avoid even the most basic checks like KYC (Know Your Customer) or age verification. Some even offer cash-on-delivery payment options, allowing teenagers with no access to digital wallets or cards to gamble repeatedly without any supervision. The use of high-stakes, psychologically addictive game designs makes them even more dangerous for young, sensation-seeking users. The report also reveals how these platforms attract such massive traffic. Around 66 per cent of users visit directly, often through saved links, private messages, or bookmarks, giving a false impression of trust and legitimacy. Big media campaigns, celebrity endorsements, billboards, and SEO-boosted search visibility further increase their reach. New Delhi, June 1 : In a customer-friendly move, the Canara Bank on Sunday officially scrapped the penalty for not maintaining a minimum balance in savings accounts starting June 1. With this decision, customers holding any type of savings account with Canara Bank will no longer be charged or penalised for failing to maintain a minimum balance. The new rule is applicable across all categories of savings accounts. Canara Bank has become the first major public sector bank to eliminate the minimum balance requirement across the board. This means account holders can now maintain a zero balance in their savings accounts without incurring any fees. This move is expected to benefit millions of savings account holders, allowing them to utilise their entire account balance freely for transactions, without worrying about penalties. "From June 1, 2025, Canara Bank will not impose any penalty for non-maintenance of minimum balance. This applies to all savings account holders," the bank said in a statement on social media platform X. "With this new policy, all Canara Bank savings bank account holders will now enjoy true 'no penalty on minimum balance' for all savings bank accounts free from any average monthly balance-related penalties or fees," it said. Previously, Canara Bank required customers to maintain a minimum balance of Rs 2,000 in urban areas, Rs 1,000 in semi-urban areas, and Rs 500 in rural areas. Failure to meet these thresholds would result in penalties. This change is set to benefit a wide range of customers, including students, women, senior citizens, and individuals from low-income groups. Canara Bank is one of India's largest public sector banks. In the March quarter (Q4) of FY25, the bank reported an income of Rs 31,496 crore and a profit of Rs 5,111 crore. For the full financial year, the bank's total income stood at Rs 1.21 lakh crore in FY25, with a net profit of Rs 17,692 crore. Kolkata, June 1 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was pained by the success of Operation Sindoor, the strike, through which Indian Armed Forces destroyed several terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday. "Our forces have destroyed the terror headquarters 100 kilometres inside Pakistan. Over 100 terrorists were killed in the strike. But Mamata Banerjee had a stomach ache because of the successful strike. I hope that she felt the pain when people from West Bengal were killed in the terror attack at Pahalgam in April. But when our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, came to West Bengal after the successful Operation Sindoor, she made an undesirable political comment opposing Operation Sindoor. The Chief Minister had played with the sentiments of mothers and sisters in the country," the Union Home Minister said while addressing a political rally at Netaji Indoor Stadium in central Kolkata on Sunday. Notably, the Chief Minister described the name of Operation Sindoor as politically motivated last week. Her comments came just minutes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a political rally from Alipurduar, where he launched a scathing attack against the West Bengal government and the ruling Trinamool Congress on issues like corruption, women's safety, and atrocities on Hindus, among others. Shah also said that the Chief Minister might support the terrorists sent to India by Pakistan as much as she wants, but she should understand that Operation Sindoor has not ended. "Anyone who will try to do any mischief will be given a fitting reply," the Union Home Minister said. Speaking on the occasion, he also criticised the Chief Minister for not allotting land to the Border Security Force (BSF) to raise barbed fences at the international borders in the state. "The Chief Minister wants the illegal infiltration to continue so that her government can continue. She wants illegal infiltration to continue so that later her nephew becomes the next Chief Minister of West Bengal," Shah said. The Home Minister also said that if the BJP comes to power in West Bengal in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election, the killers of BJP workers in the state will be brought out from underground and punished. "There is corruption in every sphere of administration in West Bengal. While Trinamool Congress leaders benefited from that corruption, the common people continued to suffer. The Hindus in Murshidabad could have been protected if central armed police forces had been deployed before. Now it is proved that the elected representatives and leaders of Trinamool Congress were involved in those riots," Shah said. About 40 wounded veterans from multiple western U.S. states gathered in Colorado Springs on Thursday for a two-day bicycling event aimed toward improving their physical and mental well-being. New Delhi, June 1 : BJP leader Amit Malviya on Sunday targeted former finance minister P. Chidambaram for painting a grim picture of the economy and linking it to alleged wage stagnation and consumer exploitation due to lack of competition in some sectors. Chidambaram's attempt to credit the UPA government for economic reforms also did not go down well with Malviya who wrote in a post on social media platform X: "It's truly pitiful how a former Finance Minister displays such selective amnesia regarding India's economic journey." "To claim that the concept of 'profit not being a bad word' originated solely during his tenure conveniently ignores the reality that those reforms, however necessary, were half-baked measures, forced by a crippling Balance of Payments crisis," said Malviya, in-charge of BJP's National Information and Technology Department. Earlier, the Congress leader, in a post on social media platform X, said: "That 'profit' in business is not a bad word became government policy in 1991 when Dr Manmohan Singh was finance minister." "The question is how the profit must be shared among promoters, shareholders, labour, government, consumers, society and other stakeholders," he said. Malviya responded by saying, "The former Minister pontificates on profit-sharing, yet seems to forget the UPA era's notorious legacy the 'Jayanti Tax', rampant corruption scandals, and an environment of policy paralysis that left India languishing among the 'Fragile Five.' Big industries weren't just hesitant, they were actively looking for exits. Profit sharing? Under the UPA, profits seemed reserved for a select few, while genuine enterprise was stifled." 'Jayanti Tax' is a term used by the BJP to allege corruption under the then environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan in matters related to granting green nod to projects. While slamming Chidambaram, Malviya also showcased the NDA government's flagship schemes. "Initiatives like MUDRA Yojana and Stand Up India have empowered over 30 crore aspiring entrepreneurs, fostering grassroots prosperity and ensuring the fruits of growth are shared far more widely than ever conceived during his tenure. That is tangible benefit-sharing, not hollow rhetoric," he wrote in his post. Earlier Chidambaram remarked about the economy and said, "As the Chief Economic Adviser has said many times, the tilt is in favour of capital/promoters and against labour. Wages have stagnated." "I may add that because of lack of sufficient competition, consumers are exploited in several sectors, for example, air travel, insurance and pharmaceuticals," he said. Five NIghts at Freddy's, Scream and Scooby-Doo icon Matthew Lillard says he has found a kindred spirit in The Haunting of Hill House creator Mike Flanagan. ADVERTISEMENT Lillard met Flanagan about two years ago through a mutual friend and his since gone on to co-star in the writer-director's celebrated movie, The Life of Chuck, as well as collaborate with him on a unique venture in which Flanagan penned, "Rare Fine & Limited," an exclusive novella, to pair with a high-end liquor from LIllard's horror-themed Find Familiar Spirits line of libations. The actor recently told UPI at New York Comic Con that he wasn't familiar with Flanagan's work before he went out to lunch with him and his friend. "We got along great, and at the end of it, he was like, 'We're going to work together some day,' and I was like, 'Cool,'" Lillard recalled. "I was dropping my middle child off at Carnegie-Mellon [University] and I get a phone call and he's like: 'Hey, I have this opportunity. It's very small, but a piece I'm passion about. it's not going to define our relationship. I do not expect you to take it,'" the actor said, referring to the role in Chuck. "And I was like, 'I'll take the shot. I'm in.'" He ended up binging Flanagan's work, which also includes The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass and The Fall of the House of Usher "I fell in love with him and I fell in love with the way he works," Lillard said. "He's doing really cool things I want to be a part of." When he actually read the script for Chuck, Lillard was glad he didn't hesitate to say "yes." FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "I have a 5-minute piece. It's very small, but I found something in it that I fell in love with," Lillard said, noting he really believed in the movie and was happy it was a hit at last year's Toronto Film Festival. "I think the most profound thing for me -- other than sitting behind Stephen King and Mark Hamill [at the screening] -- was it is a three-act movie, going backwards and, in between the two acts, there's a 15-second run of black and, in a theater of 2,000 people, you can hear a pin drop and the standing ovation afterwards was one thing, which I sort of would expect, but the quiet, profound silence and the darkness was unforgettable." Despite its unique story-telling devices, the film -- in theaters Friday -- is a meditation on humanity, according to Lillard. "It's a little weird and awkward, outside the box. There's so much Doom's Day talk [in reality]," he said. "Here's this movie that is this beautiful articulation of the wonder of life." Because of his talent and sensibilities, Flanagan was a natural choice as a partner for Lillard's high-concept spirits company, which tells an ongoing story through 16 different product drops. "Each bottle has the next chapter of the story," Lillard added. "The whole thing is not what do we sell to a community, but what do we bring to the idea of literary horror, combined with a really delicious, hand-selected Sotol. It's a love language to horror films." Lillard said he and his partners asked Flanagan, who is sober, to be the first "voice of this brand," by writing a story that would be between 10,000 and 12,000 words. "He ended up writing just over 80,000 words," the actor added. Looking back on his career, Lillard said he is grateful that, for the past 30 years or so, he has been able to work consistently in projects he's proud of and that audiences of all ages let him know how much they enjoy. "People have always rooted for me," he said. "I feel like I've gotten a little bit of a comeback and it's really humbling and lovely to have that opportunity and I have been super-lucky," Lillard added. "I really thought I would end up doing Renaissance fairs for the rest of my life [when I was younger]. I really thought I would be the Green Knight at Medieval Times." In a significant escalation of the ongoing Baloch insurgency, the Baloch Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for a large-scale armed operation in Surab city, asserting complete control over the area and targeting key state installations. IMAGE: In the pictures released by the BLA media wing, Hakkal Media, the weapons seized by BLA men (left) and the ransacked office (right) during its operation in Surab city, Pakistan, May 30, 2025. Photograph: BLA/ANI Photo According to a statement released by BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch, freedom fighters launched a coordinated operation on the evening of May 31, taking over major military, administrative, and financial facilities of the Pakistani state in Surab. The operation lasted for more than three hours. BLA fighters reportedly took positions across the city, seizing control of the Levies and police stations, the deputy commissioner's office, a government guest house, and local bank branches. The group claims it paralysed the state's infrastructure, damaged facilities, and set fire to three vehicles of security forces, several banks, warehouses, and a guest house. In addition, BLA fighters arrested several Levies and police personnel and confiscated 30 Kalashnikov rifles along with other weapons and military equipment from state facilities. The detained personnel were later released on what the BLA described as "conditional concessions" based on their Baloch identity. The statement added that during the seizure of the DC office, assistant deputy commissioner Hidayatullah Buledi attempted to confront the fighters and was detained. He was reportedly locked in a room where he later died due to suffocation, a death the BLA described as accidental. Following the operation, the BLA established checkpoints on the Quetta-Karachi and Surab-Gidar highways, further restricting state movement in the region. The BLA reiterated that this operation is part of its broader struggle for Baloch national liberation, vowing to continue targeting all symbols and institutions of the Pakistani state. Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday indicted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two others on several charges, including mass murder, for their alleged role in the violent crackdown on student-led protests last year. IMAGE: Former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo Sunday's proceedings marked the start of Hasina's trial in absentia nearly 10 months after the ouster of her government following the protests. We do hereby take into cognizance the charges, the three-judge ICT bench said after a prosecution team formally accused them of attempting to tame the protests using brutal force. The tribunal simultaneously issued a fresh arrest warrant against Hasina and then home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. The third accused, the then inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, is in custody to stand trial in person. The prosecution charged Hasina with exercising absolute authority to ruthlessly suppress the uprising. The two others were accused of provocation, complicity, abatement, instigation and facilitation. "Upon reviewing the evidence, we concluded that it was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack," ICT-BD chief prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam told the court. All three were accused of superior command responsibility for the crimes. The prosecution said they would submit video, audio, and forensic evidence during the trial and listed 81 people to appear as witnesses. The tribunal's investigation agency on May 12 in its report to the chief prosecutor's office named Hasina as the instigator of the killings during the uprising that ousted her government. The chief prosecutor urged the court to treat the Awami League as a criminal organisation since the crimes were committed on a partisan basis. The interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus last month ordered the disbanding of the party until the trials of its leaders were completed. Under the ICT-BD law, if convicted, Hasina and the co-accused could face the death penalty. The proceedings were broadcast live on television for the first time in Bangladesh's history. The proceedings were scheduled to begin at 9.30 am but were slightly delayed as unidentified people hurled three crude bombs at the gate of the tribunal hours before the beginning of the trial. The police said two of the bombs exploded while the third was defused while they were trying to identify and arrest the miscreants, examining CCTV footage. Ousted on August 5 last year after the agitation, Hasina faces multiple cases in Bangladesh. The ICT-BD earlier issued an arrest warrant against Hasina while the interim government sought her repatriation from India in a diplomatic note. New Delhi has only acknowledged receipt with no further comment. Most senior leaders and officials of Hasina's party and government were arrested to face charges like mass murder during the July-August protests last year that left hundreds of people, including students and policemen, dead. According to a UN rights office report, some 1,400 people were killed between July 15 and August 15 last year as violence continued even after the fall of Hasina's Awami League regime. The tribunal was originally formed by the past regime to try collaborators of Pakistani troops during the 1971 Liberation War. Six top leaders of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and one leader of the former prime minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party were hanged to death after being convicted by the court. Mock drills were conducted on Saturday in states and Union territories adjoining the western border -- from Jammu and Kashmir to Gujarat -- to enhance wartime emergency preparedness and response capabilities, officials said. IMAGE: People seen at Lal Chowk during a Blackout mock drill under Operation Shield, in Srinagar on Saturday, May 31, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Exercises simulating air raids, drone attacks and other wartime scenarios were conducted, while emergency response teams practised rescue operations as part of the civil defence mock drills under Operation Shield in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Chandigarh. The exercise was earlier scheduled for May 29, but was postponed by the Union home ministry. On May 7, the government conducted the first civil defence exercise across the country. While the announcement was made a few days earlier amid heightened tensions with Pakistan in the wake of the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalagam in which 26 people were killed, Operation Sindoor was carried out by India in the early hours of May 7 through which the defence forces targeted terror camps at nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. On Saturday, the drills were held in all districts of Punjab and neighbouring Haryana, featuring scenes of volunteers simulating injuries and being carried on stretchers to ambulances, while firefighters practised extinguishing flames. Blackout rehearsals were also carried out in both states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, as electricity was shut down at many places. According to an official, drills were conducted to simulate critical incidents in light of current national security concerns and to evaluate the efficacy of emergency response mechanisms in real-time situations at the three places. There was coordinated participation from multiple agencies, including fire, police, health, and disaster management, while trained volunteers from the Civil Defence, National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) also participated in the exercise, he said. A key highlight of Operation Shield was the massive participation of around 10,000 Civil Defence volunteers, who worked in close coordination with the NCC, the NSS, the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), Home Guards, he said. Blackout rehearsals began at around 8 pm and continued from 10 minutes to half an hour in various cities. In Punjab's Fazilka, a border district, the blackout drill was planned at 9 pm for half an hour. In Chandigarh, a scenario was simulated at the Air Force Station involving an attack by a swarm of enemy drones. In response, the station commander sought assistance from the civil administration to evacuate families from the station premises. Similarly, in Punjab's Hoshiarpur, the drill was based on a hypothetical scenario in which enemy drones attacked a military station, prompting the station commander to seek immediate assistance from the civil administration. An air raid warning siren was sounded in Fazilka at 6 pm, following which the drill began. Emergency response teams practised rescue operations at a school in Khatipura in Rajasthan's Jaipur in a hypothetical air attack scenario. Civil Defence and State Disaster Response Force teams quickly activated their emergency response protocols and shifted volunteers acting as injured to nearby hospitals. During the drill, volunteers acted as if they were trapped on rooftops following the airstrike. Rescue teams used cranes to evacuate them safely. Similar mock drills were conducted in other cities of the state. As part of the mock drill in Kashmir, a blackout was observed from 8 pm to 8.15 pm with lights of government buildings, houses and business establishments being turned off. In Srinagar, lights were switched off at the Lal Chowk City centre, including the historic Ghanta Ghar (Clock Tower), officials said. Business activities, vehicular movement and routine operations were paused for the 15-minute duration, they added. Experts and personnel from the SDRF, Health Department, Fire and Emergency Services, along with a large number of students and locals, participated in the exercise, they said. In Gujarat, the drills were conducted in 18 districts of the state, including Rajkot, Kutch, Patan, Morbi, Banaskantha, Chhota Udaipur and Nadiad. "In Ahmedabad, a civil defence mock drill was organised at Sadar Bazar Cantonment in Shahibaug. Under these drills, programmes like volunteer mobilisation, air raid simulations, communication system activation, blackout protocol, blood donation camp and evacuation procedures were held," an official release said. The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Simhastha Kumbh Mela will begin on October 31, 2026, with the traditional hoisting of flags at the two prominent pilgrimage towns, while the first 'Amrut Snan' or ritual dip in the Godavari river will take place on August 2, 2027. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit to the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirling Temple, in Nashik, January 24, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The much-awaited dates were announced at a meeting of sadhus and mahants in Nashik chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who said the world would be awestruck by the scale of arrangements to be made for the magnificent congregation. The Simhastha Kumbh Mela will begin on October 31, 2026, with 'Dhwajarohan' (flag hoisting) at Trimbakeshwar and Ramkund in Nashik. On July 29, 2027, 'Nagar Pradakshina' will be held at Nashik, while the first 'Amrut Snan' will be held on August 2, 2027. The second Amrut Snan will be held on August 31, 2027, and the third and last one will be held in Nashik on September 11, 2027 and on September 12, 2027, at Trimbakeshwar. The flag will be taken down on July 24, 2028, which will mark the conclusion of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, which is held once in 12 years. The previous Simhastha Kumbha Mela was held at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar in the year 2015-16. The Kumbh Festival is traditionally held at Nashik-Trimbakeshwar, Prayag (Allahabad), Haridwar, and Ujjain. Ardh Kumbh is held at Prayag and Haridwar after every six years. The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh is unique as Vaishnav Akhadas and Shaiva Akhadas bath separately in Nashik. Fadnavis said the meeting was attended by seers of all 13 main akhadas and representatives of the Purohit Sangh. He said those who attended the meeting were provided details of the works being carried out by the state government for organising the mega event, among the largest in the world. "Tenders of works costing Rs 4,000 crore have been issued. Tenders for another set of works entailing expenditure of Rs 2,000 crore will also be issued soon. Work on the sewage treatment plant, cleaning of Godavari river and land acquisition for 'Sadhugram' are in progress as well," Fadnavis told reporters. On crowd control and management to ensure there is no stampede-like situation, the CM said 'Amrut Snan' dates have been announced and since the event will run for a long time, devotees need not rush just on particular days and must space out their visits. "The government is making every effort to make Simhastha Kumbh Mela a memorable and very well-planned affair," Fadnavis asserted. He also accepted a suggestion during the meeting from Mahant Rajendradas Maharaj that shahi snan should be called Amrut Snan the way it was done in the recently concluded Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. "Maharashtra government will make every possible effort to ensure that the upcoming Kumbh Mela is held in a safe, pure, and sacred atmosphere," Fadnavis said, adding that all necessary facilities will be made available for the devotees. He said since Kumbh Mela symbolises the ancient Indian culture, it draws attention from across the world. "With everyone's cooperation, a magnificent and memorable event will be organised that will leave the world in awe," Fadnavis added. The processions and spiritual direction of Kumbh are led by akharas (monastic orders), sadhus, and mahants, while the state government's role is to serve and provide the best possible amenities. The chief minister assured excellent facilities by the government and accommodating the feedback of sadhus and mahants for better planning. "Unlike 2015, when there was little preparation time, this time, with ample lead time, the government is aiming for thorough preparation," he said. Noting that preserving the sanctity and continuous flow of the Godavari River is the primary objective of the Kumbh, Fadnavis said projects to manage sewage and wastewater are underway to ensure that only clean water enters the river. "Efforts are being made to maintain water purity by preventing pollution and planning for uninterrupted river flow, ensuring clean water during and after the Kumbh Mela," Fadnavis said. He said necessary facilities would be provided to the Akharas. A road network is being developed across the city for the Kumbh. Crowd management plans at places like Kushavarta in Trimbakeshwar are also being worked out. "Quality infrastructure will be set up in both Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, with no shortage of funds," the Chief Minister's Office stated in a release. He emphasised the importance of ensuring the safety of devotees by prioritising security measures during planning. Highlighting heritage development, the chief minister announced a development plan of Rs 681 crores for Choundi, the birthplace of Ahilyadevi Holkar. The ghats constructed by her are also being preserved. Additionally, Nashik will host a total of 44 auspicious bathing events, and Trimbakeshwar 53, including Ekadashi, Purnima, Amavasya, Vaidhriti, and Vyatipata yogas. Devotees are encouraged to participate in these in large numbers, said District Collector Jalaj Sharma. Nashik is believed to be the part of Dandakaranya, where Lord Rama lived during his exile. Trimbakeshwar is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas where the Godavari river originates on Bramhagiri hills. The Kumbh Mela is the world's largest public gathering and collective act of faith. This congregation, primarily, includes ascetics, saints, sadhus, sadhvis, and pilgrims from all walks of life. The Maha Kumbh Mela was organised at Prayagraj on the banks of the confluence of three rivers in January-February this year. At least 11 FIRs have been registered in Gubbi police station in Tumakuru district, after a farmers' protest turned violent, the police said on Sunday. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo Tensions ran high in Gubbi taluk on Saturday as the farmers' protest against the Hemavati Link Canal project escalated into violence, prompting police to register FIRs. It is said that more FIRs are likely to follow. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he had asked district in-charge minister G Parameshwara to address the concerns. Parameshwara, however, termed the protest "politically motivated" and said that the project had already been cleared by a multi-party committee based on a technical report. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar echoed similar views, asserting that the canal work will not affect Tumakuru and reiterated the government's commitment to protect the interests of all regions. The protest, which saw participation from opposition leaders and farmer groups, was aimed at halting the ongoing canal work that locals allege threatens the water needs of Tumakuru's agricultural heartland. The police said FIRs have been registered against several key protestors, including Tumakuru Rural BJP MLA B Suresh Gowda, BJP leader S D Dilip Kumar, and JD(S) leader Nagaraju. More FIRs are expected in the coming days, particularly against individuals involved in vandalism and violence, including stone pelting at police personnel. According to police, protestors allegedly commandeered construction equipment, including huge earthmovers, to crush large water pipes laid as part of the project. The protestors also burnt tyres and disrupted traffic, defying prohibitory orders imposed by the local administration within a 10 km radius of the work site. Despite the unrest, a significant section of the protest remained peaceful, with a Padayatra (march) and participation from religious leaders and opposition MLAs. The protesters voiced their opposition to the diversion of Hemavati water towards Bengaluru's Ramanagara district, calling the project 'unscientific' and harmful to Tumakuru's irrigation needs. BJP MLA Suresh Gowda, who was present at the protest site, told reporters that the Tumakuru District Deputy Commissioner had assured them the work would be temporarily halted and machinery removed. "We have given the government one month's time. If they proceed again, the agitation will intensify," he warned. Meanwhile, Gubbi Congress MLA S R Srinivas, addressing the media in Tumakuru on Sunday, expressed concerns over the project's feasibility and backed the sentiments of local farmers. "This is not the right move. The canal already carries water smoothly to Bugudanahalli. Why create unnecessary trouble and waste money?" he asked. However, Srinivas distanced himself from the violence, stating he was unaware of the FIRs and had been unwell during the events. He also criticised the technical committee's report. Srinivas said he supports the protest, but opposes the disruption and violence. Amid tight security arrangements, hundreds of people, mostly Kashmiri Pandits, left for the Valley in a convoy of 60 buses early Sunday from here to take part in the Kheer Bhawani mela, one of the biggest religious functions of the community. IMAGE: Jammu deputy commissioner Sachin Kumar and Jammu IGP Bhim Singh flag off more than 60 buses full of devotees going to the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela scheduled for 3 June, at the Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, June 1, 2025. Photograph: ANI on X Kheer Bhawani mela will be held at five Ragnya Bhagwati shrines at Tulmulla in Ganderbal, Manzgam and Devsar in Kulgam, Logripora in Anantnag and Tikkar in Kupwara on Tuesday. The usual rush of devotees was missing this year, presumably due to the Pahalgam terror attack and the military action between India and Pakistan following it. Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley and other parts of the country gathered in huge numbers at the Kheer Bhawani temple at Tulmulla. Relief Commissioner (Migrants) Arvind Karwani along with Deputy Commissioner, Jammu Sachin Kumar Vaishya and senior police officers jointly flagged off the convoy of Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses from Nagrota on the outskirts of Jammu this morning. The devotees will perform darshan' at the temples on Tuesday and will return to Jammu a day later. Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu Joginder Singh said all required security arrangements have been made for the pilgrims. All arrangements are in place for the pilgrims with regard to their safety and security and boarding and lodging en route and in the Valley, relief commissioner Karwani said. Fewer devotees have turned up for the mela as compared to last year. Tourists were targeted in the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. Most of the 26 people killed in the attack were tourists. India and Pakistan were on the brink of a full-fledged war after the attack. On the intervening night of May 6 and 7, Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The two countries were engaged in an intense military conflict for four days and reached an understanding to halt all firing on the evening of May 10. Shruti Dhar, an elderly devotee, said: "I am a regular visitor to Kheer Bhawani and have no fear of going there this time around. We have been witnessing such situations from our childhood days. Whatever happened in Pahalgam is highly condemnable and barbaric." Dhar, who had migrated from Sanat Nagar in Srinagar to Jammu, said she is happy to join the caravan and offer her prayers at the temple to seek blessings and pray for the prosperity of J&K, the country and the return of Pandits to the Valley. Saroj, a non-Kashmiri married to a Kashmiri Pandit, said this was her first visit to the Valley and there is no fear in her mind. Kashmir is part of India and the (Pahalgam) attack was possibly an attempt by the terrorists to frighten us. We have to defeat their designs and visit the place in good numbers, she said. Delhi-based Raj Kumar, also a member of the displaced community, said the government should be more alert to prevent Pahalgam type of incidents. Sarla Bhat said she is happy to visit her birthplace in Kashmir. I have full faith in Mata that we will complete the pilgrimage without any trouble. Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari, son of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari has been disqualified as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly after he was convicted in a hate speech case, official sources said on Sunday. IMAGE: Abbas Ansari, MLA and son of Mukhtar Ansari (third from left), being produced in a court after being arrested by the ED in a money laundering case, in Prayagraj, November 11, 2022. Photograph: ANI Photo Abbas Ansari was MLA from Mau assembly constituency. The seat has now been declared vacant, the sources told PTI. Abbas Ansari, the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party MLA, was sentenced to two years imprisonment in a 2022 hate speech case by a special MP-MLA court on Saturday. According to the prosecution, during the last assembly elections, Abbas Ansari, who was contesting as an SBSP candidate from the Mau Sadar seat, had threatened the Mau administration during a public meeting at Paharpur ground on March 3, 2022, saying he will "settle scores and teach them a lesson" after the elections. Defence lawyer Daroga Singh told PTI videos that Ansari was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 189 (threat to cause harm to public servant), 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion, caste, place of birth, residence and language and spoiling the harmony), 171F (undue influence in election) and 506 (criminal intimidation). Singh said after hearing both sides, special MP/MLA court Judge K P Singh convicted Abbas Ansari on Saturday and sentenced him to two years each under sections 189 and 153-A, one year under section 506 and six months imprisonment under section 171-F. All the sentences will run simultaneously. Ansari has also been fined Rs 2,000. Under the Representation of the People Act, there is a provision to terminate the membership of the legislative house if the court sentences a member to two years or more. Abbas Ansari became MLA for the first time in 2022 by winning the election from the Mau Sadar assembly seat on an SBSP ticket under the Samajwadi Party-led alliance. SBSP is currently an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government and the party president is a cabinet minister in the state. Before that, Abbas Ansari's father, politician Mukhtar Ansari, represented the Mau Sadar assembly seat for a long time. Mukhtar Ansari, who was incarcerated in Banda district jail, died of a cardiac arrest at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh in March 2024. The Colorado Springs City Council unanimously approved an agreement with Bent County Tuesday that will guide the transfer of up to 15,000 acre-feet of water annually from the agricultural community in the Arkansas River Valley to the city in the coming years. The council also approved the purchase of about 3,000 acre-feet of water from Bent County producers through two separate deals that could support about 9,000 new homes, Colorado Springs Utilities Chairman and City Councilman Wayne Williams said. The deals are some of the first water purchases that will be guided by the new intergovernmental agreement that Bent County has already approved. Colorado Springs City Council members and Bent County commissioners praised the agreement that caps the total farmland that can go out of production as a result of water purchases, requires Utilities to revegetate land that is dried up, and sets up payments to Bent County to offset economic impact of the water sales. The agreement states the city will provide an upfront mitigation payment of $2.5 million to Bent County and $350,000 to develop a Geographic Information System, a land-management system and online assessor and clerk and recorder records. The city will provide $45 per acre-foot of water in payments annually that Bent County plans to use for economic development. The payments will be factored into the rates that Colorado Springs residents pay for water. "We recognize that everybody can win and everybody can be well-served," Councilwoman Nancy Henjum said. Colorado Springs needs to diversify its water sources because 70% of its water comes from the Colorado River Basin, a region struck by intense drought over the past two decades. The Bureau of Reclamation has asked the states that rely on the river, including Colorado, to slash their consumption next year by 2 million to 4 million acre-feet. The states have not determined where that savings will come from. Pursuing water from the Arkansas River Valley also is a cost-effective option for the city, including the annual payments, Williams said. "When you look at the price of developing water in the West, it is significantly less expensive than if we were to build a pipeline to somewhere else," he said in an interview. For example, some of the water could be delivered via a pipeline from Pueblo Reservoir known as the Southern Delivery System. Former Bent County Commissioner Bill Long, who helped negotiate the deal, called the agreement a model for the rest of the state and noted it addresses some historical issues that agricultural counties in Colorado saw in previous water transfers to cities. "We have some lands here in Bent County that were dried up in 1972. They look exactly like they did in 1972, in many cases," Long said, in an interview. Such land can have noxious weeds or problems with blowing dirt. The county expects to review each water sale for compliance with the new agreement to help ensure the terms of the agreement are met. The ongoing payments to Bent County could help diversify the agricultural economy, to include more vegetable crops, Long said, particularly as agricultural states heavily dependent on the Colorado River must make major cuts in water consumption. "Trying to grow food for America, not just in California, not just in Arizona, but across the United States, is an important goal, I think," Long said. The deals can also help younger producers farm in the county by helping to fund upgrades in irrigation infrastructure. In the water deals the council approved Tuesday, the producers plan to use the funds to purchase center-pivot irrigation systems and sell Colorado Springs Utilities water that will be saved as part of the conversion from flood irrigation, said Scott Lorenz, a senior project manager for Utilities. As part of the conversion, irrigators will no longer water the corners of their fields because center pivots rotate in a circle. The corners represent about 22% of the fields. Bent County farmer Caleb Wertz, 21, previously sold water to Colorado Springs Utilities to buy irrigation equipment and saw it make a huge difference in his first year of farming alfalfa and teff grass. Featured Local Savings "The financial burden that farming truly can have. ... It is scary," Wertz said. A center-pivot system can run about $200,000, including necessarily ponds, he said. Wertz is part of a long-standing agricultural family in the Arkansas Valley and he works closely with his family including his brother, Mark Wertz. The Wertz family has seen dry conditions in recent years and received far fewer deliveries of water than they have rights to, in some years receiving 11 water deliveries out of the 30 they have rights to, Mark Wertz said. The family is working to ensure that during dry years, they can continue to farm and maintain a rural lifestyle they love. "We can survive and thrive, even," Mark Wertz said. The use of center pivots can help ensure water is used more efficiently to produce more alfalfa, crops that are largely sold to horse owners in El Paso County. Bent County is a good candidate for water deals that fund center-pivot upgrades, because many of the producers are still flood-irrigating, compared to neighboring counties in the Arkansas Valley, Lorenz said. In some cases, Colorado Springs Utilities may buy all the water rights from a farm, a practice called buy and dry. But the total number of buy-and-dry acres is capped in the county at 3,125 acres under the agreement. The cap does not include property on the corners of farms coming out of production. Farmers may be interested in selling their water rights because it can fund their retirement. In some cases, the water could also come from poorly performing farmland that might need to come out of production, several people interviewed for this story said. "It is always a little scary and a bit sad when water leaves our community, but on the other hand, we understand why that is happening," Long said. The water Colorado Springs Utilities is purchasing is owned by shareholders in the Fort Lyon Canal Co. The canal is a 121-mile-long unlined ditch that delivers water to farmers in Otero, Bent and Prowers counties. Under the agreement, the same volume of water must continue flowing down the canal, so that deliveries to other farmers will not be hurt. The canal irrigates about 100,000 acres of land and water purchases the city council approved this week represent about 3% of the canal company's shares, Lorenz said. Conversations with farmers have guided the deals Colorado Springs Utilities is striking with producers and in those negotiations Utilities staff has learned from farm communities the importance of staying involved, he said. "It has to be a long-term perpetual relationship, and thats what that IGA is set up to be," he said. This story has been updated to say the recent water purchases approved by council this week represent 3% of the Fort Lyon Canal Company's shares. The Delhi high court has passed an order protecting the personality and publicity rights of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder of Isha Foundation, and restrained various rogue websites and unknown entities from misusing his personality traits through the use of Artificial Intelligence in any medium or platform. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses during the Maha Shivratri celebration at Isha Foundation, in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, February 26, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Justice Saurabh Banerjee passed an ex-parte interim order, saying the balance of convenience is tilting towards the grant of relief in favour of the plaintiff -- Sadhguru. The court passed a 'dynamic+' injunction in favour of Sadhguru, a form of injunctive relief which is being granted by courts in similar matters in recent years, primarily to protect parties like the plaintiffs herein against rapidly developing online infringement platforms. "Therefore, the position of law apparent therefrom, which has since developed with the passage of time, clearly reflects that the rights of a plaintiff, cannot be rendered otiose in this world of rapidly developing technology and for that, enforcement of intellectual property rights on any social platform, including but not limited to, the internet as well alongwith the real world, ought to be visible and effective," the court said. The court passed the ad interim injunction order in favour of Sadhguru in his suit seeking protection of his personality rights being infringed by various rogue websites and unknown entities. It said Sadhguru has acquired uniqueness pertaining to his personality qua his voice, name, signature, image, likeness, vocal, articulation style and his unique attire, looks or appearance. Justice Banerjee said Sadhguru's personality rights are quite unique, and the impugned contents were not only utilising his personality rights but the defendants had gone a step further and employed modern-day technology to modify his images, voice, likeness, and videos for commercial gains. "If allowed to continue in the manner it will soon spread like a pandemic with wide uncontrollable repercussions, especially, since it is a social media platform(s) herein happen to be the internet portal(s). If not stopped, the chances that (wrong) message will spread like wild fire with hardly any water left to douse it," the court added. The court ordered the suspension of accounts and the takedown of YouTube channels that exclusively pertain to content infringing upon Sadhguru's personality rights and directed that their basic subscriber information be disclosed. The court directed the Department of Telecommunications and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to issue notifications or directions to social media platforms to block or suspend various websites, social media accounts, and channels of infringing Sadhguru's exclusive rights. It said with the immense degree of freedom enjoyed by developers and innovators globally today, especially those intellectual property right holders like Sadhguru, are prone to or may be exposed or vulnerable to the actions of the 'rogue websites', more so, if such right holders are not accorded proper protection from them. "This so-called dangerous edge has become even sharper with the fast-paced evolution of certain 'hydra-headed' websites, which, even if blocked/ deleted, have the incredible potential to resurface in multitudes as alphanumeric or mirror websites, with only minor, mechanical changes. "Such 'hydra-headed 'websites, under the garb of privacy, are able to mask their registration/contact details perfectly, making it virtually impossible to locate and contact their operators to, if necessary, demand cessation of infringing contents," the court said. The court issued notice in Sadhguru's suit and listed the matter for further hearing on October 14. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Saturday said India's Operation Sindoor has drawn a 'new red line' of intolerance against terror, and expressed hope that the military action has brought 'some lessons for our adversary also'. IMAGE: Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan. Photograph: ANI Photo In response to queries related to the recent operation and the idea of 'strategic stability' in India-Pakistan ties, during an event held in Singapore under the Shangri-La Dialogue, the CDS further said, it takes two hands to join to clap together, 'hopefully they understand this'. Operation Sindoor was launched early on May 7 to destroy nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead. All subsequent retaliations to Pakistani offensives were carried out under this operation. The four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan had brought the two nuclear-armed neighbours to the edge of a wider conflict that ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions on May 10. On a query on the lesson learned from the conflict, Gen Chauhan said India used indigenous systems and platforms from other countries as well during the operation. "We were able to penetrate air defence as long as 300 km with pinpoint accuracy and targets, airfields and infrastructure, deep inside Pakistan. That indicates the functionality of the equipment," he said. Gen Chauhan and several other defence chiefs or representatives from different countries delivered addresses during the seminar -- 'Defence Innovation Solutions for Future Challenges' held as part of the Shangri-La Dialogue, a key summit of Asia. "Instability in the world is on the rise courtesy non-state actors and terrorists. They play a major role in providing the spark for conflicts," Gen Chauhan said in his address. "The emergence of new domains of warfare, information, cyber, electromagnetic spectrum and the cognitive domain are fast blurring traditional lines of conflict and increasing the potential for unconventional attacks and hybrid warfare," he said. He also underlined that to survive in the future, military organisations will have to be inventive, innovative and ingenious. The CDS also said that 'India remains committed to contributing to global peace and security, through responsible behaviour, a unique geographical position, historical experience and development aspirations...our approach to security challenges'. Later, he fielded a range of questions during the seminar, including on Operation Sindoor and its implications. "What India has done, politically, they have drawn a new red line of intolerance against terror, and this I hope, this particular operation, that should bring about some lessons for our adversary also, and hopefully they learn that this is a limit of India's tolerance," Gen Chauhan said. "We have been subjected to this proxy war of terror for almost about two decades and more, and we lost lot of people...we want to put an end to it," he said. Asked whether India feels there is a strategic stability after the operation, the CDS said 'to bring about strategic stability.. it takes two hands together to clap, join together, hopefully they understand this and we can then look at things'. On a query on the planned integrated theatre commands, Gen Chauhan said, "We cannot give any timeline for these integrated theatre commands." The CDS said 'we have achieved some modicum amount of success in this particular endeavour of ours, some of it was exhibited during the recently-concluded operation, in which at least we had joint planning, joint intelligence, joint working together, logistics, etc'. "We will have a look at how did it play out, create something that is more India- centric...," the CDS added without elaborating. Earlier in his address, Gen Chauhan spoke of the factors that are changing the character and nature of warfare. "Predicting the future is perilous to say the least, all what we can do is to talk about trends, actually. I believe, the future challenges that we may face, arise out of the complexity of the emerging geopolitical dynamics and the unprecedented, in the march of technology," he said. Today, the rise of unmanned systems and do-it-yourself kind of kits for warfare is reducing the economic and human cost of warfare, leading to 'increasing propensity to use of force', the CDS said. This is happening 'without formal declaration of wars', he cautioned. The democratisation of cutting-edge technologies and the resultant proliferation of weapon systems, is 'empowering non-state players, including netizens, citizens', in today's deeply connected world, and the capacity to shape thoughts, perceptions, and hence the environment, he said. In his address, he emphasised that technology is reshaping warfare, wars and fighting. In his address, he emphasised that today, non-linear simultaneous operations are impacting the core principles of war. The transition of weapon systems from subsonic to supersonic, hypersonic, long-range precision weapons and maturing of stealth technologies, fractional orbital bombardment systems and drones with swarm technologies are 'giving celerity, speed and velocity a new meaning, enabling engagment of targets anywhere and anytime', he said. Unmanned and autonomous system along with a concept of man-unmanned teaming and the advancement in robotics will soon introduce the concept of combat between man and machines, or even between machines and machines, the CDS added. Quantum technologies are enabling secure communications, and advancing computing which will add to the complexity of warfare, and hence challenges for preparing for it, he said. "We are simplifying the procurement procedures so that we are able to fight today's war with tomorrow's technology rather than yesterday's systems," the CDS added. Top military officials from India and Pakistan highlighted their views at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, billed as Asia's premier defence forum, amid heightened tensions between the two sides following last month's military confrontation. IMAGE: CDS General Anil Chauhan, during bilateral discussions with the Netherlands' Chief of Defence, General Onno Eichelsheim, during the Shangri-La Dialogue 2025, Singapore, May 31, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The longstanding tensions between the two neighbours grabbed attention at the gathering of the top global defence forum held from Friday to Sunday, reported Channel News Asia on Sunday. India accused Pakistan-based terror groups of a deadly attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in April, while Pakistan denies any involvement. And just as these nations sit next to each other geographically, some of their top generals sat in neighbouring conference rooms inside the Shangri-La Singapore, taking part in simultaneous sessions late on Saturday afternoon on topics ranging from defence innovation solutions to regional crisis-management mechanisms. "What India has done, politically, they have drawn a new red line of intolerance against terror," General Anil Chauhan, chief of defence staff with the Indian Armed Forces, said, referring to Operation Sindoor. "I hope, this particular operation, it's basically lying in military domain, that should bring about some lessons for our adversary also, and hopefully they learn that this is a limit of India's tolerance," Gen Chauhan said. "We have been subjected to this proxy war of terror for almost two decades and more, and we lost lot of people...we want to put an end to it," he said. Operation Sindoor was launched early on May 7 to destroy nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead. All subsequent retaliations to Pakistani offensives were carried out under this operation. The four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions on May 10. General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee of the Pakistan Armed Forces, warned of what could happen should another clash occur. "The strategic stability with the lowering of this threshold to the dangerous levels if next time such a conflict occurs and the cities are targeted first and the borders become irrelevant... there could be a possibility that before the international community intervenes because of the restricted or constricted times window, the damage and destruction may have already taken place," he said at the event. In the wake of the recent hostilities, both sides have moved from weapons to words, with India dispatching several delegations to visit more than 30 capitals across the world. A similar effort by Pakistan is set to start on Jun 2. The Channel also had a member of the multi-party Indian delegation that visited East and Southeast Asia during a stop in Singapore on May 27. Congress party leader and former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid agreed with the views that the effort is unprecedented. "It is an innovation, in a sense. And the fact that there are multi-party delegations, seven of them across the world, to all members of the (UN) Security Council and prospective members of the Security Council. In that sense, it is unprecedented, and we've got enormous support," he was quoted as saying. "You might even put it as something that has started, something that will at least ensure that our narrative is carried right through," he said. And that narrative is firmly focused on India's accusations that Pakistan isn't doing nearly enough to snuff out terrorism, according to the Channel report. General Mirza told the Channel in a wide-ranging interview that Pakistan is taking on terrorism on its soil and working to tackle cross-border terrorism from groups based in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Mirza said terrorism has cost his country hundreds of billions of dollars and tens of thousands of lives. India and Pakistan's 96-hour confrontation was seen as a test of the rivals' respective weapons systems, including French-made Rafale fighter jets and Chinese-made J10-C jets, armed with Chinese-made missiles, according to the Channel report. But the top generals on both sides have said their military forces can pick and choose when it comes to their firepower. "India doesn't depend on one nation for its defence needs, said General Chauhan. "It's a number of capabilities which were put together, and most of these capabilities were put to good effects," he was quoted as saying. General Mirza told the Channel that his country's capabilities include weapons from China and many other places. "I have military equipment from the US. I have military equipment from Turkiye. I have military equipment from Italy. I have military equipment from the UK," he listed. "We have the equipment from all equipment-producing countries." In addition, both sides relied on drones while also facing serious threats in the form of disinformation. But global concern was firmly fixed on the unconventional weapons they both possess, the ones that can cause widespread destruction and loss of life. The countries continue to maintain that the use of nuclear weapons was never on the table, with Pakistani officials, including General Mirza dismissing reports that Islamabad called a meeting of the National Command Authority, the body that oversees Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. "The tools of modern conflict are artificial intelligence, electronic warfare, cyber, precision, firepower and weapons," Mirza said. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dilip Ghosh was conspicuous by his absence from the BJP's organisational meeting, in which Union Home Minister Amit Shah was present, in Kolkata on Sunday. IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with BJP leader Dilip Ghosh during the inauguration of Jagannath temple, at Digha in East Medinipur, April 30, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo This was the second time in less than a week when the ex-MP and former state BJP chief was absent from a programme of a top BJP leader, the other being the public meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Alipurduar in northern West Bengal on May 29. Ghosh had met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the inauguration of the newly built Jagannath Temple in Purba Medinipur's Digha, which triggered a major row as several BJP leaders accused him of cosying up to the Trinamool Congress supremo and betraying the sentiments of party rank and file. Though Ghosh had maintained that he had every right to visit a place of worship and none could question his integrity and credentials as a BJP loyalist, the controversy refused to die down and the former state unit president was not invited to any programme of the party later on. "No, I have not been invited to Amit ji's programme on June 1. It doesn't matter. There are some people who are always seen with party heavyweights. When I was the state president, I used to accompany leaders like Amit ji to their programmes. Now, I would rather be with the party rank and file and work with the karyakartas," he told reporters on Saturday. Before Modi's public meeting on May 29, Ghosh had similarly said he was not invited by the state BJP leadership. On Sunday, Ghosh, accompanied by his wife Rinku Majumdar, went to his in-laws' residence. Speaking to reporters there, he said, "It is not mandatory or essential to invite me to every meeting. I may be invited to some meeting and may not be to some others." Asked about Ghosh's absence from key party programmes, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar told reporters, "Dilip da is a veteran leader. I can't really comment on his absence. Breaking his silence over recent expulsion from the Rashtriya Janata Dal headed by his father Lalu Prasad, Tej Pratap Yadav on Sunday alleged that there was a "conspiracy" to drive a wedge between him and his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav. IMAGE: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav along with his wife Rabri Devi and son Tej Pratap Yadav during the birthday celebration of Lalu Prasad, in Patna, June 11, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The former Bihar Minister, who was expelled from the party a week ago, voiced his sentiments in a couple of posts on his X handle, blaming the crisis on 'Jaichand' a metaphor for traitors. Using the Mahabharata imagery, which he has been employing to describe his relationship with his far more successful younger brother, Yadav wrote, "Those dreaming of a rift between me and Arjun, will never succeed in conspiracy. They can win over the military of Krishna, but can't capture Krishna himself. I will soon expose every such conspiracy.." Without mentioning Tejashwi Yadav by name, he said, "My brother, I would ask you to have faith that I am with you in all circumstances. My blessings were with you and will be so always. Please take care of Mummy and Papa, Jaichand is outside as well as within." Yadav, who is the elder son of Lalu Prasad and former Bihar Chief Minister, Rabari Devi, had earlier come out with a post addressed to 'My dear Mummy and Papa'. "My world revolves around both of you. You and your command are bigger than God for me. With you around, I feel I have everything. I need only your love and trust and nothing else. Papa, without you this party (RJD) would not have come into existence. Jaichand, like greedy people, have plotted against me. My only wishes Mummy and Papa may you both always be happy and healthy," he said. Notably, Yadav's expulsion was ordered a day after he confessed to being "in a relationship" with a woman named Anushka only to delete the Facebook post later with a claim that his page was "hacked". The post had created a huge controversy and Yadav's estranged wife Aishwarya alleged before the media that her in-laws had "ruined" her life by getting her married to him despite his being in a relationship with another woman since much before their wedding in 2018. Yadav had so far kept mum on his expulsion despite his father announcing on social media that he was disgusted with his elder son's conduct. Anushka's, brother Aakash Yadav also recently came out in public to "strongly condemn", the expulsion of Yadav but refused to divulge whether his sister was in relationship with the former minister, saying, "It is for the two of them to speak on this issue if and when they choose". Aakash Yadav had also urged Tejashwi, now the de-facto leader of RJD, to intervene in the matter saying, "The reputation of both our families is at stake". His expulsion came barely a few months ahead of the Bihar assembly polls, which the RJD will fight under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav. Born to Prasad and Rabri Devi, both former chief ministers of Bihar, the two brothers are among four of nine siblings active in politics. Tej Pratap Yadav had made his political debut in the assembly polls of 2015, and is a second-term MLA with two brief stints in the state cabinet. All-party parliamentary delegations on Sunday emphasised a unified global stance against terrorism and asserted that future dialogues with Pakistan should focus solely on reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. IMAGE: All-party parliamentary delegation leader JD-U MP Sanjay Kumar Jha with delegation members, former ambassador Mohan Kumar, Congress leader Salman Khurshid, BJP MP Pradan Baruah, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee (fourth from right), BJP MPs Brij Lal, Aparajita Sarangi, Hemang Joshi and CPM MP John Brittas interacts with the members of the Indian diaspora on Operation Sindoor Global Outreach, in Jakarta, May 30, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Interacting with the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, who is part of an all-party parliamentary delegation visiting Malaysia, said the next dialogue with Pakistan should be only on reclaiming PoK. "We have been in talks with them (Pakistan) for decades, despite changes in various paradigms and governments. But one thing remains constant the conflict with Pakistan. "After what happened on April 22, where 26 people were killed at point-blank range solely based on their religion and gender...I want the ruling dispensation to engage in dialogue with Pakistan only to discuss reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Otherwise, these terror attacks will continue," Banerjee, who is part of the delegation led by JD-U Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, said. India has made it clear that any talks with Pakistan will only be on terrorism and PoK. India has tasked seven multi-party delegations to visit 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community on Pakistan's designs and India's response to terror, especially in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. Terrorism is a global menace to be addressed by humanity in unison was the all-party delegation's message as it concluded its visit to Algeria on Sunday. The multi-party delegation was led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda. "Terrorism is a global menace to be addressed by humanity in unison. The all-party parliamentary delegation, led by Hon'ble Member of Parliament Mr. Baijayant Jay Panda, briefed the Algerian media, members of think tanks, a cross-section of the Indian diaspora, and friends of India in Algeria. Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Community Abroad and African Affairs of Algeria graced the occasion," the Indian embassy in Algeria said in a post on X. "After the briefing and interaction, tributes were paid to the innocent victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack by observing a minute of silence and laying a wreath," the post said. The all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi began its visit to Spain by paying homage to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi. The delegation arrived Madrid from Latvia on Saturday. During its three-day visit to Spain, the delegation will meet members of the Spanish government, the Indian diaspora and civil society representatives to present India's stance on zero-tolerance against terrorism. "The all-party parliamentary delegation began its visit to Madrid by paying homage to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi, a powerful tribute to the enduring force of peace over violence and truth over fear," the Indian embassy in Spain said in a post on X. Earlier in the day, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said the all-party delegation will effectively convey India's stance on terrorism and engage with key stakeholders in the UK. The Prasad-led nine-member team arrived here on Saturday for a three-day visit as part of a European tour. Another parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor arrived in Brazil on Sunday to convey India's strong national consensus and resolute stance in the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations The delegation, which arrived here from Colombia, was received at the airport by Sandeep Kumar Kujur, Charge d'Affaires. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7. Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10. The Indian side strongly responded to the Pakistani attempts by inflicting heavy damage 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 May 10 announced that India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea, with immediate effect. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday conducted a massive search operation at 15 locations in eight states across the country in a Pakistan-linked espionage case. Image used only for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo The searches followed recent arrest of a trooper of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for spying for Pakistan, officials said. Saturday's searches were conducted at the premises of suspects linked with Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) in Delhi, Maharashtra (Mumbai), Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam and West Bengal, they said. NIA teams have seized several electronic gadgets and sensitive financial documents, along with other incriminating materials, during the searches, the officials said. These are being extensively examined for clues to the espionage racket being run by Pakistan-based operatives as part of an anti-India terror conspiracy, a statement issued by the NIA said. As per NIA investigations, the suspects targeted in today's searches had connections with Pakistani operatives, and acted as financial conduits for carrying out espionage activities in India. NIA had registered a case on May 20, following the arrest of the suspended assistant sub inspector (ASI) of CRPF, Moti Ram Jat, who had been sharing sensitive information with the PIOs since 2023 and had received funds through various conduits in India in lieu of leaking classified information related to national security. Jat had been dismissed from service by the CRPF. The anti-terror agency is continuing with its investigation in the case, registered under different sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Official Secrets Act and the Unlawful Activities(Prevention) Act, the statement said. Terrorism is a global menace to be addressed by humanity in unison was the all-party delegation's message to Algeria as it concluded its visit to the North African country on Sunday. IMAGE: All-party delegation leader BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda, with delegation members comprising former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey, Phangnon Konyak, Satnam Singh Sandhu, Rekha Sharma, and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, visits Maqam Echahid, the National Martyrs Memorial, in Algiers, Algeria, May 31, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo The multi-party delegation led by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Baijayant Jay Panda was visiting Algiers as part of India's diplomatic outreach following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. "Terrorism is a global menace to be addressed by humanity in unison. The all-party parliamentary delegation, led by Hon'ble Member of Parliament Mr. Baijayant Jay Panda, briefed the Algerian media, members of think tanks, a cross-section of the Indian diaspora, and friends of India in Algeria. Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Community Abroad and African Affairs of Algeria graced the occasion," the Indian embassy in Algeria said in a post on X. "After the briefing and interaction, tributes were paid to the innocent victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack by observing a minute of silence and laying a wreath," the post said. Jay Panda in a post on X said: "India and Algeria stand firmly together in the global fight against terrorism. Our all-party delegation had a meaningful meeting with H.E. Ms. Selma Bakhta Mansouri, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria, conveying India's firm stance on the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor, and appreciating Algeria's clear and principled stand against terrorism in all its forms." "Pakistan has used its nuclear power to shield its terrorist training, funding and arming programme," the post said, adding: "United We Stand, Strong Against Terrorism!" The Indian embassy in another post said: "The delegation appreciated Algeria's shared commitment to strengthen the global fight against terrorism and unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations." It also said the delegation members lit candles in memory of the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack at the iconic Basilique Notre-Dame d'Afrique (Basilica of Our Lady of Africa) in Algiers. "The all-party delegation in Algeria, led by @PandaJay ji, paid tribute at the iconic Maqam Echahid (Martyrs Memorial), honouring Algeria's brave martyrs, and visited the National Museum of the Moudjahid, paying homage to Algeria's heroic fight for independence. India and Algeria have similar histories of struggle and resilience against terrorism," Satnam Singh Sandhu, who is a member of the delegation, said on X. Besides Jay Panda, other members of the delegation are AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, former chairperson of the National Commission for Women and Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma, BJP MP Phangnon Konyak, BJP MP Satnam Singh Sandhu and former foreign secretary Harsh Shringla. The delegation is one of the seven multi-party delegations India has tasked to visit 33 global capitals to reach out to the international community to emphasise Pakistan's links to terrorism. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the Pahalgam terror attack, with India carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7. Pakistan attempted to attack Indian military bases on May 8, 9, and 10. The Indian side responded strongly to the Pakistani actions. The on-ground hostilities ended with an understanding of stopping the military actions following talks between the directors general of military operations of both sides on May 10. The Delhi high court has upheld the termination of services of a Christian army officer over his consistent refusal to fully participate in the weekly regimental religious parades and said the armed forces were united by their uniform rather than being divided by their religion. IMAGE: Indian Army soldiers carry out a military drill with heavy artillery at an undisclosed location along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan. Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur rejected the petition by the Indian Army Lieutenant, who served as a 'Troop Leader' of a squadron, against the termination order passed on March 3, 2021, that dismissed him from the Indian Army without pension and gratuity. The court opined that the petitioner kept his religion above the lawful command from his superior, and disobedience was an offence under the Army Act. "In the present case, the question is not of religious freedom at all; it is a question of following a lawful command of a superior. It is not disputed by the petitioner that his superiors have been calling upon him to attend the religious parades by even entering the sanctum sanctorum and perform the rituals if this would help in boosting the morale of the troops. In the present case, the petitioner has kept his religion above a lawful command from his superior. This clearly is an act of indiscipline," said the bench. "Our Armed Forces comprise personnel of all religions, castes, creeds, regions, and faiths, whose sole motto is to safeguard the country from external aggressions, and, therefore, they are united by their uniform rather than divided by their religion, caste, or region," it stated. The petitioner submitted that his regiment maintained only a temple and a gurudwara for its religious needs and parades, and being of monotheistic Christian faith, he sought exemption from entering the innermost part of the temple while accompanying his troops for the weekly religious parades and other events. The authorities defended the termination, saying efforts were made through other Christian officers in the army, and he was also taken to the pastor of a local church, who told the petitioner that entering the sarv dharm sthal as part of his duties would not impinge on his Christian faith. However, he remained undeterred. In its judgement passed on May 30, the court "saluted" the dedication of "those who guard our borders day and night in adverse conditions" and said uniformity in appearance as well as respect for all the religions was quintessential to a cohesive, disciplined, and coordinated functioning of an armed force and the ethos of the armed forces placed nation before religion. It further said that although regiments might historically bear names associated with religion or region, it did not undermine the secular ethos of the institution, and religious war cries only serve a purely motivational function, intended to foster solidarity and unity amongst the troops. The court observed that in the present case, the Chief of Army Staff concluded that the conduct of the petitioner was in violation of the essential military ethos, and it could not "second-guess" the decision unless it was manifestly arbitrary. "While there can be no denial of the fact that the petitioner has the right to practice his religious beliefs, however, at the same time, being the Commanding Officer of his troops, he carries additional responsibilities as he has to not only lead them in war but also has to foster bonds, motivate personnel, and cultivate a sense of belonging in the troops," the court observed. It therefore held that the petitioner's refusal to fully participate in the weekly regimental religious parades, despite counselling at multiple levels of command and multiple opportunities being given to him for compliance, demonstrated an unwillingness to adapt to the requirements of military service and the armed forces. It said the termination of the petitioner was justified, and since the religious sentiments and the morale of the troops were in question, a formal court martial was "unsuitable for resolution" as it could be detrimental to the secular fabric of the armed forces. "While to a civilian, this may appear a bit harsh and may even sound far-fetched, however, the standard of discipline required for the Armed Forces is different. The motivation that is to be instilled in the troops may necessitate actions beyond ordinary civilian standards," the court observed. "We find no grounds to interfere with the Impugned Order dated 03.03.2021. The petition is, accordingly, dismissed," it held. A road bridge collapsed onto a railway in western Russia, derailing a passenger train and killing at least eight people, investigative and railway officials said. Initial reports blamed an explosion. In a separate incident in a neighboring region early on June 1, a railway bridge collapsed as a freight train was crossing it, injuring at least one of the train drivers, the local governor said. It was not immediately clear whether the two incidents, which occurred late on May 31 in Bryansk and early June 1 in Kursk, were connected. Statements issued by the national Investigative Committee initially cited explosions as a possible cause, but that allegation was omitted from later statements. In the Bryansk region, which borders Belarus and Ukraine, a passenger train was struck by debris from an overpass at around 11 p.m. local time, the Investigative Committee said in a statement. The committee said the collapse was due to an explosion, and it blamed "illegal interference" without giving further details. The train was traveling to Moscow. Aleksandr Bogomaz, governor of the Bryansk region, said in a post on Telegram that seven people were killed and nearly four dozen injured. Photographs and video published on social media showed rescue crews working under spotlights to pick through the wreckage of the train cars. Russia's national railways company confirmed the derailment and said it was sending crews to help in the recovery. It said no disruptions to rail traffic were expected. The second incident occurred around 3 a.m. on June 1 in the Kursk region, officials said, about 90 kilometers to the south of the Bryansk derailment. A cargo train fell onto a highway as the train was crossing an overpass, said the Investigative Committee. In an initial statement released midmorning on June 1, the committee cited explosions as a possible cause for the incidents. But a statement issued around two hours later omitted mention of an explosion. There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy, which was first reported by the independent Russian news outlets Vot Tak and MediaZona. Aleksandr Khinshtein, the Kursk regional governor, said at least one of the train drivers was injured. The Investigative Committee said three train employees were hospitalized. Russian Railways, the state-owned national rail company, later said one of the train workers had died after being hospitalized. The timing and location of the two separate events and the initial allegation that explosions could be responsible, raising fears of possible sabotage. Bordering Belarus and Ukraine, both the Bryansk and Kursk regions have a heavy military presence as part of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The Kursk region was the site of a seven-month cross-border invasion by Ukrainian forces; in late April, Russia claimed to have pushed out all Ukrainian forces from Kursk. Russia's war on Ukraine has continued unabated as the United States and other Western nations have pushed Kyiv and Moscow to sit down for peace talks. The two sides are expected to meet in Istanbul on June 2 for the second round of talks; an earlier round produced no substantive breakthrough, although the two sides agreed to exchange hundreds of prisoners of war. Though Ukraine has agreed to an unconditional cease-fire, Russia has dragged its heels, proposing additional broader conditions including a stop to Western weaponry supplies for Ukraine as well as the demand that Ukraine should never be allowed to join NATO. The quiet summer season at Sierra High School was cut short for one day as musicians, dancers and hundreds of vibrant cars, motorcycles and bicycles poured into the parking lots and nearby streets for the 41st annual Fiesta and Car Show Saturday. Hosted by Colorado Springs' El Cinco de Mayo Inc., the car show had over 65 entries, many of the owners being members of various car clubs. The event is a tradition that's meant to capture Mexican and Hispanic culture through food, dancing and cars. Gaspar Martinez, the event organizer for 30 years, said the car show connects people to their community, noting it's common for contestants to enter the show with their family and friends. "It's a generational thing you've got grandpas then also their grandkids. Cars are a way of life here. Everybody loves fixing up cars. A lot of these people will pay to get their rims done. They'll pay to get their stereo, their paint jobs. It's just a community of car people that love cars," Martinez said. Saturday's car show featured an array of vintage vehicles, tiny cars, flashy bikes, "hot rods" a vehicle that has been customized to enhance performance and "low riders." A low rider is any car, motorcycle or bike that has been modified to sit very low to the ground, with a streamlined appearance. The tradition dates back to the 1930s in Southern California, and the subculture has grown and evolved through the Hispanic and Mexican communities ever since. Amy Valerio, 48, has grown up in Colorado Springs and has been a car enthusiast since she was in high school. Her 1970 Chevy Monte Carlo stoops low to the ground and is one of many cars that her family owns. As a car family, Valerio and her husband have been "faithful" to the low rider community for almost 20 years and part of the City Wide Car Club for just as long. She entered her sleek, purple car with hydraulics into the event to show more about who she is and what she cares about. "I wanted my car to look like it's female-owned," she said. "People walk up to my husband and say, 'Oh, nice car.' But that's not his, that's mine. So, I feel like it's good to show younger girls that this isn't just a hobby for men." The purple paint also ties into her work as a caregiver for people with Alzheimer's disease. The color purple symbolizes the Alzheimer's awareness ribbon, which Valerio said is the last color people with the disease remember. Her love for cars has passed down to the next generation in her family, as her kids also have low riders and are part of the club. Steve Mullis, 35, said he and his wife turned his motorcycle into a blue hot rod to honor his friend who died five years ago during the pandemic. His friend's wife gave him the bike after his death, and Mullis has spent years storing his friend's memory in it. His fully chromed-out Harley-Davidson highlights his friend's love of blue, and the old-school design showcases its imperfections, which Mullis said is what makes it look good. "I just enjoy riding it every time. It's never left me stranded," Mullis said. As a nonprofit organization, El Cinco de Mayo Inc. hosts events like the car show throughout the year to raise funds for a series of $1,000 scholarships awarded to underprivileged people pursuing higher education or in need of financial assistance. Martinez said the group has raised money for about 15,000 scholarships so far this year and can generally raise up to $50,000 every year, with a majority of it going to scholarships and the rest for maintenance and events for the next year. It also hosts toy drives during Christmas to give to underprivileged children in the community, Martinez said. Kelley Rodriguez, the organization's chair, said its events have grown throughout the years. She noted that schools such as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak State College have started partnering with the group because it's a great way to reach out to various communities. Harrison School District 2 also assists the organization by providing it with resources and allowing it to host events at its schools. The car show has bounced around to different school parking lots, shopping centers and parks. Martinez said it started at Monument Valley Park, transitioned to Memorial Park and moved around since. "We try to keep our events on the southeast side of town because there (are) more Hispanics here. If we tried to have this event up north, then no one would show up," he said. Throughout the years, the number of eventgoers has fluctuated, according to Martinez. He said around 8,000 people came from start to finish last year, but there's been some shows that have had as many as 12,000. But what's stayed the same has been the community the group has built around the events. "These types of festivals bring out all types of people," Rodriguez said. "It's a way to show culture and be a part of the community." For more than three years, most of Russia has viewed the war sparked by the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine from afar. Now, some say, following an audacious attack by Ukraine that saw hordes of drones smuggled into Russia and then deployed on June 1 to wipe out dozens of long-range bombers, it has arrived on their doorstep. In the Irkutsk, Murmansk, Ryazan, and Ivanovo regions, drones struck air bases, shocking Russian authorities and citizens. "It was a fiery hell," residents of the Irkutsk region told RFE/RL's Siberia Realities. In Siberia, some 4,000 km away, residents appeared to be shaken. "Now the war has reached us too," residents told Siberia Realities. Ukraine's Secret Service (SBU) said dozens of long-range bomber aircraft across Russia were attacked with drones that were smuggled in wooden shipping crates carried on truck beds into the country and then launched from nearby locations. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attacks the "absolutely brilliant outcome" of an operation that had taken more than a year and half to prepare. According to eyewitnesses, the drones flew out of a truck that stopped on the R-255 "Siberia" highway. That information was confirmed by regional Governor Igor Kobzev, who noted that this was the first drone attack in Siberia. At the Belaya military base in the village of Sredniy in the Irkutsk Region, a drone attack destroyed at least one transport aircraft, according to one eyewitness, who said the attack lasted at least an hour and a half. "I watched the whole nightmare through binoculars -- it was a truly terrifying sight," the witness, a man who identified himself as Roman, told RFE/RL. "First we heard a bang and saw a huge column of smoke. At first, I thought that another plane had crashed -- two months ago a bomber fell from this airfield. "Then I definitely saw four strong explosions. Because after each of them gray smoke started pouring out...And when they hit the transport plane, the entire airfield seemed to be on fire," he said. Added another eyewitness from the town of Buret, near the airfield: "Our house shook several times from the blast wave." The June 1 attack is seen as another major embarrassment for Russia's military and intelligence agencies as Ukraine appears to be waging a covert, low-level campaign inside Russia for months. Kyiv doesn't usually admit to such attacks -- which use drones and possibly special forces to strike things such as fuel depots and pipelines and are largely targeted at areas closer to the Ukraine-Russia border. Reports of the June 1 drone attacks came hours after two incidents damaged railway infrastructure in western Russia that killed at least 8 people. It was not immediately clear whether the two incidents, which occurred late on May 31 in Bryansk and early on June 1 in Kursk, were connected. The national Investigative Committee blamed "illegal interference" without giving further details. In Irkutsk, Kobzev called for calm among the region's residents, but some said they had had enough of the war. "The war is in its fourth year, what will happen in the fifth year? You don't know how to fight, make peace, don't disgrace yourself," a woman who identified herself as Marina said. Others also began to question the ability of the authorities to keep them safe amid fears that if a truck could be driven this far into the country and then used in an operation, this may not be the last attack. "How? How is this possible? How did they let these trucks through? There are so many questions," asked a woman who called herself Svetlana. In the Murmansk region, Governor Andrei Chibis confirmed an attack by drones that also were launched out of a truck parked near the town of Olenegorsk. Eyewitnesses from the area told Siberia Realities that they observed at least 10 explosions at the air base. "The war has started in Olenegorsk. Smoke from explosions is billowing behind the forest," one said, noting that it appeared the driver of the truck that may have contained the drones was arrested by police. Ukraine and Russia agreed to another large-scale prisoner swap but little else during a second round of direct peace talks that lasted just over an hour as air attacks by both sides continue in Europe's largest and deadliest conflict since World War II. "The meeting is over. It didn't end negatively," Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said following the talks on June 2 at Ciragan Palace by the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Expectations, low to begin with, were tempered further after Ukraine said a day earlier that it had wiped out dozens of long-range Russian bombers with a wave of drones launched remotely after being smuggled into Russia. Both delegations presented their drafts of so-called memoranda -- documents on the principles of peace negotiations and possible conditions for a cease-fire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking in Vilnius, said the delegations "exchanged documents through the Turkish side, and we are preparing a new release of prisoners of the war." Ukraine's delegation leader, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, said the sides agreed to "exchange all-for-all seriously wounded and seriously sick prisoners of war. The second category is young soldiers who are from 18 to 25 years old -- all-for-all." Umerov's Russian counterpart, Vladimir Medinsky, said the exchange would involve "at least 1,000" on each side, a figure that exceeds the 1,000-for-1,000 POW exchange carried out after the first round of talks last month. Prior to the meeting, experts said the two sides still appeared to be far apart, putting the odds of a breakthrough on a cease-fire at the meeting at slim to none. "A depressingly necessary reminder: peace talks tend to be slow. Even if (unlikely though it is) something is going to come from the Istanbul talks, there will be no sudden and magical 'breakthroughs,'" London-based analyst Mark Galeotti wrote on social media. The US State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken by phone with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on June 1 to discuss the talks. It said the call was made at Russias request and that Rubio had reiterated President Donald Trumps call for continued direct talks to "achieve a lasting peace." Heading into the talks, Ukraine appeared to bolster its negotiating position after its forces struck dozens of long-range bomber aircraft across Russia with drones that were smuggled in wooden shipping crates carried on truck beds into the country and then launched from nearby locations. Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) claimed that as many as 40 bombers may have been hit in the June 1 attack, described as an absolutely brilliant outcome by Zelenskyy, who added that the operation had taken more than a year and half to prepare. Ukraine agreed in April to a US proposal for a 30-day cease-fire, but Russia has balked at the plan, and many of Ukraine's allies have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to drag out the process so he can take advantage of the current situation on the battlefield, where Russia has been gaining ground in territories it claims to rule. "The key to lasting peace is clear, the aggressor must not receive any reward for war,"Zelesnkyy said in Vilnius on June 2 at a meeting that included officials from several NATO countries. Much of the destruction has been centered around civilian infrastructure, which Russia claims it doesn't target despite mounting evidence that appears to show the opposite. Trumps special envoy, Keith Kellogg, said in an ABC interview that US, German, French, and British officials would be in Istanbul or the June 2 meeting. Russia has said it would use the meeting to present a "memorandum" outlining its terms for a peace settlement. Kyiv said it was ready to take part but wanted to see Russia's proposals for ending the war first. Suspilne, Ukraine's public broadcaster, reported what it said were the details of the memorandum that Kyiv planned to present in Istanbul. Key points were said to include the call for a complete cease-fire and confidence-building measures to address humanitarian issues. Also, it said Ukraine does not undertake to be neutral. A state can choose to be part of the Euro-Atlantic community and move towards EU membership. Kyiv's membership in NATO depends on consensus within the Alliance. Moscow has pressed for Ukraines neutrality and a pledge by Kyiv that it will not attempt to join the Western military alliance -- points Zelenskyy has long rejected. The memorandum spoke of potential sanctions relief against Russia, but only under specific conditions. Some restrictions can be lifted from Russia, but in stages and only gradually, with a mechanism for renewing sanctions if necessary. Frozen Russian sovereign assets are used to rebuild Ukraine or remain frozen until reparations are paid, it said. Concern is growing for the welfare of a 48-year-old man who went missing from Carrick-on-Shannon just one day after arriving in the country and whose case has been classified as high risk by gardai. Gardai have issued a public appeal for information, outlining that Manuel D Costa had only been in Ireland one day when he left his friends house at Leitrim Road, Carrick-on-Shannon at 6 a.m. on May 16th. A Garda spokesperson said that Mr DCosta stated he was going looking for work and could not be persuaded to return to the house by friends. His brother has travelled to Ireland from the UK to look for him but to no avail. At 21:15pm on May 16th he and his friend attended Carrick Garda Station to report Manuel as a missing person. Family and friends are very concerned as he was only in the country a day when he went missing, has very little English and does not know the area. He has no other contacts in the area and has no mobile phone that is working," say gardai Gardai have classified it as high risk due to these factors. Current enquiries place Manuel as having been on foot in the Ballyfarnon/Keadue/Cootehall areas, said gardai. An Indian national, he is described as being five foot six inches in height, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing black pants, a white t-shirt and a black hoodie. Anyone with information should contact gardai at Carrick-on-Shannon on 071 9650510 or the garda confidential line on 1800 666111. A local district court judge has warned Roscommon's teenagers not to become involved with drugs. At the recent sitting of Roscommon District Court, local secondary school students sat in during the busy district court proceedings as part of a school visit. During the sessions, Judge James Faughnan struck out a prosecution against a young man for a drugs possession offence. The young man had no previous convictions and had paid a donation to a local charity. The judge welcomed the students to the court, saying he was happy to answer any of their questions following the sitting. He also warned them against becoming involved in the drug trade. I know there is lots of stuff out there, he said, advising them not to go near it. Congress Demands Special Parliament Session; Questions Raised Over Ceasefire, Trump's Claims He further questioned the sudden ceasefire, the role of international actors, and the government's silence. Congress Demands Special Parliament Session on India-Pakistan Conflict; Questions Raised Over Ceasefire, Trump's Claims Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday reiterated the party's demand for a special session of Parliament in the wake of the recent four-day war-like situation between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives on the Baisaran meadows on April 22, 2025. Advertisement Speaking to ANI, Khera said,"Congress party has been demanding for a long time that a special session of the Parliament be called. It was called during the war of 1962, but its astonishing that now even after the war has ended, there has been no Parliament session. He further questioned the sudden ceasefire, the role of international actors, and the government's silence. Questions are arising everyday, the biggest of them is Donald Trump's claims. We also want to know the conditions of the ceasefire, why was it so sudden and announced by the US President?... The CDS' statements again raise many questions. The government needs to come forward... The country needs to know our defence preparedness..." Khera added. Advertisement #WATCH | Delhi: Congress leader Pawan Khera says, "Congress party has been demanding for a long time that a special session of the Parliament be called. It was called during the war of 1962, but its astonishing that now even after the war has ended, there has been no Parliament pic.twitter.com/HvNn8iMdNL ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2025 Trumps Claims and Indias Response US president Donald Trump was the first to announce the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan. He claimed United states 'mediated' between India and Pakistan and the two countries 'have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE.' Advertisement "fter 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!," wrote in a post. Two days back, during a Press conference with tech Billionaire Elon Musk at the oval house, Trump reitarated his claims, saying the united states 'stopped India and Pakistan from fighting,' adding 'I believe it could have turned into a nuclear disaster.' Advertisement We talked trade, and we said we cant trade with people who are shooting at each other and potentially using nuclear weapons. The leaders of those countries were great, they understood, and they agreed and that all stopped," Trump said in the press conferance with Elon Musk as the Space X owener stepped down as the US government special employee. Indian Government Disputes U.S. Mediation However, Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, in an interview with Germanys FAZ News, firmly rejected Trumps narrative and dismissed fears of a nuclear conflict. At no point was a nuclear level reached, Jaishankar said, asserting that the cessation of hostilities was decided between military commanders through direct contact. He explained, The morning before, we effectively hit and incapacitated Pakistan's main airbases and air defense system. So who should I thank for the cessation of hostilities? I thank the Indian military because it was their action that made Pakistan say: We are ready to stop. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released the English translation of Jaishankars interview on Monday. CDS Confirms Loss of Indian Aircraft On Saturday, Indias Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan acknowledged that India lost some jets during the recent conflict with Pakistan. Speaking to Bloombergs Haslinda Amin, General Chauhan stated, What is important is not that the jets were downed, but why they were downed. While he did not disclose the exact number of aircraft lost, he refuted Pakistans claim of downing six Indian jets, calling it absolutely incorrect. General Chauhans remarks marked the first official confirmation of Indian aircraft losses during the conflict. (For more news apart from Musk Trump conference: Trump Reveals How He Averted India-Pakistan War; India Credits Own Military, stay tune to Rozana Spokesman) June 1, 2025 A roundup of local and world news Newsflash Newsroom, 01.06.2025, 13:59 DAY Usually marked on June 1, the International Childrens Day is also being celebrated in Romania today. On this special day, children can visit various institutions and participate in a series of cultural and recreational activities. The Chamber of Deputies has opened its gates to children and their adult companions, while in front of the Senate, children are invited to get involved in various workshops involving creativity, games, dances, sporting and artistic activities. Also in Bucharest, they can take rides in vintage or modern trams. The Metropolitan Circus in Bucharest has prepared a show especially for children from disadvantaged areas and for those with handicaps. For those in the Diaspora, the Romanian Cultural Institute has staged a contest entitled I and Romania, which has been attended by 70 children from 13 countries. The project was aimed at keeping the Romanian language alive and strengthening the feeling of belonging to the Romanian cultural identity. SUMMIT Romanian president, Nicusor Dan, will be flying to Lithuania on Monday to attend the Vilnius Summit with B9 and Nordic countries. This will be Dans first participation as president of Romania and he is expected to reiterate Romanias commitment to strengthening NATO in all areas. He will underline the fact that Bucharest remains a responsible and active ally in the Eastern Flank and the strategic region of the Black Sea and will be pleading for the allies multidimensional support for Ukraine. The Romanian President is also expected to highlight the need for supporting the Republic of Moldova, which is presently facing a series of complex risks and threats. The Vilnius summits main aim is to prepare the NATO Summit in the Hague in late June. SAINT A Byzantine liturgical service in Romanian is being held in St Peters Basilica in Rome to pay homage to Greek-Catholic cardinal Iuliu Hossu (1885-1970). Hossu was one of the protagonists of the Greater Union of the Romanian Principalities in 1918 and Christian apologist while serving a prison sentence during the communist dictatorship. Cardinal Hossu was beatified together with six other Greek-Catholic martyr-bishops killed by the communist regime between 1950 and 1970. The event at the Vatican comes against the background of the Cardinal Iuliu Hossu National Year instated by the Romanian Parliament. VISIT Romanias interim Prime Minister, Catalin Predoiu, is today visiting the regions affected by the latest heavy rainfalls. He earlier decided the setting up of an inter-ministerial working group to assess the damage at the Praid salt mine in central Romania, which is to come up with a series of urgent measures aimed at salvaging it. Romanias new president, Nicusor Dan also visited the site on Saturday when he held talks with the local authorities and people disgruntled with the authorities failure to prevent the disaster. According to the Minister of the Economy, Bogdan Ivan, the works aimed at deviating the course of the rivulet that flooded the salt mine and consolidating the mines walls will be around 26 million Euros. Another 70 million RON would be needed to reintegrate the mine into the travel circuit. THEFT The Dutch government has set up a 5.7 million Euro fund for possible compensations in the case of the January heist at the Drents Museum in Assen involving several Romanian ancient artefacts. The Dutch authorities have explained the state is offering partial guarantees to museums with valuable artefacts on display. Although two suspects have been sent to court, the stolen artefacts havent been recovered yet. The Dutch police are offering 100 thousand Euro in reward for any piece of information that might help with the investigation. WEATHER Meteorologists have issued another code yellow alert for unstable weather for 16 counties, in the countrys western, northern, central and eastern regions where heavy downpours, thunderstorms and even hail are expected. However, the weather is getting warmer with highs ranging between 22 and 29 degrees centigrade. The noon reading in Bucharest stood at 25 degrees. (bill) PUEBLO COUNTY Six hikers from Texas, including five juveniles, were rescued from Greenhorn Mountain near the town of Rye on Saturday afternoon, ending a nearly 25-hour-long search in steep, heavily wooded terrain. The Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Emergency Services Divisions volunteer search and rescue team carried out the search and recovery efforts, assisted by state and local partners, a Saturday night news release from the Pueblo County Sheriffs Office said. All six hikers were found safe and uninjured. One search and rescue volunteer from the Sheriffs Office sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the search and was airlifted from the mountain by a Colorado National Guard helicopter, the release said. This was a very long, difficult and dangerous operation, and we are thankful for the positive outcome, Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero said in the release. Everyone was safely rescued, and although one of our (search and rescue) members was injured, we are grateful no one suffered serious harm. The hikers began a day hike Friday near Graneros Creek, southwest of Rye. The group got lost in surrounding dense vegetation when they veered from their designated trail and could not find their way back, deputies said. Around 7:30 p.m. on Friday, the group reported to the Pueblo County Sheriffs Office they were lost. The Sheriffs Offices volunteer search and rescue team began an immediate ground search, working through the night in steep terrain and heavy rain, deputies said. A search and rescue volunteer was injured during the night Friday, but continued searching until he could no longer proceed. A second Sheriffs Office volunteer search and rescue team, with members of the Custer County search and rescue team, joined the efforts on Saturday morning. Officials deployed a Flight for Life helicopter, which located the lost hikers, but could not rescue them nor extract the injured search and rescue team member because of the rugged terrain, the release said. At about 3:30 p.m. Saturday, the Colorado National Guard extracted the injured search and rescue team member by helicopter. The team member was flown to Rye High School, then taken by ambulance to a local hospital to be treated for their injuries. Custer County search and rescue teams meanwhile located four of the six hikers on foot, around 3:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the release. Two remaining juvenile hikers had separated from the group to try and relocate the trail. Search and rescue teams from the Pueblo County Sheriffs Office found them around 4:45 p.m. All six hikers were safely escorted out of the area and, when later examined, were determined to be in good health, the release said. The Rye Fire Protection District, the Colorado Division of Fire Protection and Control and the Colorado Department of Public Safety additionally assisted in these search and rescue efforts. The body of a boater who went missing on Lake Pueblo Friday night has been recovered after a nearly 23-hour search effort, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Officials said in a Saturday night news release that three anglers were on a boat when it capsized amid high winds in Boggs Creek Cove around 8 p.m. Friday. Two adults in the boat were able to swim to shore. The body of the third adult was recovered around 6:30 p.m. Saturday by the CPW Marine Evidence Recovery Team and Lake Pueblo. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the victim, said Lake Pueblo State Park Manager Joe Stadterman in a statement. Any loss of life in our state parks is a terrible day. We thank the responding agencies for their work and park visitors for their patience during the operation. Officials said in the release that no one on the boat was wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident. This death is the second reported on Lake Pueblo in May. On May 14, a Colorado Springs father drowned while helping a group of children in rough waters; two of the children were his own. Featured Local Savings Last summer there were more than 30 water-related deaths on state waterways; there have been at least six so far this year. Officials say those recreating on state waters should wear life jackets. "Weather conditions can change quickly at Lake Pueblo with sudden, strong wind gusts, and visitors are encouraged to check weather forecasts before heading outdoors," the release stated. Lake Pueblo offers a free life jacket loaner station for any visitor, according to the release. The Pueblo County Coroner will release the identity of the victim. Petro Matad confirmed in an update on Friday that invoices covering oil production from the Heron 1 well in Mongolias Block XX, from October 2024 to April 2025, had been processed by PetroChina and were awaiting payment. However, it said disbursement was contingent on confirmation from authorities that no customs, VAT or other taxes would be applicable under the terms of the Oil Sales Agreement. It said discussions were ongoing, with PetroChina considering partial payment in the meantime. Heron 1 is currently producing around 160 barrels of oil per day via beam pumping, with water cut below 6%. The company said it was assessing the conversion of the nearby Heron 2 well into a water injector to provide reservoir pressure support and enhance production. Tenders were also being evaluated for connecting Heron 1 to the local electricity grid, which would reduce diesel use and operating costs. Petro Matad said it was also preparing to test the Gazelle 1 discovery, which could be rapidly tied into Heron 1 facilities if successful. A geochemistry study at Gobi Bear 1 confirmed the presence of migrated oil, prompting a reassessment of well logs to identify testing intervals. All three wells - Heron 2, Gazelle 1, and Gobi Bear 1 - are suspended and cased, allowing for low-cost re-entry using a workover rig. In Block VII, the AIM-traded firm said it had completed an environmental baseline study and submitted documentation for exploration licence approval. The 2025 budget and work programme had been cleared by the Mongolian regulator. Petro Matad said it was also reviewing legacy 2D seismic data, which suggested a potentially significant structure in the block's northeastern sector. Partner discussions for further development of Block XX remained ongoing. We are pleased to have agreed the amounts payable for Heron-1 production, said chief executive officer Mike Buck. We are working hard with PetroChina and the Mongolian authorities to get the first payment made and we look forward to a smooth monthly payment process thereafter. Meanwhile, our production operations continue and, as anticipated, after a period of natural flow, Heron 1 is now behaving more like the offset wells in the basin and artificial lift is now in operation. Buck said that, although the pumped rate was lower than the rate on natural flow, the company was pleased that the well was continuing to deliver and is doing so at a very low water cut. We continue preparations for some low-cost well work for 2025 to support and potentially enhance production and Block VII appears to have some exciting potential. Our efforts to bring in partners are continuing in parallel. At 1553 BST, shares in Petro Matad were down 28,99% at 1.65p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. UK trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds will meet with his opposite number in the US during the coming week to negotiate a timeline for exempting the UK from America's steel and aluminium tariffs . Last Friday, Donald Trump said that they would be doubled from 25% to 50% starting from 4 June. Hopes on this side of the Pond are that the deal will be in place within weeks. - Guardian IAGs early decision to invest heavily on long-term contracts with Sustainable Aviation Fuel suppliers has unlocked a 40% discount to market prices. Hopes are those can be passed onto customers. IAG sustainability head, Jonathon Counsell, also expects that it will yield a competitive advantage versus rivals who, in the UK for example, face rules requiring that 10% of jet fuel be SAF by 2030. It is claimed that SAF use can cut carbon emissions by 80% in comparison to traditional jet fuel. - The Sunday Times The government last night sold the last of its stake in NatWest, the lender that it bailed out in 2008 at a cost of 45.5bn. Overnight the Treasury sold 200m-worth of shares in NatWest. According to the Chancellor, "NatWest's return to private ownership turns the page on a significant chapter in this country's history." As recently as last summer, the government still owned 20% of the lender. - The Financial Mail on Sunday Marks & Spencer is extending its lead in food sales over rivals despite having suffered a crippling cyberattack on 22 April. In the first month since the attack, is food sales grew at nearly twice the rate seen at rivals. Grocery sales at M&S increased by 8% over the four weeks ending on 18 May, according to Kantar, versus a gain of 4% for the wider sector. Analysts say that the hack did slow growth but anticipate further increases as M&S opens new and bigger stores. - The Financial Mail on Sunday Located on eight of the 16 acres of the World Trade Center site, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum remembers and honors the 2,983 victims killed on September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993.(Courtesy of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum/Jin Lee) (Courtesy of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum/Jin Lee) NEW YORK, N.Y. A program offering free field trips to the powerful 9/11 Memorial & Museum is now being offered all students in the tri-state area, giving them the opportunity to experience age-appropriate lessons about the loss and impact of that painful day. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy joined museum leaders on Tuesday at the lower Manhattan museum to announce the recent expansion and praise the concept of opening up this history to many who werent yet born when the tragic terror attacks took place. Located on eight of the 16 acres of the World Trade Center site, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum remembers and honors the 2,983 victims killed on September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993. This initiative is made possible through the support of the Wilf Family Foundation, in partnership with the State of New Jersey and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Additional funding support comes from the Gary Sinise Foundation, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and RBC Foundation USA, expanding the reach to New York and Connecticut. The program funds both in-person and virtual field trips alongside self-guided school visits for students in grades 3 to 12. And this initiative will underwrite admission for approximately 14,000 students across the area. The goal is to enable teachers to engage students in age-appropriate lessons about the historical significance of 9/11, the stories of those who were killed, the heroism of those who responded and rebuilt, and the values of resilience, empathy, and civic responsibility, speakers explained on Tuesday. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks left a profound mark on New Jersey families, and the memory of that painful day remains as important as ever, said Murphy. For so many of us whether we watched on television, from across the Hudson River, or the streets of lower Manhattan we will never forget the events of 9/11." Now, there is a whole generation for whom 9/11 is just images on TV or in a history book, he said. These field trips will ensure our students understand what happened on 9/11 and its connection to our communities, helping them to navigate the challenges of todays world with knowledge and empathy, he added. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is the countrys principal institution concerned with exploring 9/11, documenting its impact, and examining its continuing significance. Through exhibitions, programs and events, the museum seeks to educate the public particularly the 100 million Americans born since the attacks or those too young to remember about the consequences of terrorism and its impact on individuals and communities. Though the effects of 9/11 had a profound effect on life on Staten Island and the rest of New York City, the impact was far-reaching. My life, along with so many New Jersey families, was forever changed on September 11, 2001, but our commitment to remembering that day and educating future generations remains unwavering, said Virginia Bauer, 9/11 Memorial & Museum founding trustee. Offering free field trips and school visits, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum is ensuring that students hear the stories of everyone killed on 9/11, like my husband, David, and learn essential lessons about resilience, service, and the power of coming together in the face of adversity. Beth Hillman, president and CEO of the museum, said: Learning about history can inspire service, compassion, and unity. Its a privilege to offer students who cant remember 9/11 themselves new ways to understand how the 9/11 attacks continue to reshape the world. A turkey vulture flies off of Hylan Boulevard after eating an opossum carcass on May 6, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney) Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. An Advance/SILive.com reporter spotted turkey vultures gobbling up a dead opossum on Hylan Boulevard in early May. On the bridge spanning over Lemon Creek on Staten Islands South Shore, two massive turkey vultures took turns diving down onto the street to pick at the carcass of an opossum. The birds, when viewed from behind by the untrained eye, look as if they could be bald eagles with their massive wingspan and brown feathers but when they turn, you can see the distinct red head that separates them from their fellow winged specimen. A turkey vulture flies off of Hylan Boulevard after eating an opossum carcass on May 6, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney) Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney The vultures planned their time in the street in intervals, waiting until cars paused at nearby traffic lights before swooping down to continue their meal. Then, once the light changed and the cars began moving, they flew into nearby trees or sat on power lines until the light changed once again. According to two experts, turkey vultures arent newcomers to the Staten Island wildlife scene shocking as it might seem to people who dont regularly see them. Cliff Hagen, a Democratic candidate for the South Shore City Council seat and environmentalist, wants to quell fears that surround the feathered creatures. A turkey vulture flies off of Hylan Boulevard after eating an opossum carcass on May 6, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney) Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney Turkey vultures are on the island throughout the year, he explained. They do nest here, raise their young here. They only eat carrion dead animals so folks do not need to worry for their dogs and cats. Turkey vultures do not hunt prey, they scavenge for food. According to College of Staten Island adjunct professor and ecologist Seth Wollney, the reason why Staten Islanders are catching glimpses of these massive birds is pretty clear. Maybe people are noticing a few more turkey vultures over the last month or so because of migration, but its nothing remarkable nor really that different, Wollney explained. A turkey vulture sits on a wire on Hylan Boulevard after eating an opossum carcass on May 6, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney) Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney What Wollney did think was unusual is that the turkey vultures were feasting on the opossum in the roadway something he says is more of a black vulture thing to do turkey vultures are more likely to go for larger things that are off the road a little bit, like a deer carcass. The turkey vultures are an extremely important part of our ecosystem. They essentially are like the garbage collectors of the wild, of the natural world, that clean up dead things, carcasses, of all different species, Wollney said. As for how to tell a turkey vulture from a bald eagle from a distance? Wollney says its all in the wings. A turkey vulture flies off of Hylan Boulevard after eating an opossum carcass on May 6, 2025. (Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney) Advance/SILive.com | Jillian Delaney You can easily tell a turkey vulture apart from like an eagle or a black vulture by noticing the V-shape that they hold their wings, with their wings kind of angled up instead of totally flat like a black vulture or a bald eagle would. Pictured are the principal at St. Clare School, Denise Olsen, Commodore RCYC and scholarship donor Matt Malloy, Nathan Simpson, chairman of the Jr. Sailing Program, Carl Peters, James Burke, Scholarship donor, Heidi Owen, Michael Wilkens, and science teacher at St. Clare School and leader of the ELF team Billion Oyster Project, Mary Lee. Heidi Owen STATEN ISLAND N.Y.-- Richmond County Yacht Club has offered a summer youth sailing education class for decades. Larry Owens, an avid member of the Yacht Club, loved teaching kids to sail and to cherish the water. His niece, Heidi Owen, wished to extend her uncles legacy by donating three scholarships for the sailing class, paying the tuition for three youngsters participation in a seven-week sailing camp. Once the members gain basic boat skills, the sailors will be able to participate in a competition against other yacht clubs in Raritan Bay. The scholarship winners were chosen based off of an essay describing what this opportunity would mean to them. The competition was open to students who participate in the Billion Oyster Project, a project that helped restore oyster reefs in the Great Kills Harbor. The St. Clare School and Ms. Mary Lee have collaborated with the Billion Oyster Project to help students learn to care for their environment and study oyster development in Raritan Bay, a once known oyster fishery. Three students were chosen from St. Clare School: rising 7th graders Nathan Simpson, Michael Wilkens, and rising 8th grader James Burke. Scholarship winner Michael Wilkens stated, I have spent time around the water and enjoy it, but never had the chance to sail. I love the opportunity to learn and be part of this experience. The Yacht Club said it would like to expand the scholarship form to a wider net and other schools and programs next year. The Jr. Sailing School will run from June 30 Aug 14, 2025. If you are interested in signing up, please visit the Richmond County Yacht Club website. In this photo from 2024, the Sandy Ground ferry is seen docked in a slip at the Staten Island Ferry maintenance facility, located near the National Lighthouse Museum in St. George. (Advance/SILive.com | Mike Matteo) Editors note: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors can be reduced with the proper mental health support and treatment. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. Update, 8:30 p.m.: An update to this story is available here. That caveat was debatable, since Trumps post-Liberation Day polling was starting to look like president Joe Bidens polling numbers after the botched Afghanistan withdrawal. Once Biden hit the low 40s in the RealClearPolitics average, he never again reached 45 per cent approval: some presidents just lose their mandate early and never get it back. Even if he dislikes the barnyard-fowl comparison, though, the acronym gets at something thats crucial to Trumps political resilience. The willingness to swerve and backpedal and contradict himself is a big part of what keeps the president viable, and the promise of chickening out is part of Trumps implicit pitch to swing voters reassuring them that anything extreme is also provisional, that hes always testing limits (on policy, on power) but also generally willing to pull back. Judging by his reaction to a reporters question this past week, President Donald Trump doesnt like it when you ask him about TACO the reported Wall Street acronym for Trump Always Chickens Out, an assumption that makes it safe to be in the market even when the president threatens Europe and China with intensifications of his trade war. But since that column appeared, Trump has bobbed and weaved away from his most extreme China tariffs, he has achieved some kind of separation from Elon Musk and he has started complaining about crazy Russian President Vladimir Putin while casting himself as the great would-be peacemaker of the Middle East. And lo and behold, his poll numbers have floated back up, not to genuine popularity but to a perfectly normal level for a president in a polarised country. Loading With a different president, you might say that this recovery happened despite the White Houses various backtracks and reversals (plus various rebukes from the judiciary). But with Trump, its more apt to say that its happened because of these setbacks and recalibrations. Seeing Trump both check himself and be checked by others is what an important group of voters expect from his presidency. They like that Trump pressures institutions they distrust or dislike, from official Washington to elite universities, but their approval is contingent on a dynamic interaction, where he accepts counterpressure and retreats. Ask Trump loyalists about this pattern, and theyll often insist that its all just part of the Plan that the presidents apparent setbacks and volte-faces are just indicators of a strategic flexibility that was present all along. So, the seeming daftness of the Liberation Day tariffs is actually a brilliant way to get the markets to accept a more modest but still substantial tariff regime. Or letting Musk run wild with implausible promises about Department of Government Efficiency cost savings is just a way to open the hood of cabinet agencies and let the president figure out how to control his own executive branch. In some cases, these arguments can be partially persuasive. I think Trumps foreign policy, especially, is fundamentally improvisational in a way thats better suited than some of the more consistent alternatives to the difficult world we now inhabit. Even the seeming shamelessness of his swings can be defensible adaptations to complicated circumstances: It can make sense to try to negotiate with Putin and also to threaten Russia if the negotiations stall out as it might make sense to be hawkish toward a stronger Iran in 2018 and conciliatory toward a weaker Iran in 2025, and so on. Before the election, the business press was terribly concerned about the decade of budget deficits and ever-rising public debt the Albanese government had clocked up. Something must be done! After the election, however, when the government pressed on with a move to save up to $3 billion a year by making rich men pay more tax on their superannuation, it was appalled. The sky would fall. What the two contradictory positions have in common was that both are criticisms of a government few of its business readers would have much sympathy for. But the episode also shows the way voters attitudes towards the budget abound in wishful thinking something the pollies encourage. You want more, but dont want to pay for it? Sure, I can do that. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers. What politicians never tell us is that, if you want it, it will cost you. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen In Treasury secretary Dr Steven Kennedys speech to the Australian Business Economists last week, he showed a graph of the budgets structural deficit stretching all the way out to 2035-36. (The structural component of the budget balance is the bit thats left after youve allowed for the effect on the balance of where we happen to be in the business cycle of boom and bust.) The structural deficit for next financial year is estimated to be 1.5 per cent of gross domestic product. Kennedy noted that spending on the National Disability Insurance Scheme is expected to reach more than our spending on defence. But he reminded us that (thanks mainly to our good friend Mad King Donald) defence spending is likely to grow a lot in coming years. As the final votes are recounted in Bradfield, and the Coalition parties promise to listen better and to go to therapy after their brief separation, CBDs eyes are now turned to the latest position up for grabs in the upcoming 48th parliament. Were talking about the semi-official role of crossbench whip, or the MP responsible for ensuring their crossbench colleagues all get their voices heard during the chaos of question time. Crossbench MPs could have significant influence over the next parliament. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer In the past, this task had fallen to former Greens leader Adam Bandt, or rather, his office. And when the crossbench swelled to a record 16 MPs after the 2022 election, it took on an outsized role, particularly after Labors leader of the house Tony Burke increased the amount of airtime crossbenchers got in question time. It made sense for Bandt to take on the role since, as leader of a designated political party, he had more staff. This put him in a different category than the teal independents, who were left livid when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese slashed their staffing allocations after the 2022 election in a manner that made Scott Morrison seem like Santa. 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 The 72nd Sydney Film Festival has a dizzying number of screenings. Films from 70 countries all the way from Afghanistan to Zambia will run in the grand State Theatre and nine other venues around the city. The opening night will be spicier than expected. Given its success at the Sundance Film Festival, where it sold for a record $26 million after a bidding war, there was already keen interest in Michael Shanks Australian horror film Together, which stars American couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie. Then it ran into controversy when a New York production company filed a lawsuit claiming it was a blatant rip-off of a 2023 comic romance - a claim the American agent for the Together team has described as frivolous and without merit. A jury headed by Australian director Justin Kurzel will judge the 12 films in the $60,000 official competition for audacious, courageous and cutting-edge cinema. Heres our guide to festival highlights ... SLANTED Shirley Chen stars as a teenager who is desperate to be a prom queen in Slanted. Advertisement Sydney-raised writer-director Amy Wang has been quietly building a career in Los Angeles. Her first feature film, Slanted, is a body horror satire with a touch of The Substance meets Mean Girls about it. In the winner of the narrative feature competition at South by South West, a Chinese-American teenager (Shirley Chen), who is desperate to be a prom queen, goes through ethnic modification surgery to become white. It promises timely observations about body image, sexism and racism. BLUE MOON Margaret Qualley and Ethan Hawke in Blue Moon. With Dazed and Confused, the Before Sunrise trilogy, School of Rock, Boyhood and Apollo 10, director Richard Linklater is a brilliant chronicler of charming American stories. His latest film is what IndieWire calls a razor-sharp biopic about struggling lyricist Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) on the night his former writing partner Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott) triumphantly opens Oklahoma! Hart calls a young Yale student (Margaret Qualley) his writing protegee. Loading VIDEOHEAVEN Growing up in Pennsylvania, filmmaker Alex Ross Perry (Listen Up Philip) worked at Suncoast Video. After graduating from New York University, he worked at Kims Video in Manhattan. So a documentary about the history and culture of video stores that has taken a decade to make is very much a passion project. Narrated by Maya Hawke, it sounds like an entertaining and thoughtful three hours of nostalgia. Advertisement IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT Palme dOr winner It Was Just An Accident. Iranian dissident director Jafar Panahi has paid a heavy price for courageously making films. Imprisoned several times, he was officially banned from making films and travelling outside the country until recently. Panahi made this thriller secretly to avoid having the script vetted by Irans Ministry of Islamic Guidance. An emotional rollercoaster that starts with a family having an accident while driving on a remote road, it won the Palme dOr, the top prize, in a strong Cannes competition last weekend. ORWELL: 2 + 2 = 5 Documentary Orwell: 2 + 2 = 5 draws parallels between George Orwells novel 1984 and Trumps America. Haitis Raoul Peck is best known for the masterful I Am Not Your Negro, a ferocious, racially charged documentary about American novelist James Baldwin. In this equally political documentary, Peck draws parallels between George Orwells classic dystopian novel 1984, where Big Brother dictates every aspect of life, and Trumps America. With Orwells writing narrated by Homeland star Damian Lewis, it uses archival footage and clips from movies and TV news. Deadline called it an urgent, indispensable film for our times. VIE PRIVEE Advertisement Jodie Foster in French thriller Vie Privee. Jodie Foster speaks pitch-perfect French as a psychiatrist drawn into a mystery when one of her patients dies suddenly. This upmarket psychological thriller, warmly reviewed overseas, is from French filmmaker Rebecca Zlotowski. She has surrounded her American star with a strong French cast including Daniel Auteuil as her ex-husband and Mathieu Amalric as the late patients grieving husband. ONE TO ONE: JOHN & YOKO Documentary One to One: John & Yoko revisits an eventful time in the couples post-Beatles life. Restored vision of the 1972 One to One charity fundraising concert that John Lennon and Yoko Ono co-ordinated in New York, performing alongside the likes of Stevie Wonder and Roberta Flack, is the centre of a documentary The Hollywood Reporter has called a stone-cold brilliant fusion of kinetic and contemplative. Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald (Touching The Void, The Last King of Scotland) and editor/co-director Sam Rice-Edwards (The Rescue) revisit an eventful time in the couples post-Beatles life, using audio and video from personal and public archives. THE PRESIDENTS CAKE Comic drama The Presidents Cake is set in Saddam Husseins Iraq. Advertisement This comic drama set in Saddam Husseins Iraq was hailed as a warm-hearted, crowd-pleasing gem when it screened in Cannes. The debut film for Iraqi director Hasan Hadi centres on nine-year-old Lamia (Banin Ahmad Nayef), who wins the questionable prize of having to bake a cake for the dictators birthday. She sets off to Baghdad to find ingredients with her beloved pet rooster Hindi and her grandma, Bibi (Waheed Thabet Khreibat). 2000 METRES TO ANDRIIVKA 2000 Metres to Andriivka. Credit: Sydney Film Festival Ukrainian director Mstyslav Chernov won an Oscar last year for the documentary 20 Days in Mariupol, which was about the first weeks of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This time he follows a Ukrainian platoon attempting to liberate a Russian-occupied village. A jury at a Danish documentary festival called it a masterpiece in filmmaking: a haunting, multilayered portrayal of war comparable to All Quiet On The Western Front. COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT Come See Me in the Good Light. Director Ryan White, who made the wonderful Mars rover film Good Night Oppy, follows a Colorado couple - spoken word artist Andrea Gibson, who has incurable ovarian cancer, and poet Megan Falley - for a documentary that won a festival favourite award at Sundance. Noting that it is about grief, joy, heartache and love, POV magazine said that calling it deeply moving is an understatement. Advertisement Australia is being urged to mandate the use of local steel in projects to protect the nations workers and industry from Donald Trumps tariffs. The US president has announced a plan to double levies on foreign steel from 25 per cent to 50 per cent in coming days. Australian goods exported to the US are already subject to a 10 per cent baseline tariff. The steel works in Port Kembla, NSW, where a union leader is calling for steel quotas. Credit: Kate Geraghty Australia must adopt strong domestic protections, says union secretary Arthur Rorris, whose South Coast Labour Council includes workers from BlueScopes Port Kembla Steelworks. If we dont mandate the use of our steel for our own uses, we will become the path of least resistance for the glut of global steel, he said. If you dont defend your own markets, others will take them. Labor could not just talk about a future made in Australia but had to provide the funds to back it, Rorris said. He said the government needed to understand the transactional nature of the Trump administration and use whatever leverage it had to get a better deal. Treasurer Jim Chalmers in February said quotas for Australian steel were under consideration. Australian Steel Association chief executive David Buchanan said he was yet to see dumping of cheap foreign steel into Australia. We do have a very strong system to protect the industry from dumped materials, he told ABC radio. Buchanan said the US presidents decision would not have a major impact on Australian industry, but would result in increased prices for American consumers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese branded the move an act of economic self-harm and is expected to sit down with the American leader on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada later in June. Trumps deepening trade war is considered destabilising to the framework that has benefited middle powers such as Australia. Announcing the steel and aluminium tariffs earlier this year, Trump committed to imposing them without exceptions or exemptions in a bid to help shield domestic industries in the US. It is the $30 million inheritance that triggered a years-long feud in an already fractured family. Now, NSWs highest court has delivered its decision in the legal fight over the fortune of Sydney man John Angius, who died aged 82 in January 2022. John Angius left his $30 million estate, including a Coogee home, to his daughter. Credit: Sam Mooy Angius will, dated April 2021, named his daughter as his executor and sole beneficiary. His estate had a net value of $29.5 million, including a palatial home in the beachside suburb of Coogee in Sydneys eastern suburbs. His son, with whom he had a fraught relationship, was cut out of his inheritance. Workers at a popular Brisbane pub walked off the job on Saturday night to join a protest against a Zionist-booked event being held at the venue. The State Zionist Council of Queensland booked space at The Wickham, a well-known Fortitude Valley LGBTIQ+ hotel, to host a White Shavuot Party celebrating the Jewish festival, which started on Sunday. It prompted a snap protest of about 150 people including on-duty Wickham staff and performers outside the venue. Staff who remained on the job supported their colleagues with free pizza and water bottles. Staff walked out of The Wickham Hotel on Saturday night in protest over a Zionist event at the venue. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo The protest was organised by local activist group Magandjin Peoples Pride, from which comment has been sought. Thanks for joining us today for live coverage of the news in Brisbane and beyond. Well be back tomorrow morning with more live news coverage, so please join us then. In the meantime, here are some of the stories making headlines today: A 69-year-old cyclist has died after he was hit by a train at a level crossing near Runcorn station, in Brisbanes south, before dawn this morning. A Queensland mother accused of fatally stabbing her three-year-old daughter has died after being found unresponsive while in custody. The Crisafulli government has announced a 20-year plan for the tourism industry, with the states tourism minister suggesting Queensland would rival destinations such as Tasmania and New Zealand by 2045. Ukrainian secret services have destroyed billions of dollars worth of Russian warplanes overnight, officials say, in a surprise attack carried out by explosive-laden drones snuck into Russia on trucks. Among the Brisbane homes auctioned at the weekend was one of West Ends last untouched Queenslanders, which sold for $2.5 million in a heated auction that drew a crowd of more than 100. And while food-focused locals readily debate who does Brisbanes best char kway teow, one venue tends to crop up the most. Our food and culture editor Matt Shea meets the couple behind Uncle Lais. A community is reeling after a mother accused of fatally stabbing her three-year-old daughter died in custody, sparking a corrective services review. A vigil to remember beautiful little girl Sophia Rose near Bundaberg in southern Queensland was held before locals heard the tragic news of her mother Lauren Ingrid Flanigans death. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli on Monday said some explanations were needed over the Brisbane death in custody, with a review under way. Emergency services found Sophia outside a home with several stab wounds on May 26 and she died at the scene. On election eve, then-Liberal frontbencher Jane Hume was asked whether Angus Taylor was a future leader. In response, she delivered a political phrase for the ages: You do not read the entrails until you have gutted the chicken. Remarkably, seconds later, she came close to outdoing herself: Democracy sausages are my favourite meal. If I was on death row and they asked me what my last meal would be? A sausage in bread with onion and tomato sauce. Which was not, as it turned out, an entirely inaccurate metaphor for a Liberal frontbencher to use on May 3. Illustration: Joe Benke Credit: Especially not Hume, who as of last week is no longer a frontbencher. Naturally, she responded to this news with a series of quotable quotes: As my very wise mother would say, Stop your nonsense, chin up, chest out, straighten your tiara and lets get on with the job. One way she will do that is, apparently, by saying what she wants which is certainly going to make for much more interesting Sunrise interviews. An interesting feature of Labors stunningly strong election result is how much freedom backbenchers on both sides now have should they choose to use it. In the last parliament, Labors slim majority as well as its anxiousness not to repeat the chaos of the Rudd-Gillard years imposed discipline. A similar thing happened in the Coalition, from the opposite direction: returning to government felt so close and nobody wanted to be the one to wreck things. Now, for opposite reasons, backbenchers on both sides can speak their mind: Labor MPs because their side is so unlikely to lose in 2028, and Coalition MPs because theirs is so unlikely to win. I went through so many refuges until I found a stable refuge that would actually keep me for six months, she said. I didnt really have that parent role to guide me to which steps Ill be taking. There is no national data set that records how many unaccounted-for school-aged children are detached from education. In a 2019 study, Those Who Disappear, University of Melbourne researcher Jim Watterson made a conservative estimate that there may be more than 50,000, based on two state education departments internal data. Leutenmayr, 19, is is now studying nursing at Victoria University. Credit: Chris Hopkins Homelessness, family violence and transience were listed as among the reasons. Watterson said more study was required. Youth Projects chair Melanie Raymond said she believed more young people are homeless and trying to finish school than official data shows. Loading It is a hidden and misunderstood problem, she said. We see young people who never had a fair chance within a competitive education system. It is not a case of being absent from school for no reason: theres always a reason, and its almost always related to poverty. We need to identify who is at risk and fund a host of interventions at all ages. Melbourne City Mission head of social innovation Sam Barrett has been working with young homeless people for 25 years and said education was crucial when they were coming out of crisis. If you miss that window and theyre just wandering into doing nothing, things can go sideways, Barrett said. Melbourne City Mission runs five youth refuges (there are 22 across Victoria and 13 youth foyers) and Hester Hornbrook Academy a flexible school aimed at supporting students who cant attend mainstream education. They have five campuses, about 600 students and a waitlist. The school offers showers, food and laundry services. Hester Hornbrook principal Sally Lasslett. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui At any given time across those schools, there would be more than 50 students who didnt have somewhere to go at night, Hester Hornbrook principal Sally Lasslett said. Some would be sleeping rough, others were couch surfing, in a refuge or emergency accommodation. Its safer for them to sleep on a train than to go home. Or its safer to walk the streets in Sunshine until school opens the next morning and they could come back into a community that will look after them. Loading She said while there arent figures on detached school students, conversations with local government areas made it clear this was an issue and that growing outer metro areas were in need. If we were somehow able to act as a collaborative education system to track those young people, imagine what we could do, she said. Education is the key to getting out of poverty. Its the key to understanding your legal rights. Its the key to employment. We have young people who go on to get a job, and theyre the first in three generations to have a full-time or part-time job. Thats life-changing. A Victorian government spokesperson said they invested $80 million to tackle youth homelessness to deliver more youth entry points and refuges across metro and regional Victoria, which included State Schools Relief for meals, uniforms and glasses and $113 million over two years for TAFE students with wrap-around services. For international students, finding support can be even more challenging. Elvis Martin was 17 when he experienced family violence, which led to him sleeping rough for almost three months. Elvis Martin, 29, has experienced homelessness and now advocates to support others. Credit: Joe Armao He was studying at Federation University and was unable to access support for crisis accommodation because he was an international student. He finally got support at a youth residential rehab run by CoHealth Community Health, after a six-month involuntary stay in hospital following a major depressive episode. Now 29, Martin said many university students fell through the gaps, especially international students who had precarious living situations, even though their education was a condition of their visa. Loading They dont even want to go and talk to a GP about it because they are really worried about immigration coming to know about some of their experience and what impact it will have on their visa, he said. Martin said universities needed to implement early intervention, identification and wrap-around support, especially around family violence and mental health. Those who say, why dont they go and get a job I want to ask: Will you give a job to someone who just came off the street? he said. Clara, 21, who asked to remain anonymous, became homeless at 19. She was attending a private all-girls school during her first experience of sleeping rough, when she was kicked out of home and spent a night on the street. Loading I was still maintaining study whilst homeless. I would use public libraries for Wi-Fi and sometimes would have to seek extensions for submission dates, she said. Thanks to support from Melbourne City Mission, which provided her with housing and work as a lived experience advisor, shes studying psychology with honours full-time at Victoria University. The hardest thing you can do is start once you have done that, who cares how long it takes, youre already halfway there. Leutenmayr started at Hester Hornbrook in 2021. It linked her with the Salvation Army, which helped her with emergency accommodation and then a refuge. Through their support, she completed her Victorian Pathways Certificate; in April, she started a Certificate 3 healthcare course at Victoria University. A 24-year-old British woman has been arrested and charged over a horror e-scooter crash in Perths CBD on Saturday night, which left a 51-year-old man in a critical condition. Alicia Kemp appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Monday after she was charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm under the influence of alcohol and dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm under the influence of alcohol. Perth Magistrates Court Credit: Elliahn Blenkinsop She was allegedly riding an e-scooter when it hit the man who was taken to Royal Perth Hospital after the incident in Perths CBD on Saturday night around 8.40pm. Another woman was allegedly riding on the back of the scooter at the time. Big business and unions are on a collision course over Labors plans to curb the use of artificial intelligence a policy with potential to create another flashpoint with the Trump administration. The federal government has been mulling new laws or regulations to limit the potentially damaging effect of some automated tools, mirroring moves in Europe. The EU attracted the wrath of US Vice-President J.D. Vance, who said in February that excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry. Australias most influential corporate lobby group, the Business Council of Australia (BCA), is calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to shun calls for heavier regulation stemming from the ethics debates surrounding advances such as OpenAI. AI looms as a critical workplace battleground in Labors second term under Anthony Albanese. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The argument to avoid curbs puts the business lobby on the side of Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy, who said last week that AI presented immense economic opportunities and existing regulations should be favoured instead of new rules. But unions are pushing for federal regulations to protect workers, setting up a fresh contest on industrial relations in Labors second term. London: For decades, smoking was less a habit in France and Spain than a cultural flourish. The smouldering ciggie was part of daily life dangling from the lip of a philosopher on a cafe terrace in Le Marais, or flicked into the sand after a long lunch along the Costa del Sol. But while much of the world stubbed out the social acceptability of smoking long ago, the change in Europe has been slower, more reluctant, and often clouded by nostalgia. Now, two of the continents most iconic smoking nations are making their boldest moves yet to catch up. The French will still be allowed to smoke outside cafes, but no longer on the beach. Credit: Getty Images From July 1, France will ban smoking in many outdoor public spaces, including beaches, parks, playgrounds, bus stops and areas around schools. Spain, meanwhile, is preparing to go even further, with a sweeping reform of its anti-smoking law set to take effect by the end of the year. That plan will outlaw smoking and vaping in places as varied as stadiums, swimming pools, university campuses and even work vehicles. A Ukrainian security official said 41 Russian warplanes were hit, while a statement posted on the Telegram messaging app by Ukraines domestic security agency, the SBU, estimated the damage at $US7 billion ($11 billion). Thirty-four per cent of strategic cruise missile carriers at the main airfields of the Russian Federation were hit, the SBU said. The claim could not be independently verified. Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraines Centre for Countering Disinformation, later said at least 13 planes were destroyed and others were damaged in the attack. The planes targeted included A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M aircraft, the Ukrainian official said. The Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22 M3 long-range bombers are capable of deploying conventional and nuclear weapons, and Moscow has previously used them to launch missiles at Ukraine. A-50s are used to co-ordinate targets and detect air defences and guided missiles. Unverified video and pictures posted on Russian social media showed Russian strategic bombers on fire at the Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region of Siberia. Regional governor Igor Kobzev said there had been a drone attack on a military unit near the village of Sredny, which is near the Belaya base, though he did not specify what the target was. He said the drones had been launched from a truck. Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Vasyl Malyuk examines diagrams after SBUs special operation in Ukraine on Sunday. Credit: Security Service of Ukraine/Anadolu via Getty Images) Photographs shared with Reuters by the Ukrainian security official showed dozens of short-range quadrocopter drones piled up in an industrial facility. The official said these were the same devices used in the attack. Other images shared by the official showed the wooden sheds with their metal roofing panels removed, and the drones sitting in the cavities between roof beams. Separate video posted on Russian Telegram channels, which has not been verified by Reuters, appeared to show matching sheds on the back of a truck. The roof panels can be seen lying on the ground next to the truck, and the video footage shows at least two drones rising out of the top of the sheds and flying off. The Russian online media outlet that posted the video, Baza, said in a caption that it was filmed in the district near the Belaya air base. One source shared video footage shot from a drone, saying it showed one of the strikes. The images showed several large aircraft, some of which appeared to be Tu-95 strategic bombers, on fire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin last week. Credit: Getty Images The drone attacks followed explosions that caused two bridges to collapse and derailed two trains in western Russia overnight, killing seven in one of the incidents and injuring dozens more. Russian officials, however, did not say what had caused the blasts, and the word explosions was later removed from an investigative committee press release. The United States was not told in advance about the drone attacks, a Ukrainian government official said, which were carried out hours before the next round of peace talks was due to go ahead in Istanbul, Turkey, on Monday. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was briefed afterwards during a stop at Nellis Air Force Base and was monitoring the situation. Loading Zelensky said the attacks had inflicted very tangible losses on Moscow. An absolutely brilliant outcome. And an outcome produced by Ukraine independently, Zelensky wrote on the Telegram messaging app. This is our longest-range operation. He said Ukraine would send a delegation led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov to Istanbul for the peace talks. We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people, he said. Ukrainian officials had previously called on the Kremlin to provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the war before the meeting takes place. Moscow had said it would share its memorandum during the talks. The damaged bridge in Russias Bryansk region, bordering Ukraine, which collapsed onto a train on Saturday night. Credit: Russian Emergency Ministry/AP Russia also launched on Sunday the biggest number of drones 472 against Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Ukraines air force said, alongside seven missiles. At least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed and more than 60 were injured in a Russian missile strike on an army training unit near the front line. Ukrainian army commander Mykhailo Drapatyi submitted his resignation after the attack. Reuters, AP GHF said it delivered aid without incident on Sunday and released a separate video it said was shot at the distribution site, which appeared to show people collecting aid. The AP was not able to verify the video. The foundation has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, which are in Israeli military zones where independent media has no access. The International Committee of the Red Cross said that its field hospital in Rafah received 179 casualties including women and children, 21 of them declared dead upon arrival, the majority with gunshot or shrapnel wounds. It was unclear if any of the dead were militants. All patients said they had been trying to reach an aid distribution site, the Red Cross said, calling it the highest number of weapon-wounded people in a single incident since the hospital was set up over a year ago. In a separate statement, Israeli military chief of staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir ordered that more aid sites be established, and that troops ground operation be expanded in unspecified parts of northern and southern Gaza. A new aid system marred by chaos Witnesses said on Sunday that Israeli forces opened fire after thousands of people heading towards the GHF distribution site in the hours before dawn congregated about one kilometre away to wait for the site to open. The witnesses said Israeli forces ordered people to disperse and come back later, before opening fire. An Associated Press reporter arrived at the field hospital about 6am and saw dozens of wounded, including women and children. The reporter also saw crowds of people returning from the distribution point. Some carried boxes of aid but most appeared to be empty-handed. A Palestinian girl waits to collect donated food from a distribution kitchen in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, on Friday. Credit: AP GHF said in a statement that it delivered 16 trucks worth of aid without incident early on Sunday and rejected false reporting about deaths, mass injuries and chaos at its distribution sites, which are in Israeli military zones where independent access is limited. Multiple witnesses have said Israeli troops have fired on crowds near the delivery sites, which began operating last week under a new system where people have to pass through Israeli checkpoints and undergo screening to reach the aid distribution centres. Before Sunday, 17 people had been killed while trying to reach them, according to Zaher al-Waheidi, the head of the Gaza Health Ministrys records department. Palestinians carry aid packages from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in Khan Younis on Sunday. Credit: AP United Nations agencies and major aid groups have refused to work with the new system, saying it violates humanitarian principles. The foundation says the private security contractors guarding its sites have not fired on the crowds, while the Israeli military has acknowledged firing warning shots on previous occasions. The scene was horrible One witness said that he saw at least 10 bodies with gunshot wounds and several other wounded people near the aid centre on Sunday morning. There was fire from all directions, from naval warships, from tanks and drones, Amr Abu Teiba, who was in the crowd, said, adding that people used carts to ferry the dead and wounded to the field hospital. The scene was horrible, he said. An Israeli strike in Gaza City on Sunday. Credit: AP Ibrahim Abu Saoud provided a nearly identical account. He said the military fired from about 300 metres away and that he saw many people with gunshot wounds, including a young man who he said had died at the scene. We werent able to help him, he said. Another witness, Mohammed Abu Teaima, 33, said he saw Israeli forces open fire and kill his cousin and another woman as they were heading toward the distribution site. He said his cousin was shot in his chest and died at the scene. Many others were wounded, including his brother-in-law, he said. Loading They opened heavy fire directly toward us, he said as he was waiting outside the Red Cross field hospital for word on his wounded relative. Most people were shot in the upper part of their bodies, including the head, neck and chest, Dr Marwan al-Hams, a health ministry official at Nasser Hospital said. Many were transferred from the Red Cross field hospital to Nasser Hospital. A colleague, surgeon Khaled al-Ser, said 150 wounded people had arrived, along with 28 bodies. The hospital corridors were filled with patients, but unlike what I have witnessed before, where most of the patients were women and children, today it was mainly men, a spokesperson with medical charity MSF, Nour Alsaqa, said. Hub is part of a controversial new aid system Israel and the United States say the new aid system in place in Gaza is aimed at preventing Hamas from siphoning off assistance. Israel has not provided any evidence of systematic diversion, and the United Nations denies it has occurred. UN agencies and major aid groups have refused to work with the new system, saying it violates humanitarian principles because it allows Israel to control who receives aid and forces people to relocate to distribution sites, risking yet more mass displacement in the territory. The UN system has struggled to bring in aid since Israel slightly eased its 11-week blockade of the territory last month. Aid groups say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting have made it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gazas roughly 2 million Palestinians. Dozens of United Nations aid trucks carrying flour to Gaza bakeries were hijacked by armed groups and subsequently looted by people desperate for food on Saturday. A US ceasefire proposal that Israel has accepted would allow for the entry of aid into Gaza and a 60-day pause in fighting, alongside the release of 28 hostages held by Hamas. In response, Hamas said on Saturday it was willing to release 10 living hostages and hand over the bodies of 18 dead in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, but it also reiterated demands for an end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza conditions Israel has rejected. Protesters in Tel Aviv on Saturday demand the end of the war and immediate release of hostages held by Hamas. Credit: AP US envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said that response was totally unacceptable. Mediators Qatar and Egypt issued a joint statement on Sunday saying they continued intensive efforts to bridge the gaps in viewpoints and hoped for a swift agreement for a temporary ceasefire lasting 60 days, leading to a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Israel has previously rejected Hamas conditions, instead demanding the complete disarmament of the group and its dismantling as a military and governing force, along with the return of all 58 remaining hostages. The Israeli military also said on Saturday it had killed Hamas Gaza chief, Mohammad Sinwar, during a strike on a hospital in southern Gaza on May 13, confirming what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had told parliament earlier this week. Loading Sinwar, the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the groups deceased leader and mastermind of the October 2023 attack on Israel, was the target of an Israeli strike on a hospital in southern Gaza. Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied his death. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. They are still holding 58 hostages, around a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Iran warns of retaliation if Europeans make 'political' use of UN nuclear report Tehran, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2025 Iran on Sunday warned it would retaliate if European powers "exploit" a UN report showing it has stepped up production of highly enriched uranium. The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had sharply increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent, close to the roughly 90 percent level needed for atomic weapons. Iran's total amount of enriched uranium now exceeds 45 times the limit authorised by a landmark 2015 agreement with world powers, and is estimated at 9,247.6 kilograms, according to the confidential IAEA report seen by AFP. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement he had told IAEA chief Rafael Grossi in a phone call that "Iran will respond to any inappropriate action by the European parties" to the 2015 agreement, referring to Britain, France and Germany. The European trio have warned they could reimpose sanctions if Iran's nuclear programme threatens the continent's security. Araghchi urged Grossi in their Saturday call to stop "parties from exploiting" the nuclear watchdog report "to advance their political objectives", according to the statement. Iran rejected the IAEA report, the latest move in years-long efforts to restrict its nuclear activities over fears that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. The Islamic republic has denied seeking nuclear arms and says it needs the uranium for civilian power production. White House says sent 'acceptable' nuclear deal proposal to Iran: US media Washington, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2025 The United Sates sent Iran a proposal for a nuclear deal that the White House says is "acceptable" and in its "best interest" to accept, US media reported on Saturday. It came shortly after a UN report said the Islamic republic had stepped up production of highly enriched uranium. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he was presented with "elements of a US proposal" by his Omani counterpart during his visit to Tehran on Saturday. "Special Envoy Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and it's in their best interest to accept it," said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the New York Times reported. The proposal was described as a series of bullet points rather than a full draft, according to the New York Times, citing officials familiar with the diplomatic exchanges. It calls on Iran to stop all enrichment of uranium and proposes creating a regional grouping to produce nuclear power, which would include Iran, Saudi Arabia and other Arab states, as well as the United States. Iran has held five rounds of talks with the United States in search of a new agreement to replace the deal with major powers that President Donald Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018. Araghchi had said Saturday that Iran considers nuclear weapons "unacceptable." His remarks came a day after Trump said Iran "cannot have a nuclear weapon," while expressing hope of striking a deal soon. According to the latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) seen by AFP, Iran has sharply increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent, close to the roughly 90 percent level needed for atomic weapons. bur-tc/mtp UK boosts weapons production capacity in new defence strategy London, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2025 Britain will invest pound1.5 billion ($2 billion) in new weapons factories to ramp up defence production capacity, the government said on Saturday, ahead of a major review of its armed forces and military strategy. The Strategic Defence Review, due to be published Monday, will assess the threats facing the UK amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and pressure from US President Donald Trump for NATO allies to bolster their own defences. In February, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027, up from its current 2.3 percent. The Labour leader also aimed to hike spending to three percent by the next parliament, due around 2029. The review will recommend "creating an 'always on' munitions production capacity in the UK" which would allow weapons production to be "scaled up at speed if needed". It also urges the government to "lay the industrial foundations for an uplift in munitions stockpiles to meet the demand of high-tempo warfare", the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The government has said it would procure 7,000 domestically built long-rang weapons and build "at least six munitions and energetics factories". This investment -- which will see pound6 billion spent on munitions this Parliamentary term -- will also create and support 1,800 jobs, the ministry said. "The hard-fought lessons from Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine show a military is only as strong as the industry that stands behind them," Defence Secretary John Healey said. "We are strengthening the UK's industrial base to better deter our adversaries and make the UK secure at home and strong abroad." Healey also told The Times newspaper that Britain would spend three percent of GDP on defence during the next parliament. The government has said it would cut the UK's overseas aid budget to help fund the spending. The defence review, led by former NATO secretary general George Robertson, warns that Britain is entering "a new era of threat" as drones and artificial intelligence transform modern warfare, The Guardian newspaper reported Saturday. The document will warn of the "immediate and pressing" danger posed by Russia, as well as focusing on China, Iran and North Korea. Robertson has described the four countries as a "deadly quartet" which were "increasingly working together". The government this week pledged over pound1 billion for improving battlefield technology by bolstering AI and cybersecurity. In that announcement Healey warned that "ways of warfare are rapidly changing" and that the UK was "facing daily cyber-attacks on this new frontline". UK to restore 'war-fighting readiness' with new defence review London, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2025 UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday he will "restore Britain's war-fighting readiness" as his government warned of "growing" Russian aggression ahead of a major defence strategy review. "We will restore Britain's war-fighting readiness as the central purpose of our armed forces," Starmer wrote in The Sun daily, including by ramping up weapons production capacity. His government's Strategic Defence Review, due to be published Monday, will assess threats facing the UK, amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and pressure from US President Donald Trump for NATO allies to bolster their own defences. Starmer wrote that It will serve as "a blueprint for strength and security for decades to come". Defence Secretary John Healey warned of "growing Russian aggression", including through "daily" cyberattacks on the UK's "defence system". "We're in a world that is changing now... and it is a world of growing threats," Healey told the BBC on Sunday. "It's growing Russian aggression. It's those daily cyberattacks, it's new nuclear risks, and it's increasing tension in other parts of the world as well." The defence review will recommend "creating an 'always on' munitions production capacity in the UK" allowing the scaling up of weapons production if needed, according to the Ministry of Defence. The document also urges the government to create conditions in industry to boost munition stockpiles. In February, Starmer committed to hiking defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027, up from its current 2.3 percent, and to further raise it to three percent by around 2029. His Labour administration has said it would cut UK overseas aid to help fund the spending. - New technologies - On Saturday the government announced pound1.5 billion ($2 billion) for building "at least six munitions and energetics factories" as well as procuring 7,000 domestically built long-range weapons. This investment -- which will see pound6 billion spent on munitions under the current parliament -- would create and support 1,800 jobs. "We are strengthening the UK's industrial base to better deter our adversaries and make the UK secure at home and strong abroad," Healey said. The Ministry of Defence also pledged pound1 billion for the creation of a "cyber command" to help on the battlefield. The defence shake-up "means bringing together every capability we have, from drones, to artillery, to human instinct and intelligence, into one formidable, integrated fighting machine," Starmer said. The review, led by former NATO secretary general George Robertson, warns that Britain is entering "a new era of threat" as drones and artificial intelligence transform modern warfare, The Guardian newspaper reported Saturday. The document will describe the "immediate and pressing" danger posed by Russia, as well as focusing on China, Iran and North Korea. Robertson has described the four countries as a "deadly quartet" which were "increasingly working together". Iraq condemns 'repeated Israeli attacks' on Lebanon Baghdad, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2025 Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Sunday condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanon as he hosted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, on his first visit to Baghdad since taking office. Israel has continued to strike Lebanon despite a November ceasefire that ended more than a year of conflict -- including two months of open war -- with militant group Hezbollah, which emerged severely weakened. Lebanese authorities reported on Sunday the third deadly Israeli raid on the country's south in four days. In a joint press conference with Aoun, Sudani denounced "repeated Israeli attacks against Lebanon's sovereignty" which he said were in "violation of international law". The Iraqi prime minister called to "fully implement" a UN Security Council resolution that ended a 2006 war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah and served as the basis for the latest truce, which went into effect on November 27. Under the truce terms, Hezbollah fighters were to withdraw north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the border, and dismantle their military posts to the south. Israel, for its part, was to pull all its troops out of Lebanon but has maintained five positions it deems "strategic" along the frontier. Sudani also said he discussed with the visiting Lebanese president "shared opportunities in various sectors" including energy, telecommunications and commerce. Dominated by pro-Iranian parties, the Iraqi government has close ties with Lebanon and welcomed thousands of Lebanese people, mostly Shiite Muslims, displaced by the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah war. Tehran-aligned armed factions in Iraq are staunch allies of Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah. Since 2021, gas-rich Iraq has provided fuel for power stations in Lebanon, mired in a grave economic crisis. Last month Beirut said it was expecting a delivery of 320,000 tons of wheat from Iraq. In Baghdad, Aoun expressed his gratitude for "all the support and donations" Iraq has given Lebanon. Aoun, who assumed the presidency in January, also met with his Iraqi counterpart Abdel Latif Rashid. Ukraine strikes Russian bombers ahead of Istanbul talks Kyiv, Ukraine, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2025 Ukraine said Sunday it launched a "large-scale" attack to destroy Russian bombers as it geared up for talks in Istanbul with Moscow counterparts to explore prospects of a ceasefire. The spectacular claim that Ukraine damaged $2 billion worth of Russian aircraft parked at airbases thousands of kilometres (miles) away came as Kyiv announced a Russian military strike killed at least 12 soldiers at an army training site, leading to the resignation of its ground forces commander. Russia also said two bridges that collapsed in regions bordering Ukraine were brought down by explosions. Officials were treating them as "acts of terrorism" but had not immediately accused Ukraine. The developments followed Russian ground advances in recent days in Ukraine's border Sumy region and both sides unleashing punishing aerial attacks on the other. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that he was sending a Ukrainian delegation to Istanbul led by his Defence Minister Rustem Umerov for the talks on Monday with Russian officials. Turkey is hosting the meeting, which was spurred by US President Donald Trump's push for a quick deal to end the three-year war. Zelensky, who previously voiced scepticism about the seriousness of the Russian side in proposing Monday's meeting, said he had defined the Ukrainian delegation's position going into it. Priorities included "a complete and unconditional ceasefire" and the return of prisoners and abducted children, he said on social media. Russia has said it has formulated its own peace terms but refused to divulge them in advance. Russian President Vladimir Putin ruled out a Turkish proposal for the meeting to be held at leaders' level. Russian news agencies said the Russian delegation was headed to Istanbul on Sunday for the talks. - Drone attacks inside Russia - The intensified strikes waged by each side came as Kyiv and Moscow each strived to show themselves coming from a position of strength. A source with Ukraine's SBU security service said the coordinated attacks inside Russia were "aimed at destroying enemy bombers far from the front". The source said Russian airbases in the eastern Siberian city of Belaya, in Olenya, up in the Arctic near Finland, and in Ivanovo and Dyagilevo, both east of Moscow, had been targeted. More than 40 aircraft had been hit at the Belaya base, and a fire had broken out there, the source said, showing a video in which several aircraft could be seen in flames and black smoke rising. AFP was not able to independently verify the claims or the video images. Russia's defence ministry confirmed on Telegram that several of its military aircraft "caught fire", adding that there were no casualties and that several "participants" had been arrested. Igor Kobzev, Governor of Russia's Irkutsk region, which hosts the targeted Belaya airbase, said "it's the first attack of this sort in Siberia". He called on the population to not panic and posted an amateur video apparently showing a drone flying in the sky and a large cloud of grey smoke. The governor of the Murmansk region where the Olenya base was located, Andrey Chibis, also said "enemy drones" were flying overhead, and anti-aircraft defences were operating. Russia has been announcing Ukrainian drone attacks on a near daily basis, usually saying they had all been shot down. But it was rare for such drone strikes to be reported so deep within its territory. At the same time, Russia has been carrying out constant attacks on Ukraine. On Sunday, Ukraine's air force said it was hit by 472 Russian drones and seven missiles overnight -- a record since the beginning of the invasion. In a rare admission of its military losses, the Ukraine army said Russia's "missile strike on the location of one of the training units" had killed a dozen soldiers, most of whom had been in shelters during the attack. "As of 12:50 pm (0950 GMT), 12 people are known to have been killed and more than 60 wounded," it said. The attack led Ukrainian ground forces commander Mykhailo Drapaty to announce his resignation, saying he felt "responsibility" for the soldiers' deaths. - Blasts fell bridges - Separately on Sunday, the Russian army said it had captured another village in Ukraine's northern Sumy region, where Kyiv fears Moscow could mount a fresh ground assault. Russia claims to have captured several settlements in the region in recent weeks, and has amassed more than 50,000 soldiers on the other side of the border, according to Zelensky. Authorities in the region have evacuated more than 200 villages amid intensified shelling. Back in Russia, officials said a blast brought down a road bridge in the Bryansk region bordering Ukraine on Saturday, derailing a passenger train heading to Moscow and killing seven people. A separate rail bridge in the neighbouring Kursk region was blown up hours later in the early hours of Sunday, derailing a freight train and injuring the driver. Authorities did not say who was behind the explosions, but investigators said a criminal inquiry was underway. Israel army says intercepts Yemen missile after air raid sirens sound Jerusalem, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2025 The Israeli army said it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen on Sunday after air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem and other cities. "Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted," the army said in a statement. Yemen's Huthi rebels later claimed to have fired a "ballistic missile" at Israel's Ben Gurion airport. The group's military spokesman Yehya Saree said three drones were also launched at Israel. The Iran-backed group has repeatedly launched missiles and drones at Israel since the Gaza war broke out in October 2023 with Palestinian militant group Hamas's attack on Israel. Almost all of the projectiles have been intercepted. Sunday's interception followed another reported attack on Thursday claimed by the Yemeni rebels. The Huthis, who say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians, paused their attacks during a two-month Gaza ceasefire that ended in March, but began again after Israel resumed its military campaign in the territory. While most of the projectiles have been intercepted, one missile fired in early May hit inside the perimeter of Ben Gurion airport for the first time. Israel has carried out several strikes in Yemen in retaliation for the attacks, including on ports and the airport in the capital Sanaa. In reality she was so overwhelmed by the prospect of moving 130 miles west of London to a tiny speck of a village in the country that it took her two months to pluck up the courage to pack her bags, say goodbye to her rented one-bedroom flat in Surbiton, and move into her three-bedroom stone cottage in Hardington Mandeville, Somerset. Sardinia might be known for the millionaires playground of Costa Smerelda on its northeast coast, but for the less languid crowd it can be an affordable option. There are purse-friendly flights, plus affordable accommodation options in Cagliari, with the opportunity to try everything scuba diving to surfing on the island. Weve got the agreement that they will change the way they work, and our concentration now is to push them to get that into operation so they can intercept these smugglers and stop these people in the boats, not just on the shore. Of course, we welcome investment in new munitions factories, but we dont know when they will be ready, only that these orders should have been placed months ago. It's a national security emergency, but the government is dithering. If they don't act soon, there is a very real risk that a prison officer is kidnapped or murdered in the line of duty, or that a terrorist attack is directed from inside prison." A local newspaper said the attack took place at around 11pm, when a car pulled up outside the bar and masked man got out, before opening fire on the two as they stood outside the venue. The first collapse occurred in Russia's Bryansk region when a bridge fell onto a passing train, killing the driver and six others. The incident, which happened as the train travelled from Moscow to Klimov, also injured 69 passengers. A spokesperson from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: As the Foreign Secretary said, Sudan is suffering one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes on record, which is why we convened leaders from around the world in April to strengthen support for the Sudanese people. Pius Kamau, M.D., a retired general surgeon, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships; co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group and an activist for minority students STEM education. He is a National Public Radio commentator, a Huffington Post blogger, a past columnist for Denver dailies and is featured on the podcast, Never Again. The Social Democratic Party (PSD) should, "normally" have the first chance to appoint the prime minister in the upcoming government, given the result of last year's parliamentary elections, the party's interim president Sorin Grindeanu said on Saturday. "PSD can claim the position of prime minister. We just wait, but we certainly don't say no, to such a scenario. Normally, PSD should be the first option for prime minister. Romanians decided in December; PSD came in first place. That does not mean that we do not respect the powers of the president who consults with the parties and, after that, sees what would be a solution that could lead to a stable majority in Parliament. I believe that is how we should reason, not denying and running away from the responsibility given by the Romanians. Once again, we won the elections last December," Grindeanu told PrimaTV private broadcaster. "I didn't say that either [that he no longer wants to be the transport minister]. I said that, after a number of years, this wear and tear appears, even if everyone tells you that you have achieved results, highways have been built, many things have been done in these years. Yes, but maybe you don't have the same dynamism as you did at the beginning. (...) I think we need to talk about something else. I would not like to see, as has been seen too many times in these years, people who come there for on -the job training, learn there what it is like to be a minister, mechanisms." Who and where: Cynthia and Denny Holter with an unnamed troll in Bergen, Norway. The trip: They spent eight days in Norway, specifically to visit a municipality called Holter where Dennys family emigrated from in the mid-1800s. Spent time in Oslo, Holter, Flam, Bergen and Solstrand. Travel tip: Norway is a nearly cashless country, so not much cash is needed. Plus, in June, the sun sets at approximately 10 p.m. or later. Contribute: Email your photo to stlpost@gmail.com. Include the full names of everyone in the photo, including where they are from and where you are standing in the photo. Also include your address and phone number. Please also tell us a little about the trip and a travel tip. ST. LOUIS Straaaw ... bay ... reeeeeeeeees. Strawbrees! The song of the vendors who strolled the neighborhood streets was as mournful and slow as their weary pickups, piled high with wicker tubs of fresh strawberries. The country cadence was proof that summer had arrived. Nowadays, strawberries in clear plastic boxes at the supermarkets are almost all grown in California and shipped by refrigerated truck. But well into the 1960s, Missouri and Illinois produced substantial strawberry harvests. News of ripening strawberries made headlines every year. In June 1933, the Post-Dispatch, reporting from Springfield, Mo., summed up the harvest: The berry crop not only put ready cash in the hands of growers, but provided a great amount of labor and benefited transportation companies, truck haulers, ice companies and marketing agencies. A total of 775 carloads of strawberries were moved out by railroad alone. In that Depression decade, Missouri strawberry growers harvested 25,000 acres, mainly in the southwestern Ozarks. As field crops go, the acreage was small, but the yields were enough to fill shelves at the city corner groceries and the back beds of the vendors trucks. Pickers were paid 2 cents per quart. By 1943, with war plants humming and many men in uniform, the piecework rate jumped to 4 cents per quart, or $6 a day for anyone with a strong back. Picking season usually began in May in Arkansas and moved north with the retreat of cold weather all the way into Michigan. Workers known as fruit migrants traveled with their families, often setting up temporary homesteads in the same field shacks they used the year before. Migrant villages had nicknames like Berrytown and Tin City. In early June, picking was in full swing in the area around Centralia, Ill., the heart of Illinois strawberry country. Into the 1950s, farmers in that region cultivated about 4,500 acres in berries. By 1960, the pay rate had risen to 7 cents per quart in Centralia, 5 cents in Missouris Bootheel. Most years, the harvests employed about 4,000 people, most of them migrants. Workdays in the fields began at 6:30 a.m. and went into late afternoon. Families picked together, with everyone but the babies pitching in. After evening chores, young people danced to music from 45 rpm record players. Their elders rested for the next day. Things are better now than in the past, said Mary Howell of Tampa, Fla., in 1968, the 17th year her family had worked the crop near Irvington, Ill., five miles south of Centralia. The water is approved and there are public bathhouses. The Howells made their temporary home in Berrytown. By 1970, with burgeoning yields from California and new federal rules for labor-camp dwellings, many growers had put berry fields to other crops. Missouris cultivation was only 700 acres, down 95 percent since the Depression. These days, combined acreage in Missouri and Illinois often doesnt total a square mile. Much of that is for urban families to have the fun of picking their own. See how migrant strawberry pickers lived and worked Lining up to pick acres of berries Boy picking berries Migrant workers move with the harvest Woman picking berries Picking berries in Illinois Picking berries in Illinois End of a day of picking berries Recreation at the end of a long day Packing berries for shipping Living in a migrant worker's shack Church for migrant workers Fields open urban families to pick berries Picking your own berries A ripe berry Strawberries in Freeburg California markets take over Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Metro columnist Follow Tony Messenger | Post-Dispatch Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today ST. LOUIS Two years ago, Markeesha Perry needed a new roof. Perrys two-story, red-brick house sits on Clarence Avenue in the OFallon neighborhood, just north of Penrose Street. The four-family home was built in 1916. By the time Perry bought it in 2012, it had seen better days. Her plan was to fix it up and rent out the units. Life intervened. Perry, who grew up in St. Louis, has worked hard for most of her 49 years. She owned her own sandwich shop for a period of time. But a few years ago, doctors discovered a brain tumor and she needed surgery. She recovered, but there was enough damage that she now lives on disability income. Every once in a while, things get a little foggy. The new roof came through a grant program funded by the Missouri Housing Trust Fund. Like many of her north St. Louis neighbors, Perry lives in an old house that has served many generations. Much of her family lives in the building now. A University of Missouri-St. Louis study in 2023, the same year Perry got her new roof, found there were more than $300 million worth of repair needs in homes in the city, many of them owned by senior citizens. As we talked on Thursday, the remnants of Perrys roof barely two years old were piled in front of her house. Every home in the neighborhood has such a pile trees and brush, wood and brick, roofing material and debris courtesy of a nearly mile-wide tornado that cut a devastating path through St. Louis two weeks ago. Everytime I get to point C, I get knocked back to point A, Perry told me. I cant get ahead. She was at home when the tornado hit on May 16. She was watching the dark clouds move in from the west as she stood near her front door. She closed the door and started slowly backing away. For some reason, she didnt run to the basement. I moved to the middle of the room, and I just stood my ground, Perry said. The floor started shaking. Then she heard a crunching noise above her head. There goes the roof, she thought. By Friday night, she was on the roof, straddling exposed rafters and trying to see what she could do to protect her home. It wasnt much. Like a lot of her neighbors, Perry doesnt have homeowners insurance. But she does have local angels who have flown to her rescue. On the day I visited, three local men Jake Wheeler, Chad Jackson and Johnny Lee were finishing up a tarp job on Perrys roof, hoping to beat the rain predicted for that evening. After the tornado, Wheeler, an HVAC contractor, checked on a home he owns in north city and his parents home in the West End. Jackson and Lee had also responded, just to see what they could do to help. Eventually, the three met and started working together, trying to temporarily repair roofs with plywood and tarps. And theyve kept helping. They answer the call one house at a time, sometimes seeing a home in need while on a roof, other times taking calls from folks like Perry who get their numbers from a friend or relative. Were trying to keep people in their homes, Wheeler said. Eleven days after the storm, Wheeler said, he and his partners were the first people to show up at some locations and offer help. The day we got here, (Perry) cried in our arms and told us she was ready to leave, he said. Families have lived in many of the homes, like those on Clarence Avenue or a few blocks over on Athlone or Red Bud, for a generation or two. Houses are passed down or bought by children and grandchildren. They cant always afford repairs. Sometimes, even when they get repairs, they arent quite up to par. A few days before the tornado hit, Perry was as happy as she could be, sitting in the St. Charles Family Arena as her youngest daughter, Destiny, graduated from Lafayette High School. We were in the same place at the same time my youngest daughter was in the same graduating class and yet Perry and I had never met, our worlds following different paths. Thats often the case for St. Louis parents whose children attend suburban schools through the desegregation program. Three of Perrys children graduated from Parkway Central, another from Eureka High. Its a reminder that the tornado damage in north St. Louis, like the lack of investment weve ignored for decades, connects us all. Its what caused Wheeler, Jackson and Hall to leave their communities and head to north city to provide help. Perry is grateful for the angels in her midst, but she looks around her neighborhood and hears the beeping of utility trucks and the whirring of chain saws and knows that so much more help is needed. A block from her, the Missouri National Guard has staged a location for folks to pile debris. But the debris is several feet high in every yard on her block. How, she wonders, will it get from here to there? I feel like we just get left behind, Perry says, hoping that the state and federal governments will eventually pitch in to help devastated homeowners. And thats why three men with good jobs have been turning down income to help folks in need, day after day, with plywood and tarps that will hopefully keep homes dry until the cavalry arrives. Coming Wednesday: They met on a roof in north St. Louis. Now, the three men are traversing the city as an ad-hoc roofing crew, answering calls for help JENNINGS A man was fatally shot in Jennings on Saturday afternoon, possibly the result of a road-rage incident, police said. Officers arrived to the 8700 block of Jennings Station Road, near McLaran Avenue, about 2:20 p.m., according to a press release from the St. Louis County Police Department. The man was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police did not provide additional information about the victim. No suspects are in custody, the release said. Anyone with information is asked to call the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477. ST. LOUIS COUNTY Last months tornado rampaged from Clayton to Edwardsville, hitting hardest in the city of St. Louis, where it killed five people and wrecked more than 2,500 buildings, destroying entire homes in some of the citys poorest neighborhoods. But four cities in St. Louis County also sustained significant damage on May 16, especially the county seat of Clayton, where the tornado touched down and ripped trees out of the ground as it traveled along Wydown Boulevard and old, wealthy neighborhoods west of Forest Park. At least 930 homes in Clayton were damaged, and the city has estimated about $5.2 million in costs for emergency response, cleanup and repairs to streets and sidewalks so far, City Manager David Gipson said. The loss of trees on Wydown in particular completely changed the look and feel of the neighborhoods there, he said. It will take generations to put that tree canopy back the way it was, he said. Dozens of homes in Richmond Heights and Brentwood also were damaged, and about two dozen residences across all three cities were declared unsafe, displacing people who lived there. Hundreds of trees were also felled there and in University City. Residents said they were grateful the damage was far less severe than in St. Louis. But some said they have struggled to get insurance to pay in full for damages and hope that federal aid will help fill those gaps. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has asked President Donald Trump to approve a major disaster declaration to provide federal assistance to St. Louis, St. Louis County and six southeast Missouri counties that were hit by deadly storms earlier this month. A declaration would clear the way for FEMA to provide assistance to individuals impacted by the storms, including grants and low-interest loans to pay for home repairs and business recovery. On Buckingham Drive in Clayton, Nicolas Mutis said his home took about $50,000 in damage when a street tree uprooted and toppled onto his house, collapsing the chimney and puncturing holes in the roof. Insurance will only cover about $30,000 of the cost, he said. Were certainly counting our blessings, but now were uncertain about how to make up that difference, he said. A disaster declaration would also clear FEMA to help local governments offset costs for emergency response and cleanup, and for repairs to public infrastructure damaged by the tornado. The estimated $5.2 million in costs in Clayton include about $1 million for debris removal and $3 million in damage to streetlights, Gipson said. It does not include costs to remove or prune more than 700 trees damaged. Twenty-six residences were still unsafe for occupancy because of damage as of Friday. In Richmond Heights, four homes were still uninhabitable, City Manager Amy Hamilton said. A total 34 were damaged, and 200 trees were felled. The city estimated more than $400,000 in costs so far. In Brentwood, 38 residences sustained minor damages and about 30 mature trees on city streets and in parks were lost, spokeswoman Michelle Boyer said. The city estimated $150,000 in costs so far. Strong winds also felled and damaged trees in University City, spokesman Jared Jones said, including a tree that crumpled two vehicles owned by a contractor renovating two city-owned buildings nearby. The city has filed an insurance claim to pay for the costs, Jones said. Gina Nelsons home on Wydown in Clayton was among several with windows boarded up and the roof tarped. Nelson, who has lived on the street for nine years, said her roof needs to be replaced, but that insurance will cover the cost. Shell miss the street tree canopy that once shaded her home, but said shes grateful overall. To know these generational trees wont be back in our lives is sad, Nelson said. But everything is else is replaceable. Recently, a troll commented to me: Everything isnt about race. Isnt it? Back in 2018, after the Charlottesville Unite The Right march by White Nationalists, Trump, then in his first term, characterized the conflict has having very fine people on both sides. It was later after Trump questioned why America was admitting people from shithole places like Haiti, El Salvador and African nations that I had a discussion over lunch with a group of friends (all white) who declared Trump was not a racist. In case theres still any question about this four months into Trumps second term, lets review: On Jan. 20, immediately upon starting his second term, Trump signed an executive order that directed federal agencies to dismantle all existing DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) initiatives. Following this, the Pentagon removed all references to military service of all-Black units (i.e., Tuskegee Airmen, Buffalo Soldiers, Harlem Hell Fighters, the 6888th Central Postal Battalion, etc.) from its web pages. It removed all mention of the Navaho code talkers and the all-Japanese American 442nd Combat Unit, as well. After public outcry, these references were restored in March with this caveat by Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot: Discriminatory Equity Ideology, Divides the force, Erodes unit cohesion and Interferes with the services core warfighting mission. Cute idioms, Mr. Ullyot. Similarly, in February, information on the web page of the National Park Service regarding Harriet Tubmans participation in the Underground Railroad was sanitized to imply that she was a minor player in the emancipation of enslaved people. Public outcry occurred again, after which the agency restored the original content. In March, Trump issued another executive order seeking to restore the Smithsonian Institution to its rightful place as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness by removing mention of historical racism. Its not surprising that one of Trumps first targets within all of the Smithsonians varied museums was the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). Certain artifacts and exhibits detailing slavery and the Civil Rights movement were rotated within the NMAAHC or returned to the people whod loaned them to the museum. One of these pieces was the handwritten book of songs reportedly used by Harriet Tubman when she returned to rescue enslaved people. (Reportedly, she would change the tempo of the songs as a code to people when it was safe to leave.) In May, the State Department brought the first wave of white South Africans to the U.S., where they were offered asylum and resettled as refugees following Trumps allegation that they were suffering from genocide at the hands of that countrys Black majority. Trump continued to advance this false genocide narrative. He even confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with it an Oval Office meeting by referencing a thoroughly discredited video that falsely claimed to show the graves of white South Africans. What is interesting to note here is that Trump has been suspending the temporary protected status to scores of people of color formerly offered such sanctuary, notably Haiti, El Salvador and Venezuela. Similarly, the administrations freezing of funds to, and ordering a reduction of, staff at the USAID organization primarily affects countries with Black and brown majorities. Five years after the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota, the Department of Justice has suspended court-approved consent decrees from both Minneapolis and Louisville, Kentucky, where Breonna Taylor was killed during a no-knock warrant at the wrong address. That suspension essentially knee-capped the rights of citizens in instances when police overreach occurs. Today, we are ending the Biden Civil Rights Divisions failed experiment of handcuffing local leaders and police departments with factually unjustified consent decrees, said Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. The Department also terminated racial sensitivity training for police officers in these communities and many others. In Donald Trumps America, evidence of historic and current racial prejudice must be suppressed as a matter of policy. Ideally, race shouldnt be a divisive issue in our country today but it still is. And this president is driving that wedge deeper. The crew of USCGC Thetis poses for a group photo behind more than 28,500 pounds of seized drugs worth more than $211 million at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., May 29, 2025. (Diana Sherbs/U.S. Coast Guard) U.S. Coast Guard cutter Thetis offloaded more than 28,500 pounds of cocaine at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale Fla., on Thursday, according to a service news release. The seized contraband is worth an estimated $211.3 million and was the result of four interdictions in the Eastern Pacific by Thetis and an embarked MH-65 helicopter crew from Helicopter Interdiction Squadron based in Jacksonville, Fla. I could not be more proud of this crew and what they accomplished this patrol, said Cmdr. Ryan Kelley, commanding officer of Thetis. The more than 33,000 pounds of drugs seized by Thetis this patrol also represents the determination of a crew who continues to find a way to improvise, adapt, and overcome to keep an aging cutter in the fight and accomplish this mission. A USCGC Thetis crew member stacks a bale of cocaine on a pallet during a drug offload at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., May 29, 2025. (Diana Sherbs/U.S. Coast Guard) USCGC Thetis crew members offload more than 28,500 pounds of seized drugs worth more than $211 million at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., May 29, 2025. (Diana Sherbs/U.S. Coast Guard) U.S. Customs and Border Protection Canine Enforcement Officer Nemo and his handler, Officer Jessie Rivera, inspect bales of cocaine during a drug offload at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., May 29, 2025. (Diana Sherbs/U.S. Coast Guard) The crew of USCGC Thetis offloads more than 28,500 pounds of seized drugs worth more than $211 million at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., May 29, 2025. (Class Diana Sherbs/U.S. Coast Guard) On May 10, the Thetis crew recovered 3,984 pounds of cocaine from a bale field approximately 660 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico. On May 6, a crew on an embarked helicopter aboard the Thetis recovered 4,559 pounds of cocaine bales from two suspicious vessels who were throwing bales overboard approximately 575 miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. On May 5, an embarked helicopter crew aboard the Thetis recovered 9,993 pounds of cocaine from a bale field approximately 475 miles southwest of Colima, Mexico. On May 3, a maritime patrol aircraft located two suspicious vessels approximately 170 miles west of Mexico. Thetis crew interdicted the vessels and seized 4,630 pounds of cocaine. USCGC Thetis is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Key West, Fla., under U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command. Frank and Sylvia Gaynor have been linked to more than 30 personal injury claims A bank has launched a bid to repossess a property owned by serial damages claimants Frank and Sylvia Gaynor who have been linked to more than 30 personal injury claims and who live on a nine-acre spread at Drishoge Manor, Oldtown, North County Dublin. The property was identified only by its folio number in the court of County Registrar Patricia Hickey who over-ruled a bid by Mars Capital Finance Ireland barrister, Mason Napier to restrict media access to information regarding the property on the basis the application had not been opened before her. Ms Hickey told Napier that Mars application for possession had indeed been opened before her and that a (this) court reporter was entitled to information contained in the banks civil bill which, as it turned out, was confined to a County Dublin folio number. It is not known which of a number of properties the Gaynors own is being sought by the bank. The family home sits on nine acres When information was being shared in open court with the media by Ms Hickey, on the basis the High Court had already ruled that the media was entitled to information that had been opened in a court, Napier intervened and said his application had not been opened to the court. He said he had merely stated the bank was not in a position to prove service on the Gaynors and had been seeking an adjournment, which Ms Hickey had granted until November 6th next because, as she stated, bank documents sent to the Gaynors had bounced back. When Francis (Orse) Frank Gaynor appeared in court and told Ms Hickey his wife, Sylvia, was not in court, the County Registrar stated that the adjournment to November 6 would give Mr Gaynor a bit of time to organize but told him that on the next occasion the application would be going ahead for possession. Only days prior to todays application by Mars Capital Finance, the Circuit Civil Court was told that the Gaynors had been linked to 26 previous personal injury claims and had failed to turn up to prosecute six new damages claims against a motorist which Judge Christopher Callan promptly threw out, leaving the family facing a legal bill of up to 150,000 Frank Gaynor outside his home in Oldtown, Co Dublin Plumber and taxi driver Frank, his wife Sylvia and their adult children Nicole (35); Jazmin (33); Frank junior (33) and Reece (21) had between them sought damages of 350,000 against motorist Brien Stenson, of Carrs Mills, Donabate, Co Dublin who, the Gaynors were claiming, had rear ended them When all of them had failed to turn up at an earlier court Judge Terence OSullivan said they probably realized what was coming down the line at them. Frank Gaynor outside his home in Oldtown, Co Dublin Barrister Paul McMorrow, who attended the earlier court with Karen Cahill of Nathaniel Lacy solicitors for Mr Stenson, had told Judge Callan their solicitor had felt unable to successfully challenge the defence lodged by Allianz, insurers of Mr Stenson and had been granted leave of the court to pull out of the six cases. Counsel said that Mr Stenson and his insurers had claimed that the extent of their alleged injuries could not possibly have arisen from such a collision as had occurred on the Malahide Road, Dublin, seven years ago. Mars Capital Finance Ireland will be seeking recovery of whatever property is concerned on the basis of default in mortgage repayments. Taxi driver Frank Gaynor News in 90 Seconds - June 1st Judge Devlin revealed that when Ayres raped the woman, he had only been freed from prison the previous week A violent and dangerous rapist who was caught in the middle of a sex attack has been handed a seven-year jail sentence. Maurice Ayres appeared before Antrim Crown Court where he was given an extended custodial term. Judge Alistair Devlin described the 30-year-old as a dangerous offender given the facts of the case, previous record and the risk that he poses. As well as imposing the seven-year term as part of an extended custodial sentence, the judge ordered that Ayres be subject to an extra three years on supervised licence conditions when he is eventually freed. Maurice Ayres The sentence means that rather than being released automatically at the halfway point of his sentence, it will be up to the Parole Commissioners if, and under what conditions, Ayres is freed from custody. At an earlier hearing, the defendant, of no fixed abode in Belfast, entered guilty pleas to charges of rape and causing the victim actual bodily harm on March 17 last year. He also admitted three other charges relating to two breaches of a Violent Offences Prevention Order (VOPO) committed between March 12-18 and failing to tell police he had been freed from prison. Judge Devlin outlined how it had been just after 8pm on St Patricks Day last year when a man contacted 999 to report his concerns that a woman was being raped in the communal area of a block of flats. Reading from an agreed set of facts prepared by prosecuting counsel Suzanne Gallagher, the judge told the court that when police arrived they found Ayres behind the naked and almost incoherent victim, having sexual intercourse. When they stopped Ayres in the act, officers noticed that the victims face was swollen and that her lip was bleeding. The victim was lapsing in and out of consciousness so was taken to hospital. Despite her repeated assurances and promises that she would make a statement, no such statement was ever forthcoming. Maurice Ayres News in 90 Seconds - June 1st The court heard that the man who called 999 gave police an audio recording he had made, from which, said the judge, the victim appeared to be in distress and sounds of slapping could be heard. The caller told police that, looking out through the peephole in his door, he could see that Ayres had the hold of her by the hair. He was slapping and punching her and he had to pick her up as she kept falling on the floor. An examination of the communal hallway uncovered clumps of hair which, when forensically examined, were found to have come from the victim and had been pulled out by the roots, indicating that they had been forcefully pulled from her head. Arrested and interviewed, Ayres claimed the woman had been assaulted in a fight with another woman earlier that evening and that, when he hugged her to comfort her, they started to kiss, one thing led to another and they ended up having consensual sex. Claiming that he believed the victim was fit to consent, Ayres further claimed that if she had indicated she didnt want to do it, he wouldnt have crossed that line. Judge Devlin revealed that when Ayres raped the woman, he had only been freed from prison the previous week, having served a sentence for serious assault. In that case, Ayres had been made the subject of a Violent Offences Prevention Order, and so, by raping and assaulting his victim, he breached three different terms of that order. That was just one of a litany of aggravating features, said the judge, adding that others included the vulnerability of the grossly intoxicated victim and the fact she was subject to violence and degradation over and above the rape itself in that she had been dragged about the floor, almost certainly by the hair. Far and away the significant mitigating factor was Ayres guilty pleas, said Judge Devlin, adding that, in his assessment, the defendants culpability and risk were high, while the harm he caused, in circumstances where there was no victim impact statement, is between moderate to high. Given that high risk, coupled with Ayres previous offences of serious violence and multiple breaches of the VOPO, the judge said he was satisfied the defendant poses a significant risk of causing serious harm. Having classed Ayres as a dangerous offender, the judge said it was for that reason he was imposing the seven-year, extended custodial sentence. In addition, the judge ordered Ayres to sign the police sex offenders register for the rest of his life. Once he is released, Ayres will be subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for a further five years. Ms Gaziova is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef Puska by burning his clothes Jozef Puska's sister-in-law told gardai she had failed to say that she burned the clothes Jozef was wearing on the day he murdered Ashling Murphy because she was "afraid the whole family would go against me" or that she would end up on the street. Viera Gaziova (40) told gardai she burned the clothes after her husband, Lubomir Puska jnr, told her that Jozef had asked him to "make sure that those clothes are burnt". She said she built a fire in the living room and put the clothes on top. After the flames had died down, she cleaned out the fireplace and poured the ashes down the kitchen sink. All that remained by then was "pure ash", she said, with "nothing that resembled clothes". Ms Gaziova is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef Puska by burning his clothes. Viera Gaziova Jozefina Grundzova (32), who is married to Jozef's other brother Marek Puska (36), is charged with the same offence. Lubomir jnr (38) and Marek are charged with withholding information from detectives investigating Ms Murphy's murder. All the accused were living with Jozef Puska, his wife Lucia, and 14 children at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly when the offences are alleged to have occurred in January 2022. All accused have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Det Gda Andrew Dolan told prosecution senior counsel Anne Marie Lawlor that Ms Gaziova met gardai to give a voluntary statement on January 17, 2022, five days after Ms Murphy's murder. She described Jozef as a "very good person". She said he spoke to everyone, played with the children and "never said anything bad for anyone." His children "never went short for anything," she added. Jozef Puska murdered Ashling Murphy three years ago She said Jozef went out early on the day of Ashling's murder, and the rest of the household became concerned when he did not come back that afternoon. Marek and Lubomir jnr searched for him but couldn't find him. Some time after 9pm, Jozef arrived home "fully soaked from top to bottom" and "shaking uncontrollably". He was wearing a Tommy Hilfiger top with black tracksuit bottoms and black runners, she said, and told his wife Lucia that he was going for a shower. After his shower, Jozef left the clothes he had been wearing "rolled up in a bundle" inside a bag on the bathroom floor. She said Lubomir jnr and Marek spoke to Jozef in his bedroom and afterwards, Lubomir told her that Jozef had "confessed that he killed a girl". She said: "I said, this is not like Jozef. I did not believe Jozef could do such a thing." When Lucia came into the room, she said they stopped talking about it. She said that the people who knew what Jozef had done were herself, Lubomir jnr, Marek and Jozefina. She didn't know if Lucia knew at that point, she said. She said they spoke about what Jozef had said, adding: "We were all puzzled, then we quickly became afraid." Jozef's parents arrived a short time later, and his mother wanted to know what had happened to Jozef and who had beaten him up. Ms Gazikva said Jozef's mother insisted that Jozef return with his parents to Dublin. When Jozef and his parents had left, she said Lubomir jnr poured a shot of vodka for everyone. "We started talking that Jozef couldn't do it, we didn't believe it." She said they continued talking and drinking until Lucia came into the room. Ms Gaziova said Marek told Lucia that Jozef had been stabbed, but Lucia was "puzzled" and didn't believe it. She said she would have seen the stab wounds. The following day, Ms Gaziova said, Lubomir jnr had gone to Dublin and that night, after 10pm, he called her using Facebook Messenger to say that Jozef had asked him to "make sure that those clothes are burnt". Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova She said she waited until the following morning after the children had gone to school. She lit the fire using paper and briquettes and let it burn for about one hour, until it was "very strong". She took the clothes out of the bag, starting with the tracksuit top and t-shirt, which were stuck together as though Jozef had taken them off in one go. When gardai asked why she had "misled the investigation" by failing to mention that she destroyed evidence in her previous statement, she said: "We were afraid of the guards when they came. "Nothing like this ever happened before. I was afraid I would end up on the street with my children. I was shaking. I didn't want to say because I was afraid the whole family would go against me." The trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs and a jury of seven men and five women. Viera Gaziova. Photo: Collins News in 90 Seconds - June 1st Woman grew so fearful of Martin Mulqueen that she took to sleeping with a hammer under her pillow One of the first men in Ireland convicted of coercive control has been returned to prison after abusing his former partner again after his release. Judge Keenan Johnson, at Tullamore Circuit Court, heard evidence from an undertaker who detailed an absolutely bizarre and disturbing attempt by the man to buy a double grave, described as an underground vault, in an isolated graveyard for him and his victim. In March 2021, Martin Mulqueen (57), originally from Ballynote, Kilrush, Co Clare, was handed a combined sentence of 54 months after he pleaded guilty to three sample charges, including coercive control, assault and assault causing harm on dates between March and October 2019. Judge Francis Comerford suspended the final 20 months on a number of conditions, one being that Mulqueen have no contact with his victim following his release from custody. Mulqueen initially faced nine charges relating to the abuse of his partner, including a threat to kill. Following negotiations between his defence team, led by solicitor Colum Doherty, and the DPP, he pleaded guilty on the third day of his trial in December 2020. However, following his release from prison, he resumed his relationship with his victim and, within months, the woman had cause to apply for a barring order. The woman sought four separate interim barring orders before a full barring last February. The court heard gardai recorded 17 breaches of the original circuit court order wherein Mulqueen signed a bond not to contact his victim after his release. The victim tearfully told Judge Johnson she had began contact with Mulqueen again as she felt sorry for him Garda Michael Henry, who originally prosecuted Mulqueen in the Roscommon district, told Judge Johnson he was alerted to the continuing abuse of the woman only within recent months. Despite moving to a different unit, Gda Henry took it upon himself to investigate and uncovered that last January 2025, Mulqueen requested undertaker Michael Cusack, from Kilrush, to build a mass-concrete burial chamber for him and his girlfriend. He asked me to phone his partner and tell her that I had agreed to do it, Mr Cusack told Judge Johnson. Mr Cusack said he reluctantly agreed and rang the woman and told her that he would make the burial chamber, but said he realised immediately this was not something she wanted. Mr Cusack apologised and ended the call. The court heard from a support worker in a homeless shelter where Mulqueen was staying who overheard the phone call and was deeply concerned as she felt he was suggesting his partner would need the grave before him. The victim tearfully told Judge Johnson she had began contact with Mulqueen again as she felt sorry for him and said there were times when he was not drinking heavily that the relationship was a happy one. But she said that nine out of 10 times when he is drinking she is abused. She detailed receiving 160 missed calls from Mulqueen in one weekend. On another occasion, despite her address being a closely guarded secret, a parcel arrived with gifts, including a book about murder written by crime reporter Paul Williams. A prison van drives Martin Mulqueen away from Tullamore court. Photo: Steve Humphreys Mulqueen was initially jailed for coercive control and brutal assaults on the woman, whom he choked, beat and slashed with a knife. The court heard she grew so fearful of his escalating abuse that she slept with a hammer under her pillow. A pattern of abusive and controlling behaviour by Mulqueen culminated in an incident in which he cut the womans wrist with a bread knife and tried to strangle her. The court heard gardai received multiple confidential and third-party reports that the woman was under severe threat. Judge Johnson said he had no difficulty granting a Section 99 application by counsel for the DPP, Sean OQuigley BL, to reactivate the 20-month suspended portion of Mulqueens sentence after the evidence put before him. The judge said it was obvious the victim was a decent and kind woman who was vulnerable, and the courts need to protect her from herself. Addressing her directly, he said she owed it to herself to end all contact with Mulqueen. The woman agreed and said she knew he was right. In his original trial, the court heard that in April 2019, Mulqueen smashed his phone during an argument and then the two began sharing a phone. He subsequently deleted her friends numbers. Mulqueen also tried to drive a wedge between his former partner and her children, mother and extended family Later, having replaced his phone, he then broke hers, making her uncontactable to family and friends, except through him. The court heard Mulqueen also tried to drive a wedge between his former partner and her children, mother and extended family. On December 31, 2018, he told the victim that both of them would resign from their place of work, as he was not happy there. Over the coming months, the court heard Mulqueens alcohol abuse escalated and the victim noticed a marked change in his behaviour. Martin Mulqueen is back behind bars News in 90 Seconds - June 1st The first serious incident of violence happened in April 2019 when the accused slapped the victim across the head. On another occasion, while the victim was in bed, she told gardai Mulqueen beat her black and blue and purple with his shoe. On July 8, 2019, at home in Clarecastle, Mulqueen launched another vicious attack on the woman. She told gardai that he grabbed her by the shoulder and threw her on the bed. He beat me and beat and beat me, she said. Bianca Fahy (52), who has 166 previous convictions, launched tirade at officers while intoxicated during early-morning incident in Fairgreen car park A woman in her 50s with over 160 convictions hurled a tirade of abuse at gardai when attempting to prevent the arrest of a man who had been caught defecating in broad daylight in a midlands town, a court has heard. Bianca Fahy (52) of Ocean Lodge, Salthill, Galway, was ordered by Judge Deirdre Gearty to undertake community service or run the risk of a spell behind bars following an incident that unfolded at Fairgreen Car Park, Athlone, Westmeath on April 28, 2025. Fahy, who pleaded guilty to public intoxication and using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, was arrested by officers shortly after they came across the accused in an extremely intoxicated state shortly after 7am. Bianca Fahy (52) had 166 previous convictions to her name before she attempted to thwart gardai's attempts to arrest a man who was found defecating in the middle of a green area in Athlone last month. Sgt Paul McNally, for the State, said that sighting came as Fahy was spotted in the company of a male associate who was observed by officers excreting faeces in the middle of a green area. When gardai approached the man and attempted to execute his arrest, Sgt McNally said Fahy suddenly became very verbally abusive and began to grab hold of him in a bid to hinder the efforts of officers. When told to stop she became extremely abusive towards gardai, he added, vitriol which ultimately concluded in her arrest. The court was told Fahy had 166 previous convictions to her name, 42 of which emanated from theft related offences with a further 36 coming by way of similar threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour incidents. Having heard a breakdown of Fahys criminal past, Judge Gearty suggested to defence solicitor Patrick Carty about putting the case back while admitting there was a real possibility of a custodial sentence being handed down. The way I am hearing the previous it is only going one direction, she remarked. Mr Carty, in response, attempted to explain the context behind his clients behaviour on the day, actions he said had come after Fahy and her male associate had been in Athlone socialising when the pair missed the bus home. The local solicitor revealed how the Zimbabwe national was in the throes of an alcohol addiction, challenges which she had set her sights on addressing by way of a residential treatment programme. He added how Fahy was a divorcee and had been a permanent fixture in Ireland for the best part of three decades with the bulk of her previous convictions having come before courts in Galway. Bianca Fahy was ordered to engage with probation services with a view to undertaking 80 hours of community service. Its a pretty sad picture, he confided. Drink was a major factor here and things just got out of hand. She was upset and overwrought and undoubtedly alcohol is at the centre of all of her issues and almost certainly all of her offending. Judge Gearty said whatever about those predilections, questions still remained as to how Fahy was financing her alcohol dependency as she pressed Mr Carty about whether she was reliant on social welfare. When it was confirmed Fahy was reliant on State paid assistance, the accused confirmed she was on a waiting list to go into Coolmine drug and alcohol treatment centre. Bianca Fahy outside Athlone Courthouse. That prompted Judge Gearty to interject once more, saying the latter option was by far the more appetising remedy for the court as opposed to handing down a custodial sentence. I want her to go there and get the help she needs as sending her to the Dochas Centre for a period of time is not the answer for anybody, she said. Judge Gearty consequently ordered Fahy to undergo a community service assessment with probation services with a view to completing 80 hours in lieu of three months in prison. The results of that assessment in connection to the section 6 public order charge are expected to be made known when Fahy, who was remanded on bail, returns before a sitting of Athlone District Court on September 3. Bianca Fahy outside Athlone Courthouse. News in 90 Seconds - June 1st Eoin Richardson, of Cabra, Dublin 7, is accused of possessing cocaine, MDMA, and ketamine and having them for sale of supply A taxi driver was charged over a seizure of 380,000 worth of drugs in a storage unit in Dublin. Eoin Richardson, 28, of Swilly Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, is accused of possessing cocaine, MDMA, and ketamine and having them for sale of supply on May 28. It follows a Garda drug seizure at a Store 4U unit on the Old Naas Road, Kingswood, Dublin 22. He appeared before Judge Patricia Cronin at Dublin District Court and faced objections to bail. Defence barrister Paddy Flynn, instructed by solicitor Martin ODonnell, pleaded for bail and that his client would obey conditions. He had surrendered his passport. Judge Cronin set bail in his bond of 1000 but required the approval of a 10,000 independent surety before release. He was also ordered to provide a phone number to gardai. Once bail has been taken up, he must reside at an address in Kildare, not apply for a new passport with a phone number, sign on daily at a garda station and obey a curfew. He was remanded in custody with consent to bail on these terms and will appear at Cloverhill District Court this week. Fionas boyfriend took case after wife said he sexually assaulted her The chief suspect in the disappearance of Fiona Pender sued Canadian police nine years ago after he was cleared of sexually assaulting his wife. John Thompson, originally from Grange, Killeagh, Co Laois, who emigrated to Saskatchewan in Canada with his wife in the 2000s, claimed the sexual assault prosecution was malicious and arose out of a desire for recognition in helping gardai solve Fionas disappearance. Legal papers obtained by this newspaper in 2017 showed Thompson (49) sought damages including 13,700 for interruption to his work, 68,000 for suffering and injury to his reputation and 43,000 in legal-related fees. In 2014, Thompsons wife told police in Saskatchewan that he had made threats against her and made admissions in relation to Fionas disappearance. According to court documents obtained by the Sunday World, when his wife first went to authorities in Saskatoon she provided a pre-written statement to police, claiming she was concerned for her safety and that of her children. She told officers that Thompson was a suspect in the 1996 disappearance of his then girlfriend Fiona in Ireland and that she was now afraid this would happen to her. The search for Fiona continues During a four-day court hearing she testified he had told her: You know Ive done it before, theyll never find you, is that what you want? That development sparked a high-profile but ultimately unsuccessful new search for Fionas remains in 2015. But in acquitting Thompson of all the criminal charges against him, the judge at his trial in Saskatoon said his wife had likely fabricated the sexual assault and threat allegations to influence a custody battle over their two children. In his statement of claim, Thompson alleged the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers who investigated his wifes allegations and the crown prosecutor at his trial were malicious, high-handed and oppressive in their handling of the case. He claimed they ignored inconsistencies in different statements by the complainant, and that police officers used leading and coercive techniques to influence her testimony in court. Thompson claimed he suffered from losses related to interruption of work during his time in jail and at trial, bodily and psychological suffering, injury to his reputation and the financial costs of getting bail and hiring a lawyer to defend himself against the false charges. Thompson has long been considered the chief suspect in Fionas disappearance in 1996. John Thompson, pictured in 2006, moved to Canada News in 90 Seconds - June 1st Fiona disappeared from her apartment on Church Street, Tullamore, on August 23, 1996. Thompson was the last person to have acknowledged visiting with her at the apartment prior to her disappearance. Speaking after he was quizzed in connection with the case in 1997, Thompson criticised gardai for arresting him and members of his family. He criticised gardai saying they had not taken sufficient action and did not act quickly enough in their search for the missing woman. Mr Thompson, who was then aged 24, said he did not want to be seen to be giving the guards the fingers but the fact remained his pregnant partner was still missing. They will tell you that they searched high and low, but they did two searches on this farm and there is a well outside the door and it was never searched, he claimed at the time. He said a slurry tank on the farm was also never searched. Fiona Pender At the end of the day Fiona is out there somewhere and it is their job to find her. I just want to highlight the fact that she is still missing. Mr Thompson said he had been going out with Ms Pender for three years and they had been living together for a year. The gardai had no evidence against him and his family, Mr Thompson said, and he took a dim view of the arrests. It is just not good enough for them to suggest that we disposed of her and then leave it at that, he said. Mr Thompson said he last saw Fiona in their flat in Church Street on August 23, 1996, when he left for work at 6am. He said she could not have disappeared from a busy town without being seen by someone. I feel that someone might have seen something, but is afraid. Mr Thompson said he was appealing for anyone who could help to come forward. He said rumours that his family, which is Church of Ireland, were against his relationship with Ms Pender, because she was a Catholic, were not even worthy of comment. But I deny it. Two searches were carried out in connection with Fionas disappearance earlier this week. The first was undertaken at a location at Graigue, Killeigh, near Tullamore, Co Offaly, which finished on Tuesday evening. The second began on Wednesday close to Clonaslee, Co Laois, in the Slieve Bloom mountains, and continued overnight into Thursday. The results of the searches are not being released for operational reasons. Detectives have believed from an early stage in the probe that Fiona was murdered, and the case was upgraded from a missing persons inquiry to a murder investigation on Monday following a review of investigation files and the uncovering of new information. She said the council had not seized the dogs and had no knowledge as to their current whereabouts. A puppy farmer has been jailed for three months after three dogs, a Belgian Malinois, a Collie and a Shih Tzu he was ordered to surrender disappeared. Dog Breeder PJ Rigney appeared before Tullamore District Court on Wednesday a week after he had been remanded in custody by Judge Andrew Cody for failing to surrender the animals. At the sitting, Judge Cody expressed surprise that Rigney, was present in person before the court. The judge asked Rigneys solicitor how his client had managed to secure his freedom. PJ Rigney Rigneys solicitor responded that the High Court granted his release on foot of an application by Barry White SC. Judge Cody responded: It is quite unusual that a person would be remanded in custody pending sentence. Judge Cody next inquired if Rigney had complied with a previous court order which required him to sign over ownership of three dogs that were found at his property to the local authority or a rescue organisation. The solicitor said Rigney had been unable to do so as the three dogs had disappeared. Judge Cody then asked where the three dogs had disappeared to and whether Rigney had filed a complaint with gardai. The solicitor responded that Rigney had not alerted the gardai but had called Offaly County Council in the belief the council had seized the dogs. Solicitor Emily Mahon, acting on behalf of Offaly County Council, confirmed they had received such a call from Rigney but said the council had no knowledge of the matter. She said the council had not seized the dogs and had no knowledge as to their current whereabouts. The solicitor then requested that Mr Rigney be ordered to pay a fine of 3,600 and be disqualified for life from owning dogs. Rigneys solicitor argued that this sentence would be unduly harsh. He further claimed that the three dogs were Mr Rigneys elderly mothers pets and she had been consistently asking where her dogs were in the wake of their disappearance. Opposing a ban on keeping dogs he said Rigney lived in a rural area and needed dogs for protection and farming. He claimed that Mr Rigney was a man of limited means and as a result any fine would likely 'remain unpaid. Judge Cody responded that Rigney had a rental property from which he derived a rental income so this could be drawn upon to settle any court order fine. This rental was used to pay Rigneys significant debts defence replied. Judge Cody sentenced Mr Rigney to three months in jail, disqualified him from keeping dogs for life and ordered him to pay a fine of 3,600 to Offaly County Council. Rigney lodged an appeal to the sentence. PJ Rigney News in 90 Seconds - June 1st In October of 2021, Rigney was served with a closure notice alleged he had been illegally running a dog-breeding establishment, housing dogs in substandard accommodation, in a yard off Circular Road, in Daingean, Offaly. According to a closure order published by the Council on October 1st that year Mr Rigney was not registered to run such a facility. Outlining the grounds on which he considered Mr Rigney's operation "poses a serious and immediate threat to animal welfare", Offaly County Council Veterinary Inspector Aidan Grant wrote: "The premises in which the dogs are kept and management of same are far below required of a registered dog-breeding establishment. Mr. Rigney was subsequently convicted and fined in the District Court. He subsequently appealed that order but the order was upheld. Kinahan lieutenants partner remains in United Arab Emirates as he is extradited over murder and gangland charges The partner of senior Kinahan lieutenant Sean McGovern remains in Dubai under the watchful eye of his cartel associates, after the 39-year-old was extradited back to Ireland to face a murder and gangland charges. McGovern who survived being shot during the Regency Hotel attack in 2016 in which David Byrne was killed fled to Dubai in 2017 with innocent partner Anita Freeman, just months after the murder of Noel Duck Egg Kirwan. The couples extensively renovated home on Kildare Road in Crumlin was later seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and sold on to Dublin City Council. Anita Freeman is the partner of Sean McGovern However, sources informed the Sunday World yesterday that Freeman who has been in a relationship with McGovern since the two were teenagers remains in Dubai. Should she remain there, a source said McGovern will be able to arrange video calls to her on a once-a-week basis from the A5 landing in Portlaoise Prison. On the basis that she has no previous criminal convictions and is not suspected of involvement in her husbands alleged crimes, she would be accorded the status of a family member and would have the same entitlement to video visits as any other prisoners partner, the source said. Freeman, who has two children with McGovern and who has maintained a far lower profile than the likes of Daniel Kinahans partner, Caoimhe Robinson, has frequently returned to Ireland for visits since joining her exiled partner in 2017. Anita Freeman (right) with Liam Byrnes partner Simoan McEnroe She still has family in Dublin and sources believe it likely that she may return to the city in the near future to be close to her partner. Ahead of his trial on murder and gangland charges, McGovern is being kept on 23-hour lockdown in the States only maximum-security prison. He is being housed in a single cell on A5, where his neighbours include double murderer Youssef Palani and treble killer Andy Cash, who murdered his innocent siblings Lisa (18), Christy and Chelsea (both aged eight). There are eight cells on the landing, and it normally houses very disturbed individuals, the source said. But it is also the optimal location for someone with McGoverns risk profile. McGoverns former house, which was seized by CAB He is kept in his cell 23 hours a day and gets one hour exercise in the yard. Its referred to as a yard but it is more like a cage really, as it has advanced netting overhead, meaning nothing at all can be dropped in from above. McGoverns extradition this week is being seen as a major coup for the Gardai. He had been held in a prison in Dubai since his arrest last October and had launched a series of legal challenges to the extradition process. His original detention came after protracted consultation between the Gardai, Interpol and the police and justice authorities in Dubai and Ireland A European arrest warrant was issued in April 2022 by the High Court for McGovern to face criminal charges here. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates did not act on the warrant, but a formal request from the Department of Justice to their Dubai equivalent was later issued. Sean McGovern (right) with Liam Byrne McGoverns original arrest was seen by the Gardai as a test case for the planned arrest and eventual extradition of cartel leader Kinahan on criminal charges. On Wednesday, after flying out to Dubai on board an Irish Air Corps CASA aircraft, the Gardai finally got their man. He was transported back to Ireland on Thursday and formally arrested by police investigating the activities of the Kinahan crime gang when the aircraft landed at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. From there he was taken in a Garda convoy to the Courts of Criminal Justice in Dublin, where he appeared before the Special Criminal Court. Dressed in a grey T-shirt, grey tracksuit bottoms, white socks and black sliders, he spoke only once to confirm his name. Sean McGovern with David Byrne, who was killed in the Regency Hotel gun attack Detective Garda Sergeant Donal Daly gave evidence of arresting the accused for the purposes of charging him and explained that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) certified that he should be charged before the non-jury court. The defence counsel said at the outset of the hearing that they were reserving their position on the lawfulness of his arrest and the jurisdiction of the court. McGovern is accused of the feud murder of Noel Kirwan (62) at St Ronans Drive in Clondalkin, Dublin, on December 22, 2016. Sean MCGovern and Anita Freeman The grandfather, known as Duck Egg, was shot dead as he sat in his car with his partner in the driveway of her home. Mr Kirwan was not involved in the feud but was targeted after being spotted beside Gerard The Monk Hutch at a funeral. McGovern is also charged with enhancing the abilities of a crime gang to carry out that murder between the same dates within the State. The court heard that McGovern also faces two additional charges relating to a plot to murder James Mago Gately, an associate of the Hutch gang, more than eight years ago. Noel Duck Egg Kirwan (left) with Gerry The Monk Hutch He is charged with both directing a crime gang to carry out surveillance of Gately, and facilitating a criminal organisation relating to the conspiracy to murder Gately between October 17, 2015, and April 6, 2017. The maximum penalty on conviction for directing a crime gang is life imprisonment, while McGovern faces the mandatory life sentence if found guilty of Mr Kirwans murder. No application for bail was made as this can only be sought before the High Court on charges of murder or organised crime offences. Ms Justice Karen OConnor, presiding, remanded McGovern in custody and he is due to appear before the court again on Thursday next. Sean McGovern and Anita Freeman News in 90 Seconds - June 1st American was involved in a bitter dispute with his ex partner over their two daughters The self-declared suspect in the murder of farmer Michael Gaine made false allegations, gave untrustworthy testimony and is a person whose ability to determine fact from fiction is questionable, a US court found. The district court findings were made against failed asylum seeker and father-of-two Michael Kelley, who is originally from Waldo County, Maine in the US, during a bitter custody dispute with former partner Alicia Snow in 2009. Publicly available documents obtained by the Sunday World confirm the former US soldier made unsupported allegations against Ms Snow during the dispute of practising witchcraft on the couples children. Kelley, who has denied any involvement in Michael Gaines murder, was arrested on May 18, just over 36 hours after the victims body parts were discovered in slurry being spread on his farm. Mike Gaine went missing on March 20 He was later released without charge. Gardai believe Mr Gaine was dismembered after he was killed and that the body parts were dumped in a 50,000-gallon slurry tank on the property. As part of the garda investigation, a full background check is being carried out on Kelley, who had been living underground on Mr Gaines farm and working as a farmhand. Enquiries carried out by this newspaper have now established that Kelley is a father-of-two who was involved in a bitter dispute with his former partner Alicia Snow, which was ultimately decided in her favour by Maines Supreme Judicial Court in 2009. Legal documents outlined Michael Kelleys untrustworthy statements News in 90 Seconds - June 1st Records of this nature in the US are, unlike in Ireland, publicly available. According to court documents, Kelley and Ms Snow were involved in a romantic relationship and are the biological parents of two daughters. After they separated, Kelley brought a parental rights action. In 2006, a family law magistrate held a hearing and issued an order allocating shared parental rights between the parties, but stated in the event the parties are not able to agree, final decision-making is allocated to Ms Snow. The order also awarded primary residency to Ms Snow. The 2006 order included a written agreement which afforded reasonable rights of contact with the children and stipulated that Kelley would not pay child support. After the original order was made, the former couple maintained a cordial relationship. Gardai on site Ms Snow was able to attain a nursing degree and begin a relationship with a new partner. Ultimately, however, the situation began to deteriorate, culminating in a series of miscommunications between Kelleys wife and Ms Snow. After a disagreement over a brief trip to Chicago for the children, Kelley filed a motion to enforce the 2006 parental rights order which he alleged prevented Snow from sending the children out of state without his consent. Kelley also filed a motion for contempt, alleging that Ms Snow violated the 2006 order by taking the children to visit their grandfather in Chicago. The court held a hearing on all of the motions on January 14, 2009. After hearing testimony from Kelley, his then wife, Snow, and Snows father, the court made a number of findings of fact. These included: Kelleys allegation and fear that Snow intended to move out of state with the children was unfounded and his ability to determine fact from fiction is questionable. Kelleys testimony, in addition to that of his witness, is untrustworthy. Kelley is an inflexible parent who makes false allegations that Snow is a witch, and that she practices witchcraft on the children. Kelley refuses to take responsibility for his role in this conflict. Snow, meanwhile, was found by the court to be logical and rational and her abilities to act as an effective parent are far superior to those of Kelley. Mike Gaine captured on CCTV before he disappeared The court ordered that Snow have sole parental rights. In his appeal to the Supreme Judicial Court, Kelley argued that the District Court erred when it awarded sole parental rights to Ms Snow. But the Supreme Judicial Court found: After a review of the record, it is evident that the courts findings are supported by the record as a whole. Because there is competent evidence in the record to support the courts decision, and it is clear that the court considered the best interests of the children in its award of parental rights, the judgment must be affirmed. Mike Gaines wife and sister The investigation into the murder of Michael Gaine is now in its tenth week. The popular farmer vanished on March 20. Mr Kelley worked on Gaines farm for a number of years. Bomb squad called as device found on white Irish adult male Footage near to the scene at Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow, where a shooting incident has taken place. A man was declared dead at the scene last night following the incident at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow. A nine-year-old child also suffered a leg injury. Gardai were alerted to reports of shots being fired shortly after 6pm. A lone gunman is believed to have discharged a number of shots, but was later declared dead. A suspicious device was also found on the man, meaning the Army bomb squad needed to be called. A tourist from South Carolina, who was in the Fairgreen Shopping Centre with his partner, their three week old baby and his partner's mother at the time of the shooting, described how the shooter walked straight past him holding a gun. "My partner had gone up to the restrooms on the second floor of the shopping centre and she was nursing the baby so I went back downstairs to find my partner's mother to help her pay for something in Tesco," he recalled. "As I walked back up the stairs to the restrooms to wait for my partner, a white young man walked past me holding a gun. "I went straight up the stairs to quickly find my partner and she said she had just spoken to the shooter and he said to her 'you better leave now, it's going to get very loud soon'. My partner didn't realise it was a real gun, she thought it was a paintball gun or a toy gun. "I knew it was a real gun, so I got my partner and the baby and we ran to the security office which is across from the bathrooms. We banged on the door and begged and pleaded for them to let us into the office. The security guard opened the door and myself, my partner and baby were able to get inside to hide from the shooter and we started barricading the door. We then heard approximately five or six gun shots. "During the shooting, my partner's mother who was still downstairs, ran and dove behind the counter of the coffee shop in the centre of the Fairgreen, across from Tesco, to shelter from the gunshots. "Having a three-week-old baby with us made the situation a whole lot worse," added the man as he started to cry. "That was our main concern, keeping our baby alive. Knowing that we had a baby with us that's so young and so helpless was terrifying." As an American, the man said he is used to gun violence in America, but never expected to find himself in this situation in Ireland. He added that he is likely to never visit Ireland again because of what he witnessed. "I'm from America. My partner is currently living in Carlow and had our baby in Ireland so this is the last place I would expect to see something like this happen. In America, I have been robbed at gunpoint at the business I own, but I have never experienced anything quite like this. Honestly, I'm scared and disappointed that this could happen in a country like Ireland. "It absolutely makes me question if I ever want to come to Ireland again. I don't feel safe here. I actually just want to go home. "It was a miracle that no one else was killed or critically injured. " One shopper described the panic that ensued as shots rang out across the area. Dara Byrne had just left Fairgreen Shopping Centre, after going to Tesco, when she heard two loud bangs. Ms Byrne told the Irish Independent: Id literally walked out the front entrance of the shopping centre and was going across the crossing to my car when I heard a loud bang, like someone had dropped something really heavy. Then seconds later, there was another loud bang. People started screaming and running out of the shopping centre. Some people, staff from the shopping centre, were trying to get to those still inside. I saw some staff open emergency exits to let people out. Staff were running out, screaming and others were on their phones, crying. I just ran to my car. I went into autopilot and got out. I told myself, This is serious, people arent messing. I hope everyone is OK, I dont know what has happened. Im seeing reports online but all I can think is of the child who was injured and of my own little girl, that I am here with her tonight and Im going to hug her that bit tighter. I was going to take her shopping. Shes six years old but she didnt want to come and Im grateful she didnt and that I wasnt inside the building when this happened. If I had witnessed that, Id have struggled. But I still feel in shock and like Im not processing it yet. This isnt something that we expect in Carlow or in Ireland. I was very glad I wasnt inside. If Id left one minute later I dread to think. Fine Gael councillor Fergal Browne told the Irish Independent: The community is in shock at such a disturbance on a bank holiday Sunday. The town was busy. My friend was at the bottle bank and heard three gunshots go off. They thought it was fireworks. My thoughts are with anyone who witnessed this incident. I compliment the gardai and emergency services who rushed to this scene. We are still learning more, so I urge calm. A large cordon was last night put in place around the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow town. Gardai, ambulance and fire service were at the scene and a helicopter was hovering overhead. The wounded girls injuries are understood to be non-life-threatening. The cause of the injuries were unclear last night. No other injuries were reported. Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan said it was a shocking incident. My thoughts are with everyone affected by the shooting and the community and families impacted including those working at the scene, he said. I would appeal to anyone who has any information to speak to the gardai and help with their investigations in any way that they can. This is something we never want or expect to happen in our communities. Gun violence is very rare in Ireland, and I am determined that will remain the case. The area in Carlow is safe. We must now allow An Garda Siochana to investigate this incident fully. Carlow TD and junior health minister Jennifer Murnane OConnor wrote online: My thoughts are with all people involved in this incident especially those who were injured, and with our 999 Blue Light Services working at the scene. The scene is no longer active and has been secured by An Garda Siochana who have asked that people avoid the area to allow them to manage the incident. There is much speculation and fake information/news circulating on social media. Official updates will be provided by An Garda Siochana. A statement from An Garda Siochana said: A white Irish adult male is deceased at the scene. The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team has been requested to attend. A female juvenile received treatment from paramedics following the incident but did not require hospital care. News in 90 Seconds - June 1st President Trump earlier this year announced a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the US HOLLYWOOD star Jessica Chastain is set to irk Donald Trump by filming her new movie outside the US in Ireland. The Oscar-nominated actress is not only appearing in a film set in America but the cars used in her upcoming horror flick Grandmas House also have American number plates. Our picture shows the 48-year-old Californian on location on her Irish shoot in Dunboyne Co Meath, sporting dyed dark brown hair rather than her natural redhead. Shes seen cradling a teenage actress playing the role of Bela in the flick, surrounded by dozens of coloured balls. The star has been filming here for a couple of weeks, primarily around Dublin, especially indoors at Violet Hill in Killiney, and is due to wrap up on June 9. Jessica Chastain filming in Ireland News in 90 Seconds - May 31st The Rob Savage directed film also features Jay Duplass and is based on a script Nathan Elston adapted from Josh Malermans eponymous novel Incidents Around the House. The tale follows eight-year-old Bela, who loves her family, including mum and dad and Grandma Ruth, with all her heart. However, there is also Other Mommy, an otherworldly entity who always asks Bela if she can go inside her heart, with horrifying events starting to occur within the house. President Trump earlier this year announced a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the US, saying the American movie industry was dying a "very fast death" due to the incentives that other countries were offering to lure filmmakers. "This is a concerted effort by other nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda," Trump said on Truth Social. He added: "WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!" Chastain has starred in numerous hit films, including Zero Dark Thirsty, The Help and The Martian. She won an Oscar in 2022 for Best Actress in the Eyes of Tammy Faye, a true story about the controversial Americans televangelism career. The vegan is married to Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo, an Italian count of the Passi de Preposulo noble family, who is an executive for the fashion brand Moncler. The couple have a young son and daughter and live in New York. The actress has worked in Ireland on multiple occasions, including filming the movie Memory and the film Miss Julie. She previously spoke of her love for Guinness and her habit of stocking up on a specific snack when traveling, while in Ireland. Partly of Irish descent, Chastain heard that she would find many more redheads in Ireland but was disappointed when she finally made the trip. "When I went there first, I was expecting to see like, a sea of redheads, and there weren't half as many as I'd hoped," she recalled. While filming Miss Julie in Co Fermanagh she was also taken aback by the weather. I love the people there, she exclaimed. And I bought so much incredible crystal. But the weather? In winter? Holy smokes, its cold. Philanthropist and self-described serial entrepreneur Wayne Wright left school in sixth form. But that did not stop him and his late wife Chloe from building empires, including New Zealands largest early childhood education provider Best Start. Today, Wright has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education and philanthropy. His appointment comes after Chloe - who died in September 2023 - was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to philanthropy, education and health in 2020. Wright said it was not the first time he received the offer of the honour. He said he turned it down about six or seven years ago because he hoped to be made a Sir. I thought that once you accepted it at one level, that was the end of the story. After finding out that was not the case, he admitted turning it down was probably a mistake. Wright moved from his first business as a lawn mowing contractor, to a kiwifruit orchard business, to a retaining wall construction company with offices across the US and Mexico, and to a telecommunications company in Alabama. He and Chloe co-established Best Start Educare in Tauranga in 1996 which grew to become New Zealands largest early childhood education provider. It has about 270 centres nationally and more than 4000 staff caring for about 20,000 preschool children. Wright invested more than $60m in the early childhood education sector. Wayne and Chloe Wright were married for 57 years. They have five children and 11 grandchildren. Photo / Brydie Thompson In 2014, he and Chloe established the Wright Family Foundation which has distributed $50m of charitable funds to support education, arts, and social programmes in 10 years. Asked about his greatest successes, Wright said he was building a crib wall in his early 20s in Lower Hutt. An American stopped and told him: This will go well in America. So, I went over to America and I built a plant, made the blocks, built the walls, trained people, commuted backwards and forwards ... Wright said it turned into quite a big operation across the US, and after getting a big contract in Texas, he suggested to Chloe they move there. Chloe agreed and did two degrees at the University of Texas. The couple bought a house and lived there for seven years while expanding the company. When she graduated, we decided to come home. Philanthropist and entrepreneur Wayne Wright has been appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education and philanthropy. Photo / Brydie Thompson Wright was approached for help by a friend whose wife owned a Tauranga childcare centre. He eventually offered to buy it. From that one centre 30 years ago, we now have 270 of them around the country ... Best Start was converted into a charity in 2015 when owners the Wright Family Trust sold the business to the Wright Family Foundation. Wright said Best Start was probably the most satisfying of all his projects. Wayne and Chloe Wright pictured in 2017. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Wright said he met the very talented Chloe at the Griffins biscuits factory in Lower Hutt when he was 19 and working in its accounting office. I was wandering through the factory one day and I was watching these women packing these biscuits ... The couple were married for 57 years and had five children and 11 grandchildren. Were a pretty tight family - we look after each other and she was the driver, of course, because she made everything happen and I just made money. Wright said he took each family subtribe on holiday every two years anywhere in the world. His next trip was to Singapore in June. Wright said he bought the Paeroa Racecourse a couple of years ago and was redeveloping it. Its going to be a comprehensive shopping centre, motel, housing, apartments ... various other attractions for the region in terms of playgrounds and Chloe designed a chapel which were putting up there amongst the trees looking over the whole development. We might make some money out of it but thats not the driver - the driver is to make a difference in Paeroa. He was also working on a housing project in Warkworth, north of Auckland. Wright - who received the Ernst and Young Master Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2015 - said he planned to retire after finishing the Warkworth and Paeroa projects, as well as a few others by the end of the decade. A new leather alternative aims to find new uses for the over 50,000 tonnes of kiwifruit rejected in New Zealand each year. Shelley Houston founded KiwiLeather Innovations four years ago. Then, based in Papamoa, her son had been bringing home an abundance of waste or rejected kiwifruit from his work at one of the orchards. She was surprised to learn just how much kiwifruit waste there was much of this is used by farmers to help feed stock. I used to be quite a keen baker, but I found theres only so much baking you can do with kiwifruit. She set about trying to develop new alternatives for the waste byproduct. Id seen overseas in Europe that they make a lot of biomaterials and things like that out of mangoes and apples and grapes, so I thought Id give it a go with kiwifruit. Houston said the resulting prototype had worked better than she thought it would. Shes worked with Scion Research to perfect the formula and create a more viable product. The kiwifruit leather is plant-based and plastic-free. She said many people had remarked that the alternative smells just like leather. Its durability means it can be used as a leather alternative. The plant and bio-based leather alternative can be used for many different products. Houston said they were targeting the automotive sector, with companies like Tesla using cactus leather, and furniture manufacturers. Theres just not enough product out there, enough bio-materials for these companies to be able to create that sort of thing. Houston has partnered with a number of packhouses that provided her with kiwifruit that they couldnt use. She said it was good to give growers more value while repurposing the byproduct. Houston said people could expect to see prototype products released over the next few months. - RNZ Winning more than $30,000 will have three Bay of Plenty Lotto players jumping for joy or perhaps partying like kings this holiday weekend. A Taupo player also won the $30,000 in Lottos Second Division draw on Saturday night. One ticket was sold at Bayfair Lotto in Mount Maunganui and the rest were bought on MyLotto in Tauranga, Rotorua and Taupo. The four winners will each get $30,746. Lotto New Zealand advised anyone who bought their tickets from Bayfair Lotto or MyLotto to check it as soon as possible. Other winners in the Second Division draw were from Auckland, Hamilton, Patea, Feilding and Wellington. Meanwhile, two Aucklanders won $500,000 each in the First Division draw. The winning tickets were sold at Woolworths Manukau and PaknSave Manukau in Auckland. The $10 million Lotto Powerball jackpot was not struck and will roll over to $12m for Wednesdays draw. A Strike player in Dannevirke will also be celebrating after bringing in $400,000 with Strike Four, with the winning ticket bought at New World Dannevirke. The wins come after a Porirua grandmother won a life-changing $17.2m in Lotto Powerball earlier this week. Two people were hospitalized after a home caught fire at 433 S. Alvord Street in Syracuse, Sunday, June 1, 2025. Syracuse Fire Department Syracuse, N.Y. Two people were hospitalized Sunday after they were trapped on the roof of their house when the home caught fire. One person jumped off the roof to escape the fire. By Nora Mishanec | Times Union, Albany, N.Y. (TNS) Albany, N.Y. County leaders in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley are pushing back against the Trump administrations claims that they are among 15 New York counties considered to be defying federal immigration law. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a list of cities, counties and states it said were deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws. The department said it would be formally notifying these jurisdictions of their non-compliance with federal statutes. Several Capital Region and Hudson Valley communities were on the list, including Albany, Saratoga, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Putnam and Ulster counties. The cities of Albany, Kingston, Hudson, New Paltz, Poughkeepsie and Newburgh were also included. Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger and Kingston Mayor Steve Noble fired back at the Trump administrations claims in a joint statement Friday, noting that they are complying with federal laws and have not been contacted by federal immigration authorities. We want to assure our residents that Ulster County and the city of Kingston are fully compliant with all federal laws, and any claim to the contrary is incorrect, Metzger and Noble said. We have not received any official communication from the federal government regarding the reasons our county and city and neighboring counties and cities appear on this list. Poughkeepsie has also not received notification from DHS or the White House about this issue, according to City Administrator Joseph Donat. The city of Albany, which is a sanctuary city, also faced pushback and threats of funding cuts from the U.S. Department of Justice back in 2018 over its policies. A spokesperson for Mayor Kathy Sheehan said the city follows federal law and the city believes it is being targeted for refusing to become an extension of ICE. A sanctuary city designation is a legal fiction made up by the extreme right as a fear tactic to demonize and frighten the immigrant community, David Galin, chief of staff for Sheehan, said. We do not ask about someones immigration status when they call 911 because they are the victim of a crime or when they access other city services a policy supported by the International Association of Chiefs of Police for nearly ten years. Our city is a welcoming community and we will continue to do so, regardless of Donald Trumps inability or unwillingness to follow the law. Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus was particularly disturbed to see his community on the list, especially since Orange and Rockland counties had repeatedly stressed in public statements two years ago that they were not sanctuary counties. Orange and Rockland counties sued New York City to try to stop the relocation of migrants upstate. Orange County, along with a number of other counties, was wrongfully added to this list, Neuhaus said in a statement Friday afternoon. We believe that that is going to be corrected in the near future. Orange County, as well as counties like Duchess, Putnam, and Rockland are not sanctuary counties. He continued: I have been in contact with my fellow county executives as well as our New York State Association of Counties, and we are going to get this rectified. We believe its the federal government that made the incorrect identification. Albany County officials were also displeased to be included on the list. Albany County is not a sanctuary jurisdiction and the County Executive (Daniel P. McCoy) has always said that, Mary Rozak, Albany County spokeswoman, said in a statement. We are in compliance with Federal immigration laws. We are in the process of determining who we need to reach out to in order to change this designation. Officials representing Saratoga County and Warren County, neither of which is designated as a sanctuary county, joined the chorus pushing back against their inclusion on the list. Saratoga County has never self-identified as a Sanctuary County and we can only assume an error has been made within the system, the county wrote in a statement on Facebook Friday. We are immediately contacting federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, to determine how Saratoga County was wrongly placed on the DHS Sanctuary Jurisdiction List. We will do everything necessary to quickly resolve this error, permanently remove Saratoga Countys designation as a Sanctuary County and ensure all federal funding earned by the County is not impacted. Warren County Administrator John Taflan said much like Saratoga County, Warren County has taken no actions to be considered a sanctuary county. Multiple county agencies are working with federal officials to correct this error to ensure the federal funding that Warren County receives will not be impacted, he said in a statement. Asked Friday about the criteria for inclusion on the list, a DHS spokesperson said it was based on numerous factors, including whether a community had identified itself as a sanctuary or had failed to comply with federal laws. The list is actively reviewed, will be regularly updated, and can be changed at any time, the spokesperson said. President Trump and Secretary (Kristi) Noem have been clear: Sanctuary jurisdictions should immediately cease violation of federal law and cooperate with law enforcement. The reaction comes amid the Trump administrations ongoing immigration crackdown, and the U.S. Department of Justices recent lawsuit against four New Jersey cities that have sanctuary policies that federal attorneys said were unlawfully shielding immigrants. The administration has revoked humanitarian protections granted to immigrants from countries facing political turmoil and attempted to block Harvard University from enrolling foreign students. In a statement accompanying the list of apparent sanctuary jurisdictions, DHS said it intended to identify sanctuary jurisdictions, which are determined by factors like compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions, and legal protections for illegal aliens. Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril, Trump officials wrote. It was unclear on Friday what consequences the cities and counties on the list would face. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has been investigating sanctuary policies across the U.S. for several months. The congressional committee in April asked Gov. Kathy Hochul to testify about a 2017 executive order that remains in effect and prohibits state employees from providing information to federal authorities for civil immigration enforcement proceedings. Times Union reporters Lana Bellamy and Steve Hughes contributed to this report. ----- 2025 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. MrsCarEnthusiast Newbie Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Trissur distric Posts: 5 Thanked: 877 Times The nagging rattle : A Honda City owner's call for help Usually, when my husband says something is wrong with the car, I dismiss it as a figment of his imagination. But, unfortunately, this noise is very much real. Even I agreed that I could hear it. But, we did not agree on where the sound came from. For me, it seemed to be arising from somewhere behind the AC and stereo, the front middle portion of the dashboard; whereas he insisted that it was coming from somewhere from the side of the driver's seat door. To prove his point, he tried stopping the car; opening and shutting the door again; and rejoiced when the noise stopped for twenty seconds. He had just started bragging about his discovery of the malfunctioning door, when the mischievous Baby started rattling again, thus, disproving his theory. Well, now I've gotten used to the sound. Especially in Kerala's rain, it is not really audible. But, nothing will console my Mr Car Enthusiast. He shared this post with me. And I agree, rattles seriously test our marriage. Today, the car servicing guy also told him that the sound was coming from somewhere in the front ( agreeing with my observation; and not his right seat door theory). So, now my Mr Car Enthusiast is worried that maybe his ear also needs to be tested. The car servicing guy also reiterated the same advise that Mr Car Enthusiast had read in 100 team bhp posts last week : it is difficult to diagnose such minor noises; and it is better to not do anything at present; and instead wait till the sound becomes bigger and more annoying; and finally, some actual problem arises. His previous car, the ten-year old Tata Manza, had never disrupted his sleep so much. I mean, not that it didn't have its own set of problems right from the day it was purchased: the window pane would get stuck midway (when it was raining outside); the AC would stop working (whenever it was hot outside); its engine once suddenly fell dead (to it's credit, this happened right in front of a car repair shop). It was finally when the brake started misbehaving while going downhill steep roads (on one of our trips to Munnar), that we decided to let go of the Manza to make way for our new baby Honda. But the Manza's issues were always diagnosable; and so he could sleep in peace. On the other hand, the Baby Honda's low decibel rattles have driven my hubby insane. So, now Mr Car enthusiast is thinking of selling off our baby Honda. A call for help to all wise team BHPians ( especially owners of Honda vehicles). If you have any experiences with such squeaky rattling noises, kindly enlighten us with your pearls of wisdom. My husband, Mr Car Enthusiast, has been suffering silently for many sleepless nights. The reason: our almost-four year old baby Honda has had a rattling sound for the past two weeks, which is difficult to localise and diagnose.Usually, when my husband says something is wrong with the car, I dismiss it as a figment of his imagination. But, unfortunately, this noise is very much real. Even I agreed that I could hear it. But, we did not agree on where the sound came from. For me, it seemed to be arising from somewhere behind the AC and stereo, the front middle portion of the dashboard; whereas he insisted that it was coming from somewhere from the side of the driver's seat door.To prove his point, he tried stopping the car; opening and shutting the door again; and rejoiced when the noise stopped for twenty seconds. He had just started bragging about his discovery of the malfunctioning door, when the mischievous Baby started rattling again, thus, disproving his theory.Well, now I've gotten used to the sound. Especially in Kerala's rain, it is not really audible. But, nothing will console my Mr Car Enthusiast.He shared this post with me. https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...ml#post4762858 (Is your car rattle-free?) And I agree, rattles seriously test our marriage.Today, the car servicing guy also told him that the sound was coming from somewhere in the front ( agreeing with my observation; and not his right seat door theory). So, now my Mr Car Enthusiast is worried that maybe his ear also needs to be tested.The car servicing guy also reiterated the same advise that Mr Car Enthusiast had read in 100 team bhp posts last week : it is difficult to diagnose such minor noises; and it is better to not do anything at present; and instead wait till the sound becomes bigger and more annoying; and finally, some actual problem arises.His previous car, the ten-year old Tata Manza, had never disrupted his sleep so much. I mean, not that it didn't have its own set of problems right from the day it was purchased: the window pane would get stuck midway (when it was raining outside); the AC would stop working (whenever it was hot outside); its engine once suddenly fell dead (to it's credit, this happened right in front of a car repair shop). It was finally when the brake started misbehaving while going downhill steep roads (on one of our trips to Munnar), that we decided to let go of the Manza to make way for our new baby Honda.But the Manza's issues were always diagnosable; and so he could sleep in peace. On the other hand, the Baby Honda's low decibel rattles have driven my hubby insane.So, now Mr Car enthusiast is thinking of selling off our baby Honda.A call for help to all wise team BHPians ( especially owners of Honda vehicles). If you have any experiences with such squeaky rattling noises, kindly enlighten us with your pearls of wisdom. TL;DR: Smartphone users of Gmail are about to see a new layer of GenAI woven directly into their inboxes. Google has begun rolling out automatic AI-generated summaries for emails, a move that shifts the company's Gemini assistant from an optional tool to a more visible, default feature for many account holders. Until now, users seeking a quick overview of a lengthy email thread or a message with multiple replies had to tap a "Summarize this email" button to prompt Gemini to generate a summary. That step is no longer necessary. The Gmail app for Android and iPhone will now automatically display a summary card at the top of certain emails, with Gemini deciding when it might be helpful typically for longer conversations or threads with several responses. These summaries, presented as concise bullet points, update dynamically as new replies are added to the conversation. The goal is to keep users informed without requiring them to scroll through the entire thread. The feature is initially rolling out to Google Workspace customers, Google One AI Premium subscribers, and those with Gemini Education add-ons. For now it's also limited to emails written in English and is only available on mobile. Google says the rollout will take about two weeks. There is no word yet on when, or if, the feature will expand to standard Gmail accounts or desktop users, though the company's recent moves suggest a broader rollout may be on the horizon. For those who prefer to manage their messages without AI assistance, there is an opt-out though it comes with trade-offs. Disabling automatic summaries requires turning off Gmail's "smart features," which also deactivates other tools such as high-priority notifications, package tracking, Smart Compose, and Smart Reply. Even with smart features turned off, users can still manually request a summary when needed. The tech behind these summaries draws on advances in large language models, which also power chatbots and other AI assistants. Conversely, Google would be feeding your email text into their LLMs for further training. Google's push to make AI summaries a core part of the Gmail experience reflects a broader trend across its products. The tech behind these summaries draws on advances in large language models, which also power chatbots and other AI assistants. Conversely, Google would be feeding your email text into their LLMs for further training. Summarization, in particular, is seen as a practical application of GenAI, especially for users who frequently deal with long or complex email threads. While the feature promises to save time and help users quickly identify key points in their inboxes, it also raises questions about the balance between convenience and control. Some may appreciate the streamlined experience, while others might find the automatic summaries intrusive or unnecessary, especially for shorter messages. For now, Google is betting that most will welcome the change as it continues to make AI an increasingly central part of the Gmail experience. Myanmar junta extends ceasefire again after quake Yangon, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2025 Myanmar's junta has extended a post-earthquake truce, after the expiry of a previous humanitarian ceasefire it was accused of flouting with a continued campaign of air strikes. The junta initially declared a truce in the many-sided civil war after a huge quake in late March killed nearly 3,800 people and left tens of thousands homeless. The truce has been extended before, although conflict monitors say fighting has continued, including regular air strikes. A statement from the junta information team on Saturday said there would be an extension of the armistice -- which expired May 31 -- until June 30. This would "facilitate rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in earthquake-affected areas", it said in the statement. It added that the state was "intensively engaging in reconstruction of damaged government offices and departments, public residences and transport facilities". The ceasefire would also allow the country to hold "a free and fair multi-party democracy general election", according to the statement. The country's junta chief said earlier this year that a long-promised election will be held by January, the first in the war-torn nation since the military staged a coup in 2021. In the statement, the military also warned it would still strike back against any offensives by the array of ethnic armed groups and anti-coup fighters. The announcement comes after Malaysian foreign minister Mohamad Hasan used a regional meeting last week to call for the extension and expansion of a ceasefire "beyond the currently affected zones". Malaysia currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The bloc has led so far fruitless diplomatic efforts to end Myanmar's conflict since the junta deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. When Robert Rule learned that a veteran from Butte jumped to his death from an interstate overpass in Helena in 2020, he said he fell to his knees and asked God for guidance. Nearly 4 1/2 years later, Rule, executive director of the Center for Warriors Foundation, stood in Memorial Park in Helena to honor the veteran and give family members first-ever pins and a scholarship to the man's niece. Over 60 people gathered Monday in Helena to honor veterans for Memorial Day in the second annual service organized by the Center for Warriors Foundation, an East Helena-based Christian nonprofit organization established in 2006 aimed at supporting veterans and their families experiencing unexpected circumstances due to PTSD. The event at Memorial Park honored a Butte native Marine, Neil Ray Ouellette, who took his own life on Oct 8, 2020, by jumping off the Prospect Avenue overpass in Helena onto Interstate 15. He was 50. The foundation has created a Green Star Family Foundation and awarded family member Chloe Michelle Rowling the very first Green Star Scholarship in the United States. It also awarded every family member the Green Star Lapel Pin, which event organizers said was another first. It also awarded the family the very first Eternal Service Medal in the United States. Ouellette was a Marine deployed to Iraq after he was stationed in Twentynine Palms, California. He graduated from Butte High in 1987, according to an obituary published in 2020 by Duggan Dolan Mortuary. He served during Operation Desert Storm, where he received several medals, badges and commendations, but suffered personal losses and struggled to recover from friendly fire and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ouellette was honorably discharged and joined the Reserves. Later, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri, owned a landscaping and contracting business and faced new challenges that intrigued him. "He would help anyone that needed help, whether it be clothes, food, money or a broken sump pump in the middle of the night. His smile showed his pride in doing for others. His willingness to help people and acts of kindness were most apparent when he went to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana. His generosity to help others in need was ongoing," the obituary said. Rule said he did not know Ouellette personally until the ceremony May 26. "That overpass right next to the Walmart was where he jumped and when I read about that I hit my knees and asked God to break my heart and help me understand what they've gone through," Rule said. "I didn't know him at all. I called up the mortuary in Butte and they gave me his sister's number. She called me and since then the things she told me through the conversations back and forth, I feel like I've known him all my life." The foundation gave a $3,000 scholarship to his niece, who Rule said was close with Ouellette after he spoke with the decedent's sister. The Eternal Service Medal was designed along the same lines as a Purple Heart, Rule added. The white in the middle of the heart stood for the pureness of the recipient's service to their country, while the red lightning bolt stood for the bloodshed of that ended their life, he said. The Green Star Pin was designed after the Gold Star. The scholarship given to Ouellette's niece would be enough to cover expenses for trade school, but Rule said if the recipient of the scholarship wanted to go through college they just needed to let him know and they would find a way to cover it. To qualify for the scholarship, medal and pin, an applicant must go through a seven-step process that includes providing documentation confirming the cause of death of the veteran was suicide, military service documentation, relationship to the decedent, support services connections, review and approval and more. The Center for Warriors Foundation is an umbrella foundation with many arms that are for outreach to veterans, including the Montana Veteran Bow Hunters Association and Freedom Warriors Outdoors, and aims to have more options this year, Rule said. "We deal with the moral injury first. So, what we're doing is creating programs that either do not exist out there or programs that do not exist the same way we need them to," he said. "We reach their souls to heal their moral injury." The "moral injury" was the veteran's soul, according to Rule. Rule said he understood what veterans struggling with suicidal ideations were going through and never felt more "called to do something" in his life. He said the call was from God and he felt it was something that needed to and should be done to help support veterans reintegrating into society and heal their minds, bodies and souls. Key climate target of airline decarbonisation 'in peril': IATA New Delhi, June 1 (AFP) Jun 01, 2025 The airline industry's flagship goal of decarbonising by 2050 is now "in peril" due to climate-sceptic policies, including those of US President Donald Trump, the leading airline association IATA warned on Sunday. The emergence of leaders favouring fossil fuels and recent regulatory rollbacks are "obviously a setback... it does imperil success on the 2050 horizon", Marie Owens Thomsen, the International Air Transport Association's senior vice president for sustainability, told reporters. "But I don't think it's going to halt or reverse progress. I think it will just slow progress," she said at the IATA annual industry conference in India. Trump's Republican administration is supporting the development of fossil fuels in contrast to his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, who had massively supported the production of renewable aviation fuels through tax credits. UN aviation agency members, from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), have set the year 2050 as their goal for achieving net-zero carbon emissions for air travel -- an industry often criticised for its outsized role in climate change. - 'Entirely achievable' - The air transportation industry has faced growing pressure to deal with its contribution to the climate crisis. Currently responsible for 2.5 percent to three percent of global CO2 emissions, the sector's switch to renewable fuels is proving difficult, even if the aeronautics industry and energy companies have been seeking progress. To achieve net-zero emissions, airlines rely on non-fossil sources known as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). However, SAF biofuels are still three to four times more expensive than petroleum-based jet fuel. "Another problem, which is related, is the fact that oil is so cheap," Owens Thomsen said. "I think that also diminishes the sense of urgency that people have." A barrel of Brent North Sea crude, the international benchmark, stands below $65 as a result of Trump's tariffs, his call to "drill baby drill" and especially a decision by OPEC+ to hike crude output quotas. This represents an immediate boon for airlines, whose fuel costs represent between a quarter and a third of operating expenses. SAF is seen as a crucial ingredient in hitting emissions targets. The biofuel produces lower carbon emissions than traditional jet fuel and is made from plant and animal materials such as cooking oil and fat. European Union rules require carriers to include two percent of SAF in their fuel mix starting this year, rising to six percent in 2030 before soaring to 70 percent from 2050. Owens Thomsen estimated on Sunday that $4.7 trillion in investment is needed to establish SAF sectors capable of meeting the needs of air transport by 2050. "It is entirely achievable," she said, adding that the raw materials and technology already exist and simply need to be developed. "The money involved is very comparable to the money that was involved in creating the previous new energy markets, notably obviously wind and solar," she said. That money could be found just by stopping subsidies to oil producers, she said. "The world is subsidising large oil companies to the height of $1 trillion per year," she said. "With that money, if it were redirected in its totality, we could solve our energy transition in less than five years." IATA also indicated on Sunday that it expects global SAF production to double this year compared with 2024 to 2.5 billion litres -- slightly down from its previous projections of 2.7 billion litres. "This represents only 0.7 percent of total aviation needs," IATA Director General Willie Walsh said. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice British-French author Philippe Sands has said he was told it is unacceptable to read the work of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy amid Russias invasion of Ukraine. Sands is a lawyer and the author of bestselling books including The Ratline and The Last Colony. In 2016, his memoir East West Street: On the Origins of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity won the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. The 64-year-old appeared on a panel at the 2025 Hay Festival, which has partnered with The Independent for a second year. He was joined by Swedish philanthropist Sigrid Rausing, academic Adam Rutherford, and The Independents chief international correspondent Bel Trew. Responding to Rausings concerns over how far Ukraine is going to go in retaliating against the Russian invasion, Sands said: Ive got no objection to that. Ive got no objection to them targeting Russian bridges. He continued: The issue Ive found in Kyiv, and in other places in Ukraine, is I want to read a short story by Tolstoy and Im told I cant do that because its unacceptable. Russian novelist Tolstoy, who died in 1910, was the author of seminal books including War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1878). The latter has been the subject of numerous film adaptations, including a critically acclaimed version starring Greta Garbo in 1935, and Joe Wrights 2012 adaptation starring Keira Knightley. Its an issue right now because [Ukrainians] are feeling very beleaguered, said Sands. On the other hand, there are people who say, No, absolutely there are many good Russian writers, and many good Russian people... so that is complex. He added: But in terms of going into the Russian side, absolutely. [Ukraine have] got to defend themselves. ( AFP/Getty ) The discussion came in light of the news that at least seven people had been killed and dozens more injured when bridges collapsed in separate incidents across Russia. Moscow Railways initially blamed the collapse in the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, on illegal interference in the operation of transport, in a likely reference to Ukrainian saboteurs, but its Telegram post was later removed. Prominent Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov, who uses the name War Gonzo, called it sabotage. Neither report could be independently verified. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. A second bridge collapsed hours later when a freight train was crossing a bridge in the Kursk region early on Sunday (1 June), according to a local governor, causing a similar derailment. Russias Investigative Committee said on Sunday that the two bridges had collapsed following explosions. In a third, separate incident, a prominent Ukrainian partisan group claimed responsibility for an attack on relay systems in the occupied Donetsk province, which brought a new Russian rail line to a standstill. Russia has been hit by dozens of sabotage attacks since Moscow launched its offensive against Ukraine in 2022, with many of them targeting its vast rail network. Kyiv said railways are targeted because they are used to transport troops and weapons for deployment in the war. You can follow updates on the Ukraine-Russia war in The Independents live blog. At another point during the panel discussion, Sands, a visiting professor of law at Harvard Law School, said that reports of rampant antisemitism at the prestigious university are complete nonsense. Get the inside track from Roisin O'Connor with our free weekly music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Get our free music newsletter Now Hear This Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Sir Brian May has shared a rare insight into how his father helped map out Queens first tour of Europe in 1974. The Queen icon and world-famous guitarist has recently had the history of Queen celebrated at the Polar Music Prize ceremony at Stockholm's Grand Hotel, Sweden (May 27) where he and his bandmate Roger Taylor received the 2025 Polar Music Prize. Before the ceremony May reminisced about how his father had once drawn a detailed map of Europe to commemorate the bands first extensive tour of the continent. On Instagram, the 77-year-old wrote: My Dad's supportive handiwork for our first Queen tour of Europe... 1974!!! As honoured in Stockholm last night. Love to all - Bri. The illustration features all the dates of the tour, which lasted from 22 November until 14 December 1974, and where each leg of their journey would be stopping. The countries the band visited on the tour included Sweden, Finland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Spain. The heartfelt post has since received more than 50,000 likes with many fans telling May how touched they were by his fathers handiwork. I love how neatly this is executed! I think your Dad was a lot like mine, one fan wrote. Another added: Wow, this is awesome! Look at the details and everything is so neatly done and precise. Great memories and lovely treasure. A third said: Oh wow thats brilliant - it reminds me of a school project I did on the subject of something I loved so I chose Queen. I wrote about them and drew maps to illustrate their early tours too! Meanwhile, a fourth person remarked: How precisely and esthetically done. What a precious memory. British rock band Queen is awarded the 2025 Polar Music Prize, which is received by guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor, at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden May 27 ( via REUTERS ) On receiving the award, Taylor, 75, said: When we started our band we had ambitions, but never dreamed of the journey that was to follow. We were fortunate in the fact that our four wildly different personalities came together to achieve a wonderful chemistry. The Polar Music Prize is exceptional in the fact that unlike other awards it recognises the entirety of an artists career. What an honour to be included in the glittering cavalcade of previous laureates. True Olympian company indeed. We are so proud to be the recipients of this incredibly prestigious award. May, 77, added: In this special moment, I contemplate how that younger Brian May in 1974 would have felt if he knew that we would be living this kind of dream 50 years in the future. The award was created by Abbas manager Stig Anderson in 1989. It annually recognises the careers of one contemporary musician and one classical musician. Previous winners include Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Elton John and Bob Dylan. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Summer is here, bringing with it sun, sea, sand, and good times if you can afford it. The pressure is on more than ever in the summer to say yes to that group vacation at a glamorous overseas location, the festival that will set you back hundreds of dollars, or a weekend in whatever is your towns nearest version of the Hamptons. Many Americans are struggling with the cost of living. This year, about a quarter of Americans (24 percent) will not have a vacation because of the cost, according to a recent survey. Of those who are planning to travel this summer, 29 percent said they will take on debt as a result, the survey by financial-comparison website Bankrate found. The latter is terrifying to former Wall Street trader-turned personal finance guru Vivian Tu, better known as YourRichBff, who advises her millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram. It might be amazing to go on that trip today, and you might have so much fun, 31-year-old Tu told The Independent. But how are you going to feel when you spend the next two years paying for a vacation that lasted seven days? I think that's a pretty sobering question. open image in gallery About a quarter of Americans (24 percent) will not have a vacation because of the cost, according to a recent survey, and of those who are planning to travel this summer, 29 percent said they will take on debt as a result. ( Getty/iStock ) Navigating the wealth gap with rich friends when you are not making anywhere near the same salary is awkward, uncomfortable, and seems to only be getting harder thanks to social media. Sam, 28, is originally from East Texas and now lives in Los Angeles. I'm a first generation college student, low income and trans, Sam, who attended an elite college on a diversity scholarship and asked to only be identified with their first name, told The Independent. In just about all of my friendships, there's a wealth gap and that pretty much started in undergrad. They make approximately $48,000 after taxes working as a guidance counselor at a California university and feel isolated by the wealth gap in their friendship group. I'm coming into this elite college straight off of food stamps and all that stuff, Sam said. Most people's families [at college] were upper-middle class to rich. One of the people I know, his family owns a fleet of private jets. So coming from a rural area, and then being put into that was kind of weird. Sam said summers were particularly bad, and that trend has continued post-college. Everyone I know was going on these big vacations and all these concerts, they said. I wasn't even able to go to a concert until my first year of undergrad. I've never even left the United States for a trip. Sam doesnt get invited on vacations by their wealthier friends. It's probably because they know that I can't afford it, Sam said. Not once have I ever been invited on any of these trips. I always get the photos. I always see the Instagram posts. It does make me feel left out, Sam added. Personal finance expert Tu says that social media also has a lot to answer for. It just starts to set an incredibly unrealistic expectation of how often we should be traveling, how much we should be spending, and how frequently we should be doing all of that, she told The Independent. Sam relates and said that social media has become a space for people to get Instagram likes and show off their experiences to others. I think that's just a really dangerous situation for people who are financially vulnerable, Sam said. open image in gallery Navigating the wealth gap with rich friends when you are not making anywhere near the same salary is awkward, uncomfortable, and seems to only be getting harder thanks to social media. ( Getty Images/iStockphoto ) We're so desperate to be a part of culture, to be a part of the big moment. You want to have that story that everyone else hasand you're literally borrowing thousands of dollars to sit in an uncomfortable stadium to do it because your friends are doing it, or because you're missing out. That feeling of disconnect is similar for 32-year-old Michelle, who lives in Nashville and works as a communications and events manager for a non-profit. Michelle, who makes around $65,000, and her boyfriend had a baby boy in December and can no longer keep up with the spending habits of their wealthier friends. They just so frivolously spend money like, they'll randomly buy a new car, or jet skis or a brand new boat, Michelle told The Independent. Its just really mentally tapped to try to appear like I can keep up with them. Before she had the baby, Michelle said the group went on a $2,000 trip to Disney World that she couldnt afford. When I first started being exposed to this friend group, I would push my bank account, and I would really push my limits just so that I could hang out, she said. And it really kind of messed me up. It maxed out one of my credit cards. Since having a baby, priorities have changed. I am trying to figure out how to make sure I can get formula for my baby, and make food at home. I don't want to go out to eat every single time that we hang out, she said. Every single month our bank account, it's just like we're at like the bottom. So it's very much like paycheck to paycheck, she added. open image in gallery Destination weddings can be costly. In 2024, 18 percent of couples hosted a destination ceremony abroad, according to The Knot s 2025 wedding survey. ( Alamy/PA ) Her boyfriend was once a high earner but he lost his job in the last year. He is now getting back on his feet and working again, but money has occasionally become a source of tension in the relationship, Michelle said. We've had a lot of fights this year about money, and that has limited what we're going to do this summer. The expense of weddings has also become a bone of contention, particularly if the nuptials involve travel. In 2024, 18 percent of couples hosting a destination ceremony abroad, according to The Knots 2025 wedding survey. Michelle was recently a bridesmaid for two close friends, with one wedding in Floridas Key West and another in upstate New York, setting her back at least $3,000 per wedding, including travel and accommodation. I would do it a million times over for those girls, but it really does push your budget. The new mom says that financial stress has been impacting her mental health, a trend more therapists are noticing with patients. People may not come to see me based on these feelings, but they most certainly come up in conversation, said Aja Evans, a therapist who specializes in financial therapy. Comparison and pressure to keep up with friends is very common and unfortunately tends to skew how people look at themselves and their finances. Evans advocates being honest with friends about your financial situation, which can be a way of breaking up the shame and isolation that comes with hiding it away. Being honest with yourself around what you can and cant do, remembering that you are still a valuable and worthy friend despite how much money you have is very important, Evans said. Attempting to disconnect your self worth from your net worth can also be helpful. Then, have a conversation with your friend. Letting them know how you feel, what you are doing in terms of your financial health and how you two can navigate the differences, Evans added. Now, this is very hard, being vulnerable is complicated and nuanced, so go easy on yourself. Top three tips for managing a wealth gap summer open image in gallery Wall Street trader-turned personal finance guru Vivian Tu, better known as YourRichBff, advises her millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram. ( Brendan Wixted ) Ask yourself: is it worth it? Tu, who heads up her own financial education and advice company, says it is essential to consider what is truly going to bring you value and not hurt you in the future at the same time. She has a handy tip that can help visualize whether that summer impulse purchase be it new clothes, a night out or a trip is worth it. I call it YourRichBFF is it Worth it? Equation, Tu said. Figure out how much your hourly take-home pay is, and that hourly take-home pay, essentially, is how many hours youll need to sit at your desk to afford something. Say your hourly take-home pay is $20, you go to a fancy store and you want to buy a pair of designer leggings for $100, Tu explained. You have to sit at your desk for five hours. Ask yourself, are you willing to sit at your desk for five hours so that you can afford those leggings? And in some cases, the answer is yes. In some cases, the answer is no. Be honest with your friends and live within your means You need to be honest with your friends about your financial situation, but also you need to provide an alternative, Tu said. Because what's going to happen is if you continuously keep telling your friends, no, I can't come, I can't afford it, suddenly they're going to stop inviting you to stuff. Once they stop inviting you to stuff, you are going to feel incredibly isolated, she added. Dont take on any unnecessary debt you cant pay off Tu doesnt knock hard-pressed families who have to put basic necessities like food on a credit card. But she advises others to resist the temptation to splurge on the fun stuff if its not affordable it right now. There are certainly folks in our country who are putting basic necessities like food on a credit card, not because they want to, but because they need to feed their families, Tu said. This is not that. What I'm saying is, the visits to the nail salon, the drinks out with girlfriends, the fun stuff, if you are not in a position to be spending on that...its going to keep you broke, she said. We all have to know our limits, and it's not fair, Tu added. But some people out there have parents who are paying their rent. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Days after Donald Trump said he would weigh a potential pardon of Sean Diddy Combs, rapper 50 Cent vowed to make the president aware of his thoughts about the music mogul, who is on trial for sex trafficking. Asked about potentially granting clemency to the music mogul, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office this week: Nobodys asked, but I know people are thinking about it. The president added: First of all, Id look at whats happening, and I havent been watching it too closelyI havent seen him. I havent spoken to him in years. On Friday, 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III, voiced his opinion on the matter. Alongside a clip of the president saying hed consider pardoning Diddy, he wrote on Instagram: He said some really bad things about Trump. its not ok. Im gonna reach out so he knows how I feel about this guy. The rapper doubled down on his position on Saturday. Donald doesnt take well to disrespect, and doesnt forget who chooses to go against him. while working tirelessly to make America great again there is no room for distraction, he wrote on the social media platform. 50 Cent says he wants to make Donald Trump 'aware' of the 'bad things' Diddy has said about him after the president weighed pardoning the music mogul who is on trial for sex trafficking ( Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for STARZ / Reuters ) Reposting a headline of an article claiming 50 Cent plans to nuke Diddys chances of getting pardoned, the rapper retorted: I didnt say I would nuke anything, I simply said I would make sure Trump is aware. Their feud goes way back to 2006, when 50 Cent released The Bomb, a diss track claiming Diddy knew who killed Biggie Smalls. The music mogul has denied these allegations. Diddy is on trial for five federal counts of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy. Federal authorities arrested him in September 2024 and have alleged that the music mogul threatened, abused, and coerced victims to fulfill his sexual desires between 2004 and 2024. He has pleaded not guilty. A witness named 50 Cent in the trial last week. Capricorn Clark, Diddys former employee, testified that she recalled overhearing her boss discuss firearms with 50 Cents manager Chris Lighty in an elevator after an MTV press event with 50 Cent. I don't like the back and forth. I like guns, Clark recalled Diddy telling Lighty. Trump has already pardoned reality TV stars, gang leaders, and anti-abortion activists in the first six months of his second term. The president and the music mogul have known each other for decades. Trump mentioned Diddy in a 2012 episode of The Celebrity Apprentice, calling him a good friend and a good guy. The music mogul also mentioned a friendship with Trump three years later. Donald Trump is a friend of mine, and he works very hard, Diddy told the Washington Post in 2015, months after Trump announced his 2016 presidential run from his golden escalator. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A dilapidated red house with an unkempt yard in the Long Island village of Massapequa Park gained notoriety after an arrest was made in the Gilgo Beach serial killings. Rex Heuermann, the man charged in the killings of seven women in a reign of terror dating back to the 1990s, led a double life, according to prosecutors a family man who commuted to Manhattan by day, and was a serial killer by night. Prosecutors say Heuermann met escorts, tortured them, killed them, and dumped their bodies along a stretch of isolated oceanfront parkway on Long Island. Since Heuermanns arrest in July 2023, a trove of disturbing evidence has come to light that alleges the Long Island native operated out of his own basement, just below where he lived with his wife and two children. Police believe Heuermann likely tortured his victims after they discovered in the basement an arsenal of over 200 guns and chilling manuals on grisly methods of how to hunt and kill women. open image in gallery Asa Ellerup, wife of Rex Heuermann, is interviewed as part of 50 Cents new true crime project Gilgo Beach Killer: The House Of Secrets, set to be released on Peacock on June 10 ( 50 Cent/Instagram ) The single-story house with a grim history became a magnet for media crews, true crime enthusiasts, and investigators, transforming the once-quiet suburban neighborhood into a public spectacle. For weeks, investigators and hazmat teams could be seen hauling materials out of the house as they tore up the floors, knocked down walls and excavated the backyard. But the inside of the home has remained a mystery until now. A gripping new docuseries goes inside the suspects home for the first time, where never-before-heard testimony from his own family unravels a chilling portrait of a man accused of living a double life and hiding dark secrets under their own roof, according to Variety. Gilgo Beach Killer: The House Of Secrets, is set to debut on Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming service, on June 10. The three-part series is produced by rapper Curtis 50 Cent Jackson, and promises unprecedented access and chilling interviews with those who knew Heuermann best including his wife as cameras enter the house for the first time. open image in gallery Since Rex Heuermanns arrest in July 2023, a trove of disturbing evidence has come to light that alleges the Long Island native operated out of his basement, where police believe he likely tortured his victims before killing them ( Newsday ) The unexpected involvement of 50 Cent in the project has raised eyebrows across social media, with many questioning why the music mogul is stepping into such dark territory. Known for producing gritty dramas like Power, Jackson has recently expanded his G-Unit Film & Television empire into real-life crime stories. But while theres a massive interest in the case across the true crime world, 50 Cent received some backlash after he posted a promo image to his Instagram account earlier this week. The image of Asa Ellerup, Heuermanns wife of 27 years, appears to show her preparing for an on-camera interview in the basement, where police allege Heuermann carried out his gruesome crimes. This promo image is an interview setup in the home's basement where he tortured and murdered at least some of the women, one person wrote in the LISK (Long Island Serial Killer) group on Reddit. Asa agreed to be interviewed down there? How disgusting of everyone involved. Ellerup filed for divorce just days after Heuermann was arrested, but continued to visit him in jail and has attended several of his court hearings, many times flanked by a camera crew as part of the Peacock documentary. open image in gallery Crime laboratory officers at the home of Rex Heuermann on July 14, 2023, in Massapequa Park, after he was arrested for the Gilgo Beach killings ( AP ) A spokesperson for Peacock previously told PEOPLE Magazine that Ellerup was not being paid for her participation in the doc, but was given a licensing fee for handing over archival footage for the project. NewsNation later reported that Heuermann's family would receive $1 million in the deal. Ellerups attorney, Bob Macedonio, who also represents members of G-Unit, 50 Cents rap group, confirmed that the divorce settlement between Ellerup and Heuermann was reached in March and finalized in April. Ellerup has since moved to South Carolina, but still plans to attend the trial, which will most likely be next year, Macedonio told the New York Times, adding that she still has the same opinion: She doesnt believe hes capable of what hes been accused of. As for the house, Macedonio told local news outlet Patch that the house is eventually going to be sold but for now, there is no time frame for a sale. The new docuseries comes as the case in the midst of a Frye hearing, a pre-trial proceeding to decide whether a scientific method used to gather evidence is accepted as reliable by experts. The hearing will determine the admissibility of nuclear DNA evidence in Heuermanns upcoming trial. Prosecutors say DNA evidence links Heuermann to the murders hes charged with, part of a horrifying saga of the Gilgo Beach serial killings involving 11 sets of remains found along a stretch of Ocean Parkway on Long Island over the past two decades. open image in gallery This combination of undated image provided by the Suffolk County Police Department, shows the Gilgo Four -- Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes ( Suffolk County Police Department ) To date, Heuermann is charged in seven murders, beginning in July 2023 when he was indicted on three counts of first-degree murder charges and three counts of second-degree murder charges in the deaths of sex workers Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, and Amber Costello, 27, whose remains were found along Ocean Parkway in 2010. He was also named as the prime suspect in the death of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, and was subsequently charged with her murder in January 2024. open image in gallery Heuermann was charged in June 2024 with the murders of Sandra Costilla (left) and Jessica Taylor (right) ( Suffolk County DA/Remembering Jessica Taylor Facebook page ) In June 2024, he was charged with second-degree murder in the deaths of Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla. Then in December of that same year, Heuermann was indicted for the 2000 murder of a seventh woman, Valerie Mack. open image in gallery Heuermann was charged in December 2024 in the 2000 murder of Valerie Mack ( Facebook ) Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has been held without bail at the Suffolk County jail in Riverhead, Long Island, since his arrest. The next major legal step comes on June 17, when Frye hearings resume to determine the admissibility of nuclear DNA evidence. But before that, The House of Secrets will open its doors and possibly, reveal disturbing truths long hidden behind them. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A convicted Arizona murderer is back behind bars after killing a second victim just 16 days after being released, according to federal authorities. Clifton Nez Hamalowa served time in connection with a murder charge and was released from prison in 2020. Just over two weeks after his release, he shot and killed Richard Olds, a sentencing memorandum filed on May 22 in district court states. The U.S. Attorneys Office said in a press release on May 29 that Hamalowa, of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Arizona, shot Olds in the head in front of his young child. The community is located about 30 miles northeast of Phoenix. Prosecutors have said Hamalowa and his siblings dumped Olds body in a remote area. Following a trial that lasted seven days, Hamalowa, 47, was found guilty of murder, in addition to conspiracy to commit assault resulting in serious bodily injury, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Arizona said in the press release. The shooting took place on reservation land belonging to the Gila River Indian Community, the release noted. open image in gallery A 47-year-old Arizona man was sentenced to life in prison after shooting another man in the head in front of his young child Siblings Thomas Leon Hamalowa and Devonne Beth Hamalowa pleaded guilty to accessory and were sentenced to time behind bars in 2023 and 2024, according to prosecutors. Hamalowa and his sister also intimidated witnesses to prevent them from reporting, the U.S. Attorneys Office added. Clifton Nez Hamalowa was sentenced to life in prison plus 10 years on May 27. Prosecutors said in the sentencing memo that hes considered a career offender because of his lengthy history of violence. The memo states that he stabbed his mother with a butchers knife in 1991 and that in 1999, he stabbed and killed a man during an argument and subsequently threatened his mother when she said she was going to alert the authorities. It also says that he stabbed a fellow inmate while serving time between 1999 and 2000. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A hiker discovered a severely burned body Saturday near the top of Stone Mountain Park, a popular tourist destination in Georgia. The Stone Mountain Park Police Department responded to a 911 call that came in around 8:18 a.m. from a hiker who said they had found the deceased male body under a rock crevice at the park near the top of the mountain, Fox 5 reports. Dispatchers did not get the callers identity, so they arrived at the park, focusing their search on a wooded area near the mountain's summit. The area is located a few hundred feet from the Skyride cable car, which transports visitors to the top, according to the outlet. "The body was under an overhang, a rock overhang, and somebody had piled up rocks in front of the overhang to make it very private, John Bankhead of the Stone Mountain Park PD said. Burned body discovered by hiker at Georgia's Stone Mountain ( WXIA ) And it's a number of rocks that, you know, you see around this area of the mountain. It's not in an area where hikers usually go. It's, you know, out of the way. People don't know it's there, he added. The shocking discovery caused Skyride to shut down for several hours, but it has since reopened to the public as of the time of this publication. The park continues to allow visitors access to the trails. The deceased mans identity and death date are unknown at this time. His body will be sent to the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. Investigators said they would like to speak to the 911 caller or anyone else with information about this case, the outlet reports. Members of the public should not be concerned about their safety at the park, officials said. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is handling the death investigation. The Independent has contacted representatives for the Stone Mountain PG and GBI for comment. Bankhead told Fox 5 that the scene of the unusual situation is one of the weirdest" he has ever seen. "I've seen nothing like it, and I don't recall something like this ever happening at the park," Bankhead said. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Three accused drug traffickers in Florida are heading to prison after they kidnapped a rival drug trafficker and tortured him for nearly 20 hours using hot sauce, according to federal prosecutors. Mario Espino, now 25, orchestrated the kidnapping and the 18-hour-long torture of Gadiel Leger, an alleged former partner in crime. The incident occurred in 2013 in Tampa, according to a Miami Herald report. According to court records, Espino was frustrated that he had been "cut out of Gadiel Leger's drug business" and "plotted to kidnap [him] and take over his drug business." Espino lured Leger to Tampa on the promise that he was going to repay an old drug debt, according to prosecutors. Once Leger reached Tampa, Espino's co-defendants, Jacob James Guest, 24, and Joey Lawrence Eugene Young, 25, abducted Leger and held him for ransom. The men contacted Leger's alleged "cartel drug sources" and demanded "10 kilograms of fentanyl" to secure his release, according to prosecutors. Mario Espino, 25, of Holiday, Florida, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison after he, Jacob James Guest, 24, and Joey Lawrence Eugene Young, 25, kidnapped Espino's former associate, Gadiel Leger, and tortured him using hot sauce for 18 hours ( Pinellas County Sheriff's Office ) While Leger was held captive, Espino and Young tortured Leger by pouring hot sauce in Legers eyes and anus, Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Sullivan wrote in Espino's sentencing memorandum. According to Sullivan, Guest did not directly participate in the torture, but was present when it was taking place. While Guest did physically strike Gadiel Leger while he was held captive, Guest did not pour hot sauce on Leger like Espino and Young did, Sullivan wrote in court documents. Leger was eventually rescued on October 11, 2023, when U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents and the Pasco Sheriff's Office found him in the back seat of a car that the defendants abandoned when authorities arrived. Law enforcement officers found Leger with a pillowcase covering his head and his wrists tied. Espino has been sentenced to 22 years and six months in prison. Guest was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and Young was sentenced to 25 years in prison, according to prosecutors. Guest's attorney told McClatchy News that he is "deeply remorseful for his actions." He is fully committed to utilizing his time in custody to learn, grow, and change, with the goal of reentering society as a responsible and productive person, the attorney, Summer Rae Goldman, said. Prosecutors also revealed that despite Espino's role in the kidnapping and torture, he had previously assisted the government in bringing cases against other accused drug dealers in Central Florida, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Ahead of Young's sentencing, Sullivan gave an overview of his lengthy criminal history, writing that "the public needs to be protected from Joey Young." All three men pleaded guilty in the case, as did a fourth defendant, Jacob Paul Arjona, who has yet to be sentenced. Arjona pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, according to court records. His court-appointed attorney, Patrick Leduc, noted that Arjona was not involved with the kidnapping or torture. Mr. Arjona was not involved with the kidnapping of this other person," he said. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice One person was killed and 11 others injured during a mass shooting in Hickory, North Carolina, according to police. Police were called to respond to a home in Hickory which is about 60 miles northwest of Charlotte at around 12:45 am on Sunday. When they arrived, they found 12 victims wounded, according to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office. The Catawba County Sheriffs Office and ... Hickory Police Department responded to a report of multiple persons shot at a residence on Walnut Acres Dr., which is located in the Mountain View community of southwest Catawba County, the sheriff's office said in a news release. One of the victims died, and another is in critical condition, police said. Others remain hospitalized, according to the sheriff's office. Around 100 people were at a house party when at least one person started shooting, investigators told WSOC. Witnesses told the outlet that many of those at the party attended local high schools. No arrests have been made and the police have not released any further information about any suspects. The Hickory Police Department and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations are working alongside the sheriff's office to investigate the shooting. open image in gallery Witnesses told local media that many of those at the party attended local high schools. ( WBTV ) The sheriff's office told WBTV that it is still working to determine a motive for the shooting and to identify the individual or individuals responsible. The broadcaster also asked the local school district if any of its students had been involved in the attack, but the school said that at the time of the call they had not received any information suggesting a student had been involved. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is encouraged to call the Catawba County Sheriff's Office at 828-464-3112. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The Supreme Court has ruled that Donald Trumps administration can begin taking steps to deport more than 500,000 immigrants who were granted emergency humanitarian protections to legally live and work in the United States. A brief order from the nations highest court on Friday allows the administration to revoke temporary legal status granted to roughly 532,000 immigrants during Joe Bidens administration. The end of legal protections for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela follows the Supreme Courts separate order ending those same protections for another 300,000 Venezuelans earlier this month. Taken together, the orders pave the way for the Trump administration to deport more than 800,000 people who have legally lived and worked in the United States for several years. Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor dissented to Fridays order. open image in gallery The Supreme Court on May 30 allowed the Trump administration to strip humanitarian protections for more than 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela allowed to legally live and work in the country ( Getty ) In her dissent, Justice Jackson warned that the court ignored the devastating consequences of allowing the government to precipitously upend the lives and livelihoods of nearly half a million noncitizens while their legal claims are pending. Last month, District Judge Indira Talwani in Massachusetts temporarily blocked an order from Homeland Security Kristi Noem that would have ended legal status for more than 530,000 people admitted to the program, called humanitarian parole. The judges order maintained temporary legal status for roughly 110,300 Cubans, 210,000 Haitians, 93,100 Nicaraguans and another 117,300 Venezuelans. Ending those protections would force targeted immigrants to choose between two injurious options: continue following the law and leave the country on their own, or await removal proceedings that put them at risk of arrest and detention and effectively kill any chances of receiving other forms of immigration relief in the future potentially permanently, Judge Talwani wrote. The cases before the Supreme Court are among more than a dozen based on emergency requests from the Trump administration for the courts intervention including in several case stemming from the presidents immigration agenda. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court allowed the administration to cancel temporary protected status for roughly 350,000 Venezuelans who fled President Nicolas Maduros regime. Lawyers for the Trump administration said a Biden-era extension of those protections was not in the national interest and revoked them, a move that a federal judge said smacks of racism and threatened irreparable harm on hundreds of families. open image in gallery Taken together, the Supreme Courts orders revoking humanitarian parole could allow the Trump administration to deport more than 800,000 immigrants ( AP ) Thousands of Cubans and Vietnamese people were admitted to the United States though humanitarian parole programs in the 1960s and 1970s. The Biden administration opened the program to Ukrainians fleeing Russia in 2022. The Biden administration then extended the program for Venezuelans in late 2022 and for Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans in January 2023. Immigration authorities deported more than 17,200 people in April, marking the first time that removals under Trump have surpassed levels compared to the same period last year during the Biden administration. Still, despite the figures representing a more than 50 percent spike since February, the administration isnt on track to meet the presidents promise to rapidly deport millions of people. The administration is deporting people at less than half the pace it would take to reach the single-year deportation record of roughly 430,000 people, which was set during Barack Obamas administration in 2013. Trumps efforts to summarily deport immigrants including alleged gang members and student activists has faced an avalanche of lawsuits alleging due process violations. Administration officials have reportedly resorted to pressing law enforcement to do more, with top White House aide Stephen Miller allegedly berating colleagues to make at least 3,000 arrests per day. When King Charles in his capacity as King of Canada opened the new parliament in Ottawa last Tuesday, the symbolism could not have been more powerful, or the Kings purpose more clear. While it is not unprecedented for the sovereign to open a new parliament in one of the Commonwealth nations of which they are head of state, it is seldom done. (It last took place in Australia in 1977.) King Charles opening the Canadian parliament from the throne in the Senate. Credit: AP It had not happened in Canada since 1957. When the Queen opened parliament then, it was an occasion of ceremonial significance only. Then-US president Dwight Eisenhower was not threatening to annex Canada as the 51st state of the US, nor had he launched a trade war with the deliberate intention of severely damaging the economy of Americas closest ally. Last weeks proceedings, though attended by the customary pomp and circumstance, were not about ceremony. Although the Kings words might not have been provocative in ordinary times, because of the events of recent months, they were crafted with unmistakable meaning and deliberate intent. Recalling the shared sacrifices of two world wars, the existential struggle of the Cold War and the war on terror, he said: Today, Canada faces another critical moment. Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the government is determined to protect As the anthem reminds us: the True North is strong and free! It was the most politically pointed speech given by a British monarch in the modern age a reprimand to the president, that did not mince words: keep your hands off my realm! No prime minister could have delivered that message so effectively. It did not come just from a politician; it came from a king. A real king, not a vainglorious tabloid celebrity with delusions of grandeur, like the person to whom it was directed. 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 The verdict was unanimous. One by one, the medical experts called to provide evidence at the inquest into two-year-old Pippa Whites death confirmed what her family had long suspected: her life could have been saved. This is a tragedy that was avoidable, said Associate Professor Warwick Butt, a renowned intensive care consultant at Melbournes Royal Childrens Hospital. If the trajectory of her illness had been recognised [earlier] she would have survived. Hearing those words on Wednesday in the front row of the courtroom, Annah White felt a weight lifted from her shoulders. I feel so bloody validated, White said outside court. Now that I am supported by world-leading medical experts who confirm that Pip could have survived we can begin to focus on the bigger question: why did NSW Health fail us, and how do we stop this from ever happening again? Pippa White with her mother Annah. Pippa Mae White died on June 13, 2022, at Orange Base Hospital, less than 24 hours after she recorded a heart rate in the red zone for potential sepsis. Sepsis occurs when the bodys immune response to an infection causes damage to its own organs and tissues, but the condition wasnt raised as a possible cause of her rapidly declining health until 4am, more than 12 hours after Pippa was first triaged. Advertisement Although there was some disagreement as to when doctors should have escalated their treatment of Pippa, all five experts called on Wednesday agreed that the sepsis pathway a standard guide for recognising and treating the potentially deadly condition should have been activated much sooner. Over three harrowing days, lawyers and expert witnesses painstakingly reconstructed the hours leading up to Pippas death, and how the system failed to pick up on her rapidly declining condition, and the increasing concerns of her parents. Here are those key moments. June 12, 2022, around 2pm: Pippa arrives at Cowra Hospital Annah White takes her daughter to the emergency department at Cowra Hospital on a brisk Sunday afternoon. For the previous four days, the toddler had struggled to shake off a runny nose, fevers and a cough (the medical experts agreed that she was probably struggling with a rare and aggressive group A streptococcus infection). Pippas symptoms grew to include diarrhoea and vomiting, she took her two-year-old to the hospital a few hundred metres down the road. It had already been a busy day at the small rural emergency department. All four beds were full, including one with a patient who had required a medical cardioversion (an alternative to defibrillation) to restore normal heart rhythm, and an agitated parent who had earlier been removed by police. To make matters worse, an ambulance was on its way carrying an eight-year-old already receiving resuscitation. Advertisement Potter-Bancroft told the inquest she had been working since 7am and had not had a break by the time she completed Pippas triage at 2.06pm. It was a hectic day, she said. The nurse described Pippa as miserable and lethargic and recorded her heart rate at 171 beats per minute high enough to be considered in the red zone for sepsis risk. Potter-Bancroft triaged Pippa as a category 3 patient, meaning she had a potentially life-threatening condition that needed treatment within 30 minutes. But in a video taken at 2.19pm and shown to the court, Pippa showed difficulty breathing and was grunting, something the experts agreed should have classified her as an urgent patient needing treatment within 10 minutes. This was the first opportunity to recognise sepsis, they said. It was not the last. Parents worried their child is getting sicker can: 1. Put their hands up and tell staff right away. 2. If they are still worried, ask the nurse in charge to look at their child. 3. If they believe something is still not right and want to see a doctor they should ask for a clinical review, which should be carried out within 30 minutes. 4. Parents who are still not satisfied with the level of care can trigger a rapid emergency response by calling a unique number, displayed in REACH brochures inside hospitals. Doctors should arrive within minutes to reassess the childs condition. White said she took her daughter home after staff told her the hospital was too busy, but returned a short time later. She asked for the REACH (Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help is on its way) number. This should have raised alarm bells, Butt said. An experienced mother is now very worried [that is] a very important sign. Advertisement Loading Associate Professor Adam Irwin, an expert in paediatric infectious diseases at the University of Queensland, said doctors were anchored on Pippas diagnosis being caused by a viral infection, and this continued after she arrived at Orange around 9.20pm. Dr Adam Buckmaster, a locum paediatrician, instructed staff that if Pippa had not improved by 1am, they would need to give her fluids and escalate her treatment. For the life of me, I dont understand why they didnt follow their plan, Butt said. June 13, 2022, around 1am: Pippa continues to decline Medical notes from around midnight suggested Pippa was settling, but by 1am, it was clear she was seriously unwell. Weve got failing to improve and getting worse all the more reason to get the blood [tests] in, get her on a drip and commence treatment, said Professor Simon Craig, a paediatric emergency medicine specialist at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne. A video taken by White at 2.19am showed Pippa grunting and struggling to breathe. Advertisement At 2.35am, her heart rate was 196 beats per minute. This, the experts said, was the make or break moment when things went absolutely wrong. (they acknowledged the fact that Dr Christopher Morris, the on-call registrar, had already worked a full 12-hour shift during the day). The deterioration that was occurring could almost only be attributed to sepsis there was no point calling for blood tests, Irwin said. A blood test was taken at 4am the first time the word sepsis appeared in Pippas medical notes. Not until far too late did [anyone] question the diagnosis they reached, said Irwin. June 13, 2022, around 6am: Go now Even after these missed opportunities, Butt told the inquest one word could have given Pippa one last fighting chance: Now. By 6am, Pippas doctors knew she was gravely ill and at risk of septic shock, but the experts agreed their reaction lacked urgency. Craig told the inquest Pippa should have been moved to somewhere she could be resuscitated. A general ward isnt a great place to run a resuscitation and Pippa needed resuscitation, he said. At 6.10am, Pippas doctors called the NSW Newborn and paediatric Emergency Transport Service (NETS) advice line. A specialist doctor advised them on treatment while pilots assessed whether they could fly. A helicopter was immediately ruled out Orange in June was too icy. An aeroplane could fly, but couldnt leave until the fog lifted around 9am. Advertisement Lawrence has it nailed Thank you to Carmen Lawrence for spelling out the reasons why Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should not have approved Woodsides gas expansion (Gas project extension is a mistake and worse, a betrayal, 1/5). I would add another. The Labor government calculates that it can make such decisions and still maintain the support of enough voters who rejected the climate-wrecking Coalition. Not so fast. There were thousands of ordinary Australians who worked their guts out to get Labor a second term in order to defend the progress towards decarbonisation. Their allegiance cannot be counted on next time. Fiona Colin, Malvern East Betrayed and disgusted In 2005, Anthony Albanese, then opposition environment spokesman, sought to introduce a climate trigger to ensure that major new projects leading to the emission of more than 500,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, or equivalent, a year were assessed for their climate change impact. That same man, now prime minister, actively supports a project that will result in 87.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent a year, 176 times the limit he set 20 years ago. No climate impact was assessed. We absolutely feel betrayed. We are also disgusted. Lesley Walker, Northcote Loading The real danger we face It appears we have a government incapable of seeing reality and adapting to it. The obsequious behaviour of Environment Minister Murray Watt and the almost worse stupidity of Defence Minister Richard Marles playing footsies with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth leaves me gasping for air. We should not be seeking to work in any way with the corrupt administration in the United States, seeking exemptions on tariffs or military games. And forget China or Indonesia, we should certainly be taking climate change as the greatest danger this country has ever faced. Christopher Monie, Brown Hill Lobbying OK for some Do the people who voted against the Voice think this governments nod to the extension of Woodsides North West Shelf happened in a vacuum? A lot of lobbying would have gone on prior to the announcement, and yet the referendum to allow our Indigenous people to have the governments ear on decisions that affected them was tantamount to high treason. Polly Mish, Hawthorn Perils of forced marriage The disturbing story on forced marriage in Australia (Good Weekend, 31/5) reminds me of the prescient forewarning by prominent UK activist Jasvinder Sanghera who visited Australia in 2016 to educate key stakeholders that arranged marriages (and honour killing) are occurring in this country more often than we think and flying under police radar. Sanghera and her sister, Robina, were both victims of arranged marriages with one exception. She escaped, but Sangheras sister died by (immolation) suicide. Notably, as incisively discerned by University of Wollongong criminologist Laura Vidal, what was completely missed by the Australian Federal Police in prosecuting a single person, Sakina Muhammad Jan, over the forced marriage of her slain 21-year-old daughter, Ruqia Haidari, was the complex dynamic and interplay between the matchmaker, the brothers, the extended family and the wider community. Put simply, multiple co-conspirators with full knowledge of the desired outcome. Alas, preventing arranged marriages and the fallout (ie honour killing) arguably poses even greater challenges than in family and domestic violence for the police to intervene in a timely manner to protect young women. Jelena Rosic, Mornington Representing all views Parnell Palme McGuinness (Opinion, 1/6) presents Tim Wilson as some kind of Liberal hero by defeating Zoe Daniel by the small margin of 175 votes. He has achieved personal vindication but during the campaign, there was little opportunity to hear the candidates debate policy to enable electors to make an informed choice about who would best represent our communitys values. Hopefully, the newly elected member for Goldstein wont be missing in action when it comes to representing the diverse views of the electorate. Judy Williams, Beaumaris Volunteers inspirational I have just completed my second campaign for Zoe Daniel, now former independent member for Goldstein (Daniel hints at rematch after recount confirms Wilsons win, 1/6). She was chosen by a group of community members who set up our independent movement, and was an outstanding candidate, who initially didnt want to run. We did the usual door knocks, leaflet distribution in streets and in letterboxes, held our coffee swarms around the community to be available to talk to the public, held Politics in the Pub nights for people to attend, and many other events. What was most moving though was the wonderful attitude of our volunteers. We had to sign a code of conduct and be our best selves. People willingly gave over chunks of their lives to be involved, and were selfless, supportive and inspirational. Wonderful to work for something bigger than ourselves. Jan Marshall, Brighton Medical misandry not on As someone who lost their father to a sudden heart attack, I take issue with comments by Dr Marilla Druit underplaying the significance of heart attacks and cancers in, her words, older men, and comparing it to inadequate funding for endometriosis (Jacinta Allan knows the agony and the toll of endometriosis, 1/6). Medical misogyny is no excuse for medical misandry. Joanna Wriedt, Eaglemont Behaviour appalling The appalling behaviour of soccer fans in Richmond on Saturday was disgraceful (Soccer fans light flares in street before A-League, 1/6). All future soccer matches should be cancelled until fans learn respectable behaviour. Christine Hammett, Richmond Whats in a name It is about time The Age commenced referring to soccer by its actual name: association football. While Australians are proud of their home-grown sport, it has less right to be called football than the great game that had its origins overseas. AFL should be referred to as Australian rules. Rugby league was and is never football. Rugby union is rugby only. Please remember that the ruling body of association football in Australia is Football Australia. Martin Leggett, Langwarrin Subsidies we must endure Your correspondent (Letters, 1/6) quite rightly points out that schools like PLC with students families on annual incomes of $344,000 are entitled to taxpayer funds. Unfortunately, this situation is common and is a consequence of middle/upper-class taxpayer-funded subsidies. The upper limit to access childcare subsidies is a household income of $533,000 per annum. The upper limit for the paid parental payment is a household income of $364,000 per annum. No government would dare to change these taxpayer subsidies for fear of electoral wipeout. Its a situation that we have to endure. Ian Bennett, Jan Juc Making a donation There is one aspect of the $85 million PLC pool that has not been discussed the contribution from taxpayers by way of a tax-deductible building fund. Many private schools have building funds, set up in such a way that donors receive tax benefits from the donations. School fees are not tax-deductible but donations to DGR (deductible gift recipients) foundations or funds are. If a donation of $100,000 is made by a taxpayer to a DGR fund, the tax benefit, or tax forgone by the government, can be as much as $40,000. Not only are private schools getting obscene amounts of recurrent government funding but also help to build infrastructure that state schools can only dream of. Louise Kloot, Doncaster Handouts and gratitude Two things are certain whenever there is too much rain or too little. First, farmers will demand a handout. Second, whatever it is, most will say that its not enough. Gratitude to the rest of states taxpayers for making the payments always seems to go missing. I am grateful that a previous Labor government spent wisely to make Melbourne drought proof. We dont know how long the current drought will last or how often it will return. But the desalination plant will provide a vital piece of water security for almost 80 per cent of the states population who call Melbourne home. Some will never have this security. Perhaps its time to realise that many cleared paddocks are best served by being returned to nature or hosting renewable energy generation. Paul Kennelly, Caulfield North Deaths blight on nation How tragically ironic that in Reconciliation Week, a 24-year-old Indigenous man with a disability should have his life ended in the aisle of a supermarket in Alice Springs (Its gotta stop: Mourners plea at vigil for Indigenous man who died in custody, 30/5). His crime? Concealing items in his clothes, and for this, he was allegedly forcefully wrestled to the ground. His life has now ended. The sadly premature and frequent deaths of our First Nation people remain a blight on our nation. Graeme Riviere, Warranwood Vale a fighter for nature Barbara Fraser was a prolific letter writer to The Age and other newspapers. A retired educator and great-grandmother, she was passionate about nature and climate change, frequently calling on politicians to heed science. Her last letter was published on April 12. It called on Australia to set a glorious example to the world with full climate action, specifically with ending new fossil fuel subsidising and Australian fossil fuel exports. Barbara died peacefully on Monday aged 93. She and her unique letters about 200 were published in The Age from 1993 will be sadly missed. Jenny Smithers, Ashburton AND ANOTHER THING ... Environment I wonder how my ALP friends who for years have parroted their mantra of Cant trust the Greens are dealing with the wholesale betrayal by Labor on gas expansion. Cant trust Labor. Vaughan Greenberg, Chewton I didnt think it was possible to make Peter Duttons nuclear energy plan look good, but Anthony Albanese has achieved it with his approval of the North West Shelf gas project. Shame, ALP, shame. Ruth Brown, Mentone Woodsides North West Shelf gas project in WA. I wonder if the new federal government would have had such a resounding victory had voters been aware of its intention to allow Woodside to keep producing gas for another 45 years? Every member of the federal Labor Party deserves our condemnation Nick Jans, Princes Hill Defence Heavens, its expensive to have so-called friends like the United States. Not just tariffs, but also AUKUS and now the suggestion that we spend more on defence. Other friendships could be more rewarding, methinks. Peta Colebatch, Hawthorn Richard Marles, the minister for war. Judith McNaughtan, Surrey Hills Pete Hegseth is probably not sending the right Signal to Beijing. Francis Bainbridge, Fitzroy North Trump Donald Trump is this centurys Wizard of Oz. Pulling strings behind a curtain of fear, all the while promising the world. So hop off that Yellow Brick Road, folks. I dont think were in Kansas. Myra Fisher, Brighton East Alas, Trumps delusional tariff optimism has left most of us with very disappointing floptimism. Tris Raouf, Hadfield Furthermore When, just when are the supposed leaders going to recognise the pain and suffering of all in the Israel-Hamas war, and end this stupid conflict? Bruce Dudon, Woodend Finally Elon Musks department of government efficiency got one thing right. It got rid of him. John Rawson, Mernda Loading The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here. Templestowe Heights Primary School principal Rhys Coulsons motivation to overhaul the way his school taught maths came from his son. I wanted to avoid my own children struggling when they started primary school, he said. Principal of Templestowe Heights Primary School Rhys Coulson and his son William Coulson whos in grade 4. Credit: PENNY STEPHENS About a year and a half ago, the school shifted to a model called systematic maths teaching. The results were dramatic, leading not only to an improvement in the schools NAPLAN results which are now well above average in year 3 and 5 but to a much more positive attitude among students. Children are really confident in mathematics now, Coulson said. Because of that success, its giving them motivation. The feedback we also get from parents is they cant believe what their child is now learning in mathematics. NZ operator Spark and Air New Zealand have implemented what they claim is New Zealand's first private 5G network for business, in the airline's warehouse facility. According to Spark, the network enables a drone connected to a ground robot to carry out stocktaking, increasing productivity and safety. The trial is taking place at Air New Zealands 5,000 square metre logistics warehouse at Auckland Airport, which holds hundreds of items ranging from aircraft spare parts to passenger supplies like blankets and headphones. Spark says its 5G technology allows a drone tethered to an autonomous ground robot to operate on Air New Zealand's private network. "The single, automated device helps employees with daily stock-takes by scanning barcodes and sending data through to an app," Spark says. "This solution runs on-site for real-time, faster stock identification, by helping employees track stock and assess warehouse space daily, boosting productivity and efficiency." The private network was built upon the Ericsson Private 5G product, which is able to operate in a complex work environment, where high shelves and narrow aisles make it difficult to maintain network connectivity and data speeds with standard WiFi. According to Spark, the stocktaking drone, or Autonomous Mobile Robot, called Captis, from Cypher Robotics in Ottawa, Canada, helps warehouses improve inventory accuracy and efficiency, boosting operational margins. "Air New Zealand is always looking for innovative ways to improve operational efficiency and deliver smarter, safer, and more seamless experiences for our people and customers," Nikhil Ravishankar, Air New Zealand Chief Digital Officer says. "Partnering with Spark to launch New Zealands first private 5G network for business is a demonstration of that commitment. "This trial is not just about testing a new piece of technology, its about rethinking how we manage complex environments like our logistics warehouse to improve the way we work. "We're excited about the possibilities this technology unlocks for the future of our airline." Mark Beder, Spark Customer Director Enterprise and Government says automation technology is applicable to other industries besides airlines. "This isn't just an airline issue businesses across various industries with intricate supply chains stand to gain from increased automation, which can boost productivity, enhance customer experiences, and create safer working environments," Beder says. "This is just the beginning of what's possible, and we're excited to fast-track the deployment of advanced technology solutions in New Zealand alongside one of our country's most iconic companies." Spark and Air New Zealand are also exploring other private network uses cases, such as installing 5G connected cameras in a warehouse to help detect if there are employees in PPE (personal protection equipment) near a truck or forklift in operation. A developer is pushing for the third time to build 1100 new homes on a toxic former quarry and rubbish tip in Melbournes south-east, even though the site is filled with pits of decaying and solid waste piles, and enormous slurry-like slimes that plunge up to 20 metres beneath the surface. Developer Sterling Global has bypassed the local council and sought state government approval to build on the former sand mine in Oakleigh South, described by a resident group as a Frankenstein site. Curt Thompson, who has long fought plans build homes on the former Talbot quarry, stands at the southern boundary of the site. Credit: Joe Armao Planning documents show contaminants detected at the site include methane, asbestos, naphthalene, arsenic, heavy metals and forever chemical PFAS. The unstable nature of the slimes a byproduct of sand mining threatens the long-term settlement of buildings and other infrastructure, the documents say. 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 From Panama to outer space, we examine the impacts of the US Presidents second administration. See all 13 stories . Its 1983 and relations between the superpowers are close to an all-time low. Their arsenals of nuclear weapons are multiplying. The USSR alone is estimated to have more than 1000 missiles capable of crossing continents and more in submarines that could lie submerged off the coast of New York or Los Angeles, ready to sow Armageddon. The US, meanwhile, has provocatively stationed low-flying cruise missiles, seen as first strike weapons, at Greenham Common airbase outside London. Protests erupt. Both nations adhere to a strategy known as Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), the knowledge that if one were to strike first, the other would have just enough time to launch a devastating counter-blow. Even US president Ronald Reagan finds it bewildering. It is inconceivable to me, he says, that the great nations of the world will sit here, like people facing themselves across a table, each with a cocked gun, and no one knowing whether someone might tighten their finger on the trigger. US President Ronald Reagan delivers his address to the nation about a Strategic Defence Initiative in 1983. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted There must be a better way, he thinks. And some prominent scientists, such as physicist Edward Teller, father of the hydrogen bomb and arch-rival to atom-bomb developer Robert Oppenheimer, tell him there might be. The US, they believe, has the capability to build a network of defences high in the sky that could stop Russian missiles dead in their tracks, using satellite-borne lasers to blow them up harmlessly in space. In March 1983, Reagan announces an ambitious program in a televised address: the Strategic Defence Initiative, which is immediately dubbed Star Wars for its resemblance to the 1977 George Lucas film, which featured a laser-equipped space station called the Death Star (and Chewbacca, played by an actor in a furry suit). It turns out, of course, that the scientists had promised more than they could deliver. There were never any giant space lasers. But the idea didnt vanish completely. And now Donald Trump, a president whos already made waves for his elaborate madcap schemes (trying to buy Greenland, turning Gaza into a beach resort), wants his own space-based missile defence system called the Golden Dome. Forty years on from Reagans dream, could a defence shield now be possible? Would it make nuclear weapons obsolete? And what are Brilliant Pebbles? Advertisement Credit: Artwork by Matthew Absalom-Wong What do we know about Trumps Golden Dome? In January, the president made an executive order calling for what he described as an Iron Dome for America, a reference to the Iron Dome air defence system that Israel has deployed, with some success, since 2011 to shoot down rockets fired from Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. Trumps order stated that since Reagans time in office, the threat from strategic weapons had become more intense and complex; next-generation missiles were now a catastrophic threat to the United States. It said that while some existing interceptor systems could counter rogue-nation threats (presumably from North Korea, which has a fairly advanced ballistic missile program, and possibly Iran, which is believed to have nuclear weapons capability), they had not kept up with peer and near-peer adversaries that is, Russia and China. The solution would be a next-generation missile defence shield to safeguard the US homeland from all possible airborne threats. These include intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs, which shoot out of concrete silos then fall to Earth on a parabolic arc, and their submarine-based cousins); ordinary cruise missiles (which look like planes and are slow but can evade detection by flying low); as yet theoretical fractional orbital bombardment systems that live in space, flinging bombs down from on high; a new breed of hypersonic cruise missiles (much faster than cruise missiles); and so-called hypersonic glide vehicles (which are boosted to the edge of space on a rocket then continue under their own steam). No single defence weapon can neutralise all these. ICBMs have a predictable course but build up to a tremendous speed as they arc through space; hypersonic weapons fly lower but can manoeuvre in flight to evade detection. What we do know is that what Trump is calling the Golden Dome will incorporate many technologies. These include existing ground- and sea-based missile systems and in a nod back to Star Wars a new suite of anti-missile weapons based in orbit, where they might, if successful, destroy incoming ICBMs in the so-called boost phase, when they burn rocket fuel to reach space, and, ideally, before they break into multiple separate warheads that would have to be targeted individually. (Why Golden Dome? Because its Trumps favourite colour the Oval Office is filled with golden knick-knacks hes collected.) Advertisement While Reagan was not deluded about the scale of the task back in the 80s It will take years, probably decades, of effort on many fronts, he acknowledged Trump, buoyed by scientific advances in the intervening years, is more bullish. Well have it done in about three years, he said. Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth elaborated slightly: Some US technology in space, such as space-based sensors and air and missile defence, exists today, but all of the systems comprising the Golden Dome architecture will need to be seamlessly integrated. Golden Dome will be fielded in phases, prioritising defence where the threat is greatest. Meanwhile, if Canada wants in, it needs to come up with a $US61 billion entrance fee, Trump has said on social media, or its ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State. Edward Teller, the father of the H-bomb, speaks to the US Senate foreign relations committee in 1963. Credit: Getty Images, digitally tinted Is any of this dome technology even possible? I dont think its fantasy land, says Malcolm Davis at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. There are aspects of it that are very aspirational and probably wont be achieved on schedule or on budget, but theres also aspects of it that are practical. What is a fantasy is Trumps timeline, he says. This could take 10 years to develop, and it will cost a lot more than what Trump is anticipating. Much of the technology required by Golden Dome has come a long way since the failure of Star Wars at least, the bits that would be stationed on Earth. (The US has actually been exploring the idea since World War II, when its troops in Europe were threatened by Germanys V2 ballistic rockets.) Today, several countries have missile shields, including China, India, Israel, Italy, Russia and Turkey South Korea is reportedly working on its own home-grown dome but nothing is at the scale or level of reliability that would be required to defend the entire US homeland. Israel, for example, is smaller than Hawaii and has faced less technologically sophisticated foes nothing like the peer-level arsenal the US wants to shield against. US Navy ships are very capable in shooting down cruise missiles and drones, but theyre essentially trying to defend one point, which is themselves, says Marcus Hellyer, head of research at the think tank Strategic Analysis Australia. The more you scale it up from defending one point to a small area such as Israel to large areas such as Ukraine and then on to the continental US, the degree of difficulty and, of course, cost increases as well. Advertisement Israels Iron Dome defence system intercepts rockets from Gaza over Ashkelon in October 2023. Credit: AP To successfully shield the US from nuclear attack, defensive interceptors would have to detect and destroy ICBMs that travel at speeds in excess of 24,000km/h. Defending against ballistic missile attacks is a challenging technical undertaking, the Congressional Budget Office noted in a 2004 investigation into the practicalities of missile defence. In the case of ICBMs, a defensive system may need to hit a warhead smaller than an oil drum that is travelling above the atmosphere countermeasures such as decoy warheads that may be carried by ICBMs further complicate the problem of intercepting targets. Its possible to do it from the ground, as a successful military test showed in 2017, but that was under well-rehearsed conditions. Engaging ICBMs is not computationally hard because they fly on a simple parabolic arc, says Sidharth Kaushal at the Royal United Services Institute in London, one of the worlds oldest military think tanks. But given the speeds involved, it requires a very rapid hand-off of data between multiple systems. Engaging hypersonics is more complex, in computational terms, given the capacity of hypersonic glide vehicles to manoeuvre and their ability to fly beneath surface-based radar for longer than ballistic missiles. In any case, the current arsenal of interceptors is far too small to provide adequate defence and would be immediately swamped by an attack from a major power, which would likely send many hundreds of missiles, each containing multiple warheads that would have to be targeted individually. The Federation of American Scientists calculates China already has some 600 warheads, with more on the way. The US has some 3700; Russia has more than 4000 (including those that are inactive). Meanwhile, the US has just two bases for what it calls its mid-course missile defence program with the firepower to specifically target incoming intercontinental nuclear-tipped ICBMs: Fort Greely in Alaska, which has 40 interceptor rockets, and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, which has four. The rockets are built by Boeing and have a kill vehicle made by US aerospace manufacturer Raytheon that detaches from a booster to engage the enemy in orbit, during the mid-course phase of flight. Loading The US also has numerous smaller units that can engage with shorter-range missiles, planes and drones, such as the Aegis ship-board system, the Patriot system used by Ukraine against Russian attacks, and the missile batteries known as Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, or THAAD, which have been successfully used by Israel. Some of these systems could conceivably attempt to intercept ICBMs but would be likely to have a lower strike rate than the much larger rockets deployed in the mid-course missile defence program. Advertisement In short, shielding the entire US is likely to cost far more than the White House claim of $US175 billion ($270 billion). Weapons company Lockheed Martin, which already makes anti-missile weapons, has likened the Golden Dome to the Manhattan Project (the World War II program that built the atom bombs dropped on Japan) in the scale of its ambition. It will probably top the $US260 billion (in todays money) that funded the Apollo space program through the 60s until 1972. In 2021, Princetons Frank von Hippel calculated the US had already spent some $US280 billion (in todays dollars) over the previous four decades on anti-missile programs. Star Wars fizzled not only because technology didnt catch up in time, but because of the enormous drain on taxpayer dollars that subsequent administrations decided were better deployed elsewhere, particularly after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Democrat senator Ed Markey has branded Golden Dome economically ruinous. Mega-projects like this go wrong, says Marcus Hellyer, because you dont understand the requirements, and the requirements keep blowing out. And as the requirements blow out, so does the technical difficulty, and therefore the cost and schedule. And, at the moment, Golden Domes requirements are essentially unbounded. Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) during a naval exercise from the Marshal Ustinov missile cruiser in the Black Sea in 2020. Credit: Russian Presidential Press Office via Getty Images, digitally tinted What about the space lasers? Miniaturisation, and vast improvements in computing power and data storage, not to mention AI, make the idea of a space defence that can co-ordinate attacks autonomously seem much more technologically feasible than in Reagans era. Satellite networks such as Elon Musks 7000-strong Starlink have already proved it is economically possible to launch thousands of small objects into orbit. Loading The not-insignificant hurdle that remains, once these things are in space, is successfully destroying enemy missiles. Do interceptors shoot something at them? Or would they zap them with Reagans beloved lasers? These days, laser weapons do exist, but they require enormous energy and weigh a lot; typically, they are installed on warships. Says Hellyer: Its been really hard to get them to work even against fairly traditional threats like cruise missiles or drones. Advertisement Active COVID cases in India rise to 3,395 NEW DELHI : THE number of active COVID-19 cases in India has crossed 3,000, with Kerala accounting for the highest at 1,336, followed by Maharashtra and Delhi, Union health ministry data released on Saturday showed. According to the data, four deaths -- one each in Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh -- have been reported in the country in the last 24 hours. Official sources said the COVID-19 situation in India is being closely monitored. The severity of infections is low, with most of the patients under home care. There is no reason to worry, the sources said. There were 257 active cases in the country on May 22. The figure rose to 1,010 by May 26 and reached 3,395 on Saturday. In the last 24 hours, 685 new cases have been reported and four people have died, according to the data. Kerala has 1,336 active cases, Maharashtra 467, Delhi 375, Gujarat 265, Karnataka 234, West Bengal 205, Tamil Nadu 185 and Uttar Pradesh 117. Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, Dr Rajiv Behl, on Monday said that genome sequencing of samples in the west and south has shown that the variants fuelling the current rise in cases are not severe and are subvariants of Omicron. After grand success in Sabarmati, Yamuna cleaning,Aquatic Weed Harvester wades into Ambazari lake IN ACTION: NMC to shell out Rs 30 lakh for the Aquatic Weed Harvester hired for two months. By Kaushik Bhattacharya : To do away with the Eichhornia weeds menace from the iconic Ambazari Lake, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is taking help of an Aquatic Weed Harvester, which was previously utilised by Gujarat Government and Delhi Government for cleaning the Sabarmati River Front and Yamuna river respectively. Cleantec Infras Aquatic Weed Harvester is designed to remove floating trash, aquatic weeds, debris, plastic waste, and other surface pollutants from rivers and other water bodies. This machine is manufactured locally under Make In India and its storage capacity is in the range of 3-30 cubic meters. This machine is able to collect floating trash like bottles, plastic, weeds, religious waste, etc. The gates on either side of collection head guide the material towards the conveyor and then, these gates hydraulically close to trap the waste. The floating trash is transferred from collection to storage conveyor and thereafter, to unloading conveyor at a disposal point. NMC was previously using CSIR-NEERI manufactured Jal Dost, which is now docked at bank of the lake and hardly in use for cleaning of the lake. According to a senior officer from Solid Waste Management Department, The Jal Dost is capable of lifting only one ton of weeds at a time from the lake, but it requires manpower to remove weeds from its conveyer belt. It also has some other limitations, which are hampering the daily work of weed removal. To speed up the work of removing weeds from the water body before the start of monsoon, NMC is taking the help of Aquatic Weed Harvester for the last one month. We hired this machine for two months, which doubled the speed of weed removal work. It is capable of removing more weeds as compared to Jal Dost and for this machine, we are paying Rs 30 lakh for two months for its use, Dr Shweta Banerjee, Superintending Engineer, Environment Department, NMC told The Hitavada. Despite all these efforts by the civic body, the flooding of the weeds continues and the lake requires proper weed management as a long-term solution. Baloch fighters liberate Surab city in Balochistan (Pakistan) QUETTA The fighters claim to have paralysed all military, administrative, and financial structures of the enemy state THE Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) freedom fighters on Saturday claimed that they have taken complete control of Surab city in the Balochistan province of Pakistan, paralysing all military,administrative,andfinancial structures of the enemy statejustasthePakistaniArmy Chief Asim Munir was visiting the provincial capital Quetta. Confirmingthedevelopment, the spokesperson of BLA JeeyandBalochhighlightedthat the operation continued for morethanthreehoursonFriday, during which freedom fighters took up positions at all the important locations and highways in the city. He stated that the fighters took control of the Pakistani Levies (paramilitary force) station, police station, Deputy Commissioner (DC) office, guest house, and bank, and damaged enemy infrastructure. During the operation, Freedom fighters arrested Leviesandpolicepersonneland seized 30 Kalashnikovs, along with other weapons and war equipment from the security posts at the police stations and DC office.These personnel were later released on conditional concessions based on their Baloch identity. Freedom fighters set fire to three vehicles of the enemy forces,statewarehouses,aguest house and three banks, while two vehicles were taken into custody, read the statement issued by the BLA. According to the statement, during the takeover of the DC office, Assistant Deputy Commissioner Hidayatullah Buledi attempted an attack the fighters, upon which fighters subdued him without causing any casualties and locked him in a room, adding that he died due to suffocation in the room, which was a completely accidental incident. Furthermore, BLA has taken complete control of Surab city and set up checkpoints on the Quetta-Karachi and SurabGidar main highways, further tightening restrictions on state movementthroughsnapchecking. This operation is a continuation of BLAs resolve to destroy every institution, every symbol, and every force of the occupying Pakistani state. We once again make it clear that our struggle will continue until Baloch national liberation is achieved, the statement concluded. People from Balochistan are currently fighting for their independence from Pakistan. Various human rights organisations of Balochistan have time and again highlighted the repression by Pakistani forces in the province, which includes violent raids on the homes of Baloch leaders and civilians, unlawful arrests, enforced disappearances, the kill and dump policy, detention under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, and the filing of fabricated police cases. Earlier this month, the BLA released a media statement titled A New Order has Become Inevitable in the Region, urging the world to recognise Pakistan as the creator of terrorists and a terrorist entity. It said that the history of Pakistan, currently facing diplomatic isolation for failed military policies, has been written with the patronage of broken promises, back-stabbing and terrorism. Pakistan is a breeding ground for global terrorists, is a centre for state-sponsored development of deadly terror groups like LeT, JeM and ISIS. Pakistans ISI promotes these terror groups for terrorism purposes, a nuclear State with violent ideology. The Baloch nation without any external, military and financial support is able to defeat the worlds seventh largest nuclear state. BLA has rendered the enemy helpless on every front. There can never be a lasting peace without the elimination of Pakistan, read the statement. India has undertaken over 600 developmentprojects in 78 nations, says S Jaishankar NEW DELHI : EXTERNAL Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar informed that India has undertaken more than 600 development projects in 78 nations across various continents. Our resources may be limited, but India has always had a large heart. And that is why, still being a developing country, we have undertaken more than 600 development projects in 78 nations across various continents, said EAM Jaishankar while addressing the Parul University Convocation in Gujarats Vadodara. He emphasised that for that very reason, even while India was in the midst of taking care of its own, the country was able to supply vaccines to 99 nations and medicines to 150 during the COVID pandemic. When we advocate the interests of the Global South, it is for a reason that only a member of that fraternity can appreciate. Doing the right thing is also doing the smart thing, he said. During his address, EAM Jaishankar said that Indias endeavour, even while building on bonds of proximity, sociology and heritage, has been to promote goodwill through development. To that end, we have utilised two broad approaches that drive our activities abroad. One is to share our experiences in a very concrete manner with partners, conscious that they are probably more relevant to their needs than those that our partners could access elsewhere. The other is to continuously strengthen capacity building, so that partners have a better ability to evaluate and make their own choices. Together, what it does is to give our partner countries, especially those of the Global South, more options as well as a stronger hand in negotiating with others in the world, he said. MATTER OF FAITH THE sincere appreciation of Indias participation in the United Nations Peace-keeping efforts by none other than Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN UnderSecretary General, comes as an endorsement of Indias faith in and commitment to the international systems put in place for an orderly conduct of international affairs from the UN platform. It is out of its philosophical commitment to the UN ideals that India has been on the forefront of the world bodys efforts to maintain peace in conflict-prone regions of the world. It is out of that faith that India has committed one of the largest peace-keeping forces in the world to the UN efforts. The seriousness of Indias commitment to the cause can be understood from the fact that it has often sent some of its senior-most officers on UN peace-keeping missions in distant and difficult parts of the world. These officers add up to the Indian repository of military experience when they return from their UN missions. So sincere has their overall conduct on the peace-keeping missions that the world has come to appreciate the strength of character of the Indian officers in military and non-military roles. Some Indian officers have made highest sacrifices while on peace-keeping missions and have been awarded accordingly -- by the UN as well as by the Government of India. Many UN peace-keeping missions have been very tough -- often testing the capabilities of the Indian forces and the leadership qualities of their officers. Terrains are often hostile and local political conditions and configurations confusing. In some countries, local political groups even tend to link the Indian presence in peace-keeping as a hostile message from India. With passage of time, however, they realise the honest professionalism of the Indian troops and their officer-cadre. That is the reason in most cases the India forces have won local acclaim as well. India also has sent women troops on peace-keeping missions and those officers and soldiers have made a mark for themselves and for their country in those tough conditions abroad. This has led to an international recognition for India as a modern nation that has risen above old-style thoughts and social limitations. Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix has admitted that India does not just stop at sending good numbers of forces for peace-keeping assignments but also makes critical contribution to the UN policies on peace-keeping. This recognition holds a great importance from Indian point of view. Right from start of UN peace-keeping missions, India has made signal contribution -- including of very high-ranking officers who headed the UN forces in places such as Korea when the world was threatened with bloody and extended wars. This approach states very correctly the faith India has in the ideals of the United Nations and its charter. That is also the reason why India has often felt a strong need for reforms in the United Nations so that the world body becomes more useful and meaningful to the international community. India believes that the United Nations would be a better apex body if it is subjected to appropriate reforms that would make it more representative of all global interests. True, proper reforms would give India an opportunity to contribute more meaningfully to fulfilling the UN goals. But Indias campaign for reforms does not stem only from political ambitions alone. Pak violating Indus WaterTreaty through terrorismIndia atUN meet NEW DELHI : INDIA has said that Pakistan should stop blaming it for the breach of the Indus Water Treaty, as the unrelenting cross-border terrorism from its soil is interfering with the treatys implementation. Addressing the plenary session of the first UN conference on glaciers in Tajikistans Dushanbe on Friday, Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said that Pakistan itself was violating the treaty through terrorism. We are appalled at the attempt by Pakistan to misuse theforumandtobringinunwarranted references to issues which do not fall within the purviewoftheforum.Westronglycondemnedsuchanattempt, he said. Singh said it is an undeniable fact that there have been fundamental changes in circumstances since the Indus Waters Treaty was signed, which requires a reassessment of the treatys obligations. These changes include technological advancements, demographic changes, climate change and the ongoing threat of crossborder terrorism, he said. The Minister said that the treatys preamble states it was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship, and that honouring the treaty in good faith is essential. However, the unrelenting cross border terrorism from Pakistan interferes with an ability to exploit the treaty as per its provisions. Pakistan, which itself is in violation of the treaty, should desist from putting the blame of the breach of the treaty on India, he said. At the International Conference on Glaciers Preservation, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said his country would not allow India to cross the red line by holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and endangering millions of lives for narrow political gains. Indias unilateral and illegal decision to hold in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of the Indus Basins water, is deeply regrettable, Pakistani newspaper Dawn quoted Sharif as saying. Following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people, India announced the suspension of the treaty as part of several punitive measures against Pakistan. Will not tolerate proxy wars: PM warns Pak By Bhavana Aparajita Shukla BHOPAL Operation Sindoor a triumphant mission in Indias history against terrorism. Maa Ahilyas teachings will continue to take nation forward GIVING a clear and strong message to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated the warning to Pakistan saying that any act of aggression would be met with an even greater response. Ab goli ka jawab gole se milega (Response of bullets will be given through cannons). On Operation Sindoor, the Prime Minister said as a symbol ofIndias spirit,areflectionofthe nations courage and determination to maintain its sovereignty. PM Modi was addressing the Women Empowerment Mahasammelan in Bhopal held to mark 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, he reflected upon the legacy of the Holkar queen. PM Modi once again said that terrorists had dared to challenge the strength of Indian women without understanding the consequences; their action led to their downfall, in addition to their supporter. Highlighting the strength of Sindoor, he roared saying that Sindoor has long stood as an emblem of feminine power in ourtradition, signifying strength, devotion and sacred duty. It is not merely a ritual decoration or simply put a line an adornment but a profound representation of resilience and divine dignity. Citing an example from the Hindumythology,PMModisaid, even in the lore of Lord Hanuman, his devotion to Lord Rama is intertwined with symbolism of Sindoor, marking a bond of faith and unwavering commitment and Power of Bhakti. Referring to the recent acts of terror in Pahalgam, he said that they were not just an attack on innocent lives but an assault on Indias cultural fabric and unity. He pointed out that the aggressors had sought to fracture the spirit of the people and dared to challenge the indomitable force of womens strength, a mistake that proved to be their downfall. Highlighting the success of Operation Sindoor, PM Modi described it as the most formidable and triumphant mission in Indias history against terrorism. He lauded the armed forces for going deep into enemy territory, dismantling their hideouts and teaching them a lesson for their cowardly act. This operation, he said, delivered a powerful message to the world that India will no longer tolerate proxy wars waged through terrorism. Those who seek to threaten Indias sovereignty will find no refuge, as the forces of justice will strike at the very heart of hostility, eliminating not only the perpetrators but also those who enable and support them. The cost of aiding such atrocities, he declared, would be severe, and response to every act of aggression would be absolute. Remembering the great legacy and contribution of revered Queen Ahilyabai Holkar, PM Modi emphasised that a sense of respect prevails when we hear her name. He described her as an icon of resilience, wisdom and strength, noting that she was not merely a ruler but also a guardian of Indias cultural heritage. When invaders sought to dismantle the countrys temples, she took it upon herself to restore and preserve them, ensuring that Indias spiritual traditions remained intact, PM Modi said. PM Modi recalled her pioneering stance on social reform, highlighting that in an era when discussions about womens rights were rare, Ahilyabai boldly advocated for womens property rights and the right of widows to remarry. She championed these causes with conviction, defying tradition and challenging societal norms that sought to limit womens autonomy. Furthermore, she established a contingent of women warriors in the Malwa army, recognising female strength and capability at a time when such ideas were revolutionary. PM Modi remarked that the world, particularly the West, often criticises Indias treatment of women while overlooking its long history of female leadership and valour. He pointed out that Ahilyabais vision extended beyond her own kingdom. She took strategic measures to form womens security squads in villages, reinforcing their role as protectors of their communities. Her legacy, he said, is not just one of governance but of nation-building, embodying the power of women in shaping Indias future. Extending great respect towards the revered ruler , he says in future too her blessings continue to guide us and keep the nation moving forward. On the occasion, Governor Mangubhai Patel welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and presented him a portrait of Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar made of Zari Zardosi. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav welcomed Prime Minister Modi and honoured him with a Peshwai traditional turban. Prime Minister Modi was welcomed with a Pushpak Viman made of Bhareva craft peculiarity of Betul district. Abner Herrman & Brock LLC lowered its stake in International Business Machines Co. (NYSE:IBM Free Report) by 0.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 145,760 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 207 shares during the period. International Business Machines makes up 4.6% of Abner Herrman & Brock LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 2nd largest holding. Abner Herrman & Brock LLCs holdings in International Business Machines were worth $36,245,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina grew its position in shares of International Business Machines by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 495,574 shares of the technology companys stock worth $108,942,000 after purchasing an additional 4,131 shares in the last quarter. Blue Zone Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of International Business Machines during the 4th quarter worth approximately $242,000. Tranquilli Financial Advisor LLC acquired a new position in shares of International Business Machines during the 4th quarter worth approximately $373,000. Truist Financial Corp grew its position in shares of International Business Machines by 6.5% during the 4th quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 811,062 shares of the technology companys stock worth $178,296,000 after purchasing an additional 49,591 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mufg Securities Americas Inc. acquired a new position in shares of International Business Machines during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,000,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.96% of the companys stock. Get International Business Machines alerts: Insider Activity In other news, SVP Robert David Thomas sold 26,543 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $253.01, for a total transaction of $6,715,644.43. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 45,007 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,387,221.07. This trade represents a 37.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.18% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth IBM has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of International Business Machines from $237.00 to $233.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Erste Group Bank upgraded shares of International Business Machines from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Citigroup reiterated an outperform rating on shares of International Business Machines in a research report on Saturday, May 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a buy rating on shares of International Business Machines in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Finally, UBS Group reiterated a sell rating and set a $170.00 price target (up previously from $160.00) on shares of International Business Machines in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, International Business Machines has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $249.06. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on International Business Machines International Business Machines Stock Performance Shares of International Business Machines stock opened at $258.88 on Friday. International Business Machines Co. has a fifty-two week low of $163.53 and a fifty-two week high of $269.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.82, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 1.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $240.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.39, a P/E/G ratio of 5.81 and a beta of 0.64. The companys 50 day moving average price is $246.37 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $240.01. International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The technology company reported $1.60 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.42 by $0.18. The firm had revenue of $14.54 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.41 billion. International Business Machines had a net margin of 9.60% and a return on equity of 38.99%. The companys quarterly revenue was up .5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.68 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that International Business Machines Co. will post 10.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. International Business Machines Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 9th will be paid a dividend of $1.68 per share. This represents a $6.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.60%. This is an increase from International Business Machiness previous quarterly dividend of $1.67. International Business Machiness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 115.66%. About International Business Machines (Free Report) International Business Machines Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated solutions and services worldwide. The company operates through Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing segments. The Software segment offers a hybrid cloud and AI platforms that allows clients to realize their digital and AI transformations across the applications, data, and environments in which they operate. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IBM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for International Business Machines Co. (NYSE:IBM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for International Business Machines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Business Machines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC trimmed its position in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Free Report) by 51.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,094 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 5,464 shares during the quarter. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLCs holdings in Accenture were worth $1,590,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Accenture in the 4th quarter valued at $2,351,683,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of Accenture by 30,256.8% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,421,519 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,067,651,000 after buying an additional 3,410,248 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP grew its position in shares of Accenture by 22.8% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 12,175,518 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $4,283,225,000 after buying an additional 2,260,740 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Accenture in the 4th quarter valued at $666,495,000. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors grew its position in shares of Accenture by 16.8% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 12,295,748 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $4,325,526,000 after buying an additional 1,770,024 shares during the last quarter. 75.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Accenture alerts: Insider Activity at Accenture In other news, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 2,284 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $281.63, for a total transaction of $643,242.92. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 9,965 shares in the company, valued at $2,806,442.95. The trade was a 18.65% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Angela Beatty sold 169 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $281.90, for a total transaction of $47,641.10. Following the sale, the insider now owns 5,364 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,512,111.60. This trade represents a 3.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 8,516 shares of company stock worth $2,507,366 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 0.02% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms recently commented on ACN. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on shares of Accenture from $364.00 to $355.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Baird R W raised shares of Accenture from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, March 17th. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Accenture from $415.00 to $390.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 24th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Accenture from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on shares of Accenture from $390.00 to $380.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $382.14. Read Our Latest Research Report on ACN Accenture Stock Down 0.3% Shares of NYSE ACN opened at $316.71 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.47, a current ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17. Accenture plc has a 52 week low of $275.01 and a 52 week high of $398.35. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $302.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $338.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $198.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 1.35. Accenture (NYSE:ACN Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 20th. The information technology services provider reported $2.82 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.81 by $0.01. Accenture had a net margin of 11.41% and a return on equity of 26.91%. The firm had revenue of $16.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.64 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.77 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Accenture plc will post 12.73 EPS for the current fiscal year. Accenture Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 10th were paid a $1.48 dividend. This represents a $5.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.87%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, April 10th. Accentures dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.89%. About Accenture (Free Report) Accenture plc, a professional services company, provides strategy and consulting, industry X, song, and technology and operation services worldwide. The company offers application services, including agile transformation, DevOps, application modernization, enterprise architecture, software and quality engineering, data management; intelligent automation comprising robotic process automation, natural language processing, and virtual agents; and application management services, as well as software engineering services; strategy and consulting services; data and analytics strategy, data discovery and augmentation, data management and beyond, data democratization, and industrialized solutions comprising turnkey analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions; metaverse; and sustainability services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Addenda Capital Inc. cut its stake in Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report) by 0.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 15,958 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 27 shares during the period. Addenda Capital Inc.s holdings in Deere & Company were worth $7,515,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in Deere & Company by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Robertson Stephens Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,002 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $426,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC boosted its stake in Deere & Company by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 889 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $377,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares in the last quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Deere & Company by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 8,019 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,398,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Wealth Management boosted its stake in Deere & Company by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Wealth Management now owns 5,127 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,172,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC boosted its stake in Deere & Company by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC now owns 1,011 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $432,000 after purchasing an additional 25 shares in the last quarter. 68.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Deere & Company alerts: Deere & Company Trading Up 0.5% Shares of Deere & Company stock opened at $505.77 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $475.54 and its 200 day moving average price is $462.50. Deere & Company has a twelve month low of $340.20 and a twelve month high of $533.78. The company has a current ratio of 2.22, a quick ratio of 1.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $137.27 billion, a PE ratio of 22.42, a P/E/G ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.08. Deere & Company Announces Dividend Deere & Company ( NYSE:DE Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 15th. The industrial products company reported $6.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.72 by $0.92. The firm had revenue of $11.17 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.80 billion. Deere & Company had a return on equity of 27.31% and a net margin of 12.94%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 17.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $8.53 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Deere & Company will post 19.32 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 8th. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th will be given a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.28%. Deere & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.35%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have issued reports on DE. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Deere & Company from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets reissued a market perform rating and set a $460.00 price target (up from $425.00) on shares of Deere & Company in a research report on Wednesday, May 21st. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Deere & Company from $475.00 to $530.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Argus set a $510.00 price target on shares of Deere & Company in a research report on Friday, March 7th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Deere & Company from $462.00 to $440.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $515.19. Get Our Latest Research Report on Deere & Company Deere & Company Profile (Free Report) Deere & Co engages in the manufacture and distribution of equipment used in agriculture, construction, forestry, and turf care. It operates through the following segments: Agriculture and Turf, Construction and Forestry, and Financial Services. The Agriculture and Turf segment focuses on the distribution and manufacture of a full line of agriculture and turf equipment and related service parts. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Deere & Company (NYSE:DE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Deere & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deere & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Advisory Alpha LLC lowered its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Free Report) by 57.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 6,532 shares of the energy producers stock after selling 8,702 shares during the quarter. Advisory Alpha LLCs holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $686,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Tallon Kerry Patrick purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $511,000. Cibc World Market Inc. grew its holdings in ConocoPhillips by 543.0% during the 4th quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 146,843 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $14,562,000 after buying an additional 124,006 shares in the last quarter. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in ConocoPhillips by 8.0% during the 4th quarter. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC now owns 3,221 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $322,000 after buying an additional 238 shares in the last quarter. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in ConocoPhillips by 18.5% during the 4th quarter. TCI Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 2,252 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $223,000 after buying an additional 351 shares in the last quarter. Finally, New Wave Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in ConocoPhillips during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $87,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.36% of the companys stock. Get ConocoPhillips alerts: ConocoPhillips Price Performance Shares of COP stock opened at $85.12 on Friday. ConocoPhillips has a 52-week low of $79.88 and a 52-week high of $118.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $107.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.93, a P/E/G ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.64. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $90.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $97.34. ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend ConocoPhillips ( NYSE:COP Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The energy producer reported $2.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.05 by $0.04. ConocoPhillips had a return on equity of 17.26% and a net margin of 16.23%. The firm had revenue of $16.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.74 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.05 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that ConocoPhillips will post 8.16 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 19th will be given a dividend of $0.78 per share. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 19th. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.64%. Analysts Set New Price Targets COP has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on ConocoPhillips from $116.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. Raymond James restated an outperform rating and set a $109.00 price target (up previously from $103.00) on shares of ConocoPhillips in a report on Tuesday, May 20th. Bank of America cut their price target on ConocoPhillips from $107.00 to $106.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, May 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on ConocoPhillips from $116.00 to $113.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. Finally, Mizuho dropped their target price on ConocoPhillips from $127.00 to $125.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, ConocoPhillips presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $121.63. View Our Latest Report on COP About ConocoPhillips (Free Report) ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States, Canada, China, Libya, Malaysia, Norway, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; global LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects. Read More Receive News & Ratings for ConocoPhillips Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ConocoPhillips and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. American National Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in shares of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT Free Report) by 5.6% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 26,174 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,381 shares during the quarter. American National Bank & Trusts holdings in Caterpillar were worth $8,632,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Czech National Bank increased its holdings in Caterpillar by 4.9% during the 1st quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 109,773 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $36,203,000 after purchasing an additional 5,092 shares during the last quarter. Mirador Capital Partners LP increased its stake in shares of Caterpillar by 93.4% in the first quarter. Mirador Capital Partners LP now owns 1,460 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $481,000 after buying an additional 705 shares during the last quarter. Wallace Advisory Group LLC raised its holdings in Caterpillar by 39.7% in the first quarter. Wallace Advisory Group LLC now owns 1,386 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $503,000 after acquiring an additional 394 shares in the last quarter. Aletheian Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Caterpillar during the 1st quarter valued at $236,000. Finally, Allied Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Caterpillar by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Allied Investment Advisors LLC now owns 42,984 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $14,176,000 after acquiring an additional 1,217 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.98% of the companys stock. Get Caterpillar alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms recently commented on CAT. Raymond James upgraded Caterpillar from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Wall Street Zen downgraded Caterpillar from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. DA Davidson raised their price objective on Caterpillar from $325.00 to $331.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, May 5th. Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of Caterpillar from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the company from $309.00 to $395.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. Finally, Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Caterpillar from $320.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, May 5th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $372.92. Caterpillar Price Performance Shares of NYSE:CAT opened at $347.10 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. The firms 50 day moving average is $319.22 and its two-hundred day moving average is $350.89. The firm has a market capitalization of $163.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.73, a PEG ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 1.35. Caterpillar Inc. has a 52 week low of $267.30 and a 52 week high of $418.50. Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The industrial products company reported $4.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $4.35 by ($0.10). Caterpillar had a net margin of 16.65% and a return on equity of 58.18%. The business had revenue of $14.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.64 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $5.60 EPS. The firms revenue was down 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Caterpillar Inc. will post 19.86 earnings per share for the current year. Caterpillar Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 20th. Investors of record on Monday, April 21st were issued a $1.41 dividend. This represents a $5.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, April 21st. Caterpillars payout ratio is currently 27.49%. Insider Activity at Caterpillar In related news, Director David Maclennan purchased 375 shares of Caterpillar stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 7th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $320.70 per share, with a total value of $120,262.50. Following the purchase, the director now owns 6,653 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,133,617.10. The trade was a 5.97% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Caterpillar Profile (Free Report) Caterpillar Inc manufactures and sells construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives in worldwide. Its Construction Industries segment offers asphalt pavers, compactors, road reclaimers, forestry machines, cold planers, material handlers, track-type tractors, excavators, telehandlers, motor graders, and pipelayers; compact track, wheel, track-type, backhoe, and skid steer loaders; and related parts and tools. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CAT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Caterpillar Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Caterpillar and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PreveCeutical Medical (OTCMKTS:PRVCF Get Free Report) and BMW Group (OTC:BMWYY Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, institutional ownership and earnings. Insider & Institutional Ownership 0.0% of BMW Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get PreveCeutical Medical alerts: Earnings & Valuation This table compares PreveCeutical Medical and BMW Groups gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio PreveCeutical Medical N/A N/A -$940,000.00 N/A N/A BMW Group $168.28 billion N/A $12.22 billion $4.67 6.25 BMW Group has higher revenue and earnings than PreveCeutical Medical. Profitability This table compares PreveCeutical Medical and BMW Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets PreveCeutical Medical N/A N/A -544.17% BMW Group 5.63% 8.91% 3.26% Volatility & Risk PreveCeutical Medical has a beta of 0.43, suggesting that its share price is 57% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, BMW Group has a beta of 1.05, suggesting that its share price is 5% more volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for PreveCeutical Medical and BMW Group, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score PreveCeutical Medical 0 0 0 0 0.00 BMW Group 0 1 0 0 2.00 Summary BMW Group beats PreveCeutical Medical on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About PreveCeutical Medical (Get Free Report) PreveCeutical Medical Inc., a health sciences company, engages in the development of options for preventive and curative therapies utilizing organic and nature identical products. Its pipeline products include Cannabinoid Sol-Gel Delivery, a cannabinoid-based nose-to-brain delivery system that provides relief from various indications, including pain, inflammation, seizures, and neurological disorders; Non-Addictive Analgesic for pain management; BSV Peptide Program that targets cancer progression; and Dual Gene Therapy for type 2 diabetes and obesity. PreveCeutical Medical Inc. is headquartered in West Vancouver, Canada. About BMW Group (Get Free Report) Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft engages in the development, manufacture, and sale of automobiles and motorcycles, and spare parts and accessories worldwide. It operates through Automotive, Motorcycles, and Financial Services segments. The Automotive segment engages in the development, manufacture, assembling, and sale of automobiles, spare parts, accessories, and mobility services under the BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce brands. The Motorcycles segment develops, manufactures, assembles, and sells motorcycles and scooters under the BMW Motorrad brand, as well as spare parts and accessories. The Financial Services segment is involved in the automobile and motorcycle leasing, credit financing, retail and dealership financing, multi-brand fleet, customer deposit, and insurance activities; and the provision of fleet management services under the Alphabet brand. The company sells its products through independent dealerships. Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft was founded in 1916 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany. Receive News & Ratings for PreveCeutical Medical Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PreveCeutical Medical and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bond & Devick Financial Network Inc. purchased a new position in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 3,108 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $243,000. Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Charles Schwab by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 42,870 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,356,000 after purchasing an additional 780 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers raised its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 11.2% in the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 3,083,586 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $241,383,000 after acquiring an additional 310,008 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 40.6% in the first quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 25,892 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,027,000 after purchasing an additional 7,475 shares in the last quarter. Investors Research Corp raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 75.2% in the first quarter. Investors Research Corp now owns 559 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Spartan Planning & Wealth Management raised its holdings in Charles Schwab by 9.2% in the first quarter. Spartan Planning & Wealth Management now owns 3,347 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $262,000 after purchasing an additional 281 shares in the last quarter. 84.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes SCHW has been the subject of several research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $92.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, April 21st. TD Securities raised their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $95.00 to $113.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. TD Cowen raised Charles Schwab from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the company from $88.00 to $103.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on Charles Schwab from $74.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price objective on Charles Schwab from $96.00 to $84.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and fifteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $89.63. Insider Transactions at Charles Schwab In other news, insider Paul V. Woolway sold 3,380 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.32, for a total value of $268,101.60. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 57,818 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,586,123.76. This represents a 5.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Peter J. Morgan III sold 10,176 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.39, for a total value of $889,280.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 104,735 shares of company stock valued at $8,867,382. Corporate insiders own 6.30% of the companys stock. Charles Schwab Stock Up 0.7% Shares of NYSE:SCHW opened at $88.35 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12 month low of $61.01 and a 12 month high of $89.85. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $80.83 and a 200 day moving average price of $79.38. The company has a market cap of $160.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.55, a PEG ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 0.90. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $1.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.03. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 18.20% and a net margin of 30.31%. The firm had revenue of $5.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.46 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.74 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 4.22 earnings per share for the current year. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 9th were issued a $0.27 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 9th. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.22%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is presently 32.73%. Charles Schwab Company Profile (Free Report) The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Burns J W & Co. Inc. NY boosted its holdings in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW Free Report) by 9.9% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 244 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the period. Burns J W & Co. Inc. NYs holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $241,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in W.W. Grainger by 10.9% during the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 1,671 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,651,000 after buying an additional 164 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in shares of W.W. Grainger by 100,843.0% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 692,469 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $684,042,000 after acquiring an additional 691,783 shares during the last quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc raised its position in shares of W.W. Grainger by 250.0% during the 1st quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 140 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $138,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its position in shares of W.W. Grainger by 102.5% during the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 326 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $322,000 after acquiring an additional 165 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Insight Wealth Strategies LLC raised its position in shares of W.W. Grainger by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Insight Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 4,370 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $4,317,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.70% of the companys stock. Get W.W. Grainger alerts: Insider Activity In other news, CFO Deidra C. Merriwether sold 1,164 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $997.12, for a total transaction of $1,160,647.68. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 10,235 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,205,523.20. This trade represents a 10.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Krantz Nancy L. Berardinelli sold 280 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, May 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,075.20, for a total value of $301,056.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 3,369 shares in the company, valued at $3,622,348.80. This trade represents a 7.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 2,205 shares of company stock valued at $2,255,320. Company insiders own 6.10% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets GWW has been the topic of several research reports. William Blair raised W.W. Grainger from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Wolfe Research lowered W.W. Grainger from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $966.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Thursday, April 3rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on W.W. Grainger from $1,100.00 to $1,125.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on W.W. Grainger from $1,097.00 to $1,144.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $1,123.13. View Our Latest Analysis on W.W. Grainger W.W. Grainger Price Performance Shares of NYSE GWW opened at $1,086.69 on Friday. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 1-year low of $874.98 and a 1-year high of $1,227.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 2.49 and a quick ratio of 1.49. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $1,022.35 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $1,059.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $52.20 billion, a PE ratio of 28.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 1.24. W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The industrial products company reported $9.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $9.51 by $0.35. W.W. Grainger had a return on equity of 52.43% and a net margin of 11.12%. The firm had revenue of $4.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.31 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $9.62 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 1.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts expect that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 40.3 EPS for the current year. W.W. Grainger Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 12th will be issued a dividend of $2.26 per share. This represents a $9.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.83%. This is a positive change from W.W. Graingers previous quarterly dividend of $2.05. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 12th. W.W. Graingers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.21%. About W.W. Grainger (Free Report) W.W. Grainger, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services primarily in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety, security, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance, and metalworking and hand tools. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GWW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for W.W. Grainger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for W.W. Grainger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BYD Company Limited (OTCMKTS:BYDDF Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,946,200 shares, a decline of 34.9% from the April 30th total of 2,988,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 409,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.8 days. Approximately 0.1% of the companys stock are sold short. BYD Stock Down 4.4% BYDDF stock traded down $2.26 during trading on Friday, hitting $49.25. The company had a trading volume of 229,719 shares, compared to its average volume of 177,240. The firm has a market capitalization of $143.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.40 and a beta of 0.09. BYD has a 52-week low of $25.57 and a 52-week high of $61.51. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $50.04 and a 200-day simple moving average of $42.87. Get BYD alerts: BYD (OTCMKTS:BYDDF Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, April 25th. The company reported $0.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.35 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $23.47 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $188.91 billion. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Barclays restated an overweight rating and set a $85.00 target price on shares of BYD in a research note on Friday, March 28th. Get Our Latest Stock Report on BYD About BYD (Get Free Report) BYD Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in automobiles and batteries business in the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and internationally. The company operates in two segments: Mobile Handset Components, Assembly Service and Other Products; and Automobiles and Related Products and Other Products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BYD Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BYD and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. California State Teachers Retirement System lessened its holdings in shares of Chemed Co. (NYSE:CHE Free Report) by 2.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,418 shares of the companys stock after selling 288 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement System owned 0.09% of Chemed worth $7,109,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Atala Financial Inc purchased a new stake in Chemed during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in Chemed by 64.7% during the 4th quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 56 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Chemed by 77.3% during the 4th quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 78 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. increased its stake in shares of Chemed by 633.3% in the 4th quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 88 shares of the companys stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SRS Capital Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Chemed by 39.2% during the 4th quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 135 shares of the companys stock worth $72,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.85% of the companys stock. Get Chemed alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Chemed from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 7th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on Chemed from $667.00 to $674.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, April 28th. Chemed Stock Up 0.2% NYSE CHE opened at $574.62 on Friday. Chemed Co. has a 52 week low of $512.12 and a 52 week high of $623.61. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $580.66 and its 200-day simple moving average is $565.88. The firm has a market cap of $8.41 billion, a PE ratio of 29.04, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.59. Chemed (NYSE:CHE Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The company reported $5.63 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.59 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $646.94 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $641.78 million. Chemed had a return on equity of 27.86% and a net margin of 12.69%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $5.20 EPS. Research analysts expect that Chemed Co. will post 21.43 EPS for the current year. Chemed Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 17th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 29th will be issued a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 29th. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.35%. Chemeds dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 9.74%. Insider Activity at Chemed In related news, EVP Spencer S. Lee sold 1,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $577.86, for a total value of $866,790.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 16,127 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,319,148.22. The trade was a 8.51% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Kevin J. Mcnamara sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $615.33, for a total transaction of $615,330.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 101,679 shares in the company, valued at approximately $62,566,139.07. This trade represents a 0.97% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 7,500 shares of company stock worth $4,401,120. Company insiders own 3.29% of the companys stock. Chemed Profile (Free Report) Chemed Corporation provides hospice and palliative care services to patients through a network of physicians, registered nurses, home health aides, social workers, clergy, and volunteers primarily in the United States. The company operates in VITAS and Roto-Rooter segments. It offers plumbing, drain cleaning, excavation, water restoration, and other related services to residential and commercial customers through company-owned branches, independent contractors, and franchisees. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CHE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chemed Co. (NYSE:CHE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Chemed Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chemed and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division lifted its holdings in Standex International Co. (NYSE:SXI Free Report) by 23.2% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,001 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 377 shares during the quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Divisions holdings in Standex International were worth $323,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Standex International by 183.3% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 510 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $96,000 after acquiring an additional 330 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV raised its position in Standex International by 45.7% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 548 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $102,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Standex International in the 4th quarter worth approximately $201,000. Cibc World Markets Corp bought a new position in Standex International in the 4th quarter worth approximately $203,000. Finally, Principal Securities Inc. raised its position in Standex International by 15.0% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 1,109 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $207,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the last quarter. 90.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Standex International alerts: Standex International Stock Performance Shares of Standex International stock opened at $151.39 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $148.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of $175.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.05, a PEG ratio of 2.63 and a beta of 1.08. Standex International Co. has a 52 week low of $128.85 and a 52 week high of $212.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 2.61 and a current ratio of 3.37. Standex International Dividend Announcement Standex International ( NYSE:SXI Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The industrial products company reported $1.95 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.92 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $207.78 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $203.71 million. Standex International had a net margin of 7.59% and a return on equity of 13.28%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 17.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.75 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Standex International Co. will post 7.9 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 9th were given a dividend of $0.32 per share. This represents a $1.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.85%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 9th. Standex Internationals payout ratio is 25.30%. Insider Buying and Selling at Standex International In related news, Director Barbara Joanne Edwards sold 355 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.13, for a total value of $55,426.15. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,259 shares in the company, valued at $821,087.67. This represents a 6.32% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 2.10% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth SXI has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Roth Capital upgraded shares of Standex International to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of Standex International in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Standex International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday. Barrington Research restated an outperform rating and issued a $220.00 price objective on shares of Standex International in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, DA Davidson dropped their price objective on shares of Standex International from $207.00 to $200.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Standex International presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $223.33. Read Our Latest Report on SXI About Standex International (Free Report) Standex International Corporation, together with subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of various products and services for commercial and industrial markets in the United States and internationally. It operates through five segments: Electronics, Engraving, Scientific, Engineering Technologies, and Specialty Solutions. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Standex International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Standex International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China Hongqiao Group Limited (OTCMKTS:CHHQF Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,019,400 shares, an increase of 41.8% from the April 30th total of 2,834,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3,091.8 days. China Hongqiao Group Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS CHHQF remained flat at $1.63 during trading hours on Friday. The stock had a trading volume of 20 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,211. China Hongqiao Group has a 12 month low of $1.57 and a 12 month high of $2.35. The firms fifty day moving average price is $1.70 and its 200 day moving average price is $1.69. Get China Hongqiao Group alerts: China Hongqiao Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Further Reading China Hongqiao Group Limited, an investment holding company, manufactures and sells aluminum products in the People's Republic of China and Indonesia. The company's products include molten aluminum alloys, aluminum alloy ingots, aluminum busbars, aluminum alloy processing, and alumina products. Receive News & Ratings for China Hongqiao Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China Hongqiao Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Czech National Bank increased its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Free Report) by 4.5% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 293,047 shares of the energy producers stock after acquiring an additional 12,578 shares during the quarter. Czech National Banks holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $30,776,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Principle Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in ConocoPhillips by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Principle Wealth Partners LLC now owns 37,255 shares of the energy producers stock worth $3,695,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Arlington Trust Co LLC grew its position in ConocoPhillips by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC now owns 8,640 shares of the energy producers stock worth $857,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the period. Gray Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Gray Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,171 shares of the energy producers stock worth $215,000 after acquiring an additional 104 shares in the last quarter. Plancorp LLC boosted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Plancorp LLC now owns 4,018 shares of the energy producers stock worth $399,000 after acquiring an additional 104 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC boosted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 3.7% during the 4th quarter. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC now owns 2,912 shares of the energy producers stock worth $289,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. 82.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get ConocoPhillips alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts recently weighed in on COP shares. Mizuho decreased their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $127.00 to $125.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $135.00 to $120.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $120.00 to $115.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Friday. UBS Group cut their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $116.00 to $111.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Finally, Scotiabank cut their price target on shares of ConocoPhillips from $115.00 to $95.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 11th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $121.63. ConocoPhillips Stock Down 0.6% Shares of NYSE COP opened at $85.12 on Friday. ConocoPhillips has a 12-month low of $79.88 and a 12-month high of $118.40. The company has a market capitalization of $107.61 billion, a PE ratio of 10.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The firms 50-day moving average is $90.46 and its two-hundred day moving average is $97.34. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 8th. The energy producer reported $2.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.05 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $16.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.74 billion. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 16.23% and a return on equity of 17.26%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.05 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that ConocoPhillips will post 8.16 EPS for the current fiscal year. ConocoPhillips Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 19th will be given a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 19th. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.67%. ConocoPhillipss payout ratio is currently 39.64%. ConocoPhillips Profile (Free Report) ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States, Canada, China, Libya, Malaysia, Norway, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; global LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects. Read More Receive News & Ratings for ConocoPhillips Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ConocoPhillips and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Iluka Resources Limited (OTCMKTS:ILKAY Get Free Report)s share price traded down 8.7% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $12.25 and last traded at $12.50. 446 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 43% from the average session volume of 784 shares. The stock had previously closed at $13.69. Iluka Resources Stock Down 8.7% The firms 50-day moving average price is $12.67 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.46. Iluka Resources Company Profile (Get Free Report) Iluka Resources Limited engages in the exploration, project development, mining, processing, marketing, and rehabilitation of mineral sands in Australia, China, rest of Asia, Europe, the Americas, and internationally. It operates through Jacinth-Ambrosia/Mid-West, Cataby/South West, Rare Earths, and United States/Murray Basin segments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Iluka Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Iluka Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Thomson Reuters Co. (TSE:TRI Get Free Report) (NYSE:TRI) Director Robert Durnford sold 80 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$271.18, for a total value of C$21,694.70. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 98 shares in the company, valued at C$26,576.01. This represents a 44.94% decrease in their position. Thomson Reuters Price Performance Shares of TSE TRI opened at C$270.50 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of C$85.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a current ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 24.28. Thomson Reuters Co. has a 1-year low of C$214.51 and a 1-year high of C$273.59. The businesss 50 day moving average is C$254.05 and its 200-day moving average is C$244.42. Get Thomson Reuters alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have issued reports on TRI shares. Bank of America set a C$255.00 price objective on Thomson Reuters and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. TD Securities upped their price objective on Thomson Reuters from C$250.00 to C$260.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. National Bankshares increased their target price on Thomson Reuters from C$260.00 to C$286.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their target price on Thomson Reuters from C$175.00 to C$181.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Finally, Scotiabank lowered Thomson Reuters from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$252.40. About Thomson Reuters (Get Free Report) Thomson Reuters Corporation engages in the provision of business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Thomson Reuters Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thomson Reuters and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Iowa State Bank reduced its stake in shares of The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report) by 0.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 16,341 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock after selling 99 shares during the period. Iowa State Banks holdings in TJX Companies were worth $1,990,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of TJX. Czech National Bank grew its holdings in TJX Companies by 5.6% during the first quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 258,201 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $31,449,000 after purchasing an additional 13,655 shares during the period. Mechanics Bank Trust Department raised its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 46.4% in the first quarter. Mechanics Bank Trust Department now owns 5,492 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $669,000 after buying an additional 1,740 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its position in shares of TJX Companies by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 2,284,862 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $278,296,000 after buying an additional 38,286 shares during the last quarter. Bowman & Co S.C. lifted its position in shares of TJX Companies by 5.6% during the 1st quarter. Bowman & Co S.C. now owns 14,735 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock valued at $1,795,000 after buying an additional 783 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of TJX Companies by 24.8% during the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 29,976 shares of the apparel and home fashions retailers stock worth $3,651,000 after acquiring an additional 5,966 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.09% of the companys stock. Get TJX Companies alerts: Insider Activity at TJX Companies In other TJX Companies news, CEO Ernie Herrman sold 23,428 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.03, for a total value of $2,882,346.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 484,189 shares of the companys stock, valued at $59,569,772.67. The trade was a 4.62% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. TJX Companies Trading Down 0.2% Shares of TJX stock opened at $126.79 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a current ratio of 1.19. The TJX Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $103.70 and a 52-week high of $135.85. The company has a market capitalization of $141.64 billion, a PE ratio of 29.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.94. The businesss fifty day moving average is $126.88 and its 200 day moving average is $123.85. TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 21st. The apparel and home fashions retailer reported $0.92 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.02. TJX Companies had a return on equity of 61.82% and a net margin of 8.63%. The business had revenue of $13.11 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.01 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.93 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that The TJX Companies, Inc. will post 4.18 EPS for the current fiscal year. TJX Companies Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 5th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 15th will be given a $0.425 dividend. This represents a $1.70 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.34%. This is a boost from TJX Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 15th. TJX Companiess dividend payout ratio is 40.00%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently issued reports on TJX. Wall Street Zen upgraded TJX Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, May 12th. UBS Group reissued a buy rating and issued a $164.00 price target (up previously from $154.00) on shares of TJX Companies in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $145.00 price objective on shares of TJX Companies in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Citigroup upgraded shares of TJX Companies from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of TJX Companies from $140.00 to $143.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, TJX Companies currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $140.65. View Our Latest Report on TJX TJX Companies Company Profile (Free Report) The TJX Companies, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Marmaxx, HomeGoods, TJX Canada, and TJX International. The company sells family apparel, including footwear and accessories; home fashions, such as home basics, furniture, rugs, lighting products, giftware, soft home products, decorative accessories, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet, and gourmet food departments; jewelry and accessories; and other merchandise. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TJX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for TJX Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TJX Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nebraska's two Planned Parenthood health centers in Lincoln and Omaha will remain open despite the organizations plans to permanently close clinics across Iowa and Minnesota in response to federal funding cuts. The Midwestern affiliate operating clinics throughout the region, Planned Parenthood North Central States, announced the impending closures of four centers in Iowa and four in Minnesota last week, citing a federal funding freeze, budget cuts, the country's "broken health care system," and state abortion laws becoming more restrictive. However, the location in south Lincoln which doesnt offer abortion services along with the clinic in north Omaha will continue providing access to birth control, emergency contraception, gender-affirming care, HIV services, mental health resources, pregnancy testing, vaccines, STD testing and wellness and preventive care. Lincolns Planned Parenthood clinic stopped providing abortions of any kind in February 2024, while the location in Omaha still offers both surgical and medication abortions up to around 11 weeks from the patients last menstrual period. The Lincoln health center ceased its abortion services after paying to fly physicians to the Capital City twice a week to lead the procedures. Instead, Planned Parenthood North Central States opted to transfer all abortion care to the Omaha location to cut back on costs and expand abortion offerings to four days a week, according to CEO and President Ruth Richardson. We've been providing care for over 100 years in this region, and we're going to do everything that we can to ensure that we're around for 100 more years and beyond that as well, she told the Journal Star. Nebraska lawmakers approved restrictions in 2023 banning abortions past 12 weeks of pregnancy with some exceptions including rape, incest and medical emergencies a measure that was solidified by Nebraska voters last November. The organization opted to keep its doors open in Nebraska largely due to the Omaha location's recent renovations and Lincoln's pilot program working to expand primary care in the Planned Parenthood clinic. Following the eight Planned Parenthood closures this year, Omahas health center, which recently received a $1 million renovation to triple its capacity, will be one of six clinics operated by Planned Parenthood North Central States still offering abortion services, along with five locations in Minnesota, including three in the Minneapolis area. In addition to Nebraska, the regional Planned Parenthood affiliate, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, oversees health center locations in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota. With the closures, the organization will now run 15 centers across the five states. Abortions in Nebraska In 2023, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services reported 2,325 abortions were conducted in the state, down by around 8% from the 2,547 abortions in 2022, when abortions were still allowed until up to 20 weeks of gestation. Of those who had an abortion in Nebraska in 2023, more than 1,800 were Nebraska residents, while others resided in Iowa (222); Missouri (86); Kansas (51); South Dakota (50); and Texas (46). Additionally, a vast majority of the abortions occurring in Nebraska were induced using abortion pills typically a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol rather than performed surgically. The yearly number of abortions in Nebraska over the past 25 years peaked in 2000 with more than 4,100 abortions. Nebraska saw the lowest number of abortions occur in 2016 with 1,900. The health department has yet to release abortion data for 2024, so it remains unclear exactly how the 12-week ban has impacted the number of abortions occurring in the state. In Iowa, health centers in Cedar Rapids, Urbandale, Sioux City and Ames the states lone Planned Parenthood clinic still offering surgical abortion services will close. Only two clinics will remain open in the state: Des Moines and Iowa City. Minnesota, where abortion is legal and constitutionally protected, will have 10 remaining Planned Parenthood health centers following the closures of clinics in Alexandria, Apple Valley, Bemidji and Richfield. Around 66 Planned Parenthood employees will be laid off and 37 other staff members will be asked to transfer to other locations. However, the organization plans to continue growing its virtual telemedicine services, which currently serve around 20,000 patients a year. The clinic closures come as the regional Planned Parenthood affiliate faces a string of challenges and a lot of uncertainty. In April, Planned Parenthood was notified of a $2.8 million freeze of federal Title X funding used to provide services like birth control, STD testing and cancer screenings in Minnesota. Title X is the nations only federal program dedicated to providing affordable birth control and reproductive health care regardless of income or insurance. The organization is also wary of severe cuts in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed budget, which includes the elimination of a teen pregnancy prevention program that provides more than $773,000 for outreach and education in Nebraska and Iowa. Furthermore, Congress voted to advance a reconciliation package last week that would defund Planned Parenthood and cut back Medicaid, impacting more than 30% of the organizations patients. Laws limiting access The increase in states with restrictive abortion laws has also had an impact on Planned Parenthood North Central States, Richardson said. In addition to Nebraskas 12-week ban, Iowa and South Dakota both allow limited access to abortions. Starting last July, Iowa began banning abortions once fetal cardiac activity has been detected, which typically occurs at around six weeks of pregnancy when many people are still unaware they are pregnant. In the six months following Iowas new law, abortions in the state dropped by 60%, while the rate of Iowans traveling to Nebraska or Minnesota for an abortion increased by 239%, according to Planned Parenthood North Central States. South Dakota also enforces a near-total abortion ban that went into effect after the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Additionally, North Dakota currently allows abortion until viability, however, state officials are attempting to approve a law to completely ban abortion, which is being challenged in the courts. In Nebraska, a bill (LB632) that opponents called a "backdoor attempt" to ban abortion by requiring health care facilities to bury or cremate the remains of elective abortions stalled in the Legislature this session. Senators are expected to adjourn Monday without taking it up again. In this environment, which has intensified since the overturning of Roe and the Dobbs decision, we have seen so many more barriers being put up that create real barriers to access to care, Richardson said. Our North Star as an organization is focused on health equity. Ensuring that people have access to care is at the heart of everything that we are doing. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC raised its position in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IJJ Free Report) by 14.8% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 110,845 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 14,294 shares during the quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLCs holdings in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF were worth $13,851,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Orion Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Palouse Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. BankPlus Trust Department acquired a new stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Comprehensive Financial Planning Inc. PA acquired a new stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. Get iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF alerts: iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF Price Performance Shares of iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF stock opened at $119.56 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $7.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.60 and a beta of 1.06. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $115.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $123.20. iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF has a 1-year low of $102.24 and a 1-year high of $136.42. iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF Company Profile iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF, formerly iShares S&P MidCap 400 Value Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Value Index (the Index). The Value Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization value sector of the United States equity market and consists of those stocks in the S&P MidCap 400 Index exhibiting the strongest value characteristics. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IJJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IJJ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JGP Wealth Management LLC reduced its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report) by 39.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 41,446 shares of the companys stock after selling 26,784 shares during the period. JGP Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $6,873,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Tallon Kerry Patrick purchased a new stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson during the 4th quarter worth about $290,000. Capital & Planning LLC lifted its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 13.6% in the 4th quarter. Capital & Planning LLC now owns 1,528 shares of the companys stock valued at $221,000 after buying an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 13.9% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 51,876 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,502,000 after buying an additional 6,332 shares in the last quarter. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new position in Johnson & Johnson in the 4th quarter valued at about $85,886,000. Finally, Curbstone Financial Management Corp lifted its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Curbstone Financial Management Corp now owns 26,732 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,866,000 after buying an additional 280 shares in the last quarter. 69.55% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Johnson & Johnson alerts: Johnson & Johnson Stock Up 0.9% Shares of NYSE JNJ opened at $154.99 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $154.31 and a 200-day simple moving average of $153.65. The company has a market capitalization of $372.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.31, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 0.86. Johnson & Johnson has a 1 year low of $140.68 and a 1 year high of $169.99. Johnson & Johnson Increases Dividend Johnson & Johnson ( NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 15th. The company reported $2.77 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.59 by $0.18. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 18.20% and a return on equity of 34.24%. The firm had revenue of $21.89 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.65 billion. On average, equities research analysts predict that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.58 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.36%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 27th. This is an increase from Johnson & Johnsons previous quarterly dividend of $1.24. Johnson & Johnsons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 57.84%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts recently weighed in on JNJ shares. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $166.00 to $165.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Raymond James decreased their price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson from $165.00 to $162.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Johnson & Johnson from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $157.00 to $172.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 9th. Benchmark upgraded shares of Johnson & Johnson to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $181.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Eleven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $170.88. Read Our Latest Research Report on JNJ Johnson & Johnson Profile (Free Report) Johnson & Johnson is a holding company, which engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of products in the healthcare field. It operates through the Innovative Medicine and MedTech segments. The Innovative Medicine segment focuses on immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, oncology, cardiovascular and metabolism, and pulmonary hypertension. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JNJ? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Johnson & Johnson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Johnson & Johnson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lenovo Group Limited (OTCMKTS:LNVGF Get Free Report)s share price dropped 3.7% on Friday . The company traded as low as $1.13 and last traded at $1.16. Approximately 2,817 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 97% from the average daily volume of 95,321 shares. The stock had previously closed at $1.20. Lenovo Group Trading Down 3.7% The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $1.18 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $1.28. Lenovo Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Lenovo Group Limited, an investment holding company, develops, manufactures, and markets technology products and services. It operates through Intelligent Devices Group, Infrastructure Solutions Group, and Solutions and Services Group segments. The company offers commercial and consumer personal computers, as well as servers and workstations; and a family of mobile Internet devices, including tablets and smartphones. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lenovo Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lenovo Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (TSE:NDM Get Free Report) (NYSE:NAK) shares passed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$1.43 and traded as high as C$1.47. Northern Dynasty Minerals shares last traded at C$1.45, with a volume of 397,774 shares. Northern Dynasty Minerals Trading Up 0.7% The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$1.43 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$1.07. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 3.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.33. The stock has a market cap of C$787.58 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -45.96 and a beta of 0.75. Get Northern Dynasty Minerals alerts: Insider Activity In related news, insider Bruce Wayne Jenkins sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$1.65, for a total value of C$41,360.00. 1.86% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Northern Dynasty Minerals Company Profile Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd is a Canadian mineral exploration company. It has a single operating segment of acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. Its core asset is the Pebble Project located in Alaska, USA. The Pebble project is seeking to develop a significant deposit of copper, gold, molybdenum, and silver into a modern mining operation. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Northern Dynasty Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northern Dynasty Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Quantum Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) by 8.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 3,316 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after buying an additional 259 shares during the period. Quantum Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $440,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of ABT. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 168,645,397 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $19,075,481,000 after purchasing an additional 739,260 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors increased its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 67,972,953 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $7,688,160,000 after purchasing an additional 2,229,026 shares in the last quarter. Capital Research Global Investors increased its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 54,097,005 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $6,118,903,000 after purchasing an additional 795,073 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 35,668,834 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $4,023,027,000 after purchasing an additional 765,636 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 26,392,302 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $2,985,233,000 after purchasing an additional 581,325 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.18% of the companys stock. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages recently weighed in on ABT. Bank of America lifted their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $133.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $145.00 price objective (up from $133.00) on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $158.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $132.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Abbott Laboratories currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $142.59. Abbott Laboratories Trading Up 0.6% Shares of Abbott Laboratories stock opened at $133.68 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $232.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.47, a P/E/G ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.74. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $130.46 and its 200-day simple moving average is $125.24. Abbott Laboratories has a 1-year low of $99.71 and a 1-year high of $141.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 1.14. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 16th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.09 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.07 by $0.02. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 20.74% and a net margin of 31.95%. The firm had revenue of $10.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.38 billion. Analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity at Abbott Laboratories In other Abbott Laboratories news, SVP Eric Shroff sold 562 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.17, for a total value of $77,651.54. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 31,970 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,417,294.90. The trade was a 1.73% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 949 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $138.17, for a total value of $131,123.33. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 74,381 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,277,222.77. The trade was a 1.26% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 95,278 shares of company stock worth $12,745,859. Insiders own 0.46% of the companys stock. Abbott Laboratories Profile (Free Report) Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shenzhou International Group Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:SHZHY Get Free Report) shares traded down 3.7% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $7.08 and last traded at $7.08. 9,637 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 33% from the average session volume of 14,345 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.35. Shenzhou International Group Trading Down 3.7% The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $6.89 and a 200-day moving average price of $7.33. About Shenzhou International Group (Get Free Report) Shenzhou International Group Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the manufacture, printing, and sale of knitwear products in Mainland China, European Union, the United States, Japan, and internationally. It produces and sells knitted sportswear, casual wear, and lingerie wear. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Shenzhou International Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shenzhou International Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Company Limited (OTCMKTS:SPTJF Get Free Report) was the target of a large drop in short interest in May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,958,000 shares, a drop of 24.5% from the April 30th total of 11,862,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 3,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2,559.4 days. Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Stock Performance Shares of SPTJF opened at $0.16 on Friday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $0.15 and a 200-day simple moving average of $0.15. Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical has a 52-week low of $0.10 and a 52-week high of $0.19. Get Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical alerts: About Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical (Get Free Report) Featured Articles Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells petroleum and chemical products in the Peoples Republic of China. The company operates through Petroleum Products, Intermediate Petrochemicals, Synthetic Fibers, Resins and Plastics, and Trading of Petrochemical Products segments. Receive News & Ratings for Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sterneck Capital Management LLC lowered its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 16.7% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,996 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,200 shares during the quarter. Sterneck Capital Management LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $430,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Spinnaker Trust lifted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Spinnaker Trust now owns 7,407 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $520,000 after buying an additional 130 shares during the period. Shakespeare Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Shakespeare Wealth Management LLC now owns 13,839 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $972,000 after buying an additional 130 shares during the period. MONECO Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. MONECO Advisors LLC now owns 7,018 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $493,000 after buying an additional 134 shares during the period. Safeguard Investment Advisory Group LLC lifted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 2.4% in the 4th quarter. Safeguard Investment Advisory Group LLC now owns 5,839 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $410,000 after buying an additional 137 shares during the period. Finally, Crown Wealth Group LLC lifted its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Crown Wealth Group LLC now owns 6,648 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $467,000 after buying an additional 140 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.90% of the companys stock. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Wells Fargo & Company Stock Up 0.1% WFC stock opened at $74.62 on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company has a twelve month low of $50.15 and a twelve month high of $81.50. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07. The firm has a market cap of $242.83 billion, a PE ratio of 13.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.13. The business has a 50 day moving average of $70.07 and a 200 day moving average of $72.90. Wells Fargo & Company ( NYSE:WFC Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 11th. The financial services provider reported $1.39 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.23 by $0.16. Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.38% and a net margin of 15.73%. The company had revenue of $20.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.82 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.20 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wells Fargo & Company declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback program on Tuesday, April 29th that allows the company to repurchase $40.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the financial services provider to buy up to 17.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, June 1st. Investors of record on Friday, May 9th will be given a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.14%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 9th. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.73%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $84.00 to $73.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 14th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Wells Fargo & Company from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $80.00 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, March 13th. Citigroup lowered their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $82.00 to $78.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 24th. Raymond James lowered their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $88.00 to $78.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $82.00 to $73.50 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $75.73. Get Our Latest Report on Wells Fargo & Company Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile (Free Report) Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified and community-based financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Southern, Quanta Services, and Bank of New York Mellon are the three Renewable Energy stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Renewable energy stocks are shares of companies involved in the generation, development or equipment manufacturing for power produced from renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydroelectric and geothermal. By investing in these equities, investors gain exposure to the growth of clean-energy industries driven by environmental policies, technological advances and shifting consumer preferences. Performance in this sector can be influenced by government subsidies, regulatory changes and global energy demand trends. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Renewable Energy stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Southern (SO) The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations. Shares of NYSE:SO traded up $1.19 on Friday, reaching $89.94. 10,681,858 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,526,481. The businesss 50-day moving average is $89.89 and its two-hundred day moving average is $87.25. The company has a quick ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.60. Southern has a fifty-two week low of $76.96 and a fifty-two week high of $94.45. The firm has a market capitalization of $98.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.43, a PEG ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 0.40. Read Our Latest Research Report on SO Quanta Services (PWR) Quanta Services, Inc. provides infrastructure solutions for the electric and gas utility, renewable energy, communications, and pipeline and energy industries in the United States, Canada, Australia, and internationally. The companys Electric Power Infrastructure Solutions segment engages in the design, procurement, construction, upgrade, repair, and maintenance of electric power transmission and distribution infrastructure and substation facilities; installation, maintenance, and upgrade of electric power infrastructure projects; installation of smart grid technologies on electric power networks; and design, installation, maintenance, and repair of commercial and industrial wirings. NYSE:PWR traded up $2.30 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $342.04. 1,655,321 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,548,252. Quanta Services has a twelve month low of $227.08 and a twelve month high of $365.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.19. The firm has a market capitalization of $50.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 56.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $295.98 and a 200 day moving average price of $303.41. Read Our Latest Research Report on PWR Bank of New York Mellon (BK) The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics. BK stock traded down $0.42 during trading on Friday, hitting $88.65. The company had a trading volume of 6,337,730 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,077,975. The firm has a market capitalization of $63.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.26, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83. The business has a 50 day moving average of $82.36 and a 200 day moving average of $82.20. Bank of New York Mellon has a fifty-two week low of $57.18 and a fifty-two week high of $90.63. Read Our Latest Research Report on BK See Also Turk Telekomunikasyon Anonim Sirketi (OTCMKTS:TRKNY Get Free Report)s share price fell 13.7% on Friday . The company traded as low as $2.72 and last traded at $2.72. 1,000 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 23% from the average session volume of 1,296 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.15. Turk Telekomunikasyon Anonim Sirketi Trading Down 13.7% The business has a 50-day moving average price of $2.84 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $2.72. Turk Telekomunikasyon Anonim Sirketi Company Profile (Get Free Report) Turk Telekomunikasyon Anonim Sirketi, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated telecommunication services in Turkey. The company operates in two segments, Fixed Line and Mobile. It offers mobile, Internet, phone and TV products and services under the Turk Telekom brand. The company also provides PSTN and wholesale broadband services; retail Internet services, IPTV, satellite TV, Web TV, mobile TV, and smart TV services; IT solutions; convergence technologies; online education software; project development and corporate venture capital services; and wholesale data and capacity services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Turk Telekomunikasyon Anonim Sirketi Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Turk Telekomunikasyon Anonim Sirketi and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. New Hampshire Trust increased its stake in United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Free Report) by 25.9% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 2,172 shares of the transportation companys stock after purchasing an additional 447 shares during the period. New Hampshire Trusts holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $239,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Somerset Trust Co boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 49.4% in the 1st quarter. Somerset Trust Co now owns 3,092 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $340,000 after purchasing an additional 1,022 shares in the last quarter. Advisory Alpha LLC boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 30.0% in the 1st quarter. Advisory Alpha LLC now owns 33,724 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $3,709,000 after purchasing an additional 7,785 shares in the last quarter. S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 1,938.4% in the 1st quarter. S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC now owns 80,516 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $8,856,000 after purchasing an additional 76,566 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 10,980.3% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 719,555 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $79,144,000 after purchasing an additional 713,061 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nexus Investment Management ULC boosted its stake in United Parcel Service by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Nexus Investment Management ULC now owns 212,381 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $23,360,000 after purchasing an additional 1,781 shares in the last quarter. 60.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get United Parcel Service alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms recently commented on UPS. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on shares of United Parcel Service from $145.00 to $124.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They set a hold rating and a $119.00 price objective for the company. Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $111.00 to $115.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, May 16th. Wolfe Research decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $133.00 to $113.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of United Parcel Service from $130.00 to $125.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating, eleven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, United Parcel Service has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $120.26. United Parcel Service Price Performance NYSE:UPS opened at $97.50 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.14. The firm has a market cap of $82.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $98.56 and a 200-day moving average price of $115.10. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 1-year low of $90.55 and a 1-year high of $148.15. United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The transportation company reported $1.49 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.38 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $21.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.25 billion. United Parcel Service had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 39.13%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down .9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.43 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 7.95 EPS for the current year. United Parcel Service Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 5th. Investors of record on Monday, May 19th will be issued a $1.64 dividend. This represents a $6.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.73%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 19th. United Parcel Services payout ratio is presently 95.63%. United Parcel Service Profile (Free Report) United Parcel Service, Inc, a package delivery company, provides transportation and delivery, distribution, contract logistics, ocean freight, airfreight, customs brokerage, and insurance services. It operates through two segments, U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The U.S. Domestic Package segment offers time-definite delivery of express letters, documents, small packages, and palletized freight through air and ground services in the United States. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UPS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for United Parcel Service Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United Parcel Service and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Woodstock Corp lessened its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 2.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 105,257 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 2,100 shares during the period. Woodstock Corps holdings in Pfizer were worth $2,667,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. D Orazio & Associates Inc. grew its position in Pfizer by 5.5% in the 4th quarter. D Orazio & Associates Inc. now owns 7,549 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $200,000 after buying an additional 391 shares in the last quarter. Lipe & Dalton boosted its position in shares of Pfizer by 17.7% during the 4th quarter. Lipe & Dalton now owns 2,659 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Beam Wealth Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Beam Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 27,444 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $728,000 after purchasing an additional 401 shares in the last quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Pfizer by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Providence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 114,358 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,034,000 after purchasing an additional 409 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Donaldson Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Donaldson Capital Management LLC now owns 35,694 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $947,000 after purchasing an additional 410 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.36% of the companys stock. Get Pfizer alerts: Pfizer Price Performance NYSE PFE opened at $23.46 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $23.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $25.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $133.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.58. Pfizer Inc. has a 52-week low of $20.92 and a 52-week high of $31.54. Pfizer Dividend Announcement Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.67 by $0.25. The business had revenue of $13.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.43 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 12.62% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The firms revenue was down 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.82 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 9th will be given a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.33%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 9th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 124.64%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on PFE shares. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $24.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of Pfizer to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Thursday, March 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $25.00 target price (down from $32.00) on shares of Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They issued a neutral rating and a $24.00 target price for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Pfizer currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $29.17. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on PFE Pfizer Profile (Free Report) Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wright Investors Service Inc. lifted its position in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 44.2% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 24,350 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 7,465 shares during the period. Wright Investors Service Inc.s holdings in Pfizer were worth $617,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Pfizer in the 4th quarter valued at about $2,328,986,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Pfizer by 19.5% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 155,459,101 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $4,124,330,000 after buying an additional 25,315,159 shares during the last quarter. Starboard Value LP acquired a new position in Pfizer in the 4th quarter valued at about $407,730,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Pfizer in the 4th quarter valued at about $274,694,000. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its stake in Pfizer by 7.5% in the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 76,502,238 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,029,604,000 after buying an additional 5,350,381 shares during the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Pfizer alerts: Pfizer Stock Performance Shares of Pfizer stock opened at $23.46 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $23.12 and a 200-day moving average of $25.06. Pfizer Inc. has a 1-year low of $20.92 and a 1-year high of $31.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The company has a market cap of $133.38 billion, a PE ratio of 16.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.58. Pfizer Dividend Announcement Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.67 by $0.25. Pfizer had a net margin of 12.62% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The company had revenue of $13.72 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.43 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.82 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.33%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 9th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 124.64%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research analysts recently commented on the stock. Hsbc Global Res upgraded shares of Pfizer to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $25.00 price target (down previously from $32.00) on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Guggenheim reissued a buy rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They issued a neutral rating and a $24.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Citigroup reissued a neutral rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Thursday, March 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and three have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $29.17. Read Our Latest Report on PFE Pfizer Company Profile (Free Report) Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. In a remarkable blend of innovation, compassion, and sustainability, the department of education at Asannagar Madan Mohan Tarkalankar College has launched a heart-warming initiative to quench the thirst of the voiceless birds. Nearly 250 handmade bird feeders, ingeniously crafted from discarded plastic bottles, have been placed in the trees surrounding the college and its neighbouring areas. The project, led by students and supported by the colleges NSS unit, is drawing attention not only for its ecological value but also as a powerful example of community outreach. Using abandoned plastic bottles, cutters, and wooden sticks, students turned everyday waste into life-saving water containers for birds braving the scorching summer heat. These feeders, suspended from tree branches, are already drawing a flurry of feathered visitors a sight that is as soul-stirring as it is symbolic of coexistence. Advertisement Dr Asok Kumar Das, principal of the college, lauded the initiative as both timely and praiseworthy. Commending the NSS team for their creativity and compassion, he remarked, We should always remember that like human beings, other non-human living beings have the right to live in a meaningful way. Advertisement Dr Aniruddha Saha, assistant professor in the department of education, emphasised the significance of the project from an academic and social standpoint. This falls under the purview of a community outreach programme, which NAAC looks upon favourably. Outreach is about extending our learning and care beyond the classroom to touch lives in the community human and non-human alike, he noted. The college, known for its lush greenery and vibrant birdlife, offers a fitting backdrop for this environmental effort. Students say the initiative has not only made them more environmentally conscious but also brought immense personal satisfaction. Watching birds sip water from our feeders is more rewarding than we could have imagined, said one enthusiastic participant. In an age where environmental degradation and plastic pollution are looming threats, this small but impactful gesture by a group of college students serves as a beacon of hope. It showcases how educational institutions can play a vital role in fostering eco-consciousness and instilling a sense of responsibility towards all forms of life. With this project, Asannagar Madan Mohan Tarkalankar College has not only contributed to the immediate welfare of birds during the summer months but also set a shining example of how sustainability, creativity, and empathy can come together in a campus-led initiative, said a senior teacher of the college adding that the flutter of wings and the glimmer of water in hanging bottles now tell a story of care a story that began with a simple thought and bloomed into a living legacy. Mr P C Mohan, chairperson and other members of Parliamentary Standing Committee on social justice and empowerment held a meeting with Mr P Uday Kumar Reddy, general manager of Kolkata Metro Railway, Milind K Deouskar, general manager, Eastern Railway, Anil Kumar Mishra general manager, South Eastern Railway and other senior Railway officers in Kolkata today Members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on social justice and empowerment reviewed the implementation of measures taken under the Accessible India Campaign (AIC) Scheme in Metro Railway. They also gave their suggestions and advice for further improvement in this regard, to ensure easy accessibility of Metro services for persons with disabilities (PwDs). Members of the committee have also expressed their willingness to support Metros efforts for ensuring more convenience. Advertisement Advertisement The Sikkim administration issued a red alert on Saturday morning after relentless overnight rainfall in Mangan district caused the Teesta River to swell beyond the danger level, eroding its banks at multiple locations. A red alert remained in effect for at least three hours, during which residents were advised to stay in safe locations. Particularly alarming was the situation in Phidang village, North Sikkim, where the intensified water flow threatened nearby settlements. Advertisement Given the red warning status for Mangan, authorities cautioned that any flood-like situation in the north could affect the downstream stretch of the Teesta in Gangtok district, especially between Dikchu and Singtam. Advertisement All tourist permits for north Sikkim were suspended following a massive landslide near Chungthang. traffic movement was completely halted near the Toong checkpost due to debris, prompting local MLA and social welfare minister Samdup Lepcha to visit the affected areas. In a public appeal, the administration urged citizens not to panic but to remain vigilant. Timely updates will be provided as the situation develops, an official statement said. Minister leads ground response and awareness drive Samdup Lepcha, the MLA from Lachen-Mangan, visited landslide-affected areas including Chungthang, Theeng, and the ToongNaga river belt to assess damages to property and livelihoods. He also visited Munsithang to oversee ongoing search operations at an accident site. The minister conducted awareness meetings across Chungthang, educating residents on monsoon preparedness and safety protocols. These efforts aimed to empower local communities to face extreme weather events with better readiness. Lepcha also met with GREF officials to review road conditions and directed them to expedite road repairs while ensuring safe and accessible routes for local communities. His interventions underscored the governments focus on both emergency response and infrastructure resilience. Road connectivity severely disrupted Colonel AK Dixit of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) confirmed that road formation had been washed away in two sections near Toong Ship-Gear, while rock falls continued near the 35 Mile stretch. Restoration efforts are underway but are expected to take over seven hours, with road access likely to be restored only by Sunday. Currently, the road from Dikchu to Sangkalan via Phidang remains open, but the stretch from Sangkalan to Chungthang remains closed. Emergency response and public safety measures In Gangtok district, all nodal officers for disaster management have been instructed to remain on high alert and maintain close communication with field staff across the Teesta belt. Any emergency developments are to be immediately reported to the district control room at 03592-204995 or directly to district officials. In Rangpo, precautionary measures have been stepped up following the rivers rising levels. SDM Sujata Subba and other officials are actively monitoring the situation on the ground. Heavy rains have triggered multiple landslides in Theeng and Chungthang, severely impacting mobile connectivity and damaging several properties. Some tourists are reportedly stranded in Lachung, awaiting evacuation as assessment reports are being compiled. Police and disaster response teams have been strategically deployed in vulnerable areas to protect lives and property. Residents are urged to remain alert, follow official advisories, and avoid going near riverbanks. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will hold bilateral meetings with French Ministers of Economy and Trade to strengthen economic partnership and hold bilateral engagements with trade ministers of the UK, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Nigeria and Brazil. The Union commerce and industry minister commenced his three-day official visit to France on Sunday as part of his ongoing visit to France and Italy from June 15. The visit reflects Indias continued commitment to deepening strategic and economic ties with key European partners and advancing a shared vision for resilient and inclusive global growth. Advertisement During his engagements in France, Goyal is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with French ministers, including Mr. Eric Lombard, Minister of Economy, and Mr. Laurent Saint-Martin, Trade Minister. The discussions will focus on strengthening the Indo-French economic partnership and exploring new avenues for enhancing trade and investment cooperation. Advertisement As part of the high-level visit to France, a comprehensive agenda of strategic business meetings and engagements has been scheduled with top leadership of major French companies such as Vicat, Total Energies, LOreal, Renault, Valeo, EDF and ATR, the visit will feature the India-France Business Round Table and the India-France CEO Forum, fostering dialogue between leading industry stakeholders from both countries. During his stay, Goyal will also participate in the informal gathering of WTO Ministers on the margins of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. At this crucial forum, he will engage with global counterparts on key multilateral trade issues and articulate the perspectives and priorities of India. As part of the visit, the minister will hold a series of high-level bilateral meetings with key international partners. These include the United Kingdoms Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Mr. Jonathan Reynolds; Singapores Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Gan Kim Yong; and Saudi Arabias Minister of Commerce, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Kasabi. The minister will also engage with Israels Minister for Trade and Investment, Mr. Nir Barkat; Nigerias Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole OON; and Brazils Foreign Minister, Mr. Mauro Luis Iecker Vieira. These dialogues are aimed at advancing strategic economic cooperation and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships across regions. They will also provide significant impetus to India-EU FTA negotiations. Further reinforcing Indias engagement with regional blocs, meetings are planned with key EU officials, including Mr. Maros Sefcovic, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, and Mr. Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food. These engagements reflect Indias ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral and multilateral partnerships, and position itself as a pivotal player in global trade and investment. Following his engagements in France, Goyal will proceed to Italy for the next leg of his visit. The Delhi Police apprehended a 77-year-old fraudster who has been absconding after duping gullible citizens for years with promises of jobs and real estate under Armys welfare housing schemes impersonating an army colonel. The arrest of the septuagenarian, Sitaram Gupta, alias Sitaram Singla, from Patiala, Punjab marked the end of an 18-year manhunt. Advertisement The accused, a native of Mandi Dabwali in Haryana, settled in Mansa, Punjab. He had been evading trial in a cheating and forgery case registered against him at the Vivek Vihar police station, Delhi, in 2007. He was declared a proclaimed offender by the Karkardooma Court in 2025 after repeatedly failing to appear for trial. Advertisement Gupta had earlier secured bail but absconded later, changing his identity and taking refuge in an old-age home in Patiala, Apoorva Gupta, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), said. It was further revealed that he once studied economics at the Panjab University under the tutelage of the late Dr. Manmohan Singh, former prime minister of India. Armed with knowledge of military procedures gained during his stint as an oil contractor for the Army in the 1980s, Gupta began masquerading as a colonel. He exploited this persona to extract money from Delhi residents, promising them jobs in the Indian Army and allotments in Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) projects. One of his victims, Anil Nigam, a bank employee, lodged a complaint in 2007 after Gupta took Rs 56,000 as an advance for a flat and shop that never existed. During an inquiry into the case, the receipts provided to the complainant turned out to be forged. A case under IPC Sections 419, 420, 468, 471, and 120B was subsequently filed leading to Guptas arrest but not his trial. After jumping bail, he severed ties with his family, changed his appearance, and used different phone numbers to remain undetected, said a police official involved in the operation. The DCP stated that Gupta is also a convict in three other cases that involved similar frauds in Delhi, including impersonation and job racketeering. Despite his age, Gupta remained a cunning and manipulative operator. He exploited public trust in the Army, used his academic background for credibility, and lived a dual life for years. Further investigation is being carried out in the case by a police team to determine if more victims or accomplices were involved in this case, the DCP mentioned. The AAP on Sunday accused the Delhi government of betraying the people by demolishing their houses within 24 hours of assuring them against it. Addressing the media, Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj said, The residents of the Madrasi Camp are primarily from Tamil Nadu and had been living in the same location for 4050 years possessing ration cards, voter IDs, and Aadhaar cards issued against their addresses. Their children study in nearby schools. Their workplaces are in the vicinity. Despite this, they were evicted without being allotted proper alternative accommodation. Advertisement Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a promise of Jahan jhuggi, wahan makaan meaning people would be given flats at the location they live, where they have their livelihoods and schools. But now they are being told to move 50 kilometres away in Narela which is outright injustice, he added. Advertisement Bharadwaj said the AAPs 0stand on the rehabilitation of slum dwellers is that not a single slum should be demolished in Delhi. People living in jhuggis should be given dignified housing at the same location. Echoing similar sentiments, AAP MLA Praveen Kumar said, The BJP government is running bulldozers in Madrasi Camp. When the AAP government was in power in Delhi, we had stopped all such demolition drives. Ever since the AAP governments exit, jhuggi demolitions have resumed in full force. A spate of violent crimes jolted the national capital over the weekend with two separate incidents reported in the DBG Road and Patel Nagar areas leaving one critically injured while another dead, the Delhi Police said on Sunday. In the first incident, a 30-year-old delivery boy, identified as Dharmendra, was attacked by two assailants in the DBG Road police station area early Sunday morning, an officer said. Advertisement According to the officer, the incident took place while Dharmendra, the victim, was returning home on his motorcycle when two men on a scooter intercepted him, forcibly snatching his mobile phone and approximately 4,000 in cash. When the victim resisted the robbery attempt, one of the assailants stabbed him in the abdomen before fleeing the scene, an official mentioned. Advertisement He was rushed to RML Hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment and is said to be stable. A medical team is monitoring his condition for now. A case has been registered, and a manhunt is underway to apprehend the assailants, said one of the officers. In the other unrelated case, the Delhi Police on Saturday reported the murder of a 32-year-old woman, Maneka Singh, in Baljit Nagar, which lies in the area of the Patel Nagar police station. The deceased, a housewife, was allegedly strangled to death at her residence. Upon receiving a distress call, a police team reached the crime scene and initiated an inquiry into the case. Preliminary investigation led the police team to the arrest of 28-year-old Dharmendra Kumar, who has been charged with her murder. The motive behind the crime is yet to be ascertained as interrogation of the accused is ongoing. Although cases have been registered under the relevant sections of the BNS in both the incidents, a thorough inspection is ongoing to solve the cases, an official stated. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Sunday stated that the relocation of slum dwellers from the Barapullah Madrasi Camp to flats in Narela is not a routine administrative removal of a slum settlement but is based on a Delhi High Court order concerning the removal of slums built on a drain. Sachdeva said the BJP still stands by its policy of jahan jhuggi wahin makan but the slum settlement of the Madrasi Camp on the Barapullah drain had, for years, prevented proper cleaning of the drain. Advertisement He said this had become a major cause of waterlogging in several kilometers of the surrounding area during the monsoon season. Advertisement The state unit chief of the saffron party said the order to remove the Barapullah Madrasi Camp was actually issued during the Aam Aadmi Partys rule, and the same was challenged by the slum dwellers in Court, but their plea had been rejected, and prioritizing the cleaning of the Barapullah drain, the court issued a removal order for June 1. Sachdeva lamented that the same AAP leaders which had earlier issued removal orders through the PWD are now trying to provoke slum cluster residents. He said it is the BJP governments sensitive and humane policy that, although the Court ordered the removal of the Camp, the dispensation provided them with alternative flats and a better life instead of simply displacing them. The Delhi BJP chief further hit out at AAP leaders, stating that rather than indulging in hollow statements, they should answer why their government never provided better rehabilitation to a single slum community, even though they allegedly treated them as vote banks. In a major breakthrough against street crime, Delhi Police apprehended three armed criminals in the early hours of Sunday following a brief exchange of fire in the Yamuna Khadar area of North-East Delhi. Police said the suspects identified as Sameer (21), Tarun (23), and Kunal Sharma (23) were planning to carry out another robbery when they were intercepted. Advertisement The arrest was made during a swift operation launched after a tip-off was received at around 2:25 am, indicating that the trio, allegedly involved in a series of recent robberies, had been spotted in the area. Advertisement Acting on the input, a police team was dispatched to the location. Upon noticing the approaching officers, the suspects attempted to flee into a nearby jungle. When signaled to stop, they opened fire on the police team. In response to the unprovoked attack, the police retaliated and successfully overpowered the armed men. Two of the suspects, Sameer and Tarun, sustained bullet injuries to their legs during the encounter and were immediately taken to JPC Hospital for medical treatment. Police recovered two country-made pistols and three live cartridges from the trios possession. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and further investigation is underway. Preliminary inquiries revealed that Sameer has a prior criminal record, including two cases related to robbery and assault registered at the Mansarovar Park police station. During initial interrogation, the accused confessed to their involvement in multiple crimes. Notably, police discovered that they had been using online dating apps to lure unsuspecting victims to isolated locations, where they would then rob them. The crime scene has been examined by Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams as part of the ongoing probe. Actor Dhanush and filmmaker Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth were spotted together for the first time in a long while, coming together to mark a special moment in their sons life. The occasion? Their elder son Yathras school graduation, a milestone both parents were clearly proud to celebrate. Advertisement Dhanush, known for his versatility on screen and a loyal fanbase across India, took to Instagram to share two candid pictures from the ceremony. Advertisement In the photos, Dhanush and Aishwaryaa can be seen warmly embracing their son and beaming with joy. Proud Parents #yathra, he wrote in the caption, accompanied by two heart emojis. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) The actor looked sharp with a clean crew cut, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers. Aishwaryaa, daughter of superstar Rajinikanth, kept things graceful in an off-white ensemble. Despite their separation, the two appeared relaxed and united in their happiness for Yathra. This reunion comes after a significant period of silence following their high-profile separation. In January 2022, after 18 years of marriage, Dhanush and Aishwaryaa announced their decision to part ways. Their statement, shared jointly, emphasized mutual respect and understanding: 18 years of togetherness as friends, couple, as parents and well-wishers to each other. The journey has been of growth, understanding, adjusting and adapting Today we stand at a place where our paths separate Please do respect our decision and give us the needed privacy. The Chennai family court granted them an official divorce on November 27, 2024, quietly closing a long chapter of their personal lives. The couple, who tied the knot back in 2004 in a high-profile ceremony in Chennai, had long been seen as one of the most celebrated pairs in South Indian cinema, with strong ties to both the film and political worlds. On the work front, Dhanush continues to be busy with an exciting slate. His next big release is Kuberaa, a drama directed by Sekhar Kammula and produced by Amigos Creations. The film boasts a star-studded cast including Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, Jim Sarbh, and Dalip Tahil. Adding to the buzz, Dhanush will also appear in Kalam, a biopic based on the life of former Indian President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Siblings Tabisa and Dian Domach came to the U.S. in 1999 as refugees from Sudan via Ethiopia when Tabisa was 8 and Dian was 6. Their family, members of the Nuer ethnic group native to the region that became South Sudan in 2011, eventually settled in Nebraska. Tabisa Domach is now a 34-year-old customer service representative living in Omaha and a U.S. citizen. But Dian Domach, now 33, has been branded a uniquely barbaric monster by the Department of Homeland Security and is one of two people with Nebraska ties entangled recently in the Trump administration's efforts to get "third countries" to take immigrants who can't be sent to their home countries for various reasons. On May 20, eight men convicted of violent crimes, including Dian Domach and Nyo Myint, a Burmese deportee living in Lincoln, were placed on a flight from Texas headed for South Sudan, the African nation riddled with violence. The other men hailed from countries such as Laos, Vietnam, Cuba and Mexico. But a day later, a federal judge said the White House violated a court order on deportations to third countries with the flight. He said six of the immigrants, not including Dian Domach because he is South Sudanese, must get a "meaningful opportunity" to raise any fears that being sent to South Sudan could put them in danger. Last Tuesday, the Trump administration appealed that decision to the Supreme Court. Tabisa Domach said Friday she and her family did not know Dian Domach's whereabouts. Homeland Security did not respond to a Friday Journal Star inquiry about Dian Domach's whereabouts. "I don't know exactly what's going to happen, if he can't be deported to South Sudan and he can't be deported to Sudan because (Sudan) doesn't want him to be deported over and the U.S. is saying they don't want him here either," Tabisa Domach said. "I guess my biggest fear is then: Where is he going to go? What's going to happen to our family?" In 2013, Dian Domach was convicted in the armed robbery of the U-Stop convenience store at South 27th and Stockwell streets. He was eventually sentenced to 8 to 14 years in prison, with 6 to 10 years added from another conviction for possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person. Those sentences were to be served consecutively. While in prison, he was also convicted of assault by a confined person and sentenced to an additional 18 to 20 months. Dian Domach was released on discretionary parole on May 2 but was arrested by immigration authorities six days later. The Department of Homeland Security said he was arrested nine times by local authorities throughout his time in Nebraska, with the first in 2010 when he was 17. Myint, meanwhile, was accused in 2017 when he was 44 of sexually assaulting a 26-year-old developmentally delayed woman who ended up pregnant. He was given a 12- to 14-year prison sentence in 2020 but was released on probation in May 2023. He was ordered removed by an immigration judge that same year and waived an appeal, court records show. ICE took custody of Myint in February. "My general feeling of him was that he was limited in his ability as well, like cognitively, but not to the degree that I felt he was incompetent," Nathan Sohriakoff, who defended Myint in the case, told The Associated Press. Instead of ordering the government to return the six men to the U.S. for hearings for objecting deportation on safety grounds as the plaintiffs wanted Judge Brian Murphy of the U.S. District Court in Boston gave the government the option of holding the hearings in Djibouti, where the plane had flown on its way to South Sudan and where there is an American military base, as long as the men remained in U.S. government custody. The U.S. State Department is currently advising U.S. citizens not to travel to South Sudan due to crime, kidnapping and armed conflict. In March, the State Department ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees from the chaotic African nation. While Dian Domach is Nuer, Tabisa Domach said they moved to the U.S. more than a decade before Sudan split. Both Tabisa and Dian Domach were born in Khartoum, which was and still is in Sudan. Tabisa Domach said she doesn't remember anything about living in Sudan. She was 1 or 2 years old and Dian Domach was even younger when their family left Sudan for Ethiopia, where the family spent about six years before moving to the U.S. Dian Domach's wife, Patricia Domach, who lives in Lincoln, said she thought her husband was coming home in May. "The parole people came out to my house and checked around and made sure that this was a safe environment for him, and they approved my home as his home," she said. Instead, Dian Domach was moved from Lincoln to Cass County to Iowa and eventually Texas, according to Patricia and Tabisa Domach, who were able to keep up to date with Dian Domach's situation because he was initially able to call family members while in custody. Once Dian Domach got to Texas, the family realized he might get deported, Tabisa Domach said. The family learned May 20 that Dian Domach had been expelled from Texas that morning, she added. Patricia Domach said no one has spoken to Dian Domach since and the family is concerned about his treatment. "We don't know exactly where he's at right now, if he's eating, what they are doing to him," Tabisa Domach added. The family is perhaps more concerned about what could come next, if Dian Domach ends up having to navigate life in South Sudan. "It's a war-torn country right now," Patricia Domach said. "Even though he's a grown man, anybody would be afraid to go to a place that he hasn't been to. Dian has been in the United States since he was 6." Tabisa Domach said she, her mother and her three sisters are all U.S. citizens and have gotten acclimated to life in the United States. She has fond memories of the teachers who gave her English-language lessons when she first arrived in the United States. Her mother has worked at the Ameristar Casino in Council Bluffs for more than a dozen years. Dian Domach's legal issues prevented him from obtaining citizenship, Tabisa Domach said. Astrid Munn, an attorney at the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement in Omaha, said until someone becomes a U.S. citizen, they are "never not at risk" of removal based on certain conduct. "It's not very difficult for ICE prosecutors to say that you have committed a crime involving moral turpitude robbery and theft-related things are definitely in that category and say that's grounds for you to be kicked out of the country," Munn said. According to Munn, it's not unusual for a person to finish up their prison sentence, end up in ICE custody and get promptly removed from the country. "If this person is a refugee from South Sudan, the United States already recognized that it was unsafe for the person to be in their home country or be returned to their home country. But they're being returned nevertheless," Munn said. "That's what's anomalous." This report contains material from The Associated Press. Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann on Sunday took over as Senior Air Staff Officer of Western Air Command, Indian Air Force, an official communique announced. The Air Marshal is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the IAF on 16 December 1989. He has flown over 3000 Hrs primarily on various types of fighter aircraft. He is a pilot Attack Instructor and in his operational career, he has commanded a fighter squadron, been Chief Operations Officer of a forward base and Air Officer Commanding of a premium fighter base, the statement issued here said. Advertisement He has also held various important appointments at Air Headquarters and Command Headquarters. The Air Officer has directed Joint Military Training exercises with the Republic of Singapore Air Force in 2017 and the USAF in 2018. The Air Officer tenanted the appointments of Senior Officer-in-Charge Administration and Air Defence Commander of Central Air Command, it said. Advertisement The Air Marshal is also an alumnus of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College and Royal College of Defence Studies, London, in the UK. Before taking over as Senior Air Staff Officer, Western Air Command, Indian Air Force, he was Director General (Weapon Systems) at Air Headquarters. The Air Officer is a recipient of the Presidential awards Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vayu Sena Medal, it added. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) President Chirag Paswan will contest the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. The party will field him from an unreserved constituency to prove his pan-Bihar popularity among voters of all religions and castes, said his brother-in-law and LJP leader Arun Bharti in Patna on Sunday. Bharti said that the party executive committee recently passed a resolution urging Chirag Paswan to contest the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar. The party workers have also urged him to contest from an unreserved constituency. Advertisement The Jamui MP and the LJP(R) state in-charge said, Chirag Paswan is not a representative of a particular community. He is the hope of the people of Bihar. If he agrees to our request, it will give a new direction to the politics of social justice. Advertisement He expressed hope that Chirag Paswan might announce his move at the partys Nav Sankalp Sabha in Ara in the states Bhojpur district on 8 June. This, he said, would put an end to months of speculation regarding the Union Ministers plan to become active in state politics. Chirag Paswan has frequently expressed his desire to play an active role in Bihar politics despite the fact that he has been elected to the Lok Sabha for a third straight term. During his recent Patna visit, he met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. After the meeting, he said that Nitish Kumars guidance and affection have further strengthened his aspiration to make Bihar a self-reliant state. Arun Bharti said, The party chief has always maintained that unlike his father Ram Vilas Paswan, his politics is rooted in Bihar. This gives us confidence that he will accept the partys demand. Ram Vilas Paswan was one of the tallest leaders to emerge from the Dalit community in Bihar. However, he remained active in national politics for over four decades. Welcoming the move, Jan Suraaj party founder Prashant Kishor said Chirag Paswan does not do politics of caste or religion and that it would be good for Bihar if he becomes active in state politics. Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Denmark have strongly backed India in its fight against terrorism in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. The Indian all-party Parliamentary delegation led by Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SP) MP Supriya Sule held fruitful interaction with top Ethiopian lawmakers, dignitaries and the African Union Commission, as part of Indias efforts under Operation Sindoor to reach out to partner countries to convey Indias New Normal against cross-border attacks, zero tolerance for terrorism, and all political parties resolve to stand united in all matters concerning national interest. The delegations visit to Ethiopia comes under Indias unprecedented diplomatic campaign to expose Pakistans sustained role in cross-border terrorism following the April 22 Pahalgam attack. In a diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, the Modi government has formed seven multi-party delegations to inform different nations about Pakistans links to terrorism and Indias strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The Indian Embassy in Ethiopia in a press statement on Sunday on social media platform X said: The multi-party Indian Parliamentary delegation, which is on a visit to Ethiopia from May 30-31 and June 1, 2025, in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack, held fruitful interactions and intense discussions with top Ethiopian lawmakers, dignitaries, African Union Commission. The press statement also added: The Indian delegation started their visit by meeting with Adem Farah, Deputy Chairperson of the Prosperity Party in the rank of Deputy Prime Minister. The visiting delegation conveyed Indias unified and determined stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The Members of Parliament briefed on Indias New Normal against cross-border attacks, zero tolerance for terrorism, and all political parties resolve to stand united in all matters of national interest. Both sides reiterated their zero-tolerance approach to terrorism. The Deputy PM strongly condemned the terrorist act and expressed the need for collective international action. He also conveyed Ethiopias strong commitment to work with India in the field of counter-terrorism. Thereafter, the delegation had fruitful discussions with the African Union and exchanged views on ways and means to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It is worthwhile to mention that the African Union has a well-structured definition for terrorism, which clearly defines the acts that constitute terrorist acts. This interaction paves the way for more focused engagement between India and the African Union on preventing and combating terrorism across the world, the statement said. This was followed by a meeting with Tagesse Chafo, the Speaker of the House of Peoples Representatives of Ethiopia. Both sides explored the possibility of strengthening cooperation between lawmakers of the two countries in carrying forward the message of zero tolerance against terrorism. The Speaker conveyed his deepest sympathy and expressed solidarity with the people of India. He underscored the need for urgent and coordinated action to deal with the issues of terrorism in all forms and manifestations. During the meetings, the delegation members underscored the continued threat of cross-border terrorism and deliberate attempts to sow social discord in India. They highlighted that Operation Sindoor, conducted by India in response, was calibrated, targeted, and proportionate, demonstrating Indias commitment to countering terrorism without escalating tensions. The Ethiopian side emphasised its own zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and condemned the terrorist act committed on April 22 against innocent citizens. They expressed willingness to work together to address this global challenge, the statement added. Earlier, an all-party delegation led by Janata Dal United MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, departed from Indonesia on Friday afternoon for their last leg of the foreign visit to Malaysia. The Indian Embassy in Indonesia, in a press statement on X, said: The Multi-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by Sanjay Kumar Jha, on the successful completion of their Indonesia Mission today afternoon, departed from Jakarta for their last leg of the tour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Through their several interactions in Jakarta in the last three days with a cross-section of important stakeholders, the delegation was able to firmly articulate Indias principles and resolute stance of zero tolerance against terrorism and garner unequivocal support from all the interlocutors in Indonesia, the statement added. Meanwhile, another all-party Indian parliamentary delegation, led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, held a series of high-level engagements in Denmark on Friday, receiving strong expressions of solidarity in the global fight against terrorism and deepening bilateral relations. Advertisement Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said that the birth anniversary of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar is not a date and historical event, but a life philosophy for all of us. We have to take a pledge that we will follow their ideals. Lokmata was a representative of the great tradition of India in difficult times, where religion, culture, and governance flowed in the same stream. Somnath in Gujarat, Kashi Vishwanath, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Rameswaram, Gokarna, and many temples were reborn with her hands. Veerangana Ahilyabai Holkar is an inspiration for us, he said. Advertisement The Vice President was addressing a seminar organised under the Trishbadi Smriti Abhiyan-2025, the birth anniversary of Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, held at GIC Ground here on Sunday. Advertisement He addressed the ceremony in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Dhankhar said that the creation and conservation of culture is very important. Destroyer Aurangzeb brutally attacked Kashi Vishwanath, and after 100 years, Ahilyabai Holkar built the temple in Kashi Vishwanath, showing her foresight, he said. Referring to the current scenario, the Vice President said the entire country is overwhelmed by the miraculous transformation there. Observing the panoramic ghats fills one with a sense of bliss. This work has been done by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Vice President further said, Yogi Adityanath believes in visionary work. In December 2021, he unveiled the statue of Adi Shankaracharya and Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar at Kashi Vishwanath. Yogi Adityanath did the work done by Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar. After Kashi Vishwanath and Ayodhya, work will also be done in Mathura. The coming generations will remember the work of Yogi Adityanath in the same way that today we remember Lokmata, he asserted. The Vice President urged everyone to resolve, like Lokmata Ahilyabai, to treat religion as a duty and to uphold rights through service. He said Yogi Adityanath has embraced Ahilyabais vision and methods in his work. Recalling the might of the Indian Army, the Vice President said that on April 22, when the enemies showed cowardice, they were met with a strong response. Mentioning CM Yogi, he said that the best military production in UP will continue to echo in the enemies ears. The BrahMos missiles built here penetrated the hideout of Jais-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba and destroyed them. For the success of Operation Sindoor, the Vice President praised the Indian Army and said that due to its might, the enemy had to chew iron gram. The Army sent a message to the world that India has changed it will eliminate terrorism and completely destroy anyone who dares to threaten it. Union Home Minister Amit Shah accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of indulging in appeasement politics and favouritism through the Waqf Act. Is something wrong with the Waqf Act? Should the land of Bengal be sacrificed because of Waqf? Who is Mamata Banerjee favouring by opposing the Waqf Act? Mamata Banerjee may oppose the Waqf till 2026 because after that she will not be the CM anymore, he said, while addressing the BJP Workers Special Organisational Meeting in Kolkata on Sunday. Advertisement Referring to the recent violence in Murshidabad, he called it a deliberate failure of state law enforcement and accused Bengal ministers of actively supporting the rioters. There was violence in Murshidabad. The Home Ministry insisted on calling the BSF, but they did not Our party workers went to the HC, and after the court order, the BSF came and protected the Hindus, he said. Advertisement Mamata Banerjees minister abused the BSF, and your leaders were standing there and encouraging the rioters. The ministers of the Bengal government were involved in these riots. This was a state-sponsored riot which caused injustice to the Hindus Mamata Didi has crossed all limits of Muslim appeasement, the minister added. The home minister also accused the Mamata Banerjees regime of fostering lawlessness, corruption, and religious appeasement in West Bengal. The chief minister has turned the State into a land of infiltration and atrocities on women. Asserting that the BJP will form a government in 2026, he said, For years, Bengal was ruled by communists. After that, Mamata Banerjee came by with the slogan Maa, Maati, Maanush. She converted the great land of Bengal into a land of infiltration, atrocities on women, crime, bomb blasts and immorality with Hindus Hundreds of BJP workers were killed in West Bengal after Mamata Banerjee became the CM Didi, listen to me, your time is over now. The BJP will form the government in 2026 he said. We have to form the BJP government in West Bengal, have to stop infiltration, stop corruption, stop Hindu exodus, he said, alleging that the state government had denied land for fencing Indias international border with Bangladesh, accusing the Chief Minister of obstructing central efforts to curb infiltration in the state. Mamata Banerjee has opened the nations borders for Bangladeshis. She is allowing infiltration. Mamata Banerjee cannot stop infiltration; only a Lotus government can do that. We have asked her for land to create the fence. She is not providing land at the borders, so that infiltration continues, and her vote bank keeps increasing, and your nephew becomes the CM after you. But this is not going to happen, he said. CM has also played with the emotions of crores of women in the country. The sisters and mothers of West Bengal should teach Mamata Banerjee the value of Sindoor in the upcoming elections, the minister said. Mamata Banerjee may favour the Pakistani terrorists as much as she wants, but I want to tell her that this is PM Modis government and Operation Sindoor is not yet over. Anyone who dares anything will be given a proper answer, added Shah. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is part of an all-party delegation on a mission to mobilize support for Indias fight against terrorism, on Sunday underlined the importance of focusing on their mission Operation Sindoor outreach, informing the world about Indias anti-terrorism stance and response, while engaging with international counterparts. After visiting Panama, Guyana, and Colombia, Tharoor arrived in Brazil with his delegation on Sunday in pursuit of Indias global outreach to convey its zero tolerance policy against terrorism. This global outreach aims to strengthen diplomatic efforts against terrorism and convey Indias message of zero tolerance. Advertisement Tharoor acknowledged the criticism and questions raised by party colleagues but prioritised conveying Indias message to the countries they visited. Advertisement When asked for comments on the criticism going on in India, even within his own (Congress) party against him, the Congress MP said, I think this is a time for us to focus on our mission. Undoubtedly, in a thriving democracy, there are bound to be comments, criticisms. But I think at this point, we cant afford to dwell on it, when we get back to India, no doubt we have a chance to speak to our colleagues, critics, and media there. But right now were focused on the countries were coming to and getting the message out to the people here. A political storm has erupted after Congress MP Jairam Ramesh made a controversial remark, stating, Our MPs are roaming and terrorists are also roaming, prompting a sharp response from BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla, who strongly condemned the statement, calling it shameful, condemnable, and senseless. Union Minister for Tourism, Art and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, on Sunday said there was no need for a special session of Parliament, as the Monsoon Session is likely to be convened in the next 2025 days. The minister made the statement during an informal interaction with the media in Jodhpur, responding to the Oppositions demand for a special session to discuss Operation Sindoor. Our democracy provides fair opportunities to members to raise questions in both Houses of Parliament. The government will make every effort to clarify doubts and respond to queries to the satisfaction of the members, Shekhawat said. The government has nothing to hide, he assured, adding that trouble usually arises when the Opposition lacks substantial issues to raise and instead stirs up irrelevant narratives to stay in the spotlight. He also remarked that while the world has hailed Operation Sindoor as miraculous and is showering praise, many in the Opposition still continue to raise unnecessary questions. Advertisement Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda and discussed with him a wide range of issues including ADBs support for Viksit Bharat 2047. Had a wonderful meeting with Mr Masato Kanda, in which we shared perspectives on a wide range of issues. Indias rapid transformation over the last decade has empowered countless people and we are working to add further momentum in this journey, the prime minister said in a post on platform X. Advertisement Mr Kanda, who concluded his three-day visit to India on Friday, announced a $10 billion plan over five years to support Indias urban transformation, including metro extensions, regional rapid transit systems, and urban infrastructure. Advertisement Acknowledging his meeting with the prime minister, Mr Kanda said in a post on X: The Viksit Bharat 2047 vision is bold, and @ADB_HQ is supporting that ambition. We will direct $10 billion, including third-party capital, over the next five years into municipal infrastructure development, extending metro networks, building new Regional Rapid Transit System corridors, and modernizing city services. I was pleased to convey this during my meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi @narendramodi in New Delhi. By scaling up public and private sector finance, deepening knowledge collaboration, and mobilizing capital, we stand ready to support Indias drive to become a developed nation by 2047 and to deliver inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth for its 1.4 billion people, Mr Kanda further said. Last month, Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman had also met Masato Kanda in Milan. During the meeting, she had emphasized that India offers opportunities for ADB to pilot new, innovative financing products and models. She had asserted that India focuses on private sector-led economic growth and has been consistently creating a conducive policy and regulatory ecosystem through bold initiatives such as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, Corporate Tax Rate Reduction and GST implementation, Production-Linked Incentives, National Infrastructure Pipeline, GatiShakti National Master Plan, and StartupIndia, among others, for greater Ease of Doing Business. Responding to her offer, Mr Kanda had conveyed ADBs full support to Indias development priorities, guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a decision that has stirred considerable interest within the DMK and across Tamil Nadus political landscape, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin visited his elder brother and former Union Minister M.K. Alagiri at his residence in Madurai on Saturday. The visit, long speculated upon and eagerly anticipated, marks their first known personal meeting in nearly 11 years. Advertisement CM Stalin is currently in Madurai to attend the DMKs general Council meeting scheduled for Sunday. Advertisement As part of his visit, the Chief Minister held an extensive 20-km roadshow throughout the city, engaging directly with the people. Petitions were received along the route, and CM Stalin also unveiled a statue of former Madurai Mayor S. Muthu during the public event. However, the highlight of the day was undoubtedly the Chief Ministers private visit to his estranged brothers residence a meeting that has reignited discussions about a potential political thaw between the two. Stalin visited Alagiri without being accompanied by any DMK leaders or family members, a gesture that has been seen by many as deeply personal and significant. The reunion was met with much enthusiasm from Alagiris supporters, who welcomed the Chief Minister warmly. Later on Saturday evening, CM Stalin had dinner with Alagiri before returning to the government guest house for the night. Since taking over as the Chief Minister, CM Stalins relationship with his elder brother has remained a subject of media and public curiosity. Alagiri, once a powerful political leader in the DMKs southern stronghold, was sidelined from party affairs following a power struggle years ago. The meeting on Saturday, therefore, has triggered speculation about a possible reconciliation. Speaking to reporters, one of Alagiris loyalists expressed optimism, saying, This meeting shows unity. DMK is strong, and we are confident of winning the upcoming elections. The implications of this long-awaited reunion, both political and personal, are likely to unfold in the coming days. Alagiri, a former Union Minister, was once the DMKs organising secretary of Tamil Nadus southern districts and Madurai was his bastion. In 2014, DMK patriarch and Alagiris father, M. Karunanidhi, expelled him for violating party discipline. Alagiri has maintained a low profile since then except for when he took out a rally in Chennai to Karunanidhis mausoleum following his death in 2018. Though, he had initially made some critical remarks about Stalin after being expelled from the DMK, he later lauded his leadership skills and governance in leading the DMK after the death of five-time Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi in August 2018. The Opposition Congress on Sunday criticised the government for allegedly withholding information regarding the downing of fighter jets during the recent confrontation with Pakistan, stating that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh should have informed Opposition leaders during the all-party meeting. Referring to the statements made by CDS General Anil Chauhan in Singapore, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, It would have been better if what he had spoken, the Defence Minister should have said it in the two all-party meetings he had chaired. Whatever Gen Chauhan has said, this information should have been shared with the opposition leaders, and a special session of the Parliament should have been convened We had to wait for General Chauhan to make these revelations from Singapore. Advertisement CDS Chauhan Saturday admitted losses of Indian aircraft in the recent confrontation with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor but rejected as absolutely incorrect Islamabads claim of downing six jets. Advertisement Chauhan has said, What is important is that, not the jet being down, but why they were being down. The good part is that we are able to understand the tactical mistake which we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days and fly all our jets again, targeting at long range, the Chief of Defence Staff added. Ramesh said that after the Kargil war, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had set up a Kargil review Committee to assess the damages. Three days after the Kargil war ended, Prime Minister Vajpayee set up a Kargil Review Committee. The report was prepared by four members, including the father of EAM Dr S Jaishankar. This report was tabled in Parliament. There are military issues which only the military can discuss, but there are political issues, he remarked. Raising concerns over the Pakistan-China nexus, the Congress leader said that the issue needs to be addressed in an all-party meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the chair. He further pointed out that the issues the General Chauhan raised during an interview with Bloomberg TV in Singapore on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue not just impinge on military strategy but also foreign policy and economic and diplomatic strategy. We are supposed to be the mother of democracy. The issues that Gen Chauhan raised are critical and they impinge not just on military strategy, they impinge on foreign policy, economic strategy, and diplomatic strategy, he added. President Donald Trumps two-week ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin over Ukraine marks a dramatic ~ and risky ~ turn in US foreign policy. By signaling that the United States may change its approach if Moscow continues to delay peace efforts, President Trump is attempting to reassert leverage in a conflict that has defied resolution for years. But the question remains: does the US still have meaningful leverage left, or has the window for shaping a just peace already narrowed too far? Mr Trumps blunt rhetoric ~ accusing Mr Putin of playing with fire and warning of a shift in response ~ reflects mounting frustration as the war has entered its fourth year with no clear end in sight. His recent phone diplomacy with the Russian President yielded vague promises of a peace memorandum, yet no document has emerged. Instead, what followed was one of the most intense waves of Russian airstrikes since the invasion began, with deadly consequences for Ukrainian civilians. The US Presidents approach appears to hinge on personal diplomacy, a style that has defined much of his foreign policy. While Mr Trump has not hesitated to speak harshly of Mr Putin in recent days, the administrations broader strategy has leaned toward pressuring Ukraine to come to the table rather than imposing fresh costs on Moscow. Advertisement Military assistance to Kyiv was temporarily suspended earlier this year, and demands on Russia have been relatively muted. Critics argue that this creates an uneven playing field, in which Russia is emboldened while Ukraine is left exposed. Indeed, Moscow has used the resumption of dialogue with Washington to escalate its demands ~ calling not just for recognition of Crimea but also for Ukraine to surrender territories it doesnt even currently occupy. These are clearly non-starters for Kyiv, and likely designed to derail meaningful negotiations while shifting blame. Both Ukraine and Russia are locked in maximalist positions, but peace will only come through realism. Washington must help broker that realism ~ not by force alone, but through moral consistency. What Mr Trump is attempting, however, may be less about securing an immediate truce and more about testing Mr Putins intentions. Advertisement The twoweek window could be seen as a pressure tactic ~ a final probe to determine whether any form of compromise is possible, or whether a firmer, more confrontational policy is needed. But such tactics carry risks. A public ultimatum that fails to produce results could damage US credibility further and give Moscow reason to believe that Washington is unwilling or unable to escalate. If the administration does not follow through with decisive action, this moment could go down as yet another missed opportunity to influence the wars trajectory. Ultimately, the war in Ukraine is not just about territory. It is a battle of political will and moral clarity. If the US is to play a constructive role, it must align its rhetoric with consistent action ~ and recognise that appeasement, however pragmatic it may seem, rarely brings peace when faced with naked aggression. Mothers Day, observed on the second Sunday of May since 1908, is widely celebrated as a tribute to mothers love, sacrifice, and unwavering support. Yet, in its purest form, it is more than a celebration, more than a token phrase or a date on the calendar; it is an invocation calling upon us to honour the nurturing spirit that sustains all life: Mother Earth, our mothers, and ourselves. Although this momentous occasion has, over time, grown in scale, style, pomp, and grandeur, its true essence lies much deeper. It is a sacred moment a time for soulful reflection and a heartfelt reimagining of our bond with the living world. And in this spirit, the Chicago headquartered Parliament of the Worlds Religions (PoWR) hosted an enriching interfaith and intergenerational dialogue titled Sacred Circle Conversation: Honoring Mother Earth, Our Mothers, Ourselves, and One Another to mark Mothers Day on May 11 this year. Anchored in a deep reverence for Mother Earth, the conversation envisioned a transformative path for humanity shifting from a culture of conflict to one of peace, from seeing life as a mere resource to embracing it as a shared community, and from patterns of exploitation to principles of regeneration. At its heart, the dialogue reaffirmed a collective commitment to well-being and the sacred interdependence that binds all forms of life. On behalf of PoWR, which strives to build a just, peaceful, and sustainable world, Rev. Advertisement Charline Manuel, Chair of PoWRs Board of Trustees, moderated the session that brought together voices from across the globe, united by a shared resolve to restore reverence for the Earth and for the women who sustain life in all its forms. I had the privilege of attending virtually, at PoWRs invitation, where participants listened to a chorus of insightful voices led by three esteemed speakers widely respected for their unwavering commitment to Mother Earth. Their reflections, rooted in civic engagement and shaped by genuine, impactful work, resonated with deep moral urgency and spiritual clarity inviting us all to embrace our shared responsibility. At the heart of these discourses lie more than a grim reality check it is a soulful appeal to awaken, or reawaken, our collective conscience and compassion. It stands as a powerful reminder that healing Mother Earth begins with healing our relationship with her and with one another. Advertisement In a world plagued by deepening social, spiritual, and ecological crises and amid an escalating environmental breakdown marked by climate collapse, deforestation, biodiversity loss, pollution, and the reckless overconsumption of finite resources the Earth still holds a profound, forgiving strength that sustains life. Yet it is our nature-defying choices, and often our indifference, that continue to endanger the very roots of our survival. Rev. Charline opened with a poignant reflection, drawing a sacred parallel between honouring our mothers for their life-giving care and revering Mother Earth for nurturing and sustaining us. She emphasized that our Mother Day celebration should become a vow to restore balance, shoulder responsibility, and renew our sacred bond with the living world. Minnesota-based Mary Lyons, a revered elder, spiritual advisor, water protector, and tireless advocate for Indigenous and Native women and children, reminds us that everything on Earth carries spirit and memory. She held that from the moment our spirit enters the womb, we are supported by the four essential elements of nature water, air, fire, and earth forces that sustain life impartially, without discrimination or favour. These elements embrace all beings equally, illuminating our deep and unbreakable bond with the natural world. In reflecting on humanitys bond with the Earth, she cautioned that the desecration of nature severs us from memory itself inviting disorder, disorientation, and suffering. Thus, the four sacred elements water, air, fire, and earth are not mere metaphors; they are our kin. When they are lost or degraded, all life stands imperiled. By confronting the harsh societal realities of addiction, systemic injustice, and violence, Lyons issued a call for collective responsibility reminding us that within each of us lies a piece of the healing, a part of the solution. Dr. Catherine Meeks, a distinguished voice in socio-cultural studies, a beacon for community transformation, and founder of the Turquoise and Lavender Institute for Transformation and Healing, offered a sobering truth wrapped in compassion: the Earth will endure but we may not unless we change course. She emphasized that interconnectedness is not merely a poetic notion but a vital, lived necessity. Honoring the Earth is deeply tied to saving ourselves, she said. Meeks believes that without confronting the divisions within us, our outer efforts lose meaning. Many do important external work, yet neglect the inner work that sustains it. True change begins with caring for ourselves acknowledging the ways we unknowingly harm the Earth. For Meeks, generosity and kindness are not soft virtues, but transformative forces. You cant truly care for the Earth or others, she insists, if you havent first learned to care for yourself. Kehkashan Basu, an eco-feminist and founder of the Toronto-based Green Hope Foundation, brought a compelling intergenerational voice, urging a shift from exploiting Earth as a resource to honoring it as a living being. Her foundation, active in 28 countries and engaging over half a million people, has planted millions of indigenous trees and mangroves and led ecosystem restoration efforts from Norways fjords to the canals of the Netherlands, and from Omans beaches to Surinames turtle nesting sites. In the worlds largest mangrove forest the Sundarbans, the organisation empowers tiger widows, women who have lost their husbands to tiger attacks, by supporting sustainable livelihoods such as fish and poultry farming. Underscoring the urgency of global disarmament, Kehkashan called for redirecting the trillions spent on nuclear weapons toward food, health, education, and clean water reminding us that sustainability and peace are inseparable, and that true justice invests in life, not in instruments of destruction. The conversation yielded transformative ideas, distilled into five key insights urging us not to despair, but to rise with renewed clarity. Reevaluating Success: Its time to redefine success beyond profit and status grounding it in collective well-being, compassion, and ecological harmony. Memory as a Cherished Legacy: The planet carries the memory of people, places, and spirit. Reawakening ancestral wisdom through storytelling can root the young in identity, belonging, and a sacred connection to the Earth. Local Solutions with Cultural Legacy: Lasting solutions emerge from local contexts such as food sovereignty and reforestation by empowering community voices as essential stewards of ecology and cultural heritage. Spiritual Ecology: Seeing the Earth as sacred kin not a commodity. Our rituals, lifestyles, and systems must embody reverence rather than exploitation. From Symbolism to Sacred Action: Amid a tide of performative gestures, our actions through conscious living and systemic change must genuinely embody the values we claim to uphold. A shared truth surfaces: In these times of global fragmentation, we cannot heal the Earth without healing ourselves our fractured bonds with one another and with the sacred world. Our small acts matter. If more of us pause, notice, and care, the ripple effect could be profound. We must try to make kindness contagious, continually becoming better versions of ourselves. It is time to move beyond mere reverence toward restoration; from celebration to sacred stewardship; and from fleeting inspiration to enduring commitment. Doing as much good as we can, in as many ways as we can, for as long as we can for our Mother Earth, our mothers, ourselves, and one another is the most meaningful legacy we can leave behind. (The writer is former deputy General Manager, India International Centre and author of Whispers of an Ordinary Journey.) The political turbulence in Bangladesh following the appointment of Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus as Chief Advisor and head of the interim government has taken a sharp and troubling turn. What was once hailed as a bold experiment in transitional justice and democratic renewal now teeters on the edge of dysfunction. The core of the issue lies in a fundamental misalignment: Yunuss vision of reforms first, elections later does not match the immediate political appetite of Bangladeshs major players, who view the interim phase not as a transformative opportunity, but as a tactical springboard back to power. The ban on the Awami League ~ Bangladeshs founding party and dominant political force for much of its post-independence history ~ was a seismic move, framed as a correction to years of alleged authoritarian overreach. For the opposition, especially the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), this was the long-awaited clearing of the political field. But with the Awami League out of the way, patience has quickly worn thin. The BNP and other stakeholders are now pressing hard for elections, demanding a short transition and minimal reform. Ironically, Yunuss reformist mandate, once a unifying ideal, has become the chief source of division. The very structure of the interim government ~ particularly its advisory council ~ has come under fire for alleged bias and lack of transparency. Advertisement Accusations that some advisors are aligned with the newly formed National Citizens Party (NCP) have further eroded the governments perceived neutrality. Discontent within the civil services, catalysed by the controversial Public Service (Amendment) Ordinance, has added yet another layer of volatility. Widespread protests threaten to bring bureaucratic functioning to a halt, thereby crippling governance at a critical juncture. Public confidence, too, is wavering. Many citizens who once supported Yunuss reformist stance are now caught between hope and fatigue. Without tangible progress or a clear timeline, public sentiment may shift from cautious optimism to disillusionment ~ weakening the very foundation of transitional governance. The final pressure point is the army, whose tacit influence over Bangladeshs civilian administrations has always loomed large. Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zamans firm message to Yunus ~ to ensure elections by December 2025 ~ signals an institutional impatience that cannot be ignored. While a coup appears unlikely, the militarys implicit deadline severely constrains Yunuss room for manoeuvre. Advertisement At this stage, Bangladeshs Chief Advisor faces an uncomfortable truth: noble intentions are not enough in the face of hardened political agendas and systemic resistance. Without broad consensus, sweeping reforms risk becoming isolated gestures rather than sustainable change. The clock is ticking, and the interim government cannot afford to lose its legitimacy before accomplishing either of its two goals ~ reform or elections. A compromise is inevitable. Either Yunus recalibrates his ambitions to focus on delivering a credible electoral process with modest reforms, or he risks a collapse of the interim order altogether. Bangladesh stands at a delicate inflection point, and the path forward will depend less on idealism and more on pragmatic political negotiation. Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, will be in India to meet the countrys leadership to discuss the issues of mutual interest and those of international importance, with special focus on the Indo-Pacific region. Australia values our relationships with neighbours in the Indo-Pacific. Our deepening cooperation is at the heart of Australias approach to ensure the Indo-Pacific remains open, inclusive and resilient, said Marles before starting his four-day tour, beginning June 2, 2025. Advertisement I look forward to meeting leaders and welcome productive discussions on how we can work together to shape a peaceful, secure, and prosperous region that is respectful of sovereignty, he added. Advertisement The visit to India coincides with the fifth anniversary of Australia and Indias Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which underpins our relationship and shared vision for the Indian Ocean, an official release said. The Australian leader, during his multi-nation tour, will also meet leaders and counterparts in the Maldives, Sri Lanka, India and Indonesia as part of the Governments commitment to deepening diplomatic and defence partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, it said. During his visit to the Maldives and Sri Lanka, the Deputy Prime Minister will discuss ongoing Australian support for both nations sovereign capability development. In Indonesia, he is scheduled to meet his counterpart to reaffirm Australias commitment to a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. An all-party parliamentary delegation from India, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, arrived in Brazil on Sunday as part of the governments ongoing diplomatic outreach under Operation Sindoor to consolidate global support against cross-border terrorism and to present Indias zero-tolerance stance on terror. The delegation, which includes members from across the political spectrum, is on a five-nation tour and reached Brasilia after completing visits to Guyana, Panama, and Colombia. Advertisement Upon arrival, the team was received at the airport by Sandeep Kumar Kujur, Charge dAffaires at the Indian mission in Brazil. Advertisement Tharoor stated that Brazil is a crucial partner, and it is vital to keep them fully informed of Indias stance on terrorism. Speaking to IANS, Tharoor said, We are on a five-country visit. Weve done three countries already Guyana, Panama, and Colombia. Now we are in Brazil. Today is a rest day, which the team has earned after a fairly hectic program since we left. We have full-day meetings scheduled in Brazil next, before proceeding to Washington, which is the final leg of our journey. Tharoor highlighted the importance of the visit, stating, Brazil is a major power in the region. Its a BRICS partner of ours, and our relationship was elevated to a strategic partnership in 2006. Although Brazil is not currently a member of the UN Security Council, we felt it important to keep them fully abreast of our position on terrorism and continue our open channels of dialogue. The Congress MP also reflected on the delegations reception in earlier stops, noting widespread understanding and support for Indias position. Feedback has been very positive in both Guyana and Panama, which are Security Council members. There was tremendous understanding and solidarity for our fight against terror, he said. In Colombia, Tharoor mentioned, the delegation successfully persuaded the government to withdraw an earlier statement that had sympathised with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, without acknowledging the Indian side. We met with the government and Parliament. They rectified the statement and instead issued a strong message of support both from the executive and more emphatically from the legislature, he said. During their stay in Brazil, the Indian delegation will hold meetings with several key Brazilian leaders and lawmakers. The list includes Ambassador Celso Amorim, Head Adviser to the President; Ambassador Maria Laura da Rocha, Secretary General of Foreign Affairs; Senator Nelson Trad, Head of the India-Brazil Friendship Front at the Brazilian Senate; and Federal Deputy Filipe Barros, President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defense of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. Apart from Tharoor, the delegation includes MPs Shambhavi (Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas), Sarfraz Ahmad (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), GM Harish Balayogi (Telugu Desam Party), Shashank Mani Tripathi (BJP), Milind Murli Deora (Shiv Sena), Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP), and Tejasvi Surya (BJP). Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu is accompanying the group. The visit is a key part of Indias diplomatic strategy to build international consensus and counter-narratives surrounding Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism. The Left Front and the Congress party will jointly support a Congress nominee in the upcoming by-election in Kaliganj, a key Assembly seat in West Bengals Nadia district, scheduled for 19 June. The Indian National Congress on Friday night nominated Kabiluddin Sheikh as its candidate for the bypoll, a decision endorsed by the partys general secretary, KC Venugopal. In a letter to the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee, Venugopal confirmed that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge had cleared Sheikhs candidature for the Kaliganj seat. The Left Front, which includes the Communist Party of India (Marxist- Leninist) and other allies, decided late Friday to back Sheikhs candidature. The Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), traditionally a contender in this constituency, has agreed to support the Congress nominee this time as part of the opposition alliance. This is a tactical decision made specifically for the by-election. However, the RSP will seek to contest the seat again in the 2026 assembly election, RSP leader Tapan Hore said during the alliance meeting. The Kaliganj seat fell vacant following the death of Trinamul Congress (TMC) legislator Nasiruddin Ahmed in February. The ruling TMC has nominated Ahmeds daughter, Alifa Ahmed, to contest the bypoll. Though new as a candidate, Alifa is reportedly familiar with the regions political dynamics. The by-election is seen as politically significant ahead of the 2026 West Bengal assembly polls, with opposition parties aiming to consolidate their support base and challenge the TMCs dominance. Advertisement In past elections, the seat has seen shifts in allegiance. The Congress won Kaliganj in 2016 but lost to the TMC in 2021. RSP leaders maintain that their party has a long-standing presence and organisational strength in the area. The Kaliganj bypoll marks a fresh test for opposition unity in Bengal, as anti-TMC forces seek common ground in an increasingly polarized political landscape. Advertisement LASTING CHANGE OFTEN comes without fanfare. Like a running stream cutting into rock, like a sliver of water becoming a river. This weeks cover marks a historic moment for us as a nation, as the first batch of women officers graduate from the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. To be recognised as a barrister, Cornelia Sorabji had to wait 26 years after passing the exam. She became Indias first female lawyer in 1923. Justice Anna Chandy became our countrys first female munsiff (1937), first female district judge (1948) and first female High Court judge (1959). It has been 74 years since we got our first woman IAS officer, Anna Rajam Malhotra (nee George). Thirty-four years ago, Justice Leila Seth broke fresh ground by becoming chief justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. In the Army itself, in 1993, Major Priya Jhingan became the first female officerthe first of 25 lady officers who were commissioned that year. Jhingan graduated from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai. Many other Indian women have broken the glass ceiling to claim their place in the sun. So, do the 17 lady officers from the NDA realise the weight of history on their shoulders? I am sure they do, and as the father of a woman and grandfather of two girls, I could not be prouder of the 17. I am also certain, dear reader, that you will love Principal Correspondent Pooja Biraias article as much as I did. Another interesting article in this issue is Senior Assistant Editor Sanjib Kr Baruahs take on how the Pakistani Army and Field Marshal Asim Munir have a finger in every financial and political pie in the country. Adil Raja, a former Pakistani Army officer, challenged Baruah to name a business and he would name the army unit involved in it. Shoemaking? said Baruah, and Raja gave him the name of the unit, as promised. Chiefs of Bureaux Dnyanesh Jathar and Lakshmi Subramanian, Senior Special Correspondent Prathima Nandakumar and Special Correspondent Rahul Devulapalli cover the heartbreaking saga of farmer suicides in India. Debt stress, price crashes, pest and climate change the pressure points are too many. A decade or so ago, THE WEEK reported from Ankoli, Solapur, about the DeshpandesSumangala and Arunwho refused to celebrate Diwali until there are no farmer suicides in a calendar year. In Malayalam, there is a saying: Uzhuthunnavane thozhuthunnanam (Before you eat, bow to the one who ploughs). If all of us did that, policymakers included, Diwali would visit the Deshpandes, and farming families would not have to go through heartbreak after heartbreak. Chief of Bureau Namrata Biji Ahuja looks at the collapse of the CPI (Maoist) command structure with the killing of party general secretary Nambala Keshava Rao aka Basavaraju. The article is supported by interviews with Vijay Sharma, deputy chief minister of Chhattisgarh and Gyanendra Pratap Singh, director general, CRPF. Coming back to the cover, I am reminded of a clause in Anna Rajam Malhotras letter of appointment to the IAS in 1951: In the event of marriage, your service will be terminated. Thankfully for her and all women civil servants, this order was withdrawn in 1953. I am told that she married a batch-mate when both were in their 50sthe 17th governor of the Reserve Bank of India, R.N. Malhotra. Being outstanding bureaucrats, both were honoured with the Padma Bhushan. And, interestingly, she got it a year before he did. Politicians generally distrust war-winning generals. In Pakistan, they distrust war-losing generals. Politicians see potential Bonapartes in war heroes, and get them out of the way with a few medals, honours and sinecures. Harry Truman sacked Korea winner Douglas MacArthur fearing challenge to civil supremacy. Mahinda Rajapaksa promoted Eelam war-winner Sarath Fonseka as chief of defence staff, with no command powers. The general quit soon, dabbled a bit in politics, and faded away with a five-star rank. In Pakistan, politicians fear war-losers. For good reason. Pervez Musharraf lost in Kargil, but upstaged Nawaz Sharif in a coup within months. Now Asim Munir has lost a four-day war with India, and Nawazs brother Shehbaz has saved his job by giving him a five-star rank. In Pakistan, a battle loser is as dangerous as a wounded tiger. Munir is their second field marshal. (Trollers call him failed marshal.) The other was Ayub Khan who wore the rank literally on his shoulders, and figuratively on his sleeve. Old bloke gave it to himself. Asim Munir | Imaging: Sujesh K. Generals in India wear their stars on their cars, and on the gorget patch on their collars. The gorget patch, if you dont know, is that scarlet pip (gold in Navy, blue in Air Force) that colonels and above sport on their collars. A brigadier wears one star, a major-general two, a lieutenant-general three and a full general four. In the rare case of a guy being made a field marshal or equivalent, he would have five stars on his collar and car. India has given five stars to three menthe 1971 war-winner Sam Manekshaw who got it with his pension papers, first chief K.M. Cariappa long after he started drawing pension, and the 1965 air war-winner Arjan Singh even later. Sam and Cariappa were made field marshals, Arjan got the equivalent rank of marshal of the air force. None in the Navy has got the equivalent rank, admiral of the fleet. No grudges, except from Air Chief Marshal P.C. Lal who led the air force in the 1971 war. He is said to have resented Sam being showered with praises, ranks and stars. But Admiral S.M. Nanda, who pulled off two surprise attacks on Karachi within one week, told Indira Gandhi that he didnt mind Sam getting an extra star as long as it wasnt one of his. The point isfive stars are rarely given these days, except as hotel ratings and chocolate bars. The British, who fought the most number of wars in modern history, have field-marshalled 141 of their generals. The Americans, fighting the most number of wars in the post-World War era, have been tight-fisted. So far only four or five of their generals have got full five, but the rank is called general of the army. They didnt want George Marshall, the first of their modern-day five-stars, to be trolled as Marshal Marshall. Field marshals in banana republics are self-conferred. Idi Amin of Uganda, who staged a coup as a major-general in 1971, skipped two rungs of the ladder and anointed himself field marshal. Muammar Gaddafi was the humblest. He was dictator of Libya from 1969 to 2011 wielding absolute power, but never thought of giving himself a rank above colonel, a middle-level rank. Why should he have? He had staged a coup when he was just a lieutenant, one of the lowest among the officer-ranks, and picked up the rank of colonel, skipping captain, major and lieutenant-colonel. One can be sure, he would have had several real star-rank officers saluting him during his 42-year reign. Who knows, the guy might have got a kick out of that. prasannan@theweek.in With the latest $400 million Coinbase database leak, crypto exchanges finally found their kryptonitethe underpaid customer service executive. When Fortune recently broke the story of criminals stealing the personal data of thousands of Coinbase customers, the investigation revealed what most economists already knew. The weakest link was none other than the set of support agents sitting all the way back in India, and it did not take much to bribe them. On May 15, Coinbase revealed its biggest security lapse ever, with losses estimated to be as much as $400 million. Even though it put a $20 million bounty on the perpetrators, the Fortune investigation revealed that they were just a loose network of young English-speaking hackers. But at the centre of the leak was a small Texas-based BPO called TaskUs, which operated customer services to Coinbase at a low cost by employing Indians in customer care centres like the one they had in Indore. TaskUs has been providing customer service to Coinbase since 2017, according to the investigation citing SEC filings. It also delved into how much a BPO worker pagejust between $500 to $700 a month. For India, it is much more than the mean BPO salary, cited Forbes. But in international terms, it is criminally lower than the federal minimum wage in the US. For instance, if someone worked just 20 days a month in 8-hour shifts at $7.25 per hour, they still made $1,160 that month. And this is exactly why these BPO workers were the weakest point in the chain as Sergio Garcia, founder of the crypto investigations company Tracelon, told Forbes. According to the report, TaskUs laid off 226 of its employees working for Coinbase from its Indore service centre. A TaskUs spokesperson told THE WEEK that it was the work of "two bad actors" that impacted the team of 226 in India. Early this year we identified two individuals who illegally accessed information from one of our clients. We believe these two individuals were recruited by a much broader, coordinated criminal campaign against this client that also impacted a number of other providers servicing this client," the spokesperson said. The company stressed that it "immediately reported this activity to the client, terminated the individuals involved, and are coordinating with law enforcement. Out of an abundance of caution, TaskUs ceased all Coinbase operations in Indore, India, in early January 2025, impacting 226 teammates. Following the investigation, all teammates, excluding the two bad actors, were offered a generous severance package, including six months of pay". "We place the highest priority on safeguarding the data of our clients and their customers and continue to strengthen our global security protocols and training programs, including by investing millions of additional dollars in physical and information security, it added. These underpaid BPO support staff in India were reportedly bribed by teenage hackers, as per the report. Not Russian and North Korean crypto hackers, but a loose affiliation of teenagers and twentysomethings who called themselves the Comm or Com. Using Telegram and Discord, the alleged perpetrators reportedly bribed the BPO agents to gather sensitive customer data, who then gave it a team that was proficient in carrying out social engineering scams. While the investigation pointed to an inside job, it could be reasoned that if TaskUs had paid fair wages to customer service executives who handled queries from people who were pinged them to enquire about cryptocurrencies, this might have been avoided. The 1990 fair wageeffort hypothesis by Akerloff and Yellen and noted economics author Peter N. S. Lee point to the same. At the Netflix Tudum Live Event, the streamer confirmed the release dates of the much-anticipated fifth and final season of Stranger Things. Unlike the previous seasons, this chapter will stream in three parts Volume 1 on Nov. 26, 2025, Dec. 25, 2025, and The Finale on Dec. 31, 2025. Season 5 will reveal the mysteries that were left unanswered at the end of Season 4. Here's the official logline: The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Wills disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything theyve faced before. To end this nightmare, theyll need everyone the full party standing together, one last time. Stranger Things Season 5 will feature Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, and Linda Hamilton, among others. The first season premiered on July 15, 2016, and created history. Stranger Things introduced viewers to Hawkins, Indiana in the 1980s, following a bunch of kids whose lives are changed forever by unforeseen supernatural events that plague their neighbourhood. With influences from Steven Spielberg's E.T. to Close Encounters of the Third Kind to Stephen King's horror novels such as IT, the show turned into one of the biggest shows worldwide, attracting a large fanbase that recalls the popularity of shows like Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, and Money Heist. Needless to say, the conclusion will be emotional for fans who have been following the show religiously. Recently, co-creator Ross Duffer wrote about bidding farewell to the show and the evolution of the actors through the show. "Weve been telling this story for nearly a decade now. Many of our cast members joined us when they were kids, just ten or eleven years old. It wasnt just a show for themit was a defining part of their childhood. Theyve grown up before our eyes, becoming more than actorstheyve become family," he said in a statement, expressing gratitude to the crew members as well. "Our crewmany of whom have been with us from the very beginningholds a special place in our hearts. Their dedication and passion have been the backbone of this journey. Everyone involved was determined to bring this story to a satisfying conclusion. They poured their hearts and souls into it, and we couldnt be more proud of what theyve accomplished," he signed off. Netflix has announced the premiere date of Wake Up Dead Man, the third entry in the Daniel Craig-fronted Knives Out film series. At the Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event Live Event held on May 31, the streaming date has been confirmed to be Dec. 12, 2025. Daniel Craig returns as the flamboyant, Southern aristocrat-style detective for a newer, bigger challenge. Not much is known about the new case, aside from the information that Blanc will venture into darker territory this timethe first teaser hints at a religion-centric crime and a darker tone, unlike the previous entries. If Blanc's voiceover in the teaser is any indication, it could be his "most dangerous case yet". Directed by Rian Johnson, who is back as writer and director, Wake Up Dead Man also features a who's who of seasoned and up-and-coming actors in Hollywood, such as Josh O'Connor, Glenn Clse, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, and others. An original creation of Johnson, who was inspired by the most popular detectives in fiction from Sherlock Holmes to Hercule Poirot to Gideon Fell (created by author John Dickson Carr), Blanc made his first appearance in Knives Out (2019), in which he was called upon to investigate the death of a bestselling novelist played by Christopher Plummer. In the sequel Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Blanc travelled to Greece to deal with the case of an eccentric tech billionaire and the strange events at his peculiar vacation hideaway. XII.XII.MMXXV on Netflix. More to come pic.twitter.com/Q4qxUXPNai Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) June 1, 2025 Recently, Johnson posted on X that he loved the "malleable" quality of the whodunit. I love everything about whodunnits, but one of the things I love most is how malleable the genre is. Theres a whole tonal spectrum from Carr to Christie, and getting to explore that range is one of the most exciting things about making Benoit Blanc movies. On coming up with a stellar cast list in all these films, which he likened to "throwing a dinner party," Johnson told Netflix, Weve been very lucky with each of these movies to have gathered some of my favourite actors on the planet, and thats absolutely the case here. Theyre also all lovely folks who get along, which is the dinner party aspect of it. When youre making an ensemble movie like this, I think thats key. As for the inspiration for the titles of these films, Johnson has cited some of the tracks from favourite bands. The first came from a Radiohead song, the second from a Beatles song, and the third, he revealed to Netflix, came from U2's 1997 song from the album 'Pop'. Pop is a very underrated album, and that song is very right for the title. But Ive had Wake Up Dead Man in my head for a long while, and I first heard the phrase in American folk music. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday stepped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his public speeches on Operation Sindoor, saying those in power should sometimes keep their mouths shut. Kharge said the prime minister should focus on the enemy instead of self-boasting that no one except for him would have done it. "I don't like reacting to all his (Modi's) statements. But my only request to him is that those in power should sometimes keep their mouths shut, he said. The Congress leader questioned Modis recent public statements and said he should temporarily step back from electoral campaigning. "Modi should recuse himself from elections and focus on the country. He should understand whatever has happened in the country and speak," Kharge, the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, said. Kharge noted that since Indias multi-party delegations are visiting countries to explain Indias stand on terrorism, its not proper for the prime minister to tour around the country and give speeches. He added that the entire nation stands with the armed forces, and there should be unity in national matters and a focus on defeating the opponents. The Congress leader reiterated his partys demand for a special parliament session to discuss Operation Sindoor, saying even Pakistan had convened a special session to discuss the military confrontation with India. We have said, Let's convene Parliament and talk. Even Pakistan has convened its Parliament and is holding discussions. None of us will speak against the nation," he said. In a blistering attack on Mamata Banerjee, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday accused the West Bengal chief minister of opposing Indias Operation Sindoor to appease the Muslim vote bank. Shah, who is on a two-day visit to the state, was addressing BJP leaders and workers in Kolkata. To appease the Muslim vote bank, Mamata didi opposed Operation Sindoor. By doing so, she is insulting the mothers and sisters of this country. In 2026 (assembly polls), the mothers and sisters of the state would teach the CM and the Trinamool Congress a lesson for criticising Operation Sindoor, he said. Shahs stinging attack on the Trinamool Congress supremo came after she accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of exploiting Indias military strikes on Pakistan-based terror hubs for political gains. #WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal | Addressing the BJP workers meeting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "... If Didi (Mamata Banerjee) has courage, she should try to contest elections without violence, her deposit would be seized. Mamata Banerjee has crossed all limits of pic.twitter.com/72rzgWfuVR ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2025 Under Operation Sindoor, we went 100km (inside Pakistan) and destroyed their headquarters. Hundreds of terrorists were killed, and this hurts Didi's stomach. She gave a political speech against Operation Sindoor. She also played with the emotions of crores of women in the country. The sisters and mothers of West Bengal should teach Mamata Banerjee the value of Sindoor in the upcoming elections," said Shah. Union Home Minister Amit Shah being felicitated by Sukanta Majumder (left) and Suvendu Adhikari during a party meeting in Kolkata | Salil Bera He further targeted Banerjee over alleged infiltration from Bangladesh and said the upcoming elections of West Bengal will not only decide the future of the state, but it is also associated with national security. "Mamata Banerjee has opened the nation's borders for Bangladeshis. She is allowing infiltration. Mamata Banerjee cannot stop infiltration; only a Lotus government can do that," he said, accusing the state government of not providing land at the border to create the fence. #WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal | Addressing the BJP workers meeting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "...The elections of West Bengal will not only decide Bengal's future, but it is also associated with national security. Mamata Banerjee has opened the nations borders for pic.twitter.com/8VXEVKzlSA ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2025 In another allegation, the Union home minister claimed that the recent riots in Murshidabad were state-sponsored and several TMC workers were involved in the violence. The MHA kept on insisting about the deployment of BSF during the Murshidabad riots, but the TMC government didn't allow it to happen so that the violence could continue, he said. Shah also alleged that the chief minister was opposing the Waqf Amendment Act for appeasement politics. The high-stakes Nilambur assembly byelection in Kerala is set to witness a three-cornered contest as Trinamool Congress (TMC) state convener P.V. Anwar, after many flip-flops, decided to enter the fray. The two-time MLA, whose resignation necessitated the bypolls in the seat, said at a press conference in Malappuram that he would file his nominations on Monday. He launched a scathing attack on opposition leader V.D. Satheesan and equated him with Adolf Hitler. "As the UDF led by Satheesan has closed doors before us, the TMC has no other option. So, we are going to fight the election... I will file the nomination tomorrow," Anvar said. "I won't lick the feet of Satheesan anymore. My decision is to fight," he added. Under the inspiration and guidance of Honble Chairperson Smt. @MamataOfficial , we are pleased to announce the All India Trinamool Congress candidate for the impending Kerala Legislative Bye-election scheduled for 19th June, 2025. pic.twitter.com/8fIP8EkI24 All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) June 1, 2025 Anvar had earlier said he would support the UDF candidate if he was inducted into the opposition alliance. The Congress-led alliance, however, made it clear that Anvar would be included in the fronts fold only if he withdrew his remarks against its candidate Aryadan Shoukath. On Saturday, Anvar said he was not interested in being part of the UDF and he would not contest in the Nilambur bypolls either, as he did not have the money needed for it. Anvar had won the seat in the 2021 assembly elections as an independent with the backing of the Left Democratic Front. He, however, quit the seat last year following his differences with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and the CPI(M). In his press briefing on Sunday, Anvar said UDF candidate Shoukath would not succeed in the bypoll as he was not capable of opposing "Pinarayism". Taking potshots at the chief minister, Anvar claimed it was Pinarayi Vijayan who warned Satheesan against including him in the UDF. "Vijayan has threatened to field a stronger candidate in Satheesan's constituency, Paravur, in the 2026 Assembly polls and defeat him," he said, adding that it has forced Satheesan to keep him away from the UDF. The CPI(M) has already announced M. Swaraj as its candidate. DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the AIADMK, alleging that the opposition party had gone fully under the control of the Bharatiya Janata Party. He was addressing the partys general council meeting in Madurai. Taking a dig at the pre-poll alliance between AIADMK and BJP, Stalin said Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami was making an attempt to bring the entire state of Tamil Nadu under the saffron party's control. But it will not happen and no (Amit) Shah can rule Tamil Nadu," he said. "When the AIADMK-BJP alliance was announced by Amit Shah, Palaniswami did not even utter a word...only those who lead the alliance in the state usually announce the alliance. However, here, Amit Shah announced it. This showed that the AIADMK has fully gone under the control of the BJP, said Stalin. The chief minister further told partymen that people need to be told on what might happen if a BJP-led alliance came to power in the state. "People need to be told that they will not allow children to get educated, there will be no industrial growth, they will destroy Tamil Nadu's unique characteristics by imposing Hindi and by way of cultural imposition, he said. Stalins all-out attack on the opposition came a day after he held a 20-km road show in the temple city, which many see as the launch of DMKs campaign for the 2026 assembly elections. The general council, the DMKs highest policy-level decision making panel, is meeting in Mdurai after a gap of 48 years. The last time it was held here was in 1977 when late DMK leader K. Anbazhagan was eleccted as the general secretary, a post he had held till his death. "Madurai is a land of sacrifice, where many people worked hard for the party. It is a matter of pride that the meet is happening in such a place. Ever since the party was founded (1949), general council meetings have been held six times in Madurai and this is the seventh time. This is the general council which is going to pave the way for the party to form the government for the seventh time, Stalin said. Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are due by April-May 2026. In its alleged bid to clamp down on dog ownership, the Iranian city of Isfahan has reportedly banned all forms of dog walking in public. This comes amid discourses related to a bill mulled by the Islamic Republic's authorities which could ban import, sale and keeping of a variety of animals. The sweeping ban was announced by Mohammad Mousavian, Isfahans public and revolutionary prosecutor, who stated that "dog walking was a violation of public rights and a threat to the health, comfort, and peace of citizens." "Any form of dog walking in the city whether in parks, public spaces, or vehicles is prohibited and will be dealt with seriously," Iran International quoted the statement. He also empowered law enforcement agencies to impound vehicles carrying dogs and to shut down shops and unauthorised veterinary clinics related to pet care. The statement added that the law is in "response to serious public demands" while urging the police and cybercrime units to take down social media accounts advertising the sale of dogs and prosecute their owners. Iran's stance on pet ownership, especially dogs, has met widespread criticism. In an earlier interview, Dr Payam Mohebi, president of the Iran Veterinary Association and an opponent of the bill, alleged that the debates 2021 'Protection of the Publics Rights Against Animals bill' arose over a decade ago when a group of Iranian MPs tried to promote a law to confiscate all dogs and give them to zoos or leave them in deserts. This video that Ive received today made me angry. A young man being beaten up savagely by the police in Iran just because he resisted to give his dog away. His mother is trying to help him but see what happens. According to the laws in Iran, walking a dog in public is a crime. pic.twitter.com/PCNsYDsAkd Masih Alinejad (@AlinejadMasih) July 13, 2021 Over the years, they have changed this a couple of times and even discussed corporal punishment for dog owners. But their plan didnt get anywhere," he alleged. Though there still is no clear law governing dog ownership, many citizens often report fines, harassment, and even eviction threats. Israel has blocked a planned visit by senior Arab and Islamic foreign ministers to the West Bank, citing concerns over the Palestinian Authoritys intentions to use the event to promote statehood. The decision, confirmed by both Palestinian and Jordanian officials, prevented what would have been a rare high-level diplomatic mission to Ramallah scheduled for Sunday, and has drawn sharp criticism from Palestinian leaders. The delegation, which included Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and officials from Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, was scheduled to arrive in the West Bank city of Ramallah via helicopters from Jordan. The visit, coordinated with the Palestinian Authority (PA), was intended to demonstrate political backing for the PA and to discuss upcoming diplomatic initiatives, including a France-Saudi Arabia-led conference at the United Nations in New York on June 17. According to Jordans foreign ministry, the Israeli government denied the necessary entry permits for the ministers, effectively cancelling the visit. Israel controls all crossings into the occupied West Bank, meaning its approval is required for any foreign delegation to enter the territory. A senior Israeli official said the Palestinian Authority was planning to use the visit to advocate for the establishment of a Palestinian state. The official stated that Israel would not cooperate with moves designed to harm it and its security, and described the potential creation of a Palestinian state as a threat. The Israeli government declined to comment officially on the decision. The visit by Prince Faisal would have been the first by a Saudi foreign minister to the West Bank since the territory was occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinian officials said it was intended to provide political legitimacy to the PA amid wider discussions on the post-war governance of the Gaza Strip. Mahmoud Abbas, the PA president, leads Fatah, a rival faction to Hamas. The PA was ejected from Gaza in 2007 when Hamas took control of the coastal enclave. Since then, the PA has continued to govern parts of the West Bank under Israeli occupation. Approximately 30 lakh Palestinians live in the West Bank, alongside some five lakh Israeli settlers. Israel retains overall control of borders, movement, and security in the area. Palestinian officials condemned the Israeli move. Hussein al-Sheikh, deputy chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisations Executive Committee, described the decision as arrogant and provocative in a post on social media. Ahmed Majdalani, another PLO executive member, said the visit had been postponed but that further consultations with Arab states were underway. The planned delegation visit came ahead of the international conference on Palestinian statehood co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. France is reportedly considering formal recognition of a Palestinian state, while Riyadh is encouraging other countries to do the same. Palestinian leaders viewed the visit as part of a broader effort to elevate their diplomatic standing and rebuild international momentum behind the two-state solution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly opposed Palestinian statehood, and his government has expanded settlement activity in the West Bank. In recent months, Israel has also tightened military control over the territory, erecting new checkpoints, carrying out regular raids targeting suspected militants, and demolishing buildings in Palestinian towns. According to local health officials in Gaza, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began in October 2023. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following the Hamas-led attack that killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in southern Israel. The figures from Gaza health authorities do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. The PA has not issued a direct condemnation of the October 7 attack, but has released general statements condemning violence against civilians. In recent weeks, Abbas has called for Hamas to release Israeli hostages, and disarm and relinquish control of Gaza. Israel continues to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenues it collects on behalf of the PA, citing payments the PA makes to the families of Palestinian prisoners and deceased attackers. In February, Abbas signed a decree reforming this system, ending the linkage of payments to the length of prison sentences. Saudi Arabia has recently increased its financial and political engagement with the PA, including encouraging internal reforms. Hussein al-Sheikh was appointed deputy to Abbas earlier this year, a move understood to be part of these reform efforts. Riyadhs support for the cancelled West Bank visit signals Saudi Arabias interest in bolstering the PAs legitimacy as a potential governing body in Gaza after the war. However, Israel has opposed any plans to give the PA a governing role in the territory, arguing that it does not represent a reliable security partner. The cancelled visit comes at a time of growing international scrutiny of Israels conduct in both Gaza and the West Bank. Several European countries, including Spain, Norway and Ireland, have formally recognised a Palestinian state in recent weeks. The European Union has announced a review of its trade ties with Israel. The United Kingdom has paused talks on upgrading its own trade deal. France and Germany have also raised concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Even the United States, traditionally Israels closest ally, has called for the conflict to wind down. President Donald Trump recently urged an end to the war and said that Palestinians in Gaza were starving, prompting Israel to ease some restrictions on aid. Earlier last week, the United Arab Emirates summoned Israels ambassador for a formal protest after Israeli authorities allowed a far right rally to proceed in East Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount, despite public incitement at the event. Speaking in Singapore on May 30, French President Emmanuel Macron said that recognising a Palestinian state is not only a moral duty, but a political necessity. What we are building over the coming weeks is obviously a political response to the crisis in Gaza, he said. And yes, its a necessity. Because today, over and above the current humanitarian tragedy, it is the very possibility of a Palestinian state that is being questioned. A humanitarian aid ship which will set sail from Italy's Sicily on Sunday, has a prominent actor onboard along with climate activist Greta Thunberg. The journey is being organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to deliver vital supplies to the Palestinian people in Gaza and protest Israels months-long blockade there. Besides Thunberg, actor Liam Cunningham will also sail to Gaza in the ship 'Madleen'. The Irish actor who played Davos Seaworth in the hit HBO series is a vocal critic of Israel. Before he embarked on the journey, Cunningham told reporters that he hoped the flotilla would get through and not be attacked, like the last time. "If anything happens to the boat, it's not a confrontation it's a deliberate attack," he said. Cunningham was referring to the Freedom Flotilla ship 'The Conscience' which was damaged in a drone strike off the coast of Malta on May 2. The attack, suspected to be from Israel, off the coast of Malta, forced the ship to call off its journey. Maltas government said the attack left the ship ablaze. The vessel was 68-foot-long and was carrying 16 people 12 crew members and four civilian passengers. Game of Thrones star Liam Cunningham , has become a prominent advocate for justice for GAZA: "Sure, I could lead a comfortable life & simply enjoy my success, but my conscience wont let me. I have to speak out..." Respect pic.twitter.com/7tlEVdVwgw The Resonance (@Partisan_12) April 22, 2025 NEW: Greta Thunberg and actor Liam Cunningham are expected to join the Freedom Flotilla, a civilian-led boat mission planning to sail toward Gaza. At the same time, participants from 31 countries are organizing a coordinated protest called the Global March to Gaza, thousands pic.twitter.com/gQ42Pgdgn5 Oliya Scootercaster (@ScooterCasterNY) May 31, 2025 Besides Cunningham, European Union lawmaker Rima Hassan will also be onboard the vessel. Hassan has been barred from entering Israel due to her controversial statement. The journey was criticised by the many pro-Israeli sources and supported by many too. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese wished the flotilla well on their journey. "Stay safe, my friends. I am painfully aware of the risks you are taking on behalf of all of usof Humanity. Diplomats & politicians around the world: The Flotilla Giants are taking the heavy lift. PLEASE make sure they are protected, will you? This is the least you can do." The commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), General Mazloum Abdi, has signalled a striking shift in tone, expressing openness to dialogue with Turkey and reiterating his groups commitment to broader regional cooperation. Speaking to a local television station on May 30, Abdi confirmed that the SDF, which controls much of northeast Syria, is in direct contact with Turkish officials and is open to improving relations, including the possibility of meeting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. We have direct communication channels with Turkey, and we also speak through intermediaries, Abdi said. He emphasised the need to build on the current two-month truce with Turkish-backed forces, following years of fierce clashes, in hopes of securing a permanent ceasefire. "We are not in a state of war with Turkey. I am not opposed to meeting Erdogan," he added. His remarks come amid reports that Ankara proposed a meeting between Abdi and a senior Turkish official, potentially the foreign minister or the intelligence chief. A Turkish diplomatic source denied the report, calling the claims not true without further clarification. Turkey continues to regard the SDFs main Kurdish faction as indistinguishable from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which recently declared its disbandment after four decades of armed struggle. Nonetheless, Abdis overture marks a significant diplomatic development. Dismissing accusations of covert ties with Israel, Abdi stated unequivocally: "We have no relationship with Israel." However, he did not rule out future cooperation. "We support good relations with all neighbouring states with everyone, he said. In a separate BBC interview in March, Abdi had welcomed potential Israeli support if it could help protect Kurdish lives and achievements. "Israel has influence in the US, the West, and across the region," he noted. General Mazloum Abdi, Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), reiterated in an interview with Al Arabiya that the SDF has no ties to Iran, neither covert nor overt. We have no relations with Iran and do not receive any weapons from them, nor do we require pic.twitter.com/IrAV3FXNOs Drones For Rojava (@DronesForRojava) January 22, 2025 Abdi also reaffirmed his support for the US-mediated ceasefire agreement signed in December, following renewed hostilities during the collapse of Bashar al-Assads regime. In March, he reached a deal with Syrias interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to gradually incorporate the SDFs administration into the national state structurea move criticised by Erdogan as stalling. The SDF remains committed to political decentralisation, Abdi stressed, warning against superficial solutions. A joint delegation from the Kurdish National Council (ENKS) and the Autonomous Administration is currently engaged in talks with the transitional Syrian government. "A new Syria must recognise the rights of all its people," he concluded. Leaders of the banned Pakistani terrorist outfit Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) has claimed to have played a key role in the student-led protest that led to the ouster of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, according to reports. JuD is infamous for its involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, masterminded by its chief Hafiz Saeed. Taking an aim at the Indian government, Muzammil Hashmi recently said, We defeated you in Bangladesh last year, reports PTI. Exclusive Alert : Lengthy 20 min hate speech After going into hiding for several days following #OperationSindoor , Lashkar-E-Tayiba Deputy Chief Saifullah Kasuri asserts that India wrongfully implicated him in the Pahalgam attack. He even goes so far as to say that pic.twitter.com/QTWafflJ2l OsintTV (@OsintTV) May 28, 2025 The interim Bangladeshi government headed by Muhammad Yunus has charged Hasina with crimes against humanity over crackdown on student-led protests in the country last year. Saifullah Kasuri, another JuD terrorist, recently said that they took revenge for 1971 in May. Recalling the Bangladesh Liberation war, he said, The then Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi had declared that she'd drowned the two-nation theory in Khaleej (Bay of Bengal). On May 10, l... we have taken the revenge of 1971. Kasuri, who is part of JuD coordination committee, was the mastermind behind the deadly Pahalgam attack that killed 26 innocent civilians on April 22. We are preparing the next generation for jihad...We are not afraid of dying, he added. Listed 32nd in India's most wanted list, the terrorist was recently seen sharing stage with Punjab assembly speaker Malik Ahmad Khan and Talha Saeed, the son of Hafiz Saeed. Kasuri allegedly coordinated with Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy The Resistance Front to carry out the attack in Pahalgam. Earlier, he claimed that Indian media "wrongfully" blamed him and Pakistan for the Pahalgam shocker. "India created drama as they were themselves behind the attack," he said. Barely days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Pakistan will not get water from rivers over which India has rights in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Pakistan has claimed that the water inflow from India in Chenab has plunged from 98,200 cusecs on Thursday to 7,200 cusecs on Saturday. The statement from Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority came just a day after the country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif threatened Pakistan wouldn't let India "cross the red line" on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). India had held the IWT in abeyance in response to the deadly attack on Indians in Kashmir's Pahalgam. A statement from Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority said the inflow of water at Chenab River at Marala Headworks (situated near Sialkot) was 98,200 cusecs on Thursday. It dropped to 44,800 cusecs on Friday before plunging further to 7,200 cusecs on Saturday. The statement said "no water was being discharged." Man stands on island that emerged due to low water levels in the Chenab River, Multan, on May 30, 2025 : REUTERS Visit our website: https://t.co/63ZprGjqOC#TheNews pic.twitter.com/DkmIqRj3a1 The News (@thenews_intl) May 30, 2025 Just days after India announced its decision to suspend IWT, Pakistan had witnessed Chenab drying up. On May 5, Pakistan claimed, "India restricted flows through Jammus Baglihar and Salal hydroelectric dams on the Chenab that runs onto Pakistan". At that time, the Chenab's flow had reduced from 35,600 to 3,177 cusecs. An irrigation department official from Pakistan's Punjab province had then accused India of "using our water to fill up their dams and hydropower projects in the Chenab basin". However, the Pakistani government has yet to provide evidence to back up its claims. The current situation comes as Sharif, during his tour to Tajikistan, threatened India against its decision to put the treaty in abeyance. He said that "Pakistan would not allow India to cross the red line by holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance". Sharif also accused India of holding "millions of lives hostage to narrow political gains" while he deftly avoided any mention of the Pahalgam terror attack, that saw 26 Indians gunned down. "Pakistan will not allow this. We will never allow the red line to be crossed," Sharif proclaimed. The current situation in Chenab came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that "Pakistan will not get water from rivers over which India has rights", a statement seen as a rejection of Pakistan's "willingness to discuss water issue". "Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price for every terrorist attack ... Pakistan's army will pay it. Pakistan's economy will pay it," Modi said in Rajasthan. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in Bangladesh on Sunday lifted the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, reinstating its registration as a political party. This comes days after the court acquitted Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War on May 28. The apex court in its Sunday ruling directed the election commission to implement the order without delay, allowing Jamaat-e-Islami to legally contest polls. The national elections in the restive country has been delayed as the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus have been calling for implementation of reforms. Jamaat-e-Islami was declared illegal by the Bangladeshi High Court on August 1, 2013, following which the election panel cancelled the party's registration on December 7, 2018. Awami League General Secretary Condemns False, Fabricated Campaigns Against Sheikh Hasina Orchestrated by Illegitimate Yunus Regime May 31, 2025 - Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has issued a strong statement condemning the deliberate and fabricated pic.twitter.com/UG8OroFOsn Bangladesh Awami League (@albd1971) June 1, 2025 ATM, the tainted politician who was released from prison on May 28, was sentenced to death by the country's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in 2014. The 73-year-old who was the commander of the Al-Badr militia during the 1971 war helped the Pakistan army in suppressing the revolution. He was put on death row for orchestrating the Jharuarbeel massacre in April 1971, when 1,256 civilians were killed in Bangladesh's Rangpur. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, which was rejigged by the Yunus government, ordered his release on May 27. Five other convicts in the case, including four Jamaat leaders and one BNP leader, have already been hanged. On May 27, journalist Shafik Rehman, who allegedly conspired to abduct and kill ousted PM Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, was also acquitted. This comes as Bangladesh officially charged Hasina and two other officials over "crimes against humanity" by violently cracking down on the student protests in 2024. Calling the killings planned, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said the case includes 81 witnesses and cited evidences against her. "The accused unleashed all law enforcement agencies and her armed party members to crush the uprising. Upon scrutinising the evidence, we reached the conclusion that it was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack," Islam said. According to the UN, around 1,400 people were killed in the crackdown on Bangladesh student protests. Responding to that charges against Hasina and her banned Awami League, the party's General Secretary Obaidul Quader condemned the "deliberate and fabricated misinformation campaign" staged by the "illegitimate, fascist, and militant-backed Yunus regime". "They lack both the constitutional mandate and public support. This fascist group has imposed itself on the state like a heavy stone through deception and manipulation," he added. Moscow has confirmed that several of its airfields came under attack by Ukrainian drones. Western media reports are calling the Kyiv offensive "an ambitious attack", as nuclear-capable Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bombers of the Russian Air Force were targeted deep in Siberia. Videos on the internet showed Russian personnel running for cover as FPV drones launched by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) turned several aircraft into fireballs. ALSO READ | Why Ukraine drone strikes targeted Russia's Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bomber aircraft? 5 facts about the Soviet-era bad boy Russia's Defence Ministry acknowledged on the Telegram messaging app that Ukraine had launched the strikes across five regions on Sunday. It said the attacks were repelled in all but two regions Murmansk in the far north and Irkutsk in Siberia where "the launch of FPV drones from an area in close proximity to airfields resulted in several aircraft catching fire", reported Reuters. The fires were extinguished without casualties. Some individuals involved in the attacks have been detained, the ministry said. Here are five latest developments as Kyiv managed to land a blow on Vladimir Putin ahead of the peace talks in Istanbul: 1. According to Moscow's Tass news agency, a truck driver was detained by police on suspicion of involvement in the attack. After videos showed UAVs taking off from stationary trucks on roadsides, it was officially confirmed that the Ukrainian drones did, in fact, launch from trucks located well within Russian territory. Mobile wooden cabins were reportedly smuggled into the country by the SBU for the safe storage of the drones until the day of the operation. WATCH | Viral videos show Ukraine's drone attack destroying Russian bombers 'across airbases' 2. After the details of the attack surfaced, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, posted a spider web emoji on both his X handle and Telegram channel. According to the BBC, it is an apparent reference to the name given to the assault by his nation "Operation Spider's Web". 3. "Operation Spider's Web" took about one and a half years to plan, organise, and execute. It was personally overseen by Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the SBU claimed. After they were given the go-ahead, the wooden cabins stationed inside trucks were remotely opened, and the UAVs were launched towards the airbases. 4. Ukraine did not keep Donald Trump or the White House in the loop ahead of launching the large-scale attack, Reuters said, quoting highly placed government sources. 5. While early reports stated that as many as 40 Russian warplanes were hit by the FPV drones, the latest count has gone up to 41 according to multiple media reports. AIMIM chief Asaduddin called Pakistan the epicentre of Takfirism, saying the rogue nation should be put back in the FATF Grey List in the interest of world peace. Owaisi was speaking in Algeria where the all-party delegation engaged with the African country's leadership as part of India's global outreach to expose Pakistan and emphasise India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. #WATCH | Algiers, Algeria | AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi says, "...Pakistan is the epicentre of Takfirism and there is no difference in ideology between the terrorist groups in Pakistan and Daesh and Al-Qaeda. They believe that they have a religious sanction, which is pic.twitter.com/yXkNSkk4Qd ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2025 Calling Pakistan the epicentre of Takfirism, Owaisi said there is no difference in the ideology between the terrorist groups in Pakistan and global terror outfits like the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda. "They believe that they have a religious sanction, which is completely wrong. Islam does not allow the killing of any person, and unfortunately, that is their ideology," the AIMIM chief pointed out. What is Takfirism? Takfirism refers to ideology that calls for killing of fellow Muslims who are seen as an apostate of unbeliever. However, those who wrongly declare a Muslim as apostate is considered unbelievers themselves. The Islamic State has declared Shia and Sufi Muslims as "takfir". In Pakistan, several Ahmadiyyas have been killed by terrorists in the name of takfirism for denying the basic tenets of Islam. Algeria a victim of Takfirism Algeria was itself a victim of Takfirism during the civil war between 1991 and 2002 when hundreds of civilians were killed by Islamist groups. The GIA (Armed Islamic Group of Algeria), an Islamist militant group, declared takfir on rivals during the Algerian civil war and massacred hundreds of innocent civilians in the name of religion. The GIA chief Antar Zouabri later claimed responsibility for some of these massacres, saying it was an offering to God and declared those who fight against the GIA as 'takfir'. "Except for those who are with us, all others are apostates and deserving of death," Zouabri said. Pakistan a threat to South Asia Owaisi said Pakistan should be brought back in the FATF Grey List, saying, "Its not only a question of South Asia. We are the 4th largest economy. What will happen? Do you want all this carnage to spread to different parts of South Asia? No. It is in the interest of world peace to control Pakistan, which is the main sponsor of terrorism." He recalled that terrorist Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi became a father to a son while in prison but his trial began immediately after Pakistan was back in Grey list. He said once Pakistan is back in the Grey List, terror acts in India will come down. We have the 2018 experience when Algeria and other countries helped India," he added. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reassured allies in the Indo-Pacific on Saturday that they will not be left alone to face increasing military and economic pressure from China, while insisting that they also contribute more to their own defense. He said Washington will bolster its defenses overseas to counter what the Pentagon sees as rapidly developing threats by Beijing, particularly in its aggressive stance toward Taiwan. China has conducted numerous exercises to test what a blockade would look like of the self-governing island, which Beijing claims as its own and the U.S. has pledged to defend. Chinas army is rehearsing for the real deal, Hegseth said in a keynote speech at a security conference in Singapore. We are not going to sugarcoat it the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent. The head of Chinas delegation accused Hegseth of making groundless accusations. Some of the claims are completely fabricated, some distort facts and some are cases of a thief crying stop thief, said Rear Adm. Hu Gangfeng, vice president of Chinas National Defense University. He did not offer specific objections. These actions are nothing more than attempts to provoke trouble, incite division and stir up confrontation to destabilize the Asia-Pacific region, he said. Hegseth says China is training to invade Taiwan China has a stated goal of ensuring its military is capable of taking Taiwan by force if necessary by 2027, a deadline that is seen by experts as more of an aspirational goal than a hard war deadline. China also has built sophisticated, artificial islands in the South China Sea to support new military outposts and developed highly advanced hypersonic and space capabilities, which are driving the United States to create its own space-based Golden Dome missile defenses. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a global security conference hosted by the International Institute for Security Studies, Hegseth said China is no longer just building up its military forces to take Taiwan, its actively training for it, every day. Hegseth also called out China for its ambitions in Latin America, particularly its efforts to increase its influence over the Panama Canal. He urged Indo-Pacific countries to increase defense spending to levels similar to the 5% of their gross domestic product European nations are now pressed to contribute. We must all do our part, Hegseth said. Following the speech, the European Unions top diplomat Kaja Kallas pushed back at Hegseths comment that European countries should focus their defense efforts in their own region and leave the Indo-Pacific more to the U.S. She said that with North Korean troops fighting for Russia and China supporting Moscow, European and Asian security were very much interlinked. Questions about US commitment to Indo-Pacific Hegseth also repeated a pledge made by previous administrations to bolster the U.S. military in the Indo-Pacific to provide a more robust deterrent. While both the Obama and Biden administrations had also committed to pivoting to the Pacific and established new military agreements throughout the region, a full shift has never been realized. Instead, U.S. military resources from the Indo-Pacific have been regularly pulled to support military needs in the Middle East and Europe, especially since the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. In the first few months of President Donald Trumps second term, thats also been the case. In the last few months, the Trump administration has taken a Patriot missile defense battalion out of the Indo-Pacific in order to send it to the Middle East, a massive logistical operation that required 73 military cargo aircraft flights, and sent Coast Guard ships back to the U.S. to help defend the U.S.-Mexico border. Hegseth was asked why the U.S. pulled those resources if the Indo-Pacific is the priority theater. He did not directly answer but said the shift of resources was necessary to defend against Houthi missile attacks launched from Yemen, and to bolster protections against illegal immigration into the U.S. At the same time, he stressed the need for American allies and partners to step up their own defense spending and preparations, saying the U.S. was not interested in going it alone. Ultimately a strong, resolute and capable network of allies and partners is our key strategic advantage, he said. China envies what we have together, and it sees what we can collectively bring to bear on defense, but its up to all of us to ensure that we live up to that potential by investing. The Indo-Pacific nations caught in between have tried to balance relations with both the U.S. and China over the years. Beijing is the primary trading partner for many, but is also feared as a regional bully, in part due to its increasingly aggressive claims on natural resources such as critical fisheries. Hegseth cautioned that playing both sides, seeking U.S. military support and Chinese economic support, carries risk. Economic dependence on China only deepens their malign influence and complicates our defense decision space during times of tension, Hegseth said. Asked how he would reconcile that statement with Trumps threat of steep tariffs on most in the region, Hegseth he was in the business of tanks, not trade. But Illinois Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who is part of a congressional delegation attending Shangri-La, objected to pressuring regional allies. The United States is not asking people to choose between us and the PRC, Duckworth said, in reference to the Peoples Republic of China. Australias Defense Minister Richard Marles welcomed Hegseths assurance that the Indo-Pacific was an American strategic priority and agreed that Australia and other nations needed to do their part. Reality is that there is no effective balance of power in this region absent the United States, but we cannot leave it to the United States alone, he said. Still, Marles suggested the Trump administrations aggressive trade policies were counterproductive. The shock and disruption from the high tariffs has been costly and destabilizing. China sends lower-level delegation China usually sends its own defense minister to the conference, but Dong Jun did not attend this year in a snub to the U.S. over Trumps erratic tariffs war. His absence was something the U.S. delegation said it intended to capitalize on. We are here this morning. And somebody else isnt, Hegseth said. Asked by a member of the Chinese delegation how committed the U.S. would remain if Asian alliances like ASEAN had differences with Washington, Hegseth said the U.S. would not be constrained by the confines of how previous administrations looked at this region. Were opening our arms to countries across the spectrum traditional allies, non-traditional allies, he said. He said U.S. support would not require local governments to align with the West on cultural or climate issues. (AP) Syria and Saudi Arabia said Saturday they aim to boost economic cooperation to for their mutual benefit and create jobs for Syrians after Western sanctions imposed on the war-torn country were eased earlier this month. The announcement was made during a visit to Damascus by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who met Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and other Syrian officials. The easing of Western sanctions is likely to open the way for foreign investors into the country, where a civil war has been ongoing since March 2011. In early December, 54 years of Assad family rule came to an end, when gunmen opposed to then-president Bashar Assad captured his seat of power in Damascus. The Saudi foreign minister said that the easing of sanctions by the U.S., the European Union and Britain earlier this month will help in reactivating the Syrian economy that had been at a standstill for decades. Prince Faisal, who is heading an economic and business delegation, said Saudi businessmen will visit Syria in the near future to discuss opportunities in sectors including oil, infrastructure, information technology, telecommunications and agriculture. He added that Saudi Arabia and Qatar will give financial assistance to employees of Syrias public sector without giving details. We assert that the kingdom will be a leading state among countries that will stand by Syria in its march for reconstruction and economic revival, Prince Faisal said. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said his country and Saudi Arabia have entered a new era of cooperation. The meeting came two days after Syria signed an agreement with a consortium of Qatari, Turkish and U.S. companies for development of a 5,000-megawatt energy project to revitalize much of its war-battered electricity grid. Al-Sharaa met President Donald Trump in Saudi Arabia earlier this month. (AP) Vandals defaced Frances national Holocaust memorial, two shuls, and a kosher restaurant in central Paris with green paint overnight Friday. Among the sites targeted was a shul in the historic Marais district. Israeli President Yitzchok Herzog, whose great-grandfather Rav Yoel Herzog ztl built the shul, said he was appalled by the incident and spoke with French Jewish leaders to offer chizuk and solidarity. These heinous acts of hatred cannot go unanswered, President Herzog said. I call on French authorities to act swiftly and firmly to bring the perpetrators to justice and protect the Jewish community from further attacks. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau wrote, I am deeply disgusted by these heinous acts targeting the Jewish community. He confirmed that no arrests have been made yet, but added that he had already ordered increased security around Jewish institutions ahead of Shavuos. Retailleau noted that antisemitic acts now account for over 60% of all anti-religious incidents in France, and that the Jewish communityone of the largest in the world outside of Israelis particularly vulnerable. He had already called last week for visible and dissuasive security measures around Jewish sites. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo vowed to file a formal complaint over the vandalism and condemned the attacks as acts of intimidation that have no place in our city or in our Republic. This latest round of antisemitic incidents comes amid a troubling and unprecedented rise in attacks against Jews in France since the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023. In the past year alone, France has seen attempted arson at a shul in La Grande-Motte, a devastating fire at a Rouen shul, and the assault of a 12-year-old Jewish girl in Courbevoie by teenagers yelling antisemitic slurs. In May 2024, vandals painted red handprints at the Paris memorial honoring the righteous gentiles who risked their lives to save Jews during the Nazi occupation. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) President Donald Trump on Friday told Pennsylvania steelworkers hes doubling the tariff on steel imports to 50% to protect their industry, a dramatic increase that could further push up prices for a metal used to make housing, autos and other goods. In a post later on his Truth Social platform, he added that aluminum tariffs would also be doubled to 50%. He said both tariff hikes would go into effect Wednesday. Trump spoke at U.S. Steels Mon Valley WorksIrvin Plant in suburban Pittsburgh, where he also discussed a details-to-come deal under which Japans Nippon Steel will invest in the iconic American steelmaker. Trump told reporters after he arrived back in Washington that he still has to approve the deal. I have to approve the final deal with Nippon and we havent seen that final deal yet, but theyve made a very big commitment and its a very big investment, he said. Though Trump initially vowed to block the Japanese steelmakers bid to buy Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel, he reversed course and announced an agreement last week for partial ownership by Nippon. Its unclear, though, if the deal his administration helped broker has been finalized or how ownership would be structured. Nippon Steel has never said it is backing off its bid to outright buy and control U.S. Steel as a wholly owned subsidiary, even as it increased the amount of money it promised to invest in U.S. Steel plants and gave guarantees that it wouldnt lay off workers or close plants as it sought federal approval of the acquisition. Were here today to celebrate a blockbuster agreement that will ensure this storied American company stays an American company, Trump said as he opened an event at one of U.S. Steels warehouses. Youre going to stay an American company, you know that, right? As for the tariffs, Trump said doubling the levies on imported steel will even further secure the steel industry in the U.S. But such a dramatic increase could push prices even higher. Steel prices have climbed 16% since Trump became president in mid-January, according to the governments Producer Price Index. As of March 2025, steel cost $984 a metric ton in the United States, significantly more than the price in Europe ($690) or China ($392), according to the U.S. Commerce Department. The United States produced about three times as much steel as it imported last year, with Canada, Brazil, Mexico and South Korea being the largest sources of steel imports. Analysts have credited tariffs going back to Trumps first term with helping strengthen the domestic steel industry, something that Nippon Steel wanted to capitalize on in its offer to buy U.S. Steel. The United Steelworkers union remained skeptical. Its president, David McCall, said in a statement that the union is most concerned with the impact that this merger of U.S. Steel into a foreign competitor will have on national security, our members and the communities where we live and work. Trump stressed the deal would maintain American control of the storied company, which is seen as both a political symbol and an important matter for the countrys supply chain, industries like auto manufacturing and national security. Trump, who has been eager to strike deals and announce new investments in the U.S. since retaking the White House, is also trying to satisfy voters, including blue-collar workers, who elected him as he called to protect U.S. manufacturing. U.S. Steel has not publicly communicated any details of a revamped deal to investors. Nippon Steel issued a statement approving of the proposed partnership but also has not disclosed terms. State and federal lawmakers who have been briefed on the matter describe a deal in which Nippon will buy U.S. Steel and spend billions on U.S. Steel facilities in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Alabama, Arkansas and Minnesota. The company would be overseen by an executive suite and board made up mostly of Americans and protected by the U.S. governments veto power in the form of a golden share. Unionized steelworkers said there is some split opinion in the ranks over Nippon Steels acquisition, but that sentiment has shifted over time as they became more convinced that U.S. Steel would eventually shut down their Pittsburgh-area plants. Clifford Hammonds, a line feeder at the plant where Trump spoke, said at the very least the deal will help upgrade the aging plant and help increase production. Its putting money back into the plant to help rebuild it, because this plant is old, its falling apart. We aint really producing as much as we should be because, like I said, this place is old. Its falling apart. We need some type of investment to fix the machines that weve got working, Hammonds said. No matter the terms, the issue has outsized importance for Trump, who last year repeatedly said he would block the deal and foreign ownership of U.S. Steel, as did former President Joe Biden. Trump promised during the campaign to make the revitalization of American manufacturing a priority of his second term in office. And the fate of U.S. Steel, once the worlds largest corporation, could become a political liability in the midterm elections for his Republican Party in the swing state of Pennsylvania and other battleground states dependent on industrial manufacturing. Trump said Sunday he wouldnt approve the deal if U.S. Steel did not remain under U.S. control. He said it will keep its headquarters in Pittsburgh. The president closed his remarks Friday by thanking steelworkers. With the help of patriots like you, were going to produce our own metal, unleash our own energy, secure our own future, build our country, control our destiny, he said. We are once again going to put Pennsylvania steel into the backbone of America like never before. In recent days, Trump and other U.S. officials began promoting Nippon Steels new commitment to invest $14 billion on top of its $14.9 billion bid, including building a new electric arc furnace steel mill somewhere in the U.S. He was joined onstage Friday by several U.S. Steel workers, including Jason Zugai, vice president of the United Steelworkers local union at the Irvin finishing plant that defied the international union in supporting Nippon Steels bid to buy U.S. Steel. Zugai, whose father had lost his job in a steel mill years earlier, lobbied local officials and members of Congress to support the deal, believing that U.S. Steel would otherwise shut down its Pittsburgh-area plants eventually. In his remarks, Zugai told Trump, I knew you wouldnt let us down and called Nippon Steels proposed $14 billion in investments into steel production in the U.S. life-changing. (AP) RACINE They were surprised by the devastation. It had been about seven months since Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, but there were still impassable roads, broken bridges and cars in rivers, according to Emily Herbert, Gateway Technical College nursing instructor and program chair. People dont actually realize how bad it is, Herbert said. When you see some of this stuff, its just unfathomable that this is happening in our country. There have been 107 verified Hurricane Helene-related deaths in North Carolina, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. When Herbert saw the deadly, crushing impact of the hurricane in late September, she wanted to help. That included an April service trip to Boone, North Carolina, where Gateway staff and nursing students helped build homes for residents whose lives were uprooted by Helene. It was not a Gateway-funded trip, but nine Gateway students and four Gateway staff did disaster relief work with Samaritans Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world, according to its website. Thom Stapleman, Gateway building trades instructor, had recently started working at the college when Herbert asked him about going on the trip. He had done similar work before and agreed to try to help alleviate suffering and provide students with hands-on experience. When you connect your heart and your hands, youre doing good work like that, its more meaningful to students, Stapleman said. Trinity Gapko was one of the students on the trip that lasted about a week. Gapko had done local service work, but it was her first time traveling for disaster relief, and she wanted to make a positive impact. The days in North Carolina began with breakfast around 6:30 a.m., several hours of physical work and late-night conversations resulting in not much sleep most nights. The labor included digging a trench, replacing a basement, rebuilding a deck, installing siding and drywall installation. The nursing students had not done that type of work before, but they were eager to learn and seemingly upbeat during long days of demanding labor. Gapko and her peers learned a lot of new skills that we hadnt been exposed to before, she said. Even though it was hard work, we all had a lot of fun bonding together and being able to help people. Herbert said they joked about being like the seven dwarfs who happily whistle while working in Snow White. They were not easy jobs, and they were so fun, Herbert said. We laughed and had the best time through all the hard work, the blisters, the sweating. It was great. Stapleman was blown away by the students work ethics. It was amazing to see how much effort and how much knowledge and skills they gained in such a short period of time and then put it to use, Stapleman said. To see people outside their comfort (zones), outside their skill sets, with happiness and joy and enthusiasm to serve people in need that was probably the most rewarding thing for me. Stapleman and Herbert also said it was meaningful to connect with and provide hope for North Carolinians, some of whom had been sleeping on the dirt floor of a shed for several months. Boone residents, despite going through a devastating experience, provided the workers food and drinks. They were willing to give back to us at such a hard time in their lives, Gapko said. The Gateway participants also connected, despite most not knowing each other well before the trip. You become a family with the people who are there, Herbert said. You genuinely really form bonds in ways that you cant explain to people outside of it. It was an intense week, and Herbert said it was difficult to return to Wisconsin and try to convey the experience. You come home and youve now seen people whove been forgotten, and theyre struggling, and all you want to do is go back and help, Herbert said. Now that youve experienced it, now that you feel what its like to be a very small part of somebodys journey, theres this pull where youre like, I want to go back. I want to do it again. I cant wait to go back and help. That can be a little bit of a challenge when you come home, for people in your world to understand what youve experienced, and the emotions and the love and the things that you now encountered. In fall 2024, Herbert was one of 12 people from Gateway who went to Valdosta, Georgia, to do cleanup work following Hurricane Helene. Herbert aims to do service learning trips every fall and spring going forward, including returning to Boone every spring for the foreseeable future. For Gapko, the experience in April was a very powerful, life-changing trip. It was amazing to see people come together and work together to help people that are in need, Gapko said. I think its important to recognize that even though its not close to us, there are still people that are in need after these disasters. We dont want to forget about those people that still need help. Stay connected with YWN, the most trusted name in Jewish news for over 21 years, by joining our massive WhatsApp community a fact-backed leader in the Jewish world! With nearly 100,000 followers on our WhatsApp Status and over 50,000 in our YWN Community, we deliver real-time, verified news 24/6 from our veteran reporting team. Click here to join the YWN WhatsApp Community Click here to follow the YWN WhatsApp Status What sets YWN apart? No one else has what we have: a team of dedicated reporters embedded in every major frum community across the globe from Lakewood, Monsey, Flatbush, Boro Park, and Kiryas Joel, to Los Angeles, Toronto, Baltimore, Florida, and beyond. We bring you the inside scoop from every kehilla, every neighborhood accurately and in real time. And theres a reason why every single major reporter, from leading national media outlets, and elected officials all the way up to the White House, follow YWN because they rely on our updates to stay informed about the pulse of the global Jewish world. The YWN homepage is viewed by hundreds of thousands of readers, and now you can join the largest Frum news platform on WhatsApp. No half-baked opinions, no business bashing, no personal attacks, and no unverified stories requiring retractions just pure, reliable news. YWN has been breaking every major story for more than two decades from every community and corner of the Jewish world free from personal agendas and narcissistic fantasies. Dont wait! Sign up now for the latest updates as they happen. Click here to join the YWN WhatsApp Community Click here to follow the YWN WhatsApp Status FACTS FIRST: YWN pioneered frum news as the first website and led the way on every social media platform, including WhatsApp. Others follow, but YWN sets the standard. With over 21 years of professional reporting by real journalists, YWN has earned the trust of hundreds of thousands, cited countless times by the worlds top news outlets on major, sensitive stories. Click here to join the YWN WhatsApp Community Click here to follow the YWN WhatsApp Status (YWN World Headquarters NYC) US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff slammed Hamas for its response to the latest ceasefire proposal, calling it totally unacceptable and a move that only takes us backward. According to an Israeli official familiar with the details, Hamass response to the proposal included demands for a seven-year ceasefire, a complete IDF withdrawal from all areas of Gaza captured since March, the cancellation of the new US-supported aid distribution system in Gaza, and a return to the previous system supported by the United Nations. This isnt a response its a slammed door, the official stated. Earlier on Shabbos, Hamas announced that it submitted a response to the proposal to Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Ynet quoted an Israeli official as saying that Hamass so-called response was a rejection of Witkoffs proposal and a submission of a revised proposal with new conditions. (YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel) United Airlines announced on Saturday that it will resume its flight route between Newark Airport and Tel Avivs Ben Gurion Airport starting June 5. The airline becomes the second U.S. carrier to reinstate service after a Houthi ballistic missile struck near the airport earlier this month. The May 4 missile attack, launched from Yemen, hit a wooded area adjacent to an access road near Terminal 3, several hundred meters from the airports control tower. In response, United and most foreign carriers suspended service to Israel. Since the strike, numerous international airlines have continued to postpone their return to Israel, leaving many Israelis abroad scrambling for alternate routes or facing cancelled plans. On Wednesday, Ryanair extended its suspension of Tel Aviv flights until July 31, following British Airways similar move to avoid the peak summer travel season. Lufthansa Group which includes SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings said it would continue its suspension at least through June 15, pushing back its previously stated return date of June 8. Other carriers maintaining suspensions since May 4 include AirBaltic, easyJet, Iberia, and Transavia. Meanwhile, a few international airlines have restarted their operations to Israel, including Delta, Air France, Wizz Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, and Aegean Airlines. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Syrias new president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with Israel, while urging an immediate halt to Israeli airstrikes in Syrian territory. In a rare interview published Wednesday by the Jewish Journal, al-Sharaa struck a markedly different tone from his predecessors, suggesting the two nations share common enemies and hinting at the potential for future cooperation. The era of endless tit-for-tat bombings must end, al-Sharaa said. No nation prospers when its skies are filled with fear. While stopping short of endorsing normalization with Israel, al-Sharaa acknowledged the possibility of regional alignment. We have common enemies and we can play a major role in regional security, he said, responding to questions about future relations. His comments come amid renewed Israeli airstrikes in Syria over the weekend, part of a long-running campaign to prevent Iranian entrenchment near Israels northern border. Al-Sharaa called for a return to the spirit of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement between Israel and Syria, framing it not just as a ceasefire line but as a mechanism for mutual restraint and protection of civilians, particularly the Druze communities in southern Syria and the Golan Heights. Syrias Druze are not pawns, he said. They are citizens deeply rooted, historically loyal, and deserving of every protection under the law. Their safety is non-negotiable. The new Syrian leader also praised U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he met earlier this month at a summit in the Gulf. Calling Trump a man of peace, al-Sharaa said the two leaders had faced similar enemies and could find common ground. Trump understands leverage, strength, and outcomes, he said. If there is a possibility of alignment that helps bring stability to the region and security to the U.S. and its allies I am ready to have that conversation. Al-Sharaa echoed Trumps campaign slogan, stating his own desire to make Syria great again. He described his vision for Syria as pluralistic and inclusive, pledging support for the return of all Syrians including Jews, Druze, and Christians whose properties were confiscated by the former regime. I did not seek this position to rule, he said. I accepted it because Syria must turn the page. Asked whether the public can trust a government emerging from years of civil war and authoritarian rule, al-Sharaa responded, I dont ask for trust. I ask for patience and for scrutiny. Hold me accountable. Hold this process accountable. The interview comes amid reports of quiet, indirect contact between Israel and Syria aimed at reducing tensions along their shared border. However, officials in Israel and the West remain wary. Many caution that al-Sharaa, once linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, may be using moderate rhetoric to consolidate power before potentially returning Syria to a confrontational stance. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Hamas claimed on Sunday that Israeli forces killed at least 31 Palestinians and wounded 175 others near a U.S.-backed aid distribution site in Rafah, Gaza Strip, alleging the shootings occurred as civilians sought humanitarian aid. However, security footage released by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which operates the site, directly contradicts these claims, showing no gunfire or injuries at the time and location specified by Hamas. The incident reportedly took place approximately one kilometer from the GHF distribution hub in Rafahs Tel al-Sultan neighborhood, an area controlled by Israeli forces. Hamas-run Gaza health authorities and the enclaves Government Media Office claimed that Israeli troops opened fire on crowds moving toward the aid site. The IDF denied firing on civilians, stating that troops stationed near the site used warning shots in the air to manage crowd control and ensure security. The IDF emphasized that no shots were directed at Palestinians. The GHF, supported by Israel and the United States to bypass Hamass diversion of aid, released CCTV footage from the exact time of the alleged incident, showing calm conditions with no visible gunfire or casualties. Your browser does not support the video tag. Israeli officials have long accused Hamas of exploiting humanitarian aid for propaganda and military purposes, including siphoning off supplies meant for civilians. The IDF and GHF say that the new aid distribution system, guarded by U.S. contractors, was established to prevent such misuse. The released footage has been cited as evidence of Hamas spreading misinformation to discredit Israel and the aid initiative. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking on Sunday, reiterated that the GHF system aims to ensure aid reaches Gazas civilians while preventing Hamas from using it as a tool of war. He acknowledged a brief loss of control at the Rafah site but said that order was quickly restored. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Cenovus Energy Inc. (NYSE:CVE Get Free Report) (TSE:CVE) has earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the nine brokerages that are covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, four have issued a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $25.75. Several research analysts have recently commented on CVE shares. Veritas downgraded Cenovus Energy from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. National Bankshares reiterated a sector perform rating on shares of Cenovus Energy in a report on Friday, April 25th. National Bank Financial downgraded Cenovus Energy from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on Cenovus Energy from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Scotiabank upgraded Cenovus Energy to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, March 19th. Get Cenovus Energy alerts: Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Cenovus Energy Institutional Inflows and Outflows Cenovus Energy Trading Down 2.7% A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of CVE. Capital World Investors increased its holdings in Cenovus Energy by 15.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 191,412,590 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,901,131,000 after purchasing an additional 26,127,617 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of Cenovus Energy by 56.5% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 19,481,233 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $270,742,000 after acquiring an additional 7,035,004 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Cenovus Energy by 8.8% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 54,483,601 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $757,213,000 after acquiring an additional 4,401,045 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in shares of Cenovus Energy by 33.6% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 17,363,386 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $241,513,000 after acquiring an additional 4,362,384 shares during the period. Finally, Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Cenovus Energy by 2,719.3% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 4,141,434 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $57,533,000 after acquiring an additional 3,994,539 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 51.19% of the companys stock. Shares of CVE stock opened at $13.18 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $12.61 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $14.03. Cenovus Energy has a 12-month low of $10.23 and a 12-month high of $20.89. The firm has a market cap of $24.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.89 and a beta of 0.95. Cenovus Energy (NYSE:CVE Get Free Report) (TSE:CVE) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The oil and gas company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.29 by $0.03. Cenovus Energy had a return on equity of 10.73% and a net margin of 5.82%. The firm had revenue of $11.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.39 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.62 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Cenovus Energy will post 1.49 EPS for the current fiscal year. Cenovus Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report Cenovus Energy Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, produces, refines, transports, and markets crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products in Canada and internationally. The company operates through Oil Sands, Conventional, Offshore, Canadian Refining, and U.S. Refining segments. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Cenovus Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cenovus Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. OLO (NYSE:OLO Get Free Report) was downgraded by research analysts at Wall Street Zen from a buy rating to a hold rating in a note issued to investors on Friday. Separately, Lake Street Capital boosted their target price on shares of OLO from $9.00 to $10.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Get OLO alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on OLO OLO Stock Performance Shares of OLO opened at $8.73 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $1.45 billion, a PE ratio of -87.29 and a beta of 1.41. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $7.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $7.18. OLO has a 1-year low of $4.20 and a 1-year high of $9.78. OLO (NYSE:OLO Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The company reported $0.07 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.06 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $80.68 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $77.47 million. OLO had a negative net margin of 5.89% and a positive return on equity of 0.34%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 21.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.05 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that OLO will post -0.03 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On OLO Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of OLO. SG Americas Securities LLC increased its stake in shares of OLO by 19.1% in the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 49,771 shares of the companys stock worth $382,000 after purchasing an additional 7,979 shares in the last quarter. Tandem Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of OLO in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Moloney Securities Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of OLO in the 4th quarter worth $407,000. Rhumbline Advisers increased its stake in shares of OLO by 5.5% in the 4th quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 154,282 shares of the companys stock worth $1,185,000 after purchasing an additional 7,995 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of OLO in the 4th quarter worth $751,000. 93.40% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. OLO Company Profile (Get Free Report) Olo, Inc engages in the provision of a cloud-based, on-demand commerce platform for multi-location restaurant brands. It enables digital ordering and delivery. The company was founded by Noah H. Glass on June 1, 2005 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for OLO Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for OLO and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. cut its position in shares of DXC Technology (NYSE:DXC Free Report) by 35.5% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 14,700 shares of the companys stock after selling 8,100 shares during the period. Jefferies Financial Group Inc.s holdings in DXC Technology were worth $294,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of DXC. KBC Group NV increased its position in shares of DXC Technology by 2,380.1% during the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 142,505 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,847,000 after purchasing an additional 136,759 shares during the last quarter. Highland Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of DXC Technology by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Highland Capital Management LLC now owns 11,850 shares of the companys stock valued at $237,000 after purchasing an additional 731 shares during the last quarter. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. increased its position in shares of DXC Technology by 60.0% during the 4th quarter. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. now owns 3,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $64,000 after purchasing an additional 1,200 shares during the last quarter. Paragon Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of DXC Technology by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. Paragon Capital Management Inc. now owns 98,949 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,977,000 after purchasing an additional 1,722 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Choreo LLC bought a new position in shares of DXC Technology during the 4th quarter valued at about $629,000. 96.20% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get DXC Technology alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have recently commented on DXC shares. Guggenheim reiterated a neutral rating on shares of DXC Technology in a research report on Monday, May 12th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on DXC Technology from $26.00 to $17.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 15th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on DXC Technology from $27.00 to $18.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, May 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on DXC Technology from $22.00 to $18.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on DXC Technology from $22.00 to $16.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and six have assigned a hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, DXC Technology presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $17.00. DXC Technology Price Performance Shares of DXC Technology stock opened at $15.20 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12, a current ratio of 1.34 and a quick ratio of 1.34. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $15.50 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $18.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.76 billion, a P/E ratio of -36.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 1.18. DXC Technology has a one year low of $13.44 and a one year high of $24.83. DXC Technology (NYSE:DXC Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 14th. The company reported $0.84 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.76 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $3.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.13 billion. DXC Technology had a positive return on equity of 20.70% and a negative net margin of 0.57%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.97 EPS. Analysts forecast that DXC Technology will post 3.35 EPS for the current year. DXC Technology Profile (Free Report) DXC Technology Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides information technology services and solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Australia, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Global Business Services (GBS) and Global Infrastructure Services (GIS). Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DXC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for DXC Technology (NYSE:DXC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for DXC Technology Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DXC Technology and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Parallel Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in shares of iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (BATS:GOVT Free Report) by 71.6% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 107,152 shares of the companys stock after selling 270,578 shares during the quarter. Parallel Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF were worth $2,463,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA acquired a new stake in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new stake in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Dogwood Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new stake in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Frazier Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Get iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF alerts: iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF Price Performance Shares of iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF stock opened at $22.76 on Friday. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $22.79 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $22.71. About iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF The iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (GOVT) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the ICE U.S. Treasury Core Bond index. The fund tracks a market-weighted index of fixed-rate nonconvertible U.S. Treasury securities with a remaining maturity of one year or more. GOVT was launched on Feb 14, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GOVT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF (BATS:GOVT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares U.S. Treasury Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kaizen Financial Strategies raised its holdings in Lennar Co. (NYSE:LEN Free Report) by 6.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,031 shares of the construction companys stock after buying an additional 178 shares during the period. Kaizen Financial Strategies holdings in Lennar were worth $348,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Crews Bank & Trust purchased a new position in Lennar in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Hurley Capital LLC purchased a new position in Lennar in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in Lennar in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in Lennar in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. boosted its position in Lennar by 611.9% in the 4th quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. now owns 299 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 257 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.10% of the companys stock. Get Lennar alerts: Lennar Price Performance Shares of NYSE:LEN opened at $105.98 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $108.40 and its 200 day moving average price is $127.87. Lennar Co. has a 12 month low of $98.42 and a 12 month high of $187.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 4.71 and a quick ratio of 1.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.41. Lennar Announces Dividend Lennar ( NYSE:LEN Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 20th. The construction company reported $2.14 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.70 by $0.44. Lennar had a net margin of 11.10% and a return on equity of 13.93%. The firm had revenue of $7.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.44 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.57 EPS. Lennars revenue for the quarter was up 4.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Lennar Co. will post 12.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 7th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 23rd were paid a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 23rd. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.89%. Lennars dividend payout ratio is presently 14.57%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have recently issued reports on LEN. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on shares of Lennar from $141.00 to $128.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 25th. Bank of America lowered their target price on shares of Lennar from $140.00 to $130.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. Wedbush reiterated a neutral rating and set a $158.00 target price on shares of Lennar in a research note on Monday, March 17th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Lennar from $121.00 to $110.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 24th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on Lennar from $141.00 to $120.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 25th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $150.07. View Our Latest Research Report on Lennar Lennar Profile (Free Report) Lennar Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a homebuilder primarily under the Lennar brand in the United States. It operates through Homebuilding East, Homebuilding Central, Homebuilding Texas, Homebuilding West, Financial Services, Multifamily, and Lennar Other segments. The companys homebuilding operations include the construction and sale of single-family attached and detached homes, as well as the purchase, development, and sale of residential land; and development, construction, and management of multifamily rental properties. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LEN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Lennar Co. (NYSE:LEN Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Lennar Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lennar and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Iowa State Bank cut its holdings in Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report) by 5.3% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 15,021 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 844 shares during the period. Iowa State Banks holdings in Digital Realty Trust were worth $2,152,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in DLR. Czech National Bank grew its stake in Digital Realty Trust by 7.8% during the first quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 72,650 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $10,410,000 after purchasing an additional 5,250 shares during the period. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 10.8% during the 1st quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,443 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $207,000 after buying an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers increased its stake in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 643,092 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $92,149,000 after acquiring an additional 14,638 shares in the last quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Digital Realty Trust by 4.5% during the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,595 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $372,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares during the period. Finally, New Hampshire Trust boosted its stake in Digital Realty Trust by 5.2% during the first quarter. New Hampshire Trust now owns 4,054 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $581,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. 99.71% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Digital Realty Trust alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In DLR has been the subject of a number of research reports. Scotiabank reduced their price target on shares of Digital Realty Trust from $208.00 to $206.00 and set a sector outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Oppenheimer assumed coverage on Digital Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, May 14th. They issued an outperform rating and a $200.00 target price for the company. Barclays decreased their target price on Digital Realty Trust from $142.00 to $139.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Digital Realty Trust from $210.00 to $185.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, JMP Securities reissued a market outperform rating and issued a $220.00 price objective on shares of Digital Realty Trust in a research note on Monday, April 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $185.10. Digital Realty Trust Trading Down 0.3% Shares of Digital Realty Trust stock opened at $171.69 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $156.34 and a 200-day moving average price of $166.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 2.07 and a quick ratio of 1.61. The firm has a market cap of $57.82 billion, a PE ratio of 105.98, a P/E/G ratio of 4.38 and a beta of 0.93. Digital Realty Trust, Inc. has a 1 year low of $129.95 and a 1 year high of $198.00. Digital Realty Trust (NYSE:DLR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.77 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.73 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $1.41 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.43 billion. Digital Realty Trust had a net margin of 10.85% and a return on equity of 2.97%. Digital Realty Trusts quarterly revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.67 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Digital Realty Trust, Inc. will post 7.07 EPS for the current year. Digital Realty Trust Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 13th will be issued a $1.22 dividend. This represents a $4.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.84%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 13th. Digital Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 456.07%. Digital Realty Trust Profile (Free Report) Digital Realty Trust, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust, which engages in the provision of data center, colocation and interconnection solutions. It serves the following industries: artificial intelligence (AI), networks, cloud, digital media, mobile, financial services, healthcare, and gaming. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DLR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:DLR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Digital Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Digital Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rhumbline Advisers lowered its stake in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 2.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 9,459,636 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 213,511 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers owned approximately 0.17% of Pfizer worth $239,707,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Allied Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 15.7% in the 1st quarter. Allied Investment Advisors LLC now owns 303,884 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $7,700,000 after purchasing an additional 41,147 shares during the period. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 35.9% in the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 120,285 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,048,000 after purchasing an additional 31,766 shares during the period. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 64,409 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,632,000 after purchasing an additional 1,265 shares during the period. Stolper Co boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Stolper Co now owns 51,589 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,307,000 after purchasing an additional 1,604 shares during the period. Finally, Beese Fulmer Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 14.0% in the 1st quarter. Beese Fulmer Investment Management Inc. now owns 59,050 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,496,000 after purchasing an additional 7,231 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the companys stock. Get Pfizer alerts: Pfizer Price Performance Shares of NYSE:PFE opened at $23.46 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $23.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of $25.06. The company has a market cap of $133.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.64, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.58. Pfizer Inc. has a one year low of $20.92 and a one year high of $31.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.73. Pfizer Announces Dividend Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.25. The firm had revenue of $13.72 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.43 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 12.62% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.82 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.33%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 9th. Pfizers payout ratio is currently 124.64%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of analysts have recently weighed in on PFE shares. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Pfizer from $24.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Citigroup reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Thursday, March 27th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. Hsbc Global Res raised shares of Pfizer to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They set a neutral rating and a $24.00 price target for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pfizer has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $29.17. Check Out Our Latest Report on Pfizer About Pfizer (Free Report) Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (TSE:BIP.UN Get Free Report) (NYSE:BIP) passed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$42.33 and traded as high as C$45.81. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners shares last traded at C$45.61, with a volume of 339,107 shares. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 180.01, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.45. The firm has a market capitalization of C$21.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -253.39, a PEG ratio of -2.12 and a beta of 1.05. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is C$42.33 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$44.76. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Company Profile (Get Free Report) Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP is a Bermuda exempted limited partnership that owns and operates quality, long-life assets that generate stable cash flows, by virtue of barriers to entry or other characteristics tend to appreciate in value over time. It focuses on acquiring infrastructure assets that have low maintenance capital costs and high barriers to entry. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA bought a new stake in Vanguard Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:VUG Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 165 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $61,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Vanguard Growth ETF by 4.4% during the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 12,109 shares of the companys stock worth $4,490,000 after purchasing an additional 510 shares in the last quarter. Veery Capital LLC increased its position in Vanguard Growth ETF by 3.2% during the first quarter. Veery Capital LLC now owns 53,266 shares of the companys stock worth $19,752,000 after purchasing an additional 1,655 shares during the last quarter. Beese Fulmer Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Vanguard Growth ETF by 21.1% during the first quarter. Beese Fulmer Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,368 shares of the companys stock worth $507,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares during the period. New Hampshire Trust acquired a new position in shares of Vanguard Growth ETF in the 1st quarter valued at $277,000. Finally, Fulcrum Capital LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Vanguard Growth ETF by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. Fulcrum Capital LLC now owns 10,626 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,940,000 after purchasing an additional 294 shares during the last quarter. Get Vanguard Growth ETF alerts: Vanguard Growth ETF Stock Down 0.5% Shares of NYSEARCA VUG opened at $411.30 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $407.62 billion, a PE ratio of 35.28 and a beta of 1.18. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $379.39 and a 200-day moving average of $399.35. Vanguard Growth ETF has a 52-week low of $316.14 and a 52-week high of $429.11. Vanguard Growth ETF Company Profile Vanguard Growth Index Fund, formerly Vanguard Growth ETF, is an exchange-traded share class of Vanguard Growth Index Fund, which employs a passive management or indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the MSCI US Prime Market Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a diversified index of growth stocks of large United States companies. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CK Hutchison Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:CKHUY Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 149,200 shares, a decrease of 46.1% from the April 30th total of 277,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 322,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.5 days. Currently, 0.0% of the companys shares are short sold. CK Hutchison Price Performance OTCMKTS CKHUY traded up $0.07 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $5.56. The company had a trading volume of 239,657 shares, compared to its average volume of 335,719. The company has a current ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $5.53 and a 200 day moving average of $5.37. CK Hutchison has a 1-year low of $4.60 and a 1-year high of $6.57. Get CK Hutchison alerts: CK Hutchison Increases Dividend The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 27th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 29th will be issued a $0.1559 dividend. This is a positive change from CK Hutchisons previous dividend of $0.07. This represents a dividend yield of 3.96%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 28th. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, UBS Group upgraded CK Hutchison from a hold rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Thursday, March 13th. Get Our Latest Analysis on CK Hutchison CK Hutchison Company Profile (Get Free Report) CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, primarily operates in ports and related services, retail, infrastructure, and telecommunications businesses in Hong Kong and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Ports and Related Services, Retail, Infrastructure, and Telecommunications. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for CK Hutchison Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CK Hutchison and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Robinhood Markets, Galaxy Digital, Bitdeer Technologies Group, Cellebrite DI, and HIVE Digital Technologies are the five Cryptocurrency stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeats stock screener tool. Cryptocurrency stocks are shares of publicly traded companies whose core business or revenue streams depend on cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Examples include crypto exchanges, mining firms, wallet providers and firms that hold large digital?asset reserves on their balance sheets. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Cryptocurrency stocks within the last several days. Get alerts: Robinhood Markets (HOOD) Robinhood Markets, Inc. operates financial services platform in the United States. Its platform allows users to invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), American depository receipts, options, gold, and cryptocurrencies. The company offers fractional trading, recurring investments, fully-paid securities lending, access to investing on margin, cash sweep, instant withdrawals, retirement program, around-the-clock trading, and initial public offerings participation services. Shares of HOOD stock traded up $0.83 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $64.78. The companys stock had a trading volume of 35,595,590 shares, compared to its average volume of 26,496,656. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $49.68 and its 200-day simple moving average is $46.15. Robinhood Markets has a 12-month low of $13.98 and a 12-month high of $67.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.36 billion, a PE ratio of 41.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 2.15. Read Our Latest Research Report on HOOD Galaxy Digital (GLXY) Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd. is a financial services and an investment management company, which engages in the digital asset, cryptocurrency, and block chain technology sectors. It operates through the following segments: Trading, Principal Investment, Asset Management, Investment Banking, Mining, and Corporate & Other. GLXY traded down $1.34 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $18.26. 12,158,148 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,242,783. Galaxy Digital has a fifty-two week low of $17.99 and a fifty-two week high of $26.60. Read Our Latest Research Report on GLXY Bitdeer Technologies Group (BTDR) Bitdeer Technologies Group operates as a technology company for blockchain and computing. It offers hash rate sharing solutions, including Cloud hash rate and Hash rate marketplace; and a one-stop mining machine hosting solutions encompassing deployment, maintenance, and management services for efficient cryptocurrency mining; as well as mines cryptocurrencies for its own account. BTDR traded down $1.41 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $12.90. 6,561,054 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,984,232. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $10.87 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $14.36. The company has a market cap of $1.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -24.81 and a beta of 2.24. Bitdeer Technologies Group has a fifty-two week low of $5.40 and a fifty-two week high of $26.99. Read Our Latest Research Report on BTDR Cellebrite DI (CLBT) Cellebrite DI Ltd. develops solutions for legally sanctioned investigations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific. The company's DI suite of solutions allows users to collect, review, analyze, and manage digital data across the investigative lifecycle with respect to legally sanctioned investigations used in various cases, including child exploitation, homicide, anti-terror, border control, sexual crimes, human trafficking, corporate security, cryptocurrency, and intellectual property theft. CLBT traded down $0.21 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $16.57. 1,831,152 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,461,623. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $18.65 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $20.13. The company has a market cap of $3.97 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -11.92, a PEG ratio of 4.27 and a beta of 1.44. Cellebrite DI has a fifty-two week low of $10.25 and a fifty-two week high of $26.30. Read Our Latest Research Report on CLBT HIVE Digital Technologies (HIVE) HIVE Digital Technologies Ltd. operates as a cryptocurrency mining company in Canada, Sweden, and Iceland. The company engages in the mining and sale of digital currencies, including Ethereum Classic, Bitcoin, and other coins. It also operates data centers; and offers infrastructure solutions. The company was formerly known as HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. HIVE stock traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $1.81. 14,179,675 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,267,279. HIVE Digital Technologies has a twelve month low of $1.26 and a twelve month high of $5.54. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $1.69 and a 200 day simple moving average of $2.54. The company has a current ratio of 10.41, a quick ratio of 10.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03. The company has a market capitalization of $336.02 million, a PE ratio of -36.10 and a beta of 3.52. Read Our Latest Research Report on HIVE Further Reading Without prejudice or malice we serve merely to DOCUMENT the adventures of Missouri women that are more notable that the weekend journey to the box store. Accordingly . . . For late night weekend denizens we offer a quick view of Show-Me State life in a manner more "real" than what might earn a feature and contemplation from other news outlets . . . Then again, all of these news items were "borrowed" from KCTV5 where this kind of doom scrolling is documented but not celebrated . . . Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Woman accused of felony after allegedly flashing, defecating in front of children A Missouri woman is behind bars after she was accused of intentionally flashing a group of prepubescent boys before defecating along the side of a Deepwater roadway. Missouri woman accused of selling meth to children at local school A Missouri woman is behind bars after she was accused of selling methamphetamine to at least one child at a local school. Woman admits to setting Missouri house on fire before ingesting meth Charges have been filed against a Missouri woman who admitted that she set a Deepwater house on fire before she ingested meth in the presence of law enforcement officials. Developing . . . This morning angel Behati inspires another peek at pop culture, community reporting and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Cowtown Written Word . . . Your guide to Kansas City area summer reading programs When the school year ends, the need for literacy support does not. Here's help in finding in-person and online summer reading programs around the Kansas City area. Dead-Tree Diatribe Kansas City police enforce vehicle safety unevenly, when it comes to Patriot Front | Opinion The KCPD cracked down on seat belt laws through Click It or Ticket, but did nothing when alt-right Patriot Front members climbed out of a U-Haul. From our readers: Show-Me Reptile Road Work Slow and steady: Missouri drivers urged to watch for turtles crossing roads in annual journey Every spring, thousands of turtles begin their yearly search for places to forage, mate and lay eggs. Sometimes they have to cross Missouri's roads to do it. Rock Chalk Probs Kansas reports 8 new measles cases as outbreak continues Kansas has eight new cases of measles amid an ongoing outbreak, according to the health department. End Game Considered Former Royal Mike "Moose" Moustakas speaks on retiring as a Kansas City Royal Former Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike "Moose" Moustakas speaks to media about the opportunity to retire as a Royal and what it means to him and his family. Tech Probs For Panties What's going on at Victoria's Secret? Security incident shuts down site. A mysterious security incident has indefinitely shut down Victoria Secret's website. MAGA Cuts Off Tesla King Trump says he's withdrawing the nomination of Musk associate Jared Isaacman to lead NASA President Donald Trump says he's withdrawing the nomination of tech billionaire Jared Isaacman, an associate of Trump adviser Elon Musk, to lead NASA. Progressive Moment Of Realization Democratic Party is at risk of becoming 'roadkill,' warns Tim Walz The Minnesota governor unleashed harsh language during appearances this weekend, in the clearest signs yet that he is weighing a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. Holy Land Hot Mess Forever Gaza: At least 15 killed in Israeli fire near aid centre, say medics Thousands of Palestinians had gathered near the Gaza Charity Foundation aid centre when Israeli tanks opened fire on the crowd, local reports say. Struggle Against Vlad Cont'd Ukraine stages major attack on Russian aircraft with drones, security official says If confirmed, the strikes would be the most damaging Ukrainian drone attack of the war. Far East Against Flexing China accuses Pete Hegseth of sowing division in Asia in speech 'filled with provocations' US defence secretary 'vilified China with defamatory allegations' at Shangri-La Dialogue El Papa On Research At Rome bioethics summit, Pope Leo calls scientists to defend human dignity Pope Leo XIV praised a major bioethics summit in Rome for promoting science rooted in truth and respect for human dignity. Serving Community Hyde Park coffee space reopens with family vibe fitting historic neighborhood's roots, owners say - Startland News A newly opened neighborhood coffee shop in Hyde Park hopes to bring a fresh, family-friendly vibe to Kansas City's bustling coffee scene, its owners said. Grigs Brings Heat . . . Heating up Sunday and Monday Strong to Severe storms possible Tuesday Hozier - Take Me To Church is the Sunday song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Mexico's president hailed the country's unprecedented elections for judges a success even though only around 13 percent of eligible voters turned out for a poll that sharply divided opinion. With Mexico plagued by rampant crime, corruption and impunity, the government and its supporters argued that the reform making Mexico the only country in the world to select all of its judges and magistrates by popular vote was needed to clean up a rotten justice system. Turnout in Sunday's polls hovered between just 12.57 and 13.32 percent of the nearly 100 million eligible voters, National Electoral Institute head Guadalupe Taddei said in a televised statement. Despite that low turnout, President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the unique exercise as a "complete success." "For the first time in history, almost 13 million Mexican women and men exercised their right to decide the new ministers, magistrates and judges," Sheinbaum said in a video message posted to social media. She insisted on the eve of the vote that only those who "want the regime of corruption and privileges" to continue were against it. Voters were tasked with selecting around 880 federal judges -- including Supreme Court justices -- as well as hundreds of local judges and magistrates. Another election for the remainder will be held in 2027. Sheinbaum had defended the judicial reforms but critics feared the elections would politicize the justice system and make it easier for criminals to influence the courts with threats and bribery. Arturo Giesemann, a 57-year-old retiree, said his main motivation for voting was "the disgust I have with the current judiciary because of its corruption." Many voters struggled to choose from such a large list of largely unknown candidates. "We are not very prepared," said Lucia Calderon, a 63-year-old university teacher. "I think we need more information." In the western state of Jalisco, 63-year-old housewife Maria Estrada said she used her "intuition" because she did not know the candidates. - 'Easily infiltrated' - While corruption already exists, "there is reason to believe that elections may be more easily infiltrated by organized crime than other methods of judicial selection," Margaret Satterthwaite, the United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, told AFP. Hundreds of opponents of the reforms marched through Mexico City waving flags and banners with slogans including: "Hands off our democracy" and "No to electoral fraud." The elections send the judiciary "to its grave," said Ismael Novela, a 58-year-old company worker. "It was the last counterweight we had against the totalitarianism of the executive branch." The run-up to the vote was not accompanied by the kind of violence that often targets politicians in Mexico. However, "it is logical that organized criminal groups would have approached judges and candidates who are important to them," said consultant Luis Carlos Ugalde, a former head of Mexico's electoral commission. Rights group Defensorxs has identified around 20 candidates it considers "high risk," including Silvia Delgado, a former lawyer for Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Another aspiring judge, in Durango state, spent almost six years in prison in the United States for drug crimes. - 'Good reputation' - Candidates were supposed to have a law degree, experience in legal affairs and what is termed "a good reputation," as well as no criminal record in Mexico. To do a good job, voters "would have to spend hours and hours researching the track record and the profiles of each of the hundreds of candidates," said David Shirk, a professor at the University of San Diego. He believes that most of the corruption in Mexico's judicial system is in law enforcement agencies and public prosecutors' offices. "If you can avoid being prosecuted, you don't have to worry about the judge," said Shirk, who heads the Justice in Mexico research project. The judicial reforms were championed by Sheinbaum's predecessor and mentor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who frequently clashed with the courts before stepping down last year. The main reason for the elections seems to be "because Lopez Obrador had a grudge against the judges," Shirk said. bur-dr/pbt/lb Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Health reporter Martha Rosenberg discusses her article, Conflicts of interest are eroding trust in U.S. health agencies. Martha outlines how faith in government health bodies like the FDA and CDC has plummeted due to escalating conflicts of interest, tracing some concerns back to the 1992 Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), which allowed drugmakers to fund aspects of the drug approval process. She points to a pattern of FDA commissioners, such as Dr. Scott Gottlieb, Dr. Robert Califf, and Dr. Margaret Hamburg, having significant financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry, and notes the concerning practice of drug trials being funded by the manufacturers of the drugs under investigation. Martha also examines the CDC Foundation, which accepts private donations, and cites several CDC directors, including Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, Dr. Tom Frieden, Dr. Julie Gerberding, and Dr. Robert Redfield, who faced scrutiny over alleged conflicts or ethical issues. The conversation delves into the pervasive influence of pharmaceutical lobbying on Congress and the increasing tendency of medical journals to publish industry-funded research, highlighting the danger these interwoven interests pose to public trust and patient well-being. Our presenting sponsor is Microsoft Dragon Copilot. Want to streamline your clinical documentation and take advantage of customizations that put you in control? What about the ability to surface information right at the point of care or automate tasks with just a click? Now, you can. Microsoft Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow, is transforming how clinicians work. Offering an extensible AI workspace and a single, integrated platform, Dragon Copilot can help you unlock new levels of efficiency. Plus, its backed by a proven track record and decades of clinical expertise and its part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcareand its built on a foundation of trust. Ease your administrative burdens and stay focused on what matters most with Dragon Copilot, your AI assistant for clinical workflow. VISIT SPONSOR https://aka.ms/kevinmd SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended Transcript Kevin Pho: Hi, and welcome to the show. Subscribe at KevinMD.com/podcast. Today we welcome back Martha Rosenberg. Shes a health reporter. Todays KevinMD article is Conflicts of interest are eroding trust in U.S. health agencies. Martha, welcome back to the show. Martha Rosenberg: Thank you, Dr. Pho. I always appreciate the different points of view that your podcast shows because there are so many different opinions. Kevin Pho: Well, thank you again for coming on and sharing your latest article. What led you to write it in the first place, and then talk about the article itself? ADVERTISEMENT Martha Rosenberg: Well, what led me to write this is Im very aware of conflicts of interest in all of the government agencies: NIH, CDC, and FDA. I believe its underreported, and so I feel that I have a mission to report it. Kevin Pho: So tell us about some of these conflicts of interest that you are seeing. Martha Rosenberg: Well, recently with the new administration, Robert Califf left as FDA commissioner. He had fifty-one financial links to drug makers. In my humble opinion as a reporter, you cannot regulate big pharma when youre funded by big pharma. It infuriates me, and hes not the only one; I dont want to single him out. Under Trump, the first time we had him, we had Scott Gottlieb, whos a Pfizer doctor, and then we had Califf, who I just mentioned. But theyre really, Dr. Pho, its almost as if there are fewer officials who arent funded by or linked to big pharma. And so I wrote in this latest article about the CDC Foundation. Most people arent really aware of it. Theres a CDC Foundation and also an NIH Foundation. Both of them are chartered to make private-public partnerships with big pharma, and to me, thats just wrong. So thats why I wrote the article. Kevin Pho: So it sounds like a lot of these leaders in our governmental health agencies, you said, were previously linked to big pharma, and of course, that leads to several conflict-of-interest questions. So give us a specific example or a case where that conflict of interest really hindered their ability to lead our agency. Martha Rosenberg: Ill talk about Julie Gerberding. I hope Im pronouncing it correctly. She was head of the CDC in 2009. And see, this is very wrapped up, Dr. Pho, in the revolving door. She left CDC and went to work for Merck in 2009 and had a Merck department. She came back to NIH in 2022, and she now has the Foundation of the NIH. Were dealing with the revolving door, which, one of its problems is when you leave there, if you are now with industry, many people go back and lean on their colleagues: Hey, we had lunch together. Now, you see this a lot. And so, I consider her a poster child for conflicts of interest. Dr. Julie Gerberding, because her departure for industry and return to government is maybe the most glaring. Kevin Pho: So are these conflicts of interest identified during the vetting process? Are they transparent, these conflicts of interest? What kind of reporting is normally done, or what type of disclosures are typically made? Martha Rosenberg: Thats a good question. Some of the officials will say theyve recused themselves for that exact reason. The connections are somewhat looked at by lawmakers, and some of the officials with pharma links will say theyve recused themselves. Dr. Califf, who just left as FDA commissioner, said that he gave all the funds to charity. And I would say thats not the point. But there is some awareness, but not as much as I would like to see. I think that one thing Ive often talked to you about on your site is advertising. My background is advertising, which is why I am so oriented toward drug ads. What we see a lot is, advertisements have almost engulfed and almost captured the news media. The news media now is not going to bite the hand that feeds them, and consequently, you dont really hear some of these things were talking about. I recently wrote, not for your site yet, but I have another piece coming up about this eye drug that theyre really marketing on the radio here in Chicago. When you look at it, theyre spending so much money that its almost obnoxious; every five minutes you hear this ad. And when you research it, the research on the drug was all funded by NIH, funded by us, the taxpayers, and now the advertising is coming from the private industry. And so, what were seeing is a lot of the conflicts of interest exist in advertising as well, and because so many media are now captured. Kevin Pho: And these conflicts of interest are prevalent throughout both Democratic and Republican administrations, is that correct? Martha Rosenberg: I think so. I think that there are inherent risks to the whole system. And I might add too, Dr. Pho, that if these agencies, such as the FDA, were funded properly, they wouldnt need to take some of this industry funding, or wouldnt need to as much. One thing we talked about years ago is PDUFA, in which the drug makers would pay the FDA to approve their drugs. Think about that. Kevin Pho: So tell me more about that. You mentioned PDUFA, which is the 1992 Prescription Drug User Fee Act. You said that this is a pivotal moment in the story, so tell us more about that act, about why it was such a pivotal moment for those who arent familiar with it. Martha Rosenberg: The concern back then was that drug makers would buy approvals, and I cant say that it hasnt happened. A lot of people, even in our industries, Dr. Pho, dont realize that CROs exist. And those are contract research organizations that take charge of all the approvals for drug makers. And so they now will get the drug approved through FDA. But the concern is that you would buy an approval. And I have to say, since Ive been covering this for quite a while, that many drugs that come out and make a lot of money for Wall Street are then withdrawn because they werent really safe anyway, like a bad movie. Until people review it and say its a dog, everybody goes there. And I think with drugs, we see a lot of approvals that shouldnt have gone through. And I hate to say this, but because of how much a patented drug makes, the legal fallout is covered by what theyve made for it. So, buying approvals obviously is connected with dangerous drugs being approved that maybe we all regret. So, there is a lot of concern with the FDA connections. It is supposed to regulate drug makers and keep the public safe. Kevin Pho: Now in the past, have any of these leaders of health organizations been called out for their conflict of interest? Has anyone gotten into trouble or been dismissed or resigned because of overwhelming conflict of interest? Martha Rosenberg: No, I have to say that most of the revelations about COIs, or conflicts of interest, are ex post facto, after the fact. Ill say, and I dont mean to attack doctors, but I do think that taking industry money is a conflict in terms of public health. One example that came out was Dr. Margaret Hamburg used to head FDA, and she, in 2011, was lamenting the fact that so many doctors were funded by big pharmaeither through their stocks or through their research or through their position at a universitythat she could not find non-affiliated doctors for advisory committees for FDA, which was pretty bad. And then when she left there, they showed conflicts of interest that she had too. So its almost like nobodys unscathed. Ive attended FDA advisory committees, and its shocking how much better funded industry is than our government. Thats basically the nexus of it. Kevin Pho: Now, what do you say to the argument that sometimes without industry money, research wouldnt be funded at all? So if some doctors arent sponsored or funded by the pharmaceutical industry, they may not be able to have their research proceed. Martha Rosenberg: Thats a good question. I would submit, first of all, we need better funding for actual, valuable health research that helps people from the government. Secondly, I would say lets look at what were investigating here. Some of the researchlike one example Ill give yousome of our top universities in the world are now literally partnered with Novo Nordisk, who makes a GLP-1 agonist. OK. So the research funded by that pharma, the drug maker, is of course going to say its a great drug, right? So I would say, lets look at what the research is addressing. Do we really need it? Is obesity really such a world U.S. problem, or is it maybe fast food advertising? But in answer to your question, we do need money for research. But I would say lets look at what we are researching here and who is profiting from it. And who is going to have it? Here where I live, Northwestern University will hand its research over to industry, and theyll makewell, the best example is our eye drug; the research was funded by NIH, and then the profiteering is by drug makers. So I would say, lets look at what were studying, whos profiteering from it, whats the ten-year plan, not just the six-month plan. And youre right, we do need more money for research, but I would love to see some kind of committee that evaluates the validity of the research. Is this really even necessary? We need that. Kevin Pho: In your article, you wrote that there are three pharma lobbyists for every member of Congress. Is that true? And tell us about that scope of pharma-powered lobbying. Martha Rosenberg: Well, its a true fact that weve seen revealed that there are three lobbyists for every member of Congress. For every doctor, one statistic I saw recently that just shocked me, because Im very against drug advertising, is that 70 percent of U.S. adults are on a pharmaceutical drug. Now, that was not the case before direct-to-consumer advertising. So thats another issue that we have to look at. But I think its just very significant that the lobbying well, obviously, we all need money. There were some really great breakthroughs in lobbying about more than ten years ago where some of the drug makers would fly a whole medical office to the Caribbean. Some of that has definitely been highlighted and regulated, and thats good. Thats very good. And when I used to go to medical conferences, all the beautiful people became pharma reps because people wanted to meet the cute guys and the cute girls. A lot of that has been stopped. They used to give a lotmaybe they still dobut a lot of free samples of a new drug to an office. And some of these things have been improved. I will say that theyve been improved. Kevin Pho: So tell me the path forward. What would you like to see in terms of clearing up the conflicts of interest among our health regulation leaders? Martha Rosenberg: First, I would really like listeners and viewers of public media, news media, to be aware of the fact that all these so-called epidemics and dangerous diseases are funded by drug makers to sell drugs. Right now, were seeing a push against atrial fibrillation (AFib) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oh, you may be suffering that. No, actually, thats funded. Thats unbranded advertising from pharma. But I would like to see that parlay into a greater awareness of the footprint of drug makers in our government and in media, because its appalling. Kevin Pho: Were talking to Martha Rosenberg. Shes a health reporter. Todays KevinMD article is Conflicts of interest are eroding trust in the U.S. health agencies. Martha, as always, lets end with some take-home messages that you want to leave with the KevinMD audience. Martha Rosenberg: Well, thank you. I would like people to be aware of drug advertising and be aware of the drug footprint in our government agencies: CDC, NIH, and FDA, and to become outraged when were not getting good medicine. Kevin Pho: Martha, thank you again for sharing your perspective and insight. Thanks for coming back on the show. Martha Rosenberg: Thank you. Thank you for your good work. Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, briefed the Cabinet on the actions he is taking to protect Irish livestock from the threat of an exotic animal disease outbreak. The risk to Ireland from exotic animal diseases is higher now than at any time in the modern era," he said. "In the past, we have at times faced individual disease threats, but today our livestock are threatened by a number of very serious diseases close to our shores." The Minister outlined the range of animal diseases of major concern, and the actions he is implementing in response. Minister Heydon referred to the recent outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Europe. A FMD outbreak in Ireland would be devastating. This disease is a daily occurrence in many developing countries in Africa and Asia, and in 2025 we have seen three EU countries experience outbreaks, the first in many decades. "Germany had a single outbreak in January, followed by multiple outbreaks in Hungary and Slovakia in March and April. "Thankfully, it looks like these outbreaks may now be over, thanks to the effective actions taken to stop disease spread in those countries." He said Ireland remains at risk, and that anyone returning from infected areas must practice strict biosecurity to keep infection out. Calling for the public to think about biosecurity and the steps people must take, the Minister said: As we come into the summer holiday season, I want to send a clear message: if you have been travelling abroad in an area affected by FMD (which includes most parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East), avoid contact with cattle, sheep, goats and pigs for 14 days after returning to Ireland. "That means no farm visits, including to open farms or agri-tourism farms. "If you come into contact with farm animals while abroad, wash your clothes and disinfect your footwear before you return, or immediately upon arrival. Do not feed food waste to pigs or indeed any animals, as that can be a source of several animal diseases. He also outlined that Bluetongue disease has spread across Europe since 2023, and has now reached the north-western coast of England. This disease of cattle and sheep is spread by biting midges. Climate change has increased the risk, as the midges transmit the virus only in warmer months. My Department is carrying out surveillance to detect any incursions as early as possible, and working with Met Eireann to see where infected midges from Great Britain or France may be blown by the wind into Ireland." The Minister also spoke about the BTV risk from importing animals. The importation of BTV-susceptible animals from Great Britain has been banned since November 2023. While animals may enter Ireland from BTV-free zones of other EU countries under certain strict certification conditions, no such movements have occurred since July 2024. For many years, my Department has checked and blood tested any cattle, sheep, or other susceptible animals immediately after arrival from other EU countries, and this policy remains in place, protecting against the risk of a BTV-infected animal coming in. Addressing the threat of avian influenza, the Minister said: Over the past few months, we faced a very serious threat of an avian influenza outbreak in our poultry. My Department detected the H5N1 virus in a number of wild birds across the country, while in Northern Ireland sadly there were three outbreaks in poultry farms in February. "Strict biosecurity is the most effective way to protect a flock, and I want to particularly recognise and praise the actions of poultry farmers and the poultry industry in this regard. "We are now out of the higher risk winter period for this disease, but we expect an ongoing level of risk even in the summer months." One of the most popular priests to ever serve the community in Waterford will be remembered at a very special Mass in the city on Tuesday, June 3. That day, at 7.30pm in St Paul's Church, the late Fr Colm O'Brien will be honoured through a special Mass to celebrate what would have been his silver jubilee as a priest. Fr O'Brien passed away in 2009, following an illness, when he was just 36 years of age. The parish will celebrate a priest who was dearly loved and respected by everyone in the community. Fr. Colm was from Belvedere Drive and was Baptised and Confirmed in St Paul's where he also served Mass and was a reader. He was ordained in St. Pauls in June, 2000 and subsequently served in the parish of St. Peter and Pauls, in Clonmel and in Holy Cross Parish, Tramore. In both parishes he was thought of as an extremely, highly respected and genuinely humble priests who was devoted to the spiritual wellbeing of the people he ministered to. Through his short ministry, Fr Colm made a very significant impression on everyone who knew him and he had a particular affinity towards young people who could relate to him in a very positive way. Prior to becoming a priest, in his younger years, he worked locally in Waterford City and such was the regard in which he was held that the annual Fr. Colm OBrien memorial cycle has raised significant funds for local charities over a ten year period. In a post on the Waterford and Lismore diocesan website, waterfordlismore.ie, it was noted that 'as a way of celebrating and thanking God for Fr Colm's life and priesthood, Bishop Cullinan will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the priesthood of Fr Colm'. The mass will be celebrated, appropriately, on what would have been his 25th anniversary. Everyone in the community is invited to what promises to be a very special celebration. As I write, Im on pilgrimage in Istanbul to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. The Council produced the Nicene Creed, which is used at Mass every Sunday. (The city of Nicaea is renamed Iznik today and is located to the northwest of Istanbul). The pilgrimage is being led by Scripture scholars Kieran OMahony and Sean Goan and church historian Sr. Sabine. The Council of Nicaea was convoked by the emperor Constantine in 325 to counteract the threat to the Christian faith posed by the teaching of a priest and scholar named Arius. Constantine, the roman emperor, had recently converted to Christianity and had begun the process of making the Roman Empire Christian. Arius was based in Alexandria in Egypt. He proclaimed that Jesus Christ was not divine, that he was created: There was a time when he (Christ) was not. And like all other creatures he came into existence out of nothing. Arius was, at one level, perfectly logical in his reasoning. There was one supreme being, the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth. There could not be a second God. In other words, everything else is apart from the Father and because of the separation, everything else has a beginning, including the Son and the Holy Spirit. In many ways, Arius made Christianity easier to understand by leading people to think of Christ as created. He attracted a huge following throughout the empire. However, the great theologians of the time, such as Athanasius, understood the profound threat posed to Christianity by Arianism. If Arianism were to be accepted as orthodox belief, it would have subverted the Christian faith altogether. Arianism is still influential in belief systems today. Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, the Bahai Movement, Muslims and New Age portrayals of Jesus are all influenced by Arianism. Also, as The Society of Friends or Quakers do not formally profess the divinity of Jesus, the Arian influence is noticeable in their faith. Many people who espouse agnosticism or even atheism recognise Jesus of Nazareth as a great moral leader who through his teachings on love and forgiveness has had a profound influence on Western civilisation. Of course they reject the Christian belief in the divinity of Jesus. For example, the popular musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell are effectively Arian in their portrayal of Jesus. The Christian faith in the divinity of Christ is based on the experience of the risen Jesus as recorded in the New Testament. The Gospels proclaim the divinity of Christ, identifying Jesus as the Son of God. St Paul proclaims Jesus as Lord which is the Jewish name for God. St John in his gospel identifies the Word as God: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God. (The concept of the Word was derived from Greek philosophy referring to the principal of rationality underlying the universe. It accounted for the origin of the order and meaningfulness of our world. It also embodied the Jewish belief in the Word as a form of Gods presence active in history. Jesus was identified as the Word incarnate.) The bishops, assembled from all over the Empire for the Council of Nicaea, sought to protect this fundamental Christian faith from the threat of the Arian heresy. The Council Fathers condemned Arius and his teaching. They added four clauses to the Apostles Creed, which was formulated in the very early Christian era. The doctrinal additions to the creed proclaim the divinity of Jesus: He is God from God, Light from Light. In direct contradiction of Arius, they added the clause: (Jesus) is eternally begotten of the Father. Begotten is a highly technical, philosophical term, which emphasises the Jesus Christ is not created. One Church Father called Basil explained it by using the analogy of the sun and its rays: There never was a time when the sun existed without its rays. The Nicene Creed goes on to proclaim that Jesus is of one being with the Father. We use the word consubstantial in todays creed. The doctrinal development of the person of Christ formulated by the Council Fathers in Nicaea safeguards the fundamental claim of Christianity that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He is fully divine. If Jesus was not divine, we are not saved as only God can save us. The Creed goes on to affirm that in Jesus God has totally identified with us: for us and for our salvation he became man. The bishops at the Council believed that if Jesus was not fully human, he has not identified totally with us and consequently we cannot claim that suffering and death are overcome. As I stated earlier many people reject this fundamental tenet of the Christian faith. In a secular age, for those who do not totally reject the concept of God, Arianism is a far more attractive doctrine, easier to accept. But it falls short. Christians believe that Jesus is the Way to the fullness of life. If he is not of one being with the Father, Christians claim that he cannot be the Way. Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke has revealed his mental health suffered a heavy blow after he stormed offstage during a solo show in Melbourne last October when he was heckled by a pro-Palestine protester. Yorke on Saturday posted an eight-page statement on Instagram about the war in Gaza, saying he remained in shock that his supposed silence was perceived by some as complicity with Israel. In the post he also called Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu an extremist. Thom Yorke performing at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl last year. Credit: Martin Philbey Footage filmed of the fiery exchange on October 31, taken by a member of the audience during the encore of Yorkes second show at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, showed a man in the crowd yelling about the Israeli genocide of Gaza and the devastating death toll. Yorke responded: Hop up on the f---ing stage and say what you wanna say. Dont stand there like a coward, come here and say it. You want to piss on everybodys night? OK, you do it, see you later then. Moscow: At least seven people were killed and 69 injured when two bridges were blown up in separate Russian regions bordering Ukraine ahead of planned peace talks aimed at ending the three-year-old war in Ukraine, Russian officials said on Sunday. A highway bridge over a railway in the Bryansk region was blown up at 10.50pm on Saturday (5.50am AEST) just as a passenger train carrying 388 passengers to Moscow was passing underneath, Russian investigators said. The bridge was about 100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. An unverified photograph of the scene of the bridge collapse in Russia. Credit: Moscow Transport Prosecutor's Office Just four hours later, a railway bridge over a highway was blown up in the neighbouring Kursk region showering the road with parts of a freight train, the investigators said. Russias Investigative Committee, which probes serious crimes, linked the incidents and said explicitly that both bridges were blown up. Last fall, more than 20,000 first-year medical students donned white coats, pushing total U.S. medical school enrollment to nearly 100,000. Yet despite this surge of new trainees, the American Association of Medical Colleges projects a shortage of up to 86,000 doctors by 2036. The strain is already evident. Each year, tens of thousands of American physicians pack up their stethoscopes and scalpels and leave medicine, citing burnout, administrative overload, and eroding autonomy. In a recent survey, one in four academic physicians said they planned to leave medicine within the next two years. As this cycle of attrition and entry accelerates, it forces us to rethink how we prepare students not just to become physicians, but to remain in the profession. In the spring of my first year of medical school, I received an email about an elective called Mind-Body Medicine. The course, developed in 2002 by Dr. Aviad Haramati, helps students reflect on their lives and use those insights to cultivate self-awareness and long-term self-care. Each week for 11 weeks, ten of us met for two hours to explore wellness practices meant to build resilience. The exercises varied in difficulty and in how directly they related to medicine. In the first week, we kept a gratitude journal, writing down three things we were grateful for each day. By the end of the week, our notebooks brimmed with small joys. Medical school is often described as drinking from a fire hose. That journal became a release valve, easing just enough pressure to help me hold onto a more hopeful outlook. Another week, we focused on nature walksa practice I now rely on daily. After the preclinical years, medical students leave the classroom for the wards, operating rooms, and clinics, sometimes working up to 80 hours a week before heading home to study more. On my busiest rotations, I took any chance to slip outside and feel the sun on my face before returning to my notes. It was simple, but it fed my well-being and reminded me that it mattered, too. The course ended with my favorite exercise: Rewriting the Hippocratic oath in our own words, nearly a year after we had first recited it. On the wards, my version became a quiet guide in moments without a clear protocol. It reminded me to check in on long-term patients before my weekends off, letting them know who would see them the next morning. It reminded me to call a patients mother, who was home with a newborn, to update her on her older sons condition. On harder days, it helped me reconnect with the reasons I chose to do this in the first place. Perhaps the most important lesson this elective offered wasnt in a single exerciseit was learning how to lean on others. Early in medical training, students rotate through teams for short spurts, ranging from days to months, amidst endless permutations of residents, students, and attending physicians. In that ever-shifting environment, it helped to have a group of peers I could turn to, and the vocabulary to speak openly about what we were experiencing. Studies of mind-body electives reflect this experience. Graduates of Georgetowns Mind-Body Medicine course are more likely, even years later, to use these practices themselves and to recommend them to patients. The benefits extend beyond studentsfaculty facilitators of these groups report lower perceived stress and greater mindfulness compared with their peers. The benefits are undeniable, yet my involvement with the course happened purely by chance. As an elective, it falls outside the standard curriculum, and many classmates never discover it at all. The preclinical years teach us perseverance: Just keep swimming. For many physicians, that mindset follows them into residency and clinical practice. But clearly, that model is flawed. Nearly half of the physicians in this country suffer from burnout, and 300 to 400 die by suicide each year. While these trends are often blamed on growing administrative burden and frustration with the health care system, meaningful reform has been slow, and little is done to help trainees cope in the current environment. The skills I learned in our course, when woven together, became a raft that kept me afloat in the sea of challenges that come with caring for the sick. As students, we witness beautiful, scary, life-changing moments. Just days after delivering my first baby, I found myself holding another mothers hand as her surgeon explained she would need an emergency hysterectomy. She had just welcomed her first child. Now, her last. When it was time for me to make it to the other side of these experiences, the raft was there. While medical school prioritizes perseverance, programs like Mind-Body Medicine are essential for trainees to build resilience. With its framework, we dont just survive challenges. We learn from them and become better caregivers for it. In medicine, we believe in practice. Its why, when were learning how to suture, we spend weeks repeating each stitch on silicone pads. We understand that only through practice can we be prepared when it truly matters. If we dont teach medical students how to build their rafts now, how can we expect them to be ready when the storms hit? Without a structured focus on cultivating these skills, we risk losing yet another generation of physicians. If we fail, their loss will be felt by us all. ADVERTISEMENT Seetha Aribindi is a medical student. Leesville, LA (71446) Today Mostly sunny skies this morning. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developing during the afternoon. High 93F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Clear to partly cloudy. Low 72F. Winds light and variable. By Jonathan McCambridge, PA The 50th anniversary of the publication of Seamus Heaneys collection North, which saw the poet directly address the Northern Ireland Troubles for the first time, is to be marked. A three-day conference at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queens University Belfast will bring together experts from around the world to discuss the significance of the Nobel laureate poets landmark work. The event, in partnership with Trinity College Dublin, takes place from June 5th-7th and will also mark the first anniversary of the Belfast venue. Poet Paul Muldoon will be among those taking part in the event at the Seamus Heaney Centre (Liam McBurney/PA) Heaney, who died in 2013, was one of the worlds best known modern poets. Pulitzer prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon and Professor Edna Longley will be among authors, academics and poets discussing the significance of North 50 years on. There will also be a family friendly traditional music session and a screening of the documentary Heaney in Limboland, made for TV in 1970 and featuring Heaneys views on the rapidly deteriorating political situation in Northern Ireland. Upon publication in 1975, the American poet Robert Lowell said North represented a new kind of political poetry by the best Irish poet since WB Yeats and the anthology went on to win awards including the Duff Cooper Memorial Prize and the WH Smith Memorial Prize. Heaney himself admitted the collection took a hammering from other quarters, closer to home, for its representation of violence and gender politics. Many academics consider it to be a key moment in the evolution of Heaney from a significant Irish poet to a poet of international standing, culminating in his winning of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995. Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre, Professor Glenn Patterson said: Whichever way you come at it, in admiration, in awe or in search of an argument, there is no understanding poetry from these islands in the past half century, without North. There are not many books, of any kind, that merit an at 50 conference, but North seems only to grow in significance with every year that passes, and with every year that passes to attract new readers, and new critical thinking. The poets daughter Catherine Heaney, said: We are proud and honoured that the 50th anniversary of North is being marked with this conference, alongside Fabers reissue of the volume in its original jacket. The publication was such a seminal moment in my fathers life and career and it is testament to its staying power that, five decades on, it continues to resonate with readers and inspire scholarly debate. Dr Stephen ONeill from Trinity College Dublin said: Written under the strain of what Seamus Heaney called a very high pressure, North was a landmark in his writing career. It was and is also a landmark in criticism, as a subject for many of the leading critics of Irish literature then and now. Organised to coincide with Fabers anniversary republication of the volume, the conference is a chance to reflect upon the impact of Heaneys fourth collection and reassess its reception. All events will take place at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queens. Attendance is free but registration is required. By Jonathan McCambridge, PA A motorcyclist injured in a collision in which a Garda member was killed, has died in hospital. A Garda spokesperson said the man aged in his 30s died in Beaumont Hospital on Saturday evening. The spokesperson added: Garda family liaison officers are providing ongoing support and information to both families involved. Investigations are ongoing. Kevin Flatley was killed at a checkpoint in Dublin last month (An Garda Siochana/PA) Garda Kevin Flatley died on May 11th when he was struck by the motorcycle while carrying out a speed checkpoint in Co Dublin. His funeral last month was told he had left no stone unturned in his duty of care to others. Garda Flatley, originally from Newcastle, Co Dublin, had served in An Garda Siochana for 26 years and with the roads policing unit since 2018. Weather Alert Bulletin: ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Flash flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. * WHERE...Portions of New Jersey, including the following areas, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Northwestern Burlington, Salem, Somerset and Western Monmouth and southeast Pennsylvania, including the following areas, Delaware, Eastern Chester, Eastern Montgomery, Lower Bucks, Philadelphia, Upper Bucks, Western Chester and Western Montgomery. * WHEN...From 10 AM EDT this morning through this evening. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - The remnants of Chantal will move into the Mid Atlantic this morning bringing areas of heavy rain. The tropical airmass will bring generally 1 to 2 inches of rainfall across the urban corridor but will have the potential to bring isolated amounts up to 5 inches leading to flash flooding. The showers and thunderstorms will generally come to an end by 7 to 8 pm this evening with any residual flooding from showers today coming to an end during the overnight hours. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. && Info: Type: Flood Watch start_time_local: 2025-07-07T10:00:00-04:00 end_time_local: 2025-07-07T22:00:00-04:00 county_name: state: PA headline: Flood Watch from MON 10:00 AM EDT until MON 10:00 PM EDT county_fips: category: Met url: urgency: Unknown severity: Moderate certainty: Unknown geographicname: Upper Bucks County state_name: Pennsylvania In a time when anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is proliferating across the United States, targeting everything from gender-affirming care to inclusive science education, many physicians are facing a new ethical frontier. More than ever, the duty to protect patient health extends beyond the clinic walls. When policy threatens the well-being of entire communities, an inclusive and affirming exam room is no longer enough. It is time for doctors to speak up and speak out. Physicians are among the most trusted voices in American society. Their authority, backed by clinical expertise and public service, carries immense weight with legislators and the public alike. Yet many doctors remain unsure howor whetherto engage politically. Some worry about professional boundaries; others simply do not know where to start. This moment demands clarity and action. Across the country, bills are being introduced that limit access to gender-affirming care, ban inclusive sex education, and suppress research on LGBTQ+ health outcomes. These are not abstract political debates. They are legislative decisions that directly harm patientsespecially transgender youthand ignoring them, or acquiescing to them, undermines the physicians core commitment to do no harm. So how can doctors get involved? Testify and speak at hearings. Legislative bodies frequently hold public hearings on proposed bills. Physicians can offer compelling testimony about the real-world consequences of anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Bringing clinical experience into these forums humanizes the impact of abstract policies and can sway undecided lawmakers who might prioritize professional authority over lived patient experiences. Legislative bodies frequently hold public hearings on proposed bills. Physicians can offer compelling testimony about the real-world consequences of anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Bringing clinical experience into these forums humanizes the impact of abstract policies and can sway undecided lawmakers who might prioritize professional authority over lived patient experiences. Call and meet with your elected officials. You do not need to be a political expert to be effective. A simple, heartfelt call or a scheduled visit with your state representative can make a difference. Explain how pending legislation will affect your patients and your ability to provide care. Humanize the people this legislation will harm. You do not need to be a political expert to be effective. A simple, heartfelt call or a scheduled visit with your state representative can make a difference. Explain how pending legislation will affect your patients and your ability to provide care. Humanize the people this legislation will harm. Take on leadership roles in advocacy organizations. Professional associations like the American Academy of Pediatrics or local medical societies often have policy arms. Joining their advocacy committees or leadership boards allows you to shape official stances and guide collective action. Professional associations like the American Academy of Pediatrics or local medical societies often have policy arms. Joining their advocacy committees or leadership boards allows you to shape official stances and guide collective action. Use media strategically. Writing op-eds, doing interviews, or speaking at press conferences can amplify your voice. Media coverage helps counteract misinformation and shows your patients that you are willing to stand up for them publicly. Writing op-eds, doing interviews, or speaking at press conferences can amplify your voice. Media coverage helps counteract misinformation and shows your patients that you are willing to stand up for them publicly. Organize your peers. Sometimes the most powerful actions take place quietly and behind the scenes. Talk to your colleagues. Organize to support each other in actions focused on equity or inclusion. Mobilize your institutions to back you when you decide to take a public stand. You do not have to do this alone. There are already models to follow. In Texas in 2023, pediatrician testimony helped halt legislation that would have criminalized gender-affirming care. And the same year in Arkansas, doctors organized through their medical associations to push back on a youth care ban. Across the country and for several years, queer and allied physicians have been forming collectives to respond rapidly to political threats. This is an ongoing battle, and we need medical professionals to bring their expertise to the front lines. Advocacy does not compromise medical ethicsit fulfills them. Silence in the face of harm is complicity. As trusted professionals, doctors have a unique power and responsibility to defend their patients not just with medicine against disease and ill-health, but with their voices against those seeking to take care away from us. As anti-LGBTQ+ legislation continues to spread, let this be a turning point. The medical profession must meet the moment, not with neutrality, but with strength and courage. Your patients are listening. So are lawmakers. Let them hear you fight. BJ Ferguson is an LGBTQ+ journalist covering the intersections of health, science, technology, and identity. With over a decade of experience reporting for national and international publicationsincluding Yahoo!, Esquire, and Elementalthey are passionate about bridging gaps between professionals and the communities they serve by highlighting underreported challenges and solutions. Ferguson is the founder of Well Beings News, a queer and trans health and wellness newsletter designed for practitioners, providers, and professionals committed to improving LGBTQ+ care through evidence-based insights and inclusive practices. You can find more of their work at their portfolio website, bjthehetheygay.ca, or follow both BJ and Well Beings News on Bluesky. Rankin Avenue in downtown Asheville is pictured on June 1. Police say a man was killed and several bystanders were hurt after an overnight shooting at this location. Solo flyers on US flights can pay much more than those traveling as a pair, report finds The term locusts is often used to describe financial holding companies that attack large corporations, breaking them up, filleting and plundering them, leaving a trail of devastation for employees and billions in profits for shareholders. Last week, ThyssenKrupp, one of the worlds largest steelmakers, announced it was planning to become its own locust. According to the corporation, the strategic goal was to gradually make all business areas independent and open them up to the participation of third parties. ThyssenKrupp coking plant and blast furnace plant Schwelgern in the north of Duisburg [Photo by Rainer Halama / wikimedia / CC BY-SA 3.0 ThyssenKrupp is currently divided into five divisions: Steel, Automotive Supply, Materials Trading, Naval Ships and Green Technologies. Now the company is to be transformed into a holding company without its own business, which will hold shares in the five independent concerns. The shareholders were delighted. At times, the share price rose by almost 9 percent on the stock exchange. But in order to become at all interesting for third parties, the individual divisions would have to undergo major restructuring so that they generate high profits. The approximately 96,000 employees will be made to pay for this. The IG Metall union, as always, feigned surprise and demanded to be more closely involved in this process. In the past, it has agreed to the reduction of every job and the sale and closure of every plant. The unions standard operating procedure is to stage vociferous protests in which the willingness to fight and anger of the workforce find an outlet, before calmly signing the death warrant for jobs and entire plants back at the negotiating table. And this is what the IG Metall functionaries and their works council representatives, who sit on all the most important company committees, are planning now at ThyssenKrupp. In principle, they have already agreed to the reorganisation: The employee representatives do not stand in the way of a sensible strategic realignment, wrote the Group Works Council and IG Metall in a joint statement. However, this required certain guidelines ... in order to develop prospects for the affected businesses and secure jobs in the long term. Tekin Nasikkol, chairman of the Group Works Council, is demanding more sensitivity from the Executive Board in dealing with the people working in the company. Jurgen Kerner, second chairman of IG Metall and deputy chairman of the ThyssenKrupp Supervisory Board, emphasised that we are prepared to break new ground and even jump over our shadows. We have proven this often enough, he added. But we reject the idea of filleting the Group and gradually floating it on the stock exchangewithout [!] a vision for the future with prospects for employees and sites in all areas. The union apparatus will demand that it be allowed to help craft this future vision in the coming months so that the reorganisation on behalf of the shareholders succeeds. It will then once again announce it has agreed to the exclusion of compulsory redundancies and some vague prospects for the various sitesand then help push through the attacks on the workforce. This is what works council chairman Nasikkol meant by sensitivity in dealing with the employees. This is already taking place in the steel and automotive supply divisions. In the steel division, 11,000 of the 27,000 employees are to lose their jobs over the next five years. The closure of the plant in Kreuztal-Eichen in the Siegerland region with around 600 employees, which was announced last autumn, was only recently suspended. Instead, one of the two steelworks in Bochum was to close earlier than originally planned, in 2030. It is now uncertain what will happen to the workforces at the smaller steelworks. However, it is becoming apparent that the Krupp Mannesmann steelworks in the south of Duisburg, which employs 3,000 people, has no chance of survival. Thyssenkrupp, which holds half of the shares in Huttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann (HKM), wants to sell it off. The steel group Salzgitter still holds 30 percent and the French group Valourec, which is withdrawing from Germany, holds 20 percent. Because a sale of HKM failed, the IG Metall and ThyssenKrupp management are now trying to organise the closure via a so-called social contract, the vehicle by which the unions have already helped corporations organise plant closures and the loss of tens of thousands of jobs. One fifth of ThyssenKrupps traditional steel business has already been sold to the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. Negotiations are continuing on the sale of a further 30 percent to his EPCC holding company. Among other things, the billionaire is apparently worried about the steel groups pension obligations, i.e., the lavish payments for former managers and board members and the measly company pensions for workers. Furthermore, it is not clear whether steel production would even be secure in the long term. Currently, two of the four blast furnaces are to be shut down. The federal and state governments have promised the company 2 billion in subsidies for the construction of a hydrogen-powered blast furnace for climate-friendly green steel production. It is unclear whether this would also apply under the planned changes. A hiring freeze, cost reductions and further portfolio adjustments and restructuring within the businesses were also announced some time ago in the automotive supply division, which currently employs almost 31,000 people. Asked by regional newspaper WAZ whether this division, which is small compared to the competition, would not immediately become a takeover candidate, ThyssenKrupp CEO Lopez made it clear that further attacks on the workforce would follow: I am firmly convinced that Automotive Technology has excellent opportunities on the market as a focussed, agile company. But it is also clear that we have to make an effort and make it fit as well. Just a month ago, ThyssenKrupp announced the closure of the spring-making plant in Hagen with 300 employees by 2027. I assume that we will manage this fairly, said Jens Mutze, of IG Metall Hagen. Following the reorganisation, only 100 employees would remain at the Group headquarters, down from the current 500, and around 1,000 administrative jobs are also to be cut. The materials trading arm with 16,000 employees is to be floated on the stock exchange, as are all other divisions. Based on comments by a high-ranking manager, the tabloid Bild writes that the planned IPO of the materials trading division made no sense, as this arm was not very profitable. According to Bild, parts of the automotive supply division were also to be closed or sold. In the end, ThyssenKrupp will practically be dissolved, the newspaper quoted its Group insider saying. The relatively new Decarbon Technologies division, which develops climate-friendly future technologies, was to become independent in the long term. Before this happens, the markets for green technologies should have picked up speed accordingly so that share proceeds can also bubble up here. The IPO of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), a submarine and warship manufacturer, is to be finalised this year through the transfer of shares to existing shareholders. Global warmongering has turned the division, headed by former North Rhine-Westphalia IG Metall district secretary Oliver Burkhard, into a potential goldmine for shareholders. However, to ensure this it must be independent and not have to offset its profits against the losses in the steel and automotive businesses. TKMS order books are bursting. In the first half of the financial year alone (up to March 2025), the global market leader in conventional submarines booked orders totalling more than 5.5 billion, a good eight times as much as in the same period last year. Further orders have since been received. Following the construction of four submarines for Singapore, the city state has ordered two more. TKMS shipyards are working at full capacity until the 2040s. Burkhard is therefore having the former Wismar shipyard refitted, where Disney cruise ships used to be built. He is also seeking partnerships with other European defence and shipbuilding groups. TKMS has already signed a letter of intent with Saab Australia for co-operation in the frigate sector. IG Metall, which supports the pro-war policy of the German government under Friedrich Merz (Christian Democrat, CDU), insists that the state should take over the defence company TKMS. In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, District Director of IG Metall Coastal Daniel Friedrich asked rhetorically. Does the government want to leave the consolidation of naval shipyards to the market or organise it itself? On Thursday, he sent an email to Chancellor Merz, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (Social Democrat, SPD), Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) and Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) appealing to them to decide in favour of the state taking a stake in TKMS in the next two to four weeks. Otherwise, the path to an IPO was irreversible, warned Friedrich. A state takeover of the naval and steel divisions, as IG Metall and its works council reps are promoting, would serve the military build-up and not save jobs. Jobs cannot be defended by switching to armaments production. This only serves to prepare for wars that threaten the lives of millions of workers and their families. Conversely, the defence of jobs is directly linked to the fight against rearmament and militarisation. The IG Metall apparatus stands on the opposite side, as it has demonstrated several times in recent weeks and months. At the national IG Metall day of action it cheered on the Merz governments pro-war policies, while on the ground it uses social contracts to slash jobs and close down factories. That is why new organisations of struggle must be set up, rank-and-file action committees that unite all workers and overcome the divisions between different locations, companies and nations. We call on all ThyssenKrupp workers to participate in building action committees. All areas must stand together and make contact with their colleagues in other sectors and countries whoas in the automotive industryare facing the same attacks. This is the only way to defend jobs, wages, working conditions and workers rights in principle. PANAMA CITY BEACH Country music fans will make their third trip to Frank Brown Park on May 31 for Day 3 of the 2025 Gulf Coast Jam. The four-day festival is being held May 29-June 1 at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach. Here's what you need to know about Day 3: People in Panama City Beach, Fla., line up outside Gulf Coast Jams main gate May 29, 2025. The days kick off was delayed due to heavy rain and lightning concerns. (Tyler Orsburn/News Herald) Who is performing on May 31 at Gulf Coast Jam 2025? Artists scheduled to perform are Josh Mitcham, Waylon Wyatt, Carter Faith, Sam Barber, The Red Clay Strays and headliner Tyler Childers. When does everything open on May 31 at Gulf Coast Jam 2025? Will call opens at noon. Early entry begins at 1:30 p.m., with the main gates opening at 2 p.m. Weather forecast for May 31 in Panama City Beach According to officials with the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, May 31 is slated to be a "beautiful day." Temperatures will range between 83 degree during the day and 69 degrees during the evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With a high projected UV index, weather officials advised patrons visiting the festival to wear lots of sunscreen. What happened on Day 2? Lainey Wilson performs at Gulf Coast Jam in Panama City Beach, Fla., May 30, 2025. (Tyler Orsburn/News Herald) People attend Gulf Coast Jam in Panama City Beach, Fla., May 30, 2025. (Tyler Orsburn/News Herald) According to a post on the event's Facebook page, patrons were forced to temporarily evacuate at about 6 p.m. on May 30 due to lightning. Gates then reopened at about 7:15 p.m. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: What you need to know: Day 3 of Gulf Coast Jam in Panama City Beach One person was killed and at least 11 others injured early Sunday when gunfire broke out during a house party in Catawba County, North Carolina, authorities said. The shooting occurred at around 12:45 a.m. at a residence in Mountain View, about 60 miles northwest of Charlotte, according to a social media statement posted by the Catawba County Sheriff's Office. "Our investigation indicates more than one shooter was involved in the incident. We are still working to determine when they arrived, how they arrived, what their reasoning was for their presence. Also, their motive," Maj. Aaron Turk of the Catawba County Sheriff's Department said at a news conference Sunday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turk said that the crime scene, which was estimated to be around two acres, was still being processed for evidence by investigators. When asked by a reporter how many shots were fired in the incident, Turk said, "As I stand here, more than 80 shots were fired." Turk said the shooting erupted at a residence where a party attended by as many as 100 people was in progress. PHOTO: Police are investigating a shooting at a house pary in Mountain View, South Carolina, June 1, 2025, that left one person dead and 11 injured, authorities said. (Getty Images) He said the shooting occurred nearly two hours after deputies had gone to the same residence after getting a noise complaint. Turk said those attending the party complied with orders from the deputies to turn down the music. Turk said investigators have uncovered no evidence indicating the shooting was connected to the earlier noise complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Catawba County sheriff's deputies and officers from the nearby Hickory Police Department went to the house after multiple 911 callers reported multiple people being shot, Turk said. One of the shooting victims was pronounced dead at the scene, Turk said. The Catawba County Sheriff's Office identified the man killed in the shooting as 58-year-old Shawn Patrick Hood of Lenoir, North Carolina. Of the 11 others wounded, one was in critical condition and several remained hospitalized, officials said. MORE: 2 killed, including officer, in California shooting, sheriff says No arrests have so far been announced. Investigators from the Hickory Police Department, special agents with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the scene of the shooting Sunday afternoon attempting establish a motive for the deadly violence and identify those responsible, Catawba County Sheriff Donald G. Brown II said at Sunday afternoon's news conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I want everyone to know that we are going to work together tirelessly and diligently to identify the individuals who are responsible for this act," Brown said. Witnesses told ABC Charlotte affiliate station WSOC that many of those attending the party were local high school students. "As soon as I heard the shots, everybody started scattering off, ducking our heads, running off toward our cars, toward safety. And I called my friend and he said, 'call 911. I need help,'" one of the teenage partygoers told WSOC. 1 dead, 11 injured in mass shooting at North Carolina house party: Sheriff originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A devastating home explosion in Gladstone left one man dead, the house he lived in destroyed and several nearby homes damaged Saturday morning, according to Gladstone Fire Chief Mike Desautels. The cause of the explosion remains unclear, and the investigation has been turned over to the Missouri Fire Marshal of the Missouri Division of Fire Safety. The Gladstone Fire Department, Gladstone Police Department, ATF and other organizations were on the explosion site Saturday afternoon. The American Red Cross was on the scene, too. The American Red Cross, ATF, Gladstone Fire and Police Departments and more were on the scene of the house explosion that killed a man and caused significant damage on Saturday, May 31. What happened in Gladstone explosion? Firefighters responded just after 11 a.m. to Northeast 74th Terrace and North Main Street Saturday after multiple calls from residents about the explosion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of neighbors gathered outside their homes to watch the aftermath of the blast, which blew debris over the road and across the street, causing significant damage to nearby homes, Desautels said. Officials used cadaver dogs to uncover the remains of a deceased adult man. His remains were unidentifiable, so confirmation of his identity may take a while, Desautels said. He was a resident of the home destroyed in the explosion, Desautels said. Other residents of the home were found safe, he said, but a large-breed dog was also killed in the blast. A neighbor looks on after a home explosion in Gladstone that left a man dead, his home destroyed and several others damaged Saturday, May 31. North KC street closed The street the explosion occurred on, Northeast 74th Terrace, will remain closed to traffic from North Oak Trafficway to Main Street for 24 to 48 hours as crews work to clear debris, Desautels said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The home that exploded is three blocks northeast of Linden West Elementary School. Multiple crews, including some from the Kansas City Fire Department provided extra support to extinguish the fire Saturday. According to an Evergy outage map, the explosion caused several customers to lose power in the area. As of 2 p.m., 10 customers were still affected. Desautels said the investigation into what caused the deadly explosion will likely take some time because of the significant debris it caused. This is a developing story, and will be updated. UPDATE: Spur 601 has reopened after a fatal crash early Sunday morning at that highways intersection with Loop 375, the Texas Department of Transportation. The road was closed for more than seven hours. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) One person was killed in a single-vehicle crash early Sunday morning, June 1 in East El Paso, El Paso Police said. The crash happened a little after 2 a.m. at Loop 375 and Spur 601, police said. That is near the new William Beaumont Army Medical Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police confirmed one person was killed in the crash, but did not say what led up to the crash. Police said that their Special Traffic Investigations Unit is looking into what caused the crash. All lanes of traffic along Spur 601 were closed at the crash site, the Texas Department of Transportation said. Clearing time is estimated to be until further notice. We will update this story when we learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. BALDWIN PARK, Calif. (AP) An officer was killed and another wounded while responding to a report of a man shooting rounds with a rifle and a wounded and unresponsive man lying on the sidewalk in a city east of Los Angeles, authorities said Sunday. When the officers arrived to the scene Saturday night, they were met by gunfire," and at least one officer returned fire, Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna said. An adult male suspect was wounded but has been taken into custody, the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department said. The man, who has not been identified, was taken to a hospital and was in stable condition Sunday, the department said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials on Sunday identified the slain officer as Samuel Riveros. The man found wounded on the sidewalk was taken to a hospital where he died. His identity is being withheld pending next of kin notification, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said. Luna and Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert Lopez held a news conference shortly after the shooting. Lopez said the officer who was killed was an amazing man who liked snowboarding and traveled to see Dodger games across the United States. The injured officer is in good condition and with his family, he added. Its extremely tragic to have to deal with this, Lopez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear how many shots were fired, but the weapon used in the shooting has been recovered, authorities said. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department is investigating the incident as a double homicide. NEED TO KNOW One person has died and several others are injured following a shooting at a home in North Carolina The Catawba County Sheriff's Office said at a press conference that the incident occurred during a party at a residence" Police believe there may have been more than one person involved in the shooting One person was killed and several others were seriously injured in a shooting in North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At around 12:45 a.m. local time on Sunday, June 1, the Hickory Police Department responded to a report of multiple persons shot at a residence on Walnut Acres Drive in Mountain View, the Catawba County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) said in a news release shared on Facebook. At least 12 people were struck in the incident, including one person who died, and another who was left in critical condition. Several other victims remain hospitalized, according to police. Sheriffs investigators, along with investigators from Hickory Police Department and Special Agents with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, are at the scene of this incident attempting to establish a motive and identify those responsible, the CCSO said. No arrests have been made at this time. The shooting took place at a party at a residence, Aaron Turk, a major with the sheriffs office, said during a press conference, per WCNC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that deputies arrived to find multiple people had been shot and began rendering aid. There were around 100 people at the house when one or more people started shooting, ABC 11 reported, citing investigators. Turk said in the press conference that authorities are currently trying to establish motive as they continue to search for potential suspects. He confirmed that more than one person was involved in the shooting, though police dont have an exact count at this time, per WCNC. The identities of the victims and suspects have not yet been disclosed. Getty Police car (stock image) Police car (stock image) 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. The incident allegedly spilled out from inside the house onto the street and into the backyard of the residence and the neighbors yard, Turk told reporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This does seem to be something that had some focus associated with that party, he added. The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact the CCSO at 828-464-3112. Read the original article on People A Russian missile struck a Ukrainian military training ground on the morning of June 1, killing 12 and injuring 60, Ukraine's Land Forces has said. A statement on the attack did not identify the location of the training grounds, nor the specific type of missile used by Russia. "We emphasize that no formations or massive gatherings of personnel were being conducted," the Land Forces press office said in the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The authorities say that the bulk of service members present were in air shelters following the alarms that preceded the strike, and that they have assembled a commission to investigate what caused the attack. "In the event of a determination that the action or inaction of responsible individuals led to the death and injury of servicemen, those responsible will be brought to strict accountability," the statement continued. A similar Russian missile attack on a shooting range killed six Ukrainian soldiers in Sumy Oblast late in May. Read also: Russia upgrades Iskander ballistic missiles, more difficult for Ukraines Patriots to intercept, Air Force says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) A Ukrainian drone attack has destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep in Russias territory, Ukraine's Security Service said on Sunday, while Moscow pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones just hours before a new round of direct peace talks in Istanbul. A military official, who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to disclose operational details, said the far-reaching attack took more than a year and a half to execute and was personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In his evening address, Zelenskyy said that 117 drones had been used in the operation. He claimed the operation had been headquartered out of an office next to the local FSB headquarters. The FSB is the Russian intelligence and security service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military source said it was an extremely complex operation, involving the smuggling of first-person view, or FPV, drones to Russia, where they were then placed in mobile wooden houses. Later, drones were hidden under the roofs of these houses while already placed on trucks. At the right moment, the roofs of the houses were remotely opened, and the drones flew to hit Russian bombers, the source said. Social media footage shared by Russian media appeared to show the drones rising from inside containers while other panels lay discarded on the road. One clip appeared to show men climbing onto a truck in an attempt to halt the drones. Long-range bombers targeted Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drones hit 41 planes stationed at military airfields on Sunday afternoon, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M aircraft, the official said. Moscow has previously used Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers to launch missiles at Ukraine, while A-50s are used to coordinate targets and detect air defenses and guided missiles. The Security Service of Ukraine said that the operation, which it codenamed Web, had destroyed 34% of Russia's fleet of air missile carriers with damages estimated at $7 billion. The claim could not be independently verified. Russia's Defense Ministry in a statement confirmed the attacks, which damaged aircraft and sparked fires on air bases in the Irkutsk region, more than 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Ukraine, as well as the Murmansk region in the north, it said. Strikes were also repelled in the Amur region in Russia's Far East and in the western regions of Ivanovo and Ryazan, the ministry said. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was briefed on Ukraines attack Russia during a stop at Nellis Air Force Base and was monitoring the situation. A senior defense official said on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters that the U.S. was not given notification before the attack. The official said it represented a level of sophistication the U.S. had not seen before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also on Sunday, Russias top investigative body said that explosions had caused two bridges to collapse and derailed two trains in western Russia overnight, killing seven in one of the incidents and injuring dozens more. Russian officials, however, did not say what had caused the blasts and the word explosions was later removed from an Investigative Committee press release. Attack ahead of talks The drone attack came the same day as Zelenskyy said Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday. In a statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy said that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation. We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people, Zelenskyy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian officials had previously called on the Kremlin to provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the war before the meeting takes place. Moscow had said it would share its memorandum during the talks. Russian strike hits an army unit Russia on Sunday launched the biggest number of drones 472 on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraines air force said. Russian forces also launched seven missiles alongside the barrage of drones, said Yuriy Ignat, head of communications for the air force. Earlier Sunday, Ukraines army said at least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed and more than 60 were injured in a Russian missile strike on an army training unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian army commander Mykhailo Drapatyi later Sunday submitted his resignation following the attack. He was a respected commander whose leadership saw Ukraine regain land on the eastern front for the first time since Kyiv's 2022 counteroffensive. The training unit was located to the rear of the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) active front line, where Russian reconnaissance and strike drones are able to strike. Ukraines forces lack troops and take extra precautions to avoid mass gatherings as the skies across the front line are saturated with Russian drones looking for targets. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine While you may have thought frozen foods were safer, it turns out that some of the biggest recalls of all time have been frozen food recalls. There are all kinds of things that can go wrong with frozen food. Like with any other food, they can end up with undeclared allergens, or foreign objects can find their way into the foods at the factory. However, what you may not have realized is that many bacteria and viruses don't die at the temperatures they encounter in your freezer. So, if you're not cooking frozen foods or not cooking them long enough, you can still be at risk from pathogens that end up in frozen foods. While there have been plenty more frozen food recalls than the ones listed, these were the biggest in terms of pounds of food recalled, number of people hospitalized, and even lives lost. Yet, many times, it seems that routine food inspections may have caught recallable issues before they became tragic events. Our list of the 13 biggest frozen food recalls of all time starts in 2025 with the most recent large frozen food recalls and goes all the way back to 2007. Read more: 11 Frozen Chicken Entrees, Ranked Worst To Best Lyons ReadyCare And Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes Recall (2025) Carton of Lyons Ready Care Vanilla Shake - Lyons Ready Care The February 2025 Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplement Shakes are the deadliest on our list. A total of 17 flavors of shakes were recalled because of possible contamination with listeria monocytogenes, which turned out to be deadly in this case. So, it was a "big" recall in terms of lives lost rather than physical quantities of food recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing that made this outbreak so deadly was the fact that all the shakes had been sent to long-term care facilities. With two of the categories of people who are most at risk from listeria outbreaks being people who are age 65 and older and those who are immunocompromised, you can start to understand what a nightmare this outbreak became. Another problem is that listeria can survive and even grow in temperatures as low as 31 degrees Fahrenheit. Some frozen foods with listeria don't cause such havoc because they're ultimately cooked before consumption, but shakes are consumed cold. The tainted products were manufactured by Prairie Farms and distributed by Lyons Magnus all over the U.S. Thus, 42 people from 21 different states fell ill. Of the people that it sickened, 41 ended up in the hospital, and 14 died by the end of the ordeal. Interestingly, Lyons Magnus had a previous beverage recall in 2022 after the FDA found various pathogens in its facility, but this is the first recall that has resulted in deaths. BrucePac Frozen Ready-To-Eat Meat And Poultry Product Recall (2024) Box of Good & Gather Chicken Tikka Masala - Good & Gather The next big frozen food recall on our list is the BrucePac one in October 2024, which involved over 11.7 million pounds of frozen ready-to-eat meat and poultry products being recalled over listeria concerns. The products had made their way to kitchens making food for large quantities of people, such as schools and institutions, as well as restaurants. Plus, there were plenty of products in the recall that were available in the freezer section of regular grocery stores, especially ready-to-eat frozen TV dinners, like ones from Atkins, Boston Market, Target, Michelina's, Trader Joe's, and many more. A recall was enacted after the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) found listeria in some of the ready-to-eat products at BrucePac in Durant, Oklahoma, during routine inspections. The products FSIS was concerned about were ones that had been produced during a period of a little over four months between May 31 and October 8, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only does listeria pose a large risk to people over the age of 65 and those with compromised immune systems, but it's also a big risk to pregnant people and the unborn. Luckily, FSIS doesn't list any related hospitalizations or deaths related to this particular listeria recall. Scenic Fruit Company Frozen Organic Strawberries Recall (2023) Simply Nature Organic Strawberries - Simply Nature In March 2023, over 325,000 pounds of Scenic Fruit Company frozen organic strawberries were recalled for their potential of being laced with hepatitis A. The strawberries had gone out to several grocery stores and clubs, like Aldi, Costco, and Trader Joe's, under six different brand names. The hepatitis A virus doesn't die off when frozen and needs to be heated to at least 185 degrees Fahrenheit to inactivate it. So, unless people cooked their frozen strawberries, eating them was quite risky. Ultimately, at least 10 people ended up catching hepatitis A from the strawberries, resulting in four hospitalizations in four states. The strawberries had all been imported from a farm in Baja California, Mexico. The farm was the source of a genetically identical hepatitis A outbreak in 2022, which triggered proactive disease prevention strategies for the growers in the region as well as FDA import screening strategies for crops coming from that region in the future. Nestle Hot Pockets Recall (2021) Box of Premium Pepperoni Pizza Garlic Buttery Crust Hot Pockets - Nestle Rather than the Nestle Hot Pockets recall in January of 2021 being about the potential for disease, nearly 763,000 pounds were recalled because of foreign object contamination. Several customers contacted the company to complain about finding glass or hard plastic in their Hot Pockets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Luckily, Nestle only had to recall 12 packs of Premium Pepperoni Pizza Garlic Butter Crust Hot Pockets with four different batch codes from products produced between November 13 and 16 of 2020. A total of four customers contacted Nestle after they bit down on what appeared to be clear plastic or glass. The company enacted a recall for fear that the pieces could cause choking or lacerations if big or sharp enough. Although there was the potential for worse injuries or even death, thankfully, only one customer reported a minor mouth injury associated with the glass or plastic that was in the Hot Pocket they were eating. P.F. Chang's Frozen Entrees Recall (2019) Container of P.F. Chang's Chicken Pad Thai - P.F. Chang's In May of 2019, Conagra Brands in Russellville, Arkansas, recalled close to 2.1 million pounds of P.F. Chang's frozen food entrees from food shelves because it failed to list milk among its ingredients. Since the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act went into effect in 2006, we've seen a lot more food recalls happen because of labels that don't include food allergen warning information. The USDA noticed the mislabeling problem when they were doing a routine label check. Since milk wasn't listed among the ingredients for P.F. Chang's Home Menu Chicken Pad Thai and P.F. Chang's Chicken Fried Rice, it triggered a recall. The offending items had production dates that spanned a little over six months between October 1, 2018, and April 11, 2019. All in all, more than 1 million products were included in the recall. Luckily, there were no reports of anyone allergic to milk who became sick from eating these products. Wayne Farms Ready-To-Eat Frozen Chicken Recall (2018) Box of bulk chicken tenderloin fritters from Wayne Farms - Wayne Farms Another frozen food recall related to foreign object contamination was the 2018 Wayne Farms ready-to-eat frozen chicken recall. By the time the recall was complete, nearly 439,000 pounds of frozen chicken had been recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A customer called to complain about finding metal pieces in their chicken on July 27, but the recall didn't take place until September 5, 2018. The Decatur, Alabama, company ultimately ended up recalling its frozen cooked chicken that it had produced between July 4 and July 17. Luckily, no other customers beyond the first one ever called in to complain about finding metal in their chicken. Still, it was a Class I recall (the most serious type) because of the potential for harm from anyone choking on or being injured by any other metal pieces that might have ended up in the chicken. It's certainly better to recall potentially dangerous food rather than hope that one piece of metal was the only one. A later Wayne Farms recall in 2022 was about undercooked chicken. So, at least the metal problem seems to have been a one-time thing. Maxi Canada Frozen Breaded Chicken Recall (2017) Box of Yummy Dino Buddies Chicken Nuggets - Yummy An undeclared allergen was the cause of the June 2017 Maxi Canada frozen breaded chicken recall. Over 4.2 million pounds of frozen chicken were recalled because Maxi Canada didn't mention on the label that the products might contain milk. However, the problem began with a supplier rather than at Maxi Canada. Basically, Maxi Canada heard from one of their suppliers that the ingredients Maxi Canada had used for its breading might contain milk. In total, the ingredient slipup affected sixteen different products that weren't labeled as possibly containing milk. The recalled products included everything from frozen chicken fries and patty fritters to and chicken strips and nuggets of various shapes. No customers ever contacted Maxi Canada about a milk allergen issue from having eaten the frozen breaded chicken. However, undeclared allergens are a matter of health concern that triggers recalls to avoid potential tragedy. CRF Frozen Foods Frozen Fruits And Vegetable Product Recall (2016) Package of Wellsley Farms Organic Mixed Vegetables - Wellsley Farms The CRF Frozen Foods recall of frozen fruits and vegetables in April of 2016 is the largest recall on our list of all-frozen items, considering the sheer number of pounds recalled. This recall involved around 47 million pounds of frozen items, 358 specific products, and 42 brands that had the potential of being contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. Not only did the recall result in several hospitalizations, but there were also several deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The recalled vegetable brands had listeria strains that were genetically related to the strains infecting those who had become sick. So, the link was officially confirmed through genetic matching. All nine of the people who became sick from the contaminated food in four states were hospitalized, and three of them died. However, only one fatality was officially attributed to listeria. Aspen Foods Frozen Chicken Products Recall (2015) Display box with frozen bags of Antioch Farms Broccoli & Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast - Antioch Farms In July of 2015, Aspen Foods enacted a frozen chicken product recall because of a salmonella outbreak. At first, the recall was for nearly 545,000 pounds of frozen chicken, but it eventually reached around 1.9 million pounds of chicken. The products included raw chicken as well as breaded and stuffed chicken products. You may not have realized that salmonella can survive in frozen chicken, but it can, even when stored at temperatures well below zero degrees Fahrenheit. While temperatures of 165 degrees Fahrenheit will kill it, salmonella can persist on raw chicken surfaces and potentially spread to other foods or surfaces before cooking. With salmonella having the potential to affect the elderly and infants as well as immunocompromised people fairly strongly, the recall was quite necessary. Fortunately, the outbreak was only limited to Minnesota, and only two of the five people who were sickened had to be hospitalized, with no reported deaths. City Line Manufacturing Pretzel Hot Dogs Recall (2014) Box of Auntie Anne's Pretzel Dogs - Auntie Anne's What started out as a recall of nearly 282,000 pounds of frozen pretzel hot dogs in November of 2014 ultimately turned into a 1.2-million-pound recall. The problem with these products was that all of them failed to list soy lecithin as an ingredient on the label, and it's a known allergen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Soy lecithin is derived from soybeans, which definitely raised concerns for sensitive individuals. While soy lecithin wasn't an actual ingredient mixed into the pretzel hot dogs, FSIS noticed during its inspections that the company was using a non-stick product with soy lecithin on surfaces to help keep the pretzel hotdogs from sticking. With soy lecithin having the potential to cause an allergic reaction, City Line Manufacturing had to enact a recall. Affected brands with tainted pretzel dogs included Auntie Anne's, West Creek, Kunzler, Berks, Nathan's, and City Line. Hallmark/Westland Fresh And Frozen Beef Recall (2008) Several cattle in close quarters - Paulo Hoeper/Getty Images The Hallmark/Westland beef recall of 2008 is notorious for being the biggest meat recall in U.S. history, with a whopping 143 million pounds of beef involved in the recall. While all the recalled beef wasn't frozen, some of it was, making it necessary to include it on our list. Despite it being such a landmark recall, nobody became sick or died from the affected beef, which is a wonder since some of the meat came from sick cows. The recall ended up being so big because it covered meat that had been produced any time between February 2006 and February 2008. Within that long time span, most of the meat -- headed off to be part of school lunches -- had probably already been consumed. The Humane Society released a video in January of 2008 showing workers at Hallmark/Westland not only mistreating cattle but especially the ones that were also too sick to walk, indicating a potential for mad cow disease. In such cases, the company was required to have a USDA veterinarian inspect the animals and ensure they were safe to slaughter and sell for consumption but failed to do so. After the recall, the company went bankrupt, and two of the employees were charged with felony and misdemeanor-level charges, including ones related to animal cruelty. The Humane Society still took the company to court, and Hallmark/Westland ended up having to pay a $317 million settlement on a $497 million judgment. Topps Meat Company Frozen Beef Products Recall (2007) Box of Topps 100% Beef Burgers - Topps Burgers Another company that went bankrupt after its enormous food recall was Topps Meat Company, which recalled 21.7 million pounds of frozen beef patties in 2007. Before the recall, the company had been in business for 67 years. However, 40 people getting sick from an E. coli outbreak in eight states was the nail in the coffin for Topps. While the outbreak could have been deadly, no deaths were reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With no requirement for meatpackers like Topps to test products for pathogens like E. coli, it was an outbreak that was easy to miss. Plus, there was a concern that the company might have been carrying over meat from one day to the next, causing the E. coli to keep spreading. So, the recall covered frozen meat produced over the span of an entire year, which is what made the recall so big. Freezing also doesn't kill E. coli, but cooking the hamburger patties to temperatures of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit does, which likely means those who became sick didn't eat thoroughly cooked meat. An earlier recall might have prevented at least some of the 40 illnesses that occurred. E. coli is hardest on those under age five or over age 65, as well as people with compromised immune systems. Although officials from the Agriculture Department knew Topps beef was contaminated, it didn't order a recall for 18 days. By that time, 30 people had already gotten sick. Banquet And Store Brand Frozen Pot Pies Recall (2007) Box of Banquet Chicken Pot Pie - Banquet The highest number of hospitalizations from any of the recalls on our list happened from frozen pot pies contaminated with salmonella in 2007. These were sold under the Banquet name as well as several grocery store brand names, like Albertson's and Kroger. The fact that 401 people in 41 states ended up with salmonellosis after consuming undercooked pot pies makes you pause and consider just how many times you've eaten food from the freezer that wasn't quite cooked all the way through. Further, 108 of the people who became sick ended up in the hospital, which was 32% of them. One problem with the microwave instructions on these pot pies from ConAgra Foods, Inc. was that they didn't account for the varying wattage of different microwaves. Cooking times for one microwave won't necessarily work for all microwaves, which can leave some parts still cold or even frozen. However, there were some other problems here as well. For one, the packaging for these Banquet pot pies had different cooking times listed in different areas. Other problems fell to consumers, like not realizing the product continues to cook during the cool down time you're supposed to allow before eating. Still, some consumers reported cooking more than one pot pie at a time in the microwave, using the same cooking time for single pie or cooking them in the oven when there wasn't an oven cooking time listed on the packaging. Read the original article on Tasting Table. NEED TO KNOW A fire engulfed Victory Mill, a historic mill in the village of Victory Mills in Saratoga County, N.Y., on May 31 An unidentified 14-year-old has been charged with arson in connection with the fire, according to local news reports The cause of the fire is still under investigation A teenager is facing legal trouble after a fire engulfed a historic mill in New York. On Saturday, May 31, the blaze broke out at the Victory Mill in the village of Victory Mills, the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) said in a press release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 14-year-old has since been charged with arson after the incident, CBS 6 Albany reported, citing Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo. (Sources said the same to WNYT.) According to CBS 6 Albany, the charge will be handled in family court. The mill, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is nearly 180 years old, according to the Village of Victorys website. It began operation in 1846 but has been closed for over two decades since 2000. Tri-County Fire Videos/YouTube Firefighters work to put out the fire at Victory Mill on May 31, 2025 Firefighters work to put out the fire at Victory Mill on May 31, 2025 Officials responded to the mill fire at 2:27 p.m. local time after a call about the blaze. The fire had already spread significantly throughout the building at that time, the sheriffs office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First responders from several agencies reported to the scene, and traffic was blocked off in the surrounding area, according to live footage of the blaze captured by WNYT. The footage, taken around 4:00 p.m., shows a thick, towering smoke cloud, which WNYTs Zach Richter said was visible about 2 miles away from the actual mill. "The entire building is up in flames, Richter said in the video. People were telling us that this is the Hogwarts in the neighborhood, the Victory Mill. Its a large mill. According to Ryan Campbell, chief of the Victory Mills Fire Department, there was no one in the building, so firefighters took a defensive approach." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve already made the call that nobody is going into the structure unless there was immediate life at risk. We had no reports of immediate life when I got on scene, Campbell told WNYT. He added, I was told that there was nobody in the structure at that point. It was fully involved, so we took a complete defensive approach to it. 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. Tri-County Fire Videos/YouTube Firefighters work to put out the fire at Victory Mill on May 31, 2025 Firefighters work to put out the fire at Victory Mill on May 31, 2025 An eyewitness told WNYT that there were embers going as far as the eye can see" during the blaze. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The flames have been coming. I could feel the heat just standing by that fence, they continued to the outlet. You could see things collapse and you could hear things collapse as its been going. By the early evening, the fire was under control, according to the sheriffs office, which added that Saratoga County Cause and Origin is among the agencies working the case. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation," per the SCSO. The SCSO did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on Sunday, June 1. Read the original article on People NEED TO KNOW A 15-year-old in California became trapped 15-20 feet below ground after descending into an abandoned well shaft to rescue their two family dogs on May 24 Emergency workers were quickly called to the scene, where they determined a vertical rope rescue was required The teen and both pets were ultimately rescued unharmed A California teen got trapped in an abandoned well shaft while trying to rescue their family dogs and was thankfully rescued by emergency responders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident occurred at about 6:55 p.m. local time on Saturday, May 24, when Nevada County Consolidated Fire Rescue (NCCFR) responded to a 911 call reporting a 15-year-old juvenile and two dogs trapped in an abandoned well shaft near the 13000 block of La Barr Meadows Road, per an official NCCFR press release shared on Facebook. A video shared alongside the release shows a team of emergency workers pulling one of the dogs up via a system of ropes. A woman could be heard cheering and saying, Im so happy! once the dog was securely on solid ground. According to the release, the teen had descended into the shaft about 15-20 feet to help the two pets but was subsequently unable to climb out. NCCFR unit 84 was promptly deployed, along with partner agencies from Grass Valley Fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Upon assessment, our team determined that the terrain and shaft depth required a vertical rope rescue operation," Jason Robitaille, NCCFR's Fire Chief, said, per the release. 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. "Safety was our top priority, and we implemented a systematic approach to bring all three victims to the surface safely, he added. Nevada County Consolidated Fire District Rescue of teen and two dogs in Nevada County, Calif. Rescue of teen and two dogs in Nevada County, Calif. The department said the rescue took approximately one hour of careful maneuvering, at which point the teen and two dogs were successfully brought to the surface without serious injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paramedics evaluated the teen on the scene and determined they were unharmed, though the dogs were treated for minor dehydration, per the release. "We're grateful for the quick thinking of the initial reporting party and the professional response of our firefighters," Chief Robitaille added in his statement. "This incident is a reminder of the importance of avoiding unsecured structures and calling for help immediately in emergencies." The fire department concluded its release by urging the public to report any potentially unsafe abandoned shafts to their offices. Read the original article on People IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A crash into two parked cars on the side of I-77 in Troutman killed an 18-year-old man and left a 74-year-old man in critical condition, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Around 10:20 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, troopers responded to the crash on I-77 North near mile marker 43. Officials said a 2023 Hyundai Santa Cruz and a 2015 Dodge Caravan were partially stopped in the left lane due to a previous crash. A 2003 Toyota Corolla was going north on I-77, failed to reduce speed and struck the Dodge, causing it to crash into the Hyundai and both drivers who were standing by the Dodge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lucky to be alive; Driver hurt in reported road-rage shooting on I-85 in Rowan County, suspect wanted The driver of the Corolla, 22-year-old Emma Leigh Garwood, was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries; however, her passenger, 18-year-old Shane Charles McCurdy, died of his injuries at the scene, highway patrol said. The drivers of the Dodge and Hyundai, a 74-year-old man and a 72-year-old man, respectively, were both taken to a local hospital. The Dodge driver is in critical condition, while the Hyundai driver had non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators dont believe impairment was a factor in the collision. Garwood was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle and failure to reduce speed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The roadway was closed for about two hours during the on-scene investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Two Southern California police officers were shot, one fatally, when they were ambushed Saturday night and got into a gunfight with a suspect shortly after he allegedly killed a man, police said. The shooting occurred at around 7:12 p.m. Pacific time in the Los Angeles County city of Baldwin Park after two police officers responded to a reports of a man firing a rifle in a residential neighborhood, according to a statement released Sunday by the city of Baldwin Park. As the officers arrived at the scene, the suspect allegedly opened fire on them without warning, striking them both, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna said at a midnight press conference on Sunday. Luna described the shooting as a "double homicide," saying the second victim, who was not publicly identified, was a male adult. PHOTO: Emergency vehicles and responders are seen in Baldwin Park, California, on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (KABC) When danger erupted last night and the call went out for help, it was our Baldwin Park Police Officers who responded without hesitation, reflecting the best of bravery and conviction to serve," Baldwin Park Mayor Alejandra Avila said in Sunday's statement, in which he also expressed condolences on behalf of the city council and city hall staff to the fallen officer's family and relatives of the victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last night was a night of tragedy for our community. Many in our community have been affected by these crimes, and I ask that you embrace your officers and neighbors, support them in their time of need and show one another the best of Baldwin Park," Avila added. The mortally wounded officer, whom officials identified as Officer Samuel Riveros, was taken to Los Angeles General Medical Center in Lincoln Heights where he was pronounced dead, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD). PHOTO: Two Southern California police officers were shot, one fatally, when they were ambushed Saturday night and got into a gunfight with a suspect shortly after he allegedly killed a man, police said. (Baldwin Police Department) The Baldwin Police Department mourned Riveros' death, writing, "A proud UC Irvine graduate, Officer Samuel Riveros was known not only for his tactical skills and professionalism, but for his love of snowboarding and his unwavering loyalty to the Los Angeles Dodgers. His legacy will live on through the lives he touched and the example he set." 2 shot outside Minnesota high school graduation, suspect in custody: Police Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer who survived the shooting, identified as Officer Anthony Pimentel, was also treated at Los Angeles General Medical Center and is expected to survive, the LASD statement said. Luna, whose agency is leading the investigation into the shooting, said SWAT and other law enforcement officers arrived at the scene and exchanged gunfire with the suspect. He said the suspect, whose name has not been released, was shot in the incident and taken into custody. A rifle allegedly belonging to the shooting suspect was recovered at the scene, according to the LASD. 1 dead, 11 injured in mass shooting at North Carolina house party: Sheriff Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the shooting, a man was found dead from gunshot wounds on a sidewalk outside a home in the Balwin Park neighborhood, Luna said. Investigators believe he was the victim of the suspect who shot the officers, Luna said. Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert Lopez praised both officers for running toward danger to "protect residents in Baldwin Park." "Our officer was an amazing man," Lopez said of the deceased officer. "He was an avid snowboarder, a Dodger fan. It's extremely tragic to have to deal with this. I ask for your prayers." ABC News' Charlotte Slovin contributed to this report. 2 killed, including officer, in California shooting, sheriff says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Editors note: This article has been updated to correct the spelling of the officers name. One police officer was killed and another seriously injured in a shootout in Baldwin Park Saturday night. The fallen officer has been identified as Samuel Riveros, a nine-year veteran of the Baldwin Park Police Department. Just a true Angeleno, said Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert Lopez. Our officer was an amazing man who did all he could to protect and serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deadly encounter began about 7:15 p.m. in a neighborhood on the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue, when police responded to reports of a man firing a rifle in the street. When officers arrived, they were met by gunfire, said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna during a Saturday night press conference. LA County Sheriff Robert Luna (left) and Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert Lopez (right) speak to press outside Los Angeles General Medical Center after a shooting in Baldwin Park leaving one police officer killed and another wounded on Sunday, June 1, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) LA County Sheriff Robert Luna (left) and Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert Lopez (right) speak to press outside Los Angeles General Medical Center after a shooting in Baldwin Park leaving one police officer killed and another wounded on Sunday, June 1, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Law enforcement work to investigate a shooting scene at 4200 Block Filhurst Avenue on Sunday, June 1, 2025 in Baldwin Park, CA, after the shooting left one officer dead and another wounded yesterday evening. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Police officers cordon off an area near the site of a shooting in Baldwin Park on May 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Two officers were shot and injured Saturday while responding to a call in Baldwin Park on May 31. The shooting was reported in the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue around 7:15 p.m., according to CHP. (Photo by I RYU/VCG via Getty Images) SWAT Team units are seen after two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (Citizen) LOS ANGELES, CA MAY 31: Police officers cordon off an area near the site of a shooting in Baldwin Park on May 31, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Two officers were shot and injured Saturday while responding to a call in Baldwin Park on May 31. The shooting was reported in the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue around 7:15 p.m., according to CHP. (Photo by I RYU/VCG via Getty Images) Two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (Citizen) Two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (KNN) Two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (RMG) An officer being airlifted to the USC Medical Center after being shot by a suspect in Baldwin Park on May 31, 2025. (@baldwinpark_) Two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (Citizen) Two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (RMG) Two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (RMG) Two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (KNN) Two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (KNN) Two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (RMG) Two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (Citizen) Two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (RMG) Two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (KTLA) Two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (Citizen) Two officers were hospitalized after being shot by a suspect in a Baldwin Park neighborhood on May 31, 2025. (KNN) Surveillance and witness video showed neighbors, many of whom had gathered for weekend parties and get-togethers, scrambling to safety as rapid gunfire echoed through the neighborhood. Riveros was airlifted to USC Medical Center but succumbed to his injuries. The second officer, whose name has not been released, was hospitalized in stable condition and is expected to recover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers returned fire during the shootout, hitting the suspect, who was also hospitalized in stable condition. The suspects identity has not been released. In addition to the officers and the suspect, authorities also discovered a second person dead nearby from gunshot wounds. Investigators believe this unidentified person may have been killed by the same suspect. Video from the scene showed SWAT vehicles and numerous patrol cars converging on the residential block, with officers aiming firearms at a house. Air units circled overhead as the scene unfolded. The crime scene remained active Sunday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio released Riveros name Sunday morning, offering condolences: We thank you for your courage May you rest easy. The shooting remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, and no details have been released yet about a possible second suspect. This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Two people were rescued by the Coast Guard after their boat began taking on water east of Point Lookout in St. Marys County. The Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region received the distress signal via a very high frequency broadcast Saturday morning that a 37-foot boat was taking on water with two people on board, just four nautical miles from Point Lookout. According to a social media post from the Coast Guard, the owner of the vessel initially reported that the bilge pumps, which are used to remove water that collects in the lowest part of the boat, were keeping up with the flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The situation quickly deteriorated when one pump failed, and the stern began to submerge, the post reads. The Coast Guard launched a response boat from the St. Inigoes station and notified state and local entities of the emergency. Upon arrival, the Coast Guard rescued both people on board just seconds before the boat capsized and sank, the post says. Attached were photos and videos of the vessel when the Coast Guard arrived that show the back half of the vessel quickly sinking. In a matter of 15 seconds, an overhang on the back of the vessel went from sitting feet above the water to submerged below the water level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Coast Guard, both individuals were transported safely to shore with no reported injuries and no emergency medical services required. This incident underscores the vital importance of having a functioning VHF radio to call for help, always wearing lifejackets and performing regular equipment checks before heading out on the water, the post reads. Being prepared can make all the difference in an emergency. Have a news tip? Contact Matt Hubbard at mhubbard@baltsun.com, 443-651-0101 or @mthubb on X. (Corrects paragraph 3 to say 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March, not April) (Reuters) -The founder of 23andMe, Anne Wojcicki, has asked a U.S. judge to reopen an auction for the genetic testing company, saying she has the support of a Fortune 500 company with a current market capitalization of more than $400 billion. Wojcicki did not name the Fortune 500 company in court filings. South San Francisco, California-based 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March, seeking to sell its business at auction after a decline in consumer demand and a 2023 data breach that exposed sensitive genetic and personal information of millions of customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals agreed to buy the firm for $256 million, topping a $146 million bid from Wojcicki and TTAM Research Institute, which was founded by Wojcicki and describes itself as a California non-profit public benefit corporation. In a filing dated May 31, Wojcicki claimed that 23andMe's debtors had attempted to tilt the sales process away from TTAM and in favor of Regeneron. TTAM and Wojcicki said in the filing that 23andMes financial and legal advisers unfairly capped their maximum bid at $250 million due to misplaced concerns about TTAM's "financial wherewithal". The plaintiffs said the auction was prematurely concluded before they had the opportunity to submit a bid that would have exceeded $280 million. The company's debtors said the auction results came after an extensive and careful consideration by a four-member special committee of independent directors, according to the filing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to another filing, 23andMe is seeking court approval to let Wojcicki and Regeneron submit final proposals by June 12. 23andMe is also seeking a $10 million breakup fee for Regeneron if Wojcicki's bid is ultimately accepted. Regeneron said it does not comment on the ongoing proceeding and aims to close the acquisition as intended. Lawyers for 23andMe's debtors and TTAM parties did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. (Reporting by Urvi Dugar; Editing by Nia Williams) SUMMERFIELD, N.C. (WGHP) Three firefighters suffered minor injuries after a firetruck overturned into a ditch Saturday afternoon, according to Guilford EMS. Around 3 p.m., while returning from a live burn training in the 4200 block of Hamburg Mill Road, the firetruck toppled over between Battleground Avenue and the marina on Lake Higgins. The truck was already on its side when it slid into a boulder, causing most of the damage to the front side of the vehicle. One firefighter was taken to a local medical facility for treatment. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The truck, a 2002 model known as The Phoenix, has a remarkable history, according to Summerfield Fire. It was severely damaged in a 2023 electrical bay fire before entering service. During that incident, a garage door fell onto the truck as crews were making entry. After extensive restoration, the truck was officially commissioned in 2025. A push-in ceremony and dedication took place on March 31 of this year. It had been back in service for only about two months before this accident occurred. The truck is valued at approximately $1.1 million and has a capacity of 3,500 gallons of water. On Friday, it was just driven by the fire chief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say they firmly believe the truck played a crucial role in saving lives, both in Fridays accident and during the 2023 bay fire. 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. NEED TO KNOW Three people are dead and dozens are injured following a hospital fire in Hamburg, Germany, on June 1 First responders made their way to Marienkrankenhaus, or St. Mary's Hospital, shortly after midnight after a fire broke out within the hospital's geriatric ward Of those hurt in the blaze, one was critically injured, 18 were seriously injured and another 15 were slightly injured, per a statement from the local fire department Three people were killed and dozens more were injured following a fire that broke out in a German hospital's geriatric ward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after midnight on Sunday, June 1, firefighters in Hamburg responded to a blaze at Marienkrankenhaus, which can be translated to St. Mary's Hospital or Marien Hospital, after it broke out inside a room of the hospital, according to the Associated Press, The New York Times and a translated statement from the fire department. The victims were men aged 84, 85 and 87, per the AP, which cites a police statement. Additionally, one person was critically injured, 18 were seriously injured and 15 were slightly injured, per the fire departments statement. Bodo Marks/picture alliance via Getty The aftermath of Hamburg hospital fire in Germany on June 1, 2025 The aftermath of Hamburg hospital fire in Germany on June 1, 2025 One patient's room on the hospital's ground floor was already fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene, according to the statement, while several people in the rooms above were unable to leave and called for help from their windows. The fire department rescued multiple people with ladders as emergency services administered first aid to some with a few treated in the hospital's in-house emergency room. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roughly 220 emergency workers were dispatched to the scene, per the fire department's statement, and they remained there until the early morning. Lorenz Hartmann, a spokesperson for the fire department in Hamburg, said that "flames had spread to the upper floor" around the time emergency services arrived, per the AP. As the AP also reported, firefighters extinguished the blaze in about 20 minutes. It was not immediately clear what started the fire. 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. FABIAN HOEFIG/NEWS5/AFP via Getty Firefighters respond to a hospital fire in Hamburg, Germany, on June 1, 2025 Firefighters respond to a hospital fire in Hamburg, Germany, on June 1, 2025 The Hamburg hospital treats more than 90,000 patients annually, according to its website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Footage from the scene, shared by the AP, showed first responders running toward the blaze while leading the way for firetrucks. Upon their arrival, firefighters could be seen holding ladders and assisting elderly patients as they made their way down from upper floors during evacuation. At one point, first responders administered a protective mask to one patient, per the footage, while nurses assisted other patients outside. Read the original article on People BERLIN (AP) Three patients were killed and many people were injured in a fire that broke out overnight at a hospital in the German city of Hamburg, authorities said Sunday. Another patient was detained on suspicion of starting the blaze. Firefighters were alerted to the fire at the hospital, the Marienkrankenhaus, shortly after midnight. It broke out in a room in the geriatric ward, on the ground floor of the building, and spread to the facade of the floor above. Smoke spread across the building's four floors, German news agency dpa reported. The three people who died were men aged 84, 85 and 87, police said in a statement. Another 34 people were injured, one of whom was in a life-threatening condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A section of the hospital had to be evacuated. Injured patients were treated mostly at the hospital itself, though two were taken to nearby clinics. The fire was extinguished within about 20 minutes. Firefighters said they found several patients at the windows calling for help. People were rescued using ladders and through the building itself. Later Sunday, police said witness interviews suggested that a 72-year-old patient may have set the fire. He was detained at the hospital on suspicion of arson. Investigators are looking into whether mental illness was a factor, police said. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) reported that the June 1 Spiderweb drone operation caused approximately $7 billion in damages and disabled 34% of cruise missile bombers in key Russian airbases. The agency confirmed that more details about the attack will be revealed later. And you thought Ukraine was easy? Ukraine is exceptional. Ukraine is unique. All the steamrollers of history have rolled over it. It has withstood every kind of trial. It is tempered by the highest degree. In todays world, its value is beyond measure, the SBU wrote, quoting Ukrainian poet Lina Kostenko. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also vowed to continue to drive Russian forces out of Ukrainian territory. We will strike them (Russia) at sea, in the air, and on the ground. And if needed, well get them from underground too, the SBU said. This operation targeted aircraft that is used in frequent long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities, and the plan had been in preparation for over a year and a half. According to a Kyiv Independent SBU source, first-person-view (FPV) drones were covertly transported deep into Russian territory and hidden inside trucks before being launched against four major airfields. The source said one of the airfields hit was the Belaya air base in Russia's Irkutsk Oblast, more than 4,000 kilometers from Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Olenya air base in Russia's Murmansk Oblast, the Diaghilev airbase in Ryazan Oblast, Ivanovo airbase in Ivanovo Oblast were also targeted. More than 40 aircraft are known to have been hit, including the A-50, Tu-95, and Tu-22 M3, according to the source. The Tu-95 is a Soviet-era plane that made its first flight in 1952. It was originally used to carry nuclear bombs but has since evolved to launch cruise missiles. Each aircraft can carry 16 cruise missiles either the Kh-55/Kh-555 or the newer Kh-101 and Kh-102 air-launched cruise missiles. Russia has escalated its attacks against Ukraine in recent weeks, amid ongoing U.S.-backed ceasefire talks and negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 26, Russian forces launched the most extensive drone attack of the full-scale war, reportedly involving 355 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys. Read also: Russian military freight train blown up en route to Crimea, Ukraines HUR claims Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. HOLDEN BEACH, N.C. (WNCN) Four people were saved from inlet currents often mistaken as rip currents at a North Carolina island on Saturday, with two taken to a hospital following the rescue. The incident was reported Saturday around 5:55 p.m. at the East end of Holden Beach, an island in Brunswick County along the southern coast, officials said. The Holden Beach Police Department said two people a man and a teen girl were swimming when they were caught in currents near The Point of the island. The area is an inlet that cuts between Holden Beach to the west and Oak Island to the east and connects the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: 13 rip current rescues at NC coast week before Memorial Day The scene of the current rescues Saturday near The Point at the East end of Holden Beach. Photo courtesy: Kristi Lee The National Weather Service said the rip current risk was low Saturday, but with the currents at The Point, the first two swimmers were quickly fighting for their lives, a Holden Beach police shift commander told CBS 17 Saturday night. Two bystanders, both men, jumped into the ocean, trying to save the man and teen girl but soon those two rescuers also needed saving, police said. The Tri-Beach Volunteer Fire Departments ocean rescue team was called. The Point area is beyond the last public beach access point and is difficult to reach, Holden Beach police said. The scene of the current rescues Saturday near The Point at the East end of Holden Beach. Photo courtesy: Kristi Lee Once crews were able to deploy jet skis, they rescued the man and teen, police said. The pair were taken to a nearby hospital, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two men were also rescued but did not go to a hospital. Police said the pair taken to the hospital were evaluated and released by Saturday night. The National Weather Service stressed the dangers of swimming in inlet areas, which are a whole different monster from rip currents, Steven Pfaff, chief meteorologist at the Wilmington National Weather Service office, wrote in an email to CBS 17. Currents in inlets can be very dangerous, and we have highlighted these dangers over the years specifically our campaign about dangerous swimming areas, Pfaff said in a statement about the incident Saturday. Meanwhile, a Holden Beach swim instructor who was part of Saturdays rescue cautioned about various currents in the surf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Guys, youve got to be safe (and) stay together. If the water is moving, please, please do not get in there without checking the currents and stay together, surf instructor Timothy Turner said in a social media video. Two weeks ago, 13 people were rescued from rip currents at Emerald Isle beaches in Carteret County, according to the National Weather Service. Moderate rip currents were forecast for the surf that day. The scene of the current rescues Saturday near The Point at the East end of Holden Beach. Photo courtesy: Kristi Lee Turner recorded two videos on Saturday in which he spoke about running to the rescue scene and warning people about rip currents and about dangerous waters at the inlet. PREVIOUS: NC teen girl dies in rip currents at Ocean Isle Beach Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I can not stress enough of not letting your families get into the water if you hear water and see water moving and there is white wash and waves going everywhere, Turner said about what to avoid. Tri-Beach Volunteer Fire Department has three stations and serves Holden Beach, Varnamtown, and areas of Brunswick County southeast of Shallotte. 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. The horseshoe crab was about to make the same journey his species had made since before the dinosaurs roamed the earth. But as the young male horseshoe crab scuttled through Edisto Beachs murky water towards the sand, a hand reached down, scooped him up and momentarily delayed his search for a mate. Daniel Sasson, a crustacean researcher with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, turned to the group of volunteers gathered around him on the beach. Some were local residents and seasoned DNR volunteers with the merch to prove it. Others were uninitiated environmental enthusiasts from across the Lowcountry. The group of about 30 had arrived at the beach just as the sun was about to slip below the horizon. They shared one purpose: to document the spawning of American horseshoe crabs, a natural event that has occurred for over 400 million years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Horseshoe crabs have witnessed numerous mass extinctions and the shifting of continents. While its numbers are largely good in the state, issues like coastal erosion and sea level rise still threaten the living fossils. Documenting horseshoe crabs surveys like the one on Edisto Beach help scientists better understand the species range and abundance. This information helps researchers make better decisions about managing the species, whose eggs provide energy to a threatened bird as it makes one of the longest migrations on the planet. Pharmaceutical companies also take horseshoe crab blood for use in an important medical test, though the practice has been the source of controversy in recent years. SCDNR biologist Daniel Sasson shows volunteers a horseshoe crab. The citizen science spawning survey on Edisto Beach will help researchers better understand the horseshoe crab population in the state. While colloquially called crabs, horseshoe crabs are not closely related to the fiddler crabs that were darting across the sand on Edisto Beach. American horseshoe crabs are part of a group that includes ticks, spiders and scorpions. Every year, horseshoe crabs crawl from deep in the Atlantic Ocean onto the beaches of the eastern United States to spawn, or deposit eggs, in the sand. Most of the spawning activity occurs during the months of May and June, often under a full moon at high tide. In South Carolina, they lay eggs from the Charleston area down to Hilton Heads Calibogue Sound. As all seven pairs of horseshoe crab legs continued to shuffle under a dome-shaped shell, Sasson demonstrated the correct way to hold the horseshoe crab. The long, stiff tail, known as a telson, is off limits when picking up a crab, he said. Instead, Sasson instructed the volunteers to grip under the shell with their thumbs and support the body with the rest of their hands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This way you dont want to put your fingers in here where they can bend and sort of pinch your fingers, Sasson said. If they actually pinch you with their claws, it doesnt actually hurt. As he held the flailing crab, Sasson explained to the group that males search for the much larger females and then attach themselves with a modified pair of claws. Females then lay eggs in the sand before retreating back to the ocean. When walking down the beach for the survey, volunteers were instructed to call out the number of horseshoe crabs they saw so DNR staff could record the data on a spreadsheet. As the lone males searched for mates, theyll approach anything that may resemble a female, Sassoon said. He warned the group that, despite five sets of specialized eyes, males sometimes mistake a human foot for a mate and try to latch on. Sasson carried the horseshoe crab up the beach, measured him and recorded his estimated age, sex and size on a spreadsheet. He then inserted a tag into a small hole he made in the shell, and a volunteer timidly brought the newly dubbed 518516 back to the ocean. He moved back into the water, once again in search of a mate. Crustacean biologist Daniel Sasson with the SCDNR measures a horseshoe crab caught in a spawning survey. The data collected during the survey will help scientists better understand horseshoe crab population trends. Little crab, big impact Horseshoe crab eggs are an important source of food for rufa red knots, a threatened species of bird. Rufa red knots make one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom when they fly from South America to their breeding grounds in the Arctic. Along the way, they stop on the East Coast and gorge themselves on horseshoe crab eggs before completing their journey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Companies also harvest the animals blue blood, which pharmaceutical companies use to ensure drugs and devices are sterile. The practice of draining blood from horseshoe crabs in South Carolina has been the source of controversy and legal battles between environmental groups and pharmaceutical company Charles River Laboratories and the DNR in recent years. While scientists and volunteers are trained to handle the crabs for research purposes, its best for the average person walking on the beach to leave horseshoe crabs alone. But if a horseshoe crab is flipped over on its back, Sasson said its helpful for beachgoers to gently flip them over and allow the horseshoe crab to go on their way. The tags attached to the horseshoe crabs are small, white plastic circles with a number written on them. When the horseshoe crabs return to the beaches in the following years, anyone can report tagged horseshoe crab sightings to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The sun had set at this point and volunteers strapped headlamps on turned to a red light setting so they didnt damage the horseshoes sensitive eyes and spread across the beach. The small beams of light were trained on the water, and soon, horseshoe crabs began to emerge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morgan Corecki, a kayak guide based near Charleston, carried one crab back to the tagging station. I think its fascinating to see how hands-on the community can be in citizen science, she said while waiting in line, Its one of my favorite things to see in action empowering community members to be a part of science. Volunteers at an South Carolina Department of Natural Resources spawning survey attach a tag to a horseshoe crab. The tags will help scientists track how far the horseshoe crab will move between spawning seasons. The red light is necessary as brighter light hurts the horseshoe crabs sensitive eyes. More to learn The data from the tags helps scientists understand how far the crabs can move. While most return to the same general area each year to spawn, one crab tagged in South Carolina was found in Delaware, Sasson said. The data on returning horseshoe crabs helps scientists better understand how many survive from year to year. While some live up to 25 years, horseshoe crabs molt as they grow, meaning scientists can only tag adults. Some have recorded crabs that reappeared 10 years after they were originally tagged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While researchers tag many horseshoe crabs across the east coast, its rare to receive reports of tagged horseshoe crabs returning to the beach. In a given year, 30 to 50 reports of horseshoe crabs that were previously tagged in the state come back to researchers, Sasson said. Researchers generally need over a thousand of these reports before they can use the information in statistical models that help understand the status of the species. These spawning surveys and tagging regularly occur on the beach, but researchers at the DNR recently discovered that horseshoe crabs spawn regularly in salt marshes. For over 50 years, conventional wisdom in the field suggested that horseshoe crabs only spawn successfully on beaches. After years of comments from locals regarding the presence of the horseshoe crabs in the marsh, the DNR and other states took a closer look. They found that horseshoe crab spawning is widespread in the salt marsh, a finding that has important implications for species management in South Carolina, the state with the largest amount of salt marsh on the East Coast. This year, researchers are trying to better understand what characteristics make a salt marsh attractive to horseshoe crabs for spawning. Theyre headed to Turtle Island, a barrier island in Jasper County, to investigate further. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But on Edisto Beach, the survey and tagging finish around 10 p.m. The same hands that scooped up the horseshoe crabs return them to the water under the light of a headlamp. Volunteers and DNR staff gingerly walk across the dark beach inundated by the high tide, guided only by headlamps. The animals once again begin to move along the shoreline, where theyll mate and return to the deep and the cycle repeats as it has for millions of years. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) On the evening of May 31, 1985, a series of large and deadly tornadoes swept across northeastern and central Ohio, leaving wide paths of destruction. Victoria Piasecka, a Hilliard resident, was a high school student in Howland Township, Ohio, a little south of Warren, in May 1985. School had let out for the summer on that unseasonably warm, sunny afternoon. She and her friends were playing video games at her aunts home when they heard an unfamiliar sound. Heading outside, a large tornado resembling a column of fire descended from a relatively bright sky without warning. It wasnt dark at the time, said Piasecka. It was huge, and roofs going up, and just seeing stuff going up in the air, and we all ran inside after that. She added that the scene moments afterwards was just devastating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tornado first touched down in Portage County, just east of the Ravenna Arsenal, around 6:30 p.m., barreling toward Newton Falls, about 15 miles west of Niles. The storms trajectory and impact were recalled in Thunder in the Heartland, a book by Thomas and Jeanne Schmidlin. A captain with the citys safety police reserve, Clayton Reakes, a trained storm spotter, climbed to the roof of the Municipal Building. An hour later, he and a fellow lieutenant spotted the large funnel and alerted officials by walkie-talkie to sound the towns tornado siren with only minutes to spare, likely saving lives. The F3/F4 tornado intensified, plowing through the northern part of Niles while traveling at 50 mph, tearing apart homes and businesses, including a popular roller rink that would have been occupied with youngsters only a short time later in the evening. The heaviest damage was concentrated along U.S. 422 and Niles Park Plaza. Columbus and central Ohio Weather Radar Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of homes were destroyed and eight people died near the Niles business district. The monster tornado continued east, weakening slightly as it passed north of Youngstown, before killing two persons in Hubbard Township. The violent F5 tornado, with winds reaching 300 mph, blasted across Mercer County, Pennsylvania, killing seven more in Wheatland. In all, 18 lives were lost and 310 people were injured along the storms path. Around the same time, a tornado touched down northwest of Johnstown and passed north of the Croton egg farm, traveling 29 miles before ending in the hills of southwestern Coshocton County. One person died just across the county line and 25 were injured. A number of homes and barns were heavily damaged, and trees were toppled along the path of the storm across rural northern Licking County. The massive tornado outbreak began in the mid-afternoon in southeastern Ontario, Canada, where 12 people died, and continued southeast across northeastern and central Ohio (11 direct deaths) to western and central Pennsylvania (65 deaths) during a six-hour assault. Storm damages at the time were estimated in excess of $600 million, and injuries were at least 875, and probably exceeded 1,000. A total of 44 individual tornadoes were confirmed in the historic outbreak on May 31 and June 1, 1985: 14 in Ontario, Canada, 12 in Ohio, 21 in Pennsylvania (including four that started in Ohio), and three in New York (including one that first touched down in northwestern Pennsylvania). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) From forming the group on a cruise ship to their second annual scholarship banquet, the Fab Five now have their efforts officially recognized by the city of Wichita Falls. For two years now, the Fab Five, made up of friends Dr. Sonja Calliste, Sophia Adair, Stacy Barrett, Cheryl Lynn, and Jackie Oats-Campbell, have dedicated a large chunk of their time to helping high school students in Wichita Falls attend college. This year, they gave out three scholarships to students from Memorial, Legacy, and City View high schools. Mayor Tim Short recognized their hard work over the last two years. He said it truly exemplifies what he thinks a Wichita Falls citizen should aspire to be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have pride in your community. Take care of your yard, your street, your community, your neighbor. They do that, Short said. They personify that and its a breath of fresh air. And you get to see them be celebrated tonight as well as their scholarship recipients. After receiving recognition from the mayor, the Fab Five are set on continuing their mission to help Wichita Falls youth achieve their dreams through education and hard work. Two of this years recipients will attend Midwestern State University, and the third will attend Texas Tech University in the fall. 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. At least five people were shot, one fatally, early Sunday when a gunfight erupted between two groups of people at a large outdoor gathering in Danville, Virginia, police said. The shooting occurred at around 1:30 a.m. on private property in the town near the North Carolina border, the Danville Police Department said in a statement. Officers responded after receiving reports of multiple shots fired, authorities said. Getty Images - PHOTO: Five people were shot, one fatally, when gunfire erupted, June 1, 2025, between groups at a large outdoor gathering in Danville, Virginia, according to police. Upon arrival, officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body and sitting alone in a Chrysler sedan that was parked in the middle of a roadway, according to the police statement. The man, identified by police at 22-year-old Jay'Shaun Tiejae White of Hurt, Virginia, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A man believed to have been driving the Chrysler when the shooting broke out was discovered on an adjacent street also suffering from a gunshot wound, police said, adding that he was taken by ambulance to the SOVAH Health hospital in Danville. His condition was not immediately available. 1 dead, 11 injured in mass shooting at North Carolina house party: Sheriff Three other gunshot victims, two adult men and a 19-year-old woman, later showed up in private vehicles at SOVAH Health and were treated for their injuries, police said. The three men wounded in the shooting remained hospitalized as of Sunday afternoon, according to the police statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 shot outside Minnesota high school graduation, suspect in custody: Police "The initial investigation into this incident revealed that there was a large outdoor gathering on a property located just off the intersection of Carver Drive and Cheyenne Drive and that gunshots were exchanged between the Chrysler and other individuals at the gathering," according to the Danville Police Department statement. 2 killed, including officer, in California shooting, sheriff says No arrests were announced in the shooting. The Danville Police Department asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact detectives immediately. 8 high-profile Idaho court cases in 2025 reshape legal boundaries Stories by Idaho Statesman journalists, with AI summarization Idahos courts have drawn sharp lines on legal and civil rights in 2025, with key cases shaping how justice is applied. High-profile rulings included a self-defense acquittal for a Central Idaho man after a standoff and a decision to let Bryan Kohbergers family attend his murder trial despite their witness status. Meanwhile, the Idaho Supreme Court put a definitive stop to Ammon Bundy's efforts to fight charges stemming from a 2020 protest against COVID-19-related public health measures. Mental health and its role in criminal sentencing came up in a prison beating case, where trauma and illness shaped the arguments for a life sentence. And a viral police incident also led to debates over law enforcement practices and appropriate corrections, highlighting how these cases are testing Idahos legal boundaries. This image taken from video shows anti-government activist Ammon Bundy, rear, being wheeled into an elevator in a chair following his arrest at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise, Idaho, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. Authorities arrested Bundy after he refused to leave a meeting room where a few hours earlier angry protesters forced out lawmakers. (AP Photo/Keith Ridler) NO. 1: WHEELS OF JUSTICE TURN AGAINST AMMON BUNDY AGAIN IN IDAHO SUPREME COURT RULING Ammon Bundy was wheeled out of the Idaho Statehouse in 2020 on a chair and found guilty of trespassing. The case dragged on as he kept appealing. | Published April 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sally Krutzig James Johnson listens as Kathy Warnock, mother of Milo Warnock, reads her victim impact statement at Johnsons sentencing at the Ada County Courthouse for the 2023 murder of Milo Warnock. Johnson and Warnock were cellmates at the Idaho State Correctional Center. By Sarah A. Miller NO. 2: HELL ON EARTH: IDAHO PRISONER SENTENCED FOR BEATING CELLMATE TO DEATH Despite the painful loss, his sister said she didnt want the man convicted of her brothers murder to face the death penalty, knowing that the killer had a family too. | Published April 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Brizee Bryan Koberger, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students, listens during a hearing to overturn his grand jury indictment on Oct. 26, 2023, at the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow, Idaho. By Kai Eiselein NO. 3: CAN KOHBERGERS FAMILY ATTEND HIS IDAHO MURDER TRIAL? THE JUDGE JUST RULED In another order, 4th District Judge Steven Hippler partly granted the prosecutions request to conduct its own mental health examination of Bryan Kohberger. | Published May 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Brizee An ambush at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise on March 20, 2024, left three Department of Correction officers with gunshot wounds and two suspects, including an escaped prisoner, fleeing from the scene. By Sarah A. Miller Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NO. 4: FINAL SUSPECT IN BOISE HOSPITAL AMBUSH SENTENCED TO PRISON. WHAT THE JUDGE RULED She helps the good and the bad, and that has caused her to be in trouble at times, but has helped many people with they needed help, her mother wrote in a letter. | Published March 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Brizee Samson Allen, 22, stands outside the Ada County Courthouse on May 7, 2025, after receiving a guilty verdict for charges of resisting and obstructing. By Rose Evans NO. 5: IDAHO JURY FINDS MAN IN VIRAL POLICE INCIDENT GUILTY. OFFICER CRITICIZED, TOO The presiding judge called the officers testimony on deescalation shocking to say the least. | Published May 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rose Evans Brent Sharrai was sentenced to at least a year in prison after pleading guilty to a drug charge. Initially, he was charged with crimes related to bringing a pipe bomb on a train car in Payette, Idaho. Photo by Katy Moeller NO. 6: EMBARRASSED, SHOCKED IN PIPE BOMB CASE, IDAHO MAN SENTENCED TO PRISON This was not intended to cause the harm that it did, the mans attorney said in court last month. | Published May 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Brizee Idaho court system. By Getty Images NO. 7: CENTRAL IDAHO MAN ACQUITTED ON 3 FELONIES AFTER POLICE STANDOFF, PROSECUTOR DISBARMENT From the beginning this was a clear case of self-defense, said Richard Blok, the defendants attorney. | Published April 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kevin Fixler Canyon County Courthouse, pictured Feb. 22, 2024. By Sarah A. Miller Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NO. 8: A SLAP IN THE FACE: FAMILY OF IDAHO MAN BEATEN TO DEATH CRITICIZES SENTENCINGS I share a birthday with him. Hes a minute older than I am, so every year every birthday will be horrible for the rest of my life, his twin brother said. | Published May 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Brizee The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) Best known for their hit, award-nominated songs God Blessed Texas and Kick a Little, multiple-time Grammy nominees Little Texas have been making waves on the country chart since forming in 1988. Memorial City Hall: Marshall, Texass cultural and entertainment hub This fall, the Nashville-based group is celebrating the 30-year anniversary of its debut on the country music charts with a tour, including a performance in Marshall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The band boasts writing or co-writing, recording, and playing every note on every single theyve released. Those releases have yielded 12 Top 20 singles (with 7 Top 10s and 3 No. 1s) and received multiple Grammy, Country Music Awards (CMA), and Academy of Country Music (ACM) nominations, winning the ACM for Top Vocal Group of 1994. Lead guitarist and vocalist Porter Howell said, Its amazing that the run we had was 30 years ago, and here we are, still out there touring and having a blast, if not the most fun weve ever had. We are very grateful to still be playing these songs for fans, and to look out and see people who could not have possibly been alive back then singing every word is so gratifying. 90s country music is still going strong, and we are thrilled to have a place in it. Shreveport drummer Hoffman returning as a member of Primus Little Texas will rock the stage at the Memorial City Hall Performance Center in Marshall, TX, on October 11, 2025. Tickets go on sale on August 4. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. An old gas station or petrol station, as they call it in the United Kingdom is getting a major cleanup in every sense. CleanTechnica shared how Be.EV, one of the country's biggest charging networks for electric vehicles, is transforming one into a charming spot for a quick coffee and a charge. "EV drivers need ultrarapid charging hubs along busy routes and in the hearts of communities, and this site serves both," Be.EV CEO Asif Ghafoor told CleanTechnica. "With over 26,000 vehicles passing daily, it's ideally placed to serve commuters looking to charge their vehicles while grabbing a coffee." The company operates a network of over 800 charging bays in the U.K., with that number set to double by the end of this year. This particular site is part of an effort to reach areas that have been underserved thus far in the public charger rollout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With the number of EV drivers in Greater Manchester expected to exceed 150,000 by 2038, developments like the Manchester Charging Oasis are vital to the region's journey toward net zero," Ghafoor explained. Not only will the station help provide fuel and stability for EV drivers, but it will help the broader local economy, too. With more drivers coming through the area more regularly, experts estimate that spending at nearby establishments will increase by up to 3%, per CleanTechnica. The site was thoroughly decontaminated to prepare it for its new function, and all of its charging ports will be 100% powered by clean and renewable energy. It's a fitting 180-degree pivot from its original petrol-pumping function, considering that transitioning to EVs both at a consumer and a commercial level is a vital part of helping the country meet its goals of carbon neutrality by 2050. "There's real momentum behind the shift to cleaner transport a clear sign we're approaching mass-market adoption," Ghafoor said. "It's a promising outlook for both local infrastructure and the broader net-zero transition." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Manchester Charging Oasis should open this summer. It will be open 24/7, and drivers will be able to add up to 325 miles of range in just a 20-minute stop. 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. Not that you asked, but yes, I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the bad news out of Washington: Pardons for tax cheats who line President Trumps pockets. Talk of pardons for the violent criminals who conspired to kidnap and kill Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Dinners for crypto moguls who shower him with money. His monomaniacal quest to extinguish the light of the countrys most prestigious university. His budget that will deprive millions of their healthcare coverage, while slashing taxes for the rich and swelling the $36 trillion national debt by an estimated $3.8 trillion. And dont get me started on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s inane move that could make it harder for pregnant women to get COVID-19 shots, thus depriving their infants of protection against the virus when they are vulnerable and not yet eligible for vaccination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Abcarian: Bravo to all those engaged in the struggle against Trump's anti-democratic bullying Good heavens, I needed a distraction. Happily, it arrived in the form of an unexpected video. You may have seen it: Last Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macrons wife, Brigitte, got tongues wagging when she did something that seemed entirely out of character for the painfully elegant first lady. She was caught on camera squishing her hands right into his handsome face. It looked like an act of hostility. I was intrigued. I know, I know. Its hardly world-shattering news. But who doesnt perk up a bit when the scrim of perfection that shields the private lives of high-profile, perfectly turned-out couples is torn, even for one brief moment? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who can forget the sight of First Lady Melania Trump swatting away her husbands hand during a 2017 visit to Tel Aviv? Or the way her smile faded during his first inauguration the moment he looked away from her, inspiring the #FreeMelania hashtag? Read more: Abcarian: America was gaslit by the arrogance of Joe Biden and his enablers For all the drama and rumor that swirled around the Clintons marriage, I cant think of any public moment when they did not appear civil with one another, even after his disastrous relationship with a White House intern. And the Obamas? Is there any other intensely scrutinized political couple who seem so downright normal? Not that anyone ever really knows whats going on in anyone elses marriage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which brings us back to the Macrons. His plane was on the tarmac in Hanoi, where he was kicking off a tour to strengthen ties with countries in Southeast Asia. As the plane door opened, the couple were caught unawares. A startled-looking Macron backed up as disembodied hands smushed his face. He instantly collected himself, and his wife appeared at his side. As they began to descend the staircase, he offered her his arm, which she did not take. Read more: Abcarian: Finally, a 'beautiful' Trump tariff move? The bizarre clip went viral, and sent the French government, known as the Elysee Palace, into what one headline described as chaos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the chaos stemmed from the government first claiming that the clip was not real but was possibly a deep fake created by AI and exploited by Russia to make Macron seem weak. After the Associated Press authenticated the video, the French government changed its tune, describing the moment as merely a playful interaction between the couple. Unsurprisingly, given their back story, the Macrons have been the subject of intense fascination for years. They met in 1993 at a Catholic high school in northern France when he was 15. She, nearly 40 at the time, and a married mother of three, was his drama teacher. His parents were so concerned about the impropriety of their relationship that they sent him away to Paris for his senior year. Read more: Abcarian: Another Big Lie: RFK Jr. wants to make America healthy again Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2006, she divorced her husband, and married Macron the following year. He was 29. She was 54. Of course, we have breakfast together, me and my wrinkles, him with his youth, but its like that, Macron told Elle France in 2017. If I did not make that choice, I would have missed out on my life. Unfortunately, Le Slapgate threatened to overshadow the Macrons trip. We are squabbling and, rather, joking with my wife, he told reporters, complaining that the incident was being overblown into a sort of geo-planetary catastrophe. Read more: Abcarian: The government's pronatalism warps family values Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few days later, though, he was making light of the incident. Or at least trying to. On Tuesday in Jakarta, Indonesia, as his plane door opened, another disembodied hand appeared, this time waving before Macron stepped into the camera frame smiling before he walked down the stairs arm in arm with his wife. Ha ha. For a brief moment, the squabbling of one of the world's most interesting couples gave us a much needed break from the actual geo-planetary catastrophe unfolding around us. For that, the Macrons have my gratitude. Merci, you crazy lovebirds. @rabcarian.bsky.social @rabcarian If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) The community of Abilene came together this morning for a cleanup event at Grover Nelson Park at Tittle Lake, all in recognition of Lake Cleanup Month. Families and local organizations participated, showing their support by picking up trash and helping keep the park clean. A father at the event mentioned that his children enjoy helping out and noted that its wonderful to lend a hand while earning a free ticket to the zoo. He also emphasized the importance of paying it forward and doing what you can for others. I would just say pay forward and do what you can for others, when can, you never know when you might need a blessing from the man upstairs, said Julio Silvas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another Abilene organization that ensures parks remain beautiful, the Abilene Preservation League, joined the event, and its director spoke with KTAB/KRBC. Were happy to contribute and get back and give to that organization. Its kind of funny; when we saw a piece of trash, and we can just pick it up and make the place more beautiful, Payne 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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. A courtroom challenge to two laws behind Kentucky's near-total abortion ban has been dropped, leaving the procedure outlawed under almost all circumstances. The ACLU of Kentucky announced May 30 it has dropped a lawsuit it filed last in late 2024 challenging the "trigger law" banning abortions that went into effect immediately after the Roe v. Wade decision was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as a separate law outlawing abortions before determining whether a fetal heartbeat exists. In a release, the nonprofit's Kentucky branch said it would continue to push for the overturning of bans on abortion, as people "have the right to control their own bodies without government interference." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are strategizing our next steps in this fight," Executive Director Amber Duke said. "In the meantime, our work to address the commonwealths maternal mortality rates and lack of widespread paid leave coverage will continue as long as Kentucky remains a forced-birth state. Attorney General Russell Coleman, who'd been named as a defendant alongside Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander, Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure Executive Director Michael Rodman and Commonwealth's Attorney Gerina Whethers, said Kentuckians "can be proud that our pro-life values won the day today, and innocent lives will continue to be saved as a result." The decision to drop the lawsuit was voluntary by the ACLU, according to a Friday filing in Jefferson Circuit Court. The class action lawsuit was filed last November on behalf of Mary Poe, a pseudonym for a woman seven weeks pregnant who wanted to end her pregnancy. It argued laws banning abortions in Kentucky cause "irreparable harm" and are "an affront to the health and dignity of all Kentuckians." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The inability to access abortion in the Commonwealth forcibly imposes the health risks and physical burdens of continued pregnancy on all Kentuckians who would otherwise choose to access safe and legal abortion," the lawsuit said. The law requiring an ultrasound before ending a pregnancy was passed by the Kentucky legislature in 2017 and upheld by a federal appeals court two years later. After Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022, the state immediately banned all abortions unless the mother's life is at risk. Several bills filed by Republicans and Democrats in the state legislature in the years since have sought to add exceptions, including pregnancies caused by rape or incest, but the proposals have not moved. House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, has cited the open lawsuit as a key reason why action hasn't been taken, though abortion exceptions remain "a very active topic of conversation among our caucus." "I think it's going to continue to be very difficult until that lawsuit plays its way out to replace a law that is being litigated," he said in a January interview on KET. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ACLU had argued the legislature could take action even with the lawsuit pending. Lawmakers did approve a bill in March outlining medical conditions and complications that are not considered an abortion under state law. Sponsor Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, said the bill removes "legal ambiguity" from state statutes, though opponents argued it didn't go far enough and was approved without consensus from the medical community. The GOP holds supermajorities in both chambers in Frankfort, even strengthening their hold this week when Eastern Kentucky Sen. Robin Webb changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. Webb was the lone Democrat in the state Senate outside Louisville and Lexington. Floor Leader Steven Rudy, R-Paducah, said during the session that Republicans in the legislature "continue to have conversations over this issue." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think (Osborne) said it best we don't really have a clear direction where our caucus wants to go on this," Rudy said in January. Four states bordering Kentucky Indiana, Missouri, Tennessee and West Virginia have banned abortions. The procedure remains "mostly accessible" in Ohio and Virginia, according to Planned Parenthood, and fully accessible in Illinois. Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky abortion ban still in place as ACLU drops lawsuit over ban The search is back on for a new NASA administrator. The Trump administration announced Saturday that they were pulling Jared Isaacmans nomination to lead the agency just days before he was set to face a confirmation vote. The move caused a stir on the Space Coast, with many in the space community expressing shock at the move. So far, no replacement has been named. Isaacman, a billionaire philanthropist and private astronaut, had bipartisan support and had advanced past the Senate Commerce Committee earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 30 former astronauts had supported Isaacmans nomination, stating he was uniquely qualified to lead the agency. It just came out of nowhere, said researcher and scientist, Dr. Ken Kremer with Space UpClose, Everybody in the space community pretty much was united that this was a great nomination. Isaacman had been working his way through the confirmation process since December. Kremer said it will likely be months before a new nominee is confirmed. Everybody supported his nomination, and it still took a long time, said Kremer, Theyve got to go through background check, theyve got to fill out all kinds of financial forms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House said its looking for someone to lead the effort to put humans on Mars and plant an American flag. During Isaacmans Senate Committee Confirmation hearing, Isaacman said he believed a mission to the Moon should come first, but also wanted to see a mission to Mars in the future. The White House released a statement saying, The Administrator of NASA will help lead humanity into space and execute President Trumps bold mission of planting the American flag on the planet Mars. Its essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trumps America First agenda and a replacement will be announced directly by President Trump soon. Kremer said that months into the new administration, a new appointment needs to come quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like any federal agency, they need a head to fight for their budget, fight for their point of view, lay out to the president why what theyre doing is important, said Kremer. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Activists intend to bring aid supplies to the Gaza Strip using a sailing ship, with Swedish activist Greta Thunberg on board. The Madleen has set sail from the Sicilian city of Catania, a spokeswoman for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition confirmed on Sunday, adding that 12 activists from various countries are on board. The activists had announced their intention to use the ship to break through what they described as "Israel's illegal blockade" of the coastal strip and to bring "humanitarian aid, hope and solidarity to Gaza." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baby food and medical supplies are reportedly on board. The group aims, according to their own statements, to draw international attention to the humanitarian situation on the ground with their action. A month ago, activists had already attempted to show solidarity with Gaza with an aid boat. At that time, a fire broke out on one of the ships they were using near the Mediterranean island of Malta. Activists said it was a drone attack, while the Maltese government rejected this. Thunberg had previously wanted to join her fellow activists on board. The 22-year-old became known for her determined fight for more action on climate change, but for some time now, she has been particularly advocating for the Palestinians. In doing so, she repeatedly criticizes Israel's actions in the Gaza war. Israel had recently slightly eased a nearly three-month blockade of food, medicine and other essential supplies to the Gaza Strip. Israel says it wants to pressure the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement to release the hostages it is holding in the coastal area. Israel's offensive on Gaza, which began after the Hamas attacks in October 2023, has now lasted for more than a year and a half. In the aftermath of Democrats widespread electoral failures last year, party activists in California who gathered for their annual convention this weekend struggled with balancing how to stick to their values while also reconnecting with voters who were traditionally part of their base notably working-class Americans. California's progressive policies and its Democratic leaders were routinely battered by Republicans during the 2024 election, with then-vice president and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris taking the brunt of it. Harris ultimately lost the election to Trump, partly because of shrinking support among traditional Democratic constituencies, including minorities and working-class voters. We got to be honest in what happened, because losing elections has consequences, said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris running mate, during a rousing speech Saturday afternoon. We're in this mess because some of it's our own doing. None of us can afford to shy away from having hard conversations about what it's going to take to win elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walz, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, said Democrats don't need to retreat from their ideals, such as protecting the most vulnerable in society, including transgender children. But they need to show voters that they are capable of bold policy that will improve voters lives rather than delivering incremental progress, he said. The Democratic Party, the party of the working class, lost a big chunk of the working class, he said. That last election was a primal scream on so many fronts: do something, do something, stand up and make a difference. California is home to the most Democrats in the nation as well as a large number of the partys most deep-pocketed donors, making the state a popular spot for presidential hopefuls from across the country. In addition to Walz, another potential 2028 White House candidate who addressed the 4,000 delegates and guests at the Anaheim Convention Center was New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. Booker argued that Democrats must remember the courage of their ancestors who fought for civil and voting rights and created the social safety net for the most vulnerable Americans as they try to fight Trumpism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Real change does not come from Washington. It comes from communities. It comes from the streets, he said in a Saturday morning speech. The power of the people is greater than the people in power. Harris, who is weighing a 2026 gubernatorial run and is also viewed as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, addressed the convention by video. Gov. Gavin Newsom, also viewed as a possible White House contender, did not appear at the convention. Read more: The California Democratic Party's premiere event will have two notable no-shows Delegate Jane Baulch-Enloe, a middle school teacher from Pleasant Hill in the Bay Area, said she wasnt sure that Californias particular brand of liberalism will sell on the national stage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know if a California Democrat can win a presidential election, she said as she and her daughter sorted through swag and campaign fliers in the convention cafe. California is thought of as the crazy people. ... I dont mean that in a bad way though I know some people do but we do things differently here. She said she learned from President Obamas memoir, Audacity of Hope, that most, if not all, Americans want the same things, but talk about them differently and have different approaches for getting there. California Democrats, Baulch-Enloe said, need to get people on our side and help them understand that we arent just wacko liberals, and teach people that its okay to want things like healthcare for all and high union wages. But the 2028 presidential race was not the focus of this years California Democratic Party convention. Delegates were more concerned about last years presidential and congressional losses though California was a rare bright spot for the party, flipping three districts held by the GOP and preparing for next years midterm elections. Delegates hope Democrats will take control of Congress to stop Trump from enacting his agenda. Aref Aziz, a leader of the party's Asian American Pacific Islander caucus, said the party needed to sharpen its messaging on economic issues if they want to have a chance of victory in coming elections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to the affordability issue, when it comes to economics, those are the things that across the broad spectrum of our coalition, all those things matter to everybody, Aziz said. And what really is, what really is important is for us to focus on that economic message and how we're going to improve the quality of life for everyone in these midterm elections and future presidential elections. He noted he was in France on his honeymoon recently, and was strolling through a grocery store and buying half a dozen eggs for 1.50 euros (the equivalent of $1.70) when the news broke that Californias economy had grown to the fourth largest in the world. Read more: California overtakes Japan to become world's fourth-largest economy. But tariffs pose threat When you look at a lot of our economies, California and New York, by all accounts, GDP, the numbers that you look at, they're doing great, he said. But when it comes to the cost that consumers are paying in these places, they're so high and so far above other countries that we end up diminishing whatever value there is in our GDP, because everything's so expensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Democrats questioned the impact of the weaponization of California's liberal policies, including defending transgender rights, on voters in battleground states in 2024. Read more: News Analysis: If Democrats want to win back the American people, does California need to stand down? But delegates and party leaders largely argued that the state needs to continue to be on the vanguard of such matters. People like to point a finger somewhere, and I think California is an easy target, but I disagree, said delegate Melissa Taylor, president of Foothill Community Democrats. "Because I think that California is standing up for values that the Democratic Party believes in, like we believe in labor, we believe in healthcare, we believe in women's rights, we believe in rights for LGBTQ people." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jodi Hicks, the president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, said issues such as reproductive healthcare access also have an economic impact. "We have to walk and chew gum at the same time," she said, adding that the party's 2024 losses were likely prompted by multiple factors, including Harris' being the Democratic nominee for a little over three months after then-President Biden decided not to seek reelection. "We're going to be analyzing 2024 for a very long time," Hicks said. "It was such unique circumstances." Times staff writer Laura J. Nelson contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. President Donald Trump recently used his executive pen to advance AI education across the country. Signed on April 23, the Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth executive order implements a federal AI education framework for all K-12 schools and more. The president checks nearly every box that proponents of AI education are advocating for. The order creates a federal task force, holds student competitions, fosters industry collaboration and fast-tracks grant programs. According to the AI education order: To ensure the United States remains a global leader in this technological revolution, we must provide our Nations youth with opportunities to cultivate the skills and understanding necessary to use and create the next generation of AI technology. By fostering AI competency, we will equip our students with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to adapt to and thrive in an increasingly digital society. A high-level White House Task Force on AI education will be led by Michael Kratsios, director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The task force also consists of cabinet members and agency heads from the departments of education, labor, energy, agriculture and the National Science Foundation. Its role is to organize national AI education efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order specifies that federal agencies will work with industry, academic researchers and nonprofits to create online materials that will help teach K12 students the basics of AI literacy and critical thinking. A national contest will be used to promote and showcase student and educator AI successes, advancing technology and spurring cross-sector collaboration. Idaho, Washington, Montana and Wyoming all have something different to offer to the national conversation about AI education, and all have something to gain from the federal executive order. Each state has its challenges, but the opportunity is the same: Equip students to go from being tech consumers to tech creators in the AI-driven economy. By matching the national strategy, states throughout our region can make the most of this federal push in some very specific and important ways. Idaho can take advantage of federal dollars to boost its already strong STEM programs and give more rural educators AI teaching tools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington has an opportunity to turn its tech-sector supremacy into in-classroom success, establishing more effective collaboration between industry and public education through partnership, apprenticeship and early career pipelines. Montana, with AI integration, can empower its distance learning architecture and level the playing field so rural students have access to the same advanced tools that urban students do. Wyoming has the opportunity to integrate AI literacy throughout its expanding career and technical education pathways, which have the potential to not only prepare students for college but also high-skill, high-wage jobs in an ever-changing workforce. The executive order on AI education acknowledges the need to get the next generation ready for a future where AI is central. The Mountain States region could extract great value by supporting the effort and ensuring that its youth are not only technology consumers, but also technology creators and leaders in the AI-fueled world. Sebastian Griffin is the lead researcher for the Junkermier Center for Technology and Innovation at Mountain States Policy Center, an independent research organization based in Idaho, Montana, eastern Washington and Wyoming. Online at mountainstatespolicy.org. International nonprofit organisation Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) says one of its vessels has left Sicily to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, after a previous attempt failed due to a drone attack on a different ship in the Mediterranean. The 12-person crew, which includes Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and Franco-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan, set sail on the Madleen from the port of Catania on Sunday, carrying barrels of relief supplies that the group called limited amounts, though symbolic. The voyage comes after another vessel operated by the group, the Conscience, was hit by two drones just outside Maltese territorial waters in early May. While FFC said Israel was to blame for the incident, it has not responded to requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are doing this because no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying, because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity, Thunberg told reporters at a news conference before the departure. The Swedish climate activist had been due to board the Conscience. She added that no matter how dangerous this mission is, it is nowhere near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the lives being genocised. Avec @GretaThunberg nous appelons a la mobilisation citoyenne pour soutenir massivement le navire humanitaire de @GazaFFlotilla ! Cest le seul moyen de garantir notre securite. pic.twitter.com/5DUJbkRdPZ Rima Hassan (@RimaHas) June 1, 2025 The activists expect to take seven days to reach their destination, if they are not stopped. The FCC, launched in 2010, is a non-violent international movement supporting Palestinians, combining humanitarian aid with political protest against the blockade on Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said the trip is not charity. This is a non-violent, direct action to challenge Israels illegal siege and escalating war crimes. United Nations agencies and major aid groups say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gazas roughly two million inhabitants. The situation in Gaza is at its worst since the war between Israel and Hamas began 19 months ago, the UN said on Friday, despite a resumption of limited aid deliveries in the Palestinian enclave. Under growing global pressure, Israel ended an 11-week blockade on Gaza on May 19, allowing extremely limited UN-led operations to resume. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, a new avenue for aid distribution was also launched: the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by the United States and Israel, but with the UN and international aid groups refusing to work with it, saying it is not neutral and has a distribution model that forces the displacement of Palestinians. The FCC is the latest among a growing number of critics to accuse Israel of genocidal acts in its war in Gaza, allegations Israel vehemently denies. We are breaking the siege of Gaza by sea, but thats part of a broader strategy of mobilisations that will also attempt to break the siege by land, said activist Thiago Avila. Avila also mentioned the upcoming Global March to Gaza an international initiative also open to doctors, lawyers and members of the media which is set to leave Egypt and reach the Rafah crossing in mid-June to stage a protest there, calling on Israel to stop the Gaza offensive and reopen the border. Although air transport contributes a small proportion to global greenhouse gas emissions (approximately 3.5%), the expected growth in traffic compels the industry to minimize its environmental footprint. The European Commission aims to have carbon neutrality in 2050. To help reach this goal, the industry needs to change its practices. However, making a greener aircraft is no small feat. No single company possesses all the required resources and expertise. There is a need to bring minds together to accomplish this task. Aircraft manufacturing competitors are best positioned to accomplish it. A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter! Coopetition: a paradoxical relationship that can work Cooperating with competitors is commonly referred to as coopetition. The concept is well recognized in strategic management and has been extensively studied since its popularization in the early 2000s by Swedish researchers Maria Bengtsson and Soren Kock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coopetition can bring greater benefits than pure cooperation or competition. Competitors hold complementary and compatible resources that facilitate knowledge sharing and cooperation. However, cooperating with rivals is not a natural instinct. In fact, it introduces greater risks, because firms that are fierce market competitors could be tempted to behave opportunistically. While cooperating to create a common pie, they are also competing for the biggest share of it. Benefits and risks While coopetition can yield greater benefits, such as faster innovation, than strategies focused solely on competition, it also introduces greater risks, especially when multiple competitors are involved. By increasing the number of competitors, firms may have access to more resources. However, there is also a higher risk of the pursuit of self-interest, with guile. With more companies involved, competitors may be tempted and find it easier to conceal attempts to acquire more than an agreed share of knowledge and resources. So, what is the secret to successful collaboration with rivals? That is what we are trying to find out. Our study focuses on how companies can successfully manage multilateral coopetition on a large scale by examining the case of CleanAviation, an initiative consisting of eleven competitors including industry players like Airbus, Safran and Dassault, as well as the European Commission. Our study involved 34 semi-structured interviews with project managers and directors and a review of archival documents to understand how the competitors managed their cooperation. CleanAviation: a case of multilateral coopetition Since 2008, CleanAviation (originally CleanSky) has been at the forefront of developing innovations aimed at reducing environmental impacts. Its players are brought together in a governing board, which includes representatives of the founding members. They make decisions on the strategic management of CleanAviation by, for example, deciding on technological development priorities and how to achieve them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The collaboration among the 11 manufacturers in the initiative allows for access to a broad array of resources, enhancing innovation. With over 100 key technologies and 30 prototypes developed, CleanAviation has made significant contributions to creating environmentally friendly European aircraft. One example is Airbus and Saabs effort to develop the Smart Fixed Wing Aircraft, an advanced plane with wings that are designed to adapt to varying flight conditions, thus optimizing performance. The effort aims at reducing fuel consumption and emissions in future aircraft. However, in our study, these companies reported difficulties in knowledge sharing that at times slowed the technology development process and created tensions. For example, while collaboration through knowledge sharing was necessary to ensure technological compatibility, due to uncertainty about how to collaborate safely, companies restricted their interactions and limited knowledge sharing by protecting important information. Managing multilateral coopetition Our analysis suggests that balancing these benefits and risks requires specific management approaches. We identified two critical levels: the governing board level and the operational level. CleanAviations governing board strategizes about the management of the intiative. It drafted a joint technology roadmap to outline necessary technological advancements and implementation strategies. At this level, shared governance between the European Commission and the competitors, managed through rotating leadership, helps prevent power concentration and reduces tensions. Decisions within the board are made by consensus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the operational level, managing coopetition involves separating activities to compartmentalize daily knowledge sharing, ensuring each partys contributions and benefits are protected. In our study, we found that even though the separation of activities was essential, connection and interaction through knowledge sharing was also needed. To help this effort, individuals called liaisons officers acted at the interfaces to push competing companies to cooperate. They helped manage the coopetitive paradox by acting as knowledge arbitrators between competitors when discrepancies occur. Finally, our results also confirm the indispensability of implementing both contractual and relational governance mechanisms to deal with coopetition. Contractual governance refers to the use of contracts, documents and other reporting or knowledge-sharing guidelines; relational governance refers to social interaction among companies through the liaisons officers. Large-scale projects with several competitors can help fight climate change Thanks to these management approaches, the manufacturers have reported several successful green innovations. For example, the Open Rotor programme, created by Safran in partnership with Airbus and other companies, has developed a new aircraft engine that reduces fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions by 20%, representing a significant cost reduction and environmental benefit. As cooperation among competitors becomes more common, especially in tackling significant challenges like climate change, managing it will be crucial. The results of our study can apply to settings beyond the aircraft industry. The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted the need for firms to adopt more environmentally sustainable business practices, but achieving sustainability is a complex challenge that no company can tackle alone. Thats why companies need to join forces to find collective solutions. The European Academy of Management (EURAM) is a learned society founded in 2001. With over 2,000 members from 60 countries in Europe and beyond, EURAM aims at advancing the academic discipline of management in Europe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Audrey Rouyre, European Academy of Management (EURAM); Anne-Sophie Fernandez, Universite de Montpellier, and Olga Bruyaka, West Virginia University Read more: Audrey Rouyre est membre de la Chaire Pegase. Anne-Sophie Fernandez et Olga Bruyaka ne travaillent pas, ne conseillent pas, ne possedent pas de parts, ne recoivent pas de fonds d'une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n'ont declare aucune autre affiliation que leur poste universitaire. DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) Multiple alleged illegal gambling operations were shut down across Harrison County over the weekend. Shreveport suspect wanted for home improvement fraud On May 30, 2025, a coordinated effort led by the Joint Harrison County Violent Crime and Narcotics Task Force shut down seven illegal gambling operations, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Search warrants issued by 71st District Judge Brad Morin were executed with support from the Marshall Police Department Patrol and Criminal Investigations Division, the Harrison County Sheriffs Office Patrol Division, the Criminal Investigations Division, the Fire Marshals Office, and the Harrison County District Attorneys Office. Police say evidence was collected, and approximately 70 illegal gambling devices were seized from the following locations: Poplar Store 1001 Poplar St., Marshall, TX Pony Express Truck Stop 304 I-20 East, Marshall, TX Grab & Go 4204 U.S. Highway 59, Marshall, TX Wildcat Grocery 13863 F.M. 450, Harleton, TX Valero 6135 U.S. Highway 80, Longview, TX Wandas 15229 F.M. 968, Longview, TX Skill Games 5206 F.M. 968, Longview, TX FBI increases reward for information on Arkansas inmate escapee Grant Hardin to $20,000 The police say investigators also recovered methamphetamine, resulting in additional charges. Several people were arrested, and the investigation remains active. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These warrants come on the heels of a related case. A search warrant was issued and executed at a Fina gas station, located at 1601 W. Grand Ave. in Marshall, after receiving a citizen complaint. Officers claim to have discovered illegal THC products and 10 unlawful gambling devices. These investigations are 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 KTALnews.com. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is exporting a Black American tradition to the U.K. It officially charted the first AKA chapter in the country, which will be known as Alpha Delta Alpha Omega Chapter, on Friday. It is the 19th chapter of AKAs international mission. Technically, there was a precursor to the AKAs presence in London with the former Tau Sigma Omega Chapter, which was dissolved in 2006. AKA inaugurated the new chapter in London on Friday. Alpha Delta Alpha Omega Chapter includes 25 professional women who work in fields like real estate, finance, medicine and business. History has been made across the pond! the sorority wrote in an Instagram post. Congratulations to the charter members of Alpha Delta Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated on your official chartering in London, United Kingdom! More on the UKs first AKA chapter Before its official induction, the interest group was titled the Royal Pearl Society. They have been working with local organizations to help communities in need this past year, according to Watch the Yard. The group spearheaded initiatives such as the distribution of 350 Childhood Hunger Power Packs, assembling over 200 Blessing Bags, organizing an eight-week entrepreneurship training program for women, investing over 3,000 in Black-owned businesses and volunteering over 200 hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These women are already making an enormous difference in and around London, Carrie J. Clark, AKAs International Regional Director. They are an amazing group of servant leaders who I am confident will expand Alpha Kappa Alphas legacy of service in the Greater London area for years to come. Alpha Delta Alpha Omega Chapter will keep focusing on similar initiatives after its official induction. They plan on organizing activities like distributing childrens books by Black authors, as well as collecting professional attire for women re-entering the workforce. Alpha Kappa Alpha chartered international chapters early on in its history Although sororities are an American tradition, AKA established international chapters early on, according to their website. The first one to be established overseas was the AKA chapter in Liberia, which was chartered in 1954. AKA then opened another international chapter in Nassau, Bahamas, in 1963, in the U. S. Virgin Islands in 1978, and in Germany a year later. Other countries with international chapters include Japan, South Korea, Canada, South Africa and more. The sorority has led global initiatives like efforts to reduce poverty in sub-Saharan African countries, building schools in South Africa after apartheid and service missions to support women and children in Liberia. The organization now counts over 365,000 members across 13 countries and territories. The post Alpha Kappa Alpha Charters New Chapter In The United Kingdom appeared first on Blavity. WHEATON, Ill. At Cantigny Park, there is celebration in a diagnosis that is so often feared. A whole lot of fun, Queen Sandifer said. Sandifer is living with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrigs Disease, which affects the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement. There are very few treatments and no cure. On Saturday, more than 1,500 people came to west suburban Wheaton for an annual ALS walk. Attendees call it the largest support group of the year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The walk raised money for ALS United of Greater Chicago, which helps those diagnosed and their loved ones. Events like this not only raise funds to provide services but it also lets people in the ALS community know theyre not alone and were here to be alongside them every step of the way, Kendra Albers with ALS United of Greater Chicago said. Bag pipers were at the event to honor the life and legacy of Chicago Bears legend Steve McMichael, who lost his battle with ALS in April, but fought to raise awareness of the disease until the end. PREVIOUS: Steve Mongo McMichael dies at age 67 This is what were all about, Albers said. Its so fun. Last year, it was rainy. Today, its beautiful, so were very thankful. Im going to shoutout Steve McMichael for giving us nice weather this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nice weather for a community that bands together looking to clear the skies for a hopeful future with the disease. Its a great day of celebration, remembrance, togetherness and just fighting back, Albers 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 WGN-TV. Bill Clinton sees no reason to be concerned about Joe Biden's mind. The 42nd president defended Biden against allegations of mental decline during a stop by "CBS Sunday Morning." In a wide-ranging chat also covering Trump's second term and what Democrats can do to fight back, Clinton was asked about "Original Sin." That book, from authors Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, alleges a cover-up of former President Biden's supposed deterioration in the White House. Clinton said that he hadn't read the book before offering his own opinions on Biden's health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I saw President Biden not very long ago, and I thought he was in good shape," he said. Clinton went on to say that his "only concern" about a Biden running for a second term was whether or not anyone could "could that job until they were 86." Wed had several long talks," Clinton continued. "He was always on top of his briefs. The man who occupied the White House throughout most of the '90s said he has no interest in reading the accusations of "Sin." "Hes not president anymore, and I think he did a good job," Clinton said. "Some people are trying to use this as a way to blame him for the fact that Trump was reelected." Biden himself responded to the book earlier this week, saying he could "beat the hell out of" both authors. A suspect is in custody after a shooting in Baldwin Park, California, killed a police officer and hospitalized another Saturday night, Baldwin Park police and Los Angeles County sheriffs officials said. Officers responded to a call of gunshots and an individual down shortly after 7 p.m. at the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue, officials said. The call indicated someone was shooting with a rifle. A second victim, an unidentified adult male, was found dead at the scene of what officials are calling a double murder. Authorities believe they have recovered the weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs department is taking the primary lead in the investigation, Sheriff Robert Luna said. Luna said an adult male suspect is believed to be the person behind the shootings of both the officer and the victim found at the scene. He is believed to have fired at officers first and was then struck by gunfire, the sheriff added. The unidentified suspect was later transported to the hospital in stable condition, officials said. Our officer was an amazing man, Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert Lopez said at a news conference early Sunday. Officials said the name of the officer would not yet be released, as they were not able to notify all family members at the time of the press conference. Lopez said the fallen officer was an avid snowboarder and fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, traveling to stadiums across the country to see watch the team play. The other officer who responded to the scene was hospitalized and is in stable condition. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com This week, Marco Rubio delivered a pointed warning to the world: the First Amendment is going global. The US secretary of state announced visa restrictions targeting foreign officials and persons complicit in censoring Americans. Whether in Latin America, Europe, or elsewhere, he said, the days of passive treatment for those who work to undermine the rights of Americans are over. Diplomatically, it falls just shy of sanctions. No names were named: everyone implicated in speech policing, from ministers to overzealous constables, must now wonder whether their family holiday to Disney World has just been indefinitely postponed. Nowhere is the unease more acute than in Dublin. Ireland has long enjoyed its status as the EUs Anglophone entrepot, a low-tax haven with excellent manners. But with most major social media platforms headquartered there, Dublins regulators have inherited the unenviable task of enforcing Brussels online speech codes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caught between Brussels and Washington, and economically tethered to both, Ireland finds itself in a tight spot. It can no longer please everyone. And the timing could hardly be worse. In February, Brussels enacted the Digital Services Act (DSA), the most ambitious speech regulations in its history. It requires platforms to remove illegal content, including those now-ubiquitous modern offences: disinformation and hate speech. Both are defined, helpfully, by national authorities with varying sensibilities. Brussels has made clear it prefers those definitions to be broad, and enforcement to be swift. The European Commission has now given Dublin two months to resuscitate a shelved hate speech bill or face the European Court of Justice. The law, paused after public backlash, rests on the elastic premise that hate is whatever the state says it is. That may comfort the authorities, but it leaves tech platforms navigating a legal hall of mirrors. The result? American companies face a binary choice: enforce vague foreign speech codes, or risk fines of up to 6 per cent of global turnover per breach. Most will opt for the safer route: when in doubt, delete. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The knock-on effects have not gone unnoticed across the Atlantic, and Washington is not amused. As it steps back from its old role as global policeman, it finds its companies quietly conscripted as global censors. The regime, for good measure, threatens to tax not just American profits, but the principles underpinning them. And thanks to a quirk of geography and corporate clustering, Ireland has become the bailiff. That role has already earned Dublin what diplomats might politely call a frank exchange of views. This week, Trump dispatched a team to the Irish capital, where they met with free speech advocates and, Im told, delivered a few sharp words to the Irish government and media commissioner. Rubios initiative reflects a growing mood in Washington that American free speech norms are under threat abroad, and that the full force of US diplomacy may be needed to defend them. Europe, for its part, is still pretending theres no clash at all. In Brussels, social media is seen less as a marketplace of ideas than as a digital latrine the source of Trump, Brexit, and other electoral embarrassments. The sluices, in their view, must be shut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington sees it rather differently. In one illustrative moment last year, Thierry Breton, then the EUs Internal Market Commissioner, publicly warned Elon Musk about amplifying harmful content shortly before Musk interviewed Donald Trump. The optics were not ideal: a European official rebuking an American billionaire for speaking to a former American president, in the lead-up to an American election. No such warnings, needless to say, were issued to Democrats. To Trumps allies, the asymmetry is obvious, and the State Department appears to agree. Though billed to protect children from harmful online content, Europes laws are, in its words, used to silence dissident voices through Orwellian content moderation. Orwellian is a word best used sparingly, but the DSA may be one of the rare exceptions. There is still no settled definition of disinformation or hate speech. European governments, many of them nervous about rising populism, are now positioned to define and punish speech just as their electorates become more volatile. That conflict of interest alone ought to raise eyebrows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hints of whats to come are already visible. One of the DSAs guiding lights is the Global Disinformation Index. Its co-founder, Clare Melford, once explained that disinformation isnt always about accuracy: Something can be factually accurate but still extremely harmful. This represents a small but meaningful innovation in liberal jurisprudence: the idea that truth is no defence. In a talk at the LSE, Ms Melford offered a more useful standard: Its not saying something is or is not disinformation, but it is saying that content on this site or this particular article is content that is anti-immigrant, content that is anti-women, content that is antisemitic. Put simply, disinformation is not what is false, but what the right people find distasteful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether Rubios visa threats lead to tangible consequences remains to be seen. But the symbolism is already doing its work. If Europes speech enforcers must now consider the possibility of being flagged or blacklisted from the US, then the First Amendments long reach may be starting to make itself felt. If not yet in Brussels, then certainly in Dublin. 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. By Greg Torode and Fanny Potkin SINGAPORE (Reuters) -The Shangri-La Dialogue security meeting in Singapore has long been marked by U.S.-China rivalry but Beijing's relative retreat at the weekend exposed a new faultline - tensions between the U.S. and Europe over Asia. Even as he warned in a speech on Saturday that China posed an "imminent" threat, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made clear he wanted Europeans to concentrate on European security as they boosted military budgets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We would much prefer that the overwhelming balance of European investment be on that continent...so that as we partner there, which we will continue to do, we're able to use our comparative advantage as an Indo-Pacific nation to support our partners here," he said. Hegseth also noted the absence of his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun, as Beijing instead dispatched a low-level team of military scholars to the annual event, which attracts top defence officials, diplomats, spies and arms dealers from across the world. The other highlight of the event was the presence of high-powered military delegations from India and Pakistan after four days of intense clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbours that were halted by a ceasefire on May 10. The delegations, in full uniform and bristling with medal and service ribbons, were led by India's highest ranking military officer and Pakistan's chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. They pointedly kept out of each other's way in the corridors and meeting halls of the sprawling Shangri-La hotel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On engaging in Asia, at least some European nations signalled they would not be swayed by the U.S. exhortations. They insisted they would try to stay in both the Asian and European theatres, noting their deep links and vital trade flows as well as the global nature of conflict. "It is a good thing we are doing more (in Europe), but what I want to stress is that the security of Europe and the security of the Pacific is very much interlinked," said Europe's top diplomat Kaja Kallas. "If you are worried about China, you should be worried about Russia," Kallas said, underlining the importance of Chinese assistance to the Russian war effort in Ukraine and Moscow's deployment of North Korean soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FRANCE'S ASIAN TIES French President Emmanuel Macron insisted that his nation remains an Indo-Pacific power, alluding to its enduring colonial presence in New Caledonia and French Polynesia and the basing of over 8,000 soldiers across the region. "We are neither China nor the U.S., we don't want to depend on either of them," Macron said at a press conference on Friday, outlining a "third path" coalition between Europe and Asia that avoided having to choose between Beijing and Washington. "We want to cooperate with both as far as we can, and we can cooperate for growth and prosperity and stability for our people and the world order, and I think this is exactly the same view of a lot of countries and a lot of people of this region," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond the rhetoric, regional military attaches and analysts say the European regional presence - and ambitions - may not be easy to shift. Military deployments are mapped out over decades rather than months, and both commercial and defence relationships go back decades, some of them only rarely publicly acknowledged. The visit of a British aircraft carrier to Singapore later this month is part of a programme first mentioned by then-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in 2017 to stress British support for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The carrier visit in part reflects Britain's commitments under the 54-year-old Five-Power Defence Arrangement that links its military with counterparts in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement British ties with Australia have been bolstered with the recent three-way AUKUS submarine and advanced technology sharing agreement struck with the U.S. - a move that could see British submarines visiting Western Australia. Singapore meanwhile keeps 200 personnel in France operating 12 of its light combat aircraft while Britain also has a jungle training camp and helicopters in Brunei and a 1,200-strong Gurkha battalion, according to International Institute of Strategic Studies data. A report last month by the London-based IISS highlighted European defence firms' long-standing and expanding defence ties to Asia, even in the face of competition, particularly from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as regional budgets rise. "European companies, including Airbus, Damen, Naval Group and Thales, have a long-standing presence in Southeast Asia, and other European actors have established themselves in the market in the last decade, including Italy's Fincantieri and Sweden's Saab," the IISS study said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saab is close to securing a deal with U.S. ally Thailand to supply its Gripen fighters, beating out Lockheed Martin's F-16s. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute has reported that Asian defence spending rose 46% in the decade to 2024, reaching $629 billion. For Finnish officials at least, Hegseth's remarks resonated - it is Moscow rather than the Indo-Pacific that looms large for Helsinki given the country's long Russian border. "When Europe's defence is in a good shape, then you will have resources to do something more," Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But now all the European countries must do their main focus on European defence so that the United States can do a bigger share in the Indo-Pacific area," Hakkanen said. (Reporting by Greg Torode and Fanny Potkin in Singapore; additional reporting by Idrees Ali, Xinghui Kok, Jun Yuan and Rae Wee; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Shri Navaratnam) GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) Federal regulators have released a long-awaited study on the environmental impact of the Line 5 Project. On Friday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District published its initial analysis for the project that would seek to build an underground tunnel for the aging Enbridge oil pipeline that runs along the Straits of Mackinac. The federal review took over a year longer to publish than expected. Enbridge Energy wants to build a tunnel to hold a portion of its 70-year-old oil pipeline that sits at the bottom of the straits connecting Lake Huron and Lake Michigan. The project was proposed in 2018 at $500 million but has been bogged down by legal challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The four-mile pipeline currently moves about 23 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids daily between Superior, Wisconsin, and Sarnia, Ontario. According to the report, building the tunnel would reduce the risk of things like boat anchors rupturing the pipeline, which could cause a potentially disastrous oil spill. In the short term, the report says construction lights and cranes would significantly impact views and disrupt recreational areas like the dark sky park. In the long run, the report details a loss of vegetation along both sides of the straits and the loss of hundreds of trees along the shoreline that contain numerous species of bats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Included in the analysis is a pledge from Enbridge saying theyre determined to comply with all safety standards and replant vegetation where possible and contain erosion. The report is just an initial assessment. A final analysis is expected by autumn, with a permitting decision to follow. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Detroit District is conducting a 30-day public comment period on the project that lasts from May 30 to June 30. Anyone is welcome to provide comments or concerns using these methods: The Line 5 Tunnel EIS website . Virtual public meetings: Wednesday, June 18, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Zoom or via audio: +1 646 558 8656 Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Zoom or via audio: +1 301 715 8592 Written comments (postmarked by June 30, 2025) mailed to: Line 5 Tunnel EIS 6501 Shady Grove Road, P.O. Box 10178 Gaithersburg, MD 20898 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 WOODTV.com. Anna Mae Robertson, one of the last surviving members of the famed Six Triple Eight unit, has died. She was 101. Robertson was among the 855 women in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black female unit stationed overseas during World War II. The women were sent to Birmingham, England, to clear a nearly three-year logjam of mail. Sacks of letters were piled ceiling-high in a dark and damp warehouse, destined for homesick soldiers fighting in Europe. They came up with their own system some were only addressed to "Junior, U.S. Army" or "Bob Smith." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The battalion was charged with clearing it in six months. They cleared it in three, breaking all Army records. With the slogan No Mail, Low Morale, the unit worked 24 hours a day, processing an average of 195,000 pieces of mail in three eight-hour shifts. They did it again in France. World War II veteran Anna Mae Robertson wears a symbolic representation of the Congressional Gold Medal she was presented during a special ceremony on Monday, June 27, 2022, at the Milwaukee County War Memorial Center. Robertson was recognized for her service when she was a Private First Class in the 6888th Central Postal Battalion, the only predominantly Black Womens Army Corps unit deployed overseas during WWII in England. She and others worked around the clock to clear a backlog of mail where they processed more than 17 million pieces in just three months. Anna Mae Robertson celebrates her 100th birthday in March 2024. She is one of the members of the Six Triple Eight, the only all-Black Womens Army Corps unit stationed overseas during World War II. Their story is now a feature film for Netflix produced and directed by Tyler Perry. In 2022, Robertson, then 98, and other members of the Six Triple Eight received the Congressional Gold Medal. At the time, there were only six known living veterans of the unit. They broke barriers, granddaughter Kenya Robertson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel at the time. It took about 70 or so years for the world to know the role of Anna Robertson and the women of Six Triple Eight played in War World II. Robertson moved to Milwaukee after the war Robertson was born in Mississippi and was living in Arkansas when her mother died. She had no way to support herself and decided to join the Army at 19 years old. Her brother, Zeredee Griffin, served in the Navy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I felt as though we were relieving a man who could go over and fight. We could do what the men had been doing," Robertson told Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Meg Jones in 2014. After the war, Robertson visited Milwaukee to attend the wedding of a fellow Six Triple Eight member. She found a job as a nurse's aide at the VA hospital and lived in Milwaukee since. Her husband, John Robertson, died in 1982. In a May 31 statement about Robertson's passing, Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore said she joins the community in mourning her loss and remembering her trailblazing legacy. "I am thankful that my constituent, Ms. Robertson, was able to receive her flowers while she could still smell them," Moore said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Barrier breaker: Anna Mae Robertson played key role in stabilizing soldiers' morale during WWII Kerry Washington, who stars in the Tyler Perry-written and produced movie "The Six Triple Eight" meets with Milwaukee resident Anna Mae Robertson, one of the last known survivors of the only all-Black female battalion to serve overseas during World War II. Story of the Six Triple Eight told in Oscar-nominated Netflix movie After decades of little recognition or honor for their service, the story of Robertson's unit reached the big screen. "The Six Triple Eight," written and directed by Tyler Perry and starring Kerry Washington, began streaming on Netflix in December. It received an Academy Award nomination for best original song. The battalion was also featured in a 2019 documentary, produced by Wisconsin native James Theres, and the subject of a musical. In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ahead of the film's release, Sheree Robertson described her mother as a "quiet warrior." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She worked hard, raised eight children and lived a good life, Sheree said. She never expected anything in return but enjoyed the love and attention she received in recent years, she said. People need to realize the contributions those women made to their country and the sacrifices they made to their country when their country did not treat them with respect and dignity, Sheree said. They still felt a duty to go in there and do an outstanding job. American military units were segregated by race and gender during World War II. Members of the Six Triple Eight could not eat meals with other American soldiers. They ran their own dining facility and slept in separate barracks. Washington, who portrayed Six Triple Eight's leader Maj. Charity Adams in the film, said in a May 31 Facebook post that the day she met Robertson will be "forever cherished deeply in my heart." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Your legacy will live on through the strength of your beautiful family and in the hearts of Black people everywhere," Washington wrote. "You, and the extraordinary women of (the Six Triple Eight) youre meeting up in heaven, paved the way with grace, grit and bravery." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter La Risa R. Lynch contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Anna Mae Robertson, member of Six Triple Eight battalion, dies at 101 This article was originally published in CalMatters. This spring, the National Institutes of Health quietly began terminating programs at scores of colleges that prepared promising undergraduate and graduate students for doctoral degrees in the sciences. At least 24 University of California and California State University campuses lost training grants that provided their students with annual stipends of approximately $12,000 or more, as well as partial tuition waivers and travel funds to present research at science conferences. The number of affected programs is likely higher, as the NIH would not provide CalMatters a list of all the cancelled grants. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Cal State San Marcos, a campus in north San Diego County with a high number of low-income learners, is losing four training grants worth about $1.8 million per year. One of the grants, now called U-RISE, had been awarded to San Marcos annually since 2001. San Marcos students with U-RISE stipends were often able to forgo part-time jobs, which allowed them to concentrate on research and building the skills needed for a doctoral degree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cuts add to the hundreds of millions of dollars of grants the agency has cancelled since President Donald Trump took office for a second term. To find California campuses that lost training grants, CalMatters looked up known training grants in the NIH search tool to see if those grants were still active. If the grants award number leads to a broken link, that grant is dead, a notice on another NIH webpage says. The NIH web pages for the grants CalMatters looked up, including U-RISE, are no longer accessible. Some campuses, including San Marcos, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Los Angeles and UC Davis, have updated their own websites to state that the NIH has ended doctoral pathway grants. Were losing an entire generation of scholars who wouldnt have otherwise gone down these pathways without these types of programs, said Richard Armenta, a professor of kinesiology at San Marcos and the associate director of the campuss Center for Training, Research, and Educational Excellence that operates the training grants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At San Marcos, 60 students who were admitted into the center lost grants with stipends, partial tuition waivers and money to travel to scientific conferences to present their findings. From loving biology to wanting a doctoral degree Before the NIH terminations, Marisa Mendoza, a San Marcos undergraduate, received two training grants. As far back as middle school, Mendozas favorite subjects were biology and chemistry. To save money, she attended Palomar College, a nearby community college where she began to train as a nurse. She chose that major because it would allow her to focus on the science subjects she loved. But soon Mendoza realized she wanted to do research rather than treat patients. At Palomar, an anatomy professor introduced her to the NIH-funded Bridges to the Baccalaureate, a training grant for community college students to earn a bachelors and pursue advanced degrees in science and medicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt even know what grad school was at the time, she said. Neither of her parents finished college. The Bridges program connected her to Cal State San Marcos, where she toured different labs to find the right fit. At the time she was in a microbiology course and found a lab focused on bacteria populations in the nearby coastal enclaves. The lab was putting into practice what she was learning in the abstract. She was hooked. It just clicked, like me being able to do this, it came very easily to me, and it was just something that I came to be very passionate about as I was getting more responsibility in the lab, Mendoza said. Marisa Mendoza, right, and Camila Valderrama-Martinez, left, get ready to demonstrate how they use lab equipment for their research work at Cal State San Marcos on May 6, 2025. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters From Palomar she was admitted as a transfer student to San Marcos and more selective campuses, including UCLA and UC San Diego. She chose San Marcos, partly to live at home but also because she loved her lab and wanted to continue her research. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She enrolled at San Marcos last fall and furthered her doctoral journey by receiving the U-RISE grant. It was supposed to fund her for two years. The NIH terminated the grant March 31, stripping funds from 20 students. For a school like San Marcos, where more than 40% of students are low-income enough to receive federal financial aid called Pell grants, the loss of the NIH training awards is a particular blow to the aspiring scientists. The current climate of doctoral admissions is definitely at a point where one needs prior research experience to be able to be competitive for Ph.D. programs, said Elinne Becket, a professor of biological sciences at Cal State San Marcos who runs the microbial ecology lab where Mendoza and other students hone their research for about 15 hours a week. San Marcos doesnt have much money to replace its lost grants, which means current and future San Marcos students will 100% have a harder time entering a doctoral program, Becket added. It keeps me up at night. Research is a missing piece In a typical week in Beckets lab, Mendoza will drive to a nearby wetland or cove to retrieve water samples part of an ongoing experiment to investigate how microbial changes in the ecosystem are indications of increased pollution in sea life and plants. Sometimes shell wear a wetsuit and wade into waters a meter deep. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next day shell extract the DNA from bacteria in her samples and load those into a sequencing machine. The sequencer, which resembles a small dishwasher, packs millions or billions of pieces of DNA onto a single chip thats then run through a supercomputer a former graduate student built. Once I found research, it was like a missing piece, Mendoza, a Pell grant recipient, said through tears during an interview at Cal State Marcos. Research brought her joy and consumed her life in the best way, she added. Its really unfortunate that people who are so deserving of these opportunities dont get to have these opportunities. Student Marisa Mendoza gets emotional while she speaks about her research at Cal State San Marcos on May 6, 2025. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters The origins of the San Marcos training center date back to 2002. Through it, more than 160 students have either earned or are currently pursuing doctoral degrees at a U.S. university. The grant terminations have been emotionally wrenching. There had been so many tears in my household that my husband got me a puppy, said Denise Garcia, the director of the center and a professor of biological sciences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garcia recalls that in March she was checking a digital chat group on Slack with many other directors of U-RISE grants when suddenly the message board lit up with updates that their grants were gone. At least 63 schools across the country lost their grants, NIH data show. In the past four years of its U-RISE grant the center has reported to the NIH that 83% of its students entered a doctoral program. That exceeds the campuss grant goal, which was 65% entering doctoral programs. Mendoza is grateful: She was one of two students to win a campus scholarship thatll defray much, but not all, of the costs of attending school after losing her NIH award. That, plus a job at a pharmacy on weekends, may provide enough money to complete her bachelors next year. Others are unsure how theyll afford college while maintaining a focus on research in the next school year. Student Camila Valderrama-Martinez in a lab at Cal State San Marcos on May 6, 2025. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters You work so hard to put yourself in a position where you dont have to worry, and then thats taken away from you, said Camila Valderrama-Martinez, a first-year graduate student at San Marcos who also earned her bachelors there and works in the same lab as Mendoza. She was in her first year of receiving the Bridges to the Doctorate grant meant for students in masters programs who want to pursue a biomedical-focused doctoral degree. The grant came with a stipend of $26,000 annually for two years plus a tuition waiver of 60% and money to attend conferences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She can get a job, but that takes away time from my research and my time in lab and focusing on my studies and my thesis. She relies solely on federal financial aid to pay for school and a place to live. Getting loans, often anathema for students, seems like her only recourse. Its either that or not finish my degree, she said. Terminated NIH grants in detail These grant cancellations are separate from other cuts at the NIH since Trump took office in January, including multi-million-dollar grants for vaccine and disease research. Theyre also on top of an NIH plan to dramatically reduce how much universities receive from the agency to pay for maintaining labs, other infrastructure and labor costs that are essential for campus research. Californias attorney general has joined other states led by Democrats in suing the Trump administration to halt and reverse those cuts. In San Marcos case, the latest U-RISE grant lasted all five years, but it wasnt renewed for funding, even though the application received a high score from an NIH grant committee. Armenta, the associate director at the Cal State San Marcos training center, recalled that his NIH program officer said that though nothing is certain, he and his team should be cautiously optimistic that you would be funded again given your score. That was in January. Weeks later, NIH discontinued the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He and Garcia shared the cancellation letters they received from NIH. Most made vague references to changes in NIHs priorities. However, one letter for a specific grant program cited a common reason why the agency has been cancelling funding: It is the policy of NIH not to prioritize research programs related to Diversity (sic), equity, and inclusion. Thats a departure from the agencys emphasis on developing a diverse national cadre of scientists. As recently as February, the application page for that grant said there are many benefits that flow from a diverse scientific workforce. Future of doctoral programs unclear Josue Navarrete graduated this spring from Cal State San Marcos with a degree in computer science. Unlike the other students interviewed for this story, Navarrete, who uses they/them pronouns, was able to complete both years of their NIH training grant and worked in Beckets lab. But because of the uncertain climate as the Trump administration attempts to slash funding, Vanderbilt University, which placed Navarrete on a waitlist for a doctoral program, ultimately denied them admission because the university program had to shrink its incoming class, they said. Later, Navarrete met a professor from Vanderbilt at a conference who agreed to review their application. The professor said in any other year, Navarrete would have been admitted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The setback was heartbreaking. Josue Navarrete at the Cal State San Marcos campus on May 6, 2025. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters Im gripping so hard to stay in research, Navarrete said. With doctoral plans delayed, they received a job offer from Epic, a large medical software company, but turned it down. They wanted me to be handling website design and mobile applications, and thats cool. Its not for me. Valderrama-Martinez cited Navarretes story as she wondered whether doctoral programs at universities will have space for her next year. I doubt in a year things are going to be better, she said. She still looks forward to submitting her applications. So does Mendoza. She wants to study microbiology the research bug that bit her initially and brought her to San Marcos. Eventually she hopes to land at a private biotech firm and work in drug development. Of course Im gonna get a Ph.D., because that just means I get to do research, she said. This article was originally published on CalMatters and was republished under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license. LAURENS, S.C. (WSPA) The Laurens Police Department reported that another sinkhole has appeared in Laurens. The sink hole appeared at the intersection of East Main Street near the Tractor Supply and Chic-fil-a. Authorities said that first responders are currently on scene with the South Carolina Department of Transportation to assess the damage. 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. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is more well-liked than President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, and former Vice President Kamala Harris, according to a new poll. Despite the fact that Ocasio-Cortez can be polarizing even within her own party, she is still more popular than most currently active U.S. politicians, Newsweek reports. Data released on Friday by data intelligence company AtlasIntel found that Ocasio-Cortez ranked third most popular on its survey of political popularity, and she was one of only three leaders with a net positive image. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The congresswoman was beat only by former President Barack Obama and his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama. Ocasio-Cortez had a positivity rating of 46 percent, with 44 percent of respondents saying they have a negative view of her, and another 10 percent saying they were unsure. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is one of the nations most popular politicians - despite cutting a polarizing figure within her own party, a new poll has found (AP) That left her with a net positivity rating of two points, according to the poll. Barack Oabama was viewed positively by 53 percent of respondents compared to the 43 percent who view him negatively, and Michelle Obama was viewed in a positive light by 49 percent of respondents and negatively by 45 percent. The Obamas may benefit somewhat from the fact that neither of them are in any official leadership role in the government at the moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ocasio-Cortez, however, is, an active and vocal member of Congress. Since Trump's re-election and the unique threats of DOGE, Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders have been touring to "rally against oligarchy." Bernie Sander and AOCs nationwide rally against the oligarchy has drawn huge crowds. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Their events have drawn massive crowds in cities across the country. The poll included responses from 3,469 participants and had a margin of error of plus or minus.2 percentage points with a 95 percent confidence level. The survey that served as the foundation for the results was conducted between May 21, 2025 and May 27, 2025. Ocasio-Cortez has been quiet about her further political aspirations, but has been urged by some supporters to consider a 2028 presidential run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During an interview with Fox News in April, Ocasio-Cortex refused to speculate and said she wanted to focus on current issues. "This moment isn't about campaigns, or elections, or about politics. It's about making sure people are protected, and we've got people that are getting locked up for exercising their First Amendment rights," she said at the time. "We're getting 2-year-olds that are getting deported into cells in Honduras. We're getting people that are about to get kicked off of Medicaid. That, to me, is most important." Monica Crowley, a former Treasury Department official during the first Trump administration, told Fox News in November that GOP politicos would do well to not underestimate Ocasio-Cortez. "Just a word of warning to the Republicans, to my party: Do not underestimate AOC. She's young, she's vibrant, she's attractive," Crowley said. BANGKOK (AP) Thailand started its annual celebration Sunday for the LGBTQ+ communitys Pride Month, with its Pride Parade, the first to be held after Thailand legalized same-sex marriage earlier this year. Participants marched with rainbow flags for hours in Bangkok. Pride Month celebrations have been endorsed by politicians including Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was attending the parade this year. The enactment of the Marriage Equality Act makes Thailand the first country in Southeast Asia and the third place in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. FORT THOMAS, Ariz. Sixteen kids bent over worksheets, laboriously writing out words in Ndee biyati Apache as their teacher recited them in English. "Scorpion," she said. Tsedag histasi. "Tarantula," she said. Biganane. A group of bright purple posters displayed the numbers one through 10 in Apache with common items to spur memories. Dataa one San Carlos Apache Tribe flag. Naki two moccasins. Taagi three cradleboards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorful posters sporting other common Apache terms lined the classroom walls. There were even terms for television and TV table. It was another day in Aurelia Bullis' fourth grade Apache language class. Bullis has spent most of her life in the Fort Thomas school district. A native of Bylas, a nearby community, Bullis attended school in the district and now teaches the Apache language to pre-kindergarten through high school students. Lately, she's also been instructing actors to speak her native tongue and filmmakers how to avoid stereotypical syntax. Summer job leads to career Bullis started working over the summer after graduating from Fort Thomas High School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There was a program where you could work during the summers or just to make a little bit of money," she said. Bullis worked at the local Head Start, where she moved up from volunteer to supervisor. After a short time as both a bus driver and teacher, Bullis saw a sign recruiting for an Apache language teacher. "I said, 'Oh, I might as well try,'" said Bullis, whose first language is Apache. Aurelia Bullis in her Apache language classroom in the Fort Thomas, Arizona School District on May 19,2025. She's also taught actors and producers in several movie productions. Bullis beat out two older ladies for the job because she was willing to create lesson plans for kids from kindergarten through sixth grade. But then she had second thoughts. "What did I get myself into? How am I gonna do this?" She had never taught older kids before and felt intimidated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hubby Buz came to the rescue. "He took us to the Twin Arrows Casino for the weekend, just to get away," Bullis said. Soon she hit upon a method to do the job. "I think I know what to do now," she said. "I'm going to do this lesson for this class, this lesson for the older ones, and then it all just came to me and I started putting it together." Tools used by Apache language instructor Aurelia Bullis in her Fort Thomas, Arizona classroom on May 19,2025. Bullis sat up all night typing up lesson plans for her new job. Eventually, Bullis' position grew to include junior and senior high classes. She also sponsored the school's culture club, which includes running school royalty pageants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She's never looked back after nine years of teaching both spoken and written Apache in the dialect common to the eastern San Carlos and White Mountain Apache peoples. Family connection leads to movie gig Aurelia Bullis with cast of "Horizon: An American Saga - Part 1" on location in Moab, Utah in an undated photo. Hollywood came calling for Bullis through one of Indian Country's time-honored methods: family. Bullis' younger sister, Beverly, lives in the La Jolla Reservation in north San Diego County with her husband, a relative of famed designer and fellow La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians tribal member Jamie Okuma. Okuma's son, Bodhi Okuma Linton, is an actor who has appeared in film and television shows, including "Reservation Dogs" and "Dark Winds." Linton was also featured in the 2024 film "Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1." During the 2022 production, staff from Kevin Costner's production company were searching for a fluent Apache speaker to instruct the Native actors cast for the film, none of whom spoke Apache. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So Jamie asked her nephew, Melvin Nelson to ask my sister." But Beverly can only understand Apache after being barred from speaking the language while attending a religious school. Beverly gave her older sister, Aurelia, a call. "I was teaching a summer class in San Carlos," Bullis said. "She asked if I wanted a job for the summer? It's for a movie." And not just any movie "Horizon" was created by the Oscar-winning Costner. "You're kidding right?" Bullis said. Aurelia Bullis with cast of "Horizon: An American Saga - Part 1" on location in Moab, Utah in an undated photo. It was no joke. Bullis was hired to translate the actors' lines into Apache. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next came the call to teach the cast their lines on location in Moab, Utah. "My husband was excited because I told him he's coming along." Bullis said her most thrilling, yet scary day was when Costner himself came to the set. "I couldn't say anything. I was just too scared and in shock." She started digging in her bag just so she wouldn't pass out. "But then he came around, and we got to shake his hand." After several weeks, though, Bullis had to return to Fort Thomas as the school year had started. They created a workaround for that, too. "We used Zoom to teach each actor," she said. Aurelia Bullis with cast of "Horizon: An American Saga - Part 1" on location in Moab, Utah in an undated photo. Bullis has more movie work in progress. She's working with at least one other filmmaker on a new project. For this job, Bullis' work is more than just translating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The lines are kind of generic," she said. The writer didn't know how Apache people talked. "It was like, 'Oh spirit, you gave me the mountains' and this and that. "My husband and I both thought it was cheesy." Bullis is now busy rewriting lines to more accurately reflect how Apache people really talk. And she said that when she arrives on the set, the actors had best be dressed properly, "like the real deal that Costner had with their regalia, no generic feathers, that sort of thing." Another film producer is already working to become familiar with Apache culture and the language that expresses that culture. "He's been wanting to come down and see Sunrise Dances and those sorts of things," Bullis said. "We've been talking on Zoom.' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Looking forward, Bullis is hard at work teaching younger generations about their culture and language. It was difficult, however, to make Apache her kids' first language. Bullis' husband was also forbidden to speak Apache at school and thus can only understand it, as can her four kids. "I speak to them in Apache and they understand. They'll say a little bit of this and that, but other than that, they just go back to speaking English," she said. Bullis is working to bridge that gap with her four grandchildren. "I teach them here," she said. "It's like Apache is their second language." Her fellow Apache teacher is also teaching her third-grade granddaughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But her 11-month-old grandson is another matter. "We watch him when I'm not working, and really getting him to 'say this one, say this.' So he's slowly picking up that language." Debra Krol reports on Indigenous communities at the confluence of climate, culture and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. Reach Krol at debra.krol@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @debkrol and on Bluesky at @debkrol.bsky.social. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: How an Apache language teacher found work on a Kevin Costner film APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) The City of Appleton is set to continue its longstanding tradition on June 14, the 74th Appleton Flag Day Parade! The celebration, which attracts more than 50,000 spectators and participants from throughout the country to Appleton, has honored Old Glory on the second Saturday of every June since 1950. Theres an unparalleled amount of pride and patriotism in the Fox Cities, said Corey Otis, Chairperson for the City of Appleton Parades Committee. The Flag Day Parade provides a showcase for our communitys ingenuity and artistry as well as a reason to come together and celebrate with friends and family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 600 Wisconsin Guard soldiers ready for deployment with sendoff in Oshkosh The theme of the 74th Appleton Flag Day Parade is Honor, Courage, Commitment: these are the core values of the United States Marine Corps and Navy. Every year, the Flag Day Parade honors a branch of the military, but this year, Appleton will spotlight both the United States Marine Corps and Navy, who each celebrates 250 years of service in 2025. The Parade Grand Marshal, as always, is the United States Flag. The escort to the U.S. Flag is United States Marine Veteran Bob Lace of Neenah. Lace, 83, served during the Vietnam War era, and he is well known as the one-man honor guard at the Memorial Day and Flag Day Parades in Appleton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years Honorary Parade Marshal is Retired Rear Admiral Jerry Clusen, a native of Manitowoc. Clusen, a Navy Mustang, served in 14 ranks throughout his 42-year career in the United States Navy Reserve. I love Appleton, we used to play here: Cheap Tricks Rick Nielsen stops in Appleton for ROCKN Vodka bottle signing The 74th Appleton Flag Day Parade begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 14 with the Downtown Appleton Farm Market. Then, at 11:30 a.m., Houdini Plaza will host a pre-parade concert by the Marine Forces Reserve Band prior to the 1st Brigade Band at noon. The Flag Day Parade will begin at 2 p.m. at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and North Oneida Street, with the route traveling through State Street, College Avenue, and Drew Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Notable entries in the 74th Appleton Flag Day Parade include: Nearly 20 musical units, including Navy Band Great Lakes, Marine Forces Reserve Band, 1st Brigade Band, Americanos Alumni Association, The 2/5ths Party Band, Big Top Brass, and The Badger Band (featuring members of the University of Wisconsin Band). Local marching bands, including all three Appleton public high schools, Valley Troubadours, New Horizons, Lakeside Lutheran High School, the Lutheran Vanguard, and Appleton City Band. Veterans organizations, tributes to the Armed Forces, patriotic floats, marching units, antique and collector vehicles, horses, clowns, scooters, fire trucks, tractors, and much, much more! Back for more: The Dancing Grannies will return to the Flag Day Parade along with Golden Gals MKE. Pierce Manufacturing and WHBY will hand out free flags to spectators just before the parade begins. The celebration continues after the parade. In Houdini Plaza, The Badger Band, featuring members of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band, will play music from the Fifth Quarter. The free performance is expected to begin around 4:30 p.m. WFRV Local 5 will livestream the parade on our Facebook page and website. The parade will be broadcast at 10:35 p.m. on both June 14 and 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Guidance issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth states that transgender service members have to voluntarily depart from active duty by June 6. After that date, the military is set to start involuntary separations for active duty trans service members. The Army issued further guidance on Wednesday regarding how it will identify and interact with soldiers who have gender dysphoria, documents obtained by CBS News reveal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, Hegseth said in a memo that trans service members would be treated with dignity. However, the new internal orders for the Army instruct personnel to address trans troops by the gender they were assigned at birth and not their preferred pronoun. The guidance includes a list of criteria that the military will use for soldiers to begin to identify fellow service members who are suspected of having gender dysphoria. The requirements include previous requests for exemptions to grooming standards connected to medical assignment at birth or starting a medical treatment plan connected to gender dysphoria. Transgender service members have to voluntarily leave active duty by June 6, according to new guidance (AFP via Getty Images) Other markers, according to the guidance, include overt conduct on social media or in person, showing a gender identity other than what an individual was assigned at birth, as well as a private conversation that a commanding officer may have with a soldier in which they disclosed having gender dysphoria. Its expected that a commander will set into motion a medical record review if theyre aware of any of these criteria. The departments new policy also means that service members will be asked about their identity during medical check-ups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Hegseth said in the February memo that trans troops will be "treated with dignity and respect, he has severely criticised trans troops in public. "No more dudes in dresses, we're done with that s***, he said at a military conference in Florida this month. Similarly, while the Army guidance tells soldiers to use the "utmost professionalism and treating all individuals with dignity and respect, its new policies go against social norms for trans people, such as addressing them using their preferred pronouns. A trans infantry officer and Afghanistan veteran, Army Maj. Kara Corcoran, told CBS News on Friday that "By implementing this guidanceyou're making it worse than the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, because you're overtly hunting down and trying to identify transgender service members or anybody thatexhibits symptoms of gender dysphoria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Transgender service members have served openly since 2016 without adverse impacts on readiness or unit cohesion, she said. Thousands of transgender troops are combat-tested, having deployed to war zones and executed missions with distinction." According to the Department of Defense, gender dysphoria is a "marked incongruence between an individual's experienced or expressed gender and their assigned gender, lasting at least six months, as manifested by conditions causing clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. The Army guidance shared on Wednesday suggests that identifying with a gender other than the one assigned at birth goes against standards of truthfulness and discipline. The wording is similar to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in January stating that the values of trans service members arent in line with the "humility and selflessness required of military members and are "inconsistent with" the "cohesion" needed in the armed forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for the Army told CBS News that additional guidance has been issued since May 8 amid the continuing voluntary separation of service members. The spokesperson added that "Pronoun usage when referring to Soldiers must reflect their biological sex. In keeping with good order and discipline, salutations (e.g., addressing a senior officer as "sir" or "ma'am") must also reflect an individual's biological sex. "The Army recognizes the selfless service of all who have volunteered to serve our great nation, they added. We are in the process of ensuring the Army is aligned with recent policy changes to Soldier requirements. Regardless of potential outcomes, every Soldier will be treated with dignity and respect." The Chamblee Police Department announced a suspect was in custody related to the deadly shooting outside of the St. Vincent de Paul charity on Friday. Channel 2 Actionn News was at St. Vincents on Friday, where police said Jeremiah Clanton was accused of killing a man. The 31-year-old was said to have killed the victim after a physical altercation at the charity. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Clanton was on the run, with police warning the public to proceed with caution and saying that he was known to be a MARTA rider. Chamblee police said Clanton was caught on Saturday morning in Atlanta. Clanton was charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of the crime. He is in custody at the DeKalb County Jail, according to police. Officers have not identified the victim yet, pending notification to his family. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] This story was originally published on BioPharma Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily BioPharma Dive newsletter. CHICAGO Too often, cancer has a way of evading treatment. Tumors that were held in check begin to spread anew, forcing doctors to try different drugs in a desperate race to keep malignant cells from multiplying. For a common type of breast cancer, this usually happens because of changes in a gene called ESR1. Mutations there can drive cancer growth even as physicians first choice of therapy chokes off the resources that tumors had relied on to survive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Afterwards, the prognosis for patients gets worse. Multiple second-line medicines exist, but their benefit is limited, quality of life decreases and survival rates are low, according to Nicholas Turner, director of clinical research and development at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. New study results from Turner and others show an experimental drug from AstraZeneca, camizestrant, can help sustain the benefit of first-line therapy. Unveiled Sunday, their research found that, once ESR1 mutations are detected, swapping out a standard component of that initial regimen for AstraZenecas drug reduced the risk of disease progression or death by more than half. Data from the study, which AstraZeneca funded and in February said succeeded, will be presented Sunday afternoon at the American Society of Clinical Oncologys annual meeting. Patients have an urgent need for new treatments that can prolong time on first-line therapy and delay disease progression, Turner said in a statement provided by ASCO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In their clinical trial, Turner and colleagues enrolled 3,256 people with advanced breast cancer positive for hormone receptors but negative for a protein called HER2. These individuals are typically treated with a kind of hormone therapy known as an aromatase inhibitor along with another type of targeted drug that interrupts cancer cell division. Participants in the study were monitored via blood tests for the emergence of ESR1 mutations, which were eventually detected in about 550 people. Three-hundred and fifteen were then randomly assigned to receive camizestrant instead of the aromatase inhibitor or to continue on with their initial regimen. These patients continued to receive those targeted drugs, CDK 4/6 inhibitors. Patients who were switched to camizestrant had a 56% lower risk of their cancer progressing or killing them than those who continued on, researchers calculated. Put another way, people in the camizestrant group lived a median of 16 months without disease progression or death, compared to 9.2 months for those in the control arm. Data also showed camizestrant helped maintain quality of life for longer than did aromatase inhibitors, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Researchers continue to follow study participants to measure differences between the groups in overall survival, but dont yet have enough follow-up data to determine whether there is a benefit on that score. Less than 2% of patients in either group discontinued treatment due to side effects, which, for camizestrant, were consistent with what AstraZeneca has observed in prior testing. Hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative tumors are the most common type of breast cancer, accounting for an estimated 70% of cases. Hormone receptors provide a dock for estrogen, which spurs the tumor to grow. In first-line therapy, hormone therapy shuts off estrogen signaling by either gumming up hormone receptors on the surface of breast cancer cells, or by blocking the body from making estrogen. But about 40% of patients whose breast cancer is responsive to hormone therapy develop ESR1 mutations during their initial therapy, according to an estimate cited by ASCO. Research done a decade ago at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center discovered that ESR1 mutations change the shape of the estrogen receptor, essentially flipping it on, whether or not cancer cells continue to receive an estrogen growth signal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Camizestrant offers a way to get ahead of that change by breaking down the estrogen receptor entirely. Its one of a new crop of so-called selective estrogen receptor degraders, or SERDs, that are taken orally rather than injected like the drug fulvestrant, which has been a staple of breast cancer treatment for decades. One member of this fresh class, Orserdu, won U.S. approval in 2023. Others from Eli Lilly and Roche, as well as a different kind of degrader from partners Pfizer and Arvinas, are in late-stage testing. Data from a Phase 3 trial involving Pfizer and Arvinas vepdegestrant in people whose hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer progressed following initial treatment were presented at ASCO Saturday. The setting envisioned by camizestrants trial is one step earlier, subbing in a SERD before initial disease progression to allow patients to remain on first-line therapy longer. When patients progress on scans, were already behind. Weve already lost control, in some sense, Eleonora Teplinsky, head of breast and gynecologic medical oncology at New Jerseys Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care, said in a press conference held by ASCO. An early switch approach, before we see disease progression on imaging, [allows] us to stay ahead of the curve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Switching early requires regular monitoring, which Turner and his colleagues accomplished by using liquid biopsies, tests that pick up fragments of tumor DNA circulating in the blood. While these are relatively expensive, Turner said he hopes insurance would cover them should camizestrant win approval in the tested setting. Clearance would also change doctors testing practice. Soon after Orserdu won U.S. approval, ASCO updated its treatment guidelines to recommend testing for ESR1 mutations following disease progression or recurrence. Camizestrants benefit lies in delaying that progression, making active surveillance beforehand essential. The difference here is this serial monitoring for evidence of the evolving mutation, said Julie Gralow, an oncologist and ASCOs chief medical officer, at the press conference. Establishing reimbursement and updating guidelines will be important to that goal, acknowledged Mohit Manrao, a senior vice president in AstraZenecas U.S. oncology division. The good part here is that the test exists, he added It is already being done at the point of progression, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AstraZeneca plans to use the data presented at ASCO to request regulatory approval. It is also studying replacing aromatase inhibitors with camizestrant upfront, rather than waiting for ESR1 mutations to emerge. Two other trials are examining camizestrants potential in early breast cancer. Recommended Reading The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has identified hundreds of cities and counties nationwide that it says arent following guidelines. A spokesperson says sanctuary jurisdictions are "deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities." The only Georgia cities that made the list were Atlanta and Athens. But Athens-Clarke County, DeKalb County, Douglas County and Fulton County were also named by DHS officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say each of these cities and counties will be formally notified of their non-compliance. DHS demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with Federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens," officials wrote. Its unclear if those jurisdictions could face punishments. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens released a statement saying his administration has upheld all local, state and federal laws. Fulton County officials also shared a statement saying they are unsure why they were designated a sanctuary jurisdiction because they uphold all state and federal laws. Fulton County complies with state and federal laws, including Georgia law that bans sanctuary jurisdictions. Our law enforcement agencies cooperate fully with state and federal agencies in enforcement of applicable laws. Fulton County also uses the E-verify platform in our hiring and procurement practices. We are not aware why this designation was made and will be exploring avenues to reverse this designation. Fulton County spokesperson [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] DENVER (KDVR) An early morning shooting on Hoffman Boulevard left a 15-year-old girl dead and a 20-year-old woman with serious injuries, the Aurora Police Department said. APD officers responded to a report of a shooting at around 12:30 a.m. Sunday morning at 12600 E. Hoffman Blvd, near Aurora Fire Rescue Station 2. AFR firefighters were the first to encounter the victims as they returned from another call for service, the APD says. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 15-year-old was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and died shortly after arriving, according to the APD. She will be identified by the Arapahoe County Coroners Office. The 20-year-old victim was treated for her injuries and is expected to survive, police said. Investigators also learned several hours after the shooting about another 15-year-old girl who the APD said sustained a graze wound in the incident. The girl and her family declined medical attention, police said. There is no suspect information at this time and no arrests have been made, the APD said. The department does, however, believe that there were several witnesses who captured cellphone video footage of the shooting, and that it was an isolated incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives are asking anyone with video evidence of the shooting to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers by phone at 720-913-7867 or to submit it online. Tipsters are able to remain anonymous and can be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000. 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. In San Diego, authorities arrested a man for smuggling protected birds from Mexico into the U.S., according to a report by Patch. Twelve orange-fronted parakeets were concealed among his belongings, stuffed inside his boots and between the seats of his car. What's happening? Prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office reported that Mexican citizen Naim Lajud Libien was caught trying to smuggle a dozen parakeets across the U.S.-Mexico border at the Otay Mesa port of entry in San Diego. Of the 12 birds, at least two have died, one that officials believe to have a broken neck, and the rest are in "poor health." When authorities found the parakeets, the birds' feet were tied, which may have caused some harm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orange-fronted parakeets are a protected bird species native to western Mexico and Costa Rica. In order to be legally transported into the U.S., the birds must be quarantined before crossing the border. Libien faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for attempting to smuggle the parakeets into the U.S. Why is wildlife smuggling important? The animals being trafficked are often held captive in small, awful conditions, resulting in injuries and even death. Cases like this not only endanger the animals being trafficked but also the entire ecosystem. When species are illegally transported into a new country, they can become invasive and disrupt the balance of the food chain. Though it may not seem like it, biodiversity impacts our everyday lives. When an invasive species throws off an ecosystem, native species can decline, threatening the pollinators that protect our food supply. What's being done about wildlife smuggling? Libien faces "charges of importation contrary to law," Patch reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Smuggling at the border takes many forms, but the tragic impact on animals forced into such perilous conditions is deeply troubling," U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said in a statement, per Patch. "We are committed to holding accountable those who endanger wildlife and public health through these reckless and inhumane smuggling practices." 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. Security forces in Mecca are cracking down on people trying to make a pilgrimage without a permit, as the Islamic holy city prepares to host hundreds of thousands of Muslim worshippers. Ahead of the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, authorities have denied access to Mecca to around 270,000 people because they did not have official permits, the Hajj Security Committee said on Sunday. In addition, more than 400 illegal Hajj companies have been discovered, along with more than 5,000 vehicles that were meant to transport unauthorized pilgrims to the holy sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hajj is expected to begin on Wednesday. Nearly 1.5 million people have travelled from abroad to take part. Last year, around 1.8 million people participated. For many Muslims around the world, the Hajj is one of the most important religious experiences of their lives and is also one of the five pillars of Islam. Because the cost for a pilgrim from abroad can be equivalent to $5,700 or significantly more, some try to get to Mecca through unofficial channels. They enter the country as tourists and then visit the holy sites in Mecca and Medina during the pilgrimage without the required Hajj permit. Locals also try to take part in the pilgrimage without authorization. The US Navy canceled a $170 million contract for data migration, citing redundancy and waste. But the decision contradicts goals of cutting fat and improving efficiency, insiders say. The episode shows how officials are scrambling to find large savings despite internal concerns. A US Navy contract to move sailors' server-stored records to a secure cloud system was recently torpedoed as part of DOGE-led cuts that show how top officials are under pressure to find large cost-savings even over the objections of their own organizations. An IT services provider named Pantheon received a $170 million contract last year to relocate the records threatened by flooding from a Tennessee data center to cloud storage. But a top Navy official ordered it to be cut, at the suggestion of Department of Government Efficiency newcomers, over the strenuous warnings of their own personnel officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An internal memo reviewed by BI highlighted that the system that DOGE recommended reverting to has been plagued by delays, a bloated budget, and little to show for it all. Continued "delays have resulted in the Navy having to expend even more resources on legacy systems that are past end of life and do not meet the needs of the Service," the memo said. The Navy's Information Officer argued the contract was duplicative of legacy software, and justified the cancelation with the idea that government workers could do the same cloud migration contractors were then performing. But none of that is true, three sources familiar with the contract said, arguing this was hype from Navy leaders eager to offer up juicy cuts to DOGE officials to boost their own standing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The "decision, driven by demonstrably false and misleading claims, directly contradicts the Administration's goals of cutting waste, improving efficiency, and reforming failing IT programs," a second internal document says. If the archaic data center in Tennessee floods, as Navy HR officials fear, the impact to personnel would be excruciating, sources said, hampering salary payments, recruiting efforts, and stalling promotions. Without such data on hand, it would be impossible to know who is eligible to promote and when, or even how to readily assign qualified troops during a war. The location maintains records for the over 330,000 sailors on active-duty. "We were making good progress," said one Navy official familiar with the efforts, a tough chore considering that dozens of interconnected systems feed data throughout each other system for Pantheon's 500 data workers to map out. The Navy halted their work and canceled the contract earlier this month. Military.com first reported the contract's cancelation last week, and potential impacts to sailors' careers. The modernization efforts were led by the Navy's "N1," the military equivalent of a human resources section that oversees almost all Navy administrative matters, led by Vice Adm. Richard Cheeseman. Sources told BI that oversight passed only recently to the Navy's Chief Information Officer, Jane Rathburn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Internal documents reviewed by BI noted that the CIO's office told DOGE officials that the contract was duplicative, and that the government would be better served relying on old software known colloquially as "NP2." But the Pantheon contract was anything but duplicative, as the CIO claimed, and the company would have saved the Navy hundreds of millions, according to sources. What's more, the old NP2 system has its own problems. Sources said that by the time Pantheon arrived, the legacy software's price tag had ballooned to an eye-watering $1 billion over the last five years in Tennessee, with no real progress to show. One source estimated the actual cost to be closer to $5 billion. Damage to Tennessee servers could impair the US Navy's promotion and advancement systems. Lance Cpl. Jack Labrador/US Marine Corps A source with knowledge of Pantheon's work, and who voiced support for DOGE goals of improved efficiency, noted that the NP2 program requires staffing and oversight from the Navy. He suggested that rendering NP2 obsolete in part by through contracts like Pantheon's could mark some government offices and jobs for elimination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The debacle began to unfold just before Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directed the DoD to curb IT contracts, and instead "in-source more expertise and harness the unparalleled talent of our existing experts," according to a memo released this week. Navy leaders underscored to DOGE officials that government employees could instead tackle the cloud migration efforts. But internal memos decried such a move, noting that government personnel have not performed any of the hundreds of previous migrations, and calling such an idea "not financially responsible." Navy spokesperson Ferry Gene Baylon told Business Insider that the contract was canceled based on recommendations from DOGE. "The Navy is focused on the wellbeing of the men and women who serve as we look to optimize resources essential to Navy personnel systems, pay management, and operational readiness," Baylon wrote in an email, adding that "it would be premature to comment on the details of future contracts." She did not comment on internal memos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sources told BI that Pantheon has already received $30 million of the $170 million total due. Now, it's unclear what will happen next to fix sailors' data, and who will be in charge. That the data in Tennessee will continue to be at-risk rather than proceeding with Pantheon will inevitably hurt sailors, the Navy official said, adding that amid years of recruiting challenges, the service's ability to retain its force depends on paychecks. "If you can't pay them or promote them correctly, you're not going to keep people," the official said. "They're going to leave, rightly so, because they're not being treated the way they deserve to be treated." Read the original article on Business Insider BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) A Baldwin County man has been sentenced for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. UPDATE: Federal Bureau of Prisons responds to Todd Chrisleys allegations about FPC Pensacola According to a news release from the United States Department of Justice, Jack Edward Thomaston, 64, will serve 37 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed the sentence. Jack Edward Thomaston. (Baldwin County Jail View) Court documents and testimony show Baldwin County Sheriffs Office officials arrested Thomaston on Nov. 1, 2024, for a domestic violence report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomaston threatened the victim with a firearm and was arrested with that firearm hours later, according to the USDOJ. USDOJ officials said Thomaston has been convicted of other firearms offenses and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Thomaston will also be on a three-year term of supervision once he is released from prison. This investigation included BCSO and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Teen arrested in Fairhope shooting Assistant U.S. Attorneys Beth Stepan and George May prosecuted the case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5. DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) A special tribunal set up to try Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina began proceedings Sunday by accepting charges of crimes against humanity filed against her in connection with a mass uprising in which hundreds of students were killed last year. The Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal directed investigators to produce Hasina, a former home minister and a former police chief before the court on June 16. Hasina has been in exile in India since Aug. 5, 2024, while former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan is missing and possibly also in India. Former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun has been arrested. Bangladesh sent a formal request to India to extradite Hasina in December. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State-run Bangladesh Television broadcast the court proceedings live. Hasina and her Awami League party had earlier criticized the tribunal and its prosecution team for their connection with political parties, especially with the Jamaat-e-Islami party. In an investigation report submitted on May 12, the tribunals investigators brought five allegations of crimes against humanity against Hasina and the two others during the mass uprising in July-August last year. According to the charges, Hasina was directly responsible for ordering all state forces, her Awami League party and its associates to carry out actions that led to mass killings, injuries, targeted violence against women and children, the incineration of bodies and denial of medical treatment to the wounded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges describe Hasina as the mastermind, conductor, and superior commander of the atrocities. Three days after Hasina's ouster, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus took over as the nation's interim leader. The Yunus-led administration, which has already banned the Awami League party, amended relevant laws to allow for the trial of the former ruling party for its role during the uprising. In February, the U.N. human rights office estimated that up to 1,400 people may have been killed in Bangladesh over three weeks in the crackdown on the student-led protests against Hasina, who ruled the country for 15 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tribunal was established by Hasina in 2009 to investigate and try crimes involving Bangladeshs independence war in 1971. The tribunal under Hasina tried politicians, mostly from the Jamaat-e-Islami party, for their actions during the nine-month war against Pakistan. Aided by India, Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasinas father and the countrys first leader. In a separate development, Bangladeshs Supreme Court on Sunday cleared the path for the Jamaat-e-Islami party to regain its registration as a political party after a decade a decision that would enable the party to take part in elections. The countrys top court overturned a previous High Court verdict and said it is now up to the Election Commission to formally restore the registration of Bangladeshs largest Islamist party and their election symbol. Yunus said his administration would hold the election by June next year, but the Bangladesh Nationalist Party headed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Hasina's archrival, wants the election to be held in December this year. The relation between Zia's party, which is the largest in absence of Hasina's party, and the Yunus-led government has recently been frosty over the polls schedule. Bangladesh has restored the registration of the countrys largest Muslim party, more than a decade after it was banned by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government. Sundays Supreme Court decision means the Jamaat-e-Islami party can now be formally listed with the Election Commission, paving the way for its participation in the next general election, which the interim government has promised to hold by June next year. Jamaat-e-Islami lawyer Shishir Monir said the ruling would allow a democratic, inclusive and multiparty system in the Muslim-majority country of 170 million people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We hope that Bangladeshis, regardless of their ethnicity or religious identity, will vote for Jamaat and that the parliament will be vibrant with constructive debates, Monir told journalists. The party had appealed for a review of a 2013 high court order cancelling its registration after Hasinas government was ousted in August by a student-led nationwide uprising. Hasina, 77, fled to India and is now being tried in absentia over her crackdown last year, described by prosecutors as a systematic attack on protesters, which according to the United Nations, killed up to 1,400 people. Key leader freed The Supreme Court decision on Jamaat-e-Islami came after it overturned a conviction against ATM Azharul Islam, one of the partys key leaders, on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Islam was sentenced to death in 2014 for rape, murder and genocide during Bangladeshs 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. Jamaat-e-Islami supported Pakistan during the war, a role that still sparks anger among many Bangladeshis today. We, as individuals or as a party, are not beyond making mistakes, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman said after Islams conviction was overturned without specifying what he was referring to. We seek your pardon if we have done anything wrong, he said. The partys members were rivals of Hasinas father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of the Awami League, who would become Bangladeshs founding president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hasina banned Jamaat-e-Islami during her tenure and cracked down on its leaders. In May, Bangladeshs interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, banned the Awami League, pending the outcome of legal proceedings over its crackdown on last years mass protests. PURDY, Mo. A business in Barry County has been damaged after a car crashed into the building on Friday, May 30. According to a Purdy Police Department social media post, Redshaw Auto Supply was damaged by a vehicle that struck into the auto parts store on Friday afternoon. Photo courtesy of Purdy Police Department Photo courtesy of Purdy Police Department Photo courtesy of Purdy Police Department Photo courtesy of Purdy Police Department Police say the vehicle was pulling into a parking spot and then accelerated into the building. Greenfield man dies in wreck on U.S. 160 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one was injured during the time of the crash, the post says. Police said the business sustained heavy damage due to 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 KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) A man accused of helping an inmate escape from New Orleans has been arrested by Livingston Parish deputies on multiple drug and contraband charges. Authorities captured Lenton Vanburen, an escapee from the Orleans Parish Jail, on May 26 in the 9600 block of Old Hammond Highway. During the arrest, officers found a key to a room at the Super 6 Inn and Suites. Investigators spoke with hotel staff and learned the room was registered to Vi Duc Nguyen. Surveillance video confirmed Nguyen had reserved the room and was seen entering the stairwell with another individual wearing clothing similar to Vanburens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities arrested Nguyen on charges of simple escape/aggravated escape and accessory after the fact. He was released on bond Friday, according to jail records. Im not going anywhere: Baton Rouge man survives shooting while improving his community According to the Livingston Parish Sheriffs Office, Nguyen also faces the following charges: Manufacture/distribution of Schedule II drugs. Possession of Schedule IV drugs. Distribution/manufacture of Schedule III drugs. Possession of drug paraphernalia. Contraband in a penal institution. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) The Baton Rouge Police Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened early Sunday morning following a traffic stop at the intersection of Winbourne Avenue and Foster Drive. According to police, an officer in a marked unit saw a vehicle run a red light at the intersection around 2:21 a.m. The officer activated his lights and sirens in an attempt to initiate a traffic stop. Several people got out of the vehicle and ran away on foot. At least some of them were armed. Police said the officer pursued the driver of the vehicle, who then pointed an AK-style weapon at him. The officer discharged his weapon, striking the suspect twice. The suspect went to the hospital with injuries which were non-life-threatening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators learned the suspect had finished probation for an earlier armed robbery conviction. BRPD said he will be charged with attempted first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon when he is released from the hospital. Police said more charges may follow as the investigation continues. During the investigation, officers recovered a handgun with an extended magazine near the scene. No officers were injured during the incident, police said. The case remains under investigation. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) Customers and workers at the Crossroads Mall in Beckley were alarmed when they were told to evacuate the premises. Bradley Prosperity Volunteer Fire Department, along with EMS are currently on scene. According to the Fire Department, when the call came in they took serious precautions. A gas company came into the mall to do a routine check. The cause of the evacuation was due to an irritant in the air, possibly such as pepper-spray, not a gas leak. One person sent to the hospital due to breathing issues. No other injuries reported at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. Former Tuba-Zanghariya treasurer inflated salary, embezzled over NIS 1.7 million from local council. A former treasurer of the Tuba-Zanghariya Council wasindicted last week for embezzling millions of shekels from the council's funds over the course of several years, Israel Police announced. The mans sister, 49, and two sons were indicted as well. The announcement came following an investigation by the Northern District Fraud Unit. The suspect is a resident of Tuba-Zanghariya and is 63 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the investigation was opened after an accountant, who was external to the council, was hired to conduct a thorough examination of the management of the council, with a specific focus on workers salaries. Because such a deep-dive was being done into the councils finances and payments, it was discovered that the former treasurer inflated his salary, as well as that of his sisters who also worked in the council, by telling the bank to transfer him one amount, while reporting a different one to the work logs. Another way he inflated his own salary was by creating fictitious employees to be paid, including his two sons, who are 33- and 28-year-old, while he pocketed the money. This went on for several years. Police car at night (photo credit: POLICE SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Between the years 2016 and 2021, NIS 1.7 million was embezzled through these methods: the inflation of salaries and the payment to fictitious employees. A little over one million shekels went into his personal account, while NIS 150,000 went to his sisters, NIS 300,000 to one of his sons, and NIS 137,000 to the other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation became public in January. The treasurer and his family members were detained for questioning by authorities, who searched the treasurers home and council offices for evidence. What were the charges? A week ago, the Northern District Prosecutors Office filed indictments at the Nazareth District Court against the treasurer, his sister, and his two sons, on charges of theft by a public servant, aiding and abetting theft by a public servant, fraud, and money laundering, said police. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that China is withholding critical minerals it agreed to release in a trade deal the country signed with U.S. negotiators last month in Geneva. "What China is doing is they are holding back products that are essential for the industrial supply chains of India, of Europe, and that is not what a reliable partner does," he told CBS host Margaret Brennan on "Face the Nation." Bessent's comments came just days after President Donald Trump slammed China in a post on Truth Social, writing that "China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though Trump has long been critical of China on trade, Trump ratcheted up the brewing trade war against China in early April, triggering a tit for tat that eventually led to an effective halt on all Chinese imports to the United States. American tariffs on China climbed to 145 percent at one point, but in Switzerland, the two sides agreed to roll back their sky-high punitive tariffs for 90 days and continue negotiations. But talks with China are reportedly now stalled. "We will see what the consequences are," Bessent told Brennan. "I am confident that when President Trump and party Chairman Xi [Jinping] have a call, that this will be ironed out. But the fact that they are withholding some of the products that they agreed to release during our agreement maybe it's a glitch in the Chinese system, maybe it's intentional. We'll see after the president speaks with the party chairman." The Treasury secretary told Brennan he believes long-sought-after direct talks between Trump and Xi will occur soon. "I think we're going to let the two principals have a conversation, and then everything will stem from that," Bessent said. Its crunch time for the Supreme Court. By early July, the justices are expected to wrap up their current term, which means that dozens of rulings will be released over the next five weeks. Among the cases yet to be resolved are high-profile battles over medical treatment for transgender children, age-verification rules for porn sites and the rights of religious parents who send their kids to public schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court will next release opinions on Thursday at 8 a.m. MDT. Several more decision days will be added to the calendar before June comes to a close. Although a ruling for any unresolved case can come on any upcoming decision day, the most anticipated opinions may not be released until the last week of June or first week of July, since the Supreme Court often saves its highest-profile rulings for last. Here are five of the biggest issues the court will weigh in on before entering its summer recess. Demonstrators pro and against transgenders rights protest during a rally outside of the Supreme Court, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Washington. The Supreme Court heard arguments on the constitutionality of Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors Wednesday morning. | Jose Luis Magana Medical treatment for transgender minors Case name: U.S. v. Skrmetti Key question(s): The justices are weighing whether Tennessees restrictions on certain gender-related treatments, like puberty blockers and hormone therapy, for transgender children and teens violate the Constitutions equal protection clause by making access to the treatments contingent on a young persons sex at birth. The court is also considering whether the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of appeals used the right legal standard when evaluating the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lower court ruling: The doctor, parents and transgender children who challenged Tennessees law secured a partial victory at the district court level when the court ruled that transgender young people should have access to treatments that remained available to their non-transgender peers. But then the 6th Circuit overturned that decision on appeal, ruling that the policy does not promote sex discrimination. Oral argument date: Dec. 4, 2024 Oral argument observations: In addition to debating Tennessees law and the equal protection clause during oral arguments, the justices discussed research related to gender transitioning. More conservative justices like Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh questioned whether treatments like hormone therapy are safe for transgender minors, arguing that the science seems to be unsettled, as the Deseret News reported at the time. Whats at stake?: The Supreme Courts ruling in U.S. v. Skrmetti could affect around two dozen other states, which similarly regulate gender-related treatments. Age verification on porn sites Case name: Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Key question(s): The overarching question in the case is whether or not a Texas law aimed at keeping young people from accessing porn sites violates the First Amendment rights of the sites adult users. However, the Supreme Court ruling may focus on a narrower question about what legal standard should be used to evaluate challenged age-verification laws. Lower court ruling: Those challenging Texas law won at the district court level, but then the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned part of that decision and allowed the age-verification rules to take effect. Judges who have ruled against the law say it violates free speech protections. Oral argument date: Jan. 15, 2025 Oral argument takeaways: A majority of justices seemed interested in sending the case back to the lower courts for reconsideration under a different legal standard. Many also noted that Supreme Court precedent on pornography regulation is difficult to apply to the modern context. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats at stake?: As in U.S. v. Skrmetti, the courts ruling could force changes to or at least reconsideration of similar laws in around 20 other states. Reverse discrimination Case name: Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services Key question(s): Should members of a majority group, such as straight, white males, have to meet a higher burden of proof when alleging employment discrimination? Lower court ruling: Marlean Ames, a straight, white woman, accused her employer of discrimination in a 2020 lawsuit. She lost at a preliminary stage in front of multiple courts, which said that she wouldnt be able to meet the higher burden of proof required for her case to move forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oral argument date: Feb. 26, 2025 Oral argument takeaways: Most of the justices seemed to sympathize with Ames and want to make it clear that job discrimination claims from members of majority groups should be assessed the same way as claims from members of minority groups. Whats at stake?: A ruling for Ames could further complicate the debate over Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, or DEI, programs that have ramped up since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. A selection of books featuring LGBTQ characters that are part of a Supreme Court case are pictured, Tuesday, April, 15, 2025, in Washington. | Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Associated Press Religious freedom protections in public schools Case name: Mahmoud v. Taylor Key question(s): Does the Montgomery County Board of Education in Maryland need to allow religious parents to opt their kids out of reading storybooks that explore LGBTQ issues like gender identity? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lower court ruling: At the district and circuit levels, the school board successfully defended its decision to stop offering opt-outs from its inclusive storybook program. The courts said students arent being coerced into changing their beliefs, so the program doesnt violate the First Amendments religious exercise protections. Oral argument date: April 22, 2025 Oral argument takeaways: The justices got into the weeds during oral arguments and actually debated the moral message conveyed by one of the books being used in Montgomery County schools, as the Deseret News previously reported. Some also raised concerns that a ruling for the parents would create curriculum chaos nationwide. Whats at stake?: That depends on who you ask. The parents supporters believe restoring the opt-out option would bring Montgomery County schools in line with schools across the country. Their opponents say it would lead to a surge in parental interference with public school teachers. Birthright citizenship and nationwide injunctions Case name: Trump v. CASA Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Key question(s): Although the case stems from Trumps executive order on birthright citizenship, the question in front of the Supreme Court is not about that orders content, but, instead, about when lower courts can hand down universal injunctions that block implementation of a policy nationwide. Lower court ruling: Multiple lower courts have issued universal injunctions that have prevented the birthright citizenship order from taking effect. The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to limit the scope of those injunctions by making them apply only to the states, cities and people involved in the legal battle. Oral arguments date: May 15, 2025 Oral argument observations: Several justices took issue with the U.S. solicitor generals claims during oral arguments, including some who have expressed frustration with nationwide injunctions in the past. It seemed like the court might release a ruling that generally discouraged nationwide injunctions, but allowed the ones blocking the birthright citizenship order to remain in place, as the Deseret News previously reported. Whats at stake?: All future administrations have a stake in the case, since leaders from both parties have come to see universal injunctions as roadblocks standing in the way of their policy agendas. But those same leaders are often grateful for injunctions when their party is not in power. Former President Bill Clinton said former President Joe Biden was on top of things when he was asked about Bidens alleged cognitive decline during an interview on CBS Sunday Morning. While speaking with correspondent Tracy Smith, Clinton was asked about the bombshell book Original Sin written by CNNs Jake Tapper and Axios journalist Alex Thompson, which claims that Bidens aides covered up the politicians declining cognitive and physical health during his ill-fated reelection campaign. A Biden spokesperson acknowledged in a statement to Axios last month that there were physical changes as [Biden] got older, but insisted that evidence of aging is not evidence of mental incapacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Smith asked Clinton if he had ever had a moment with [Biden] where he felt that he was unfit to run for president, Clinton responded, No. I thought he was a good president. The only concern I thought he had to deal with was, could anybody do that job until they were 86? Clinton continued, referring to Bidens age. Wed had several long talks. I had never seen him and walked away thinking he cant do this anymore. Clinton added: He was always on top of his briefs. Smith then pressed Clinton, asking again if he ever witnessed any cognitive decline in Biden, prompting Clinton to firmly reply no. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharing that he saw Biden not very long ago, Clinton said that he thought he was in good shape. Clinton went on to reveal that he didnt read Tapper and Thompsons book because he believes that some people are using it as a way to blame Biden for Trump being reelected for a second presidency term. I didnt want to because hes not president anymore, and I think he did a good job, Clinton explained. And I think we are facing challenges today with our president in our history. Some people are trying to use this as a way to blame him for the fact that Trump was reelected. Bidens health was a major concern among voters while he was in the White House, particularly following his disastrous debate performance in June 2024 while seeking reelection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden eventually withdrew his candidacy for a second term, with then-Vice President Kamala Harris taking over as the democratic presidential nominee. Harris lost to Republican nominee Trump, who returned to the White House for a second term in January 2025. Last month, Biden announced that he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. The announcement subsequently sparked further questions about what health issues the former president was potentially battling while he was in the White House. Watch a clip from Clintons interview on CBS Sunday Mornings here. Related... A legislative effort to scrap the STAAR test to respond to concerns that the test puts unnecessary pressure on students died in the last days of the legislative session. House Bill 4, authored by state Rep. Brad Buckley, would have swapped the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test for three shorter tests given throughout the school year. The Senate and House failed to come out of closed-door negotiations with a compromise in time, missing a key legislative deadline this weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legislators in the House and Senate agreed that Texas schools needed to do away with the STAAR test. But in the end, the two chambers could not close the gulf over what they wanted to see out of the new test and from the A-F ratings system, which uses standardized test results to grade schools performance. Tensions had come to a head in recent years when a dispute over how ratings should be calculated led to two years of scores to be held up in court. The Senate wanted to solidify the Texas Education Agency commissioners authority to set stricter standards for the ratings system. And to discourage schools from taking legal action again, the upper chambers version of the bill gave the TEA commissioner authority to appoint a conservator to districts that initiate lawsuits. The House version, meanwhile, required the TEA to get approval from the Legislature before making major changes to the ratings system. And it left an avenue for districts to sue to challenge the TEA in the future, while setting up a fast-track court process so those lawsuits would not halt the release of the ratings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two chambers also differed over whether to keep or do away with a mandatory social studies test, with the House in favor of less testing. The session started with nearly identical versions of the legislation in the House and Senate, but when senators slammed school districts in committee hearings and on the chamber floor for participating in the recent lawsuits, few superintendents came out to testify in front of the Senate Education Committee. Instead, the school leaders were in talks with House representatives about their lack of trust in the states accountability and testing systems. The Houses rewrite of the legislation to reflect school leaders concerns eventually came late in the session, leaving little time for negotiations between the chambers to reach a compromise. To the Texas State Teachers Association, the current high-stakes STAAR test takes instructional time away from the classroom and is not an accurate measure of student success. But the group was holding their breath when the two chambers were in closed-door negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We think we are better off that there is no bill at all than what the Senate wanted to do, said Clay Robison, a spokesperson for the group. We thought the Senate gave far too much authority to the unelected state commissioner. The Texas Tribune partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Disclosure: Texas State Teachers Association has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. 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! EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The Texas Senate adopted the conference committee reports for both the House and Senate budget bills on Saturday, May 31, state Sen. Cesar Blancos office said in a news release. The state budget contained more than $146 million for projects in the El Paso area, said Blanco, a Democrat who represents the El Paso region in the state Senate. Blanco said the state budget and supplemental appropriations act contained the following funding that will benefit El Paso: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement $65 million to construct the Fox Cancer Center ($130 million to date) $50 million for the construction of a mental health facility $20 million for the Mining Engineering Program at UTEP $14 million for the El Paso Surface Water Augmentation Project $10 million for the I-10 Deck Park Plaza Project $8 million for UTEP to partner with NASA $7 million to replace the Wyler Aerial Tramway ($27 million to date) $5 million for the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank $2 million for the preservation of the Rio Vista Farm National Historic Landmark $1 million for the Far West Texas Regional Public Defender Sustainability Grants Blanco issued the following statement about the state budget: I fought hard to make sure El Pasos needs were front and center in this budget, and Im proud of what we delivered. This state budget makes bold, lasting investments in El Pasos future. From cancer treatment and mental health care to water infrastructure, UTEP, and food security, this funding reflects the pocketbook issues working families care about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to thank Senate Finance Chair Joan Huffman and the budget conferees for their support in securing these critical priorities. These investments are about making El Paso more affordable, expanding opportunity, protecting our health and safety, and building for long-term growth. This budget is a major win for our region, and Im proud to have championed these efforts for our 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 KTSM 9 News. By Julie Steenhuysen CHICAGO (Reuters) -Treating breast cancer patients with AstraZeneca's experimental pill camizestrant at the first sign of resistance to standard therapies cut the risk of disease progression or death by half, a finding that could be practice changing, experts said on Sunday. The results, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, mark the first use of a blood test called a liquid biopsy to indicate the need for a change in treatment in women with a common form of breast cancer, even before tumor growth can be detected on imaging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The early switch approach in women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer resulted in a 56% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death, said Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, an oncologist at Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Care and an ASCO breast cancer expert. "When patients progress on scans, we're already behind," Teplinsky said at a media briefing. She said an early switch approach, before disease progression, allows doctors "to essentially stay ahead of the curve." Camizestrant is not yet FDA-approved, but Teplinsky said she believes the data will likely result in a new treatment paradigm. The trial involved 3,256 patients with advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, the most common type in which hormones such as estrogen fuel cancer growth. These cancers lack high levels of HER2, another cancer driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Women in the trial had at least six months of treatment with aromatase inhibitors that block hormones fueling the cancer, as well as targeted drugs called CDK4/6 inhibitors such as Novartis' Kisqali, Pfizer's Ibrance or Eli Lilly's Verzenio, which block an enzyme that fuels cancer growth. About 40% of patients treated with aromatase inhibitors develop mutations in the estrogen receptor 1 gene called ESR1 mutations, a sign of early drug resistance. Camizestrant and similar drugs called selective estrogen receptor degraders, or SERDS, block estrogen receptor signaling in cancer cells. In the trial, researchers used blood tests to look for ESR1 mutations until 315 patients were identified. They were randomly assigned to either switch to camizestrant plus the CDK4/6 inhibitor or continue with standard treatment plus a placebo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The researchers found that it took 16 months for the disease to progress in women who got camizestrant, compared with 9.2 months in those who continued on standard therapy, a statistically significant difference in a measure known as progression-free survival. No new side effects were reported and few patients from either group dropped out due to side effects. "This is going to be very impactful for our patients," said Dr. Hope Rugo, head of breast medical oncology at City of Hope in Duarte, California. The question, she said, is how do doctors incorporate the testing into clinical practice. THE FUTURE OF CANCER TREATMENT Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AstraZeneca Chief Executive Pascal Soriot in a press briefing acknowledged that monitoring patients for drug resistance before cancer progresses would require a switch in practice, but said it represents the future of cancer treatment. "It will be complicated in the beginning," he said, "but over time, like everything else, we will manage to simplify it and it will become part of what people do." In a separate trial, adding AstraZeneca's immunotherapy Imfinzi to standard treatment before and after surgery in patients with early-stage stomach and esophageal cancers helped delay cancer progression or recurrence compared to chemotherapy alone. The global study of nearly 950 patients tested Imfinzi, known chemically as durvalumab, in combination with a chemotherapy regimen called FLOT given around the time of initial cancer surgery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The durvalumab plus FLOT combination led to a 29% reduction in disease recurrence, progression or death, referred to as event-free survival, compare with those who received the chemotherapy regimen alone. "We demonstrate that immunotherapy works in early-stage disease, which is great," lead study author Dr. Yelena Janjigian of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York told reporters at the meeting. "We did not see any new safety signals, so this will change practice for our patients, which is exciting to see." Both studies were also published on Sunday in the New England Journal of Medicine. (Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bill Berkrot) BLOOMFIELD, N.M. (KRQE) Bloomfield Chief of Police Phillip Francisco announced Sunday that Bloomfield police Officer Timothy Ontiveros died from injuries sustained after being shot during a traffic stop. Ontiveros was shot in the neck and shoulder by 58-year-old Dennis Armenta. A fellow officer returned fire, killing Armenta. Ontiveros was later taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital on Tuesday, where he received treatment. Were really sad and disheartened on the current events that happened with Officer Ontiveross injuries. A valiant effort was made to bring him back and recover from his injuries, but unfortunately, he lost that battle today, said Chief Francisco. Speaking on Ontiveros, Chief Francisco said, He was a very likeable person. He was very calm, very approachable. Actually, he had only been with our department for six months; in that time, he got accommodations from citizens about his demeanor, how professional and approachable he was. Hes a fighter: Family describes Bloomfield officer fighting for life after traffic stop shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ontiveros had been with the Bloomfield Police Department since December 2024 and had also worked with the Farmington Police Department. He had also worked as a volunteer firefighter with the Aztec Fire Department since 2017. Ontiveros is expected to be transferred to the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator sometime on Sunday. Funeral arrangements have not been made yet. The New Mexico Department of Public Safety sent this statement: It is with profound sorrow and heavy hearts that we bid farewell to Officer Timothy Ontiveros of the Bloomfield Police Department. Since the tragic events of Monday night, Officer Ontiveros has fought with extraordinary courage, supported by tireless medical professionals at UNMH and steadfastly watched over by members of the New Mexico State Police. Our deepest condolences go out to Officer Ontiveross family, friends, and loved ones. We also stand in solidarity with the Bloomfield Police Department and the entire Bloomfield community during this incredibly painful time. Officer Ontiveros served with dedication, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to protecting others. His bravery and sacrifice will never be forgotten. The Department of Public Safety joins our law enforcement family and communities across New Mexico in mourning the loss of a true public servant. We will continue to stand with Bloomfield PD and Officer Ontiveross loved ones in the difficult days ahead. Secretary Jason R. Bowie, New Mexico Department of Public Safety 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. Boise confronts growth: 7 articles examine housing, hazards and public needs Stories by Idaho Statesman journalists, with AI summarization Boise is tackling complex challenges as its population grows and needs intensify. A Boise State study shows supportive housing like New Path has saved $9 million in emergency services, but homelessness is rising as affordable housing remains scarce. Residents have voiced concerns over dense developments like the 200-apartment building on Federal Way and worry about safety in fire-prone neighborhoods with only a single road for evacuation. Climate change is also taking a toll, with extreme heat and wildfire smoke halting road maintenance projects. Amid these pressures, the city weighs historic preservation against redevelopment, as seen with the threatened demolition of the Nathan Smith House and approval of new infill apartments. The Oct. 30 Leeds Fire burned around 350 acres in Southeast Boise and neared residents homes in the Sunny Ridge subdivision off Columbia Road, about two miles from the Micron campus. This photo from Rachaelle Larsen-Grimsruds backyard shows the flames near her home. NO. 1: FIRES IN A GROWING PART OF BOISE COULD TRAP RESIDENTS. WHY IS THERE ONLY ONE ROAD OUT? Hundreds of residents of three subdivisions in Southeast Boise near Micron have only one escape route: Columbia Road. Developers have plans for more homes. | Published November 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Nick Rosenberger The New Path apartment building, at 2200 W. Fairview Ave. in Boise, houses people who previously were chronically homeless. NO. 2: A STUDY SAYS BOISES APARTMENTS FOR THE HOMELESS WORK. SO WHY IS HOMELESSNESS STILL RISING? January count shows 14% jump in homelessness in Ada County since last year. Official says rising housing cost, lack of housing stock drive the increase. | Published November 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Sarah Cutler Ada County Highway Department workers on a chip-spreader vehicle distribute gravel over a polymer-infused oil while performing chipseal work on South 12th Street in Boise in 2015. Several rubber-tire roller vehicles follow the chip spreader and push the gravel into the oil. NO. 3: CLIMATE CHANGE TAKES AN UNEXPECTED TOLL ON ADA COUNTY ROAD MAINTENANCE. THIS IS HOW 2024 was an abnormal year, but it may become the new normal, a top Ada County Highway District official says. | Published November 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Sarah Cutler Boises The Cabin literary nonprofit plans to renovate its 1940-built log building and add an amphitheater called Henrys Storytelling Grove after Boise resident Henry Reents, who passed away in 2023. This rendering shows the future amphitheater looking west, toward the Boise River Greenbelt. The Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial is out of frame at right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NO. 4: THIS HISTORIC BUILDING WILL CHANGE AS A POPULAR CORNER OF DOWNTOWN BOISE GETS A MAKEOVER The Cabin, a long-running literary arts nonprofit that has attracted national and international talent, is expanding near the Boise River Greenbelt. | Published January 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nick Rosenberger The Boise City Council rejected an appeal of this 4- and 5-story, nearly 200-unit apartment building from Boises Hawkins Cos. at 1095 S. Federal Way on the edge of the Boise Bench. Neighbors argued that the building was too tall, was too dense, would negatively impact them, would add traffic hazards and that it didnt fit into the neighborhood. This rendering shows the building from the southwest corner of Kootenai and Pico streets. NO. 5: BOISEANS OPPOSED THIS 200-APARTMENT BUILDING. THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED IT ANYWAY. WHY? Neighbors argued the building was too tall, was too dense and didnt fit the character of the neighborhood. It could start going up near Boise State University soon. | Published February 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nick Rosenberger School officials and neighbors have voiced concern over dust that will be generated as two buildings are planned for demolition across Linden Street from White Pine Elementary and Timberline High School in East Boise. By Darin Oswald NO. 6: HOW THE BOISE SCHOOL BOARD JUST SURPRISED NEIGHBORS ANGERED BY A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT Hundreds of Boiseans opposed the project, saying it could expose children to asbestos, cause traffic headaches and change the neighborhood. The Boise School District voted to buy it instead. | Published February 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nick Rosenberger The Nathan Smith House is listed with the National Register of Historic Places at 2315 S. Broadway Ave. in Boise. It survived a fire on Nov. 28, on the lot where a new development is planned around the structure. The house was built in 1900 by Tourtellotte and Hummel, the same firm that designed the Idaho Statehouse and Boise High School. By Darin Oswald NO. 7: A HISTORIC BOISE HOME COULD BE DEMOLISHED OVER SAFETY CONCERNS. WHAT HAPPENED? Fire damage makes it impossible to justify the financial implications, according to a Boise construction company. But with enough money anything can be repaired. | Published May 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nick Rosenberger The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Customs and Border Protection officers interrupted a cocaine smuggling network near El Paso. Our homeland security mission is never ending and every drug load that we prevent from reaching its intended destination makes a difference, said Roy Provencio, port director for CBP El Paso, in a press release. CBP officers at the Bridge of the Americas seized 45.2 pounds of cocaine enough to overdose more than 17,000 people on May 27, according to the release. The drugs were hidden in a car driven by an American citizen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 20-year-old woman arrived from Mexico at the border crossing in a 2016 Hyundai Elantra at 8 a.m., according to the release. A CBP officer sent the vehicle for a secondary exam. A CBP drug-sniffing dog searched the car and alerted officers to the presence of narcotics, the release reads. Officers found several wrapped bundles in the cars rocker panels below the vehicle doors and between the wheels according to the release. An X-ray confirmed anomalies in the left and right rocker panels. Ultimately, CBP officers removed 19 bundles of cocaine from the hidden compartments. They arrested the woman, who they turned over to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office to face charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every day our dedicated CBP workforce stands guard protecting our community from any and all threats, Provencio said in the release. Officials are pursuing charges for manufacturing/delivery of controlled substance, CBP Public Affairs Specialist Roger Maier told The Dallas Express. Maier declined to provide the womans identity and referred further questions to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office. The Dallas Express contacted the sheriffs office, but a staff member at the jail declined to comment. Boston police have arrested a 44-year-old Boston man following a drug bust in Dorchester Bodio Hutchinson has been charged with: Distribution of Class B (Crack Cocaine) Possession with Intent to Distribute Class B Possession with Intent to Distribute Class B (Subsequent Offense) Police conducted a drug interdiction operation back on Tuesday after an increasing number of complaints from the community about open drug use and distribution in the area of 6 Lyndhurst Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance teams saw people loitering in front of the address and witnessed behavior consistent with street-level drug transactions. Police deployed an undercover officer, who was giving documented buy money, and went up to a suspect, identified as Hutchinson, and retrieved a plastic bag believed to be crack cocaine. Officers took Hutchinson into custody. While doing so, officers noticed a plastic bag containing four smaller baggies of crack cocaine was located next to where he had been sitting, along with his personal belongings. During a subsequent search, officers recovered an additional 26 baggies from the suspects back pocket, as well as a medium-sized plastic bag of crack cocaine concealed inside a cigarette box. Officers also seized an undisclosed amount of U.S. currency totaling $119, which included the previously marked buy money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hutchinson is expected to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court at an unspecified date. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW This morning, at the Boston Teachers Union (BTU) headquarters, 76 high school seniors were awarded $2,000 scholarships, totaling more than $150,000. The annual scholarship event brought together community members from across the city to celebrate the graduating seniors from all Boston Public Schools. Every student honored plans to pursue higher education, a goal BTU leaders are proud of. Were really excited, this is such a celebratory time of year, said Erik Berg, President of the BTU. We want to support our young people as they head off into the rest of their lives with a little something that makes college more manageable. We know its difficult, and were proud to support our schools and community in this way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the recipients was graduating senior Shiloh McLeod, who expressed heartfelt gratitude. Im very fortunate and blessed, she said. Im grateful that [my mom] is a teacher, so that I was able to get the scholarship. Im just really thankful. The BTU awards scholarships to both students citywide and to children of union members, making the moment especially sweet for McLeods mother, Simone, a longtime Boston Public Schools teacher. Its totally amazingthe impact of the BTU and all that theyre doing, she said. Im really grateful. Im a public school graduate myself, shout out to Madison Park High, and to see not only my daughter, but other students in our community receiving this support to prepare for collegeits just beautiful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With just a few weeks left until graduation, these scholarship recipients have their eyes on the future, with some financial assistance and support of their loved ones. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW UPDATE: MIAMI, Okla. Were learning more about what authorities tell us was an officer-involved shooting in downtown Miami, Oklahoma. According to authorities, around 9 p.m. Saturday (5/31), the subject had been witnessed walking past the Mia Bella Italian Kitchen multiple times, was sitting outside, and subsequently walked up to the door before firing rounds into the restaurant. After officers arrived on the scene, they say they confronted the subject, and gunfire was exchanged. After the initial shots were fired, a foot pursuit ensued. Multiple shots were exchanged between law enforcement and the subject. The subject was shot and is in custody, being medically transported by helicopter to a Tulsa, Oklahoma hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities say there is no immediate threat to the public at this time. Multiple agencies are at the scene, including the Miami Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Quapaw Nation Marshals, and the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office. The area is anticipated to be closed until after daylight, as police tell us whenever an officer-involved shooting occurs, the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigations is called, who will begin their process of working the scene. Police say that although the caliber of the weapon has not been identified at this time, it was a handgun. Authorities say that the subject was shot three times, once in the arm, once in the hand, and once in the leg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police tell us they have not had the opportunity to interview the subject, as he has been transported by medical helicopter to Tulsa. Police are searching for additional video footage of the incident and are knocking on doors in the neighborhood to gather any potential video from residents, as well as contacting store owners to request surveillance footage. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Miami Police Department at 918-542-5585 PREVIOUS: MIAMI, Okla. We have a reporter on the scene of what authorities say is an officer-involved shooting in Miami, Oklahoma. As of 10:45 p.m., Saturday night, there is currently a heavy police presence, including members of the Miami Police Department, Quapaw Nation Marshals, with additional law enforcement en route. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities have placed markers on Main Street in front of Mia Bella Italian Kitchen. Crime scene tape has been placed on the blocks perimeter. ORIGINAL: MIAMI, Okla. An officer-involved shooting has occurred in downtown Miami, officials say. According to officials, on Saturday evening, an officer-involved shooting occurred in downtown Miami, near the Mia Bella Italian Kitchen, McDonalds, and 7 Brew Coffee. Few details have been released at this time, however, officials say the suspect has been flown by helicopter to an area hospital and that there is currently no active threat to the community. This is a developing story, and we will continue to bring you more information as it becomes available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. ST. LOUIS One man brought an entire St. Louis neighborhood to a standstill this weekend. A street was shut down, thousands gathered, and a celebration unlike any other unfolded all in the name of a legacy that touched countless lives. More than 2,400 people filled Macklind Avenue on Saturday for Brian McKenna Day, a community event honoring the life and impact of former sportscaster Brian McKenna. Lawn chairs lined the block, and music from the 80s and 90s floated through the air as the city came together to remember someone who left behind not just memories, but a mission. Brian did stuff all the time! Every day people didnt have any idea that he was doing charitable stuff something nobody else would really do, said JC Corcoran, longtime radio co-host and event emcee. The street party was both joyful and emotional, filled with dancing, laughter, food, and tributes to a man remembered for his quiet generosity and signature smile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Body cam video reveals new details in viral North County K-9 incident Brian McKenna was the brother of FOX 2s editor Bill McKenna. Many from the FOX 2 family including anchors Andy Banker, Ty Hawkins, and Rob Schmitt joined the crowd in honoring him. His lifes mission was making the world a better place, said Lindsay McKenna, Brians niece. Every person he would interact with, he was trying to make their day better He did so many different kinds of volunteering. He put so much effort into making people have a better life! Some of Brians favorite restaurants and bars sponsored the event, a nod to his love of good food, good company, and giving back. Even children in attendance shared heartfelt memories. Brian was a sweet and innocent soul. He was very kind to others, said young attendee Amelia Naes. He was really nice to me, added Auggie McKenna. Brians influence extended far beyond family and friends. Many fans of his radio show came out to show their appreciation. He was just very animated. He brought life to every broadcast, said John L., a longtime supporter. Anytime you talked to him about anything, he made you smile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Very good looking, charismatic, wonderful smile and what I remember most about him is that he projected love into the world. Whoever he met, he was your friend, added another attendee. As the sun set over Macklind Avenue, attendees said the celebration felt exactly like Brian himself warm, full of life, and unforgettable. And while Brian McKenna may be gone, the love he spread continues to ripple through the St. Louis community. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTVI. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTVI staff before being published. 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. > < 21:22 Bengal reports 82 new Covid infections since Saturday, active cases rise to 287 File image West Bengal reported 82 new COVID infections in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of active cases in the current wave to 287 in the state, the ministry of health and family welfare said on Sunday. Six persons were discharged from hospitals during the period after they tested... Read more > 21:18 7 Guj cops 'fake' encounter of man, minor son in 2021 Representational image An FIR has been registered against seven policemen, including a sub-inspector, for allegedly killing a man and his 14-year-old son in an alleged fake encounter in Gujarat's Surendranagar district in 2021, officials said on Sunday. Following a court order, the Bajana police registered the FIR... Read more > 21:12 Chhattisgarh liquor scam: Businessman Vijay Bhatia arrested The Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offence Wing of the Chhattisgarh police arrested businessman Vijay Bhatia in New Delhi in connection with an alleged liquor scam. He was presented in the court of the judicial magistrate first class in Raipur on Sunday, which remanded him to one-day... Read more > 21:09 'Fake news': BJP says no plan to use Col Qureshi, Wg Cdr Vyomika as party's campaign faces Col Sofia Qureshi (L) and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh (R) at a media briefing/Reuters The BJP on Sunday said that it has no plans to use Col Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh as party's campaign faces. This came after a media report claimed that Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh, who led India's press briefings on Operation Sindoor, will be the faces of an... Read more > 20:48 Padmanabhaswamy Temple to hold rare 'Maha Kumbhabhishekam' after 270 yrs The famous Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala is set to witness a rare consecration ritual after 270 years, an official said. Maha Kumbhabhishekam (Grand Consecration) will take place next week following the recent completion of long-overdue renovation work at this ancient... Read more > 20:26 Bad weather: 4 flights diverted, delays hit Delhi airport File image A total of four flights were diverted and scores of flights were delayed at the Delhi airport due to inclement weather conditions on Sunday evening. A source said that due to adverse weather, one flight each to Chandigarh and Amritsar, and two flights were diverted to Jaipur between 5 pm and... Read more > 20:02 Delhi Metro introduces priority frisking for special category passengers File image The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, in coordination with the Central Industrial Security Force, has introduced a Priority Frisking initiative at all metro stations to enhance the travel experience for special category passengers.This initiative will benefit the specially-abled, pregnant women,... Read more > 19:52 4 more Covid cases in Gurugram; tally rises 23 File image Four more people were diagnosed with coronavirus infection in Gurugram on Sunday, a health department official said. So far, 23 people have been diagnosed as such during the latest resurgence of the COVID. Twelve of them are active cases. All these people have mild symptoms and... Read more > 19:20 Kanimozhi-led delegation pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in Spain Kanimozhi-led delegation pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi in Spain/ANI Photo All party delegation-led by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Madrid. The delegation is on the final leg of its multi-nation visit as part of Modi government's big diplomatic outreach following operation Sindoor.The... Read more > 19:06 Siberia reports first drone attack by Ukraine Ukrainian soldiers on their way to the battlefront/File image Russia's Irkutsk region governor has confirmed its first-ever drone attack in Siberia by Ukraine, according to a report by state-backed media outlet Russia Today (RT). The attack reportedly targeted a military unit in the region. Authorities have mobilised army and civilian responders... Read more > 18:56 Mamta Kulkarni visits Kalki Dham in UP as sadhvi Actress-turned-sadhvi Mamta Kulkarni (right)/File image Actress-turned-sadhvi Mamta Kulkarni visited the Kalki Dham in Sambhal on Sunday and donated a stone. The former starlet, who was made Maha Mandaleshwar of Kinnar Akhara, was accompanied by Kalki Peethadheeshwar Acharya Shri Pramod Krishnam. She later spoke to journalists detailing her... Read more > 18:48 Two minor victims of CNG cylinder blast in Delhi succumb to injuries Two minor siblings who suffered severe burn injuries following a CNG cylinder explosion at a godown in northeast Delhi's Sunder Nagri area died during treatment on Sunday, the police said. The blast at the storage and repair unit on the ground floor of a four-storey residential building left... Read more > 18:33 Selective enforcement: BJP slams Mamata govt over arrest of influencer The BJP on Sunday slammed the West Bengal government over the arrest of influencer Sharmishta Panoli, accusing the Trinamool Congress dispensation of targeting the young Hindu woman to appease its vote bank. According to sources, the West Bengal police arrested 22-year-old Panoli from... Read more > 18:20 Five killed in road crash in Himachal's Mandi Five people were killed and one sustained serious injuries when the pickup vehicle they were travelling in rammed into the railings of a bridge here on Sunday, the police said. The accident took place when the vehicle was on its way from Ludhiana in Punjab to IIT-Mandi. According to... Read more > 17:59 Tripura floods: 1,300 families shifted to relief camps amid incessant rainfall Rescue operations are underway after a flood, in Agartala on Sunday/ANI Photo Around 1,300 families have taken shelter in government-run relief camps across West Tripura district following incessant rainfall over the past two days that has triggered severe flooding in several parts of the region.Incessant rainfall over the past two days has led to severe flooding across... Read more > 17:36 DRI seizes banned meth tablets worth Rs 9.72 cr in Mizoram, one held File image The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has seized banned methamphetamine tablets worth Rs 9.72 crore from Mizoram, and one person has been arrested in this connection, an official statement said on Sunday. The seizure was made on May 30 as officials of DRI found 10 packets, containing 9.72... Read more > 17:11 IndiGo places firm order for another 30 A350 planes IndiGo on Sunday announced placing a firm order for another 30 wide-body A350 planes with Airbus, taking the total number of such aircraft to 60. In April last year, the airline placed a firm order for 30 A350 aircraft and there was an option to order 70 more such planes. At a briefing... Read more > 16:55 Punjab police bust terror, extortion module with arrest of 2 File image The Punjab police on Sunday claimed to have dismantled a terror and extortion module linked to an operative of proscribed outfit Babbar Khalsa International with the arrest of two people. Director general of police Gaurav Yadav said BKI member Jeevan Fauji was orchestrating an extortion... Read more > 16:39 Baloch rebels claim total control of Surab City The Balocho rebels/ANI Photo In a significant escalation of the ongoing Baloch insurgency, the Baloch Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for a large-scale armed operation in Surab city, asserting complete control over the area and targeting key state installations. According to a statement released by BLA... Read more > 16:30 Mamata opposing Operation Sindoor to appease Muslim vote bank: Amit Shah Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a blistering attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of opposing Operation Sindoor and the Waqf Amendment Act to appease the Muslim vote bank. Shah, addressing party leaders and workers in Kolkata, also alleged that the... Read more > 15:50 British Airways plans new India flights, eyes cargo opportunities from India-UK FTA British Airways, which has been flying to India for more than 100 years, will look to further expand routes and frequency of flights as well as tap the cargo opportunities from the India-UK free trade agreement, the airline's chairman and CEO, Sean Doyle has said. Currently, the airline... Read more > 15:25 B'desh tribunal indicts ex-PM Hasina for mass murder Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday indicted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two others on several charges, including mass murder, for their alleged role in the violent crackdown on student-led protests last year. Sunday's proceedings marked the start of Hasina's... Read more > 15:19 Andhra Pradesh reverts to fair price shop format to supply ration File image The Telugu Desam Party-led National Democratic Alliance government in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday reverted to the old format of supplying rations through fair price shops. Recently the N Chandrababu Naidu-led government scrapped doorstep delivery of ration through Mobile Delivery Units (MDU... Read more > 15:13 Defence ministry announces essay competition themed on Op Sindoor The ministry of defence on Sunday announced an essay competition themed on Operation Sindoor that will run from June 1-30.The ministry, in a post on X, said the top three winners will receive a cash reward of Rs 10,000 each and get an exclusive chance to attend the 78th Independence Day... Read more > 14:30 Mukhtar Ansari's son disqualified from UP assembly MLA Abbas Ansari/File image UP MLA Abbas Ansari, son of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari has been disqualified as a member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly after he was convicted in a hate speech case, official sources said on Sunday. Abbas Ansari was MLA from Mau assembly constituency. The seat... Read more > 14:13 UP college faculty member booked for sending 'obscene' messages to student File image A member of the faculty at an Aligarh college was booked for allegedly sending obscene messages to a female student, the police said on Sunday.The matter had been simmering for the past two days, with students led by members of BJP Yuva Morcha and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad calling for... Read more > 13:54 'Bhool Chuk Maaf' starring Rajkummar Rao earns Rs 54.12 cr at box office Rajkummar Rao-starrer Bhool Chuk Maaf has crossed Rs 50 crore net at the domestic box office, the makers announced on Sunday.Produced by Dinesh Vijan under his banner Maddock Films, Bhool Chuk Maaf is directed by Karan Sharma. Also starring Wamiqa Gabbi, the film released in... Read more > 13:22 India's ultra-rich population to rise 50% by 2028: Report Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com India will witness the world's fastest growth in the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals, with their population expected to surge by 50 percent between 2023 and 2028, according to a report by McKinsey & Company and BoF. The state of fashion luxury report says that the Indian... Read more > 13:06 India's forex reserves jump about $7 billion in week ending May 23 India's foreign exchange reserves (forex) jumped $6.992 billion to $692.721 billion in the week ending May 23, official data released by the Reserve Bank of India showed.Estimates suggest that India's foreign exchange reserves sufficiently cover approximately 10-12 months of projected... Read more > 12:54 Jairam Ramesh questions govt over CDS' statements on Op Sindoor Congress MP Jairam Ramesh Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Sunday expressed disappointment that the Defence minister did not share crucial information with opposition leaders in two all-party meetings, following recent comments made by Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan in Singapore.He further questioned why the... Read more > 12:37 Tharoor-led all-party delegation reaches Brazil A high-level all-party parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor arrived in Brazil on Sunday to convey India's strong national consensus and resolute stance in the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The delegation, which arrived here... Read more > 12:15 Dalit family attacked in UP over wedding event in hall File image A group of men allegedly attacked a Dalit family with sticks and rods for holding a wedding ceremony in a hall in Rasra, Uttar Pradesh, the police said on Sunday. Two persons were seriously injured in the incident on Friday, they said. Being from a Dalit community, how can you hold a... Read more > 12:01 One dies as heavy rain lashes Agartala A man died after he fell into a manhole as incessant rain caused massive inundation across Tripura with the state's capital Agartala witnessing a record rainfall of around 200 mm in just three hours, officials said on Sunday. Normal life was affected as overnight rainfall wreaked havoc in... Read more > 11:45 81 arrested in Assam over pro-Pak stand after Pahalgam attack Two more persons, accused of being anti-nationals, have been apprehended in Assam, taking the total number of such arrests to 81, since the Phalgam terror attack in April, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday. In a post on X, Sarma said one person each was apprehended from... Read more > 11:14 Tej Pratap's message to parents after his ouster A week after being expelled from the Rashtriya Janata Dal and disowned by his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav on Sunday shared a message addressing his parents, Lalu and Rabri Devi, where he pleaded for their love.In a post on X, he also blamed conspiracies for his ouster from both... Read more > 10:09 Refused sex, Mumbai man tries to set wife ablaze A 46-year-old man was arrested for allegedly setting his wife ablaze and leaving her with severe burn injuries following an argument in Mumbai's Chembur area, a police official said on Saturday.Dinesh Awhad wanted to have sexual intercourse with his wife on Friday afternoon but she refused... Read more > 10:07 HC dismisses Lalu's plea to stay proceedings in land-for-jobs 'scam' The Delhi high court has dismissed a plea by former rail minister Lalu Prasad Yadav seeking a stay on the trial court proceedings in a corruption case lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the land-for-jobs 'scam'. Justice Ravinder Dudeja said there were no compelling reasons to... Read more > 09:34 Man taking pictures with friends falls into sea in Mumbai, dies Image only for representation A 20-year-old man has died after falling into the sea in Mumbai while apparently taking photographs with his friends, a civic official said.Anil Arjun Rajput fell into the sea at Juhu Jetty on Saturday evening, the official said.The incident was reported by the Mumbai Fire Brigade at 8.17 pm, he... Read more > 09:15 Meghalaya mulls paramilitary help to trace missing Indore couple The Meghalaya government is mulling to call in paramilitary forces to assist in the search for the Madhya Pradesh couple who went missing in the state while honeymooning, officials said on Saturday.About 50 police personnel are searching for Indore's Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam, who have... Read more > 09:02 Mumbai Metro line 3 operations resume after May 26 shutdown Metro rail line 3 operations from Acharya Atre Chowk terminal station in Mumbai resumed on Saturday afternoon after being suspended on May 26 due to flooding caused by heavy rains.Metro Line 3 is Mumbai's first fully underground Metro line and is currently under phased construction.In a post on... Read more > Two bridges have collapsed in Russias western regions bordering Ukraine, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens, authorities said. It was not clear on Sunday morning whether the two incidents which both involved trains in neighboring Bryansk and Kursk were related, or what exactly caused the separate collapses. At least seven people were killed in Bryansk when a road bridge gave way onto a passenger train late Saturday, with railway authorities citing illegal interference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bridge came down in the regions Vygonichi district, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the Ukrainian border, crushing the moving train and injuring at least 66 people, including three children, Russian authorities reported. Bryansks regional governor Alexander Bogomaz blamed the collapse in his region on an explosion, saying the bridge had been blown up, according to state media. Bogomaz said on Telegram that 44 people had been hospitalized, with three in serious condition, including a child. The train was carrying 388 passengers. Among those killed in the incident was the trains engineer, Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The train was traveling from the town of Klimov to the capital, Moscow, when it was hit by the debris from the bridge and derailed, according to RIA. Images of the wreckage from the Moscow interregional transport prosecutors office show fallen earth, debris and concrete on top of what appears to be the passenger train, and derailed carriages as emergency services attend the scene. Moscow Railway said the collapse was caused by illegal interference in transport operations, without providing further details. Medics wait for the arrival of wounded passengers after a bridge collapsed onto a train in Russia's Bryansk region, in this picture released Sunday. - AP Passengers were evacuated from the wreckage and were taken to a temporary accommodation center at a nearby station, according to TASS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Railway workers later discovered damage to another section of railway track also in Bryansk region, Bogomaz said, adding that there were no casualties. In another incident overnight into Sunday, a bridge collapsed in Russias Kursk region which also borders Ukraine as a freight train was passing over it, injuring one of the drivers, according to the acting governor of the region. Part of the train collapsed onto a highway that was under the bridge, acting governor Alexander Khinshtein said on Telegram. The incident caused the train to catch fire and emergency service personnel worked to extinguish the blaze, he added. Putin received updates about the two incidents throughout the night from the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Russias emergencies ministry, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Sunday, according to state media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State media also reported that the Russian leader had discussed the incidents on the phone with Bogomaz and the head of Russian Railways, Oleg Belozerov. A damaged freight train is seen following a railway bridge collapse in the Kursk region of Russia. - Acting Governor of Kursk Region/Reuters In a third incident on Saturday night, a Russian military freight train was blown up near the occupied city of Melitopol in Ukraines Zaporizhzhia region, according to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine. As a result of the explosion, the train with fuel tanks and freight cars derailed on the railway track, the intelligence service said. The freight train was moving towards Russian-occupied Crimea via a key logistical artery often used by Russian forces, the authority added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv has responded to Russian aggression by launching attacks using drones, artillery and troops into the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions. Pro-Ukrainian agents and sympathizers inside Russia have also carried out acts of sabotage against Russian targets. In 2023, a fire that ripped through a train as it traveled along a strategic rail tunnel in eastern Russia was attributed to the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), according to a Ukrainian defense source. Early Sunday, Russias Investigative Committee described both incidents as being caused by explosions and labeled them terrorist acts, state media reported. Subsequent statements from the committee removed those references, saying only that investigators were working at the scene of the incidents to establish all the circumstances of what happened. Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraines Center for Countering Disinformation, part of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, dismissed Russias earlier claim, saying: Once again, there is a temptation to portray us as a terrorist country in order to avoid dialogue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems that the Kremlin is preparing the ground for the collapse of the negotiations with a smear attack on Ukraine in the international media, he said. On Sunday, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv would send a delegation to the second round of planned peace talks with Russia in Istanbul on Monday. The Ukrainian leader went on to list his countrys requirements in a post on X, which he said includes a full and unconditional ceasefire, the release of prisoners and the return of abducted children. Zelensky also said that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov would once more lead the Ukraine delegation. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com John Miller is a permanent resident of the US but was born in the UK - TikTok A British father accused of spying for the Chinese Communist Party plotted to kidnap and kneecap a critic of Xi Jinping, according to an indictment. John Miller, a businessman who owns a 1.5 million home in Tunbridge Wells that is flanked by two Chinese Terracotta warriors, is alleged to have tried to smuggle missiles and drones into China. The 63-year-old, whose wife is a churchwarden in Kent, was described by neighbours as funny, nice and perfectly normal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, he is accused of attempting to traffic sensitive American military technology to China, including missiles, air defence radar and drones. It is also alleged that he referred to Mr Xi, the Chinese president, as the boss in intercepted phone calls. Court documents in the US state that Mr Miller wanted to have a Los Angeles artist who was a critic of Mr Xi f---ed up. He allegedly said his Chinese handlers were bang up for launching an attack on him with bullets instead of baseball bats. Mr Miller is alleged to have referred to Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, as the boss - Alexandr Kryazhev/Anadolu via Getty Images In April, Mr Miller was arrested along with Cui Guanghai, a 43-year-old Chinese national, on the orders of the FBI in Serbia, where he is awaiting extradition to the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair were charged after approaching two individuals who, unbeknown to them, were working for the FBI. Mr Miller is a permanent resident of the US but was born in the UK. He has held roles in at least five UK companies, including a firm that appeared to facilitate English language teaching jobs in China but is now dissolved. On Sunday, neighbours described the Millers as a perfect family, and told of their surprise at his arrest. One said: He was a nice guy. Over and above that I didnt know what he did for work. He was funny, nice and perfectly normal. He wasnt cagey... I am astounded. Its awful for him, and if he has done it hes a bloody idiot, but its innocent until proven guilty. Its slightly surreal. A kind man and good neighbour At the Parish Church of King Charles the Martyr, where Mr Millers wife Bea is a warden, Rev Laurence Powell said: It is shocking to hear this about John. He is a very kind man and a good neighbour. I feel so sorry for Beatrice. She must be going through hell right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Miller is accused of employing a wide range of tactics over two and a half years to harass, intimidate, stalk and threaten the Xi critic in LA. According to a 27-page indictment at the US District Court for the Central District of California, Mr Miller told a confidential FBI source that the real f---ing pay... the real payday is going to be putting the siding up on that guy and there will be extra cash to play with when that happens. One neighbour described Mr Miller as funny, nice and perfectly normal - TikTok A special agent said siding meant an assault and that there had been an earlier conversation where Mr Miller had discussed possibly kidnapping the victim. They want it bang bang and gone, Miller is quoted as saying in a recorded phone call. No talking to, no nothing to, like a mugging or something. Take his f---ing watch. Take his phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is then asked if he cares if he preferred bullets versus baseball bat, before replying: Um, not necessarily. But I think youd get paid more for bullets. And the guys I spoke to said thats way f---ing easier. Apparently, theyre not so much baseball bat, or like an ice pick is the best way of doing it. On the knees and ankles. Doesnt necessarily have to be bullets. Have him f---ed up and have his picture taken. F---ed up. But the guys Ive spoken to, the easiest thing is just bam bam bang bang and just walk away. But listen it doesnt have to be that... knees and ankles. Chinese Christmas wish list Another phone call appears to show Mr Miller had arranged a payment with a minimum of $100,000 for the source to carry out the assault, and, when questioned if there was a problem from the female handler Mr Guanghai was reporting to, he replied: Oh no no no no. Shes second in command. And her boss is bang up for it. Theres another guy who needs to approve it. But theyre all bang up for it. As long as its reasonable. The numbers we talked about Im pretty sure its 100 per cent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The documents show that the pair also enlisted undercover agents to stop the victim from protesting against Mr Xis appearance at a summit and installed tracking devices on the victims car, and paid the undercover agents to slash their tyres. They also devised a complex plan to destroy a set of statues created by the artist which depicted Mr Xi and his wife bare-chested, kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs. Initially, Mr Miller had allegedly wanted to steal the statues and remove the heads as evidence but later decided to pay the undercover FBI agents to smash up them up. The artist had previously displayed the statues of Xi Jinping and his wife on billboards in Times Square In 2025, Mr Miller paid the agents $36,500 (27,100) to convince the victim to desist from showcasing the new statues at an upcoming protest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also allegedly tried to purchase millions of pounds worth of military equipment on behalf of the Chinese military as part of a Christmas wish list. He is quoted as saying his buyers were interested in the Western stuff including armour plates for tanks that the Yanks have. He reportedly tried to buy a 37,000 Stinger portable missile launcher, two military drones valued at 148,000, a 668,000 AGM-88E anti-radiation missile system and a 1.5 million air-defence radar system. Mr Miller also allegedly tried to procure a cryptographic device, which is used for secure communication of classified and sensitive information. At one point, the Briton allegedly suggested that the device be smuggled from the US to China by hiding it inside a food blender or a motor starter, having shipped it first via DHL or FedEx to Hong Kong. Big boss Several times in Mr Millers conversations, he is said to have mentioned a boss or at times a big boss that seems to be the one giving orders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the special FBI agent who submitted the affidavit, Mr Millers use of the phrase boss refer[s] to President Xi and demonstrates [Millers] awareness that he was acting at the direction and control of the [Chinese] government. Todd Blanche, the US deputy attorney general, said: This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems. We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge. If convicted, Mr Miller could also face the maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for interstate stalking, and 10 years in prison for smuggling. 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. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the worlds wealthiest men and its longest-reigning sitting monarch, was discharged from a Malaysian hospital five days after he was admitted for fatigue. Brunei's government said on social media late Saturday that the 78-year-old monarch has moved to a Kuala Lumpur hotel, where he will spend a few days resting before returning home. Brunei's information department posted pictures on Facebook of the sultan walking into the hotel lobby with his wife, and in a room with family members including his wife and two of his sons. Sultan Hassanal was attending an annual summit o f the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Kuala Lumpur when he was hospitalized Tuesday at the National Heart Institute. His office has said that he was in good health but feeling tired and is resting following advice from Malaysian medical experts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sultan Hassanal has ruled his tiny oil-rich kingdom for over 57 years, and led it to gain full independence from Britain in 1984. He also holds the posts of prime minister, finance minister, defense minister and minister of foreign affairs. He is famed for his lavish lifestyle, owning a huge collection of expensive and rare cars, and lives in a 1,788-room palace that is the world's largest private home. He is also known for introducing strict Islamic criminal laws that call for amputating limbs and stoning convicts to death. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Longtime community leader and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce executive Cindy Ramos-Davidson has died at the age of 69, her family posted on social media. Ramos-Davidson stepped down as chief executive officer of the Hispanic Chamber in April to focus on her health and a battle with cancer. She had been with the Hispanic Chamber, a leading advocacy organization for small business in the El Paso region, for 27 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hispanic Chamber said that Ramos-Davidson had served as the driving force behind the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, leading initiatives that strengthened the overall business community. Her firm commitment to advocate, mentor, and leader will live on through the countless entrepreneurs she inspired, the businesses she uplifted and the economic development she has championed. The El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerces Board of Directors and dedicated staff is committed to keeping Cindys legacy alive and will continue to provide leading resources to our small business community. Her contributions to the business community will never be forgotten, and her spirit will continue to guide future generations of entrepreneurs, the Hispanic Chamber added. Here is what her family posted on Sunday, June 1 via Facebook: With profound sadness, but also deep gratitude for her extraordinary life, we share that our beloved Cindy Ramos-Davidson has gained her angel wings. After a courageous battle with pancreatic, colon cancer, and a stroke, Cindy passed peacefully early this morning (June 1), surrounded by the love she so freely gave to others. A fierce advocate, fearless leader, and lifelong champion of small businesses and underserved communities, Cindy leaves behind a legacy that spans generations and hearts across the nation. There are no words big enough to capture what she meant to our family, our community, and the countless lives she touched. If youve read her story, seen her work, or simply stood in her presence you know she was a force of nature and a light in this world. True to her spirit, Cindy asked that we not rush. In honoring her wishes, we will take time to thoughtfully plan a Celebration of Life in August, open to all who knew her, loved her, or were touched by her work. This will allow loved ones from across the country, time to make arrangements and gather together in her honor. Details will be shared soon. For now, we ask that you hold her in your heart, share your memories, and continue the work she believed in so deeply. She may no longer walk beside us, but her legacy lives on in every act of courage, love, and community we carry forward. Fly high, Mom. You have your wings now. El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson said that the El Paso community lost a true giant in Ramos-Davidson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cindy Ramos-Davidson was my good friend. She was more than a leader she was a relentless advocate for small businesses, a champion for Hispanic entrepreneurs, and a cornerstone of El Pasos economic growth for decades. As the CEO of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, she dedicated her life to lifting others up, empowering thousands of families, and paving the way for generations of minority-owned businesses to succeed, Johnson said in part in a statement posted on social media. A GoFundMe has been created to support Ramos-Davidsons family and her legacy efforts. You can find out more 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 KTSM 9 News. Students awarded medical staff scholarships Two LaPorte County high school seniors with future healthcare career goals each recently received Franciscan Health Michigan City Medical Staff Memorial Scholarships, according to a release. Tri-Township High School senior Caloe Peretti, 17, of Wanatah, and Michigan City High School senior Naomi Williams, 18, of Michigan City, were both selected by the Franciscan Health Michigan City Medical Staff Scholarship Committee as the 2025 scholarship recipients. Williams will attend the University of Indianapolis this fall to study biology, with the goal of becoming an emergency medical technician. Peretti will attend St. Marys College of Notre Dame this fall to study nursing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scholarships are needs-based and place an emphasis on students who are the first in their families to attend college, the release said. Rotary announces networking event Rotary Means Business Northwest Indiana is bringing Rotary clubs from Merrillville, Schererville, Hammond and Valparaiso together for a June 6 Launch Networking Event, a release said. The event, open to the public, will take place from 4:307 p.m. at the Purdue Technology Center, 9800 Connecticut Drive, Crown Point. The event is designed to connect and empower business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, and community leaders from across the Region, while also introducing the mission and advocacy work of Rotary Clubs throughout Northwest Indiana, the release said. For information, email jskibbie@jrsmarcom.com. Valparaiso Family YMCA adds board members The Valparaiso Family YMCA recently welcomed five new members to its Board of Directors, according to a release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those elected include Anna Kenney, Rachel Zulich Wallace, Pastor Jared Kendall, Mike Telesky and Meagan Koutsopanagos. The individuals bring a wealth of experience, insight, and passion to support the Ys mission of strengthening the spirit, mind, and body of every individual in our community, the release said. The new board members will serve alongside a team of returning directors and officers who continue to champion initiatives that expand outreach, deepen impact, and uphold the Ys core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. For more information about the Valparaiso Family YMCAs leadership or how to get involved, visit www.valpoymca.org. VU students win in game design competition Two Valparaiso University students have won top honors in an international role-playing game writing competition, according to a release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nolan Brezina took first place with his Dungeon Crawl Classics-compatible Adventure, Creeping Dread, and Bryanna Bass was awarded third place for The Sirens of Huntby Gulf. Both adventures were assignments written for the English 280: Writing Roleplaying Games course led by Martin Buinicki, professor of English. The contest was organized by Philippe Lepinard, of the Universite Paris-Est Creteil, and included participants from France, Spain, and the United States. Judges included the French translator of Dungeon Crawl Classics, Emmanuel Bouteille, and Michael Curtis, director of DCC Product Development for Goodman Games, the release said. The class is part of the universitys minor in Game Narrative and Design. Franciscans WorkingWell celebrates 20th anniversary Franciscan Health WorkingWell, a program that offers occupational health services to businesses and industry, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franciscan first introduced WorkingWell in June 2005 as a regional initiative. Since then, the program has grown to encompass 18 WorkingWell offices in Northwest Indiana, central Indiana, western Indiana and the south Chicago suburbs, a release said. Among the numerous services offered by Franciscan WorkingWell are physicals, drug and alcohol screening, vaccinations and immunizations, injury treatment, injury prevention programs and fitness for duty evaluations. For more information, visit FranciscanHealth.org/WorkingWell. (FOX40.COM) California welcomed 339 graduates from Cal Fire, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the California Highway Patrol to the states already robust contingent of public safety officers. Video above: How to report a public safety threat According to Newsoms Administration, strengthening the dedicated groups who protect the safety of Californians, Gov. Gavin Newsom congratulated multiple graduates with the Cal Fire, the CDCR, and the CHP. Sacramentos Track 7 Brewing Company announced its closures effective Saturday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you for answering the call to serve our great state, Newsom said. As you go back to your communities, may you face any uncertainty with resolve, any challenges with integrity, and any hardships with determination. Newsom stated that these firefighters, correctional officers, and highway patrol officers have joined their colleagues in communities statewide to protect California. Cal Fire celebrated 38 new Company Officers Academy graduates who will supervise and direct firefighters, Newsom stated. The Academy offers training in emergency and daily personnel management, physical conditioning, wildland and structural incident command, fire investigation, and the operation of fire vehicles, encompassing driving, pumping, and specialized wildland gear. Graduations are a time to come together with family, friends, and coworkers to celebrate the hard work our Company Officers have put in over the past six weeks. These women and men represent the next generation of leadership at CAL FIRE. I am very proud of their accomplishment and wish them the best as they return home to their new roles, said CAL FIRE Chief/Director Joe Tyler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Intelligence Agency IT Specialist arrested for allegedly sharing classified information Newsom stated that the cohort brings the total number of COA graduates in 2025 to 272. Image: Governors Website After an extensive 13-week program at the Basic Corrective Officer Academy, 168 cadets graduated, Newsom stated. This embarks on their new careers as CDCR correctional officers. It takes a special kind of person to wear the badge, the sacrifices and dedication of our families cannot be overstated. Our future success is dependent upon your professionalism, respect, and commitment to excellence, said CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In total, Newsom said that the CDCR will have 601 graduates, which also includes the current graduation class, which makes a significant step forward in CDCRs ongoing efforts and focus when it comes to recruitment, hiring, promotion, and retention. Image: Governors Website According to Newsom, the CHP welcomes 133 new officers who finished 26 weeks of extensive training at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento. The officers can report to one of the CHPs 102 area offices across California as they begin their law enforcement jobs. This graduation marks the beginning of a commitment to protecting and serving others. These officers have demonstrated their dedication to keeping Californias communities safe and upholding the CHPs core values, said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. Image: Governors 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 FOX40 News. A California city is the best place in the nation to raise a family, according to WalletHub. The personal finance website recently released its list of the Best and Worst Places to Raise a Family in the United States in 2025, based on factors including housing costs, recreation opportunties and the quality of local schools and health care systems. Fremont ranked No. 1 overall. Finding the best place to raise a family is difficult, between balancing an affordable cost of living with good educational opportunities, safety and enough recreation to keep kids entertained, WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo wrote in an article published on May 27. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current or prospective parents can benefit from narrowing down their choices to a few of the best cities that are within a reasonable drive, he added. In total, 26 California cities landed on WalletHub list. Fremont, California, is the best place in the United States to raise a family in 2025, according to WalletHub. Why is Fremont the best place to raise a family? Fremont scored first place on WalletHubs list of the best U.S. cities for families, earning an overall score of 73.53 out of 100. The Bay Area city had an estimated population of 228,192 residents in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Nearly 50% of households have children under 18, WalletHub said, one of the highest rates in the United States. Fremont boasts one of the highest median household incomes in the nation, at $176,350 a year, Census data showed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to WalletHub, the city had the third-lowest share of families living in poverty in the nation and the third-lowest share receiving food stamps Fremont also ranked No. 1 in socioeconomics, second in child care and education, fourth in health, and ninth in affordability, WalletHub said. Other factors that make Fremont a good spot for families include a high percentage of top-rated public schools and plentiful parkland acres per capita, according to the personal finance website. Downtown Fresno including Chukchansi Park stadium photographed in this drone image on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. Where did other California cities rank? In total, 26 California cities landed on WalletHubs list of the best places in the nation to raise families. Irvine took fourth place, while San Diego came in 10th place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huntington Beach barely missed the top 10, landing at No. 11 Further down in the rankings, Sacramento landed at No. 41, while Modesto was No. 79 and Fresno was No. 124. Source: WalletHub What are the best US cities to raise a family? According to WalletHub, these are the top cities for families in the United States: Fremont Overland Park, Kansas Plano, Texas Irvine South Burlington, Vermont Seattle Boise Gilbert, Arizona Bismarck, North Dakota San Diego Where are the worst places for American families? These U.S. cities offered the most challenges for people looking to raise a family, WalletHub said: Memphis Detroit Cleveland Gulfport, Mississippi Newark, New Jersey Birmingham, Alabama Baltimore San Bernardino Jackson, Mississippi Hialeah, Florida How did WalletHub come up with rankings? To determine the best and worse cities for families, WalletHub said it compared a sample of 182 cities in the United States based on 42 key metrics, including: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Family fun Health and safety Education and child care Affordability Socioeconomics The personal finance website graded each metric on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for family life. WalletHub calculated each citys weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and ranked them in order based on the resulting scores. Data came from the U.S. Census Bureau, TripAdvisor, Yelp, Numbeo and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. WalletHub also sought data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. California senator slams ICE raid at South Park restaurants: weaponized hate SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) California State Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) is strongly condemning a recent immigration enforcement operation in South Park, calling it an unnecessary show of force that targeted workers and violated community trust. In a statement released Sunday, Padilla addressed the Friday night raid carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta two popular restaurants in his district. San Diego mayor releases statement on smoky ICE raid in South Park Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, during restaurant operating hours and using what appears to be a disproportionate and dangerous display of force, immigration agents attacked a beloved gathering and dining location in my community and district, Padilla said. They handcuffed workers preparing meals and further eroded trust between our community and federal officials. The senator criticized the nature of the raid, suggesting it was politically motivated and meant to intimidate. He referred to the operation as part of the policy stunts of this small president and said such tactics would not deter California leaders from standing up for immigrant communities. Enforcement of our laws has always required discipline, judgment, and care, he stated. Padilla also praised local residents who gathered at the restaurants on Saturday to offer up their support, describing their response as courageous and unified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As our neighbors so bravely demonstrated in protest of these attacks, we stand together against this weaponized hate, he said. The ICE operation has sparked outrage across San Diego, drawing criticism from Mayor Todd Gloria and other local leaders. Homeland Security Investigations has yet to release an official statement detailing the reasons for the raid or the number of individuals taken into custody. Community members and local advocacy groups are now calling for increased protections for immigrant workers. 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. Cancer patients given experimental treatment that programmes the body to attack rogue cells live 40 per cent longer, major research shows. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a form of immunotherapy where a patients own T-cells a type of white blood cell are altered in a lab to target and kill cancer cells. The engineered cells are then reintroduced into the patients bloodstream. CAR T-cell therapy works by genetically engineering a patients T-cells to recognise and destroy cancer cells. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement T-cells can recognise and destroy foreign cells, including cancer cells, but because cancer is very good at evading immune detection, they often miss their mark. CAR T-cells are engineered to make them better at detecting cancer cells. The pioneering therapy had already been hailed by scientists as one of the most significant breakthroughs in treatment for its success in treating blood cancers. New findings suggest it could also revolutionise treatment for solid tumours. Experts at the American Society of Clinical Oncologys (Asco) annual meeting in Chicago, the worlds largest cancer conference, said the findings heralded a new generation of treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Solid tumours represent roughly 90 per cent of all adult human cancers, including breast, lung and pancreatic cancer. Currently, over 650 CAR-Ts are in active development for a solid-tumour indication. The new study the first ever randomised controlled trial of CAR T-cell therapy in solid tumours involved patients with advanced gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. A paradigm shift Those given the radical treatment lived on average approximately 40 per cent longer than patients who received standard care, a clinical trial found. The results have been simultaneously published in the medical journal The Lancet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr Carl June, a leading expert on CAR T-cell therapy at the University of Pennsylvania, who was not involved with the trial, said the findings were groundbreaking. He said: This is an exciting study showing the first positive results from a randomised trial testing CAR T-cells for a solid cancer. In the trial, over 100 patients in China with advanced gastric or GEJ cancer were randomised to receive either CAR T-cell therapy or one of the standard-of-care medications. Patients who received CAR T-cell therapy lived an average of 7.9 months after randomisation, compared to 5.5 months with standard care. Patients receiving the designer immunotherapy also experienced 3.3 months without the cancer advancing, versus 1.8 months in the standard-care group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The researchers, from Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute in Beijing, said CAR-T-cell therapy showed a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival. The results suggest CAR T-cell could represent a paradigm shift in care, addressing a crucial unmet need for some patients. A second study on CAR T-cell led by the University of Pennsylvania and due to be presented at Asco on Sunday, suggested the approach could also be used to treat brain tumours. Results from that trial are expected to show CAR T-cell can shrink tumours in glioblastoma, a notoriously aggressive and fast-growing brain cancer, and help patients live much longer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oncologists in Chicago said they were increasingly optimistic about the potential of the therapy to revolutionise treatment of solid tumours, after dramatic success with blood cancers. Dr John Haanen, of the Netherlands Cancer Institute, who will deliver a presentation on CAR T-cell therapy at the Asco meeting, said the breakthroughs suggest a new generation of treatment that wasnt there for medical oncologists before. Dr Catherine Elliott, director of research at Cancer Research UK, said: CAR T-cell therapy a highly personalised treatment that modifies a patients own immune cells to recognise and destroy their cancer has already shown success in treating some blood cancers, but it hasnt yet worked well for solid tumours. She said it was encouraging to see early signs that it might help those with advanced stomach or gastroesophageal junction cancer, who lived an extra two and a half months longer than those given standard care. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Its been 15 years since Kyron Horman vanished after a science fair at his school, Skyline Elementary, in Portland. Sunday night, friends and family gathered at the school for a candlelight vigil to remember the then-7-year-old. His mother, Desiree Young, hosted the event at the school. Family shared stories, photos and videos with the community, all with the mission to bring him home. Kyron vanished the morning of June 4, 2010, from Skyline after his schools science fair. He was last seen with with stepmother known then as Terri Horman who has continually denied her involvement. A vigil was held at Skyline Elementary School in Portland to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the disappearance of Kyron Horman, June 1, 2025 (KOIN) A vigil was held at Skyline Elementary School in Portland to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the disappearance of Kyron Horman, June 1, 2025 (KOIN) A vigil was held at Skyline Elementary School in Portland to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the disappearance of Kyron Horman, June 1, 2025 (KOIN) A vigil was held at Skyline Elementary School in Portland to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the disappearance of Kyron Horman, June 1, 2025 (KOIN) What began as a missing persons case eventually expanded into one of the largest investigations in Oregon history. To this day, there have been no signs of Kyron and no arrests made in the case. KOIN coverage: The Kyron Horman case However, in early May, local law enforcement announced they are in the midst of re-examining the case with help from the FBI, noting they have been working to digitize the case files for the past year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means scanning and documenting thousands of pages of reports, photos and evidence, according to the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has provided an age-progressed photo of Kyron Horman, who disappeared on June 4, 2010. (Courtesy of MCSO) They add when that process is complete, the file will be re-examined by the FBIs Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), who will then review the evidence and offer recommendations on how to proceed in the case based on patterns from similar historic and current cases nationwide. MCSO noted they will also meet with Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez to assess next steps. Since this remains an active and ongoing case, a $50,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the resolution of Kyrons disappearance, according to officials. People can call the MCSO TipLine at 503-988-0560, email MCSOTipLine@mcso.us or contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children TipLine at 1-800-THE-LOST or provide an online tip at the organizations CyberTipLine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. With the U.S. House passing President Trumps Big Beautiful Bill, attention now turns to the U.S. Senate. Capitol View host Roby Brock met with Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton for his take on the Reconciliation Bill and where he could see the Senate taking it. Roby then gave a closer look at President Donald Trumps recent pardon of former State Senator Jeremy Hutchinson. Capitol View airs on Sundays at 8:30 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. Emergency workers in Bilozerka, Donetsk Oblast, saved a cat that had been trapped under rubble for two days. The frightened animal scratched a firefighters face during the rescue. Source: Ukraines State Emergency Service of Donetsk Oblast Details: State Emergency Service workers had been conducting operations at a collapsed five-storey building for over two days when they found the cat. "When he was finally removed from the wreckage, the frightened animal scratched the face of one of the rescuers in fear," the State Emergency Service said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the minor injury, the rescue workers saved the "resilient survivor", who is now safe. Background: In late May 2025, police in Kyiv Oblast rescued an injured roe deer that had wandered into a residents courtyard and could not escape unaided. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Starting today, June 1 and for the next 182 days (until Nov. 30), Southwest Floridians will paying more attention to the weather forecast, especially with what is happening in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf. It's called Hurricane Season. In recent years, because of the number of hurricanes Southwest Florida has had to deal with and the damage caused by those storms, including historic Hurricane Ian in September 2022, it might feel like we must have been hit by a Category 5 hurricane during this run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You could argue the back-to-back hurricanes we had last year (2024) Helene and Milton combined added up to a Cat 5, but that's not how it works. More: Hurricane season is almost here. When should I build my hurricane kit, what should I put in it? Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane on Sept. 26, 2024, with winds of 140 mph. Just 13 days later, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane. It struck near Siesta Key Oct. 9, 2024. The storm was accompanied by sustained winds of 120 mph. Turn back the clock a couple of years to Sept. 28, 2022 and we had Hurricane Ian, which caused catastrophic to Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island and other coastal locations in Southwest Florida. It sure felt and looked like a Category 5 hit here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But officially, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm. It was initially a Category 5 storm before weakening to a Category 4 just before landfall at Cayo Costa. Ian had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. There were more than 140 deaths attributed to Ian. Could SWFL see a Category 5 hurricane make landfall? It is possible, but not probable based on past history. Could it happen? Sure. But since records have been kept, it has never happened here, even though with Ian it was right on the edge of being added to the short list. How many Category 5 hurricanes have hit Florida? Since the 1900, three Category 5 hurricanes have made landfall in Florida: The 'Labor Day Hurricane' of 1935 The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane is considered the strongest storm ever recorded to make landfall in the U.S., smashing into the Florida Keys on Sept. 2, 1935, with winds of 185 mph. It killed an estimated 409 people. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 On Aug. 24, 1992, Andrew made landfall in South Miami-Dade County with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph. Although 23 deaths were directly attributed to the storm, according to NOAA, "Hurricane Andrew destroyed more than 50,000 homes and caused an estimated $26 billion in damage, making it at the time the most expensive natural disaster in United States history." And the most recent, Hurricane Michael in 2018 Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on Oct. 10, 2018, as a Category 5 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 161 mph. According to the National Weather Service: "Wind and storm surge caused catastrophic damage, particularly in the Panama City Beach and Mexico Beach areas. Eight direct fatalities were reported: seven in Florida and one in Georgia. In addition, 43 indirect deaths were attributed to the storm." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: When does hurricane season start in Florida? What to document for insurance now What about Category 5 hurricanes in outside of Florida? There's only be one. Hurricane Camille in 1969. Camille had sustained winds of more than 170 mph when it hit Mississippi on Aug. 17, 1969. More than 250 people were killed, many in Virginia due to massive flooding the storm brought to that state. Camille tracked north-northwest across the Gulf of Mexico, becoming a Category 5 the day before making landfall. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: How many Category 5 hurricanes hit Florida? WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) Properties are cleaner, and veterans are enjoying their newly built ramps after this years Catholic Charities Day of Service. Groups gathered at Vernon College before dispersing around Texoma for various cleanup jobs and building projects. Each year the list of jobs is always different, whether they come from city councilors or other non-profits. Two of the biggest projects of the day were a cleanup of an Eastside property, organized by councilor Robert Brooks, and the construction of a wheelchair ramp at a home in Archer City. Catholic Charities operations manager, Laura Sotelo, said they find the jobs just about everywhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We always seem like we get requests to build ramps for folks. And so, this year weve been able to partner with a group that does that on a regular basis. And so, they can provide the professional guidance on it, and we can just provide the manpower, Sotelo said. So, its really whatever the community needs, and we try to step in and do that. Catholic Charities also held a food drive for the Vernon College Food Pantry, which is in its second year running, among their other projects for the day. 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. MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) The The Area Agency On Aging Of The Permian Basin brought out the red carper for senior citizens of the Permian Basin for Older Americans and Older Texans Month. Citizens and senior care facilities of the area were awarded for their commitment and impactful roles of the community. Well its great because, you know, were getting older but were getting better, said Mary Pallan, a senior resident at Midland Senior Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of residents gathered with friends and loved ones to celebrate their wisdom and friendship, and many of them look forward to the event growing even more in the future. My second year doing this and I love it, said Esmeralda Abalos, with Visiting Angels. Each year it seems like its growing more and more, and its nice that our community comes together to help and celebrate them. 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. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WCMH) A Columbus Division of Fire driver was injured and a fire vehicle was totaled after a crash in Franklin Township Sunday. Accoring to the Franklin Township Police Department, the crash happened at the intersection of Frank Road and Harrisburg Pike just after noon. A Columbus Fire EMS Coordinator SUV was driving west on Frank Road with its siren and emergency lights on, responding to an emergency call, when it was hit by a Honda coupe that failed to yield the right of way at the intersection, Franklin Township police said in a social media post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the EMS SUV was taken to a local hospital in a stable condition. Police stated that the Hondas driver didnt have a valid drivers license and that the license plates on the car were counterfeit. The driver was treated at the scene for injuries and issued a citation. A Columbus Fire EMS Coordinator vehicle was involved in a crash in Franklin Township on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (PHOTO COURTESY FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT) A Columbus Fire EMS Coordinator vehicle was involved in a crash in Franklin Township on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (PHOTO COURTESY FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT) A Columbus Fire EMS Coordinator vehicle was involved in a crash in Franklin Township on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (PHOTO COURTESY FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT) A Columbus Fire EMS Coordinator vehicle was involved in a crash in Franklin Township on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (PHOTO COURTESY FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT) A Columbus Fire EMS Coordinator vehicle was involved in a crash in Franklin Township on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (PHOTO COURTESY FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT) A Columbus Fire EMS Coordinator vehicle was involved in a crash in Franklin Township on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (PHOTO COURTESY FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT) A Columbus Fire EMS Coordinator vehicle was involved in a crash in Franklin Township on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (PHOTO COURTESY FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP POLICE DEPARTMENT) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Two local businesses have dropped a challenge to a Florida law that requires strippers to be 21 or older. The federal lawsuit was filed by the Sinsations club and the Exotic Fantasies store, which are both in Jacksonville. A business and a dancer in Alachua County were also plaintiffs. Action News Jax told you in April that a federal judge upheld a City of Jacksonville ordinance that also set a minimum age of 21 for exotic dance performers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state law is based on the Jacksonville ordinance. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The Miami Valley has a legitimate shot to see the northern lights on Sunday and Monday nights, according to Storm Center 7s Nick Dunn. However, smoke from wildfires in Canada will impact visibility, and may led to no visibility at all. Ohios chance to see northern lights is thanks to a strong coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun that resulted from a strong solar flare on Friday evening. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Dunn says the CME arrived early Sunday morning. Any chance to see the northern lights will be after dark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chance to see the northern lights depends on lots of factors, a subtle change in timing or strength of the geomagnetic storms can help or hurt our chances to see the northern lights, Dunn says. TRENDING STORIES: The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a G4 (Severe) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Sunday and Monday. This classification and the K-index are not the only tools used to gauge our northern lights chances, Dunn says, proton levels and how the solar wind field is interacting with any geomagnetic activity as it arrives on Earth are also factors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, there is not an expectation to repeat our show from May 2024, according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. What you can do to have the best chances of seeing or photographing the northern lights: Place yourself in a dark area away from city lights with a clear view of the northern horizon. This is critical since we look north to see them. To take the best photos, a professional camera will ultimately be best. However, if you have a smartphone that has a night mode setting, you can use that. Ensure you increase the exposure setting to allow your camera to see better in low light situations. Our eyes have a hard time seeing colors at night in a very dark area, which is where your camera comes into play. This is how the Northern Lights happen. (Storm Center 7 Weather Specialist Nick Dunn). [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Charlotte, North Carolina, is one of the countrys premier cities for Black-owned businesses, and a new effort from Cathay Dawkins and other members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce is set to create a hub designed specifically for those businesses. According to The Charlotte Observer, the chamber acquired an unused property and has poured resources into transforming the building into what Dawkins calls a one-stop shop for professionals and small businesses, in hopes of helping entrepreneurs, improving Charlottes economic growth, and fighting food insecurity. In West Charlotte, new center taking shape as safe space for Black entrepreneurshttps://t.co/hRjNbgZZTY Chase Jordan (@ChaseJordanTCO) May 31, 2025 The Innovation Center, as the property is now known, will feature an agri-tech program for farmers, event spaces for business meetings, co-working spaces for startups, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits, as well as a retail store and a distribution center for small businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To figure out how the space could be best utilized, Dawkins visited other cities with similar hubs, cities like Atlanta, Washington D.C., and nearby Durham, North Carolina, and what he came away with from those tours ultimately led him to create a first-of-its-kind hub for Black-owned businesses and professionals in Charlotte. As things in the community get taken away, like federal funding and grants, we want to be a safe space, Dawkins told the Observer. I wanted to create a safe space for business owners and professionals to come get elevated. The chamber spent approximately $30,000 to acquire the building, and is in the process of launching a $3.7 million fundraising campaign to attract funding for the necessary renovations to accommodate the chambers vision for the space. According to two of the chambers advisors, Kneshia Gabriel and Jeremy Johnson, the space has been needed in the city and the Charlotte metro area for quite some time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We just want to bring more locals here to help expand their experience and help them figure out what they want to do, Gabriel told the Observer. Its definitely needed and I can see it being a great resource and support system for those looking to thrive in the business community, Johnson added. According to the Black Innovation Center fundraiser, which is listed on the fundraising platform Give Butter, Charlotte is evolving. Yet too often, Black entrepreneurs are excluded from the opportunities shaping its future. The Innovation CenterCLT is a bold responsedesigned to close the gap, elevate ideas, and drive inclusive innovation. Were creating a dynamic space where: Black-owned businesses scale with real support, creatives build brands and media that move culture, communities grow wealth and networkstogether. And your investment makes it possible. RELATED CONTENT: We Needed This Forever: Black Business Hub Launches In Wisconsin CHICAGO Chicago Defender Charities held a grand opening Saturday for Wellness Homes of Chicagos fourth location, aiming to provide healthcare to another underserved community in the city. A ribbon cutting was done at the new facility, which is a partnership between Chicago Defender Charities and Wellness Homes of Chicago and is located at 1823 West 47th Street, in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the citys Southwest Side. Decades of memories come alive at James Ward Elementary Schools 150th anniversary celebration Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The facility provides primary care, behavioral health and preventative services, and it also includes a pharmacy. Dr. Maurice Mo Brownlee, CEO of Wellness Homes of Chicago, says the new facility is specifically tailored to meet the needs of community members in and around Back of the Yards. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines You have a person whos working at McDonalds who cannot get off in time. So we open late. A person who needs weekend hours, we provide those services, Brownlee said. We want people to live longer in this zip code. It is unfair that your life expectancy is 5% less (in this) zip code. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That stops today, and it stops today with the Wellness Home at Back of the Yards. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. CHICAGO Chicago police are searching for Talayah Rogers, 3, and Taliayh Rogers, 5, who were reported missing on Saturday afternoon. Talayah is 36 tall and 35 pounds with black braided hair and red beads. She was last seen wearing light purple pants and black Nike gym shoes. Taliayh is 4 and 40 pounds with black braided hair and blue beads. She was last seen wearing a purple shirt, pink leggings and black Nike gym shoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Information about where and when the girls were last seen was not provided. Anyone with information should contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-747-8274 or 911. 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. CHICOPEE Residents in a multifamily home in Chicopee Falls were displaced Sunday after a fire in their building. All residents evacuated safely, and no one was injured in the early morning blaze on Belcher Street. Firefighters rescued two cats from the structure while it burned, Fire Department officials said. The damage will prevent tenants of all 10 apartments from returning to their homes. The Red Cross of Central-Western Massachusetts is assisting those who need help, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said. Police reported that the fire caused gridlock at the busy intersection of Broadway and East streets, which is nearby. Read the original article on MassLive. CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) The Chicopee Police Department is seeking help locating a missing child that was last seen Sunday morning. Road closures at East and Broadway in Chicopee due to fire Chicopee Police stated in a social media post that Eliseo was last seen riding his scooter at approximately 8:25 a.m. on Meetinghouse Road. (Chicopee Police Department) Camera footage shows Eliseo wearing a red t-shirt and black shorts. The scooter was located in a neighbors backyard. (Chicopee Police Department) (Chicopee Police Department) If anyone sees Eliseo or has any information on his whereabouts, please call dispatch at 413-594-1700. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. By Alexander Villegas VALPARAISO, Chile (Reuters) -Chile's President Gabriel Boric said on Sunday that he will accelerate renewable energy efforts and step up pressure against Israel over its war in Gaza among other initiatives during his government's last nine months in office. In a wide-ranging three-hour speech from Congress in the coastal city of Valparaiso that marked his last annual address, Boric also discussed crime, infrastructure, the economy and abortion rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In comments that sparked the largest amount of cheers and jeers from opposite sides of Congress, Boric said he will introduce a law to ban imports from what he called "illegally occupied territories" and back efforts by Spain for an arms embargo against Israel. Boric, an outspoken critic of Israel, had recently recalled military personnel from Chile's embassy in the country and summoned the ambassador for questioning. Chile's government will also introduce an "accelerated decarbonization" bill that aims to boost investment in renewable energy sources, help end coal-powered thermoelectric plants and move the country's 2040 goal to decarbonize the electric grid up to 2035. Boric added that a bill to speed up the permitting process for new projects was weeks away from being approved, a long-awaited request by miners, renewable energy companies and other investors. Its goal is to cut permitting times by 30% to 70%, Boric said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Investment projects won't develop to their full potential if we don't modernize and speed up permitting," Boric said, while also touting his plan to expand lithium mining, led by state copper giant Codelco. Critics have rebuked Boric for not making major reforms he promised as a candidate, and for failing to see through a rewrite of the dictatorship-era constitution that was knocked back twice by voters. Boric appeared to recognize the complaints, while defending his record. "Have we achieved everything we wanted, with the depth we wanted? No, but we have made progress in that direction, with the conditions under which we had to govern," he said. (Reporting by Alexander VillegasEditing by Bill Berkrot) China accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of espousing a Cold War mentality in a speech filled with provocations in Singapore on Saturday. Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely called China a threat, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday. The remarks were filled with provocations and intended to sow discord. China deplores and firmly opposes them and has protested strongly to the U.S., the spokesperson continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth, who took the stage at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday, sought to woo Asian defense leaders to Washingtons side, as he warned of the imminent threat China poses to the Indo-Pacific region. China has threatened to overtake Taiwan, a potential reality Hegseth played into in his speech at the forum. Theres no reason to sugarcoat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent, Hegseth said, adding that any move on Taipei by Beijing would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesperson pushed back against claims that it poses a threat and returned the accusation to the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the U.S. itself, who is also the primary factor undermining the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific, the spokesperson said. To perpetuate its hegemony and advance the so-called Indo-Pacific strategy, the U.S. has deployed offensive weaponry in the South China Sea and kept stoking flames and creating tensions in the Asia-Pacific, which are turning the region into a powder keg and making countries in the region deeply concerned. Hegseths trip to Singapore his second visit to the region as Pentagon chief came amid a backdrop of heightened rhetoric between Washington and Beijing, which President Trump accused Friday of violating a temporary trade deal. European and Indo-Pacific countries have found themselves at a crossroads as of late, increasingly pulled between the competing interests of the U.S. and China as both struggle for dominance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an attempt to sway Indo-Pacific nations, Hegseth promised continued American partnership and support to those wary of the Trump administrations commitment to the region. But the pledges came with a caveat repeated in Europe, Africa and elsewhere in the world: a call for an increase in defense spending. We ask, and indeed we insist, that our allies and partners do their part on defense, he said. Sometimes that means having uncomfortable and tough conversations. The Hill has reached out to the Defense Department for 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 The Hill. By Liz Lee and Shi Bu BEIJING (Reuters) -China has protested to the United States against "vilifying" remarks made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the foreign ministry said on Sunday, while accusing it of deliberately ignoring calls for peace from regional nations. China has objected to Hegseth calling it a threat in the Indo-Pacific, the ministry added, describing his comments at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday as "deplorable". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely called China a 'threat'," the ministry said on its website. "The United States has deployed offensive weaponry in the South China Sea and kept stoking flames and creating tensions in the Asia-Pacific, which are turning the region into a powder keg," it added in the statement. China's defence ministry also weighed in, saying the U.S. is "accustomed to using" the forum to "stoke disputes, sow discord and seek selfish interests". "China's armed forces will work with other countries in the region to oppose hegemonism harming the Asia-Pacific region," ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said in a statement posted on the ministry's WeChat account. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth had urged allies in the Indo-Pacific region, including key security partner Australia, to spend more on defence after warning of the "real and potentially imminent" threat from China. Asked about the call to boost defence spending, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government had pledged an extra A$10 billion ($6 billion) to defence. "What we'll do is we'll determine our defence policy," he told reporters on Sunday, a transcript of his remarks showed. As part of Washington's longstanding defence ties with the Philippines, the U.S. military this year deployed Typhon launchers that can fire missiles to hit targets in both China and Russia from the island of Luzon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China and the Philippines contest sovereignty over some islands and atolls in the South China Sea, with growing maritime run-ins between their coast guards as both vie to patrol the waters. China's delegation at the forum said "external intervention" was the biggest risk for stability in the South China Sea, saying the country had shown "goodwill and restraint" through talks on the issue. "Some foreign powers have sent warplanes and warships to the South China Sea for so-called 'freedom of navigation,'" the state-backed Global Times newspaper cited Senior Colonel Zhang Chi from the PLA National Defence University as saying. Such actions infringed China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States, Australia, Japan and the Philippines have conducted joint maritime operations in the busy waterway. China claims nearly all the South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal ruled Beijing's expansive claim had no basis in international law, however. China's foreign ministry also told the United States not to "play with fire" on the question of Taiwan. Any attempt by China to conquer Taiwan "would result in devastating consequences", Hegseth said in his speech to Asia's premier forum for defence leaders, military officials and diplomats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China has vowed to "reunify" with the separately governed island, by force if necessary. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future. ($1=1.5550 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Liz Lee and Bu Shi; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. met with top U.S. officials on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, reinforcing the strong alliance between the Philippines and United States, citing the need for continued American leadership in global stability. In his bilateral meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Teodoro welcomed the recent U.S.-ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting, calling it a sign of Washingtons robust engagement in the Indo-Pacific. He highlighted the Philippines dedication to sustainable peace through strong partnerships. - Advertisement - It is proof of the Trump administrations strong commitment to engage the ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific. We will continue to enhance both our bilateral and multilateral relationships, guided by our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, Teodoro said of Hegseths attendance. Hegseth echoed the importance of the alliance, citing the success of the recent Balikatan exercises, which involved 14,000 troops. Teodoro also met with several U.S. lawmakers, including Representatives John Moolenaar, Brian Mast, Gus Bilirakis, Greg Stanton, and Senators Pete Ricketts and Tammy Duckworth. American leadership is indispensableit provides reassurance and maintains balance of power, Teodoro said. Duckworth and other members of the US Congress voiced strong support for the Philippines and praised the contributions of Filipinos in the American workforce, especially in healthcare. Teodoro assured U.S. officials there would be no change in the Philippines security alliance posture and proposed deeper cooperation in joint oil and gas exploration. Meanwhile, Teodoro and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. addressed misleading claims made in a China Daily article titled Philippine military chief dodges questions. The article, which was dismissed as propaganda material, used footage captured by journalists who approached Brawner outside formal events. The military said the so-called journalists violated protocol to produced a one-sided account that undermines the AFP and the Philippines position in the West Philippine Sea. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi said Sunday the White House's move to revoke visas for Chinese students studying in the U.S. is likely to have the Chinese Communist Party "cheering for this policy." "Because they want these people back," Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) told CBS' Margaret Brennan on Sunday on "Face the Nation." "They want the scientists and the entrepreneurs and the engineers who can come and help their economy. And so we are probably helping them, as well as other countries, more than helping ourselves with this policy." Secretary of State Marco Rubio last Wednesday announced the measure to aggressively revoke "visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roughly 277,000 Chinese students studied in the U.S. last year. And nearly 20 percent of Silicon Valley's highly educated tech employees come from China. But the details behind the White House push including whether the administration plans to target every Chinese international student remain unclear. Tensions between the two countries, already roiled by high-stakes tariff negotiations, have further strained. "There's not enough details," Krishmanoorthi, who launched a run for Illinois' open U.S. Senate seat in May, told Brennan. "However, this appears to be much broader and it's terribly misguided and it appears prejudicial and discriminatory." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Krishnamoorthi is the ranking member on the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party. He told Brennan that increased scrutiny on Chinese students can make sense. "I think that you should definitely have heightened vetting, especially in certain critical areas because we know that the CCP tries to steal, for instance, intellectual property or worse," Krishnamoorthi said. "But the way that this is currently structured looks very, very suspicious." June 1 (UPI) -- China criticized the United States on Sunday for having a "Cold War mentality" after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described Beijing as a threat the Indo-Pacific region in a speech Saturday. "Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely called China a 'threat,'" a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "The remarks were filled with provocations and intended to sow discord. China deplores and firmly opposes them and has protested strongly to the U.S." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth had delivered his remarks during the International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue event in Singapore. He said the Indo-Pacific region is the United States' "priority theater" and won't allow China to push it and its allies out of the region. China retorted Sunday that "no country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the U.S. itself." "To perpetuate its hegemony and advance the so-called 'Indo-Pacific strategy,' the U.S. has deployed offensive weaponry in the South China Sea and kept stoking flames and creating tensions in the Asia-Pacific, which are turning the region into a powder keg and making countries in the region deeply concerned," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. Hegseth had also said that China was "preparing to use military force" to alter the balance of power in the region and said that the United States and its allies must be prepared for armed conflict, citing "great progress" in the region toward "achieving peace through strength." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If deterrence fails -- and if called upon by [the] commander in chief -- we are prepared to do what the Department of Defense does best: to fight and win, decisively," Hegseth said. Mainland China and the island of Taiwan, among other islands, were ruled by the Republic of China before the ROC lost the Chinese Civil War in the early 20th century to the Chinese Communist Party, which established the new government of the People's Republic of China in October 1949. The ROC in turn established a temporary capital in Taipei on the island of Taiwan, a former Japanese territory, in December 1949 that served as the seat for China at the United Nations until it was replaced by the People's Republic of China in 1971 when foreign countries switched their diplomatic relations. China views self-governed Taiwan and its 23 million residents as a wayward province and has vowed to retake it by force, if necessary. Many supporters of Taiwan have since argued that it is already an independent sovereign state separate from mainland China, which has never controlled Taiwan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tensions between the United States and China started to grow during the administration of President Joe Biden in 2022 when then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, sparking a military response from the Chinese government and increased drills in the Taiwan Strait. In 2022, a four-star general predicted that the U.S. and China could be at war by the end of this year. After returning for his second term, President Donald Trump's administration has escalated tensions with China, particularly related to trade tariffs that appear now to be expanding into broader military and diplomatic arenas. For example, the Pentagon has increased naval patrols in contested areas of the South China Sea and bolstered military partnerships with allies including Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. "The Taiwan question is entirely China's internal affair. No country is in a position to interfere. The U.S. should never imagine it could use the Taiwan question as leverage against China," the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. "The U.S. must never play with fire on this question." The United States is undermining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and "turning it into a powder keg," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Sunday in response to remarks by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The spokesman simultaneously warned the US not to interfere in China's conflict with Taiwan. "Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely called China a 'threat,'" the spokesman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regarding Taiwan, the spokesman said the island's future was "entirely China's internal affair" and that no country was in a position to interfere. The US could not use the Taiwan question as leverage and "must never play with fire on this question," he said. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore on Saturday, Hegseth said China was building the military it needed to invade Taiwan and was "training for it every day, and rehearsing for the real deal." The same day, Admiral Hu Gangfeng, head of the Chinese delegation to the conference, termed Hegseth's allegations unfounded, adding that "they aim to incite confrontation and destabilize the region." In his address, Hegseth called on Washington's Asian allies to spend more on defence, saying that deterrence had its price. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth accused China of seeking hegemony in Asia and aiming to dominate and control the entire region. He said that the US did not seek conflict "with Communist China. We will not instigate nor seek to subjugate or humiliate," he said. But the US "will not be pushed out of this critical region, and we will not let our allies and partners be subordinated and intimidated," Hegseth said. Under President Xi Jinping, China has repeatedly warned it could use military force to seize Taiwan, which has been independent from Beijing for decades with its own democratically elected government. The annual Shangri-La Dialogue draws hundreds of government ministers, military officers and experts from all over the world. Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun did not attend at this year. Observers said this was deliberate to avoid a possible meeting with Hegseth. China has warned the United States against playing with fire over Taiwan in response to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calling the Asian power a threat to the region at a high-profile summit in Singapore. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Hegseth said China was credibly preparing for military action to shift Asias power balance, accusing Beijing of rehearsing a potential invasion of Taiwan. China considers Taiwan, a separately governed island, to be a part of its territory and has vowed reunification by force if necessary. Taiwans government rejects Beijings sovereignty claims, saying only the islands people can decide their future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseths remarks provoked a swift rebuke from Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stressed that Taiwan remains a domestic matter, warning foreign powers against using the issue as leverage. It described US actions in Asia Pacific as turning the region into a powder keg. The US should not entertain illusions about using the Taiwan question as a bargaining chip to contain China, nor should it play with fire, it said. Hegseth had called on allies in the Asia Pacific region, including key security ally Australia, to spend more on defence after warning of the real and potentially imminent threat from China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calling the US a true destabilising force in the Asia Pacific, Beijing accused Washington of deploying offensive weapons in the South China Sea and aggravating regional tensions. Beijing accused Hegseth of vilifying China with defamatory allegations and promoting a Cold War mentality. Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region, and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely called China a threat, the ministry said, adding that it had lodged a formal protest with the US over what it described as inflammatory rhetoric. China and the Philippines contest sovereignty over some islands and atolls in the South China Sea, with growing maritime run-ins between their coastguards as both vie to patrol the waters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beijing also rejected US claims about threats to maritime navigation, insisting it has consistently promoted dialogue to resolve regional disputes and safeguarded its territorial rights within the bounds of international law. The US is the biggest factor undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea, the statement read. Chinas Defence Minister Dong Jun skipped the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, Asias premier security forum, with Beijing sending a delegation of lower-ranking representatives instead. It was the first time since 2019 that China has not dispatched its defence minister to the high-level dialogue on regional defence, except when the event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tensions are already high between China and the US the worlds two biggest economic powers over Trumps ongoing trade war and tariff threats. Russia is using a new Chinese laser system to shoot down Ukrainian drones, according to pro-Russian Telegram channels. The system seen in a video posted to Telegram on Thursday appears to be at least extremely similar to a system Beijing has apparently already provided to Iran, which you can read more about here. The video, posted on the Military Information Telegram channel, opens with scenes of troops inside a vehicle, flicking switches and looking at heavily pixelated screens. The next scene shows the system rising out of the vehicle and then being rotated by a soldier in the vehicle using a joystick. It then cuts to small fiery holes being burned into a metal plate. A subsequent view shows the plate with four holes burned through it, apparently created by the laser. Russian sources have released footage showing the use of the Chinese Low-Altitude Laser Defending System (LASS) to shoot down Ukrainian drones in the combat zone. These appear to be the first documented visuals of the Chinese laser system in operational use in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/CPMMQ7263b NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) May 31, 2025 The next scene shows several screens, with one displaying video of a drone catching fire and spinning out of control, with the implication that the damage was caused by the laser system. A second drone is shown being hit by what appears to be the laser. The video ends with recovered drone segments with burn marks that could be indicative of a laser engagement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While we cant say for certain what system this is, or where or when the video was taken, as noted earlier, it is very similar to a system China apparently provided to Iran. From our previous story about that: it has a single large aperture on the left side. In addition, there is an aperture with a more squared-off shape on the right side A similar, if not identical arrangement is visible in Chinese marketing literature for another counter-drone laser weapon called the Shen Nung (also transliterated Shennong). Containerized and 44 Dongfeng Mengshi light tactical truck-mounted versions of the Shen Nung the Shen Nung 5000 and 3000, respectively have at least been pitched in the past. The pictures reportedly taken in Tehran last week show the system behind a blue tarp screen, but what is visible could point to a containerized variant. A Shen Nung promotional image showing containerized (Shen Nung 5000) and Dongfeng Mengshi-based (Shen Nung 3000) variants. (Chinese internet) This is a conclusion also drawn by Fabian Hinz, a research fellow for Defense and Military Analysis at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. While the sensor arrangement seems to have been altered, the system observed in Russian service strongly resembles the Chinese Shen Nung 3000/5000 anti-drone laser, Hinz noted on X. While the sensor arrangement seems to have been altered, the system observed in Russian service strongly resembles the Chinese Shen Nung 3000/5000 anti-drone laser. https://t.co/Q1wSToDhW5 pic.twitter.com/K1BqNvVWTS Fabian Hinz (@fab_hinz) May 31, 2025 Russian Telegram channels claim the system is already in use by the Nomad special forces unit and is a great improvement over earlier counter-drone laser designs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previously, there was an opinion in the domestic information environment that combat lasers were useless and expensive toys, wrote the Military Informant Telegram channel, which on Thursday was the first to publish the video. However, new threats identified during [the full-on invasion of Ukraine] forced the search for alternative methods of counteraction. Thanks to the development of new technologies, laser systems have become an effective tool for the destruction of Ukrainian UAVs. It remains to be hoped that the topic of developing laser weapons in Russia will receive new impetus, and the experience of using lasers as air defense weapons will be scaled up throughout the country, the channel added. While Military Information did not explain what kind of system it was, the editor of a Russian military-themed magazine identified it as the Chinese Low-Altitude Laser Defending System (LASS). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is used, among others, by the Peoples Armed Police of the Peoples Republic of China, wrote Kornev Dmitry, editor of the NOZS magazine and the MilitaryRussia.Ru website. The developer and manufacturer of LASS is probably the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics. MilitaryRussia Though we dont know many details about this system, it certainly is not the first laser directed energy weapon to be used in combat against drones. Earlier this week, Israeli officials disclosed that Jerusalem has used a new air defense laser to shoot down Hezbollah drones in the current conflict in the Middle East. As we noted in our story: What is described as an adapted version of the Iron Beam system made its combat debut last October, and the definitive version should be fielded by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later this year, joining an already formidable, layered air defense network, something you can read about in more detail here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The use of the Iron Beam also known by its Hebrew name Magen Or was announced by the IDF, Israeli Air Force (IAF), and defense contractor Rafael, in a joint statement. These three organizations, it is said, executed an accelerated development program to deploy revolutionary interception systems, as part of an effort that also involved Israels Directorate of Defense Research and Development. You can see that system in the video below. A World First Combat-Proven Laser Defense, Powered by Rafael For the first time in history, high-power laser systems have been used to intercept aerial threats in combat. This unprecedented breakthrough took place during the Swords of Iron War with Rafaels advanced pic.twitter.com/B3D6UdCJvE Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (@RAFAELdefense) May 28, 2025 The U.S. has similar lasers deployed in small numbers to forward locations and vessels for early operational use and evaluation. Multiple countries are working on developing similar systems. Although progress is being made on adapting laser weapons to operational military use, it has been far slower than many had predicted, including the Department of Defense. These systems also have key limitations in terms of their range and environmental factors significantly impacting their performance. Thermal limitations can also limit their engagement efficacy against multiple targets. They also use relatively delicate components that have to be hardened to the rigors of forward operations, often in remote locales, with limited external support. While there is still much we dont know about the system that emerged on social media, the fact that Iran has likely fielded a Chinese system that closely resembles is a sign that it is on the market. Russia, China and Iran have growing relations as they seek to challenge the United States and its allies on the world stage, which includes both China and Iran providing weapons or supporting technologies to Russia in its fight against Ukraine. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Sunday that President Donald Trump's pardons are "eliminating" the idea that there is such a thing as white-collar crime. "He's saying it doesn't exist, anything goes," Christie said to host George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week." Christie spoke in particular about the recent pardon of Paul Walczak, a former nursing home executive who had been convicted of stealing millions from his employees. "Paul Walczak is an entrepreneur targeted by the Biden administration over his family's conservative politics," White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement to Axios about the pardon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christie said Sunday that Walczak's mother "was a million-dollar donor/fundraiser for Trump. And this guy stole, George, 10 million dollars in payroll taxes. The money that his employees give to him to pay their payroll taxes, he stole that money." The former New Jersey governor is certainly not a fan of Trump, having run against him in the Republican presidential primaries in 2016 and 2024. But before he was elected governor in 2009, Christie served as a U.S. attorney. Among those he prosecuted during that time was Charles Kushner, father of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and now Trump's ambassador to France. Many but by no means all of Trump's recent pardons and commutations have been in cases of fraud. Speaking on ABC alongside "The Haves and Have-Yachts" author Evan Osnos, Christie divvied up Trump's pardons into subgroups. "You know, he's got categories of pardons," he said. "You know, you got the pay-to-play pardons. You've got the reality-TV-stars-turned-supporters. And then you've got the folks out there who are just victims of what he calls weaponization of the Justice Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But all of them," Christie added "have one thing in common, which is you've got to be whole hog for Donald Trump. Never before we have have we seen a president who makes it a gate to getting to a pardon to be a political supporter of his, a vocal current political supporter." Trump's other recent pardons and commutations include Todd and Julie Chrisley, whose daughter spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2024; Jason Galanis and Devon Archer, who had testified in House GOP inquiries into the conduct of Hunter Biden; former Virginia sheriff Scott Jenkins; former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland; former Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.); and Larry Hoover, a Chicago drug kingpin who founded the Gangster Disciples. HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) The City of Hampton released a statement Saturday rejecting its designation as a sanctuary jurisdiction by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In the statement, Hampton referred to the classification as inaccurate and unsupported by city policy or practice. The city added it has contacted regional officials to request an explanation. The announcement listed several other Virginia localities as sanctuary jurisdictions, including Newport News, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach and Gloucester County. According to the DHS website, a sanctuary jurisdiction is a city, county or state that is deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities. The website says so-called sanctuary jurisdictions are determined by factors like compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions and legal protections for undocumented immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City of Hamptons statement clarified that it has not adopted any ordinance, policy, or resolution identifying or establishing itself as a sanctuary city. It noted Hampton is part of a regional jail system that houses detainees from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 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. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology banned the 2025 class president from Fridays commencement ceremony after comments she made at a ceremony earlier in the week. During Thursdays OneMIT Commencement Ceremony, Class President, and graduate of Alpharetta High School, Megha Vemuri delivered a speech in which she made statements in support of Palestine. You have taken the obstacle of fear before and you turned it into fuel, she told fellow graduates. You showed the world that MIT wants a free Palestine. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] She goes on to say that last year, the student body voted to cut ties with the Israeli military and called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vemuri continued by critiquing the university, saying that students faced threats and intimidation especially from your own university officials. We are watching Israel try to wipe Palestine off the face of the earth, and its a shame that MIT is a part of it, Vemuri said. We will carry with us the stamp of the MIT name. The same name that is directly complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. Though they did not name Vemuri, MIT confirmed in a statement to Channel 2 Action News that a graduating senior delivered a speech at the OneMIT Commencement Ceremony on Thursday that was not the speech she had gotten approved. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They say that the same student was set to speak at Fridays Undergraduate Degree Ceremony, but was notified that she would not be permitted at that days events. MIT supports free expression but stands by its decision, which was in response to the individual deliberately and repeatedly misleading Commencement organizers and leading a protest from the stage, disrupting an important Institute ceremony, the statement went on to say. Earlier in the week, the online program for Fridays commencement ceremony included an introduction by Vemuri. During the ceremony, MIT President Sally Kornbluth delivered introductory remarks. MIT confirmed that although the student was banned from the ceremony, she will receive her degree. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] In May, Gov. Josh Stein announced several businesses coming to North Carolina. In Charlotte, it was AVL Manufacturing, promising to build a new production facility resulting in 325 new jobs. In Holly Springs, it was biotechnology company Genentech, announcing plans to build a new manufacturing plant with 420 jobs. In Goldsboro, it was transformer manufacturer Prolec-GE Waukesha, also with a new manufacturing plant, and 330 jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those are just three of a slew of businesses coming to the state this year. Gov. Josh Stein joins other North Carolina leaders and Johnson & Johnson executives on March 21, 2025 at Barton College in Wilson, NC to ceremonially break ground on a promised $2 billion J&J facility. So it was no surprise that when Stein delivered a speech at the Emerging Issues Forum on energy at N.C. State University this week, the subject went beyond policy to talk about the economy and business. Good morning and welcome to the Sunday Under the Dome newsletter, which focuses on the governor. Im Capitol Bureau Chief Dawn Vaughan. In his speech at N.C. State on Wednesday, Stein said that while the state has more work ahead to reduce pollution and have a clean tech economy, in many ways, the market demands that we do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly half of the leading companies in the world have a net zero emissions target. Many of these companies want to call North Carolina home. In fact, many of them already do: Amazon, Google, Meta, Toyota, Honeywell. When these companies decided where to invest, they were looking for a strong workforce, a favorable business environment, an excellent quality of life and places where they could get inexpensive, clean and reliable electricity, Stein said. He talked about another one of his economic development announcements, held in April in Greenville, when Boviet Solar opened a new solar module factory. Boviet is a powerful addition to our supply chain that includes a roster of 220 solar companies that are helping to provide more low-carbon energy sources, Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said at the time. They have already hired 400 employees, nearly, and theyre going to keep hiring. If things progress as they fully expect, when they get to phase two, that number should increase to over 1,000 employees, making them one of the largest private sector employers in the county of Pitt, Stein said in his energy speech this past week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are a top 10 state in the nation in the number of clean energy jobs, more than 100,000 workers in the clean energy sector. Unfortunately, some in Congress want to slow our growth, Stein said, referring to the gutting of clean energy tax credits in the huge U.S. House bill passed this month. Talking to reporters after his speech, Stein said hes told North Carolinian members of Congress about the urgency that we keep those tax credits. Heres the thing. Companies make investments based on policy, and there has to be certainty, there has to be settled expectations, or else they do not know how to invest, he said. They were told that these credits existed. Many of them have made major business decisions about investing in North Carolina. Weve got to preserve those credits so that the companies get the bargain that they struck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And speaking of taxes, while Stein was talking to reporters I asked him about the current tax battle between the House and Senate budget plans, which you can read about in my recent story. Thanks for reading. Contact me at dvaughan@newsobserver.com. Not a newsletter subscriber? Sign up on our website to receive Under the Dome in your inbox daily. (KRON) The San Francisco Fire Department rescued a person who fell over the cliffside along the Battery to Bluffs hiking trail near Battery Crosby and Marshalls Beach Saturday afternoon. Firefighters responded to the area around 5 p.m. and used ropes to reach the fall victim, a spokesperson with the San Francisco Fire Department told KRON4. A helicopter with the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office also responded to the scene to provide support to rescuers. A cliff rescue was performed at Battery Crosby in San Francisco on May 31, 2025. (SFFD) (SFFD) (SFFD) (SFFD) Air quality advisory: Flaring at Chevron refinery in Richmond Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The person is said to have suffered minor injuries from the fall. The adult has been evaluated and does not require a hospital visit, SFFD stated on social media. 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. DHAKA Bangladesh was scheduled to open the trial Sunday of fugitive former prime minister on charges of crimes against humanity related to the killings of protesters by police, prosecutors said. Hasina, 77, fled by helicopter to her old ally India in August 2024 at the culmination of a student-led mass uprising that ended her 15-year rule, and has defied an extradition order to return to Dhaka. - Advertisement - The prosecution team is set to submit charges against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, said Gazi MH Tamim, one of the prosecutors. Up to 1,400 people were killed between July and August 2024 when Hasinas government launched a brutal campaign to silence the protesters, according to the United Nations. The domestic International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is prosecuting former senior figures connected to the ousted government of Hasina and her now-banned Awami League party. The prosecution of senior figures from Hasinas government is a key demand of several of the political parties now jostling for power. The interim government has vowed to hold elections before June 2026. The hearing is expected to be broadcast live on state-owned Bangladesh Television. Prosecutors submitted their report into the case against Hasina last month with the court on Sunday expected to open proceedings by issuing formal charges. ICT chief prosecutor Tajul Islam said on May 12 that Hasina faces at least five charges, including abetment, incitement, complicity, facilitation, conspiracy and failure to prevent mass murder during the July uprising. Investigators have collected video footage, audio clips, Hasinas phone conversations, records of helicopter and drone movements, as well as statements from victims of the crackdown as part of their probe. Hasina remains in self-imposed exile in India and has defied an arrest warrant and extradition orders from Dhaka to face trial in person. She has rejected the charges as politically motivated. The same case is also expected to include former interior minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. They face similar charges. The ICT court opened its first trial connected to the previous government on May 25. In that case, eight police officials face charges of crimes against humanity over the killing of six protesters on August 5, the day Hasina fled the country. Four of the officers are in custody and four are being tried in absentia. The ICT was set up by Hasina in 2009 to investigate crimes committed by the Pakistani army during Bangladeshs war for independence in 1971. It sentenced numerous prominent political opponents to death and became widely seen as a means for Hasina to eliminate rivals. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Clint Independent School District will hold four graduation ceremonies for each high school in celebration of the Class of 2025. The ceremonies are scheduled as follows: Tuesday, June 3 Clint ISD Early College Academy at 3 p.m. Clint High School at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 4 Mountain View High School at 3 p.m. Horizon High School at 7 p.m. According to the news release by Clint ISD, all ceremonies will be held at the Don Haskins Center at 151 Glory Rd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, Clint ISD said during Horizon High Schools graduation, a posthumous diploma will be awarded to Miguel Romero, who died last year. Miguel was known for his kind spirit, dedication to his studies, and the bright future he was shaping. Though his life was tragically cut short, his impact on classmates, teachers, and the community endures, the news release read. We honor Miguel not only for the academic journey he began with us, but for the joy and strength he brought into our school community. Presenting this diploma is a testament to the legacy he leaves behind one of courage, love, and hope, according to the news release by Clint ISD. 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 KTSM 9 News. Two people were rescued after their small plane plummeted into Long Island Sound on Sunday morning, authorities said adding that both were in stable condition after the harrowing descent. At approximately 10:24 a.m. local time, the pilot of aircraft N2242Z, a Piper PA-32 with two souls onboard, declared an emergency while in communication with New York Air Traffic Control, Tweed New Haven Airport said in a statement. The plane had taken off from Bridgeport, Conn., to an unspecified destination and was about 8 miles from Tweed when air traffic controllers redirected it there for an emergency landing, the airport said, adding, Shortly thereafter, the aircraft was reported down in Long Island Sound off the coast of Branford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It went down southeast of the Thimble Islands, the U.S. Coast Guard said. Rescuers from the New Haven Coast Guard Station sped to the scene in a 45-foot boat and plucked the survivors from the water, CBS News reported. The two had minor injuries and were taken to Yale New Haven Hospital, according to News12 New York. The Federal Aviation Administration said it was investigating. Responders did not publicly identify the two occupants, but the air traffic monitoring website FlightAware noted the registered owner of the fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft had a Newtown, Conn., address. We are deeply relieved that both individuals were safely recovered and extend our sincere gratitude to all federal, state, and local responders for their swift and coordinated response, Tweed said. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) An Ohio contractor is being sued by the city of Columbus after customers allegedly lost over $70,000 in unfinished work. According to the Ohio Attorney Generals Office, Ron Lewis, of Ron Lewis Cement, is accused of abandoning concrete jobs and engaging in deceptive business practices. The lawsuit filed in Franklin County Court of Common Pleas states that Lewis, of Blacklick, violated the Consumer Sales Practices Act and Home Solicitation Sales Act after 10 consumers lost around $70,000 combined after hiring Lewis for concrete-pouring jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why South-Western City Schools parents are considering leaving the district Lewis, the lawsuit said, stopped completing jobs as of at least March 2024, despite accepting up-front payments. Two consumers reported that Lewis excavated their existing driveway but never finished, and others said he performed no work at all or provided excuses for delays and failed to fulfill his end of the contract. The lawsuit also states that Lewis did not register his business with the Ohio Secretary of State, violating the CSPA, and did not provide customers with a required three-day cancellation notice, violating the HSSA. The Attorney Generals Office is seeking restitution for affected consumers as well as civil penalties and injunctive relief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) The two-day Breakaway Music Festival wrapped up Saturday night, bringing tens of thousands of people to the Historic Crew Stadium, but its impact was felt across several central Ohio neighborhoods with concerns over noise, resulting in a social media storm. It was definitely a shocker because we were convinced it was a house on the street, maybe a car that was parked there, something nearby, and for us to have to drive over a mile away to find the source of the noise was ridiculous, resident Luke King said. Franklin County families gather for community baby shower Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC4 received several emails and phone calls with noise concerns surrounding the festival; residents as far as Grove City claimed they felt their homes shaking from the music Friday night. A couple weeks ago at the Sonic Temple, we could hear that a little bit, too, but this one just took it to a different level, resident John Ubbing said. Residents took to social media Friday night to express their frustrations surrounding the loud music. Some Facebook posts read, I can hear Breakaway fest from my house six miles away in Merion Village. Im not old enough to be this mad about loud music at night, and So thats what it is. Its been driving me insane all evening. We were coming back from dinner, it mustve been about 7 (p.m.), and we could hear boom, boom, boom, really strong bass, resident Wayne Trakas-Lawlor said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ohio lottery winner takes $2 million prize from Columbus Sheetz According to residents, the normally quiet German Village was anything but that Friday night. What concerned us the most is it was so loud, it was shaking our house, King said. So we decided well call the non-emergency number to file a noise complaint and then, of course, they want to know where the noise is coming from so, I walked down the street to find out which house was bumping this music for five hours all day long and made it all the way to Livingston. I could still hear it, I could still feel it and I still couldnt see it. Parents in the area said the Breakaway Music Festival was a nuisance, especially when trying to put their kids to bed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had to kind of turn our sound machines up to try and turn that off, Ubbing said. Worthington restaurant manager wrestles money away from suspected robber Breakaway Music Festival organizers shared the following statement regarding the noise concerns: While our music festival was originally scheduled to end at 11:00 PM programming was temporarily paused for over an hour due to severe weather. To ensure the safety of our fans, artists, and staff, and with support from the Historic Crew Stadium we made the necessary decision to delay performances, and shelter in place while we closely monitored the storms progression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result, the event extended beyond our original planned end time. However, we want to reassure our local community that our sound permit allows programming at full volume until midnight, and we continued festival operations within that permitted window, ending at 11:50 PM. We appreciate our surrounding communities patience and understanding as we prioritized safety while doing our best to deliver fans a positive festival experience. If you play music, I can understand going to concerts, but at that time of night, youd expect it to quiet down a bit, Trakas-Lawlor said. I mean, during the day is fine, I dont have a problem with 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. Mykhailo Drapatyi, Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has submitted his resignation. Source: Drapatyi on Facebook Quote: "I have decided to resign as Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is a conscious step dictated by my personal sense of responsibility for the tragedy at the 239th training ground which resulted in the deaths of Ukrainian soldiers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Drapatyi stated that, as commander, he had been unable to fully ensure that his orders were carried out. Quote: "I didnt push hard enough, didnt convince them, didnt change their attitude towards the soldiers in the ranks. That is my responsibility. The conduct of the soldiers matters, but the primary responsibility always lies with the command. It is the commanders who set the rules, make the decisions and are accountable for the consequences." Details: Drapatyi said that collusion and impunity are poison for any military. "I tried to root it out of the Ground Forces. But if tragedies keep happening, it means my efforts were not enough," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "An army in which commanders bear personal responsibility for the lives of their troops is alive. An army where no one is accountable for losses dies from within. Twelve dead. Others wounded. These were young men from a training battalion. Most of them were in shelters. They should have been training, living, fighting not dying. My deepest condolences go out to the families of the deceased and all those affected." More details: Drapatyi stated that he has launched an investigation into all the circumstances of the tragedy, specifically the actions of the commanders, the condition of the shelters, and the effectiveness of the air-raid warning systems. All those affected are receiving assistance. Quote: "We will not win this war unless we build an army where honour is not just a word, but an action. Where responsibility is not a punishment, but the foundation of trust. Where every commander is accountable for every order, every decision, every person every single day." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: On 1 June, Russia launched a missile strike on a training unit of Ukraines Ground Forces. At least 12 soldiers are known to have been killed and over 60 injured. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! JACKSON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) The Paint Rock Fire Department hosted a barbecue to raise money for a Fayetteville, Tennessee, family involved in a deadly wreck earlier this month. On May 11, a truck pulling cargo for Amazon hit six cars on I-75 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, with two of the cars catching fire in the crash. Two people were killed and eight others were injured and taken to nearby hospitals. The Smith family was among those injured and killed in the wreck. Dont underestimate its power: Remembering water safety when visiting Little River this summer Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The father, Lane, was pronounced dead on the scene. His 22-month-old son, Sawyer, died at a local hospital on May 18, exactly one week after the wreck. The mother, Baleigh, and 8-year-old sister, Brynlee, were seriously injured in the wreck. Brynlee is currently being treated for burns at Vanderbilt. Since the wreck, businesses across Lincoln County, Tennessee, have poured out their support for the family. The Bank of Lincoln County opened a donation account for the Smith family, something representatives say is crucial due to fraudulent activity on online donation platforms. Saturdays barbeque showed the support for the Smiths crosses state lines. The goal was to sell over 400 plates in an effort to raise about $8,000. Lanes grandparents, Betty and Danny Johnson, attended the event and described their grandson as an extraordinary person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the WHNT News 19 App to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WHNT News 19 newsletters to have news sent to your inbox. Always a smile on his face. Helped everybody in the community, Danny Johnson said. Just somebody that you couldnt believe was to be 23-year-old and be that much of a man. Johnson said young Sawyer loved to be with his dad. Every time Lane got off, he was on the tractor or on the gator going to feed the cows, Johnson said. He loved his moo moos. The grandparents call the tragedy a nightmare. You feel like its unbearable at times, Betty Johnson said. Its the worst nightmare you can have, Danny Johnson said. Just unbelievable, I never dreamed of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paint Rock Fire Chief Finis Johnson knows Danny and Betty, which is why his department stepped in to help. Were just helping, thats all I can say, wanted to do something to help, Finis Johnson said. Its a tragedy and everything like that, and if the community can come together and help support something like that, its good. The outpouring of support from people who dont even know the family means the world to them. People here are extraordinary, Danny Johnson said. Small community and their heart just goes out and theyre willing to help. This is what you call America and Americans. Everybody wants to help, a lot of kind-hearted people, Danny Johnson said. Theres a lot of bad people, too, but Im gonna say the majority have a heart and theyre willing to help when needed, and we just appreciate this so much. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) Parishioners from the St. John the Baptist Church in Maria Stein went to mass this Sunday at the Precious Blood Church over in Chickasaw. The church community was invited to the nearby church because of a massive fire that heavily damaged the 135-year-old building on Thursday evening. A big loss: Church steeple, roof collapse in massive Maria Stein fire 2 NEWS spoke with two community members about the drastic change in their lives, Ted and Sarah Burgmen, who live close to St. Johns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its like our world changed, said Sarah, we thought of all the baptisms, first communions, weddings and funerals which happened there. Over 135 years is quite a history of things that cant be replaced. The pair spoke on how the community is looking forward. People will rebuild that church, said Ted. The buildings gone, but the people arent. The building is a building, but the church is our community, said Sarah. The two churches have been closed before. When St. Johns was being repainted, Precious Blood invited over their parish for four months. Everybody works with each other, shared Ted. This is one great big community here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maria Stein community assesses damage after devastating church fire Dr. James Jim Schwieterman spoke with 2 NEWS as he visited the fence outside of St. John. This is my community, said Schwieterman. All the sacraments for me, my mother, my grandparents and my great grandparents, all started here at St. Johns church. They say you try to make the unreal real and so you come out here to process the loss. He continued, speaking on rebuilding. I was asked, do you think theyll rebuild? and I said I know they will. Its not an if, its a when. The local community, Catholic and not alike, we band together. Its who we are, its what were about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2 NEWS will follow the St. Johns community through these next steps. 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. Los Angeles For years, Phil Mangano made a good living as a film and television editor in Los Angeles. "It was just job after job after job," Mangano told CBS News. "Very consistent work." But after Hollywood writers and actors went on monthslong strikes in 2023, production ground to a halt. California lost roughly 40,000 film and tv jobs that year alone, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When that finally settled, we were like, OK, great, things will come back," Mangano said. "And there has been no significant increase in job opportunities." Since its peak in 2021, television production in the greater Los Angeles area has decreased by 58%, according to the nonprofit group FilmLA, which handles film permitting for the city and county of Los Angeles. The number of shoot days for television fell from 18,560 in 2021 to 7,716 in 2024. And in the first quarter of 2025, on-location production in L.A. declined by 22.4% from the same period last year, per numbers from FilmLA. "Right now, it's a triage situation. The patient is dying and you need to bring it back to life," Matthew Belloni, who covers show business for Puck News and hosts the popular podcast "The Town," told CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belloni says Hollywood productions, and hence the jobs, have gone to other U.S. states and other countries who are willing to offer generous tax incentives. "Some European countries that are offering up to 40% back on these productions," Belloni said. "And that's incredibly influential." California Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to stop the bleeding by more than doubling the state's annual film and TV tax credits from $330 million to $750 million. "Film and film making, pre and post-production, it's on life support," Newsom told reporters earlier this month. "L.A. County and L.A. city are struggling." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But is the proposal too little too late? "The sad reality is that California has sat on this issue for 30 years," Belloni said. Belloni is unsure if California can provide enough tax credits to offset the high cost of working in the state. "Other jurisdictions have done their own aggressive cuts to that bureaucracy," Belloni said. "Is California willing to do that? Don't know." In the meantime, Mangano and thousands of others in Hollywood are looking for whatever work they can find. "I applied for a job at Costco a couple months ago," said Mangano, who adds that he cannot hold out "much longer." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have a little savings left," he adds. "We're hoping that'll float us for a few more months. And then we have to start making some hard decisionsWhether or not we can keep the house." Trump says Musk is "not really leaving" as DOGE savings lag behind projections How a toddler's brave walk into the darkness to get help inspired his family California track and field final begins with new rules for transgender athletes A monthlong Consumer Reports (CR) investigation alleges that shoppers at almost half of Kroger-owned grocery stores are overcharged for sale items. The investigation began after CR learned that Kroger workers in Colorado alleged widespread errors in pricing labels during union negotiations. In an effort to document the "size and breadth of the problem," CR recruited people to visit multiple stores in multiple states over several months. The results? Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shoppers found expired sales labels that led to overcharges on more than 150 grocery items, including Cheerios cereal, Mucinex cold and flu medication, Nescafe instant coffee, boneless beef, salmon, and dog food, the report stated. How widespread is the issue? According to the report, CR recruited people to visit 26 Kroger stores including Kroger, Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer, Fry's and Ralphs across 14 states and the District of Columbia during March, April and May 2025. Shoppers documented more than 150 items where expired or misleading sales tags could have caused customers to pay more at checkout than the price listed on the shelf. Roughly one-third of the tags were outdated by at least 10 days, and several, they say, expired months before. The average overcharge was $1.70 per item or, 18.4% more than the advertised sale price. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People should pay the price that is being advertised, thats the law, Consumer World founder Edgar Dworsky told CR. The issue here is that shoppers cant rely on the shelf price being accurate, and thats a big problem. Items affected included a range of household staples and name-brand goods such as cereal, medication, instant coffee, meats, seafood and pet food. In some cases, the shelf tags still displayed promotional pricing well after the sale had ended, potentially misleading shoppers into thinking they were getting a discount. One example, KTLA News reports, was an 8-pack Mission Flour Tortillas advertised as on sale for $2.99 but showing as $4.00 when the CR shoppers checked their receipts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Kroger representative responded to the report, saying the company regularly checks prices for accuracy and called the CR report a few dozen examples across several years out of billions of customer transactions annually. The company said that while no errors are acceptable, characterizing a few mistakes as "widespread pricing concerns" is false. While Kroger is the latest retailer to come under scrutiny, it's not the only one. Other chains, including Walmart and Vons, have faced similar accusations in recent months. In October 2024, Albertsons agreed to pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit that accused the California grocery chain of charging more than the lowest advertised price for various items. Consumer advocates say the issue may be more common than most shoppers realize, and without checking receipts and shelf tag dates, many overcharges can easily go unnoticed. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan works every single time to kill debt, get rich in America and that anyone can do it How to avoid being overcharged on your groceries While price errors may not be intentional, they can still cost you money especially if you're buying multiple items you thought were on sale. Consumer advocates say overcharges often go unnoticed, but with a few simple steps, shoppers can reduce the risk of paying more than they should. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are a few ways to protect yourself at the register: Double-check your receipt. Review it before leaving the store to ensure sale prices were applied correctly. Take pictures of sale tags. If youre concerned something wont ring up right, take a photo of the tag to show the clerk. Look for expiration dates on sale tags. Some tags may still be posted even after the promotion ends. Check before you decide to purchase items you think are on sale. Speak up. If the price at checkout doesnt match what was listed on the shelf, ask for a correction. Know the rules. Most states do not have a law that requires stores to honor an expired sale tag. However, some stores will as a gesture of goodwill. Even major grocery chains can make mistakes, but staying alert can help ensure youre actually getting the deals you came for. What to read next Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Dale Washam, a one-term former Pierce County assessor-treasurer and contentious local figure who repeatedly clashed with county leaders during his brief four-year tenure, died of natural causes on May 15. He was 87. A family member confirmed Washams death, but declined further comment. Until his unexpected election in 2008, Washam was known as a gadfly: a perennial candidate who ran unsuccessfully for public office in Washington more than 10 times and filed numerous complaints, lawsuits, and recalls against political and personal opponents. Targets ranged from local private citizens to former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Washam claimed Gingrich had stolen his idea for the 1994 Contract with America. The complaint went nowhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Typically running as an independent until late in his career, Washam would campaign by hand with limited money and public support. His surprising success in 2008 was a reminder of the need to vet candidates carefully, said current Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer Marty Campbell. The Assessor-Treasurers office extends their condolences to his family and those who knew him, Campbell said. He added though his knowledge of Washam was secondhand, the mans rise to office offers an example of why voters should do their research and vote the whole ballot. I never personally met Mr. Washam although everyones experience with Washam was unique, we recognize the impact he had on our office, he told The News Tribune on Saturday. The following account is based on Washams Law, a 2009 series of special reports on Washam by staff writer Sean Robinson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Born on June 30, 1938, Richard Dale Washam originally grew up in Missouri, the oldest of eight siblings; he moved to Western Washington as an adolescent and married his high-school sweetheart Dorothy Michaels in 1956. They had four children: daughter Elizabeth and sons Mark, Matthew and Christopher. In 1956, he also joined the Air Force, where he served four years at George Air Force Base in Victorville, Calif., and was honorably discharged with the rank of airman first class. In 1970, he received an associates degree in arts and sciences from Fort Steilacoom Community College, a branch campus of Pierce College. In the early 1970s he had a failed dry-cleaning business and spent time selling trailers, tires and recreational vehicles for different businesses; he also tried a run for a state House seat but lost. By 1975, he had secured a job with Diamond Laboratories Inc., where he spent six years as a high-performing sales representative. Around this time, he set his sights on politics once more, running for the state Legislature but losing in the primary. Between 1989 and 2008 the year he was finally elected assessor-treasurer Washam appeared in 42 court actions, largely as a plaintiff, totaling an average of about two lawsuits annually, during which he would represent himself despite lacking a law degree or license. In 1980, he was fired from Diamond Laboratories and sued for wrongful termination, representing himself his case was later dismissed after years of litigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1990, he sued Pierce County Democrats after he lost an election to a seat on a small precinct committee. Washam ran unsuccessfully for Pierce County executive in 1992 and 1996, and lost elections for Pierce County auditor in 1993, 1994 and 1998 to Cathy Pearsall-Stipek. In 1997, he also lost an election for Puyallup School Board and sued to nullify the results. He went on to file three unsuccessful recall petitions against Pearsall-Stipek over four years in 1999, the Washington state Supreme Court ruled Washam could proceed with a fourth petition that charged Pearsall-Stipek with perjury for lying about her education, but he dropped the effort, claiming the process was made too difficult by the courts. In 2000 and 2004, Washam lost elections for Pierce County assessor-treasurer to Ken Madsen, after which he filed a failed recall petition against Madsen in 2005. In 2002, he was also unsuccessful in a Pierce County auditor election against Pat McCarthy. In 2008, under a newly implemented ranked-choice voting system, Washam won the election for Pierce County assessor-treasurer with 51.9% of the final tally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In office, Washam was accused by employees of retaliation and mismanagement; three independent investigations confirmed the claims, finding he retaliated against employees, abused power and wasted government resources, while also hindering the investigations. Following the investigations findings, five damage claims against Washams office cost the county around $1.5 million in settlements and legal expenses, The News Tribune reported in 2012. Former Pierce County Councilmember Tim Farrell, who served on the council while Washam was assessor-treasurer, told The News Tribune recently that people were skeptical when Washam won the office, but tried to hope for the best unfortunately, he noted, he proved them wrong. There was a question of if he was going to be really good or really bad, and Pierce County found out the hard way that he was really, really bad, Farrell said. He was arrogant, he had a difficult approach for managing his office.... he had a great group of people going in, but chased most of them out. In 2011, Washam faced his own favorite weapon: a recall campaign. The effort, headed by Puyallup resident Robin Farris, collected more than 64,000 verified signatures - just short of the 65,000 needed to qualify for the ballot. In 2012, Washam ran for re-election as assessor-treasurer. Four other candidates joined the race. In the primary, Washam finished fourth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were trying to figure out who the 10% were that voted for him, Farrell said about the primary. It was a relief, but the damage was done. It took a long time for Mike Lonergan, Washams successor as assessor-treasurer, to get things back on track, Farrell added. According to Farrell, the 2008 election helped push the Pierce County Council to end ranked-choice voting. Voters viewed it with skepticism after Washams win. Billie OBrien, a former administrative manager in the tax division of the assessor-treasurers office who worked under Washam, expressed her condolences to his family but said the four years of his term were very difficult. Washam was single-minded and convinced that his predecessors at the assessor-treasurers office had committed unlawful acts, she said, and he focused on targeting and punishing employees of his office he felt were still responsible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said he was combative with his staff at one point, he had a window in the office through which he would watch what the property appraisers were doing. OBrien said Washams poor conduct helped galvanize her to run against him in the 2012 Pierce County assessor-treasurer election. When Washam found out, he was not happy, and tried to prevent her from taking time off to attend speaking engagements, despite Pierce County code allowing employees to take time off to run for office. When Washam fell short in the 2012 primary election, staffers were relieved, OBrien said. It was a time in that office when a lot of very good, dedicated employees were frightened about what would be the next thing he would do, what would be the next upheaval, OBrien told The News Tribune recently. Even the people who stayed until the next assessor-treasurer had nervousness and fear, there were a lot of changes that were unwarranted and made it difficult to do their jobs. A new permanent member of the United Nations Security Council has shifted its stance on the Sahara issue and expressed full support for the Morocco-proposed Autonomy Plan that it described as the most credible, viable, pragmatic basis to settle regional dispute. The United Kingdom, which had so far maintained a neutral position, has joined many major super powers to express clear support for Moroccos autonomy plan for the Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty and said it intends to act in line with this new position at the bilateral, regional, and international levels, and consequently considers supporting projects in the Sahara. The United Kingdom considers Moroccos autonomy proposal, submitted in 2007 as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute over the Sahara, and shall continue to act bilaterally, including economically, regionally, and internationally in line with this position to support resolution of the conflict. This position was expressed in a Joint Communique signed, Sunday in Rabat, by British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy, and Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita. The UK follows closely the current positive dynamic on this issue under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, the Joint Communique states. London recognizes the importance of the Western Sahara issue for the Kingdom of Morocco, the document points out, noting that the settlement of this regional dispute would strengthen the stability of North Africa and the relaunch of the bilateral dynamic and regional integration. The UK affirms that it can consider supporting projects in the Sahara, notably as part of the UK Export Finances 5bn commitment to support new business across the country, the Joint Communique underlines, affirming that the UK recognizes Morocco as a key gateway to Africas socio-economic development and reaffirms its commitment to deepening engagement with Morocco as a partner for growth across the continent. According to the Joint Communique, both countries support, and consider vital, the central role of the UN-led process in the issue, and reaffirm their full support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy, Mr. Staffan de Mistura. To this end, the UK underlines that it is ready, willing, and committed to lend its active support and engagement to the Personal Envoy and the parties. As a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, the United Kingdom agrees with Morocco on the urgent need to find a resolution to this long-held dispute, which would be in the interest of the parties, the document notes, adding that the time for a resolution and for moving this issue forwards is long-overdue, and would strengthen the stability of North Africa and the relaunch of the bilateral dynamic and regional integration. This new position of the United Kingdom, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, aligns with the strong stances expressed by many major powers, notably the United States, France, and Spain, and reinforces the growing international momentum driven by King Mohammed VI in support of the Autonomy Plan under Moroccan sovereignty. It also confirms the credibility of this initiative and the broad consensus backing it to reach a final settlement of the regional dispute over the Sahara. May 31New Mexico could implement new standards for more environmentally friendly transportation fuels, everything from gasoline to electricity, as soon as next year if the state Environment Department gets the OK. Meanwhile, efforts are afoot in Washington to block state requirements around clean cars, something Republican legislators in New Mexico hope will successfully trickle down to transportation fuels, too. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham last year signed off on legislation to establish a statewide program around clean transportation fuel standards. The law requires annually reduced transportation carbon emissions the top greenhouse gas emitter in the U.S., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the coming years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New Mexico Environment Department this month submitted proposed rules for the transportation program, and the rulemaking process is set to continue in early June. If approved, New Mexico would become the fourth state in the nation to adopt clean fuel standards. "Under Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's leadership, New Mexico is diversifying its economy while addressing climate emissions proving once again you don't have to choose between the two," NMED Secretary James Kenney said in a statement. How it works The 2024 Democrat-backed legislation, House Bill 41, amended the Environmental Improvement Act to allow a state board housed within NMED, the Environmental Improvement Board, to enact a clean transportation fuel standard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NMED has spent the last year drafting the rules. The department submitted its proposal to the board two weeks ago, a draft that spanned more than 100 pages. Essentially, it sets up a market around transportation fuels, which are considered gasoline, diesel, petroleum gas, natural gas, hydrogen and electricity. Fuel producers and importers who bring in a fuel that exceeds the state's carbon intensity standard a set measure of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases would have to buy "clean fuel credits" from those who produce below the standard. Entities can then sell, trade, retire or generate the credits. The clean fuel standard itself follows a 2018 baseline from carbon intensities generated by gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. The proposed rule would mandate annual carbon intensity reductions in fuels, to meet legally required milestones: at least 20% below 2018 levels by 2030, and at least 30% below 2018 levels by 2040. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a hefty rule," said Michelle Miano, director of NMED's Environmental Protection Division. There are already entities waiting to participate in the market, Miano said. Participation is voluntary for entities generating credits, like utility companies. Public Service Company of New Mexico has voiced its support for the program, and other companies like clean energy business 3Degrees and automotive tech and manufacturing company Rivian that operate in other clean transportation fuel markets in the U.S. participated in a public comment period in January to support and influence how New Mexico's program will work. NMED officials also touted new economic opportunities that could come with the $3 billion alternative fuels market, attracting investments in industries like clean hydrogen or renewable propane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not everyone is eager for the program rollout, though. House Republican Minority Leader Gail Armstrong of Magdalena warned the program risks higher fuel prices. It's an argument reminiscent of those during last year's legislative session, though Miano said larger market forces and oil prices drive rates at the pump, not clean fuel programs. "House Republicans had serious concerns about HB 41 from the start and what's unfolding now confirms those concerns," Armstrong said in a statement to the Journal. "The governor's push for a clean transportation fuel program creates a costly new regulatory burden that builds an unnecessary framework of credit trading and compliance rules." She also said she's closely watching federal efforts to overturn mandates like this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, the U.S. Senate passed multiple resolutions overturning waivers that allow states to adopt emissions standards more ambitious than at the federal level. It specifically targets mandates around advanced clean cars, trucks and heavy-duty engines though not fuels. In response, a group of 11 governors, including New Mexico's, launched the Affordable Clean Cars Coalition of the U.S. Climate Alliance. It's an effort to defend states' clean transportation standards. "The federal government and Congress are putting polluters over people and creating needless chaos for consumers and the market, but our commitment to safeguarding Americans' fundamental right to clean air is resolute," the 11 governors said in a joint statement. Miano said since the clean transportation fuels program is state-based, it's largely insulated from "federal uncertainties." "That's the great part about this program, is that it is a state program and a state market," she said, "and that it will ensure that New Mexico is the place that receives the clean fuels and clean energy economic investments that are uncertain in other parts of the country." Librarians jobs vital for schools Im deeply concerned by Richland School Districts decision to eliminate certified teacher-librarians from middle and high schools next year, replacing them with paraeducators. Paraeducators are hardworking and bring great value to schools, but they are not trained or compensated to take on the role of a certified librarian. This is a teaching position that requires a specialized endorsement involving rigorous coursework and an internship. Librarians support literacy, yes, but they also do so much more. They collaborate with teachers, teach research and media literacy, analyze library collections for gaps in representation and intentionally build inclusive spaces that foster belonging, curiosity and academic growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As someone who recently completed a Library Media Endorsement program, I had the opportunity to spend time in a middle school library and witness what certified librarians really do. Ms. Howard, the librarian, created monthly book displays, ran contests, supported curriculum and made her library a place where students felt seen. She didnt just manage books she built readers. Cutting certified librarians sends the message that reading, equity and student engagement are no longer priorities. Richland students deserve strong, thoughtfully led library programs. Please reconsider. Holly Shaklee, Richland Tri-Cities needs med school here Primary care provider shortages seem to be a topic that we have all heard about and/or experienced firsthand. As the Tri-City population continues to grow, physician shortages will become a more prominent problem. As a community member, I believe this problem needs to be addressed to help relieve the burden on healthcare workers and help our community become healthier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lack of access to primary care results in preventable health problems, like hypertension, becoming larger issues and could result in more complicated and costly health problems, according to one study. Another suggests increasing the number of medical school acceptances, lowering the cost of medical school and increasing the amount and scope of practice for mid-level providers such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Tri-Cities could help alleviate their own burden by increasing admission to the family nurse practitioner school at WSU and partnering with UW to have a medical school campus here. Having access to healthcare is something our community deserves, and we should have a united front. More doctors and mid-level providers in our community will prevent long waiting times in the emergency room and help our community members become and remain healthier. JanaRose Johnson, Pasco Thanks for nurse at Queensgate I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those at Queensgate Cinema yesterday. Thanks to those who stepped forward in my time of need, those who stepped forward when I was hurting. If it were not for those individuals, I may not have made it. Those individuals stepped up to the plate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They treat others like they themselves want to be treated. And a special thanks to a very kind nurse, Sharon, who works at Kadlec hospital. The kindness of strangers is what our world needs more of. I will be forever in your debt. All the best and God bless. Bob Petty, Benton City Trumps big bill isnt so beautiful According to Morning Joe analyst Steve Rattner, the Big Beautiful Bill passed by house Republicans will deliver a 3.7% increase in after-tax dollars to the top 10%. The average bottom 10% American will lose $800 because the tax relief is so small and the loss of safety net benefits is so large. The 60% in the middle wont feel much difference either way. The cuts to Medicaid and food stamps in the bill are historically large, but it still would increase the deficit by 3.8 trillion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rattner also says that if the 2017 tax cuts were allowed to expire only on those Americans making over $500,000 annually, it would save $1.1 trillion over 10 years. That would be enough to pay for the Medicaid and food stamps that the big beautiful bill cuts. The GOP pretends that tax cuts that exclude the very wealthy are liberal extremism, though. The bill was hastily passed in the wee hours without the normal process of evaluation. Rep. Dan Newhouse voted yes and claims to be proud of it, but really? The hot mess will next be considered by the Senate, where even the Republicans reportedly think it stinks. But nobodys betting on their integrity. Greg Carl, Richland Cut out wording of big, beautiful bill Rep. Dan Newhouse: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am your constituent in Kennewick. It is imperative that you and other House Republicans remove the following language from Trumps Big, Beautiful Bill: No court of the United States may use appropriated funds to enforce a contempt citation for failure to comply with an injunction or temporary restraining order if no security was given when the injunction or order was issued .... Remove this language now! Quoting the Hartman Report, May 20: In plain language, what this says is that no court can enforce a contempt charge against Trump or his people unless the person or group who brought the charges against the president or his administration had first posted a cash bond. ... if this becomes law, Congress will have stripped the courts including the Supreme Court of their ability to use the power of contempt to enforce their rulings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this single stroke, Trump will have crowned himself king. No congress and no court can stop him. Dont be part of castrating the enforcement powers of the courts, effectively destroying the U.S. Constitution and our democracy! Follow your moral compass and oppose this bill! Nancy Klotz, Kennewick Youth health due immediate action The escalating youth mental health crisis in the Tri-Cities region demands urgent attention. Between 2013 and 2021, Washington state witnessed a staggering 600% increase in youth attempted suicides. There were 326 attempted suicides from children age 10-17 just in Benton/Franklin counties. According to the CDC, suicide ranks as the third-leading cause of death among high school students aged 1418. These alarming statistics stress the necessity for immediate action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to NAMI Tri-Cities, suicide has now become the ninth-leading cause of death in our counties, with youth mortality rates surpassing the state average. As a parent of a child facing mental health challenges, I urge our community leaders to: enhance school-based mental health services. This includes implementing comprehensive mental health programs within schools, such as regular screenings, counseling services and crisis intervention. Our community should also increase funding for mental health resources, such as allocating additional funds to expand the capacity of mental health clinics and support training specializing in adolescent care. We need to promote community awareness to destigmatize mental health issues and educate about recognizing warning signs. By taking these steps, we prioritize the mental well-being of our youth, ensuring they have the resources and support they need. Tashina Ovenell, Richland The root cause of autocracy One consideration missing from commentaries on the two major political parties is that partisanship is currently the most destructive force within our political system. It is the root cause of the current failure of our political system to accomplish what is best for all citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Partisanship, the strong allegiance or loyalty to political parties, ideology or cause, is resulting in strongly biased perspectives and unwillingness to consider opposing viewpoints. This same phenomenon applies separately within the Democratic Party when two of its internal factions are considered. Separate partisanship leaning by the Democrats left and moderate factions is resulting in three partisanship factions in American politics: Republican, Left Democrat and Moderate Democrat. This gives the Republicans a significant advantage in that their entire party is in lock step on this issue because Trump is exercising absolute control of all thoughts throughout his party. This is also what allowed Adolf Hitler to take control of Germany in the 1930s. Jim Tow, Richland Newhouse failed Eastern WA Rap. Dan Newhouse failed his eastern Washington constituency and most Americans across the land with his vote to pass the Republican budget bill. That bill, when acted upon by the Senate, will be responsible for the greatest impoverishment of Americans in our lifetimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newhouses vote alone could have stopped it, but he chose instead to transfer our nations wealth, labor-derived, to the oligarchs. Homelessness will increase as our elders will be denied subsidized housing and health care. Every family will be affected. Farmers and small businesses are being crushed by tariffs. Why, Newhouse? Why did you do this to us? Why would you abrogate your constitutional responsibility over the budget and hand that power over to an ignorant, sociopathic narcissist? Either Newhouse incredulously believes tariffs are now magically less destructive than they have historically been, or he is in fear for his life. Which is it? Which is worse? Our democracy is collapsing, and Newhouse is working at the forefront of that transition into fascism. Recovery may take generations if we dont halt Trump now. This is not a game. Step up, Newhouse, or step out. Ivar Husa, Richland After the Palisades fire ignited, top brass at the Los Angeles Fire Department were quick to say that they were hampered by broken fire engines and a lack of mechanics to fix them. If the roughly 40 fire engines that were in the shop had been repaired, they said, the battle against what turned out to be one of the costliest and most destructive disasters in Los Angeles history might have unfolded differently. Then-Fire Chief Kristin Crowley cited the disabled engines as a reason fire officials didn't dispatch more personnel to fire-prone areas as the winds escalated, and why they sent home firefighters who showed up to help as the blaze raged out of control. The department, she said, should have had three times as many mechanics. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, right, and Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley address the media at a press conference onJan. 11. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) But many of the broken engines highlighted by LAFD officials had been out of service for many months or even years and not necessarily for a lack of mechanics, according to a Times review of engine work orders as of Jan. 3, four days before the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's more, the LAFD had dozens of other engines that could have been staffed and deployed in advance of the fire. Instead, the service records point to a broader problem: the citys longtime reliance on an aging fleet of engines. Well over half of the LAFDs fire engines are due to be replaced. According to an LAFD report presented to the city Fire Commission last month, 127 out of 210 fire engines 60% and 29 out of 60 ladder trucks 48% are operating beyond their recommended lifespans. "It just hasn't been a priority," said Frank Lima, general secretary treasurer of the International Assn. of Fire Fighters who is also an LAFD captain, adding that frontline rigs are "getting pounded like never before" as the number of 911 calls increases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That means officials are relying heavily on reserve engines older vehicles that can be used in emergencies or when regular engines are in the shop. The goal is to use no more than half of those vehicles, but for the last three years, LAFD has used, on average, 80% of the trucks, engines and ambulances in reserve, according to the Fire Commission report. "That's indicative of a fleet that's just getting older," said Assistant Chief Peter Hsiao, who oversees LAFD's supply and maintenance division, in an interview with The Times. As our fleet gets older, the repairs become more difficult, Hsiao told the Fire Commission. Were now doing things like rebuilding suspensions, rebuilding pump transmissions, rebuilding transmissions, engine overhauls. The problem stems from long-term funding challenges, Hsiao said in the interview, with the department receiving varying amounts of money each year that have to be divvied up among competing equipment needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you extrapolate that over a longer period of time, then you end up in a situation where we are," he said. To make matters worse, Hsiao said, the price of new engines and trucks has doubled since the pandemic. Engines that cost $775,000 a few years ago are now pushing $1.5 million and it takes three years or more to build them, he said. Read more: L.A. fire officials could have put engines in the Palisades before the fire broke out. They didn't The number of fire engine manufacturers has also declined. Recently, the IAFF asked the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to investigate a consolidation in emergency vehicle manufacturers that it said has resulted in skyrocketing costs and "brutal" wait times. In a letter, the IAFF said that at least two dozen companies have been rolled up into just three main manufacturers. Firefighters battle the Palisades fire on El Medio Avenue on Jan. 7 in Pacific Palisades. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times) "These problems have reduced the readiness of fire departments to respond to emergencies, with dire consequences for public safety," the letter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IAFF is the parent organization of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, the local union representing LAFD firefighters. IAFF has been running the local labor group since suspending its top officers last month over allegations of financial impropriety. Hsiao said the LAFD's fleet is well-maintained, and engines don't often break down. But the age and condition of the fleet could deteriorate further, even with an infusion of cash to buy new equipment, because the wait times are so long. Mayor Karen Bass' office has previously said that she secured $51 million last year to purchase 10 fire engines, five trucks, 20 ambulances and other equipment. The 2025-26 budget passed by the City Council last month includes nearly $68 million for 10 fire engines, four trucks, 10 ambulances and a helicopter, among other equipment, the mayor's office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Mayors Office is working with new leadership at LAFD to ensure that new vehicles are purchased in a timely manner and put into service," a spokesperson said in an email. A majority of the Fire Department's budget goes toward pay and benefits for its more than 3,700 employees, most of them firefighters. Members of the Los Angeles Fire Department fill the council chambers to show support for former Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, who was at City Hall March 4 to appeal her termination to the Los Angeles City Council after Mayor Karen Bass fired her as head of the Fire Department. Under the city charter, Crowley would need the support of 10 of the 15 council members to be reinstated as chief. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times) Despite the city's financial troubles, firefighters secured four years of pay raises last year through negotiations with Bass. And firefighters often make much more than their base pay, with about 30% of the LAFDs payroll costs going to overtime, according to the city's payroll database. Firefighters and fire captains each earned an average of $73,500 in overtime last year, on top of an average base salary of about $140,100, the data show. Lima said that while new engines will be useful, "a one-year little infusion doesn't help a systemic problem that's developed over decades." Asked whether firefighters would defer raises, he said they "shouldn't fund the Fire Department off the backs of their salaries." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Fire Protection Assn. recommends that fire engines move to reserve status after 15 years and out of the fleet altogether after 25 years. But many larger cities need to act sooner, because of the constant wear and tear city equipment takes, said Marc Bashoor, a former fire chief who now trains firefighters across the country, in an email. In my opinion, 10 years is OLD for city apparatus. Bashoor also noted that incorporating a variety of brands into a fleet, as the LAFD does, can increase repair times. Read more: Bass ousts L.A. fire chief, saying LAFD needs new leadership When a fire department doesnt have a standardized fleet, departments typically are unable to stock enough parts to fit every brand, he said in an email. They then have to find the part or use a 3rd party, which can significantly delay repairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the roughly 40 engines in the shop before the Palisades fire, three were built in 1999. Hsiao said engines that old are typically used for training and don't respond to calls. Those that are too old or damaged from collisions or fires to ever return to city streets sometimes remain in the yard so they can be stripped for parts or used for training. Some are kept as evidence in lawsuits. According to the service records reviewed by The Times, a work order was opened in 2023 for a 2003 engine burned in a fire, with notes saying "strip for salvage." A 2006 engine damaged in an accident was waiting for parts, according to notes associated with a work order from last April. Two 2018 engines were damaged in collisions, including one with heavy damage to the rear body that had to be towed in, according to notes for an order from last July. Other orders noted oil leaks or problems with head gaskets. Almost 30 of the engines that were out of service before the fire 70% on the list were 15 or more years old, past what the city considers an appropriate lifespan. Only a dozen had work orders that were three months old or less. That included three newer engines two built in 2019 and one in 2020 whose service records showed they were waiting for "warranty" repairs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the fire, LAFD union officials echoed Crowley's fleet maintenance concerns. Freddy Escobar, who was then president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, blamed chronic underfunding. "The LAFD does not have the funding mechanism to supply enough mechanics and enough money for the parts to repair these engines, the trucks, the ambulances," Escobar told KTLA-TV. The issues date back more than a decade. A 2019 report showed that LAFD's equipment was even more outdated at the time, with 136 of 216 engines, or 63%, due for replacement, as well as 43 of 58 ladder trucks, or 74%. In a report from 2012 , LAFD officials said they didnt have enough mechanics to keep up with the workload. Of paramount concern is the Department's aging and less reliable fleet, a growing backlog of deferred repairs, and increased maintenance expense, the 2012 report said, adding that mechanics were primarily doing emergency repairs instead of preventative maintenance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LAFDs equipment and operations have been under heightened scrutiny since the Palisades fire erupted Jan. 7, destroying thousands of homes and killing 12 people, with many saying that officials were severely unprepared. A total of 18 firefighters are typically on duty at the two fire stations in the Palisades Stations 23 and 69 to respond to emergencies. Only 14 of them are routinely available to fight brush fires, The Times previously reported. The other four are assigned to ambulances at the two stations, although they might help with evacuations or rescues during fires. The Palisades fire burns along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times) LAFD officials did not pre-deploy any engines to the Palisades ahead of the fire, despite warnings about extreme weather, a Times investigation found. In preparing for the winds, the department staffed only five of more than 40 engines available to supplement the regular firefighting force. Those working engines could have been pre-positioned in the Palisades and elsewhere, as had been done in the past during similar weather. Less than two months after the fire, Bass dismissed Crowley, citing the chief's pre-deployment decisions as one of the reasons. Bass has rejected the idea that there was any connection between reductions at the department and the citys response to the wildfires. Meanwhile, the number of mechanics on the job hasnt changed much in recent years, fluctuating between 64 and 74 since 2020, according to records released by the LAFD in January. As of this year, the agency had 71 mechanics. According to its report to the Fire Commission, the LAFD doesn't have enough mechanics to maintain and repair its fleet, based on the average number of hours the department said it takes to maintain a single vehicle. Last year, the report said, mechanics completed 31,331 of 32,317 work requests, or 97%. So far this year, they have completed 62%, according to the report. "With a greater number of mechanics, we can reduce the delays. However, a limited facility size, parts availability, and warranty repairs compound the issue," LAFD said in an unsigned email. Special correspondent Paul Pringle contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. MEMPHIS, Tenn. The investigation into the death of a man outside a Frayser shopping center continues. Now, Memphis Police are asking for the publics help to bring the suspect to justice. Its getting worse. Its going to get worse, a Frayser resident said. People working at the Frayser Village Shopping Center on Frayser Boulevard went about their Sunday morning as usual. However, some employees WREG spoke with said they are still processing the events that happened the day before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memphis Police said a man was shot and killed. The brazen attack has customers and people living nearby talking. Those WREG spoke with did not want to go on camera for their own safety. Man killed in Frayser shooting I said, Did the security guard shoot him? I thought maybe he was stealing, a resident said. They said, No. It was another person who shot him. And you know thats a norm out here. Surveillance video viewed by WREG showed a man leaving a tobacco store. Suddenly, a man wearing a black hoodie and a ski mask appears, shoots the victim, and runs off. Police said that the suspect fled in a silver late-model sedan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of this took place in broad daylight while the parking lot was packed with unsuspecting shoppers. Dont nobody care who they shoot, a resident said. They just shooting. We spoke with a woman who works at a nearby business, who said shes still traumatized by the act of violence. She said she even tried to help the victim, but it was too late. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Man hospitalized after Frayser shooting This shooting comes after a violent start to the year in the Frayser community. According to the City of Memphis Safer Communities dashboard, there have been 248 aggravated assaults and 20 homicides 17 of which were labeled as murders, 2 negligent manslaughters, and one justifiable in the 38127 zip code this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just hours after the shopping center shooting, another man was shot in the 3700 block of Donna Drive, only two miles away. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, and one person was detained. People WREG spoke with said they fear the violence is only going to get worse. You cant say more police because theyre out here. They are out here, a resident said. You see them all day long, but its like they dont care about the police. They dont even care about going to jail. Police said the Frayser Boulevard shooting is an ongoing investigation. If you have any information about either shooting, you are encouraged to contact Crimestoppers at 901-528-CASH. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg is seeing his political star rise along with the number of attacks lobbed at him from both parties. Hogg has drawn ire and praise from Democrats for his move to get involved in the partys congressional primaries, part of what he says is an effort to bring about generational change. Republicans, meanwhile, have long sought to turn him into a foil. And now that the 25-year-old activist-turned-party-leader finds himself at the center of a feud among Democrats, the GOP sees a golden opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Someone brought up to me today that your average voter doesnt know who David Hogg is, said one national Republican operative. Whats your strategy? Why are you guys talking about him so much? Its the most obvious point to show the national media, which is the Hogg wing taking over the Democratic Party, the operative continued. Hogg has seen his profile steadily grow since he first burst onto the political scene following the 2018 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., when he was a senior. He quickly became one of the leading voices of the gun control movement and later co-founded March for Our Lives. In February, he was elected a vice chair of the DNC. And in April, he made waves when his group Leaders We Deserve launched a $20 million initiative aimed at primarying incumbent Democrats in safe House seats with the hope of electing a new generation of members. Hogg explicitly noted that the group would not target front-line members or members in competitive districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, the group has only publicly endorsed one candidate, backing Illinois state Sen. Robert Peters (D) in the open seat race for the states 2nd Congressional District. But Hoggs decision to engage in the primaries has drawn criticism. While many members of the party acknowledge that Democrats need to do a better job of paving the way for new voices and a cohort thats more responsive to the partys needs, others have criticized him for overseeing the effort while serving as a DNC leader. Now, the Gen Z firebrand is contending with the possibility of losing his DNC position altogether. Members of the organizations Rules and Bylaws Committee decided earlier this month that they would hold an electronic vote in June to determine whether they should redo the elections of the vice chair positions won by Hogg and Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta. The decision was made after one of the candidates who lost, Kalyn Free, challenged the way the election was conducted. Frees challenge is unrelated to Hoggs efforts to primary Democratic incumbents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hogg has criticized the move, saying its impossible to ignore the broader context in which its being implemented a nod to the criticism of his primary efforts. Other Democrats have pushed back on Hoggs claims, including Kenyatta. Davids first statement out of the gate was, heres the Democratic Party doing some maniacal thing to push me out because of what hes doing with his PAC, Kenyatta said in an interview with MSNBC earlier in May. David knows that that is not true. In an interview with Fast Company, Hogg did not go into detail about his conversations with Kenyatta but said he sees their disagreement as a strategic one. Howard Chou, a DNC member from Colorado who voted for Kenyatta but not Hogg during the initial vice chair election, praised Hogg and his ascension within the party, saying that for Hogg to rise to a level that hes gotten to is pretty impressive, to be honest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Chou acknowledged Hoggs DNC vice chair tenure can be seen as tumultuous and said he disagreed with the idea of engaging in primaries as an official. Hes done some revolutionary things, but we should still hold to standards and rules of what were doing here were the governing body of the national Democratic Party, Chou said. DNC Chair Ken Martin, who has lauded Hogg as an amazing young leader and said he had great respect for him, has also told reporters hes against Hogg primarying members while holding the vice chair position. No DNC officer should ever attempt to influence the outcome of a primary election, Martin said on a press call last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Democrats are more conflicted. For Paul Eckerstrom, senior vice chair of the Arizona Democratic Party and a former DNC member, its a question he has struggled with. Whether a challenger in a primary is successful or not, I think its probably a good thing even for the sitting congressperson to at least, you know, pay attention to their constituency, pay attention to certain issues and not get complacent, Eckerstrom said. So I have a hard time criticizing David for doing what hes doing. At the same time, Eckerstrom added, maybe Kens got a point about not primarying members while being a sitting DNC member. Hogg has defended his plans and says Democrats need to better meet the moment as the party looks to reset heading into 2026 and 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant just hope that Donald Trump screws everything up so much that voters come begging back to us for any alternative. he told Fast Company. We dont want people to feel like theyre just voting for the less bad of two options. What were trying to do is light a fire under everybodys ass in our party. And frankly, if that makes you uncomfortable, maybe you should question whether or not you should run. Still, the drama surrounding Hogg and Frees efforts to challenge the election results are threatening to deepen divisions within the party as Democrats look to win back the House and possibly the Senate next year. Republicans, for their part, cant get enough of Hogg. The party has sought to paint Hogg as a liability for Democrats, tying him to every young, progressive Democrat primarying an incumbent. If he wants to work to elect more Democrat crazies and encourage more wokeism and nonsense, Id say fantastic, said Brian Seitchik, an Arizona Republican strategist and alum of President Trumps campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats do not necessarily look at Hogg as a threat to their incumbents. While they argue Hogg has seen major success in the activist space in co-founding March for Our Lives, some Democrats note he is not the only influential player in the party and still has more experience to gain. Hes an unbelievably talented activist and advocate, and he certainly has the ear of many influential people and in the progressive movement hes an all-star, said one Democratic strategist. However, the strategist added that they did not understand how Hoggs group primarying other Democrats would be beneficial to the party. Hes leading an organization that is publicly calling for primaries against longstanding Democrats on the basis of are they good? Like lets define that, the strategist said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. On this date in history: In 1880, the first public pay telephone began operation in New Haven, Conn. In 1958, Charles de Gaulle became prime minister of France with emergency powers amid the collapse of the Fourth Republic. He was elected president of France at the end of the year amid the rise of the Fifth Republic. In 1962, Israel hanged Adolf Eichmann for his part in the killing of 6 million Jews by Nazi Germany in World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court banned prayers and Bible teaching in public schools on the constitutional grounds of separation of church and state. On June 1, 1997, teacher Jonathan Levin, the son of Time Warner's then-chairman, Gerald Levin, pictured, was tortured and killed by a former student. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI File Photo by Erin Schaff/UPI In 1968, Helen Keller, a world-renowned author and lecturer despite being blind and deaf from infancy, died in Westport, Conn., at the age of 87. This photo released by the Brazilian Air Force on June 9, 2009, shows the Brazilian Navy removing debris from Air France Flight AF447 out of the Atlantic Ocean. Flight 447 crashed into the Atlantis ocean en route to Paris from Rio de Janeiro, killing all 228 people on board on June 1, 2009. File Photo courtesy Brazilian Air Force In 1973, Prime Minister George Papadopoulos abolished the Greek monarchy and proclaimed Greece a republic with himself as president. Constantine II, the last king of Greece, died in January 2023. In 1980, the Cable News Network -- CNN -- TV's first all-news service, went on the air. Smoke billows over Universal Walk as a fire rages out of control on the backlot filled with movie sets at Universal Studios in Universal City, Calif., 12 miles from downtown on Los Angeles on June 1, 2008. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1993, President Jorge Serrano Elias of Guatemala was ousted by the military. In 1997, Betty Shabazz, Malcolm X's widow, sustained injuries when her 12-year-old grandson, Malcolm Shabazz, set fire to her apartment. She died nearly a month later. On this day in 1980, the Cable News Network -- CNN -- TV's first all-news service, went on the air. File Photo by David Tulis/UPI File Photo by Roger Celestin/UPI In 1997, teacher Jonathan Levin, the son of Time Warner's then-chairman, Gerald Levin, was tortured and killed by a former student who knew him to be wealthy and was seeking money. The student, Corey Arthur, was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. His alleged accomplice, Montoun Hart, was acquitted despite a signed, 11-page confession. Blind and deaf author Helen Keller, who died on this day in 1968, runs her fingers over the face of President Dwight Eisenhower during a visit to the White House in 1953. File Photo by Charles Corte/UPI In 2001, Nepalese Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev massacred nine members of his family, including his parents, King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya; his siblings, Prince Nirajan and Princess Shruti; and aunts and uncles Prince Dhirendra, Princess Shanti, Princess Sharada, Kumar Khadga and Princess Jayanti. Dipendra also shot himself in the head, but initially survived, and served as king for four days before dying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2008, a fire at Universal Studios Hollywood burned two city blocks and destroyed iconic movie sets, including those from When Harry Met Sally, The Sting and Back to the Future. In 2009, Air France Flight 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris plunged into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 228 people on board. In 2015, the Eastern Star, a passenger ship traveling along the Yangtze River from the eastern city of Nanjing, flipped during a violent storm, killing approximately 400 people. In 2020, law enforcement officers cleared protesters from Lafayette Square near the White House using tear gas and other tactics to allow President Donald Trump to walk to St. John's Episcopal Church to pose for a photo while holding a Bible. The photo op came amid protests against the police killing of George Floyd which caused damage to the church. In 2021, Adm. Linda Fagan took over for retiring Adm. Karl L. Schultz, becoming the first female commandant in the U.S. Coast Guard. CHICAGO Rose Marie Ruggiero, who goes by Cookie, and Mary Reusz, now affectionately known as Grandma Mary, go way back. I lived right across the alley from her grandmother, Reusz said. Her grandmother had a cherry tree, and I used to go and steal cherries from the tree. Along with building humorous memories at home, the ladies, now in their 90s, also shared unforgettable times at James Ward Elementary School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teachers were always so good, and I had a good time here. I didnt go to kindergarten but first grade to eighth, Ruggiero said. On Saturday morning, the long-time friends returned to the school, located at the corner of 27th Street and South Shields Avenue, sitting side by side in the auditorium. Reusz graduated from eighth grade in 1945, and Ruggiero graduated in 1947 but says it doesnt feel like its been 78 years. The two were among a large crowd of alumni, current students and educators who came out to celebrate the schools 150th anniversary. Festivities included going back in time with gems from the past on display and students sharing their talents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first section of James Ward opened in 1875, with two additions coming along in 1897 and 1927. The building is the districts oldest continuously used and operated school. Its our oldest school but its a school that celebrates inclusion, celebrates art, Pedro Martinez, Chicago Public Schools CEO, said. Its a community that has changed over time, but its always been a wonderful community. Eric Chen, who graduated from James Ward in 2021, says his elementary school foundation was key to his success as he heads to Princeton University this fall. These teachers really put in so much effort, like outside of school hours, to make sure we succeed, so Im very grateful theyre really passionate, Chen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As he transitions from CPS, Martinez says he wants to see students like Chen continue representing what the district can offer. The talent that exists here, both in our staff and our students. There is just no shortage of talent so when we support that talent, we make our wonderful city even greater, Martinez said. All these years later, Reusz and Ruggiero say theyre proud of the next generation of students for putting their old stomping ground on the map. These children are so smart. I am proud of them, Ruggiero said. Well, I say take it all in because you have a wonderful opportunity here at Ward School, see look at us, Reusz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) Packing a police cruiser is normally a bad thing but the Decatur Police Department flipped that on its head to help get food donations for those in need. Officers pulled an S.U.V. in front by a grocery store on airport plaza drive. For four hours they collected non-perishable items like peanut butter pop-tarts and more. They had some help from northeast community fund collecting the food which will go to food banks in the Decatur area. Cancer survivors get together to celebrate National Cancer Survivors Day Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everybodys been really, really generous, giving out, you know, canned goods and box foods and all the non-perishables, Patrol Officer Tucker Tool said. So were very, very excited and very pleased with the turnout. Look at the weather out here today, you know, and get to go out and, you know, talk to the community and interact with them and just, you know, have an overall great experience and for a good cause. They also took monetary donations as well to get specific products that werent donated on Saturday. 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. "These are capabilities you only see in movies, which made a decisive contribution before the campaign against our enemies, and some even helped in the elimination of Nasrallah, Israel Katz said. Defense MinisterIsrael Katz will award the Israel Security Prize for 2025 to the "Eitan" Armoured personnel carrier, the "Oron", "Shavit", and "Eitam" aircraft, and unique capabilities that led to the killing of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, the Defense Ministry stated on Thursday. "A tremendous contribution to the country's security. These are capabilities you only see in movies, which made a decisive contribution before the campaign against our enemies, and some even helped in the elimination of Nasrallah, Katz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I congratulate the winners who continue to ensure Israel's security today and in the future." About the winning defense systems The Eitan APC is an 8x8 wheeled armored personnel carrier designed for infantry fighters, allowing operations in highly threatening combat scenarios. Eitan APC. (photo credit: DEFENSE MINISTRY) The Eitan has played a significant role in the Israel-Hamas War, including participating in the rescue of hostages from Gaza. The prize for the Eitan APC will be awarded to the military directorates responsible for its development and production, including the Merkava and Armored Corps Directorate (MANTAK), the Security Procurement Administration (MAHAR), the Weaponry Division, the Operational Mobility School of the Ground Corps, the Medical Corps in the Technology and Logistics Branch, and the Nahal Brigade Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Shavit, Eitam, and Oron mission aircraft played a vital role in defending Israels airspace during the war and preserving intelligence superiority. The system is based on advanced technologies that provide control and monitoring capabilities. The prize will be awarded to the Research and Development Directorate for Weaponry and Technology Infrastructure in the Ministry of Defense, Israel Aerospace Industries, the Air Force, the Navy, and the IDF Intelligence Directorate. Additional prizes will also be awarded to the Shin Bet, the Mossad, and Elbit Systems for various defense missions, including the killing of Nasrallah. The Israel Security Prize will be awarded in the presence of President Isaac Herzog, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and other security officials on June 18 at the President's Residence. WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Some 150 students got to demonstrate their science knowledge thanks to an annual competition in Wilkes-Barre. The always popular Egg Drop was just one of the categories on Saturday at the SHINE Science Olympiad. Wilkes University welcomed students from nine different schools in Luzerne County. 28/22 News Anchor Nick Toma and Reporter Amelia Sack served as celebrity judges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The event emphasizes the importance of STEM learning through the program SHINE, which stands for Schools and Homes in Education. DAs share crime trends in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties The kindergarten through eighth graders were happy to be there. It was an amazing time because when I was practicing it so it wont break, it kept breaking, but I added this final touch, and when I came here it stayed and it didnt break, 10-year-old Participant Brianny Alberto told 28/22 News. We want them to feel really stimulated. We want them to engage in their education, and we want them to really know that theres a future, and if we can get them excited about learning and careers as we move forward, we know that theyll be a success and give back to our community later, SHINE Program Executive Director Carol Nicholas said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community donations and sponsorships help make the SHINE Science Olympiad possible at Wilkes. 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 28/22 News. NORTHAMPTON Cornucopia Natural Wellness Market will close its doors in Thornes Marketplace on June 30 in preparation for a move to a more sustainable location. Jade Jump and Nate Clifford, owners of the natural market that has been a mainstay in the Northampton community since 1980, are actively searching the region for a more affordable site. So far, when considering the realities of post-pandemic retail spaces, Holyoke and Easthampton are contenders, they said. Our mission has always been to bring good, clean, organic food to people who dont have easy access to it, said Clifford, and thats part of the reason why Holyoke is so appealing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple bought the natural grocery store in 2019 and, according to Jump, had the best year ever. Then the pandemic hit. Cornucopia closed for three months and then reopened for curbside delivery before it was able to fully reopen as a store. According to Clifford, sales havent been the same since then. Clifford said that, despite keeping a good profit margin and a tight expense record, sales have still been down 35% since 2019. The only way that we survived has been just being extremely scrappy, said Clifford. Two years ago, we were like, This is what we need to get to in order to survive, and we never got there. So we had to make the decision to leave before the decision was made for us. Part of a swath of closures Cornucopia is not an anomaly in downtown Northampton, though. Since 2019, it has been estimated that at least 20 local downtown businesses have closed their doors, according to local reports, altering the face of the shopping and restaurant mecca in the Valley. This total does not include local businesses that have moved to neighboring towns like Easthampton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When queried about the closures, Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarras office issued a statement, wishing the business well in its endeavors. Vince Jackson, executive director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, said that, while he is heartbroken to see Cornucopia leave, he doesnt believe high rents are a problem, as some new businesses continue to open their doors. Commercial rents on a square-foot basis have remained stable for well over 10 years, said Jackson, citing chamber tallies. From his perspective, Clifford had to disagree. He said that, while people are shopping less post-pandemic, commercial rents in Northampton have stayed the same as pre-pandemic times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Retail is fundamentally different. he said. We can only go by the numbers, and the data shows that were down nearly 35% from a foot-traffic standpoint. To prepare for moving costs, Cornucopia is having a storewide sale and has set up a GoFundMe account. While they are able to move without the GoFundMe, Clifford said that having an extra cushion will determine how much they can do in their new space. Throughout this change, both Clifford and Jump still value the community that has been a market pillar for decades. Clifford reflected on how the care from customers got him through when his father died unexpectedly last year. I just got hugs and support for weeks and weeks and weeks, he said. I dont think people realize how much that helped me get through it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jump recalled pandemic times, when they were doing curbside deliveries while she was pregnant, working up until the day she gave birth. I think people see and realize that we are authentic, and we genuinely care, and we genuinely love what we do, and we want to make a difference, she said. Community has long been an integral piece of the stores ethos. Jump and Clifford often have hand-delivered orders if a customer has a mobility or health problem and is unable to come to the store. The care has been reciprocal. Jump said 98% of the response to their move announcement has been supportive, with customers stating, wherever you go, we will follow. Read the original article on MassLive. Moments before a not-yet-open Caribbean restaurant exploded in Florida City last weekend, injuring 10 people, a technician was working to solve a gas flow issue in the establishment, a new police report says. On May 24, the explosion from within Caribbeans Heart restaurant rocked a small strip mall plaza in the 900 block of West Palm Drive. The blast tore a hole through the ceiling, and a subsequent fire sent people running as over two dozen Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews rushed over. READ MORE: Ten hospitalized after propane explosion in Florida City strip mall, officials say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Initial reports from authorities said there was a propane gas explosion from inside Palm Bakery, which was later discovered to be the old establishment that Caribbeans Heart took over. Eight people were taken to the hospital by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, while two others took themselves there before help arrived. That Saturday was meant to be Caribbean Hearts opening day, according to its Facebook page and business owners in the plaza. A Florida City police incident report shows what allegedly happened in the hours leading up to their noon opening. A propane gas explosion injured 10 people in Florida City on Saturday, May 24, 2025. The explosion occurred inside Palm Bakery, located at 941 West Palm Dr. Roussain Thelemaque, co-owner of Caribbeans Heart, told an officer that at 8 a.m., a technician from Anel Costatrueba Company came to turn on the gas in preparation for the opening, the report read. The technician, Lazaro Silva, was working on the gas line to ensure everything was functioning correctly. However, it appeared there was gas in the line, and as soon as it turned on, the explosion went off, Silva explained to the officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Thelemaque family disputes the accounts in the polices incident report, said Stephanie Ducheine-Welsh, the familys attorney. The day before the explosion, Sydny Thelemaque, co-owner of Caribbeans Heart, noticed the restaurants burners were not turning on and phoned Florigas, a South Florida gas and propane company, to help, Ducheine-Welsh said. The company had come a month before to fill up the restaurants gas tanks. They sent a technician the following day, but the family contends they do not know who the Anel Costatrueba Company is. The Herald could not find a contact for the business or a description of what it does. The attorney believes it may be a third-party contractor. It is also unclear where the technician was at the time of the explosion. While he told police he was working on the gas line, Ducheine-Welsh stated that the explosion occurred when the technician was demonstrating to the staff how to turn on the deep fryer, contrary to the incident report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Roussain and Sydny poured their life savings into Caribbeans Heart, cultivating relationships with the city and its mayor to receive grants and backing, Ducheine-Welsh said. Theyve now lost everything as they begin the recovery process. According to the police report and business owners, seven shops and restaurants were impacted by the explosion. One owner told the Herald that an entire wall in their business was blown down, and a vast majority of their product was unsalvageable. MACKINAC ISLAND When Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan took part in his first mayoral debate, in 2013 on Mackinac Island, he was fighting for a spot in the shadow of state-appointed Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr, who led the city through bankruptcy before handing control back to elected leaders in 2014. Last week, five leading candidates for mayor took the island debate stage to battle for a spot in the shadow of Mike Duggan. In 2013, the city was shedding its paralyzing debt in bankruptcy court and preparing to usher in a new era of investment, service restoration and hope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That era, financially, is coming to a close, with long-deferred pension payments coming due, stimulus money drying up and the specter of dramatic federal funding cuts looming under President Donald Trump. Each of the five candidates debating at the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference sought to ride a precarious line promising to maintain the trajectory of economic progress fostered by Duggan, who is stepping down at the end of this year to run for governor as an independent, and pledging to deliver more direct results to the neighborhoods most in need of investment. Were that phoenix that has been rising from the ashes. We need to make sure that it doesnt crash into a window, said mayoral candidate Fred Durhal III, a Detroit city councilman whose father, Fred Durhal Jr., was a candidate on that 2013 debate stage. The next mayor will face a completely different financial reality than the current mayor, mayoral candidate and former council president Saunteel Jenkins said during Thursday's debate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Solomon Kinloch, pastor of Triumph Church the only candidate at the debate without government experience it's particularly important to establish himself as the candidate who could best take Duggans ball and run with it. While we come from a dark place of dismal debt, (Duggan) gave us a great fiscal foundation for us to do bigger and bolder, he said. Former Police Chief James Craig, appointed in 2013 by Orr, pointed out hes the only candidate who served directly under Duggan, arguing that practical experience gives him an edge: Theres no book for this. You need someone who can plug in and do it right and do it the first time. Candidate Mary Sheffield, who has been president of the Detroit City Council since 2022 and is the frontrunner in the race, according to a Target Insyght poll released last month, said she wants to keep Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison in his role, and to expand existing initiatives around youth crime diversion and robust mental health strategy. And she believes shes best positioned to maintain a business-friendly posture. I will make sure that Detroit is the best place in America to start a business, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kinloch and Durhal each pinpointed a key element in that upcoming election. A majority of the electorate is not even engaged in the democratic process, Kinloch said. The question is whos protecting and speaking and communicating for the people who arent in the room, Durhal said. Those may have been the most telling comments of the week. Four other candidates Todd Perkins, DaNetta Simpson, Jonathan Barlow and Joel Haashiim weren't invited to appear. The five candidates debated the issues in front of a crowd of newsmakers and moneymakers, and faced a handful of groans, chuckles and heckles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it was a far more muted crowd than those that await them back home. Five candidates in the 2025 Detroit mayoral election participated in a debate on May 29, 2025, at the Detroit Regional Chamber's annual Mackinac Policy Conference, held on Mackinac Island More from Freep Opinion: Democrats better hope Michigan Gov. Whitmer changes her mind about presidential run It's the schools Improving the quality of K-12 education, and with it the potential for more families to stay in the city, remains the largest hurdle in Detroits path to prosperity. Everyone agrees about that. Detroits public schools do not fall under the mayors purview. Theres an elected school board once sidelined by emergency management and still sensitive to interference that is responsible for driving the district forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, everyone also seems to agree, the mayors office has a key role to play in offering support in the areas of transportation and after school programming. I think its important for the next mayor to build on that and fill gaps, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti told the Free Press on the island Wednesday. The wrong leader could put us backwards. Leadership matters. Who is mayor matters From a school district point of view, Im hopeful that (Detroits next) leader understands collaboration and seeking to understand problems, rather than just reacting to them. Kinloch wants to appoint a chief educational officer to coordinate support services for the school district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheffield wants to expand the Community Education Commission, a Duggan-era entity that operates in northwest Detroit, to support bussing and accountability measures for both traditional and charter schools. But there was little discussion during Thursdays debate on improving overall public transit in the city, which Vitti says is a primary issue for families with children in Detroit schools, both for getting kids to school and getting parents to work. In 2013, debate moderator Stephen Henderson, left, listens as Detroit mayoral candidates Mike Duggan, State Rep. Fred Durhal Jr., Lisa Howze and Benny Napoleon face off during the Detroit mayoral debate at the Mackinac Policy Conference. More From Freep Opinion: Medicaid cuts could drive Michigan hospitals closer to insolvency That other election Meanwhile and this is a hell of a meanwhile Michiganders are also facing 2026 races for governor and U.S. Senate, each race with its own implications of immense proportions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the candidates in those races were fiercely making the rounds on the island last week. Duggan, who is running for governor as an independent, having abandoned the Democratic Party, introduced an elaborate, statewide school improvement plan that he framed as a systemic disruption that he believes would upend Michigans two-party political system: boosting school budgets and early reading programs, career and technical education programs and threatening to fire school principals and superintendents who don't improve student performance within five years. Now look at that list and tell me which thing would Republicans or Democrats disagree with. Theres nothing partisan about this, Duggan said about his plan. There is, in fact, plenty that Democrats and Republicans would debate about his plan. But the message was strong. And his opponents have their work cut out for them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, a Democratic candidate for governor, intends her own disruptions. She calls investing in education "the whole ballgame," and sees robust mental health support for kids as key. She wants to do away with antiquated business tax breaks and incentives. And she wants to build a vast light rail across the state. Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, another Democratic gubernatorial candidate, has healthy outstate name recognition, according to a Glengariff Group poll released at the conference. As a sitting sheriff, he has the strongest public safety background in the race, promising significant reforms for both police accountability and effective crime prevention. Candidates for governor, including Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and former Republican Attorney General Mike Cox, U.S. Rep. John James, R-Shelby Township, and state Sen. Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, have more than a year to stake their own claims to succeed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who spent the week on Mackinac celebrating recent bipartisan-flavored wins with Trump backing a new fighter mission at Selfridge Air Base and efforts to keep invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But unlike the mayor's race, therell be another Mackinac Policy Conference next May before those elections take place. Somewhere in time Things generally dont change on Mackinac Island. Thats kind of the point. Horse-drawn carriages, pristinely maintained historic landmarks, the faint, ever-present odor of horse manure. Its an oasis of old-timey charm, where cars are banned, isolated from Michigans mainland, and far removed from the problems of everyday life. The annual Mackinac Policy Conference, now 45 years in minus a COVID-19 cancellation is supposed to be about progress, growth and solutions. But those solutions tend to develop at the pace of a snail making its way up the steep hill to the island's plantation-esque Grand Hotel. It all lends a sense of deja vu. Back in 2013, Detroiters were trying to figure out who to put in the mayors office in an election of gargantuan importance. Detroiters are back in the same position. This time around, after more than a decade of debt relief, federal aid and modest-to-impressive quality of life improvements across the board and unquestionable progress, the most pressing issues are the same crime reduction, school improvement, affordable housing, neighborhood stability and diversifying the citys economy. In 2013, the city was approaching bankruptcy, and had nowhere to go but up. This time, Detroit has everything to lose. Khalil AlHajal is deputy editorial page editor of the Detroit Free Press. Contact: kalhajal@freepress.com. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online and in print. Like what you're reading? Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access witha Detroit Free Press subscription. We depend on readers like you. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit mayoral candidates vie to replace Mike Duggan | Opinion By Ted Hesson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Homeland Security removed a list of "sanctuary" states, cities and counties from its website following sharp criticism from a sheriffs' association that said a list of "non-compliant" sheriffs could damage the relationship between the Trump administration and law enforcement. DHS on Thursday published a list of what it called "sanctuary" jurisdictions that allegedly limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The list prompted a response from the National Sheriffs' Association, which represents more than 3,000 elected sheriffs across the U.S. and generally supports federal immigration enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Kieran Donahue, president of the association, said in a statement on Saturday that DHS published "a list of alleged noncompliant sheriffs in a manner that lacks transparency and accountability." Donahue said the list was created without input from sheriffs and "violated the core principles of trust, cooperation, and partnership with fellow law enforcement." President Donald Trump had called for his administration to tally alleged sanctuary jurisdictions in a late April executive order, saying the lack of cooperation amounted to "a lawless insurrection." The DHS website listing the jurisdictions was offline on Sunday, an issue that Fox News host Maria Bartiromo raised with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on "Sunday Morning Futures." "I saw that there was a list produced," Bartiromo said. "Now, the list I don't see anymore in the media. Do you have a list of the sanctuary cities that are actually hiding illegals right now?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noem did not acknowledge the list being taken offline but said some localities had bristled. "Some of the cities have pushed back," Noem said. "They think because they don't have one law or another on the books that they don't qualify, but they do qualify. They are giving sanctuary to criminals." Leaders of some cities publicly questioned the sanctuary label this week, including jurisdictions in Southern California, Colorado and Massachusetts. San Diego City Attorney Heather Ferbert told local outlets that San Diego - named on the DHS list - had never adopted a sanctuary policy and that the move appeared to be politically motivated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We suspect this is going to be used as additional threats and fear tactics to threaten federal funding that the city relies on," she said. Immigrant advocates and some Democrats say sanctuary policies help build trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement so that residents will be more likely to report crimes. At a hearing before a U.S. House of Representatives committee in March, mayors from Boston, Chicago, Denver and New York City said sanctuary policies - generally affording migrants similar due process rights as those of citizens - made their cities safer and that they would always honor criminal arrest warrants. Noem, who shares Trump's hardline immigration views, said the department would continue to use the sanctuary tally. In response to a request for comment, a senior DHS official said the list is being constantly reviewed and will be updated regularly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Internet Archive website Wayback Machine showed the list still online on Saturday. It was not clear when it went offline or whether it was related to pushback from sheriffs. In his statement on Saturday, Donahue specifically called out DHS. "This is an unfortunate and unnecessary erosion of unity and collaboration with law enforcement and the enforcement of the rule of law at a time when that unity is needed most," he said. "This decision by DHS could create a vacuum of trust that may take years to overcome." Sheriffs play a key role in immigration enforcement and aid federal immigration officers by detaining people who allegedly violated immigration laws in local jails. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration last week pushed out two top U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials amid pressure for more arrests and deportations. Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump's immigration agenda, said ICE would be tasked with a goal of 3,000 arrests per day - 10 times the number last year under former President Joe Biden. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said Sunday on "Fox & Friends" that the agency hit 1,600 arrests several times last week, the highest levels since Trump took office. "ICE can do more," he said. "We will do more." (Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Aurora Ellis) NORFOLK After nearly nine months at sea, sailors aboard the USS Harry S. Truman and its strike group look forward to fast food and home-cooked meals, birthday celebrations and trips across the country now that theyre back on land. Cheers reverberated and happy tears flowed Sunday as thousands gathered to welcome home sailors from a deployment mostly spent near the Red Sea in active combat. The strike group that returned over the weekend to Naval Station Norfolk includes the aircraft carrier Truman, cruiser USS Gettysburg and destroyer USS Stout. Family members and loved ones had plenty of reasons to be nervous during this deployment. The Truman spent at least five of the eight months defending merchant ships and military vessels and carrying out missile strikes against the Houthi regime in Yemen in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Along the way, the Truman lost three fighter jets, collided with a cargo ship and brought aboard a new commanding officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was unique even for seasoned sailors such as Rear Adm. Sean Bailey, commander of the Truman carrier strike group. From the high north to the Red Sea, our strike group safeguarded Americas national security interests and maintained the U.S. Navys maritime dominance, Bailey said during a news conference Sunday. It was certainly a long, challenging deployment across the board and pretty unique for my entire career as well. Bailey said those incidents are being investigated and will serve as lessons in the future. The strike group also worked with Africa Command to conduct an airstrike that delivered more than 120,000 pounds of munitions against ISIS Somalia operatives, demonstrating that we are the worlds strongest and most lethal fighting force, Bailey said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We didnt just deploy. We delivered, he said. It was the ninth deployment for Chief Warrant Officer Travis Rivers, who was welcomed home by his wife, Latoya Rivers, and children Travis and Troi. Latoya Rivers said hed soon get to enjoy a big home-cooked meal potentially his favorite of ox tails and yellow rice. And hell get to celebrate Trois 16th birthday this week, and catch up on movies with Travis, like the recently released Thunderbolts. Even with everything going on, we knew that we were protected, Latoya Rivers said. We trust the U.S. Navy and we trust God as well. The family said it did its best to detach from the news during the deployment to ease their worry, and that it was particularly challenging since it was out of our control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was worth it and something that needed to be done, Travis Rivers said about the deployment. It was hard at times but we came together as a team and we got through it. Meanwhile, Cryptologic Technician DeJour Glasgow made a special request to stop by McDonalds for three McChickens and large fries following his first deployment, his mother said. Glasgow will get to celebrate his birthday and move in with girlfriend Adrianna Waring, who is also in the Navy and was deployed in Bahrain before the Trumans departure. His brother, Delahn Glasgow, also is in the Navy, and both were able to pass along advice about the stressful environment. It was so stressful, said his mother, Angela Thomas. I tried not to watch the news as much but I had to follow it on Facebook. Today is like a joy. Debbie and Richard Johnston drove more than 1,200 miles from Heavener, Oklahoma, to welcome their son, Lt. Brandon Dedmon, who spent more than two decades with the Air Force before transferring to the Navy last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around a dozen family members showed up for Petty Officer Andrea Mosquera, on her first deployment. She said shes ready for a return to her native California. Capt. Chris Hill, who took command of the Truman aircraft carrier in February after the collision, said the return home from this deployment was absolutely eye watering. Hill is the commanding officer of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, which completed a deployment in the Red Sea last year. The crew operated on the front lines, thwarting numerous attacks, and never gave up the fight, Hill said. Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com A 27-year-old man was critically injured Friday night after the dirt bike he was riding was hit by a car in Kahaluu, authorities said. At about 10 :37 p.m., the man was traveling south on Kamehameha Highway when he was struck by a vehicle driven by a 35-year-old man, who was traveling north on the highway and trying to make a left turn onto Wailehua Road, according to the Honolulu Police Departments Traffic Division. Police said the victim was ejected onto the roadway. Honolulu Emergency Medical Services said paramedics treated the dirt bike rider and took him to a hospital in critical condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the victim was not wearing a helmet and that the motorist remained at the scene and was not injured. Neither speed, alcohol, nor drugs appear to be a contributing factor in the crash, according to HPD. See more : 23 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? . A person prepares to enter a New York State DMV in New York City on April 28, 2025. Credit - Michael M. SantiagoGetty Images Authorities and Department of Motor Vehicles offices (DMVs) officials across multiple U.S. states have released advisories to their citizens to look out for scam texts that are attempting to manipulate drivers into paying a fake outstanding toll. The prevalence of the text scams ramped up throughout May, leading to various states issuing warnings and advice, ultimately telling members of the public to watch out for messages claiming to be from the DMV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These scammers flood phones with these texts, hoping to trick unsuspecting New Yorkers into handing over their personal information, said New York DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder in an press release. DMV will not send you texts asking for your personal information. Heres what you need to know about the DMV scam texts and how you can best protect yourself: What states are encountering the scam texts? The spam texts have spanned across the United States, with Illinois, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, Colorado, Vermont, Texas, and California among the states that have issued alerts. Though their advisories differ, all authority boards have made clear that the DMV does not, and will not, send customers unsolicited requests for payments and personal information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Illinois, Secretary of State Alexander Giannoulias issued a stark warning, stating that the Illinois DMV will only send out text messages for appointment reminders. Phishing scams are unfortunately an increasingly prevalent threat in our modern society, seeking to cheat Illinoisans out of their personal information and hard-earned money, Giannoulias said. In Florida, the state DMV has created a webpage to alert drivers about the scam, reminding locals that the FLDMV will never contact you via text message demanding payment or threatening suspension or arrest. Some local police and civic associations in states like New York and New Jersey have posted warnings across social media, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Warren Township Police Department in New Jersey shared a notice on Facebook on May 31, alerting locals of the recent increase in the scam texts. What are the DMV scam texts saying? According to screenshot examples placed on government websites, the texts vary state-by-state, but they tend to include a warning that if the recipient does not pay an outstanding traffic ticket, they will encounter a penalty. Recipients are told they could lose their vehicle registration or driving privileges, potentially see a toll booth charge increase, see their credit score impacted, or even risk prosecution. Some of the websitesthe "click here" linkslisted in the text messages include terms mirroring .gov in an effort to appear legitimate. In New Jersey, many of the scam messages have included links involving variations of "ezpassnj." New Jersey State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on May 30, one spam text circulating New Jersey stated, according to a screenshot shared in a warning by the City of Linden. The scam message continued: Our records show that as of today, you still have an outstanding traffic ticket Please pay immediately before enforcement to avoid license dispensation and further legal disputes. What should you do if you receive one of the DMV scam texts? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a website with consumer advice, which suggests various steps people can take to protect themselves from text message scams. First, those who receive the text can copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM), which could allow your provider to block similar messages in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People can also report it to the FTC directly on the government website. In general, the DMVs of these multiple states advise their citizens to be cautious of all communications they receive, even if those messages come from claimed trusted sources, and to never send personal and sensitive information via text or email. In its public notice, the Warren Township Police Department advised recipients of the text scam to follow four key steps: Delete the message immediately Do NOT click any links or provide any information Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov If youre unsure about your DMV status, visit the official DMV website directly or contact them by phone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Generally speaking, scammers are known for creating a sense of urgency, often giving a deadline or listing serious consequencessuch as the loss of driving privileges, in this casein order to prompt a swift response from victims. David Brumley, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, told TIME in 2024 that the best way to protect yourself from scams is to be alert and, if you are unsure if a text is legitimate, call the department or business directly to confirm, before taking any further action. Murat Kantarcioglu, a professor of computer science at Virginia Tech, told TIME earlier this year that people should also make sure they are informing their older relatives of any prevalent scams, as they may be less tech-savvy and more vulnerable. I think everyone should make it their mission to educate the older people in their family about these issues, said Kantarcioglu, adding that its best not to answer text messages from unverified senders or engage in phone conversations with people you dont know. Contact us at letters@time.com. If you struggle with 'mouth breathing' while you sleep, from the occasional snore or full-blown obstructive sleep apnea, you or your sleep-deprived partner may be looking for ways to fix it. In your quest for a peaceful night's sleep, you may quickly come across the social media trend of 'mouth taping': that is, taping your mouth with a particular kind of porous medical tape, to keep it shut while you sleep. In thousands of TikTok videos, influencers claim this simple trick can solve a litany of problems, from jawline definition to energy levels to oral hygiene to sleep apnea. But as with many 'simple tricks' that go viral online, this one is going to need a whole lot more science to back up any of those anecdotes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Helpfully, a team of doctors and scientists from the London Health Sciences Center and the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine have just published a review of the 10 most relevant research papers, spanning data from 213 patients in total, to assess whether mouth taping is even safe, let alone worth the hype. Thousands of videos on social media tout the supposed benefits of taping your mouth while you sleep. (TikTok) Each one of those papers investigated how night-time mouth taping or similar techniques affected patients with obstructive sleep apnea, nasal obstruction, or mouth breathing during sleep. Most of the studies took the form of medical visits or formal sleep studies, in which patients are closely monitored while sleeping in a controlled environment. Two papers showed improvements in patients with mild sleep apnea, in measures that included apnea-hypopnea index, gauged by counting the number of apneas or hypopneas during sleep, or drops in blood oxygen saturation. But overall, the researchers found, there's an absence of evidence supporting the claims of mouth tape proponents. "Other studies showed that mouth taping offered no differences and even discussed potential risks including asphyxiation in the presence of nasal obstruction," the authors write. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are potential serious detrimental health outcomes to those with nasal obstruction who seek oral taping as means to ameliorate their mouth breathing, obstructive sleep apnea, or sleep disordered breathing during sleep." That makes sense: if you're breathing through your mouth because of a physical blockage in your nose, like a sinus infection, a deviated septum, or nasal polyps, taping your mouth shut is not going to help. Band-aid social media solutions like this can also delay or divert patients from treating the cause of their problems. It's worth noting the researchers found all 10 existing studies on mouth taping were of poor quality for various reasons, such as a lack of follow-up with participants, non-representative groups, and unclear adjustment for confounding factors that could influence the results. And remember, these were the top 10 papers the researchers could find on the topic. YouTube Thumbnail "There does seem to be a very specific use-case scenario, in patient populations where obstructive sleep apnea is mild, that mouth taping or occlusion may improve [measures of apnea severity]," the team writes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "However, in other patient populations with nasal obstruction as a cause of mouth breathing or more severe forms of obstructive sleep apnea, there is little evidence to support any clinical benefit for this practice." You already know this, but if you're having trouble sleeping, or your partner's snores and gasps are keeping you awake, it's best to book a doctor's appointment rather than scrolling the internet for answers. So, go on then! This research was published in PLOS One. Related News Foreign policy experts have struggled to make sense of the second Trump administration's incoherent and contradictory approach to world affairs which in itself ought to serve as a clue. First of all, it suggests that the Trump team is operating without a recognizable or familiar playbook, driven partly by the Great Leaders famous whims and fancies and partly by competing streams of ideology. Secondly, it illustrates that the generations of think-tankers churned out by the graduate programs of elite Anglo-American institutions are completely at sea in this bizarre historical moment, whether in foreign policy or any other supposed discipline of governance. Weve already worked through the theory that Donald Trump is reviving the expansionist foreign policy of Gilded Age America and William McKinley, who isnt just a deeply inappropriate presidential role model for the 2020s but also an inexplicably strange one. (What schoolbook or outdated world map or old-school history teacher of Trumps 1950s childhood is responsible for his McKinley love affair?) That seems partly true, or at least serves to explain Trumps self-destructive fascination with tariffs, along with his obsessive interest in retaking the Panama Canal, purchasing or seizing Greenland and, um, annexing Canada (or something like that). We have to assume that someone or other, quite likely Stephen Miller whose title is deputy chief of staff, but by some accounts is making all the policy decisions normally associated with, you know, being president has gently informed Trump that the Panama and Greenland things would be major international incidents that might derail his otherwise glorious reign, while the Canada thing simply isnt happening at all. So these topics have gradually receded toward the back burner, along with his genuinely horrifying brainstorm about turning Gaza into a beach resort, without disappearing entirely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its important to recognize that in world affairs, as in the pettiest of personal concerns, none of Trumps idees fixes ever completely go away. He forced Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to sit through a jovial, not-quite-joking discussion of the Great White North as the 51st state. (Which, Im sorry, not to be that guy, but that isnt even right. Canada has 10 provinces and three federal territories; arent we talking about the 51st through 60th states, plus or minus?) He still wants someone to prove that a deceased Venezuelan president, Italian satellites and the deep-state libs of the FBI stole the 2020 election. (I may not up on the latest theories; my apologies.) He, or more plausibly some eager-to-please groveling toady, actually wants school children to study the so-called evidence of that enormous history-shaping crime, which may involve the contents of Hunter Bidens laptop. I guarantee hes still mad about the Sharpie-hurricane incident. So lets not pretend that McKinleyist neo-imperialism is gone forever, but for a while there it seemed superseded by an overtly ideological program of right-wing global conquest, which to this point has gone remarkably poorly. This feels more like Elon Musk and JD Vances collective genius at work than Trumps. Sure, hes flattered by obvious right-wing analogues and imitators like Viktor Orban in Hungary and Javier Milei in Argentina, but he thinks of his relationships with other leaders almost entirely in individual and transactional terms. Ideology, for Trump, is nothing more than the sales pitch, or the decoration on top of the cake; its not the deal, by which he means a bunch of pomp and circumstance, ending with someone elses obsequious surrender and shameless flattery. He was over the moon about meeting Kim Jong-un during his first term, and no doubt still thinks that went well. He transparently believes hed have gotten along smashingly with Hitler and Stalin, and its a shame he wasnt around to help defuse World War II and the Cold War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course Trump would have happily taken credit for supporting the far-right AfD in Germany or the right-wing parties and candidates in Canada, Australia and Romania if any of them had won. (To be fair, the pseudo-Trumper candidate in Poland was just elected president.) For the most part, exported Trumpism has encountered high electoral tariffs across the liberal-democratic zone, delivering an unexpected and arguably unmerited booster shot to mainstream centrist parties with the solitary and instructive exception (as I recently observed) of Britain, where the political climate has gone from pretty bad to a whole lot worse. Electoral democracy isnt really Trumps bag anyway, given the unacceptably high risk of losing. (I recognize the potentially terrifying subtext of that sentence.) He leaves that stuff to the nerds, which brings us to his recent tour through plutocratic oil states of the Middle East and his well-attested preference for leaders who dont need to worry about that nonsense. In Saudi Arabia, now run by the youthful modernizer (and journalist-dismemberer) Mohammad bin Salman, Trump delivered a speech proclaiming that under his aegis the U.S. was no longer interested in looking "into the souls of foreign leaders" and dispensing justice based on their perceived morality. That Teleprompter-ready rhetoric doesnt remotely resemble anything our president would say in a more natural context, but never mind. The point was taken: Were done pretending to care about human rights and democracy and all that airy-fairy woke stuff from the Declaration of Independence and the French Revolution! Were here to do some blatantly underhanded business deals and take an outdated gas-guzzling 747 off your hands. With this, we saw the launch of a new theory-balloon within the foreign-policy establishment: Trump is bringing back spheres of influence as a guiding principle in world affairs, and those who bend the knee to America or to him, which is the same thing get to run their own s**thole countries however they like. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As with the McKinley business, my verdict is: Sure, sort of. Its certainly conceivable that Trump has encountered some nostalgic-heroic retelling of the Great Game of the 19th century, when the British and French empires sought to carve up the underdeveloped nations between them, and then Germany, Belgium, Italy, Russia and Austria-Hungary got into the act. (McKinleys clumsy territorial grabs can be understood as America joining the poker game a few sessions late.) He clearly would neither know nor care that, considered as a whole, that diabolical contest probably produced the greatest set of crimes in human history, or that the migrant crisis now afflicting every major Western-style democracy amounts to its long-tail karmic blowback. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Trump has a distinct fondness for exotic and fanciful narratives, and God knows the colonial-imperial period offered plenty of those. No doubt hed find a hypothetical Second Great Game thrilling, on the level of pure fantasy: He may imagine Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and himself meeting over brandy and cigars at (lets say) the Schonbrunn Palace and congratulating each other for being great men of history who get to make great-man decisions about who owns what. Except that Trump doesnt take brandy or cigars which ruins the whole fantasy, honestly and Putin and Xi know better, at this point, than to take Trump seriously. There are a number of potentially fatal problems with this dusted-off 19th-century throwback, as studiously laid out by Sarang Shidore of the Quincy Institute in a lengthy essay for Foreign Policy. I would summarize them this way: LOL this is Trump were talking about; never in a million years. Yet it's also true that the spheres of influence model has a perverse appeal that goes well beyond aspiring dictators into various quarters on the left: It recognizes that we live in a multipolar world, and strikes many international observers as less hypocritical than the rules-based order so piously advocated by former Secretary of State Tony Blinken, which was just old-school U.S. hegemony dressed up in contemporary drag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the Biden administration occasionally gave a rhetorical nod to multipolarity, Shidore writes, its policies on the ground were to maintain U.S. domination globally and in all dimensions of power: military, economic, and institutional. The new administrations clearer acknowledgement of multipolarity is a promising beginning to reforming U.S. foreign policy. In the first weeks of Trumps second term, you could see the vague outlines of a spheres of influence policy shaping up: Hed let Russia keep as much Ukrainian territory as it could conquer, and was manifestly unbothered by the prospect of China invading Taiwan. And all he wanted in return was Canada: Win-win-win! One can almost imagine a more clear-headed and ruthless version of Trump who sticks with that kind of hardcore realpolitik and gets away with it. I said almost. But I think it's important to observe that Trumps iron grip on the Republican Party is a function of his irrationality, his limitless egotism and his mercurial whims, and that those same qualities make him utterly ineffectual as a world leader. His efforts to extort some kind of peace deal from Putin something Trump repeatedly claimed he could accomplish in 24 hours have descended to online pouting and whining. ("Vladimir, STOP!" is not exactly Great Game material.) His exhausting trade war with China has accomplished nothing, except to convince Xis unappetizing but highly rational regime that negotiating with this dude is a waste of time. For the moment, Trump has been shoved halfway back into the arms of Republican chickenhawks, the enfeebled tools of the military-industrial complex who no doubt suspected this would happen all along. I honestly can't tell you whether that's better or worse: Pick your poison. Thing is, if you want to carve up the world into competing zones controlled by great powers, you need other great powers who want to carve it up with you, and you need a world full of smaller countries who are willing to go along or too weak to resist. Those things do not exist in 2025, and thank Christ for small mercies. Oh, and by the way: You also need to be a great power. I suppose the U.S. still technically qualifies, but not for much longer. Warning: This article includes graphic footage. Viewer discretion is advised. Police released video footage on Friday of a dangerous high-speed pursuit through multiple San Bernardino County cities that ended with officers opening fire on a domestic violence suspect. It happened at 12:06 a.m. on March 10, according to the Chino Police Department, when dispatch received calls reporting a domestic violence incident that left a woman bleeding from her head in the 14000 block of Monte Vista Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Surveillance video angled at a parking lot shows the suspect, identified as 47-year-old Jose Martinez of Rialto, assaulting the victim, who told police that she was Martinezs girlfriend at the time. At the start, Martinez and the unidentified victim are seen after getting to the lot and exiting their cars, seeming to be talking at first, though sound from the scene is not heard in the video. The situation quickly escalates moments later in the edited footage, with Martinez hastily snatching the victims arm, yanking her toward his white Jeep SUV. Martinez struggles for a moment to force his girlfriend into his rear passenger seat and, once he thinks shes secured inside, he runs to the drivers side door. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim managed to escape, but not for long. As the victim ran from Martinezs vehicle, Martinez caught her, and then slammed her head into a light pole and struck her multiple times, said the videos narrator. Martinez attempted to drag the victim back into his vehicle again, but was unsuccessful. Martinez is seen ditching his girlfriend, who was lying on the pavement between cars, and getting back into his Jeep before driving away from the scene. Officials said the victim was transported to a local hospital via ambulance and was treated for injuries sustained to her head and face. Her health status was not immediately revealed. Jose Martinez, 47, of Rialto is seen during a domestic violence incident with his alleged girlfriend. March 2025. (Chino PD) Jose Martinez, 47, of Rialto is seen during a domestic violence incident with his alleged girlfriend. March 2025. (Chino PD) Jose Martinez, 47, of Rialto is seen during a domestic violence incident with his alleged girlfriend. March 2025. (Chino PD) Jose Martinez, 47, of Rialto is seen during a domestic violence incident with his alleged girlfriend. March 2025. (Chino PD) A 911 call is seen from a critical incident briefing video showing Jose Martinez, 47, of Rialto, hit his alleged girlfriend. March 2025. (Chino PD) A 911 call is seen from a critical incident briefing video showing Jose Martinez, 47, of Rialto, hit his alleged girlfriend. March 2025. (Chino PD) Jose Martinez, 47, of Rialto, is seen in this undated mugshot. (Chino PD) Detectives responded to the parking lot to pursue the investigation and, around 11:30 a.m., found Martinez leaving a Fontana residence in his white Jeep SUV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez is a convicted felon, the video noted later on. He was recently released from state prison after serving 18 years for manslaughter with a firearm. Officers attempted to stop Martinezs vehicle, but he did not comply. He instead rammed into two cruisers one in front of and one behind him and took off, thus initiating the chase. Martinez then led police officers on an extremely dangerous high-speed pursuit on the freeway and surface streets through the cities of Fontana, Upland, Ontario, Chino and Montclair, said the narrator. During this chase, police said Martinez sped over 100 mph and ran multiple red lights, displaying extreme disregard for the safety of the motoring public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pursuit came to an end around noon in the 10800 block of Kadota Avenue in Montclair after an officer successfully used a PIT maneuver on Martinezs Jeep. However, Martinez still refused to surrender or leave his SUV. Police are seen chasing a domestic violence suspect in San Bernardino County. March 2025. (Chino PD) Police are seen chasing a domestic violence suspect in San Bernardino County. March 2025. (Chino PD) Police are seen chasing a domestic violence suspect in San Bernardino County. March 2025. (Chino PD) Police are seen in a standoff with a domestic violence suspect after a dangerous pursuit in San Bernardino County. March 2025. (Chino PD) The standoff continued for more than an hour, with crisis negotiators urging Martinez to surrender peacefully, police said. You make decisions for yourself, you say your own story, a negotiator is heard saying over a megaphone speaker. Dont do anything dumb that makes us make a decision for you. Youre doing a good job, come on out. For reasons that are under investigation, Martinez abruptly got out of his car and took a two-handed shooting stance, pointing a black object at officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police then opened fire and hit him an undisclosed number of times, though the video captures at least two gunshots while simultaneously releasing a K-9 unit on Martinez as he collapses face-first onto the ground. First responders rendered medical aid to Martinez at the scene before taking him to the hospital, where he was last listed to be in critical condition. A domestic violence suspect is seen in a standoff with police after a dangerous pursuit in San Bernardino County. March 2025. (Chino PD) Police are seen in a standoff with a domestic violence suspect after a dangerous pursuit in San Bernardino County. March 2025. (Chino PD) Police are seen shooting at a domestic violence suspect after a dangerous pursuit in San Bernardino County. March 2025. (Chino PD) Police are seen chasing a domestic violence suspect in San Bernardino County. March 2025. (Chino PD) Police are seen chasing a domestic violence suspect in San Bernardino County. March 2025. (Chino PD) Police are seen shooting at a domestic violence suspect after a dangerous pursuit in San Bernardino County. March 2025. (Chino PD) Police are seen shooting at a domestic violence suspect after a dangerous pursuit in San Bernardino County. March 2025. (Chino PD) Paramedics are seen treating a domestic violence suspect who was shot by an officer after a dangerous pursuit in San Bernardino County. March 2025. (Chino PD) It was later determined that the object Martinez was holding was a portable battery pack, which photos shared by the Chino Police Department appeared to show him holding in his hands as if it were a gun. This incident is under three different investigations, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department and the San Bernardino County District Attorneys Office will investigate the police shooting; the Fontana Police Department is investigating an assault with a deadly weapon for Martinez allegedly ramming police with his car; and the Chino Police Department will investigate the initial domestic violence and attempted kidnapping, as well as if the police shooting was in line with department policy. 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. In the last decade or so, the Republican Party has attempted to rebrand itself. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan campaigned on cutting taxes, especially on the rich, and balancing the budget by slashing entitlements. It was time for the makers to get their due, and for the takers to get put in their place. This proved to be a horribly unpopular platform, which sent President Barack Obama back for a second term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now the party has been taken over by President Donald Trump, who all but banished Romney and Ryan from the party and claimed he would set a course of reviving American manufacturing jobs. Trump picked Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance as his vice president, proof that he was embracing a departure from the GOPs old embrace of the rich, in favor of a white working class that had been culturally marginalized Vances Yale law degree notwithstanding. The image of the Republicans as the party of the Scrooge-like CEO, the basis of Obamas 2012 campaign against Mitt Romney, has been defanged by Trump, the self-styled billionaire who benefited from a rigged system and convinced his voters that only he could un-rig it on their behalf, Republican pollster Patrick Ruffini wrote in 2023. Hows the unrigging going? Dont trust what people especially politicians say. Believe what they do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a recent report from the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy makes clear, the sum of the last five years of a steady rightward shift in the Idaho Legislature has been massive tax cuts benefiting mainly the rich, coupled with waning support for programs that help the poor and middle class. Middle-class Idaho families have been left out. If the Legislature doesnt act before the end of next legislative session, taxes will rise on many Idaho families with children. Those families who make between about $56,00 and $146,000 will see their taxes rise, as the 2018 child tax credit will sunset at the end of this year. The end result, the report notes, will be that middle-class Idaho families wind up with a net tax increase. So too will the very poorest Idahoans. Refusing the obvious, and wildly popular, option of eliminating the sales tax on groceries, lawmakers opted to increase the grocery tax credit. One consequence of this decision is that there will be no benefit for people who dont file income taxes, overwhelmingly very poor people. They continue to pay the full sales tax on food, with no access to the tax credit. Meanwhile, owners of physical gold bricks and coins will pay no capital gains tax on those assets a specialized giveaway contained in House Bill 40, which also slashed income taxes for the richest people in Idaho. It will be a good year for Scrooge McDuck. Not so much for Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Idaho GOPs rebuilt tax code, if you are poor if your family has to survive on less than $31,000 per year you can expect to pay more than 9% of your income in state taxes. But if your family makes more than $738,000, youll pay about 6%. These are the policy changes Idaho lawmakers passed as they first tried to end Medicaid expansion, and when that was blocked in the Senate, sought to implement work requirements that, if approved by the feds, are expected to result in tens of thousands of working Idahoans losing their health insurance because its one thing to work, but another thing to repeatedly file all the paperwork to prove to a bureaucracy that you work. This is a precise mirror of federal policy under unified Republican control of government. Idahos delegation has unanimously supported extending massive tax cuts that disproportionately help the rich, exploding the federal debt and, at the same time, ensuring that there will be more hungry children by cutting food aid and more people dying from lack of healthcare by slashing Medicaid. The GOP has shown you what the core priority is: Soak the poor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current incarnation of the Republican Party has not transfigured itself into the party of the working class. Neither is it the party of fiscal responsibility. It is the party that transfers wealth from the poor to the rich. Statesman editorials are the opinion of the Idaho Statesmans editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members Greg Lanting, Terri Schorzman and Garry Wenske. Day 138 of the 140-day session of the Legislature resembled a volleyball game where the ball was the scores of bills trying to make through the process and the net was the Capitol rotunda that separates the House from the Senate. Here are some of the highlights from Saturday's action. Both chambers agree on a $338 billion budget for 2026-27 Both Houses signed off on the $338 billion spending plan to fund state government for the two-year cycle that begins Sept. 1. The total the product of negotiations and compromises hammered out by a House-Senate conference committee was slightly more than either chamber proposed when each passed its own version of the budget. Rep. Joe Moody wears a clock on the last day to pass legislation in the Texas House of Representatives chamber at the Texas Capitol on Thursday, May 15, 2025. The spending plan, which is subject to certification by Comptroller Glenn Hegar, includes $65 billion for the state's sundry education programs and $44 billion for health and human services programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assuming that certification is granted, Gov. Greg Abbott can either sign it into law or veto it. A third option for Abbott is the line-item veto that allows the governor to redline individual appropriations if he chooses. The budget represents an increase of 1.2% from the present two-year budget. The document would also, to some degree, tap the breaks on Abbott's border security plan known as Operation Lone Star, which so far has cost Texas taxpayers more than $11 billion since 2021. The 2026-27 budget would allocate $3.4 billion for border security. That's down from about $6.5 billion proposed in the chambers' earlier versions. Now that President Donald Trump has returned to the White House, federal allocations for border security are expected to be stepped up. SB 37 on faculty senates, core curriculum review clears both chambers Both chambers have approved and sent to the governor, sweeping legislation that seeks to limit faculty authority over university governance. The bill also expands the governor-appointed board of regents' control over core curriculum, degrees and hiring, and create an investigative office to handle complaints of noncompliance against universities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill also includes provisions to initiate a review of all core courses to ensure alignment with workforce readiness and prohibits any required class from advocating or promoting the idea that one race, sex, religion or ethnicity is "inherently superior to any other." No cellphones in school a step closer to becoming law Public school students would no longer be allowed to use cellphones in school under legislation that is now on its way to the governor. House Bill 1481 would allow local school boards to decide how the law would be applied. Exemptions would be available for students who require phones for medical and personal safety purposes. If Abbott signs the measure, students could not use their cellphones during the school day. The rules governing the governor's veto Here's how the Texas Legislative Reference Library explains the process by which the governor signs or vetoes bills that pass both chambers and arrives at his desk: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Bills that pass the House and Senate are sent to the Governor to sign or veto. The Governor has 10 days (not counting Sundays) to return the bill to the Legislature with objection. If after 10 days the bill is not returned to the Legislature by the Governor with objections, the bill becomes law as if the Governor had signed it. "If the Legislature has adjourned sine die, or if the bill is presented to the governor less than 10 days (not counting Sundays) prior to final adjournment, the Governor has 20 days (counting Sundays) after the final day of the session to sign or veto the bill. If neither action is taken, the bill becomes law without the Governor's signature." The last day in the process this go-round is June 22. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Legislature tries to pass last bills in the final weekend Jun. 1Jim Long remembers Downtown Albuquerque's first Business Improvement District like it was yesterday. Long ultimately led the charge that ended that BID, which he said was fraught with issues created by what he called an "improper structure." Today, he is among those in support of establishing a new BID one he says will be "well-constructed." "I think we have a good BID now," said Long, the CEO and founder of Heritage Cos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the local officials and property owners who have been focusing their attention on Downtown Albuquerque and its revitalization in recent years share Long's sentiment and believe the creation of a BID is a pivotal step forward for Downtown. After months of planning and discussion, the BID now faces the crucial first step of collecting signatures from property owners through a petition that began circulating on Friday, according to Bill Keleher, an Albuquerque attorney leading the BID effort. The petition needs signatures from at least 51% of the proposed district's property owners, of which there are more than 180. While support from Downtown property owners like Long could help push the effort forward, other large property owners remain steadfast in their opposition to the proposed BID, making for what Long says will be "a close vote." The BID effort coincides with other economic development tools picking up steam, such as a Tax Increment Financing District, or TIF, which the City Council approved for Downtown in December. The TIF allows the city to capture up to 75% of growth of gross receipts and property taxes collected Downtown for reinvestment into the district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Comparatively, a BID is a mechanism through which property owners band together to pool their resources in the form of a tax assessment. The BID ultimately collects money from property owners and invests it into an area, in this case Downtown, to support services such as cleaning, maintenance, security and marketing. Some of these are services already offered by the city; the BID aims to enhance, grow and add to those services, but not to replace them, according to a fact sheet on the proposed BID. "We need a better Downtown. We've got some good stuff going Downtown, but it needs to be better," Keleher said. He added the BID would be "a chance for the property owners to take leadership" on change in Downtown. Addressing past issues Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albuquerque was the first city in New Mexico to establish a BID, according to Journal archives. The former Downtown BID, established in 2000, lasted more than a decade before a lawsuit and numerous problems led to its downfall in 2014. Now, Albuquerque is one of the largest U.S. cities without a BID. Long, whose Downtown real estate holdings include the WaFd building and The Clyde Hotel, was behind the lawsuit that successfully dissolved the former Downtown BID. He said there were numerous issues, including the collection and approval of invalid signatures. Long said signatures obtained to renew the BID were not from the property owners authorized to sign, but rather from people working at or loosely involved with the businesses. "I am in support of the BID, provided that the BID signatures are valid signatures," Long said. "We're going to do some verification on these signatures." Long's support is a "very important" piece to the puzzle, Keleher said, adding he and his team crafted the petition so that anyone who wants to audit the signatures can do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the new BID will address past issues of what Long called "very diluted" voices paying into the BID by forming a board made up of property owners, according to a fact sheet on the Downtown BID. Another issue with the previous BID was that the organization running it concentrated services in areas outside where the majority of BID owners were located, so most BID payers didn't see the benefits of those services. The proposed BID addresses this by splitting Downtown up into two service zones: standard and premium. Property owners in the standard zone will pay less into the BID at a rate of $0.082 per square foot of their property, expected to be collected annually, according to the new BID's fact sheet and Keleher. Owners in the premium zone, located primarily along Central and Gold SW, between Copper NW and Silver SW, will pay more at a rate of $0.132 per square foot and will receive "approximately double the safe and clean services," the facts sheet states. Both zones will get the same marketing and annual special programming, according to the fact sheet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Safety and cleaning services will be the primary focus of the BID, receiving $1.2 million of the BID's proposed $1.7 million annual budget, a fact sheet on the BID states. The BID has budgeted $200,000 for marketing and special projects, and allocated the remaining $250,000 to management and advocacy. Long said this is also an improvement from the past BID, which he said put roughly 40% of the budget toward administrative costs. Keleher said the majority of property owners he's spoken with are in favor of the BID, and he's optimistic about reaching the 51% of votes needed to help form one. Some opposition Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Downtown's largest property owner, Douglas Peterson, has been the most vocal opponent of the BID. Writing in an opinion letter to the Journal, Peterson said Downtown's "serious crime and vagrancy issues" are unlikely to be solved by a BID. In an interview with the Journal, Peterson said he would prefer to establish a private organization similar to a BID that would be security focused and allows property owners to opt in or out. Peterson said he has already created the organization, called United Neighbors Improving Downtown Albuquerque, and is in the process of creating a nonprofit of it. He said he has pitched the idea to several property owners. "I've got money ready to go, got participants ready to go," Peterson said. "I'll do it as an alternate to the BID and we don't need to go and ask the government for permission." If a majority approves the BID petition, officials will submit it to the City Council for a public hearing and begin the process of approving it through an ordinance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peterson said he will exhaust all efforts, including taking legal measures, to oppose the BID if passed, but he said he'd prefer to spend his time making Downtown better rather than fighting. Danielle Casey, president and CEO of the economic development organization Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance, said "there is no one central solution" to improving Downtown, and she believes it will require "a combination of a lot of tools." Keleher said that while he and Peterson aren't in alignment with their methods, they both want Downtown to be better and know something needs to change. "I just want Downtown to be filled with people living there, working there, shopping there," Keleher said. "I would like to see a vibrant, interesting Downtown that reflects all the great things we have going on in New Mexico." Teenagers and young adults who come to downtown Myrtle Beach to party have become a public safety issue, business owners and employees said. The group will walk up and down the strip while not patronizing businesses, said a beach store owner who we will call Tom. He spoke on the condition of anonymity. The teenagers, who bring their guns, stand in front of his building and block customers while often drinking and smoking cigarettes or marijuana. Tom stated he feared retaliation from city officials if he spoke out against the city leaders. Other store owners declined to be interviewed, citing the same reason. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At best, these teens are an annoyance; at worst, they are unpredictable young adults with deadly weapons. On April 26 at about 11:50 p.m., Jerrius Davis, 18, shot four rounds into a group on North Ocean Boulevard near Mr. Fries, a Myrtle Beach Police video shows. In response, officer Brandon ORourke shot five rounds, which killed the Bennettsville teenager. In total, 11 people were hurt in the shooting. Its unclear how many injuries were caused by Davis, as at least one person said she was allegedly shot by a Myrtle Beach police officer, The Sun News reported. When The Sun News asked employees if downtown feels safe or dangerous, we got a variety of responses. One gift shop employee said he is from New York City and he has seen much worse, while Tom said people have flashed their guns at him in a threatening manner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its kids with weapons, guns, thinking they can do whatever they want, that they are immune. It has a strong effect on the locals, Tom said. Small groups begin gathering on Ocean Boulevard after a rain storm on Friday evening. Downtown Myrtle Beachs tourist district was relatively quiet for a Summer evening on Ocean Boulevard and the Boardwalk. Storms put a damper on the evening activities but as the skies cleared, visitors returned to enjoy the attractions. Friday, May 30, 2025. A mixture of reactions in downtown Myrtle Beach Downtown employees had different responses on the crime in downtown Myrtle Beach and the citys reaction. Some applauded the local police officers, stating that they respond quickly when the boulevard turns ugly, while others blamed the increase in police presence for a drop in sales. The traffic loop, which shuts down the left-bound lane of North Ocean Boulevard on Friday and Saturday nights, is the most controversial. Gustavo Alonso, who works at a gift shop on North Ocean Boulevard, said closing the lane causes the store to lose customers but he also does not blame police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant think of something else to do, Alonso said. Youths get henna tattoos at a shop along Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, SC. Downtown Myrtle Beachs tourist district was relatively quiet for a Summer evening on Ocean Boulevard and the Boardwalk. Storms put a damper on the evening activities but as the skies cleared, visitors returned to enjoy the attractions. Friday, May 30, 2025. Other employees, who declined to give their names, said the increased number of officers may scare away vacationers. There were a few police officers out at 6 p.m., but more appeared as the night went on. Tom and Keko Henry, the manager at Shopicana Resort Wear, said they have been working with police to improve safety. For example, officers advised them to leave their lights on at night to deter people from standing outside the stores after hours. Depending on the night, some stores will close early. Alonso said if it is too rowdy, he will shut down the store. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During these times, wed be closing around 12 oclock, 1 oclock. But since spring break, we have been closing at like 10 oclock. 11 oclock is pushing it, Tom said. Declining sales felt by businesses owner in Myrtle Beach The summer season has not begun, but Tom and Alonso said they have fewer customers than normal, although they do not blame this on the recent shooting. Tom said his sales had been declining prior to the shooting. This is again blamed on the crowds. Alonso said he worries the large crowds of young people may scare away other tourists. Tom and Alonso also blamed their lack of sales on the ban on vapes and drug paraphernalia in downtown Myrtle Beach. They said CBD products and pipes used to be popular items. Downtown Myrtle Beachs tourist district was relatively quiet for a Summer evening on Ocean Boulevard and the Boardwalk. Storms put a damper on the evening activities but as the skies cleared, visitors returned to enjoy the attractions. Friday, May 30, 2025. In an attempt to make the city more family-friendly in 2018, city council voted to ban the sale of these items on Ocean Boulevard from 6th Avenue South to 16th Avenue North, The Sun News reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a press conference following the April shooting, Myrtle Beach Mayor Bethune said she does not want cheap motel rooms and sexually explicit T-shirts attracting the wrong kind of person to the city. Tom disagreed with this, stating that inappropriate t-shirts are not the real issue. I dont think any business selling a shirt that says I heart country boys or Henny-thing can happen or any of those sorts is affecting whats going on out there, Tom said. What needs to be monitored is kids are walking around drunk with bottles of liquor. At least 30 people have died in Indias northeast after relentless monsoon rains caused floods and landslides over the weekend, Indian officials and media reports say. Authorities on Sunday said at least eight people were killed in Assam state and nine more in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, many of them buried under earth and debris dislodged by the torrential downpour. Three members of one family were killed in a mudslide in Assams Guwahati, officials said, as heavy rains led to flooding in many areas of the city, leading to long power outages and prompting authorities to shut schools and colleges on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities disconnected electricity in several areas to reduce the risk of electrocution, Assams Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. A motorcyclist wades through a flooded street in Guwahati, Assam, May 31, 2025 [Biju Boro/AFP] In Mizoram state, five people lost their lives in a landslide, while six others died in Meghalaya state. Officials in Nagaland and Tripura states also confirmed two deaths. Meghalayas Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma ordered emergency teams to stay vigilant, especially in landslide-prone and low-lying areas, he warned in a public statement. The Indian Army launched a large-scale rescue effort in Manipur state, evacuating hundreds. People have been shifted to safer places, the army said. Food, water and essential medicines were provided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The downpour has continued for three straight days, and Indias weather agency has forecast more heavy rains in the region in the coming days as it issued a red alert for several northeastern districts. Rivers across the region, including the Brahmaputra, which originates in the Himalayas and flows through India into Bangladesh, have breached their banks, submerging vast areas and cutting off access to many communities. Floods and landslides are common during Indias June-to-September monsoon season, which is vital for agriculture but often deadly. Dozens of people die each year as rainfall overwhelms fragile infrastructure across the worlds most populous country. Last month, Mumbai was deluged by rain nearly two weeks before its usual beginning, the earliest monsoon arrival in the capital city of the western state of Maharashtra in over two decades, according to meteorological officials. Scientists say climate change is altering weather patterns across South Asia, but the precise effects on the monsoon system remain unclear. Dozens of Palestinians were killed Sunday on the way to a Gaza aid hub, officials and witnesses said, according to The Associated Press. Crowds were fired upon by Israeli forces close to 1,000 yards from an Israeli-supported aid foundations site, witnesses said, the AP reported. Thirty-one people died and 170 were injured, the Gaza Health Ministry said, according to the outlet. Israels army said in a statement it was currently unaware of injuries caused by [Israeli military] fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site, according to the AP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A statement from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation pushed back on stories of disorder and gunfire near its sites and said that aid was provided by the foundation without incident, the outlet reported. Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip since Hamass deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack on the country has caused mass destruction of infrastructure in the territory, as well as widespread death and injury among the residents of Gaza. The dire situation faced by Gazas residents has resulted in international pressure on Israel over its treatment of those living in the territory, with figures like the newly minted Pope Leo XIV calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron saying in a recent statement that they were strongly against the expansion of Israels military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterdays announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza is wholly inadequate. We call on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, the joint statement, posted on the social platform X by Carney on May 19, read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 The Hill. One person was killed Saturday night when an SUV crashed, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. The single-vehicle collision happened at about 7:30 p.m. in Marion County, said Master Trooper Brandon Bolt. A 2007 Chevrolet SUV was driving north on Progressive Church Road in the Mullins area, according to Bolt. Near the intersection with Front Street the Chevy SUV ran off the right side of Progressive Church Road and crashed into a ditch before flipping over, Bolt said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver died, according to Bolt. The Marion County Coroners Office has not publicly identified the driver. Bolt said the driver was the only person in the Chevy, and no other injuries were reported. There was no word if the driver was wearing a seat belt. Information about what caused the Chevy to veer off the road was not available, but the wreck continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol. Through May 25, at least 310 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2025, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, at least 948 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported. At least three people have died in Marion County crashes in 2025, according to DPS data. There were 14 deaths in the county in 2024, DPS reported. EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) The East Peoria Police Department teamed up with the community for their annual Pack the Cruiser event to help fight hunger in the area. Officers were stationed outside the East Peoria Kroger at 201 North Main Street from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, collecting donations of non-perishable food items. Officer Nicholas Swise emphasized the importance of community support for local food banks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Everything today, thats a nonperishable, it gets donated to the local food banks, and it gets transported and fills up local food banks at your church or in your neighborhood, Swise said. If you have a food bank in your neighborhood, what were doing is restocking. Make sure we feed the people who need it the most. Residents brought canned meat and fish, canned vegetables, drink mixes, fruit cups, granola bars, Graham Crackers, oatmeal, cereal, pasta, canned sauces and peanut butter. He also said for many local children, school meals provide the only reliable source of nutrition during the week. The Pack the Cruiser drive aimed to help fill the gap during weekends and summer months when school meals are unavailable. Swise also spoke about the ongoing need in the community and the police departments commitment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have people out here in need. And the biggest thing is, food pantries they always need something and theres always people out there who need help or people who are struggling, he said. And the biggest thing we got to do is show our community that were here. Were going to support them and make sure that we feed everybody who needs it. Anybody thats in a hard time, we want to get them out of the hard time, get them to step forward that they need. Community members came out to show their support by donating and helping the East Peoria Police Department pack their cruiser with much-needed food supplies. 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. CROCKETT, Texas (KETK) The City of Crockett city administrator John Angerstein, State Rep. Cody Harris and State Rep. Trent Ashby have all expressed their opposition to a new permit application for wells in Anderson County. Bill to stop Marvin Nichols Reservoir dies in Calendars Committee According to Angersteins post to the citys Facebook on Saturday, Redtown Ranch Holdings LLC in Anderson County has submitted a groundwater production permit application for 21 high-capacity groundwater wells that he said could extract 10 billion gallons of water a year from the Carrizo and Wilcox aquifers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Angerstein said the permit application also lists 11 more wells in Houston County that could drain another 5 billion gallons of water a year but arent covered by the Neches and Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District (NTVGCD) like the 21 proposed wells in Anderson County. According to Angerstein, the 21 wells would extract 52 times more water than the city of Crockett uses for its population. This volume of water is staggering. Using the City of Crocketts per capita water usage, it is equivalent for a population of 338,000 or 52 times the City of Crockett. Yet, none of this water is designated for our communities, Angerstein said. It is likely intended to support unchecked development and sprawl in other parts of Texas, presumably in the DFW metroplex or Hill Country, areas that have failed to plan responsibly for their own water needs. Angerstein said these speculative water wells could jeopardize the areas aquifers and investments that the city is making to develop their own water supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These types of speculative water projects jeopardize not only the integrity of our aquifer system, but also the significant taxpayer investments already being made to responsibly develop local supply. My concerns are not hypothetical. The proposed well field lies in close proximity to Crocketts existing and planned wells, threatening aquifer pressure and yield, Angerstein said. The Carrizo and Wilcox aquifers, which this permit targets, is the same formation that Crockett depends on to serve thousands of residents. If surrounding private or shallow wells are compromised, Crockett will likely face increased pressure to provide emergency water connections, placing operational and financial burdens on the City. How to know whats in your drinking water Angerstein also alleged that Redtown Ranch Holdings LLC is tied to Conservation Equity Management Partners, Pine Bliss LLC and 24th Parallel Holding, which he claimed are connected to Hayman Capital Management of Dallas. Kyle Bass is listed as a founder by Conservation Equity Management Partners and Hayman Capitals websites. The proposed well locations, photo courtesy of the City of Crockett. We cannot support the wholesale extraction of rural water to satisfy distant, unplanned urban growth, Angerstein said. Especially when done through layered corporate structures, incomplete applications, and without regard for the future of our communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His statement was issued in an attempt to get local landowners, leaders and state representatives to submit their own statements in opposition of this permit to the NTVGCD by emailing manager@ntvgcd.org before June 19 at 11 a.m. Angerstein is also asking The Crockett City Council to issue a resolution in opposition to the permits. Texas water projects would get billions under bill headed to Governor East Texas State Representatives Cody Harris of Palestine and Trent Ashby of Lufkin have both put out statements expressing their opposition to the 21 proposed wells. As a lifelong resident of East Texas and a member of the Texas House of Representatives, I have consistently supported responsible groundwater management and local control over water resources, Ashby said on Saturday. This proposed project is deeply troubling. The sheer volume of water involved equivalent to the annual usage of more than two million Texans raises serious concerns about aquifer depletion, potential impacts on surrounding private and municipal wells, and the long-term sustainability of our regions water supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris is the Chairman of the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources and he expressed his opposition while noting that the state legislature is working to fix water problems across the state. While we are working rigorously at the state level to propose and enact significant legislation that will help ease the ongoing burdens across the state, I will not stand by while attempts are made to drain my own district, Harris said on Friday. KETK reached out to Redtown Ranch Holdings LLC and Conservation Equity Management Partners for comment on this story and received the following statement from Conservation Equity Management CEO Kyle Bass: The great state of Texas is in the midst of a water supply source crisis. Our drilling applications are intended to be part of the solution to that crisis. We seek authority pursuant to current Texas law to drill wells that we will test to collect actual field data to prove up the results of the rigorous hydrogeologic modeling and analysis we have conducted that supports the issuance of production and export permits based upon the best available sound science in compliance with all applicable Texas laws. Our drilling applications are the first step in our ongoing constructive dialogue with the Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District. Following our completion of the aquifer testing pursuant to our drilling permits, we will continue the process by reporting our findings and data to the District along with our application for additional permits authorizing production and exploration. Conservation Equity Management CEO Kyle Bass In a document providing background on their applications to NTVGCD, Conservation Equity Management said that they arent seeking to produce or export any water from the area at this time. The first phase of their project was creating water models that theyre now trying to validate by drilling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets be clear: we are not seeking to produce or export water at this time. Texas law requires a permit to drill any wellwe cannot wildcat and then apply after the fact, Conservation Equity Management said. Once wells are drilled, they will be tested according to the standards of both the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and NTVGCD. We will then submit those results to the district. The document then states that if the data produced from the drilling in this second phase of their project validates their model, theyll enter their third phase. Only if the data supports our modelingand confirms that the aquifer can sustainably support productionwill we advance to Phase III: submitting production permit applications, Conservation Equity Management said. Those applications will include detailed projections of any annual production and any proposed exports, if applicable. Conservation Equity Managements document cited Texas law and basic economics as reasons the project is ensured to avoid overuse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas law contains clear regulatory guardrails to protect aquifers from overuse. Beyond that, basic economics ensures that only sustainable projects are viableno investor benefits from draining an aquifer and destroying the value of their own investment, Conservation Equity Management said. Our phased, science-based approach reflects a responsible path forward for helping meet the growing water needs of communities impacted by the rapid pace of change in Texas. 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. Pedro Martinez attended his final school board meeting Thursday as CEO of Chicago Public Schools. The occasion elicited tears from this son of Chicago a CPS student himself, growing up in Pilsen after arriving at age 5 from Mexico who called his turbulent time heading Chicagos schools the honor of a lifetime. He thanked the teachers who taught him back in the day, as well as those educating todays youth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicago has had some memorable CPS leaders since Mayor Richard M. Daley assumed full control of the schools in the 1990s. Paul Vallas, who lost to Mayor Brandon Johnson in the 2023 election, was Daleys first schools boss after the state-approved takeover. Arne Duncan followed Vallas, ascending from there to become President Barack Obamas secretary of education for the entirety of Obamas presidency. But to our minds Martinez will remain particularly noteworthy, long after he decamps later this month for Massachusetts and a senior state education post. Named CPS CEO by Mayor Lori Lightfoot in 2021, Martinez oversaw the schools as they emerged from the disastrously prolonged period of remote education. Showered with federal pandemic aid, Martinez invested heavily in individual tutoring for students whod fallen behind, an effort that produced positive results. His record isnt perfect. Once the federal cash stopped flowing, CPS found itself fiscally adrift again, having spent the money as fast as it arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, in a job littered with more political minefields than most government-appointed positions, Martinez pivoted. His true shining moment came in the final year of his tenure when Martinez courageously resisted highly irresponsible demands by Johnson and the mayors allies at the Chicago Teachers Union to take on hundreds of millions in new junk-rated debt to cover costs the financially teetering district clearly couldnt afford. The clash came to a head during the holidays when Martinez won a court order barring Johnson and his appointed school board members from meddling in a contentious contract negotiation with CTU. That school board, in place for just a handful of months before a hybrid board of elected members and mayoral appointees took office in January, fired Martinez but only per the terms of his employment contract, which required he be given six months notice. Was there ever a more honorable firing? We are hard-pressed to think of many. Elected school board members on Thursday were effusive. Che Rhymefest Smith, the South Side rapper who won election to the board and has been an indispensable voice of conscience on the hybrid board, spoke at the meeting, recalling that Martinez was the first to contact him after his win. The advice you gave me was to lean into the complexity peel the layers of the onion until you get to the evidence-based solutions and use the evidence to center children and help children. Smith said that was the best advice hes gotten in the job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Martinez prepares to move his family east, we salute him and thank him on behalf of Chicago taxpayers. His legacy is that he did all he could to give Chicago Public Schools a fighting chance at solvency. Now it will be up to his successors to make the necessary tough choices that seem to be beyond the understanding of a compromised mayor. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. 1Its June 1, the official start of hurricane season. And Floridians know, for sure, that there is a storm coming. But when? Where? How bad will it be, and how much help can the state expect as it rebuilds? Those are questions that cant be answered. Thats because this storm is of human origin a swirling morass of short-sighted buyouts pushed by Donald Trumps DOGE bounty hunters, potential budget cuts and a threatened shift in the way the nation funds disaster recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if Florida dodges a direct hit by a major hurricane this year, the uncertainty of storm-prediction capabilities and recovery aid are likely to drive Floridas property insurance industry into a maelstrom of uncertainty, potentially fueling catastrophic rate increases. The only hope lies in restoring the hard-won stability that, until last year, Floridians had grown to rely on. And theres still a chance for two key leaders our U.S. senators, Ashley Moody and Rick Scott to defend Floridas chances of surviving brutal storm seasons. Both have ample reason to know whats at stake. Moody, who until recently served as state attorney general, witnessed the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, which caught southwest Florida underprepared for a last-minute course shift. As governor, Scott oversaw turbulent storm seasons, including 2017, when Hurricane Irma forced the largest mass evacuation in the nations history. Both of them witnessed the slow, painful slogs to recovery every time a major storm hit Florida. As the Senate responds to the starvation-level budget approved by the House last month, they owe it to Floridians to tilt the national spending plan back to rationality. Dont shortchange warnings That includes repairing the tattered U.S. weather-monitoring system by filling more than 550 vacancies at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service. The nation needs qualified meteorologists and scientists, whose predictions give storm-vulnerable areas the best chance of bracing for impact and no state needs help more than Florida, which has incurred more hurricane losses than any other state over the past 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And no state would suffer as badly as Florida if the current situation persists. Geography is obviously a factor: The state is exposed to both Gulf and Atlantic storms, which can rake any point in its nearly 8,500 miles of shoreline and often shift course with little warning. Reporting by CBS and the Miami Herald show that NWS and NOAA outposts across the state are critically understaffed something called out in a letter signed by five former heads of the NWS, published in these pages last month. NWS staff will have an impossible task to continue its current level of services. Some forecast offices will be so short-staffed that they may be forced to go to part-time services, they wrote. The loss of forecasters is compounded by the short staffing among technicians responsible for maintaining the radar arrays that detect and analyze storm activity. Our worst nightmare is that weather forecast offices will be so understaffed that there will be needless loss of life, they wrote. That should be everyones fear. Reconstituting the nations storm-prediction resources wont be easy. There are only so many qualified meteorologists, radar technicians and other critical personnel to fill these vacant positions, and many who departed took retirement deals that could complicate attempts to rehire them a clear illustration of the penny-wise, pound-foolish impact of DOGEs blindly draconian cuts. Any delay in fixing the damage could be fatal for as-yet uncountable Floridians. Picking up the pieces Scott and Moody must also make it clear that federal aid will be available to any part of this nation hit by natural disasters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent actions by the Trump administration denying federal aid for other parts of the nation that have been hit by devastating storms and other emergencies make the warning even sharper. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is holding back funding that was promised months or even years ago, while denying emergency aid. Among the rejected pleas: Aid for a Washington state town that was three-quarters destroyed by wildfire, and help following an Arkansas storm event with tornadoes and giant hail that killed three people. Most alarming, the administration slashed funding last week for North Carolinas Hurricane Helene recovery, a storm that left 230 people dead and thousands without power for weeks. Ironically, Trump blasted the Biden administration in January for not doing enough to help Helenes victims. These incidental denials could be just the start. If President Trump makes good on his threat to shift disaster response to the states, Florida and other states on the front lines of climate change will be the first to suffer. While the president may speak deceptively of reform, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has been far more blunt: She wants to shut FEMA down. And while we appreciate Scotts sense of timing, taking a tour of Florida to promote disaster preparedness, this is not a burden that can be carried by Florida residents and businesses alone. Thats why Scott, Moody and other GOP senators in disaster-prone states should join forces and make it clear: The nation should not abandon Florida and other states to the winds of fate. Certainly the nations disaster-recovery framework could be improved. But an abrupt denial of funding now could carry devastating consequences not just for states on the front lines, but on the nation. Floridians have the right to expect their senators to defend their interests. The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Executive Editor Roger Simmons and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com House Republicans big, beautiful bill doubles down on President Trumps education agenda, including raising taxes on university endowments and overhauling the student loan program, even as colleges are already feeling a funding pinch and borrower defaults are on the rise. Advocates are hoping to seize on the opportunity to have the legislation reformed in the Senate, where GOP moderates and conservatives are calling for significant and sometimes contradictory changes. Education experts warn that in its current form the package, which also boosts student vouchers and gives a tax break to religious colleges, will financially cripple student loan borrowers and universities alike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The major takeaway is that this bill is going to make paying for college and paying off student loans more expensive and more risky for millions of students and working families with student debt, said Aissa Canchola Banez, policy director for Student Borrower Protection Center. Student loan borrowers have faced a whirlwind in policy shifts between former President Biden and President Trump, but the current budget reconciliation bill would be an earthquake to the 45 million Americans with student debt. It would reshape repayment options, only offering one income-driven repayment plan or a standard repayment plan; all other options would be terminated. Advocates fear significant increases in monthly payment as more generous repayment plans disappear at a time when default rates are already going up. Its very bad for borrowers. I dont want to sugar coat it, you know, its not looking good, said Natalia Abrams at the Student Debt Crisis Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will lengthen the time for undergrads from 20 years to 30 years to receive debt forgiveness after consistent payments, she added. For grad students, from 25 to 30 years. Its really unfortunate that this bill passed, especially by one vote in the House. The package also intends to end Parent PLUS loans, limit how much federal student loan debt an individual can take out and changes eligibility to Pell Grants. The maximum an undergraduate student could take out is $50,000, with parents able to match the amount. For Pell Grants, the number of credits needed to qualify will increase. Other changes include eliminating subsidized loans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of our big worries is that there will be borrower confusion amidst this return to repayment and with servicers potentially needing to implement, if this reconciliation bill goes through, a new income driven repayment plan that departs significantly from any IDR plan that has come before. And so, I think that borrower confusion is a big problem for policymakers, said Sameer Gadkaree, president and CEO of the Institute for College Access & Success. Republicans and conservatives have cheered the legislation as a way to simplify student loan repayments and ensure those who did not go to college do not pay off others debt through their taxes. Its time we stopped asking taxpayers to foot the bill for our broken student loan system that has left borrowers in trillions of dollars of debt and has caused college costs to balloon, said Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Its time we stopped asking a factory worker in Michigan or a rancher in Texas to subsidize the student debt of a lawyer in Manhattan. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to end the status quo and get this bill to the presidents desk, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colleges, already beset by the Trump administration, face a financial hit too: tax increases on their endowments ranging from 1 percent to 21 percent, with major universities such as Harvard and Yale at the top end. Those are an addition to the taxes on endowments passed in 2017 during Trumps first administration back. Before then, endowments were never taxed. We know that almost 50 percent of endowment spending goes to financial aid. If you add financial aid and academic programs, thats two-thirds of endowment spending, and so, if you take money away from the school, from its endowment resources, its going to undermine their ability to provide robust financial aid. Thats why we call it a scholarship tax, because thats what it is, said Steven Bloom, assistant vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education. Despite Trump calling for Republicans to unite around the bill, some in the Senate are demanding changes before theyll give it their support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive told them if theyll take the debt ceiling off of it, Ill consider voting for it, said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). The infighting has led to some optimism that there is still time to get some changes. It seems like folks in the Senate have a bit of heartburn about the level of cuts to the Pell program, and that there might be a discomfort in adopting what the House has put together on that front, Canchola Banez said. I would hope that senators would look at the ways in which the House proposal will make it significantly harder for folks to afford to repay their loans. And in a world where these policymakers want to ensure that student loan borrowers can repay their debts, we need to make sure that there are actual safeguards in place, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. If his posts on his social media site, X, are any indication, Elon Musk is letting a New York Times report that hes taken so much ketamine he cant pee right get to him. To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! Musk wrote on Saturday. The New York Times was lying their ass off. I tried *prescription* ketamine a few years ago and said so on X, so this not even news. It helps for getting out of dark mental holes, but havent taken it since then. Musk was allegedly taking ketamine, Ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms during the 2024 campaign, The New York Times reported Friday. He apparently used ketamine so heavily that its affected his bladder, a known issue caused by chronic ketamine use. Sources said that he was using ketamine almost daily, mixing it with other drugs. His usage reportedly troubled those around him. It is unclear whether his alleged drug habit continued when he became part of the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, has become increasingly popular, including among the teetotaling influencers on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. Musk was an integral part of the 2024 election, spending about $290 million to support Donald Trump and Republicans. When Trump took office, Musk became the head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, an effort to slash the federal workforce and make the government more MAGA. On Wednesday, it was reported that Musks time in the Trump administration was coming to an end. Musk posted multiple times about the allegations of drug use on Friday and Saturday. Im in meetings with dozens to hundreds of people every day and am photographed constantly. If this bs from NYT were true, it would have been EXTREMELY obvious, Musk posted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Times points out that Musks behavior has been erratic, like his insulting Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his posting incessantly on X, at all hours of the day and night. During an appearance with Trump in the Oval Office on Friday, Musk was sporting a black eye, which he blamed on his 5-year-old son, also nicknamed X. I was just horsing around with little X, and I said, Go ahead, punch me in the face. And he did, he said at a news conference at the White House. As the head of SpaceX, a massive government contractor, Musk said hes been subjected to random drug tests. The 3 years of random drug testing was just because of one semi-puff during a @JoeRogan podcast! he wrote on X Saturday, referencing when he took a hit off a joint on Rogans show in 2018. SpaceX gives out random drug tests, a requirement as a federal contractor. According to the Times, Musk has gotten advance warning of the tests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im not on ketamine ffs, he wrote in another post. Trump said Friday that he did not know about Musks reported regular drug usage. Im not troubled by anything with Elon, he said. I think hes fantastic. Musk has spoken about his prescription ketamine use in the past. Last March, he told journalist Don Lemon that he uses a small amount of ketamine about once every other week. The ketamine, he said, is prescribed by an actual, real doctor. There are times when I have sort of a negative chemical state in my brain, like depression I guess, or depression thats not linked to any negative news, and ketamine is helpful for getting one out of the negative frame of mind, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you use too much ketamine, you cant really get work done, Musk added. I have a lot of work, Im typically putting in 16-hour days so I dont really have a situation where I can be not mentally acute for an extended period of time. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Elon Musk doesnt want to talk about politics... unless hes got something to complain about. The billionaires interview with CBS Sunday Morning began on a stiff note as he shut down questions about President Donald Trumps ongoing tariff tumult and the administrations bid to throttle international students from coming into the country. But soon after trying to swerve from any contentious topics, Musk began grousing about the government, unprompted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My opinion of the government is that the government is just like the DMV that got big, he told interviewer David Pogue. So when you say, Lets have the government do something, you should think, do you want the DMV to do it? Musk tried to shut down CBS from asking about anything other than "spaceships" pic.twitter.com/5fwMScFyim Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 1, 2025 Treading carefully around his qualms with the Trump regime, Musk said, You know, its not like I agree with everything the administration does. So its like, I mean, I agree with much of what the administration does, but we have differences of opinion. You know, the things that I dont entirely agree with, he added. But its difficult for me to bring that up in an interview because then it creates a bone of contention. So then Im a little stuck in a bind where Im like, well, I dont want to, you know, speak up against the administration, but I dont want to... he trailed off with a heavy sigh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk then deflected blame for the chaos wrought by his wade in politics, saying, I also dont want to take responsibility for everything the administration is doing. ... but then he started going on effusively about his views on government and Trump pic.twitter.com/q2MabLuSfS Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 1, 2025 In April, the Department of Government Efficiencys chief architect announced he would be retreating from his role on Capitol Hill after spending months trying to disembowel the countrys vast bureaucratic ecosystem. As Trump feted the Tesla CEO with an Oval Office send off on Friday, he told reporters, Elons delivered a colossal change in the old ways of doing business in Washington and that hed still back and forth between the White House and his batch of businesses. Musk, who was sporting a black eye and a black shirt which said The Dogefather during the gathering, also insisted his federal budget-busting project would be just fine without him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After accepting a ceremonial key from the president, he said, I think the DOGE team is doing an incredible job. Theyre going to continue to be doing an incredible job. Related... For months, Elon Musk played an unusually hands-on role in one of the federal governments most controversial experiments: the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Created with the promise of slashing waste and running America like a business, the initiative gave Musk sweeping authority over everything from agency budgets to personnel decisions. Now, after just 130 days, hes walking away well, sort of. In a pre-taped CBS interview that aired Sunday night, Musk confirmed his departure but not before taking a swipe at a Trump-backed budget bill and, for the first time, admitting he doesnt always agree with the administration hes been helping to shape. The fallout was fast: Within 24 hours of the revelation, he was out at DOGE, off the advisory roster, and back to defending himself on multiple legal fronts. But even as the White House insists the billionaire is still a friend to the president, questions remain: What pushed Musk out? What happens to DOGE without him? We took a closer look. What did Elon Musk say about the Trump administration? One of the more buzzed-about moments in the sit-down came when Musk opened up somewhat reluctantly about his differences with the Trump administration. Even though he said hed rather not go there, he admitted that while hes on board with much of what the administration does, they dont always see eye to eye. There are things that I dont entirely agree with, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that speaking out is tricky. It creates a bone of contention, he explained. Im a little stuck in a bind, where Im like, well, I dont wanna, you know, speak up against the administration, but I also dont wanna take responsibility for everything this administrations doing, he said. But that wasnt even the comment that really got him in hot water. What apparently did? Musk took a jab at the House Republicans recent budget bill the one Trump had labeled the big, beautiful bill. Musk didnt hold back: I think a bill can be big, or it can be beautiful but I dont know if it can be both, he said, adding that it was just his personal opinion. That remark seemed to hit a nerve. CBS reported that the clip of Musks criticism made its way all the way to the White House, and within 24 hours, Musk announced he was done with his role in the Trump administration. No more DOGE, no more government advisory role. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officially, he said his 130-day stint as an advisor had simply run its course. But up until that point, hed been saying he still planned to contribute part-time. So, make of that what you will. Is Elon Musk really leaving the government? Not exactly. On Elon Musks final day as a special government employee, Donald Trump dismissed the idea of a real departure, telling reporters Musk is not really leaving and would still drop by the White House from time to time because DOGE is his baby. Privately, an unnamed advisor echoed that sentiment, telling CBS that Musk would continue to be a friend to the president and describing him as an ongoing adviser. At DOGE, Musk launched an aggressive cost-cutting campaign that quickly drew scrutiny. Over four months, DOGE carried out sweeping cuts across the federal government: 250,000 workers were fired or bought out, and funding for key climate agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was slashed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The initiative claims it saved $160 billion, but a report from the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service warns those savings could cost taxpayers $135 billion this fiscal year alone. Adding to the pressure, legal challenges are mounting. Just last week, a federal judge allowed a case questioning Musks and DOGEs authority within the federal government to proceed. Several more suits are still pending. Now, Musk appears to be turning his attention back to his business empire. Teslas profits have plunged 71 percent, and his net worth has dropped by $100 billion. In his CBS interview, he complained that what was starting to happen was a bit unfair, adding that DOGE became the whipping boy for everything. Did Musk use drugs on the campaign trail? During his time in government, Musk has faced violent threats, forced re-hirings, clashes with Cabinet officials, and reports of drug use. According to The New York Times, he reportedly told people he was using ketamine so heavily during the 2024 presidential election that it was affecting his bladder. He was also believed to have taken Ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, and reportedly carried a daily medication box with about 20 pills, including some marked as Adderall. Musk denied the report alleging he used illegal drugs during last years campaign, calling the newspapers claims false. He has previously stated that he holds a prescription for ketamine. Also, to be clear, I am NOT taking drugs! The New York Times was lying their ass off. I tried *prescription* ketamine a few years ago and said so on , so this not even news. It helps for getting out of dark mental holes, but havent taken it since then. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 31, 2025 The White House has similarly dismissed the reports. When asked on Friday whether Musks alleged drug use was a concern, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller responded, The drugs that were concerned about are the drugs running across the southern border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk first dodged a question about his drug use during a bizarre farewell appearance with Trump in the Oval Office on Friday, where he showed up with a black eye something he said resulted from roughhousing with his 4-year-old son. Whats next for DOGE? It doesnt look like DOGE is going away anytime soon. Following Musks departure, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the initiative will continue under the direction of remaining staff. Still, without the tech mogul at the helm, DOGE may become a quieter, more conventional operation. The chaos, spectacle, and headlines Musk brought to the project could give way to a more bureaucratic approach, efficient or not. Whether that shift helps or hinders DOGEs impact remains to be seen. Either way, DOGE is entering a new chapter one that may look very different from the last. The post Elon Musk Is Stepping Down from DOGE Heres Whats Next appeared first on Katie Couric Media. As his time in DC disintegrated this week, Musk intimated to the Washington Post that he was very surprised by what he saw in American government but not as surprised as he was by everyone's reaction. "The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized," the billionaire told the newspaper. "I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in DC, to say the least." That "uphill battle" apparently included getting people on board with his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the cost-cutting agency that Musk was seemingly gifted in exchange for his help getting Donald Trump elected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the boy-brained billionaire wasn't exactly popular before his debut in American politics, he and his agency have become downright detested in 2025. From its iffy mandate and its enormous failure to reach its savings goals to its massive professional and competence breaches, DOGE has been a major dud and Musk's companies are bearing the brunt. But ask Musk, and he has no idea why everybody is so mad. As he told it to WaPo, the agency mysteriously became the "whipping boy for everything." "Something bad would happen anywhere," Musk said, "and we would get blamed for it even if we had nothing to do with it." Despite his attempts at a breezy reboot this week, it's clear the uber-wealthy memelord is aware that the public hates him and his politics but the alleged "free speech absolutist" can't seem to figure out why people would want to take their righteous anger out on his company's cars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "People were burning Teslas," he lamented. "Why would you do that? Thats really uncool." This isn't the first time Musk has searched around dumbfounded, like a confused John Travolta in "Pulp Fiction," looking for the reason people are taking their anger out Teslas. In March, the world's sometimes-richest man took to the social network he purchased to claim that an "investigation" had found five individuals, along with a liberal-leaning fundraising platform, were behind the widespread protests against his electric vehicle company. He didn't acknowledge, of course, the crux of those protests: that even Republicans and former fanboys consider the mass firing of civil servants toxic, and that his own poor approval ratings were bringing down Trump's. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite his unceremonious exit from government, DOGE's work will go on in Musk's stead, and the agency will soon be "tackling projects with the highest gain for the pain, which still means a lot of good things in terms of reducing waste and fraud." Today in Washington, as in South Texas, it's business as usual as the White House prepares to send a new slew of DOGE cuts to Congress in a spending bill and SpaceX launches more than two dozen Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. Life in DC has gone on after Musk has left the building not with a bang, but with a whimper. More on Musk: You Can Suddenly Sense Elon Musk's Desperation STATESBORO, Ga. (WSAV) The Bulloch County community is still shaken by the loss of a 9-year-old girl killed by her father in an apparent murder-suicide Tuesday night. Brooklet community shaken after father and daughter found dead Saturday, that community rallied for the childs family. A local business donated profits from their end-of-school bash. Twenty percent of the purchases went to Emilys family. On Thursday, Texas Roadhouse plans to do a similar fundraiser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taylor Bunch, the owner of Taylors Sunset Tanning says shes close with the family and wanted to do something to help ease their pain. This community is tight knit. We all help each other out. Theres a bunch of small businesses here, too, and we like to give to the schools and we do sponsorships all the time. And I feel like this community just gives back a lot. At Saturdays fundraiser they also made bracelets ahead of Emilys candlelight vigil. Thats happening Sunday in Brooklet. they tell WSAV that making bracelets was one of Emilys favorite things to do. Theyll pass them out during the memoriam. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. Workers at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West went on strike Saturday to protest housekeeper workload, which the unions local chapter president said is higher than any other unionized hotel in Sacramento. Unite Here Local 49 President Aamir Deen said he didnt know of any unionized workers that did not participate in the strike from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., but he said the hotel remained open as managerial employees tried to fill the gaps with temporary workers or staff from other hotels. The union represents housekeepers, the largest group of hotel workers, as well as many other employees including dishwashers, servers and front desk workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deen said he hopes to come to a resolution with the hotel after the strike and that escalating the economic action is a possibility if an agreement is not reached. Hilton Sacramento Arden West management and Hilton corporate representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday. Currently, housekeepers clean between 15 and 30 rooms per shift based on a credit system where a room a guest has checked out of is worth one credit while a room a guest is returning to is worth one-half of a credit. Deen said the hotel has agreed to cap rooms cleaned per shift at 24, which he said is still far too many and significantly more than the 15 or fewer rooms housekeepers are required to clean at other unionized Sacramento hotels. Hilton Sacramento Arden West also had a 15-room cap until late 2024, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deen said housekeepers are often required to clean a room every 15 minutes, which leads to injuries and less-clean rooms. They want to be able to clean the rooms to the standard that our guests demand, and management insists on making them clean rooms every 15 minutes, and you just cant get all of the nooks and crannies in 15 minutes, Deen said. All of the other union hotels have agreed to these same terms. We just want to have a fair playing field. The union has been in contract negotiations with the hotel since late 2024, Deen said, and has reached an agreement on most issues outside of housekeeper workload. Workers at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West hotel went on strike on Saturday over housekeeper workload. The union has been in contract negotiations with the hotel since late 2024. Cant provide the same quality Dora Gomez, a housekeeper who has been working at the hotel for 18 years, said the increased workload has caused injuries to her back, shoulders and feet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gomez also said there have been a lot of guest complaints since the change due to problems like increased dust and stained showers that were created by the decreased time cleaning each room. When we have to clean more rooms, we cant provide the same quality. They want us to give quantity and quality, but we cant. Thats not possible, Gomez said through a translator. We want to be treated like people. Rosalba Ubaquae, a housekeeper who has been working at the hotel for two years, said housekeepers without seniority are struggling to get enough hours to make a living wage while those with seniority, who are typically older, are forced to work so much it is causing injuries. Ubaquae said the hours she currently gets are impossible to live off, forcing her to look for second jobs at multiple points during the year. We want the people whove been here for 30 years, who are more than 60 years of age, to have a job with dignity, and not have to have their bodies break down from the heavy workload, Ubaquae said through a translator. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Panama City Parks, Culture and Recreation is hosting Movie by the Bay, this months feature film is Dog Man. Come out to Oaks by the Bay Park, 2715 W 10th St, Panama City, on Friday, June 20, at 7:30 p.m for a family movie night. This is a free event; bring your chairs, blankets, and good vibes. Popcorn and lemonade will be free for attendees. There will also be a delicious food truck onsite opening at 7 p.m, so come hungry, organizers said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This event is benefiting Emerald & Forgotten Coast Adventures. For more information, 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 mypanhandle.com. Travel companies said European trips to the US dipped in early 2025 but are starting to rebound. Price reductions and deposit incentives are driving travel back to the US ahead of the summer. Trump's tariffs sparked boycotts of US brands, but travel firms see no structural collapse. Despite political tensions and growing anti-American sentiment, US travel is holding steady among European tourists especially when prices drop. From January to April, several major travel platforms observed a slowdown in European bookings to the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas Cook reported a dip that exceeded typical seasonal fluctuations. "We did observe a softening in bookings to the US between January and April this year a dip that goes beyond the usual seasonal adjustments," Nicholas Smith, holidays digital director at Thomas Cook and eSky Group, told Business Insider. However, by May, things began to shift. Smith said aggressive pricing strategies, including hotel rate cuts of around 25% and deposits of just over $1, triggered an uptick in bookings. "This has, in turn, helped stimulate demand, particularly among UK travelers adept at spotting good deals," he said. "We expect this rebound to continue into the summer months." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other travel firms echoed that optimism. TravelPerk, which serves business and corporate travelers, said bookings to the US from Europe rose 1% year over year in April, while US to Europe bookings climbed by 14%. Cancellation rates remained stable at 7 to 9%. Etraveli Group, which analyzed bookings through April, found that while demand for flights from the EU to the US declined by 7%, overall trip orders to the US from Europe jumped 19.5% year over year. However, bookings to other intercontinental destinations grew even faster, up 24.3% overall, 29% for Africa, and 25% for Asia. Shorter intra-European trips surged by 29%. Tariff backlash These shifts are unfolding against a politically charged backdrop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump's escalating trade war, with tariffs on EU imports swinging from 20% to 10% and now potentially rising to 50%, has triggered grassroots consumer backlash across Europe. Trump said Sunday he will delay a 50% tariff on EU goods until July 9. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images Apps like Brandsnap in the Netherlands and Detrumpify in France are helping Europeans identify US brands to avoid in supermarkets and online. In Denmark, major retailer Salling Group labelled European-made products with black star labels, while Norway's largest oil bunkering operation company, Haltbakk Bunkers, made headlines for briefly refusing to refuel US Navy ships. Meanwhile, high-profile American brands like Tesla and Coca-Cola are already seeing a fallout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tesla's sales in Europe dropped by 46% between January and April, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, and McDonald's reported a global sales dip linked to "anti-American sentiment," especially in Northern Europe. This behavior may reflect more than a passing political reaction. In its March Consumer Expectations survey , the European Central Bank found that 44% of about 19,000 respondents preferred to switch away from US brands, regardless of tariff levels. The bank warned that this suggested a "possible long-term structural shift in consumer preferences away from US products and brands." It may not be a long-term shift French hotel giant Accor added to the concerns last month. CEO Sebastien Bazin told Bloomberg that summer bookings to the US from Europe were down 25%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet, travel industry analysts cautioned against assuming this signals a long-term shift. "While there is evidence of a temporary slowdown at this stage, the combination of price adjustments and strong interest in iconic US destinations suggests the market is poised to recover momentum," said Smith of Thomas Cook. Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, director of the European Centre for International Political Economy, told BI that politics isn't the only factor deterring travelers. "Some of it is a genuine disinclination against spending your holidays in the US," he said, "but much of it is the fear of harassment at the border." Read the original article on Business Insider Exit polls indicated on Sunday that the result in the run-off for the Polish presidency between liberal candidate Rafa Trzaskowski and his conservative rival Karol Nawrocki is too close to call. The initial forecasts showed that Trzaskowski received 50.3% of the votes, while Nawrocki garnered 49.7%. The forecasts were based on exit polls conducted in around 500 polling stations and have a margin of error of two percentage points. The official result of the vote to find a successor to President Andrzej Duda is expected to be announced on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the opinion polls in the run-up to Sunday's vote had also indicated a razor-thin gap between the candidates since the first round of voting on May 18. In Poland, the president holds a five-year term and has broad powers, including representing the country abroad, shaping foreign policy, appointing the prime minister and the Cabinet, and serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces in the event of war. EU and NATO member state Poland is deeply divided politically and the voting outcome will decisively impact its future - both domestically and internationally. A win for pro-European Trzaskowski, who belongs to Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Civic Coalition, would allow Tusk to push ahead with his reformist agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nawrocki, meanwhile, is aligned with the conservative nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS), like the incumbent Duda, who has blocked many of the government's legislative projects with his veto power. During its time in government, the PiS was at loggerheads with Brussels over its judicial reform. It also damaged relations with Berlin by demanding trillions in World War II reparations. Exit polls indicated on Sunday that the result in the run-off for the Polish presidency between liberal candidate Rafa Trzaskowski and his conservative rival Karol Nawrocki is too close to call. The initial forecasts showed that Trzaskowski received 50.3% of the votes, while Nawrocki garnered 49.7%. The forecasts were based on exit polls conducted in around 500 polling stations and have a margin of error of two percentage points. The official result of the vote to find a successor to President Andrzej Duda is expected to be announced on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both politicians appeared confident of victory in front of their supporters. Trzaskowski even called the outcome a win immediately after the first exit polls were announced. "We have won, even if I believe that the expression 'on a knife edge' will enter the Polish language," the 53-year-old said to the cheers of his supporters. The mood at Nawrocki's election party was much more subdued. He appealed to his supporters not to lose hope. "We have to win tonight and we know it will happen." All the opinion polls in the run-up to Sunday's vote had also indicated a razor-thin gap between the candidates since the first round of voting on May 18. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Poland, the president holds a five-year term and has broad powers, including representing the country abroad, shaping foreign policy, appointing the prime minister and the Cabinet, and serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces in the event of war. EU and NATO member state Poland is deeply divided politically and the voting outcome will decisively impact its future - both domestically and internationally. A win for pro-European Trzaskowski, who belongs to Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Civic Coalition, would allow Tusk to push ahead with his reformist agenda. Nawrocki, meanwhile, is aligned with the conservative nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS), like the incumbent Duda, who has blocked many of the government's legislative projects with his veto power. During its time in government, the PiS was at loggerheads with Brussels over its judicial reform. It also damaged relations with Berlin by demanding trillions in World War II reparations. A bird egg in Wales became a symbol of hope this spring for the recovery of a species that was once considered nearly extinct in the United Kingdom. Conservationists believed that the egg, found on April 24 in the nest of a rare pair of ospreys in the Usk Valley, was the first one laid in the area for at least 250 years, the BBC reported. "The fact that this pair have established a nest and laid an egg shows the species has a chance of making further progress," said Andy King, of the local group Usk Valley Ospreys, in the BBC report. King noted that this was "great news for everyone who cares about our wildlife." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within days, the productive parents added two more eggs to the nest, which is monitored by live webcams and has been protected by a team of 60 volunteers, according to The Guardian. Reports of ospreys returning to nest in the U.K. and in other places around the world are inspirational for people involved in conservation. As top predators in their habitats, the fish-eating birds of prey can also play key environmental roles in well-functioning natural systems. And scientists take them as indicators of habitat health in coastal areas. The Usk Valley Ospreys website reports that the birds were common in the U.K. centuries ago. Habitat loss, hunting, and egg theft destroyed local populations to the point that ospreys went extinct as a breeding species by 1847 in Wales and England, and by 1916 in Scotland. They were thought to be extinct as a breeding species in Ireland by the late 1700s, per the BBC. In 1954, ospreys re-established populations in Scotland. Helped along by conservation efforts, the piscivorous prey birds have since shown signs of recovery in various U.K. regions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ospreys started nesting again in northern Wales in 2004, according to the conservation group. The BBC reported that the ospreys that recently produced eggs began building their nest in 2023, which marked a significant southward expansion of the species' nesting range in Wales. Since then, birders have noticed other ospreys in the area. According to a report commissioned by the Brenig Osprey Project in northern Wales, the birds have the highest protection status under the U.K.'s Wildlife and Countryside Act, making it illegal to disturb them at their nests. While national laws and local conservation programs have led to increasingly healthy populations of ospreys and other species, ongoing threats to habitats are a reason for continued effort. For example, reports by the World Wildlife Fund in the U.K., as well as by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, have noted the impacts of rising global temperatures on migratory birds. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Meanwhile, the return of nesting ospreys in Wales is encouraging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's lovely to see them, isn't it?" said Louise Milne, one of the volunteers monitoring the Usk Valley ospreys, in the Guardian report. "They are a wonder of the world." 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. Claim: H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, contains a provision allowing the U.S. president to delay or cancel elections. Rating: Rating: False Context: Other provisions in the bill would add restrictions on the judiciary's power to enforce rulings but the repercussions of a U.S. president delaying or cancelling an election is outside the scope of this claim. On May 22, 2025, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill, H.R. 1, attempting to turn some of U.S. President Donald Trump's agenda into law. Trump called the piece of legislation "One big, beautiful bill," which was adopted into the bill's full name, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill underwent a lot of changes, passing the House by just one vote. It had not yet passed through the Republican-controlled Senate as of this writing, and faced major pushback from Democrats and even some Republicans in the Senate. Posts on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram and Reddit claimed the measure went even further than as drafted, alleging that the bill contained a provision that would allow the president to "delay or cancel elections legally." Snopes carefully reviewed the mammoth bill looking for provisions that would match that description. There were none therefore, the claim is false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement H.R. 1 does contain a provision that would make it more difficult for courts to enforce injunctions against the federal government, and therefore abets delaying or cancelling an election. However, this claim is not about the potential repercussions of a U.S. president taking such an action it is about whether H.R. 1 legally allows the president to do that. It does not. The bill's table of contents provides a brief description of what each section does. As examples: Title IV (Energy and Commerce), Subtitle B (Environment), Part 1 (Repeals and Recissions), contains a list of laws the bill will repeal, including Section 42106, "Repeal and rescission relating to funding to address air pollution at schools." Title IV, Subtitle D (Health), Part 1 (Medicaid), Subpart b ("preventing wasteful spending") includes Section 44125, "Prohibiting Federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for gender transition procedures." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nothing in the bill's table of contents even appeared remotely like it would give the president power to delay or cancel elections. If such a provision were hidden in the bill, it would have to contain either the word "president" or "executive," since that's who the power would supposedly go to. But searching the bill for those keywords also turned up nothing relevant. The term "president" came up 18 times in the bill, on topics as broad as transnational oil pipelines, to Medicaid eligibility, to radio frequency ranges, but never in relation to elections. The term "executive" came up 44 times, mostly in relation to government departments with the word in their name, but again, never in relation to elections. Sources: Arrington, Jodey C. One Big Beautiful Bill Act. H.R. 1, 20 May 2025, https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hubbard, Kaia "Here's What's in Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" That Narrowly Passed in the House." CBS News, 23 May 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/whats-in-trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-medicaid-taxes/. "Interpretation: Elections Clause | Constitution Center." National Constitution Center Constitutioncenter.Org, https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/articles/article-i/clauses/750. Accessed 27 May 2025. Moore, Elena. "Here's What's in the GOP Megabill That's Just Passed the House." NPR, 22 May 2025. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2025/05/21/nx-s1-5406392/trump-republicans-tax-bill-reconciliation-medicaid. News, A. B. C. "Dems Call GOP's 'big, Beautiful' Bill 'Ugly' for Hurting Low-Income, Helping Rich." ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ugly-democrats-slam-trump-megabill-hurting-low-income/story?id=122078571. Accessed 27 May 2025. Updates: June 11, 2025: This story was updated to include the exact wording of Sec. 44125, "Prohibiting Federal Medicaid and CHIP funding for gender transition procedures." A devastated California family has filed a lawsuit against a Hollywood cemetery after learning their mother had not been buried where her headstone was and that they had been mourning the incorrect plot for four years. The Demirchyan family made the horrifying discovery in April when burying their father, Avetis, who was supposed to be laid to rest beside his wife at Forest Lawn Cemetery. However, during the service, a mortician pulled aside their son, Chris, to tell him the headstone for his mother, Hasmik, did not match her actual burial site, KTLA reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While her headstone was in space 1, she was buried in space 2, just one plot to the right, according to the report. I feel betrayed because we have been speaking to an empty plot, Chris Demirchyan said. All those times we put down flowers, we prayed, we came for holidays, we even put up a decorated Christmas tree it was the wrong space. A grieving family has filed a lawsuit against a California cemetery after learning their mother was not buried where her headstone was placed. (KTLA) Even though the cemetery has since corrected its mistake and moved her headstone to the correct location, the Demirchyan family is filing a lawsuit over the emotional distress caused by grieving in the wrong location for years. While we appreciate Forest Lawn for taking appropriate action to correct their error right after they discovered it, it still is inexcusable because this would not have come to light if my client hadnt suffered another loss, said Rosie Zilifyan, the familys attorney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The family is seeking an undisclosed amount in damages, but said their main motivation for filing the lawsuit was to prevent similar mistakes from happening to other families. The family filed the lawsuit after learning their mother was not buried where they were told she was, while they were burying her husband. (KTLA) They think saying sorry and moving it makes up for what was four years of mourning that we did, and were still grieving, said George Eskichyan, Hasmiks grandson. This adds an extra layer of hurt and pain. The cemetery has 30 days to respond to the lawsuit, according to KTLA. VERMILION PARISH, La. (KLFY) A single-vehicle crash has resulted in two people dying in Vermilion Parish. According to authorities, shortly after 11:00 p.m., Friday night, Louisiana State Police began investigating a single-vehicle fatality crash on LA 14 near Fore Road. The crash claimed the lives of 69-year-old Brian Mayard of Abbeville and 45-year-old Guy McNeil of Youngsville. Officials said an investigation revealed that Mayard was driving a Chevrolet Corvette west on LA 14 at a high rate of speed. For reasons still under investigation, the Chevrolet left the roadway to the right, entered a ditch, and struck a culvert before overturning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said both Mayard and McNeil were unrestrained at the time of the crash, sustained fatal injuries, and died at the scene. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest A standard toxicology sample was collected and submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation. Latest news 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 KLFY.com. By Jasper Ward, Kristina Cooke and Mark Makela BOULDER, Colorado (Reuters) -Eight people were injured on Sunday when a 45-year-old man yelled "Free Palestine" and threw incendiary devices into a crowd in Boulder, Colorado where a demonstration to remember the Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza was taking place, authorities said. Four women and four men between 52 and 88 years old were transported to hospitals, Boulder police said. Authorities had earlier put the count of the injured at six and said at least one of them was in a critical condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As a result of these preliminary facts, it is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism," the FBI special agent in charge of the Denver Field Office, Mark Michalek, said. Michalek named the suspect as Mohamed Soliman, who was hospitalized shortly after the attack. Reuters could not immediately locate contact information for him or his family. FBI Director Kash Patel also described the incident as a "targeted terror attack," and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said it appeared to be "a hate crime given the group that was targeted." Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said he did not believe anyone else was involved. "We're fairly confident we have the lone suspect in custody," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack took place on the Pearl Street Mall, a popular pedestrian shopping district in the shadow of the University of Colorado, during an event organized by Run for Their Lives, an organization devoted to drawing attention to the hostages seized in the aftermath of Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel. In a statement, the group said the walks have been held every week since then for the hostages, "without any violent incidents until today." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that the victims were attacked "simply because they were Jews" and that he trusted U.S. authorities would prosecute "the cold blood perpetrator to the fullest extent of the law". "The antisemitic attacks around the world are a direct result of blood libels against the Jewish state and people, and this must be stopped," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the United States over Israel's war in Gaza, which has spurred both an increase in antisemitic hate crime as well as moves by conservative supporters of Israel, led by President Donald Trump, to brand pro-Palestinian protests as antisemitic. His administration has detained protesters of the war without charge and cut off funding to elite U.S. universities that have permitted such demonstrations. In a post to X, a social network, Trump's deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Soliman had overstayed his visa and been allowed to work by the previous administration. He said it was further evidence of the need to "fully reverse" what he described as "suicidal migration." Reuters was not able to independently verify the suspect's immigration status. When asked about Soliman, the Department of Homeland Security said more information would be provided as it became available. VICTIMS BURNED Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brooke Coffman, a 19-year-old at the University of Colorado who witnessed the Boulder incident, said she saw four women lying or sitting on the ground with burns on their legs. One of them appeared to have been badly burned on most of her body and had been wrapped in a flag by someone, she said. She described seeing a man whom she presumed to be the attacker standing in the courtyard shirtless, holding a glass bottle of clear liquid and shouting. "Everybody is yelling, 'get water, get water,'" Coffman said. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a prominent Jewish Democrat, said it was an antisemitic attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is horrifying, and this cannot continue. We must stand up to antisemitism," he said on X. The attack follows last month's arrest of a Chicago-born man in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington, D.C. Someone opened fire on a group of people leaving an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights antisemitism and supports Israel. The shooting fueled polarization in the United States over the war in Gaza between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Colorado Governor Jared Polis posted on social media that it was "unfathomable that the Jewish community is facing another terror attack here in Boulder." (Reporting by Jasper Ward, Raphael Satter, Mark Makela, Kristina Cooke and Steve Gorman; Additional reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal and Alexander Cornwell; Writing by Alexandra Alper; Editing by Paul Thomasch, Rod Nickel and Stephen Coates) Dr. Marty Makary, commissioner of the FDA, on Sunday made it clear he was dubious of previous federal recommendations on Covid-19 vaccinations and the agencies who made them. In an interview with host Margaret Brennan of CBS' "Face the Nation," Makary responded to repeated requests from Brennan to clarify federal guidance (or the lack thereof) with variations on the same answer. "We believe the recommendation should be with a patient and their doctor," he said at one point, declining to give specific advice or specifying how doctors might be able to offer guidance in the absence of informed direction from the federal government. Brennan was seeking clarity from Makary in the aftermath of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s announcement that Covid-19 vaccines would no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. The CDC subsequently offered updated advice that somewhat countered what Kennedy said but also left room for interpretation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Makary there needed to be more controlled studies, so that decisions to approve vaccines would be more authoritative. The CBS host tried to get Makary to say what was lacking in the current data for such vaccines, and when that information might be available to the agency, as well as the general public. In his answers Sunday, Makary was not supportive of past guidance, criticizing the methodology of the CDC. "We know the CDC data is contaminated with a lot of false positives from incidental positive Covid tests with routine testing of every kid that walks in the hospital," he told Brennan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Makary also cast doubt on the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. "That panel has been a kangaroo court where they just rubber-stamp every single vaccine put in front of them," he said. At the time he was nominated in November, Makary was a Johns Hopkins surgeon who was best known for his criticism of the Biden administration's response to Covid, something for which Kennedy was also known. Trump said Makary was needed because "the FDA has lost the trust of Americans." Makary, he said, would "course-correct" the agency. On Sunday, when it came to discussing the shots and pregnant women, Makary was a model of consistency in his contention that the decision was a personal matter between a patient and her doctor. Brennan and Makary had this exchange: Brennan: "It is still unclear what pregnant women now should do until they get the data that you say." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Makary: "Id say talk to their doctor." Brennan: "When do they get the data you're promising? All these controlled studies." Makary: "In the absence of data, they should talk to their doctor ..." Brennan: "So no date?" Makary: "... and their doctor will use their best wisdom and judgment." Federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security handcuffed and briefly detained a staff member in New York Rep. Jerry Nadlers Manhattan district office on Wednesday, according to a statement released by the congressman. Video taken by a person inside Nadlers office, obtained and reported by Gothamist, shows one of his aides being handcuffed by an agent with the Federal Protective Service while another agent tries to access an area inside the office. In the footage, a second staffer stands in front of the agent and asks if he has a warrant. Youre harboring rioters in the office, the federal agent is heard telling her, before walking in. In the background, the handcuffed aide is heard crying while someone tries to comfort her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agents allegedly entered Nadlers office because they were told protesters were present and the agents were concerned about the safety of employees in the office, the Department of Homeland Security told CNN in a statement on Saturday. Activists on Wednesday were protesting outside of Varick Immigration Court located on a different floor of the same building as Nadlers office in opposition to the detention of migrants at the courthouse by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Upon the officers arrival, they identified themselves and said they were conducting a security check when one individual became verbally confrontational and physically blocked access to the office, the statement said. The officers then detained the individual in the hallway for the purpose of completing the security check. All were released without further incident, DHS said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert Gottheim, Nadlers chief of staff, told CNN on Sunday the Department of Homeland Securitys version of events was a total fabrication. The incident occurred as the Trump administration has taken extraordinary measures to crack down on immigration, aggressively pressuring Immigration and Customs Enforcement to pick up the pace of migrant arrests and touting mass deportation plans. Nadler called the incident deeply troubling in a Saturday statement and confirmed Department of Homeland Security officers forcefully entered his office and handcuffed the staff member. Video taken inside Rep. Jerry Nadler's district office in New York City shows one of his staff members being handcuffed and detained by Department of Homeland Security agents on Wednesday, according to a statement released by the congressman. - Clipped From Video - Clipped From Video President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are sowing chaos in our communities, using intimidation tactics against both citizens and non-citizens in a reckless and dangerous manner, he said, adding the incident showed a deeply troubling disregard for proper legal boundaries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this can happen in a Member of Congresss office, it can happen to anyone and it is happening, Nadler said. I call on President Trump and DHS to halt the use of these dangerous tactics and to abandon use of the expedited removal process which denies due process to immigrants and citizens alike, the New York representative said. Gottheim said the agents appeared upset because members of Nadlers staff witnessed the officers detaining migrants inside the building, and because staffers had invited advocates who saw the detentions to the congressmans office. Court watchers, advocates and some members of Nadlers staff had gathered on the fifth floor, which houses the immigration court, to observe court activity following reports that immigration officers were detaining migrants after their immigration appointments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Staff members noticed ICE officers were in the lobby holding sheets of paper with pictures of asylum seekers who were coming in for their hearings, Gottheim said. Really what happened is we have these ICE officers who are working with Federal Protective Services, upset that we are watching them, seeing what theyre doing, and that we invited these other people who were observing back to our office, Gottheim told CNN. Officers ignored staffers requests to see a warrant, he added. They push their way into the office, even though my staff doesnt want them in, Gottheim said. They had no right to be in the office, and theres no exigent circumstances of why they would have come: We didnt call them for assistance, there was no riot, there was no protest going on in the office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nadler was not in the office at the time of the incident but arrived shortly after his staff called him to alert him to what was unfolding. The aide was still detained when he arrived, according to Gottheim, but Nadler spoke with the officers and helped defuse the situation so that the staffer could be released. Activists express outrage at migrants being detained at court hearings Twenty-three people were taken into custody during Wednesdays protest, according to police, CNN affiliate CBS New York reported. CNN has reached out to the New York Police Department for comment and additional information regarding the arrests. Protesters told CBS New York they began demonstrating after witnesses reported that several people were taken into custody inside the ICE field office in SoHo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive never seen anything like this. Ive been working here for a couple years and Ive never seen this many agents, let alone agents dressed in plain clothes, wearing masks, pulling people out of line. Its totally out of the ordinary, a man named Ben told CBS New York. Videos taken at the protests showed how tensions escalated when officers and demonstrators clashed over the barricades. People say, Oh, let them come in legally, and when they try to come in legally and follow court proceedings theyre being kidnapped, a woman named Mariposa told CBS New York. The White House is putting intense pressure on law enforcement agencies across the government to meet a goal of one million deportations per year, leading to a surge of agents and officers across the federal government focusing their attention on arrests and deportation efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In New York City, activists have intensified their efforts to protest the rising number of migrant deportations, staging multiple demonstrations in opposition of the administrations controversial moves against immigrants. One of the latest incidents was the arrest of a 20-year-old New York City public school student named Dylan, a Venezuelan national who was detained by ICE on May 21 after a hearing in federal immigration court regarding his asylum request, CNN affiliate WABC reported. Dylan is a 20-year-old student who followed our legal process and is trying to get an education and provide for his family, New York Attorney General Letitia James said on X. ICE took advantage of his court date to arrest him. Its despicable. Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson released a statement on Wednesday demanding accountability for Dylan and slammed the Trump administration, who she said is unfairly targeting and exploiting immigrant families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dylan did everything right. He enrolled in school in our Borough and got his license to obtain a delivery job to take care of his younger siblings, Gibson wrote. It is outrageous and horrible to learn he was detained by federal authorities last week during a court appearance. This is unacceptable and nothing short of an injustice. Advocates report that under the Trump administration, its becoming more frequent for ICE to detain migrants at their immigration court appearances. Its a catch-22. You dont show up for your court hearing then you could also be ordered removed from the country and deported, Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, told CBS New York. CNNs Sharif Paget contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com ALABAMA (WHNT) The Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Communications Commission are reminding airport travelers to be mindful of where they plug their phones in as well as what WiFi they are using while in an airport. The TSA took to social media to remind travelers that in this technology age, cybersecurity has never been more important. The FCC calls it juice jacking. Hackers can install malware at USB ports (weve been told thats called juice/port jacking). So, when youre at an airport, do not plug your phone directly into a USB port. Bring your TSA-compliant power brick or battery pack and plug in there, TSA said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Malware installed through a corrupted USB port can lock a device or export personal data and passwords directly to the perpetrator. Criminals can then use that information to access online accounts or sell it to other bad actors, the FCC said. Some FCC tips to avoid juice jacking include: Using AC power outlets can help you avoid any potential risks, so be sure to pack AC, car chargers, and your own USB cables with you when traveling. Carry an external battery. Consider carrying a charging-only cable, which prevents data from sending or receiving while charging, from a trusted supplier. If you plug your device into a USB port and a prompt appears asking you to select share data, or trust this computer, or charge only, always select charge only. In addition to this, never make online purchases while on free airport WiFi. Do not ever enter any sensitive info while using unsecure WiFi, the TSA said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. I live in a ghost town once the most lucrative silver mine in California. For the past five years, Ive spent nearly every day rebuilding Cerro Gordo, a long-abandoned boomtown perched high in the Inyo Mountains above Owens Valley. The buildings are collapsing. The roads wash out with every storm. Owens Lake, once full of water, is now a dry, desolate dust bowl. If anyone understands whats left behind after a gold rush ends, its me. Cerro Gordo is a historic 19th-century mining town in the Inyo Mountains. But the ghosts here arent just long-gone miners, theyre the consequences of short-term thinking. And now, were about to summon more of them. This time, it will be on public land that should belong to all of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bureau of Land Management recently released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement endorsing what amounts to the most permissive plan legally possible for a controversial mining project just eight miles from Death Valley National Park and three miles from my front door. The plan would allow K2 Gold, a Canadian mining company, to cut new roads and drill up to 30 sites across one of the last intact stretches of Californias high desert public land. Yours, mine and ours. And under an outdated federal law, it can be torn open, stripped bare and left behind, without a dime paid to the people who actually own it, all in preparation for what they hope will become an open-pit cyanide leach mine. Cerro Gordo is a historic 19th-century mining town in the Inyo Mountains. The BLM claims that this project supports Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3418 Unleashing American Energy, and helps meet the needs of American citizens. But that order is about unlocking domestic energy and critical minerals. Gold isnt one. The U.S. Geological Survey was tasked with identifying critical minerals, and of the 50 they listed in 2022, gold didnt make the cut. Its not needed for national security. Its not about American energy. And with profits flowing to foreign investors, its hard to see how it meets any real need of American citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The land in question Conglomerate Mesa isnt some empty tract of remote desert. Overlanders see it from Death Valley National Park. Millions of travelers driving Highway 395 through Lone Pine toward Mammoth Lakes or Yosemite see it from the road. Each year, 20,000 hikers on Mt. Whitney look out over this landscape which is currently filled with Joshua trees, ancient bristlecone pines and sacred Indigenous sites. But if this project succeeds, theyll look out on a growing open pit mine, slowly dismantling an entire mountain. Cerro Gordo is a historic 19th-century mining town in the Inyo Mountains. In 2021, an earlier version of this project was halted after overwhelming public opposition. More than 20,000 people submitted comments, and the BLM issued its most restrictive ruling. What changed? Not the land. Now, the project is being fast-tracked under a new federal directive Secretarial Order 3418 to promote domestic resource development. But theres nothing domestic about this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks to the General Mining Act of 1872, written in the days of pickaxes and prospectors, long before national parks, environmental laws or even statehood in much of the West, mining companies can stake claims and extract hardrock minerals from public lands royalty-free. The law originally applied to citizens, but under modern interpretation, that includes any company incorporated in the U.S. even if its ownership and profits lie abroad. Thats how foreign firms like K2 Gold, operating through U.S. subsidiaries, can mine our public lands without paying a cent in royalties. According to the Center for American Progress, nine of the 14 gold-producing companies operating in the U.S. are foreign-owned. The Government Accountability Office estimates that closing this royalty loophole could generate up to $800 million annually for the U.S. Treasury. Every other extractive industry oil, gas and coal pays for the resources it takes from public land. Mining doesnt. Its the only nonrenewable industry in the country that still gets a completely free ride. Meanwhile, communities like mine bear the cost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gold K2 is chasing wont benefit Inyo County. It wont fund schools, pave roads or create long-term jobs. It will flow to investors in Vancouver. And whats left behind scarred land, abandoned roads and a hurting economy will stay right here. Tourism not mining is the economic backbone of this region. Inyo County is home to Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the lower 48, and serves as a gateway to Death Valley National Park. Conglomerate Mesa sits between them, visible to hikers, travelers and overlanders who sustain local businesses. If this mine moves forward, that future disappears. Hikers and photographers wont return to roads lined with fences and machinery, and the businesses they once supported will vanish, too. Proponents say its just exploration, but thats like calling the first swings of an axe just pruning. Once roads are carved and drills begin, the damage is real and permanent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive seen what mining leaves behind because I live among its ruins. Mining may be part of Californias past, but it doesnt have to define its future, and the good news is that we can do something about it. Right now, the BLM is accepting public comments on its draft environmental review. In 2021, more than 20,000 people spoke out and it worked. The BLM issued the most restrictive ruling possible. That can happen once again, but it takes action. Brent Underwood is the owner and caretaker of Cerro Gordo, a historic 19th-century mining town in the Inyo Mountains. He has lived there full-time since 2020, working to preserve its history and shared his story in his book Ghost Town Living . MEXICO CITY (AP) A fire in a drug rehabilitation center in the violence-plagued Mexican state of Guanajuato killed 12 people and injured at least three others, authorities said Sunday. The fire broke out early Sunday in the town of San Jose Iturbe, where the municipal government said it was still investigating what caused the deadly blaze. We express our solidarity with the families of those who have been killed while they tried to overcome addictions, the municipal government said in a statement, adding that it will help to pay for the funeral expenses of those killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexican media outlets reported that the victims of the fire had been locked up inside the rehab center. Mexicos privately run drug rehabilitation centers are often abusive, clandestine, unregulated and underfunded. They have been the targets of similar attacks in the past. The industrial and agricultural state of Guanajuato has for years been the scene of a bloody turf battle between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and a local gang, the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel. Guanajuato has the highest number of homicides of any state in Mexico. Mexican drug gangs have killed suspected street-level dealers from rival gangs sheltering at rehab facilities in the past. In 2020, gunmen shot to death 27 people at rehab center in another city in Guanajuato, Irapuato. In 2010, 19 people were killed in an attack on a rehab center in Chihuahua, a city in northern Mexico. More than a dozen other attacks on such facilities occurred in the decade between those massacres. Three people have died in a fire at a hospital in the northern German city of Hamburg, officials said on Sunday. More than 50 people were injured, 16 of them seriously, a fire department spokesman told dpa. The fire broke out on the ground floor of the Marien Hospital overnight on Saturday before spreading to the first floor. The fire reportedly broke out in the hospital's geriatric ward, which specializes in the care of elderly patients. How the fire started was initially unclear as was the extent of the damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters rescued people through the windows, the spokesman said. Around 160 rescue workers were deployed to the fire. The flames had been extinguished and parts of the building evacuated, the spokesman said. According to its own information, the hospital is one of the largest denominational hospitals in northern Germany. It has about 600 beds and treats approximately 93,000 patients each year. DEGRAY LAKE, Ark. One of the largest inland fireboat training schools in the United States made its way back to Arkansas, and this year leaders are taking water safety to a new level. The Natural States lakes and rivers are something that people enjoy, but it can be dangerous with over 30 accidents reported in the last 42 years according to American Whitewater. Bill Barnes, Co Chairman of Arkansas Fireboat School says their program is focused on lowering those numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have thousands of boats that are trailered into this state every year, our guests our visitors that are on the lake, so were set up to respond to all those emergencies, Barnes said. New video shows multi-agency rescue at Arkansas River dam Firefighters and EMS crews trained to operate boats from different counties, and some from Texas and Missouri were all presented with 15 different water emergency scenarios. Water stream pump operations learning from simulated boat fires including how to save possible victims. Ron Crane, Arkansas Fire Boat School communications leader, took KARK 4 News on a boat to show how two scenarios would go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Little Rock woman speaks on continuing search for husband who went missing after boat capsized on Arkansas River One scenario emergency crew practiced putting out a possible fire on a burning boat. After Crane showed us another scenario. We have a medical scenario of flood victims that have been injured as a result of flood, Crane said. Whether its a lake, river or flooded area, all volunteers know how to respond and are now more prepared to save those that fall victim to the dangers of the water. They give up their time they do it all for free to save and serve the people of Arkansas, Barnes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) Cities around Texas are now hosting hundreds of new butterflies, thanks to the first-ever CASA Effect butterfly release. Casa Red River was one of many CASA locations participating in the release. At their location in downtown Wichita Falls, families of all ages played a part in the event, releasing over 300 butterflies. The release was meant to symbolize the butterfly effect, meaning any small act can positively impact the lives of any child currently involved with CASA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a successful first release, volunteer coordinator Casey Washington is hoping it can grow from this first year. This is just something that we wanted to give to the community, Washington said. Its also a way for us to raise donations and raise funds so we can go visit our kids and give our foster kids what they need. But as far as the community, this is something we wanted to do and promote our organization and raise awareness and provide something fun for the community to do. The butterfly release wasnt the only reason to come out for the afternoon either. There were hotdogs, bubble wands and plenty of chalk to draw with for any family. If you didnt make the butterfly release, but youre feeling inspired to help out with CASAs mission, they are always taking volunteers. 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. Jun. 1Fun festivities were in full swing at Five Below's newest storefront in Albuquerque last week. The retailer, based in Pennsylvania with more than 1,800 stores in 44 states, sells trendy products, primarily marketed toward preteens and teens, for between $1-5. It celebrated the grand opening of its new store at La Cueva Town Center on Friday and Saturday. There are seven stores across New Mexico, with three in Albuquerque, including the new storefront, according to the Five Below website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The opening is a part of the brand's nationwide expansion, a company spokesperson said. That includes the opening of approximately 150 new stores between July 2024 and June 2025, according to a March report from the chain. Five Below at 8102 Wyoming NE in La Cueva Town Center is open at 10 a.m. every day, closing at 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 p.m. on Sunday. (KRON) Black smoke and fire were seen emitting from the Chevron refinery in Richmond Saturday afternoon. Chevron issued a statement about the flaring shortly after 3 p.m., saying that its employees are actively working to stop the flaring. Neighbors: Chevron Richmond is experiencing visible flaring and our workforce is working quickly to minimize and stop the flaring, Chevron wrote on social media. A Community Warning System Level 1 notification has been issued to keep our community informed. There is no emergency response or community action required. The safety of our workforce, our communities and the environment are our highest priorities. Flaring seen coming from the Chevron refinery in Richmond on May 31, 2025. (Bay Area Air District) The Bay Area Air District wrote on social media that it is aware of the issue and documenting any possible air-quality violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Air District is closely monitoring flaring at Chevron in Richmond, the Bay Area Air District said in a statement Saturday. We are investigating, responding to complaints, and documenting any violations of air-quality regulations. The Bay Area Air District has issued an air quality advisory in response to the flaring due to possible localized smoke impacts downwind of the refinery. The advisory was issued for Contra Costa County, Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules, and Solano County. This is based on current meteorological conditions which can change depending on the duration of the flaring, the agency said. Smoke from flaring contains fine particulate matter and other harmful pollutants, according to the Bay Area Air District. Smoke car irritate the eyes and lungs, and cause coughing, sore throat and irritated sinuses. Elderly people and children with respiratory issues should take extra precautions to avoid poor air quality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Exposure to smoke is unhealthy, even for short periods of time, the Bay Area Air District said. It is important that Bay Area residents protect their health by avoiding exposure. If possible, and if temperatures allow, stay inside with windows and doors closed until smoke levels subside. Set car vent systems to re-circulate to prevent outside air from moving inside. The use of indoor air filtration can also help reduce smoke exposure. 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. Candidates for business school continue to highly value format flexibility, according to a new survey by CarringtonCrisp in association with EFMD As international MBA programs face shrinking interest, a new study shows that business masters degrees remain in high demand especially those offering flexibility, affordability, and mental health support. According to Tomorrows Masters 2025, a global survey by CarringtonCrisp in association with EFMD, 40% of respondents still want to study outside their home country. Meanwhile, 43% are interested in international education without leaving home whether through online delivery or transnational programs where schools operate overseas campuses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arrival of new and flexible delivery modes for masters degrees are opening up opportunities for those that may not want an MBA but do want to add key skills to help them in their work, says Andrew Crisp, author of the report and co-founder of CarringtonCrisp. WORKING PROFESSIONALS DRIVE DEMAND FOR FLEXIBILITY The study surveyed 2,654 individuals from 34 countries, with a mix of traditional and non-traditional candidates. Results indicate a growing number of post-experience applicants those with several years of work behind them entering the masters market, driven by career growth ambitions and new learning formats that accommodate professional life. Among post-experience candidates, 11% say they are actively applying to business masters programs, compared to 8% of pre-experience candidates. Cost remains a concern across the board, but post-experience applicants appear more financially prepared: 28% report they can pay tuition without external help, compared to just 16% of younger applicants. Still, more than a third of post-experience respondents cite affordability as a significant barrier. Crisp acknowledges that challenges exist, most notably affordability, with living costs and fees seen as a barrier to study by many. MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING BECOME KEY FACTORS One solution? Flexible, modular programs. Nearly one-third of respondents say they are very interested in low-cost masters offerings that provide skill updates over time. Similarly, 28% are drawn to micromasters or stackable qualifications earned just-in-time, while 22% are keen to complete their degrees across several years in a modular format. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These findings suggest business schools have a growing opportunity to cater to experienced professionals, but delivery models must adapt. For business schools, there is a growing opportunity to deliver business masters degrees to candidates with several years work experience, Crisp explains, but delivery may not be in the classroom, and even when it is, it might be on a satellite campus. Another emerging trend in student decision-making: mental health. Nearly one in five prospective students (18%) say their well-being is a priority when choosing where to study. Of those, 46% want support available from the moment they enter business school, while 35% would continue to seek help in the year following graduation. This signals a wider shift in how students view the educational experience not just as a career investment, but as a holistic personal journey. INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION STILL APPEALS BUT WITH A TWIST While the traditional study abroad model still appeals to many, the rise of transnational education and remote learning has opened new paths for global exposure. The report finds that many prospective students value international faculty, curriculum, and classmates but are willing to engage from home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This shift is particularly relevant for schools seeking to expand their global reach without depending solely on full-time residential programs. It also reflects the growing appeal of hybrid and digital-first formats developed during the pandemic. Those already working can advance their career by studying for a further degree with an international business school but do so remotely over an extended time period, says Crisp. Read the full report here. DONT MISS IN DRAMATIC ABOUT-FACE, MOST MBA CANDIDATES NO LONGER CRAVE ON-CAMPUS LEARNING and TRUMP EFFECT? STUDY FINDS GROWING STUDY-ABROAD RELUCTANCE AMONG INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS The post Flexibility, Mental Health & Global Reach: What Prospective Masters Students Want Most appeared first on Poets&Quants. Former Congressman David Jolly, whos been traveling the state laying the groundwork for a 2026 run for governor, plans to announce his decision in the coming days. I expect a decision this week, he said in a brief interview Saturday night at the Broward Democratic Partys annual fundraising dinner. Ill make a final decision and make it public this week. A Jolly candidacy for the Democratic nomination seems all but certain. Hes been holding town halls throughout Florida and meeting with grassroots activists, elected officials and people who can help with fundraising. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jolly said Broward, the county with the largest number of registered Democrats in the state, is essential to a statewide campaign. In many ways the governorship runs through Broward County. If we have (robust) turnout numbers among Broward Democrats but also among Black voters here in Broward and in South Florida, we win the governorship, Jolly said. And so I think what youre seeing here is a coalition emerging that realizes we can win statewide in 26, but weve got to do our work to turn voters out and to persuade voters who maybe havent been with us before to be with us. Jolly is from Pinellas County, but is familiar to many Democratic activists from his post-congressional time as a political commentator on MSNBC, a favorite cable news source for Democrats. He was a Republican for most of his life. While he was still a Republican member of Congress, he urged Donald Trump to drop out of his first presidential race in 2015, after Trump said Muslims should be banned from entering the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2018, Jolly left the Republican Party and became a no-party affiliation/independent voter. In April, he registered as a Democrat and Florida 2026, which can be used for raising and spending political money. The Florida 2026 website highlights a range of issues Jolly would highlight during a campaign, including the high cost of property insurance, inadequate public school funding, restoring reproductive freedom, which means abortion rights campaign finance and ethics reform, and reducing gun violence. Related Articles At the Democratic dinner, Jolly and his wife Laura sat at a table with Mitchell and Sharon Berger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mitchell Berger, a Fort Lauderdale lawyer who has decades of political experience as a major national fundraiser for Democratic presidential, gubernatorial and U.S. Senate candidates, was a close associate of former Vice President Al Gore, has previously said hed be fully committed to a Jolly candidacy. Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon. In early May, construction crews working in the parking garage of South Beach III Condominiums in Clearwater, Florida, spotted a "severalfootwide crack in a concrete support pillar. As CBS News reports, they immediately flagged the structural concern, eager to prevent another tragedy like the 2021 condo collapse in Surfside, Florida, which killed 98 people. Within two hours, firefighters were knocking on doors in the 12story tower, hustling roughly 60 residents onto the street with what they could carry. Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Basically for like two days [I'm] wearing the same clothes until things kind of calmed down, resident Scott May told FOX 13. A week later, engineers installed heavy shoring and declared the column stabilized. Most condo owners were allowed to return to their units but not those with condos stacked over the column. They were left in limbo. Even the homeowners who could return had to agree to restrictions: no construction or remodeling without written board approval, no deliveries over 75 pounds, and closed balconies above the damaged pillar. Its the latest example of how post-Surfside safety legislation is impacting condo residents.. The impact of Surfside: How one tragedy rewrote Florida laws When the Champlain Towers South condominium crumbled in Surfside in 2021, it exposed decadesold gaps in Floridas buildingsafety oversight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 4-D, also known as the milestone-inspection law. Key points include: Mandatory structural reviews : Every condo of three or more stories must undergo a milestone inspection by an architect or engineer 30 years after completion, or 25 years if it sits within three miles of the coastline, followed by reinspections every 10 years. No more reserve waivers: Associations must fully fund reserves for major repairs. Board members who skip or defer funding face personal liability. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan works every single time to kill debt, get rich in America and that anyone can do it The new rules have already shuttered several condo towers for several years. One highprofile case is Miami Beachs Castle Beach Club condominum in which the onsite spa (Russian & Turkish Baths) was forced to close for structural repairs in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spa finally reopened after a three-year shutdown that kept portions of the 570-unit building off-limits and saddled owners with steep special assessments. The U.S. Sun reports that the monthly dues tripled at Winter Park Woods near Orlando after the HOA board rushed to meet the new reserve rules under the law. One condo owners monthly HOA fees jumped from $634 to more than $2,100. Some longtime owners were pushed toward foreclosure or firesale listings. State officials like Rep. Vicki Lopez, who sponsored the bill, insist the cost is worth it. "We have strived to reach that delicate balance between the safety of our constituents that live in condominiums, as well as understanding the incredible financial impact that sometimes these particular bills that we pass have, she told WESH News. What to do if you're evacuated for structural issues While you cant anticipate being forced to evacuate your home for structural reasons, its good to have a grounding in the steps to take to make the disruption easier to navigate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what to do if you're forced to leave your home: Get documentation. Get, in writing, the official word on why the building is off limits and how long engineers expect repairs to take. Under Floridas condo law, the condo board must share safety findings with owners and tenants upon request. Call your insurance company. Next, contact your homeowners' insurance company. A standard condo policy often includes LossofUse (Additional Living Expense) coverage to reimburse your hotel bills, shortterm rentals and even the cost of boarding pets while your unit is uninhabitable. Make sure to save receipts for boarding, hotel, and food, as your insurance may require these for reimbursement. Talk to your lender. Unfortunately, being evacuated from your condo won't halt your mortgage payments. Contact your lender and inquire about a short-term forbearance or other options that may help you cover the costs of alternative accommodations while repairs are being made. Depending on its policies, you may be able to skip a few months of payments and tack them on to the end of the mortgage term. Look for government assistance. Look for programs at the city or county level as federal support may be limited. For example, programs like FEMA generally won't help, as grants require the federal government to declare a disaster and typically exclude defects discovered before a collapse or storm. Document, document, document. If possible, request limited access to your condo to photograph valuables and gather documents, then back up those photos to the cloud. Insurers and lenders may demand proof of condition later. Keep every email, notice, and receipt related to the disruption in one folder special assessments, hotel invoices, even Uber rides because you will need those when you file insurance claims, request fee waivers or seek tax relief. What to read next Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) A 12-year-old Florida girl was seriously hurt after an unlicensed driver hit her while she was riding a scooter, the Florida Highway Patrol said. NBC affiliate WBBH spoke to the girls grandmother, who told them that the girl, named Eden, remains unconscious and heavily sedated at St. Petersburg Hospital as of Friday night. Investigators said the crash happened along Easy Street in Port Charlotte just after 5 p.m. on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to FHP, the 12-year-old was riding her electric scooter when she entered the path of a minivan. Florida mother of dead 6-year-old was trying to exorcise demons: sheriff The driver, Arlin Salazar, was arrested after investigators said she did not have a valid license, which she had been cited for before. Troopers said a man, who was in the passenger seat, fled the scene and hasnt been identified. Neighbor Nicole Isgrig told WBBH that she was outside with her children when the road was suddenly blocked by emergency responders. We saw Edens scooter at the end of the road and knew something was wrong, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isgrig told the news station she wont let her kids out of her sight now. They can only ride where I can see them. WBBH reported that the 12-year-old suffered head trauma, internal bleeding, a broken collarbone, and a fractured lower back. She was wearing a helmet, which her family believes saved her life. FHP told WBBH that it has referred Salazars case to ICE for review. The 12-year-olds grandmother is asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has Ring camera footage to contact the Charlotte County Sheriffs 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 WFLA. Aniuas Sanchez has never had it easy. In fact, the 17-year-old Foothill High School junior is categorized as an "underserved student," yet one whose determination and hard work is about to take him places he might only have dreamed of going otherwise. On Thursday morning at the Foothill campus in east Bakersfield, the smiling young student was flanked by Simon Ratliff, president and CEO of Mercy Hospitals of Bakersfield and Ken Keller, president and CEO of Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two Dignity Health executives presented an oversized $2,500 check to Sanchez, even as the student is preparing to embark in early July on a life-changing journey to the nation of Botswana in southern Africa. "Aniuas perfectly exemplifies the type of student we aim to attract and support within our residency program partnership with the Morehouse School of Medicine," Keller said in a statement. "His commitment to providing culturally relevant care within local communities is truly commendable, and we are honored to support his dedication and future career in health care." This spring, Sanchez was awarded the prestigious Global Navigator Sponsorship, which supports underserved students interested in health care and public health. That's right. The young scholar hopes to one day become a physician assistant here in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanchez's sponsorship will cover a significant portion of the program tuition, but he still faced the challenge of raising remaining funds for tuition, expenses and airfare, Dignity Health said in a news release. "Demonstrating remarkable initiative, Anaius launched a GoFundMe page and even sold his grandmother's candied apples at school to help meet his goal," Dignity said in its release. The Foothill Alumni Association, known on campus as Trojan Nation, pitched in with a donation of $1,000 Sanchez needed for the rest of his program tuition, said association Vice President Mike Hernandez. To secure funding for his airfare, the determined Trojan reached out to Dignity Health with a compelling proposal, showcasing his dedication by sharing his story, his efforts and detailing his rigorous daily schedule and commute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robin Mangarin-Scott, market director - Central Valley for Dignity Health, said the 17-year-old starts traveling at 6:30 a.m. each morning, taking the bus across town, 40 minutes each way, to attend the health care academy at CTEC at Ridgeview High School before coming back to Foothill to complete his regular course load. "He did everything he could with the GoFundMe page," said Mangarin-Scott. "His grandmother made candied apples three different times, but he couldn't make that $2,500 mountain he needed to climb to get the airfare. "When Aniuas came to speak to the president at Memorial, he brought his transcripts. He put up a full-out push for why we should support him. And when he left, it was a no brainer." According to the website for the Council on International Educational Exchange, the U.S.-based nonprofit that organizes myriad High School Summer Abroad programs and the Global Navigator Sponsorships, a critical part of its overall mission is to "encourage and prepare students to connect and communicate across cultures and make a positive impact on society, both globally and locally." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sydney Peterson, Foothill's principal, said there are three other Foothill students who have been chosen to participate in similar Summer Abroad programs. "I grew up on the east side of town," she said. "I'm an East High School graduate, and coming back to Foothill as the principal, it reminds me of what the east side is all about. "It's good people, it's hard workers, and it's people who are truly invested in their future," Peterson said. "And that's what Aniuas and our other students who applied for this program really represent. It's the dedication and desire to be invested in something beyond just their junior year, or beyond just their senior year. They are looking to the future. They really are. And it's amazing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As he prepares for the trip to Botswana, a place he's never been to on a continent he's never visited, Sanchez is excited and hopeful. "Honestly, it's a personal kind of hope," he said. "Botswana is known as the Land of Freedom. So I'm hoping that it can just really touch my heart a little, and make me aware of other people's stories, as well as, like, the hardships they go through." On July 8, he will fly from Los Angeles to London to Botswana. He expects to return July 31 a changed person. The bravery and compassion of the strangers within your gates: Whose needs do we put first in this moment? Israels foreign home care came from different corners of the world to dedicate their time and energy to taking care of the Jewish states most vulnerable members. And when tragedy struck on October 7, these strangers among us found themselves in an impossible scenario: Whose needs do we put first in this moment? As Gaza border communities were ravaged, brutalized in an up-close-and-personal manner, foreign home care workers became front-line defense forces. Between sirens, gunshots, and allegations that terrorists had infiltrated the communities, home care practitioners from across the world shielded those they were dedicated to serving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On October 7, aides from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Thailand, Ukraine, and others moved their patients into bomb shelters while still taking the time to prioritize their daily needs. They made sure their patients were fed, had diapers changed, received their medication, and even acted as human shields for them. In Israel, the home healthcare sector has seen a remarkable increase in the reliance on foreign workers, particularly in the context of an aging population that requires additional support. These foreign workers have not only become an integral part of Israeli society but also, in many cases, like another member of the family for those they care for. On October 7, caregivers put the person they were dedicated to caring for as their main priority. In moments of strife, they acted on their feet and still put their jobs first. MONICA BIBOSO and her employer, Ester Rot, celebrate Rosh Hashanah in the dining room of Kibbutz Beeri in 2022 (photo credit: MONICA BIBOSO) When the October 6 celebrations began, they were filled with joy, music, and a shared sense of belonging. Yet for Camille Jesalva and Monica Biboso, two home care workers living in Gaza border communities alongside the women they cared for, the next mornings events turned into an unimaginable fight for survival. Their fight was not just for themselves but for the people they were brought to Israel to care for. Others, including Paul Vincent Castelvi, were killed while protecting those they came to serve, leaving behind loved ones at the most crucial times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a panel hosted by Israeli NGO Hotline for Refugees and Migrants, survivors shared their firsthand experiences, while those missing their deceased loved ones paid tribute to the crowd. Divine intervention Camille Jesalva, 32, was initially supposed to be flying back to visit her family in the Philippines for the first time in years, just days before October 7. It was a long-overdue break, especially as she was aching to reunite with her young son. Her long-awaited return had been delayed repeatedly by the COVID-19 pandemic, but this time, it was finally happening. Still, Jesalva decided to stay just a little longer. She postponed her flight to celebrate the holiday of Simchat Torah with her community in Kibbutz Nirim a choice that would ultimately save lives, including her own. Any good feelings from the night before quickly vanished. Before 6:30 a.m., red alert sirens began to sound. At first, Jesalva thought it was routine. But when the explosions continued for over half an hour, she knew something was deeply wrong. I heard Arabic voices outside the window. I said, Oh my God, they are here. Thats when I knew they werent the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jesalva and the 95-year-old woman she cared for, Nitza Hefetz, sheltered inside their home. Despite the growing danger, Jesalvas first thought was Hefetzs well-being. She is my reason for being here, she said. As a caregiver, we do everything for them. She was hungry, she needed her medicine. So I ran through the glass doors like I was playing with Hamas, just to help her. As bullets flew and Hamas terrorists stormed the kibbutz, Jesalva focused on keeping Hefetz calm. I was scared of the fire but not yet scared of the people I still didnt understand. When the terrorists entered their home, Jesalva took a desperate risk she approached them directly, hands raised, and offered her belongings. I said to the Hamas, Shalom adoni, adoni [sir] because I wanted him to be calm with my hands up. I begged for our lives. I told him, Take everything my wallet, my money but not my ticket. I want to go home. My son is waiting for me. I looked him in the eyes and said, Please. I wasnt trying to be brave. I just knew I needed to survive for Nitza, and for my son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miraculously, the terrorists left without harming them. Though relieved, Jesalva felt a pang of guilt, unsure if her actions had put Hefetz in greater danger. When the Hamas left, I jumped to Nitza and cried for two-and-a-half hours. That was the first time I felt so weak like a candle falling to the ground. But Hefetz, whom Jesalva had protected throughout the attack, returned the favor. She hugged me. She calmed me. Shes my hero, Jesalva said. I came to take care of her, and she ended up taking care of me. They remained trapped for over seven hours before the military arrived. Even then, Jesalva feared it might be another deception. Once she realized help had truly come, she and Hefetz began their escape crawling through mud and dodging gunfire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We escaped under fire. I injured my foot catching Nitza so she wouldnt fall. We fell in the mud. It was like a roller coaster, she recalled. Reflecting on the ordeal, Jesalva credits her survival to faith, resilience, and the unwavering sense of duty she felt as a caregiver. I kissed my sons photo and said to God, If its my time, take me. But somehow, Im still here, she said. I came here for my son, and for Nitza. I dont need to die I need to live. Risking it all to protect her patient in Kfar Aza Just days after her husband had flown back to the Philippines to join their two children, terror struck for Monica Biboso, a caregiver who stayed laser-focused on helping her patient in a crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When explosions woke Biboso before 6:30 a.m. on October 7, she immediately sensed something was terribly wrong. The gunfire that followed wasnt distant it was right outside her window in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Still, her first instinct wasnt to flee. It was to care for Esther Rot, an 81-year-old woman with dementia whom she looked after. Biboso, 36, a caregiver from the Philippines, had been trained to prioritize her own survival in emergencies. They always told us, save yourself first, she said. But I went to Esther. She changed Esthers diaper, got her out of her pajamas, administered her medication including sleeping pills and blended food, and moved her into the mamad, the reinforced safe room. I thought to myself, its not good. But I didnt think twice. I had to take care of her. As gunfire and explosions intensified, Biboso did what she could to remain composed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the time, Im holding the door, she said. They tried to open it again and again. I dont know how I was that strong, but they couldnt open it. I put all my power, all my strength. When the Hamas terrorists couldnt break down the door, they deployed chemical smoke. It was a very bad smell like burned rubber or plastic. I couldnt breathe, she said. I told myself, Its better to die here than for them to catch me. Esther was barely conscious, unable to speak more than a word or two. As smoke filled the room, Biboso stayed focused on keeping her alive. She improvised a gas mask from her T-shirt, tying it around her face. She surrounded Esther with pillows and blankets, hoping to preserve a small pocket of breathable air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her whole body was red, she said. I even used her pants to fan away the smoke. It wasnt enough. At one point, she thought Esther had stopped breathing. I shook her and said, Esther, Bucha, shake. But she was so quiet. She didnt move. Biboso, now physically weakened and soaked in sweat, began losing her grip on the door. I peed on myself from fear. Twice, she recalled. I didnt even feel it. I thought it was my last breath already. Without Internet, electricity, or hope, Biboso placed her phone under Esthers bed and waited. Friends and Esthers family had been trying to reach her, and when connection briefly returned, she got a call from a soldier who was a friend of one of Esthers daughters. He told her it might be safe to leave that the IDF was close. I trusted him, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biboso opened the window and jumped outside, hiding under a maple tree beside the house. I asked him where I should run right or left but he didnt know. I decided to go right. What she saw next would haunt her. Bodies lying on the floor. Burned cars. I couldnt go. I dropped my phone next to a dead body. I picked it up and ran back. Too shaken to continue, she returned to the safe room. After more than seven hours of hiding, the IDF finally reached them. Esther had to be rushed to the hospital due to smoke inhalation. Biboso, though conscious, was severely dehydrated and emotionally devastated. While we were driving, I saw bodies, burned cars, everything, she said. Thats why I have nightmares all the time. Despite everything, Biboso never left Esthers side. Everyone thought we were dead, she said. I thought no one would save us just God. So I prayed. I prayed a lot. In the face of terror, Biboso held the line both literally and emotionally choosing courage over flight, and care over fear. I dont know how I did it, she said. But I did. For Esther. God will never leave us alone Filipino caregiver Paul Vincent Castelvi was killed on October 7 his son was born weeks later. On the night of October 6, Castelvi, 42, was full of pride. He had just assembled a crib and stroller in anticipation of his baby boys arrival. Smiling, he sent a selfie to his wife, Jovelle Bell Santiago, back in the Philippines. He was so proud and happy that he already built it and it was ready for our sons arrival, she recalled. The Kipnis family, for whom hed worked as a caregiver and extended family member, had gifted him a ticket back to the Philippines for Christmas of that year, according to a Thai news outlet citing Pauls father, Lourdines. Little could anyone have known, the events of the following morning would drastically change those plans. The next morning, October 7, sirens blared across Israel as Hamas terrorists launched an unprecedented assault on Israeli communities near Gaza. Castelvi, a caregiver working in Kibbutz Beeri, messaged Jovelle to say he was already in the bomb shelter with the couple he worked for, Eviatar and Lilach Kipnis. Eviatar was badly injured in a bike accident nearly a decade prior and had developed an autoimmune disease, leaving him in a wheelchair. He urged her to stay calm: Try and relax and not to worry God will never leave us alone. At 9:30 a.m., Castelvi sent what would be his final message. Hours passed with no reply to his wifes repeated calls and texts. I thought there was no signal in the bomb shelter, she said. But time passed, and it was already afternoon and he didnt reply. Castelvi, along with Eviatar and Lilach, was murdered that morning in the terror attack. Castelvi was declared dead, and his body was recovered in the nearby Beeri Forest. Eviatar was found dead on October 17, and Lilach was found dead on October 23. A month later, Jovelle gave birth to their son a child Castelvi never got to meet bearing the name of his father in his memory. Now a widow and single mother, Jovelle continues to speak about her husband with love and quiet strength. Im still hoping this is just a dream, a nightmare that Im living alone now, without my husband, she said. A widow, and left with our son a son that Paul was never given a chance to meet. She described Castelvi as a gentle, selfless man. Paul, my husband, was a very good man a good provider for the family, a good son, and a good husband. Castelvi was also the familys primary breadwinner, according to his parents. He sent much of his income back home to support his parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews financially. Though overwhelmed by grief, Jovelle is determined to raise their child in his fathers image. For our son, little Paul, I will be strong and brave to raise him. Jovelle also remembered Castelvis employers, Eviatar and Lilach, who had embraced the young couple as family. They were great people, she said. They were excited to meet our son, and that I would come to Beeri for my maternity leave. They made us both Paul and me their own family. Her tribute ended with a final farewell to her husband: To Paul, my love, you are always in my heart until we meet again. My greatest love, you. Their names may never appear in history books or on national memorials, but the stories of Camille Jesalva, Monica Biboso, Paul Vincent Castelvi, and so many others are etched in the collective heart of a nation. These caregivers did more than fulfill a job description they risked everything to uphold their promise to protect and serve the vulnerable. On October 7, when faced with terror, they responded with love. In a moment where many would have run, they stayed. They acted not as bystanders but as lifelines. Their bravery is a reminder that in the darkest of times, humanity is defined not by fear but by compassion, duty, and an unbreakable sense of purpose. Its almost June 2025 and Hunter Bidens scandal is back in the news, thanks in large part to CNNs Jake Tapper and his book Original Sin and former Obama aide Johanna Maska isnt having it. At least thats what Maska told fellow panelists in Fridays episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored. The Biden story isnt new to anyone, she said, and Hunter was corrupt! All of us knew! Hunter was corrupt. Instead of regurgitating a story that dominated news cycles throughout 2023 and 2024, she continued, Tapper should have focused on the Trump administration. I also want us talking about issues that are not some made-up Jake Tapper scandal, Maska told Chuck Todd. I mean, Chuck, we traveled around the world with Jake Tapper and you, and I know that you guys care a lot about the story, but you also care about access. And Jake Tapper has done this multiple times where he has done whatever he can to get access. So now hes kissing up to the right-wing media because he wants access in the Trump White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While agreed that focusing on corruption in politics is important, Maska insisted Tapper just missed the mark. We are missing all of the stories that actually affect people, she explained. Corruption, absolutely cover it, but also the 1,000 plus page bill that the House Republicans just passed, that will actually affect people in Galesburg, Illinois. And thats whats going to matter this next election. My point is, Chuck, we had an election and we lost. In an interview with Bill Maher Friday night Tapper admitted he believes Dr. Jill Biden, President Biden, and Hunter Biden share the blame for the administrations downfall and the presidents alleged mental decline. He had moments where he was non-functioning but he understood what was going on. We saw him earlier today: He can speak and talk. If he was here right now, he could talk for 10 to 15 minutes, hed be fine, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch the episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored in the video above. The post Former Obama Aide Slams Jake Tapper for Resurrecting Hunter Biden Scandal: All Of Us Knew | Video appeared first on TheWrap. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) A former member of the Pagan's Motorcycle Club pleaded guilty on Friday, May 30 for his involvement in the armed theft of a firearm from a member of a rival motorcycle club. Michael R. Browell, also known as Dirtbag, 35, of Savannah, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting in the possession of a stolen firearm. A member of the Border Saints Motorcycle Gang was chased down and confronted by Pagans Saint Joseph Chapter President Jeremiah Z. Hahn, also known as Pass Out, and former Pagans St. Joseph Chapter Sergeant at Arms, Browell, in St. Joseph, Mo., on April 25, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Border Saints member had previously been requested by Hahn and other Pagans members to set up a meeting with the Outlaws Motorcycle Gang over their possible presence in the St. Joseph area. The Border Saints were a support club for the Outlaws and the victim was deemed responsible by the Pagans for arranging the meeting. After the victim said he had failed to do so, Hahn and Browell told the victim to remove his Outlaws support shirt. The victim refused, and Browell, then, got an axe handle from his motorcycle and threatened the victim with it. As the victim was giving up his support shirt, Hahn took the victims firearm from him. The firearm was a Smith & Wesson, model M&P Shield, .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hahn and Browell left with the firearm and support shirt. Hahn was later found in possession of the firearm when arrested by the Missouri State Highway Patrol on May 3, 2023. Hahn pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of the firearm, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering and one count of attempting to commit assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering. Browell is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in prison without parole, under federal statutes. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office, This case is being prosecuted by the Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley K. Kavanaugh and Robert Smith. It was investigated by the FBI, the Independence, Mo. Police Department, the Blue Springs, Mo. Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department. SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) Four people, including two minors, have been arrested in connection with a shooting which left one person dead last month. On May 17, officers from the Spartanburg Police Department were called to Logan Street. Officers said when they arrived on scene, they found a man, identified as Daniela Tucker, who was shot several times. Tucker died at the hospital. Police said they learned four people were seen speaking with Tucker prior to the shooting and were later spotted running from the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, authorities announced a break in the case. Because we knew there were four people involved in the investigation, along with our partnership with other agencies and receiving information from citizen in the community, we were able to locate and make an arrest of the four individuals, Major Art Littlejohn, with the Spartanburg Police said. Jamil Bishop, Jyquan Brown, Charles Bishop and an unidentified minor have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with Tuckers death. Brown, 17, is a minor but has been charged as an adult. In this case Im not sure it meant to go this way, but the way it went did not turn out good for our victim and now its not going to turn out good for the people who are arrested, said Littlejohn. So we have two families now whos lives will change forever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previous story: Man dead after shooting in Spartanburg Spartanburg Police Department said the arrests were part of a multi-agency effort including Spartanburg police, Williamsburg County Sheriffs Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and Fayetteville County Sheriffs Office. Jamil Bishop and Brown are currently being held in the Spartanburg County Detention Center. Charles Bishop is being held in the Fayetteville County Detention Center and the unidentified minor is being held at the Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia. 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. Four people were killed in three shootings within 17 hours in Milwaukee this weekend, part of a continued uptick in gun violence that has prompted concern from city officials and violence prevention groups. Milwaukee police are investigating the following shootings that happened May 31. An 18-year-old sustained fatal gunshot wounds after a shooting around 5 a.m. on the 4600 block of North 41st Street. A 29-year-old and 48-year-old sustained fatal gunshot wounds after a double shooting around 6:08 p.m. on the 3100 block of North 2nd Street. A 49-year-old sustained a fatal gunshot wound after a shooting around 10:05 p.m. on the 8800 block of North 95th Street. A 61-year-old was arrested and charges are pending review by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police are seeking unknown suspects in the first two shootings. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-Tips or P3 Tips. Gun violence is spiking as the weather turns warmer. Data from mid-May showed homicides had outpaced 2024 numbers, despite a promising start to the year for violent crime. More: Gun violence rises in Milwaukee in last month: 'How do we get in front of it?' Milwaukee police started Operation Summer Guardian on May 15 for the fourth year, a program that uses data from things like ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection technology, to put an increased police presence in 30 neighborhoods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Clarey of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report. This story has been updated to add video. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Four people killed in shootings within 17 hours in Milwaukee Saturday This story was originally published on BioPharma Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily BioPharma Dive newsletter. CHICAGO Funding cancer research isn't usually a political flashpoint. But as the Trump administration signals its desire to drastically cut the budget of the National Cancer Institute, the American Society of Clinical Oncology is finding itself forced to defend what is usually a bipartisan policy. "If implemented, these cuts would be devastating to the pace and progress of cancer research in America," ASCO CEO Clifford Hudis said in a Friday statement. ASCO maintains that federally funded cancer research is the single best investment our country has ever made." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ASCO's annual meeting this year provides a convincing example. A large study funded by the NCI found that adding the immunotherapy Tecentriq to a common chemotherapy regimen can halve the risk of disease recurrence or death in patients with a certain form of colon cancer. These data, said one of the researchers involved, will change clinical practice. But they may not have been as easily obtained without the help of the NCI, said Joel Saltzman, vice chair of regional oncology at the Cleveland Clinics Taussig Cancer Center, in a press conference held for reporters. This was a study that took five years to accrue patients to. It was open at 300 sites, he said. A study like this would just not have been feasible without the federal funding from the National Cancer Institute. Ned Pagliarulo A $1 billion dollar poster On Saturday, doctors and biotechnology executives got a closer look at Pfizers latest billion-dollar acquisition, a bispecific antibody from Chinas 3SBio, code-named SSGJ-707, that blocks the proteins PD-1 and VEGF. 3SBio, which dealt Pfizer rights to SSGJ-707 for $1.25 billion upfront, presented mid-stage study data in a poster session that hinted at the drugs promise in non-small cell lung cancer. The Phase 2 study involved previously untreated people whose tumors express the protein PD-L1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Treatment shrank tumors in about two-thirds of participants given a dose of 10 milligrams infused every three weeks, with lower response rates at doses of 5, 20 and 30 milligrams. Nearly all patients experienced side effects, notably liver enzyme elevations and increased cholesterol. More than half on the 20 and 30 milligram doses had side effects judged to be severe or medically significant, while on lower doses only about 1 in 4 did. Researchers, led by Lin Wu of Hunan Cancer Hospital in China, wrote that the data support further evaluation of the 10 milligram dose. Four trials are listed as underway at clinicaltrials.gov, with a fifth planned. The 3SBio data came a day after Summit Pharmaceuticals and Akeso released Phase 3 data from their PD-1/VEGF combination treatment, now one of the most closely watched drugs in all of oncology. Jonathan Gardner AstraZenecas ad blitz Walk around Chicago this weekend and youre likely to see an ad for AstraZenecas cancer research, often emblazoned on the sides of bus stops. Take an Uber to McCormick Place, the convention center that houses ASCO for five days, and you might be reminded by an ad on the app that its been 10 years since the initial approval of Tagrisso, which now ranks among the top 20 most lucrative pharmaceutical products by annual sales. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All pharma companies advertise at ASCO, of course, but AstraZeneca has a lot to talk about this year. For the seventh year in a row, the maker of Tagrisso, Imfinzi and Enhertu has trial data highlighted in the ASCO plenary session an occasion AstraZeneca executives are marking with a pin that weaves the number 7 between the A and Z of their companys logo. A signboard on the side of a bus stop displays an AstraZeneca advertisement. Data from one such highlighted study indicate that an AstraZeneca drug called camizestrant could be swapped in for so-called aromatase inhibitors as part of an initial treatment regimen for the most common form of advanced breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitors, one AstraZeneca bus stop ad reminds possibly confused Chicagoans, were state of the art in the 1990s. Then again, so were videotapes, it adds. Camizestrant is not yet approved, but AstraZeneca expects it will eventually become a major product. Its importance is reflected in its name: the cam root is a nod to the British drugmakers Cambridge laboratories, where camizestrant originated. Ned Pagliarulo An unexpected gene therapy spotlight Haydar Frangoul, a pediatric hematologist and oncologist, is used to presenting at medical meetings. But ASCO isnt the usual forum for Frangoul, who played a major role in testing the CRISPR gene editing treatment Casgevy for sickle cell disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was shocked they wanted to hear about sickle cell at ASCO, Frangoul said Saturday, opening a joint session on gene therapy held by ASCO and the American Association of Cancer Research. Frangoul walked the assembled cancer doctors and researchers through the study that supported Casgevys U.S. approval in December 2023. Jimi Olaghere, a patient in that study, described his life before treatment, and how Casgevy has changed it. Their reflections spotlighted what gene therapy can accomplish, even as the field falters amid waning investor interest, dried-up funding and persistent safety concerns. Its an important reminder even in oncology, which is perhaps not as often associated with gene therapy as rare diseases like sickle cell. Kymriah, a CAR-T cell treatment for leukemia, was the first therapy based on gene transfer technology to be cleared by the FDA. Five other CAR-Ts have been approved since, as have several other T cell-based medicines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More are likely coming, too. The session closed with a presentation from Katy Revzani, head of the MD Anderson Cancer Centers cell therapy institute, about her hospitals research exploring NK cell therapy, which she said could be safer and easier to produce off of the shelf. Ned Pagliarulo Recommended Reading A small Georgia city mayor and his wife were arrested after they were accused of crimes against children, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Saturday, the Decatur County Sheriffs Office requested the GBI to investigate allegations against 38-year-old Joseph Kelly, of Climax, Ga. According to the GBI, Kelly was accused of having sexual contact with multiple minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joseph and his wife, Natalie Kelly, were arrested later that day by the GBI and the DCSO. TRENDING STORIES: Joseph is the mayor of Climax and is employed by the Decatur County School District, officials said. At this time, there are no indications that the alleged acts are related to his job, the GBI said. Joseph Kelly is charged with two counts of child molestation, and Natalie Kelly is charged with two counts of cruelty to children in the second degree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair was booked into the Decatur County Jail. Decatur County Schools released the following statement to Channel 2 Action News: Decatur County Schools places great value on our partnership with all local law enforcement agencies. At this time, we cannot comment on any ongoing investigation associated with DCS personnel. As a school system, we will take appropriate and immediate action in response to the investigation. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] GALESBURG, Ill. (WMBD) A federal agency has awarded the city of Galesburg more than $1.2 million to address environmental impacts. The money comes from the Environmental Protection Agency in the form of two grants, the Assessment Grant worth $500,000 and the Cleanup Grant worth more than $713,000, Steve Gugliotta, the citys director of community development, said. These funds will help address the environmental impacts of historically contaminated properties, paving the way for community revitalization and economic development. The city has been notified of the awards and is now working to submit all required documentation, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two grants will be used for a few different projects, with the bulk of the cleanup grant going to remediate the old Knox Laundry site, he said. The facility, which used to sit at 57 North Kellogg Street and 332 East Ferris Street, opened in 1898 as a retail laundry store which was expanded into a multi-story dry-cleaning facility, he said. Between 2006 and 2007, the court ordered the demolition of the building after it had been vacated and condemned because of its deteriorating condition. Terminating the business operations and removing former structures has stopped the potential for any continuing releases of contamination into our environment, he said. But until the site is fully remediated, the potential for redevelopment is very limited. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The money will help the city address remaining contamination, more specifically areas where soil has been impacted above saturation limits, Gugliotta said. The Assessment Grant will be used to evaluate two different sites that have been labeled as a brownfield. A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant, the EPAs website said. The first of these two brownfields is the former Broadview Hotel located at 29 Public Square, which throughout its time was home to many businesses, including a filling station which dates back to 1927, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second was the former Tuckers Printing Company, located on North Cherry Street, which was recently demolished after it had a second fire in 2024, he said. The site has housed industrial buildings in the past that Gugliotta says have led to environmental concerns. With any money from these grants, they may have left over sites that will be selected by a Brownfields Inventory, which was put together in 2023 by Kansas State Universitys Technical Assistance to Brownfield program, as well as consultants at Terracon, he said. He said they are anticipating the project to run from Oct. 1, 2025, until Sept. 30, 2029, although that is just an estimate, and the projects may not take that much time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are honored by the EPAs selection and grateful for their support in helping us turn these underutilized properties into assets for the community, Gugliotta said. These grants will help improve environmental safety, promote redevelopment, and attract future investment to our city. 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. Lawyers for Robert Morris, the former lead pastor of Southlakes Gateway Church, have asked a Tarrant County court to compel the church to arbitrate a dispute over his retirement pay, according to court records. Morris attorneys argue that Gateway leaders were aware of Morris highly inappropriate relationship with Cindy Clemishire, who was 12 years old when Morris allegedly began sexually abusing her in the 1980s, according to court documents the lawyers filed on Friday. Gateway Church, Morris lawyers claim, is using the Clemishire case to avoid honoring financial commitments it made to the former pastor. While Morris is certainly deserving of the victims punches, Morris is tired of being the punching bag of Gateways current leadership as it tries to play its game of blame-shifting, Morris attorney Bill Mateja told the Star-Telegram in a statement. Our filings demonstrate that Morris was fully transparent with Gateways leadership full stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Included in the May 30 filing are pages of emails and documents that Morris lawyers say demonstrate that elders and other officials at the North Texas megachurch knew about the sexual abuse allegations for at least 17 years before Morris was forced to resign in 2024. The documents include a 2007 letter from Gateway executive senior pastor Tom Lane. We discussed the past events involving Robert and Cindy Clemishire, Lane wrote in the letter to the churchs elders. Robert retold his account of the things that took place leading up to 1987 and the process of repentance and restoration he walked through from 1987-1989. Gateway Church was founded in 2000 with Morris as its lead pastor. Four of Gateways elders were removed last fall after an investigation revealed they had some information or knowledge of Morris conduct prior to its public disclosure, the Star-Telegram previously reported. More top stories from our newsroom: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is Texas banning all THC products? 900 tips led to arrests in fatal Grapevine Lake crash 3-alarm fire damages Fort Worth mansion [Get our breaking news alerts.] Morris counter-suit to force arbitration comes weeks after the church rejected his demands for millions of dollars in retirement pay following his resignation, the Star-Telegram previously reported. Morris had asked for an initial payment of $1 million and an annual retirement package of $600,000 to $800,000 for the rest of his and his wifes lives, plus other benefits. In the churchs petition to the court about two weeks ago, lawyers for Gateway argued that any dispute related to Morris contract had to go through mediation first. According to the church, Morriss agreements with Gateway preclude him from future retirement benefits if he resigns or is terminated due to certain immoral or criminal conduct, which Gateways elders believe would include the charges against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the response filed Friday, lawyers for Morris argue Gateway Church failed to honor its promises made in Morris benefit plan and employment agreement. His lawyers also argue that Gateway mischaracterized Morris as combative and unwilling to reconcile. Morris lawyers also say that he has always been ready to mediate the case, but that Gateway failed to provide him with the proposed mediators, according to the response. Morris resigned from Gateway Church nearly a year ago after he made a statement acknowledging the abuse of Clemishire, the Star-Telegram previously reported. Since then, Morris has been criminally indicted on related child sexual abuse charges in Oklahoma, where Clemishire and her family lived at the time. In April, Morris filed a demand for arbitration of the financial dispute with the Institute for Christian Conciliation, which bills itself on its website as a provider of court-approved Christian arbitration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawyers for Gateway argued that the church should not be compelled to arbitrate before the ICC because the entity that previously owned it has ceased to exist, according to court documents. Because the ICC itself still exists, the court should compel Gateway to arbitrate, Morris lawyers argue in the filing. Morris also motioned for Gateway attorney David Middlebrook to be removed from the case. Middlebrook previously represented Morris in matters related to the abuse allegations, which should disqualify him from the case under a Texas conflict-of-interest rule, Morris lawyers said. Middlebrook has not yet filed a response to the motion. Officials with Gateway Church could not immediately be reached for comment Saturday. This Week with George Stephanopoulos opened Sunday with a scathing accusation of corruption by Donald Trump and his family just six months after ABC agreed to a $16 million payment to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by the president for the anchors comments about E. Jean Carroll. Stephanopoulos cracked the seal on This Week connecting the dots between Trumps pardons and presidential fundraisers, suggesting Trump and his family were making millions through various pay-to-play schemes. The scale is staggering, Stephanopoulos said. Donald Trump and his family are making hundreds of millions, potentially billions of dollars, as Trump and his administration are taking official actions that benefit contributors and investors. Just this week, we learned of pardons to tax cheats, including a man whose mother was pardoned just weeks after she attended a million-dollar-a-head fundraiser for the president, the Trump media and technology group, raising $2.5 billion dollars from 50 institutional investors whose identities have not been disclosed. George Stephanopoulos opened @ThisWeekABC in high-dungeon over presidential corruption: This unprecedented money making by a sitting President and his family summarized by critics like @TheAtlantics David Frum: Nothing like this has been attempted or even imagined in the pic.twitter.com/XAkW8xGyA7 Brent Baker (@BrentHBaker) June 1, 2025 Stephanopoulos also noted that the SEC had dropped a lawsuit against the cryptocurrency firm Binance, days after the company listed a currency from World Liberty Financial, which was started by Trumps family. The anchor also cited a report in the Atlantic by David Frum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nothing like this has been attempted or even imagined in the history of the American presidency, he writes, Stephanopoulos said. Throw away the history books, discard feeble comparisons to scandals of the past The brazenness resembles nothing seen in any earlier White House. This is American corruption on the scale of a post-Soviet republic or a post-colonial African dictatorship. Thats where we begin this week. ABC News and Stephanopoulos agreed to a $16 million settlement with Donald Trump in December to resolve a defamation lawsuit stemming from a March 2024 interview in which the anchor incorrectly stated that Trump had been found liable for rape in the civil case brought by Carroll. A New York jury had found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation, but not rape, due to the specific legal definitions under state law. The case had been progressing toward depositions for both Trump and Stephanopoulos before the agreement was reached, and was considered a significant legal victory for Trump. The post George Stephanopoulos, Unfazed by $16 Million ABC Settlement, Accuses Trump of Corruption: Scale Is Staggering | Video appeared first on TheWrap. On May 27, Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tricia Pridemore, left questioned the analysis of PSC staff witnesses who argued that Georgia Power should lower its data center growth forecasts in its 2025 long term plan. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Power The states largest electric utility says it needs to significantly increase its energy capacity to accommodate a potential wave of data centers. Georgia Power plans to turn to some renewable energy to generate that electricity, but for the most part, the utility intends to lean on fossil fuel sources like gas-fired power plants to boost capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those controversial plans, packed into whats called an integrated resource plan, received a public airing during three days of public hearings. Several clean energy advocacy groups and state regulator staffers urged members of the Georgia Public Service Commission to reject the plan. Commissioners are set to vote on the proposal in July. Data centers fuel growth forecasts Georgia Power projects that over the next several years the growth of data centers will significantly increase the states electricity consumption, and the company is requesting to add about 9,000 megawatts of capacity by 2031. According to the utilitys forecasts, data centers will consume about 80% of the new power generated. But some have questioned the accuracy of those projections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PSC staff expert witnesses said this week they are concerned Georgia Power is using incorrect model forecasts. They also say the utility has not provided evidence showing that data centers are likely to materialize at a higher rate than other industries. Georgia Power attorneys say the companys forecast continues to grow based on the states economic projections for commercial and industrial customers. PSC staff questioned the models used by the company that led to forecasting as much as 13,000 megawatts of peak load growth through 2044. The staff is recommending Georgia Power decrease its load growth projections for data centers by as much as 25%. Our recommendation is to adjust down Georgia Powers load forecast, said Robert Trokey, director of the Public Service Commissions electric unit. I think its important that they continue to file the data that they have been filing in quarterly reports. If we see trends continue over the short term as the projects roll out, then certainly Georgia Power should adjust its forecast methodologies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocacy groups have argued that overbuilding the infrastructure could shift the cost burden to ratepayers. Public Service Commissioner Tricia Pridemore pushed back on the criticism, pointing to a recent rule change that requires data centers and other large companies consuming more than 100 megawatts of energy to cover their full electricity costs. The change included a provision allowing Georgia Power to require companies to put up front-end collateral for energy costs over the lifetime of the contract. State regulators would also review any contract for high-energy users. Clean energy versus fossil fuels Georgia Power has come under fire for reversing plans to shutter a pair of coal plants, Bowen and Scherer. The company instead is asking that state regulators sign off on extending the life of the two plants and allow the company to ramp up its fossil fuel energy capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The utility had planned to retire Bowen and Scherer by 2028. Since then, Georgia Power has cited the projected industrial growth boom primarily driven by massive data centers as a reason it is now planning to retire Bowen by 2035 and Scherer Unit 3 by 2038. Energy experts and clean energy advocates expressed concerns about the companys potential overestimation of electricity demand and the underestimation of gas-fired unit costs, which could lead to higher rates. They recommended increasing planning flexibility, updating load forecasts, and exploring earlier deployment of renewables and energy storage. Their analysis compared different scenarios, showing that renewables and energy storage are more economical under various future conditions. Critics of the plan advised the commission to require Georgia Power to present additional research portfolios and improve forecast accuracy. The company was also urged to further increase its investments in renewable energies like solar. Energy consultant Maria Roumpani delivers testimony May 28 on behalf of the Georgia Conservation Voters warning state regulators about Georgia Powers data center energy overestimations. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder Energy consultant Maria Roumpani, who testified on behalf of the Georgia Conservation Voters, said that renewable energy and storage are much more economically viable than the expansion of gas-fired power plants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The analysis should focus on enabling earlier years of deployment for wind and energy storage, especially medium and low duration, as well as higher limits for solar, she said. Public, protestors weigh in Clean energy and consumer advocates held a rally outside the PSCs downtown offices while the hearing was underway Tuesday, warning of the potential consequences if the commission rubber-stamps Georgia Powers long-term energy plans. The five-member utility regulator is set to vote July 15. Hundreds of written comments poured into the PSC, many of them dominated by concerns about rising utility bills and health risks tied to fossil fuels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the three days of hearings began with public comments expressing split reactions to Georgia Power and its energy plans. The long-term energy generation plan is receiving support from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and local chamber officials such as Timothy Craig, director of business development of Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce. PSC Protesters. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder Craig told commissioners that he felt the companys energy plan provides the necessary infrastructure to continue providing reliable electricity to businesses. One of the first questions small business owners want to ask is: can I count on the systems that support my business? Craig said this week. Energy is at the top of that list. Whether its a local bakery or high tech firm, reliable energy is essential. Georgia Powers plan delivers that reliability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Retired educator Bette Holland, founder of North Georgia Conservation Coalition, said its important that state regulators accept the science that shows that burning coal, oil and natural gas detrimentally increases the earths temperature. Solar and wind are much cheaper than fossil fuels to create energy, Holland said. The only thing that stops us are the energy companies and regulators who bow to the pressure of the fossil fuel companies. Please begin to think about the survival of the people in Georgia, in this country, on this planet, and about the survival of our natural resources in our wildlife. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The European Union wants to include services in the tariff dispute with the United States to persuade US President Donald Trump to relent, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Sunday. "We want to focus not only on the exchange of goods and products but also on services. And if you look at the whole spectrum, then the exchange between the United States of America and the European Union is quite balanced," Wadephul explained on German public broadcaster ZDF. "And if you take that into account, I believe we have good conditions to reach a reasonable conclusion." The chairman of the Trade Committee in the European Parliament, Bernd Lange, had also hinted at this. The EU has a trade deficit with the US in services, Lange pointed out. This is mainly due to the high demand in Europe for the offerings of US digital companies like Google and Meta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump justifies his tariff policy by stating that the US has a trade deficit in goods with the EU. Trump recently also announced a doubling of tariffs on aluminium and steel imports to 50%. A spokesman for the European Commission threatened countermeasures over the weekend. A fleeing motorist who fired at German police near a border crossing with the Czech Republic was fatally wounded by return fire, police said on Sunday. The officers conducting spot checks stopped the man's car in the Schirnding region on the border on Saturday afternoon when the 47-year-old driver attempted to flee on foot, firing at police as he ran. Officers returned fire, injuring the man fatally. No police officers were injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The police report did not reveal why the man had been stopped. Police and prosecutors reported later that the man was an Iranian who had lived in the German city of Mannheim for years. "Police are currently assuming that the man was on his way back from a trip to buy drugs in the Czech Republic, as he had a few hundred grams of 'crystal' on him," they said, in an apparent reference to the illegal drug methamphetamine. They provided no information on the man's firearm. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on Sunday for academic freedom to be protected, pointing to populist policies in the United States as a threat to scientific achievement. Speaking in Hamburg at an award ceremony for young researchers, Steinmeier said: "The best recognized and high-performing academic and university system of the US threatens to be carelessly pulverized in the mill of populism and the battle against the so-called establishment." Speaking as patron of the Young People Research competition, he appealed for Germany to oppose a declaration of hostility to academic freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the ceremony, Oskar Rost, 17, and Marius Strauss, 18, received an award for developing software based on artificial intelligence (AI) to assess schoolwork in a more transparent and fair way. It spots mistakes, subtracts marks and makes proposals for grades. A prize for originality went to Louis Schwarzlose, 17, who built a research buoy to record environmental data. The buoy can guide itself autonomously and draws power from the elements. More than 167 young people participated in the final competition after being selected from 16 separate earlier rounds in the different states. The competition began in Hamburg in 1966. In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independents Anna Belokur breaks down the top stories of the week, from Germanys increased military aid to last weekends unprecedented attacks on Ukraine. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Thorsten Frei, Head of the German Chancellery, has called for renewed discussions in the West on confiscating frozen Russian state assets, citing Russias refusal to pursue peace with Ukraine. Source: Thorsten Frei in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, as reported by European Pravda Details: Frei argued that "a sense of justice" supports confiscating Russian assets frozen in the West, given "the enormous damage and human suffering that Russia inflicts on Ukraine". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Frei: "We are now experiencing the heaviest bombing since the start of the war. Therefore, it is fair that Russian funds be used for necessary defence measures." Frei acknowledged concerns that confiscation could deter foreign investment in the EU or Germany. Quote from Frei: "You cannot make an unambiguous decision. But we are in a situation where I say: we must consider the issue of Russian state funds even more carefully than before. We cannot allow Russia to play games with us all." Read also: Compensation not for Ukraine. Why confiscated Russian assets may never reach Kyiv Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the US and its allies froze approximately US$300 billion in Russian state assets. European leaders aim to use these assets to support Ukraines reconstruction but have yet to agree on a legally sound method to avoid setting a problematic international precedent. Background: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has previously stated he supports confiscating these assets, provided it can be done legally. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Editors note: A version of this story appeared in CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. For a long time, there has been a missing puzzle piece in Jerusalems history. Though ancient texts offered some clues, an archaeological record of the city during the Early Hellenistic Period, from 332 to 141 BC, was largely absent until now. Excavators at the Jerusalem Walls National Park unearthed two child-size gold rings set with shiny red gemstones from a dig site within less than a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both pieces of jewelry were in such good condition that at first glance, archaeologists thought they were modern. Now, they believe the 2,300-year-old rings were intentionally buried by young women as part of a coming-of-age ritual before marriage. Together, the rings and other objects from the excavations are painting a more detailed portrait of a period of Greek influence in Jerusalems history. Once upon a planet Although more than 99.95% of Earth's gold is locked in the molten core, tiny amounts may be coming up to the surface in magma, a study found. A lava fountain at Kilauea in Hawaii is seen in early May. - M. Zoeller/USGS Speaking of precious caches, most of Earths gold lies trapped in the planets seething, molten core. But a new analysis of volcanic rocks in Hawaii suggests gold and other precious metals such as platinum are escaping into the mantle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within the rock samples, researchers saw traces of a silver-gray metal about as rare as gold that was likely more abundant in Earths early building materials when the core developed about 4.5 billion years ago. As volcanic islands form, gold and other metals eventually make their way to the surface and more will probably emerge in Earths crust if the metallic core is still leaking, researchers say. Defying gravity SpaceXs ninth test flight of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, lifted off Tuesday reusing a Super Heavy booster for the first time. The spacecraft made it farther than it had during the past two tests but failed to achieve key objectives, including deploying dummy satellites that went along for the ride and reigniting its engines in space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mission controllers lost contact with Starship, and the spacecraft spun out of control on reentry to Earth. Ocean secrets Sharks usually prefer dining alone. But observers captured footage of at least 12 sharks from two distinct species sharing a feast for more than eight hours off the coast of Hawaiis Big Island. Across the universe Astronomers have detected an unusual object known as ASKAP J1832-0911 emitting flashes of radio waves every 44 minutes and it may be a new entry in a class of recently discovered mysterious objects called long-period transients. The object is releasing not only radio pulses but also powerful X-rays that NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory happened to observe. The high-energy X-rays are what sets ASKAP J1832-0911 apart from other cosmic phenomena. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This object is unlike anything we have seen before, said Dr. Andy Wang, an associate lecturer at the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy in Australia. Dig this Hieroglyphs are revealed in the three new tombs found in the Dra' Abu el-Naga necropolis area in Luxor, Egypt. - Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities/AP Excavations in Luxor have uncovered three tombs in an ancient Egyptian burial complex. Located in a cemetery called Dra Abu el-Naga, which was reserved for prominent nonroyals, the burial chambers date to the New Kingdom, which lasted from around 1539 to 1077 BC. Painted figures, hieroglyphs and inscriptions found inside the tombs helped researchers determine the names and occupations of those laid to rest there. Take note Catch up on the latest stories: Sixteen states have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, asking a federal judge to end new policies by the National Science Foundation. Tasked with advancing scientific discoveries, the agency is halting millions of dollars worth of research across the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Researchers say they now know what the massive megalodon really ate to meet its 100,000-calorie daily requirement. Chinas Tianwen-2 mission is on a quest to land on an asteroid that might be a chunk of the moon and then fly by an active asteroid trailing dusty, comet-like tails. A roughly 43,000-year-old fingerprint, which appears to mark where a nose should be on a rock resembling a face, adds to evidence that ancient human ancestors were capable of creating art. Forensic police helped unravel the mystery of who made the print. Like what youve read? Oh, but theres more. Sign up here to receive in your inbox the next edition of Wonder Theory, brought to you by CNN Space and Science writers Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt and Jackie Wattles. They find wonder in planets beyond our solar system and discoveries from the ancient world. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Gov. Maura Healey is demanding answers after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested a Massachusetts high school student on Saturday. Im disturbed and outraged by reports that a Milford High School student was arrested by ICE on his way to volleyball practice yesterday, Healey said in a statement Sunday morning. Yet again, local officials and law enforcement have been left in the dark with no heads up and no answers to their questions. The governor is pressuring ICE to provide information about why the student was arrested, where he is now and how his due process is being protected, according to her statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 18-year-old student was detained by ICE agents somewhere off Milford High Schools campus, Milford Public Schools Superintendent Kevin McIntyre said in a Sunday statement. Additionally, a number of Milford parents have also been arrested by federal immigration officers in recent weeks, he said. The Milford Public Schools play no part in immigration enforcement and support all of our students and families, including those who are immigrants to the United States. They are members of the community, students in our classrooms, athletes that compete representing Milford, musicians, artists, friends, and neighbors, McIntyres statement reads. Officials have not released the name of the student who was detained, but his friends and family identified him to WCVB as Marcello. Hes not a criminal. Hes a member of this community, his girlfriend, Julianys Rentas told the news station through tears. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rentas told WCVB she is in contact with her boyfriend, who told her that he is being held in chains with dozens of other men. He is the only teen among them. Marcellos friends and family told the news station he has lived in Milford since coming to the U.S. at age six. To just separate him from everybody he knows like his whole life, just because he wasnt born here its not right, his cousin, Ana Julia Araujo, told WCVB. Milford Police Chief Rob Tunsio told the news station his department learned about the arrest from the school district, and that police are now looking into the situation. More News Read the original article on MassLive. The Maryland governor shocked legislators and environmental action groups by vetoing a number of anti-pollution and environmental study bills. What's happening? On May 16, Wes Moore rejected proposals to gather information about the impact of rising global temperatures on the economy, energy reliability, and more, Inside Climate News reported. Critics said it marked "a sharp departure from his climate promises." He cited "the state's current financial constraints," though one of the bills the Responding to Emergency Needs from Extreme Weather Act of 2025 was to cost just $500,000 from the $300 million-plus Strategic Energy Investment Fund, which is backed by utility companies that pay penalties "for failing to meet renewable energy targets," according to ICN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore also said the Energy Resource Adequacy and Planning Act, which was to cost between $4.4 million and $5.3 million, would raise consumers' energy rates, per ICN. But the bill was designed to help the state transition to clean energy sources by providing long-term assessment and planning strategies. The Data Center Impact Analysis and Report bill was another that got brushed off. It was to study "the environmental and economic footprint of data center expansion," ICN reported. Why is this important? Maryland lawmakers thought they were headed in the right direction with these legislative efforts, and many people were blindsided by the vetoes. The RENEW Act received particularly strong support, as it could clear the path to make fossil fuel companies pay for the pollution they create. "If the governor vetoes a bill to basically begin to study what the polluters owe us, then the only conclusion you can make is he wants taxpayers to pay billions of dollars for a mess that the oil companies knowingly created," Mike Tidwell, Chesapeake Climate Action Network director, told ICN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins called the RENEW legislation "monumental," while Kim Coble, executive director of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters, said: "This veto is extremely frustrating and simply does not support the state's climate goals." Climate action is not just about climate change and would reduce pollution, improve human health and environmental conditions, and rebalance ecosystems, weather, and other things that make the planet inhabitable for people, wildlife, and vegetation. What's more, every $1 spent now on resilience and preparedness saves $13 in future damages, cleanup costs, and economic impact. What's being done about the governor's vetoes? The Maryland General Assembly can override Moore's actions with a three-fifths vote in each of the House of Delegates and Senate. While the lawmakers are not in session, Moore can convene a special session, or a majority of elected members in the House and Senate can convene one via petition. "I think there's a strong possibility," Wilkins told ICN. "There's a lot of passion on both bills and a lot of interest and they did both pass with veto-proof majorities." 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. In the Spotlight is a Fresno Bee series that digs into the high-profile local issues that readers care most about. Story idea? Email tips@fresnobee.com. Fresno area elected officials are demanding more transparency and accountability after an alleged kickback scheme orchestrated by a group of executives from the regions largest healthcare system came to light. Earlier this month, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced that Community Health System (CHS) and healthcare technology affiliate Physician Network Advantage Inc. (PNA) agreed to pay a $31 million fine to settle allegations that they violated the False Claim Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the regions public leaders told The Bee they are disappointed in the healthcare systems previous leadership and would push for increased accountability. They expressed bewilderment that the executives were able to carry out the fraud scheme, undetected, for more than a decade. An unsealed whistleblower lawsuit filed by former PNA Controller Michael Terpening detailed the alleged scheme and listed more than a dozen gifts and donations provided to a select group of medical leaders. The gifts included access to a state-of-the-art wine and cigar lounge, expensive trips to Europe, Napa Valley and Las Vegas, trips to strip clubs, and nepotism hires. Representative Jim Costa, D-Fresno, said the complaints in this case are serious and need to be addressed. Clearly, there is a need for strong oversight and transparency in our healthcare system, Costa said. We must ensure that public trust and taxpayer dollars are never compromised by improper financial incentives. The people of the San Joaquin Valley deserve the best possible healthcare system that operates with integrity. Congressman Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra announce a partnership to contraceptive care for Fresno County residents on May 20, 2024. Assemblymember Dr. Joaquin Arambula, a Democrat from Fresno and physician, said in a statement that these revelations are grotesque, to say the least. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These episodes, brought to light only because a whistleblower did so, clearly stemmed from a warped sense of entitlement. My hope is that the new leadership of CHS will right this ship and reflect the true heroes of CHS the dedicated and compassionate workers who every day in CHS hospitals and clinics care for and heal the people of our Valley, Arambula said. Community Health System (CHS), Fresnos largest healthcare group, owns downtown Fresnos Community Regional Medical Center and the Clovis Community Medical Center, as well as a health plan and physician network. Community Medical Centers (CMC) is the name of the group that includes the hospitals and clinics under the CHS umbrella. CHS is the the leading healthcare provider in the central San Joaquin Valley and owns the only level one trauma center in the region. Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno, photographed on the Assembly floor in the final week of the legislative session at the state Capitol on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024. Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, whose district includes west Fresno County, Madera and Merced, called the lawsuit and settlement unfortunate and stressed the impact on patients receiving federally subsidized care and whose healthcare access is jeopardized by significant federal funding cuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other loser in this settlement is Medi-Cal and Medicaid patients, who are already suffering from the federal governments proposed cuts to these programs. Moving forward, I hope leadership and boards for both CHS and PNA make serious changes in their approach to regain the communitys trust and putting patients first above all else, Soria said. Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, D-Merced, speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the University of California, Merced Medical Education Building on the universitys campus in Merced, Calif., on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. In a statement on the settlement, CHS Board Chair Roger Sturdevant said the current board and leadership team recognizes they are accountable to assuring compliance that is consistent with regulatory requirements and their own standards. CHS leadership has cooperated with the U.S. Attorneys Office in its review, Sturdevant said. Based on both our own internal assessment and external findings, we have identified and addressed areas for improvement. We are confident that our policies and procedures today address all areas of concern. It is important to note, that at no time were patients inappropriately billed and this issue had no impact on our clinicians ability to provide outstanding care, he said. As part of the settlement, CHS has entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General that requires a risk assessment and internal review process designed to identify and address evolving compliance risks. The agreement also requires an independent review organization to annually assess the policies and systems to track arrangements with some referral sources. La Abeja, a newsletter written for and by California Latinos Sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter centered around Latino issues in California. Fresno County officials weigh in Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig, whose district includes part of Fresno, Clovis and the rural foothill communities, said hes looked into the case that focuses on Communitys implementation of electronic health record system, and the associated vendor relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a difficult time for hospitals across the nation, which is why the settlement is particularly disheartening. But Im confident in Communitys current leadership, Magsig said. They have identified and addressed the governments concerns and I believe Communitys leadership and board will do everything they can to assure its approach to vendor relationships, and reporting practices are solid to avoid this ever happening again. District 5 Supervisor Nathan Magsig, left, talks with District 2 Supervisor Garry Bredefeld before the start of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Fresno County Supervisor and Vice Chairman Garry Bredefeld called the conduct by CHS and affiliate PNA disgraceful and shameful. They violated the trust of their patients by providing extravagant benefits and kickbacks to executives and some physicians in order to entice them to refer their patients to Community, he said. Bredefeld, a retired clinical psychologist, said the medical community already lost confidence and trust of the public with their mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now this corruption has been exposed which will further diminish the trust. I applaud the (Department of Justice) for their work and ensuring that there now will be greater oversight of these institutions, so this corruption never occurs again, he said. Fresno County District 3 Supervisor Luis Chavez, said he was deeply disappointed by the details that have come to light in the settlement and wanted to see concrete change to restore trust. Ive met directly with the new CEO and had frank, honest conversations about the urgent need to rebuild community trust, Chavez said. I made it clear that restoring confidence in our healthcare system requires more than words, it requires action. The new leadership team has assured me of their commitment to downtown Fresno and to delivering care that puts patients first. But assurances alone wont move the needle. We need to see real, measurable improvements, starting with transparency, reducing emergency room wait times and ensuring that life-saving services are readily available to every corner of our city. I will continue to hold this hospital system accountable and remain steadfast in advocating for the health, safety, and dignity of every Fresno resident, he said. The post Grupo Firme Cancel US Show After Visa Suspended by Trump Administration appeared first on Consequence. Mexican regional act Grupo Firme have pulled out of their scheduled appearance at the La Onda Festival this weekend after their visas were unexpectedly suspended. The performance was set to take place on Sunday (June 1st) in Napa Valley, CA. The band said their visas are under administrative review by the U.S. Embassy, per an Instagram statement obtained by the Associated Press, and stated it would be impossible to stage their show. Due to the confidential nature of visa proceedings, the AP also corroborated the U.S. Embassy in Mexico could not provide any additional information at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grupo Firme isnt the only Mexican act facing visa issues as of late; last month, Julion Alvarez abruptly postponed a sold-out show in Arlington, TX, after his work visa was revoked, barring his entry into the States. Both acts are known for performing narco-corridos, a genre that has long stirred debate. While critics argue these songs glorify cartel leaders, supporters contend they offer a raw reflection of the difficult realities faced by youth entangled in the drug trade. Amid the growing controversy, Grupo Firme has taken steps in recent months to stop performing narco-corridos live. Beyond the targeting of Latino musicians, Canadian trans musician Bells Larsen had to cancel his US tour because US Immigration now only recognizes identification that corresponds with ones assigned sex at birth. Meanwhile, FKA twigs faced setbacks for her Eusexua Tour after not completing visa paperwork on time, rescheduling several US tour dates multiple times. UK Subs revealed they were denied entry to the United States, with bassist Alvin Gibbs hypothesizing it may have been due to his lambasting of Donald Trump. Popular Posts Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox. Once a year, large numbers of Muslim pilgrims converging on Saudi Arabia unite in religious rituals and acts of worship as they perform the Hajj, one of the pillars of Islam. They fulfill a religious obligation, immersing themselves in what can be a spiritual experience of a lifetime for them and a chance to seek Gods forgiveness and the erasure of past sins. Heres a look at the pilgrimage and its significance to Muslims. WHAT IS THE HAJJ? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and involves a series of religious rituals. Its required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it. Some Muslims make the journey more than once. It is also one of the Five Pillars of Islam, in addition to the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving and fasting. WHEN IS THE HAJJ? The Hajj occurs once a year during the lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, the 12th and final month of the Islamic calendar year. This year, the Hajj will start on June 4. When the Hajj falls during the summer months, the intense heat can be especially challenging. Amid extreme high temperatures last year, more than 1,300 people died during the Hajj, Saudi authorities announced then. The countrys health minister said at the time that the vast majority of the fatalities were unauthorized pilgrims who walked long distances under the sun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WHATS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HAJJ TO MUSLIMS? For pilgrims, performing the Hajj fulfills a religious obligation and is also a deeply spiritual experience. Its seen as a chance to seek Gods forgiveness for past sins, to grow closer to God and to walk in the footsteps of prophets. Communally, the Hajj unites Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages and economic classes from around the world in performing religious rituals and acts of worshipping God at the same time and place. This leaves many feeling a sense of unity, connection, humility and equality. Pilgrims also show up with their own personal appeals, wishes and experiences. Many pilgrims bring with them prayer requests from family and friends that they would like to be said on their behalf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some spend years hoping and praying to one day perform the Hajj or saving up money and waiting for a permit to embark on the trip. Ahead of the journey, preparations may include packing various essentials for the physically demanding trip, seeking tips from those whove performed the pilgrimage before, attending lectures or consulting other educational material on how to properly perform a series of Hajj rituals as well as spiritually readying oneself. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RITUALS THAT PILGRIMS PERFORM? Pilgrims make the intention to perform the Hajj and they enter a state of ihram. Being in ihram includes abiding by certain rules and prohibitions. For instance, men are not to wear regular sewn or stitched clothes that encircle the body, such as shirts, during ihram. Instead, there are simple ihram cloth garments for men; scholars say the purpose is to discard luxuries and vanity, shed worldly status symbols and immerse the pilgrim in humility and devotion to God. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spiritual highlight of the Hajj for many is standing on the plain of Arafat, where pilgrims praise God, plead for forgiveness and make supplications. Many raise their hands in worship with tears streaming down their faces. Other rituals include performing tawaf, circumambulating, or circling the Kaaba in Mecca counterclockwise seven times. The Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure, is the focal point toward which Muslims face during their daily prayers from anywhere in the world. Among other rituals, pilgrims also retrace the path of Hagar, or Hajar, the wife of Prophet Ibrahim, Abraham to Jews and Christians, who Muslims believe ran between two hills seven times searching for water for her son. WHAT IS EID AL-ADHA? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, is the Islamic holiday that begins on the 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, during the Hajj. A joyous occasion celebrated by Muslims around the world, Eid al-Adha marks Ibrahims test of faith and his willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of submission to God. During the festive holiday, Muslims slaughter sheep or cattle and distribute some meat to poor people. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Damari said that days after she was abducted, she ended up being held in a civilian family home that had children. Released hostage Emily Damari said that when she was in captivity, her Hamas captors couldn't know that she preferred women, she revealed in an N12 interview published on Sunday. "They must not know such a thing. From their perspective, they think it's a sickness," she said. Damari added that she had questioned her Hamas captor what he would do if he discovered his brother was gay, to which he responded that he would "murder him." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also revealed that during captivity, she was questioned why she wasn't married. "That's just how it is," she told her captor. "I keep to myself, I'm a good girl." Former hostage Emily Damari at the Western Wall. (photo credit: WESTERN WALL HERITAGE FOUNDATION) Damari said that her captors gave her nicknames, calling her "Saja'iya, which means hero - they told me, I told them that I'm not, but it stuck for a while, and then they referred to me as John Cena from the WWE." Damari said that she would do a lot of sit-ups to release energy while held hostage, and told N12 that she even asked her captors how the underground tunnels in Gaza were built. Feeling full of guilt Damari also noted in the interview her feelings of guilt. "Getting on the plane, sitting down, eating, drinking - everything comes with a lot of guilt," she said, acknowledging the 58 hostages still in captivity in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She specifically mentioned the hostage twins, Gali and Ziv Berman. Damari previously mentioned them numerous times on social media and called for their release. She told N12 that she had called Gali to come over to her home the morning they were both taken hostage and brought into Gaza alongside Ziv. She then mentions that she was separated from the twins and taken to Shifa Hospital in Gaza and sedated by a doctor there. She then says that when she woke up, the doctor informed her she was missing two fingers. "I respond, Cool... Im a hostage in Gaza, Im missing two fingerswhat could be worse?" she told N12. LEFT TO right: Emily Damari, Romi Gonen, and Doron Steinbrecher were released from captivity last week. Anyone with a heart was moved beyond words at their return home, but for the heartless genocidal Hamas barbarians who kidnapped them, human tragedy is the strategy, the writer asserts. (photo credit: Hamas Military Wing via Reuters) N12 later then spoke with Romi Gonen, who said that she first met Damari at Shifa Hospital, but they were then taken to different places to be held captive, before reuniting 40 days later inside Gaza. Being held hostage in a civilian family's home Damari said that days after she was abducted, she ended up being held in a civilian family home that had children. She was held there with Ziv and other hostages, she added, noting that she could hear airstrikes every day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "One day, a blast came and completely blew up the house. I saw it with my own eyesI was in the room with Ziv, and I saw from the window a building a meter away engulfed in flames." She, Ziv, and the other hostages were taken to different houses after the blast, 40 days after their abduction. The day she was separated from Ziv was also the day she reunited with Romi Gonen, who recognized her instantly, she told N12. When she was taken from the destroyed house to an underground tunnel, she saw Gonen, Liri Albag, Agam Berger, and two children - Dafna and Ela Elyakim. Damari and Gonen then revealed to N12 that they had briefly considered suicide while in captivity. Damari was released from Hamas captivity in January alongside Gonen and hostage Doron Steinbrecher, who all spent nearly 500 days in Gaza. Palestinian extremist group Hamas says 30 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza while looking to pick up aid at new humanitarian distribution centres run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Dozens of people were injured, according to Hamas on Sunday, but the GHF denied the allegations. "Our aid was again distributed today without incident," the foundation said in a statement, adding it was "aware of rumors being actively fomented by Hamas suggesting deaths and injuries today." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They are untrue and fabricated," GHF said. Since the start of the operation six days ago, a total of more than 4.7 million meals have been distributed to Gazans, according to the foundation. The Hamas media office had reported an Israeli attack in a buffer zone in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, where the foundation had been distributing aid supplies. The information cannot be independently verified. The Israeli military said it was "currently unaware of injuries caused by IDF fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site." "The matter is still under review," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said. California's most loyal Democrats got a good look this weekend at the wide field of gubernatorial candidates jockeying to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom at the state Democratic Party's annual convention in Anaheim, with a few chiding former vice president and potential rival Kamala Harris. The Democrats running for governor in 2026 hurried among caucus meetings, floor speeches and after-parties, telling their personal stories and talking up their bona fides for tackling some of California's most entrenched problems, including housing affordability and the rising cost of living. All the hand-shaking and selfies were done in the absence of Harris, who would be the most prominent candidate in the race, and who has not said whether she'll run for governor in 2026 or seek the White House again in 2028. State Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond walks on stage to address California Democrats. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times) The most visible candidates at the convention were former state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, businessman Stephen J. Cloobeck, Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and former state Controller Betty Yee, with former Rep. Katie Porter, state Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa taking less prominent roles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the primary still a year away, the gubernatorial race is still in limbo. Two prominent Republicans are also in the race: Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton. Read more: Villaraigosa blasts Harris and Becerra for not speaking out about Biden's decline Many Democratic activists, donors and elected officials said they were waiting to make up their minds until Harris makes up hers, because her entry into the governor's race could push some candidates off the ballot or into other statewide races. "People are kind of waiting to see what shes going to do," said Matt Savage, a delegate from San Jose, as attendees ate chia seed pudding and breakfast burritos at a breakfast hosted by Yee. "She needs to decide soon." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yee told the crowd: "Regardless of who gets in the race, we're staying in." Businessman and gubernatorial candidate Stephen Cloobeck talks to his canvassers Friday after speaking at the Democratic Party's labor caucus meeting in Anaheim. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Surrounded by canvassers who chanted his name as he talked, Cloobeck, a political newcomer, scolded Harris for not coming to the gathering of Democrats after her loss to President Trump in the November presidential election. "If she decides to get in this race, shame on her for not showing up for the most important people in the party, which is the people who are here today," Cloobeck said. "And if she doesn't have the IQ to show up, she's tone deaf once again." In a three-minute recorded video, Harris told Democrats that with Republicans working to cut taxes for the rich and dismantle efforts to fight climate change, "things are probably going to get worse before they get better." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But that is not reason to throw up our hands," Harris said. "It's a reason to roll up our sleeves." Polling shows that if Harris were to run for governor, she would have a major advantage: A November survey from the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, co-sponsored by The Times, found that about 72% of Democrats would be very likely or somewhat likely to consider voting for her. Read more: Who is running for California governor in 2026? Meet the candidates Cloobeck said his campaign had spent "probably a couple hundred thousand dollars" on the canvassers, who wore royal blue shirts emblazoned with his name and distributed glossy invitations to a comedy night with "Roastmaster General" comedian Jeff Ross. One canvasser said he was paid $25 an hour and found the job on Craigslist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the party's LGBTQ caucus meeting, Atkins, the only well-known gay candidate in the race, told the cheering crowd that she dreamed of making California work for others the way it had worked for her. Atkins, 62, was raised in southwest Virginia by a coal miner and a garment worker and moved to San Diego in her 20s. "California has given me every opportunity," Atkins said. "I want that promise to be true for everyone." Gubernatorial candidate and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa speaks to the Latino caucus at the state Democratic Party convention on Saturday. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times) At the Latino caucus, Villaraigosa said that the Democratic Party needs to focus on the affordability crisis facing working-class Californians, many of whom are Latinos, by tackling high gas prices, home prices, utility costs and other day-to-day cost of living challenges. Villaraigosa, 72, has been out of elected office for more than a decade. He last ran for for governor in 2018, placing a distant third in the primary behind Newsom and Republican businessman John Cox. He noted that he also lost the 2001 mayor's race before winning in 2005. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Sometimes it takes two times," Villaraigosa said to the caucus. "We're ready, we're not invisible. We're going to stand up for working people and our communities." Thurmond told the crowd during the party's general session on Saturday afternoon that education is "the centerpiece of our democracy." It brought his grandparents to the U.S. and saved his life after his mother died when he was 6, he said. "We must continue to be the resistance against Donald Trumps misguided policies," he said. "We will ensure that every student in this state has access to good quality education. And while were at it, we will not allow for ICE to be on any of our school campuses. Read more: Trump threatens to strip federal funds to California over transgender youth athletes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four candidates made brief appearances before the party's powerful organized labor caucus, trying to make the case that they would be the best choice for the state's more than 2.4 million union members. In a 45-second speech, Cloobeck told the union members that he used union labor in his hotel development projects and promised that if he were elected, he would support workers getting "full pay, full wages" if they went on strike. Yee said she'd "protect and advance your precious pension funds." She took a passing shot at Newsom's now-infamous dinner at the French Laundry in Napa Valley during the COVID-19 pandemic. Newsom attended a lobbyist's birthday party at the upscale restaurant after he had pleaded with Californians to stay home and avoid multifamily gatherings. "I'm not about gimmicks," Yee said. "I'm the least flashy person. Hell, I've not even stepped foot in the French Laundry but I can tell you, I grew up in a Chinese laundry." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kounalakis told the party's labor meeting that her father immigrated to the U.S. at age 14 and worked his way through college as a waiter at the governor's mansion before building a successful development company in Sacramento. Her vision of California's future, she said, is massive investment in water infrastructure, clean energy infrastructure, roadway infrastructure and housing: Were going to build the future of this state, and were going to do it with union labor." Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra speaks to the state Democratic Party's labor caucus on Friday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) At the party's senior caucus meeting, Becerra told Democrats that he was raised by working-class, immigrant parents who bought their own home in Sacramento, then questioned whether a couple without college degrees could do the same today. He touted his experience fighting GOP efforts to cut Social Security Disability Insurance as a member of Congress and work lowering drug costs as President Biden's health chief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're going to fight for you," Becerra said. At the women's caucus, Porter, who left Congress in January after losing a run for Senate, said she was concerned that Trump's budget cuts and policies will have a disproportionate impact on mothers, children and the LGBTQ+ community. "That s is not happening on my watch," Porter said. Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, a candidate for California governor, waits to address the women's caucus at the California Democratic Party convention Friday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Ann McKeown, 66, president of the Acton-Agua Dulce Democratic Club in Los Angeles County's High Desert, said she had wanted Harris to be the president "so badly," but Porter is her top choice for governor. "Kamala is nicer than Katie Porter," McKeown said, "and we don't need nice right now." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delegate Jane Baulch-Enloe of Contra Costa County and her daughter spread the contents of their bag of Democratic Party swag across a table, taking stock of the flyers and campaign memorabilia, including a Becerra for Governor button, a clear plastic coin purse from Yee and a blue Thurmond bookmark that read, "Ban fascism, not books." Baulch-Enloe, who teaches middle school English and history, said she originally thought she'd support Thurmond because he understands education. "But now that theres so many people in the race, Im not sure," Baulch-Enloe said. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox twice per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Prince Harrys family feud takes a new twist In a stunning sign of the depth of the estrangement between Prince Harry and the Royal Family, it has emerged that the Duke of Sussex seriously considered dropping his royal surname in favor of his late mothers maiden name, Spencer. Sources told the Daily Mail that Harry raised the idea during a trip last year to the United Kingdom for the funeral of his uncle, Robert Fellowes. During the visit, Harry stayed at the Althorp Estate with his maternal uncle, Charles Spencer, the ninth Earl Spencer and brother of the late Princess Diana. Spencer famously delivered a confrontational speech condemning the royals at her funeral in which he referred to Harry and William as her blood family. Prince Harry considered changing his surname from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana. / Anwar Hussein/WireImage According to the Daily Mails well-connected social columnist, Richard Eden, Harry reportedly sought advice on legally changing his surname from Mountbatten-Windsor to Spencer, a move that would have amounted to a very symbolic severing of ties with the House of Windsor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the report says that Spencer talked Harry down and the idea is not expected to go any further, the fact that Harry seriously explored it underscores the ongoing toxicity of his relationship with the royal family, particularly his father, King Charles; his brother, Prince William; and his stepmother, Queen Camilla. According to a friend of the duke cited by the Mail, They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step. The friend added that Earl Spencer pointed out the legal and symbolic hurdles, warning that such a move would not only be complex but would likely deepen already raw tensions with Harrys family of origin. Prince Harry's maternal uncle, Charles Spencer, convinced him against the name-change. / Max Mumby/Indigo / Getty Images Had the change gone through, it could have affected not only Harrys public identity but also the names of his children, Archie and Lilibet, both of whom currently use the surname Mountbatten-Windsora hybrid of the Queens family name and that of Prince Philip, who adopted the Mountbatten name upon becoming a British subject in 1947. Had Harry moved forward with a surname change, his daughter, Princess Lilibet, whose middle name honors Diana, would have become Princess Lilibet Diana Spencer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such a gesture would have been particularly painful to King Charles, who holds the Mountbatten legacy in high regard. Louis Mountbatten, the first Earl Mountbatten of Burma, was a beloved mentor to Prince Philip. The Queen and Prince Philip decided in 1960 to designate Mountbatten-Windsor as the family name for their direct descendants. In his memoir Spare, and in numerous high-profile interviews since, Harry has laid bare what he sees as the coldness and dysfunction at the heart of the royal household. His allegations have included neglect, press manipulation, and emotional crueltyclaims that have harmed the Windsors carefully curated public image and fractured personal relationships behind palace doors. Names and titles are a fraught issue for Harry and Meghan Markle. The couple were granted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex titles by Queen Elizabeth on their wedding day in 2018, and their children were officially recognized as Prince and Princess following Charless accession to the throne. But their ongoing use of royal titles has often been called hypocritical. Harrys office has been approached for comment. Markle steps back from her weird jam business The unfathomable and chaotic progress of Meghan Markles branding empire continued this week with a bizarre interview with Fast Company magazine in which she implied she might not restock her online As Ever store anytime soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fast Company makes much of the fact that As Ever products such as jam and flower sprinkles sold out in 45 minutes, without making the very obvious point that a) this is an easy outcome to engineer by not having much stock and b) not having anything available for your customers to buy when you have momentum is generally considered bad business. Meghan Markle has said she is Incredibly, it appears Meghan now wants to take a step back from the logistically complex business of actually selling stuff. Already? Why, yes! Fast Company says her plan during this stepped-back phase is to gather data from the launch and figure out exactly what As Ever could be, adding, She says shes planning to announce new products in the first quarter of 2026. What? Meghan is quoted as saying, mysteriously: I want to really focus on the hospitality angle of As Ever, but as we take the learnings, we can understand what the customers needs are seasonally. Clears as mud? Good. Update 6/2/2025 4:30 PM PT -- Michelle Caiola, attorney for Crystal McKinney, tells TMZ ... "MeToo exposed rich and powerful men in the entertainment industry who target and sexually abuse young women seeking a break. Crystal McKinney, a top model at a young age, fell victim to such predation -- twice. The facts stand on their own and our client looks forward to her day in court when she can present her evidence to a jury." Continue reading original story below. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sean "Diddy" Combs and Harvey Weinstein have more than one thing in common ... theyre being sued for alleged sexual assault by the same model. Not only are Diddy and Weinstein currently on trial for sex crimes in unrelated trials, but Crystal McKinney has filed lawsuits against them in a New York federal court. Getty In her latest suit, filed Friday, McKinney -- through her attorney Michelle Caiola -- accuses Weinstein of raping her and a friend in a Manhattan hotel room in 2003. McKinney says she wanted to break into the film industry, so she arranged to meet with Weinstein -- the cofounder of Miramax Films -- to chat about business opportunities." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to McKinney, the meeting was set up by a modeling company executive who made a crack about her not having sex with Weinstein until he put her in a movie. Harvey Weinstein In Court - Click image to open gallery McKinney claims she was bothered by the comment but went to the meeting anyway because she hadnt heard about Weinstein's alleged predatory behavior. She says she brought along her roommate -- another model looking for movie roles -- and they met Weinstein at a noisy nightclub. McKinney alleges Weinstein claimed he was having trouble hearing them because of all the noise so he invited them to his room at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park hotel. Thats where, according to McKinney, Weinstein got them drunk on booze and forced the two women to have sex with each other before he raped them. TMZ Previously, McKinney sued Diddy in 2024, accusing the music mogul of sexually assaulting her at his NYC studio after the two met at a Men's Fashion Week event. McKinney says Diddy forced her to give him oral sex in a bathroom after she was plied with booze and given a joint laced with a narcotic. Sean 'Diddy' Combs: A Timeline of Major Scandals and Headlines Over the Years Diddy responded to the suit, asking the court to toss it because the alleged actions were time-barred -- meaning the statute of limitations ran out years ago. Diddy has also denied all allegations of wrongdoing as he fights criminal charges of sex trafficking and racketeering at his federal trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for Weinstein, hes currently being retried on rape and sexual assault charges after an appeals court overturned his conviction ... ruling that the prosecutors in his case allowed women to testify who weren't pertinent to the charges he was facing. Imran H. Ansari, attorney for Harvey Weinstein, tells TMZ ... Harvey Weinstein categorically denies the outlandish and fantastical claims made against him by Crystal McKinney in her complaint. Made late in time and suspiciously on the heels of her complaint against Sean Diddy Combs, Mr. Weinstein is ready to refute and defend against the salacious claims, that are believed to have been made with an opportunistic motive. NEW YORK A woman who accused Sean Diddy Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2003 has also filed a lawsuit against disgraced Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein. Crystal McKinney, a former fashion model and winner of MTVs Model Mission, alleges the Miramax co-founder raped her and a friend in a Manhattan hotel room that same year. In a new lawsuit filed in Manhattan Federal Court on Friday, McKinney says the assault occurred after they met Weinstein at a nightclub, where she believed theyd be discussing movie opportunities, TMZ reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McKinney, who says she was unaware of Weinsteins alleged predatory reputation at the time, brought her roommate also an aspiring actress to the meeting, which had been arranged by a modeling executive. According to the suit, the club where they met Weinstein was noisy, so he suggested they head to his suite at the Ritz-Carlton in Battery Park where theyd be better able to hear each other. Thats when Weinstein allegedly got the women drunk and forced them to have sex with each other in front of him before he raped them, the suit claims. In a separate lawsuit filed in Manhattan Federal Court last May, McKinney said she met Diddy at a Mens Fashion Week event at Cipriani Downtown when she was 22. At the dinner, Combs, then 33, plied her with alcohol and promised to use his connections to help further her career, so she accepted his invitation back to his Midtown studio, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There, the hip-hop mogul allegedly gave her marijuana, which McKinney believes was laced with a narcotic, before physically forcing her to perform oral sex on him. According to the suit, she later lost consciousness and woke up in a taxi, eventually realiz[ing] that she had been sexually assaulted by Combs. McKinney said the attack led her into a tailspin of anxiety and depression, including a suicide attempt in 2004. She said she didnt report the assault out of fear of violence or retribution from Combs, but knew she had an obligation to speak up following Cassie Venturas bombshell lawsuit in late 2023. The rapper, whose high-profile sex trafficking trial wrapped its third week on Friday, has denied any wrongdoing. Weinstein is currently being retried on rape and sexual assault charges after his 2020 conviction was overturned by an appeals court. He has similarly denied McKinneys claims. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) Several New Haven teachers that went on strike in 1975 reunited outside of the New Haven Superior Court house on Saturday. The gathering was designed to bring everyone together to remember the sacrifices that they made for modern day teachers. This historic strike resulted in 90 arrests. The teachers were charged with contempt of court and arrested after going on strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The educators were calling for a fair contract and higher pay. They were brought into court when the judge requested that they return to work, but the teachers told the judge they did not think they could go back without a contract. Despite not knowing that their efforts would result in jail time, the teachers said it helped to encourage more improvements for teachers today. These are the teachers who made sacrifices for the teachers today to have the pay that they are getting, Saundra Stephenson, a former teacher, said. When we all started, we were making under $10,000 a year. According to the New Haven Federation of Teachers, this strike was supported by students, parents and other union members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When people ask me about teaching in New Haven and what I was most proud of, this is one of the things I was most proud of, Richard Romao, a former teacher at Wilbur Cross, said. The federation said another public event will be held later this year featuring retired teachers, students and parents from 1975. 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. HONOLULU (KHON2) There has been a major development in the long-running battle over the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea. A federal funding cut could mean major changes for the projects future. New mayors support reignites TMT debate The TMT has been the center of fierce opposition and protest for years. Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda used to be against the project and even took part in the 2019 protests, but a new authority has been in charge since 2022 and his stance has changed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nine of 11 of us are Hawaiian. So thats like, the perfect mix to make this decision of whats best for the mountain. So I was thrilled, Alameda said. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Alameda said Native Hawaiian voices were finally leading the decision making when the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority was created. Not just for Hawaii, but Im also fighting for Hawaiians because the 30 meter telescope allows us leverage to make the mountain better, he said. Whats the leverage to decommission five or six other telescopes? So, I dont think people realize that, you know, you dont want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Science Foundation said it will not fund TMT through its final design phase due to budget cuts, despite the local momentum. The National Science Foundation will instead back the completion of the Giant Magellan Telescope that is already under construction in Chile. Anti-telescope protesters oppose US attorney pick for Hawaii The Thirty Meter Telescope is one of the most compelling American opportunities in this generation. It is designed to explore the earliest galaxies, probe the nature of dark matter and dark energy, and search for life on exoplanets. Mauna Kea is the premier northern hemisphere site for astronomy, and TMT will enable the United States to demonstrate global leadership, while setting new standards for partnerships with the community where it wishes to be built and operated, TMT project manager Fengchuan Liu said in a statement. We are disappointed that the NSFs current budget request does not include TMT, but we remain firmly committed to finding a path forward for TMT, Lius statement continued. We can imagine a future in which NSF participation in the TMT would open opportunities for significant discovery to the entire US science community, and welcome further conversations to make this a reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As ever, we appreciate our many supporters who share a common vision for future generations, and for excellence, as we strive to bring TMT to all the communities engaged with us, Liu concluded. Check out more news from around Hawaii The Mauna Kea Authority has the final say on land use decisions including whether TMT can move forward but the future of the telescope remains uncertain whiteout federal funding. 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. The chief executive of Virgin Atlantic has hit out at the boss of Heathrow for muting his phone while he slept as a fire broke out at the airport, leading to thousands of delayed and cancelled flights. Shai Weiss said as the head of an airline he would never put his phone on silent because the job required round the clock attention. Last week an internal report into the incident found Thomas Woldbye, who was paid 3.2m last year, was uncontactable for the first seven hours of the airports shutdown because his phone had been switched to silent mode before he went to sleep. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking at an airline industry event, Mr Weiss said: The last time I put my phone on silent when running an airline was never. I think all of my colleagues would share that observation. This is a 24/7 job and safety and security are the number one priority. Credit: X/ @Zain_018 Mr Woldbye also came under fire from Sir Tim Clark, the Emirates Airline chief, who said that Heathrow had been caught short by the outage that created such turmoil on March 31. He said: They were floundering around trying to think what had actually happened. It ranged from sabotage by a foreign actor to a meltdown at a substation through to mice running around and doing all sorts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nobody really had any idea. That was a bit of a shock. If they havent learned from that they never will. Thomas Woldbye, the chief executive of Heathrow Airport, retired to bed unaware of the situation and was not involved in the decision to shut down the airport for 24 hours - PA/PA Wire Sir Tim said it had come as a shock to him that Heathrow had no supplementary power supply that would kick in when the outage hit. He said Emirates employees have eyes on every single aspect of our operation 24/7. Weve learnt from our mistakes. We never close our eyes. If we did wed be in trouble. Insurrection, coup, fire or whatever it may be. It happens all the time. Willie Walsh, chief executive of the International Air Transport Association, said the shutdown of Heathrow had undermined Labours bid to restore Britains status as a major economic force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said: The fact remains that a single point of failure brought the countrys global connectivity to a halt. A government that promotes a Britain back on the world stage should understand how unacceptable such a vulnerability is. It cannot be Britains back, provided theres power. Airlines expect compensation Mr Weiss said he expects Heathrow to begin compensating airlines for the cost of the outage now that an inquiry commissioned by the airport, and led by former transport secretary Ruth Kelly, has published its findings. He said that the disruption cost a lot of money and that Virgin and other airlines had been very clear with Heathrow management about their expectations regarding compensation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Weiss added: We have put in a request and we expect them to do the right thing. We agreed with them to hear some responses from the Kelly report and others, which have recently been published. But once the dust settles, our bill is coming. Mr Weiss previously said that had he been in Mr Woldbyes position he would have rushed to the airport at that moment. All CEOs are geared for that. It was initially reported that Mr Woldbye went to bed at around 12.30am having been made aware of the fire, leaving the decision to close the airport to his deputy, Javier Echave. The Kelly report said that was not the case and that he had retired to bed unaware of the situation and was not involved in the decision to shut down for 24 hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alerts known as F24 alarms were sent to Mr Woldbyes mobile at 00:21 and 01:52 to activate emergency procedures and Mr Echave tried to call him several times. The report said: Mr Woldbye first became aware of the incident at approximately 06:45 on March 21, and received a debrief from Mr Echave. A Heathrow spokesman said: The Kelly review, as well as independent legal counsel assisting the panel, had access to all Heathrow decision-makers and company papers and published a well-documented and robust report containing a number of findings and recommendations. The review concluded that while some detailed elements of our response could be sharpened, the overall approach to prioritise safety was the right one and the right decisions were taken on the day. We have accepted all the recommendations in full. 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. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stark warning on Saturday, saying that the threat of a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan could be imminent. It comes as NBC News got rare access to Taiwans preparations for a possible conflict with Beijing. NBC News Janis Mackey Frayer reports. NEED TO KNOW A man hiking a mountain in Georgia found burned remains of a man during his trek Stone Mountain Park Department of Public Safety spokesperson John Bankhead said the body was found in "an area that visitors usually don't go to" The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now leading the death investigation A hiker came across the burned remains of a man on top of a mountain in Georgia this weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, May 31, around 8:18 a.m. local time, a park visitor hiking on Stone Mountain Park, located outside of Atlanta, called the Stone Mountain Park Police and told authorities he discovered a "burned" body under rocks and an overhang, Stone Mountain Park Department of Public Safety spokesperson John Bankhead told local outlets, including ABC affiliate WSB-TV, FOX affiliate WAGA-TV and Atlanta News First. Responding officers, who "knew an area to look for," then found the body "burned severely," Bankhead told Atlanta News First. He added, per the Associated Press, that the body appeared to be that of a White adult male who was likely in his 20s or 30s. Speaking about where the body was found, Bankhead said, "It's in an area that visitors usually don't go to." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You can see right behind me, it's under some trees. It's not in a popular area for visitors," he added. As for the 911 caller, Bankhead said the man did not leave a name or number for authorities to contact him after he alerted police about the body. "We are fortunate that the individual did spot the body. We'd like to talk to him if he would call park police," the spokesperson said. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is leading the death investigation, while the body has been sent to the DeKalb County Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy, per multiple outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When reached for information, a spokesperson for the GBI directed PEOPLE to the Stone Mountain Park Police, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday, June 1. Getty Stone Mountain Park in Georgia Stone Mountain Park in Georgia 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. Bankhead told WAGA-TV of the area where the body was found, "Somebody had piled up rocks in front of the overhang to make it very private." Despite the situation, the "family-oriented park" itself is "very safe," Bankhead told Atlanta News First. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He called the discovery of the dead body "very rare" for the tourist destination, which is located roughly 15 miles from downtown Atlanta and features a carving of three Confederate leaders: Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Getty Stone Mountain Park in Georgia Stone Mountain Park in Georgia "This is the first time, in my knowledge, that something like this has happened, finding a body on top of the mountain," he said. "We've found bodies [of people] who have jumped and committed suicide. But nothing like this. This is very unusual. Very rare. I don't know if this has ever occurred here." "As more comes forward, I think we'll find out that it's a very odd situation. Very odd situation," Bankhead continued. The park spokesperson also told WSB-TV that while operations are "being carried on as usual right now," things "may change depending on the situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Farmer, a college student who has hiked the mountain multiple times, told WAGA that he also had "never seen anything like that" in the area. "I've been here a lot and never seen anything like that," Farmer said. "It's a little scary, and it's kind of somber." Fellow park visitor Emalyn Delgado added that she visits the area to "have fun and be at the park," telling WSB-TV that the discovery is "crazy." Read the original article on People TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office has identified a man who was killed after a gunman opened fire on a vehicle Friday. A spokesperson for the sheriffs office said Terell Ferrell, 24, was killed in the shooting, which happened Friday afternoon near the intersection of Progress Boulevard and 82nd Street. One dead after 12 shot in mass shooting: North Carolina sheriff According to authorities, Ferrell was in the passenger seat of the vehicle when the driver, an unnamed woman, pulled over to talk to the suspect along Progress Boulevard. The drivers child was also in the backseat of the car at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators explained that the suspect and the people in the car knew each other. For an unknown reason, the suspect took out a gun and began firing at the vehicle. Ferrell was shot multiple times in the upper body. He was taken to a local hospital but later died from his injuries, the sheriffs office said. The driver sped off after the gunfire erupted and, in doing so, struck a nearby bicyclist. Officials said the bicyclist sustained minor injuries. The woman then drove to Thorntons gas station on U.S. 301 to seek help. No other injuries were reported. As of Sunday afternoon, deputies were still looking for the suspected shooter. The sheriffs office has not yet released the suspects identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information on the incident or the suspects whereabouts is asked to contact the sheriffs office at 813-247-8200. 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. FERDINAND, Ind. (WEHT) The town of Ferdinand is celebrating its rich history by unveiling a new historical marker to Ida Hagan Whitaker, the first Black female licensed pharmacist in Indiana. Whitaker grew up in the Pinkston settlement, a free black community just west of Ferdinand. After completing a pharmacy course, Whitaker earned her license in 1909 to practice in Gary, Indianapolis and Ferndinand. She did everything with kindness, and I think thats an important lesson to carry on today, said Kathy Tretter. She did everything that she could do to make her world and this world a better place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The town commemorated her accomplishments with a marker in front of the Wollenmann House on Main Street. Dozens gathered to celebrate, including U.S. Representative Mark Messmer, who says this is a great way to remember Whitaker, especially during a time when it wasnt easy for her. It just shows the interest that the people have in the history of Ferdinand and the history of the people who made this community great and the people that contributed to the society in a big way, he said. It shows the broad range of support of the community overall from all over the county and all over southwest Indiana. Ceremony speaker included Dr. John Clark from the University of South Floridas Taneja College of Pharmacy. Dr. Clark says he does not usually attend events like these, but after hearing Whitakers story, he made the trip. Some of the women that have made big contributions throughout the history of pharmacy are often overlooked and overrated, he said. So, I decided I wanted to be here just for that. To be inspired by everything that shes done and all her accomplishments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Town officials say they hope the marker is not the last of its kind and hope to see more in the future. 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). When Ronnie Hill and his fiance Tonya Orberson heard a tornado with its 115 mph winds barreling down on their Washington County home right around 7 a.m. Friday morning, they raced to the laundry room. Ronnie laid on top of Tonya and told her, No matter what, you hold on to me. She said all of a sudden, they just all went up in the air. Her and Ronnie were still holding hands, Lashanna Gibson, who is Orbersons daughter, told the Herald-Leader Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was screaming, and Ronnie was saying, Do not let go. The raging tornado lifted and destroyed their home, sending the couple flying. They ended up beside the pond. They were still laying right beside of each other whenever they hit the ground, Gibson said. Mom said she woke up and she was hollering for him. He wouldnt answer her. She looked over and she could tell that he was already gone. He protected her until his last breath, Gibson said. He was a true hero. The 48-year-old Ronnie, the only person who died in Fridays EF2 tornado that struck Washington County, and Tonya got engaged to be married in late April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They hadnt yet set a wedding date. Tonya was at the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital Saturday with a broken back, a broken arm, a dislocated elbow and a large cut on her head, Gibson said. Jack Coleman, a former state lawmaker and father of Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, said Ronnie worked for him as a contractor. Coleman was the project manager during the construction of All Together Recovery, a 50-bed residential addiction treatment center for men in Danville. Coleman worked with Ronnie, who continued to oversee maintenance and remodeling at the centers apartments after construction was completed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He could do anything, he said Saturday. We hired Ronnie last summer. He was wonderful. He had just come out of recovery. He had a powerful testimony. He gave people hope that they could be successful in recovery, too. He was really a goodhearted fellow, Coleman added. He wanted to help people. Coleman said when he learned on Friday that Ronnie had died, I just couldnt believe it. Mark La Palme, a consultant at the All Together Recovery Center, said the men in recovery who lived in the apartments where Ronnie was a maintenance man and remodeler, cried when they heard he died. He had a ton of past to overcome, but he did it, said LaPalme. He did it with grace and mercy and style. Ronnie would literally have given you his last penny, his last gallon of gas, the shirt off of his back. Thats the kind of guy that Ronnie Hill was. India will witness the world's fastest growth in the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), with their population expected to surge by 50 per cent between 2023 and 2028, according to a report by McKinsey & Company and BoF. The state of fashion luxury report says that the Indian luxury market is expected to grow between 15 and 20 per cent in 2025, fuelled by demographic and structural shifts. According to the report, new luxury malls and department stores, such as the Jio World Plaza and Galeries Lafayette, are increasing luxury real estate in tier-one cities. It further adds that the newly increased taxes on imported goods over Rs 700,000 (USD 8,400) are expected to encourage domestic spending, although the domestic Goods and Services Tax on luxury goods remains high at 28 per cent. Compared to the Indian growth, the Japanese luxury market is expected to grow between 6 and 10 per cent in 2025, retaining its position as a core luxury market. The growth in Japanese markets will be driven by both solid domestic demand and tourism spending. Recently, NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam announced that India has overtaken Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy. Citing data from the International Monetary Fund, the CEO of India's apex think tank stated that India's economy has reached the USD 4 trillion mark. As per the report, Japan is home to the second-largest number of UHNWIs in Asia, which is expected to grow by more than 12 per cent from 2023 to 2028. The growth rate of UHNWIs in India is more than that of Japan. According to the IMF's April edition of the World Economic Outlook report, India's nominal GDP for fiscal 2026 is expected to reach around USD 4.187 trillion. This is marginally more than Japan's likely GDP, which is estimated at USD 4.186 billion. The report added that over the past five years, the luxury industry experienced a period of exceptional value creation. Between 2019 and 2023, unprecedented demand for personal luxury goods -- fashion, handbags, watches and jewellery among them -- combined With a deep well of supply allowed the sector to achieve a 5 per cent compound annual growth rate. Luxury brands outperformed global markets and achieved new profitability records. But in the year 2025 so far, the luxury industry has faced a significant slowdown that has hit even top brands hard. For the first time since 2016 (excluding 2020), luxury value creation declined. Several of the industry's growth-driving engines have stalled. Macroeconomic headwinds --especially in the key China market, which grew more than 18 per cent annually from 2019 to 2023 -- are weighing heavily on the sector, the report highlighted. (ANI) HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) Holyoke Community Colleges Class of 2025 proudly walked across the stage to accept their diplomas Saturday morning during the colleges 78th commencement ceremony. HCC has always been a community I always wanted to be a part of, said IsaRose Ramos, HCC graduate. It all started by word of mouth for IsaRose Ramos, a Human Services major. In 2012, she lived at the YWCA of Western Massachusetts with her children. Ten years later, she transitioned from a volunteer to a domestic violence trauma-informed counselor at the shelter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In order to move up in the departments, you have to have Bachelors in Human Services, Ramos said. You have to start with an Associates. Holyoke organization hosts Golden Prom for 50+ community This was a similar goal for the nearly 750 graduates at Holyoke Community College. After closing their chapter at HCC, the Class of 2025 walked across the stage on Saturday at the MassMutual Center in Springfield to receive their Associates degrees and certificates. Commencement is just such an exciting time for us, because its a culmination of so many struggles that our students have had, said HCC President George Timmons. And this is just a way to celebrate this achievement in a grand way. For some, what takes a two-year degree may have taken them 10, 12, 15 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Timmons told 22News that the graduates couldnt have done it without the help of the faculty members, which is why the college decided to grant an English professor with the Marieb Award of Teaching Excellence, the colleges highest faculty award. Dr. Trobaugh exudes HCC mission and values, like she loves what she does, Timmons said. Because I think that in life, dont chase money, chase happiness. And if you are happy with what you do, then I believe the money will come. But the acknowledgements didnt stop there. The graduates decided to give back to the school, with the class of 2025 raising hundreds of dollars to give the college a donation to its Thrive Resource Center. Its in honor of a woman who started this student resource center to help with homelessness, food insecurity, SNAP, credit scores, and housing. Despite the odds, we made it because we kept showing up, Ramos said. Not because it was easy, not because anything was handed to us in life, but because we know our worth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The graduates way of giving back is a direct representation of others who helped the college. Because of their work, four individuals were presented with Distinguished Service Awards. 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. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) Holyoke police have identified a juvenile in connection with a hoax school threat made on social media. According to Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan, the threat was reported on Instagram and was related to Holyoke High School. Students brought the post to the attention of multiple school resource officers. Multi-car crash in Holyoke damages traffic light, parked cars While the original post was deleted, screenshots of the post are still being shared. Holyoke Police quickly assessed the threat and deemed it non-credible. After identifying the juvenile, officers spoke with them along with their parent about the seriousness of posting any type of threat online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Id like to thank Officers Cruz, Rivera, and our Detectives for their prompt handling of this situation, said Chief Keenan. Our department treats any threat to our community seriously and thoroughly investigates each situation to determine if any threat is credible. In this case, thankfully, it was not. The safety and well-being of our students and community is paramount. I appreciate the vigilance of the students who brought this post to our officers attention, and in doing so, the officers were able to quickly identify the person responsible for the post. I have full faith in Chief Keenan and his officers to investigate these types of incidents, and I thank them for identifying the source of this post with urgency, said Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia. While it can be uneasy, I want to assure our community, students, staff, and teachers that there is no ongoing threat, and this post was deemed to not be credible. If there was a situation where we received a threat and it was deemed credible or if it was unclear, we would alert our community immediately. The Holyoke Police Department stated that there was never a credible threat to the community. Officers urge anyone who sees an online threat mentioning a school in the area to contact the police immediately. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. HONOLULU (KHON2) Honolulu Ocean Safety and Emergency Medical Services responded to multiple calls across Oahus North Shore on May 31. Around 8 a.m., first responders attended to a 29-year-old Waialua woman, who injured her shoulder while surfing. The woman was brought to shore and provided with treatment, declining transportation to the hospital. Motorcyclist critically injured in Kamehameha Highway accident Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before 9:30 a.m., lifeguards rescued two swimmers who were struggling to stay afloat at Three Tables. Both swimmers were brought to safety and did not require medical attention. Shortly after the Three Tables rescue, a 38-year-old man suffered a head injury and multiple lacerations after being swept off his feet by a wave at Sharks Cove. The man was able to bring himself to shore and sustained additional cuts from the reef. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Lifeguards were able to aid the man with initial treatment before handing over treatment to Honolulu EMS, who eventually took him to the hospital in serious condition. None of the rescues that occurred took place at guarded beaches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Jun. 1dbeard @dominionpost.com MORGANTOWN Hope Gas is making steady progress on its Morgantown Connector Project a new 30-mile pipeline from Wadestown to Morgantown and took The Dominion Post on a visit to several sites along the route last week. Brittany McDaniel, Hope's director of Engineering Project Management, and Colin Mitchell, project manager for contractor Apex Pipeline Services, led the tour. Jonell Carver, Hope's chief operating office, Chris Hendrick, Hope vice president for Reliability, and Jason Barnette, with Hope's land department, also joined. Nitro-based Apex is the contractor for the 10-mile "spread " leading into Morgantown. Charleston-based Ace Pipeline won the contracts for the two other 10-mile spreads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apex started cutting trees in January, McDaniel said, and expects to be nearly done with its work by the end of July into August ahead of schedule. Ace is also ruining ahead of schedule. The line is planned to go into service Nov. 1, at the start of winter heating season when demand picks up. Additional restoration and cleanup will continue into 2026. Hope is building the pipeline to meet increased demand for natural gas in the Morgantown area. A second line will also provide redundancy should there ever be an issue with the existing line. But Hope also said during our Wednesday tour that one of its missions it to create West Virginia jobs. Mitchell said Apex is employing about 150 people for its spread, while Ace has about 300 on its two sections. McDaniel said each spread also requires 20-30 Hope inspectors and support staff. And that doesn't count service jobs dump trucks and delivery trucks and indirect jobs for hotels, restaurants and the various suppliers, Mitchell said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We visited three sites in various stages of development. At one, outside Westover, two big yellow shovels sat at the bottom of a hill. A line of 16-inch pipe ran down the cleared right of way. Metal support structures keep the pipe off the ground. At the next site, also outside Westover, the right of way runs up and down more hills and the pipe is buried. Mitchell said the line must have a minimum of 3 feet of coverage, but there's usually more. And the original ground goes back on top of that, so the line is generally about 6-7 feet below the surface. McDaniel noted that laying pipeline is different from running it along flatland. As West Virginia companies, both contractors have an advantage. "They know how to handle this mountainous terrain." The third site, out Fairmont Road and up Little Indian Creek Road near the Arkwright Mine, is already reclaimed. Grass is growing on the right of way running down the hill. They work with landowners, McDaniel said, to meet their needs and demand for specific types of grass, fencing, property line posts and so on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And while the original design ran as straight as possible, she said, they've adjusted the course for the realities on the ground including the residents along the way. The second site was moved several hundred yards to avoid a new subdivision under construction. McDaniel estimated that the project right of way involved about 243 landowners. We've reported several times that Hope filed 31 condemnation suits seeking eminent domain in Monongalia County Circuit Court, and spoken with landowners unhappy with Hope's negotiations for compensation. A look at court records on Thursday showed 23 cases open and eight settled and closed. We asked McDaniel about those holdouts. "We're working on that, " she said. Some are in the process of resolution and will be settled while some will be resolved by the court. Along with compensation for loss of land use, some landowners raised pipeline safety concerns to The Dominion Post. We also asked McDaniel about that. She said, "As far as I'm concerned, pipelines are the safest form of [gas ] transportation that there is." She has lines across her land, she said, and described some of the safety measures they employ, including X-raying all the pipe welds and testing the lines to 1.5 times their operating pressure. It wasnt until one afternoon a few days after Cardinal Robert Provost was elected Pope Leo XIV that I really had time to sit down and process what had just transpired in the Catholic Church. I was sitting in an Irish pub that sits on one of the busiest streets in Rome about a mile away from the Vatican. It had been my first afternoon when I didnt have an evenings work ahead of me. The only thing that was ahead of me was a newspaper that I had bought from a street vendor and a pint of Peroni. As I sat at a small table by a window in the pub, I stared at the front page of the paper which featured a smiling Pope Leo with a headline that read Un Americano a Roma (an American in Rome). It finally hit me: I had just witnessed, for the first time in history, an American-born man be elected Pope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Conclave, all Vatican credentialed media, myself included, were positioned together on top of one of the colonnades that harbor St. Peters Square. It gave us a beautiful vantage point allowing us to look down on the massive crowd of people in the Square while also being at eye level with the famed smoke chimney across the way. Just to our left, about 20 yards away, was the balcony which the pope commonly uses to make an address. All squeezed together at the edge of the terrace, we witnessed the white smoke billow out of the chimney. Simultaneously, the crowd below roared so loud that the colonnade shook. The roars of the crowd only got more substantial as Cardinal Mamberti came out on the balcony and proclaimed Habemus Papam (we have a pope). Being a cradle Catholic and a product of the Catholic school system, I knew what that meant. As for the other Latin that Mamberti proclaimed, I was completely lost and couldnt even make out which name he stated. I continued to photograph the happenings while urgently texting Bishop Joe (Joseph Brenner), his team and members of the media back home. I suddenly felt some pats on my shoulder and saw a hand pop up in front of my face. I was startle I thought I had maybe ruined someones shot and was about to get smacked in the face over it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To my surprise, the hand that was in my face was being offered to me as a high five. The Italian journalists I had been surrounded by all started uttering Americano. I was a little confused at first and thought, maybe they just realized Im American. Then the guy who gave me the high five said in broken English, the Pope is from your America, Provost. That was how I found out who the newly elected pope. To be honest, I was surprised by the enthusiasm in which the foreign media had for a pope from America. We eagerly awaited as Pope Leo IX made his first appearance on that balcony and addressed the crowd. As I could sense his address drawing to a close, I was calculating how many Zoom calls I would need to jump on with journalists from the Central Valley. I was also calculating how much time it would take me to get back to a media room in which I could facilitate the calls. Before leaving the terrace of the colonnade, I put my phone in my suit jacket, stood toward the back of the media crowd and, for just a moment, let it all sink in. I felt immense pride in my Catholic faith and to be an American. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sitting at the pub, I contemplated what this newly elected pope meant for the Catholic Church. I am excited for Pope Leos papacy, and we are already seeing that many younger Americans are also excited or, at the very least, showing interest in who he is. Since his election, we have seen interviews where his brothers refer to him as Rob, we have established that he is a Chicago White Sox fan and TikTok has had some pretty entertaining Pope Leo content. I had the honor to attend Pope Leos first press conference. I sat four rows back from the front and got to see his expressions as he spoke. The press conference in which he kicked off with a dad joke had a lot of highlights, including when he said that communication creates culture. The profoundness of that statement is simple yet impactful. Hes acknowledging that his communication what he says and how he says it will affect not only how the Catholic Church manifests, but also how the spiritual intellect of the people will develop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not breaking news that the Catholic Church in America has been pondering how the church will look in the future. It is a church that is working on garnering appreciation and trust from younger generations. I have managed strategic communications for two different dioceses and two different bishops in a span of almost seven years. When it comes to bringing people into or closer to the faith, I have seen the church most successful when we can do two things: humanize the churchs teachings and the people who teach them, and meet people where theyre at. We all know that it is easier to obtain guidance from someone we trust or relate to. This is not to say that we couldnt trust or relate to previous popes, as they were all benevolent and trustworthy through their pastoral leadership. However, regarding the Catholic Church in America, I anticipate Pope Leo having an advantage in quickly resonating with the people due to our shared nationality. I have already had people of different faiths and even of no faith reach out to me and initiate conversations about Pope Leo and the church. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The interviews with his brothers, the dad jokes and seeing him try to use FaceTime have already made him relatable. When Ive seen this type of Pope Leo content, it instantly reminds me of my grandparents or a great uncle. It makes me and others want to see and learn more of him because we can see a glimpse of our lives in his. This sense of relatability and meeting Americans where theyre at will undoubtedly have an impact on the growth of Catholicism in our nation. It shows us that we can be human and, at the same time, be a part of a discipline of faith. To add to this anticipation of growth, you also must take into account the clergy members (deacons, priests and bishops) that serve us in our communities and how theyll take his lead in this style of evangelization. As for Catholicism in the Central Valley, I know first-hand that we have a bishop and many clergy that see the importance of relatability and meeting people where theyre at. Whether that be social media or among the marginalized. We are also led by a body of priests, including our bishops, who know the value of humility and continue to be vulnerable in an effort to better reach their flocks. I know from my discussions with Bishop Brennan that he is excited for this new chapter under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV. On behalf of the bishop and the Diocese of Fresno, I ask that you join us in praying for Pope Leo and the growth of the Catholic faith in and beyond our beautiful country. Chandler Marquez is director of communications for the Diocese of Fresno. HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) The Connecticut State Senate passed House Bill 5002 in a vote of 20-15 on Saturday, after hours of debate. Earlier this week, the House passed the bill after 11 hours of debate between lawmakers. Connecticut House passes housing bill after 11-hour debate Democrats have been moving on this issue to reform housing legislation. they say this bill will help the state address housing shortages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve gotten to the place where were doing what we need to do we just want to make sure we are doing smart development, converting commercial properties that havent been used in along time and building out more of robust housing across the board not affordable, said Rep. Antonio Felipe, (D, Bridgeport) and chair of the housing committee in the House. Across the aisle, Republicans are less keen on the idea, saying the bill is an infringement on local control and that a one-size-fits all solution is not what the state needs. We have seen state laws on affordable housing already fail neighborhoods in Shelton and Stratford, said Sen. Jason Perillo (R-21). Projects on Mohawk Drive, Shelton Avenue, and Oronoque Trail are clear examples of these failed mandates. These practices create entitled developers, not empowered communities. The bill will now head to Gov. Ned Lamonts desk to be signed into law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Hamas condemned Huckabee's statement in the Fox News interview, calling it a "flagrant disregard for the legitimate national rights of our people." US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee criticized on Saturday France's decision to organize a UN conference that would see the recognition of a Palestinian state within a two-state solution. "It's incredibly inappropriate in the midst of a war that Israel is dealing with to go out to present something that Israelis are steadfast against," he told Fox News in an interview. "If France is really so determined to see a Palestinian state, I've got a suggestion for them: carve out a piece of the French Riviera and create a Palestinian state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They're welcome to do that, but they're not welcome to impose that kind of pressure on a sovereign nation. I find it revolting that they think they have a right to do that sort of thing. I hope they reconsider. But the United States will not be part of this. Hamas condemns Huckabee's remarks The Hamas terrorist organization condemned Huckabee's statement in the Fox News interview, calling it a "flagrant disregard for the legitimate national rights of our people" and "reaffirms the full American bias towards the Zionist occupation and its expansionist colonial approach." The terror organization then called on the UN to "take a serious stand to support our Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle to obtain their freedom." Huckabee's Fox interview comes days after French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot delivered a speech on Wednesday that reiterates the country's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, urging "the implementation of a two-state solution." US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee receives the United Hatzalah Lifesaving Award, at the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem, May 1, 2025. (photo credit: Tzachi Kraus) The following day, the US spoke against France at the UN Security Council that it firmly rejected "any attempt to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French President Emmanuel Macron said in April that France could recognize a Palestinian state in June, adding that, in turn, some countries in the Middle East could recognize the state of Israel. Regarding Saturday's Fox News interview, Huckabee said that "pro-Israel Americans need to be concerned that there is a rift between the US and Israel," but noted that there are disagreements between the two countries in how to end the Gaza war and bring back the remaining 58 hostages still in the Palestinian enclave. He emphasized the relations between the two countries are not "at risk, splintered, or fractured." "It's critically important that the United States maintain its partnership - I use that word very deliberately - it's not a friendship nor is it an alliance, it's a partnership, which means that we are yoked together in our intelligence sharing and military." He continued the Fox News interview by referring to the yellow ribbon pin on his suit, saying, "one of the happiest days of my life is when I can take this pin off, permanently put it away, never to wear it again - because that will mean that all the hostages will have come home." Speaking on the Abraham Accords, the ambassador said he was unsure which countries could join the agreements next, but noted that he was confident that there would be an expansion of the accords under Trump's second term. The US ambassador to Israel also attended the dedication of an ambulance donated by Evangelicals. One would expect the dedication of an ambulance to take place in the parking lot of a hospital, health clinic, or the organization to which the ambulance was donated - but not in a museum. However, there are always exceptions to the rule, and the bulletproof ambulance donated to Magen David Adom by Samaritan's Purse and Harvest Christian Fellowship was dedicated at the Tower of David Museum in Jerusalem just a few hours prior to the onset of Shavuot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The date and the venue were not coincidental. King David, who made Jerusalem the capital of the Jewish people, was born on Shavuot, and the museum bears his name. The ambulance which was the 42nd donated by Samaritan's Purse since October 2023 massacre by Hamas, was dedicated in the presence of scores of MDA personnel, including MDA global president and former Israel ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan past and present MKs and local authority officials, numerous Evangelicals including US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, US embassy staff, three generations of the family of Reverend Franklin Graham, the President of Samaritans Purse, Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship Greg Laurie, and some dozen stills and video photographers. Also present were returned hostages and members of hostage families including Karina Engel, who, with her two daughters, were abducted by Hamas and returned in November 2023 with the first of the released hostages. Her husband Ronen, an MDA volunteer, was murdered by Hamas and taken to Gaza, where his body is still in captivity. An ambulance in his memory was dedicated in January 2024. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee meets with Israeli officials at the Knesset, May 28, 2025. (photo credit: COURTESY, MEIR ELIPUR) Engel told her story with tears streaming down her face and her voice choked with emotion. She has developed a special relationship with Graham and his wife, who both hugged her when she finished speaking. Awareness to bring the hostages home Huckabee said that when he came to Israel, he was asked what he wanted to do during his tenure. Pointing to the yellow ribbon pin on his jacket, he said that he wanted to take it off and never have to wear it again, because that would mean that all the hostages had come home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Huckabee is familiar with the Samaritans Purse, where his wife Janet has been a volunteer for years. He had high praise for the Evangelical aid organization, which he said, shows up wherever there is a calamity in the world and continues to help people who are in harms way. Referencing the saying in Jewish tradition, that he who saves a single life is as one who saves a whole world, Erdan said that through Samaritans Purse and Harvest Christian Fellowship, many lives and many worlds had been saved. What they have done, he added, is a powerful proclamation that Israel is not alone. You answered hatred with hope, he told the Evangelical leaders. There was no better place than Jerusalem for the dedication of the ambulance, he said, because Jerusalem is the city holy to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and MDA staff and volunteers are made up of people of all faiths. Erdan also pledged that Israel will never waver in its determination to defeat terror, and will never rest until all the hostages have been brought home. He declared that Israels fight is civilizations fight against terrorism and radical extremism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graham had been curious as to when the first ever hostages were taken prisoner and abducted, and found the answer in the Scriptures in Genesis 14, where Lot is taken hostage and Abraham goes to rescue him. Graham described Abraham as the first responder of his generation. Listing some of the things that Samaritans Purse has done, Graham gave credit to many of those present. When President Isaac Herzog had asked him to provide an ambulance for the north of the country, he had turned to Laurie and had impressed on him that the ambulance had to be delivered immediately. In addition, 14 severely damaged ambulances were replaced. Samaritans Purse also concerned itself with people evacuated from their homes and placed in hotels. Instead of giving them food parcels, Samaritans Purse gave them gift cards so that they could buy what they wanted and needed. The organization also thought of other ways to help. To determine the needs, Graham has been a frequent visitor to Israel. Laurie considered it a privilege and an honor to be able to help Israel. We want to say to the People of Israel and to the Jewish People generally, that we stand with you, and that we want to do something tangible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quoting the biblical blessing given by God to the Children of Israel, Laurie said: We are an extension of the blessing of the Lord. He was also proud of the fact that (in 1948) the US had been the first country to recognize Israels legitimacy. In the face of antisemitism, Laurie has spoken aggressively on university campuses across America. MDA Director General Eli Bin recalled that when watching President Donald Trump's inauguration on television, he had caught sight of Graham, and had sent a WhatsApp message to Erdan asking whether this was indeed their Reverend Graham. When Eldan confirmed that it was Graham, Bin's reaction was, Now we have two Israel ambassadors in the US. Outside of her Huntley brick-and-mortar Trump & Truth memorabilia shop, owner Lisa Fleischmann met with about 100 supporters who gathered on Saturday to support for Fleischmann and her businesss right to exist following recent clashes with village officials. Many of the supporters, who included a 12-year-old girl dressed as the president, donned pro-Trump t-shirts and other attire, waving American flags to catch the attention of passersby, some of whom slammed on their horns in solidarity. Tables set up just outside of the strip mall store were stocked with beverages, pizza and snacks to keep the crowd energized for the afternoon. Just a half-mile south of the store on Illinois Route 47, about 200 people gathered to protest the store along the roadside with its fair share of supportive honks from drivers passing the sea of protest signs amid cheers and noisemakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The support rally came in response to news about the tussle between Fleischmann and the village over accusations that the pro-Trump store violated village sign ordinance and building codes with its inflatable dolls of President Trump and a banner hanging outside of the store. Fleischmann and her supporters believe the scrutiny is due to her support for Trump. Her landlord has also threatened eviction after facing several citations themselves in January, but attorney David Shestokas, of Orland Park, said the eviction threat is due to pressure from the village, adding her defense includes possible violations of First Amendment rights. Trump-themed shop could be closed over code issues, but owner says its political Some of the citations theyve given, there are other businesses in the area that have had the same stuff like things in front of the businesses or on the sidewalk and theyve not been bothered even slightly, Shestokas said. Were putting together our defense with evidence on what appears to be unequal treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shestokas said he is extraordinarily optimistic that well reach a resolution thats favorable for Lisa. Fleischmann appeared to be in high spirits Saturday, talking to customers nonstop as they perused and purchased the Trump merchandise that covered nearly every inch of the store near the intersection of Main Street and Illinois Route 47. She said that while weekends were usually busy for her, the energy on Saturday was different. Everybody is so great, and people coming from all over to support me means so much, Fleischmann said. Its been so fun. Mercedes Beard said its very unfair and wrong for Fleischmann to have to deal with the village trying to intimidate her. At the counter-protest, organizer Vivian Lenski, of Huntley, said her event was in part to organize against Trump and his agenda but also to show that business owners cant do whatever they want. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not against (Fleischmann) or her store specifically, anybody can open a store, though its kind of an eyesore, but if shes not following the rules, its not right, Lenski said. Shes got to follow the law just like everyone else. The groups, for the most part, did not appear to interact with one another aside from a brief exchange between a lone anti-Trump protester who stood across the road from Fleischmanns store and one of her supporters who crossed the road the meet him. Tina Zucker, of St. Charles, and her daughter Lee Zucker, of DeKalb, protest and said it was important to them to be at the counterprotest, though neither of them lives in Huntley. Weve been to similar protests in the past and the goal is always to show up and get seen by people, especially the ones who can make change happen like our senators, Lee Zucker said. She also brought along her 6-year-old daughter, who alternated between cheering with her mom and grandma and playing in the grass. She doesnt understand a lot of whats going on, but she knows that we should be treating people well and be kind, and I think thats enough, Lee Zucker said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back at Fleischmanns store, supporters echoed their belief that pressure against the business was political. David and Mercedes Beard drove about 40 minutes from Sycamore to show their support for the store. Their first visit was about a week ago, and they knew they had to return for the rally. People are trying to shut her down however they can, David Beard said. Its a political move. For me, I dont care whether youre a Democrat or Republican, you still have the right to be here and run your business. The Leapfrog survey is not an accurate measure of patient safety at Huntsville Hospital. The hospital did not complete this voluntary 353-page survey, yet Leapfrog chose to publish a rating with incomplete information. This process is unfair to the thousands of dedicated clinicians working around the clock to care for the community and respond to emergencies anytime they are called. Huntsville Hospital is consistently ranked by US News as the second-best hospital in Alabama (https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/al). The hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission, the gold standard for hospital quality and safety, holding hospitals accountable for over 250 standards measured in person by a sevenperson survey team. Forbes considers HH one of the best employers in Alabama and Newsweek named HH one of Americas Greatest Workplaces for Women. HHs cardiac surgery programs was recognized by Healthgrades as one of Americas 50 best programs seven years in a row. HH is a certified stroke center and accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Blue Cross and Blue Shield recognizes HH for distinction in cardiac care, spine surgery, bariatric surgery, and maternity care. Every employee and physician in the HH Health System completes mandatory training in patient safety and high reliability. HH excels in most quality ratings and scores poorly in a Leapfrog survey that it does not complete. Huntsville Hospital takes care of the sickest patients in north Alabama and southern Tennessee. Mortality ratings referenced in the Leapfrog survey fail to account for the severity of illness managed by hospitals that accept transfers of patients needing the highest level of care. To ensure we are providing these patients the best possible care, Huntsville Hospital dedicates significant resources to specialty specific clinical databases including the Society of Thoracic Surgery, American College of Cardiology NCDR Registry, Vermont Oxford neonatology database, National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, National Trauma database, and Cancer Registry. The perception of this matter is not lost on us. Going forward, Huntsville Hospital and Madison Hospital will add the significant resources that are required to complete a survey of Leapfrogs scope. While we would rather have these staff members taking care of patients, and we recognize that Leapfrog may not be the best indicator of hospital quality, allowing an organization to suggest we do not prioritize patient safety is an afront to dedicated care givers and first responders working around the clock to make Huntsville a better place to live. Airline major IndiGo will expand its services in Assam, following the discussion with the state's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, an official release said on Sunday. The release added that Assam's air network is going on with further expansion of air connectivity with the introduction of new flights to and from the region. "The significant decision made by IndiGo management to introduce new flights and with stopovers of existing flights at new locations in Assam has been conveyed to the Assam Chief Minister on Sunday," the release added. A meeting took place between IndiGo senior management, in which the Secretary of Civil Aviation was also present and the Chief Minister at his 9 Teen Murti Marg official residence in the national capital on May 22, the release added.In the course of the discussion, Chief Minister Dr Sarma urged the IndiGo senior officials to enhance air connectivity to key locations across Assam, particularly Silchar, Dibrugarh and North Lakhimpur.Following the Chief Minister's request, the IndiGo management responded positively with the announcement of a non-stop flight between Delhi and Jorhat starting mid-September 2025. It also announced a new Guwahati-Navi Mumbai service commencing from the winter of this year.The IndiGo management also announced that the Delhi-Dibrugarh flight will now include a stopover at Guwahati, providing morning connectivity between the two capitals of Assam. It also said that plans are on the anvil to restructure its schedule by introducing a morning Guwahati-Silchar flight and to evaluate scheduled operations from Lilabari Airport in North Lakhimpur.Later, Chief Minister Dr Sarma took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle to announce the positive development. "During my recent meeting with the @IndiGo6E leadership in New Delhi, I urged them to enhance air connectivity to other key locations across Assam -- particularly Silchar, Dibrugarh, and North Lakhimpur. I'm pleased to share that IndiGo has responded positively and shared the following upcoming deployments: The Delhi-Dibrugarh flight will now include a stopover at Guwahati, providing morning connectivity between the two capitals of Assam," the post added.IndiGo will restructure its schedule to introduce a morning Guwahati-Silchar flight, addressing long-standing passenger demand.A new Guwahati-Navi Mumbai service will commence from the Winter 2025-26 schedule. IndiGo will soon evaluate scheduled operations from Lilabari Airport in North Lakhimpur. "It was a pleasure to meet the leadership of @IndiGo6E in New Delhi to discuss their roadmap for expanding air connectivity in Assam.I appreciate IndiGo's prompt response and look forward to their continued efforts in delivering quality service to the people of our state," the post further added. (ANI) When Hurricane Irma barreled through Central Florida in 2017, floodwaters rose several feet in the streets of the working-class neighborhood of Orlo Vista and up to the window sills in Levi Williams home. We could see fish and tadpoles swimming in the water, she said Thursday. It was weeks before she could finally return to the home where she had lived since 1975. It was the first time her house flooded. Williams was chased out of her home again by flooding in September 2022 when Hurricane Ian swamped Central Florida, dumping nearly 15 inches in some spots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She remembered sheets of water flowing along the streets of Orlo Vista, destroying nearly everything in its path, before spreading into homes. Some residents had to be rescued out of their houses by the National Guard with high-water vehicles. Williams will often tell her stories of those two storms to warn Central Florida residents even those who have lived in the region for decades that a hurricanes rains are just as dangerous as its winds. We have no control over the weather. Thats Gods doing, she said. But we can be prepared. Thats the message that national weather forecasters, emergency management directors and public officials also are spreading as this years Atlantic hurricane season starts today and continues through Nov. 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts another above average hurricane season with between 13 and 19 named storms. Central Florida residents, they warn, should be ready for heavy rains that can destroy homes within hours, even if their area is not in the direct path of a large storm. Were not on the coast, so people say: Oh gosh, we dont have to worry about hurricanes so much, said U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, former governor of Florida, on Thursday during a press briefing in Sanford regarding hurricane preparedness. But if you really look at these hurricanes, whats happened is: Theyve really become big water events, Scott said, as he gathered with public safety officials. Weve had unbelievable flooding where people thought weve never had flooding before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott and other emergency officials at the event urged homeowners purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, even if their properties are not in a designated flood zone. Marie Lackey, a program manager for Seminole Countys public works department, said Central Florida has experienced what scientists and weather experts refer to as a 100-year flood event four times since 2017. A 100-year flood event means its so rare that it has only a 1% chance of occurring within a specific year. Our systems are not designed for that amount of rainfall, she said. And that is a concern, not just in our county, but in our surrounding counties. Jean Brower and her husband, James, learned that first hand. They were forced to live in a hotel for more than two weeks after Hurricane Ian dumped 19 inches of rain in some spots of Osceola County and flooded the couples mobile home park, Good Samaritan Societys Kissimmee Village. More than a dozen units were later demolished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement County crews have since dredged nearby canals with hopes of preventing a similar disaster. Were a little more nervous this year, said Brower, who blames the stress from the hurricane for a stroke she suffered that left her wheelchair-bound in January 2023. We know that theyre predicting another busy hurricane season, she said. But its coming up too soon. Well keep our fingers crossed. In Osceola, officials plan to soon implement FloodWise, a software technology that can predict where flooding will occur at the street level up to three days in advance of an approaching storm. It will alert us where to put pumps and sandbags, said Linette Matheny, Osceolas executive director of environment and public lands. We can tell people in an apartment complex to move their cars or property out of the way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trying to estimate how much rain will fall in a particular area during an approaching storm can drive weather forecasters and emergency management officials to frustration. Devastating floods can occur far from a hurricanes eye. A storms outer bands of rain can cause local deluges, so residents should be prepared even in areas that are outside a storms forecasted track. When Hurricane Milton cut a path across south Osceola last October, Kissimmee received slightly under 4 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. But Sanford, more than 35 miles north from the eye, saw more than 11 inches of rain. Olivier Welscher who runs Meriwether Farms next to the historic Midway community near Sanford said hes uneasy about this years hurricane season after his property off Celery Avenue flooded during Ian in September 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ian was just a crazy storm, Welscher said. We have never been flooded that bad. And that was followed by [Tropical Storm] Nicole in November 2022. Midway residents have long struggled with flooded roads and inundated yards after strong storms because of an aging stormwater infrastructure. Many Midway homes were built more than half a century ago. The flooding has become worse in recent years, residents say, because of stronger storms and hundreds of new homes built around their community in Sanford. The citys stormwater drains and ditches are often clogged with tree limbs and other vegetative debris, according to residents. It has been woefully neglected, said Emory Green Jr., a longtime Midway resident, said. This is a priority that needs to be addressed. And it makes me 100% nervous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Altamonte Springs, residents in the Spring Oaks neighborhood, tucked along a crook of the Little Wekiva River, have had to use canoes and kayaks to leave their homes after hurricanes Irma, Ian and Milton flooded their roads. More than 60 residents were evacuated after Irma. Spring Oaks resident Alan Wyland has already started stockpiling sandbags and other items in preparation for this years hurricane season. Weve learned to be ready, he said this week. In south Orange County, Jimmy Tadlock remembered a wave of stormwater flowing into his home during Ian in the Bonnie Brook neighborhood. It ruined everything furniture, appliances, even the vehicle, he said. The lift stations just couldnt handle it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those memories make Tadlock nervous about this years hurricane season, too. Its just been getting worse every year, he said. The weather is bad everywhere, not just here. Youre seeing heavy rains, winds, tornadoes; everywhere around the country. In Orlo Vista, Williams hopes Orange Countys recent improvements to the stormwater drainage systems will help spare her neighborhood from flooding this year. In November 2022, two months after Ian, Orange County hired a North Carolina company to a $21.5-million contract to deepen three storm-water ponds and install a new pump station and stormwater conduits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ponds have been dug deeper, and they can now hold a lot more water than in the past, said Jeff Charles, operations supervisor with Oranges stormwater management division. Charles pointed out no Orlo Vista properties were flooded during last Octobers Hurricane Milton, even after receiving nearly six inches of rain. But they shouldve taken more active measures earlier, Williams said, remembering her flood-damaged home from hurricanes Irma and Ian. In our Reality Check stories, Idaho Statesman journalists seek to hold the powerful accountable and find answers to critical questions in our community. Read more. Story idea? Tips@idahostatesman.com. Reyna Quintero was getting dressed for a girls night out that she had planned for days. Earlier in the day, the 34-year-old had called her sister several times to talk about what theyd wear and had just gotten off the phone with her teenage daughter, her family testified in court. Quintero had asked to use her eyelash curler. By all accounts from her family, she was excited to go out and celebrate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So when her daughter came home and found her choking on her own blood, with a gun resting in her mothers hand, she told police she knew it wasnt suicide, according to a probable cause affidavit. The daughter had been out grabbing McDonalds with her grandfather when she received a distressed call from her father, who had sent them out for the food, at their house, about an accident. Quinteros body was lying in her daughters room underneath the vanity. The Caldwell Police Department was called to the subdivision off of South Florida Avenue in Caldwell and found Quintero with a gunshot wound to the left side of her head. But detectives werent convinced it was a suicide. Months after the shooting, the Canyon County Coroners Office wasnt able to rule the shooting a suicide, leaving the manner of death undetermined, according to the probable cause affidavit. Michelle-Rene Kilgore Marmolejo, a criminologist from the Canyon County Sheriffs Office, testified in court that its rare for someone to kill themselves with their non-dominant hand, according to court records. Though the gun was found in Quinteros right hand, the bullet wound entered on the left side of her head. Dozens of court filings obtained by the Idaho Statesman showed how a nearly yearlong investigation by law enforcement focused in on Quinteros husband, Gerardo Francisco Torres-Rodriguez, whom she had been planning to divorceafter he had an affair with a 17-year-old in Mexico, according to interviews with family and phone records. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caldwell Detective Oscar Martinez reviewed the crime scene and autopsy photos again and again, until an open bottle of nail polish on the vanity table made him look at Quinteros toenails, according to the affidavit. Her toes were only partially painted. It was that detail, the unscrewed bottle of nail polish on her daughters vanity table, that prompted Martinez to believe Quintero was in the middle of painting her toenails when she was shot and that the crime scene had been altered before law enforcement arrived. Caldwell police publicized Quinteros death for the first time this week, because of the sensitive nature of the investigation, spokesperson Char Jackson told the Statesman. Police were concerned that the investigation could have been compromised by releasing case information, she said. Law enforcement agencies typically release information to the public when a homicide occurs or when someone is charged with a severe crime, such as first-degree murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Torres-Rodriguez was arrested and charged with the first-degree murder of his wife in June 2024, 10 months after the homicide. Jury finds husband guilty of murder Third Judicial District Magistrate Judge Gregory Frates allowed Torres-Rodriguezs case to move forward to trial after the prosecution presented half a dozen witnesses, including law enforcement, during a preliminary hearing at the Canyon County Courthouse last year. Frates concluded, based on the evidence, that there was probable cause that Torres-Rodriguez killed his wife. He said like many homicides, the evidence was circumstantial, but Torres-Rodriguez was the only one at the house, the blood splatter was certainly conspicuous, and the scene was altered. The location of Quinteros body, along with the trajectory of the bullet, also made it clear she was kneeling over when she was killed, he said. It was effectively an execution, Fates added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Torres-Rodriguez faced more than a weeklong trial where witnesses testified about his odd demeanor after the killing. Canyon County Deputy Prosecutor Stephanie Morse urged the 12-person jury to find the 41-year-old guilty, the Canyon County Prosecuting Attorneys Office said in a news release. He earned the verdict you are about to deliver when he decided Reynas life was expendable, she told the jurors. He earned it when he jammed the gun into her head. He earned it with his utter disregard for life. Jurors agreed that Torres-Rodriguez staged his wifes murder as a suicide after shooting her in the head, and convicted him of first-degree murder, the Prosecuting Attorneys Office said in a news release. Witnesses in their testimony said Torres-Rodriguez manipulated his daughter into finding her mothers body and noted his nonchalant demeanor on a surveillance video camera outside the house, which showed him smoking a cigarette as he waited for his daughter to arrive. The girls aunt also testified about the way her niece and nephew had been manipulated by their father. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She is very fearful for herself, for her brothers safety, Quinteros sister, Dulce Madera-Madriz, said in court last year. Torres-Rodriguez sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Aug. 8, court records showed. Under state law, he could face up to a life sentence, but he will have to spend at least 10 years in prison. Quinteros daughter was likely one of the last people to speak to her mother. The prosecution asked her daughter in court if she remembered what her mother said to her before hanging up the phone after calling to ask to borrow her eyelash curler. That she loved me, her daughter said. According to the IDF spokesperson, the army has already delivered over 16,000 food packages directly to Gaza residents. IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin delivered a statement from the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Sunday, highlighting the armys ongoing humanitarian efforts and condemning Hamas for obstructing aid distribution. Right behind me, you can see one of the distribution centers we opened in the last few days, said Brig.-Gen. Defrin, standing near one of the newly established hubs. So far, weve opened four distribution centers, and we are intending to open more of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the spokesperson, the IDF has already delivered over 16,000 food packages directly to Gaza residents, in addition to facilitating the entry of more than 1,000 humanitarian aid trucks into the Strip. Defrin accused Hamas of deliberately attempting to prevent this aid from reaching civilians. Hamas is doing its utmost to stop us from doing so. Hamas is spreading rumors, fake news, he said. Hamas is trying bluntly and violently to stop the people of Gaza from reaching those distribution centers. He urged international audiences and the media not to trust claims originating from Hamas sources. I urge you not to believe every rumor spread by Hamas. We will investigate each and every one of those incidents and allegations. Palestinians seeking aid gather near an aid distribution site in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, May 27, 2025 (photo credit: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled) GHF proves IDF did not shoot at innocent Gazans at aid distribution sites In his closing remarks, Defrin reaffirmed the IDFs objectives: We are a professional military, and we will do our best in order to dismantle Hamas, to release our hostages, and to free the population of Gaza from Hamas, and from Hamas leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IDF on Sunday denied the reports it fired at civilians near a humanitarian aid distribution site in Gaza, calling the allegations false based on an initial investigation. The IDF emphasized its cooperation with GHF and international aid groups to ensure aid reaches Gazas residents, not Hamas. An IDF source reportedly clarified that during the night, roughly one kilometer from the humanitarian aid distribution area and outside its operating hours, troops took action to prevent several suspects from approaching their position. Evasive fire was allegedly directed at individuals advancing toward the forces. The military stressed that this incident is entirely unrelated to the false allegations of IDF fire at civilians near the aid site, according to the source. He was killed by military aircraft during a joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet. The IDF on Friday killed the terrorist Khalil Abd al-Nasser Muhammad Khatib, who commanded Hamas's Al Mawasi battalion, and was responsible for the deaths of 21 soldiers in January 2024, the military said on Sunday. He was killed by military aircraft during a joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet. Khatib commanded terrorists to launch anti-tank missiles at buildings housing IDF soldiers and at a tank crew providing cover for soldiers in the al-Mawasi area on January 22, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strike in the Gaza Strip that killed Khalil Abd al-Nasser Muhammad Khatib, a cell commander in Hamas' Al Mawasi battalion and responsible for the deaths of 21 soldiers (credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) Details into January 2024's incident The incident occurred around 4:00 p.m. in Maghazi in central Gaza, only 600 meters from the border fence close to Kissufim. The buildings were laden with stored explosives, and the grenades set them off causing their total collapse. Khatib continued to be involved in numerous terror attacks against IDF troops throughout the war after the incident in January 2024, the IDF said. IDF announces the names of 21 soldiers killed in combat, January 23, 2024. (photo credit: The Jerusalem Post) The IDF forces who were harmed were mostly reservists from Unit 8208 assigned to clear certain areas of dangerous items. Yonah Jeremy Bob and Gadi Zaig contributed to this report. The purpose of a system is what it does is a very useful concept in systems thinking, especially in politics. It helps you see past the spin and lies and get at the revealed preference of what a politician wants. So whilst Keir Starmer may say he wants to smash the gangs which enable large numbers of young men from alien cultures to arrive on British shores, the evidence is to the contrary. Yesterday saw nearly the largest ever number crossing. Close to 1,200 people came across the Channel, a number so high the Coastguard was forced to rely on fishing boats to help a yacht and kayaks in difficulty, as Border Force vessels and lifeboats were overloaded rescuing these migrants. The total number of arrivals this year has broken new records up more than 30 per cent on the same point last year. This quite demonstrably smashes the illusion that Starmer was ever serious about smashing the gangs. The purpose of a system is what it does. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So either Starmer and his team are completely incompetent, and their plan is not working, or they are not disclosing to the British public their true intentions, and are ultimately happy with the status quo. Neither option is acceptable, given the increasing danger to our safety and security. There are now over twice as many boat people who have arrived on our shores since 2018 (at least over 150,000) as there are UK regular forces in the British army (74,400 as of April). Three Iranian men were charged last month with spying offences, after arriving in the UK by irregular means including small boats and a lorry. How many extremists, or those who wish the UK harm, might be sitting in migrant hotels, plotting against innocent Brits? This is even more infuriating if you listen to Dominic Cummings, whose recent blog on the issue highlights how farcical a situation this is. Cummings says that after detailed conversations he had in Number 10 with the Royal Navy and special forces, smashing the gangs and stopping the boats would be trivially easy. The block? Government lawyers and civil servants, prioritising the ECHR and radical interpretations of laws, including Tony Blairs Human Rights Act. There is a chance, Cummings says, that the Prime Minister would even be arrested for ordering the armed forces to actually sort this out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Civil Service, the international lawyers, and now clearly Keir Starmer, have all prioritised the ECHR and the rights of those coming to Britain illegally, over the safety of our citizens. This isnt a bug. It is a feature of a rancid system operating as it is intended to. Starmer cannot smash the gangs. In the first three months of this year, just five people were convicted for piloting migrant boats. The only way to stop the boats is to stop demand with an effective deterrent. Its an awkward truth for Labour, but also a simple one. The purpose of a system is what it does. And the purpose of the British state is to allow unlimited numbers of illegals in, and make the British pay for it, both in cash and, potentially, with our lives. James Price is senior fellow at the Adam Smith Institute 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. A bill that seeks to control the rising cost of prescription drugs while also offering financial help for many small, independent pharmacies in Illinois cleared the state Senate on Thursday and awaits action in the House. The bill, known as the Prescription Drug Affordability Act, contained in House Bill 1697, would put new regulations and impose new fees on a large but little understood segment of the prescription drug industry pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. This really restricts the ability of PBMs to extract large amounts of money out of the prescription drug system, Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, the bills chief Senate sponsor, said in an interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PBMs act as a kind of third-party intermediary in the insurance industry who manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of insurance plans. They do that by negotiating prices with drug manufacturers, setting reimbursement rates paid to pharmacies, developing formularies, or preferred drug lists, and maintaining pharmacy networks where insured individuals get their prescriptions filled. But they have also come under criticism in recent years for being too closely integrated with some of the nations largest retail pharmacy chains and for helping drive up the cost of prescription drugs, often at the expense of smaller, independent community pharmacies. They extract extra profit from patients through opaque and often predatory tactics, Gov. JB Pritzker said in calling for the legislation during his State of the State address in February. Not only are they driving up health care costs for Illinois families by hundreds of millions of dollars per year, but they are also putting small, local, independent pharmacies out of business. Many large PBMs, such as CVS Caremark, a subsidiary of CVS Health, also either own or are affiliated with large retail chain pharmacies. Critics of their practices argue they use their position to steer patients to their own pharmacies, often to the detriment of smaller, independent pharmacies. That has resulted in what some people call pharmacy deserts in many small towns, rural areas and low-income urban communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PBMs routinely reimburse my pharmacy below cost for brand name prescriptions, medications where theyre already pocketing massive rebates from drug manufacturers, David Bagot, an independent pharmacist from Petersburg who is also president of the Illinois Pharmacists Association, told a Senate committee Wednesday. Meanwhile, they pay their own affiliated pharmacies including PBM-owned community, mail-order and specialty pharmacies much higher rates for the same medications. The bill would prohibit PBMs from steering insured patients to their own affiliated pharmacies, either by requiring them to use a particular pharmacy or by forcing the patient to pay more for their medications if they use a different outlet. It would also prohibit the practice of spread pricing, or charging an insurance plan one price for a given drug while reimbursing pharmacies at a lower rate for that same drug and pocketing the difference. In addition, the bill calls for levying a fee on PBMs based on the number of patients they insure. Money from that fee would go into a fund for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to award up to $25 million a year in grants to independent pharmacies and pharmacies located in rural counties, medically underserved areas, low-income communities and pharmacies that serve high concentrations of Medicaid patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also would require PBMs to remit all the money they receive in the form of rebates from drug manufacturers to the insurance plan sponsors. And it would require them to disclose to state regulators how much they receive in rebates each year. Pharmaceutical industry lobbyists argued many provisions of the bill, including the fee levied on PBMs, will actually end up being passed on to insurance plans and consumers, thus resulting in higher prescription drug prices. This is not a prescription drug affordability bill, said Lori Reimers, lobbyist for the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association. Costs will rise. When you give more money to pharmacies, when you restrict tools that lower cost, the cost of insurance and health plans are going to go up on your constituents. Reimers noted that since 2016, Illinois lawmakers have enacted 20 new laws pertaining to PBMs including laws granting the state Department of Insurance regulatory powers over PBMs, all with the intent of bringing down drug prices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And I dont think anybodys here saying that drug prices have gotten lower yet, she said. But here we are with a much bigger bill. The bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support, 56-1. Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Cherry Valley, cast the only no vote. The language the Senate passed was an amendment to a House bill that originally dealt with training for 911 dispatchers. The bill now goes back to the House for concurrence with the Sente amendments. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) Shortly after state legislators passed the fiscal year 2026 state budget, reactions poured in from politicians who were split down party lines. Many Republicans shared the same sentiment that the new budget was bloated with what they felt were tax increases that hurt working-class Illinoians. The state Democrats, on the other hand, rejoiced over the budget, with many claiming it would help fund much-needed entities such as schools and healthcare and help offset turmoil in Washington, D.C. Ryan Spain Republican Rep. Ryan Spain, who represents the Houses 73rd District, which includes areas north of Peoria such as Dunlap, Princeton, and Geneseo, denounces the budget and what he says is nearly $1 billion in tax hikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our state has been in an uncertain financial position for decades, thanks to years and years of financial malfeasance at the hands of the Democratic majority, who have maintained their artificial majority thanks to some of the worst gerrymandering in the entire country, he said. So, it doesnt surprise me that Democrats again violated their own House Rules to ram through the near-largest spending plan in state history that robs the road fund to pay for standard operating expenses, gives legislators another pay rise, diverts funds meant for property tax relief and slaps the people of the state of Illinois with $1 billion in tax hikes. This budget doubles down on years of failed economic strategy that has caused our state to fall behind all our neighbors. The people of the state of Illinois deserve better from their government. Dave Koehler Democratic Sen. Dave Koehler, who represents the Senates 46th District, including Peoria, East Peoria, and most of Bloomington, celebrated the passing of the budget, citing the support of healthcare. This years budget demonstrates our commitment to providing all Illinois residents with high-quality access to health care, Koehler stated. Our Investment in community-based providers makes certain that essential healthcare services remain available and open for vulnerable residents both in the 46th district and across the state. Dennis Tipsword Republican Rep. Dennis Tipsword, who represents Illinois Houses 105th district, and he felt the budget was bloated and is sending Illinois down the wrong path. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The more things change, the more they stay the same in Illinois. Democrats have passed another bloated budget that includes $1 billion in targeted tax increases, Dennis Tipsword (R-Metamora) said. On top of the tax increases, Democrats rewarded themselves with a huge pay raise and pork projects dedicated to their districts. Spending has increased by 38 percent in the last six years, a path and pattern that is simply unsustainable. The process to pass this years budget was again shrouded in secrecy and behind closed doors, he said. Jehan Gordon-Booth Democratic Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, who represents the Houses 92nd District, including Peoria, Peoria Heights, and Bartonville, feels it is a responsible and compassionate budget that supports schools, healthcare and helps tackle challenges in Washington, D.C. This document puts people first, and reflects a balanced approach in a challenging time, Gordon-Booth said. Were unable to count on the federal government to be an ally on critical issues that help families, and the economic uncertainty caused by reckless cuts and tariff plans further compelled us to develop a forward-thinking budget that has flexibility with funding reserves. By making necessary cuts, were ensuring we can maximize our resources on priorities that matter to families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We took steps forward, but more work remains. Im going to continue fighting for families so that we can build a brighter future for every community, she said. Neil Anderson Republican Sen. Neil Anderson, who represents the Senates 47th district, which includes Pekin, Kewanee and Carthage, stated that this is the largest budget in Illinois history, and it hurts Illinois families. While Illinois families are cutting back to survive, Democrats just pushed through a $55 billion spending plan, the largest in state history, he said. Worse yet, it comes with nearly a billion dollars in new tax hikes. The budget will mark a nearly 40% increase in state spending since Governor Pritzker took office. Our state is already one of the most overtaxed in the nation, yet instead of providing relief to working families and small businesses, Democrats chose greed over responsibility. The result? Businesses are closing. Families are fleeing. And Springfields insiders keep cashing in while the rest of us pay the price. This isnt leadership, its exploitation. Its economic warfare against the very people they claim to serve, he said. Li Arellano Jr. Republican Sen. Li Arellano Jr., who represents the Senates 37th District, which includes Dunlap, Geneseo and Dixon, shared a very similar sentiment as his colleague Anderson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Illinois Democrats have just rammed through the largest and most reckless budget in our states history, over $55 billion in spending, passed with zero transparency, minimal debate, and no regard for the taxpayers who are footing the bill, he said. This isnt leadership. Its political corruption, plain and simple, snuck in during a midnight vote. To make matters worse, theyre hitting working families with nearly a billion dollars in new taxes. Democrats keep demanding more from you while delivering less. Less public safety. Fewer job opportunities. Less economic growth. JB Pritzker Gov. JB Pritzker shared the same views as his Democratic Party members, saying this was his seventh balanced budget. The passage of the FY26 balanced budget is a testament to Illinois fiscal responsibility, Pritzker said. Even in the face of Trump and Congressional Republicans stalling the national economy, our state budget delivers for working families without raising their taxes while protecting the progress we are making for our long-term fiscal health. Im grateful to Speaker Welch, President Harmon, the budget teams, and all the legislators and stakeholders who collaborated to shape and pass this legislation. I look forward to signing my seventh balanced budget in a row and continuing to build a stronger Illinois. Travis Weaver Republican Rep. Travis Weaver, who serves the Houses 93rd District, which contains Pekin, Brimfield, and Kewanee, shared his quarrels with the budget, saying it is outrageous and egregious spending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This years $55.2 billion budget is $2 billion more than last year and 38 percent higher than it was just six years ago. This is outrageous and egregious spending, and to top it off the majority party is raising taxes by $1 billion to balance their budget hole, he said. Illinois does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. We have to tighten our belts, cut waste, and respect our taxpayers and their hard-earned dollars. This years budget process once again involved zero transparency and bills introduced in the final moments of session with no time for actual debate or input. The budget is so bloated it required multimillion-dollar pork projects targeted for Democrat-controlled districts intended to gain their yes vote, he 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 CIProud.com. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) The Illinois Senate passed a bill that would ensure long-term veterinary care for retired K9s. Illinois State Police are expected to create the Police K9 Care Fund, which would award grants to handlers. Rockford Police K-9 receives new protective gear The grants would provide up to $1,500 in veterinary care reimbursements. These dogs serve bravely alongside our officers and deserve dignity, respect and care after their service ends, said State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Harvey). This legislation makes sure we honor their loyalty with the same commitment theyve shown to us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harris acknowledged how important K9s are for law enforcement. We ask a lot of K9s in the line of duty, and caring for them in retirement is the least we can do, Harris continued. The bill now heads to Governor Pritzkers desk to be signed into law. 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. ORLANDO, Fla. Pressure from the Trump administration to escalate immigration arrests has led to huge spike in the number of people detained by ICE in Central Florida and raised fears that the Orange County jail could eventually hit its capacity. The number of detainees held in the local jail for immigration violations so far this year is nearly 400% higher than last year, officials said. Before a panel of sheriffs and police chiefs last month, Orange Public Safety Director Danny Banks warned of the possible consequences of the surge of detainees including some who had never before set foot in the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im fearful that its going to lead us to maxing out our jail space, he said of an influx of ICE inmates coming from Orange and neighboring counties. The Pinellas County sheriff is already staring down Banks fears, with 200 inmates in his county jail sleeping on the floor because of the flood of new detainees held for immigration violations. In the past month alone, 267 people were booked into the Orange County jail solely on immigration charges, compared with 259 in the previous four months combined, according to data obtained by The Orlando Sentinel. The Orange County jail is one of only a handful in the state authorized to hold people for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That means people arrested in places as far away as Indian River and Polk counties in some cases about 100 miles from the jail just south of downtown Orlando are being booked into the local facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Banks said if arrests keep climbing as expected, as more local law enforcement agencies are deputized by federal authorities, the county jails bed space could be maxed out. I do think its going to get to that, Banks said Friday. I expect the numbers will go up. That will increase the daily number of bookings and were going to get closer and closer to our capacity. As of Friday morning, 3,099 inmates were housed at the Orange County Jail, which has a capacity of about 4,000 beds. About 10 of those were from outside of Orange on ICE detainers, said Tracy Zampaglione, a jail spokesperson. Banks said that the number fluctuates day to day, with little notice. For instance, on one recent day, the Florida Highway Patrol brought over about 40 immigration detainees from Lake County, Banks said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said his county, which like Orange has a federal agreement with ICE, wants federal leaders to let all of Floridas jails house those arrested in their respective counties. We have to keep other housing units free for these ICE inmates, which are coming from all over the place, before they can get them on the bus to an Ice processing center, he said. Were out of space, he added. Theres an infrastructure problem. Across Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties combined, local authorities have seen 1,796 people who have been processed with ICE detainers so far this year, with 1,485 turned over to federal authorities, according to data obtained by The Orlando Sentinel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all of 2024, Orange County booked about 800 people on such detainers. By May 28, 2025s count had already hit 1,314 people. That surge is largely a product of federal authorities inputting thousands more warrants into the National Crime Information Center, which alerts law enforcement of a warrant when they plug somebodys name into a computer during traffic stops or other encounters. Any occasion in which law enforcement comes across someone where they run their information a traffic stop, or they show up to the house for an argument, historically that call didnt necessitate an arrest, Banks said. Unfortunately, now theyre forced to arrest them. Fewer than 1 in 5 of Central Floridas ICE detainees so far this year were charged with felonies, ranging from 11.5% in Lake to 18.6% in Orange. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Axios reported the Trump administration was pushing for ICE to bump its daily arrests to 3,000 per day, with a White House spokesperson saying keeping President Trumps promise to deport illegal aliens is something the administration takes seriously. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller confirmed the story on Fox News and said that was the minimum goal, and that it would only climb higher over time. The State Immigration Enforcement Council, made up of sheriffs and chiefs appointed by state leaders, voted last month on a resolution calling on the Trump administration to allow inmates to be housed in all county jail facilities, not just those with agreements like Orange has had for decades. The same resolution stated Florida was ready to set up a 10,000-bed facility to house migrants, if federal funding was issued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polk Sheriff Grady Judd, who chairs the committee, said he had 200 beds at his jail that he could use. If our county jails under the Florida Model Jail Standards are good enough to house non-convicted U.S. citizens, certainly it ought to be satisfactory to house illegal immigrants who are here with a deportation warrant, Judd said. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday commenced his three-day official visit to France, which is part of his ongoing visit to France and Italy from June 1 to 5. "The visit reflects India's continued commitment to deepening strategic and economic ties with key European partners and advancing a shared vision for resilient and inclusive global growth," said the commerce ministry in a statement. During his engagements in France, Goyal is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with French Ministers, including Eric Lombard, Minister of Economy, and Laurent Saint-Martin, French Trade Minister. The discussions will focus on strengthening the Indo-French economic partnership and exploring new avenues for enhancing trade and investment cooperation. As part of the high-level visit to France, a comprehensive agenda of strategic business meetings and engagements has been scheduled - with top leadership of major French companies such as Vicat, Total Energies, L'Oreal, Renault, Valeo, EDF and ATR, the visit will feature the India-France Business Round Table and the India-France CEO Forum, fostering dialogue between leading industry stakeholders from both countries. During his stay, the Minister will also participate in the informal gathering of WTO Ministers on the margins of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. At this crucial forum, he will engage with global counterparts on key multilateral trade issues and articulate the perspectives and priorities of India. As part of the visit, the Minister will hold a series of high-level bilateral meetings with key international partners. These include the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds; Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, Gan Kim Yong; and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Commerce, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Kasabi. The Minister will also engage with Israel's Minister for Trade and Investment, Nir Barkat; Nigeria's Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole OON; and Brazil's Foreign Minister, Mauro Luis Iecker Vieira. "These dialogues are aimed at advancing strategic economic cooperation and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships across regions. They will also provide significant impetus to India-EU FTA negotiations," the commerce ministry said. Further reinforcing India's engagement with regional blocs, meetings are planned with key EU officials, including Maros Sefcovic, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, and Christophe Hansen, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food. "These engagements reflect India's ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral and multilateral partnerships, and position itself as a pivotal player in global trade and investment," the ministry said. Following his engagements in France, Minister Goyal will proceed to Italy for the next leg of his visit. (ANI) What began as a harmless prank shortly crossed the line, as Hanover Public Schools addressed a disastrous senior prank. In a joint statement released by Hanover High School Principal Matthew Mattos and Superintendent Matthew Ferron on Thursday night, around 90 students, all presumably seniors in the Class of 25, entered the school after hours to perform their senior prank. Unfortunately, students went a little overboard, and it turned into inappropriate behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The actions taken were immature, disrespectful, and fell far short of the creativity or humor typically associated with senior pranks. Around 11 PM, Hanover police noticed suspicious activity coming from the high school. Upon entering the school, they found a huge mess. No students were in the building. The principal was notified. As a result of the prank, no permanent damage was done, but administrators and school workers were left with a hefty cleanup, including items like toilet paper, confetti, paper towels, and plastic wrap. School officials say that the most time-consuming part of the cleanup involved smashed fruit, which was mostly pineapples scattered all through the school. Video shows the aftermath of the prank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was honestly disgusted when I first came in, Alexa Sawin, a Junior at Hanover High, said. Admin, teachers, custodial staff, and students were able to clean up the building and get the school fully operational by 8 AM on Friday. It was just really sad and upsetting to see the teachers in such a distraught way, one of my science teachers almost cried in front of us because he was just so disappointed in them, Sawin said. Since the incident, officers of the Class of 2025 have taken ownership of the incident and have issued a formal apology. They will also cover any costs related to custodial overtime, professional cleaning services, or any damaged items that are discovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the actions of those involved were clearly inappropriate, we also recognize that young people make mistakes, and this moment presents an important opportunity for learning, growth, and accountability. Im really surprised and blown away that Hanover High School seniors graduating the next day did something so stupid, said Hanover resident Tracy Loughlin. At this time, Hanover police are investigating to determine those involved, but their identities and disciplinary actions will remain confidential. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW General Anil Chauhan, Indias chief of defence staff, has admitted that an unspecified number of its jets were shot down during its conflict with Pakistan last month. The acknowledgement of aerial losses by the countrys highest-ranking general comes weeks after the two South Asian neighbours were engaged in their heaviest fighting in decades, which involved fighter planes and cruise missiles. Indian officials had previously refused to confirm or deny Pakistani claims of downing Indian jets. The conflict was triggered after armed men killed 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmirs Pahalgam town on April 22. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indias first official admission of a loss of fighter jets came during Chauhans interviews on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore. What was the conflict between India and Pakistan? India carried out strikes on what it called terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir on May 7 in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack. India blamed armed groups backed by Pakistan for the April 22 attack. An armed group called The Resistance Front (TRF) claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam killings. India accused TRF of being an offshoot of the Pakistan-based armed group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Pakistan denied involvement, condemning the Pahalgam attack and calling for a neutral investigation. India claimed to have targeted at least six cities in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir on the first day of the conflict. Pakistan initially asserted that it had downed six Indian jets in retaliation. But a senior Pakistan official later told Al Jazeera that five Indian aircraft were shot down in the aerial battle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement India did not confirm or deny the Pakistani claims. Losses are a part of combat, Air Marshal AK Bharti, Indias director general of air operations, said at a news conference on May 11. The Indian embassy in China called reports of the downing of jets disinformation. After that, tit-for-tat cross-border attacks across the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between India- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, rattled the region, renewing fears of a nuclear war. On May 10, United States President Donald Trump announced that the two countries had reached a ceasefire, potentially averting a nuclear disaster. India and Pakistan have given competing claims on casualties in the fighting, but more than 70 people were killed on both sides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both India and Pakistan claim Kashmir in full but administer only parts of the Muslim-majority Himalayan territory. Here is what Chauhan said in recent interviews with the Reuters news agency and Bloomberg TV: On the downing of Indian fighter jets Chauhan admitted that India suffered air losses on the first day of fighting without providing details. In an interview with Reuters, he said: What was important is why did these losses occur and what well do after that. The general said, after the losses, the Indian army rectified tactics and then went back on May 7, 8 and 10 in large numbers to hit airbases deep inside Pakistan, penetrated all their air defences with impunity, carried out precision strikes. He added that the Indian air force flew all types of aircraft with all types of ordnances on May 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Islamabad acknowledged that its airbases suffered minimal losses but denied that it had lost any planes. When a Bloomberg reporter asked Chauhan about Pakistans claims that six Indian jets were downed, Chauhan responded that this information was incorrect. He went on to say: What is important is not the jets being downed but why they were downed. Some media outlets inferred that his statement appeared to imply that many jets were lost in the aerial battle. The general did not provide details about the number of jets downed or specifics about what these rectified tactics were. The Pakistani military said India did not fly its jets in the conflict again after suffering air losses. On the risks of nuclear war Media reports suggested that some attacks were near Pakistans nuclear sites, but the nuclear infrastructure itself was not a target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most of the strikes were delivered with pinpoint accuracy, some even to a metre [3.3ft] to whatever was our selected mean point of impact, Chauhan told Reuters. He had previously provided assurances that India was not considering using nuclear weapons during the conflict. The chairman of Pakistans joint chiefs of staff, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, has done the same for his country. I think theres a lot of space before that nuclear threshold is crossed, a lot of signalling before that. I think nothing like that happened. Theres a lot of space for conventional operations which has been created, and this will be the new norm, Chauhan said. He added that on both sides, the most rational people are in uniform during conflict because they understand the consequences of this kind of conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I found both sides displaying a lot of rationality in their thoughts as well as actions. So why should we assume that in the nuclear domain there will be irrationality on someone elses part? On the Chinese role Chauhan said while Pakistan enjoys a close alliance with China, there was no sign that Beijing helped Islamabad during the conflict. China sits on Indias northern and northeastern borders, and controls a barely inhabited northeastern zone in Kashmir called Aksai Chin. We didnt find any unusual activity in the operational or tactical depth of our northern borders, and things were generally all right, Chauhan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked whether China provided Pakistan with intelligence information such as satellite imagery, the Indian general said such information is commercially available, and Pakistan could have obtained it from China or other sources. However, Chauhan said almost 80 percent of the equipment in Pakistan has been procured from China in the past few years. From 2020 to 2025, China supplied 81 percent of Pakistans arms imports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Chinese jets got a boost after media reports said Pakistan used Chinese-manufactured J-10C fighters in the air battle. The Chinese government did not officially confirm that the J-10C jets were used to down Indian planes, but state broadcaster CCTV posted on social media on May 17 that the jets achieved actual combat results for the first time. Whats next Chauhan said while hostilities have ceased, India would respond precisely and decisively should there be any further terror attacks emanating from Pakistan. He added that this will be a new normal for India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So that has its own dynamics as far [as] the armed forces are concerned. It will require us to be prepared 24/7. The president of the main opposition Indian National Congress party said Chauhans admission warrants a review of Indias defence preparedness. There are some very important questions which need to be asked. These can only be asked if a Special Session of the Parliament is immediately convened, Mallikarjun Kharge wrote in an X post on Saturday. Referring to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added: The Modi Govt has misled the nation. The fog of war is now clearing. We salute [the Indian militarys] resolute courage and bravery, Kharge said. However, a comprehensive strategic review is the need of the hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Congress has called the Pahalgam attack a security and intelligence failure and sought accountability, given that Indian-administered Kashmir is directly governed from New Delhi. But Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, said Chauhans interviews do not change the war narrative in a big way. It confirms the jet losses that so many observers had assumed while emphasising the battlefield achievements of India that are already well known, Kugelman told Al Jazeera. Still, the analyst said, the acknowledgement that Indian planes were downed has triggered an uncomfortable question for New Delhi, and one that even some government supporters are posing: Why did it take so long to acknowledge a loss that [New] Delhi has shrugged off as inconsequential? Kugelman argued, Indias silence ended up emboldening Pakistans narrative and put India on the defensive and having to face awkward questions from global media. One can argue that had [New] Delhi earlier on acknowledged the jet losses while in the same breath focusing attention on its achievements, it would not have to be in reactive and defensive mode now on this issue, he said. A major newspaper in the United States has rightly come under fire after the discovery of a lack of oversight that led to the publication of false information. As detailed by The Verge, the May 18 issue of the Chicago Sun-Times featured a summer reading guide with recommendations for fake books generated by artificial intelligence. To make matters even more concerning, other articles were found to include quotes and citations from people who don't appear to exist. The summer reading list included fake titles by real authors alongside actual books. The Sun-Times admitted in a post on Bluesky that the guide was "not editorial content and was not created by, or approved by, the Sun-Times newsroom," and added that it was "looking into how this made it into print." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement later published on the newspaper's website, the Sun-Times revealed that the guide was "licensed from a national content partner" and said it was removing the section from all digital editions while updating its policies on publishing third-party content to ensure future mistakes like this are avoided. According to The Verge, the reading list was published without a byline, but a writer named Marco Buscaglia was credited for other pieces in the summer guide. Buscaglia was found to have written other pieces that quote and cite sources and experts that do not appear to be real. Buscaglia admitted to 404 Media that he uses artificial intelligence "for background at times," but claimed he always checks the material. "This time, I did not, and I can't believe I missed it because it's so obvious. No excuses," Buscaglia told 404 Media. "On me 100 percent and I'm completely embarrassed." This is yet another incident that highlights the importance of maintaining professional standards and ensuring that AI-generated content is properly vetted before publication. In an age where misinformation can spread quickly, it's up to leading news outlets like the Sun-Times to avoid these mistakes so they don't lose the trust of the general public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On a broader level, AI is an energy-intensive field that carries significant environmental concerns. The International Energy Agency published a report warning that electricity consumption from data centers that power AI is expected to double by 2026 and will reach a level that is "roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption of Japan." It's important to stay informed on critical climate issues and efforts to reduce energy consumption amid the ongoing evolution of AI technology. How often do you worry about toxic chemicals getting into your home? Always Often Sometimes Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. 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. Kentucky State Police say they are looking for an inmate from Three Forks Regional Jail who escaped by pretending to be his brother. Jeffrey Harrison, 43, of Lexington, was inadvertently released after falsely identifying himself as his brother, who was scheduled for release, state police said in a news release. State police said Harrison left the Beattyville jail just before 5 p.m. Thursday, and his escape was not discovered until jail staff conducted roll call Friday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State police were notified of his release just before 11 p.m. Friday. Harrison was serving time for a conviction for first-degree promoting contraband. He is described as a white man with brown hair and blue eyes, standing 5-foot-9 and weighing 138 pounds. He was last seen wearing a red jacket, blue jeans, camo shoes and a black hat, state police said. He is thought to have left in a white older model Subaru station wagon. State police asked that anyone with information call them at 859-623-2404. WATERLOO, Iowa (KNWA/KFTA) The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that some top Tyson Foods executives can be held responsible for the deaths of workers who caught COVID-19 at the companys meatpacking plant in Waterloo, Iowa. On May 23, the states supreme court reversed a lower court decision that had blocked the families of the deceased workers from suing these executives. The ruling lets the families of five workers move forward with their lawsuits, accusing Tyson leaders of negligence and fraud during the pandemic. While the court dismissed claims against Tyson Foods as a company and two health staff employees, it allowed lawsuits to continue against several executives, including: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Tyson, Chairman of the Board Noel White, former CEO and board member Dean Banks, former President and CEO Stephen Stouffer, President of Tyson Fresh Meats Tom Brower, Senior Vice President of Health and Safety Doug White, Corporate Safety Manager at Tyson Fresh Meats Some supervisors and plant managers may also face lawsuits. In their opinion, the Iowa Supreme Court wrote: Among other allegations The petition also recites supervisors statements to interpreters directing them to mislead workers about the dangers of the virus and its spread within the plant. We conclude that the estates have likewise alleged sufficient facts to show that the supervisor defendants had knowledge of the peril. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whistleblower claims Tyson Foods employs child workers, US senator calls for investigation Case background In 2020, the Waterloo plant, which employed about 3,000 people, had nearly 1,000 COVID cases, according to the courts opinion. Although hundreds of workers calling in sick, Tyson told other workers there was no outbreak. Over two dozen workers were hospitalized, and some died from COVID complications. The director of the Black Hawk County Health Department attributed ninety percent of the countys total COVID-19 cases to the Waterloo facility, the courts opinion read. According to court documents, Tyson said it followed government rules that kept food plants open during the pandemic and believed it was protected from lawsuits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court said the families presented enough evidence showing these executives knew about the COVID outbreak and the risks but did not take proper action to protect workers. For example, employees with symptoms were still asked to work, and safety measures like social distancing or masking were ignored. Former Tyson Foods CFO among additions to Board of Directors The five workers who died are Jose Ayala, Hus Hari Buljic, Sedika Buljic, Honario Garcia and Reberiano Leno Garcia. We are just grateful that we have a judicial system that recognizes that workers lives are as important as anyone elses, in terms of the value they bring home every night to their families, attorney for the workers families Mel Orchard told Talk Business & Politics. Tyson has a lot to answer for, and this is just the beginning. Sadly, it has taken many years just to get back to the beginning. But justice has an awe-inspiring way of winning the long game. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These cases will now go back to a lower court for more action. Tyson Foods has yet not commented on the courts ruling. To read all court filings related to this case, go to www.iowacourts.gov. 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. Israel has killed at least 32 Palestinians waiting to get food at two aid distribution sites in Gaza, leaving more than 200 others injured. Israeli tanks opened fire on thousands of civilians gathered at a distribution site in southern Gazas Rafah on Sunday morning, killing at least 31 people, according to Gazas Government Media Office. Soon after, another person was killed in a shooting at a similar distribution point south of the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza City, it said in a statement on Telegram. Displaced Palestinians return from a food distribution hub in Rafah, southern Gaza [AFP] The aid is being distributed by Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial group backed by Israel and the United States, which has completed a chaotic first week of operations in the enclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GHF executive director, US veteran Jake Woods, resigned before the distribution began, stating that it is clear that it is not possible to implement this plan while adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. The United Nations and other aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF, accusing it of lacking neutrality and suggesting the group has been formed to enable Israel to achieve its stated military objective of taking over all of Gaza. Aid distribution has become a death trap, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a statement on Sunday. The Israeli military said in a statement that its forces did not fire at civilians near or within the site, citing an initial inquiry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent hours, false reports have been spread, including serious allegations against the [Israeli military] regarding fire toward Gazan residents in the area of the humanitarian aid distribution site in the Gaza Strip, the army said. Findings from an initial inquiry indicate that Israeli soldiers did not fire at civilians while they were near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site, it said, adding that reports to this effect are false. The GHF had earlier told The Associated Press news agency that Israeli soldiers fired warning shots as Palestinians gathered to receive food. The group denied reports that dozens of people were killed, describing them as false reporting about deaths, mass injuries and chaos. Killed for seeking one meal for their children However, Ibrahim Abu Saoud, who witnessed the attack on aid seekers in Rafah, told AP that Israeli forces opened fire on people as they moved towards the distribution point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 40-year-old said the crowd was about 300 metres (328 yards) away from the military. He said he saw many people with gunshot wounds, including a young man who died at the scene. We werent able to help him, Abu Saoud said. Al Jazeeras Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, said Palestinians are being killed while trying to secure one meal for their children. This is why Palestinians have been going to these distribution points, despite the fact that they know that they are controversial. The distribution points are backed by the US and Israel, but they do not have any other option, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even the food parcels that were distributed to Palestinians are barely enough. We are talking about one kilo of flour, a couple of bags of pasta, a couple of cans of fava beans and its not nutritious. Its not enough for a family in Gaza nowadays. Condemning the attacks, the Government Media Office described the GHF distribution sites as mass death traps, not humanitarian relief points. We confirm to the entire world that what is happening is a systematic and malicious use of aid as a tool of war, employed to blackmail starving civilians and forcibly gather them in exposed killing points, managed and monitored by the occupation army and funded and politically covered by the US administration, it said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking from Gaza City, Bassam Zaqout of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society said the current aid distribution mechanism had replaced 400 former distribution points with just four. I think there are different hidden agendas in this aid distribution mechanism, he told Al Jazeera. The mechanism does not cater to the needs of the people, such as the elderly and people with disabilities. Sundays killings capped a deadly first week for the projects operations, coming on the back of two earlier shootings at two distribution points in the south the first in Rafah, the second west of the city which saw a total of nine Palestinians killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Gaza, crucial aid is only trickling in after Israel partially lifted a more than two-month total blockade, which brought more than two million of its starving residents to the brink of a famine. Meanwhile, Hamas said on Sunday it was ready to immediately hold a fresh round of negotiations for a truce in Gaza after recent talks appeared to hit a dead end. The movement affirms its readiness to immediately begin a round of indirect negotiations to reach an agreement on the points of contention, Hamas said in a statement after mediators Qatar and Egypt said they would intensify their efforts for a truce in the war-battered Gaza Strip. Defence Minister Israel Katz, meanwhile, said he had told the army to continue forward in Gaza against all targets, regardless of any negotiations. Contrary to her combative image, Tzipi Hotovely, Israels ambassador to the UK, is softly spoken and seems slightly anxious. The night before this interview, she appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored, where the host shouted at her about the body count in Gaza. The embassy is wary of a rematch. So I put her at ease by calling Piers historys greatest monster, causing her to laugh and relax. The problem with coverage of Gaza is that emotions run so high, every discussion ends up feeling like an interrogation and the Israelis push back with force. What outsiders often forget is that beneath the rhetorical fireworks lies a deep pain. Speaking at her embassy, flanked by UK and Israeli flags, with a bust of Golda Meir (the fourth prime minister of Israel) watching in the corner, Hotovely tells me everyone in Israel is traumatised by the events of Oct 7 2023. On that date, Hamas which controls Gaza invaded southern Israel, murdering and kidnapping more than a thousand people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We, as Israelis, have been through terror attacks in our coffee shops, on our buses, on our streets, but never in the past did we feel like our houses were not safe. This is their new vulnerability: the feeling that you cannot protect your own children. But foreign governments even allies like Britain are concerned about the safety of Palestinian children too: used as human shields by Hamas, and some killed in Israeli airstrikes. How do you fight a terror group that rejects all the accepted rules of war? October 7 was a watershed moment Hotovely, 46, wears regal purple and leans forward as she speaks, injecting urgency into the conversation. Her parents, Gabriel and Roziko, migrated to Israel from the former USSR and raised Tzipi in Rehovot, an attractive city south of Tel Aviv. Conservative and religious, she studied and practised law before gaining attention as a pundit. In 2009, she was elected to the Knesset its youngest deputy at the time as a member of Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party, and went on to serve as minister for transport, science, foreign affairs and settlements. She lives with her husband, Or Alon, and their three daughters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When she was appointed ambassador to London in 2020, some British Jews objected, labelling Hotovely too controversial for such a sensitive role. But perhaps that was the idea. Many states are shifting their diplomatic style from emollience to advocacy. Since October 7th, Hotovely has become a formidable presence in the media and on campuses , vigorously defending her government against accusations she often describes as a blood libel against Jews as well as Israelis. I begin by asking the mood of her citizens 19 months on from the Hamas pogrom. I think that October 7th was a watershed moment all across Israel. No one can say in Israel that hes the same person after. She sometimes finds less sympathy among people around the world some governments still live in the mentality of October 6th but Israelis have been shown that if you have a jihadi, Islamist terrorist group that wants to destroy you on your doorstep, at the end of the day, itll end up in a massacre. Think of it as living next-door to the Third Reich. Just this morning, we heard about [] a 15-day-old baby who died in a terror attack: Israeli Ravid Haim, born by emergency C-section after his mother, Tzeela Fez, was shot and killed. Around 58 hostages remain in Hamass hands. To recover them, the Israeli army has launched Operation Gideons Chariots aiming to seize control of the Gaza Strip, push the population south and cripple the enemys military. Israeli military vehicles near the Israel-Gaza border last week - Ammar Awad/REUTERS The aims of the war are very clear to Israel, explains Hotovely, Hamas shouldnt exist as a political leadership and with military power after we finish. Hamas doesnt care about human life [] doesnt care about their own peoples life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hence it has embedded its fighters in a network of tunnels six floors down [] bigger than the London Tube, and deliberately located beneath civilian areas. They wanted to make sure Israel will be blamed when civilians are killed during Israeli attacks. We dont call it collateral damage. We really care about human life. We dont want anyone whos innocent to get killed. Thats why we make sure that all Palestinians can move to a safe zone. But the UK Government has condemned the civilian impact of Gideons Chariots. Israel imposed a blockade on humanitarian aid and commercial supplies on March 2 now lifted that Foreign Secretary David Lammy called morally unjustifiable, wholly disproportionate and counterproductive; he cancelled talks on a trade deal and summoned Hotovely to the ministry to explain her governments actions. Lammy, she says, was wrong: Israels policy from the beginning of the war was to deliver aid to Gaza. Some 25,000 trucks of aid got into Gaza. This is not a starvation programme, this is actually a flooding Gaza with aid programme [] The reason why it had to stop was because it was being looted only to feed the terrorists or to sell the aid that people were supposed to get for free. I ask whether this is an example of Israel alienating its friends with such brutal logic. Hamas steals food thats bad; anyone would want to stop it. But if Israel cuts off food altogether, isnt the outcome even worse for innocent civilians? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there is lack of food, Hotovely replies, I can understand your argument, but the Israelis calculated that there was enough aid already within the Gaza Strip to pause deliveries while they build a new mechanism for distribution, not overseen by the UN. This would be the American-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, now operating in Gaza accused of being partisan and insufficient, and there have been riots at its deliveries. That was just the first day, she corrects, its been improving and I keep on monitoring it as ambassador. A clash of civilisations What about Labours other charge that Gideons Chariots has driven up the death toll? I cite the case of Dr Alaa al-Najjar, a Palestinian doctor whose home was hit in an Israeli strike, killing nine of her 10 children. How does that make you feel? Ill tell you how it makes me feel. It makes me feel how tragic the situation is that Hamas built this infrastructure that is hurting his own children. I have a lot of sympathy to human life. As a Jew, as an Israeli, we value life very much. Unfortunately, our enemies dont [] I think its a clash of civilisations [...] I find that Western people find it very hard to believe that on the other side, there are people who are using their own children as human shields, but they do. Dr al-Najjar wasnt using her own children as a shield though, was she? No, I didnt say that, but I said Hamas built all its terrible infrastructure within the population, in the schools, in the hospitals... Are we doing our best to make sure that population civilians will be out of harm? Yes, we are. We give them messaging before we strike Now, think about it. Do you think the UK would have continued living next to a terror organisation that is a threat to your children in Kent? Or in London or in Liverpool? I dont think so. I point out that it isnt just non-Israelis who are turning against the war. Ehud Olmert, a former prime minister of Israel, and formerly member of Likud, is now at odds with Netanyhu, writing that the conflict is one of devastation, indiscriminate, limitless, cruel, and criminal killing of civilians. He has concluded that his country is committing war crimes. What does Hotovely say to him? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is a lie. Yes, it is. It is a pure lie. The Israeli Defence Forces work with all the mechanisms of our international law experts and the country is fighting with one hand tied behind our back because it always defers to lawyers. Olmert is completely doing a political statement to hurt the government Its coming from very political reasons, not to do with whats happening on the ground. Ehud Olmert, a former prime minister of Israel, is now at odds with Netanyhu, and says his country is committing war crimes - Ariel Schalit/AP So why are the families of hostages and even a former hostage protesting against Netanyahu? At a demonstration this week, Keith Siegel, who was once held prisoner by Hamas, declared: Our families have become the victims of cheap politics at the hands of the prime minister. Instead of ending the war and bringing everyone home, his allies prefer to occupy the Gaza Strip than to save the hostages. Hotovely says: I have sympathy to every hostage family for being so worried about their loved ones, I cannot put myself in their shoes. At the same time, I must say, they need to remember Israel said yes to any framework offered by the Americans for a ceasefire: This is the leverage on Hamas, the military pressure together with the American diplomatic pressure, and if Hamas is saying no and saying no again and again to hostage release what else can we do? We can just carry on with the pressure. Following our interview, it was reported on Friday that Hamas appears to have rejected a ceasefire deal orchestrated by the Americans and accepted by the Israelis. Recognition of Palestinian state a reward for terrorism Lammys condemnation of the embargo was, says Hotovely, the wrong timing because it was issued the same day the [Netanyahus] cabinet made the decision to let aid in; plus the wrong message because, Im sure you heard the head of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, saying: when Hamas is praising you as Hamas praised the UK then you need to check whether your politics is the right policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are expecting the international community, including the UK Government, to be very vocal about the fact that Hamas is holding our hostages and it must release them. Britain and Israel are fighting mutual threats. I know how much the UK is concerned about Irans influence in the region, and you need to remember that this war Israel has been fighting is a proxy war with Iran [] Weve seen how most of the weapons being found are produced in Iran, how Iran was training the terrorists. As for a French-Saudi initiative, scheduled for mid-June, to discuss the recognition of Palestine as an independent state: This is probably the worst timing ever to go this path [...] this is a pure word for terrorism and sends the wrong message to the region [...] What did October 7th prove? First of all, unfortunately what weve seen is big support among Palestinians towards the massacre. One poll, she claims, found 86 per cent of West Bank residents sympathised with the pogrom. Gaza previously voted for Hamas, so recognition basically means Hamas and would be a reward for terrorism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I ask if this means the concept of a two-state solution is off the table and she replies in the affirmative. It was rejected by the Palestinians again and again. Israelis had hope [in it] in the 1990s and were willing to compromise, but [] every time there was some type of negotiation, there was more terrorism [] So Israelis are no longer willing to jeopardise their security any longer. This is a critical point one that many Britons dont grasp. Governments like Labour talk about the two-state solution as if it were genuinely on the table, but the two sides gave up on it years ago. In that case, what does the Israeli government see as the future of the Palestinian community? They must be re-educated. Its a good lesson to learn from the Second World War, when Germany and Japan were beaten: fascism didnt end in one day, there was a whole process of denazification, a whole process of rebuilding the institutions to a democratic country. The Palestinians, when they were offered to have democratic elections in January 2006 they ended up with having an even worse dictatorship that doesnt believe in any human rights. She implies that if fresh elections were held again in Gaza, wed see Hamas victorious again, so she says we need to build the path not just for peace as a formal peace but a real peace, people to people, like the one we have with the Gulf countries via the Abrahamic Accords, as negotiated by Donald Trump. We never deny the rights of us to live next to our neighbours they deny our rights Surely there must be some give and take between communities, I suggest? In that case, the Israelis must cease building settlements in the West Bank 22 of which have just been recognised by Netanyahu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a myth about settlements I never understood, says Hotovely, because when Israel [dismantled its] settlements in Gaza when it physically withdrew the strip in 2005 we didnt see anything that has improved in the Palestinian attitude. When Palestinians are asked what is the main problem, she tells me, they never say the settlements but instead demand the right of return, which means bringing people from all around the Arab world to move into small Israel. I suggest that, on the contrary, they are protesting against Israelis settling on land that even Israel officially recognises as Palestinian and Hotovely disagrees. Definitely not. I think that its clear for Israelis when were speaking about Judea and Samaria [better known as the West Bank], and were speaking about Jerusalem, were speaking about the Golan Heights, were speaking about the Jewish historic land. In conservative Israeli rhetoric, the term Judea and Samaria implies that the West Bank is Israeli as bequeathed by the Bible. Were talking about some places that Jewish people have been connected to for thousands of years, says Hotovely. Yes, I reply, and Palestinians have been connected to them for a very long time, too. Were not denying that. Thats whats nice about our attitude, she says, we never deny the rights of us to live next to our neighbours they deny our rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We turn to the subject of anti-Semitism on May 21, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, staffers at the Israeli embassy in Washington DC, were shot and murdered outside a Jewish museum. The killer cried free Palestine. Can Hotovely see a line between anti-Israeli protest and a rising level of threat against Jews across the world? People attend a vigil in Lafayette Square near the White House in Washington in honour of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, who were shot and murdered outside a Jewish museum - Kevin Dietsch/Getty We had very difficult days right in the embassy here. I gave a talk to our embassy staff and we wanted them to feel very open with us about their concerns. She is grateful for the protection of the British authorities but doesnt feel anti-Semitism is under control [ ] Lets speak about how the propaganda in the streets of London, New York and Berlin can influence a terrorist that is taking a weapon and killing two young, beautiful people [] This is the kind of madness were dealing with, something totally irrational, and I think its been fuelled by anti-Semitism and the fact that some of those marches that are calling for horrific things against Jews are allowed in Western main cities. I bring up Gary Lineker, who infamously shared an anti-Semitic image of a rat a genuine error, he insisted, for which he subsequently apologised and wonder, to quote a friend, if were seeing the revival of an oblivious anti-Semitism: old tropes being used in ignorance of the offence they cause. The winner of Eurovision, for example, has suggested that Israel be banned from next years show in Vienna without a shadow of irony or historical awareness. I agree, but I think that its not the majority of the people in this country. I think the minority is vocal. And I think when the majority keeps silent about bad things, this is when we get to hear the radicals, raising their voice. Many Western countries that used to feel safe dont feel safe anymore Anti-Jewish hate is dangerous to this country, just like its dangerous to America and Australia and many other Western countries that used to feel very safe and they dont feel safe anymore. Hotovely cites the success of Israel at Eurovision top in popular vote, pushed into second by the juries as a possible expression of sympathy for October 7. I dont feel like were isolated, but I do feel like people forget your own countrys history Britains fight against Hitler, what we endured and what we had to do to win. I was invited to a very beautiful event in Westminster Abbey, celebrating your VE Day, and I was moved by all the historic moments that you remember and cherish from your heroism. But then Im asking myself why, when Israel stands in fighting a very different version of a very radical ideology, why [the British elite] dont understand its exactly the time to have patience and resilience to wait for Israel to really conclude the job, until this terror organisation will be defeated and not to urge Israel all the time to end the war, even if the consequences are to let Hamas control the Gaza Strip. Watch the full Tzipi Hotovely interview on The Daily T podcast. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts 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. At least 30 people were killed and dozens more injured when Israeli forces opened fire on people collecting aid at a distribution point in Gaza on Sunday, Hamas reported, as independent medical workers declared a "mass casualty influx." The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said 179 people, including women and children, were taken to the Red Cross field hospital in Rafah in southern Gaza early on Sunday morning, mostly with gunshot and shrapnel wounds. All those still alive said they had been injured while trying to reach a distribution point for aid supplies, according to the ICRC, who counted 21 dead upon arrival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ICRC reported that never since the field hospital was set up more than a year ago had so many people with gunshot wounds arrived at once. The reports cannot be independently verified. The Israeli military later denied the reports and said a preliminary inquiry had found that its forces "did not fire at civilians while they were near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site and that reports to this effect are false." The Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) running the new humanitarian distribution centres also denied the allegations. "Our aid was again distributed today without incident," the foundation said in a statement, adding it was "aware of rumours being actively fomented by Hamas suggesting deaths and injuries today. They are untrue and fabricated." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a blockade of aid deliveries lasting several months, Israel has been allowing a small amount of goods into the sealed-off coastal strip for a few days. According to the Israeli government, the GHF is to be responsible for distributing aid supplies to the population of Gaza in order to bypass UN aid organizations and other initiatives. The UN has criticized the initiative, fearing it is aimed at luring the population to the few distribution centres in Gaza's south and accelerating their expulsion from other residential areas. There have been reports of looting and a storming of the new distribution centres in recent days. The GHF has repeatedly denied reports of deaths, large numbers of injuries and chaotic scenes at its aid centres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the start of the operation six days ago, a total of more than 4.7 million meals have been distributed to Gazans, according to the foundation. However, amid ongoing warnings of famine due to food scarcity, the ICRC says the small amount of aid reaching Gazans is "nowhere near enough." Expansion of Israel's Gaza offensive Later on Sunday, Israeli Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir ordered the expansion of the ground offensive to additional areas of the Gaza Strip, according to a military statement following a troop visit by the military chief in the south of the war-torn coastal area. "We are in the midst of a powerful and relentless operation," Zamir said to soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The offensive is to continue until "the return of all our hostages and the elimination of Hamas' governing capabilities and military wing," the statement further noted. Zamir said that the Palestinian Islamist organization is now losing control over the Gaza Strip. He did not provide details. Previously, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that he had instructed the army to continue advancing in the Gaza Strip and to achieve all declared war objectives, "regardless of any negotiations." Hopes for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas have been dashed for the time being. Although Hamas agreed in its response to a proposal by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of some hostages still held there, it set further conditions. In May 2024, the collections were to the tune of Rs 172,739 crore. In the month of May, collections of CGST, SGST, IGST, and cess all rose year-on-year. So far in April-May 2025-26, the GST collections were at Rs 437,767 crore, up 14.3 per cent from Rs 383,006 crore in the same period last year. GST collection in 2024-25 stood at Rs 22 lakh crore, up 9.4 per cent year-on-year. During the financial year 2023-24, the total gross GST collection was recorded at Rs 20.18 lakh crore, with an 11.7 per cent increase. The recent GST collections reflect a positive trajectory for India's economy, underscoring robust domestic consumption and buoyant import activity. The figures bode well for the country's fiscal health and economic recovery efforts, signalling resilience amidst global uncertainties. The Goods and Services Tax was introduced in the country with effect from July 1, 2017, and states were assured compensation for loss of any revenue arising on account of the implementation of GST as per the provisions of the GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017 for five years. Hair oil, toothpaste, soap; detergents and washing powder; wheat; rice; curd, lassi, buttermilk; wristwatches; TV up to 32 inches; refrigerators; washing machines, mobile phones, are among key items on which GST rates have been slashed substantially, or for some kept at zero, benefiting people of this country. The GST Council, a federal body comprising the Union Finance Minister as its Chairman and Finance Ministers of all States as members, has played its part in the forum. The latest meeting of the GST Council was held on December 21 at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. (ANI) The Israeli military said on Sunday that it has once again intercepted a rocket fired from Yemen. Officials said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. Alarm sirens had sounded earlier in several areas of Israel, including the coastal city of Tel Aviv and the area around Jerusalem, as well as in the occupied West Bank. The Houthi militia in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attack. They said that they had fired a ballistic missile towards Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For weeks, there have been repeated alarms in various locations in Israel due to rockets launched from Yemen. Most of the projectiles from the country in the south of the Arabian Peninsula have been intercepted in the air. However, three weeks ago, a projectile hit near the international airport outside Tel Aviv for the first time, resulting in several injuries. Since the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2023, the pro-Iranian Houthi militia has been regularly attacking Israel with rockets and drones in solidarity with the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement. After the end of the ceasefire in mid-March, the attacks increased. Israel responded with airstrikes on militia targets, most recently on the airport in Yemen's capital, Sanaa. By Anton Bridge TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is considering visiting Washington to meet President Donald Trump before a mid-month summit of the Group of Seven nations as he seeks a trade deal, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday. Japanese officials see signs of progress on easing Trump's tariffs after repeated visits by top tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa, and say the U.S. side has shown strong interest in Japan's proposals, the Yomiuri said, citing Japanese government officials it did not name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Economy Minister Akazawa will return to Washington for more talks later this week, after which a decision will be made on a U.S. trip by Ishiba, the newspaper said. The White House and the Japanese Prime Minister's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside business hours. Speaking to reporters upon returning on Sunday from his fourth round of negotiations, Akazawa said talks are progressing towards an agreement but that the form of negotiations before the G7 summit was yet to be decided. Japan, a major U.S. ally, faces what Trump calls a reciprocal tariff of 24% from next month unless it can negotiate a bilateral deal. Tokyo is also scrambling to find ways to get Washington to exempt its automakers, Japan's biggest industry, from 25% tariffs on automobiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said on Friday he planned to double the tariffs on all imported steel and aluminium to 50%. Akazawa declined to comment on those tariffs on Sunday. He said Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent did not mention them during the most recent negotiations. Some Japanese government officials hope an agreement can be announced in time for President Trump's birthday on June 14, the Yomiuri said. Akazawa said on Friday the two sides had "agreed to accelerate the talks and hold another round ahead of the G7 summit", to be held from June 15 to 17 in Canada. But he said there would be no deal without U.S. concessions on tariffs, including on autos. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ishiba has said bilateral negotiations were progressing on trade expansion, non-tariff measures and economic security, while Tokyo has mentioned possible increases in its purchases of U.S. military equipment and energy, as well as cooperation on shipbuilding and repairing U.S. warships in Japan. (Reporting by Anton Bridge in Tokyo; Additional reporting by Alexandra Ulmer in Washington; Editing by William Mallard) House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Sunday that Americans arent interested in bending the knee to a wannabe king, referring to President Trump. Donald Trump has learned an important lesson: The American people arent interested in bending the knee to a wannabe king, Jeffries said on CNNs State of the Union to the outlets Dana Bash. Its the reason why Donald Trump actually is the most unpopular president at this point of a presidency in American history, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presidents approval rating currently sits at 45.9 percent in the Decision Desk HQ/The Hill polling average, with 51.7 percent in the average not backing the president. The president recently went through consistent drops in his approval ratings, but his approval rating in the Decision Desk HQ/The Hill average is now more than 2 points higher than it was at the start of May. Trump and his administration have taken swift action on issues such as how the federal government functions, immigration, trade policy, and LGBTQ rights in his first few months since returning to Washington. The actions have drawn pushback from those on the American left and Democrats, but Democrats have also been criticized for a perceived lack of response to Trump administration moves. Democrats, of course, are the party that is determined to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, for hardworking American taxpayers, Jeffries said Sunday. Republican strategist Karl Rove said in a recent opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal that President Trumps tariff rhetoric could cost the GOP its majorities in Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans should hope the president really believes in reciprocity the policy that if countries lower their tariffs, well lower ours. He should have confidence that America can compete if the playing field is level, he added. The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. 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. Jennifer Crumbley, the convicted mother of the Oxford school shooter, has been waiting nearly six months to find out whether she'll get a new trial, or be released on bond. And she's growing impatient, if her lawyer's latest filing is any indication. On Saturday, attorney Michael Dezsi asked the Michigan Court of Appeals to order the judge in the case to make an immediate decision on Crumbley's request for bond and a new trial on alleged prosecutorial misconduct grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his court filing, Dezsi accused Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews of dragging her feet, alleging her "delay in deciding Crumbley's pending motions do not serve the interests of justice but rather work a manifest injustice" and deny Crumbleys due process rights. At issue for Dezsi is that he cannot pursue any appeals in higher courts for Crumbley until Matthews issues her decisions first. Matthews, meanwhile, has a weighty issue on her hands. She has to decide whether the prosecution wrongfully withheld evidence from the defense: proffer agreements it struck with two star witnesses who testified against the mother. Those agreements which were first disclosed by the Free Press protected the witnesses, both school officials, from having their statements to investigators used against them. The defense argues these were immunity agreements, and that both the defense and the jury had a right to know about them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution has argued that no immunity was ever granted to the school witnesses, and that it was under no obligation to disclose them to the defense. Matthews has previously expressed concern about the prosecution's handling of these agreements. In February, she said she would take the matter under advisement. Dezsi argues too much time has passed, and says Matthews has far exceeded a deadline. Specifically, he cites a December letter from the Michigan Court of Appeals, which states that Crumbley's bond and new trial requests should be decided in 56 days, "unless there is good cause for an adjournment." Dezsi said there is no such "good cause" in this matter, and that the delay is merely punitive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Jennifer Crumbley is being treated unfairly because of the actions of her son. There is no justification for why her motion for bond pending appeal has now been pending for nearly six months.," Dezsi said in a statement to the Free Press. "That is contrary to what the law and the rule require. Youd be hard pressed to find any other defendant who has been waiting for a decision on an appeal bond motion for nearly six months." In a Sunday morning statement, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald vowed to fight to let the guilty verdicts stand. After a lengthy and fair trial, jurors concluded that Jennifer Crumbley's actions led to the Oxford High School tragedy and to the deaths of Madisyn Baldwin, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling, and Hana St. Juliana. A separate jury convicted her husband of the same charges. They have received timely appeals hearings. I will continue fighting to uphold the juries' verdicts in court. I will never stop fighting for Oxford. Crumbley, along with her husband, James Crumbley, were convicted in separate trials of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of four students killed by their son in the 2021 rampage at Oxford High School. Jurors concluded that the Crumbleys gave their minor son access to a gun and failed to secure it properly, which allowed him to sneak it out of the house and kill his classmates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooter, who was 15 at the time of the massacre, pleaded guilty to all his crimes and is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. All three Crumbleys are appealing. James Crumbley, like his wife, is also seeking a new trial, or an acquittal, on alleged prosecutorial misconduct grounds. More: James Crumbley returns to court: I deserve a new trial, too More: Judge sanctions Jennifer Crumbley's lawyer for trying to kick prosecutor off case The parents have long argued that they did not know of their son's plan to shoot up his school, that he showed no signs of being depressed or dangerous, and that the gun at issue was hidden in an armoire unloaded, and that it was not his to use freely but came with restrictions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution, though, convinced jurors that the Crumbleys ignored their son's spiraling mental health, bought him a gun instead of getting him help, and failed to secure the weapon. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jennifer Crumbley waiting to find out if she'll get new trial NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Jerrauld C. Jones, a longtime judge and state delegate, has died at 70. In a statement issued by the Jones family, they announced he died on Saturday, May 31. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Jerrauld C. Jones, the letter said. His legacy of service, integrity, and dedication to justice will continue to inspire all who knew him. Jones became one of the first African American students to integrate Ingleside Elementary School in 1961 and later the Virginia Episcopal School in Lynchburg in 1967. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jones went on to graduate cum laude from Princeton University in 1976 and earned his Juris Doctor from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 1980. He became the first African American law clerk to the Supreme Court of Virginia, served as a Democratic member of the Virginia House of Delegates for 14 years, represented Norfolks 89th District and served as the long-time chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. Virginia Speaker of the House Don Scott offered his condolences in a statement. Scott and Jones served together in the General Assembly. Jerrauld Jones was more than a judge or a legislator he was a giant. A presence. A mentor. A friend. For so many of us, he was a guiding light. He spent his life breaking down barriers integrating Virginia Episcopal School, becoming the first Black law clerk to the Virginia Supreme Court, serving in the House of Delegates, and later as a respected judge. But Jerraulds legacy wasnt about titles it was about how he treated people. At Grace Episcopal Church, he welcomed me and my family, and had a steady, genuine way of making others feel like they belonged. To his wife, Judge Lyn Simmons, and to Jay I feel your loss deeply. My heart is with you, and I hope you find comfort in knowing how many lives Jerrauld touched and how much he meant to all of us. Jerrauld Jones is survived by his wife, the Hon. Lyn Simmons, who serves on the Norfolk Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court; their son, Jay Jones, a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates and his wife Mavis; and two grandsons Charles and Zachary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst doubled down on her bleak comments in response to potential Republican Medicaid cuts by posting a sarcastic apology video on social media. The senator went viral after she said, We all are going to die, when responding to a question about the proposed cuts in President Donald Trumps tax legislation during a town hall in Parkersburg on Friday. As Ernst began to answer the question, a person in the audience shouted, People will die! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "People are not well, we all are going to die. For heavens sakes, folks, she said in response. The comment received national media attention and was widely criticized by Democrats who have slammed the possible ramifications of the proposed cuts to Medicaid. Joni Ernst made her now viral comment during a town hall event in Parkersburg on Friday (Senator Joni Ernst) Ernst shared a video on her Instagram story on Saturday where she spoke directly to the camera, seemingly from a cemetery. "Hello everyone. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall," said before going on to describe what happened. "I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth," she added. "So I apologize. And Im really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my lord and savior, Jesus Christ," said Ernst. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Republican tax bill will cut Medicaid spending by $723 billion over the next 10 years. The number of uninsured people could rise by as much as 7.6 million. During the town hall event in Parkersburg, Ernst argued that the goal of the legislation is to ensure that those not eligible for Medicaid dont get the benefits. "What you dont want to do is listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable," she said. "Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, we will protect. We will protect them. Medicaid is extremely important here in the state of Iowa. If you don't want to listen, that's fine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She subsequently went on to blame the "hysteria that's out there coming from the left" for the criticism of her initial statement. Former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger responded to Ernsts Instagram story on X, writing: Whelp. No sense of goodness left in her now. Im sorry is she walking through a cemetery as she makes this? Democratic strategist Tim Hogan added. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) doubled down on Saturday on her flippant remarks about people dying due to Medicaid cuts in a new Instagram video that appeared to be recorded in a cemetery. During a town hall on Friday, Ernst was pressed about President Donald Trumps tax bill, which would slash Medicaid in order to help fund a new round of tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. The legislation is expected to force 10 million people off Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income and disabled Americans. When an audience member shouted, People are going to die, Ernst responded: Well, we all are going to die. Her unfunny joke drew headlines around the country, and was featured prominently on the front page of The Des Moines Register on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a video posted on her Instagram story on Saturday, Ernst, who is up for reelection next year, decided it was wise to mock her constituents who do not wish to die due to a lack of health insurance. Hello, everyone. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall, she says in the clip, which features gravestones in the distance behind her. See, I was in the process of answering a question that had been asked by an audience member, when a woman who was extremely distraught, screamed out from the back corner of the auditorium, People are going to die. And I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth. So I apologize, Ernst concludes, and Im really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the Tooth Fairy as well. But for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin said in a statement Saturday, Thoughts and prayers have a new meaning for the Republican Party with Joni Ernst doubling down on her cruel words. It is immoral and un-Christian to do nothing to prevent people from dying but unfortunately, Trump, Ernst, and the Republican Party are hellbent on putting their own constituents at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ernst had tried to defend the Medicaid cuts on Friday as necessary to ensure that undocumented immigrants are not on Medicaid. Its a favorite Republican talking point, but this is a blatant lie: Undocumented immigrants are ineligible for Medicaid. Of the 10 million Americans who are expected to lose Medicaid under the Republican tax bill, none of them are undocumented immigrants. The Trump tax bill would force millions off Medicaid by imposing work requirements on so-called able-bodied adults, demanding they work or volunteer at least 80 hours a month. One problem with this idea is that many Medicaid recipients cannot work but have not been approved for disability benefits, which is an onerous process. Those beneficiaries will lose their insurance. The Medicaid program also contains strict income caps that require beneficiaries to earn exceedingly little money. Taken together, Republicans are effectively demanding that Medicaid recipients work low-income jobs in order to maintain their health insurance, and the added bureaucracy will certainly result in many eligible beneficiaries losing coverage. Ernst pledged Friday that the Republicans are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable, adding that Medicaid is extremely important here in the state of Iowa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ernst made a post on X thanking people for coming to her town hall. I always enjoy hearing from constituents and sharing my work to cut government red tape for you, she wrote. The post has 270 likes and 2,000 comments. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) We opened the weekend with fantastic sunny and dry weather on Saturday. Sunday will bring a slight chance of thunderstorms, and the scattered storms will return during a hot and humid first week of June. We will enjoy one more night of cool temperatures in the low 60s Saturday night into Sunday morning. We will be clear through midnight, but scattered storms will be moving across Oklahoma overnight, arriving on the doorstep of the I-30 corridor by sunrise. Severe weather is unlikely, but a few rain showers may hold together as far south as northeast Texas. Futurecast outlook for the next 36 hours Most of Sunday will be dry for the rest of the ArkLaTex, with an increase in clouds leaving us partly to mostly cloudy throughout the day. High temperatures will be in the mid to upper 80s, with some mugginess returning with the arrival of rain. A few isolated thunderstorms are possible anywhere Sunday afternoon, especially in east Texas. Monday and Tuesday will likely be dry with temperatures rising into the low 90s, where highs will stay for most of the week. A slight chance of rain and thunderstorms will return midweek as a front passes north of the region. This front will approach later in the week, bringing a slightly higher chance of scattered storms Thursday through Saturday. Rainfall will average around 1 to 1.5 inches in Arkansas and Oklahoma over the next 7 days, tapering to a half inch or less further south into Texas and Louisiana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. IndiGo, Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic on Sunday announced plans to build an industry-leading partnership connecting India with Europe and North America. India, one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets, plays a pivotal role in this collaboration. By linking IndiGo's extensive domestic network with Delta's strength in North America and the transatlantic, the extensive reach of Air France-KLM in Europe and North America, and Virgin Atlantic's U.K. and transatlantic presence, the partnership is poised to offer travelers broader access, smoother journeys, and a more consistent experience across continents. Linking dozens of cities in the United States, Canada, Europe and India, the airlines aim to meet rising demand for international travel while setting new standards for connectivity and cooperation in global aviation. Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, said: "IndiGo has embarked on an ambitious journey to become a global airline by 2030. This partnership represents another important milestone to pursue commercial synergies, operational excellence and innovation. This announcement not only expands our relationship with Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic but also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as we welcome Delta Airlines as a valued partner. "We are particularly excited to start our long-haul expansion from this Summer and connect with our partners' networks to provide greater access to Europe and North America. This strategic partnership enables a compelling combined customer proposition in the form of comprehensive intercontinental connectivity, seamless experience and great loyalty value. It also lays the groundwork for us to exchange best practices in areas of technology, operational excellence and service delivery," the IndiGo CEO added. Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, said, "This agreement is another example of our commitment to making travel more connected, more inclusive and more accessible. Combining our strengths with those of IndiGo, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic will enable us to offer unparalleled connectivity and convenience, ensuring that our customers enjoy the highest standards of service and reliability across the globe." "We look forward to restarting Delta's direct service from the U.S. to India in the near future," Ed Bastian added. Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, said: "We are very glad to extend our existing partnership with IndiGo and to do so alongside our partners Delta and Virgin Atlantic. India is a strategic market for Air France-KLM, where we have a strong and historic presence, soon to increase. We look forward to welcoming IndiGo customers on our flights and to play an active role in the country's connectivity." Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said: "In our 25th year of flying to India, we're delighted to build on our Joint Venture with Delta and Air France-KLM, and our successful codeshare with IndiGo, by going further with this partnership. As IndiGo starts long haul operations, we'll connect four of the world's largest economies, enhancing the travel experience for our guests, from greater connectivity and optimized flight times to loyalty benefits." (ANI) The Enquirer's Just Askin' series aims to answer the questions that no one seems to have an answer for, except maybe Google. Fellow Ohioans could probably tell you the nickname of their state (the Buckeye State) or even the official bird (the cardinal). But could they tell you the official insect or the official artifact? Since the early 1900s, lawmakers in the U.S. have designated specific symbols to represent the unique characteristics of their state. Question: What are Ohio's official state symbols? Here's Ohio's list, according to Ohio.gov: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Flag: The Ohio Burgee, adopted in 1902. Coat of Arms: Depicts a sunrise over mountains, a river and a field, adopted in 1996. State Seal: Consists of the coat of arms within a circle with the words "THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF OHIO," adopted in 1996. State Motto: With God All Things Are Possible," adopted in 1959. State Slogan: "Ohio, The Heart of it All," adopted in 1984, reinstated in 2023. State Capital and Capital Building: The Ohio Statehouse, located in Ohio's capital of Columbus, designated in 1816. State Nickname: The Buckeye State, adopted in 1953. State Bird: The cardinal, adopted in 1933. State Insect: The ladybug, adopted in 1975. State Mammal: The white-tailed deer, adopted in 1988. State Reptile: The black racer snake, adopted in 1995. State Amphibian: The spotted salamander, adopted in 2010. State Frog: The American bullfrog, adopted in 2010. State Pet: The shelter dog, adopted in 2019. State Flower: The red carnation, adopted in 1904. State Tree: The Ohio buckeye, adopted in 1953. State Wild Flower: The white trillium, adopted in 1986. State Fruit: The tomato, adopted in 2009. State Native Fruit: The pawpaw, adopted in 2009. State Beverage: Tomato juice, adopted in 1965. State Song: "Beautiful Ohio," adopted in 1969. State Rock Song: "Hang On Sloopy," adopted in 1985. State Bicentennial Bridge: Blaine Hill Bridge, adopted in 2002. State Prehistoric Monument: Newark Earthworks, adopted in 2006. State Artifact: Adena Pipe, adopted in 2003. State Historical Architectural Structure: Barn, adopted in 2019. State Airplane: 1905 Wright Flyer III, adopted in 2025. State Gemstone: Flint, adopted in 1965. State Fossil: Isotelus trilobite, adopted in 1985. State Fossil Fish: The Placoderm Fish, adopted in 2021. Do you have a question for Just Askin'? Send it to us at justaskin@enquirer.com. This story was updated with a list of related stories. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Just Askin': What are Ohio's official state symbols? JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) Jackson County Sheriffs Office deputies responded to a home south of Marianna about a stolen vehicle early Saturday morning. According to a news release, when deputies arrived at the home around 2:45 a.m., Terri Lynn Butler was identified as the suspect. The victim stated that Butler had stolen his vehicle while he was asleep and returned a short time later. Deputies said when the victim confronted Butler, she fled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was determined by authorities that Butler had outstanding warrants out of Jackson County for Felony Child Neglect, Resisting Without Violence, Loitering, and Prowling. Protest continues as Gulf World dolphin removal is delayed Deputies said they worked throughout the night attempting to locate Butler, but they were unable to do so. Around 9:30 a.m., deputies were informed that Butler had returned to the victims property but had again fled. However, they established a perimeter, and the JCSO K9 Tracking Unit was called to the scene to assist. A track was quickly established, and Butler was located and arrested a short time later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to her active warrants, Butler is being charged with Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Driving While License Revoked, and Petit Theft Second Offense. 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 mypanhandle.com. Whose safety? Missouri and Kansas police departments have worked to improve highway safety the past two weeks by cracking down on seat belt enforcement during the annual Click It or Ticket campaign. Kansas City drivers have seen a higher police presence and more pullovers during some of the busiest travel days of the year. And drivers ticketed for skipping the belt can expect a $10 to $60 fine. Unless youre a white nationalist. In which case, you can expect a police escort and for officers to stand by as you pile into the back of a U-Haul from Texas, sans safety restraint. (May 30, 1A, Police let white nationalists go unbothered, witness says) Patriot Front members and pals demonstrated this strange legal loophole last weekend. As for me, I have little energy for angry white boys who want to cosplay as militiamen instead of participating in the annual Memorial Day barbecue and home improvement blitz like the rest of us. But Ive spent the last week marveling at KCPDs enthusiasm for personal driving safety, only to be shocked as officers stood by while dozens of men crowded into the back of a van right in front of them, without comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They certainly did not click it. Where is their ticket? - Natalia Cortez-Barb, Osawatomie Sarahs example It was with deep anguish that the news of Sarah Milgrim sank in. Now her parents have to experience the unimaginable. We lost not only Sarah, but also the problems not solved, the marriages not celebrated, the babies not born. We are left with a deep hole in our hearts and community. Sarah dedicated her life to peace. God knows we need more people like her in our world. I would like to challenge each of us to pick an issue we are concerned about and with Sarah in our hearts, lets continue her spirit of service and commitment to peace that she so was passionate about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - Connie Spies, Gladstone Messages heard We laid Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky to rest, not antisemitism. The Trump administration cannot condemn antisemitism on the one hand and dance with it on the other. Did Elon Musk think nothing would follow his heil salute, or JD Vance think no Israel hater would hear him exhort Germany to embrace the AfD, the neo-Nazi-founded party that Germany itself labels a terrorist organization? In Donald Trumps first term, he opined that some far-right extremists in Charlottesville who chanted Jews will not replace us were very fine people (while claiming he meant other than neo-Nazis and white nationalists among them). In his second term, he has full-pardoned convicted neo-fascist leaders who rampaged the capitol on Jan. 6. The full pardon allows them to carry guns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Did Trump, Musk and Vance think lone wolf radicals would not hear the speech condoning German fascism, not see the straight-arm gesture, not consider the pardon of homegrown terrorists as anything but approval from those in power? Strangling universities and expelling foreign students will not rub the blood of antisemitism off this countrys hands. In retrospect, the murder of two Israeli Embassy staffers seems a predictable follow-up to actions of our nations leaders. The Bible says it best: You reap what you sow. - Joyce Winslow, Bethesda, Maryland A sign The College of Cardinals took all of two days to select a new Pope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Jackson County Legislature and the county executive after five months have been unable to adopt a budget. (May 23, KansasCity.com, These ideas from Jackson County Prosecutors Office blocked in county budget stalemate) Heres a thought: Each time the Legislature meets, its members can signal their progress on the arduous task: Black smoke, no budget. White smoke, an approved budget. On the later occasion, the public will not cheer for joy but instead give a big sigh of relief that something actually got done. - Brent Schondelmeyer, Independence Art start I met Jeanne Baldwin in 1954 when I enrolled in her Saturday puppetry classes in the glorious Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Having taken the class 15 years earlier, Mrs. Baldwin then taught this 10-class session four times a year, culminating in a marionette production free to the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I lived for those Saturdays when we produced four marionette fairy-tales each year, inspired by objects and paintings in the Nelson-Atkins vast collection. I learned art history by osmosis, surrounded by it every week. Mrs Baldwin was guide and mentor. At her suggestion, the Nelson-Atkins hired me as her assistant. This credit and my portfolio enabled my acceptance into the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University drama school in 1960. My Nelson-Atkins classmate, Howard Smith St. George to my dragon later created China Smith Tours, a university-accredited Chinese culture study. Shortly after, he become a member of the board of directors for Columbia University. Jeanne Baldwin passed away May 24. She blessed my life and those of her many other students. Her footprint is indelible in our career accomplishments as artists and as educators. - Jerry Williams, Eugene, Oregon Dana Chandler has spent decades maintaining her innocence against allegations she was responsible for the 2002 murders of her ex-husband, Mike Sisco, and his girlfriend, Karen Harkness. WATCH NOW: "My Mother's Murder Trials": Part 1 | Part 2 In 2025, Chandler took on her own defense, representing herself in the third trial the state brought against her for the murders. DANA CHANDLER (in court, closing): My liberty, my freedom is hanging in the balance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hailey Seel is Dana Chandler and Mike Sisco's daughter. She and other Sisco and Harkness family members have spent decades grieving, searching for answers and for justice. "I want to understand what happened and why. And and and actually know the truth of what happened," she tells "48 Hours" contributor Jim Axelrod. "48 Hours" first started covering the murders in 2008 and spoke with individuals involved several times over the years. THE MURDERS OF MIKE SISCO AND KAREN HARKNESS Hailey Seel: It's hard to swallow and it's hard to believe. It's insane. (crying) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Hailey, it all started on July 7, 2002. She learned her father and Harkness had been killed in Harkness' Topeka, Kansas, home. Hailey Seel: I immediately just saw a bunch of tape around the house and police. And my grandma's sitting in there and she just told me that they had been shot. Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness, seen in a still from the casino security camera, the night before their murders. / Credit: Shawnee County District Attorney's Office The night before the murders, Sisco and Harkness enjoyed an evening at a casino about an hour outside of Topeka. Surveillance footage shows them leaving about 1:30 a.m. They then stopped to get coffee the last time video captured Harkness alive. Harold Worswick (2008): They were extremely happy, you could just see that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harkness' father, Harold Worswick. Harold Worswick: Everything they did was for each other. The day after Sisco and Harkness' night out, a family get-together had been planned at Harkness' house. Relatives thought the couple might be announcing they were engaged. Harold Worswick: And I rang the doorbell and knocked on the glass and couldn't raise anybody. I thought, "This is strange." Worswick, who has since died, recalled that he entered Harkness' home that afternoon through an open sliding door, didn't see any sign of Karen or Mike Sisco, so he headed downstairs to the bedroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harold Worswick: Just as I got to the foot of the stairs, I could see Karen. And I said, "Oh, Christ." I knew she was dead. And then I found Mike on the outside of the bed. Worswick would then call 911. HAROLD WORSWICK (to 911): I just located my daughter and she's downstairs and she's dead Det. Richard Volle: I got a radio call just after two o'clock on July 7th, 2002. Richard Volle, now retired, was the Topeka Police Department's lead detective on the case. Det. Richard Volle: It was a report of two dead bodies in a basement. Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness, both divorced, had been dating for four years at the time of their murders. / Credit: Cathy Boots Five bullets had struck Harkness, 53, including in her back and buttocks. Sisco, 47, suffered between five and seven gunshot wounds. The couple had been in bed. The rest of the house appeared undisturbed. Investigators found more than $1,000 in cash, a Rolex watch and other jewelry left behind. Robbery was quickly ruled out. To understand who might want Harkness and Sisco dead, police turned to their families for information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Det. Richard Volle: What we're left with is an emotional killing. It's an emotional execution. Sisco, a salesperson for a welding company, and Harkness, who worked in the hospitality industry, were both previously married and now divorced. The well-liked couple had been dating about four years. At the time of her death, Karen Harkness, center, was the divorced mother of two adult children, Chad Harkness, and Erin Sutton. / Credit: Worswick family Harkness' children, Chad and Erin, were in their 20s at the time of the murders. Chad Harkness: It was a surprise to everybody that this would happen to somebody like her. Erin Sutton: My mom was an amazing woman. She, she didn't have enemies. And I remember telling her on several occasions that if I could be half the mom that she was to me, then I would be the best mom in the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sisco had custody of his two children, Hailey, then, 17, and Dustin, 15. Dustin Sisco: My dad was really my life growing up He was really my hero. Hailey's relationship with her dad was more complicated. Hailey Seel: I wasn't happy with my dad. I wasn't happy with my mom. I wasn't happy at my school. By Hailey's own admission, she was a difficult teen. Hailey Seel: My dad gave me an ultimatum: "Either you follow my rules or you move out." She chose to live with her then-boyfriend, Chris. Hailey Seel: And I moved in with Chris and then my dad was killed. That defiance made Hailey and Chris of interest to police. They were polygraphed and questioned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DET. VOLLE: I'm just curious, is everything all right with your dad and everything? HAILEY SEEL: Uh, yeah. We weren't really getting along for a little while. Authorities said their alibis checked out. As did the alibis of Harkness' daughter, Erin, and her husband, Jeff Sutton. Harkness' son Chad was also questioned. Chad Harkness: I was hooked up to a polygraph machine and asked if I had murdered my mother or in any way participated in the murder of my mother. Police concluded none of them were involved. But family members thought they knew who was responsible: Mike Sisco's ex-wife, Dana Chandler. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cathy Boots: She just she never fit in. Dana Chandler and Mike Sisco were married for 15 years and went through a drawn out and bitter divorce. / Credit: Sisco family Cathy Boots, Mike Sisco's sister, watched Chandler and Sisco's relationship deteriorate. After 15 years of marriage, the couple went through a bitter divorce, finalized in 1998. Sisco's relatives say Chandler had a drinking problem and she sporadically stalked Sisco during and after the divorce, with frequent calls and bizarre visits. Cathy Boots: The kids were upstairs in their room. And we heard a noise and there she was in the middle of the night jumping on a trampoline in the backyard of Mike's home. Mark Boots is Mike Sisco's brother-in-law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mark Boots: I think she became obsessed with the fact that Mike was moving on with his life. And then when Karen entered the picture, that's when things really started, I think, escalating. Family members say Dana Chandler's surprise appearances became so frequent that Mike Sisco started keeping a record of them in his day planner. / Credit: Sisco family Mike Sisco kept track of some of the incidents from 1998 in a day planner, writing: JULY 28: Dana stalking neighborhood at 8:30, caught her she left. ... NOVEMBER 12: Dana came in house while I was at Karens from 7:00 to 11:00 went thrus stuff Mark Boots: She was willing to travel great distances to show up back in his life. According to the Boots, the last time Chandler showed up at Mike Sisco's home was in the spring of 2002, several months before the murders. Cathy Boots said Mike told her Chandler went there to talk about moving back in. Cathy Boots: She said, "The kids are getting older. They're having different issues with themselves now. They need both parents. I think I should move back in and we should parent together." Mark Boots: All this harassment and stalking had come to the point that Mike told me that he and Karen now feared for their lives. Mark Boots says Mike Sisco made that clear to him on a fishing trip, nine days before the murders. Mark Boots: He turned to me and said, "Mark, you're gonna wake up and find me dead. And I want you to know who did it, Dana Chandler." But Chandler lived eight hours away in Denver and there was no sign that she had been in Harkness' house in Topeka the night of the murders. WHO WANTED THE COUPLE DEAD? Det. Richard Volle: The victims were doing absolutely nothing and may not have seen it coming at all. Investigators were trying to determine who would gun down Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness as they lay in bed. Detective Richard Volle called Sisco's ex-wife, Dana Chandler, to inform her of Mike's murder. DET. RICHARD VOLLE (phone call to Chandler): Your husband was found shot to death today, this afternoon. Your ex-husband, I'm sorry Can you tell me when the last time was that you talked to him? Chandler, Volle says, did not ask many questions and did not seem concerned. Chandler would later say she was very upset on that call. But only Volle's side of their conversation was recorded, due to a technical error, he said, on his part. The next evening, Chandler called the Topeka Police Department, leaving a message on a different officer's voicemail: DANA CHANDLER (phone call to police): Hi, my name is Dana Chandler and I got a very disturbing phone call last night. Someone had said that my ex-husband had been killed, and I'm just calling to to see if that's true or not Dana Chandler became the main suspect in the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. / Credit: Sisco family Chandler would later explain her call was simply seeking confirmation. Given the personal nature of the murders, no signs of a burglary, and those stories about a messy divorce and stalking, Chandler became the main suspect. Volle decided to talk with Chandler in person, recording this audio, four days after the murders: DET. RICHARD VOLLE ( interview audio 2002): Tell me about what happened on the 6th. DANA CHANDLER: I got up, I had my morning coffee. But again, there was an issue with the recording. In most of the rest of the conversation, Chandler is difficult to hear. Volle recounted what he said she told him. Det. Richard Volle: She said she'd been at home, Saturday morning, that's July 6th and then made a couple of errand stops. Chandler said she bought cigarettes, snacks, and a car cigarette lighter at several stores around Denver and then got gas. But Volle says she failed to mention one purchase he saw on a credit card receipt. Det. Richard Volle: She'd bought two five-gallon gas cans, as well. Volle wondered why she didn't tell him and why she would even need gas cans, unless she had been planning a trip, perhaps to Kansas, and didn't want to stop for gas along the way. According to Volle, Chandler had also said, after running those errands, she went home to her Denver apartment. Det. Richard Volle: Didn't have any visitors. No contact with anybody. And the next day got up and went for a drive in the mountains at ten o'clock in the morning. But Volle couldn't verify that Chandler was in her apartment the night of the murders, nor that she took a drive in the mountains the next day. Volle said the area Chandler described driving through would have meant she'd have to pass Rocky Mountain National Park surveillance cameras. Those cameras were checked. Volle said there was no sign of her car. Det. Richard Volle: The particular person that I had view that tape looked at every frame slowly. She was never there. Investigators also reviewed Chandler's cellphone records. They said that while she tended to use her cellphone frequently, she, oddly, had no activity around the time of the murders. Det. Richard Volle: What we found was there was a 27-hour window where her phone wasn't used. Still, there was no DNA, no fingerprints, or other forensic evidence to tie Chandler to the killings. The gun used in the murders hadn't been found, though investigators learned the bullets were from an Israeli weapons manufacturer. And Chandler would go on to say she didn't even own a gun. But family members remained convinced that Chandler was responsible for the murders. They say they pushed to have a meeting with then-DA Robert Hecht. Tim Sisco is Mike Sisco's brother. Tim Sisco: I specifically went into this meeting wanting to know if he would pursue a circumstantial case. And the answer was, "Without that murder weapon, we don't have enough hard evidence to move this forward." The Sisco and Harkness families grew increasingly frustrated and decided to take action looking for more information about Chandler's possible involvement in the murders. Cathy Boots: I put her picture up everywhere. "Have you seen this person?" Several months after the murders, having more questions than answers, Mike Sisco's sister Cathy Boots said she and their mom Carol Sisco went searching for clues, even lifting up manhole covers and looking in rest stop bathrooms for the gun used in the murders. Cathy Boots: We thought, you know, maybe she threw the gun somewhere. So I would stand on a toilet and try and push a tile up. They found nothing, but Hailey Seel, Chandler, and Mike Sisco's daughter, was also working the case. Hailey Seel: I felt the need to do something. I didn't wanna just sit back with my hands tied and helpless. In 2005, three years after the murders, Hailey began secretly recording conversations with her mother, trying to learn what happened to her dad and Harkness. HAILEY SEEL (recorded phone call): I think that the only way I can really move on with a relationship with you is if we can get it, you know, if you can just tell me yourself that you did it. DANA CHANDLER: Well, number one, I didn't do it and number one I, number two, I don't know what happened Hailey. One thing Hailey asked about was why her mother had no cellphone activity for 27 hours around the time of the murders. HAILEY SEEL (recorded phone call): Why did it have no calls and was at home the whole time? You knew it could be traced. DANA CHANDLER: I was in the mountains; I didn't have a signal. Chandler insisted she had nothing to do with the murders, but did say she had violent thoughts about Mike Sisco. DANA CHANDLER (recorded conversation): I said I could kill him. You ever think about killing him? HAILEY SEEL No, but DANA CHANDLER: I did. HAILEY SEEL: But DANA CHANDLER: Honestly, I can say I did. The official investigation, though, seemed stalled, so authorities asked Vernon Geberth, a homicide and forensic consultant and former New York City Police Department detective, to review case files. In 2007, nearly five years after the murders, he issued a report concluding " Dana Chandler is the one and only person who had the motive, means and opportunity to commit these murders." It was Geberth who brought the case to the attention of "48 Hours." In 2009, "48 Hours" aired its first report on the murders and tried to talk with Chandler. HAROLD DOW | "48 Hours" correspondent: Did you know anything about the death of Michael and Karen? DANA CHANDLER: I have no idea what happened to Mike and Karen. "48 Hours" ended the episode asking viewers to contact police if they had any information. Again, the case seemed to be going nowhere. But two years later, a new DA, Chad Taylor, decided he was willing to take a chance with the evidence they had. He chose to move the case forward and arrest Chandler. With "48 Hours" cameras rolling, law enforcement, zeroed in on Chandler in Oklahoma, where she was staying at the time. Taylor didn't just help plan the arrest, but went on it, with a gun at the ready. And on July 24, 2011, Chandler was in custody, charged with the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. WHERE WAS DANA CHANDLER THE NIGHT OF THE MURDERS? Hailey Seel I'd hit a point where I didn't know if justice would ever be served. For Hailey Seel who was convinced her mother killed her father, Dana Chandler's arrest was nearly a decade in the making. Hailey Seel It was such a feeling that I I it was unbelievable. She was determined to get justice as she prepared to face Dana Chandler in court. Hailey Seel: I've made it this far. I can do anything. In March 2012, Chandler went on trial. Jacqie Spradling, then-chief deputy DA, began by referring to those conversations Hailey Seel had taped years earlier with her mother. JACQIE SPRADLING (in court): "I could kill him. I thought about killing him." These are the words of this defendant about her ex-husband Mike Sisco. In her opening statement, Spradling suggested a possible motive for murder. JACQIE SPRADLING (in court) Two days before the homicides, the defendant called Mike. Mike at this time told the defendant, in that five-minute phone call, that he and Karen were going to be married. But there is no recording of that call. MARK BENNETT (in court) It's easy to make allegations. It's difficult to prove those allegations. And in his opening, defense attorney Mark Bennett argued the case against Chandler was all speculation. MARK BENNETT (in court): There is no evidence that places Dana Chandler in or near the Harkness residence on July 6th or 7th, 2002. But to authorities, there was the question about exactly where Chandler was during that time. Volle says she told him she was home Saturday, the night of the murders and then drove through the mountains the next day. But Chandler's business acquaintance Jeff Bailey, testified Chandler told him something different that she slept in her car in the mountains the Saturday night of the murders. JEFF BAILEY (in court): She told me that the story she was giving me was the truth. And the story that she'd given to the law enforcements was not the truth. And prosecutors told the jury Chandler did not use her cellphone for 27 hours the weekend of the murders. Remember, Hailey Seel accused her mother of trying to avoid being tracked. Volle found another instance when Chandler didn't use her phone a month before the murders. DET. RICHARD VOLLE (in court): There were no calls registered. There were some calls came to the phone, but none were picked up. And prosecutors say that's important, because during that time a month before the murders was Chandler's dry run for the killings. They called her friend Ann Carrender to the stand. Carrender says Dana told her she had driven to Topeka. ANN CARRENDER (in court): She had gone to Mike's house through the window. Um, nobody was home. JACQIE SPRADLING: What else did she tell you? ANN CARRENDER: That she had gone and sat outside Karen's house. Karen Harkness and Mike Sisco / Credit: Sisco family Spradling says Chandler was obsessed with Mike Sisco and presented evidence that in the six months leading up to the murders, she called Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness more than 600 times. The defense argued Chandler was calling to talk to her kids, but Hailey Seel remembered her mother's calls differently. JACQIE SPRADLING (in court): What was the thing that she talked to you the most about? HAILEY SEEL: She talked about my dad a lot. And I I re I really feel like she was was really just obsessed with him. An FBI analyst testified Chandler often called late at night, and frequently made repeated calls in a short time period, including a month before the murders. ALICE CASEY (in court): On June 3rd, she made 17 calls in 18 minutes. Dana Chandler listens as her daughter testifies against her at 2012 trial. / Credit: CBS News Both of Chandler's children testified for the prosecution, saying that their mother also had a history of stalking their father. DUSTIN SISCO (in court): She took me and my sister with her to go spy on my dad. And so we were in the car and she told us, you know, we're just going to be her little helpers. HAILEY SEEL (in court): She asked if I would go go up to the house with her. And we did. And she was looking in all the windows. And she told me to look in the windows. And JACQIE SPRADLING: Did you? HAILEY SISCO: I did. JACQIE SPRADLING: What was it that she was looking at in there? HAILEY SEEL: I think that she was was thinking there was a lady in there with my dad. Hailey also testified about those recordings she made talking with her mother. During one of them, Chandler, who attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, gave an explanation as to why she bought those gas cans. DANA CHANDLER (audio recording): I ran into a girl that had run out of gas at an AA meeting and so I went and got gas for her. She asked me for money and we don't give people money at AA Prosecutor Spradling told the jury that she believed Chandler used those two five-gallon gas cans to have enough gas so she would not have to stop and potentially be seen near the crime scene. But Chandler's attorney argued there was no proof she was ever in Topeka during the time of the murders. MARK BENNETT (in court): Did you or any other members of the Topeka Police Department ever find an eyewitness that put the defendant, Dana Chandler, in Topeka, Kansas on either July 6 or July 7, 2002? DET. RICHARD VOLLE: No. The closest law enforcement was able to come was at a gas station in WaKeeney, Kansas, nearly halfway between Denver and Topeka. Clerk Patty Williams wasn't sure, but she thought she might have seen Chandler the night of the murders. Jacqie Spradling: Patty was shown a picture of the defendant Patty indicated that she was 70% sure that that was the woman who had been there. But by the time Chandler went on trial, Patty Williams had died. A different worker from the gas station testified about seeing a black car that looked similar to the one Chandler drove that day. But she said it might have had license plates from Virginia. When it was the defense's turn, Bennett pointed out there was no proof Chandler was ever there. MARK BENNETT (in court): Wasn't any receipt from WaKeeney, was there? DET. RICHARD VOLLE: No. And Bennett questioned whether Volle investigated other suspects, like two men with criminal records who had stolen checks from Mike Sisco and cashed one after the murders. MARK BENNETT (in court): That didn't make 'em a suspect? DET. RICHARD VOLLE: No, because the check wasn't taken from Karen Harkness' house where the murders occurred. The check was actually taken from Mike Sisco's house where the murders did not occur. And one of the men was in jail when the murders occurred. In closing arguments, Bennett reiterated there was no forensic evidence linking Chandler to the crime. MARK BENNETT (in court): All this time, they've been trying to put her in Kansas when this happened. And for nine-and-a-half years, they've come up dry. Spradling reminded the jury of Chandler's stalking behavior and tried to make sure they knew just how scared Mike Sisco was of Chandler. She said Mike Sisco had gotten a protection from abuse order against Chandler. JACQIE SPRADLING (in court): So, he got a court order saying she has to stay away. The protection from abuse order did not stop the defendant, though. After two weeks of testimony, it took the jury 83 minutes to reach a verdict: guilty of first-degree murder. Hailey Seel: I feel better in the sense that my dad's killer is paying for their actions I don't feel better that my mom is capable of killing my dad. When it was time for sentencing, Hailey Seel asked that her mom receive the maximum sentence. HAILEY SEEL (in court:) We each have a deep scar on our souls from what this monster has done. But Chandler would also get a chance to speak. DANA CHANDLER (in court): But most importantly, I deny that I murdered Mike or Karen. I am innocent. I did not murder Mike or Karen. Chandler was sentenced to life in prison. But soon that verdict would be called into question. DANA CHANDLER'S CONVICTION REVERSED Hailey Seel: A lot of my mind has been focused on her getting away with killing my Dad, and just drags me down. For years, Hailey Seel's thoughts were consumed with proving her mother killed her father, Mike Sisco, and Karen Harkness. With Dana Chandler in prison, Hailey was relieved she could concentrate on other things. But her relief was tinged with pain. Hailey Seel: I wanna focus on my future and what I want to do with my life. I wanna be everything my mom wasn't. (cries) But Hailey's focus would turn again to the case. Chandler almost immediately began filing motions as she worked to appeal her conviction. She and her attorneys cited, among other things, the actions of prosecutor Jacqie Spradling. In particular, statements Spradling made at trial about that protection from abuse order. JACQIE SPRADLING (in court): Mike got a protection from abuse, a court order. He applied and said, "Hey, judge, please order this woman to stay away from me." And the judge agreed. Stacey Schlimmer: And that is just a blatant misstatement. Stacey Schlimmer, one of Chandler's appeal attorneys, was never able to find a protection from abuse order. Stacey Schlimmer: I went through the whole case. I went and looked for every possible order I could find. And there wasn't one that she was referring to. In 2018, Schlimmer argued that Spradling's actions constituted prosecutorial misconduct. STACEY SCHLIMMER (arguing before Kansas Supreme Court): I I think that Ms. Chandler never had an opportunity at a fair trial from the get-go. Schlimmer contended the case against Chandler should be thrown out. The court agreed. Stacey Schlimmer: The Kansas Supreme Court held that it's so bad that we're going to go ahead and overturn her conviction. Other issues about statements Spradling made at trial also came up, including describing a route Chandler took between Kansas and Denver when there was no evidence that she drove that way. JACQIE SPRADLING (in court): She drove directly up to Nebraska. And after she gets on Nebraska she turns around and goes home. Stacey Schlimmer: They just kinda hypothesized, "Well, she must have went up and went over from Nebraska." There was no evidence of that at all. Schlimmer also contended the state did not have enough evidence to prove Dana Chandler's guilt. Stacey Schlimmer: We argued insufficiency of evidence as an issue for appeal Jim Axelrod: Meaning you don't think prosecutors had enough to make a legitimate case? Stacey Schlimmer: Jurors didn't have enough evidence before them if you took out all the evidence that should've never been presented or told to them incorrectly. The Kansas Supreme Court described Spradling's actions as, "intolerable acts of deception." And she was disbarred. "48 Hours" reached out to Spradling, but did not receive a response. Stacey Schlimmer: When a case gets reversed, like a case like this, we essentially have an innocent woman who's been convicted of crime because of the prosecutor. Or we have a family that has now a reversed conviction that has to go through the system again. Jim Axelrod: Either way, there's an injustice. Stacey Schlimmer: Right. So that conduct is gonna affect someone. The Kansas Supreme Court did decide, though, there was sufficient evidence to retry Chandler if the district attorney chose to. Hailey Seel: When I found out that the Kansas Supreme Court overturned the verdict it was very shocking. What does this mean? Will the DA's office retry her? Jim Axelrod: Were you angry with the prosecutor who was cited for misconduct? Hailey Seel: I've never been angry with her. I think it was an innocent mistake. Chad Harkness, Karen Harkness' son, takes a different view of Spradling's actions. Chad Harkness: Had Jacqie not made those comments, we wouldn't be sitting here today. This this would be over. Now all these years later, we're still having to, you know, live through this again. And it it's just it's not right. It's not fair. The decision whether to retry Chandler was now in the hands of Shawnee County's new DA, Mike Kagay. Mike Kagay: We analyzed every aspect of the case. And ultimately, we came to the conclusion that we believed justice demanded that we move forward, and we pursue another trial. Pursuing that would take years. Chandler remained incarcerated. She, and her defense lawyers, argued she should be set free, and fought against having another trial. Jim Axelrod: What were those years like? Hailey Seel: Unbelievable. For Hailey, the delays seemed endless. Chandler and her lawyers filed nearly 400 motions, including ones requesting a change of judge, to retain an investigator, for her bond to be reduced, and to disqualify the Shawnee County District Attorney's Office. And through it all, she fired several of her lawyers. Hailey Seel: She went through seven lawyers in that time, uh, between representing herself. There were also dozens of hearings, including one where Hailey was called to testify and Chandler did the questioning. Hailey Seel: She took me on the stand for at least 45 minutes and she directly questioned me. Jim Axelrod: What was that like? Hailey Seel: It was the most awful thing I've ever I mean, the the suspect in the killing of my dad is now having the power to question me on the stand and talk to me. Jim Axelrod: Not just the suspect in the killing of your dad, your own mother. Hailey Seel: Yeah, yeah. I mean, It it it was awful. But Hailey was willing to take whatever steps necessary to ensure her mother would stand trial again for the murders. Hailey Seel: If she could bring out something to prove where she was, to say she didn't do it, prove she didn't do it that's not just for me, that's for her and her own freedom. But she can't, and she hasn't. WOULD DANA CHANDLER BE RETRIED? Mike Kagay: Two innocent people were murdered in our community. That demands justice. Although Dana Chandler's conviction had been overturned, prosecutors were determined to retry her for the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. By 2021, the organization, Miracle of Innocence, got involved, advocating for Chandler. Darryl Burton: Dana Chandler was someone who, we believed in her innocence. When we looked at the case, the facts was just nothing connected this lady to the crime. Darryl Burton is the co-founder of Miracle of Innocence. He's someone who was wrongfully imprisoned and had his murder conviction reversed. He says, before sending someone to prison, the case needs to be more convincing than the one made against Chandler. Darryl Burton: There's no evidence no fingerprints, no DNA, no confession, no weapon, no witnesses, nothing. When it comes to, you know, these kinds of crimes of murder, you just got to have more than that. Chandler and her attorneys also raised other issues as they tried to get the case dismissed. Some allegations related to the 2009 "48 Hours" broadcast. Chandler falsely accused law enforcement of forming "a partnership with '48 Hours' to film an episode aimed at convincing the public that Ms. Chandler murdered Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness." Jim Axelrod: What do you make of the idea that, if "48 Hours" had not reported, starting in 2009, on this case, that Dana Chandler would never have been arrested or tried? Stacey Schlimmer: I don't think it was "48 Hours" (laughs). 2009 is a lot different than when they arrested her. They arrested her three or four years three years later. I think the family was what kept it going. They believe that Ms. Chandler did this. It was the new prosecutor, and it was the family probably saying, "Hey, we need justice done in this." But Stacey Schlimmer, Chandler's former appeal attorney, does take issue with the handling of the 2011 arrest and the show of force. Jim Axelrod: You've seen Dana Chandler's arrest many times. Stacey Schlimmer: Right. Jim Axelrod: And it bothers you. Stacey Schlimmer: It bothers me a lot. "48 Hours," as well as The Topeka Capital-Journal, were given advance notice of the arrest by the office of then-DA Chad Taylor. Jim Axelrod: Are you bothered by law enforcement or are you bothered by the fact that there were cameras there? Stacey Schlimmer: I'm bothered by the prosecutor. I'm bothered by the district attorney showing up at an arrest and having that arrest filmed. Jim Axelrod: So they wanted video of law enforcement with their guns out? Stacey Schlimmer: I think they wanted then the public to see that. That to me was it seemed like such a production for a case. that prosecutor should never have done that. Ultimately, the various arguments Dana Chandler's team made to dismiss the case were unsuccessful. Chandler's new trial was scheduled for the summer of 2022. Before the trial began, "48 Hours" again tried to speak with Chandler. She said she would only agree to an interview if CBS paid her million-dollar bond. We declined. Chad Harkness: Never thought we'd be sitting here again and getting ready to start a a retrial on this it's just mind blowing. Chad Harkness, Karen Harkness' son, was relieved the DA's office decided to retry Chandler, but was concerned about going through this yet another time. Chad Harkness: Just us kids having to relive this again and It just it makes me sick. Hailey, too, was not looking forward to another trial. But said testifying again could give her some control of the situation. Hailey Seel: If I can realize my power. And it gives me courage to go forward because I know the truth The truth is that she murdered them. The passage of time has left Hailey with so much loss loss she holds her mother responsible for. And, as a mom herself, having married her high school boyfriend Chris Seel, Hailey's feelings are even more complicated. Jim Axelrod: When you think of your mom, do you think mother, or do you think Dana? Hailey Seel: I think Dana, yeah. She's Dana to me. Actually, mom is is a an ucky word to me, to the point where I don't even like my kids to call me mom. I don't like mom. Mom is a a very hurtful person (cries). No matter the name, Dana Chandler is someone her daughter will have to face again in court and someone who will eventually tell her side of the story. DANA CHANDLER (in court): Let's start by stating my name. My name is Dana Chandler. I as everyone know, have been accused of double homicide and I am innocent. DANA CHANDLER RETRIED FOR DOUBLE MURDER In the summer of 2022, Dana Chandler was on trial for the second time for the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. As in her first trial, the defense focused on all that was lacking in the case against Chandler. TOM BATH (in court): There is no evidence that she was in the Harkness residence, no evidence she was in Topeka. There's no evidence she was in the state of Kansas. Defense attorney Tom Bath insisted Chandler was in Colorado at the time of the murders, more than 500 miles away, and faulted investigators for zeroing in on her. TOM BATH (in court): Everything they looked at, everything they examined excluded Dana. The lack of physical evidence was acknowledged by Shawnee County Deputy District Attorney Charles Kitt. CHARLES KITT (in court): Science is not going to solve this case. This case is not based on DNA. Instead, the state focused on evidence such as Chandler's hatred of her ex-husband and his girlfriend. CHARLES KITT (in court): This case is based on jealousy, rage and obsession. Prosecutors presented evidence they say showed that obsessionincluding records of more than 600 phone calls Chandler made to Harkness and Sisco in the six months before the murders. And they introduced witnesses who said Harkness and Sisco told them some of those calls were menacing. Kim Warrender was Harkness' coworker. KIM WARRENDER (in court): She said she had been up all-night receiving phone calls from Dana. CHARLES KITT: She told you she was afraid? KIM WARRENDER: Very afraid. Erin Sutton also testified that her mother, Karen Harkness, was scared of Chandler. She spoke about messages she said she heard that Chandler left on her mother's phone. ERIN SUTTON (in court): She would call my mom horrible names. CHARLES KITT: And, like, what kind of names would she call her? ERIN SUTTON: She would call her a whore. In addition to testimony about calls Chandler made, there was also attention paid to when there was no call activity on her phone specifically during 27 hours the weekend of the murders. Authorities believed Chandler's phone was turned off so it could not be traced as she traveled to Kansas. But the defense suggested it could have just been spotty cellphone service in Colorado. Prosecutors told the jury about a purchase Chandler made the day before the murders but failed to mention to investigators. Kitt asked Richard Volle, the lead detective on the case, about the purchase. CHARLES KITT (in court): Can you tell us what that is? Dana Chandler's Auto Zone receipt showing the purchase of two five-gallon gas cans. / Credit: Shawnee County District Attorney's Office DET. RICHARD VOLLE (holding the receipt): This is an Auto Zone receipt It shows the purch first two purchases were five dollar or five-gallon gas cans. Authorities wondered why Chandler didn't tell them about the gas cans, and why she would need gas cans unless she was planning a trip perhaps to Kansas and did not want to stop for gas along the way. And there was the issue of Chandler's alibi according to Detective Volle, a changing, unconfirmable one. One witness testified that Chandler said she was in the mountains in Colorado at the time of the murders, but Volle testified Chandler told him she was at home in her Denver apartment. DET. RICHARD VOLLE (in court): She said she'd stayed at her house, had no guests or phone calls and then she turned in about 9'o clock. A friend of Chandler's testified about something authorities thought might have been a dry run for the murders. She said about a month before the killings, Chandler called and told her about a trip she made to Sisco's and Harkness's homes . ANN HAMMER (in court): She told me that she knew nobody was in the house and that she went into Mike's home through the window. After that, she did go to, um, his girlfriend's house and sat outside her house, waiting for them to come home. But they didn't show up CHARLES KITT: Did she tell you what she did when she got into Mike's house? ANN HAMMER: She wanted to see what it looked like on the inside. But Chandler's attorney questioned the reliability of her testimony, pointing out she may have gotten some dates wrong regarding calls with Chandler. ANN HAMMER (in court): It must not have been a Monday. TOM BATH: But 20 years ago, you said it was a Monday. Right? ANN HAMMER: Sure. Testimony about Chandler's behavior also came from Cathy Boots, Mike Sisco's sister. She described an incident several years before the murders, that she said she witnessed while staying at Mike's house. CATHY BOOTS (in court): We went to bed that night and I woke up in the early morning hours to a noise out in the backyard. And we had left the back porch lights on. And I looked out through the blinds and Dana was jumping on the trampoline out back. And Mike Sisco's brother-in-law, Mark Boots, recounted a disturbing conversation he said he had with Mike nine days before the murders. MARK BOOTS (in court): Mike told me that the patterns of harassment had increased and that he feared for he and Karen's lives. Mike Sisco and Dana Chandler's daughter, Hailey Seel, was going to be in the uncomfortable position of testifying against her mother. A DAUGHTER'S SECRET RECORDINGS PLAYED IN COURT Hailey Seel: I was absolutely still nervous and scared. Being up there, it causes conflict. As Hailey Seel reflected back on testifying against her mother, Dana Chandler, she recalled the stress she was under. As a prosecution witness, Seel was asked to describe some of her mother's behaviorbehavior Seel said she found obsessive. CHARLES KITT (in court): Was there a time where you were asked to spy on your dad? HAILEY SEEL: Yeah. Seel recounted an incident, after her parents split up, when she said, Chandler drove her and her brother to Sisco's home, and they all sat in the car to watch the house. HAILEY SEEL (in court): She said, "Come on. We need to watch your dad. And you can be my little helpers." She had me go with her to the house after so long. And um, and she wanted to look in the windows. CHARLES KITT: Did she look in the windows? HAILEY SEEL: Yeah. We both looked in the windows. And she said, "Did you see that? Did you see that?" And I said, "No. I didn't see anything." Hailey Seel and her mother Dana Chandler. / Credit: Sisco family It was episodes like that which led Seel, early on, to think her mother could be responsible for the murders. Hailey Seel: I always suspected she had something to do with it because of the history of her harassment, stalking, hatred, talking bad about them to us all the time. Seel testified about some of the ways her mother expressed that dislike of her father like the demeaning ways Chandler referred to him in emails and online chats including ones where Chandler referred to Sisco as "it" sent when Seel was 14 years old. CHARLES KITT (in court, pointing at email): And does she call him manipulative and deceiving? HAILEY SEEL: Yes. CHARLES KITT: And then calls him a rapist. HAILEY SEEL: Yeah. CHARLES KITT And just a couple of lines down, "I hate his guts." HAILEY SEEL: Yeah. CHARLES KITT: Are those things your mother typed to you? HAILEY SEEL: Yes. HAILEY SEEL (recording to Dana Chandler): Nobody can say that they that you were in Colorado that weekend? Also played in court, were those conservations Hailey secretly recorded with her mom as she tried to learn more about Chandler's possible involvement in the murders. Jim Axelrod: In all the conversations you had with her over the days, weeks, months, even years after this happened, she never told you something that made you think, well, at least my mom didn't do it? Hailey Seel: No. Every time I talked to her, I felt more and more confident that she definitely had something to do with it. And perhaps most telling to Hailey was a conversation, played in court, where Chandler said she had thought about killing Mike Sisco. DANA CHANDLER (recording): . you ever think about killing him? HAILEY SEEL: No, but DANA CHANDLER: I did. In one of those discussions, Hailey asked her mother about why she bought those two gas cans which authorities thought could have been used to help drive roundtrip from Denver to Topeka without stopping in Kansas for fuel. Chandler, who'd been a problem drinker, explained she bought them for someone elsea woman she met at AA. DANA CHANDLER (recording, played in court): She asked me for money and we don't give people money at AA. I said, "I'll go buy you some gas " The prosecutor asked Hailey if she was able to learn anything more about that woman from Chandler. CHARLES KITT (in court): She wouldn't tell you who that person was? HAILEY SEEL: No. She didn't. But Chandler's defense team argued those recorded conversations proved nothing about the murders. And regarding the two gas cans, it maintained that the 10 extra gallons the cans could hold would not have been enough for Chandler to drive roundtrip from Denver to Topeka without still needing to stop for fuel. The defense accused authorities of tunnel vision including not looking more thoroughly at other suspects. And her lawyers said Chandler never owned a .9mm gun the type of weapon used in the murders, which was never found. What was found, were unusual bullets made in Israel. AMY COODY (in court): Israel Military Industries, that's the manufacturer. Chandler's attorney questioned a firearms examiner who had worked for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation about those bullets. TOM BATH (in court): Is that a bullet, ammunition you typically see? AMY COODY: Actually, we had not seen that before. And so it was a little bit unusual to us. The prosecution, though, explained there were places one could buy those bullets. CHARLES KITT (in court): Could that ammo have been brought into Kansas and sold at a gun show? AMY COODY: Yes, sir. CHARLES KITT: Could have been exchanged by individuals? AMY COODY: Yes, sir. There were other parts of the investigation that the defense argued supported its case. There was forensic work it said eliminated Chandler. Unidentified fingerprints found at the house did not match Chandler. None of Chandler's DNA was found at the murder scene, nor were any fibers found from her clothing, or any of her hair. KAREN THIESSEN (in court): I did not find any hairs that were consistent with the sample coming from Ms. Chandler. TOM BATH (in court): In 20 years, the state had no evidence, no evidence whatsoever that placed Dana Chandler in Karen Harkness' home, in the city of Topeka, or in the state of Kansas. After three weeks of testimony, that lack of physical evidence would be the defense's theme in its closing argument. TOM BATH (in court): Each and every time they tested something, it excluded Dana. CHARLES KITT (in court): From the beginning, I told you this case is about obsession, jealousy, rage. The state focused on Chandler's behavior her calls, emails, and her own family's testimony against her. CHARLES KITT (in court): The defendant clearly hated Karen and Mike, words from her own mouth and her own fingers typing those messages. TOM BATH (in court): A lot of evidence about Dana's bad behavior. That's true. That's not evidence. They have not proven this case beyond a reasonable doubt. On Aug. 25, 2022, the case went to the jury, and Hailey was waiting for a verdict. Hailey Seel: I've really tried to trust the process cause I knew I didn't have any control over it. So it was gonna be what it was gonna be. But the wait to find out what that verdict would be was a long one. JURORS DEADLOCK IN DANA CHANDLER'S SECOND MURDER TRIAL The case in the second trial of Dana Chandler for the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness went to the jury on Aug. 25, 2022. That day came and went, as did several more. Hailey Seel: After about four days ... I started to get nervous and think, wow, this actually could not come back in a guilty verdict and I started to think of that possibility. And so I prayed and I just trusted that, if she did get away with this that life would have to go on, right? After six days of deliberating, Chandler would learn her fate. JUDGE CHERYL RIOS (in court): I understand that the jury is unable to reach a unanimous verdict at this time, is that correct? FOREPERSON: That's correct. The jury informed the judge they were deadlocked. There were seven votes to convict and five to acquit. Ben Alford: We did what we could with what we had. Ben Alford and Carrie Kimes were two members of the jury who voted to find Chandler not guilty. Carrie Kimes: I never saw actual evidence that Dana Chandler was ever in the Harkness home. I can't send somebody to spend the rest of their life in prison if you can't even prove she left Colorado that weekend. Ben Alford: Everything that was tested for DNA proved inconclusive. And that's pretty remarkable. But for juror Randy Edwards, the state's depiction of Chandler's behavior was persuasive evidence. Randy Edwards: She was beyond upset. She was obsessed. He also found those conversations Seel recorded with her mother to be convincing and voted to convict. Randy Edwards: When I was able to comprehend that Dana said that she had thought of killing Mike, that was probably the the piece that pushed me beyond any question of reasonable doubt anymore. Mike Kagay: There was a split verdict, but the majority of the jury was in favor of a conviction and that was meaningful. DA Mike Kagay decided to retry Dana Chandler. Her lawyers convinced the court to reduce her bond, which allowed her to be released with supervision as she awaited the next trial. JUDGE CHERYL RIOS (in court): The court is going to direct that she have GPS monitoring. After spending more than a decade incarcerated, Chandler celebrated her freedom with Darryl Burton and Miracle of Innocence. Darryl Burton: Anybody who's getting outta prison after you've been in prison for any length of time, it is, it's a joyous occasion. You're happy that someone's been released and, you know, also feel like, well, maybe it's a good chance that, you know, we can, you know, mount a defense, and get her totally acquitted. As a condition of her release, Chandler was not allowed to contact her children. Still, Hailey worried about her safety. She is married to Chris Seel, her high school boyfriend, and is a mother of three. Hailey Seel: I'm scared to death that she's going to hurt me, or she's going to affect my kids in some way. Hailey's fear only grew when Chandler made a post to her Facebook page. Chandler complained about her treatment at trial, calling it a kangaroo court. And in the background, she showed images of Hailey's children. Hailey says Chandler somehow learned which church she attended and downloaded a livestream of a service to create the photos. Hailey Seel: It was chilling and it was disturbing. I feel like it was a direct message to me. Jim Axelrod: And what was the message? Hailey Seel: Intimidation. I don't care about your boundaries. Her belief that her mother committed the murders remains unwavering, and she says, disturbing. Hailey Seel: She's my mom but if you're my mom, why would you do that to my dad? For your kids' sake, maybe that would be a reason not to do it. Being a mother now, I have a new perspective. It becomes even more unreal now. Also unreal to Hailey thoughts of a third trial. Jim Axelrod: What are your expectations for yet again another trial Hailey Seel: This time, I am not as confident. For trial number three, jurors would be from Pottawatomie County, Kansas. The defense requested a change of venue, and the judge agreed, citing excessive media coverage. It would take place in Westmoreland, a smaller, more rural area, 60 miles away from the last setting in Topeka. CHARLES KITT (in court): July 7th, 2002 was going to be a good day. Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness had been in a relationship for a few years. The trial got underway with opening statements on Feb. 7, 2025. CHARLES KITT (in court): One name just kept coming up, Dana Chandler. Charles Kitt was back retrying the case, joined by prosecutor Dan Dunbar. Judge Cheryl Rios again presided. And in a last-minute change, on the morning of opening statements, Chandler dismissed her defense attorneys. And Chandler decided the best person to represent her was herself. DANA CHANDLER (In court): I am innocent. I did not kill Mike and Karen. DANA CHANDLER REPRESENTS HERSELF AT THIRD MURDER TRIAL DANA CHANDLER (in court): I think this case is a character assassination. In February 2025, Dana Chandler was on trial for the third time for the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. But this time, she was representing herself. Mike Kagay: She was exercising her constitutional right. It was an unknown. It was certainly unexpected. One thing that was the same as in the previous trials: Hailey Seel testifying. Hailey was asked again by the prosecution about her mother's inappropriate behavior. DAN DUNBAR (in court): What sort of things would she say about Karen? HAILEY SEEL: She called her a homewrecker. Um, a slut, very bad names. Prosecutors were also interested in an incident when Chandler drove Hailey and her brother to drop them off at Harkness' house. HAILEY SEEL (in court): We waited there for a really long time in the car And then my dad and Karen got there, and my mom got out and yelled at them and just was very angry with my dad. DAN DUNBAR: Hailey, I don't have any further questions, thank you. When it was time to be cross-examined, Hailey knew it would now be her mother doing the questioning. Nt sd Dana " Hello Ms. Seel." Hailey Seel: I really went up there with like my game face on, you know. I I knew it was war. I knew it wasn't going to be a a nice, a cordial, a thoughtful you're the victim, this was your dad and I'm so sorry place that she'd be coming from. Chandler challenged Hailey about her description of that drop-off at Harkness' home. Chandler said it was Hailey's father, Mike Sisco, who was behaving badly, not her. Hailey Seel being questioned at trial by the defendant her mother Dana Chandler, who was representing herself. / Credit: Pool DANA CHANDLER (in court): When your dad and Karen drove up, your dad stormed over to the car. HAILEY SEEL: Oh, no. No, he did not. DANA CHANDLER: And he started banging on the window. HAILEY SEEL: Wha? No. No, he did not. I was inside that car and my dad absolutely did not bang on the windows. DANA CHANDLER: And I didn't get out I never got out of the car. HAILEY SEEL: You were the first one out of the car. Hailey Seel: I was just in disbelief because I knew she just made that up because it never happened, and he never did that. But I didn't get concerned. I just said "no, you know. I'm glad you asked so I can straighten this out. That never happened." And then it comes down to who's believable. And I wasn't worried about that. As another way to seemingly explain some of her past behaviors, Chandler brought up that she used to have a drinking problem. DANA CHANDLER (in court): And I did tell you that I was I realized that I had a problem with alcohol. HAILEY SEEL: You did tell me you had a problem with alcohol. Something Chandler said she stopped by 1999, three years before the murders. DANA CHANDLER (in court): I told you I was going to three AA meetings a day, trying to get well. True? HAILEY SEEL: I knew you were trying to get well, yes. The state questioned though, if becoming sober changed Chandler's behavior. DAN DUNBAR (in court): When she came back clean and sober, did that change how she treated you? HAILEY SEEL: No. DAN DUNBAR: Did it did it change how she talked about your dad? HAILEY SEEL: No. DAN DUNBAR: Did it change how she talked about Karen? HAILEY SEEL: No. Chandler not only thought she was the best person to represent herself, but when it was time to put on her defense, she decided she would be her own main witness. DANA CHANDLER (in court): I feel like that I need to kind of tell my story to kind of put things in perspective. She testified over seven days, speaking for about 20 hours. DANA CHANDLER (in court): You have not seen evidence that I was in Topeka, Kansas, on July 7th, 2002. Darryl Burton: There was times when she would take so long to try to get her point across. Dana Chandler's supporter, Darryl Burton, was concerned when she put herself on the stand. Darry Burton: Sometimes it seemed as though she was just rambling, you know, and that was just unfortunate. She may have known probably knew where she was trying to go, but she'd get lost. She again addressed issues such as her drinking and inappropriate conversations with Hailey. DANA CHANDLER (in court): I was writing emails, drinking to blackout. I'd get up the next morning and not even aware of those emails. I had a serious problem. And horrible things I said about Karen spreading her legs. I mean, seriously, Hailey was 14 years old. (cries) I'm just so ashamed and embarrassed about that and I hated that Hailey that I put Hailey through that. And Chandler, in her own testimony, addressed again that incident when she waited outside Karen Harkness' house to drop off Hailey and Dustin with the couple. She said it was done out of necessity. DANA CHANDLER (in court): I yelled through the window, I could not afford to feed Hailey and Dustin. And that I needed to leave them with him. Chandler contrasted those times to when she stopped drinking, showing videos of her spending time outdoors with Hailey and Dustin. DANA CHANDLER (in court): This video was taken about 9 months into my recovery. Chandler also disputed making frequent harassing calls to Harkness and Sisco, saying when she called, there was a reason. Dana Chandler, center, with her children Hailey and Dustin. / Credit: Sisco family DANA CHANDLER: I was calling to speak with my children, Hailey, and Dustin. As to her having disagreements with Karen Harkness, she testified there were none. DANA CHANDLER: I never, ever, had any confrontations with Karen Harkness, at all. Chandler also pointed out what she said was sloppiness in the police investigation. When Chandler questioned lead detective Richard Volle, she asked about whether police were too focused on her and should have been looking more thoroughly at other possible suspects. DANA CHANDLER (In court, questioning Volle): Did you or did you not receive any leads for other suspects besides me? DET. RICHARD VOLLE: Uh, early on in the investigation, there were several other people that were looked at as possible leads. So it's a matter of checking people off, to dismissing people that couldn't have done it. Uh, when we can't dismiss them, we keep focusing on them, like we did with you. Chandler, though, said there was an area she felt law enforcement thoroughly investigated whether she bought a .9 mm gun, like the one used in the murders and they came up empty handed. DANA CHANDLER (in court): I've never owned, purchased, or possessed a .9mm firearm. And throughout her defense, Chandler was adamant that at the time of the murders, she was in Colorado, and no one could place her in Harkness' house, or even in Kansas. It seemed like a simple question Chandler was asking Detective Volle. DANA CHANDLER (in court, questioning Volle): Did you ever develop any information that I was in Topeka, Kansas, on July 6th or 7th of 2002? In answering that question, Volle said there was a woman named Patty Williams who may have spotted Chandler in the state of Kansas around the time of the murders. DANA CHANDLER (in court, questioning Volle): What do you know about Patty? DET. RICHARD VOLLE: She was a clerk at a convenience store in WaKeeney, Kansas. The gas station/convenience store in WaKeeney, where Williams worked, was nearly halfway between Denver and Topeka. It had been visited by an investigator, searching for locations where someone may have spotted Chandler around the time of the murders. There, the investigator showed Williams the photo of Chandler seen below. The photo of Dana Chandler shown to convenience store clerk Patty Williams in WaKeeney, Kansas. / Credit: Shawnee County District Court DET. RICHARD VOLLE (in court): She was seven out of 10 that it was you. According to Volle, the clerk was 70% sure she had seen Dana Chandler and described some distinguishing features. DET. RICHARD VOLLE (in court): She had, or said that she had gray near the hairline Chandler though, told the jury, she did not have gray hair back then. By the time of the trials, Williams had died and could not be questioned again. Chandler also expressed concern that the investigator only showed a single photo of her initially, instead of an array of photos, including different peoplesomething Volle did do when he went to the gas station about two weeks later. DET. RICHARD VOLLE (in court): We later later went out with a what we call a six-pack photo, it's uh six photographs of people that looked very similar and amongst those photos was Ms. Chandler. Volle said Williams immediately picked out Chandler, and again was 70 percent sure she saw her there. But Volle acknowledged using an array initially would have been better. There was still, for law enforcement, the issue regarding Dana Chandler's alibi. Remember, Volle said Chandler told him she was home in her Denver apartment the night of the murders. But she told others, including an acquaintance, Jeff Bailey, she slept in her car in the Colorado mountains that night. DANA CHANDLER (in court): I was confused Chandler told the jury she had been confused when she spoke with Volle, but Prosecutor Kitt was not accepting that explanation. CHARLES KITT (in court): So what you told Detective Volle is not consistent with what you told Jeff Bailey, is it? DANA CHANDLER: Uh, as far as my trip to CHARLES KITT: Ms. Chandler, it's not consistent DANA CHANDLER: Oh, that part. OK. Yeah. I would agree with that. Um, I would that's true Once again, those secret recordings Hailey made with her mother were played in court: DANA CHANDLER: you ever think about killin' him? HAILEY SEEL: No, but DANA CHANDLER: I did. This time, Kitt questioned Chandler herself about its authenticity. CHARLES KITT (in court): Was that your voice saying, "Did you ever think about killing him?" "I did"? DANA CHANDLER: It sounds like it yes. When it was time for the final witness, Chandler decided it should be Dana Chandler. She knew the jury heard witnesses testify about her parenting and past behavior. Chandler explained if she was a less than an attentive mother, it was because of her drinking and a lack of money, not a lack of love. DANA CHANDLER (in court): I absolutely did want to have a relationship with my children. You know I think the financial, substance abuse combination, um it just wasn't feasible. So, that's all I have, thank you. Oh, cross. CHARLES KITT (in court): Ms. Chandler, during this time that you couldn't afford to feed your children, you were buying booze, correct? DANA CHANDLER: I was. CHARLES KITT: Buying enough alcohol to get blackout drunk? DANA CHANDLER: I was. CHARLES KITT: OK, thank you. I have no further questions. And with that, after 18 days of testimony, Kitt and Chandler presented their closing arguments. CHARLES KITT (in court): Why are Mike and Karen dead? And the evidence shows one simple answer, control. Hailey Seel: I think Kitt nailed it when he said it was about control. The state described Chandler losing control of Mike Sisco, as he planned his future with Karen Harkness, and the rage that followed. CHARLES KITT (in court): And that's what led to the defendant traveling to Topeka, Kansas, on July 6th and murdering them on July 7th. Kitt spoke about Chandler's depiction of events not lining up with the testimony of others. CHARLES KITT (in court): It's the defendant versus everyone. You can believe the defendant's testimony, or you can believe everybody else that you heard from in this case. In Chandler's closing, she used a scale to make her point that prosecutors, whom she called her accusers, did not have enough evidence to tip it in their favor. DANA CHANDLER (in court): The, uh, accusers must, uh, tip the scale. Here. I'm innocent. (pointing to scale) Dana Chandler during closing statements in her third trial for the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. / Credit: Pool DANA CHANDLER (in court): I had my infirmities, and I have my shortcomings, but I do stand here before you all today and proclaim that I am an innocent woman. She acknowledged the life she led was not perfect but said that doesn't make her a murderer. DANA CHANDLER (in court): The state has woefully failed to meet its burden, to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that I killed Mike Sisco or Karen Harkness. THE VERDICT About four hours later, the jury delivered its verdict: guilty of the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. After hearing the verdict, Chandler turned away. And while it was the verdict Seel hoped for, the end result is nothing she ever wanted. Hailey Seel: It is so much worse that my mom is the one behind these murders because we lost my dad and Karen, but then through all this, now we've lost our mom. I really wish it was someone else. Darryl Burton: I don't believe that they have proved this case beyond a reasonable doubt. Chandler's supporter, Darryl Burton, remains undeterred. He still believes she is innocent. Darryl Burton: The evidence just doesn't, you know, prove that she's guilty of anything Chandler is filing motions for an appeal. "48 Hours" reached out to Chandler again for this episode, but did not receive a response. Mike Kagay: I am very confident in this verdict. District Attorney Mike Kagay is certain the jury convicted the right person. Mike Kagay: I have every confidence in my prosecutors and how they handled this case. Hailey Seel: The focus of this case has gone almost completely to Dana Chandler and that the victims has really been lost which is really sad. Karen Harkness and Mike Sisco with his children Hailey and Dustin. / Credit: Sisco family More than 20 years have passed since Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness were murdered -and Hailey wants to make sure the lives lost are not forgotten. Hailey Seel: I was trying to tell my daughter about who my dad is. (cries) and I said he was a really fun, supportive, encouraging guy who believed in me and my brother. And Karen was so kind, so accepting. I miss them a lot. On June 3, 2025, Dana Chandler was sentenced to life in prison. Produced by Ruth Chenetz and Dena Goldstein. Chelsea Narvaez and Hannah Vair are the field producers. Mead Stone is the producer editor. Atticus Brady, Marcus Balsam, George Baluzy, Wini Dini, Gary Winter and Grayce Arlotta-Berner are the editors. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer, Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. Sneak peek: Where is Jermain Charlo? Baldwin grills McMahon on unallocated funds for students, schools, approved by Congress Hegseth orders Navy to rename USNS Harvey Milk, Jeffries calls it "a complete and total disgrace" Gov. Hochul tapped the former head of Hofstra University Saturday to lead the board of the Nassau University Medical Center, a day after 10 executives resigned from the troubled Long Island hospital. Stuart Rabinowitz, who lead Hofstra for more than 20 years, is Hochuls choice to helm NUMCs board, along with three other new appointees, the governors office announced. Konstantinos Dean Mihaltses, a longtime hospital executive who worked at NYC Health + Hospitals in Queens; Lisa Warren, president of Placid LLC real estate development; and Amy Flores, a JP Morgan Chase vice president, were also tapped for the posts. Gov. Kathy Hochul has tapped new board members for NUMCs board of directors. Lev Radin/Shutterstock Stuart Rabinowitz was chosen to lead the reconfigured board of directors. Pat Benic/UPI / Shutterstock Amy Flores, a JP Morgan Chase vice president, was tapped for a post. Amy Flores/Instagram Dean Mihaltses is a longtime hospital executive who worked at NYC Health + Hospitals in Queens. NYC Health + Hospitals Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NUMC is a vital lifeline for so many on Long Island, and today we are taking long-overdue steps to ensure it has the leadership and oversight it needs to thrive, Hochul said in a statement. These new appointments, and the new authority granted to the state and NIFA, will help ensure accountability, responsible fiscal management and high-quality care for the communities NUMC serves. Stuart Rabinowitz is a respected and visionary leader, and I cant think of a better person to help lead this next chapter for NUMC. The entire 11-member board of the Nassau Health Care Corp., or NuHealth, which oversees the teaching hospital, will be replaced. The other six will be chosen by the governor, who will first meet with Democratic state and lawmakers to consider candidates. Nassau University Medical Centers CEO and nine other hospital leaders resigned yesterday. Dennis A. Clark The appointments take effect Sunday, and coincide with a new state law that overhauls NuHealths leadership, bolsters state oversight and sets a path forward for getting NUMCs finances back on track. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news comes a day after NUMCs CEO and nine other hospital leaders resigned. NUMC is a critical safety-net institution that has suffered from years of dysfunction and mismanagement, Rabinowitz said. Im grateful to Governor Hochul for the trust shes placed in me, and Im eager to get to work with my fellow board members to restore public confidence, implement long-overdue reforms and put this hospital back on a path to stability and excellence. Rabinowitz, a Columbia Law grad, was Hofstras president for more than 20 years. During his tenure at the Long Island university, the former constitutional law professor oversaw the creation of a medical school and raised Hofstras national profile, securing it as the host site for three US presidential debates. The new board is expected to meet on Monday. Between now and Dec. 1, 2026, the board will need to submit a study exploring options to strengthen NUMC, according to Hochuls statement. Following the statements, Fatah spokesperson Munther al-Hayek has called for Hamas to step down from governing Gaza. I have instructed the IDF to continue forward in Gaza against all targets, regardless of any negotiations, and to use every means necessary to protect IDF soldiers and to eliminate and crush the Hamas murderers, Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Sunday in an X/Twitter social media post. On the eve of Shavuot, the IDF is intensifying its operations in Gaza, striking with full force to dismantle strongholds and clear the path for advancing ground forces, the Jerusalem Post has learned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who slaughtered and fought us will pay the full price. Either Hamas releases the hostages, or it will be destroyed, Katz concluded. Following the statements, Fatah spokesperson Munther al-Hayek has called for Hamas to step down from governing Gaza: "We told Hamas that it must withdraw from the political scene in Gaza," he said in a Sunday interview with Saudi-owned siteAl Hadath. He also reportedly stressed that Hamas should adopt a more serious and responsible tone in its statements, and allegedly underscored the importance of the movement supporting the Palestinian government. Illustrative image of a Hamas terrorist. (photo credit: Canva, Hamas Military Wing/Handout via REUTERS, REUTERS/Ramadan Abed) Gaza terror groups are reportedly regrouping, recruiting While rejecting displacement, he reiterated to Al Hadath Fatahs call for Hamas to withdraw from governing the territory. Hayek stated that the movement will not accept the exit of any Palestinian citizen from the Gaza Strip, responding to Israeli demands to expel remaining Hamas leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hayek also emphasized that the Gaza security system has completely collapsed, Al Hadath wrote. Hamas has lost control over the enclave, with armed gangs looting aid trucks, breaking into homes, and intimidating residents, according to informed sources cited by Al Hadath. Terror groups in Gaza are reportedly regrouping and recruiting amid the vacuum left by Hamas's eroded security presence. Kiley wins, constituents lose Kevin Kiley scores win against longtime nemesis Gavin Newsom, (sacbee.com, May 22) The idea that Kevin Kiley won in his ongoing battle against his nemesis, Gov. Gavin Newsom, is as disturbing as it is illuminating. With his relentless pursuit to demonize Newsom through social media and legislative initiatives, Kiley shows that the politics of retribution are not limited to the executive branch. But who are the winners here? Not Californians who need to breathe clean air. Not businesses connected to the electric vehicle industry. Not the voters of the third Congressional district, who have a right to expect their elected representative to pay attention to their needs instead of engaging in a years-long crusade against a fellow politician. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who pay attention to Kileys words and actions know this will not be the last time he misuses his public office for political gamesmanship. When an elected official uses their office as a weapon for revenge, we all lose. Barbara Smith Auburn Protect trans students California updates track meet rules after Trump threat, (sacbee.com, May 27) California state law correctly protects the rights of all public school students, including trans students, to be free from discrimination while participating in school-sponsored activities. To the extent that the President of the United States and California State School Superintendent candidate Sonja Shaw, who is running on an anti-trans platform, think they have the power to restrict Californias students simply because they dont like our non-discrimination laws, it just goes to show what despicable bullies they truly are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 16-year-old trans student and her mother, who are now caught in the eye of this storm, are real-life heroines for not only standing up to the bullies holding positions of power in federal and local government, but also to hate-mongering individuals screaming at them from the track meet stands. Like the state of Maine, I have no doubt that Attorney General Rob Bonta will legally challenge any unlawful action taken by the federal government against California and our students. Wendi Ross Roseville Jewish reality in America A Sacramento rabbi speaks out about rising antisemitism, (sacbee.com, May 24) Rabbi Reuven Taff expressed the painful reality of violent hate crimes Jewish people are experiencing at schools, synagogues, and Jewish communal facilities, like the Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Callous indifference appears to be mounting amid expressions of bigotry and discrimination against Jews. Anti-Jewish sentiment is widespread in America, and it is causing immense harm to Jewish Americans as individuals, as families, and as a community. People of conscience need to step up as allies and speak out in defense of freedom, equality and safety for Jews and in defense of the rights and welfare of Americans of all backgrounds and identities. Noam Schimmel Lecturer, UC Berkeley A good defeat US Senate votes to overturn California bid to ban gasoline-powered vehicles, (sacbee.com, May 22) Congratulations to Congress for blocking Californias unprecedented and short-sighted attempt to ban gas-powered vehicles by 2035. In a stunning defeat for Gov. Gavin Newsom, this move restores some policy sanity to the once Golden State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a state leading the nation in poverty, with some of the highest costs of living, Newsom seems determined to remake the state into a haven for only the wealthy. Michael Pruden Sacramento A fix that doesnt deliver California waives the rules for wildfire rebuilding projects, (sacbee.com, Jan. 29) Safeguarding communities from wildfires is imperative, but the Fix Our Forests Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla, isnt the answer. The bill ignores decades of science-backed research and promotes reckless backcountry logging that fails to keep people or communities safer. It doesnt mitigate fire behavior in extreme wind-driven wildfires. It may even worsen fire risk because forest floors will experience increased exposure to the suns drying heat, and windbreaks will be lost. We deserve legislation that protects forests and provides real defense against wildfires, not the faux fix of this bill. Jennifer Normoyle Hillsborough Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko is set to be honoured with the Franz Werfel Human Rights Award 2025 at a ceremony in Frankfurt on Sunday. The 53-year-old former world heavyweight boxer is to receive the prize in the German city's St Paul's Church at 12 pm (1000 GMT), with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius due to deliver the laudatory speech. The award honours Klitschko's tireless commitment to freedom, democracy and human rights both in Ukraine and beyond, according to the prize's organizers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former professional boxer has served as mayor of the Ukrainian capital since 2014 and has been a prominent figure of defiance amid the continuing Russian invasion of the country. The prize, which is endowed with 10,000 ($11,350), is awarded every two years by the Wiesbaden-based Centre against Expulsions, which documents expulsions and ethnic cleansing. The most recent recipient was Romania's former president Klaus Iohannis in 2023. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko, the former heavyweight boxer who has emerged as a key figure of Ukrainian defiance amid Russia's ongoing invasion, was awarded Germany's Franz Werfel Human Rights Award in Frankfurt on Sunday. Expressing his gratitude, Klitschko said the award went to all Kiev residents and to the Ukrainian people courageously resisting the aggressor. Russia's next targets could be elsewhere in Europe, Klitschko said, expressing the hope that "everyone understands this." How the war ended would determine the future safety and security of all of Europe, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Klitschko, mayor of the Ukrainian capital since 2014, also gave his thanks for Germany's military and financial support, while stressing the need for strict sanctions on Russia, primarily in the areas of energy and finance. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Kiev's mayor stood for all those who had not lost faith in a free and democratic Ukraine, despite the war. "Klitschko has decided to accept responsibility for his homeland, his brothers and sisters in Ukraine, for freedom and human rights. He is an example to all Ukrainians, to all of us," Pistorius said. "Vitali has fighting spirit. He does not give up," the German defence minister said. His courage, resilience and persistence merited the greatest respect and German gratitude, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The award honours Klitschko's tireless commitment to freedom, democracy and human rights both in Ukraine and beyond, according to the prize's organizers. Born in Kyrgyzstan in the former Soviet Union, he was one of the most successful heavyweights ever. The prize, which is endowed with 10,000 ($11,350), is awarded every two years by the Wiesbaden-based Centre against Expulsions, which documents expulsions and ethnic cleansing. The most recent recipient was Romania's former president Klaus Iohannis in 2023. IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers on Sunday said that the one-time, last and final three-month extension, granted till August 2025, for the 'damp-leased' aircraft from Turkish Airlines will help the airline manage ongoing operations and customer commitments. "...we have the coming month to find a solution for the customers which were booked. The extension helps us, of course, to have more time to get that addressed, and we'll look, we'll look at how to address it and how to incorporate it. So we still have time for the next few months to do that," the CEO said during a press conference in the national capital. "There's been a government decision, and we will, of course, be compliant with the government decision," he added. On May 30, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted Indigo the one-time, last and final extension for the "damp-leased" aircraft from Turkish Airlines. The lease was initially valid till May 31, 2025. "However, in order to avoid passenger inconvenience due to immediate flight disruption, Indigo has been granted a one-time last and final extension of three months," the DGCA said. "This extension is based on the undertaking from the airline that they will terminate the damp lease with Turkish Airlines within this extension period, and shall not seek any further extension for these operations," the DGCA had added. Earlier in the day, IndiGo announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to enlarge its wide-body aircraft order by converting 30 aircraft of its purchase rights for 70 aircraft into a firm order. "This is yet another step in defining the airline's long-term plans of international expansion," IndiGo said. In April 2024, IndiGo decided to induct widebody aircraft into its fleet by placing a firm order for 30 A350-900 aircraft, with purchase rights for an additional 70 aircraft. The original order's deliveries are expected to start in 2027. "This strategic move will enable IndiGo to spread its wings further and expand its long-haul international network, connecting Indian metros to different parts of the world. With this, it will create more travel options for its customers to new international destinations and also enable more flights to the hubs of its partner airlines," said an IndiGo statement. IndiGo's Airbus A350-900 aircraft will be powered by Rolls Royce's Trent XWB engine. In March 2025, IndiGo began preparing for its long-haul operations by introducing six temporarily leased wide-body aircraft, the deliveries of which will be concluded by 2026. "India is the world's third largest aviation market today. With the Government's commitment to ensure India comes into her own on the world stage of aviation leadership by building cutting-edge infrastructure and developing the country into a global aviation hub, the opportunity is one of enormous growth," IndiGo added. With its fleet of 400+ aircraft, the airline is operating around 2200+ daily flights, connecting 90+ domestic and 40+ international destinations, inducted 58 aircraft in 2024 and welcomed over 118 million customers in 2024-25. (ANI) ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- In the early hours of May 17, 1986, a scream echoed through the courtyard of what was once called the Viva Apartments in Odessa. Neighbors stepped onto their balconies to find a woman collapsed near the gate, bleeding, barefoot, and yelling for help. The woman was 25-year-old Debra Sue Moore, a mother of two from Monahans. Her overnight bag was still slung over her shoulder when a neighbor performed CPR on her in the doorway of Apartment 51. She was rushed to the hospital, but it was too late. Nearly 40 years later, her case remains unsolved. A Night That Should Have Ended Differently Debra had arrived at the Viva Apartments around 8:15 p.m. the night before, according to Charles Azelle, the man she was seeing at the time. The two went out to The Brewery with friends and returned to Azelles apartment in the early hours of the morning. Debra had planned to stay the night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sometime after 3 a.m., she stepped outside, possibly to retrieve something from her car. Within minutes, she was stabbed near the entrance to the complex. Azelle told police she was screaming his name when she stumbled back inside. A Distinctive Suspect and More Attacks On that tragic night, witnesses reported seeing a tall man with shoulder-length brown hair fleeing the scene through a nearby gate. One neighbor described the man grappling with Debra before running. Another saw someone matching the same description moments earlier. Within minutes of Debras collapse, another woman was confronted, but in her case, the threat was narrowly avoided. Roughly 15 minutes later, a woman working at a nearby 7-Eleven reported what was described as a chilling encounter. A man entered the store and told her, If you get into my car, nothing will happen to you. But if not, I cant be responsible for what happens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She refused, and he sped away in a dark blue Oldsmobile with glass T-tops. A Week of Violence Amid a City in Crisis Debras murder wasnt an isolated case. It came during a disturbing string of attacks on women in Odessa that same week, at a time when the city was already gripped by a wave of violence. Just four years earlier, Odessa had been dubbed Murder Town, USA after logging one of the highest per-capita homicide rates in the nation during the oil bust of the early 1980s. While the rate had slowed by 1986, the scars of that era lingered, overwhelmed investigators, limited forensic tools, and a community still shaken by what was once described as random violence. In the days before Debras death, a UTPB student was abducted at knifepoint, sexually assaulted, and buried under sticks and brush in a field. Miraculously, she survived. Her description of the attacker: a man with long hair and a mustache, again, bore a striking resemblance to the man seen near Debra. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That same week, another woman reported being approached by a man with a knife outside an auto body shop. She managed to scare him off by pretending to reach for a gun in her car. The 7-Eleven incident, the attempted abductions, the stabbing, it all pointed to a possible pattern. David Good and the Confession The man linked to the 7-Eleven attack was soon identified as David Good, a resident of a nearby apartment complex. When police questioned him, Good admitted to attempting the abduction. He told investigators he had planned to rape or kill the store clerk, and acknowledged having violent thoughts toward women. When asked whether he was involved in Debras murder, Good gave a chilling response: he said he didnt know and suggested hypnosis might reveal the answer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite his disturbing statements and his resemblance to multiple witness descriptions, Good was never charged in connection with Debras death. Investigators said they couldnt firmly establish a timeline. Good refused to put his confession in writing, and any potential evidence tying him to the scene was never publicly disclosed. Years later, David Good died, without ever being definitively ruled in or out as a suspect in Debras murder. A Troubled Marriage and Lingering Questions Debras estranged husband, Tim Moore, was also considered a suspect early on in the investigation. Multiple witnesses described a pattern of abuse in the marriage. According to reports, Tim admitted to past violence but denied involvement in her murder. Officials shared that he also passed a polygraph in 1986. Despite this, detectives have recently voiced concerns about whether key questions, such as whether he had paid someone to hurt her, were ever asked. He has since died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In interviews for The Deck podcast, Debras son Bert recalled the trauma that shadowed their family. She always sang. She was awesome, he said. They just took her away too young. A New Chapter in the Investigation For the first time in decades, the case has been reopened with fresh eyes and modern tools. Detective Lauren Gonzales, the cold case investigator assigned to Debras murder, recently submitted evidence for DNA testing. She had blood under her nails, Gonzales said in The Deck. Maybe she was trying to fight back. Maybe his DNA is under her nails. Gonzales also hopes to compare samples from Good and Azelle, if they can be obtained, to rule them out, or in, definitively. When contacted for additional details about the status of DNA testing or the current scope of the investigation, the Odessa Police Department declined to comment. Cases from That Era Are Hard Susan Rogers, CEO of Odessa Crime Stoppers, has worked closely with law enforcement on cold cases for years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were no cell phones, no security footage, Rogers said. You depended entirely on memory and handwritten notes. And those memories fade. Rogers said both Odessa Police and the Ector County Sheriffs Office have investigators assigned to review unsolved murders like Debras, but they often juggle active cases as well. These cases arent forgotten, she said. They just take time, resources, and new information to move forward. How You Can Help Debra Sue Moore was more than just a victim, she was a daughter, a mother of two, and a young woman whose life was stolen far too soon. Nearly four decades have passed, but those who loved her still carry the weight of unanswered questions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you know something, anything, that could help bring closure, now is the time to come forward. You can submit a tip anonymously to Odessa Crime Stoppers at 432-333-TIPS (8477) or through the P3 Tips app. Be sure to reference case number 86-35818. Even the smallest detail can bring justice, said Susan Rogers, CEO of Odessa Crime Stoppers. Sometimes it just takes one person to break a case wide open. In January 2024, the City of Odessa and Odessa Police Department promoted Debras story through The Deck podcast, hoping to bring new eyes and new leads to her case. Despite decades of efforts by the Odessa Police Department, Debras case is still unsolved, city officials wrote. Please listen to the episode and share it with your friends and family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case remains active. You can listen to the full episode of The Deck: Debra Sue Moore on all major podcast platforms or click here to listen now. 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. Police are investigating the death of a 74-year-old man who was found unresponsive on a popular hiking trail in Payson. On the afternoon of May 28, the Payson Police Department said it received reports of a man who did not return from a hike on the Boulders Loop Trail. An easily accessible trail near the southern edge of Payson, the Boulders Loop Trail draws hikers who want to see unique rock formations found along the path. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what we know about reported circumstances around the man's death and a warning given from authorities. Avid hiker found dead Police said it was unusual for the 74-year-old man, described as an avid and well-prepared hiker, not to return from a trip, prompting someone to report him missing. He was known for bringing ample food and water on his hikes, making his disappearance especially concerning. Only a few hours after his disappearance was reported, authorities received a call from a hiker who found the man dead near the trail. An initial investigation revealed no signs of foul play and pointed to heat-related illness as a possible factor in the man's death, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The death is believed to be from natural causes," the Payson Police Department said in a statement. The man, who remained unidentified, was transported to the Pinal County Medical Examiner's Office, where an investigation would continue. Tips from police on safe summertime hiking Police warned that cooler temperatures forecast for northern Arizona could prove deceptive and said hikers should take steps to prevent extreme weather from enabling a tragedy. "Temperatures in rim country can be very hot or very cold," the Payson Police Department wrote in a statement. The department recommended that those headed to the area should dress appropriately for the weather, bring plenty of food, water and electrolytes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Park Service said because of the heat, hikers should remain on trails within their ability and rest regularly. The National Park Service advised that people avoid hiking between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the summer months to avoid the worst of the heat. People were advised to drink at least one quart of water per hour of hiking and to pre-hydrate before hitting the trails. Arizona hiking trails see frequent deaths While hiker deaths on Arizonas many trails are not uncommon, they are typically the result of noncriminal factors. Most recently on May 22, another experienced hiker, Hannah Moody, 31, was found dead after she went missing on a north Phoenix-area hiking trail. Her death remains under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 'She loved hard': Family, friends reflect on Hannah Moody's death while hiking On May 15, Dennis Smith, 74, visiting Arizona from Washington, died on the Grand Canyon's North Kaibab Trail. Bystanders and park service personnel could not resuscitate Smith at the scene. Days earlier, Noah Farabaugh, 33, died after he was part of a group of five hikers experiencing heat issues near the Wave Cave trailhead in the Superstition Mountains near Mesa. 'He knew what he was doing': Hiker's death in Superstition Mountains shocked family Summer 2024 saw eight Grand Canyon trekkers die while hiking different areas of the national park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four of them were over the age of 55. In early September, a 71-year-old man was pulled from the Colorado River following a boating incident. Just days earlier, a 59-year-old also died in the river. In late August, two hikers one 60 and the other 80 died in separate incidents. Reach reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr. at rcovarrubias@gannett.com. Follow him on X, Threads and Bluesky @ReyCJrAZ. (This story was updated to change a photo.) This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Avid 74-year-old hiker found dead on popular Payson trail Question : I have lived in Honolulu forever and have voted in every recent City Council, state and U.S. election and yet I have never received any ballot information about Neighborhood Board elections that I can recall. Where are they getting their voter rolls ? Answer : Voter notifications for Oahus neighborhood board elections are drawn from Honolulu Countys list of registered voters who cast a ballot in the most recent state election, as well as from the list of eligible residents who registered directly with Oahus Neighborhood Commission Office. However, ballot information is mailed only for contested races, which explains why you and other readers who submitted similar questions were not invited to cast a ballot in online voting that ran from April 25 to May 16 : Candidates in your districts were elected unopposed. More than 200 neighborhood board members won seats without opposition, and some seats went unfilled because no one ran, according to election results posted at 808ne.ws /4l3oYM3, on the commissions website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elections for these volunteer advisory boards are held every two years. You dont have to have voted to get involved with your neighborhood board. Check the website to find your panel ; there are 33 active boards, according to the city. Also, unlike county, state and federal elections, you dont have to be a U.S. citizen to vote in neighborhood board elections ; legal resident aliens age 18 and older also are eligible. Numerous readers asked about voter eligibility, having first read about the elections in Kokua Line after they were over. Here are a few key points from the Neighborhood Plan, . See Chapter 17, Neighborhood Board Elections.Any individual, including military personnel, military family members, and legal resident aliens : (1 ) Whose primary residence is in the neighborhood district and subdistrict, as applicable ; and (2 ) Who is at least 18 years of age by the third Friday in February of the election year ; shall be entitled to register as a voter for the board election.An individual officially listed by the city clerk as a registered active voter for the State election in the city as of the third Friday in February of the election year and cast a ballot in the immediately preceding State primary or general election may be declared by the chief elections officer to be registered as a voter for the board election in the neighborhood district and subdistrict the resident is registered in.Any other individual qualified to register as a voter for a board election shall register by filing with the commission office a voter registration affidavit on a form provided by the commission office. The form, at 808ne.ws /3HwTHCo, explains that registering directly to vote in a neighborhood board election does not constitute registration for any other type of state or county election.The commissions chief elections officer is allowed to decide whether to distribute ballot information for uncontested races. Recent practice has been not to do so, since eligible unopposed candidates are automatically elected. With so many uncontested races in the recent election, many eligible voters were not notified. For contested races, eligible voters received a mailed letter instructing them where to vote online, using a unique PIN and passcode. Those unable to vote online could get a paper ballot. The mailer also contained brief candidate profiles for the specific race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Created in 1973, Oahus neighborhood board system is meant to increase community participation in municipal government. Board members and interested residents attend monthly meetings, where government employees and elected officials also appear. Mahalo I wish to express my appreciation for a very considerate young man named Z who assisted me on Wednesday at around 3 a.m. I was lost in Palolo area and needed to go to Palolo Chinese Home to visit my mother, who was in her last days. I went to a service station on Waialae Avenue where I met him pumping gas into his car. I asked him for directions to get to my destination and he offered to escort me there. I took up his offer and he even walked me to the room my mother was staying at. I offered him money for his gas but he refused. He said he was honored to do this service for me. I really felt he was an angel to me on that day because I would have had great difficulty getting to see my mother if it were not for him. Thank you Z !Uncle in red car------------Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 2-200, Honolulu, HI 96813 ; call 808-529-4773 ; or email kokualine @staradvertiser.com.------------ Yuri Ushakov, Russian leader Vladimir Putins foreign policy advisor, has said that a meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump may not take place before the end of 2025. Source: Ushakov in an interview with Kremlin propagandist Pavel Zarubin, as reported by European Pravda Details: Ushakov confirmed that there are currently no agreements on a meeting between the US and Russian leaders, although, in his words, "the idea is in the air". The Kremlin considers the very fact of telephone conversations between the two sides to be positive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "Of course, a face-to-face meeting is something truly significant, which should lead to serious outcomes. But again, these outcomes must be prepared by someone namely, the teams of the White House and the Kremlin." Details: Ushakov noted that trying to predict when a meeting between the two leaders might take place "is possible, but pointless". "One could speculate that it may happen this year, for example Its not guaranteed, of course. No. But speculation is possible," he said. Background: Trump previously stated that he wants to meet with Putin as soon as possible, since he believes this is the only way to make progress in the peace process. The Kremlin also said that it considers such a meeting necessary, while warning that it must be thoroughly prepared. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! LOUISIANA (KTAL/KMSS) A Louisiana House bill to criminalize those who intentionally expose others to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) without their consent has moved forward and is awaiting deliberation on the House floor. Louisiana State Representative Patricia Pat Moore (D-Monroe) stated that she has been approached by victims who have contracted incurable STDs from offenders, former partners, or spouses. Her goal is to establish criminal charges, both felonies and misdemeanors, for individuals who intentionally expose others to STDs. House Bill 76 was initially shelved on May 7; however, on May 28, 2025, it was Moore amended the proposal the night before the hearing to include rape and sexual battery, to criminalize and fine, not more than $5,000, imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than ten years, or both. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nonprofit groups testified against this bill, including the Louisiana Coalition on Criminalization and Health. U.S. Air Force veteran and member of LCCH, Jazmine Carroll, gave testimony discussing her concerns regarding HB76. I oppose this bill because I believe that it discourages people from getting tested, because you can only be accused of intentionally exposing your disease to somebody if you know your status. And so, this puts people who know their status at an in and at a higher risk than those who dont. Carroll is also pursuing a Masters in Public Health, and shares that women are routinely tested for HPV, thus have higher rates of HPV, specifically cervical cancer. HPV is only currently diagnosed through routine pap smears that women receive to detect signs of cervical cancer. There is no similarly approved routine HPV test for men. That means that the burden of diagnosis and disclosure will disproportionately fall on women, and that this bill would disproportionately affect, stigmatize, and criminalize women even if theyre doing everything right, said a physician during the House testimonials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Carrolls testimony, she also highlighted how women in the military experience higher rates of intimate partner violence. She shared that when women in the military disclose their experience, they are often faced with violence. Moore says HB76 specifically targets individuals living with common incurable STIs such as HIV, herpes, HPV, and Hepatitis B. Louisiana bill that would ban fluoride in public drinking water fails in committee I just have a problem with no accountability, emphasised Moore. When asked if it would also pertain to congenital STDs (diseases passed from mother to fetus), Representative Moore said she was unsure. However, she would need to discuss this further with her constituents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youre born with it, and its incurable but manageable, but still, you are aware of this. And if you, your spouse, your partner, or whatever the case may be, if you know that you have this incurable disease, manageable or whatever the case may be, and you did not inform that person, then yes, this would apply to you. But again, Im not referring to those who are born with it. You know, because this may take years, right? said Moore the night before the hearing. Carroll said a significant concern is how one proves they disclosed their STD to their partner. Lets say someone who lets say I was having sex with someone, and they knew their status, they told me they were living with HPV, and I had no clue that I was already living with HPV. So theres a chance that I could have acquired that from a previous relationship. But because I hadnt been tested quite yet, I could assume that I had transmitted that infection from my partner. And even if my partner discloses that to me, lets say we dont have it written down or theres no witness, it would be very difficult to prove that my partner had disclosed that to me, and I had agreed and consented to that interaction, says Carroll. La. Treasurer John Fleming on U.S. Senate run, insurance reform, state pension funds, and school choice Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the proposed substitute bill, Representative Moore underscores not just exposing but infecting, which would include survivors of sexual abuse. That theyre theyre going to have to be accountable to. So you have an incurable disease. Youre now in the same boat as the offender, says Moore, Youve got to inform because, you know, so youve got to make sure your partner or whoever is aware of your situation. Carroll said she is concerned this bill will encourage people not to get tested for STDs, as it only affects those who knowingly infect others. There was another woman who gave a testimony and said that she had disclosed her status to her husband when she was living with HIV, and he threatened to harm her had she or if she had decided to leave or he threatened to continue to harm her if she decided to leave, and if she did leave, then she had to prove that she had disclosed her status to him, said Carroll. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She reiterates that choosing to disclose ones STD status is a private and personal conversation, but believes accountability is essential, and it starts with strengthening the way that we protect victims and survivors of sexual abuse and assault. So, I believe that we have the same intentions. And I mean, intention is the word of the day, I guess. And so I believe that we all want justice, says Carroll, That was something that was constantly said in the courtroom, when I was there, was that these survivors deserve justice in that we deserve justice, and I agree. But I think, as the Criminal Justice Committee, it is their responsibility to think critically about what justice means and what that looks like. And that doesnt necessarily always mean sending people to prison, or punishing them. The bill proposes that those who intentionally expose victims under the age of 18 years, and over the age of 65, shall be fined not more than $10,000, imprisoned with or without hard labor for not less than ten nor more than 25 years, or both. During the Administration of Criminal Justice hearing, on May 28th, the proposed bill received seven ayes and five nays, moving it forward, pending floor debate on Monday, June 2, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. The Thatcherite dream finally died this month. Margaret Thatchers 11 years in office had a long afterlife, perhaps longer than that of any prime minister other than Clement Attlee. She reimagined both her own party and indeed that of her Labour opponents. There would have been no Blairite interregnum in the socialist partys relentless egalitarianism before all else philosophy without her. Even more significantly, Mrs Thatcher transformed British society at least for a while. But 35 years after leaving Downing Street for the last time, Thatcherism has finally expired. The Iron Ladys legacy has not managed to survive the vicissitudes of Keir Starmers Government. With the renationalisation of South Western Railway as the next step towards the full state ownership of Britains railways, that moment has come to an end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rail privatisation, only enacted in 1993 when John Major was prime minister and implemented amid the last gasps of 18 years of Tory rule, was a late flowering of the valiant attempt to roll back the frontiers of the state. Its implementation was bodged and the infrastructure soon fell back into public ownership in 2002. The privatisation programme started slowly in Mrs Thatchers first term with various sell-offs, most notably the flotation of 51pc of British Aerospace in 1981. It really took off and grabbed the public imagination with the float of British Telecom in 1984. Millions of people on ordinary incomes caught the bug for investing in shares and these sales were hugely oversubscribed. Privatisation was not just an attempt to inject dynamism into the British economy, although it undoubtedly achieved this. Thatcherism has been denounced by the Left as an attempt to transform the very ethos of the UK, to dismantle the collectivist assumptions that had taken hold since the Second World War. They pillory Mrs Thatcher for declaring that there is no such thing as society (she never said it) and that we owe our fellow citizens nothing in terms of social solidarity (she did not believe that either). The Left are wrong in this caricature, but they are right to say that Thatcherism was an attempt to fundamentally change our countrys character. And privatisation alongside council house sales was a cornerstone of this mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the 1985 Tory party conference Mrs Thatcher declared that she hoped a day would come where owning shares is as common as having a car. She saw that by spreading the benefits of ownership, both of peoples homes but also of the countrys assets, Britain could become an entrepreneurial society; a country where bosses and workers saw themselves as in conflict could become one where all strived for affluence. In short, Mrs Thatcher hoped Britain would have an American future, where the accumulation of wealth was seen as a virtue, not a sin. She believed that once people have a proprietorial stake in the country be that via owning their council house or possessing a few hundred shares in BP or British Steel old class antagonisms would over time wither away. The Left saw these privatisations as a bribe; just as council house sales were discounted, shares were deliberately underpriced so the public could make a quick buck. And they are right in this analysis, but it was not an electoral bung but rather a strategy to change public attitudes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps the apotheosis of this was the 1986 Tell Sid advertising campaign for the sale of British Gas. Its message was unapologetic: these flotations are for everyone. And it worked, those owning shares directly rose from around three million people in 1979, or around 7pc of adults, to over 12 million, or nearly a quarter of adults, when Mrs Thatcher left office. This was further augmented by the big demutualisations of the late 1990s Abbey National in 1989, Northern Rock in 1997 and Standard Life in 2006. This trend has reversed. The proportion of UK-listed shares directly owned by UK-resident individuals was 10.8pc at the end of 2022, down from 12pc just two years earlier. Today 57.7pc of UK shares by value are owned by overseas investors, a record high. If you go back to the 1960s, those figures are reversed with 54pc of shares owned by British individuals. This had fallen to 28pc by 1981. Mrs Thatcher did not reverse the overall trend in a declining percentage of the stock market being directly owned by individuals, but did vastly increase the number of people owning those shares. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The long-term decline is not an entirely negative one. The days when the well-off would buy, say, 10,000 of Marks & Spencer shares and then hold them for 40 years are gone. And that is not a bad thing; pooled investment funds are clearly a far wiser and less risky route for investment for most people than simply buying individual blue chip stocks and holding them for the long term. Additionally, it is inevitable as so many of the privatised and demutualised companies have been taken over, bought by private equity or are no longer with us for other reasons. But more broadly, the agenda of popular capitalism has been reversed. The decline has been long and gradual, but has been vastly accelerated by Starmers Government. One of its early actions in office was to hugely cut the discount that council tenants receive on buying their home. In London the maximum discount was reduced in November from 136,400 to 16,000. Mrs Thatchers 1980s dream of making Britain more laissez-faire and more American in attitude is now sadly dead. Labour has deliberately extinguished it. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. On a trip to my local Joann craft-supply store recently, I felt a cheap thrill. An extremely cheap thrill. Huge signs posted on the front doors read STORE CLOSING and ENTIRE STORE 30%70% OFF. One screamed NOTHING HELD BACK, which struck me as both desperate and alluring. I walked in and wandered up and down the picked-over aisles, skimming my fingers across the flannels, fleeces, silks, and satins. Buckets of yarn beckoned. I was even tempted to add a bathrobe, one of those items that places like Joann inexplicably stock alongside craft supplies, to my cart. And soon, in true Millennial fashion, I was lost in nostalgic reverie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I was 10 or 11, I started a summer business selling friendship bracelets to kids at the local swimming pool, the crafting equivalent of running a neighborhood lemonade stand. That diversion blossomed into a lifetime love of hand-making all sorts of things: blankets, clothes, bags, and many, many hot-glued monstrosities. Since then, Ive spent countless hours in craft-supply stores of all kinds, including Joann, which this weekend was expected to finish closing all of its nearly 800 stores, after twice filing for bankruptcy. Joanns shutdown may sound trivial, or even inevitablethe chain is just the latest in a parade of stores that have marched to the graveyard of big-box brands. But many people in creative circles are worried about having fewer places to stock up. Over the past several decades, the expansion of chains such as Joann effectively snuffed out numerous mom-and-pop craft shops, and now many cities and towns may be left without easy, in-person access to a dedicated craft-supply store. This isnt the end of crafting, obviously. People still have Hobby Lobby and Michaels. Even Walmart and Target sell craft supplies, though hard-core crafters will point out, rightly, that those chains dont come close to offering the selection of fabric and other materials that Joann did. Smaller specialty shops exist, but their products tend to be more expensive. And yes, items can be ordered online, but thats always a gamble: Crafting is an intensely tactile experience, and when you cant see or touch supplies before buying them, the reality frequently fails to meet expectations. But the death of a reliable institution such as Joann isnt just about the demise of a business. Its closing creates ever more distance between materials and makers. Plenty of people aspire to indulge their creative side, yet some struggle mightily to find the space and time amid the pressures of day-to-day life. Joann, affordable and accessible, made all of that easier. Take it away, and people might not even try. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: Getting through a pandemic with old-fashioned crafts] Joanns disappearance also has, perhaps, an unintended consequence: the loss of yet another outlet for building customs and community, at a time when society could benefit from having more of both. Although crafting is frequently a solitary pursuit, even a kind of invisible labor, it can be a way to form deep, personal connections with other people. Ive bonded with a friend at sewing class and spent a weekend with another making Christmas ornaments by covering plastic dinosaurs in Elmers glue and dipping them in glitter. (Very fun, very messy.) Crafting is also, for many, a matter of family tradition. I learned to crochet from my mother, who was taught by her mother. When I crochet a blanket, Im participating in, and perpetuating, a loving legacy. And the end result is something I can hold on to for years or even generations. One of my most treasured possessions is a pink, blue, and white afghan blanket my mother crocheted for me when I spent a winter in Chicago. Crafting isnt necessarily a frivolous pursuit (though it can be). Indeed, it occupies a storied place in Americas cultural and political history. During the Revolutionary War era, the homespun movement saw women spinning their own yarn as American colonists boycotted British imports. (One of the countrys most famous creation mythsthat Betsy Ross sewed George Washingtons sketch of the first American flagis of course a story of craft.) Sewing circles have long been a gathering space for political conversation, activism, and agitation. In 1846, Frederick Douglass wrote a thoughtful letter to an antislavery sewing circle in Massachusetts, most likely after its members had reached out to him regarding their interest in abolitionist movements. Craftivism has also led to significant public displays. During the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, thousands of people contributed panels to the AIDS Memorial Quilt, an homage to people who had died from the disease. In 2017, people knitted and wore pink pussy hats at the Womens March on Washington. [Read: The forgotten everyday origins of craft] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the talented and deeply dedicated, crafting can morph into a sustainable livelihood or be elevated to fine art. But it is also, quite simply, fulfilling. I dont know how many hours Ive filled reading patterns and sewing (and tearing out) stitches. Ive crafted so many handmade gifts: some truly beautiful, such as a cream-colored fishermans afghan I loved so much, I was sad to give it away; and others, such as an uneven, lumpy quilt I sewed in my early 20s, that were cute at best. Ultimately, losing a store like Joann means losing two of craftings most necessary elements: inspiration and serendipity. Feeling the weight of a particular yarn, seeing the subtlety of certain colors in certain lights, spotting a finished product on a shelfthese tangible interactions are what move many crafters to experiment with something new. This rich display of possibility is part of what makes crafting feel worthwhile. Which is why, as I tried many different projects over the years, to varying levels of success, I never felt bad about giving a new medium a go. Its also why, on my recentand most likely lasttrip to Joann, as I walked toward the checkout with several skeins of discounted yarn, I stopped and picked up a beginners cross-stitching kit. Maybe now Ill finally master it. Article originally published at The Atlantic NEED TO KNOW A Las Vegas man has been arrested and charged after he allegedly shot and killed his landlord, who was also reportedly his roommate Christopher Rainey, 36, allegedly shot the victim in their shared home on Thursday, May 29, after being served an eviction notice, according to police A third roommate in the household described Rainey as a "creepy, sneaky, son of a b----" A Las Vegas man has been charged after he allegedly shot and killed his landlord. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 3600 block of North Campbell Road on the afternoon of Thursday, May 29, per a press release issued by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD). Police said they entered the residence and discovered a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds on the floor. Medics were called, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene, per the release. Getty Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department car Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department car Police said that one of the members of the household, who was later identified as Christopher Rainey, 36, was armed and taken into custody. They added that, per their investigation, the victim was Raineys landlord and roommate, and he had served Rainey an eviction notice shortly before the fatal shooting occurred. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. "This upset Rainey, and after a brief verbal exchange, he shot the victim several times," the police said in their release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PEOPLE reached out to the LVMPD for comment on Saturday, May 31, but did not receive an immediate response. Rainey was arrested and booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of assault and murder with a deadly weapon, per Clark County public records. Getty Police crime tape (stock image) Police crime tape (stock image) Fox affiliate KLAS reported that a total of four people were living in the residence, and one other person was home at the time of the incident. While the name of the victim has not yet been released, one of the other persons who lives in the home told the outlet that they had been friends with the victim for 15 years. He was my friend, and he didnt deserve to die like this, the roommate said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He kept to himself, the roommate continued, adding of the suspect, He was a creepy, sneaky, son of a b---- up there in his room. Raineys next scheduled court date is June 3, per Clark County public records. Read the original article on People Actor Unni Mukundan has broken his silence over the recent allegations of assault levelled against him by his former manager, Vipin Kumar. In a press conference held in Kochi, Mukundan clarified that there was no physical assault and that the dispute had been misrepresented. "This is not a case of assault. There was no physical violence," the actor said, adding, "As a friend, I only wanted to confront Vipin about why he was speaking negatively about me. During the heated exchange, I did throw his sunglasses -- that is true. But there was no physical contact." Mukundan further alleged that Vipin Kumar, who managed the actor's career for six years, is already facing multiple complaints from within the film industry. "There are cases against Vipin in FEFKA. More than one actress has approached film organisations with complaints about him," he said, adding that Vipin is not a registered member of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala. The controversy erupted following an FIR filed by Vipin Kumar on May 26, accusing Unni Mukundan of physical assault and issuing threats during a confrontation at the basement parking of Mukundan's apartment complex in Kochi. "He called me for a meeting. When I arrived, he shouted at me, punched and hit me. Another person had to step in to stop him," Vipin told reporters. Kumar claimed that the incident may have been fueled by Mukundan's disappointment over the lukewarm industry response to his recent film Marco. "After the movie's release, he was disheartened that top directors weren't reaching out. He vented that frustration on me," Vipin alleged. In response, Mukundan has filed a counter-complaint with the Kerala Director General of Police (DGP), stating that he has been targeted unfairly and maliciously. "Two weeks ago, I received a call from an unknown number. The caller named several people, including Vipin. That was when I realised something was wrong," the actor said. The actor also addressed a broader pattern of controversies surrounding his career. "Allegations have been made against me before. Some even said the RSS funded my film Meppadiyan. The truth is, I financed that movie by mortgaging my own house," he said. He also hinted that there might be a larger network behind the current controversy, adding, "I suspect more people are involved in trying to bring me down." Reaffirming his respect for his colleagues, Mukundan said he maintains a strong relationship with fellow actor Tovino Thomas, despite rumours. "I have never said anything about Tovino. We are very close friends," he clarified. Mukundan expressed his deep gratitude to the people of Kerala for supporting his journey in cinema and added, "I've worked hard to bring out my films. I will continue to do so with honesty." The incident comes just months after Unni Mukundan stepped down from his role as Treasurer of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) in January this year, citing mental health and professional strain. His resignation occurred shortly after AMMA's executive committee, including President Mohanlal, tendered their resignations in the wake of the Justice K. Hema Committee Report, which exposed widespread challenges faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. (ANI) Las Vegas police have arrested 12 people in connection with a crime wave swindling dozens of victims out of their life savings not at the casino but on their computers. As Las Vegas CBS affiliate 8 News Now reports, 24 victims who lost a total $3 million have come forward to date, launching the investigations that led to the arrests. Capt. Noel Roberts of the LVMPDs Theft Crime Bureau believes more victims may be involved. Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont be embarrassed, he said. Come forward right away. Let us know, and that way, the sooner our detectives can start this investigation, we have a better chance of solving the case, arresting the suspects, and ultimately getting the money back. In every one of these cases, victims have received an electronic alert, like a pop-up on their laptop, a spoofed email or text message designed to mimic banks or tech giants. Capt. Roberts says the scam plays on peoples fears. Victims are led to believe that their financial accounts or their computers have been compromised. Thats when the problems begin. Scam involves handing cash to couriers for safekeeping The fraudsters convince victims to hand over large sums of cash to fake security couriers for safekeeping while they resolve the problem whether the victim is convinced their financial accounts or computers have been hacked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One shocking case took place last August, after a Las Vegas womans computer flashed a warning that her personal information was compromised. Thinking she was calling a tech support line, she was instructed to make two $35,000 cash drops to strangers at separate locations. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan works every single time to kill debt, get rich in America and that anyone can do it After she reported the loss of $70,000 to police, investigators traced surveillance footage to a vehicle with California plates. The vehicle was linked to Guo Zhongquin, 43, and Lin Lin, 45. Zhongquin and Lin were charged and accepted plea deals for possession of stolen property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just want to apologize to all the victims, Zhongqui said via translator during sentencing. Lin echoed the apology. Judge Tara Clark Newberry sentenced both men to 19 to 48 months in prison and ordered restitution. Prosecutors agreed not to argue for more time as part of the plea bargain. What to do if youve been scammed If youre a victim of fraud, it's critical to take steps right away to get back on the path of recovery. The FBI recommends the following steps: File a report. Report the scam to local law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI. This could help get some of the funds back, but it also helps to prevent future scams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freeze your credit. Get in touch with the major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion to freeze your credit so identity thieves cant open accounts under your name. Update passwords and monitor accounts. Change your passwords for all accounts and enable two-factor authentication where possible. Monitor your accounts for unauthorized activity. Watch out for "get-rich-quick" schemes. After losing money in a scam, you might be tempted to try to make it back quickly. But high-risk investments can lead to more financial strain. Pause before rushing into any major financial decisions. Put together a recovery budget. Start by setting aside a small amount each month, like $50, into a high-yield savings account. This is also a good way to build up an emergency fund in the event you are compromised in the future.. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get some professional advice. Consult with a financial advisor who can guide you in rebuilding your credit and savings. It can be a long road to recovery after being scammed, but with the right steps and some professional guidance, you can regain control of your financial future. What to read next Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Getty Images This story was originally reported by Barbara Rodriguez and Jessica Kutz of The 19th. Meet Barbara and Jessica and read more of their reporting on gender, politics and policy. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced this week that the federal government no longer recommends the COVID-19 vaccination for healthy pregnant people and healthy children, a move that immediately raised questions from medical experts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the change in recommendations from HHS, the science has not changed. It is very clear that COVID infection during pregnancy can be catastrophic and lead to major disability, and it can cause devastating consequences for families, Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said in a statement. The COVID vaccine is safe during pregnancy, and vaccination can protect our patients and their infants. Kennedy did not cite any data along with his decision, though he has long questioned the need for frequent COVID-19 boosters for children. Removing COVID vaccines from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions recommendations for pregnant people or children could impact the availability of the vaccines or if they are covered by insurance. Dr. Sean T. OLeary, chair of the Committee on Infectious Diseases for the American Academy of Pediatrics, said that removing the recommendation could strip families of choice. Those who want to vaccinate may no longer be able to, as the implications for insurance coverage and access remain unclear. What is clear is that pregnant women, infants and young children are at higher risk of hospitalization from COVID, and the safety of the COVID vaccine has been widely demonstrated, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An HHS spokesperson did not immediately respond to The 19ths request for comment. Heres what we know about Kennedys announcement and how it could impact pregnant people and access to the vaccines. Why were COVID-19 vaccines recommended to pregnant people and children to begin with? Scientific studies have shown that pregnant people are at higher risk of developing more severe cases of the virus than people who arent pregnant. As a result, pregnant people are more likely to end up hospitalized. They are also over 10 times more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to the general population. Studies have also shown a link between COVID and an increased risk of stillbirth. Vaccinating pregnant people has not only been shown to lower these risks, but also offers some protection to newborns. Antibodies from a parent who received the vaccine while pregnant can provide some immunity to infants in the weeks and months after birth, according to Charlotte Moser, co-director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. [It] is the safest way to protect those babies, she said in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Studies have shown that COVID-19 may be less severe in healthy children. But Moser said children who become infected with COVID-19 are at risk of being hospitalized, developing long COVID or dying from the virus. COVID-19 vaccines decrease those risks. Will my health insurance still cover a COVID-19 vaccine if Im pregnant? What about for my children? It is not totally clear yet, said Joshua Sharfstein, a public health professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He was also a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official under the Obama administration. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance providers are required to cover vaccines recommended by the CDC, but some experts, including Sharfstein, are concerned that this announcement could mean insurance companies are no longer mandated to cover the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy pregnant people and children. Its still too early to know whether private insurance companies will remove vaccines from their coverage. It may still be more cost effective for companies to pay for the vaccine, versus paying for severe illnesses that might result from being unvaccinated, experts said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharfstein said private insurance is still clearly required to cover a COVID-19 vaccine for a pregnant person or child who has a medical condition that meets the criteria for a higher risk of severe COVID. But its unclear who falls under these categories, said Dr. Kathryn Edwards, a longtime expert in infectious diseases. She noted that the health secretary is contradicting an FDA announcement last week that listed pregnant people as a high risk category that makes them eligible for the vaccine. They need to get their message straight, she said in an email. How will this affect access to COVID-19 vaccines? Thats also unclear. Richard Hughes, an attorney at the law firm Epstein Becker Green, who previously served as vice president of public policy for a major vaccine manufacturer during the COVID pandemic, said manufacturers could eventually reduce their supply as they determine their bottom lines. That could shake up overall product availability at doctors offices and pharmacies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, if private insurance companies stop covering the vaccine, it could be a barrier for those with low incomes. We know that any amount of out-of-pocket [cost] for a vaccine is going to discourage a patient from getting vaccinated, he said. The more that increases, the less likely they are to get it. This announcement does not immediately impact the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, a federally-funded initiative that aims to vaccinate children whose parents or caregivers might not be able to afford them. However, given how the health secretary has sidestepped protocol to remove this recommendation for pregnant people, some experts worry that Kennedy may similarly make decisions for the VFC program. Wait, so can Kennedy do this? Medical experts say Kennedys announcement which came via a one-minute video posted on X appeared unilateral, since a key vaccine panel that would typically make such recommendations did not appear to vote on the matter. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which is housed under the CDC, isnt scheduled to meet again until June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy, as HHS secretary, does have legal authority to modify recommendations made by an advisory committee, according to Hughes. But experts say this decision is highly unusual. This is the first time a health secretary has circumvented the typical review process for vaccination recommendations, and experts stressed that making these kinds of decisions which they described as not using the science-based procedures that are in place puts lives at risk. Several also noted Kennedys lack of medical expertise and his long history of vaccine skepticism. This signals that health advice for all Americans is now subject to the whim of the secretary of HHS who has no relevant expertise and a long track record of misleading people about vaccines. This should be of concern to everyone, said Marc Lipsitch, a professor of epidemiology at Harvards school of public health, in an email. Will this decision face legal challenges? I expect there will be lawsuits and I expect the administration is not in a good position for those lawsuits, said Dorit Rubenstein Reiss, a professor of law at the University of California College of Law, San Francisco. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reiss predicted the decision will be challenged in court by patients who could file a lawsuit if they are denied coverage for the vaccine from insurance companies. Cities and states who buy the vaccination could also sue, she said. Both the lack of evidence presented by the health secretary and what appeared to be procedural irregularities in making this decision could bolster these court challenges, she said. Not only did Kennedy appear to sidestep the committee that makes these decisions, but he appears in the announcement alongside Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health, and Marty Makary, the commissioner of the FDA. Those men have an anti-COVID vaccine bias, and neither role is typically involved in vaccine recommendations. Its ignoring our usual process that involves expert deliberation and examination of the decision and making what looks like a political decision without a lot of consideration of the effects, she said. The fact that Kennedy did not provide evidence for the change is also problematic, Reiss said. If you look at the recommendation for pregnant women, its a lengthy document by ACIP setting up why they think pregnant women should get the vaccine [which includes] data, she said. That decision cant be reversed with a one-minute video on social media, she said. Under administrative law, an agency is expected to explain its actions. (Reuters) -Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed on Sunday prospects for settling the conflict in Ukraine and Russia-Ukraine talks set for Monday in Turkey, Lavrov's ministry said. "The situation linked to the Ukraine crisis was discussed," the ministry said in a statement on its website. "S.V. Lavrov and M. Rubio also exchanged views on various initiatives concerning a settlement of the Ukraine crisis, including plans to resume direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul on June 2." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. State Department, which noted the call was at Russia's request, said Rubio reiterated U.S. President Donald Trumps call for continued direct talks between Russia and Ukraine to achieve "a lasting peace." The ministry also said that during the conversation Rubio expressed condolences over deaths that occurred when two bridges were blown up in separate Russian regions bordering Ukraine. "It was stressed on the Russian side that competent bodies will proceed with a thorough investigation and the results will be published. The guilty parties will be identified and will without doubt be subject to a worthy punishment." Russian officials said at least seven people were killed and 69 injured when the two bridges were blown up on Saturday. (Reporting by Reuters; additional reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Nia Williams and Rod Nickel) (The Center Square) Both of Texas U.S. senators and one congressman, all from Houston, have filed a bill to protect the oil and natural gas industry. Texas Republicans U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn filed the Protect LNG Act in the Senate; U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, filed companion legislation in the House. American energy has the ability to metaphorically and literally power the world, and Texas is the lead exporter of U.S. LNG, Cruz said. Those achievements have been under attack by fringe environmental groups, who use and are enabled by politicized courts. This legislation counters such attacks, and Im proud to lead the fight to protect energy producers, the jobs they create in Texas, and Americas energy leadership. The Senate should expeditiously take it up and pass it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill would prevent courts from halting liquified natural gas (LNG) permits when a lawsuit is filed and require that the cases only be filed in the circuit court jurisdiction where the LNG facility is located, not the location of a federal agency that issues the requested permits. It specifically stipulates that a civil action relating to an environmental review under the Natural Gas Act or National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 with respect to a covered facility shall not affect the validity of a permit, license, or approval issued to the covered facility that is the subject of the civil action, according to the bill language. It states that if a civil action is brought, the applicable court shall not set aside or vacate the permit, license, or approval issued to the covered facility but instead remand the matter to the relevant Federal agency to resolve the violation. It also would establish a 90-day period for lawsuits to be filed after an LNG permitting notice is published in the Federal Register and require expedited review of lawsuits against LNG facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oil and natural gas production employs hundreds of thousands of hardworking Texans and is a critical part of the Texas economy, as well as our nations energy sector as a whole, Cornyn said, adding that the bill will help protect energy projects across our country from lawsuits that far-left climate activists file in an attempt to hamstring American energy. Natural gas is the most impactful green initiative on the planet it has the power to lift entire nations and communities out of poverty, Hunt said. Yet sadly, natural gas and LNG have been weaponized by the radical left and the climate cartel, driving up energy costs for hardworking Americans just as were still reeling from the disastrous effects of Biden-flation. The bill was filed after both Republicans and Democrats called on the Biden administration to rescind its ban on new LNG permits, The Center Square reported. It also comes after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in March reinstated approvals for LNG projects for Rio Grande LNG and Texas LNG Brownsville. The court previously vacated permits for both projects last August. Its decision last year jeopardized 7,000 high-paying jobs and $24 billion in investment in the Rio Grande Valley and delayed a project by nearly 10 months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If enacted, the bill would prevent a ruling like that from happening again. Cruz and Cornyn previously introduced the Protect LNG Act last year, which went nowhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate. The U.S. leads the world in LNG exports, led by the Gulf states of Texas and Louisiana. In 2017, the U.S. became a net exporter of natural gas for the first time since 1957, primarily because of increased LNG exports, according to the EIA. The U.S. became a net exporter after Cheniere Energy was the first to export domestically sourced LNG from the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, and from the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas, The Center Square first reported. Nearly 25% of U.S. natural gas reserves are located in Texas and 30% of the largest hundred natural gas fields in the U.S. are in Texas, which leads the U.S. in oil and natural gas production and emissions reductions, The Center Square reported. The U.S. LNG industry contributes a whopping $43.8 billion toward the U.S. GDP, and generates $11 billion in tax and royalty revenues for local, state and federal governments, The Center Square reported. Federal courts have handed a series of resounding victories to the law firms fighting back against President Trumps targeted executive orders, a sharp rebuke of his retribution campaign against them. Three judges, appointed by presidents of both political parties, forcefully struck down orders this month aimed at limiting government contracts and access for Big Law firms Perkins Coie, WilmerHale and Jenner & Block. The early wins underscore the legal systems ability to withstand the Trump administrations pressure test, and have led some in the legal community to take shots at other elite firms that struck deals with Trump to avoid punishments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a moment for courage, not capitulation, said Harold Hongju Koh, a Yale Law School professor who authored papers calling Trumps orders retaliatory and the law firm deals unenforceable. The firms that showed courage are being vindicated, and the ones who have capitulated have another chance to show courage, he continued. So, what are they going to do? The judges ruling in favor of the law firms all deemed the administrations actions as illegal. Still, that might not make firms that chose to strike deals with Trump regret their actions. Those firms likely anticipated they could win in court, but decided it was in their better business interests to settle with Trump, said Rachel Cohen, a lawyer who made waves after she offered a conditional resignation from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom contingent on whether leadership came up with a satisfactory response to the current moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Skadden ended up reaching a deal with the Trump administration, and Cohen no longer works there. Cohen argued Trump has effectively won in getting a number of law firms to offer it concessions even though the administration had a weak case in court. The very fact that were saying, What does it mean that the Trump administration has lost all of these legal battles shows that they kind of won, right? Cohen told The Hill. The three firms that won in court all have ties to people who are political opponents of Trump or who are otherwise seen by the president as enemies. Perkins Coie had long drawn Trumps ire for advising Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign and working with an opposition research firm tied to the discredited Steele dossier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WilmerHale had employed former special counsel Robert Mueller before and after his stint investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, while Jenner & Block previously employed Andrew Weissmann, a prominent Trump critic and legal pundit who worked on Muellers probe. A fourth firm fighting back, Susman Godfrey, is awaiting a ruling on a Trump executive order targeting it for punishment. The firm helped Dominion Voting Systems secure a multimillion-dollar settlement against Fox News after the 2020 election. The Trump administration has argued that its within the presidents discretion to decide whom to trust with the nations secrets, a reference to its decision to revoke the security clearances of the firms employees. The orders were designed to assuage Trumps concerns about the law firms, the government has said. But judges havent bought it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, said Tuesday in his ruling for WilmerHale that the presidents orders against several of the nations top law firms constituted a direct challenge to the independent judiciary and bar that are the cornerstone of Americas justice system. To let the orders stand would be unfaithful to the judgment and vision of the Founding Fathers, the judge wrote in a 73-page opinion spattered with exclamation points. Before that, U.S. District Judge John Bates, another Bush appointee, slammed Trumps order against Jenner & Block as an effort to chill legal representation the administration doesnt like, while U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, appointed by former President Obama, said Trumps order against Perkins Coie draws from a playbook as old as Shakespeare, who penned the phrase: The first thing we do, lets kill all the lawyers. A legal world earthquake Trumps deal with Paul, Weiss was an earthquake in the legal world, and signaled that a number of powerful firms would be willing to do deals with Trump out of economic prudence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump revoked the executive order targeting Paul, Weiss after it agreed to provide $40 million in free legal services to support administration initiatives and other perks. As soon as Paul, Weiss made their deal, it was very clear to me that the industry wasnt going to act collectively and that they were going to splinter, Cohen said. Soon after, Skadden struck its own deal with the president, agreeing to provide at least $100 million in pro bono legal services during the Trump administration and beyond. Trump had not signed an order aimed at Skadden, though the administration signaled that additional law firms could come under fire. At least seven other firms entered agreements with Trump to provide tens of millions of dollars in pro bono work, despite there being no executive orders issued against them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a different motivation beyond Would I be able to win in court? that is behind why these deals were entered into in the first place, said Cohen. But Koh, the law professor, argued that its not too late for the other firms to change course. In his essay in the law and policy journal Just Security, he contended that the agreements are unenforceable contracts. He offered a hypothetical: If you enter a contract to give someone a million dollars because they put a gun to your head, but then a court says it was illegal to put a gun to your head, would you still pay the million dollars? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, they are prisoners of handcuffs of their own making, Koh said of the law firms. Its all in their mind thats what these cases tell you. Whatever was their explanation for why they caved the first time, those justifications are gone, he continued. They should start doing the right thing now; they have a second chance to do the right thing, and they should take 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 The Hill. [WATCH: Previous coverage, in the video player above, from the FOX 8 I-team.] CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) - A former Cleveland Heights employee is suing the City of Cleveland Heights and the mayors wife. Atty. Sean Sobel, filed the lawsuit on behalf of Patrick Costigan, who worked as a special assistant to Mayor Kahlil Seren. The lawsuit was filed Friday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. Costigan states in the suit that the mayors wife, Natalie McDaniel, who is not a city employee, was acting as his supervisor and made antisemitic remarks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VIDEO: Shootout with police near University of Akron Seren has publicly referred to McDaniel as the First Lady of Cleveland Heights, and acknowledged that she acts as his counsel and advisor, the lawsuit states. McDaniel has been personally involved in official Cleveland Heights business, including sitting in on numerous committee meetings and job interviews for Cleveland Heights employees and consultants. Costigan was specifically ordered by Mayor Seren to follow all directives given to him by McDaniel as if they were coming directly from the Mayor. The FOX 8 I-Team reached out to Cleveland Heights officials to discuss the lawsuit but have not yet heard back. Costigan identifies as an ethnic Jew, the suit states. Costigan, on multiple occasions, discussed his Jewish heritage with McDaniel, and she was fully aware that he identified as an ethnic Jew. McDaniel subjected Costigan to countless anti-Semitic remarks, orally and in writing, directed at Cleveland Heights elected officials, employees, and even a resident. McDaniel made a comment to Costigan, while using what can be described as a stereotypical New York Jewish accent, that black people dont grow up with generational wealth and things like a Jewish accountant, when discussing new state legislation that would charge interested parties for police body camera footage. McDaniel made numerous comments about City Councils desire to recruit a Jewish candidate to fill an open council seat, and also referred to now-council member Jim Posch multiple times as the Jewish candidate the majority of council wanted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alcohol factor in early morning shooting: Police The mayor has denied the allegations and has said his wifes remarks were taken out of context and some were altered. The mayor also alleged that Costigan made the allegations after he refused an offer from Costigan to settle prior to a lawsuit being filed. The frequency and severity of these anti-Semitic and homophobic comments created a hostile work environment for Costigan and gave him no choice but to seek medical leave from the City, the suit further states. On February 5, 2025, Costigan corresponded with Dan Horrigan, who was the City Administrator at the time, and cited a personal matter with McDaniel as contributing to his health issues and necessitating medical leave. After the City did nothing to follow up with the issues that Costigan referenced with McDaniel, the City terminated Costigans employment on March 13, 2025. Costigan has also filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only did McDaniel make anti-Semitic statements to Costigan, but she also subjected him to grossly derogatory comments towards the LGBTQ community, of which Costigan is a member, the suit further stated. School board votes to suspend Ohio high school Costigan is asking a judge to order the city make several changes including to institute policies to safeguard against further discrimination in the workplace on the basis of race, gender, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation or identity, age, or any other protected class and to certify that non-employees are not permitted to conduct official city business or be given unsupervised access to areas of Cleveland Heights City Hall that are reserved only for Cleveland Heights employees or elected officials. Security video obtained by the I-Team through a public records request shows Mayor Kahlil Seren enter the Cleveland Heights Law Department office early in the morning on Thursday, April 3, for about four minutes. Then, also in the afternoon on Saturday, April 5, you see the mayor go in for about two minutes. City hall was closed both times. The mayor appeared to let himself into the office both times, even though he had said during an April 2 Cleveland Heights Council meeting that he does not have access to get inside the Law Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James Bates, a Cleveland Heights resident, said he wants to know why the Mayor went inside the Law Department when the office was closed. He added that he believes, due to all the recent issues, the mayor should resign. The I-Team also asked for the body camera video of an interaction the Mayors wife had with Cleveland Heights police officers inside City Hall on December 6. The Law Department has declined to release the video. Meanwhile, some city residents have started taking steps to recall the mayor. About a dozen residents started circulating a petition and collecting signatures. Seren, who is up for reelection in the fall, has pulled petitions to run for reelection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. At least 31 people were killed and more than 200 people were injured Israeli forces opened fire near an aid distribution site to the west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. In a statement posted to X, the Israel Defense Forces said, "At this stage, there are no known casualties from IDF gunfire" within the site. "The matter is still under investigation," it added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local witnesses cited by The Associated Press suggested that the shooting occurred around 1,000 yards from the aid site, which is run by the U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Israeli military officials said later Sunday that IDF troops "acted to prevent several suspects from approaching troops" overnight, about a kilometer away from the Rafah aid distribution site. They further said that "warning shots were fired toward several suspects who advanced toward the troops." PHOTO: Displaced Palestinians return from a food distribution center in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on June 1, 2025. (-/AFP via Getty Images) MORE: Humanitarian groups, UN heavily criticize new aid distribution plan in Gaza In an official statement, the IDF said it "did not fire at civilians while they were near or within the humanitarian aid distribution site." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A GHF spokesperson told ABC News on Sunday that "all aid was distributed today without incident" and that reports of deaths and injuries are "untrue and fabricated." This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. At least 31 killed by Israeli gunfire near Gaza aid site, health ministry says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) At least 31 people were killed and over 170 were wounded Sunday as large crowds were on their way to receive food in the Gaza Strip, health officials and witnesses said. Witnesses said Israeli forces fired toward the crowds just before dawn around a kilometer (about 1,100 yards) from an aid site run by an Israeli-backed foundation. Israels military denied its forces fired at civilians near or within the site in the southern city of Rafah. An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with procedure, said troops fired warning shots at several suspects advancing toward them overnight. The military also released drone footage it said was shot Sunday, apparently in daylight, in the southern city of Khan Younis, showing what it said were armed, masked men firing at civilians trying to collect aid. The Associated Press could not independently verify the video, and it was not clear who was being targeted. Hamas is doing everything in its power to prevent the successful distribution of food in Gaza," the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation promoted by Israel and the United States said in a statement it delivered aid without incident, and released a separate video it said was shot Sunday at the site that appeared to show people collecting aid. The AP was not able to verify the video. The foundation has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, which are in Israeli military zones where independent media has no access. It was the deadliest incident yet around the new aid distribution system, which has operated for less than a week. The International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement its field hospital in Rafah received 179 casualties including women and children, 21 of them declared dead upon arrival, the majority with gunshot or shrapnel wounds. It was unclear if any of the dead were militants. All patients said they had been trying to reach an aid distribution site, the ICRC said, calling it the highest number of weapon-wounded people in a single incident since the hospital was set up over a year ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The head of the World Food Program, Cindy McCain, told ABC News that staffers on the ground were reporting people killed and called it a tragedy. Aid distribution has become a death trap, the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a statement. In a separate statement, Israeli military chief of staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered that more aid sites be established and that troops' ground operation be expanded in unspecified parts of northern and southern Gaza. A new aid system marred by chaos Multiple witnesses have said Israeli troops fired on crowds near the foundation's sites. Before Sunday, 17 people were killed while trying to reach them, according to Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Gaza Health Ministrys records department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The foundation says private security contractors guarding its sites have not fired on crowds. Israel's military has acknowledged firing warning shots on previous occasions. The foundation said in a statement it distributed 16 truckloads of aid early Sunday without incident, and dismissed what it described as false reporting about deaths, mass injuries and chaos. U.N. agencies and major aid groups have refused to work with the new system, saying it violates humanitarian principles. The scene was horrible Thousands of people headed toward the distribution site hours before dawn. As they approached, Israeli forces ordered them to disperse and come back later, witnesses said. When the crowds reached the Flag Roundabout, around 1 kilometer away, at around 3 a.m., Israeli forces opened fire, the witnesses said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was fire from all directions, from naval warships, from tanks and drones, said Amr Abu Teiba, who was in the crowd. He said he saw at least 10 bodies with gunshot wounds and several other wounded people, including women. People used carts to ferry the dead and wounded. The scene was horrible," he said. Most people were shot in the upper part of their bodies, including the head, neck and chest," said Dr. Marwan al-Hams, a Health Ministry official at Nasser Hospital, where many were transferred from the Red Cross field hospital. A colleague, surgeon Khaled al-Ser, said 150 wounded people had arrived, along with 28 bodies. The hospital corridors were filled with patients, "but unlike what I have witnessed before, where most of the patients were women and children, today it was mainly men, a spokesperson with medical charity MSF, Nour Alsaqa, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ibrahim Abu Saoud, another witness, said the military fired from about 300 meters (yards) away. He said he saw many people with gunshot wounds, including a young man who died at the scene. We werent able to help him, he said. Mohammed Abu Teaima, 33, said he saw Israeli forces open fire and kill his cousin and a woman as they headed toward the distribution site. He said his cousin was shot in his chest, and his brother-in-law was among the wounded. They opened heavy fire directly toward us, he said. An AP reporter arrived at the field hospital at around 6 a.m. and saw dozens of wounded, including women and children. The reporter also saw crowds of people returning from the distribution point. Some carried boxes of aid but most appeared to be empty-handed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gaza's Health Ministry said least 31 people were killed and over 170 were wounded. This is sinful, enough with the humiliation. They humiliated us for the sake of food, said Ilham Jarghon as fellow Palestinians wept and prayed for the dead. Later Sunday, Israeli artillery shells struck tents sheltering displaced people in Khan Younis, killing three and wounding at least 30, according to Nasser Hospital. Israels military said it was looking into it. The UN says new aid system violates humanitarian principles Israel and the U.S. say the new system is aimed at preventing Hamas from siphoning off assistance. Israel has not provided evidence of systematic diversion, and the U.N. denies it has occurred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.N. agencies and major aid groups say the new system allows Israel to control who receives aid and forces people to relocate to distribution sites, risking yet more mass displacement in the coastal territory. It's essentially engineered scarcity," Jonathan Whittall, interim head in Gaza of the U.N. humanitarian office, said last week. The U.N. system has struggled to bring in aid after Israel slightly eased its nearly three-month blockade of the territory last month. The groups say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gaza's roughly 2 million Palestinians. Experts have warned that the territory is at risk of famine if more aid is not brought in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. They are still holding 58 hostages, around a third believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel's military campaign has killed over 54,000 people in Hamas-run Gaza, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The offensive has destroyed vast areas, displaced around 90% of the population and left people almost completely reliant on international aid. The latest efforts at ceasefire talks appeared to stumble Saturday when Hamas said it had sought amendments to a U.S. ceasefire proposal that Israel had approved, and the U.S. envoy called that unacceptable. Mediators Qatar and Egypt in a joint statement Sunday said they continued intensive efforts to bridge the gaps in viewpoints and hoped for a swift agreement for a temporary ceasefire lasting 60 days, leading to a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war A pro-Kannada organisation, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, attempted to lay siege to the theatre in Kamakshipalya, Bengaluru, to restrict the release of Kamal Haasan's 'Thug Life' on Sunday. Praveen Shetty of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike warned the owners of Victory Cinema Theatre in Kamakshipalya, Bengaluru, not to release Kamal Haasan's 'Thug Life', alleging that the actor has made inappropriate remarks about the Kannada language. The move by the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike came after actor reportedly stated that "Kannada is born out of Tamil" during a promotional event in Chennai. This led to several protests by the pro-Kannada organisations and the ban by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) over the release of the movie 'Thug Life'. While speaking with ANI, Praveen Shetty said, "Kamal Haasan has spoken against the Kannada language. We will not allow Kamal Haasan's film to be released in Karnataka. They said that the film will be released at the Victory Cinema. In this context, we came here today and told the theatre owners not to release Kamal Haasan's film. Kamal Haasan's film should not be released in Karnataka. If the film is released, the government will be held responsible for any untoward incidents that follow." On Wednesday, the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticised Kamal Haasan for his reported remark about the Kannada language, stating that he was not aware of the "long-standing" history of the language. "Kannada has a long-standing history. Poor Kamal Haasan, he is unaware of it," the Karnataka Chief Minister said.'Thug Life,' directed by Mani Ratnam also stars Trisha Krishnan and Silambarasan TR in lead roles. Speaking to media personnel outside the DMK party headquarters in Chennai, Haasan said, "It is a democracy. I believe in law and justice. My love for Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala is true. Nobody will suspect it except for those who have an agenda. I've been threatened earlier too, and if I am wrong, I would apologise, if I'm not, I won't." Meanwhile, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) has banned the release of 'Thug Life' over the actor's purported remarks on the Kannada language. Speaking to mediapersons in Bengaluru today Sa Ra Govindu, representative of KFCC, said that they have decided to ban the release of Kamal Haasan starrer 'Thug Life' in Karnataka as they stand firmly with Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and other Kannada organisations for their demands of halting the release of the film until the actor issues a pubic apology. The KFCC representative said that Kamal Haasan has not yet issued an apology for hurting the sentiments of the Kannada people during his promotional event in Chennai. He said, "When there is pressure, I have to do. Even Karnataka Rakshana Vedike were present; whatever they say, we should do it. Even they would speak about it. Definitely, there is no 'Sorry' term being specified anywhere by Kamal Hassan. We will surely not release the film. We (KFCC) will stand with Rakshina Vedike and other Kannada organisations." 'Thug Life,' directed by Mani Ratnam, also stars Trisha Krishnan and Silambarasan TR in lead roles. (ANI) Former NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer insists hell crack down on antisemitism if elected mayor by using tech to help authorities predict and prevent biased attacks before they happen. The longshot mayoral candidate rolled out his plans Saturday to partner with the Anti-Defamation League on the initiative while addressing members of the Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun synagogue on Manhattans Upper East Side. My new initiative would use advanced monitoring tools to scour social media posts following during or after international emergencies, especially those involving Israel or Jewish institutions, claimed Stringer, a devout Jew and vocal Zionist. Former NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer is planning to partner with the Anti-Defamation League on an initiative if elected mayor that he claims will help authorities crack down on antisemitism by using tech to predict and prevent biased attacks before they happen. Paul Martinka It would flag content that incites violence or signals coordinated threats. It would provide the tools for law enforcement, community leaders, and institutions like this one to act before tragedy strikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stringer, soon heading into the June 24 Democratic primary, insisted his initiative which would be overseen by the NYPD and Office of Emergency Management is not about surveillance of [dissenting] opinions, or about setting up databases or lists of people who dont agree with us. It is about surfacing potential danger before it becomes real violence, he pointed out. Stringer revealed his plan to tackle anti-Israel hate Saturday at the Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun synagogue on Manhattans Upper East Side. 7.8.96 The ADL oversees what it boasts is a first-of-its kind interactive and customizable map that helps users detail specific incidents of hate, extremism, antisemitism and terrorism by state and nationwide. The H.E.A.T Map allows users to better understand tactics extremists use, compare activity by type and/or state and access and download raw data, according to the ADL. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Jewish New Yorkers make up about 10% of the citys population, they were the target of over 62% of total hate crimes in the first quarter of 2025. New York University students and pro-Israeli supporters rally in April 2024 across the street from where pro-Palestinian students and supporters rally outside the NYU Stern School of Business building. AP Stringer insisted his initiative which would be overseen by the NYPD and Office of Emergency Management is not about surveillance of [dissenting] opinions, or about setting up databases or lists of people who dont agree with us. Robert Miller The pattern, by now, is painfully familiar, added Stringer. Major incidents in and around Israel set off a torrent of online hatred, he said, referring to Hamas October 7, 2023 terror attack on Israel that set off the ongoing war in Gaza. Jewish schools, synagogues, and cultural centers face waves of threats. Our families whether its young children at school or elders walking in or out of shul, are in the crosshairs. The hate might start online, but it doesnt stay there, he said. Ayse Seitmuratova, a veteran of the Crimean Tatar national movement, has died in occupied Crimea at the age of 88. Source: Head of Crimean Tatar Mejlis Refat Chubarov on Facebook Quote: "Again, sad news has come in from Russian-occupied Crimea which I do not want to believe the legendary dissident, political prisoner during the Soviet era, journalist, historian and veteran of the Crimean Tatar national movement Ayse Seitmuratova has died at the age of 88." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For reference: Ayse Seitmuratova was a Crimean Tatar public figure, human rights activist, member of the national movement of Crimean Tatars, political prisoner of the Soviet regime, journalist and publicist in exile. In 1964 she joined the Crimean Tatar national movement in Samarkand Oblast in modern Uzbekistan. She participated in meetings with representatives of the Soviet government, in particular in the Central Committee of the CPSU. In 1966, she was arrested on charges of "inciting national hatred" and put on probation for three years. In 1971, she was again arrested and sentenced to three years in prison for "spreading deliberately false ideas that defame the Soviet state and public order." She served her sentence in Mordovian camps. After her release in 1974, she continued her human rights activism. In 1978, she emigrated to the United States, fearing forced psychiatric treatment. There she worked as a journalist for the Voice of America, Freedom, BBC and Deutsche Welle radio stations, covering the problems of the Crimean Tatar people, the history of their repression, Russification and assimilation. Ayse Seitmuratova became a symbol of the struggle of the Crimean Tatar people for their rights, dignity and return to their homeland. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! To the editor: The Randall Preserve is a decidedly mixed blessing to the community ( After 27 years fighting to change oil field into massive Orange County nature preserve, initial plans released, May 23). The birds and four-legged neighbors are welcome, but the many illegal campers constitute a serious threat of wildfires. The overlapping jurisdictions of city, county and fire district complicate responsibility for public safety. Further, the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority that now holds title to the property does not yet have control over it because Aera Energy, the oil company responsible for cleanup of the property, still controls it. Aera Energy is not evicting trespassers nor even stopping camping. The California fire marshal has now designated the area of the Randall Preserve, and the adjacent homes and businesses, a moderate fire risk. We anticipate increased homeowners insurance costs. Within the past couple of weeks, a wildfire started on the Randall Preserve and spread to Orange County's Talbert Park area before it was put out. Fortunately, there was no wind to spread it to our homes. We are acutely aware that July 4th is just weeks away and that fireworks, as well as campfires, can trigger wildfires. I urge all parties, especially Aera Energy, to eject the campers and keep trespassers out before we suffer a real tragedy. Kenneth Smith, Costa Mesa This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. List naming 'sanctuary' jurisdictions, including 20 from Minnesota, removed from DHS site originally appeared on Bring Me The News. The list identifying scores of so-called "lawless jurisdictions" that are allegedly not complying with Trump administration immigration orders has been removed from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website. The list was issued earlier this week, naming jurisdictions across the country that the Trump administration claims are "deliberately instructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the press release featuring a comment DHS Secretary Kristi Noem remains live, the list that was linked to it now shows an error. Bring Me The News has reached out to DHS for an explanation. DHS It comes after a number of local governments found themselves taken aback at being included on the list that described them as "lawless jurisdictions" that are "endangering American citizens" for allegedly not fully cooperating with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Trump administration mass deportations program. Some cities, such as Minneapolis and St. Paul, have defined policies stating that local police will not be involved in the enforcement of federal immigration law and prohibits officers from questioning any person about their immigration status. But other counties that have not taken steps to promote such policies have found themselves included on the DHS list and confused by the lack of detail and vague assertions in the DHS statement as to why. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among those included in Minnesota is Stearns County, which has never made any move to declare itself a "sanctuary" location for undocumented immigrants, with Sheriff Steve Soyka admitting they were "surprised" to see it on the list. "Stearns County has maintained a clear and consistent approach to working and communicating with ICE and following federal requirements," Soyka said. "What we currently do in our jail is what we have done for the past 20 years with no issues. We have always notified ICE when required. "We have not received any complaints or heard of any issues from local ICE officials in fact, during their last visit, they complimented our staff on how we handle these matters." The Stearns County Attorney Janelle Kendall affirmed to the Star Tribune that the county complies with ICE, but doesn't hold people for them if they are in jail on county charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The newspaper notes that as immigration offenses are a civil issue, some local law enforcement agencies "remain reluctant to honor ICE detainer requests" as some have found themselves sued for civil rights infractions when they detain individuals for longer than legally allowed. "Our responsibility is to enforce the law and support public safety," Soyka added on Friday. "If DHS has identified a concern, we are open to reviewing it but as of now, we have no indication of noncompliance, and we stand by our current practices. The backlash to the DHS list spanned the whole U.S., with the Associated Press reporting that the list was "riddled with misspellings" and "included sparsely populated counties that have little interaction with immigration authorities, that overwhelmingly voted for President Donald Trump and that have actively supported his hard-line immigration policies." Less surprised at being named on the initial list was the City of Minneapolis, which reaffirmed its longstanding arms-length policy towards immigration enforcement following President Donald Trump's return to office in January. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Minneapolis is a city that fosters inclusivity, safety, and belonging. Thats something worth standing up for," the city said this week. "The law is on our side. Two U.S. District Courts have already blocked the Trump administration from freezing funding to Minneapolis on this unlawful basis. Well proudly be on any list that reflects our values and commitment to the people who call Minneapolis home. We will always stand with and fight for our neighbors." Here are the jurisdictions in Minnesota that were originally included in the now-removed list: State Self-Identification as a State Sanctuary Jurisdiction Counties Anoka County Carver County Cottonwood County Goodhue County Hennepin County Le Sueur County Lincoln County Lyon County Martin County Nicollet County Nobles County Otter Tail County Pipestone County Ramsey County Scott County Stearns County Steele County Todd County Watonwan County Wright County Cities Minneapolis St. Paul This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared. Published by The Guardian, Mother Jones, WWNO, Urban Milwaukee. Featured on KJZZ. It began with a lobbyists pitch. Tennessee Rep. Rusty Grills says a lobbyist proposed a simple idea: repeal the states requirement for reflective roofs on many commercial buildings. In late March, Grills and his fellow lawmakers voted to eliminate the rule, scrapping a measure meant to save energy, lower temperatures and protect Tennesseans from extreme heat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was another win for a well-organized lobbying campaign led by manufacturers of dark roofing materials. Industry representatives called the rollback in Tennessee a needed correction as more of the state moved into a hotter climate zone, expanding the reach of the states cool-roof rule. Critics, including a Democratic Tennessee lawmaker and a Washington, D.C., pastor, called it dangerous and deceptive. The new law will lead to higher energy costs and greater heat-related illnesses and deaths, state Rep. Harold Love and the Rev. Jon Robinson wrote in a statement. It will, they warned, make Nashville, Memphis, and other cities hotter particularly in underserved Black and Latino communities, where many struggle to pay their utility bills. Similar lobbying has played out in Denver, Baltimore and at the national level. Tennessee state Rep. Rusty Grills, center, is seen on opening day of the 2025 legislative session. After hearing from a lobbyist for an organization that represents manufacturers of dark-roofing materials, Grills sponsored a bill that loosened requirements in Tennessee to install light-colored roofs on commercial buildings. (Erik Schelzig / State Affairs) Industry groups have questioned the decades-old science behind cool roofs, downplayed the benefits and warned of reduced choice and unintended consequences. A one-size-fits-all approach doesnt consider climate variation across different regions, wrote Ellen Thorp, the executive director of the EPDM Roofing Association, which represents an industry built primarily on dark materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the weight of the scientific evidence is clear: On hot days, light-colored roofs can stay more than 50 degrees cooler than dark ones, helping cut energy use, curb greenhouse gas emissions and reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths. One recent study found that reflective roofs could have saved the lives of more than 240 people who died in Londons 2018 heatwave. At least eight states and more than a dozen cities in other states have adopted cool-roof requirements, according to the Smart Surfaces Coalition , a national group of public health and environmental groups that promote reflective roofs, trees and other solutions to make cities healthier. Just months ago, industry representatives lobbied successfully against expanding cool roof recommendations in national energy efficiency codes the standards that many cities and states use to set building regulations. Thorp has said the goal is to emphasize holistic roofing solutions. Critics say its about protecting profits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stakes are high. As global temperatures rise and heat waves grow more deadly , the roofs over our heads have become battlefields in a consequential climate war. Its happening at a time when the Trump administration and Congress are derailing measures designed to make appliances and buildings more energy efficient. In March, for instance, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development delayed compliance deadlines for federally financed new homes to meet updated energy-efficiency standards. Why roof color matters The principle is simple: Light-colored roofs reflect sunlight, so buildings stay cooler. Dark ones absorb heat, driving up temperatures inside buildings and in the surrounding air. Roofs comprise up to one-fourth of the surface area of major U.S. cities, researchers say, so the color of roofs can make a big difference in urban areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just how hot can dark roofs get? You can physically burn your hands on these roofs, said Bill Updike, who used to install solar panels and now works with the Smart Surfaces Coalition. Study after study has confirmed the benefits of light-colored roofs. They save energy, lower air conditioning bills and reduce city temperatures. They help prevent heat-related illnesses. And they typically cost no more than dark roofs. Retrofitting 80% of commercial roofs in the United States with cool roofs would cut the need for air conditioning, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 6 million tons equivalent to the annual emissions of 1.2 million cars, according to a 2009 study by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energys Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Howdy Goudey, scientific engineering associate of Building Technology and Urban Systems (BTUS), checks a testing apparatus that measures passive radiative cooling film material that reflects sunlight and thereby reduces temperatures on a roof at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, Calif., in May 2024. (Berkeley Lab) A later study by the same laboratory found that a cool roof on a home in central California saved 20% in annual energy costs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a three-story rowhouse in Baltimore, Owen Henry discovered what a difference a cool roof can make. Living in a part of the city with few trees and where summer temperatures often climb into the 90s Henry wanted to trim his power bills and stay cooler while working in his third-floor office. So in 2023, he used $100 worth of white reflective roof paint to coat his roof. Henry said he and his wife immediately saw the indoor temperature drop. They reduced their electricity use by 24%. For us, it made a huge difference, he said. Cool roofs, hot debate Known for its durability, a black synthetic rubber known as EPDM once dominated commercial roofing. But in recent years it has been surpassed by TPO, a plastic single-ply material which is typically white and is better suited to meet the growing demand for reflective roofs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leading EPDM manufacturers including Johns Manville, Carlisle SynTec and Elevate, a division of the Swiss multinational company Holcim have fought against regulations that threaten to further diminish their market share. Kurt Shickman, former executive director of the Global Cool Cities Alliance, said those companies have the money to hire top-notch lobbyists who know their way around hearing rooms and who are on a first-name basis with decision makers. It's just been a real challenge to fight these battles, he said of his groups struggles with the EPDM industry. ...Were dealing with huge entrenched interests here. The EPDM industry has paid for research that has asserted that the impact of cool-roof mandates is inconclusive, and that insulation plays a bigger role in saving energy than cool roofs. Workers in 2018 installed a new roof on the Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team. White roofs like these have been shown to reduce air conditioning bills and lower the temperature of outside air. (Photo courtesy of the Vinyl Roofing Division of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association) Theyve also argued that cool roofs can contribute to condensation and mold. Target tested that theory on more than two dozen cool roofs installed on its stores and found no evidence of it . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an emailed response to Floodlights questions, Thorp argued that many of the studies cited to support cool roof mandates leave out important factors, such as local climate variations, roof type, tree canopy and insulation thickness. And she pointed to a recent study by Harvard researchers who concluded that white roofs and pavements may reduce precipitation, causing temperatures to unexpectedly increase in surrounding regions. But Haider Taha, a leading expert on urban heat, identified multiple flaws in the Harvard study. In a review, he and a fellow researcher said it relied on unrealistic assumptions and oversimplified models, while ignoring key features of real-world cities. As a result, Taha and his colleague wrote, the studys conclusions fail to provide actionable insights for urban cooling strategies or policymaking. A fight over cool roofs in Baltimore When Baltimore debated a cool roof ordinance in 2022, Thorps group and the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) lobbied hard against it, arguing that dark roofs are the most efficient choice in northern climates like Baltimore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In cold climates, industry representatives note, cool roofs can lead to higher winter heating bills. Current research does not support the adoption of cool roofs as a measure that will achieve improved energy efficiency or reduced urban heat island, Thorp wrote in a letter to one council member. Increased insulation and improved urban tree canopy are the only measures that are broadly supported in the literature to achieve these goals. Multiple studies show otherwise. Theyve concluded that reflective roofs do save energy and cool cities by easing the urban heat island effect the extra heat that gets trapped in many city neighborhoods because buildings and pavement soak up the sun. Workers lay down white PVC roofing material on a commercial building in Massachusetts. (Photo courtesy of the Vinyl Roofing Division of the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association) Researchers have also found that even in most cold North American climates, the energy savings from cool roofs during warmer months outweighs any added heating costs in the winter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the opposition, Baltimore passed a cool-roof ordinance in 2023. City Council member Mark Conway said he wasnt surprised to see an industry trying to protect its business. But it was his job, he said, to think about the greater good. Some who live in Baltimores lower-income neighborhoods cant afford air conditioning, he said. And for them, Conway said, the reduced temperatures brought by cool roofs can be life-changing. Opponents of cool roof requirements like Baltimores say they oversimplify a complex issue. In an email to Floodlight, ARMA Executive Vice President Reed Hitchcock said such rules arent a magic bullet. He encouraged regulators to consider a whole building approach one that weighs insulation, shading and climate in addition to roof color to preserve design flexibility and consumer choice. Henry, the Baltimore homeowner, said he thinks the citys ordinance will help all residents. Everyone has to do a little bit in order for it to make a big difference, he said. And phooey to any manufacturer thats going to try and stop us from maintaining our community and making it a pleasant place to live. Industry gets its way in Denver, Tennessee Elsewhere, the industrys lobbyists have notched victories. In Denver, EPDM advocates waged a letter-writing campaign in 2015 that helped lead to the defeat of a cool-roof proposal. A narrower cool-roof ordinance, which applied only to new roofs on commercial buildings 25,000 square feet or larger, ultimately passed three years later, despite more opposition from the industry. At the national level, Thorps group spoke out against a proposed code change that would have expanded standards for reflective roofs into cooler climates. The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) a professional organization that creates such standards rejected the proposed change. The standards that ASHRAE sets are used as models for city and state regulations. The current ASHRAE standard recommends reflective roofs on commercial buildings in U.S. climate zones 1, 2, and 3 the countrys hottest regions. Those include most of the South, Hawaii, almost all of Texas, areas along the Mexican border and most of California. But, Thorp said in a recent interview , We've been able to stop all of those mandates from creeping into climate zone 4 and 5. Another group headed by Thorp the Coalition for Sustainable Roofing worked with the lobbyist to propose the bill that eliminated Tennessees cool-roof requirement. White roofs are not uncommon on commercial buildings in Phoenix, Ariz., the hottest major city in the United States. The city requires new commercial buildings and some new residential buildings to install cool roofs that reflect the sun. Photo taken April 26, 2025. (Dee J. Hall / Floodlight) That rule once applied to commercial buildings in just 14 of the states 95 counties, but an update to climate maps in 2021 expanded the requirements to 20 more counties, including its most populous urban area Nashville. Grills, the Republican lawmaker who introduced the bill, was sold on the proposal to kill the regulation. At the end of the day, he told Floodlight, the consumer should be the one driving what they purchase, not regulatory agencies. At a state Senate committee meeting, Thorp called the bill simply a fix, not quite administrative, but almost. The change was anything but administrative, the bills opponents say. It will put children, senior citizens and other vulnerable people at risk, said Love, the Nashville Democrat, and Robinson, the D.C. pastor who leads Metropolitan AME Church. Thats not a fix worth supporting, they wrote in their opinion piece. Fed up with losing market share EPDM manufacturers also make light-colored roofing materials. Those include TPO and a white EPDM, which is typically more expensive and much less commonly used than its black counterpart. Why, then, are manufacturers resisting cool-roof regulations? Brian Whelan, a consultant who advises roofing manufacturing companies on environmentally sustainable practices and products, said the industry has invested heavily in building factories and production lines that produce dark roofing materials and theyre reluctant to let that business go. They are kind of fed up with losing market share, Whelan said. Black flashing, designed for use with EPDM roofs, sits in a roofing supply store in Charlotte, N.C. Companies that make EPDM and roofing accessories like these have repeatedly lobbied to block and undo regulations requiring light-colored roofing materials. (Ames Alexander / Floodlight) EPDM manufacturers dont publicly disclose how much of their business comes from dark versus reflective roofing, or the profit margins from each. But based on market intelligence, Whelan said, commercial roofing manufacturers likely make more money per square foot selling EPDM than TPO. Part of the reason: EPDM systems typically include high-margin accessories like seam tapes and sealants that arent necessary with TPO. Greg Kats, CEO of the Smart Surfaces Coalition, dismisses many of the industrys claims as disinformation. Those sorts of arguments are familiar to people who watch what went on in the smoking industry, the claims that theres no correlation between smoking and cancer, he said. Even the name of one of Thorps lobbying groups the Coalition for Sustainable Roofing is misleading, Kats contends. A more accurate name, he said, would be the Coalition to Prevent Cities from Protecting their Citizens, Cutting Energy Bills and Making Cities Resilient. Kats said the stakes are highest in low-income neighborhoods. He pointed to research conducted in Baltimore showing that poor communities are typically far hotter than affluent neighborhoods on a summer day, due to differences in tree and pavement cover. As mercury rises, homeowner chooses a reflective roof The public may be more receptive to cool roof policies than industry lobbyists suggest. Polls show many Americans support energy-efficiency measures. Brian Spear, a homeowner in Tempe, Arizona, is among them. Hes lived in the Phoenix area since the 1980s, back when there were fewer than 30 days a year when the temperature reached 110 degrees. Last year, there were 70 of those days the highest on record followed only by 2023, when there were 55 days of 110 degrees plus. These days, summer mornings start out scorching, he says, and I feel like if you go outside between 10 and 4, its dangerous. Brian Spear discusses the need to replace the roof on the small vacation rental home he owns near downtown Tempe, Ariz. He has decided to install a gray roof with a reflective coating, which he believes will be attractive and also good for the environment. Photo taken April 24, 2025. (Dee J. Hall / Floodlight) Spear says hell soon replace the aging roof on an Airbnb home that he owns. After weighing the usual concerns cost and aesthetics he has chosen a roof that he believes will help rather than harm: a gray metal roof with a reflective coating. If someone told me you couldnt put a dark roof on your house Id understand, he said. Im all about it being for the common good. Even as mayors around the country seek to make their cities more livable, Kats believes the dark roofing industry will continue to resist. Many of us have felt the sting of laying our hands on a dark car roof or walking barefoot on black pavement in the summer heat. Yet, Kats says, the dark roofing industry has pushed a message that boils down to this: You shouldnt be trusting your experience, your senses. Elon Musk exited the White House this week with little to show for his cost-cutting push and a list of frustrations from his time in the Trump administration. The tech billionaire announced his departure Wednesday shortly after voicing concerns about the sweeping tax and spending bill backed by Trump and congressional Republicans, which is expected to add trillions of dollars to the national debt. Musk criticized it in an interview with CBS News for not codifying the broad government funding cuts enacted by his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing, he said. Musks full interview will air on Sunday morning. Additionally, the Trump administration has intensified its standoff with the courts over tariffs in recent days, with top advisors condemning two rulings that sought to block the tariffs from proceeding as planned. Despite the ruling in favor of the administration, deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller blasted the orders as judicial tyranny. At the same time, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused magistrates of inserting themselves into the presidential decision-making process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent months, Supreme Court justices have spoken out in defense of judges across the nation, urging them to stand tall amid attacks. However, Trumps officials have maintained that tariffs and other measures are permitted by federal law despite legal battles and schisms. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett has blamed activist judges for blocks to Trumps trade policy and will likely expand on his criticism of the judiciary during a Sunday appearance on ABCs This Week. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is likely to hit on the status of trade talks with China, Japan and other global partners on CBSs Face the Nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plus, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he doesnt expect too many surprises from the Senate on the GOP budget bill as Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) have voiced concerns with the big, beautiful text. Paul is set to appear on CBSs Face the Nation and Johnson will be interviewed on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures. Read the full Sunday show line up here and follow below for todays live updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) modified its existing standards surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine. Following this, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the vaccine will no longer be recommended for pregnant women and healthy children on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website. The new CDC guidelines still recommend the vaccine for folks ages 65 or older and those with pre-existing medical conditions. Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiotics and Immunology at the University of Rochester Dr. Jennifer Nayak explained how this decision does not fall in line with how guidelines changes are traditionally addressed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The current recommendations bypass this really critical review of the data, Nayak said. So as a physician, Im taking a wait and see approach In past scenarios, should the CDC aim to change vaccine recommendations, it would seek out research and advice compiled by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Nayak says ACIP was slated to discuss new recommendations for the COVID-19 vaccine in late June. Because of this, Nayak expressed her worries about the potential effects of this decision. By removing the recommendation for pregnant women to be vaccinated, youre not only increasing risk for the mom, but youre also increasing risk for the newborn infant, Nayak said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also shared her thoughts on how this may impact children who are no longer recommended to get the vaccine. We know that children who are hospitalized with COVID-19, about 41% of them dont have a known preexisting condition, Nayak said. When you limit vaccination to only children who have preexisting conditions, youre going to miss some of the children who will get more seriously ill with this virus. Nayak still looks forward to reviewing the recommendations provided by ACIP following their committee meeting next month. I do hope that going forward, were able to sit down and reevaluate the data following the standard approach to come up with recommendations for how to best go about protecting people from both COVID-19 as well as other infectious diseases, Nayak said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FDA approved a new COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Moderna earlier this week under the new recommendations and guidelines. The full list of CDC recommendations for the COVID-19 vaccine can be found 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 RochesterFirst. [WATCH: In the video player above, Cleveland crime by the numbers.] CLEVELAND (WJW) A Jamaican man living in Cleveland has been sentenced for his role in trafficking more than 150 pounds of a popular party drug. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Tonie Neno Mitchell, 34, previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. VIDEO: Shootout with police near University of Akron Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, he was sentenced to 100 months (8.3 years) in prison. Officials said in a press release that in July 2024 investigators with the DEA executed a federal search warrant at Mitchells home in Cleveland where investigators found about 70 vacuum-sealed bags containing colored rock crystal substances, later determined to be 70 kilograms of methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), also known as ecstasy or molly, a party drug. Investigators also found a loaded 9mm handgun, ammunition, a ledger notebook listing drug prices and money owed for drugs, more than $50,000 in cash, and eight cellphones. Alcohol factor in early morning shooting: Police Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The search warrant was based on a DEA money laundering investigation into Mitchell, and others, and had already resulted in the seizure of more than $350,000 in suspected drug cash, stated the release. Investigators determined that Mitchell was a Jamaican national present in the United States illegally, and that he had entered the country in approximately August 2023. According to authorities, Mitchell attempted to flee when investigators made entry to his house, but he was apprehended. 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. SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) A local nonprofit is teaming up with Lockheed Martin to repair two veteran homes during Military Appreciation Month. Local nonprofit Rebuilding Together Spartanburg has joined forces with Lockheed Martin to provide repairs and modifications for two homes on the same day. Linda, the surviving spouse of an army veteran, had lived in her home for 25 years and struggled to navigate the house due to a damaged hip. Her home was given a new access ramp, replaced flooring to remove tripping hazards, and repaired the washer and dryer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charles is an army veteran who has lived in his home along with his wife, Loris, for many years and suffers from knee and leg issues that make living in their home difficult. Their home was provided with an accessible ramp and a walk-in shower, and the houses gutters and landscaping were cleaned and updated. The nonprofit stated that the repairs come at no cost for the homeowners. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 1.2 million veterans live in poverty and are unable to afford essential home repairs or modifications. 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. Thailand's Opal Suchata, who has been crowned Miss World 2025, said that she would love to work in Bollywood if there is an opportunity. In a conversation with ANI, she said, "I feel very happy and proud. It is an honour to take the first Miss World crown to Thailand... I hope I have made them proud..If I get the opportunity, I would love to (act in Bollywood films); it is a wonderful opportunity..." She shared her experience of visiting India and said, "It was amazing. Since the first day I was here, everyone has been so nice..people are amazing, they have been so wonderful to me and we went to so many places..all are so beautiful..whether it is infrastructure or nature.. it's great to be here and I will definitely be back." Expressing her gratitude for all the arrangements made by the government, she added, "I would like to thank the Telangana government and all the people here for providing us with the best accommodation and allowing us to have such a great time in your home." Meanwhile, Miss World Ethiopia 2024 Hasset Dereje shared what she is planning to do next, " I want to do different social projects with different organisations back at home because I believe that whatever chance I got, every girl should have." Miss World America 2025 Jessica Pedroso also expressed her love for Hyderabad, its culture, people and food, saying, "I'm very happy and honoured, and I just love Hyderabad. I think this was the best place for Miss World to be held, because Hyderabad is just amazing because of the culture and the food. I've tried butter chicken, it's so amazing. I think here it's a mix of flavours and traditions from the local communities, and here we have these different dialects like Namaskaran, and I love them. I think that's something magical." Miss World Asia Krishnah Gravidez added, "I am just really grateful to be here as Miss World Asia from the Philippines. We have come this far, and It is because of the love and support of my fellow people, and here (in India) I've created beautiful memories." Miss Martinique Aurelie Joachim expressed her love for Telangana, "I feel very happy, very honoured, and very grateful. I really loved Telangana. My stay here was amazing. The people are amazing, and I really love them. I will feel very sad when I leave. I really love the people of Telangana, and I want to say thank you so much for your hospitality. I wish to come soon." While Thailand rejoices in Opal's crowning, India's hopes were dashed as Nandini Gupta, the country's representative, failed to make it into the Top 8 finalists. The announcement came through Miss World's official Instagram page. Nandini had made it to the Top 40 after a standout performance in the earlier rounds, where she was among the 18 contestants who 'fast-tracked' to this prestigious category.However, she could not make it to the final cut as the competition progressed. (ANI) A local woman and two others from Ohio and New Jersey pleaded guilty in federal court to charges in connection with a cross-state drug trafficking ring. A U.S. Attorneys Office spokesperson says Melissa Frain, 36, of Indiana, entered a guilty plea on May 30 to charges of violating federal narcotics laws. Also pleading were Robert Hurst, 46, of North Royalton, Ohio, and Kevin Thomas, 48, of Newark, N.J. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say the three are among 27 people charged in March 2023 for their alleged participation in a cross-state narcotics conspiracy involving large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, crack and heroin. Between about September 2021 and January 2022, Frain is said to have conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute quantities of mixtures of cocaine, fentanyl and crack. The defendants will be sentenced on Sept. 17. They could face up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million or both. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW Long-awaited pay raises for Texas judges are stuck in a legislative limbo as the clock winds down and lawmakers battle over the future of their own retirement plans. Senate Bill 293 would give judges their first raise in over a decade, increasing base pay 25% to $175,000 a year from $140,000, addressing what both chambers and parties have deemed an emergency in the state. But now they are at odds over a change the House made to the bill that would keep lawmakers retirement plans flat, while the Senate wants to see their pensions increase alongside judicial pay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite several hurried meetings Saturday among representatives and senators involved in this issue, they did not put forward a report harmonizing the disagreement by the midnight Saturday deadline, narrowing the chances that raises are approved before the session ends Monday. While lawmakers earn just $7,200 a year for their part-time legislative service, those who serve more than eight years are eligible for a pension when they turn 60 (or when they turn 50 if theyve served 12 years.) Rather than basing that payout on their meager legislative salary, its tied to the base salary for a district judge, a benefit that allows some of the longest-standing lawmakers to earn annual retirement payments of $140,000 a year. The House amendment said these pensions would remain tied to the current judicial salary of $140,000, rather than increasing their retirement benefits alongside judicial pay. I do not believe, speaking for me, that this is the right way to consider increases to our legislative retirement, said bill sponsor Rep. Jeff Leach, a Plano Republican. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate disagreed. On Friday night, less than 72 hours before the end of an unusually smooth legislative session, Sen. Jose Menendez, a San Antonio Democrat, called a point of order, saying the legislative pension amendment was not germane to the bill and should be removed. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick upheld Menendezs challenge, a shocking procedural development for the upper chamber. While bills sometimes fall victim to a point of order in the House, senators rarely bring these procedural challenges. When the House gaveled in on Saturday afternoon, it became clear members had no intention of backing down on their amendment as the Senate had requested. House Speaker Dustin Burrows said under House rules they were not authorized to remove just one amendment, and there is certainly no rule or precedent that allows the Senate to amend House amendments. To your knowledge has anything like this ever been done before?, Rep. Joe Moody, an El Paso Democrat asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not to my knowledge, no, Burrows responded, noting that the traditional way these sorts of disputes are resolved is in conference committee, where a group of members from both chambers negotiate the final disagreements over a bill. Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat from Austin, told The Texas Tribune on Saturday that the senators felt Leach and bill author Sen. Joan Huffman had agreed to the decoupling without the full support and knowledge of the chambers. She said they have to get to a yes on this, but she is pro-public servant and wants public officials to be appropriately compensated. Lawmakers often try to plan their legislative tenure based on these pension timelines eight years of service gets you vested in the retirement system, and they earn more each additional year they serve. Some are worried that removing the judicial pay connection will make it harder to argue for an increase to the pension program going forward. Meanwhile, judges are panicking about their pay raises. Judges earn less in Texas than almost any other state, and this 25% raise will still leave them far behind where they would be in the private sector. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most law students going into the first year at a law firm are making more than the starting salary of our judges, Leach said Saturday. There are still paths to pay raises for judges, but it would likely require the Senate adopting the House version, or both chambers suspending the rules, which takes a three-fifths vote in the Senate and a two-thirds vote in the House. Neither seems imminent, with both chambers seemingly stuck in their positions. On Sunday, Leach told the Tribune he was hopeful and optimistic that the Senate would pass the House bill. But Patrick, on X, said Leach had been unwilling to compromise, and it would be hard to come to a solution until the representative conceded that his amendment was improper. If Rep. Leach wanted to address pensions this session, he should have filed a separate bill or do so in the future, but he shouldnt kill judicial pay because he failed to do that, Patrick said. Lawmakers said theyve been deluged with calls from judges urging them to resolve this snag, with some judges telling them theyd only stayed on the bench because of the promise of raises on the horizon. On Saturday, Supreme Court of Texas Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock sent a letter to all lawmakers, proposing amended language that kicks the can to next session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this critical juncture, if either legislative chamber insists on its favored solution to the legislator-pension question, I fear we will end the session without any increase in judicial pay, Blacklock wrote. If that happens, it is not the judges themselves but our Texas justice system which should be the envy of the world that will suffer most, along with the thousands of Texans who seek justice in our courts every day. 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! NILES, Ohio (WKBN) Saturday marks the 40th anniversary of the 1985 tornado outbreak. On May 31, 1985, the F5 tornado created 27 miles of destruction in Trumbull County with wind speeds up to 318 miles per hour. It ripped through Newton Falls, Lordstown, Warren and Niles before devastating Wheatland and parts of Mercer County. First News took a look through our archives to reflect on the destruction and the resilient community members who came together to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some residents recalled the tornado sounding like a freight train and that tidal waves and typhoons in the South Pacific Ocean didnt compare. The National Guard was called in, and residents went from door to door to search for those who survived. Niles councilman Stephen Papalas remembers the day vividly as strong tornadoes passed through northeast Ohio, western Pennsylvania and Ontario, Canada. It was a beautiful day, and then it got cloudy, and thats when I was notified, Papalas said. We didnt know at first if it was a gas leak, something that caused an explosion. There was insulation all over the road. It was hanging from trees, and as I got further down Bonnie Brae [Avenue], there were shingles, parts of roofs. It got worse and worse. Trees were all gnarled, Papalas said. Houses along [U.S. Route] 422, there were a couple of them that had severe damage, and there was loss of life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 70 homes were leveled and another 65 to 70 were severely damaged. In Niles, nine people were killed and 250 were injured. They called in a refrigeration truck, and that night began putting victims of the tornado in there, Papalas said. It was eerily quiet. So quiet. It was remarkable None of us ever had any experience with this, and it was a dire emergency. People were injured. People lost their lives. People had no homes, they had nothing. The next day, you could hear chainsaws everywhere. All kinds of personnel began to descend on the town, Papalas said. A lot of people contribute to the Red Cross and other organizations like that The community coming together like it did was very noticeable, and I was very impressed by it. 40 years later, those traumatic events continue to stay with the former councilman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whenever theres a news broadcast that were having tornado warnings, I take that very seriously. If it hadnt been for that tornado back in 85, I dont know if Id take it too seriously today, Papalas said. On Saturday, flowers were placed at the Niles Plaza Memorial to honor the victims. 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. Playwright Abby Rosebrock NEW YORK, N.Y. (WSAV) When Abby Rosebrock was growing up in South Carolina, she had no idea how her formative years would impact her work as a playwright. I when I first started writing plays, I think I tried to write stories that felt more immediate to my experience. So I was writing about, like, actors in Brooklyn, but I soon figured out that the place that I know best, even though I havent lived there in 20 years, is definitely the Southeast. Now a New Yorker with several stage productions under her belt, she often returns to her southern roots for inspiration. One of her earlier plays, Blue Ridge, is set at a halfway house in the Appalachian Mountains. The dialog, while pointed and direct, is written on the page to reflect the easy way Southerns speak. But make no mistake: Rosebrocks protagonists and antagonists are not simple southern caricatures. Especially the women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rosebrock is an actor as well as a writer. When she began writing plays, she discovered her female characters were often forces to be reckoned with. Thats how I started. I really just wanted better material to perform in scene study classes. Dialog just comes naturally to me. Its how I make sense of the world. I come from a family of very talkative women so Im obsessed with human speech and the poetry of the way people talk to each other day to day. Rosebrock has a fondness for her male characters as well. Id like to think my male characters, especially in more recent years, are a little more rounded than maybe they used to be. Theater is where human beings can sort of work out their demons and in community with other human beings. And thats whats fun and exciting about it. The visceral response theater gives an audience is important to her too. I think we spend most of our days hiding from each other, especially in workplace settings. Americans work way too much and expect way too much of themselves in service of terrible corporations. And in order to fit into that structure, were just constantly suppressing whats truest and most authentic about our experiences. With live theater, when you throw hundreds of people into a room to watch other human beings behaving authentically, people are sort of reminded of what life could be like if we werent so enslaved to the systems that run most of our lives. Rosebrocks newest play, Lowcountry, will make its world premiere in New York this month. It centers around an out-of-work actress who returns to her rural hometown and makes a tenuous connection with a disgraced high school teacher. It shines a light on how people connect in the digital age. I wrote it after the pandemic, after Id spent a really long time, more or less alone in my apartment. But I think I was coming out of a time that felt very sterile and hopeless and devoid of resources. Rehearsals for Abby Rosebrocks new play, Lowcountry. Photo gallery: rehearsals for Abby Rosebrocks newest play, Lowcountry, at The Atlantic Theater in New York. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A really great thing about working on a brand-new play thats never been performed before is its extremely collaborative. So your words are being shaped not just by your own instincts, but by actors who are telling you, I dont feel truthful when Im saying this line or I feel like my character might be dealing with this other thing thats not even being acknowledged right now. And then you have a director whos guiding that entire process and sort of moderating conversations, not just with actors, but with the designers too. So it just feels like the most exciting thing in the world to have world-class actors weighing in on your script as its sort of taking its initial shape. Lowcountry is Rosebrocks second work at The Atlantic Theater Company. Founded by an ensemble of artists in 1985, it is known for fostering upcoming talent both on the stage and behind the scenes. Its a dream. Its definitely my artistic home and I feel totally overcome with emotion every time I come here to work because the energy is so special. The artistic director of the Atlantic has really believed in me and championed my work for several years now and the first play I did here, Blue Ridge, was just a wonderful experience from start to finish. It happened right before Covid and I wondered, Will I ever experience something that great again?' Rosebrock says The Atlantic is a space to experiment, to have bad ideas and to try your wildest visions to see if they work and get eyes on it from some of the best people in the business. Lowcountry, Abby Rosebrocks latest work, premieres at The Atlantic Theater in New York on June 5. It runs through July 13. Get your tickets here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Young aspiring writers in Shreveport can now refine their craft. LSU Shreveport encouraging children to explore their passions Louisiana State University Shreveport Division of Continuing Education will host a summer camp for teenagers aged 13 to 18. During this camp, students, whether beginners or experienced writers, will learn various techniques to tell stories, enhancing their writing skills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cost to attend the program is $159. It will take place from June 2 to June 5, running daily from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Only 14 slots are available for the youth camp. This years summer camp drop-off and pick-up will be in the Technology Building, which is at the entrance of the LSUS Collaborative. To purchase your ticket, visit lsus.edu. 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. By Ted Hesson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick downplayed the impact of legal uncertainty around U.S. tariffs on negotiations with the European Union during an interview on Sunday, saying talks were ongoing. Lutnick, speaking on "Fox News Sunday," was asked about a Reuters report quoting an unnamed EU official close to negotiations who said the legal uncertainty of the tariffs in the U.S. gave the EU "extra leverage." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You can't listen to silly people making silly comments," Lutnick said. "All of the countries that are negotiating with us understand the power of Donald Trump and his ability to protect the American worker." A U.S. trade court blocked most of President Trump's tariffs in a sweeping ruling last week that found he had overstepped his authority by imposing across-the-board duties on imports from U.S. trading partners. A U.S. federal appeals court paused that ruling a day later, allowing the tariffs to go into effect while it considered an appeal by the Trump administration. Lutnick said the ruling "maybe cost us a week, but then everybody came right back to the table." Trump and his advisers said on Friday that many countries had been in touch since the court ruling and talks were moving ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican president in late May threatened 50% tariffs on all European goods by June 1, but days later delayed the effective date to July 9 to allow more time to negotiate. Trump also said on Friday that he would increase tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to 50% from 25%, leading the European Commission on Saturday to say it could consider countermeasures. Speaking on ABC News' "This Week," White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said the U.S. needed to protect its steel industry for national security reasons in light of economic rival China's steel production. "We have to show strength," Hassett said. "We have to have a steel industry that's ready for American defense." (Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Bill Berkrot) DELAWARE, Ohio (WCMH) The suspect accused of shooting and killing a Morrow County sheriffs deputy nearly a week ago has been moved to jail. Brian M. Wilson was released from the hospital Saturday and booked into Delaware County jail, according to the countys sheriffs office. Wilson is charged with aggravated murder in the shooting death of Morrow County Sheriffs Deputy Daniel Sherrer, 31, on Memorial Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sherrer was shot and killed while responding to a domestic violence call at a home on County Road 26 south of Marengo, a community 35 miles north of Columbus. According to court records, Wilson allegedly told Sherrer, you better just f go if you want your family to see you tomorrow, before an alleged shootout between Wilson and Sherrer took place. According to the Delaware County Sheriffs Office, the lead investigating entity in the case, Wilson was shot during the incident and hospitalized for treatment. Wilson is set to be arraigned in Morrow County, but a hearing has not been scheduled. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. NEED TO KNOW Eugene Strickland is accusing Walt Disney World of negligence and seeking more than $50,000 in damages, according to a complaint filed on May 29 Strickland sustained an injury on the Downhill Double Dipper water slide at the resort's Blizzard Beach park during a July 2021 visit, he claims in the complaint At the time of the incident, he was approximately 34 lbs. over the attraction's 300 lb. weight limit A man is accusing Walt Disney World of negligence and suing for damages, claiming he sustained enduring injuries on a park water slide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eugene Strickland filed a complaint against the theme park on Thursday, May 29. He is seeking more than $50,000 in damages for the incident, which occurred at the Blizzard Beach water park in Bay Lake, Fla., and allegedly left him with injuries he is still dealing with nearly four years later. While riding the Downhill Double Dipper during a July 2021 park visit, Strickland became momentarily airborne" and suffered permanent catastrophic injuries as a result, according to the newly filed complaint. At the time, Strickland weighed approximately 334 lbs., which surpassed the stated weight limit of the ride, which was 300 lbs., the complaint states. It is not clear in the complaint whether he was aware of the limit before entering the slide. Disney Blizzard Beach at Walt Disney World in Florida Blizzard Beach at Walt Disney World in Florida While on the water slide which the Walt Disney World website describes as side-by-side high-speed slides Strickland caught air thanks to the attractions design and exhilarating speeds, the complaint states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This allegedly caused his inner tube to dislodge from beneath him and made him land with force onto the hard plastic surface of the slide." As a result, Strickland claims he suffered serious bodily injury and resulting pain and suffering, disability, scarring, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, according to the complaint. Strickland argues that Walt Disney World was negligent and failed to maintain safe premises. He also claims that the theme park was aware of the safety hazard and concealed trap that led to his injuries. Joe Raedle/Getty Walt Disney World in Florida Walt Disney World in Florida The park, the complaint claims, had a responsibility to remedy or least warn him of the dangerous conditions of the attraction. 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 case is scheduled for a jury trial beginning in May 2027, according to court documents viewed by PEOPLE. Stricklands attorney, Alberto Oliveri, did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on Sunday, June 1, nor did a spokesperson for Walt Disney World. Read the original article on People DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) One man was arrested after an armed standoff in Mercer County on Friday morning. According to the Celina Police Department, officers came to the house in the 500 block of S. Walnut St. at approximately 9 a.m. in response to a domestic violence call. On arrival, officers found a 39-year-old man who allegedly assaulted two adult women. Those on scene said the man opened the door while brandishing a filet knife. Photo via Celina Police Department. A 15-year-old teenager was inside the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said they had gotten reports of the 39-year-old acting unlike himself and possibly wanting to die. He was out on bond for prior felony charges from Mercer County Common Pleas Court. The stand-off lasted approximately an hour and a half. Officers were able to remove the teenager through a bedroom window. Man falls off cliff after running from authorities in Clark County The 39-year-old came to the front door multiple times, but wouldnt surrender himself. Officers deployed a less-lethal shotgun (bean bag rounds) in an attempt to subdue him. He was able to head back and secure the door. As officers started to break down the front door, he tried to flee out the back. There, he was confronted by other officers and was taken into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is being held in Mercer County Jail on $100,000 bond on multiple misdemeanor charges; including domestic violence, assault, inducing panic, obstructing official business and resisting arrest. His case is under review by the Mercer County Prosecutors Office. Celina Police were assisted on scene by deputies from the Mercer Co. Sheriffs Office. Celina P.D. Tactical Response Team members were called out to make the entry. Coldwater Police handled other calls in the City of Celina while officers were tied up on the standoff. We would like to thank all agencies and the Mercer Co. Prosecutor Erin Minor for all assistance, wrote Celina PD. 2 NEWS will follow this case as it develops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Veteran Actor and director Clint Eastwood shared the details of his upcoming project and assured the fans he won't be retiring anytime soon. He also criticised the ongoing trend of remakes, sequels and adaptations, reported Variety. In a recent sitdown with Austria-based publication Kurier, Eastwood, who turns 95 on Saturday, shared that he is currently in pre-production for his next film. He added that fans don't have to worry about his retirement "for a long time." "There's no reason why a man can't get better with age. And I have much more experience today. Sure, there are directors who lose their touch at a certain age, but I'm not one of them," said Eastwood as quoted by Variety. When asked about the current state of films, the "Unforgiven" director said he missed the days when theatres weren't overbooked with remakes, sequels and adaptations of existing Intellectual Property (IP). "I long for the good old days when screenwriters wrote movies like 'Casablanca' in small bungalows on the studio lot. When everyone had a new idea. We live in an era of remakes and franchises. I've shot sequels three times, but I haven't been interested in that for a long while," said Eastwood. "My philosophy is: do something new or stay at home," added Eastwood as quoted by Variety. The actor further said that his upbringing in the "old system" of Hollywood forced him to constantly evolve as an artist. It also helped him to be vigilant for the next great movie idea. "As an actor, I was still under contract with a studio, was in the old system, and thus forced to learn something new every year, and that's why I'll work as long as I can still learn something, or until I'm truly senile," added Eastwood as quoted by Variety. Eastwood rose to international fame with his role as the 'Man with No Name' in Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy of spaghetti Westerns during the mid-1960s and as antihero cop Harry Callahan in the five Dirty Harry films throughout the 1970s and 1980s. (ANI) CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) Police have arrested a man in connection to a deadly shooting early Saturday morning in north Charlotte. Shortly after midnight, officers responded to the 9300 block of Broken Pine Lane regarding an assault with a deadly weapon with injuries call. When officers arrived on the scene, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This incident was the first of two homicides that happened overnight in north Charlotte. Police later identified the victim as 25-year-old Jahlen McDonald. Following the investigation and assistance from the community, detectives identified 24-year-old Thomas Cartee III as a suspect and issued a warrant for his arrest. Cartee was arrested without incident and charged with murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon. The case remains active and 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 Queen City News. A Boston man is facing a murder charge in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found near Northeastern University last month. Kevin Boyette, 36, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 21-year-old Tatyiana Flood, according to a Boston police press release. He pleaded not guilty to the charge during his arraignment in Roxbury District Court on Friday. Officers found Floods body outdoors on May 20 after responding to 20 Annunciation Road shortly after 6 a.m. They located the body in front of an apartment complex, The Boston Globe reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Body of a woman found near Northeastern University in Boston Boyette is accused of beating Flood to death, the newspaper wrote. He was already facing assault charges in connection with her death prior to being charged with murder. A warrant for Boyettes arrest on the murder charge was issued on Thursday, according to court records. He was arrested Friday and held without bail. Boyette is due back in court on July 1 for a probable cause hearing, according to court records. More local crime stories Read the original article on MassLive. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A 24-year-old man was arrested Saturday evening, May 31 for child endangerment after he allegedly was doing doughnuts with a 3-year-old child in his vehicle, according to the El Paso County Constables Office for Precinct 6. Jonathan Herrera Courtesy of Constables Office for Precinct 6. At about 6:15 p.m. Saturday, a constable deputy observed a pickup truck traveling at a high rate of speed along the 7900 block of Alameda Avenue in El Pasos Lower Valley. The driver was also seen going in circles, or making doughnuts, across five lanes of traffic, according to the Constables Office. The constable deputy did a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as 24-year-old Jonathan Herrera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The constable deputy saw that Herrera had 3-year-old child in the back passenger seat while he was driving recklessly, the Constables Office said. Herrera was arrested for endangering a child and was transported to the El Paso County Detention Facility, where he was booked under a $5,000 bond, the Constables Office said. The child, who was not injured, was released to a responsible party at the scene. 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 KTSM 9 News. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A man is recovering in the hospital after falling from a cliff after running from law enforcement in Clark County on Sunday. 2 NEWS spoke with Sergeant Elliott about this incident. Elliott stressed that the man is not under arrest; he has no active charges or warrants. Elliott said officials believe the man was facing mental health or possible substance issues at the time. Officers were not chasing the man when he ran sometime Saturday evening. This happened within the Mad River Gorge and Nature Preserve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WWII soldier returned home 80 years later; public services soon After the man ran into the woods, officers searched for him throughout the night, concerned for his safety. Elliot said they had stopped searching in the morning. A person in the park discovered the man had fallen from a cliff into a gorge. They called 911 at approximately 7:30 a.m. The fire department assisted in taking him back up the trail and to a nearby hospital. He was found in the area South of the Springfield Masonic Community Home and left of U.S. 68. Its currently unknown how long the man was in the gorge. 2 NEWS spoke with the person who found the man. He told us that his father was out walking their dog at approximately 6:30 a.m. and heard screaming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His father woke him up and he ran to help. He said the man had fallen 45 feet, hit his head and had a compound fracture on his leg. He called 911, it took crews roughly an hour to get out to both him and the fallen man through the dense woods. We will update this article when more information is available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. On Saturday morning, Stone Mountain Park Police responded to reports of a burned body found at the top of the mountain near the Sky Lyft. On Sunday, Park Police said a preliminary determination found the death was a suicide. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in Saturday to assist with the investigation. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Police at the time told Channel 2 Action News they were only able to determine the body found was a dead man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement shared Sunday, police said the drivers license of the deceased, a man in his 20s, was found at the scene. TRENDING STORIES: Park Police used the information to find his family, who gave investigators a note detailing a suicide plan, including the method and location. Police said it was consistent with the death scene at Stone Mountain. Park Police said they would not be releasing the name of the dead man due to the sensitivity and the possible impact about reporting suicides. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Call 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] DENVER (KDVR) An adult man was found dead last night by Adams County Sheriffs deputies responding to a call of shots fired at a house party in the 7000 block of Gilpin Street at approximately midnight. The man was found in the street by deputies and was later confirmed to be dead by medical personnel, the sheriffs office said. The house where the shooting occurred is located between Washington and York in Welby in Adams County. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses to the shooting were able to tell investigators where the suspect lived and, while conducting surveillance of his residence, the sheriffs office said on X that he was seen getting into a vehicle and was quickly taken into custody without incident. The suspect was identified as Daniel Ramirez-Ayala, 20. Anyone who has any information about the incident is asked to call the Adams County Sheriffs Office at 303-288-1535. 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A man was killed and a woman was injured Saturday night after crashing on a rural highway in Lone Jack, Missouri. Crash logs from the Missouri State Highway Patrol said that at about 7 p.m., officers with the Oak Grove Police Department, deputies with the Jackson County Sheriffs Office, and troopers with MSHP were called to Highway F, just south of Colbern Road, on reports of a deadly crash. Gladstone home explosion leaves one dead, cause still unknown Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators found that a 66-year-old Kingsville man had been driving a 2013 Harley Davidson Street Glide southbound on Highway F, with a 54-year-old Odessa woman as his passenger, when the crash occurred. According to the MSHP, the driver drove off the road, causing the motorcycle to become airborne and land in a ditch before overturning. The man was taken to Lees Summit Medical, where he reportedly died just before 8 p.m. The woman was taken to Centerpoint Hospital, where she is said to have moderate injuries. Law enforcement has not released the name of the victim in this 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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. BERLIN (AP) A man was fatally shot near Germany's border with the Czech Republic after a federal police patrol stopped his car for a check and he fired at officers, police said Sunday. The shooting occurred on a road between Schirnding and Munchenreuth, just inside Germany, on Saturday afternoon. Bavarian police said the driver left his car and fired at the officers, who returned fire and fatally wounded him. He died at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver, who was alone in the car, was identified as a 47-year-old Iranian who had lived in the Mannheim area of southwestern Germany for several years. Police believe he was returning from a trip to the Czech Republic to buy drugs, as he was carrying a low three-digit gram quantity of crystal meth, according to a Bavarian police statement. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Rochester Police are investigating a gunpoint robbery on Jay St. that was reported early Sunday morning. A Canadian citizen told police he was walking along the 700 block around 1:30 a.m., when two suspects, one with a handgun, approached him. They allegedly stole his cell phone and then his car, a blue Volkswagen Taos. The victim was not injured, and no suspects are in custody. The vehicle has not been located. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information should call 911. 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 RochesterFirst. Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Harvey Weinstein have been accused of sexual assault by the same woman. Crystal McKinney, who filed a lawsuit against Combs in May 2024, accusing him of drugging and sexually assaulting her, has now been named in an amended May 30 complaint, which was initially filed in February 2025, against disgraced film producer Weinstein, 73. The complaint, which is unrelated to Diddy's lawsuit, alleged that Weinstein raped McKinney and a friend in a Manhattan hotel room in 2003, reported People. According to the complaint, McKinney claims she received a call from an unnamed modelling company executive telling her that he had set up a business meeting between her and Weinstein at a popular West Village lounge in the evening. McKinney said she brought along a fellow modelling friend and roommate to see if he would "consider her as well for an acting role," reported People. According to the complaint, they arrived at the lounge and waited for the film mogul to arrive before being ushered to his table. McKinney then claimed that Weinstein "repeatedly told them that he wanted to get to know both of them better, so he could see their 'real selves' " and suggested that they move the meeting to "discuss potential acting roles" to his place since the lounge was "too loud and crowded," as per the outlet. However, once they got back to the hotel room, McKinney alleges in the complaint that the film producer "plied" them with alcohol, ordering several bottles of "Boulevardier and Dom Perignon" and" vodka cocktails," reported People. McKinney claimed that she was "disgusted but too frightened to voice her opposition" and had been heavily "intoxicated" at the time. In the filing, she claimed that Weinstein's assistant then called the hotel room, and McKinney informed her of what took place. However, instead of "addressing" her complaints, the assistant allegedly told her to "leave the hotel room immediately," reported People. McKinney said she experienced "depression, anxiety, anger, self-blame, suicidal ideation, body image issues and demoralisation." Weinstein was convicted in New York State for rape and sexual assault in 2020 and subsequently sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, his convictions were overturned in April 2024 after the New York Court of Appeals ruled he didn't receive a fair trial because women uninvolved in the charges were allowed to testify, as per the outlet. In January, Weinstein begged a New York judge to move up his retrial date, claiming that he was in poor health and didn't know "how much longer" he could "hold on." He is serving jail time on Rikers Island due to his 2022 convictions for sex crimes charges in California. As for Combs, he is on trial for sex trafficking and racketeering charges, for which he has pleaded not guilty, reported People. (ANI) A man was shot by a Broward sheriffs deputy in West Park Sunday afternoon after punching a deputy in the face, according to the sheriffs office. The man, who was not identified, was taken to the hospital. An update on his condition was not immediately available. The incident began shortly before 12:30 p.m. when a 911 caller reported a suspicious incident involving a weapon, on the 4000 block of S.W. 26 Street, said Carey Codd, spokesman for the sheriffs office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On scene an adult male subject punched a deputy in the face, he said at a news conference, held in front of yellow crime-scene tape that blocked off the street of single-family houses between Pembroke Road and Hallandale Beach Boulevard. During the altercation, a deputy was forced to fire their weapon in response to the ongoing threat. The adult male subject was struck by the gunfire. Deputies provided medical assistance at the scene, he said, and the man was taken to the hospital. The deputy who was punched was also taken to the hospital and appeared to be OK, Codd said. Codd said he didnt have information on whether the deputy who was punched was the same one who shot the man, how many shots were fired or whether any weapons were recovered in connection with the initial 911 call. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating, as is standard in police-involved shootings, and the sheriffs office is also investigating, Codd said. Any deputies who fired their weapon will be placed on administrative assignment pending the outcome of the investigation. A Manson cult murderer who killed the actress Sharon Tate and smeared blood on the walls of her home has been recommended for parole, sparking anger from the actresss family. Patricia Krenwinkel, 77, the longest-serving female inmate in California, is one of two remaining so-called Manson Family members still in prison. In 1971, she was convicted of the murders of seven people, including the actress Sharon Tate, during a two-night rampage that shocked America in 1969. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Krenwinkel was sentenced to death, but her sentence was reduced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after California abolished the death penalty in 1972. Krenwinkel in 2020 Incarcerated at the California Institution for Women for 54 years, Krenwinkel did not speak at the four-hour hearing on Friday. Tates family members, meanwhile, argued she should stay in prison. For years, this woman laughed about the murders in court and showed absolutely no remorse at all, wrote Debra Tate, the younger sister of Sharon Tate, in an online petition on Friday. Society cannot allow this serial killer, who committed such horrible, gruesome, random killings, back out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is the 16th time that Krenwinkel has appeared before a parole board, and the second time she was recommended. The first was in 2022, but the decision was overruled by Gavin Newsom, Californias governor. Mr Newsom wrote at the time that Krenwinkel still poses an unreasonable danger to society if paroled at this time. Charles Manson did not personally kill the seven victims, but he was found guilty of ordering their murders and died in prison in 2017 - AP Photo/File The governor could reject the parole boards decision once again or send it back for further review. At her parole hearing, Ms. Krenwinkel accepted responsibility for her direct crimes, yet she continued to shift disproportionate blame to Mr. Manson for decisions and conduct within her control, Mr Newsom wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tate, the 26-year-old wife of filmmaker Roman Polanski, was one of seven victims of the grisly killings by the Manson cult on the nights of August 9 and 10, 1969. Eight months pregnant, Tate was stabbed and shot to death at her Beverly Hills home with four friends, including coffee heiress Abigail Folger, hair stylist Thomas Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski and Steven Earl Parent. Mr Polanski was in Europe at the time. Krenwinkel testified to chasing Folger with a knife and stabbing her 28 times. She later admitted at trial that her hand throbbed from stabbing her so many times. Sharon Tate was 26 years old and eight months pregnant when she was murdered - Silver Screen Collection The following night, Krenwinkel and other Manson followers stabbed to death grocery store executive Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary in their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both homes had smears of blood on the walls, and Krenwinkel had used blood to write death to pigs. Manson did not personally kill any of the seven victims, but he was found guilty of ordering their murders as part of a delusional plot to ignite a race war, which he believed had been presaged in the Beatles song Helter Skelter. Krenwinkel, who was 23 at the time, along with Manson, then 36, and three others of his so-called family of misfits and hippie types, were convicted of all the murders. At Krenwinkels 14 other parole denials, the board cited the brutality of the murders. Krenwickel daubed death to pigs in blood on the walls of Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemarys home One of his followers, Susan Atkins, died in prison in 2009. Charles Tex Watson, 79, remains in jail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leslie Van Houten was released from prison on parole in 2023 after spending 53 years behind bars. She received a life sentence for helping Mansons followers carry out the August 1969 killings of Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles, and his wife, Rosemary. Van Houten, 75, described holding Rosemary down with a pillowcase over her head as others stabbed her. Then, ordered by another Manson follower to do something, Van Houten said, she picked up a knife and stabbed the woman around 16 times. Governor Newsom had rejected her parole recommendation. But she successfully appealed the decision to a US Court of Appeal, which reversed Mr Newsoms rejection. Leslie Van Houten was released on parole in 2023 - Stan Lim She spent about a year at a halfway house, learning the basic skills of modern life after more than half a century behind bars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time, her lawyer Nancy Tetreault said: She has to learn to use the internet. She has to learn to buy things without cash. Its a very different world than when she went in. A popular former high school cheerleader, Van Houten saw her life spiral out of control at 14 following her parents divorce. She began using drugs and became pregnant, but said her mother forced her to abort the foetus and bury it in the familys backyard. Van Houten met Manson at an old movie ranch on the outskirts of Los Angeles, where he had established his so-called family of followers. He died in prison in 2017 of natural causes at age 83 after nearly half a century behind bars. 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. According to the IDF, the video, captured earlier in the day, shows men throwing rocks and firing weapons at fellow Palestinians trying to retrieve looted aid packages. The Israel Defense Forces released drone footage on Sunday that shows armed and masked individuals in southern Khan Yunis attacking Gaza civilians who were attempting to collect humanitarian aid. According to the IDF, the video, captured earlier in the day, shows men throwing rocks and firing weapons at fellow Palestinians trying to retrieve looted aid packages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas is a brutal and murderous terrorist organization that is starving the residents of Gaza, the IDF said in an official statement. Hamas is doing everything in its power to prevent the successful distribution of food in Gaza. The IDF denied reports that it fired at civilians near a humanitarian aid distribution site in Gaza, calling the allegations false based on an initial investigation. The IDF emphasized its cooperation with Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and international aid groups to ensure aid reaches Gazas residents, not Hamas. IDF drone footage reveals armed and masked individuals hurling rocks and firing at Gazan civilians attempting to collect looted humanitarian aid in southern Khan Yunis, June 1, 2025. (IDF) IDF to open more aid distribution centers in Gaza despite Hamas obstruction IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin delivered a statement from the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Sunday, highlighting the armys ongoing humanitarian efforts and condemning Hamas for obstructing aid distribution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, weve opened four distribution centers, and we are intending to open more of them. According to the spokesperson, the IDF has already delivered over 16,000 food packages directly to Gaza residents, in addition to facilitating the entry of more than 1,000 humanitarian aid trucks into the Strip. JEFFERSON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) One person died and multiple people were injured during a mass shooting in Fayette. According to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, six people were shot during the Fayette Festival on Main Street just before 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. Officials said two medevac helicopters transported victims to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). The Jefferson County coroner identified the deceased victim as Rayshaude D. Hudson, 22. He is the youngest son of Judge Maurice Hudson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man dies after being shot multiple times in Jackson Fayette police, Jefferson County deputies and agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) responded to the scene. Jefferson County Sheriff James Bailey, Sr., released the following statement on social media. To the citizens of Jefferson County and surrounding areas due to the terrible events that occurred during Fayette Fest, we are requesting for your assistance. If you have any information in regards to this mass shooting involving six victims, some critical and one fatality. Call Fayette Police Department at 601-786-3333, Jefferson County Sheriff Department at 601-786-3403, ask for Sheriff James Bailey, MBI in Brookhaven at 601-515-4340, or call the Crime Stoppers number 1-888-442-5001. We dont want your name. We just want your information. Please keep all victims and their families in your prayers. Jefferson County Sheriff James Bailey, Sr. Bailey Martin, press secretary for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS), said MBI will lead the investigation. Anyone with information can contact MBI at MBITips@dps.ms.gov. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News 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 WJTV. A winning Keno ticket worth $40,000 was sold at a 7-Eleven in Quincy on Saturday. In Keno, players select up to 12 numbers spots to play, and then choose numbers between 1 and 80 to fill each spot. Each number spot offers unique prizes and odds of winning. Players then choose how much they want to wager on each drawing between $1 and $20 and how many drawings they want to use the same numbers for. The same numbers can be played in up to 30 consecutive drawings, and drawings take place every day every three minutes from 5:04 a.m. to 1:01 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Players can also multiply their prizes up to 10 times by marking the Keno Bonus. Keno Bonus is not available on the 10 spot, 11 spot or 12 spot. Overall, at least 299 prizes worth $600 or more were won or claimed in Massachusetts on Saturday, including five in Springfield, nine in Worcester and 13 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. Massachusetts State Lottery Read the original article on MassLive. May was colder and gloomier than usual both in weather and in mood. Grey skies and damp ground seemed to echo the uncertainty facing Ukraine as the war entered yet another month. It began with a diplomatic reset following a tense exchange between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in February. Ukraine signed a long-awaited strategic minerals agreement with the U.S., marking a step forward in bilateral cooperation. On the battlefield, Ukraine launched a new wave of long-range drone strikes that reached deep into Russian territory, targeting airports, defense industries, and even disrupting the lead up to Moscows symbolic Victory Day parade. For the first time, sea drones were used to take down Russian fighter jets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite Russias announcement of a "Victory Day truce" on May 9, fighting continued along the front lines. On May 14, intelligence reports warned of a potential new Russian offensive. Tensions escalated along the Donetsk front, while a Russian troop buildup near Sumy raised alarms about a possible incursion from the north. After an unexpected decision from the Kremlin, direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow resumed in Istanbul on May 16 after a three-year pause. Moscow insisted on returning to the 2022 negotiation framework which effectively demanded Ukraines surrender, conditions Kyiv and its allies rejected. Still, the meeting resulted in a major humanitarian breakthrough the largest prisoner exchange to date, with 1,000 prisoners of war on each side returning home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But while it was taking place, Ukraine was hit by three nights of heavy Russian missile and drone strikes, killing and injuring dozens, including children. On May 24, Kyiv suffered one of the most intense air assaults in months, even as Ukraine continued to call for a U.S.-backed 30-day ceasefire a proposal Russia continues to reject for a third month. With talks expected to resume in early June, Ukraine remains under pressure. The demands from Moscow have not changed give up NATO aspirations and cede occupied territory. But for now, Ukraine continues to fight, adapt, and endure a story captured in each image from this turbulent May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv Independent partners with the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers to look back at some of May's most memorable moments through the eyes of Ukrainian photographers. Police crew members of the White Angels drive through the road covered by FPV drones during a civilian evacuation in the Pokrovsk direction, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on May 12, 2025. (Yulia Kochetova) A wounded soldier at a stabilization point in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine, in May 2025. (Lisa Bukreyeva) Combat work of heavy night drone operators from the "Kazhan" unit of the motorized infantry battalion of the 24th King Danylo Mechanized Brigade on the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, May 16, 2025. (Oleg Petrasiuk) Debris among wildflowers on Zmiinyi (Snake) Island, Ukraine, in May 2025, as Ukrainian soldiers stand guard in the background. (Konstantin and Vlada Liberov) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Relatives and friends mourn over the coffins of Roman Martyniuk, 17, his sister Tamara, 11, and brother Stanislav, 8, killed by a Russian missile strike, during a funeral in Korostyshiv, Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine, on May 28, 2025. (Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images) Relatives and military personnel welcome Ukrainian servicemen following a major prisoner of war (POW) swap with Russia at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, on Friday, May 23, 2025. Ukraines capital was targeted by a Russian drone and missile barrage overnight, hours after the warring sides started a large prisoner swap thats due to continue over the weekend. (Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg) Firefighters extinguish a blaze at a private home in Kharkivs Saltivka district after a massive Russian drone attack on April 29, 2025. (George Ivanchenko) Shakhtar fans celebrate their teams Ukrainian Cup final victory over Dynamo in Zhytomyr, Ukraine, on May 14, 2025. (Anastasia Vlasova) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Im not fine Intimate scenes of life during war (Photos) Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Trump continues to appoint controversial figures to federal office, now with a former podcast host with a history of inflammatory comments being tapped for a top ethics position. Chief White House Correspondent for the New York Times Peter Baker and NBC News White House Correspondent Vaughn Hillyard join The Weekend to discuss. Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth recently appeared at Netflix's Tudum event to debut a teaser of their upcoming film 'Frankenstein'. They also shared some tidbits about the filmmaker Guillermo del Toro's project. 'Frankenstein' is an upcoming American science fiction drama film written and directed by Guillermo del Toro. It is based on Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. The film stars Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz. The film stars Isaac as scientist Victor Frankenstein, Jacob Elordi as the monster he creates, and Goth as Victor's fiancee, Elizabeth Lavenza. Del Toro has spoken about Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein being a longtime passion, something he has sought to make for decades, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Issac shared that when del Toro first mentioned the idea, "I wasn't expecting it. I was just sitting with him talking and after a long conversation he looked up at me and said, 'I think that you need to be my Victor Frankenstein.' I still can't believe it," as per the outlet. "He said, 'I'm going to make you a banquet as an actor,' and that is what he did, every day I would come to set and I just was so excited and was doing all sorts of beautiful, difficult, expressive things," Isaac continued. "I just had him as my brother, right there helping me every step of the way," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Del Toro has previously said the project would not be an actual horror movie, and Isaac described it as "a big, Mexican, dark, sumptuous, dramatic character piece." Goth added, "It's an incredibly epic film. I've never been a part of something so big and so grand, but it's also incredibly emotional and deeply personal. It's a story that's been a part of Guillermo's life since he was a boy and so I definitely think people might be pleasantly surprised by how much heart there is in this movie." Although Elordi was not present at the event, his monster did make a brief appearance in the new footage. Isaac described it as "heartbreaking" to see Elordi in character for the first time, noting, "he is such a graceful, beautiful, sad and rageful portrait of this creature." Goth said that the team "did such an amazing job with that makeup" for Elordi's character, recalling, "that was a hard gig for him, he was in that makeup chair for hours, but it was worth it because the makeup was incredible," according to The Hollywood Reporter. Frankenstein will arrive on Netflix in November. (ANI) MERCER, Pa. (WKBN) One Mercer County man created a documentary in honor of the 1985 tornado outbreak. Connor Sipe created and released Unpredictable: The Pennsylvania Tornadoes of May 31, 1985 on YouTube. It tells the story of what happened on May 31, 40 years ago. The documentary uses shots from local scenery and from storm chases hes done on his own. Sipe says its important to inform those who might not be aware of the events that came from the storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think its important for people to know about what happened, because it was a very serious day in local history, and its something that could absolutely happen again, Sipe said. Weather safety should always be a consideration, no matter where you live. Sipe said it took about five months to create the documentary. 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. ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) Mexico Clasico is known around Rockford for its traditional Mexican cuisine, but now it is known for making the largest margarita Illinois has ever seen. The creation comes as Mexico Clasico celebrates its 12th anniversary of serving the Rockford community. The margaritas volume came in at a whopping 6 litres. Largest margarita in Illinois at Mexico Clasico All funds raised during the anniversary event went to the United Way of Rock River Valley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement United Way is a big organization for helping people with secondary languages, like learning Spanish, said General Manager Mauricio Segoviano. Segoviano and staff have been working toward breaking the record for some time. Its something weve been working on for the past three, four months. We had to send these made from Mexico and processed to get here, so we made sure it would be the biggest margarita in the state of Illinois, Segoviano continued. Segoviano said that the goal for the restaurant is to make people feel at home with an authentic environment. 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. Mexicans head to the polls Sunday to vote for thousands of federal and local judges in a globally unprecedented election that critics warn could hinder the rule of law. No other country elects all of its judges by popular vote: Mexico is taking a leap into the unknown, El Pais wrote. The judicial overhaul was championed by Mexicos former leader and supported by current President Claudia Sheinbaum, who argues it will strengthen democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the government controlled much of the candidate selection process, and voter participation is likely to be low because there are thousands of little-known candidates, experts say. As a result, judges aligned with the ruling party are expected to dominate, strengthening the governments control over the judiciary. Jun. 1A small, pale maggot about a half-inch long could cost New Mexico cattle ranchers greatly if it gets back into the country. One of the state's senators introduced new legislation to combat the New World screwworm fly, which has recently spread across Central America toward the U.S. At the U.S.-Mexico crossing in Santa Teresa, the pens supporting the nation's largest livestock entry point sat empty and eerily quiet Friday, with workers performing maintenance projects and catching up on paperwork at facilities normally bustling with thousands of cattle passing through daily. The U.S. Department of Agriculture closed the border to livestock imports after the screwworm was detected in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas in November. Imports resumed in February once the two countries established protocols for inspection and treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, when screwworm was detected in Oaxaca and Veracruz, just 700 miles from the U.S., the USDA closed the border to imports once again on May 11. Unlike typical maggots, which feed on the dead, screwworm larvae feast on the living, meaning the fly larvae can do significant damage to cattle, even causing death. While New World screwworms overwhelmingly affect cattle, any warm-blooded animal can be susceptible to infestation, including livestock, pets, wild animals and people. The U.S. eradicated the parasites in 1966 and has worked with the Panama government to keep screwworms there in check, maintaining a buffer zone of several countries between U.S. ranches and the insects. But the New World screwworm population in Panama exploded in 2023, and last year's infestation in Chiapas prompted the U.S. to release $165 million in emergency funding to protect livestock, pets and wildlife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some experts see a new U.S. infestation as inevitable. "It's not an 'if we're going to see it;' it's a 'when we're going to see it,'" said Bronson Corn, president of the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association. "And unfortunately, I think we're going to see it sooner, much rather than later. Probably within the next three months, I would say, we're probably going to have it here in the United States." New Mexico has more than 10,000 cattle farms and ranches. The U.S. livestock industry benefits by more than $900 million a year because there aren't screwworms in the country, USDA estimates. Dr. Samantha Holeck, state veterinarian with the New Mexico Livestock Board, is preparing for the worst and hoping for the best by working to educate livestock producers on the New World screwworm and developing protocols for sample collection to make sure flies can be rapidly identified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The challenge is, we've got very warm weather. The flies are able to move on their own, as well as with animal movement and things like wildlife that are going to move independently. We don't have control over how wildlife move. There are risk factors that still make it an imminent threat to the United States, even with a lot of good preventive strategies and surveillance in place," Holeck said. In the 1960s, New Mexico's livestock industry was heavily affected by the screwworm, she said. "A lot of our common management practices, even ear tagging potentially, can put an animal at risk, because any sort of fresh wound as small as a tick bite for example, can attract those female flies to lay eggs," Holeck said. "So once they have an opportunity to lay eggs in, those larvae begin to burrow in, because the larvae feed on live, healthy flesh." Left untreated, screwworms can cause traumatic injuries, are able to enlarge a wound and capable of even eating through bone. An untreated screwworm infestation could kill an animal within one to two weeks. Treatment with a dewormer like ivermectin can clear an infestation in a cow within two to three days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Livestock producers can usually identify an infestation by observing a rapidly expanding wound, signs of distress or pain in their animal, or by the foul smell of the wound. If screwworms are identified in New Mexico, the infested livestock will be thoroughly inspected and treated, Holeck said. They also won't be transported until free of screwworm larvae. Fly sterilization Female screwworms only mate once, so the strategy for managing the screwworm population has long been to produce sterile male screwworms and then release them into the wild. But, when the screwworm population was eradicated in the U.S., the country was producing sterile flies to release across a broad area. At present, the only sterilization facility is in Panama and is capable of producing hundreds of millions of sterile flies in a week. "If that facility were to go down, we'd be in a real big wreck," Holeck said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the USDA is investing $21 million to renovate an existing fruit fly production facility in Mexico to produce 60 to 100 million additional sterile New World screwworm flies weekly. Sens. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, introduced a bill to authorize money for a new sterile fly production facility in the U.S. to combat the growing screwworm outbreak. The STOP Screwworms Act is cosponsored by Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss. With bipartisan support, Lujan is hopeful the bill will move quickly through Congress because of the urgent situation. "The last time that there was an outbreak, it devastated the cattle industry, beef prices and availability in the United States," Lujan said. "This little thing is quite devastating." At the border, empty cattle pens Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The orange theater-style seating at the Santa Teresa Livestock Auction was empty Friday. Hay and feed were neatly piled and only a few head of cattle were penned together. General Manager Hector Alberto "Teto" Medina estimated that the pause on imports will affect producers in Mexico, who exported over $1 billion in livestock to the U.S. in 2024, but would have ripple effects throughout the U.S. food system and related business sectors down to what consumers pay for groceries or dining out. "This is the hardest we've ever been hit on the U.S.-Mexico border," he said. "We're talking about employment for farmers that feed these cattle, ranchers, transportation companies, brokerage companies, federal workers, feedlots, processors, for plants that process the cattle into meat all the way down to restaurants and all the way down to our plates." So far, he said he had no plans to lay off any of his staff, and was upbeat about a solution. "What's being done at the USDA is the correct thing to do," he said. "They are ensuring that our food supply is safe and clean. ... I wish it didn't have to affect us as much, but that's the way life is sometimes." By Diego Ore MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexicans vote on Sunday in the country's first ever judicial elections, part of an overhaul of the nation's judiciary that critics warn could jeopardize the rule of law. The vote will elect 2,600 judges and magistrates, including all Supreme Court justices, and is part of a reform pushed by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his protege and successor President Claudia Sheinbaum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez Obrador and Sheinbaum say the election will root out corruption in a flawed judiciary dominated by an out-of-touch elite and instead allow people to decide who should be a judge. But the run-up to the vote has been dominated by a scandal over some of the candidates, including a convicted drug smuggler and a former lawyer of drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Opponents say the overhaul risks removing checks and balances on the ruling Morena party, by appointing judges friendly to their cause, and also allowing organized crime groups greater influence over the judicial system by running their own candidates. Mexico joins Bolivia as the only countries worldwide to conduct judicial elections at the national level, though state-level judicial elections are common in the United States and some local Swiss judges are also elected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Voters on Sunday will cast ballots for Mexico's nine Supreme Court judges, as well as for judges and magistrates across 19 of Mexico's 32 administrative divisions. More than 7,700 candidates are running for judicial posts. Pollsters expect a poor turnout, in part due to opposition calls to boycott the vote, but also because of the complexity of the process and vast number of candidates to consider. "In Mexico City we are going to vote for 50 candidates. If even discerning people with access to social media aren't checking the candidates, imagine the people who don't have this access," 22-year-old accounting student Maria Alejandra Mares told Reuters. "They're going to vote blind." Voting is not mandatory in Mexico and there is no minimum turnout required to legitimize an election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just 37% of 1,000 people polled by Buendia & Marquez said they would come out to vote, compared to 61% who participated in the vote last June that elected President Sheinbaum. CONCERNS AND BOYCOTTS The right-wing PAN opposition party has called on supporters to boycott the election, branding it a "vulgar fraud," but Sheinbaum has vigorously defended her predecessor's reform and her party has sought to mobilize the grassroots vote. "We call on you to participate, participate, participate," Sheinbaum told a press conference on Friday, saying this would help significantly improve the current judiciary. "Participating is the best way to transform a country." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Besides mandating the popular election of judges, the judicial reform, promoted last year by former President Lopez Obrador, also reduced the number of Supreme Court judges, shortened terms and eased some requirements such as minimum age and work experience. The reform's approval by lawmakers last year knocked financial markets, sparked the United States to express concern about a weaker judicial system, and sparked a strike by the country's judicial workers. "Mexico's justice system was far from perfect, and this new judicial system will not address its shortcomings," said Rodolfo Ramos, an analyst at Brazilian bank Bradesco BBI. Ramos said "the real litmus test" would come when cases against a government action reach the Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Counting is expected to take two weeks, with the results out on June 15. In 2027, another vote is scheduled to fill over 1,000 more judicial positions. (Reporting by Diego Ore; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Stephen Eisenhammer and Tom Hogue) MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexico held its first-ever judicial elections on Sunday, stirring controversy and sowing confusion among voters still struggling to understand a process set to transform the country's court system. Polls closed and poll workers began counting colored ballots on Sunday evening with the question hanging in the air of what will become of Mexico's judiciary, the answer to which will only emerge in the coming days as results roll in. Voter turnout seemed to lag significantly, something experts warned of in the lead up to the historic elections due to the mindboggling array of unfamiliar choices and the fact that voting for judges is new. Experts say that low turnout may throw into question the legitimacy of the election, which has already faced months of fierce scrutiny. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While some voters said they felt pushed to vote in an election they felt would determine the fate of the countrys democracy, many more expressed a deep sense of apathy, citing disillusionment due to decades of corruption and lack of basic information about the vote. I'm not interested (in voting). Parties and their messages they come and they go. It's all the same, said Raul Bernal, a 50-year-old factory worker in downtown Mexico City walking is dog. Yet the vote is set to transform Mexico's judiciary. Mexico's ruling party, Morena, overhauled the court system late last year, fueling protests and criticism that the reform is an attempt by those in power to seize on their political popularity to gain control of the branch of government until now out of their reach. It's an effort to control the court system, which has been a sort of thorn in the side" of those in power, said Laurence Patin, director of the legal organization Juicio Justo in Mexico. But it's a counter-balance, which exists in every healthy democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A historic vote Now, instead of judges being appointed on a system of merit and experience, Mexican voters have cast ballots to choose between some 7,700 candidates vying for more than 2,600 judicial positions. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, of Morena, rejected criticisms after voting on Sunday in a press conference, insisting that the election would only only make Mexico more democratic, and root out corruption in a system that most Mexicans believe is broken. Whoever says that there is authoritarianism in Mexico is lying, she said. Mexico is a country that is only becoming more free, just and democratic because that is the will of the people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some voting centers throughout the country opened with only a trickle of people, and small lines forming throughout the day. Esteban Hernandez, a 31-year-old veterinary student, said he didnt agree with electing judges and doesnt support Morena, but came to vote because since there isnt much participation, my vote will count more. He had studied the candidates on a website listing their qualifications and decided to pick those who had doctorates. Other critics said they only voted for the Supreme Court, and other top courts. Francisco Torres de Leon, a 62-year-old retired teacher in southern Mexico, called the process "painstaking because there are too many candidates and positions that theyre going to fill. Democratic concerns Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheinbaum's predecessor and political mentor, former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who had pushed through the judicial reform, but remained out of the public eye since leaving office last year, also voted in Chiapas Sunday near his ranch. I wanted to participate in this historic election, he said. Never in the history of our country have the people decided and had the right to elect judges. The process however had raised concerns. Civil society organizations like Defensorxs have raised red flags about a range of candidates running for election, including lawyers who represented some of Mexico's most feared cartel leaders and local officials who were forced to resign from their positions due to corruption scandals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also among those putting themselves forward are ex-convicts imprisoned for years for drug trafficking to the United States and a slate of candidates with ties to a religious group whose spiritual leader is behind bars in California after pleading guilty to sexually abusing minors. Though others like Martha Tamayo, a lawyer and former congresswoman from conflict-ravaged Sinaloa, cast doubt on projections that the election could hand even more power over to criminals and criminal groups, simply because they already have a strong control over courts. The influence of criminal groups already exists, she said. The cartels go with the judges (bribe them) whether they are elected or not. Voter confusion Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, voters have been plagued by confusion over a voting process that Patin warned has been hastily thrown together. Voters often have to choose from sometimes more than a hundred candidates who are not permitted to clearly voice their party affiliation or carry out widespread campaigning. As a result, many Mexicans say they're going into the vote blind, though others voting on Sunday noted they supported the process despite the confusion. Mexico's electoral authority has investigated voter guides being handed out across the country, in what critics say is a blatant move by political parties to stack the vote in their favor. Political parties werent just going to sit with their arms crossed, Patin said. Though others a 61-year-old actor Manuel Jose Contreras, still unsure if his vote would improve access to justice for many Mexicans, defended the election, Sheinbaum and her party. He cast his ballot with a tone of hope on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reform has its problems but we needed an urgent change, he said. You have to start with something. __ AP journalists Edgar H. Clemente in Tapachula, Mexico, Alba Aleman in Xalapa, Mexico and Fernando Llano in Mexico City contributed to this report. Michael Cohen would selfishly accept a pardon from the president if he were to issue one, Donald Trumps former attorney told MSNBCs Ayman Mohyeldin, Catherine Rampell, and Antonia Hylton on Sunday. Doing so would make my life a little easier, going back into real estate, dealing with banks and so on, he noted before adding, But its not going to change my life. Cohen also said he had hoped to be pardoned by former President Biden. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I also am concerned about the 70 million Americans, 70 million that are basically scarlet lettered for the rest of their life as a felon, he explained. I did my did my time. I paid all the restitution I owe no money. Why should I be a felon for life? Thats not the way the system should work. In that vein, Cohen also noted those approximately 70 million Americans are all afflicted by the fact that they have felony convictions. He added, They cant get housing. They cant get bank accounts. You cant get credit cards and so on. Former Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., is also hoping to receive a pardon from Trump. He and Cohen are working on a policy that we believe would be like from the hand of God, which is what the presidents power thats granted him in the Constitution, Cohen explained. So you look at the list of people, though, who have received pardons and commutations in recent days and weeks. What do you make of the pattern thats emerging here, though? Some of them are really bad individuals, he continued. Others are also caught up in white collar tax issues. And I agree with the tax issues, the nonviolent. But there are several who, lets just say, stole over a billion dollars, paid back 100 million dollars and now receive the pardon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cohen also cited Trumps first term to the goal of using pardons in large part for a form of criminal justice reform when the president was meeting with Van Jones and others and, you know, it was in part a way for him to actually reach out to black and Latino voters. That does not seem to be his focus this time around, he concluded. Watch the interview with Michael Cohen in the video above. The post Michael Cohen Admits Hed Selfishly Accept Trump Pardon: It Would Make My Life a Little Easier | Video appeared first on TheWrap. An 18-year-old Massachusetts high school student has been detained by ICE. Milford Superintendent Kevin McIntyre confirmed to Boston 25 that a student was detained by ICE agents off campus this weekend. McIntyre did not confirm the students name or where the incident occurred. We are all distraught by this news, McIntyre said in a statement. Governor Healey issued a statement on Sunday saying she is disturbed and outraged that the student was on his way to volleyball practice on Saturday when he was detained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet again, local officials and law enforcement have been left in the dark with no heads up and no answers to their questions, Healey said. Im demanding that ICE provide immediate information about why he was arrested, where he is, and how his due process is being protected." Milford Public Schools says they play no part in immigration enforcement and support all of our students and families, including those who are immigrants to the United States. They are members of the community, students in our classrooms, athletes that compete representing Milford, musicians, artists, friends, and neighbors. We will do everything in our power to support our students and families during these difficult times, McIntyre wrote. School officials say that they have seen a number of parents who have been detained by ICE in recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My heart goes out to the Milford community on what was supposed to be a celebratory graduation day, Healey said. The Trump Administration continues to create fear in our communities, and its making us all less safe. Milford High Schools graduation is scheduled for Sunday morning. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Actress Sydney Sweeney spoke out for the first time about her split from ex-fiance Jonathan Davino, two months after the pair broke up after seven years together. The Euphoria star confirmed her breakup with Jonathan Davino two months after multiple outlets reported the two had called off their engagement and ended their relationship. And in addition to speaking out about the split for the first time, Sydney noted that "yes," she is single, according to E! News. "I'm learning a lot about myself, spending more time with my friends," the 'Echo Valley' star added in her interview, adding, "And I'm loving it." The 'White Lotus' actor and Jonathan started their relationship in 2018 and have also worked together. He co-produced the 2023 film Anyone But You with the actress, who starred in the romcom with Glen Powell. After the actors' onscreen chemistry raised eyebrows, the two sparked romance rumours, which they and the actor's mom repeatedly dismiss. "It's always beautiful to see people fall in love with characters and be supportive of what they see on screen," Sydney said. "Glen and I adore each other, so I think we were so happy for the film's reception," according to E! News. And the bond between the 27-year-old and the Top Gun: Maverick actor, who recently reunited in Texas for his sister's wedding, remains strong. "When you spend so much time with someone, you become close and you talk to each other about anything," Sydney said. "So work, life, family, friends, he's just there for me. I'm there for him," reported by E! News. (ANI) Miniso launches 'Lilo & Stitch' pop-up event at Mall of America originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Even Lilo & Stitch aren't immune to the trendy allure of Miniso. The China-based lifestyle company, known for its exclusive partnerships with brands like Pokemon and Care Bears, announced last week that it would add another Minnesota storefront at the Mall of America. MinisoMINISO IP Collection Store at Eaton Centre in Toronto. Photo courtesy of MINISO via PR Newswire. While the store isn't yet open, Miniso has set up a pop-up experience at the Bloomington shopping center, celebrating a new collection based around the newly relaunched Disney film. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company has released nearly 200 products around the cuddly blue alien with an enormous appetite. The immersive pop-up, which sits in the mall's North Atrium, includes a preview of the new products as well as heaps of Stitched-themed photo opportunities. Miniso members will get a free gift with any purchase and a 10% off voucher for future visits. The Lilo & Stitch pop-up will be hanging around the Mall of America through June 8, open daily Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Related: China-based lifestyle brand Miniso is heading to the Mall of America This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared. GREECE, N.Y. (WROC) Update: Officers with the Greece Police Department confirmed Sunday that Mary Krieger has been located and she is safe. Original article on May 31, 2025: The Greece Police Department is requesting the publics help locating a missing 66-year-old woman from Greece. Mary Krieger was last seen leaving her home around 7:50 a.m. wearing a pink jacket and blue jeans. Krieger is described as a 52 white female weighing 225 pounds with brown shoulder-length hair and hazel eyes. Authorities believe she is operating a gray 2019 Nissan Sentra with license plate BYB9387. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone who has seen or may be able to provide information on Mary Kriegers whereabouts is asked to contact 911. 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 RochesterFirst. Ed Martin didnt go away. He might be more dangerous than ever. When last seen, the Missouri Republican was leaving his temp job as the interim U.S. attorney for Washington D.C., withdrawn from consideration for the permanent job by the Trump Administration after being judged too toxic for even the GOP-controlled Senate to confirm. Martin didnt even get a committee hearing. It really says something (or should, anyway) that the same folks who gave a free pass to other men with messy histories, like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., wouldnt even give the Missourian the time of day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The thing about MAGA, though, is that it never takes no for an answer. So Martin got a new job. He is now President Donald Trumps pardon attorney a job that doesnt need Senate confirmation, incidentally the man in charge of helping the president decide who gets official mercy and who doesnt. Its a historically nonpartisan position, CNN says. Thats not how Martin rolls. It wont surprise you just who is getting that mercy these days: Donors. Political allies. Corrupt politicians who abused the public trust. Just in case you dont get the point, Martin last week made clear that his historically nonpartisan position is now explicitly partisan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No MAGA left behind, he wrote on X. Nakedly political pardon spree Lets stipulate that the presidents pardon power is problematic an opportunity for abuse no matter which party is in the White House. Trumps nakedly political pardon spree, though, is still remarkable. Among the recent developments: Paul Walczak, a former nursing home executive who pleaded guilty to tax crimes, was pardoned by Trump after his mother attended a $1 million-a-person fundraising dinner last month at Mar-a-Lago. That means Walczak no longer has to pay more than $4 million in restitution or serve an 18-month prison sentence for his conviction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What a coincidence. Trump said on Wednesday he is considering pardons of the men convicted of plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020. Their convictions looked to me like somewhat of a railroad job, the president told reporters. If he follows through, it would be the second instance of Trump rewarding actual or threatened political violence dont forget how he also wiped the slate clean for the Jan. 6 insurrectionists. And he did pardon Scott Jenkins, a former Virginia sheriff who was about to start a prison term for federal fraud and bribery convictions in a cash for badges scheme that let people buy law enforcement credentials even though they werent actually doing law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats the pardon that prompted Martins no MAGA left behind post. Put it all together, Axios pointed out last week, and Trumps mercy tends to flow to criminals with MAGA credentials or big money. For my enemies, the law Pardons arent the only item in Martins portfolio. He also runs the Justice Departments Weaponization Working Group. That means he is in charge of investigating the state and federal officials who once investigated President Trumps many alleged crimes the efforts to overturn the 2020 election, his use of campaign funds to silence a porn star, the squirreling away of classified documents in his Mar-a-Lago bathroom. This is all about settling scores and nothing else, Elliot Williams, a former Justice Department official under President Barack Obama, told CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Which makes sense: Martin used his brief time in the U.S. attorneys office to harass Trumps critics. His new job is more of the same. Theres an old saying, one that reportedly originated with a now-dead Peruvian general who seized power when his favored candidate appeared to be losing a democratic election, that seems rather pertinent here. For my friends, everything, said Oscar R. Benavides. For my enemies, the law. It was and is a clear statement of authoritarian intent. And it perfectly describes the current career of Ed Martin, who thanks to Donald Trump has the power of mercy in one hand and the power of punishment in the other. Joel Mathis is a regular Kansas City Star and Wichita Eagle Opinion correspondent. Formerly a writer and editor at Kansas newspapers, he served nine years as a syndicated columnist. NORFOLK, Virginia Six months out from November, Virginia Democrats believe the governor's race is Abigail Spanbergers to lose. Theres a risk the former member of Congress could get bogged down by national malaise toward the Democratic Party, and her margins could end up being tight because of the negative Democratic brand. But Democrats are hopeful that Spanberger can overcome that national dynamic. She flipped a competitive district in 2018 that stretches into rural south central Virginia and she benefits from the unpopular actions of President Donald Trump. His stop-and-start trade war coupled with the elimination of thousands of federal jobs and looming Medicaid cuts are widely unwelcome in the Commonwealth. Spanberger enjoys strong name recognition and is far out-fundraising her opponent, a candidate who even some fellow Republicans are wincing about. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A sweeping Democratic victory this fall could spook Republicans in Congress over their inaction to Trumps aggressive agenda and provide a blueprint for staying laser focused on kitchen table issues like economic uncertainty and federal belt-tightening that the party can ride into the midterms next year. If we can get these people to vote were going to smoke them, Virginia House Speaker Don Scott said. We just got to get them to vote. Thats the fear apathy. Spanberger, speaking with reporters ahead of a campaign event in the battleground region of Hampton Roads last week, shrugged off the fact that her campaign is under the national spotlight. She said the operation is totally grounded in Virginia and the issues and priorities that matter here. If that ends up setting a good example for other people running other places, then that's their choice, she said before entering a packed event full of local elected officials, donors and supporters in Norfolk, to mark the launch of her affordability agenda calling for lowering health care and prescription drug costs. Shes readying forthcoming plans to address other strains on Virginians budgets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Selling strong messages on affordable housing, rural hospitals and public schools will help Democrats appeal to the more conservative parts of the state in Southwest and Central Virginia, said Aaron Rouse, a state senator and one of six Democrats running for lieutenant governor. Spanberger is doing everything right so far, he said. Spanberger raised $6.7 million in the first quarter, dwarfing the $3.1 million brought in by opponent Winsome Earle-Sears, the lieutenant governor who was limited by state law from fundraising during the state legislative session earlier this year. Early polling shows Spanberger is in a strong position: A Roanoke College survey this month showed her with a 17 percentage point lead, and more than half of respondents believe the country is on the wrong track. Another poll put the race at a much tighter margin, with Spanberger leading by four points. But Spanbergers campaign may run into the strong negative headwinds around the Democratic Party, which has been trying to reverse pessimistic attitudes toward its leaders. National Democrats believe that if Spanberger can broaden her appeal beyond the blue strongholds of Northern Virginia by convincingly talking about kitchen table issues, that will give them a much-needed morale boost and help guide them in the midterms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spanberger is focusing her campaign for governor on how she plans to lower costs and blaming Trump in Washington and term-limited Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin in Richmond for making life more expensive. Virginias off-year elections are viewed as a referendum on the party controlling Washington, and Democrats are feeling confident as Trumps DOGE cuts come down hard on Virginias robust federal workforce. A recent analysis from the University of Virginia found that the state is projected to lose more than 9,000 government jobs, propelling a downturn in employment that is worrying state leaders. [Trump] creates the general political environment that you're in, said Virginia-based Democratic strategist Ben Tribbett. She's done a pretty good job of surfing that wave, of bringing more people into the party when they're not happy with what the Trump administration is doing. November turnout may answer how much Democrats can count on Trumps disassembling of the federal government as a motivating issue in the midterms. Virginia Democrats, confident that Elon Musks unpopularity will linger even as his term as a special government employee has expired, point to Department of Defense workers and contractors living in the more competitive Hampton Roads area who lost their jobs as evidence that anger over DOGE is not just limited to the northern part of the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youngkin has defended the cuts as necessary to trim government waste, and encouraged out-of-work Virginians to pursue other open jobs in the state. His office has created a website to connect former federal workers to new positions. Earle-Sears was captured on leaked audio in April saying that we dont want people to lose their jobs but downplayed the losses. "Abigail Spanberger is dusting off the same worn-out playbook that cost Democrats the governors mansion in 2021," said Peyton Vogel, press secretary for the Earle-Sears campaign, in a statement, referring to when Youngkin defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe. "Back then, Virginians rejected fear mongering messaging and chose a leader with real solutions to make life more affordable and move the Commonwealth forward. Spanberger's current strategy failed then, and replaying it now wont change the outcome." Moderate Democrats see Spanberger as the ideal candidate to confirm their view that the party should shift toward the middle. In 2018, she defeated Tea Partier Rep. Dave Brat in an upset, joining the wave of women elected to Congress on a wave of anti-Trump energy. But Trump is much more popular than he was in his first term, so appealing to his voters becomes a crucial part of the comeback strategy. In her first campaign ad launched this week, Spanberger highlighted her bipartisan voting record while serving in Congress. In 2022, after Democrats came close to losing the House, she was captured on leaked audio criticizing Democrats for embracing positions defunding the police and warned them to never use the word socialism again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her biggest vulnerability is being a Democrat in this moment, but she is sufficiently defining herself as a different kind of Democrat, said Matt Bennett, co-founder of the center-left group Third Way. She watched carefully what happened to us in 2024 and is trying not to make the same mistakes, just trying to keep her focus on the things that voters actually care about and not get distracted by things that they don't. Democrats view Hampton Roads, a competitive area that Spanberger needs to win, as the epicenter of several of Trumps policies. In addition to DOGE layoffs, the Port of Virginia located here is bracing for a decline in shipments from other major trading partners. It's also a popular vacation destination for America's neighbors to the north. Virginia Beach State Del. Michael Feggans, a Democrat running for reelection in one of the most competitive state legislative races, said hes heard from local business leaders concerned about the decline of Canadian tourists annoyed by Trumps annexation talk. Democrats are aiming to expand their one-seat majority in the state House, and are adopting a similar economic message as Spanberger to try to make that happen. He said on day one he was going to fix the price of everything and bring world peace, and there's been nothing but chaos, confusion, and people are scared and people are worried, Feggans said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Virginia Republicans, on the other hand, are banking on DOGE being a distant memory when voters head to the polls in November. Those Republicans are skeptical that Spanbergers anti-Trump message will resonate beyond the Democratic base, and they insist that swayable voters. Her entire message seems to be: Trump sucks, said a Republican operative granted anonymity to speak freely. When you get down to brass tacks, people want to see what exactly are you going to do. CORRECTION: This article originally misspelled State Del. Michael Feggans' name on second reference. This story is part of SLO Tribune's Parents Central, our expanding coverage for local parents. We're tackling issues that matter to you the most, explaining the "what it means," from school budgets to children's health. We also want to have fun: Send us your best tips for local parents and things to do. Email tips@thetribunenews.com. Cal Poly accepted more local students for the upcoming school year than in years past even as more students than ever before applied for a seat at the in-demand campus. Cal Poly received over 80,000 applications this year for the first time in history, and it accepted 22,956, according to the latest data. Overall, the university was as competitive as ever, with some majors having room for less than 3% of applicants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of those who were accepted, nearly 7%, or about 1,525 students, were from the local area, according to data provided by the university. Thats a 1.7% increase compared to last year, according to the data. Additionally, about 58.5% of local applicants were selected, compared to 26.8% of non-local applicants overall, according to the universitys selection review report meaning the acceptance rate for local students was more than double that of general students. Around 55.8% of local first-year students and 65.1% of local transfer students received acceptance letters, compared to 28.5% of non-local first-years and 15.5% of non-local transfer students, the report shows. A subsequent report showed that 924 local freshmen and transfers have since confirmed their acceptances and plan to attend Cal Poly in the fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The local confirmed students represented 13% of the over 7,000 students who confirmed overall, and over 60% of the 1,525 local students who were initially accepted. The Grand Avenue entrance to Cal Poly is lined by residence halls on both sides. What schools did local accepted Cal Poly students come from? Cuesta College and Allan Hancock College remained among the universitys top feeder community colleges, and San Luis Obispo High School topped the list of highest-yielding high schools, according to the confirmed student report. Updated numbers provided in the report showed the university received 507 applications from transfer hopefuls at Cuesta College and accepted 286 of them. That equates to a 56.4% admission rate for Cuesta students compared to a 20% admission rate for transfer students overall, according to the report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From Santa Maria-based Allan Hancock College, Cal Poly received 361 applications and accepted 250 of those, resulting in a 69.3% admission rate. Despite accepting more local students, San Luis Obispo County, was not among the highest-yielding counties for Cal Poly acceptances. Those included Los Angeles, San Diego and Santa Clara counties. The data provided to The Tribune did not include specific number breakdowns of school and county acceptances. Last week, on May 23rd, Jean Renee Byrd was on her way to see her daughter walk across the stage at her high school graduation, but collapsed just 200 feet from making it inside the school, wrote her family in a GoFundMe campaign. Byrds passing came as a shock to her family, who had just celebrated her youngest sons graduation ceremony from middle school three days prior, per the GoFundMe campaign. According to WXII, a television station based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Marquan Matthews, Byrds son, who is also the creator of the GoFundMe campaign, was already inside the ceremony and rushed out to perform CPR on his mother until the paramedics arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jean Byrd had a constant battle with heart issues, dealing with 2 previous heart attacks, which made her a fighter, wrote Matthews in the GoFundMe description. Byrds daughter, Meilean Byrd, was walking across the stage as Matthews performed CPR on their mother. I thought it was like a car accident, so I wasnt really scared, Meilean said through tears, according to PEOPLE. A guidance counsellor was waiting to escort her to the hospital as she returned to her seat, per WXII. We never thought that on this day, a day filled of joy, would be the worst day of our lives. As my sister was graduating high school, our mother is lying on the ground fighting for her life, Matthews wrote in the description of the GoFundMe campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To respect their mothers wishes, her children are using the GoFundMe campaign to raise the money to bury their mom in Philadelphia with her family and other family members. Many lives were positively impacted by the love and resilience of our mother, Matthew wrote in the campaign description. Mommy, we love, Im lost without you, and I pray you give me the guidance you did once on this earth to make you proud. Rest in paradise, my beautiful lady. At the time of this article, 73 percent of the $35K target has been raised for the burial service. https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-loving-tribute-to-ma-dukes Ynet reported, sourcing the Modiin police, that one investigative route being pursued is that she killed her son, locked the house up, set it aflame, and took her own life. A mother and her son were found dead in a scorched Modiin apartment after it suffered a deadly fire on Sunday morning. Israel Police said it opened an investigation into their deaths. Firefighters dispatched from the local station responded to a call about a fire on the second floor of an apartment building. When they arrived, they noticed black smoke coming from the apartment. They added that the victims were so badly wounded that they had to call their deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was during the search that the firefighters found the bodies. Emergency response service organization ZAKA said it would assist in evidence collection and identification and ensure the dignity of the deceased. Ynet reported, sourcing the Modiin police, that one investigative route being pursued is that she killed her son, locked the house up, set it aflame, and took her own life. Police Central District Chief Asst.-Ch. Yair Hezroni said at the site, The apartment was locked on the inside... when we got in, we saw the horror of the burned bodies. General view of the central city of Modiin, on March 4, 2025. (photo credit: YOSSI ALONI/FLASH90) Other options are being investigated He added that there was a stab wound in the mother's chest. At first glance, he said, This looks like a murder-suicide, but noted that other options are being investigated as well. Hezroni added that there were no known complaints to police from that apartment. HONOLULU (KHON2) A 27-year-old motorcyclist is in critical condition following a crash Friday night on Kamehameha Highway in the Kahaluu area, according to Honolulu police. UFC fighter B.J. Penn asks court to recall arrest warrants The collision happened around 10:37 p.m. when the motorcyclist, who was headed south on the highway, was hit by a car making a left turn onto Wailehua Road from the northbound lane, police said. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You The impact threw the rider from his motorcycle. Emergency crews rushed him to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Authorities noted he was not wearing a helmet at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the car, a 35-year-old man, was not injured and stayed at the scene. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Police said speed, alcohol, and drugs do not appear to have been factors in the crash. The incident remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. Rannvijay Singha hosted Roadies Double Cross has finally come to an end with Elvish Yadav's gang member Kushal Tanwar emerging as the winner. Kushal Tanwar, popularly known as Gullu, returned to the show as a wild card entry and won it with his intense performance. Gullu was a part of Elvish's gang from the beginning and was eliminated. He returned to the show as a wildcard in Gautam Gulati's gang and when Gullu was given a choice to double-cross his gang leader after winning the ticket to the finale, he went back to Elvish's gang, leaving Gautam. Hartaaj Singh Gill from Prince Narula's gang finished as the first runner-up. Expressing his happiness, Gullu said in a statement, "Winning MTV Roadies Double Cross wasn't just a title, it was a silent scream finally heard. There was no support, no guiding hand, no one to lift me when I was down. I went through it all alone. " "This win is more than a trophy. It's a symbol for every person who's ever felt alone, who's ever been told they're not enough. I walked this path by myself, but I never gave up. And that's what this victory is: not fame, not glory -- but proof that even when you have nothing, you can still become everything, " he added. Gang leader Elvish Yadav praised Tanwar's journey, he stated, "From Day 1, I saw fire in Gullu. He didn't just win tasks, he won hearts. His journey defines." Rannvijay talked about the current season and shared, "This season had it all - drama, betrayal, redemption, and a finale that kept us on the edge. Gullu's journey reminded everyone why Roadies isn't just a show, it's a battleground of transformation. " The 20th season of MTV Roadies witnessed the return of Prince Narula and Rhea Chakraborty as gang Leaders, while Neha Dhupia made her much-awaited comeback, Elvish Yadav debut as a gang leader, and for the first time, there was a wildcard gang Leader entry with Gautam Gulati MTV Roadies Double Cross streamed on MTV India and JioHotstar. (ANI) KANSAS CITY, Mo. Police are investigating after a motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash in Independence, Missouri, late Saturday night. According to the Independence Police Department, just before 11 p.m., officers were called to the area of Sterling Avenue and 19th Street on reports of an injury crash. Gladstone home explosion leaves one dead, cause still unknown Investigations revealed that the driver of a Kia Sorento had pulled onto Sterling Avenue from 19th Street, as the driver of a Harley Davidson motorcycle had been driving southbound on Sterling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the Kia pulled out, the motorcyclist hit the back of the car. IPD said the motorcyclist suffered serious injuries and was taken to a hospital. The driver of the Kia stayed on the scene and cooperated with investigations. At this time, investigations are ongoing; however, it was discovered that the motorcyclist was wearing a non-DOT helmet at the time of the crash. Teenage girl critically injured in overnight Quindaro Park shooting It is unknown if impairment was involved in the incident, but police say that speed may have been a factor for the motorcyclist. 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. Multiple people were injured in an attack at a Boulder, Colorado demonstration to support Israeli hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza. Former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi breaks down steps the FBI will take as they investigate the attack, which FBI director Kash Patel called an act of "targeted terror." Eight people in eastern Ghana have been arrested for illegal mining, according to Joy Online. The mining had been polluting local water supplies, but miners had continued regardless. The local government's Eastern Regional Security Council confiscated 24 excavator batteries, 16 pumping machines, a chainsaw, three monitors, five control boards, three single-barrel guns, two pump-action rifles, cartridges, and cash in the police action. While the exact type of mining wasn't announced, Ghana is the sixth-largest gold producer in the world, per Gold.org, and another mining operation was recently shut down for illegally harvesting gold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Extractive industries have deep human and environmental tolls. Child labor has been employed in other African nations for mining, while tailing ponds have rendered rivers poisonous in others. Some mining operations have destroyed great ape habitat, adding more pressure on stressed populations. Regulations can help improve working and ecological conditions. South Africans, for example, are calling for improved regulations to lessen environmental impacts, per the Conversation. Artisanal mining is especially dangerous since it lacks safety protocols and government oversight, but properly regulating it may yield better working standards by documenting the chain of custody of minerals, the Atlantic Council revealed. Maintaining robust enforcement and strong laws against illegal mining can help preserve ecosystems and vital water supplies used by nearby communities. Gold mines in Australia and Idaho are just a few that have faced the legal limits of their operation. While arresting eight illegal miners is good news, there's more progress to be made. Ghana's president has already committed to banning mining in protected forests. Ghanaian authorities were resolute in continuing to crack down on ongoing illegal mining operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For the past days, we have been combing the Eastern region with our military and police to make sure the mandate by the president is obeyed," said regional minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, per Joy Online. "If you go around, our waters are so bad, the environment is destroyed, pits are uncovered, our forest is being destroyed. It is a hazard to our nation and the region, so for the few days our men have been on the ground and here you are with several excavators that have been seized from them." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. 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. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) Three people are injured following a shooting in Terre Haute early Sunday morning. According to the Terre Haute Police Department, authorities were dispatched to the 3100 block of Schaal Ave. on a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers located one injured person at the scene, and later two more arrived at the hospital. Two other individuals were later located and transported to an Indianapolis area hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an ongoing investigation. WTWO News will update you as information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WKRN) Police are investigating a Saturday afternoon shooting in a Columbia neighborhood that left two people dead and one injured. The Columbia Police Department announced shortly after 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 31 that officers were at the scene of a shooting incident with multiple gunshot victims on Somerset Lane. In a briefing Saturday evening, Capt. Brian Adams with the Investigations Division said officers responded to a shooting in the 3000 block of Somerset Lane at approximately 3:07 p.m. When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they reportedly found three victims with gunshot wounds. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts Adams said during the 7:10 p.m. news conference that one of the victims, 46-year-old John Bidle, was pronounced dead at the scene while another victim was in critical condition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. However, just after 9:15 p.m., the department announced on Facebook that 51-year-old Stacie Wright died during surgery at VUMC. The third victim was reportedly transported to VUMC with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to authorities, one person was arrested at the scene, so there is no active threat to the community. Adams said police do not believe there are any other suspects involved in this incident. The suspect described as a 46-year-old man is being charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder, but law enforcement said other charges are likely at the conclusion of this investigation. Officials warned residents that investigators will be at the scene throughout the night as they continue to process evidence, conduct interviews, and comb through information. Community members are asked to avoid the area until the scene clears. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families who were affected by this tragic incident, Adams said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Praying for the families impacted by todays tragic shooting in north Columbia. Follow Columbia Police Department, Tennessee for continued updates, Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder posted on Facebook Saturday evening. Keep everyone, especially the loss of life, in your prayers. And lets show the world this is not who we are as a community. And no isolated incident like today will change that. News 2 spoke with multiple residents in the aftermath of the shooting. Heather Crisci said its a very nice area, so this incident was very shocking. I just pray for the families and those that were affected today, and my big message is spread love, spread peace, Crisci said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Brenda Holsinger said the man who died, Bidle, was her neighbor: Weve been here for a long time and to hear it is just heartbreakingOur kids play with each other here. Where Im standing is where all the children play. Holsinger added that the community will probably never know why the shooting happened. Read todays top stories on wkrn.com No additional details have been released about this incident. If you have any information about Saturday afternoons shooting, youre asked to contact the Columbia Police Departments Investigations Division at 931-560-1670. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. 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. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Sunday that Sen. Joni Ernsts (R-Iowa) constituents know they will die, but would just rather die in old age, referencing a town hall remark from the Iowa Republican. I think everybody in that audience knows that theyre going to die, Murphy told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union, discussing comments made by Ernst on Friday in response to a remark that cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would result in deaths. They would just rather die in old age at 85 or 90, instead of dying at 40. And the reality is that, when you lose your health care, you are much more at risk of early death, Murphy added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a town hall in Butler, Iowa, Ernst defended spending reforms included in a budget reconciliation package passed by the House, including those that would stop people from getting federal benefits if theyve entered the country illegally. A person in the crowd attempted to talk over the senator, interrupting her while she was answering questions about about changes to Medicaid and SNAP and shouting that people are going to die as a result. Well, were all going to die, Ernst responded, drawing jeers. Ernst later doubled down on her comments on social media, saying in a Saturday Instagram post that she made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So I apologize, and Im really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well, she added. The Hill has reached out to Ernsts office for comment. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Your News Leader has obtained a letter sent by the NAACP calling for local regulators to immediately stop Elon Musks supercomputer project. The letter was sent on Thursday to the Shelby County Health Department and the Commissioner of Memphis, Light, Gas and Water. The civil rights group claims xAIs operations in southwest Memphis are out of compliance with environmental rules. Pearson calls out Health Department, Mayor Harris over xAI Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the letter, they urged the health department and MLGW to issue an emergency order for xAI to cease operations completely. You can read the full letter below: naacp-xai-mlgw-scdh-letterDownload We have reached out to MLGW and the Shelby County Health Department for a response. We will update this story when we have more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) June 1 through 7 is National CPR and AED Awareness Week, bringing advocacy to the best practices of handling cardiac arrest. The week was established in 2007 by Congress, which collaborated with the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council. The incidents of sudden cardiac death (are) one of the leading causes of death in the United States, surpassing some types of cancer, stroke, and we know if people get CPR in a timely, quick fashion, we could really improve survival, Gwen Fosse, Project Adam Michigan coordinator, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Logann Poley is a senior development director at the American Heart Association in Kalamazoo. She said when it comes to CPR, there are two critical steps for people to remember: call 911 and push at the center of the chest. It can double or triple the chances of somebody surviving a cardiac emergency or cardiac arrest specifically, Poley said. Its game-changing when it comes to saving lives. Know CPR: Post heart-attack, GR Marathon runner shares his story Right now, one form of CPR is recommended. The American Heart Association actually is encouraging hands-only CPR right now, Poley said. A lot of people think that they have to do the breaths and they have to count and think about all of these different steps, which can be really intimidating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Michigan, Fosse says 9% of schools are classified as MI HEARTSafe Schools with additional applications pending. The designation means that a school has a written cardiac response plan, a response team with enough people certified in CPR, an adequate number of defibrillators, performs at least one drill each year and all staff must know how to recognize a sudden cardiac arrest and notify the team. We do know that in 2024, nine lives were saved in Michigan schools because people were given CPR and had AEDs in use. So, we know it works, she said. Project Adam helping people prepare for cardiac emergency According to Poley, AHA has one goal that it wants to reach by 2030: double the number of people who survive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, only 1 in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, Poley said. By 2030, the AHA wants to help double that to 2 out of 10 people surviving. So a lot of that is grassroots efforts of CPR education, getting people involved, National CPR Week, and just doing as much as we can to share that it is really those two simple steps: calling 911 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest. Regardless of how much training someone may have, Poley feels that anyone who knows the basics of CPR is capable of saving someone. You could be integral in saving somebodys life, Poley 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 WOODTV.com. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel attended the 'Punyashlok Devi Ahilyabai' Light and Sound Multimedia Show held at Vastral, Ahmedabad. According to a release, on the occasion of the 300th birth anniversary celebration of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, Minister of Cultural Activities Mulubhai Bera, Minister of State Jagdish Vishwakarma, and Mayor of Ahmedabad Smt. Pratibha Jain also witnessed the Gujarati play based on the multimedia show depicting the life and legacy of the revered queen. Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the armed forces for the resounding success of Operation Sindoor, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel remarked that Indian history is replete with courageous warriors and valiant women who fought bravely and emerged victorious. Punyashlok Devi Ahilyabai Holkar was not only a brave ruler and a skilled warrior but also a protector of faith and culture. At a time when battlefields were dominated by men, Ahilyabai fearlessly took up the sword and shield, leading her forces with unmatched determination. According to the release, the Chief Minister further remarked that Devi Ahilyabai demonstrated how the same hands that nurture an infant are equally capable of wielding a sword when circumstances demand. Emphasising this point, he noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has advanced the legacy of women's empowerment championed by Punyashlok Ahilyabai, under the guiding ethos of 'Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi'.' "Devi Ahilyabai's strategic acumen and martial prowess have always been highly acclaimed. During her reign, she established a model of good governance and set remarkable ideals that continue to inspire generations," CM Patel said. As per the release, speaking further about the invaluable contributions of Devi Ahilyabai, the Chief Minister stated that during her reign, she set remarkable examples of good governance while undertaking inspirational work in areas of public interest such as justice, education, social welfare, religious welfare, and water conservation. She played a significant role in the upliftment of women and the underprivileged sections of society. Devi Ahilyabai Holkar made a profound contribution to the preservation of our heritage and religious values. She was instrumental in the renovation and reconstruction of several important religious sites, including the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Somnath Temple, and Mahakaleshwar Temple. As per the release, elaborating further, the Chief Minister added that Devi Ahilyabai also initiated several noteworthy measures in the field of social welfare. She empowered tribal and economically disadvantaged women by promoting the hand-weaving of Maheshwari sarees, helping them become Aatmanirbhar. PM Narendra Modi has worked towards preserving heritage alongside development. In her memory, the Prime Minister has issued a commemorative postage stamp and a special Rs 300 coin. The Chief Minister concluded by stating that we should all draw inspiration from the life of Devi Ahilyabai and contribute to building an inclusive, prosperous, and secure India. He also lauded the initiative of the state's Youth and Cultural Activities Department for organising the 'Punyashlok Devi Ahilyabai' Light and Sound Multimedia Show, based on the life of this legendary icon of Sanatan culture. Ahmedabad City BJP President Prerak Shah, in his welcome address, greeted all attendees and stated that Devi Ahilyabai Holkar made invaluable contributions in the fields of religious and social upliftment, including the renovation of the Somnath Temple. It is noteworthy that in celebration of the 300th birth anniversary of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, the Department of Sports, Youth, and Cultural Activities, Government of Gujarat, in collaboration with the Commissioner of Youth Services and Cultural Activities, Gandhinagar, organized the 'Punyashlok Devi Ahilyabai' Light and Sound Multimedia Show at Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Hall in Vastral, Ahmedabad. The event was graced by the presence of political leaders, including Ratnakarji, Member of Parliament Dinesh Makwana, city MLAs, the Deputy Mayor of Ahmedabad, local councillors, dignitaries from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, former MLAs, and former Mayors. (ANI) OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) As storms pass and years roll by, some stories wait to unfold until all the right paths cross. After 30 years, a veteran is reunited with a painting gifted to him by an Oklahoma Native American Icon, after it was discovered in a damaged storage unit by an Oklahoma lawmaker. It says, To Eugene Big Soldier said Senator Mary Boren (D-Norman). Senator Boren stumbled upon this work of art created by a legend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And then it says Senator Kelly Enoch Haney,' said Boren. North downtown development project Alley North in motion after groundbreaking You know the late Haney as a former Oklahoma Senator, Principal Chief of the Seminole Nation, and, of course, an artist. His statue, The Guardian, stands on top of our states capitol. I felt like it was a responsibility, said Boren. Borens late mother was also an artist. She collected pieces of meaning. After a move to Norman, her treasures were put into a storage unit, only to be hit by a tornado. A crack in the glass on the frame serves as evidence of the storm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Borens family sifted through the rubble, this painting emerged. My sisters asked me, Do you know who this artist is? And I said, Absolutely!' said Boren. This gift was to Eugene Big Soldier. But, who was that? I put a post on social media saying, Does anyone know who this person is?' said Boren. Thats where the third artist in this story enters, Marci Black, Big Soldiers sister. While working on a painting of her brother, she searched his name on Facebook and stumbled upon Borens query. That led to Thursdays surprise reunion. Oh, my gosh! said Big Soldier as he entered the room. My mother was an artist, and she found this, said Boren. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wow! said Big Soldier. Big Soldier said the painting was a gift from Haney after he returned home from the Gulf War in 1991. I can remember this day vividly, said Big Soldier. He hasnt seen it since. I had a lot of a lot of problems transitioning, said Big Soldier. Im just really thankful that I made it home. Im really grateful to you all and your mother in particular, said Big Soldier to Boren. Shes in Heaven now, with Kelley Haney. I bet they both concocted this, looking down and smiling, said Boren. Two paths meant to cross and to celebrate a man who lives up to his family name of Big Soldier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we moved and were going on a buffalo hunt, they would be in the back making sure no one was left behind, said Black. Also celebrating a connection that a storm could not silence. He deserves all the goodness in the world, said Black. 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. GUET NDAR, Senegal (AP) Its impossible to miss the gas platform off the coast of northern Senegal. Its flare stack burns day and night above the rolling breakers. The natural gas project, a joint venture between British energy giant BP and U.S.-based Kosmos Energy, started operations on the final day of 2024. It is meant to bring jobs to the densely populated fishing community of Guet Ndar, just outside the old colonial capital of Saint Louis. The gas extraction plant, the deepest in Africa, is aimed at helping to transform Senegal's stagnant economy after the discovery just over a decade ago of oil and gas off the country's coast. The first offshore oil project also began last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fishermen say the project is killing their livelihoods Mariam Sow, one of the few remaining sellers in the once-thriving fish market, said the decline began in 2020 when the platform started rising from the sea. This market used to be full every day, Sow said, gesturing at the barren lot. The nearby beach is now occupied by hundreds of unused boats. Fishing is central to life in coastal Senegal. It employs over 600,000 people, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The country exported nearly half a billion dollars worth of fish in 2022, according to think tank Chatham House, citing international trade data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's the gas project about? The Grand Tortue Ahmeyim project plans to extract gas off Senegal and neighboring Mauritania. According to BP, the field could produce 2.3 million tons of liquefied natural gas every year. Last year, Senegal elected President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who ran on an anti-establishment platform. He pledged to maximize the countrys natural resources, including by renegotiating what he called unfair contracts with foreign firms and distributing revenues to the population. I will proceed with the disclosure of the effective ownership of extractive companies (and) with an audit of the mining, oil, and gas sector," he said in his first address. It was not clear whether contract renegotiation efforts had begun, or whether they would include the gas project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fishermen of Guet Ndar say the benefits promised by both the project and Senegal's government have not materialized. The cost of living remains high, and the price of natural gas, a major cooking source in Senegal, is still rising. Lower gas prices had been a major selling point for the gas project. Mohamed Sow, a shopkeeper in Dakar, said his customers complain that a 12-liter gas canister has gone from 5,000 CFA ($8.50) to 8,000 CFA ($13.80) in the past few years. Its impossible to keep raising the price, he said. Senegal's government did not respond to requests for comment. The fishing community near the project says it has noticed more signs of trouble. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A leak that took weeks to fix Soon after the gas project's production began, fishermen said they noticed a large number of bubbles in the sea. BP cited a temporary gas leak that had no immediate impact on ongoing production activities from the remaining wells." The leak took weeks to fix. BP did not say how much gas largely methane leaked into the ocean, or what caused a leak so early in the new project. In a response to written questions, BP said the environmental impact of the release was assessed as negligible" considering the low rate of release. The environmental charity Greenpeace, however, called the effects of such spills on the environment significant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GTA field is home to the worlds largest deep-water coral reef, a unique ecosystem. A single spill can wipe out decades of marine biodiversity, contaminate food chains and destroy habitat, it said in a statement. Sitting outside a BP-built and branded fish refrigeration unit meant to help community relations, Mamadou Sarr, the president of the Saint Louis fishermens union, talked about the concerns. Sarr asserted that fish have become more scarce as they are attracted to the platform and away from several reefs that the people of Guet Ndar had fished for centuries. Drawing in the sand, he explained how the fish, drawn by the project's lights and underwater support structures, no longer visit their old homes. Areas around the platforms are off-limits to fishermen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarr also said an artificial reef that BP is building lies in the path of ships that regularly visit the structures, keeping the fish away. A fisherman's life One fisherman, Abdou, showed off his catch after two days at sea: two insulated boxes full of fish, each about the size of an oil drum. A box of fish fetches 15,000 CFA, or $26. Prior to the gas project, he said, he would get four or five boxes per two-day trip. Now, getting two is a win. That worsens a problem already created by overfishing by foreign vessels. BP stressed that face-to-face talks with members of the community about such issues are ongoing, and noted its community-facing projects such as microfinance and vocational training programs in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sarr said that despite its promises, the government failed to consider his community when agreeing to the gas project. This is our land and sea, why dont we get a voice? he asked. He and others expressed irony that the refrigeration unit sitting next to them cannot be opened. The key is somewhere in Dakar Sarr said, and locals said they have never seen inside it. ___ For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. The North Carolina Department of Transportation will be celebrating two train service anniversaries. The Carolinian began running from Charlotte to New York daily 35 years ago on Friday as a part of NC by train, WTVD reports. Additionally, the department will be celebrating 30 years of Piedmont service. It runs from Charlotte to Raleigh with seven stops between. READ: Two arrested for possession of stolen luxury vehicles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The NC by Train leadership told WTVD that ridership is up 55% since 2019. North Carolinas rail service has seen record ridership for the last three years, carrying nearly 721,000 passengers in 2024. And the NC by Train leadership said opportunities continue to open. So the future is really bright for train travel in North Carolina. We have had a lot of investment both from our our state leaders as well as the US D.O.T. Federal Labor Administration has selected seven quarters across the state for advancing rail transportation into new communities such as Asheville. Winston-Salem, Fayetteville, Wilmington. Places that dont have them, rail division director Jason Orthner told WTVD. WATCH: Two arrested for possession of stolen luxury vehicles NEWTON FALLS, Ohio (WKBN) The community gathered Saturday in Newton Falls to tour the village and visit sites that were damaged from the 1985 tornado outbreak in honor of its 40th anniversary. The Tornado Walk included stops at the First Church of God, Veterans Park, and the Bash Home. Many shared stories of what they remember about the places and events during the storms. Some shared their personal experiences of witnessing the tornadoes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I looked out the front porch. I saw the tornado coming. My two boys were in the bathtub getting their baths, and I hollered at my wife, and I grabbed the two kids under each arm. We headed for the basement, said George Paisley, a Newton Falls resident. Paisley said the tornado took the foundation of his house, the garage to his home and his car. 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. New Hampshires Job Corps training program, serving more than 200 teenagers and young adults ages 16 to 24, will close June 30 after federal labor officials put a pause last week on the nationwide training and education program, which has come under fire for high costs, problems and poor results. More than 40 students at the states single campus at 984 Dunbarton Road in Manchester may be without housing as early as Friday per the phased-in closings. State and local officials are scrambling to find continued employment, education and suitable residential accommodations for the participants who live in the dorms. Weve been communicating and planning for multiple contingencies since Friday, Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais said Sunday. I fully expect community and local partners to step up as they have in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No arrangements have been finalized yet, he said, but the city is committed to ensuring that those affected, including the staff of 100, have options for placement. Ruais called Job Corps a significant economic generator for the city and state, providing about $20 million annually. There is also a lot of workforce development which enables the students and trainees to transition to positions with New Hampshire employers. The U.S. Department of Labors announcement came Thursday, affecting contractor-operated sites such as New Hampshires without suspending operations at those run by the federal government. There are currently 125 centers across the U.S. Manchester Ward 7 Alderman Ross Terrio texted Sunday, It is happening too fast. The people affected need more time to make arrangements for finding other work and housing. If there are problems I think they should have tried to fix them before ending the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opened nearly 10 years ago in October 2015, the Queen Citys $35 million complex was designed to give young people a jumpstart in work. This program helps young people who are poor and unskilled find a trade that can make them self-sufficent, Terrio wrote. John Stephen, District 4 executive councilor, in a letter to commissioners at the states departments of labor, employment security and business and economic affairs, said, This pause risks disrupting the progress of enrolled students and undermining the progress of workforce development efforts in New Hampshire. Stephen asked the commissioners to collaborate with U.S. labor officials to identify flexible federal funding sources that would allow the state to continue Job Corps programs that are effective. Comprehensive transition plans must be developed to ensure current students are seamlessly integrated into alternative training programs, educational opportunities, or employment pathways that support their long term success, he wrote. I encourage you all to investigate innovative strategies to reduce costs and boost graduation rates, such as streamlining operations, enhancing mentorship programs, or partnering with local businesses to align training with workforce needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said New Hampshires cost per student while below the national average of $80,284.65 remains significant. New Hampshires graduation rate of 42.1%, while above the national average of 38.6%, highlights the need for improvement. The U.S. Labor Departments Transparency Report for Program Year 2023, released in April 2025, documented 14,913 serious incident reports at Job Corps Centers nationwide including 1,764 acts of violence, 2,702 reports of drug use, 1,808 hospital visits, 1,167 breaches of security, and 372 reports of sexual assault and inappropriate sexual behavior. It was not clear at press time how many of these may have occurred in New Hampshire. Job Corps was created to help young adults build a pathway to a better life through education, training and community, U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said in news release May 29. However a startling number of serious incident reports and our in-depth fiscal analysis reveal the program is no longer achieving the intended outcomes that students deserve. According to the Labor Department: In 2024, the program operated at a $140 million deficit, requiring the Biden administration to pause center operations during that year. The deficit is projected to reach $213 million in 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We remain committed to ensuring all participants are supported through this transition and connected with the resources they need to succeed as we evaluate the programs possibilities, Chavez-DeRemer wrote on May 29. A staff member at Job Corps in Manchester declined to provide further information when a reporter went to the Dunbarton Road site on Sunday. rbaker@unionleader.com As Sir Keir Starmer continued to drag his feet over one of the most contentious policy issues among Labour MPs and voters, Nigel Farage spotted an opportunity. Proclaiming during a speech last week that Britain had lost our sense of focus of just how important family is, the Reform UK leader unveiled plans to lure frustrated Labour voters while also attempting to arrest a decline in the UKs birth rate. Farage pledged that an elected Reform would scrap the two-child benefit cap and introduce a transferable tax allowance for married couples, in a bid to encourage people to have children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is part of a bigger package and policy that we are putting together to try and make the family a more important element in British life, said Farage. It marks the partys move into pro-natalist policies. Reforms proposed transferable tax allowance for married couples takes inspiration from central Europe. During his time in office Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, has placed significant focus on the importance of birth rates and traditional families. Earlier this week, Farage said he was not moralising on the significance of marriage and added that having been divorced twice his track record was not so good on this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reforms policy would exempt one partner in a marriage from paying tax on the first 25,000 of their salary. Ben Ramanauskas, a senior fellow in economics at the Policy Exchange, says the proposal would bring the UK into a territory where most European countries are. He adds: They have a much more generous system when it comes to taxing households and families. However, Ramanauskas cast doubt on the idea that the measure could encourage couples to have children: The proposal itself wont have much of an impact on what Farage is aiming for in terms of hoping to increase the birth rate. Reforms plans also miss out a key group of would-be parents. More than half of children in the UK are born to couples out of wedlock. So with the transferable tax allowance only reserved for married couples, the baby boosting effect of the policy is unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The party has also said it would scrap the two child benefit cap, a pledge which is estimated to cost 3.4bn, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Tomas Sobotka, deputy director at the Vienna Institute of Demography, says abolishing the cap would help to lift children out of poverty but its impact on Britains birth rate is likely to be marginal. Most parents today dont desire more than two kids so its a select group of women and families who are having a third or a fourth child, he says. Providing a bit more in services will not change fertility planning among many couples. In Hungary, Orbans attempts to fix the countrys birth crisis mean it spends around 5pc of its GDP on measures aimed at encouraging couples to have children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most significant of these measures is the countrys large tax breaks. Currently mothers under 30 pay no income tax and mothers with three or more children are exempt from paying income tax for life. Orban has also pledged to extend the measure to mothers of two children by January 2026. The government also offers loans to newly-weds that can be partially or fully written off if the couple has two or three children as well as subsidies for family car purchases and housing. Despite Orbans significant spending and hopes of a baby boom, Hungarys birth rate stood at 1.52 children per woman in 2022, in the UK it was 1.53 children per woman in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For context, a country needs a fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman to ensure it has a stable population, without immigration. In the last few years Hungary has experienced fertility declines to the same extent as other countries and it now has exactly the same fertility rate as the European average ... from that perspective Hungarian policies are not bringing in tremendous success, says Sobotka. But Orbans focus on large families is helping to deliver an uptick in the number of households with three or more children, Sobotka adds. In the Nordics, the picture isnt any clearer. Finland pioneered the introduction of family friendly policies including parental leave and childcare from the 1980s onwards. The country reported a rise in its birth rates in the 1990s despite going through a financial crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Introducing these kinds of policies if they are long term longer parental leave and especially affordable childcare have been shown in a wealth of studies both in the Nordic countries and from other countries to be associated with somewhat higher fertility, says Anna Rotkirch, of the Family Federation of Finlands Population Research Institute. No silver bullet policy However, she warns these measures are not enough for todays situation, and that theres no silver bullet policy. Indeed, the initial boost to Finlands birth rate in the late 20th century has waned and since 2010 the country has seen its birth rate decline by a third. Yet, Rotkirch says that while government spending and Reforms proposed policies might not have much of a demographic impact they were an important element in reducing child poverty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cost of parenting is real and it is also economic, she adds. Why do we have a society where you get poorer if you have a child? Over in South Korea the picture is even more challenging. In May 2024, the then-president Yoon Suk Yeol asked for the parliaments cooperation to establish the Ministry of Low Birth Rate Counter-planning. We will mobilise all of the nations capabilities to overcome the low birth rate, which can be considered a national emergency, he said. The country has gone through a raft of measures including baby bonuses, subsidised fertility treatments and housing assistance but the countrys fertility rate stood at 0.78 children per woman in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melinda Mills, a professor of demography at Oxford University say: Theyve also shown that throwing a lot of money at it doesnt work so you have to get to the root of peoples lives. What are their work hours? Where do they live and work? Wheres childcare? One nation that has a slight edge in the birth rate compared to its European neighbours is France. Mills added that Frances more comprehensive package of subsidised childcare, parental leave and school support goes some way in encouraging couples to have children. Indeed the measures seem to be having a small effect on the countrys fertility rate, which was 1.8 children per woman in 2021 compared to the EU average of 1.53 during the same year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its harder work than throwing a baby bonus and trying to think you could do a silver bullet but actually creating an ecosystem that has childcare, that has good maternity and paternity leave, has a good work-life balance thats where France has done very well, says Mills. However, its clear that there is no one pro-natalist policy which will act as a catalyst to boost birth rates. While Farages proposed Hungarian-style tax breaks look unlikely to persuade couples to have children, Mills explained that measures which addressed quality of life were likely to be more impactful. People need a good life, they need good jobs, be able to get a house, childcare, says Mills. Its about wellbeing, its about work-life balance. Thats not as sexy but these are the things that have been shown to be more effective. 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. Flash floods triggered by heavy rains have devastated a central Nigerian state, killing at least 150 people and displacing thousands since Thursday, and rescue workers say the toll could rise. Search and rescue operations are ongoing as roads have been damaged and homes destroyed while bodies are believed to have been swept down the Niger River. Here is what to know about the floods and how prone Nigeria is to such events. What areas in Nigeria are flooding? Flash floods hit Mokwa, a market town located in Nigerias north-central Niger State. It followed intense rainfall that began about 3am (02:00 GMT) on Thursday, according to the Nigerian Red Cross Society. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mokwa is a key meeting and transit point for traders from the south and food growers in the north. It is about 350km (217 miles) by road east of Nigerias capital, Abuja. Mokwa has an estimated population of 400,000 while Niger is the countrys fourth largest state by size, covering more area than Belgium or Switzerland. INTERACTIVE-Thousands displaced in floods-NIGERIA-JUNE 1, 2025-1748770884 How many people have died? More than 150 people have been confirmed killed while rescue teams continue to recover bodies and search for missing people. The actual death toll is likely higher as many victims are believed to have been swept down the Niger River, Al Jazeeras Ahmed Idris said, reporting from Mokwa. The usual thing is when an official tells you 151 are dead or missing, you are likely to multiply that by two, three or four, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 3,018 people have been displaced, 265 houses destroyed and two bridges washed away in the floods, according to Ibrahim Audu Husseini, a spokesman for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency. Of those injured, 121 were in hospital, and more than 100 people were missing, Gideon Adamu, head of the Red Cross in Niger State, told the AFP news agency on Saturday. We cant give up the search as long as there are families crying out, Adamu said. Farida Auwalu, the lone survivor from a family of 16, lost seven children in the deluge. The bodies of four of Faridas children have been found and buried. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My hope is to see the remaining bodies and give them a decent burial and have closure, she told Al Jazeera. What caused the flooding in Nigeria? Experts said the frequency and severity of floods in Nigeria have increased due to climate change, unregulated construction and poor drainage infrastructure. Mokwa residents also believe the flooding was caused by a bigger problem upstream, maybe a dam burst, but up to now, officials are not confirming that, Idris said. Niger State has three major dams Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro while a fourth is under construction. Despite flood risks being identified, there has been a lack of political will to implement the solutions for them, according to Ugonna Nkwunonwo, a flood risk analyst at the University of Nigeria. The amount of rain you expect in a year could probably come in one or two months, and people are not prepared for that kind of rainfall, he told Al Jazeera. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many areas in the country lack proper drainage systems, and existing ones are often clogged with waste, causing water to accumulate on the streets during heavy rains. Additionally, rapid urban development without proper planning has led to the construction of buildings in flood-prone areas, reducing the lands natural ability to absorb water. Deforestation for agriculture and development further reduces the lands capacity to soak up rainfall, increasing the flow of water over the land. Local leaders and residents are calling for state and federal authorities to intervene with long-term support and infrastructure to rebuild their communities and protect them from flooding. Warnings have been put out by authorities for people exposed or communities living along river banks to move to higher ground, especially when the rains start to peak, but every year, we continue to see more and more lives and property damaged because of rainfall, Idris said. How are authorities responding? Emergency services including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, the Nigerian Red Cross and local volunteers are engaged in search and rescue operations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Bola Tinubu has also ordered an emergency response, including the provision of aid and temporary shelter. Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing, and all relevant federal agencies have been mobilised to support the state governments efforts, Tinubu wrote in a social media post on Saturday. However, damaged roads and bridges have complicated rescue and recovery efforts. Some flood survivors are struggling to get basic aid. No one brought any money or food to help the victims. As you can see, many dont have a place to sleep, Hassan Umar told Al Jazeera in Mokwa. A key bridge that connects the northern and southwestern parts of the country collapsed, leaving motorists stranded and disrupting movement of vehicles across the region. What was the most recent natural disaster in Nigeria? In September, severe flooding in the northwestern city of Maiduguri in Borno State submerged two-thirds of the city, killed at least 30 people and displaced nearly half a million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 200 inmates also escaped from a flood-damaged prison. The disaster was triggered by weeks of intense rainfall and the collapse of the Alau dam in northeastern Nigeria. Across the country in 2024, flooding killed more than 1,200 people and displaced 1.2 million in at least 31 of 36 states, according to NEMA. Which states in Nigeria are prone to flooding? The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has warned of possible flash floods in 15 of Nigerias 36 states, including Niger, from Wednesday to Friday. In the south, low-lying states like Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta in the Niger Delta region experience frequent flooding due to their coastal locations. In the north, Kogi, Benue and Borno states are also prone to floods because they are on major rivers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The countrys rainy season typically begins in April to mid-May and lasts through October while August is the wettest month. Heavy rainfall during this period causes problems every year because it destroys infrastructure and is exacerbated by inadequate drainage. Although flooding is common during Nigerias rainy season, now is not the peak of the rains, Idris said. In some states, the rains have only been there for a month, and yet were seeing this. A rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, is on the horizon and when this so Florida thing occurs, it's very Instagram-worthy. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will potentially launch a batch of Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. Though rockets here blast off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, people beyond the Space Coast can sometimes see this phenomenon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, a rocket launch from Floridas Space Coast could be visible from Jacksonville Beach and Daytona Beach to Vero Beach and West Palm Beach (see videos and photo gallery with this story). When theres a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, theres an opportunity for unique photos the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo. Below is more information on rocket launches in Florida and suggestions on where to watch them. Rocket launch tally: Here's a list of all 2025 missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida (psst, there's a lot) For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space. When is the next SpaceX rocket launch in Florida? Monday, June 2: SpaceX Starlink 12-19 Mission: SpaceX will launch the next batch of Starlink internet satellites, a National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency navigational warning shows. Launch window: 12:57 a.m. to 5:28 a.m. EDT Monday, June 2, 2025 Launch location: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida Trajectory : Southeast Live coverage starts 90 minutes before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space: You can watch live rocket launch coverage from USA TODAY Networks Space Team, which consists of FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visuals journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at floridatoday.com/space, starting 90 minutes before liftoff. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play, or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tom Cruise and untitled SpaceX project: 'Mission: Impossible' star who lives in Florida may shoot a film in outer space Live weather radar: Will it rain in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral, Florida, today? Will weather cancel a rocket launch? Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache. Where to see a Florida rocket launch in Palm Beach County: What does a West Palm Beach rocket launch view look like? Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, some rocket launches from the Space Coast can be visible in Palm Beach County. When theres a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, with a southeast trajectory, theres an opportunity for unique photos. Some examples include United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy rocket launch and SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. From Cape Canaveral, Florida, to West Palm Beach, Florida, it's about 150 miles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What the views look like: Rocket launches from Cape Canaveral spotted in West Palm Beach Rocket launches from Cape Canaveral can often be seen from Palm Beach County, and it can be as easy as walking out of your house and looking north. Try to get away from any obstructions, such as trees, tall buildings, and bright lights. Obviously, cloud cover can also get in the way. If the forecast is for clear skies and you want a better view, some good places to watch the rocket launch from Palm Beach County include: This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida SpaceX rocket launch: What time is liftoff from Cape Canaveral Among those injured were several students preparing for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) exams. The incident occurred around 7 PM near a tea shop in the locality. According to Pune City Police, the vehicle lost control and hit people standing by the roadside. "Initial investigations indicate that the driver, Jairam Mule, 27, a resident of Bibwewadi, may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident," said Nikhil Pingale, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 1. A co-passenger was also in the vehicle at the time. Both the driver and the vehicle owner have been taken into custody. An FIR has been registered at Vishrambaug Police Station, and further legal proceedings are underway. Eyewitnesses reported that several of the injured suffered leg fractures. All the injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. No fatalities were reported. "We are looking into all aspects of the case, including the possibility of drunk driving. Legal action has been initiated," DCP Pingale added. A CCTV footage of the incident also went viral on social media. (ANI) At 9:45 p.m. May 4, 2007, an EF5 tornado hit Greensburg , Kansas, destroying the town and killing 12 people.. This photo, taken three days later, shows typical damage. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector) Bad weather doesnt keep business hours. Of the top 10 tornadoes that have wreaked death and destruction in Kansas, most came near or after dark, according to the National Weather Service. The Udall tornado of 1955 struck at 10:15 pm and killed 80, making it the deadliest twister in state history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why the National Weather Services closing of the Goodland forecast office overnight is so alarming. Goodland is among eight locations that had reduced their hours, or were planning to, because of the Trump administrations cuts to the federal government. Staffing at the NWS has taken a beating under DOGE, according to reporting by the Washington Post. In an open letter, five former NWS directors warned the cuts may endanger lives. The Goodland office serves northwest Kansas and parts of Nebraska and Colorado. About 17 miles from the Colorado border on I-70, severe weather around Goodland ranges from tornado-producing spring storms to winter blizzards that shut down the interstate. But its not just the Goodland County Warning Area, a 21,000-square-mile region with more than 80,000 people, thats at risk. Understaffing at Goodland and other forecast offices that have curtailed hours, including Wyoming and California, creates an additional burden for meteorologists at fully staffed locations. Somebody has to keep an eye on the weather, because the NWS is the federal agency responsible for issuing advisories, watches, and warnings. If you live in Tornado Alley, you know how essential those warnings can be. The alley is a broad swatch of the Great Plains, from Texas to South Dakota, where dry cold air from the northwest collides with warm moist air from the south. Kansans are familiar with the feeling along about dusk when conditions are ripe for a twister. The sky turns a peculiar shade of green, a thunderstorm approaches and the air smells like river water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A public affairs specialist for the NWS at Silver Springs, Maryland, did not respond to a request for comment by deadline. Specifically, the spokesperson was asked if the Goodland office would remain closed overnight, and whether that represented a threat to public safety. While the NWS did not respond, a spokesman for the union that represents federal weather service workers said there was no immediate crisis. Meteorologists at other regional forecast offices had agreed to keep an eye on the weather while the Goodland office was closed overnight. But, he said, a 20% reduction in forecast office staffing since Trump took his second oath of office poses a long-term threat. There is no question that the public safety for the community is at risk, said Tom Fahy, legislative director of the National Weather Service Employees Organization. (The workers) have done everything they can to shore up the holes and come up with a work flow schedule that will allow individuals not to be burned out. Weather service employees are dedicated, hard-working individuals, he said, who take their mission to protect lives and property seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Goodland is among the two worst hit of the 122 forecast offices in the nation, Fahy said. Goodland normally has 13 meteorologists, but because of DOGE cuts and a federal hiring freeze imposed in January, is down to just five. It ties with a forecast station in Hanford, California, as the most understaffed. While we are at the tail end of what is usually thought of as tornado season, May through early June, the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory at Norman, Oklahoma, cautions that twisters are unpredictable. They can come at any time of the year, at any time of the day, and meteorologists still arent sure what causes them. The truth is that we dont fully understand, according to the Severe Storms Laboratory website. The most destructive tornadoes occur from supercells, which are rotating thunderstorms with a well-defined radar circulation called a mesocyclone. (Supercells can also produce damaging hail, severe non-tornadic winds, frequent lightning, and flash floods.) While Ive seen scores of small twisters form, touch down, and spin themselves away within a few minutes, Ive never spotted a really large tornado. These storms are measured by the Enhanced Fujita Scale, from 0 to 5, based on estimates of observed damage. A common EF0 has wind gusts up to 85 mph and produces little damage. A rare EF5 has wind speeds of more than 200 mph and produces incredible damage. The tornado that struck Udall in 1955 was an EF5. So was the Greensburg twister of 2007 and the Joplin, Missouri, tornado of May 2011, a storm that killed 158 people and demolished a third of the town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I witnessed the aftermaths of the Greensburg and Joplin tornadoes in my capacity as a journalist, and the devastation of each was nightmare-like. In Greensburg, houses were turned to kindling and schools were reduced to piles of bricks. Trees were snapped off at about 10 or 12 feet, as if somebody had driven a giant lawnmower across town. At Joplin, there was similar destruction, and the neighborhood where my grandfathers house had stood was unrecognizable. The area looked like it had been shredded by a buzzsaw and then flattened. The human suffering across town was on a massive scale that night, with bodies in the streets and survivors sitting on curbs wearing trash bags as their only defense against the rain. Ive never taken a roof over my head for granted since. The Greensburg tornado was a two-mile wide EF5 that blew up from the southwest. The National Weather Service issued a warning for Greensburg at 9:19 p.m. The storm hit Greensburg dead-center at 9:45, destroying approximately 1,000 homes and businesses, or about nine-tenths of the town. The response by the Federal Emergency Management Agency required 15 federal entities, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency. Now, cuts to the weather service by DOGE in the name of governmental efficiency threaten to cripple the weather alert warning systems that saved untold lives in Greensburg. There was no such warning system in 1955 for Udall, and thats one of the reasons that casualties were so high. To decrease the number of staff available for weather forecast offices in the name of efficiency is like reducing the number of life preservers on an ocean liner to save space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the explanation that DOGE is out to improve government by making it smaller and more effective is a canard. The real reason the NWS and other federal agencies are being kneecapped is to punish federal workers, dismantle the machinery of government, and achieve a long-cherished dream of neoliberalism, an economic philosophy from 1938. Dont let the name fool you, because theres nothing liberal or progressive about it. Never heard of it? Allow me a few paragraphs to explain. Its anonymity is both a symptom and a cause of its power, write George Monbiot and Peter Hutchison in their 2024 book on neoliberalism. It has caused or contributed to most of the crises that now confront us: rising inequality; rampant child poverty; epidemic diseases of despair; off-shoring and the erosion of the tax base; the slow degradation of healthcare, education, and other public services; the crumbling of the infrastructure; democratic backsliding; the 2008 financial crash; the rise of modern-day demagogues, such as Viktor Orban, Narendra Modi, Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, and Jair Bolsonaro; our ecological crises and environmental disasters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neoliberalism, according to Monbiot and Hutchison, is an ideology whose central belief is that competition is humanitys defining feature, but that our greed and selfishness and the free market will lead to social advances. The term neoliberal was coined at a conference in Paris in 1938, but its been around since at least 1776, when Adam Smith used the metaphor of the invisible hand in his Wealth of Nations. Put another way, think of Gordon Gekko in Oliver Stones 1987 movie Wall Street. In the movie, Gekko played by Michael Douglas says greed is good. Gekkos soliloquy of nearly 40 years ago sounds disturbingly modern. America has become a second-rate power, Gekko says. Its trade deficit and its fiscal deficit are at nightmare proportions. Now in the days of the free market when our country was a top industrial power, there was accountability to the stockholder. The point is, ladies and gentleman, is that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed, according to Gekko, will save that malfunctioning corporation called the USA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What does this have to do with the National Weather Service? Everything. The DOGE cuts arent meant merely to make the federal government smaller, but also to make certain sectors of it ripe for privatization. The transfer of public sector assets to private companies is a long-held neoliberal tenet. And the privatization of the National Weather Service is an unambiguously stated goal of Project 2025, the right-wing playbook for the second Trump administration. Juan Declet-Barreto, a senior social scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, argued in a March essay that privatizing the weather service would result in the greatest harm to those who are the least able to pay for critical warning information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public services exist to provide parity in access to all people in society without regard to their ability to individually fork out money for such a service, Declet-Barreto wrote, so those unable to pay will end up paying twice: once with their tax dollars, and once with their wellbeing or with their lives. Paywalled weather alerts will deprive individuals, households, or towns with lower income of access to life-saving services. Fahy, the weather service union legislative director, told me he doubts the weather service will be privatized, because so many commercial firms already get its data for a few dollars a month. But Im not so sure, because the commercialization of weather technologies is so clearly spelled out in Project 2025. Its all on page 675, in which the NWS is identified as part of a colossal operation that has become one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry and, as such, is harmful to future U.S. prosperity. Know what else is harmful to prosperity? Tornadoes that eat your town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here in Kansas, we typically associate weather alerts with tornadoes, flooding, blizzards, and temperature extremes. But every location across the country has its own hazards, from wildfires to volcanic ash to hurricanes. But weather alerts arent the only things under threat by DOGE cuts. Of the 15 federal agencies responding to Greensburg in 2007, many are now targeted for downsizing. This may lead to little warning of severe weather and reduced help after. Were already seeing the latter, as Trumps FEMA has denied disaster relief requests from states hit by tornadoes and hurricanes. Michael Lewis devoted a chapter to the Joplin tornado in his 2018 book, The Fifth Risk. The death toll in Joplin was the highest since the government had started issuing tornado warnings, in 1948. But it wasnt the failure of the National Weather Service that had killed 158 in Joplin, Lewis concluded, because the sirens blared 17 minutes before the storm hit. Instead, it was the inability of citizens to understand their government and the inability of the government to understand its citizens. Not enough Joplin residents had sought shelter when warned because they had the false confidence they would not be hit. Even a congressman misunderstood that weather channels and phone apps come from data provided by the NWS. For complicated reasons, human beings have a difficult time imagining the things that might actually kill them. Lewis said thats one of the reasons, after the Joplin tornado, that the weather service began encouraging news outlets to help people imagine what might happen if they didnt take cover: Complete destruction of entire neighborhoods making the area unrecognizable to survivors. Comparable warnings are appropriate for the era of Trump and DOGE. We were told, but we just couldnt imagine how bad it would be. Surely our weather forecast center, our university, our Medicaid wont be hit. Now we have some of the damage assessments, and it amounts to an EF5 political disaster. The crippling of the NWS forecast office at Goodland is a symptom of a hostile takeover of the federal government by a quasi-governmental group, DOGE, that until recently was headed Elon Musk, the presidents biggest donor. DOGEs actions have made little sense, unless you think cruelty makes sense, or unless you realize they resemble the way in which a corporate raider will strip assets from a company and then sell off the carcass. When severe weather threatens, who would you rather get your information from? Your NOAA weather alert radio, activated automatically and broadcasting accurate and authoritative bulletins compiled by the nearest NWS forecast station, or Big Dons Nado Tracker app? Oh, heres a heads up on customer service for the Nado Tracker. Its only available 9 to 5, Monday through Friday. Holidays excluded. And customer support is for premium members only. Max McCoy is an award-winning author and journalist. Through its opinion section, the 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. CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) While those in Massachusetts usually need a license to fish in freshwater, it wont be mandatory during Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend. During the first weekend of June, anyone is free to fish at any lake, pond, reservoir, stream, or river in the state, whether you have a fishing license or not. Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend takes place this year from midnight on June 7 until 11:59 p.m. on June 8. Holyoke Farmers Market kicks off 2025 season Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Throughout this special weekend, all other regulations, including catch limits, apply. Massachusetts residents are encouraged to review fishing regulations by MassWildlife before diving in headfirst this upcoming weekend. Aside from the event, if you are 15 or older, you are required to have a license to be able to fish in freshwater. The license comes free of charge if you are 15-17 or 70 and older. Anglers who prefer to fish in saltwater had the opportunity to take part in a 2025 Free Saltwater Fishing Day on May 11 and will get to do so again on June 15. Funds from fishing license sales go towards MassWildlifes fisheries research, fish stocking programs, and angler education programs. To buy your own fishing license, visit mass.gov. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. This is the first year that Massachusetts high school students will not be required to pass the MCAS in order to graduate. To make sure that students stay focused on their future, the Boys and Girls Clubs in Boston are filling that gap with specialized programs helping graduates get ready for college and the workforce. AJ Ramirez Mateo is set to graduate from John D. OBryant School of Math and Science in Roxbury this week. But his sights are already set on college, as hes getting ready to attend Bentley University in the fall with a focus on finance. Despite how driven AJ is, he did receive some guidance along the way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My path is definitely not straight, said AJ Ramirez Mateo, a member of the Boys and Girls Club. As a kid, I wanted to do a lot of things. It went from NASCAR to being a police officer. Ever since AJ was seven years old, hes been walking through the doors at the Roxbury Boys and Girls Club. He credits the Boys and Girls Club for steering him in the right direction. I came here because my mom had to place me somewhere since she worked long nights, said Ramirez Mateo. So, being able to make the extra money, she needed me to be somewhere other than home. Because a seven-year-old being home in Section 8 is probably not the best idea. A product of the Boys and Girls Club herself, Saaran Sillah is now the Director of Academic Success at the Boys and Girls Club of Boston. She has come full circle, leading all the academic programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So having those supports that I didnt necessarily have when it came to my post-secondary plans, said Saaran Sillah, the Director of Academic Success. So thats what drives me now. Sillah says the club offers college advising, mentorships, and skill-building workshops. She says its that one-on-one support that helps members navigate their future. Its not like a one-size-fits-all, said Sillah. We know that every member has different needs, and they do get stressed in trying to navigate the college process. And so being able to sit down with them and say, ok, hey, what are some of the things that you need from us? Last year, Sillah says 26 of their 27 members in their college program got into a school. Even if members arent going to college, she says the club makes sure they are ready for the workforce with a ready to work program that offers mock interviews and resume building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its more than like just like getting a job, but its about allowing our members to develop professionalism, build confidence and see like a vision like for the future and really getting understand like the steps and kind of making that those dreams and goals into reality, said Sillah. For AJ, hes grateful for his experience and cant wait to give back to the community hes so proud to be a part of. Being able to be able to provide for my family is really important, said Ramirez Mateo. Since my mom is an immigrant coming to America, she didnt really have much. So just being able give it back to her 10-fold and then being able help other people in the community as well. AJ was able to get some scholarships to make college affordable. Over the last two years, the Boston Boys and Girls Clubs helped its members receive more than $4 million in scholarship money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) No one was hurt after a lightning strike caused a house fire in Montgomery County Friday, according to the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service. Firefighters responded at 7:50 p.m. to reports of a house fire in the 20500 block of Greenfield Rd. in Germantown. Silver Spring man handed down three life sentences for killing pregnant girlfriend, store clerk There, flames could be seen coming from the roof of the house, caused by a lightning strike, according to firefighters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters say all occupants were able to escape unharmed. 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. SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea condemned a multilateral sanctions monitoring group's recent report on ties with Russia as political and biased, saying its military cooperation with Moscow was a "legitimate exercise of the sovereign right," state media said on Monday. A report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, a group comprising 11 UN members, said North Korea enabled Russia to increase missile attacks against critical Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and supplied more than 20,000 containers of munitions. The MSMT is "a political tool operating according to the geopolitical interests of the West and, therefore, it has no justification to investigate the exercise of sovereign rights of other countries," the North Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement cited by the state KCNA news agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ministry called the group's move "hostile" and "outrageous encroachment" on its sovereignty. The group also said Moscow helped North Korea improve missile performance in return by supplying data. It was launched in October last year to monitor U.N. sanctions against North Korea after a Security Council panel was scrapped by Russia and China. After months of silence, North Korea and Russia confirmed in April Pyongyang had deployed troops to fight for Russia in the war in Ukraine as part of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty their leaders signed last year. The Foreign Ministry said its Russia military cooperation was legitimate following their treaty requiring each parties to provide military assistance in case of an armed attack against the other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We express serious concern over the provocative acts of the West to encroach upon the sovereign rights of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with its unilateral and high-handed political and legal standards as a yardstick and give stern warning against the negative consequences to be entailed by its reckless acts," the ministry said, according to state media. (Reporting by Ju-min Park; Editing by Rod Nickel) Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide has reiterated Ukraines right to self-defence following a series of drone strikes on Russian airfields on Sunday 1 June. Source: NRK, a Norwegian public broadcasting company, as reported by European Pravda Details: Eide pointed out that it was Russia that launched the full-scale war in 2022. "Ukraine, of course, has every right to strike military facilities across the territory of Russia," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The foreign minister added that Ukraine is adhering to international law and targeting legitimate military sites, whereas Russia frequently strikes Ukrainian cities, causing destruction and killing civilians. He also noted that despite the fact that some Russian targets relatively close to Norway had been hit, there is no reason to believe that Norwegian security is under threat. Background: On the afternoon of 1 June, a series of strikes took place targeting Russias Aerospace Forces at no fewer than four airfields. Sources told Ukrainska Pravda that the operation, which was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), had hit around 40 aircraft, particularly strategic bombers. A source in the SSU told Ukrainska Pravda that the special operation, codenamed Pavutyna (Spiderweb), had been in preparation for over 18 months. The plan involved smuggling first-person view drones into Russia, followed by mobile wooden crates in which the drones were concealed. "When the time was right, the roofs of the crates were opened remotely and the drones took off to strike the Russian bombers," the source said. News of the destruction of the Russian aircraft emerged on the eve of the Ukraine-Russia negotiations scheduled for 2 June in Istanbul. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Four Sacramento Public Library branches are now lending e-bikes and e-trikes to adult cardholders for up to one week. The libraries in South Natomas, Belle Cooledge and Valley Hi/North Laguna library are lending a limited number of e-trikes, which come with a cargo basket. A limited number of e-bikes are available at the North Natomas Library.Though the bikes are only available at these four locations, any adult library cardholder in Sacramento County can borrow them. Reservations are not accepted. Each vehicle includes a small electric motor to assist with pedaling. To participate, borrowers must be in good standing with the library, meaning any overdue materials must be returned and any fees over $5 for lost items must be paid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city of Sacramento provided some of the funding for the program. Previously, the city helped launch a fleet of five e-trikes at the Colonial Heights Library in 2023. That library is currently closed for repairs. The California Energy Commission also provided grant funding, and Jibe donated the bikes. Because the bikes are valuable, the library has a more involved process than is typical for current cardholders checking out books or DVDs. Borrowers must have a valid government-issued ID. They must complete an online pre-check process and then visit the branchs service desk. The pre-check process requires proof of address, such as a utility bill, a credit card statement or a lease agreement, with any sensitive information such as account numbers obscured. At the service desk, patrons will be required to watch videos about proper use and how to properly lock the bikes up. They must sign the librarys guidelines as well as a waiver; the guidelines explain that the vehicles are equipped with GPS trackers. Each bike comes with keys and a lock, a battery and a wall charger. Although the library does not provide a helmet, the institution does recommend wearing a helmet. Depending on usage, the bikes can travel up to 30 miles on a single charge. LONDON (AP) U.K. government figures Sunday showed nearly 1,200 migrants arrived in the country Saturday in small boats from France across the English Channel, the highest number recorded on a single day so far this year. The latest Home Office figures show that 1,194 migrants arrived in 18 boats Saturday in what were settled weather conditions, bringing the provisional annual total so far to 14,811. That's 42% higher than the same point last year, an increase that has piled pressure on the Labour government, which returned to power nearly a year ago partly on disillusionment with the previous Conservative administration 's efforts to get a grip on the the numbers making the crossing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having ditched the Conservative government's plan to send migrants who arrived in the U.K. by unauthorized means to Rwanda, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government would get control by smashing the gangs and the business models that sustain their smuggling operations. Since gaining power, Starmer's government has sought better intelligence-sharing internationally, enhanced enforcement operations in northern France and has adopted tougher rules in its immigration legislation. French police officers were seen watching Saturday as migrants boarded at a beach in Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk, and authorities were then pictured escorting the boats. French authorities said they rescued 184 people. Pretty shocking, those scenes yesterday," Defense Secretary John Healey told Sky News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that it is a really big problem that French police are unable to intervene to intercept boats in shallow waters, adding that the U.K. is pressing for the French to put new rules into operation so they can intervene. Theyre not doing it, but, but for the first time for years weve got the level of cooperation needed," he told Sky News. Weve got the agreement that they will change the way they work, and our concentration now is to push them to get that into operation so they can intercept these smugglers and stop these people in the boats, not just on the shore. Despite French and U.K. efforts, the cross-Channel route, one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes, remains a major smuggling corridor for people fleeing conflict or poverty. Many migrants favor the U.K. for reasons of language, family ties or perceived easier access to asylum and work. The Home Office says 36,816 people arrived in the UK on small boats in 2024, 25% more than in 2023 (29,437). The highest number of arrivals was in 2022, with 45,774. NEW YORK (PIX11) The New York City Housing Authority is seeking to fill several recent job vacancies for positions that do not require a college degree. The positions are listed on Jobs NYC, the official careers website of the City of New York. More Local News NYCHA is hiring caretakers for departments in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. The salary range is $36,006 to $50,569. Job duties include driving development vehicles, assisting with debris pick-up, emergency snow removal in winter, and preparing apartments for move-out. Applicants must have a valid drivers license and be able to drive a manual transmission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click on the links below to apply: Caretaker X: Bronx (Job ID: 715623) Caretaker X: Manhattan (Job ID: 715392) Caretaker X: Queens (Job ID: 715523) More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State NYCHA is also hiring a city laborer for its Waste Management Department. Job duties include moving, lifting, and transporting materials of various weights and sizes, utilizing hand tools or power-driven equipment in daily tasks, and operating motor vehicles when required. The salary is $36.25 an hour. Applicants must have a valid drivers license. Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. The City of Oakland has cleared a large homeless encampment on East 12th Street, relocating about 70 people to the Mandela House a former hotel turned shelter, now funded through a state grant. The move marks one of the citys most visible steps toward addressing homelessness, a crisis that has more than doubled in Oakland over the past decade. Don't miss Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Driven by rising rents, stagnant wages and a chronic shortage of affordable housing, more than 4,000 people in the city are currently unhoused. Oakland officials say the clearance is part of a broader push to connect unhoused residents with long-term housing support. It follows Governor Gavin Newsoms rollout of a model ordinance aimed at helping cities respond to what he calls the dangerous and unhealthy conditions of encampments. Theres nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets, Newsom said in a press release. Local leaders asked for resources we delivered the largest state investment in history. As Oakland aligns with statewide efforts to address homelessness, the impact of encampment closures and whether they help remains at the center of the conversation. Homelessness in Oakland Californias homelessness crisis has reached a breaking point. According to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 187,000 people were homeless in the state last year nearly 24% of the entire nations unhoused population. The pressure is mounting on state and local leaders to act fast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, Newsom announced $3.3 billion in new funding to help cities expand access to housing and treatment for the states most vulnerable. Cities like Oakland and San Francisco are rolling out targeted interventions. San Franciscos newly elected mayor, Daniel Lurie, has pledged to tackle homelessness head-on. Oakland is already home to the Community Cabins program a shelter initiative offering small, two-person cabins built on public land. These temporary shelters focus on stabilization and connecting residents to long-term support. The program has seen high participation rates, largely because cabins are built near existing encampments, allowing people to stay close to familiar spaces. Oaklands Cabin Community model is one of the most promising and cost-effective homeless shelter innovations Ive seen, said Trent Rhorer, executive director of the San Francisco Human Services Agency. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan works every single time to kill debt, get rich in America and that anyone can do it Is this the only solution? City officials say closing the East 12th Street encampment is a step forward, but community reactions suggest a more complicated reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some residents and business owners say theyre relieved to see the area cleared, calling it a long-standing source of frustration. "I was driving by, and I was shocked to see the whole encampment was clean," said Veleda, an Oakland resident, in an interview with Fox KTVU. "It was an eyesore, and it was very hard for them to tackle it." But homeless advocates say that while shelters like Mandela House or Community Cabins represent a step in the right direction, the process of clearing encampments often unfolds with little warning and limited resources. "People lost medication, people lost their IDs, people lost their phones, people lost their clothing, their food," Needa Bee, director of the homeless advocacy group, The Village, told Fox KTVU. According to Bee, she was able to reconnect with 54 individuals from the East 12th encampment none of whom were offered housing options before the site was cleared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city maintains that shelter space was made available at Mandela House. But advocates argue the outreach efforts fell short, and question how effective these emergency responses really are in the long term. With growing pressure to clean up encampments, cities risk swapping long-term solutions for short-term optics and sidelining the very people these efforts claim to support. What to read next Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. Subscribe for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reports, three people died in floods and five died in landslides. "Two people, including a child, died due to the flood in Golaghat district, while one person drowned in flood waters in Lakhimpur district," ASDMA said. On the other hand, five people lost their lives and two others were injured due to landslides in the Kamrup (Metro) district. Following incessant and heavy rainfall in Assam and neighbouring states, 175 villages under 20 revenue circles in 12 districts of the state--Dhemaji, South Salmara, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Darrang, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Kamrup, Biswanath, Tinsukia, Karbi Anglong West--were affected in the first spell of floods in the state. The ASDMA flood report stated that 58091 people in 12 districts were affected by the first spell of floods. 791.32 hectares of crop-land submerged by flood waters. Nearly 7000 flood-affected people are taking shelter in relief camps and relief distribution centres set by the district administration. The district administration has set up 16 relief camps and relief distribution centres in the flood-hit areas. The flood waters washed away 194 animals. 75918 animals have been affected in the flood-hit districts. State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, and local administration are engaged in rescue operations in the flood-affected areas. In the last 24 hours, flood waters damaged 22 roads, one bridge, breached 3 embankments, damaged 4 other embankments, irrigation canals, school buildings, Anganwadi centres, etc. On the other hand, 9865 people were affected by urban floods in Kamrup, Dibrugarh, Darrang, Cachar, and Kamrup (M) districts. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Assam Housing Urban & Affairs Minister (DoHUA) Jayanta Mallabaruah visited various flood-affected areas in Guwahati to assess the prevailing situation and review the government's emergency response measures. During his inspection, the Minister visited several critical sites, including Juripar, the inundated stretch from Basistha Chariali to Balughat along the National Highway, the area near Excel Care Hospital, Pandu Temple Ghat, Kamakhya Foothills, B Baruah Road, GS Road, the area behind the AGP Office in Ambari, Pibco Point, Rukminigaon, Rukmininagar, and others. Minister Baruah addressed the media and explained that many of these flood-affected zones function like basins, collecting runoff from the surrounding hills. He informed that two major drainage channels are currently under construction to divert this water. (ANI) From his perch amplifying the trance music on October 7, Matan Lior took charge and saved dozens of lives. With his lions mane of hair, engaging personality, and imposing presence, everyone knew Matan Lior at the desert raves and music festivals that have proliferated in Israeli culture over the past two decades. The 35-year-old former soldier in the Sayeret Golani owned Sound Fanatic, the company he named to describe himself. He was as serious about amplifying the hypnotizing trance music that filled the air like thunder as he was intent on having as much fun as his fellow partyers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By day, he was a brain research student at Ariel University, studying the effects of psychedelic mushrooms on trauma and PTSD. On weekends, he and his workers would provide the sound for festivals throughout the country. Lior would precariously climb scaffolding to check that each speaker was optimally placed for the most striking sonic effect, and greet the gyrating dancers like they were members of his extended family which they were. On October 3, 2023, he arrived at the Kibbutz Reim campsite near Sderot along with his staff of a dozen workers to set up the sound system for the Supernova festival, set to take place on October 6 and 7 over Simchat Torah. Following is the chilling story that took place over those next fateful days, told in the words of his parents, Opher and Sarale, who raised Matan and his sister, Hila, in Sde Hemed, near Kfar Saba. MATAN LIOR (photo credit: DAVID BRINN) Since October 7, Opher and Sarale have told Matans story to dozens of groups at the site of the festival, in front of a giant display featuring photos of their son and an explanation of the heroics that took place on October 7, which they gathered from piecing together 19 months worth of eyewitness reports from those who had attended the festival. SARALE Opher called Matan Matana, but I called him Tarzan. His friends called him Matan Yanoush Korczak for always putting others before himself [after the renowned educator who, as a principal of an orphanage in Warsaw, refused to abandon the children to the Nazis]. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He had an extraordinary gift to give of himself, and he knew everyone. I didnt realize just how many people knew him until later. Matan wore two hats. He loved music and loved feeling it physically. But he also did very interesting research at Ariel University on the brain and music. On weekdays, he would put his hair in a bun and work and study with professors. But then he would let his hair down, and his life became music. He loved action He would place his speakers special ones he brought in from Sweden and London up high in trees. He could talk about sound for hours. He told me that the special speakers created other-worldly sounds like gusts of wind. I never understood what he was talking about, but I could see how passionate he was about it. The night after Yom Kippur, he visited us in our home [in Sde Hemed] and said, You guys are getting old; Ill put up your sukkah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I told him that he had to come during Sukkot, but he said he was so busy because he had to get ready for the Nova. But he surprised us and showed up exhausted. He came, and we put on trance music in the sukkah, and he danced with his niece. OPHER I dont know how we got on the subject, but we started talking about the sukkah and the transience of life and death. SARALE Our daughter said that if she died suddenly, she would want us to mourn and cry, cry, cry. I said that when I die, you can do what you want, just dont put on trance music. But Matan said, I dont want you to mourn my death, I want you to celebrate my life. OPHER Matan left our sukkah to set up the festival sound at the Nova. After having been at the site for five days, on October 7, at 6:27 a.m., Matan was standing on top of his Range Rover and surveying the scene at the Nova. He had just spent the last hour photographing his speakers, his workers, the sunrise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 6:29 a.m., he suddenly saw rockets overhead not just one or two, but an enormous amount. He understood immediately that something extraordinary was happening it wasnt a normal terror attack. SARALE Matan stopped the music and ran onto the stage and began to yell into the microphone for everyone to leave immediately. Everyone, please leave at the emergency gates, he kept shouting. He yelled until he lost his voice. At first, not many people understood or took action, but so many people knew Matan from past events because of his hair and personality, they began to understand that something was wrong, and because of him they started to run. He directed dozens of people to head across Road 232 toward Nahal Grar, which leads to the community of Patish. All of those who got there were saved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He forced his girlfriend into a car, and she begged him to come with her, but he said, No, I have things to do here. Then the pickup trucks with the terrorists began to arrive at the entrance. ZOHAR MAARAVI, MATANS GIRLFRIEND After the missiles, we were in the area for about an hour. And then the massive gunfire began. Matan yelled my name, and he grabbed me by the hand and started running and he could run fast. I had no idea where we were going. We headed toward the road. e pushed me into a car and said, Zohar, I love you. It was like a Hollywood film in which you realize the gates of hell had opened. MICHAL MARGOLIN, MATANS FRIEND We knew that Matan was at Reim, and when we began hearing about the attack there, we kept calling him and trying to get in touch with him. SARALE He began organizing as many people as he could because so many were freezing from fear due to the bullets and the rockets. It was chaos. He was putting people in cars, and he ran groups of people to Nahal Grar and ran back a number of times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then Matan got shot in the back. He was down for a few minutes, then got up and got his bearings. He was a stubborn sort. Someone put a towel over his wound. He continued what he was doing, herding people into cars, leading people to Nahal Grar, all of this under fire. ZOHAR Saving, saving , saving thats what he did. Back and forth. Bringing people to cars, taking people from cars. SARALE Moshe was a social worker who, together with a group of other health professionals, was part of Anashim Tovim. They go to all the festivals and help attendees who have bad trips or need psychological assistance. Matan has known him for 15 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moshe was driving his car, and Matan stopped him and said, Moshe, we have to fit 15 people in you car, and he began loading them in, even as Moshe said it was impossible. At the last second, Matan squeezed into the trunk, and Moshe took off. The terrorists began to shoot at the car, and Moshe yelled for everyone to get out and run; otherwise, he knew that everyone would be killed. Everyone ran in different directions, and the terrorists were shooting at them like sitting ducks. OPHER On the morning of October 7, as we were home, glued to the news, a group of Matans friends all from elite combat units came to our house. They said, We want to go with you to Reim and bring Matan home. I was a career [lieutenant-colonel] officer, responsible for security in all of the communities. I had retired 12 years before, but I knew the area like the back of my hand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I told them, Listen, the whole region is a closed military area; theres no chance we could get in. The area is full of terrorists, and the last thing I want to do is bring one of you home in a casket. Then they said two things to me that convinced me. They said, Matan would have been the first one to come rescue us if we were there. He would already be there. Then they said, Were going to go, with or without you. I asked myself, from a moral point of view, how could I let them risk their lives for my son, and I stay home in safety? I agreed to go, and we got organized, got out our army uniforms and boots. My one condition was that everyone going with us had to have a handgun in his possession. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have to admit that I didnt understand the scope of what had happened until we started getting closer to the site. We drove south and we began seeing the shot-up cars, the bodies in the road, and all of us began to understand the magnitude of what had happened and was still taking place. We passed army checkpoints easily and when we got to Reim, the army was in staging areas. My only fear since we were not there officially was that we would be caught in friendly fire or be mistaken for terrorists masquerading in IDF uniforms. I saw unspeakable sights, with bodies and blood everywhere, but we focused on the task at hand. We huddled and went over general guidelines of why we were there and what our mission was. We tried to put ourselves in Matans mind, what he would have done, where he might be hiding. Matan was in Sayeret Golani, he was experienced, and I really believed that he was alive and we were going to find him. One of the first things I did was to take a photo of Matan and show it to the ZAKA people who were already there and collecting bodies and body parts. Is there any chance you collected this person? They answered no, that they recognized everyone that they had picked up, and he wasnt familiar. I took that as a positive sign that he must be alive. I got a message that there were some unidentified bodies at Soroka Hospital, so I left half of our makeshift unit at the site and went with the others to Soroka. There, too, I saw sights nobody should ever see, but no Matan. We returned to the Nova and continued searching. We were there for five days. We brought in dogs from Oketz that had been retired from the service, along with their handlers. We brought in drones. We were more efficient than the army bringing both of those in before they did. The Nova Festival Massacre Memorial Site at Reim Parking Lot (photo credit: YOAV LINN/KKL-JNF) SARALE Moshe ran to a field and hid behind a tree. After an hour and a half, he decided to try to return to his abandoned car. On the way, he saw the bodies of three social workers he had been with, naked and hanging from a tree. Then he got to the car and saw Matan lifeless in the open trunk. He cried, Matan, I love you, and he started running. OPHER On Thursday afternoon, more than five days after the attack, we received a message from someone who said he had been with Matan in a car. Listen, my boss forbade me to say anything because Im not an official source, but Matan was with me in the car, and Im sorry but hes not alive. I sent two of Matans friends, whom I trusted, to question him and make sure he was reliable. They returned, and pne said, Opher, he knew Matan, and he was telling the truth. I asked him a simple question: Did you signs of blood? He said, I dont remember. So, from my perspective, if there were no signs of blood, then it left the window open that Matan was still alive. So I kept searching. That night, a representative from the local council told me that the medical staff had found DNA that matched Matans DNA. He was gone. SARALE This is what happened that day, and nobody can ever say that this isnt what happened. Opher and I are still, to this day, fitting the pieces together about what happened, as more survivors come forward to tell us what they saw. Its very difficult for some of them - theyre not capable of talking about what happened and what they saw. But so many survivors have gotten in touch with us and told us similar stories how Matan saved their lives. OPHER I was here while terrorists were still here. For five days, looking for Matan. The earth here is sacred. Theres not a centimeter of land that wasnt drenched with blood. Nearly 400 people who came to dance to music were murdered, and Matan was one of them. Were very proud of Matans decisions and how he helped people. But Id be very happy if he was here today with us. We lost the most precious thing to us, but as a people we cant be broken. We cant let these monsters break us. Our answer is to rebuild. We drove past Kibbutz Beeri and saw a new section being built. Thats our victory. Were staying here, building our country. SARALE Today, a friend of Matans sent me a photo of him dancing and happy. He was a happy person and lived a good life. Whats left is for us to tell his story and the story of what happened at the Nova. Were telling that story around the world. Were going to Toronto, weve been in New York and Washington talking before audiences who want to know what happened. It strengthens us to talk about Matan, and it strengthens people to hear his story. Because of what Matan said that night in the sukkah less than a week before his death, Opher and I have chosen life. Zohar Maaravis and Michal Margolins testimonies were taken from a film on Matan Liors life A popular ingredient in many Asian cuisines is struggling to survive. Coconuts are beginning to disappear as Southeast Asia faces an increase in extreme weather. With a shrinking global supply of the fruit, many are in danger of losing access to a crucial aspect of their culture. What's happening? Coconuts and their milk are vital to the food culture of many nations, particularly across Asia. The world's top coconut-producing countries make up just a few that rely on coconuts in their cuisine. The Philippines, Indonesia, and India are estimated to produce about 72% of the world's coconut supply. In recent years, these top producers have experienced an increase in extreme weather, from drought to "supercharged" typhoons. Extreme weather can be an indicator of larger climate change-related events. Why does it matter? Not all cultures that rely on coconut products in their cuisine produce the fruit. The coconut trade dates back to ancient times, allowing broader access to it as an ingredient. Malaysia, for example, imported more than 600 metric tons of coconuts in February to stabilize its domestic supply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Coconut milk is the heartbeat of Malaysian food," one Malaysian restaurant owner told Bloomberg. "If you change or replace fresh coconut milk, the taste fails." As coconut-producing nations continue to see their supply strained, they've started passing laws to limit exports. Farmers and lawmakers in Indonesia are having difficulty agreeing on a proposed ban on exporting the fruit for six months, while the Philippine Coconut Authority said it's in talks with producers to keep a portion for domestic sale. What's being done about it? Right now, agencies like the World Meteorological Organization are monitoring extreme weather events across the globe in an effort to determine if climate change is the cause. Once enough data has been collected, a solution can be reached. In the meantime, alternatives for coconut and coconut milk may be the way to go. The United States was the second-largest importer of coconut products in 2023, bringing in more than $143 million worth. If countries that don't traditionally rely on the fruit can avoid using it, we can protect it for cultures that require it as a staple. 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. May 31In November 2020, Estelle Quintero was cited for trying to steal $27 worth of shampoo from an Albertsons grocery store. When she missed a scheduled court appearance days later, a warrant was issued for her arrest. The 45-year-old woman died Wednesday morning at the Metropolitan Detention Center, 48 hours after being arrested on two warrants, both for missing court, tied to the petty misdemeanor and child support hearings. MDC spokeswoman Candace Hopkins on Saturday identified Quintero as the person who had died, her family having been notified. She said an autopsy will determine a cause of death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident is being investigated by MDC and the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office. Hopkins said Quintero was booked into jail Monday at 6 a.m. She was "discovered unresponsive" Wednesday morning at 5:30 a.m. "MDC staff, alongside the (University of New Mexico) Hospital medical team, swiftly responded and began administering life-saving measures," Hopkins said. "Despite these efforts, Quintero was pronounced deceased at 5:48 a.m." Hopkins gave no other details. Katherine Loewe, who represents incarcerated people in MDC's reform settlement, said she was told by inmates that Quintero had been banging on her cell "asking for help" through the night. Loewe said the inmates told her an MDC corrections officer told Quintero to "be quiet and go to sleep." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records show Quintero has been in and out of jail for decades on property and drug-related crimes. Loewe said she was placed on detox watch when she was booked into MDC on Monday, having been arrested by Albuquerque police. Quintero was the seventh person to die at MDC or die after being injured or falling ill at the facility in the past six months and the 36th such death since 2020. The majority of those who have died were detoxing at the time. The jail's daily population has been on the rise in recent months as several agencies including Albuquerque police, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office and New Mexico State Police conduct simultaneous crime operations, mainly focused on East Central, targeting people with warrants and open-air drug use. In January, 1,840 people were booked into MDC, and in April, there were 2,062 bookings, according to a dashboard on the MDC population. Currently, almost half of those behind bars at the jail are considered "transient." "We're in this time when the city is touting that they're rounding up everyone with warrants and making the city safer," Loewe said. "And in this case... they rounded up somebody with a five-year-old shoplifting warrant for less than $30 worth of soap, and took her to jail, where she died within 48 hours." The Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation have announced the extension of 18 important short-term agreements to conserve water levels in the Colorado River. The news comes amid great uncertainty over the river's long-term future. In the press release, Reclamation Acting Commissioner David Palumbo said that the bureau was "committed to securing the future viability of Colorado River water supplies in the near-term and we work with all of our basin partners on long-term actions." The Colorado River runs through seven states, organized into the Upper Basin of Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Utah and the Lower Basin of California, Arizona, and Nevada. It's also an important water source for 30 tribal nations and Mexico. The latter was the subject of a 1944 bilateral agreement to share water sources between the two nations. In 2023, the Lower Basin states agreed on cuts aided by federal grants due to expire in 2026, per The New York Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Forty million people rely on the Colorado River, which feeds Lake Mead and Lake Powell, and both are running critically low. As The Washington Post reported, the reservoirs were at 92% capacity in 1999, but persistent droughts and limited seasonal snowfall have dwindled levels to less than 25%. The low levels have been compounded by warming temperatures caused by pollution from dirty fuel sources. Extreme weather events are becoming more severe, and heat waves are causing the river to dry up. These developments have caused the Colorado River basin to lose 10 trillion gallons of water between 2001 and 2021, per the American Geophysical Union. The problem is compounded by the many stakeholders. Each state has its own priorities, and reaching a consensus is difficult. So extending the short-term measures is a welcome, albeit temporary, solution to a complicated problem. It goes to show that some of the most important actions in conservation occur locally and further underlines the importance of staying informed about the issues. The stakes could scarcely be higher, but the commitment of all involved is not in doubt. As Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Interior Scott Cameron said, "The Colorado River is essential to the American West, and Interior and Reclamation is dedicated to delivering life-sustaining water and harnessing the significant hydropower the river offers." How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. 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. Jun. 1Two dozen protesters stood outside Valerie's, a restaurant and bar in Ogunquit, on the last Saturday in May 1975, holding up handwritten signs. "Gay, straight, we are human." "No more fear and oppression, gay is good." Days earlier, a group of young gay people had been kicked out of the bar for dancing with their same-sex partners. Among them was Steve Bull, who grew up in nearby Kennebunk and was one of the people asked to leave Valerie's. "You had to be discreet. It's the discretion that we were rebelling against, because we couldn't just be open and be ourselves," said Bull, an LGBTQ+ and civil rights activist who helped organize the protest to show they were not afraid to demand fair treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others gathered across the street to yell at the demonstrators, Bull remembered. A man pulled up in a car and spit in the face of one of the protesters. Police from four or five nearby towns showed up, prepared for a confrontation. The protest ended peacefully, but it was a pivotal moment in LGBTQ history in Ogunquit, which had long been a place where gay people from across the Northeast gathered in the summer. Almost exactly 50 years later, Ogunquit is kicking off Pride month with its annual three-day celebration next weekend. Longtime residents reflected on how the town weathered a period of protest and violence in the 1970s and 80s, evolving into a community often touted as one of the most gay-friendly tourist destinations in the country. Some liken it to a "mini-Provincetown," a nod to the popular LGBTQ+ destination on the tip of Cape Cod. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We've been through a lot in this town," said Randy Coulton, who has run businesses in Ogunquit with his husband, John Cavaretta, since the 1970s. "A lot of people just don't know the history. They don't have a clue about who marched and who protested. There's a lot of angst we all went through." BECOMING 'A GAY HAVEN' Ogunquit's identity as an artist colony, which later evolved into an LGBTQ enclave, was shaped in the late 1800s as artists discovered the beauty of Perkins Cove, a small, picture-perfect fishing community. After the first bridge to Ogunquit Beach was built in 1890, summer visitors began flocking to town. Grand hotels, bed and breakfasts and restaurants were built to accommodate tourists arriving on trains and carriages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By the 1970s, Ogunquit's thriving arts scene drew in many members of the LGBTQ community. There were art museums and galleries around town and the Ogunquit Playhouse was a popular stop for notable actors. "It was a very bohemian crowd with people escaping the city and finding companionship up here," said Cavaretta, who moved to Ogunquit in 1966. Coulton said there were lots of "interesting characters" who came to Ogunquit to be part of the artist community and to open businesses. "It became a gay haven," he said. But tensions simmered. Not long before the protest at Valerie's, Cavaretta opened Anabel's, the first gay dance club in Maine, right in the middle of downtown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were other clubs where gay and straight people mixed, Coulton said. But Valerie's, which had a piano bar, was listed in guides for gay travelers as a gay-friendly business, although patrons were expected to be discreet. A few miles up Route 1 in Wells, a gay bar called The Stage Door had been the center of controversy after it was denied a liquor license in February 1975. Activists from the Seacoast Area Gay Alliance said in a letter to town officials that the license denial was "clearly discriminatory and bias toward gay people." After the dancers were kicked out of Valerie's, Bull and other activists decided it was time to speak out about that incident and what had happened at The Stage Door. They gathered early on May 31, 1975, at The Stage Door and made their way to Wells Town Hall, where they picketed for hours. They then went to Ogunquit to protest in front of Valerie's. Bull said he and others were prepared to be arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He recalled one moment vividly, when two older gay men in a Cadillac with Texas license plates pulled up alongside the picketers. One man spit in Bull's face, telling him, "You're ruining it for the rest of us." "We straddled two eras," Bull said. "There were a lot of folks who were very comfortable in the closet, where they spent their whole lives. And there were some of us out there saying, 'You know, this is not enough.' We were rocking the boat and some people didn't like that." 'HUGE BACKLASH' Coulton, who grew up in Wells, clearly remembers the pushback against the gay community that continued into the early 1980s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police targeted gay men in the dunes at night. There were beatings on the beach and a lot of name calling. Businesses frequented by gay visitors felt targeted by town officials, who they said selectively enforced local ordinances. High school seniors wrote in the yearbook that their goal in life was to beat up gay people, Coulton said. "There was a huge backlash," he said. In 1982, a canister of tear gas was thrown into the door of The Front Porch, a bar opened by John Revere two years earlier that was especially popular with gay customers. The second floor piano bar was packed with people at the time, Coulton recalled. "All these people were crowded upstairs, choking on gas, and people panicked and threw tables and chairs through the windows," he said. Luckily, no one was seriously injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tensions intensified when two articles were published describing Ogunquit as a gay community. One, a travel article in Torso magazine, said "Ogunquit, Maine, (is) certainly a booming gay village." Soon after, a group of local businessmen formed a group called Integrity for Ogunquit, urging town officials to crack down on businesses that defied local ordinances, including two gay nightclubs. "We just want to preserve the character of this town. The places that violate the rules just happen to be owned by gays," Graham Cookson, a local theater owner, told a reporter in 1982. Gay business owners, however, felt they were being unfairly targeted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They (residents) feel the gay people coming in are hurting the town. They are afraid of people finding out Ogunquit is a gay community," Harold Felberg, owner of The Club, a gay bar that had come under attack for allegedly violating the noise ordinance, told a reporter at the time. OGUNQUIT PRIDE By the late 1980s, the AIDS epidemic had been raging nationally for years. Ogunquit was not spared, but townspeople showed up to support those who became sick. "We were losing members of our community," Cavaretta said. "People came and helped out dealing with people who were sick and dying at home." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gay residents, including Coulton and Cavaretta, vocally criticized the federal administration for its handling of the crisis. In 1991, more than 1,500 activists from across the Northeast converged on President George H.W. Bush's home in Kennebunkport to demand a national plan to combat AIDS. The demonstration ended with a die-in on the street. It was then, Coulton said, that Ogunquit became what it is now. The town settled into its reputation as a popular tourist destination for all kinds of people, preparing each year to see its population swell by tens of thousands between Memorial Day and Labor Day. "By the '90s, things started mixing a lot more," Cavaretta said. "It just seemed so homogeneous where people were not looking at gay or straight, they were just looking for a good time in the summertime." These days, Ogunquit is dotted with pride flags throughout the year and a rainbow sidewalk is permanently painted in the center of town. But it's in June that celebrations really ramp up. Planning for the annual Pride celebration starts months in advance and incorporates businesses throughout town, said Ron Nassef, the general manager of the Meadowmere Resort and chair of the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce Pride Committee. Ogunquit Pride has grown into one of the largest and longest-running Pride celebrations in the state. This year, it includes a kick-off party with live music on Friday night, free films, karaoke and a Dueling Drag Divas show. On Saturday, a unity flag raising will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the middle of town, followed by a parade to Dorothea Jacobs Grant Common for a "Pride in the Park" picnic. Throughout the weekend, businesses will host a variety of events. "It's electrifying. The community coming together and it's an amazing feeling," Nassef said. Nassef, who is adopting two children with his husband, plans to speak during the flag-raising ceremony about what pride means to him. He started coming to Ogunquit 22 years ago and found a community "where people are so welcoming" that he knew he wanted to be a part of. "You can go there and be yourself. Nobody judges you," he said. "That's the intense thing about this community." Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less The Swedish Coast Guard is inspecting the Panama-flagged vessel Meshka that has run aground off the Swedish coast while en route to the Russian port of Vysotsk. Source: Swedish public service TV company SVT, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Meshka ran aground near the Swedish port city of Landskrona on Saturday after receiving a warning that it was off course and approaching the shore. On the same day, the Swedish Coast Guard questioned all 24 crew members. None were found to be under the influence of alcohol, and during interrogation, the crew claimed they reacted to the warning too late. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Swedish authorities have launched an investigation into possible negligence in maritime navigation, and one crew member was served with a notice of suspicion. The Meshka, sailing under the flag of Panama, was headed to the Russian city of Vysotsk near the Finnish border, carrying approximately 938,000 litres of oil. No oil leaks have been detected so far, and the Swedish Coast Guard continues to monitor the situation. Background: The incident comes shortly after the Swedish government adopted a new regulation aimed at tightening insurance checks on foreign vessels, part of a broader effort to strengthen control over Russias shadow fleet. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! AKRON, Ohio (WJW) Goodyear is calling it a once-in-a-lifetime event as the company is sending all three of its iconic blimps, together, over Northeast Ohio in honor of the Goodyear Blimps 100th anniversary. BROOKLYN, NY 1930S: General view of the NC-15A Resolute GoodYear Blimp circa 1930s at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Irving Haberman/IH Images/Getty Images) (AVI-293) In a press release, Goodyear said that for three days, local businesses, neighbors, and companies will have the opportunity to witness Wingfoot One, Wingfoot Two, and Wingfoot Three flying overhead in Akron, but they were also spotted in Cleveland, as seen in the video below. Nostalgic treat makes ice cream debut at Handels Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goodyear is calling the flight a Victory Lap and said its a celebration of the blimps centennial and a tribute to their enduring legacy. See the blimps making moves in Akron on Tuesday below: Goodyear Blimps in Akron, June 3 Goodyear Blimps in Akron, June 3 Goodyear Blimps in Akron, June 3 Goodyear Blimps in Akron, June 3 Goodyear Blimps in Akron, June 3 Goodyear Blimps in Akron, June 3 So, where were/are the best place to catch a view of the blimp trio this week? Heres what Goodyear says: Dates: June 3, 4 and 5 Location: Akron, Ohio Viewing Locations on Jun. 3, 2025: Wingfoot Lake State Park: 993 Goodyear Park Blvd Mogadore, OH 44260 The best viewing spot is at the waterfront of Wingfoot Lake State Park. Akron State of the City Address: Lock 3, 200 S. Main St., Akron, OH 44308 Doors open at 4:00 p.m. and the event will start at 5:00 p.m. To register for the free event, visit the Akron Roundtable website. Akron RubberDucks Game: 300 S Main St., Akron, OH 44308 On Jun. 3, between 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m., during the Akron RubberDucks pre-game versus the Chesapeake Baysox, will include a fly over from the three Goodyear Blimps. The Akron RubberDucks are also featuring their Akron Bicentennial Series: 100th Anniversary of the Goodyear Blimp this evening. The first 1000 fans will receive a t-shirt with the blimp on it to celebrate the centennial. Viewing Locations on Jun. 4-5, 2025: Downtown/East Akron For these two days, blimps will soar over downtown Akron and East Akron. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 bridge blown up in Russias Bryansk Oblast on the night of 31 May 1 June has been completely demolished as it cannot be repaired. Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS Details: Regional Governor Alexander Bogomaz stated that the collapsed bridge in Bryansk Oblast cannot be repaired and that a new one will be built in its place. Later, specialised personnel used a controlled explosion to completely demolish the damaged bridge, TASS reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, authorities plan to reopen a damaged bridge to traffic in Kursk Oblast. Acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein said that both road and rail traffic in Zheleznogorsk, Kursk Oblast, are expected to resume within four days following the incident. Background: Initially, a bridge collapsed in Russia's Bryansk Oblast while vehicles were on it. Reportedly, a passenger train was passing underneath at the time of the collapse. The incident resulted in seven deaths and around 70 injuries. Later, another bridge collapse occurred in Russia, this time in Kursk Oblast. The Russian Investigative Committee stated that the bridges in Bryansk and Kursk oblasts collapsed on the night of 30 May 1 June due to explosions, and the cases are being investigated under terrorism charges. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) One person was taken to a local hospital after their car ran into a church Sunday morning. The Peoria Fire Department was called at 8:40 a.m. Sunday, June 1, to the 6000 block of North University Street, to a report of a building rescue, Battalion Chief Stephen Rada said. When firefighters arrived, they found a car had run into the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, causing large amounts of damage to the building and the car, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver, and lone person in the car, was taken to a local hospital, and everyone inside the church was evacuated; no one else was injured, he said. Peoria Code Enforcement was called to the church to assess the damages and declared that the building was safe for them to continue services. The damages are estimated at $50,000, Rada said. The cause of the incident is still under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com. As a sales rep for drug manufacturers Questcor, Lisa Pratta always suspected the companys business practices werent just immoral but illegal, too, as she explains in False Claims One Insiders Impossible Battle Against Big Pharma Corruption (William Morrow). But this was the final straw. Lisa Pratta at her home In New Jersey. In 2011, Pratta began to spy on her employer Questcor, which she believed was overcharging patients by thousands of dollars for their medication Acthar. Stephen Yang At a patient event in Freehold, NJ, in August 2011, a young woman walking with a cane asked Pratta if the drug she sold, Acthar, could help with her multiple sclerosis. When the woman mentioned she was a mother to two babies and also had been diagnosed with lymphoma, Pratta broke down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I couldnt say anything, Pratta tells The Post. I just went to the ladies room and cried. And that was the turning point. I knew my days of keeping my mouth shut were over. Pratta began working for Questcor in 2010 as the sales rep in the Northeast region for Acthar, a drug which helped relieve autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. If prescribed correctly, Acthar could help people walk again. And talk again, writes Pratta. But, she adds, Questcor made more money when it was prescribed incorrectly. They would do anything to sell Acthar. From paying doctors to prescribe it to using bogus research studies proclaiming its miraculous efficacy, they were so successful that Achtars price rose from $40 per vial in 2000 to nearly $39,000 in 2019 an increase of 97,000%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prattas determination to do the right thing was partly the result of a traumatic childhood tainted by physical and sexual abuse. Acthars price rose from $40 per vial in 2000 to nearly $39,000 in 2019 an increase of 97,000%. Acthar I had to fight for myself and develop that inner strength, she says. I needed tenacity. That tenacity was put to the test when Pratta began to uncover the extent of Questcors corruption. Some sales reps were making up to $4 million a year and, in turn, kept the physicians doing their bidding in a life of luxury. The greed had just taken over. They took them on scuba diving trips and bought clothes and shoes for their wives. One guy bought his doctor a brand new Armani suit and expensed it to Questcor, she recalls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Im going to TJ Maxx to buy my shoes. Though she had deliberated about exposing Questcor, Pratta worried about the ramifications. Thats all I could think about, she says. I was a single parent, mother of a special needs son and had a ton of debt from my divorce. The last thing I needed was to be fired and homeless. The impetus to act came from former colleague, Pete Keller, who, also concerned about Questcors methods, had decided to tell the authorities. According to attorney Ross Begelman, Pratta served as a relator, feeding information from her company to the Federal government. Javerbaum Wurgaft Now he needed Pratta, who was still working there, to act as a relator and feed information to lawyers, including health care fraud attorneys Marc Orlow and Ross Begelman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To make the case, Pratta compiled as much evidence as possible, surreptitiously making notes at sales meetings and patient programs. I used to write notes on the palm of my hand under the table, she explains. If I was at a cocktail party and somebody confessed what they were doing was bribery, I would write it on a napkin in the bathroom or even on my pants. I ruined a lot of suits. Given the financial might of the industry she was battling, Pratta became acutely aware of her own safety. Before she turned whistleblower, Pratta researched other relators to see what happened to them. Just to see if anybody was murdered, she explains. You know, a mysterious accident or a car blowing up. In 2012, the Department of Justice began an investigation into Questcor. AP Consequently, she become hyper-vigilant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would see cars sitting at the end of my block and I just got paranoid, she says. I was watching even more when I went in stores or the parking lot. I got a dashcam, too. In January 2012, the Department of Justice began a preliminary investigation into Questcor. Soon, federal agents began calling at Prattas colleagues homes and she had to feign shock. But, she writes, If I was the only one in the company who didnt get an early-morning visit from the Feds, that wasnt exactly helping me keep my cover. Soon, Prattas clandestine role became second nature to her. It didnt feel like I was still working for the government. It was like being married to my ex they were never around, and there was no communication, she writes. After Questcor was acquired by Irish pharma-giant Mallinckrodt in 2014, pressure to deliver even higher sales increased exponentially and with it came even greater disregard for ethics. After Questcor was acquired by Irish pharma-giant Mallinckrodt in 2014, pressure to deliver even higher sales increased exponentially and with it came even greater disregard for ethics. AP In 2017, after she was repeatedly bullied by her boss, Pratta went to HR to complain but was fired soon after, although they maintained it was a corporate restructure, just to avoid a wrongful termination case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ironically, I wasnt fired because I was a double agent feeding information to the Department of Justice. Instead, they got rid of me for the offense of daring to speak out about an abusive manager, she writes. In March 2019, the Department of Justice served a 100-page lawsuit against Mallinckrodt, alleging illegal marketing of Acthar, bribing doctors to boost sales and defrauding government health care programs It also mentioned Prattas role in the case, meaning her long-held anonymity was now public knowledge. I didnt mind that my former bosses knew; I just wished I could have seen their faces when they put it all together. I hoped they felt that their lives were suddenly out of their control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The way the Acthar patients felt. In the wake of the lawsuit, Mallinckrodt filed for bankruptcy, a move which immediately halted all legal action against them, much to Prattas frustration. Worse still, a member of the New Jersey plumbers union with MS had his union file a class action lawsuit against Mallinckrodt and, as Prattas identity was now revealed, and she was a New Jersey resident, he named her in it. While four of the five defendants were companies, Pratta was the only individual named. The plumbers union was not messing around, she writes. They were pissed, and rightly so. In 2018, theyd paid $26,100.28 for one dose of Acthar for one of its members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While that lawsuit against Pratta was ultimately thrown out, by the time it was finally dismissed, I was left with almost $42,000 in attorneys fees, she says. Nor did Pratta receive anywhere near the amount of compensation she could have been entitled to as a whistleblower. When Mallinckrodt settled out of court in March 2022, agreeing to pay just $26.3 million for violating the False Claims Act far less than the amount had the case reached trial it meant Prattas percentage share was even smaller. Worse still, it would now be paid in installments, once a year for the next eight years. In reality, if I averaged it all out, it was as if Id just stayed employed for another ten years instead of losing my job, she reflects. Pratta at her home in New Jersey with many of the documents and files that supported her cause against Questcor. Stephen Yang For Pratta, though, the long, expensive journey to justice had been worth all the anxiety and sleepless nights. In fact, she has no regrets whatsoever about doing what she did. Now I sleep like a baby, she laughs. All seven Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs in Nagaland joined the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), giving the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio-led party an absolute majority in the 60-member assembly. With this merger, the NDPP's tally increased from 25 to 32. NCP emerged as the third-largest party in the 2023 assembly elections, after the NDPP and its ally BJP, which won 12 seats. Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Nagaland Government Spokesperson KG Kenye said that the NCP, the third-largest group in the state assembly with 7 members, has formally merged with the NDPP. "We have been joined by a few more friends in the NDPP party force this evening; there are 9 groups in the state assembly this time and out of that, the NCP party is the third largest group in the state assembly with 7 members," said Kenye, who is also a minister in the state. The Speaker of the House has accepted the merger application. As a result, the NDPP's strength in the state assembly has increased from 25 to 32 members. Kenye emphasised that this development will strengthen Chief Minister Dr Rio's leadership and enhance the government's ability to serve the people. He clarified that coalition seat-sharing arrangements are not permanent and may be reconsidered in future elections. On the ministerial reshuffling, he stated that it falls under the Chief Minister's prerogative. Addressing the reason behind the merger move, he explained that national parties like the NCP face constraints in addressing state-specific issues. The move was motivated by the desire for a more state-focused political approach. He pointed out that the merger was influenced by both political necessity and the leadership appeal of the current government and NDPP leaders. Apart from 32 NDPP and 12 BJP MLAs, the state assembly has five NPP legislators, two members each of the LJP (Ram Vilas), Naga People's Front and RPI (Athawale, a JD (U) MLA and four independents. (ANI) The Daily Table, one of the largest food banks in Boston, recently announced it was closing its doors after serving more than 3 million people throughout the city over the past decade. The organization cited high food prices and an uncertain funding environment as the main reasons. Without immediate funding to bridge us through 2025, we cannot continue, read the groups farewell note to supporters. Pantries like the Daily Table across the country are struggling to stay open after the U.S. Department of Agriculture quietly cut $1 billion in 2025 funding back in March for food relief programs that have historically supported the nations most disadvantaged communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, the USDA abruptly slashed the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which supported food banks in addressing the growing hunger crisis in America. The agency also canceled the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, USDA-led initiatives that paid farmers and ranchers to produce the food that pantries and schools distributed to those in need. [Funding] is no longer available and those agreements will be terminated following 60-day notification, a USDA spokesperson bluntly told Politico when the cuts were discovered. Food banks depend on federal funding to help those in need. The USDA cuts have hit these organizations hard, stifling their ability to fulfill their missions in West Virginia, New York, California, Maryland, Washington, Oregon and beyond. Three District of Columbia-area food banks have delivered 1.4 million fewer meals since the USDA action, and these numbers are certain to grow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The need for food banks has never been greater. According to the USDAs own data, over 47 million people resided in food-insecure households in 2023. Demand in Nebraska is four times greater than it was in 2018, while some food pantries in Texas are serving 25 percent more people today than before the pandemic. And in what may be the most troubling statistic of all, nearly half of the residents in Kentucky and Indiana face an impossible choice of either paying for food or covering their utility bills. The USDA actions were a potential blow to farmers a constituency the Trump administration has vowed to protect. They also defy the Trump administrations Farmers First agenda. The defense of the family farm is a defense of everything America has been and everything we will be, wrote USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins in announcing the imperative. It is my privilege to come to their defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canceling these programs is a slap in the face to every farmer who relies on federal support to help vulnerable Americans receive the food they need to survive. These economic initiatives drive local agriculture and are a vital source of revenue, especially for small farm operators. The USDA cuts deepen the impact for those who already lack access to healthy meals. Before the USDA rollbacks began, nearly 10 million children were at risk of going hungry this summer due to states opting out of the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program. Eliminating federal support for food banks will make their untenable situation even worse. And if House Republicans move forward with a plan to decimate the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program in their proposed budget bill, the hunger crisis in America could become a full-blown emergency. SNAP currently helps 40 million low-income families afford groceries every month. The House bill, if approved, would gut the program by more than $260 billion over the next 10 years to help offset the Trump administrations tax cut proposals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The House GOP plan puts an added burden on states to make up the difference in SNAP support, many of which are financially strapped and wont be able to cover the funding gap. The USDA cuts come at a time when food prices are expected to rise 3.5 percent in 2025 alone due to recent tariff increases. They will have a significant and damaging impact for millions who rely on these programs for food support, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and other U.S. senators have argued. Administration officials and members of Congress alike should heed the warnings from those on the front lines who run food banks and have seen firsthand the impacts the USDA cuts have had on their ability to address food insecurity in their communities. Weve never before faced a situation like we are in now, said Michael McKee, CEO of Virginia-based Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. [The] need is well beyond any disaster or financial crisis that weve seen, and the governments response is to take food away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt about ideology, he added. Its about math. Lets have compassion for those with nothing to eat by restoring food programs that offer them nourishment and hope for a better future. Lyndon Haviland is a distinguished scholar at the CUNY School of Public Health and Health Policy. 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. The Supreme Courts 2022 Dobbs decision ended decades of national judicial precedent protecting legal abortion. As of today, 12 states enforce bans on nearly all abortions, and seven states are enforcing bans on abortions after six, 12 or 18 weeks gestation. Also, numerous lawsuits have been filed attempting to restrict abortion access in states where it is still legal. Although obstetricians and gynecologists have always had to operate under the risk of malpractice lawsuits, state-level abortion bans added a new layer of legal risk to delivering established standards of care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this climate, surveys have revealed evidence of obstetrician-gynecologists in states that have banned abortion feeling constrained or afraid. Reports and studies have documented a decline in OBGYN residency applications to programs located in those states. And numerous media outlets have run stories suggesting that OBGYNs are leaving states with abortion bans to practice where abortion is still legal. Since obstetrician-gynecologists provide many different kinds of care including contraceptive, delivery and postpartum care these stories have raised serious concerns about the availability of all forms of reproductive health care throughout much of the country. But in research just published in JAMA Network Open, we and our co-authors find no evidence of such an exodus of obstetrician-gynecologist physicians from states with abortion bans. Using administrative records managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on all physicians who bill insurance, we looked at the movement of obstetrician-gynecologists between states with different abortion policy environments from just before the Dobbs decision to two years after. Out of all obstetrician-gynecologists who were practicing at the start of 2022 in states with abortion bans, 94.2 percent were still practicing in September 2024. This percentage is statistically indistinguishable from the 94.8 percent of obstetrician-gynecologists who have remained in states where abortion is threatened and the 95.8 percent who have remained in states where it is protected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OBGYNs also continued to move into states with abortion bans at similar rates to other states. From the start of 2018 to the end of 2024, the total number grew by 8.3 percent in states with abortion bans, by 10.5 percent in states where it is threatened and by 7.7 percent in states where it is protected. Trends in the number of practicing obstetrician-gynecologists were also comparable to those in the number of physicians in other specialties in states where abortion is banned. We also considered trends in the practice locations of recent residency graduates and subspecialists in maternal-fetal medicine, as well as trends in the share of OBGYNs who are female and who are licensed to practice in more than one state. All were similar between states, regardless of abortions legality. Our findings are not unique. In December 2024, an independent group of researchers using a different data set came to the exact same conclusions. And in March, researchers showed that the number of obstetrician-gynecologists in states with bans has increased since Dobbs, though perhaps at a slower rate than in a group of states with mixed status. So why has a narrative that OBGYNs are leaving and avoiding states with abortion bans become so prominent? A closer look at the media coverage reveals that different reporters have interviewed the same small handful of 15 or so physicians who left states with bans. Those interviews, coupled with survey evidence on the strain physicians are facing, have led to conclusions that doctors are fleeing states with bans. But it just isnt true. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evidence on trends in residency applications also needs additional context. While states with bans have seen larger declines in obstetrician-gynecologist residency applications than states without bans, nearly all such positions continue to be filled at pre-Dobbs levels. Broader doctor shortage issues that predate the Dobbs decision, including those leading to closures of hospital labor and delivery departments, have been conflated with the effects of the Supreme Court ruling as well. We pursued this research because it is crucial to understand all of the facts to make progress on the availability and quality of reproductive health care. Focusing on a physician exodus that is not actually happening distracts us from addressing the real, plentiful problems with the delivery of medical care. Our findings imply that while removing abortion bans would likely improve the quality of care that OBGYNs can provide by giving them the ability to follow established standards of care, it is unlikely to shift the economic and structural forces driving maternal ward closures and doctor shortages. When it comes to the availability of care, those are the forces that deserve policy attention. Our study is by no means the final word. Physicians feeling constrained by abortion bans may be sheltering in place for now, with decisions of where to live and work shaped by other factors. The coming years could well see different trends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But at this point, ensuring high-quality reproductive health care in states affected by abortion bans will require supporting the OBGYNs who, at heightened personal risk, continue to provide essential care to the best of their ability. Becky Staiger is an assistant professor in health policy and management in the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley. Valentin Bolotnyy is a Kleinheinz Fellow at Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution. 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. President Trumps efforts to end birthright citizenship have not taken place in a vacuum. They are part of a growing pattern of incumbent leaders strategically changing who is allowed to vote and jeopardizing the quality of democracy in the process. This year, the governments of Hungary, Italy, and Germany have similarly proposed or attempted to institute sweeping changes to their citizenship laws. Efforts to reduce or remove citizenship rights are increasingly common. In each case, elected officials presented their efforts as necessary actions to resist the influence of foreign interests and outsiders while restabilizing domestic politics. In a way, its a win-win for them. If their efforts fail, they have shown supporters they are committed to reshaping their countries around populist and nationalist sentiments that have grown in popularity. When they succeed, they give themselves a meaningful electoral advantage by removing voters who might oppose them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, Hungarian Mate Kocsis a member of Prime Minister Viktor Orbans Fidesz Party announced that Fidesz would propose legislation to revoke citizenship from dual citizens whose activities endanger the national sovereignty, public order, territorial integrity or security of Hungary. The legislation was justified as a response to international non-governmental organizations and media outlets whose work was framed as interfering with Hungarian domestic politics. Two weeks later, the Italian government issued a surprise decree that would drastically limit diaspora Italians ability to claim citizenship through the law that grants citizenship to ethnic Italians around the world. This rule change has been framed as a necessary corrective after an increase in citizenship applications from diaspora Italians in Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela. It is also noteworthy because Italian voters abroad consistently support moderate-progressive parties, even as conservative and anti-establishment parties have been gaining a dominant role in parliament. A few days later, in Germany, the newly elected center-right government proposed stripping citizenship from terror supporters, antisemites, and extremists who call for the abolition of the free and democratic basic order as part of their negotiations to form a new government. This proposal was criticized by Human Rights Watch for being unclear what, if any, safeguards would exist to prevent arbitrary and discriminatory application, and violations of human rights. The events we currently see in Hungary, Italy, Germany and the U.S. align with an emerging global pattern of incumbents strategically and selectively pushing for formal changes to citizenship laws. Efforts to choose who votes are nothing new U.S states in the Jim Crow South famously used a variety of techniques including poll taxes, literacy tests, and whites-only primaries to obstruct Black Americans from voting. Democratic countries have revoked citizenship before in 1946, roughly 70,000 American citizens living in Canada all lost their citizenship after voting in Canadian elections. But the current trend of laws throttling citizenship started in the mid-2000s. The graph above shows that leaders around the world increased their attempts to decide who gets to vote via changes to citizenship laws around 2008, with substantial increases starting in 2010. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reforms of this type are part of an emerging playbook that incumbents have increasingly used since the fall of the Soviet Union to re-level the electoral playing field to their advantage while minimizing harsh condemnation from their powerful democratic allies. By altering who can access citizenship, incumbents can influence election outcomes by affecting who is allowed to vote in elections. Since the efforts pass through government, incumbents do not attract the same level of negative attention as they would receive for jailing or repressing their opposition or committing observable forms of electoral fraud. Incumbents efforts to manipulate citizenship and election rules also create opportunities to capitalize on the growing support for populist, nationalist, and nativist sentiments by showing voters that they are willing to neutralize the influence of outsiders by permanently removing them from elections. By attempting to revoke citizenship status from members of their opposition, incumbent leaders can show their supporters that they are committed to obstructing voters who would otherwise influence the future of their countries to their supporters discontent. In each of these cases, elected officials are taking steps to show their supporters that they are willing to try to incrementally shape the electorate in their image while keeping up the appearance of upholding democratic process. If the attempts fail or are blocked by courts, elected officials have demonstrated their willingness to act against the forces that their supporters oppose. In fact, if these leaders fail to pass these citizenship measures, it might even reinforce the idea that their opponents outsiders, opposition parties, courts, NGOs, and international media are too powerful. And of course, if they succeed, elected officials in Hungary, Italy, Germany, and the U.S. will have prevented potential opposition voters from accessing the franchise, which could help solidify their grip on political power in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew Foote is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at Binghamton University, State University of New York. 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. School choice reforms have been taking off across the country since 2020. The most recent example is in Texas, where Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law his school choice bill last month. However, we may now be getting school choice at the federal level, as a measure to create $5 billion in annual school choice tax credits, starting next year, just passed the House Ways and Means Committee. The funding is private, coming from charitable contributions to Scholarship Granting Organizations. Although the tax credits have still yet to be distributed, and the actual amount of money each student will receive from this credit has yet to be fleshed out, I can say that school choice like this would have prevented a lot of trauma for me in my academic journey, because I wouldve been able to attend a special needs school without having to go through an emotionally burdensome litigation process. From kindergarten through sixth grade, I spent most of my time in special education. I was placed there because I was very behind my general education peers in socializing and academics. In fact, while I was in eighth grade I was reported to have the reading level of a fourth grader. When my family and I requested accommodations tailored to my needs, my public school instead opted for traditional, cookie-cutter accommodations that turned out not to be very helpful at all. Unfortunately, by the time that was clear, I was already in middle school and unprepared for its level of general education. I ended up failing most of my classes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once it became apparent to my family that the accommodations my public school offered did not help me, we sued and ultimately won. The school then had to pay for me to attend a neurodiversity-affirming non-public school made for special needs students like me, since their promise that their accommodations would help me did not come to fruition. However, my life completely changed when I got to attend a school made for students like me. It was there that I got my ambitions, learned to love learning, and saw college as a real possibility for me. Now I am an undergraduate political science student at UC Berkeley and president and founder of Mentoring Autistic Minds, a California-based nonprofit that aims for a neurodiversity-affirming country through mentoring and education. It was at this school that I blossomed. I blossomed because this school was tailored for autistic students like me. My sister, who also has autism and Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder, was also only able to leave the school that wasnt working for her through litigation. It shouldnt have to be this way. My family and I shouldnt have had to put up such a large fight just to get the accommodations we needed. If I had access to school choice, I could have avoided the experience altogether, along with the emotionally burdensome process of litigation, and attended a neurodiversity-affirming school the moment my family and I knew things werent going right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is why I believe in school choice, especially for students with disabilities. Other people should have access to the same opportunity. However, not everyone thinks that school choice is beneficial for special education and special needs students. Some well-meaning activists argue that school choice, on the contrary, actually hurts students with disabilities. One of their main arguments is that school choice ends up reducing funding for schools, because some students leave, and then there are fewer resources made available for the remaining students. However, we have evidence that school choice actually increases competition (and thus quality) among schools, helping even students who continue to attend public schools. Another concern Ive heard from fellow disability advocates about school choice is that, because federal protections provided in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 dont apply to private education providers, special education students in particular will be left behind. As NPR pointed out, among the measures strongest critics are advocates for students with disabilities, who argue it would not protect them from being poorly served or even turned away by private schools. Is that how families of special education students feel, though? A 2003 analysis of Floridas McKay Scholarship Program, an education voucher made for special education students, showed that the overwhelming majority of participants were satisfied with the program. Additionally, a Morning Consult survey from 2022 showed that the overwhelming majority of special education parents spoken with supported school choice. There are multiple arguments for and against school choice. There are also instances where vouchers havent worked. I simply want to argue in favor of letting special needs students like me be able to have a chance to try out schools specifically tailored for needs like mine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats the harm of letting me have a choice? David Rivera is president and founder of Mentoring Autistic Minds, a California-based nonprofit that aims for a neurodiversity-affirming country through mentoring and education. 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. As this years hurricane season begins, states and local governments are bracing for what climate scientists warn could be another record-breaking year of storms, wildfires and floods. As the representative for Louisianas 2nd Congressional District which includes New Orleans and surrounding parishes I know what it means to live in the bulls-eye of weather disasters. In addition to countless unnamed storms, in recent memory, weve weathered hurricanes Katrina and Ida, which upended lives, decimated neighborhoods and tested every seam of our emergency safety net. In those moments, FEMA imperfect as it may be was a lifeline. But now, that lifeline is under threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With Executive Order 14180, President Donald Trump has initiated a dangerous restructuring of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which millions of Americans rely on in their most desperate moments. The presidents plan shifts the responsibility for emergency preparedness and disaster recovery from the federal government to already overburdened state and local governments. Thats not reform. Its federal abandonment. Its like closing fire stations and telling people to buy their own hoses. A FEMA Review Council, chaired by political loyalists including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is tasked with evaluating whether FEMA has become too bureaucratic. But lets call this what it really is: a plan to downsize or altogether dismantle FEMAs role, cloaked in the language of efficiency and decentralization. In fact, the president has suggested eliminating FEMA, and he fired his acting FEMA director the day after he told a House Appropriations Committee panel, I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency. I represent a state that knows devastation. In 2021, nearly 500,000 Louisiana households were approved for assistance in the 30 days after Hurricane Ida. But we are not alone. FEMA responded to more than 100 declared disasters in 2024, including back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton that battered Florida and Georgia. In North Carolina, communities are still recovering from Helenes catastrophic flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disaster recovery is incredibly difficult even with federal coordination and resources. Without it, we are setting communities up for failure. These actions have consequences and they will cost lives. The idea that state and local governments many of which are already underfunded and understaffed can assume the full logistical and financial burden carried by FEMA is not only unrealistic, its reckless. Louisiana knows what it means to be left behind. Katrina showed us what happens when FEMA fails. Louisianans couldnt get back on their feet because the very programs created to help them were insufficient, stalling recovery efforts for years. But Ida showed us whats possible when the federal response is swift, coordinated and sustained. We benefited when FEMA learned from past disasters and provided a more robust, effective response through partnerships with state and local governments on the ground. Weakening FEMA is not just bad policy, its a moral outrage. And the timing couldnt be worse. In 2023, the U.S. experienced 28 weather disasters hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes that cost at least a billion dollars in property losses. That was the highest on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Climate change isnt theoretical. It isnt a prediction for what will happen in the future. Its here, now, reshaping our landscape and threatening lives from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only is Trump gutting FEMA, but hes also proposing massive cuts to NOAA and its subsidiary, the National Weather Service agencies responsible for storm tracking, forecasting and early warnings. These are the tools emergency managers rely on to know when to evacuate, how to deploy resources and how to save lives. In fact, the National Weather Service office in Lake Charles, Louisiana ground zero for multiple hurricanes over the last five years is down a director and two senior meteorologists. The administration is systematically dismantling the architecture of public safety. This is not how you protect a nation. This is how you manufacture chaos. If FEMAs role is weakened or decentralized, response times will slow when every second matters. Poorer communities, particularly communities of color, will be disproportionately harmed. And the national safety net we rely on to manage crises will fray. And lets not be fooled into thinking disasters only strike red states or only strike blue states. Hurricanes dont ask your party affiliation. Floodwaters dont care who you voted for. They destroy everything in their path indiscriminately. Thats why FEMA must remain a federal responsibility: coordinated, professional and responsive to every American. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aug. 29 will mark 20 years since Hurricane Katrina. As we approach that anniversary, its devastating to watch this administration dismantle the very federal systems that helped my city rebuild, even if they werent perfect. We should be honoring the lives lost, not putting future lives at risk. Yes, FEMA needs improvement. It must be more efficient, more equitable and more transparent. But dismantling it is not the solution. Gutting FEMA in the middle of the climate crisis is like grounding rescue helicopters in the middle of a flood. We need to invest in FEMA. Strengthen NOAA. Restore staffing and leadership at the National Weather Service. Give state and local governments the tools they need, but do not make them do it alone. Because when the next disaster hits and it will we wont have time to debate funding formulas or organizational charts. We will need help. Fast. Fair. And federal. Thats the America our people deserve. And thats the FEMA we must defend. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com The adage let the punishment fit the crime, articulated by the Roman philosopher Cicero some 2,000 years ago, reflects a principle fundamental to every modern legal system. The notion of reciprocal justice an eye for an eye and not two eyes for an eye also appears in the Code of Hammurabi and the Book of Exodus. The Magna Carta in 1215 mandated that an offender should be fined only in proportion to the degree of his offence, a concept later reflected in the English Bill of Rights, the Common Law tradition and the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court has recognized the importance of proportionality to the rule of law, often framing it in terms of balancing tests or levels of scrutiny. Perhaps more important, proportionality is central to Americans sense of fundamental fairness, from the playground to the courtroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Trump administration, however, scorched earth warfare has replaced the idea that punishment should fit the crime. Accusing Harvard University of tolerating antisemitism, the administration has frozen or terminated billions in research funding, launched at least eight intrusive investigations, threatened to revoke the universitys tax-exempt status and terminated its ability to enroll international students. While inflicting enormous damage, these sanctions are not tied to any discernible gain. Harvard has sued the government, and its legal case is strong. A judge recently issued a temporary restraining order securing its right to enroll international students. But even if Harvard prevails in the courts, the cost will be exorbitant. And Harvard is just one of many universities under attack. People of good will can differ about whether Harvard and its peer universities have met their legal obligations to Jewish students. But, by any standard, the Trump administrations response has been grotesquely disproportionate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proportionality analysis in law takes different forms. Common elements intended to constrain excessive government actions include such concepts as legitimate goal as in, government sanctions should be designed to further a legitimate goal, with a rational connection between the sanction and that goal. Another is necessity, meaning sanctions should be necessary to achieve the goal and the least restrictive means available. A third is undue burden, meaning that penalties should be commensurate with the moral culpability of the person or institution sanctioned and should not cause society more harm than good. These principles are reflected in Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the main anti-discrimination statute the government is relying on to justify its attacks on higher education. Title VI contains multiple procedural safeguards designed to spur agencies into seeking consensual resolutions with recipients. The Department of Educations Office of Civil Rights, which oversees most Title VI cases, may only seek to terminate federal funding as a last resort, to be used only if all else fails, because cutoffs of Federal funds would defeat important objectives of Federal legislation, without commensurate gains in eliminating discrimination. As Supreme Court Justice Byron White once explained, to ensure that this intent would be respected, Congress included an explicit provision that requires that any administrative enforcement action be consistent with achievement of the objectives of the statute authorizing the financial assistance in connection with which the action is taken. And as the Justice Departments guidelines for the enforcement of Title VI make clear, in each case, the objective should be to secure prompt and full compliance so that needed Federal assistance may commence or continue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the early years of Title VI, the Office of Civil Rights did ultimately terminate federal funding for Southern schools that refused to desegregate. But as Sen. Hubert Humphrey, the lead author of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, observed, it is not expected that funds would be cut off so long as reasonable steps were being taken in good faith to end unconstitutional segregation. During the 30 years before the Trump administrations decision in March to cancel $400 million in grants and contracts to Columbia University taken without a hearing or any semblance of due process no college or university was stripped of federal funding under Title VI. The administrations slash-and-burn approach fails every conceivable proportionality test. Combating antisemitism is, of course, a legitimate goal. But even assuming that the administration is not using antisemitism as a pretext to pursue a broader political agenda of undermining critics, democratic institutions and the rule of law, there is no rational connection between terminating research on cancer, artificial intelligence or nanotechnology and ending antisemitism. Nor has the administration even tried to demonstrate how barring Harvard from enrolling all international students, as opposed to students proven to have engaged in antisemitic activity, advances its supposed objectives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If implemented, the Trump administrations sanctions would devastate Harvards ability to remain one of the worlds leading research universities. And the sanctions are hardly the least restrictive means available to address campus antisemitism. Harvard has acknowledged the challenges it faces in ensuring a safe and supportive environment for its Jewish community. And, unlike the Southern schools whose continued resistance to Title VIs antidiscrimination mandate in the 1960s was clear, Harvard had already taken significant steps to combat antisemitism and indicated a willingness to address the governments concerns before officials sent it an extravagant list of demands. (Many of those demands, such as plagiarism reviews for all faculty, bore little or no connection to antisemitism.) Whether Harvard has done enough, quickly enough, is a matter that can be debated. But the administration has certainly not proven that Harvard displayed the deliberate indifference that warrants a finding of institutional responsibility for the harassment of Jewish students under Title VI, much less a degree of culpability to justify the penalties the government continues to pile on. Nor is it possible to conclude that slashing funding for scientific and medical research, banning all international students or revoking Harvards tax-exempt status do more good than harm. The Trump administration is imposing crushing penalties wholly incommensurate with any fault of the targeted institutions simply because it can or thinks it can and because it believes that shock and awe will compel all institutions of higher education and their faculty to fall in line. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abandoning the principle that the punishment must fit the crime would set our democratic standard of justice back to the might makes right, Sticks and Stone Age. Glenn C. Altschuler is the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Emeritus Professor of American Studies at Cornell University. David Wippman is emeritus president of Hamilton College. 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. Small U.S. businesses that trade with China have over the years been largely overlooked, including by Presidents Biden and Trump, Congress and the media. Additional tariffs up to 135 percent on goods imported from China pose an existential threat to these businesses, which sustain jobs and pay taxes in every state in the country. Its time to recognize these businesses contributions and take steps to save them and others engaged in this trade. Most disheartening for these folks is that when they attempt to educate their congressional representatives they are lectured about how bad China is, about how most of the tariffs have been reduced to 30 percent for 90 days, and about how they will be made whole when President Trumps big, beautiful bill is passed with tax relief for all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, none of these things will help these businesses avoid disaster. However, they did receive a temporary reprieve this week when a specialized court in New York ruled that many of the tariffs are illegal, suspending their imposition. And even then, hours later, an appeals court overruled the lower court, allowing the tariffs to continue for now. Some of the plaintiffs in the cases are small, owner-operated businesses that claim the president lacks authority to impose such sweeping, draconian policies without the consent of Congress. The administration will appeal any ruling that suspends tariffs, creating yet more uncertainty for companies engaged in international trade. The effect of U.S. trade policy on small businesses is often illogical. Two examples are illustrative. The first: A family business in Minnesota makes loudspeakers, employing older workers who are probably not employable elsewhere in the local economy. The owner imports parts from China, but most of the products value is local. The tariffs he pays substantially increase his customers prices. Meanwhile, loudspeakers from a competitor in Asia can be imported at a much lower tariff rate, effectively making his product uncompetitive. He has applied for an exemption from the tariffs based on unfair and illogical treatment, but the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency has not budged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second example: A small business makes leather furniture in North Carolina. The leather is sourced from a supplier in China that is willing to do the dirty work of dealing with animal hides and has the skill to cut the material to exacting specifications. None of this work is done in the U.S., nor is it likely to be done here in the future. There is no one to protect in the U.S., no jobs to be lost to cheaper foreign workers. The blunt instrument tariffs are increased by a ridiculous amount one day, only to be slashed the next. Sure, lower is better, but even at 30 percentm prices will increase, and business will suffer and may disappear. The business owner has been to Capitol Hill for a hearing but never got to read his statement. He is his own lobbyist because he cant afford to pay for one. He feels powerless and angry at Trump and Biden, at Democrats and Republicans. Americans who import goods from China are damaged by such one-size-fits-all tariffs. Many of the imports are consumer products with Made in China labels, but there are other small companies that import intermediate goods and combine them with U.S intellectual property, and items manufactured here that form final goods sold in the U.S., other international markets and sometimes back to China. These U.S. micro multinationals are important innovators and local job creators. But mindless, excessive tariffs put them at grave risk. Then there are small businesses that sell American food and other products to Chinese buyers. They sell pig sperm, fresh fruit, candy, ice cream, hydraulic fluid for wind turbines, high-end cuts of beef, used commercial aircraft parts, wine, seatbelts and many other things. Their existence is threatened by high retaliatory tariffs on the Chinese side, cutting them off from a market of over a billion consumers, negating what in many cases has been years of developing relationships and creating supply chains even while other Americans gave up on China as too complicated or politically toxic. The people-to-people diplomacy through business can often be more meaningful than the rare phone calls between Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping. What to do? Start by acknowledging the economic contributions made by small businesses. Of the estimated 2.6 million jobs dependent on China trade, many are generated by entrepreneurial small firms. For every direct job created, others are generated to support the imports and exports. Elected officials need to listen and thoughtfully respond to their small-business constituents. They must recognize the contradiction of praising the importance of the almost mythical small businessperson while ignoring their pleas for tariff exemptions and other assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then tell Trumps Department of Government Efficiency to leave alone any government programs that help small businesses engage in international trade, such as the Small Business Administration, the Export-Import Bank and the International Trade Administration of the Commerce Department. Businesses involved in trade tend to be more profitable, grow faster and fail less frequently that is, unless their government pulls the rug out from under them. Douglas Barry teaches at The George Washington University and is the author of Smart Rabbits: Small American Businesspeople, Trade Wars and the Future of the U.S.-China Relationship. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A federal judge has granted protection from deportation and work permits to as many as 5,000 Venezuelans who have Temporary Protected Status. U.S. District Judge Edward E. Chen in San Francisco on Friday granted an emergency motion filed by Venezuelan plaintiffs following last weeks Supreme Court ruling that the Trump administration can deport some Venezuelans on TPS while a challenge wends its way through the courts. Chens order involves two key dates: Jan. 17, 2025, when Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security at the time, extended TPS for Venezuelans until next year, and Feb. 5, when the new DHS secretary, Kristi Noem, announced she was revoking the extension. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an 11-page ruling, Chen ordered the government to uphold the rights of TPS holders who received government documentation such as work permits and/or TPS renewals under Mayorkass extension between those two dates. If DHS granted that extension, it must honor it and comply with the courts order, said Emi MacLean, a senior staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union who is among the lawyers representing the Venezuelans in the case. During Thursdays hearing, the government estimated that about 5,000 Venezuelans re-registered for TPS or work permits, a figure Chen referred to in his ruling. What we do know is that two of the named plaintiffs in our case do benefit from the order, MacLean said. We also have named plaintiffs who fall outside the scope of Judge Chens rulingfor example, those who received an automatic extension but only after February 5th. Additionally, we know there are people who made the effort to re-register but didnt receive any official notice in time to benefit from it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs are represented by the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law, the ACLU Foundation of Southern California and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network. Noem revoked TPS protections for roughly 350,000 Venezuelans effective April 7 stripping their right to work and exposing them to potential detention and deportation. Many affected individuals live in South Florida. After the Supreme Court ruling, Homeland Security updated its TPS guidance but has yet to clarify how it will implement the decision. On March 31, Chen blocked the Trump administrations attempt to revoke deportation protections for Venezuelans just days before their legal status was set to expire. Chen ruled that Venezuelan nationals with TPS could suffer irreparable injury without a stay on their deportations. In April, a federal appeals court upheld Chens stay, rejecting the governments request to lift it. However, on May 19 the Supreme Court issued a ruling favoring the Trump administration by allowing the termination of TPS to proceed while the case is litigated. The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the lawsuit, which was filed by seven Venezuelans and the National TPS Alliance in federal court in San Francisco. The high court clarified that its order does not prevent ongoing challenges to Noems decision to cancel work permits and other official documents set to expire on Oct. 2, 2026. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Oregon lawmakers have a lot to decide before the 83rd legislative session ends on June 29. From homeless funding to potential Medicaid cuts to talk of changing Oregons kicker and more. Oregon Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) brought an update on this weeks Eye on Northwest Politics, detailing how the legislature intends to navigate a shrinking general fund, trade uncertainty, school districts needing help and other issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch the full interview in the video 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 KOIN.com. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) A recent graduate of Morris Jeff High School won a new car for perfect attendance. According to officials for the New Orleans Public School system, 17-year-old Jonathan Vazquez was awarded a 2025 Toyota Corolla LE. The Orleans Parish School Board also intends to contribute $3,205 to cover taxes and registration for the vehicle, as well as the first year of car insurance. $50,000 lottery ticket sold in Chalmette still unclaimed Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each year, as part of the Stay in School Car Giveaway, seniors with perfect attendance are entered into a raffle to win a new car. Sixty recent graduates were eligible. All students with perfect attendance were eligible for monetary donations and $100 Amazon gift cards provided by Troy Duhon, the founder and president of Premier Automotive. Vazquez said he was stunned to learn he had won. I felt my heart pounding, nervousness, and it was exciting, Vazquez said. (Courtesy: New Orleans Public Schools) NOLA-PS has done this giveaway for 19 years in partnership with the Premier Automotive Group. The car was donated by Toyota of New Orleans. Over 750 students have participated in the event. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Achieving perfect attendance is a remarkable feat, said Katie Baudouin, President of the Orleans Parish School Board. The dedication and perseverance shown by these students and their families are deeply inspiring. They set a powerful example for their peers and create a solid steppingstone for their future success. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 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 WGNO. Newly appointed Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Gaurav Gogoi has said that his party is gaining more support among the people of the state and will grow stronger in the coming days. Gogoi said that Congress will be in the service of the people to realise their aspirations. "We are amongst the people of Assam, and the excitement that we are witnessing here - the way people are blessing us, we will be strengthened in the days to come and work in the service of the people to realise a new dream," Gaurav Gogoi told ANI on Saturday. Earlier in the day, he visited his hometown in Jorhat after being appointed president of APCC and was greeted by "thousands" of his supporters. Gogoi said that the focus of Congress would be on the people of the state. "I have come first to my hometown in Jorhat, and I went to our own residence where there's a large portrait of my father. Before we take any important responsibility, it is the Assamese tradition and Indian tradition to take the blessings of your parents, and that's what I did," Gogoi, also the deputy leader of the party in the Lok Sabha, told reporters. He further alleged that people in Assam are "unhappy" with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's misrule, looting, and corruption. Gogoi accused the Assam government of ignoring "artificial floods in Guwahati" and other issues such as unemployment. "We are going to focus on the people of Assam. People of Assam are unhappy with the misrule, loot, and corruption of the current government. This BJP government is only interested in owning land. They don't care about the artificial floods in Guwahati. They don't care about the problem of unemployment," the Congress leader alleged. Gogoi said that instead of providing jobs, the Assam government was focused on providing arms licenses. Congress will focus on bringing about a change, which the people in the state want, Gogoi asserted. "Despite the tough, difficult weather, thousands of people have come out and blessed us. I'm grateful and it's a very inspirational moment for all of us. We've been inspired by the love and affection that people of Assam are showing us today," Gogoi added. (ANI) Former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina was formally charged with crimes against humanity on Sunday for her alleged role in the brutal suppression of last years mass uprising, which ultimately ended her 15-year rule. A three-member panel of judges at the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka led by Golam Mortuza Mozumder accepted the charges against Hasina and two of her senior aides former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, while presenting the charges, said Hasina incited crimes against humanity through inflammatory rhetoric and by mobilizing the states administrative and security apparatus to violently quell the protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecution accused the trio of abetment, conspiracy, complicity, facilitation and failing to prevent mass killings during the student-led demonstrations that erupted across Bangladesh in mid-2024. According to Chief Prosecutor Islam, Hasina and her aides unleashed all state law enforcement agencies and armed members of the then ruling party to crush the uprising. He described the crackdown as a systematic attack aimed at silencing dissent. The court proceedings were broadcast live on state-run Bangladesh Television, marking an unprecedented moment in the history of Bangladesh's judiciary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A United Nations fact-finding mission estimated that approximately 1,400 people were killed in the unrest, which initially began in July 2024 as a protest against the controversial quota system in public sector recruitment. The protest soon spread nationwide and culminated into mass uprising, leading to Hasinas ouster in early August. Hasina, 77, fled the country by military helicopter on August, 5, 2024 and has since remained in exile in India. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Shockwaves are still rippling through the tight-knit community of South Park after ICE agents stormed Buona Forchetta on Friday afternoon. After seeing the heavily armed response spill from the restaurant on Beech and 30th streets, neighbors arent taking what happened sitting down. Were organizing, but tonight I brought $50 to give for the families, said Jean Di Carlo-Wagner, who frequents Buona Forchetta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Customers like Di Carlo-Wagner formed a lined that never stopped after doors reopened Saturday. The federal immigration operation led to an early closure the day prior with management confirming at least two employees were detained. RELATED: ICE raids lead to arrests, protests What they did was wrong, heavy handed and traumatizing, said Di Carlo-Wagner. In a statement, Buona Forchetta said, in part, We are working closely with our attorneys to locate and support our detained employees and their families. The Trump administration has put out that they want to see 3,000 arrests a day, said immigration attorney Aman Nasseri. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nasseri added that there are a lot of unknowns when it comes to these raids. Whether these arrests will actually turn into something, thats a different story, but to actually make the arrests and prove the point to make people either leave voluntarily or deter businesses from hiring people who are here illegally, thats kind of the direction, Nasseri explained. Whats not being deterred is support from the community. I was going to order takeout, but thankfully theyre really, really busy, said Golden Hill resident, Nancy Francis. California senator slams ICE raid at South Park restaurants: weaponized hate Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several local leaders, including San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, have issued statements on the matter. Gloria noted in part that he raised these concerns and his strong objections directly with Homeland Security Investigations leadership. Congressman Scott Peters also stated on social media that his office will be investigating. A number of local businesses have also been taking to social media, expressing support for Buona Forchetta. Meanwhile, ICE says the investigation is 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Ukraine's Security Service has estimated the value of the Russian strategic aircraft hit during its 1 June special operation at US$7 billion. Source: Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) Quote: "US$7 billion. Thats the estimated value of the strategic enemy aircraft assets hit today as part of the SSUs special operation Pavutyna (Spiderweb). We have struck 34% of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers at their main airbases." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The SSU has promised to release more information about the operation "shortly". Background: On the afternoon of 1 June, a series of strikes took place targeting Russias Aerospace Forces at no fewer than four airfields. Sources told Ukrainska Pravda that the operation, which was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), had hit around 40 aircraft, particularly strategic bombers. A source in the SSU told Ukrainska Pravda that the special operation, codenamed Pavutyna (Spiderweb), had been in preparation for over 18 months. The plan involved smuggling first-person view drones into Russia, followed by mobile wooden crates in which the drones were concealed. Russia's Defence Ministry has confirmed that military airfields in five regions were attacked by first-person view (FPV) drones. The ministry blamed the "Kyiv regime" for the strikes. Axios has reported that Ukraine did not inform the US in advance of its Security Service operation that resulted in the destruction of dozens of Russian aircraft. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! NEED TO KNOW A paraglider in China was swept 27,800 feet above the earth when he got caught in a rare updraft Now-viral footage of the incident shows Peng Yujiang, 55, flying through the air while coated in frost and ice Peng, who was somehow largely unharmed, survived temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees, as well as low levels of oxygen A paraglider in China survived getting swept 27,800 feet above the earth a height typically reserved for commercial airliners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peng Yujiang, 55, was testing new paragliding equipment on the ground in the northern province of Gansu on Saturday, May 24 when a rare updraft known as a "cloud suck" pulled him into a cloud formation, the BBC and NBC News reported. The entire experience can be seen in now-viral footage as he had a camera mounted on his glider at the time. The video, which was originally uploaded to Douyin, China's version of TikTok, shows Yujiang flying through the air at an extremely high altitude, his face and body coated in ice due to the extremely low temperatures. Newsflare Peng Yujiang, a Chinese paraglider, freezes in the air Peng Yujiang, a Chinese paraglider, freezes in the air "It was terrifying Everything was white, Yujiang, who has been paragliding for four and a half years, told the China Media Group, per the BBC. 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. I couldn't see any direction. Without the compass, I wouldn't have known which way I was going. I thought I was flying straight, but in reality, I was spinning, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, "I wanted to come down quickly, but I just couldn't. I was lifted higher and higher until I was inside the cloud. Temperatures at such altitudes can reach as low as minus 40 degrees, and Yujiang told the outlet that he may have lost consciousness during the ordeal due to a lack of oxygen. While speaking to state-run broadcaster CCTV News, Yujiang shared that he hadnt even planned to paraglide that day, and was simply testing the fit of the new equipment, per BBC. Yujiang also shared that his hands and face still felt numb from the incident, and noted that while his body was initially quite swollen, it had gone down a lot, NBC News reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My fear hasnt completely faded. I still feel uneasy when I think about it now, he told CCTV News, before adding that he has plans to take a break from flying for now. Yujiang almost broke the world record for the highest paragliding flight, which was set in 2007 during another accidental and near-fatal incident, when Ewa Wisnierska, a German paraglider, was sucked into a tornado-like thunderstorm in Australia. Wisnierska, who survived the incident mostly unharmed, drifted about six miles above the Earth for approximately 45 minutes. Read the original article on People GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) Pastor Darron Carmon hosted the launch party for his first book, Framed but God Sustained Saturday, May 31st at 6 p.m. The release party took place at Rock Springs Center in Greenville. The events theme was an evening filled with inspiration, revelations and explored the journey of truth and resilience as Pastor Carmon told his story. Pastor Carmon is a dedicated spiritual leader, mentor, and advocate for justice. He is the Senior Pastor of Rebuild Christian Center Church and Greater Village Gate Church and has more than two decades of transformative pastoral ministry experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Framed But God Sustained chronicles Carmons journey from wrongful conviction, to his years in prison, and the mental and emotional battles he fought. 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 WNCT. When bureaucratic roadblocks threatened to stall Hanford cleanup and eliminate local jobs, Sen. Patty Murray stepped up and got results. Her recent confrontation with Energy Secretary Chris Wright proved that strong advocacy can break through federal inaction. Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee, got into a heated exchange with Wright during a hearing about the Department of Energys 2026 budget. She told him that Hanford subcontractors were on the brink of layoffs because DOE had locked up congressionally approved funding for the current fiscal year. Even though President Donald Trump had signed off on the money in March, the Energy Department had not provided a required spending plan to Congress on time. The uncertainty jeopardized ongoing work at Hanford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement America owes this support not just as the right thing to do environmentally, but also as a decades-old debt from the many years Hanford produced plutonium for nuclear weapons and served as a repository for nuclear and other toxic waste. The Tri-Cities community stepped up when the nation needed it, and now the debt is due. If withholding funds was an early sign that the Trump administration was deprioritizing Hanford, it augured serious trouble ahead. Murray didnt mince words with Wright. She made it clear that withholding congressionally appropriated money constituted impoundment and was illegal. Washingtons senior senator has been a fierce advocate for Hanford site cleanup. She has fought attempts by multiple administrations to shortchange funding. She understands that delays cost more in the long run and put the community at risk. Last year she secured a record $3 billion for cleanup, a $191 million increase over the previous year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her commitment to Hanford cleanup paid off yet again with Wright. The day after the hearing, the Energy Department released the funds to prevent subcontractor layoffs. Murray had given a master class in effective advocacy and political pressure applied at exactly the right moment. This probably wont be the last time Washington will count on Murray to go to bat for Hanford. The Trump administration has implemented sweeping changes at DOE. More than 3,500 employees took buyouts and hundreds more were fired. Projects that require constant oversight and technical expertise become especially vulnerable under those circumstances. For example, in January, DOE, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Washington State Department of Ecology finalized an agreement on treating tank waste after nearly four years of negotiations. It sets ambitious timelines for processing dangerous radioactive waste. Flat or reduced funding could require shifting money from other cleanup priorities to meet this projects deadlines, delaying remediation along the Columbia River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hanford has 56 million gallons of high-level radioactive and chemical waste stored in underground tanks. About one-third of them are suspected of leaking in the past with three currently believed to be leaking, seeping toward the Columbia River. Every delay in cleanup increases the risk of further contamination. The cleanup work also is a cornerstone of the Tri-Cities economy. It employs thousands of workers directly and supports countless more jobs throughout the region. When funding gets frozen or delayed, the ripple effects hit everyone from engineers and technicians to local businesses. Murrays success in unlocking cleanup funds demonstrates the value of having experienced advocates in Washington who understand both the technical complexities of Hanford cleanup and the political realities of federal budgeting. She and the rest of Washingtons congressional delegation must ensure that the federal government does not abandon its commitment to the Tri-Cities. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A pedestrian was hit and killed by a vehicle that drove onto a Gresham sidewalk early Saturday evening, authorities said. At around 5:30 p.m., Gresham police officers and emergency crews responded to a report that a person had been hit by a vehicle while walking on the sidewalk near Northeast Pacific Street. Despite medics attempting lifesaving measures, the pedestrian died at the scene, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Car, camper engulfed in flames in Northeast Portland crash The vehicle involved had also hit a power pole, though police said no outages were reported. Officials add the driver stayed at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation. Northeast 181st Avenue was closed between Northeast Glisan Street and Northeast Wasco street for several hours during the investigation. Police say they are still working to determine the cause of the crash and whether the driver was impaired. 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. I'm sure you've heard of Iowa Senator Joni Ernst's "we all are going to die" thing. Pool / Getty Images She held a townhall on Thursday, and a clip of her comments about SNAP and Medicaid cuts went viral: At her town hall, when the crowd says people will die due to Medicaid and SNAP cuts, Joni Ernst responds "well we all are going to die." #iasen pic.twitter.com/2zV7LplIqc danny (@dabbs346) May 30, 2025 ABC/dabbs346/Twitter: @dabbs346 Someone from the crowd shouted, "People are going to die," and Joni responded, "Well, we all are going to die." FWIW, The Hill reported she went on to say that Republicans would protect Medicaid for "the most vulnerable." She also said, "SNAP overpayments that the states have been making will need to stop," and "When you are arguing about illegals that are receiving Medicaid benefits, 1.4 million, theyre not eligible, so they will be coming off." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ANYWAY, this whole thing kind of blew up. People are calling this "one of the worst politician quotes" they've ever heard. And people are joking: "New GOP slogan: 'We're all gonna die!'" Related: A Republican's Response To A "Tax The Rich" Chant At His Town Hall Is Going Viral Sooo, we're on round two from that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator Ernst decided to issue an "apology" that isn't really an apology at all. Against all odds, Joni Ernst has made it worse pic.twitter.com/aElIudNmZG Keith Edwards (@keithedwards) May 31, 2025 joniernst/Twitter: @keithedwards "Hello everyone, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall," she said. "See, I was in the process of answering a question that was asked by an audience member when a woman who was extremely distraught screamed out from the back of the auditorium, 'People are going to die.' And I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this earth." "So, I apologize, and I'm really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well. But for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my Lord and savior Jesus Christ." Related: "I Am So Torn With What You Are Doing" 11 Posts From MAGA Business Owners Who Are So Close To Getting It Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yeaaah, people are unpacking this one. Fox "I'm at a loss for words..." one person said. Another person encouraged her to keep digging in, "Keep posting through it Joni you're almost there." And this person joked, "Leave the tooth fairy out of this, you monster." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the #1 thing people can't believe is the location where she recorded it. It appears that she's walking through a cemetery. "I'm sorry... is she walking through a cemetery as she makes this?" one person asked. Another person said, "No way that Joni Ernst apology video can be real is she in a cemetery." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And this person gave her a new nickname: "Senator Grim Reaper." Thoughts? Also in In the News: People Can't Believe This "Disgusting" Donald Trump Jr. Post About Joe Biden's Cancer Diagnosis Is Real Also in In the News: Miss USA's 2024 "National Costume" Has Been Revealed, And It's Obviously An Interesting Choice Also in In the News: One Body Language Expert Spotted Something Very Telling When Donald Trump "Held His Own Hand" At His Recent Press Conference In a compassionate outreach effort under Operation Sadhbhavana, the Indian Army's Rashtriya Rifles unit based in Bhadarwah organised a free medical and veterinary camp for tribal nomads living in the high-altitude meadows of Jammu & Kashmir's Bhaderwah. The camp was held in the Jai Valley, situated at 7,850 feet above sea level. The initiative aimed to provide essential healthcare services to communities living in areas largely devoid of basic amenities. Over 300 tribals who migrate annually to the upper reaches with their livestock received medical attention and free medicines from the team of Doctors and Veterinary specialists from the Army and SDH Bhadarwah. Officials said the initiative was part of the Army's continued efforts to strengthen its relationship with the local population and to ensure welfare for marginalised groups living in difficult terrains. "The Indian Army remains committed to the well-being of all citizens, especially those in far-flung areas. Under Operation Sadhbhavana, we aim to bridge gaps in basic services and support peaceful coexistence." Locals expressed gratitude, highlighting the Army's consistent presence as a source of support and reassurance in the region. "We are thankful to the soldiers who trek into these mountains not just with supplies but with care and compassion," said Karim. "The high-altitude meadows are often cut off from basic services. The Army is with us. We feel safe and we are happy. We are thankful to the Army for organising this medical camp here," said Rehman Ali, another tribal. Rehman added, "We faced a lot of difficulty here. There is no hospital or dispensary in this area. But today, the Indian Army set up a medical camp here in these mountains. It helped us a lot -- we received health checkups, and medicines are being provided free of cost. We are thankful to the Indian Army." (ANI) A person was hurt Sunday morning in a single-car crash in Keystone Heights, the Florida Highway Patrol said. FHP responded to 191 South Lawrence Boulevard, where troopers said a person crashed a vehicle into a utility pole. The crash was believed to possibly be the result of a medical issue, FHP said. The person had moderate, non-life-threatening injuries, and they were taken to UF Health Gainesville. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A homicide investigation is continues after a deadly shooting at the Clarksville Speedway and Fairgrounds Saturday night. According to the Clarksville Police Department, off-duty officers supporting the ongoing fair reported hearing gunshots coming from the parking lot near the venues entrance at approximately 9:10 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. 1 charged after 2 killed, 1 injured in Columbia shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said additional officers responded to the scene and found the 15-year-old victim with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was brought to Tennova Healthcare, where he died from his injuries. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing five or six males running from the area toward Hazelwood Road following the shooting, law enforcement said. Officials added that the shooting appears to be an isolated incident. Suspect identified in Clarksville stabbing, police seek help finding her Police urge anyone in the immediate area with surveillance cameras to review your footage. If you notice anything suspicious, youre asked to call 911 immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No additional details have been released about Saturday nights shooting. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. 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. PINEVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) A Pineville man was arrested on Friday night on charges of sexually abusing a child, and a woman was arrested for allegedly trying to distract deputies while he tried to get away. The Bell County Sheriffs Department posted on Facebook that on the night of May 30, deputies working alongside Pineville police officers carried out a search warrant for Randall Storms, 35, of Pineville, stemming from allegations of sexual offenses against a minor under 12. Kentucky man killed during Washington County tornado identified Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement wrote on social media that before deputies saw Storms at a Mary Street residence, officers met Mary Hunter, 53, who allegedly told them no one else was home. Deputies said Hunter allegedly tried to distract law enforcement while Storms tried to run from deputies into the home. Storms and Hunter were both arrested and lodged in the Bell County Detention Center. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Storms was held on a $250,000 cash bond and charged with: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kidnapping a minor First-degree rape incapable of consent, physically helpless First-degree sexual abuse of a victim under age 12 Third-degree terroristic threatening Procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means Hunter was charged with first-degree disorderly conduct, menacing, and second-degree hindering prosecution or apprehension. The sexual abuse investigation remains 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 FOX 56 News. QUICK WEATHER FORECAST: Today: Few clouds, high 71 Tonight: Mostly clear, low 48 Monday: Sunny skies, high 79 (56) Tuesday: Sunny & warmer, high 85 (65) Wednesday: Clouds increasing, high 88 (68) Thursday: Showers/ t-storms, high 84 (67) Mainly sunny skies will be the primary theme for Sunday. With less smoke and clearer conditions this is going to be the better of the two weekend days. Temperatures to kick off the month of June are still going to lean on the cooler side only reaching the low 70s. Overnight continues the calm weather over the area. With a center of high pressure in the Ohio River Valley, winds will become very light. Very cool temperatures stick around with low temperatures in the upper 40s. This is about 10 degrees colder than it should be for this time of year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much warmer conditions arrive by the start of the work week. Highs starting Monday will reach the upper 70s under mostly sunny skies. This will be the warmest day in central Ohio in over two weeks. Another round of Canadian wildfire smoke is forecast to move back into central Ohio by Monday evening. There will be moments through at least the first half the week that bring in thicker smoke plumes at times. This is all going to occur under mainly clear skies. Temperatures will increase every day through the middle of the week. By Wednesday highs are expected to reach the upper 80s. Next chance for showers and storms returns late Wednesday along a frontal boundary. This system will become stationary by the time is arrives to central Ohio. Rain continues through the end of the workweek and some of the weekend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (WOOD) The annual Detroit Regional Chambers annual Mackinac Policy Conference drew decision-makers, business leaders and stakeholders to Mackinac Island. This year, there were two major themes. The first was trade and tariffs. Relations with Canada, a key trading partner of the nation and Michigan, have been strained recently. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra told To The Point he believes that tension will ease. The mandate from the president is to deliver more prosperity to the American people. The mandate for Prime Minister (Mark) Carney is to do the same thing deliver more prosperity to the Canadian people. And as theyre both successful, again, imagine what will happen to North America. More prosperity for America. I think whats damaging us right now is the uncertainty. I mean, you got personal relationships across the border, Hoekstra said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other topic on everyones minds at the conference was the federal spending bill dubbed the Big Beautiful Bill. The bill has made it through the U.S. House of Representatives and now goes to the U.S. Senate. Above on this episode of To The Point, see comment on the bill from U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, and U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly. 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 WOODTV.com. We are raising a generation of thoughtful, passionate young people. They use their social media platforms to speak out against injustice from the war in Ukraine to the oppression in parts of Africa and China. But far above all other causes in online attention is Israels war against Hamas which began when the group invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, murdering 1,200 civilians and taking more than 250 hostages. But what starts as seemingly good intentions can lead to dangerous outcomes. The Old Testament emphasizes the power of action and the guidance of intellect over emotion in shaping a moral life. The Torah teaches us to do and then understand that right action can shape a just mindset. But today, in a world dominated by emotional online responses, we are witnessing the opposite: feelings replacing facts, outrage replacing understanding and too often, hate replacing humanity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why is this war treated differently from all others? Why are calls of genocide and colonialism directed only at the worlds only Jewish state? Why does Israel a democracy the size of New Jersey, with 20% of its citizens being Arab Muslims and Christians get singled out with flagrant terms not used for any other conflict? On TikTok, pro-Israel videos are greatly outnumbered by pro-Hamas or pro-Palestinian content. While criticism of any government, including Israels, is fair and often warranted, the disproportionate rage and double standard especially when based on misinformation is dangerous. And that danger is no longer theoretical. Just over a week ago, it became deadly. Sarah Milgrim, a member of the Jewish community and a Kansas City native, was murdered in Washington, D.C., alongside her partner, Yaron Lischinsky, just steps from the Capital Jewish Museum. The shooter allegedly screamed, Free Palestine! The irony is heartbreaking: Sarah, an active member in American Jewish Committees young professional ACCESS group, was attending an event focused on humanitarian collaboration including aid for civilians in Gaza. She was also involved in Tech2Peace, an organization providing entrepreneurial training alongside conflict dialogue to young Palestinians and Israelis. She was a peacebuilder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that didnt matter. The shooter was looking for Jews. Their murder was an act of hate. It was antisemitism not abstract or academic, but real, violent and fatal. Todays antisemitism often hides behind anti-Zionism. But lets be clear: Anti-Zionism is antisemitism when it denies Jews the same right of self-determination afforded to all other people. The vast majority of Jews identify as Zionist, which simply means supporting the Jewish peoples right to live in peace and security in their ancestral homeland. To deny this is to deny Jewish peoplehood. This poisonous rhetoric doesnt just stay online it fuels real-world violence and emboldens fanatics, such as the one accused of killing Sarah and Yaron. We must reverse the current course. Let our actions lead to better thinking. Let conversation replace condemnation. Let learning replace reposting. Allies must speak out. It takes a whole of society approach Jews and non-Jews alike. Silence helps the oppressor, never the victim. Start by reaching out. Talk to someone you disagree with. Check in on your Jewish friends. Read more deeply and from diverse, credible sources. Be cautious about what you watch and post online. It matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Sarahs memory, lets not just mourn lets act. She believed in coexistence and peace between Israelis and Palestinians. We must continue that work, together. Lets reverse the paradigm with our intellect first over our emotional responses. Let our actions of learning from others and education lead to words of love and acceptance and allow these to shape our thoughts for a better future one filled with peace and humanity. Micah Levine is on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau of Greater Kansas City and serves on the ACCESS Global Board of the American Jewish Committee. A historian and populist firebrand who boasted about his brawls with soccer hooligans has narrowly won Polands presidential election, in a political upset that could torpedo the centrist governments efforts to unspool the legacy of authoritarianism in the country. Karol Nawrocki, the candidate aligned with Polands right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) party, won 50.89% of the vote, defeating the liberal mayor of Warsaw Rafa Trzaskowski long the favorite to win in a head-to-head run-off. The result extends PiS 10-year occupancy of the presidential palace and could spell disaster for Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose pledge to erase PiS fingerprints from Polands embattled institutions saw him clash repeatedly with the outgoing President Andrzej Duda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nawrocki is a champion of US President Donald Trump and visited the White House in the weeks before the election. He was the underdog throughout the campaign, but came a close second to Trzaskowski in the first round of voting two weeks ago, having survived a series of damaging stories about his past. He picked up a late endorsement from the third-placed, far-right candidate. The 42-year-old historian will now yield the hugely powerful presidential veto, which Duda used frequently to thwart Tusks agenda. The European Union has looked to Tusk for a blueprint on undoing the effects of populism on a democracy but a victory for Nawrocki was not part of the plan. Though Polish presidential candidates often stand as individuals, rather than representatives of a party, there is little hiding their affiliations, and each major party historically endorses and campaigns for a candidate. Tusk ousted PiS from government in a heated parliamentary election in 2023, but Nawrockis victory denies him an open road to fully undo the transformation of the Polish state overseen by PiS during an eight-year stint in government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Tusk said he will soon call for a parliamentary vote of confidence in his coalition government, according to Reuters. He added in a televised speech that his party wants to show the world they understand the gravity of the moment, but that we do not intend to take a single step back. Nawrocki overcame a series of negative stories about his past to pull off an impressive and unexpected victory. - Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/Getty Images A checkered past Nawrocki is a first-time politician who has led two influential cultural bodies in Poland the Museum of the Second World War in Gdansk, and then the Institute of National Remembrance, a state-funded research facility whose purpose became increasingly politicized as PiS took a nationalist approach to the telling of Polish history. He ran a campaign that was seemingly stuck in defensive mode. Scandals about his alleged use of a Gdansk apartment as a second home and his supposed ties to the northern port citys underworld dogged his run. In March it even emerged that he had appeared on a television show, in disguise and with his face blurred, to praise his own book. And when confronted with claims that he took part in organized fights between rival soccer fans known in Poland as an ustawka, or set up Nawrocki sought to use the revelations to his advantage, describing the clashes as noble, according to CNN affiliate TVN24. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the campaign trail, he emphasized his Catholic faith, pledged to reduce migration, and was relentlessly critical of Brussels and of Tusk. He received a late flurry of support from attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), which held its first-ever gathering in Poland earlier this week, cementing a years-long convergence between the populist right movements in Poland and the US. His victory looked unlikely until the first round of voting two weeks ago, which showed him narrowly behind Trzaskowski and revealed greater levels of support than expected for a smattering of far-right and extreme-right figures, some of whom subsequently said they would vote for Nawrocki. The result is the worst-case scenario for Tusks government, which was elected after eight toxic years in Polish politics but which has labored in recent months to deliver on its ambitious agenda. Trzaskowski, Nawrocki's challenger, is a close ally of Prime Minister Donald Tusk. - Aleksander Kalka/AP Tusk had hoped that a Trzaskowski presidency would remove the last major roadblock to his efforts to renew the independence of Polands judiciary, media and cultural bodies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, the result sets the stage for a new round of confrontations between Polands president and prime minister. Nawrocki will be expected to follow the blueprint set by Duda, who blocked several attempts by Tusk to undo the PiS judicial reforms and stalled progress on bills relating to hate crime and contraception access, either by vetoing them or sending them into legal gridlock. Im sorry that I didnt manage to convince the majority of citizens of my vision of Poland, Trzaskowski wrote on X. And it essentially snuffs out any prospect that Polands near-total abortion ban and its prohibition of same-sex civil partnerships will be undone. Tusk had promised to relax both bans, but they are supported by some of the more socially conservative lawmakers propping up his government, and the threat of a presidential veto likely renders any efforts at persuasion futile. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Los Angeles Police Department officers clashed with a large group of partygoers outside a warehouse in South L.A. overnight. An LAPD spokesperson confirmed to KTLA that units were dispatched to 33rd and Main streets just after 2 a.m. on a shooting call, and upon arriving, the officers located a man with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital in stable condition. Video from the scene and information relayed by LAPD indicates there was a large crowd in the area at the time, possibly for a warehouse party. Police clash with large group of partygoers in South Los Angeles. June 1, 2025. (RMGNews) Police clash with large group of partygoers in South Los Angeles. June 1, 2025. (RMGNews) Police clash with large group of partygoers in South Los Angeles. June 1, 2025. (RMGNews) Many of the people in the crowd were not cooperative with authorities when asked for details of the incident, LAPD added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Preliminary information indicating some sort of scuffle or altercation led to the shooting was not confirmed, although footage obtained by KTLA shows officers trying to forcefully hold people away from an area that had been blocked off by crime scene tape. No information on any suspect or suspects was released, and it is not known if anyone was arrested. Nancy Fontan 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. A 17-year-old Hartford teen who was part of a group that left allegedly left a restaurant without paying is dead after a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his right leg on Sunday morning in East Hartford, police said. At about 5 a.m., the East Hartford Police Department responded to a larceny complaint at The AAA Diner at 1209 Main Street for four people leaving the restaurant without paying their bill, according to the East Hartford Police Department. According to police, an officer saw the suspects entering an Uber and leaving the scene. The officer stopped the vehicle near Main Street and Orchard Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said the 17-year-old ran from the stop and the officer pursued him on foot. Officers lost sight of him, then heard a gunshot, East Hartford Police said in a statement. Officers quickly located the male behind 1137 Main Street, where he was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his right leg. The firearm found near the male was stolen and later traced to South Windsor, according to police. Police said that East Hartford officers, East Hartford Fire Department and the Ambulance Service of Manchester immediately began life-saving measures. The male was rushed to St. Francis Hospital, where he died from his injuries during surgery, according to the East Hartford Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per request of the family the name of the deceased was not released at this time and the incident remains an open and active investigation. Anyone with information should contact Detective Patrick Sullivan at (860) 528-4401 or psullivan@easthartfordct.gov. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday clarified that the Express Link Canal project would continue despite ongoing protests. He said that 40 per cent of the work had already been completed, and there was no reason to halt the project at this stage. "Forty per cent of the work of the Express Link Canal project has been completed. In this situation, there is no reason to stop the work," Shivakumar told reporters at Vidhana Soudha while addressing concerns over the Hemavati Link Canal project. The remarks came amid growing protests from farmers and political leaders opposing the Hemavati Link Canal. While responding to the agitation, Shivakumar stated, "Those who are there, those who are here, are all our farmers. We will protect the interests of everyone." The protests gained traction after BJP MLA Suresh Gowda voiced opposition. However, Shivakumar pointed out that key MLAs were already aware of the project. "MLAs Krishnappa and Suresh Gowda have said that they are aware of this project. They have also spoken about it. However, they are now fighting. I am not saying that this is wrong. All the MLAs are mentally aware of this issue," he said. When asked about Union Minister V Somanna's letter concerning the project, Shivakumar responded with caution and respect. "He is a big man, a Union Minister. Let's ask for his guidance as well," he said, indicating that the government was open to suggestions and cooperation from the Centre. On Saturday, DK Shivakumar alleged that the protest against the Hemavati Link Canal project is a political protest. He said 40 per cent of the work is already done, and the project will not be stopped as it will help farmers, and also accused BJP leaders of trying to create problems. Thousands of farmers in Karnataka held a large protest on Saturday near Gubbi town in Tumakuru district, opposing the start of work on the Hemavathi River Link Canal Project. Speaking to the mediapersons about the protest against the project, DK Shivakumar said, "That is all a political protest. Nothing is there within the water. We have sorted it out. I have discussed with them. We have a technical report. Everything is over. Already, 40 per cent of the work is over. There is no question of stopping any work. We will continue with it. It will help every farmer in the area... BJP leaders always do that. They are known for creating problems." He further added that the Karnataka government will not tolerate hate speech or misinformation. "Karnataka government does not tolerate hate speeches or misinformation. The law will take its course. We have instructed all the DCs to identify in every district and take all the information and file cases immediately. We want to keep the districts in coastal Karnataka very peaceful and business-oriented. We are working out a strategy for the unemployment problem that has been created there. A team from our party will also assess the situation," Shivakumar said. (ANI) The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating a shooting involving a police officer after a man tried to break into his patrol car. The investigation started Sunday morning when someone tried to break into the car of Fulton County Police Corporal Damion Allen. According to the county, Allen confronted someone at the Heritage Station Apartment complex in Atlanta, where he provides security. The person trying to break into Allens patrol vehicle charged at him with a metal pipe, Allen opened fire in self-defense, and the person with the metal pipe died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Channel 2s Bryan Mims was at the scene at McDaniel Street, where neighbors said it all started with a suspicious man they saw on the property. Neighbors told Channel 2 Action News that the incident started after they saw a suspicious man walking around the apartment complex. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The neighbor said a Fulton County Police officer who lived there was told about the suspicious man and went to go speak to him. After a discussion, neighbors told Mims that shots were fired. Mims learned the officer was not injured. Police confirmed to Mims that the shooting was officer-involved and fatal, though other details were not yet available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the crime scene, police tape is visible in multiple areas around the Heritage Station Apartments. TRENDING STORIES: Officers from the Fulton County Police Department were at the location speaking with witnesses. Mims said a Fulton County Sheriffs Office vehicle was also on scene, though the office said they are not involved in the investigation. Atlanta police officials also said they are not investigating the incident, and referred Channel 2 Action News to speak with the Fulton County Police Department. The incident remains under investigation. The individual killed has not been identified. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) A police officer handling security at a southwest Atlanta apartment complex shot and killed a person Sunday morning who was breaking into the officer's patrol car and charged at him with a metal pipe, authorities said.. The Fulton County officer confronted the individual at around 7:40 a.m. at Heritage Station Apartments, officials said. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting. The Bureau is also investigating the death of Carrie Hall, 50, who was shot last week during an encounter with Bartow County deputies and a Cartersville police officer and later died at a hospital. Authorities say Hall did not comply with orders to drop a gun. NEED TO KNOW A police officer was fatally shot and another was injured during a shoot-out in Baldwin Park, Calif., on Saturday, May 31 While responding to a call of an individual "shooting rounds with a rifle," the officers found one person dead at the scene The suspect is in custody following the shooting, Sheriff Robert Luna said in a press conference A Baldwin Park police officer has died and another is wounded following a shooting in Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 7:12 p.m. local time on Saturday, May 31, officers responded to a call of someone shooting rounds with a rifle and a person down at the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue in Baldwin Park, the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said at a press conference, per KCAL News . The suspect engaged the officers when they arrived, Sheriff Robert Luna said, according to the outlet. One officer was struck and transported [to the hospital] and unfortunately, he is deceased. After those shots were fired other officers immediately went to their assistance [resulting in an] officer-involved shooting. A second officer was shot and transported to a hospital in stable condition, Luna said. Another victim, believed to be an adult male, was found deceased with apparent gunshot wounds when police arrived at the scene. The suspect, who was confirmed by police to be an adult male, was also struck by gunfire and was transported to a local hospital in stable condition. He is now in custody, Luna said during the press conference, per KCAL News. The identities of the victims and the suspect have not been released at this time amid an investigation into the cause of the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Ring camera footage obtained by The Los Angeles Times, eleven shots were heard at 7:16 p.m. on Palm Avenue. In a second video reviewed by the outlet, an additional six shots were fired 10 minutes later near the corner of Palm and Filhurst Avenue as helicopters circled overhead. "It sounded like fireworks just going off constantly back and forth but then you hear patrol cars from everywhere, coming in, swarming. It was crazy," a witness told ABC 7 Eyewitness News. 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. I RYU/VCG via Getty The L.A. County Sheriff's Department, West Covina and El Monte police departments all responded to the incident, according to the L.A. Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "One of our officers was murdered tonight. He answered a call of duty, of shots fired, to protect our residents in Baldwin Park," Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert A. Lopez said during the press conference. Chief Lopez described his fallen officer as an amazing man and an avid snowboarder and Dodger fan. Its extremely tragic to have to deal with this, he added. PEOPLE has reached out to the Baldwin Park police for further comment. Read the original article on People A person was who suffered two stab wounds late Saturday night in Meriden was hospitalized, according to the Meriden Police Department. Meriden police responded to an assault in progress shortly after 11 p.m. in the area of the 100 block of Willow Street. Police found a victim with two stab wounds. Police said the victim was transported to Hartford Hospital. The incident remains under investigated by Meriden Police detectives and anyone with information should contact Det. Daniel McKenna at dmckenna@meridenct.gov or (203) 630-6284. CHICAGO (WGN) According to Chicago Police Department sources and a report reviewed by WGN News, a man was taken into custody after an alleged sexual assault at gunpoint on a Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line train Thursday night. According to sources, officers responded to the Western stop at 430 South Western Avenue just before 11:30 p.m. for a report of a person with a gun. When officers arrived, a witness pointed toward a man on the platform and identified him as the person with a gun. The suspect, a 30-year-old man, veered behind a metal platform to hide from officers, but was taken into custody. A gun was recovered near the train tracks, sources said. The man, who is being held, has not been charged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A CTA rider told police the suspect was on a train with him and his fiancee, a 57-year-old woman, who was the victim in the alleged sexual assault. According to police sources, the suspect approached the victim, pulled out a handgun, racked the slide, and then exposed himself. He then forced the woman to perform sexual acts at gunpoint. The victim reportedly told investigators she knew she had no choice but to comply. After the assault, first reported by news organization CWBChicago, the suspect allegedly walked down the aisle of the train car, racked the slide of his gun again, and shouted where they at. Investigators, according to police sources, recovered evidence from the scene, including biological evidence from the train and the victim, and items left on the train by the suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect, who claimed he was injured, was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital. As officers later attempted to transport him back to the police district, a report indicates he mulekicked an officer in the chest and headbutted another officer in the chest. It is not clear whether either officer was injured in the assault. CTA riders told WGN they were not aware of the assault, but that the allegations concerned them. Tamia Carroll, who goes to school in the area, said she tends to feel safe on the trains, but always keeps her head on a swivel. You never know what could happen outside. I dont want to say its a dangerous place, its just dangerous mindsets of people, Carroll said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not clear how many riders were in the train car or whether there were other witnesses aside from the victims fiance. Theres always consequences for your actions and I think that people should be upheld to those consequences, Carroll said. It is a very traumatizing experience, so if you ever see something thats happening, even if you dont know whats happening, say something. It might not be the best to step in, but make people aware, let somebody know, cause a scene. WGN is not naming the suspect because he has not yet been charged. Cook County court records indicate he has previous convictions for public indecency/lewd exposure, and aggravated battery of a peace officer. Prosecutors previously dropped an attempted murder charge against the man. WGN News has reached out to the CTA for a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Journalists at online media outlet Politico are preparing to unionise as Donald Trump puts its parent company in his sights. Staff in Politicos UK newsroom have submitted a formal request for union recognition to the company, which is owned by German media giant Axel Springer. Insiders said morale at the publication had slumped, with staff unhappy about pay and benefits. It comes amid a chilling of relations between the Trump administration and Axel Springer, which is run by media tycoon Mathias Dopfner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Dopfner, whose empire also includes Business Insider and newspaper titles Die Welt and Bild, has previously been sympathetic to Mr Trumps politics and arranged for Elon Musk to write an opinion piece expressing his support for Germanys far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in one of his papers. However, he has since distanced himself from Mr Trump over the US presidents treatment of Ukraine in its war against Russia. Mathias Dopfner, Alex Stringers chief executive, has previously been sympathetic to Donald Trumps politics - Liesa Johannssen/Reuters Politico has found itself in the spotlight after Mr Trump repeated false claims that the outlet had received millions of dollars in funding from the US Agency for International Development. The payments were in fact subscription fees for the news outlet for US government departments. Relations soured further last month after Business Insider published a story scrutinising Donald Trump Jrs business dealings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The story reportedly sparked anger in the White House, fuelling speculation that Mr Trump could seek to retaliate against Axel Springer through a potential federal investigation. Politico also came under scrutiny from one pro-Trump Axel Springer board member, who branded journalists woke in a row over the outlets coverage of the war in Gaza. Martin Varsavsky, a Spain-based entrepreneur, accused Politico of one-sided Hamas support. He parted ways with the Axel Springer board just a week later. Unrest in US newsroom about use of AI The union plans come amid unrest in Politicos US newsroom about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver summaries of major political news stories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US staff, who are represented by the Pen Guild union, have complained that the rollout of the new technology violates an agreement that states bosses must give 60 days notice. Increased use of AI has also stirred tensions at Business Insider, which this week sparked fury and a union backlash after it announced plans to lay off more than 20pc of staff. In the same memo bosses declared the outlet was going all-in on AI. Leaders of the nascent UK union are set to survey members about their concerns ahead of negotiations over a house agreement, with guarantees around AI likely to be included. Staff have also raised concerns about a leadership vacuum in the newsroom. Politico, which publishes the popular Westminster newsletter Playbook, has been without a UK editor since Jack Blanchard relocated to Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nevertheless, sources close to the union insisted discussions with the company had so far been amicable and that they were aiming to develop positive relations. A member of Politicos National Union of Journalists (NUJ) chapel said: Members of the Politico UK newsroom are seeking recognition through the National Union of Journalists. The chapel looks forward to fruitful negotiations with the company and on working together for Politicos continuing success. Politico was founded in 2007 by media executive Robert Allbritton with the aim of capitalising on the rapid growth of online news. It focuses on politics and policy in the US and internationally, while it also hosts a number of live events. The website was snapped up by Axel Springer in 2021 in a deal worth more than $1bn (743m). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Politico and the NUJ have been contacted for comment. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of downtown Portland Saturday night for the annual Starlight Parade, part of the ongoing Rose Festival. This years Grand Marshal was Dillon T. Pickle, who rode in the back of a convertible and waved to the throngs of people along the route. Roads were closed off in downtown Portland earlier in the day to prepare for the parade and parade-goers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In past years, Portland has had some security issues at other parades. Now there is a lot of attention on how to keep the crowds safe. PAM CUTs 2025 Cinema Unbound Awards bridges high brow and the underground Since more than 100,000 people are estimated to attend the parade this year, anti-vehicle barricades are set up for the first time to prevent cars from plowing into the crowd. Dillon T. Pickle was the Grand Marshal for the Starlight Parade through downtown Portland, May 31, 2025 (KOIN) Some of the participants in the Starlight Parade through downtown Portland, May 31, 2025 (KOIN) Some of the participants in the Starlight Parade through downtown Portland, May 31, 2025 (KOIN) Some of the participants in the Starlight Parade through downtown Portland, May 31, 2025 (KOIN) Some of the participants in the Starlight Parade through downtown Portland, May 31, 2025 (KOIN) Anti-vehicle barricades are set up at the Starlight Parade for the first time on May 31, 2025. (KOIN) Enhanced traffic barriers are in place for the Starlight Parade in Portland, May 31, 2025 (KOIN) If a vehicle were to engage with it, it lifts the front of the vehicle, said Steven Bledsoe, a senior event strategist for the Portland Rose Festival Foundation. Theyre strung along. And then if its a larger vehicle, it wraps around the vehicle to stop it and it stops it rather rapidly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For years, the Rose Festival used dump trucks to block roads. But back in 2023, a man drove around some of the dump trucks and onto the parade route, almost hitting the crowd. Pedalpalooza! Portland kicks off Bike Summer this weekend Now, the festival is no longer using dump trucks, with organizers saying the decision was in response to budget cuts. Parade-goer Erin Smith from Vancouver told KOIN 6 News, said shes not had any safety concerns at the events. From my experience, whoever comes down here just wants to watch the parade, said Smith. So weve not experienced any issues. And I dont expect there to be any this year either. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There will be hundreds of police officers from several different agencies in uniform and plain clothes throughout the parade and along the viewing areas. But officials add that you can take it one step further by bringing a flashlight for when you want to get around, especially when the festivities wrap up. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Key Points Between 80% and 90% of retirees rely on their Social Security income, to some degree, to make ends meet. A Trump administration policy change is expected to modestly reduce monthly Social Security payouts for beneficiaries who are delinquent on their federal student loan(s). Additionally, the Trump administration is ramping up efforts to collect Social Security overpayments from more than a million Americans, which can lead to steep benefit garnishment. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook For the last 85 years, Social Security has stood as a financial pillar for America's aging workforce. Since 2002, national pollster Gallup has been surveying retirees to gauge how important their Social Security income is to their financial health. Consistently, between 80% and 90% of all respondents note the reliance on this all-important payout to cover at least some portion of their expenses. For the program's more than 69 million beneficiaries -- 52.6 million of which are retired workers -- nothing is more important than sustaining this payout and steadily increasing it through annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) over time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But for approximately 2,000,000 beneficiaries, their Social Security income is anything but guaranteed at the moment. Due to two notable policy changes under President Donald Trump, select beneficiaries, including retired workers, may see their Social Security checks marginally, or meaningfully, reduced in the coming months. President Trump delivering remarks. Image source: Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks, courtesy of the National Archives. New Trump administration policy targets delinquent federal student loan borrowers According to the U.S. Department of Education, some 42.7 million Americans have taken on a collective $1.6 trillion in outstanding federal student loans, as of April 2025. But what you might not realize is that, as of August 2024, nearly 3.59 million of these borrowers were aged 60 and above. Based on a January 2025 report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, some 452,000 borrowers aged 62 and older that are likely receiving Social Security benefits were in default on their student loans -- and that's a potential problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump and his administration have placed great emphasis on weeding out perceived fraud and making the federal government more efficient. Among the many things on the Trump administration's agenda is collecting on defaulted federal student loans. The U.S. Department of Education hasn't collected on defaulted student loans since March 2020; but this COVID-19 era pause is coming to an end. Beginning as early as June 2025, Social Security beneficiaries who are in default on their federal student loans could see up to 15% of their monthly payout garnished until their federal student loan repayment is no longer in default. Note, this garnishment applies to all types of beneficiaries: retired workers, workers with disabilities, and survivor beneficiaries (which means the actual figure of Social Security beneficiaries in default may be larger than 452,000). Furthermore, the 15% Social Security check garnishment is based on your total benefit. For instance, if your Medicare Part B premium is automatically deducted from your monthly payout, the 15% will be reduced from this prededuction figure. The icing on the cake is that the Trump administration is somewhat expediting collection from delinquent federal student loan borrowers. Whereas warning letters concerning possible garnishment came 65 days in advance of such an event prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the new warning letters offer just 30 days' notice prior to deductions commencing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The one caveat to this 15% offset is that a beneficiary can't be left with less than $750 per month. If, for example, you receive $800 per month from Social Security and are delinquent on your federal student loan, the maximum that you would be garnished is $50 per month instead of 15%. Image source: Getty Images. Social Security clawbacks can affect roughly 1.5 million beneficiaries The other major policy shift that has the potential to impact in the neighborhood of 1.5 million Social Security recipients is benefit clawbacks. From time to time, the Social Security Administration (SSA) overpays beneficiaries. Sometimes this error is entirely the fault of the SSA. In other instances, it's due to a workers' disability status changing, or perhaps an unreported change/increase in income received. Regardless of the reason, this overpayment needs to be recouped by the SSA. We lack complete numbers on how many Americans fall into this group, but in 2023, then-acting SSA Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi told members of the House Ways and Means Committee that north of 1 million Social Security beneficiaries were overpaid in fiscal year (FY) 2022 -- the federal government's fiscal year ends Sept. 30 -- and more than 980,000 recipients received too much in benefits in FY 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's possible that some of the recipients Kijakazi referred to have repaid what they owed under the Joe Biden administration's 10% clawback rate -- a garnishment rate that was lowered from 100% during the pandemic. The SSA's Office of the Inspector General hasn't provided any updates on overpayments since FY 2023. Thus, I'm making the conservative estimate that around three-quarters of these prior overpayments are still outstanding (about 1.5 million beneficiaries) given the substantially lower clawback rate during the Biden era. These roughly 1.5 million overpaid beneficiaries, coupled with the 452,000 federal student loan delinquencies, equates to approximately 2 million people at risk of seeing their Social Security checks reduced. Prior to the pandemic, previous presidents, including Barack Obama and Donald Trump during his first term in the White House, featured 100% clawback rates. This allowed the entirety of a beneficiaries' Social Security check to be withheld until the overpayment was fully collected. In March, the Trump administration, via the SSA, stated plans to reinstate this 100% clawback rate on overpayments for retired workers, workers with disabilities, and survivor beneficiaries. But in late April, the administration backed off this aggressive collection rate and settled on a 50% garnishment of benefits until the overpayment is satisfied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While recovering all SSA overpayments would save the program about $7 billion over the coming 10 years, this new 50% recovery guideline has the potential to financially strap some of these roughly 1.5 million recipients who rely heavily on their Social Security income to cover their expenses. The $ 23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. One easy trick could pay you as much as $23,760 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Join Stock Advisor to learn more about these strategies. View the "Social Security secrets" The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. President Donald Trump's Policy Is Set to Impact the Social Security Checks of Roughly 2,000,000 Beneficiaries -- Are You One of Them? was originally published by The Motley Fool James Sample, a law Professor at Hofstra University, tells the hosts of Weekend Primetime that Donald Trump is on an extraordinary losing streak in the courts, and right now the courts are the thing that is holding up democracy in a good way. As Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a two-day visit to West Bengal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dilip Ghosh said on Sunday that the party has made significant strides in the state under Shah's leadership. Ghosh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's last visit to the state instilled confidence in party workers. "PM Modi visited north Bengal to encourage BJP workers, and they sent a message that West Bengal wants change and that our workers are ready. Today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit South Bengal and will give directions to BJP workers. Under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the party has progressed a lot in West Bengal,' Ghosh told ANI. On Saturday, Amit Shah arrived in Kolkata for a two-day visit to West Bengal. He was received at the airport by the West Bengal Leader of Opposition (LoP) and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, along with other party leaders. Earlier, on his visit, BJP leader Agnimitra Paul said, "People of Bengal are desperate for change. 2026 belongs to BJP in Bengal." Referring to terror incidents in past, she added, "Mamata Banerjee wanted this government to not avenge (Pahalgam terror attack) just the way Congress did during the 26/11 attack, but PM Modi's government avenged it." Echoing the same sentiments about Amit Shah's visit to West Bengal, BJP MP Saumitra Khan said that the people are excited about the Home Minister's visit, asserting that BJP is confident in forming the government in the upcoming 2026 Assembly election. Criticising Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he said, "West Bengal CM never speaks the right things; she never thinks that someone else can be right. She has fooled the people of West Bengal and maligned the state police. She favours Rohingyas and Bangladeshis and doesn't respect women." BJP leader Locket Chatterjee noted the timing of the visit, saying, "All are welcoming Amit Shah's visit, who is in the state after Operation Sindoor. It is a proud movement for us. BJP will form the government in 2026 in the state." Meanwhile, BJP announced Ashish Ghosh as the party's candidate for the upcoming Kaliganj Assembly constituency bypoll on Saturday. Bye elections in Kaliganj will be held on June 19, and counting will take place on June 23. The seat fell vacant following the death of TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahamed. In addition to that, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) announced Alifa Ahmed as their candidate for the Kaliganj elections. TMC shared a post on their official 'X' handle and informed about the development. "AITC, under the inspiration and guidance of Chairperson Mamata Banerjee, we are pleased to announce the candidate for the upcoming West Bengal Legislative Assembly Bye election scheduled for 19th June, 2025," the 'X' post read. Bypolls in West Bengal's Kaliganj are important for the incumbent TMC state government due to the recent developments in the state. The TMC government has been under the radar due to various issues, especially due to the Murshidabad violence. (ANI) 25,859 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? 25,859 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others? Dems did tariffs and deportations Clinton did it, Obama did it and Biden did it, and not one Democrat complained or filed a lawsuit to overturn a tariff or the deportations not one. It was because their guy did it and it fit their narrative. But when Trump did basically the same thing, OMG, the outrage from the left. We all know that our governor has blamed all of Californias budget issues on Trump; it could not have been the last six years of total mismanagement by our left-leaning politicians. It was that first 100 days, the terrible 100 days; instead of admitting there are problems, lets deflect to the easy target Trump as it will get him on TV and get clicks to satisfy his ego. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spend more time governing and less time campaigning. Lets concentrate on balancing the budget and less time on filing numerous lawsuits that the possibility winning are slim. The most important outcome is him advancing his campaign for higher office. Just how many of those lawsuits will we win I doubt we will ever know; that would lead to showing just how frivolous they truly are. Be like your constituents and live within your spendable tax income. Duane Opie, Fresno Grow smarter in SEDA Fresnos planned southeast expansion, aka SEDA, will happen maybe it should. But not right now. At Every Neighborhood Partnership, weve spent years working in the neighborhoods left behind during Fresnos last big growth wave. Back then, all growth was seen as good. But weve learned that unchecked expansion without reinvestment leads to lasting harm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need smarter growth expansion that strengthens our core while building on the edges. Think of SEDA like hitting the gym and only working your biceps. Outward growth new homes, shiny roads looks great. But if we ignore our core, we risk collapse. Thats what Fresno has experienced. The current SEDA plan is another big bicep. But we need to finish whats already on the table and repair whats been ignored. Were asking for: 1. A realistic cost analysis for SEDA not just a map. 2. Completion of long-delayed specific plans. 3. A structure that prioritizes infill and reinvestment in Fresnos core. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SEDA must not drain resources from neighborhoods that have already waited too long. Growth isnt bad but unbalanced growth is. Lets not repeat our past. Lets grow wiser. Andrew Feil, executive director, Every Neighborhood Partnership, Fresno Trumps enrichment plan Its a simple question: How has Mr. Trump increased his personal fortune by $3 billion from the time he took office to benefit the country? Daniel Lea, Fresno Shady PG&E dealings PG&E insists it has turned a corner, but recent developments suggest otherwise. We now know that Teresa Alvarado, a top executive at PG&E, was involved in campaign activities supporting a San Jose City Council candidate, according to emails obtained by San Jose Spotlight. At the same time, Alvarado played a central role in negotiations aimed at preventing the city of San Jose from creating its own public utility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alvarados actions paint a troubling picture of a utility company deeply entangled in political maneuvering fighting to protect its monopoly, even if it means undermining local self-determination. This should serve as a wake-up call for Fresno. A few years ago, Fresno leaders considered studying the feasibility of forming a municipal utility an idea that quickly lost traction, in part due to PG&Es political sway and lobbying. If the city had moved forward, it could have gained more control over rates, reliability, and clean energy investments. Instead, PG&E continues to dominate the energy landscape with little accountability and even less transparency. Lets be clear: these are not isolated incidents. They reflect a pattern of behavior using back-channel influence to suppress competition and maintain control. John Williams, Fresno Fong vote on budget hurts his district Congressman Fong claims the GOP budget will benefit congressional District 20, but the districts demographics tell a different story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His talking points may be technically accurate, but they reflect the priorities of wealthy donors and national party leadership, not working families in the Central Valley. Most households in CA-20 earn under $88,000, with over 30% relying on Medicaid or SNAP. Yet this bill trades modest tax cuts for deep cuts to health care, food assistance and school funding. Many families will lose more in services than they gain in tax relief. Estate tax changes and business deductions benefit the ultra-wealthy, not the small farms, sole proprietors and local laborers that drive our economy. Agricultural and trade investments sound promising, but specialty crop growers in CA-20 rarely see these federal dollars, and tariff hikes will make exporting even harder. Massive spending on defense and border enforcement may appeal to donors, but it wont fix our roads, schools, or clinics. Taxing EVs and expanding 529 plans helps the affluent, not working families trying to get ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need targeted investment, strong infrastructure, public health funding, and fair immigration policy, not symbolic tax breaks. Mr. Fongs vote reflects party politics, not local needs. Rebecca B. Camarena, Lemoore Clean water is everyones right The federal Clean Water Act became law more than 50 years ago with the goal of making sure all public waters are safe for people and wildlife. This law was needed because water pollution had become a widespread problem that was threatening public health and natural areas. Every living creature needs clean water to survive. Protecting water from pollution is common sense. The only way to make sure our water stays clean in an industrialized world is to regulate it, plain and simple. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bad news is that decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court and President Trump have weakened these protections in recent years. The good news is that California has a chance to pass the Right to Clean Water Act (SB 601), which would restore essential clean water regulations for our state. Please join me in sending a clear message to Sen. (Anna) Caballero. We are counting on our state leaders to right this wrong. Jahari Garcia, Sanger As a lesbian who is a rabbi and longtime advocate for LGBTQ rights, I've celebrated Pride in cities across the country from West Hollywood to Washington, D.C. Since moving to Austin, I've come to cherish the unique spirit of this community: welcoming, inclusive, progressive and kind. Yet as Pride season begins nationwide, Im watching closely and with genuine concern. At Pride events around the country in recent years, LGBTQ Jews have too often faced open hostility. Ive seen troubling videos from past marches in which people were shouted down simply for carrying Jewish or Israeli symbols. Community members have confided in me that they've been explicitly or implicitly pressured to hide parts of their identity to feel welcome. I've read statements from event organizers that, intentionally or not, excluded or erased Jewish participants. This is not what Pride was meant to be. Activists wave Progress Pride Flags during a 2023 march in Austin. Some Jewish members of the LGBTQ community are apprehensive they could face hostility at Pride events because of tensions over the Israel-Hamas war. Here in Austin, many queer Jews are already asking themselves if they'll feel safe or truly welcome at our own Pride events in August. Many in the Jewish LGBTQ community are already saying they wont march this year because they felt unsafe last year, when our Pride organization failed to create a security plan or even meet then with Jewish leaders. These worries don't come from threats outside our community. They arise from uncertainty about acceptance within it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the stakes are even higher now. Less than two weeks ago, two people were murdered outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., after attending a reception focused on peace and humanitarian aid. The attack took place just steps from an exhibit celebrating LGBTQ Jewish life. It was a painful reminder that even the most inclusive spaces are not immune to hate and that Jewish safety cannot be taken for granted. Since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists massacred more than 1,200 people in Israel, our Jewish community has grappled with profound grief. Yet, in the painful months afterward, our grief has been compounded by something deeply unexpected: rejection. Across the country, Jewish LGBTQ individuals have experienced hostility at Pride events. Stars of David have been torn from Pride flags. Marchers have been booed or shouted down for visibly embracing their Jewish identity. Some have been told explicitly that their presence, their grief or their Jewish symbols make others uncomfortable or unsafe. This type of exclusion is not hypothetical. It is painfully real. Rainbow friendship bracelets are distributed in June 2024 at a Pride event in Austin. Right here in Austin, young people have expressed fears about openly displaying Jewish pride symbols. Parents question whether it will be safe to bring children carrying Israeli flags. Queer Jews of all ages and backgrounds feel forced to choose between their queer and Jewish identities two essential parts of themselves that should never be at odds. Last year our experience at Pride was hurtful. The antisemitism was real. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pride was founded on the radical principle of inclusion. The first Pride was a protest, spearheaded by trans women of color who knew firsthand what exclusion felt like both from mainstream society and within their own communities. We honor their legacy not only by marching but by intentionally making space for everyone who wants to join us. Jewish identity is not a political statement. It is a lived experience of resilience, diaspora, survival and joy. Queer Jews have always been integral to the fight for LGBTQ rights from Harvey Milk and Edith "Edie" Windsor to countless LGBTQ Jews and Jewish allies who have helped shape Austin into a beacon of justice, diversity and kindness. Austin still has time to ensure we don't repeat the mistakes witnessed elsewhere. Organizers can proactively make clear that antisemitism has no place at Pride. They can firmly reject purity tests for participation and affirm that the diversity of our LGBTQ community includes queer Jews and their experiences. We cannot create a truly liberated world if we ask anyone to hide parts of themselves. This Pride, let us commit to a solidarity that doesn't require silence or conformity but instead celebrates authenticity, courage and intersectionality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rabbi Denise L. Eger is the executive director of A Wider Bridge, a national organization focused on combating growing antisemitism within LGBTQ+ communities. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: At Pride, queer Jews shouldnt have to hide who we are | Opinion Since their marriage in 2011, Prince William and Princess Catherine have been inseparable. They've embarked on numerous tours around the world, in addition to extensive charity work in the United Kingdom. The pair, known to be quite affable, showed their humorous side in a recently resurfaced quip during a 2020 trip to Cardiff. In particular, it was Princess Catherine who came in with a lighthearted line in response to an innocent misidentification. WPA Pool/Pool/Getty Images In 2020, the royal couple paid a visit to Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. There, they reunited with Joan Drew-Smith (pictured above), a resident who had previously participated in an online bingo event the prince and princess had hosted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per Hello!, after reuniting, Prince William said to Drew-Smith, "Hello Joan, do you remember we did the bingo with you? You said we weren't very good!" "Yes. You did a bloody s****y job," was the elderly resident's spry reply. WPA Pool/Pool/Getty Images Because of the pandemic, the then duke and duchess were both sporting face masks. Prince William explained this to Drew-Smith: "We have to wear masks because of the virus, but it's difficult to hear sometimes when you can't see someone's mouth." The gear lead to a quirky mix-up, when Drew-Smith then gestured to the Princess of Wales and quipped, "Is that your assistant?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ever graceful, Princess Catherine laughed and said, ""Well I am your assistant! I have been for a long time!" as she affectionately put a hand on her husband's shoulder. The now-Prince of Wales was far from offended, later remarking, "I love Joan, she's brilliant. If only everyone was as honest as her." More recently, Their Royal Highnesses attended the naming ceremony of HMS Glasgow in Scotland last week. "A pleasure to meet with members of the Ships Company and their families, as well as BAE Systems Shipbuilding Academy apprentices and graduates, and some of the incredibly skillful teams involved in the building of the ship," they wrote on Instagram. The photo shows the pair debarking from the plank, steps in synch. Proving, as always, that they've got each others' backs. Want all the latest royal news sent right to your inbox? Subscribe here. Kate Middleton Stuns on Palace Walk, But I Can't Get Over What She's Wearing (And I Don't Mean That Dress) Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski is projected to have secured a narrow victory in Poland's presidential run-off election on June 1, according to an exit poll. The closely-watched election has been widely seen as an inflection point in Poland's political trajectory, including its approach to Ukraine. An exit poll by Ipsos for broadcasters TVN, TVP and Polsat showed Trzaskowski of the ruling centrists Civic Coalition (KO) winning 50.3% of ballots. His rival, Karol Nawrocki a nationalist who adopted a "Trumpian" style of politics and was supported by the Law and Justice (PiS) party garnered 49.7% of the vote. Official election results are expected on June 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trzaskowski, whose campaign hinged on supporting Prime Minister Donald Tusk's democratic reforms, declared victory after the exit poll was released. "We won," Trzaskowski told party members after the exit poll results came out. "I will bring people together, I will be constructive, I will be a president for all Poles. I will be your president." While Poland has a parliamentary system in which the president's authority is largely ceremonial, the Polish president is still able to veto legislation proposed by the parliament. Moreover, the president plays a key role in foreign affairs and serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Polish presidents have historically been particularly active in shaping eastern policy. The next president is expected to play a role in Polish-Ukrainian relations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While both candidates agreed on certain issues such as increasing defense spending and supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia's full-scale invasion they diverged on Ukraine's potential NATO membership. Trzaskowski supported Ukraine joining NATO, whereas Nawrocki has been criticized for parroting pro-Russian narratives due to his opposition to Ukraine joining the alliance. Although Trzaskowski has been seen as more "pro-Ukrainian," both presidential candidates have taken positions targeting Ukrainian refugees. Russian disinformation campaigns also targeted the election, particularly amplifying anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Poland. The candidates also disagreed on several key social issues, highlighting deep divides in Polish politics and society more broadly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: The Hungary-Ukraine spy scandal and Russias possible role, explained Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. By Marek Strzelecki and Anna Koper WARSAW (Reuters) -Eurosceptic Karol Nawrocki established a lead in Sunday's presidential election in Poland, late exit polls showed, with the ballot seen as a test of the nation's support for a pro-European course versus Donald Trump-style nationalism. A late exit poll by Ipsos for broadcasters TVN, TVP and Polsat showed Nawrocki at 51% and his rival, liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, at 49%. Readings published just after voting ended had Nawrocki losing at 49.7% to 50.3%. Official results were due on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nawrocki, 42, an amateur boxer who ran a national remembrance institute, campaigned on a promise to ensure government economic and social policies favour Poles over other nations, including refugees from neighbouring Ukraine. While Poland's parliament holds most power, the president can veto legislation, and the vote was being watched closely in Ukraine as well as Russia, the United States and across the European Union. Both candidates agreed on the need to spend heavily on defence as Trump, the U.S. president, is demanding from Europe and to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia's three-year-old invasion. Poland is a member of the 32-nation North Atlantic Treaty Organization security alliance. But while Trzaskowski sees Ukraine's future membership of NATO as essential for Poland's security, Nawrocki said recently that if he were president he would not ratify it because of the danger of the alliance being drawn into war with Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia has demanded that NATO not enlarge eastward to include Ukraine and other former Soviet republics as a condition of a peace deal with Kyiv, sources have said. Nawrocki has presented the ballot as a referendum on the broad coalition government of pro-Europe Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the leader of the Civic Coalition (KO) party who took office about 18 months ago. "This will be a good counterweight to the government," said Mateusz Morawiecki, who was prime minister in the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) government that lost power in 2023. Although technically an independent, Nawrocki was backed by PiS in the election. Trzaskowski, 53, had promised to help Tusk complete his government's democratic reforms, which they both say aim to repair an erosion of checks and balances under the former PiS government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trzaskowski's campaign initially proclaimed victory on Sunday and did not immediately comment after poll readings showed a move in Nawrocki's favour. TUMULTUOUS CAMPAIGN The first round of the election on May 18 saw a surge in support for the anti-establishment far-right, suggesting that the KO-PiS duopoly that has dominated Polish politics for a generation may be starting to fracture. Nevertheless, after a tumultuous campaign in which Nawrocki in particular faced a slew of negative media reports about his alleged past conduct, once again candidates representing the two main parties faced off in the second round. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nawrocki dismissed accusations of wrongdoing in his acquisition of a flat from a pensioner and participation in mass organised fights among football hooligans. Social issues were also at stake in the election. Trzaskowski has said he wanted to see Poland's near total ban on abortion eased, something that outgoing nationalist President Andrzej Duda strongly opposed. A win by Nawrocki will likely mean that Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban and Slovakia's Robert Fico gain an ally in central Europe. His victory could lend momentum to the Czech Republic's eurosceptic opposition leader and former Prime Minister Andrej Babis who leads opinion polls ahead of an October election. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spoke in Nawrocki's favour in May, telling a conservative gathering in Poland that he "needs to be the next president." (Reporting by Alan Charlish, Kuba Stezycki, Marek Strzelecki, Pawel Florkiewicz, Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk, Anna Koper, Karol Badohal and Barbara Erling; Writing by Justyna Pawlak; Editing by Philippa Fletcher, Sophie Walker, Frances Kerry, Nia Williams and Cynthia Osterman) PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) U.S. Congressman Neal Dunns office reported that seven bottlenose dolphins were cleared for removal from Gulf World on Friday. They were expected to be removed by Saturday. A video shows that preparations for the dolphins removal are underway. Protesters camped outside Gulf World all Friday night, and say they havent seen the dolphins leave yet. Protestors say they just want the dolphins removed, but not to another facility owned by the Dolphin Company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gulf World Marine Park dolphins potentially being moved within the next 24 hours The park reportedly has 11 dolphins left. According to the latest update from Neal Dunns office, there are still four living rough-tooth dolphins without permits for removal. We are begging, begging, begging. Please. We know that you guys have a permit to get these Southern Bottlenose dolphins out. There are still four rusty dolphins in there. We need all the dolphins. Like, we are concerned for the safety of every single living creature there, protester Jamie Marghany said. After hearing confirmation that a fifth dolphin died on Wednesday, protestors want state-level action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its inhumane. Its animal abuse on the highest level. And I am so sad that our Governor Ron DeSantis, our attorney general, has not done anything to step up and save these animals, protester Cheryl Cargile said. The park closed unexpectedly on Wednesday and is said to remain closed until June 3rd. However, tickets were still available for purchase online the day before. Now, ticket-buyers are struggling to get a refund. We went online and Tuesday to look for the tickets. We put it up here because Ive always wanted to run the Dolphins here, and it shows open not to fortnightly. So weve been coming down through here, and it shows daily, and it shows right here on their little sign, their little advertisement of everything. The people thats beside me from Georgia bought their tickets online they bought their tickets online. But when you go to call my brother Justine, they hang the phone number so they wont even speak, Gulf World customer Amy Killian said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gulf World employees were on-site, but did not provide refunds. Protesters believe Gulf World is hiding what conditions the animals are living in. We know for a fact that they are Photoshopping pictures because we had someone go in the same day that they posted a photo. Theirs is perfectly blue, clear water, and the actual photo is green. So the dolphins all have abnormalities and issues. Theyre shocking with granular chemicals because the numbers are broken. Its just not a good situation, Marghany said. AFib awareness: Stroke risks & advanced treatment options They believe Gulf World is leaving a negative impact on tourists visiting Panama City Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have a two-year-old grandbaby thats still crying, wanting to go in there, baby, we cant go in there, honey. Theyre not alive. And how do you explain that to a two-year-old? Killian added. The fight isnt just for the dolphins. Protestors want all of the animals to be removed from Gulf World. 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 mypanhandle.com. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) Tweed New Haven Airport was the site of another protest against Avelo airlines on Saturday. Protesters gathered to speak out against the airlines decision to provide deportation flights for the Department of Homeland Security. Over 100 at Tweed protest Avelos deportation flight While no deportation flights have arrived or departed from New Haven, protesters believe it is a matter of human rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that people are being flown in five-point shackles, right? said Ben Scudder, a high school teacher in New Haven. Thats wrist, waist, ankles. We know that flight attendants have been told not to make eye contact with them, to further dehumanize these people. The airline released the following statement. We recognize the right of individuals to peacefully assemble, and Avelos main priority will continue to be maintaining the safety and timeliness of our operation. Tweed New Haven Airport is Avelos primary airport. 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. Preparations for the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela, scheduled for June 3, are in full swing. Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner Arvind Kirwani said that all necessary arrangements have been made for the devotees travelling from Jammu to the revered Kheer Bhawani Temple in Tulmulla, Ganderbal, in the Kashmir valley. "All required arrangements are in place, including transport facilities for people displaced from Jammu. District Administration has made living arrangements, health facilities, food, and a 10-bedded hospital for the passengers going to Ganderbal." Commissioner Kirwani told ANI. Facilities include transport, accommodation, food, health services, and a 10-bed hospital, with a stopover in Ramban equipped with food and toilet facilities. Over 60 buses have been arranged, and robust security measures, including paramilitary forces, are in place for the devotees' safety en route and at the destination. "The passengers will halt in Ramban. Food and toilet facilities have been placed there, too... We have arranged for more than 60 buses to go to Kheer Bhawani... Appropriate security arrangements have been ensured for the devotees en route and at their destination. Para-military forces are in place too," Commissioner Kirwani informed. Earlier in the day, Jammu Deputy Commissioner Sachin Kumar and IGP Bhim Singh flagged off over 60 buses transporting devotees to the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela. Despite prevailing fear in the region, large numbers of devotees are visiting the revered Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in Kashmir. Pilgrims, including many Kashmiri Pandits, expressed faith and said such attacks cannot deter their devotion. Authorities assured that elaborate security and logistical arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage. Rajesh Jyotsi, a devotee, said, "Mata Kheer Bhawani is our Kul Devi, and it's our sacred duty to visit her. We don't fear anything--this is our land. Attacks like these keep happening, but the arrangements here are excellent. I urge everyone to come and seek blessings." A first-time visitor, Saroj, also echoed the same sentiment. "This is my first visit. I had heard a great deal about this place. We are not afraid; these attacks are only meant to instil fear, and we must stand strong. I am not scared. There is no fear in visiting 'Mata'. The Pahalgam attack was unfortunate... But tourists should go. So, we should not be afraid" Jammu SSP Joginder Singh said security and other arrangements were in place to ensure a peaceful and smooth yatra. "I extend best wishes to all pilgrims on this sacred occasion," he said. The Mata Kheer Bhawani annual Mela at the famous Ragnya Devi temple near Srinagar. 'Kheer'- a milk and rice pudding that is offered to propitiate the goddess. Kheer Bhawani is sometimes translated as 'Milk Goddess'. The worship of Kheer Bhawani is universal among the Hindus of Kashmir; most of them worship her as their protective patron deity, Kuladevi. This was followed by the attack in Pahalgam that occurred on April 22 at Baisaran meadow, where terrorists targeted tourists, killing 25 Indian nationals and one Nepalese citizen, and leaving several others injured. It was one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama strike, which claimed the lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. India carried out precision strikes through Operation Sindoor on May 7 on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack last month, in which 26 people were killed. India also effectively responded to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases. (ANI) PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) The St. Joe Company has announced plans for the construction of a Publix Supermarket at Watersound West Bay Center along with additional leasable commercial space. According to a news release, Publix would be located at the entrance to the Latitude Margaritaville Watersound community. Its planned to be approximately 50,000 square feet, including a pharmacy, deli, bakery, and an adjacent liquor store is anticipated to break ground late this year. Publix at Watersound West Bay Center will provide customers with a convenient location, minutes from area beaches, an international airport, and a new medical campus, Publix Media Relations Manager Hannah Herring said. Officials said plans call for adjacent in-line space as well as a stand-alone multi-tenant building. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents of the Latitude Margaritaville Watersound community are thrilled to welcome a grocer and commercial options to their growing community, Vice President of Commercial Real Estate for St. Joe, William Brock, said. The multi-tenant building is currently under construction and will be available to lease in early 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 mypanhandle.com. PARIS (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin is stalling at the peace table while preparing a new military offensive in Ukraine, two senior U.S. senators warned Sunday, arguing that the next two weeks could shape the future of a war that has already smashed cities, displaced millions and redrawn Europes security map. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal spoke to The Associated Press in Paris after meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and touring neighborhoods shattered by what they called the worst Russian bombardments since the full-scale invasion began. In Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron who they say is 100% aligned with them on the war the senators warned the window to prevent a renewed assault is closing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A sweeping U.S. sanctions bill could be the Wests last chance to choke off the Kremlins war economy, they said adding that they hope their firsthand findings will shift momentum in Washington and help bring a skeptical President Donald Trump on board. "What I learned on this trip was hes preparing for more war, Graham said of Putin. Blumenthal called the sanctions proposed in legislation bone-crushing and said it would place Russias economy on a trade island. It is crunch time for Putin and for the world because Russia is mounting a new offensive, he said. At the heart of their push is a bipartisan sanctions bill, backed by nearly the entire U.S. Senate but still facing uncertain odds in Washington. It would impose 500% tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports targeting nations like China and India that account for roughly 70% of Russias energy trade and bankroll much of its war effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graham called it the most draconian bill Ive ever seen in my life in the Senate." The world has a lot of cards to play against Putin, he said. Were going to hit China and India for propping up his war machine. Peace talks or stalling tactic? With peace talks yielding little and Trump's approach to Ukraine highly uncertain, Graham and Blumenthal have stepped into the breach blunt emissaries on a lonely mission. Political opposites moving in lockstep, theyre crossing Europe, and the aisle, with the moral urgency of two men trying to forestall another Russian offensive before its too late. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peace talks are scheduled to resume Monday in Istanbul. But Ukrainian officials say Moscow has yet to submit a serious proposal a delay both senators described as deliberate and dangerous. Putin is playing President Trump," Blumenthal said. Hes taking him for a sucker. The senator said Putin "is, in effect, stalling and stonewalling, prolonging the conversation so that he can mount this offensive and take control of more territory on the ground. Graham added: We saw credible evidence of a summer or early fall invasion, a new offensive by Putin. ... Hes preparing for more war. Trump has yet to endorse the sanctions bill, telling reporters Friday: I dont know. Ill have to see it. Graham said the legislation was drafted in consultation with Trumps advisers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Graham backed the presidents diplomatic instincts but said, "By trying to engage Putin by being friendly and enticing its become painfully clear hes not interested in ending this war. Blumenthal hoped the bipartisan support for Ukraine at least in the Senate and the personal testimonies they plan to bring home to Congress and the Oval Office may help shift the conversation. He needs to see and hear that message as well from us, from the American people, he said of Putin. A moral reckoning In Kyiv, the senators said, the wars human toll was impossible to ignore. Graham pointed to what Ukrainian officials and Yale researchers estimate are nearly 20,000 children forcibly deported to Russia calling their return a matter of justice, not diplomacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blumenthal described standing at mass grave sites in Bucha, where civilians were executed with shots to the head. The destruction, he said, and the stories of those who survived, made clear the stakes of delay. Putin is a thug. Hes a murderer." Both said that failing to act now could pull the U.S. deeper into conflict later. If Putin isnt stopped in Ukraine, Blumenthal said, NATO treaty obligations could one day compel American troops into battle. They see resolve in Europe After a one-hour meeting with Macron in Paris, both Graham, of South Carolina, and Blumenthal, of Connecticut, said they left convinced Europe was ready to toughen its stance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This visit has been a breakthrough moment because President Macron has shown moral clarity in his conversations with us, Blumenthal said. Today, he is 100% aligned with that message that we are taking back to Washington. Blumenthal pointed to the rare bipartisan unity behind the sanctions bill. There are very few causes that will take 41 Republicans and 41 Democrats and put them on record on a single piece of legislation, he said. The cause of Ukraine is doing it. Ahead, Ukrainian military leaders are set to brief Congress and a sanctions vote could follow. President Trump said well know in two weeks whether hes being strung along, Graham said. There will be more evidence of that from Russia on Monday. By making harsh, uncompromising demands in peace talks with Ukraine while continuing to pummel it with waves of missiles and drones, Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending a clear message: He will only accept a settlement on his terms and will keep fighting until they're met. At the same time, he has sought to avoid angering U.S. President Donald Trump by praising his diplomacy and declaring Moscows openness to peace talks even as he set maximalist conditions that are rejected by Kyiv and the West. Trump, who once promised to end the 3-year-old war in 24 hours, has upended the U.S. policy of isolating Russia by holding calls with Putin and denigrating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the same time, however, Trump warned Putin against tapping me along and threatened Moscow with sanctions if it fails to back his peace proposals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump says Putin is playing with fire In recent days, Trump signaled he was losing patience with Putin, declaring the Russian leader had gone crazy by stepping up aerial attacks on Ukraine. He also said: What Vladimir Putin doesnt realize is that if it werent for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. Hes playing with fire! Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who serves as deputy head of Putins Security Council, fired back: I only know of one REALLY BAD thing WWIII. I hope Trump understands this! Fyodor Lukyanov, a Moscow-based analyst familiar with Kremlin thinking, said Putin is engaged in a psychological game with Trump, with both men thinking they understand each other well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putins tactics is apparently based on an assumption that the issue has a lesser priority for his interlocutor, who wants to get rid of it one way or another, while for the Russian side, nothing compares to it in importance, Lukyanov wrote a commentary. In this logic, the one who sees it as something of lesser importance will eventually make concessions. While Ukraines European allies urge Trump to ramp up sanctions against Moscow to force it to accept a ceasefire, some fear that Trump may end up distancing the U.S. from the conflict. If the U.S. halts or reduces military aid to Kyiv, it would badly erode Ukraines fighting capability. Growing Russian pressure Kyiv already is experiencing a weapons shortage, particularly air defense systems, leaving it increasingly vulnerable to Russian missile and drone attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Across the over 1,000-kilometer (over 600-mile) front line, the exhausted and outgunned Ukrainian troops are facing increasing Russian pressure. This month, Russian forces accelerated their slow push across the Donetsk region, the focus of Moscows offensive, grinding through Ukrainian defenses at the quickest pace since last fall. Russia also expanded its attacks in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv regions following Putins promise to create a buffer zone along the border. Many observers expect Russia to expand its offensive over the summer to try to capture more land and set even tougher conditions for peace. Moscow thinks its leverage over Ukraine will build over time, and since Trump has strongly implied that he will withdraw from negotiations the Russian military is set to intensify its operations, said Jack Watling of the Royal United Services Institute in London. He predicted Russia would intensify efforts to take all of the Donetsk region while also pressing a bombing campaign. The Kremlin will want to suggest a deteriorating situation as negotiations continue and to signal to Europe that the rear is not safe, to discourage European militaries from putting forces in country, Watling said in an analysis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin, Moscow-based analyst, said the long-expected offensive hasnt yet begun in earnest as Russia is cautious not to anger Trump. If Kyiv derails peace talks, the Russian army will start a big offensive, he said. Putin's conditions for peace Putin has demanded that Ukraine withdraw its forces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully controlled. That demand had been rejected by Kyiv and its allies, but the Russian delegation reportedly repeated it during talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 16. Those talks, the first since botched negotiations in the opening weeks of the war, came after Putin effectively rejected a 30-day truce proposed by Trump that was accepted by Kyiv. Russia had linked such a ceasefire to a halt in Ukraines mobilization effort and a freeze on Western arms supplies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin proposed talks to discuss conditions for a possible truce. Trump quickly prodded Kyiv to accept the offer, but the negotiations yielded no immediate progress except an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners each. Russia offered to hold another round of talks Monday in Istanbul, where it said it will present a memorandum setting conditions for ending hostilities. It refused to share the document before the negotiations. Some observers see the talks as an attempt by Putin to assuage Trumps growing impatience. Putin has devised a way to offer Trump an interim, tangible outcome from Washingtons peace efforts without making any real concessions, said Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Facing Western accusations of stalling, the Kremlin responded that the conflict cant be resolved quickly and emphasized the need to address its root causes. When Putin invaded Ukraine, he said the move was needed to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and protect Russian speakers in the country - arguments strongly rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies as a cover for an unprovoked act of aggression. Along with those demands, Putin also wants limits on Ukraine's sovereignty, including the size of Ukraine's military, and for Kyiv to end what Moscow sees as glorification of Ukraines World War II-era nationalist leaders, some of whom sided with the invading forces of Nazi Germany over the Soviet leadership in the Kremlin. A Kremlin negotiator who's been there before Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seeking to underline that Moscow will press home its initial demands, Putin appointed his aide Vladimir Medinsky to lead the Russian delegation in Istanbul. He also led the Russian side in the 2022 talks. Kyiv reportedly has asked the U.S. to encourage Putin to replace him. The soft-spoken, 54-year-old career bureaucrat, who was born in Ukraine, ascended through the Kremlin ranks after writing a series of books exposing purported Western plots against Russia. In an interview with Russian state television after the May 16 talks, Medinsky pointed to Russias 18th century war with Sweden that lasted 21 years, a signal that Moscow is prepared to fight for a long time until its demands are met. History repeats itself in a remarkable way, he said. Jun. 1Josiah Inghram joined the 130th Pennsylvania Regiment in the fall of 1862, at the age of 17. He trained in Harrisburg under Col. Henry Zinn and was quickly ordered to Antietam, where his regiment saw its first combat during the Civil War. More than 160 years later, his great-great-grandson Jay Copenhaver, 69, of New Stanton stood at his graveside this past Memorial Day, playing taps as part of a special ceremony in Mount Union, Huntingdon County. Nearby were more great-great-grandchildren, Copenhaver's sister and cousin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copenhaver spoke recently with the Trib about working with nonprofits Bugles Across America and Taps for Veterans. This interview has been edited for length. Q: How did you come by the opportunity to play taps at your great-great-grandfather's grave site? A: I have been playing taps for funerals since the eighth grade. For several years, I've been a member of Bugles Across America and Taps for Veterans. These nonprofit organizations provide a means to connect buglers with families in need. A few years ago, Taps for Veterans started a program called Taps Across America to honor the fallen heroes on Memorial Day. At 3 p.m., thousands of musicians sound taps at a meaningful location. I have already sounded it for my father, stepfather and some uncles. This year, I wanted to honor my great-great grandfather, Josiah Inghram. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Q: Tell me a little about your great-great-grandfather. A: His regiment faced its first major combat (at Antietam) on Sept. 17, 1862, participating in the intense fighting near the Roulette Farm (in Keedysville, Md.). They endured heavy fire and chaotic conditions, in what is called The Bloody Lane. After Antietam, the regiment moved to Harper's Ferry for recuperation and preparation for future campaigns. Their stay lasted from Sept. 22 to Oct. 30, 1862. The 130th was then ordered to Fredericksburg, Va., to join the Army of the Potomac commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside. The 130th Pennsylvania was among the first to assault Marye's Heights, suffering significant casualties. Col. Zinn was killed during this battle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My grandfather was discharged in early 1863 due to injury, and returned home to Cleversburg. Later, he married Rebecca Rhine, relocated to Mt. Union and worked as a miner and demolition technician at Matilda Furnace. Together, they raised six children on Ganister Hill. But fate dealt the family a devastating blow. On Dec. 19, 1881, Josiah placed a day's worth of dynamite in the family stove to thaw a common but dangerous practice at the time. The resulting explosion claimed the lives of four of the couple's children Frank, William, Mary and Grace and fatally injured Josiah. He died the following day. His wife Rebecca was badly hurt, but survived and gave birth just months later to Joseph Ingram, my great-grandfather. Q: Do you still get a little nervous or anxious every time you have to play taps? A: I played it at seven cemeteries on Memorial Day. I am the post bugler for VFW Post 211 in Youngwood. I always had a bad case of nerves when playing, but as I approach age 70, it's getting better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Q: What goes through your mind as you're playing and thinking about this connection to your distant family? A: As I was standing there at parade rest in front of Josiah and his children's gravestone waiting, I realized if my great-great grandmother, who was pregnant with my great-grandfather, hadn't survived the explosion, I would not have been standing there. I suddenly felt transported back to that day and could imagine the horrifying blast that took their lives. These thoughts were very real and personal to me and I felt extremely honored to be able to sound taps. There was no trepidation. Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com. MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. Four-time spaceflight veteran Peggy Whitson had a good excuse for not showing up Saturday for her own induction ceremony to the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Shes in quarantine to go to space again. Whitson is slated to command the private Axiom Space Ax-4 mission flying in a new SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft set to launch as early as June 8. So her presence at the ceremony held under the suspended Space Shuttle Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex was purely virtual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Please know that my heart is with you. It is a privilege to be a part of such an esteemed group of individuals who have dedicated their lives to exploring the unknown, she said in a message recorded at an undisclosed location nearby. Fellow inductee and two-time space shuttle astronaut Bernard Harris, who became the first Black person to perform a spacewalk, was on hand, though. He was joined by dozens of former astronauts and NASA officials as both his and Whitsons plaques were revealed becoming the 110th and 111th members of the hall of fame created in 1990 by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and represented at the visitor complex with its own building honoring inductees. While both had significant careers with NASA, Whitson has spent a little bit more time in space 37 times more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chosen as an astronaut candidate in 1996, Whitsons first trip to space was in 2002 on Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-111 for her first of four stays on board the International Space Station. She flew home on STS-113, also on Endeavour, and then returned twice on Soyuz missions in 2007 and 2016. She became the first female commander of the space station and to date is its only two-time commander. After retiring from NASA she joined private company Axiom Space and commanded its second commercial mission Axiom 2 in 2023. The four trips have amounted to more than 675 days in space giving her the the all-time record for women in space, as well the record for an American astronaut. That total is set to grow by another two weeks once Ax-4 is completed. I applied to NASAs astronaut training program four times over nine years, and was denied. After 10 years and my fifth try of applying, I finally made it. Its only in retrospect that I can say those years of rejection were good for me, she said. Those years of being refused a chance at my dream gave me an incredible experience as a leader, a builder of teams and a member of international partnerships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As it turned out, all of those were critical to my career as an astronaut each mission, each spacewalk and each experiment conducted on board the International Space Station has been a step toward understanding our universe and improving life here on Earth. Harris was chosen as an astronaut candidate in 1990 and flew his first mission STS-55 on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1993 followed by STS-63 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in 1995. The second flight, a dress rehearsal flight for docking missions with the Russian space station Mir, wasnt supposed to feature a spacewalk but the dominoes fell into place setting up Harris landmark experience. In truth, I didnt know i was the first African American until I got back inside and I got the call that President Clinton wanted to talk to me, he said. I kind of went like, What for?' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 68-year-old Harris born in Temple, Texas in 1956, and 65-year-old Whitson, born in Beaconsfield, Iowa in 1960, cited the Apollo 11 moonwalk by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin as their inspiration to become astronauts. The moon landing, when I was 9 years old, seemed to make space attainable, Whitson said. My 9-year-old self thought that astronaut had to be the ultimate job. So thanks to the moon landing, maybe even a little bit Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, as well as my first ride in the Cessna 150 with my Dad, that spark grew into a passion for space exploration. Harris, who was 13 when history was made, said he wrestled with other events of the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was old enough to go through the early 60s, the civil rights movement, he said. I could turn one channel and see some of the greatest accomplishments of human beings at that time and turn the channel and see Blacks fighting for their right to vote or to exist depending on what part of the country that they were in. He said he still marvels at how his 13-year-old mind was able to meld those events together. I came to the conclusion that even though I didnt see anybody who looked like me in the program there were no women in the program, no people of color in the program that we could see But I decided that if I didnt see someone who looked like me I would be the first to try and go break that ceiling. LAKE CHARLES, La. (KLFY) A man was arrested at the Delta Downs Racetrack and Casino for allegedly possessing a device in an attempt to cheat in races. On Saturday, officials with Louisiana State Police arrested Ricardo Hernandez-Perez, 41, of Vinton as a result of an investigation into allegations of cheating by horse jockeys at the Delta Downs Racetrack and Casino. After the races concluded, officials conducted post-race checks of each jockey. Officials said during one encounter, Hernandez-Perez attempted to flee while removing a battery-operated shocking device from his clothing and discarding it into one of the horse stalls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hernandez-Perez was subsequently taken to a Calcasieu Parish correctional center for violation of unnatural stimulation of horses. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest The law prohibits anyone from possessing or using devices like electric batteries that can unnaturally stimulate, depress or excite a racehorse before or during a race, including within racetrack stables, sheds or other buildings on racetrack grounds where eligible horses are kept. Latest news Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 KLFY.com. An obscure ideology most people have never heard of is dominating almost every aspect of American life. Nearly every important Supreme Court ruling by the conservative majority from abortion to voting rights, from gun control to environmental protection virtually the whole far-right agenda has been foisted on the nation using this ideology as its justification. Originalism is not a household word. Yet is in an extremely important word the key to the political movement that has transformed the country over the last forty years and culminated in the regime of Donald Trump. Originalisms influence, once confined to the nations law schools, is now vast, reaching far beyond the Supreme Court majoritys politicized rulings. First and foremost, originalists yes, they call themselves that provide the intellectual underpinning for Trumps emergencies, his lawless assault on law firms, universities, the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, the Voice of America, indeed, the entire civil service. The grand alibi comes in the form of what the originalists present as the doctrine of unitary executive, a contrived theory of their own making that they pass off as something the Framers inscribed in the Constitution. In justifying Trump issuing executive orders as though they were dictatorial decrees, the theory denies innumerable vital federal agencies and institutions the slightest independence. Most recently, on May 22, the Supreme Court moved to the brink of destroying that independence, trashing an 80-year old precedent in a preliminary ruling on the longstanding Humphreys Executor, and allowing the president more power to remove officials from independent organizations, and cloaking the pre-determined result in flimsy originalist explanations. As the unitary executive, Trump can threaten to place the Federal Reserve under his heel, which would likely trigger a worldwide Depression. The high court itself exposes originalism as the expedient fraud that it has always been. Left unchecked, originalism can be wielded as a tool to tear apart American democracy and menace the global economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Confusion surrounds originalism partly because it flies under many aliases, including textualism, original meaning, and history and tradition. Until recently, even the most influential elites in the legal establishment have had difficulty grasping the shifty, esoteric jurisprudence that has no particular historical claim to legitimacy but that now rules the federal judiciary. Yet originalism does have a history. For decades, a dedicated and staggeringly well-funded movement of plutocrats and their right-wing allies has worked through shadow networks to capture and politicize the courts. How much money? Probably more than $2 billion. According to Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) this operation spent $34 million in its campaigns against President Barack Obamas choice for the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, and to install Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh on the court. Thats been money well-spent in the right-wings dark money operation. Its won victory after victory in the courts, in every domain of law from gun rights to abortion to environmental law and beyond. Originalism is the phony doctrine they invented to justify their rulings, confuse their opponents, and impose their political agenda. So-called originalists like to pontificate with lofty pronouncements about what the Founders would have wanted as though the Founders were unified in their vision, and as if that vision could be unequivocally divined from a vantage point 250 years later, from sparse documentary evidence by ideologues who cook the history books. And the Christian Nationalist wing of the originalists absurdly claim that the Founders intended to create a Christian nation, as though Thomas Jefferson and James Madison never spoke about the separation of church and state. The originalists claim that they are serving a truly impartial jurisprudence, merely calling balls and strikes, in Chief Justice John Roberts phrase, based on a literal meaning of the Constitution. In fact, the record shows, glaringly, that the originalists work backwards from their goals to find the magic words to cloak their extremism. Facts and precedent be damned. Originalists bully their way forward using distorted and outright fabricated history, figuring that no one will call them out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In short: Originalism is a dangerous fraud. Dark Origins Whatever its claims to historical grounding and omniscience, originalism is a comparatively new invention as an ideology. It was born as a direct political response to the Supreme Courts landmark 1954 ruling, Brown v. Board of Education, declaring segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional. Brown was an affront not just to Jim Crow southerners but to the broader conservative movement, exemplified by William F. Buckley Jr.s then new magazine, National Review. The backlash drew from old ideas from before the Civil War in defense of slavery about states rights, to stop the implementation of federal laws, including equal justice under the law and especially voting rights, and, more boldly, to declare those laws unconstitutional. Its a direct route from the segregationists arguments against civil rights to Chief Justice John Roberts ruling in 2013 eviscerating the Voting Rights Act of 1965. That may be the only true originalism. Its important to note that this reactionary movement was not confined to the political fringe. The spirit of constitutional originalism had existed, for many years, focused mainly on opposing the reforms of the New Deal. Having switched to responding to desegregation, the movement conservatives suddenly had to obfuscate the racist core of their position. Hiding their bigotry in the folds of history, they embarked on the project of supposedly discovering the original intent of the 14th Amendment, trying to show that its guarantee of equal protection under the law was irrelevant to securing civil rights for Black schoolchildren and their parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To undermine Brown, conservatives hit upon a slogan they dressed up as a judicial principle: intent construct. That was the first definition of what became originalism. To distract from the racist foundations of their resistance, they tried to shift attention from existing injustice to what the framers of the Constitution supposedly intended the intent construct. As a leading pro-segregation journalist James J. Kilpatrick wrote: In constitutional cases, the clock must always be turned back. He was whistling Dixie or humming Carry Me Back to Old Virginny. Glossed over, of course, was the fact that intent construct meant that the conservatives on the bench would construct the framers intent, sometimes out of thin air. With the seed planted against desegregation, the conservative movement including William F. Buckleys National Review, Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan nurtured and grew the project of what would became known as originalism. The most important figure in defining originalism was Robert Bork, who as Richard Nixons acting Attorney General tried to suppress the Watergate investigation in the notorious Saturday Night Massacre in which, on President Nixons order, he fired the special prosecutor in 1973. Bork had proposed, two years earlier, what would become an influential outline of originalism in an article for the Yale Law Journal. He argued that judges should be able to discover what the framers actually intended from text or history, without inserting their own interpretation. Funnily enough, in Borks originalism, the Framers always supported what the contemporary right-wing wanted at any given moment. When President Reagan nominated Bork to the Supreme Court in 1987, the Senate rejected him as too extreme. Yet if Borks nomination failed, the ideas he propagated had already gained momentum. (The fight over Borks botched nomination gave birth to a new verb borked which has been used to describe every failed nomination since and marked the beginning of vicious partisan fighting over Supreme Court seats.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1985, President Reagans Attorney-General Edwin Meese soon to be disgraced in a financial scandal and forced to leave office addressed the American Bar Association, professing that the intended role of the judiciary was to serve as bulwarks of a limited constitution. Judges and justices, he argued, should be expected to resist any political effort to depart from the literal provisions of the Constitution and press for a Jurisprudence of Original Intention. Meese and the originalists concealed that Original Intention meant intention as construed by themselves, the originalists. What these ideological inventors left unstated was the inconvenient fact that the Framers themselves believed that the Constitutions words should not become a kind of scripture but instead serve as the basis for guarding freedom and rights while pursuing the general welfare, evolving along with the nation. The Framers endlessly disparaged the idea of an unchangeable fundamentalist text. In framing a system which we wish to last for ages, we should not lose sight of the changes that ages will produce, James Madison said during the Constitutional Convention. In a debate in the House of Representatives, on April 6, 1796, Madison declared, whatever veneration might be entertained for the body of men who formed our Constitution, the sense of that body could never be regarded as the oracular guide in expounding the Constitution. But the originalists ignore the practical sense of the Framers as they claim to conduct seances hearing their true voices from the beyond. Antonin Scalia, appointed by Reagan to the Supreme Court in 1986, became originalisms most visible and vocal proponent on the court. Originalism also became the creed of the Federalist Society, an organization of conservative academics that morphed into a hugely influential elite right-wing legal and political operation, grooming hundreds of lawyers for appointment to the federal bench, a vast machinery to take over the judiciary and the law financed by the many millions of dollars gathered and administered by the reactionary theocrat Leonard Leo, who assumed control of a $1.6 billion slush fund in recent years. Although originalism was then a newly minted concept, which would have been inconceivable to the Founders, within 15 years it had managed to seize the political high ground and masquerade as history. In 2000, in one of the crudest but most consequential maneuvers in American history, Scalia led a conservative majority on the court, in a 5-4 decision, to hand the presidency to the Republican candidate, George W. Bush, by stopping the counting of thousands of ballots in the Florida contest. Scalia, in a bit of originalist jiu-jitsu, flipped the 14th Amendments equal protection clause to declare Bush the winner a ruling Scalia reportedly confessed in private later was as we say in Brooklyn, a piece of shit. Twisting of History The basic conceits of originalism are deceptively simple: The meaning of the Constitutional text was fixed, knowable, and unambiguous at the time it was written; and that this meaning should govern for all time. To these absurd presumptions the originalists add one more: that only originalists can dictate the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The real trick for them is to find language that is roomy enough to embrace their pre-arranged goals but also narrow enough to avoid sounding obviously contrived. Contrary to the humbug of what originalists would have you believe, the Founders did not have a unified vision. Madison believed that even the meaning of words in the Constitution acquired different definitions over time. What a metamorphosis would be produced in the code of law if all its ancient phraseology were to be taken in its modern sense, he stated in 1824. But its easy enough to manipulate historical sounding language into a single, clear-cut original meaning and then arrive at an interpretation of that meaning that justifies the desired conclusions. Intended to have a gravity not unlike fundamentalist Biblical exegesis, it more closely resembles three-card monte. Such historical distortion and falsehoods, for example, form the cornerstone of the courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the case that overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated federal protections for abortion rights. Among the central assertions in that decision, written by Justice Samuel Alito, concerned what Alito called a most important historical fact that 28 out of 37 states banned abortion throughout pregnancy at the time of the ratification of the 14th Amendment (the basis for Roe) in 1868. Historians quickly noted that Alitos claim was spurious: At least seven of the 28 states he claimed had completely banned all forms of abortion actually permitted them in some form. Roe finally fell in 2022, a victim of bad faith originalist history, and women were deprived of a basic right to reproductive freedom and health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alito is not alone on the Supreme Court bench in warping the historical record. At this point, one critic observes, distorting the past to further his ideological agenda has become a trademark feature of Justice Clarence Thomas. Thomas majority decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, struck down a New York law that required persons to obtain an unrestricted license to carry a concealed firearm. The defense, along with amicus curiae briefs, cited numerous Reconstruction-era gun regulations as precedents for the restriction law. Thomas dismissed these as outliers and placed far greater weight on how, he said, English peasants during the 1500s carried guns. Now, English highwaymen of the 16th century were as good as the Framers for originalist precedent. Thomas decision rested on Scalias originalist formulation in District of Columbia v. Heller, in 2008, in which he extended the Second Amendment, applying to members of militias (todays National Guard), to an unqualified right for gun ownership for every individual. Thomas, however, took originalism beyond any hitherto limits, claiming that any and all gun control had to be able to cite an analogy to a regulation on an originalist basis to be valid. In 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, the Supreme Court showed just how far it is willing to go in ignoring the facts by fabricating the recent past as well as history. The majority ruling, written by Justice Gorsuch, held that a wedding website designer was entitled to discriminate against a gay couple because the Colorado law which prohibited her from doing so violated her First Amendment rights. The entire case was a scam. One day before the courts opinion was published, The New Republic reported that the facts had been fabricated. The designer had never been asked to make a gay cake; the religious right had engineered the complaint in order to bring a test case to the Supreme Court. Gorsuchs ruling, meanwhile rested on another assertion of false history: that religious speech has always occupied an unimpeachably privileged position in American law. With that, he stomped on the principle of the separation of church and state fervently advocated by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, and which is enshrined in the Constitutions establishment clause prohibiting government support for religion of any sort. Fighting Back Originalism has succeeded in insinuating itself into law and politics at every level. It has featured in every Republican Party platform from 1992 to 2016, except in 2004. At least five of the nine Supreme Court justices explicitly espouse it, and the rest are required to engage it as legitimate legal theory. It has taken hold everywhere from the Courts of Appeal to state courts through appointments of right-wing judges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By now, any U.S. citizen engaged in civic life knows about Project 2025. Despite Trumps ludicrous protest that he was not involved with the project and knew nothing about it, many of the major policies it describes have either been implemented already by the Trump regime since January or are in the pipeline. Many of the contributing authors of Project 2025 are originalists. The fingerprints of originalism are everywhere in this plan, which makes sense: Project 2025 aims to remake the whole of American law, politics, and social life in a radical right-wing mold. Originalism doesnt do what it claims to do, and some judges try to fight it on its own terms. Judge Beryl Howell, the chief judge on the federal D.C. Circuit recently used originalist reasoning to hold that the Trump administrations unitary executive theory is invalid pitting originalism ironically against originalism. She wrote that the Framers made clear that no one in our system of government was meant to be king the President included and not just in name only. And yet Trump insists he can be a dictator. His originalist ideologues bestow on him vast and unchecked powers, the unitary executive. To help cut through the fog of originalist propaganda, too often taken at face value in news reporting and public debate, we established in 2023 what we call the Court of History, appealing to what is, after all, the highest court of all. We have exposed the originalist fraud, through news articles, webinars, and conferences. We have revealed the insidious use of this concocted doctrine to justify a far-right agenda. And we have unmasked the underlying theocratic movement of Christian Nationalism to leverage originalism for its cultish ambitions. Since the 2024 election, we have expanded our mission to address the illegalities and unconstitutional outrages of the Trump regime; and we have extended our reach to become a podcast on the Legal AF network. We believe that the beginning of the defense of American democracy is to explain fearlessly the Trump regimes catastrophic assault on constitutional rights, the rule of law, and a government that serves the people. It will take much more work before the curse of originalism is dispelled. Starting in the farther fringes of the segregated South and right-wing radicalism, originalism is at the center of the conservative project. Far from an abstract game of legal reasoning, originalism has real and devastating consequences. Donald Trump has become the essential implementer of their gameplan to force through Project 2025 and pack the courts with originalist judges. But as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we can only wonder what bizarre twisting of history the originalists will invent to justify a tyrannical regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sean Wilentz, the author of, among many books, The Rise of American Democracy, teaches at Princeton and is a regular contributor to Rolling Stone. Sidney Blumenthal, a former White House advisor to president Bill Clinton, is a journalist and historian and the author of a continuing biography of Abraham Lincoln. Raymond Johns is the Research Director at the Court of History More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Pro-EU presidential candidate Rafa Trzaskowski, a close ally of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, is a political scientist and one of the most prominent intellectuals in Poland's liberal-conservative camp. The 53-year-old with the fashionable three-day stubble only just missed election in 2020, when he came in behind outgoing right-wing President Andrzej Duda. Warsaw Mayor Trzaskowski studied in Paris and Oxford and speaks English, French, Spanish, Italian and Russian in addition to his native Polish. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Tusk's first term in office, he was appointed minister for administration and digitalization in 2013, going on to become deputy foreign minister. Trzaskowski has been mayor of the capital since 2018, sweeping to victory in the first round on re-election last year. While he has modernized Warsaw by extending public transport and investing in culture, he has also drawn criticism for wasting public funds. Construction of a lavatory in a park cost 150,000 ($170,000) an amount that would buy a home in rural Poland. Trzaskowski is internationally experienced, intelligent, handsome and mediagenic, but evident membership of the cosmopolitan elite makes few friends among the country's small farmers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Tusk's ruling liberal-conservative coalition, the father of two is seen as on the left due to support of LGBT rights, his regular appearance at Pride Parades and his removal of crucifixes from Warsaw administrative offices. In strongly Catholic rural Poland, he is seen as abandoning traditional values. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diego residents can expect some rain showers this weekend along with high surf and a strong rip current risk. Moisture from the tropics is bringing showers to San Diego County this weekend, the National Weather Service reports. Most of the rain is expected to evaporate in the atmosphere on its way to the surface, so just light rain and sprinkles are forecast to fall on the region Saturday into Sunday morning, however there have been some isolated reports of thunderstorms, along with a special weather statement that was in effect for Chula Vista Saturday afternoon calling for hail and strong winds. More weather: Forecast | Alerts | Live Radar | Newsletter By Sunday afternoon, heavier rain showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible for the region, but mainly for those in the mountains, inland valleys and desert areas, NWS reports, and is warning to watch for pooling on roadways or possible flash flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Julian is forecast to get the most rainfall Sunday evening. Timing out the chance of rain/storms across SoCal through Sunday afternoon, chances look to be the highest across the mountains and adjacent valleys/deserts (PHOTO: National Weather Service) Light showers and sprinkles expected with a chance for heavy showers and thunderstorms, notably inland and in the deserts (PHOTO: National Weather Service) NWS has also issued beach hazard statements for San Diego County and Orange County coastal areas to expect elevated surf of 4 to 6 feet, with sets up to 7 to 8 feet, and a strong rip current risk from Sunday morning through Tuesday afternoon. The surf is expected to increase Sunday, peaking Monday, before falling off late Tuesday. The National Weather Service advises to stay out of the water during the weather advisory to avoid hazardous swimming conditions. 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. Following the heavy rainfall in the region, massive waterlogging was witnessed in several parts of Assam's Guwahati on Sunday. As several areas faced waterlogging, normal life in the city was deeply affected. After heavy rains, the Brahmaputra River is in spate. A local resident informed that the Brahmaputra River continues to pose a significant threat to the residents of Dibrugarh, with its water level above the danger mark. Currently, the river is flowing at 105.85 meters, slightly above the danger level of 105.70 meters. To mitigate the risks, the district administration has taken precautionary measures. "The district administration has banned the general public from going to the riverbank," said Rachna Jain, a local resident, to ANI. "To take precautions, the district administration has installed bamboo barricades on the riverbank." A local resident and ophthalmologist stated that the rising water level has engulfed homes built on the riverbanks, causing immense difficulties for the local population. People are being forced to navigate the floodwaters in makeshift boats, while an atmosphere of terror has gripped the community. "The rising water streams of the Brahmaputra River have engulfed the houses built on the banks of the river. Due to this, the general public is facing a lot of problems. You can see people coming out of their homes in makeshift boats. Seeing the horror of the Brahmaputra river, an atmosphere of terror has spread among the general public," said Dr. Ramesh Aggarwal to ANI. "The water level has risen significantly and has entered people's homes. I've been taking morning walks here for 30 years and noticed that the river has crossed the danger mark. Every 5 kilometres I walk, I see that water has entered every house. People are struggling to cope, and it's a dilemma for them to decide where to cook and where to sleep." Despite these efforts, residents are pinning their hopes on the government to take further action. "I hope the government will take care of it and do something for them," Dr. Aggarwal added. Water levels in the Brahmaputra river continued to remain high in Dibrugarh district of Assam on Sunday following incessant rainfall in several parts of the state and neighbouring regions. The sustained downpour led to flooding in low-lying areas, submerging homes and fields across vulnerable pockets of the district. Meanwhile, in Guwahati, severe waterlogging was witnessed in several areas on Sunday after continuous spells of rainfall lashed the city. Eight people died due to floods and landslides in Assam in the last 24 hours, according to the officials. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reports, three people died in floods and five died in landslides. "Two people, including a child, died due to the flood in Golaghat district, while one person drowned in flood waters in Lakhimpur district," ASDMA said. On the other hand, five people lost their lives and two others were injured due to landslides in the Kamrup (Metro) district. Following incessant and heavy rainfall in Assam and neighbouring states, 175 villages under 20 revenue circles in 12 districts of the state--Dhemaji, South Salmara, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Darrang, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Kamrup, Biswanath, Tinsukia, Karbi Anglong West--were affected in the first spell of floods in the state. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday, at a press conference held at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Guwahati, that the situation is not good. (ANI) Skywatchers, take note: Heightened solar activity could bring the aurora borealis to parts of Texas this evening. A rare, severe geomagnetic storm is expected to trigger auroras, potentially making them visible to the naked eye in the northernmost areas of the state. Those farther south may still catch a glimpse using their cameras or phones. According to federal forecasters at NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center, past solar events of this strength have produced auroras visible as far south as the Gulf Coast. This weekends geomagnetic storm is rated G4, or severe one of the strongest since the early May event that made the northern lights visible as far south as South Texas, though its not expected to be as intense. That May 2024 storm was the strongest geomagnetic event since 2005. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visibility may be limited tonight for Texans, but the aurora forecast shows potential sightings as far south as the Austin-San Antonio area, and even Houston, via camera. "But remember, auroras are fickle sometimes they appear much farther south than predicted, and other times they barely show up at all," Space.com warns. "Many conditions have to align for the perfect display." More: Saharan dust to hit Texas just as storms clear. When to expect hazy skies in your area Northern lights seen in Mogadore on May 11, 2024. What causes the northern lights? The auroras are a natural light display in Earth's sky that are famously best seen in high-latitude regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The phenomenon is caused when electrically charged particles from space enter Earth's atmosphere and collide with molecules and gases like oxygen and nitrogen, causing the atmospheric particles to gain energy. To return to their normal state, the particles release that energy in the form of light, according to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks Geophysical Institute website, which tracks the phenomenon. As auroras form, Earth's magnetic field redirects the particles toward the poles through a process that produces a stunning display of rays, spirals and flickers that have fascinated humans for millennia. Whether hues of green, red, blue and even pink dance about in the sky depends on the altitude where the collisions occur, as well as the composition and density of the atmosphere at the time. How do geomagnetic storms impact Earth? Active geomagnetic storm conditions may persist into early June 2, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center. The ongoing disturbance is driven by a coronal mass ejection (CME) that struck Earth in the early hours of June 1, combined with high-speed solar wind flowing from coronal holes. Another CME is expected to arrive late on June 2, which could extend the storms effects, followed by a much smaller one on June 3-4, according to Space.com. The June 1 solar storm, traveling at approximately 1,938 km/s (about 4.3 million mph), was unusually complex made up of material from multiple CMEs. As a result, its impact could continue for another 24 hours, Space.com reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We just entered what looks to be the 'core' of the first structure," space weather physicist Tamitha Skov told Space.com. "Since this storm is made up of material from several CMEs compressed into one composite structure, there's a chance we'll see more than one 'core' signature. That means the show could continue to fade gradually over the next 24 hours." This may cause temporary disruptions to technology and electronic communications, but no major impacts are expected except for the dazzling display of the northern lights. Fortunately, Earth is shielded by its magnetic field, an invisible barrier that protects us from solar winds, according to USA TODAY. When strong solar particles interact with gases in the atmosphere near the magnetic poles, they produce the vibrant colors of the auroras. Why is solar activity increasing? This activity coincides with the suns approach to the peak of its 11-year solar cycle, known as the solar maximum a period marked by increased sunspots. These magnetized regions on the suns surface occasionally release stored energy in the form of solar flares, which NASA calls the most powerful explosions in our solar system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The heightened solar activity boosts the chances of witnessing celestial phenomena like the aurora borealis, which made appearances in the U.S. several times last year. However, it could also interfere with other skywatching events, such as meteor showers. Solar flares and wind can disrupt Earths atmosphere, potentially obscuring any meteor showers expected. Northern lights forecast: Will Aurora Borealis be visible in Texas? This weekend, residents in the northernmost parts of Texas particularly those in the Panhandle north of Amarillo may be able to see the Northern Lights with the naked eye. A broader area, stretching from El Paso to the Louisiana border and as far south as the Austin-San Antonio region, could still catch the display through a camera lens. In especially strong geomagnetic events, the aurora can extend even farther south. According to USA TODAY, during a major event in 1958, the Northern Lights were visible as far south as Mexico City. Tips for viewing the northern lights The best aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight (between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. local time). These hours expand towards evening and morning as the level of geomagnetic activity increases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Go out at night," NOAA said. "And get away from city lights." The agency also maintains an aurora dashboard that should help skygazers track the phenomenon. NOAA's 30-minute aurora forecast may be particularly useful for regular updates on viewing opportunities. Fox4 meteorologist Dylan Federico shared his own tips for capturing the auroras with your phone camera. "Use 10+ second exposure on your iPhone camera Sunday night for the best chance to see the auroras," he wrote on Facebook. Contributing: Eric Lagatta, Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Aurora Borealis forecast: Will northern lights be visible in Texas? Ready for school to end, Minnesota Children's Museum unveils series of summer events originally appeared on Bring Me The News. The Minnesota Children's Museum is ready for the end of the school year to arrive. The St. Paul museum has unveiled its list of special events that will take place throughout the summer. Those happenings include storytimes, improv-based game get-togethers, and more. Minnesota Children's MuseumCourtesy of Minnesota Children's Museum It's all arriving concurrently with "Game On!," a new life-sized board game exhibit with offbeat ping pong tables, 3D Twister, and other hands-on experiences for kids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Game On!" opens on May 31 and will stick around through Jan. 4, 2026. Here's a look at the events that will take place at the Minnesota Children's Museum throughout the summer. June 7: Ojibwe Games with Nashke Native Games, 10 a.m.3 p.m. June 8: Unapologetically Us: Pride Family Storytime with The Queer Puppet Collective, 10 a.m.2 p.m. June 14: Kid-Prov Comedy Games with Good Camel Comedy Theater, 10 a.m.3 p.m. June 19: Unapologetically Us: Pride Family Storytime with The Queer Puppet Collective, 10 a.m.2 p.m. June 27: Kid-Prov Comedy Games with Good Camel Comedy Theater, 27 p.m. July 8: Double Dutch with Rondo Double Dutch, 10 a.m.3 p.m. July 13: The Stories from My Grandmother's Hands with T. Mychael Rambo, 10 a.m.2 p.m. July 20: The Stories from My Grandmother's Hands with T. Mychael Rambo, 10 a.m.2 p.m. July 26: Double Dutch with Rondo Double Dutch, 10 a.m.3 p.m. Aug. 6: Living Language of Movement with Ananya Dance Theatre, 10 a.m.2 p.m. Aug. 17: Back to School Storytime with Paige Collette, 10 a.m.2 p.m. Aug. 26: Back to School Storytime with Paige Collette, 10 a.m.2 p.m. All of the special events are available for free with a regular museum admission. Related: All the special movie screenings for kids happening this summer around the Twin Cities This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared. Rep. Jerrold Nadler criticized Donald Trump and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after officers detained a crying staff member in Nadlers district office. While protesters gathered outside an immigration courthouse, DHS officers attempted to enter Nadlers Manhattan office in the same building and accused his staff of harboring rioters. The incident, first reported by Gothamist, was captured on camera. In the video, which the outlet said was recorded by a person who was monitoring activity in immigration court, DHS is seen handcuffing an unidentified staff member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No she did not. That is not what happened, another staff member said off camera. She pushed him back, an unidentified officer responded. Im a federal officer, a DHS official said to a staff member who was stopping him from entering a private section of the office and asking if they had a search warrant. The officer said no, they did not have a warrant, but the staff member eventually allowed him to enter the area. Nadler blasted Trump and DHS for aggressive and heavy-handed tactics used in this incident and to detain others across the country. President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are sowing chaos in our communities, using intimidation tactics against both citizens and non-citizens in a reckless and dangerous manner. In the most recent and deeply troubling incident, DHS agents forcefully entered my Congressional office and handcuffed a member of my staff, Nadler said in a statement released Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nadler said the officers actions demonstrate a deeply troubling disregard for proper legal boundaries. If this can happen in a Member of Congresss office, it can happen to anyone and it is happening, the New York congressman said, calling on DHS and Trump to halt the use of these dangerous tactics. Nadler also criticized the administrations use of the expedited removal process which denies due process to immigrants and citizens alike. The detained staff member was ultimately not arrested, nor was she charged with a crime. She told Gothamist that everything resolved but did not comment further. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. (WHTM) Its been 50 years since thousands of Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees left their home country and came to America. Some of them ended up right here in the Midstate at the Fort Indiantown Gap in Lebanon County. Many of those refugees reunited Saturday as they celebrated the 50th anniversary of their arrival in America with a Cambodian picnic held at Memorial Lake State Park! Blessed that we can, you know, get together and stuff like that and see one of us, that when we were young back then and now 50 years later, we see each other and we are getting old and stuff like that, said Chhay Eang Orn. Fifty years ago, I was one of the navy guys during the war and I come here. I was here in Pennsylvania at the Indiantown Gap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Orn was just one of thousands of refugees who escaped war and came to the United States back in 1975. It was like something you dont expect, you know, he recalled. We were happy, and it was sad at the same time because I lost all my family. Just I came to the United States back then. While enjoying a variety of Cambodian food the refugees reflected on their journey to America with family and friends. This isnt just Cambodian history, though. Its American history, said Kelleney Oum Berchuck. Its not a story of easy success, but one of relentless hope, resilience and renewal. So today, we honor those who crossed oceans with only scars and dreams, and also those Americans who welcome them and help them rebuild. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices Some Americans who assisted the refugees when they first arrived in the states were also in attendance. 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. AVOCA, Iowa Weeks after issuing the initial boil advisory, the Regional Water Rural Water District has announced the drinking water boil advisory is lifted for one southwest town, while the rest remain under restriction pending further testing. The initial advisory went into effect on May 14th and covered several cities throughout southwest Iowa. On June 1st, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced that the advisory was lifted for Avoca. The lift only applies to Avoca; the rest of the cities remain under advisory pending results from recent samples. Regional Waters says those samples are estimated to be completed on June 3rd. Two water samples must test negative for bacteria to lift a boil advisory. Regional Water says almost 80 sampling points have been required to be collected and tested due to the systemwide pressure loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last day of Des Moines Con kicks off at Iowa Events Center Regional Waters water tower system maintained pressure throughout the weekend and says that the communitys water conservation practices have proven helpful in filling the towers. Regional Waters asks the community to continue their efforts to conserve water even as advisories and restrictions could lift in the coming weeks. They say due to drought conditions in southwest Iowa, water availability will remain a concern until a temporary booster station is in place. The completion of a temporary booster pump between the region and Council Bluffs was delayed last week due to wet weather. However, in the last few days the area was dry enough to continue pipeline construction and testing; barring any unforeseen circumstances, Regional Water hopes the connection between Council Bluffs and Regional Waters system will be completed around June 11, the Iowa DNR said in release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents are reminded that if water use exceeds capacity and the towers lose pressure, a boil advisory will go into effect again. Regional Waters asks residents to continue limiting water use. Limit or avoid watering or irrigation of lawns. Limit or avoid washing vehicles, except at commercial establishments that provide that service as their only means of income. In these cases, hours of use will be restricted to 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. No water shall be used to fill private swimming pools, childrens wading pools, or similar articles. No water shall be used to clean streets, driveways, sidewalks, etc. Large-volume water users, including industries, motels, hotels, eating establishments, and livestock confinements are requested to scale back services and/or production. Schools are strongly urged to cancel physical education activities and inter-scholastic competitions that require showers or attract crowds, and take other actions to reduce water consumption. For those still under a boil advisory, bottled water is still available at the Regional Waters Rural Water District Avoca Office. Regional Waters and the Iowa DNR say they are continuing efforts to ensure safe drinking water and thank customers for their patience. 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 who13.com. The remains of a World War II soldier from Ohio who was missing in action have been identified. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] U.S. Army Pvt. James G. Loterbaugh of Roseville, Ohio, killed in World War II, was accounted for on Sept. 20, 2024. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loterbaugh was born on March 25, 1909 Hocking, Athens, Ohio, and was killed in service to his country on Dec. 11, 1944, in Germanys Hurtgen Forest, according to his obituary. In January of 1944, Loterbaugh joined the Army and served in Company C, 774th Tank Battalion, during World War II. In December 1944, he was a crewmember on an M4 Sherman tank. On Dec. 11, his platoon was separated from the rest of the company during a battle near Strauss. Germany in the Hurtgen Forest. By midday, the entire platoon, including Loterbaughs tank, was reported missing in action, according to his Obituary. He was not reported as a prisoner of war, and Army personnel who searched the battlefield found no leads regarding his fate. An presumptive finding of death was issued by the War Department in December 1945. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sept. 20, 2024, Loterbaugh was identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) using DNA and anthropological analysis and accounted for. His name is inscribed on the Walls of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery, along with others still unaccounted for from World War II. A rosette will be placed next to his name now that he has been accounted for. A public visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Monday, June 2, at Routsong Funeral Home located on E Stroop Rd in Kettering. Loterbaugh will receive full military honors and be buried at Dayton National Cemetery on June 3, 2025. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) A remembrance ceremony was held Saturday behind Virginia Beach City Hall to remember those who lost their lives in the mass shooting at Virginia Beachs Municipal Center Complex and to uplift the survivors. The ceremony recognized the 12 people killed and 4 injured in the mass shooting that took place on May 31, 2019, a day described as the darkest day in Virginia Beach history. Our foundation is still rocked by what happened, said Virginia Beach mayor Bobby Dyer. Weve been pretty proactive about making sure that were doing the right thing, you know, to help out those, you know, who need it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement on Facebook, Virginia Senator Tim Kaine stated: Today, we honor and remember the 12 lives tragically lost six years ago in the horrific shooting in Virginia Beach. We must end gun violence by preserving and strengthening our gun safety laws to prevent future tragedies and protect our communities. Family members of victims, survivors and other attendees all wore blue as a sign of unity. Its very important to make sure that we remember it and make sure we not just be here in sadness, but also be here, enjoy and like bring comfort to the ones who need it and always remember and not forget, said Morgan Nixon, daughter of victim Katherine Nixon. A moment of silence took place at 4:06 p.m.., the exact time the 911 call was received on this day 6 years ago. This is a commitment to honor the memories of so many important people in Virginia Beach, who paid the ultimate sacrifice and are still have the grieving families we can never forget. We will never forget, said Mayor Dyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A memorial to honor the victims and survivors is currently under construction. Were investing $14 million in that because we want this to be a structure that when people come, they will feel the warmth, they will feel the empathy. And once again, we will honor the memories we can never forget, said Mayor Dyer. The memorial is set to be completed in May 2026. Mayor Dyer says these ceremonies will continue each year to honor those affected by this tragedy. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Just a day after the Trump Administration released a list of sanctuary jurisdictions they say are defying federal law, US Rep. Maxine Dexter did not back down before a Saturday town hall at Mount Hood Community College. The list by the Department of Homeland Security includes the entire states of Oregon and Washington, along with numerous cities and counties in the Pacific Northwest. The Trump Administration said each jurisdiction identified will receive formal notification of not complying with federal statues and demand they review and revise their policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last living grandson of 10th U.S. President John Tyler, dies at 96 Federal funding being withheld is a concern, its the threat. But we are not going to back down from protecting our neighbors. This is a sanctuary city, we are a sanctuary county, we are a sanctuary state, Dexter told KOIN 6 News. We have tripled-down on making sure people feel as safe as possible in a really unsettling time. She noted people often say immigration is not an issue that affects their daily lives, but she pushed back on that idea. I get a lot of criticism for fighting for immigrant rights and due process. If they can pick someone up with a Green Card without due process and put them away, it can happen to you. It can happen to me, she said. We have to make sure that all of us have the rights that our Constitution gives us and its not just for citizens, which is to the contrary of what a lot of folks are circulating. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oregon companies call for investigation into countries accused of dumping exports Dexter, hosting her 10th town hall since taking office, said there has been one consistent topic brought up in all her events. Democracy has been a top of mind issue for constituents throughout, she told KOIN 6 News. The detention centers, immigration, the economy, most likely well hear some things about the Middle East. Weve got others who are concerned about other parts of our democracy, like the SAVE Act and the budget bill. And she said the tariffs policies are not helping Oregonians. Oregon is the 10th-most trade dependent state in the nation. This is without question already impacting us. Our budget forecast that we just received was $750 million less than we estimated. Economists already believe tariffs are already having an impact. We are dependent on trade and exports in particular, she told KOIN 6 News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She continued, What Trump is doing is not helping our economy, its not fiscally stabilizing. It is destabilizing and undermining the people of this state. 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. The demolition drive at Madrasi Camp in Jangpura, South East Delhi, continues on Sunday as authorities act on court orders to clear encroachments in the area along the Barapulla drain. The operation was carried out to resolve the flooding issues caused by the narrowed drain, which obstructs water flow during heavy rains. A total of 370 encroachments have been demolished, with 189 residents deemed eligible for resettlement and allocated flats in Narela, while 181 are ineligible for resettlement. Anil Banka, District Magistrate of South East Delhi, on the ongoing demolition drive at Madrasi Camp in the Jangpura area, said, "This action is being carried out as per the court's orders, and we are removing the encroachments solely based on those directives. The Barapulla drain had become narrow, hindering its cleaning and causing issues with water flow. During heavy rains, flooding spreads across the area due to these obstructions. The matter was under consideration in court, which has now permitted us to proceed with the removal starting today. We have also allotted flats in Narela to all eligible residents affected by this drive." He further said, "Notices regarding the encroachments were already given to residents, and till now, 370 illegal encroachments have been demolished. While 189 are eligible for resettlement, 181 are not eligible for resettlement." In order to address problems of waterlogging in Delhi, the Chief Minister had announced that the government has appointed responsible officers. Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta assured that the BJP government is committed to the development of slums in the national capital and assured that no slum in the city will be demolished. Speaking to persons during her visit to a slum, CM Gupta said that the government is building all these facilities, including drains, toilets and parks for slum dwellers. "I have just come to a slum area where we are laying sewer lines and I want to give a message to all the slum dwellers of Delhi that these people who are in shock that the government has not completed 100 days and so much work is going on continuously are circulating some lists in WhatsApp groups as part of a conspiracy that slums will be demolished, not even one slum settlement, not even one slum colony of Delhi, is going to be demolished. We have kept a budget of Rs 700 crore for different kinds of work to be done in the slums here. To provide all these facilities like drains, toilets, bathrooms and parks for children, we are investing crores of rupees in every slum area," CM Gupta said. "The government is working in the interest of the people, in the interest of the slum dwellers. Yamuna ji should be cleaned, and we are working on this goal," she added. (ANI) Viva Mose! shouted the crowd of dignitaries, state park rangers and community members gathered at Fort Mose Historic State Park near St. Augustine on a sunny Friday in early May. The chant translated as Long live Fort Mose! celebrated the ribbon cutting of a newly constructed replica of a 1738 fort that holds a special place in Americas Black history. In 1738, the Spanish governor of Florida chartered the settlement of Fort Mose as a refuge for those fleeing slavery from English colonies in the Carolinas. Over several decades, an estimated 100 Africans made the first legally sanctioned free Black community in the pre-Constitution United States their home and safe haven from British rule. The reconstruction stands as a tribute to the courageous men and women who founded Fort Mose in 1738, ensuring their legacy lives on, said Charles Ellis, the president of the Fort Mose Historical Society. By bringing this fort back to life, we enhance our ability to tell the story through on-site events, group tours, lectures and virtual seminars. Because of this, no longer will our fourth and fifth-grade students ask, Where is the fort?' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reconstruction was made possible due to extensive research of the site that began in the 1970s and 1980s with efforts spearheaded by Dr. Kathleen Deagan, a University of Florida professor of archaeology, anthropology and history, and Dr. Jane Landers, a professor of history at Vanderbilt University. Financial support for the project came from public and private sources, including the Florida State Parks, St. Johns County, Florida Power and Light, Wells Fargo, the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation, the Florida State Parks Foundation and more, who all fundraised a total of $3.2 million to turn this dream into reality. The reconstruction of the Fort Mose has been a labor of love, dedication and unwavering commitment which began in 2012, Ellis said. When we broke ground on the reconstruction of Fort Mose, we didnt just build walls. We created a tribute to the resiliency and determination of freedom seekers who made the first legally sanctioned free Black settlement in North America possible. In addition to exploring an indoor museum with a timeline of Fort Mose and St. Augustine history, visitors can now walk through a full-scale replica of the 39-foot-tall lookout tower that helped residents of the fort monitor for enemy attacks. Reenactors will help illuminate history and help visitors imagine what life was like in the 1730s during special events and tours complete with drills, pageantry and cannon firing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Construction on the replica fort began in January 2024, 30 years after the site was designated as a national historic landmark. Chuck Hatcher, director of the Florida State Parks, said collaboration is what made this project come to fruition. Archaeologists, CSOs, volunteers, park staff, division staff, artists and public officials have all worked together to make this project come to fruition, he said. I would like to think if the people who were the original members of Fort Mose were here, they would be proud of what weve done and the representation of what they had. While there is no blueprint for how to build a replica 1738 fort, the design was put together with the goal of being as authentic as possible while staying mindful of Floridas climate. The palisade walls and structural support beams that hold up the fort are made to look like wood but are constructed of concrete. Now, state park officials and volunteers who helped this project come together are celebrating the story of courage, resilience and freedom that the fort helps tell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 300 years after Fort Mose stood as a beacon to freedom seekers, it will stand again and be a testament to the power of freedom, bravery and the human spirit, said Kathleen Brennan, president of the Florida State Parks Foundation. May this fort last 300 years and beyond to honor those who made their living here and to inspire visitors from all over the world, who will come here to experience what can only be found here at Fort Mose. Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com. Stay up to date with our latest travel, arts and events coverage by subscribing to our newsletters at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters. Fort Mose Historic State Park If you go: Admission to park grounds is free. To enter the visitor center there is a $2 fee per adult. Children under 6 are admitted for free. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 365 days a year. Located at 15 Fort Mose Trail in St. Augustine; 904-823-2232; floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/fort-mose-historic-state-park DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The Iranian Foreign Minister spoke by phone with the director of the U.N.s nuclear watchdog agency early Sunday morning after a report from the agency said Iran is further increasing its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Writing on Telegram, Abbas Araghchi said he stressed Irans continuous cooperation in his conversation with Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency. The IAEA did not immediately return a request for comment about the phone call. The confidential IAEA report, which was seen by the Associated Press on Saturday, raised a stern warning, saying that Iran is now the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material something the agency said was of serious concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Araghchi emphasized to Grossi that all of Irans nuclear activities are within the framework of agreements and being monitored by the IAEA. The IAEA said in a separate report that Irans cooperation with the agency has been less than satisfactory when it comes to uranium traces discovered by IAEA inspectors at several locations in Iran that Tehran has failed to declare as nuclear sites. Araghchi also asked Grossi to ensure that certain parties do not exploit the agency for political agendas against the Iranian people. European nations could take further steps against Iran based on the comprehensive report, leading to a potential escalation in tensions between Iran and the West. Iran's deputy foreign minister on Sunday published a detailed response, rejecting many of the report's findings. Kazem Gharibabadi noted that out of the IAEA's 682 inspections of 32 states, 493 were carried out in Iran alone. So long as a countrys nuclear activities are under the IAEAs monitoring, there is no cause for concern, he said. The Islamic Republic of Iran is neither pursuing nuclear weapons nor does it possess any undeclared nuclear materials or activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IAEA report said that as of May 17, Iran has amassed 408.6 kilograms (900.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60%. Thats an increase of almost 50% since the IAEAs last report in February. The 60% enriched material is a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. The phone conversation between Araghchi and Grossi came hours after Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who is mediating the U.S.-Iran talks, visited Tehran on Saturday to present the latest U.S. proposal for ongoing talks. The U.S.-Iran talks are attempting to limit Irans nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic, which have strained relations for almost 50 years. The fifth round of talks between the U.S. and Iran concluded in Rome last week with some but not conclusive progress, al-Busaidi said at the time. IVINS, Utah (ABC4) A rescue team lifted a hiker that was 100 yards deep in a Lava Tube cave at Snow Canyon State Park on Saturday. On May 31, crews from Santa Clara-Ivins Fire & Rescue, along with Washington County Search & Rescue, responded to Snow Canyon State Park to rescue an individual stuck 100 yards deep in a Lava Tube cave. The rescue was considered technical requiring a High Angle Rope Rescue team to extricate the individual. The rescue took around four hours to complete, officials said. Courtesy of Santa Clara-Ivins Fire & Rescue Crews conducted another rescue the same day. A hiker had reportedly ran out of water in triple-digit temperatures. This heat-related emergency took around one hour to complete, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a detailed guide on hiking safety, visit the National Park Service website here. 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. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, studied genetically enhanced crops as a tool to remove carbon from the atmosphere. The next-generation crops could capture about 1 gigaton of carbon annually, the team of researchers proposed. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world will need to remove 5 to 16 gigatons of carbon from the atmosphere annually to achieve net-zero emissions by the end of the century. This achievement also requires curbing dirty energy and carbon pollution at the source. Not addressing this pollution could result in an increase in extreme weather events, drought, disease, and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) addresses pollution, and the researchers' study that was published in Environmental Research Letters aimed to determine effective CDR strategies and scale these strategies to achieve net-zero emissions. The team discovered genetically enhanced crops could capture carbon on a big scale, making them a promising solution. The crops which include soybeans and corn are altered to grow larger, deeper roots, the researchers described. These root systems allow the crops to store more carbon in the soil surrounding them since roots can hold about five times more carbon than plant material above ground. Compared to other CDR technologies, the large-rooted crops have more potential to address pollution, the team of researchers argues. Agricultural innovations like these crops are historically adopted quickly and do not require expensive infrastructure. The scientists suggested "existing seed companies and farmer extension programs" could implement the genetically enhanced crops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While this innovation could face setbacks since genetically modified crops exist on just about 13% of agricultural lands, other agricultural technologies like drought detection have managed rising temperatures too. These technologies can work together, and determining how to scale them, which the researchers considered, will prove crucial to achieving net-zero emissions. "We propose a new approach for estimating scalability rooted in insights about how technologies emerge and diffuse into service under real-world conditions," the researchers wrote. 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. Ed Wolf doesnt quite recall the moments between being knocked off his bike and losing a chunk of his face in November 2023. But he remembers the phone call he made to his wife: I said, You have to come get me. Ive been attacked by a pit bull, Wolf said. And she goes, Are you kidding? A day and 50 stitches later Wolf, 68, went to the police station to report the bite and found himself navigating a morass of different systems as he tried to draw official attention to the dogs owner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An officer at the Morgan Park District (22nd) police station helped Wolf get started on a bite report, which kickstarts an investigation at Chicago Animal Care and Control. The city department received some 6,435 bite reports between January 2020 and April 30 of this year, according to a Tribune review of data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. For that same period, data shows that CACC has issued about 1,516 citations, for unrestrained violations, to animal owners. The violations cover dogs found to be off-leash in public areas, but not every violation issued pertains to a bite. All of the investigations save a single one were marked closed, leaving residents and city officials alike to complain that the path to hold owners to account after dog attacks is opaque at best and useless at worst. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wolfs was one of them. An animal control investigator spoke with Wolf about the attack, but stated in the report that Wolf didnt know the owner or how to reach him. Someone was trying to locate better information on the dogs owner, according to the investigation report. The Beverly resident said he tried to follow up with Animal Control but never heard back. A copy of the investigation associated with Wolfs bite report showed the inquiry was marked completed, with no listed resolution. I would have liked for there to be some consequences to this, he said. Ongoing issue In the 19th Ward, where Wolf lives, canine attacks have been a problem since a woman jogging in the Dan Ryan Woods was mauled to death by a trio of vicious dogs in 2003. More recently, city data shows that bites are up in that ward and citywide since 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click on the map to see the exact number of reported bites in each ward. The agency received 1,267 bite reports in 2023 and just over 1,300 reports in 2024, according to Chicago Animal Care and Control data. But the number of unrestrained citations it issued dropped by more than half over the same period from 390 to 177. A CACC representative said in a statement that the department was reviewing Wolfs case and one other closed case listed in a request for comment. The department acknowledged it can be frustrating for the public to deal with multiple agencies in the reporting process, but said it largely relies on the Chicago Police Department for accurate information to push cases forward. CPD representatives didnt respond to multiple requests for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Click on the map to see the exact number of violations issued in each ward. Department facing pressure Animal Care has been without a permanent leader for more than two years, since then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot appointed Susan Capello as acting director in January 2023. CACC has cut back on its hours for members of the public to bring in animals and is sounding the alarm on a flood of pet surrenders that is testing the capacity of its space and its staff. On Thursday, it reported on social media that 75 animals entered its shelter over a single day. As for why more than three-quarters of the animal bites reported to the agency are closed without a clear resolution, Animal Care and Control Operations Manager Angela Rayburn said investigators contend with missing or inaccurate information in bite reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have no other way to find the person other than what were seeing in the official police (report), she said. Even with the correct information, Rayburn acknowledged, investigators will mark probes closed if they are unable to reach a bite victim or a dog owner. They can reopen investigations if someone calls them back, she added, but said callbacks after the first 24 hours are rare. We would probably have over 100 open bite (reports) if were waiting on people to call us back, she said. We dont want to wait months just to leave it open for someone thats probably never going to call. A department spokesperson said CACC officials and CPD were working to update a 2019 police order governing how officers handle animal-related incidents. That order directs officers to determine whether biting animals belong to anyone, and fill out bite reports for city and county animal control officials, among other obligations. If an officer can identify an owner, the order requires him or her to cite the owner for any alleged violations of city code. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CACC investigators will also work with animal owners to address concerns rather than defaulting to citations when appropriate, according to the statement. That said, our ability to issue citations or take enforcement action depends on verifiable information, including victim/witness cooperation and confirmed ownership. People who have tried to make reports complain of a confusing and frustrating process involving multiple agencies. That can include CPD, Animal Control and potentially Cook County Animal Care and Control, which handles rabies investigations. Ald. Matt OShea, 19th, has resorted to getting personally involved on behalf of his constituents who need help getting bites reported and investigated. There seems to be a lot of confusion, OShea said. But when Im on the scene or Im on the phone, or Im getting an email from someone who was just viciously attacked, and theres a whole lot of Oh, thats not us on the other end, thats a problem. That was the last I heard of that One of those constituents was Kevin Conroy. Conroy, 37, wasnt even sure where he was supposed to report the attack that left his dog Liam with a half-dozen puncture wounds and a $1,300 vet bill while the pair was out for a run on the Major Taylor Trail last fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conroy first called 311, he said, and was then told he needed to go to the police station. He ended up calling the Cook County Forest Preserve to report the bite, which cares for the property on which he and his dog were attacked, and filed a bite report through the Police Department. That was the last I heard of that, he said. A Cook County Forest Preserve spokesperson, reached for comment, said Forest Preserve police documented the attack but didnt get any more information after the initial phone call with Conroy. According to the investigative file associated with Conroys bite report, an Animal Control investigator conducted a phone interview but wrote that no owner information was available. The file does not list an outcome. AUSTIN (KXAN) Days after severe weather hit the Austin metro area, many residents still find themselves without power. As of Saturday night, Austin Energys outage map shows over a thousand Austin Energy customers without power. Chris Phillips is one of residents without power living in Northwest Austin. Were hopeful. We keep getting reports that Austin Energy is making a lot of progress, Phillips said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ MORE: NWS survey team confirms long-track microburst hit Austin metro One of Phillips concerns with the power outages was staying cool, as the Austin metro has seen temperatures in the 80s and 90s since the storm. Phillips said he was mowing his lawns grass as a result of the heat. I just figured, if Im going to be sweaty inside, I might as well be productive and sweaty outside, Phillips said. Matt Schocket is another resident in northwest Austin, and he wished there was more communication from the city on how long the outages would last. Its pretty miserable, Schocket said. Had they told me three days ago when this happenedhey its going to be four or five daysI would have handled this a lot differently. You dont like fire up a generator and kind of do these things for four or five days. I would have gone to a hotel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Austin Energy said on social media they plan to move into Phase 3 of restoration on Sunday, which means crews will focus on even more complex and time-consuming restoration efforts. They said such efforts could take hours to repair and restore power for residents at a slower pace. Austin Energy also announced on social media they will be hosting a community event on Sunday provide helpful resources and information regarding storm restoration. The event will occur at Austin Energys headquarters from 12-4 PM on Sunday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. BRUNSVILLE, Iowa (KCAU) A group of riders, in all types of vehicles, were on a poker run to help raise funds for Saint Florian Burn Foundation this weekend. On Sunday, all sorts of vehicles started their journey in Brunsville, Iowa, and traveled to six other counties in Iowa to help raise money for a handicapped accessible side by side for Miracle Burn Campers as well as helping other burn victims in Okoboji. This is the third year St. Florians has done this event. Organizers said theyre happy to continue the annual fundraiser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Story continues below Our goal is to make all these kids lives a lot better and just kind of help them out, and this is one way were going to do it, stated Christopher Fischer with the foundation. The event ended at 8 p.m. at Cafe Corner in Brunsville with prizes for the participants as well as live music. 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. The midterm elections are well over a year away, but North Carolina Democrats have already begun one campaign in earnest. With national interest attuned to the courts as federal judges seek to limit President Donald Trumps unprecedented efforts to reshape government and North Carolina still reeling from a lengthy battle over the 2024 state Supreme Court election results, Justice Anita Earls kicked off her reelection campaign Friday with a sobering message: Our courts are the last hope as the guardians of our democracy and that is no exaggeration, Earls, a Democrat seeking her second term on the states high court, told supporters at a fundraiser in Durham. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Supreme Court has been front-and-center over the last six months as Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin unsuccessfully sought to overturn his 2024 loss to Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs. With Riggss victory now safely certified, the party shifts its attention to defending Earls seat the first step in its long term plan to regain control of the powerful court in 2028. Republicans gained a 5-2 majority on the court after the 2022 midterms. Shortly after taking office, the new majority reversed previous rulings on gerrymandering and election law, upholding the Republican-controlled legislatures ability to draw maps that favor their own party and their push to require ID at the polls. They have wielded the courts in political power, and they have utilized the fact that they have extreme Republicans on these benches right now that are willing to bend the knee to do anything for the state legislature, Anderson Clayton, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, told The News & Observer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three Republican justices are up for reelection in 2028. If Democrats can defend Earls seat in 2026, theyll only have to win two of those races to retake control of the court. The stakes are high in a state where most major legislation and electoral maps are challenged in court. Earls said voters need look no further than the Supreme Courts handling of the election dispute over one of its own seats to understand why a change is needed. When Griffins case came before the high court, it dismissed his most sweeping challenge to the election results. However, all but one of the Republican justices agreed to allow a 30-day ballot review period for challenged military and overseas votes that could have resulted in thousands of votes being cancelled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal judge later reversed this ruling and ordered the state to certify Riggs as the winner of the election. Four members of my court were willing to throw out the legitimate ballots of voters who voted in accordance with the laws in effect at the time, Earls told the N&O, And these include military people who serve our country at great sacrifice to themselves overseas. Only one Republican has announced a campaign to challenge Earls so far: Rep. Sarah Stevens, a nine-term state lawmaker and attorney from Surry County. On the Supreme Court I will be a conservative voice for justice and families, Stevens said last month in her campaign announcement. My experience as a family law attorney and a state legislator has prepared me to be a voice for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At her event on Friday, Earls railed against Stevens record in the legislature, noting she voted for electoral maps that a court later ruled were gerrymandered and supported efforts to spent millions on private school vouchers. Shes a career politician and there are real choices that voters have to make in November of 2026, Earls said. While Republicans may have to wait for a primary to rally around a candidate, the party is already pushing against Earls. Justice Earls is responsible for years of N.C. Supreme Court decisions in which Democrats pushed radical left-wing politics under the guise of dubious legal theories, Matt Mercer, a spokesperson for the NC GOP said in a statement. The voters of North Carolina wont be fooled and will elect a new conservative Justice in 2026 who will follow the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earls said she was proud of her record on the court, even if much of it has been served in the minority. As the only Black member of the Supreme Court, Earls said she was grateful to have been able to bring a measure of perspectives that helps ensure that our court is serving a broad base of the entire state. While the Trump administration continues to target diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives nationwide, Earls has previously been outspoken about the need for diversity in the judicial system, prompting rebukes from Republicans and even an investigation. In 2023, Earls announced she was suing the Judicial Standards Commission, a body that handles ethics complaints against judges, after it threatened disciplinary action against her for critical comments she made about diversity in the states judicial system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earls later withdrew her lawsuit after the commission informed her it had dismissed the complaint. She said the specter of that investigation as well as Griffins attempts to overturn the 2024 election add pressure to her campaign, but will not silence her. I will always endeavor to make sure that I speak in a way that never causes the courts to be called into disrepute, Earls said Friday. But as a justice, Im allowed to write dissents and Im allowed to tell the public what those dissents say. ...Im going to continue to make people aware of what matters to me and what my vision is of what our court system should provide for the people of the state. That seems, to me, fundamental to our democracy. In the Spotlight designates ongoing topics of high interest that are driven by The News & Observers focus on accountability reporting. Jewish reality in America A Sacramento rabbi speaks out about rising antisemitism, (sacbee.com, May 24) Rabbi Reuven Taffs article resonated with me. He expressed the painful reality Jewish people are experiencing across California and around the country, facing violent hate crimes at schools and synagogues and Jewish communal facilities, like the Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. Callous indifference appears to be mounting to abuses and expressions of bigotry and discrimination against Jews. Anti-Jewish sentiment is widespread in America, and it is causing immense harm to Jewish Americans as individuals, as families and as a community. People of conscience need to step up as allies and speak out in defense of freedom, equality and safety for Jews and in defense of the rights and welfare of Americans of all backgrounds and identities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Noam Schimmel Lecturer, UC Berkeley Protect trans students California updates track meet rules after Trump threat, (sacbee.com, May 27) California state law correctly protects the rights of all public school students, including trans students, to be free from discrimination while participating in school-sponsored activities. To the extent that the President of the United States and California State School Superintendent candidate Sonja Shaw, who is running on an anti-trans platform, think they have the power and/or ability to restrict Californias students simply because they dont like our non-discrimination laws just goes to show what despicable bullies they truly are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 16-year-old trans student and her mother who are now caught in the eye of this storm are real-life heroines for not only standing up to the bullies holding positions of power in federal and local government, but also to hate-mongering individuals screaming at them from the track meet stands. Like the state of Maine, I have no doubt that Attorney General Rob Bonta will legally challenge any unlawful action taken by the federal government against California and our students. Wendi Ross Roseville A good defeat US Senate votes to overturn California bid to ban gasoline-powered vehicles, (sacbee.com, May 22) Congratulations to Congress for blocking Californias unprecedented and short-sighted attempt to ban gas-powered vehicles by 2035. In a stunning defeat for Gov. Gavin Newsom, this move restores some policy sanity to the once Golden State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a state leading the nation in poverty, with some of the highest costs of living, Newsom seems determined to remake the state into a haven for only the wealthy. Michael Pruden Sacramento A fix that doesnt deliver California waives the rules for wildfire rebuilding projects, (sacbee.com, Jan. 29) Safeguarding communities from wildfires is imperative, but the Fix Our Forests Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla, isnt the answer. The bill ignores decades of science-backed research and promotes reckless backcountry logging that fails to keep people or communities safer. It doesnt mitigate fire behavior in extreme wind-driven wildfires and may even worsen fire risk because forest floors will experience increased exposure to the suns drying heat, and windbreaks will be lost. We deserve legislation protecting forests and providing real defense against wildfires, not the faux fix of this bill. Jennifer Normoyle Hillsborough The latest arrests are from Kamrup and Sonitpur districts. Sonitpur Police arrested Md Dilbar Hussain, and Kamrup Police arrested Hafizur Rahman for allegedly sympathising with Pakistan with their posts on social media. The Chief Minister said that authorities are tracking "anti-national" social media posts and taking action. "81 Anti-Nationals are now behind bars for sympathising with Pak | #Update | 1 June," Sarma said in a post on X. "@SonitpurPolice arrested Md Dilbar Hussain. @KamrupPolice arrested Hafizur Rahman. Our systems are constantly tracking anti-national posts on social media and taking actions," he said. Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday conducted a massive search operation at 15 locations in eight states, including Assam, in a Pakistan-linked espionage case. Searches were conducted at the premises of suspects linked with Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) in the states of Delhi, Maharashtra (Mumbai), Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam and West Bengal. NIA teams have seized several electronic gadgets and sensitive financial documents, along with other incriminating materials, during the searches. These are being extensively examined for clues to the espionage racket being run by Pakistan-based operatives as part of an anti-India terror conspiracy. As per NIA investigations, the suspects targeted in the searches had connections with Pakistani operatives and acted as financial conduits for carrying out espionage activities in India. NIA had registered the case on 20th May following the arrest of an accused person who had been sharing sensitive information with PIOs since 2023 and had received funds through various conduits in India in lieu of leaking classified information related to national security. The anti-terror agency is continuing with its investigation in the case, registered under sections 61(2), 147, 148 of BNS 2023, sections 3 & 5 of the Official Secrets Act 1923 and section 18 of UA(P) Act 1967. (ANI) LOS ANGELES Los Angeles is waiting for its George Washington. Last year, voters across an area more populous than all but ten states decided to create a new office to oversee their government. Now comes the hard part: determining the scope of a position that will, by representing the nearly 10 million people of Los Angeles County, become perhaps the most powerful in American local government and immediately reshape California politics. Now it is time to decide how much unchecked authority should be vested in an office being designed from scratch. Many of the tricky issues concern the interplay between the new executive who will have the final say over the countys nearly $50 billion budget and the ability to hire and fire heads of dozens of county-wide departments and the existing Board of Supervisors, who have long held those powers for themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a fundamental change to the culture of county government because its pulling the executive authority out of the Board of Supervisors. And the question is, how do you do that? said Raphael Sonenshein, who headed a Los Angeles city charter reform commission in the 1990s and is now executive director of the Haynes Foundation. People are only now beginning to think about what an important design question it is. Members of a 13-member task force met for the first time Friday to begin the three-year process of redrawing how the county is governed, which will also include creating an ethics commission and adding four new supervisors districts. But their biggest challenge revolves around setting up the county executive role in time for it to be filled by voters in November 2028 in an election that is likely to draw a slew of ambitious politicians, civic figures and business leaders from the countrys second-largest metropolitan area. Elected county executives are common around the country helping to administer areas encompassing such major cities as Chicago, Houston, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Miami and Seattle but remain a novel concept in California. Since the mid-19th century, local governments across the states 58 counties have been led by five-member boards of supervisors without an elected role above them. It doesnt take rocket science to know how politicized [the county executive role] will be, said Drexel Heard, a former executive director of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. That person will absolutely become the most powerful person in Southern California. The veto question For decades, reformers have been looking to reshape the Board of Supervisors, which has long faced criticism for its lack of accountability. Known as the five little kings or more recently, the five little queens each member now represents around two million constituents, the size of approximately three congressional districts. But reform efforts either fizzled out before making it to the ballot or were rejected by voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Things changed last summer, when three of the current five supervisors moved forward with Measure G, a charter amendment that rode a wave of public concern about corruption in the regions local government to win a narrow victory in November. LA County has long been governed under a system that I believe no longer reflects the realities that we face today, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who spearheaded the drafting of Measure G and campaign to pass it, said at the task forces inaugural meeting on Friday. I want to thank the voters of Los Angeles County who decided that this reform was necessary and made it happen, because all of us want to see change in how we do this work. During last falls campaign, the main critics of Measure G noted that it wasnt clear what kind of meaningful checks and balances there would be on the new executive. LA County already has an appointed CEO who manages the budget, a professional administrator who serves at the boards pleasure. The new post, however, would be directly elected by voters to a four-year term. (The CEO job will likely disappear.) Until now, you had a culture where the board could give the executive as much authority as they wanted to give the executive, said Sonenshein. With the elected executive, theyre not going to have that option. Itll be an office that stands on its own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Measure G laid out many of the new executives responsibilities, including to approve the budget and oversee county departments that run health clinics, jails, parks, foster-care services, beaches, libraries and more. In unincorporated areas of Los Angeles, county government also provides police and fire services and sets land-use policy. But much about the executives role has yet to be determined. They couldnt write every single thing into the charter amendment it would have been a mistake to try to do that, because they would have left something out, said former Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, who served on the board from 1994 to 2014 and is now the director of the Los Angeles Initiative at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. So they did the broad-brush stuff ... but they still need to address the details. And there are a lot of details. That responsibility falls to a task force of 13 members, a motley bunch that includes West Covinas former mayor, the president of an SEIU local, a North Long Beach pastor, a Pomona College political scientist and a digital-marketing executive who has worked on influencer campaigns for Google Play and Taco Bell. Five of the task forces members were appointed by the current board (one from each sitting supervisor) and three by labor unions, with five at-large members chosen from among residents who applied. They will have to decide how much authority individual supervisors retain over services within their districts and how much is transferred to the executive. It will also determine how many jobs and appointments the new office will control, from the hundreds of staffers currently working for the CEO, to board seats on everything from the LA Metro transit authority to the regional air quality board currently filled by supervisors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The biggest looming constitutional question may involve the executives veto power. While the text of the measure states that the executive can reject any motion or legislation passed by the Board of Supervisors, it doesnt specify whether the board has the ability to override that veto. Lets say you had a vote on county-wide renter protections, and youve got a board that is in favor of it but a county executive who is not, said Mike Bonin, director of the Pat Brown Institute at Cal State LA and former member of the LA City Council. Lets say its an 8-to-1 vote in favor of it does the county executive get to veto that and nullify it? When the new task force met on Friday at the countys Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles, members laid out their big-picture plans for moving forward on different aspects of implementation, starting with the ethics commission. Nothing concrete was decided at the meeting, including even how frequently to convene or meet next. It kind of feels like the first day of class, said David Phelps, a city planning commissioner in the San Fernando Valley who also owns a comic book and collectibles shop, in his introduction at Fridays meeting. Thank you for putting that trust in us. I feel the weight and the gravity of this moment I did not take this lightly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the public-comment period, one commenter said he had opposed Measure G because the executive role did not have a listed term limit. Thats pretty much dictatorship, he said. We dont want somebody in the CEOs position that has higher power than anybody else in the land. Wanted: A founding father A county executive will be inaugurated in December 2028, and much about the new office will be shaped by how its first occupant chooses to wield the potential symbolic power that accompanies it. Bonin likened it to George Washington setting important precedents for the American presidency, like voluntarily serving just two terms and refusing honorifics like His Excellency. I have a hard time imagining that anybody who is going to go through the time, the effort and the indignity of running for office for an office that represents more people than most governors is not going to want to assume as much power as possible and make the role as big as possible, said Bonin. Being able to mold the new office is likely to be a significant draw for plenty of ambitious LA-area politicians and officials who see a post representing one quarter of Californians as a natural stepping stone to a statewide office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Real estate developer Rick Caruso would have the money and name ID to be a formidable contender, although he is known to also be considering a run for governor or mayor, both of which will be on the 2026 ballot. Miguel Santana, the president of the California Community Foundation who has held roles in LA city government overseeing the budget and helping chart homelessness strategy, is also seen as a potential candidate. Members of Congress (like Janice Hahn) and former Cabinet secretaries (like Hilda Solis) have already returned from Washington to run for seats on the Board of Supervisors. Given the partisan gridlock in the U.S. Capitol and the fact that, with Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff settling in in the U.S. Senate, that its unlikely either seat would open up any time soon other Los Angeles-area members of the California delegation might consider coming home for a far more powerful role. Then there are the members of the current board, three of whom are in their final terms. Horvath, a first-term Democrat who led the charge for Measure G, says she has given it some thought but is currently running for reelection and focused on Measure Gs implementation. Theres not a lot of people who run for office who would shy away from the capacity to be the second most powerful elected official in the state of California, just behind the governor, said Bonin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of who runs, the new executive role will be a boon for Californias political industry. Between that race and those to fill the expanded Board of Supervisors races in 2032, it means a flurry of big, expensive campaigns. If you are an LA-based political consultant, observed Mike Trujillo, an LA-based political consultant, you are going to be a kid in a candy shop. By Mohammad Yunus Yawar KABUL (Reuters) -Russia has officially accepted the Taliban's nomination of an ambassador to Moscow, the Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday, as economic and political ties grow between the two sanctions-hit nations. Russia in April suspended its ban on the Taliban, which it had designated for more than two decades as a terrorist organisation, in a move that paved the way for Moscow to normalise ties with the leadership of Afghanistan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No country has formally recognised the Taliban's government, which took over the country in 2021 as U.S.-led forces withdrew. "We hope this new phase will allow both countries to expand cooperation in various fields," said Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban's acting foreign minister, in a statement. China in 2023 became the first country to accept a diplomat at ambassador level from the Taliban and several countries have since followed, including Pakistan which announced it would upgrade the position this week. Diplomats say formally presenting ambassadorial credentials to a foreign head of state signals a step towards recognition. (Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul; Writing by Ariba Shahid in Karachi; Editing by Charlotte Greenfield and Kirsten Donovan) At least seven people have been killed and some 70 injured after the collapse of two bridges in two Russian regions bordering Ukraine, local officials said on Sunday, in what appears to be a coordinated Ukrainian attempt to disrupt Russian railway lines. While Ukraine has so far not commented on the reports, the military intelligence service in Kiev said a Russian freight train carrying military supplies from the Ukrainian mainland to Crimea was blown up early on Saturday in a Russian-occupied part of the south-eastern region of Zaporizhzhya. Russian investigators have said the overnight collapse of the two bridges near the border with Ukraine was caused by "acts of terrorism," according to the Interfax news agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The twin collapse came one day before a possible second round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday confirmed his country's participation in the negotiations proposed by Russia and set for Monday, saying the Ukrainian delegation would be led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. But it remains to be seen whether Moscow will stick to the plan following the latest attacks. Seven killed in Bryansk collapse At least seven people were killed and some 70 others injured, including three children, after a passenger train derailed following the bridge collapse in Bryansk, Governor Alexander Bogomaz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bogomaz also confirmed reports of an explosion on the bridge, located about 80 kilometres from the border with Ukraine. The train en route from Klimovo to Moscow had been carrying 388 people, Bogomaz said on state television. A span of the bridge collapsed and then fell onto a train passing underneath, the state-run Russian news agency TASS reported. The conductor of the train was among those killed, TASS added. One person was injured when a freight train derailed after another bridge collapsed overnight in neighbouring Kursk, according to Alexander Khinshtein, the governor of the region which was partially occupied by Ukrainian troops for several months. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the train crashed onto a motorway under the bridge and the locomotive caught fire, he said on Telegram. According to initial reports, the train driver was injured. The cause of the second bridge collapse is still unclear. According to the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone with the head of Russian Railways and Bryansk Governor Bogomaz after receiving reports of the incidents during the night. Ukrainian intelligence has repeatedly carried out acts of sabotage and attacks on Russian territory as the country continues to fend of the full-scale invasion launched by Moscow on February 24, 2022. Military train blast in occupied Ukraine While the Ukrainian military has not commented on the twin incidents so far, its intelligence service on Sunday reported a train blast in occupied south-western Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military train en route to the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea carrying fuel tanks and freight cars derailed as a result of an explosion early on Saturday, the statement said. The blast disrupted an important logistical route for the Russian military in the occupied areas of Zaporizhzhya and Crimea, it said. Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014, before occupying about one fifth of Ukraine's mainland territory as part of its full-scale invasion. Moscow has so far not commented on the claims. Russian attacks reported from across Ukraine Meanwhile, Russian forces launched fresh drone attacks on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhya overnight, regional military governor Ivan Fedorov said on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critical infrastructure had been hit and an administrative building partially destroyed, he wrote on Telegram. He did not elaborate on what facilities had been struck. A fire had broken out at the site and a woman had been injured, Fedorov said. At least seven Iranian-made Shahed drones were involved in the attack, in which homes were also hit, he added. There were also reports of heavy drone and rocket fire from Zhytomyr, Cherkasy and the capital Kiev. The reports could not be independently verified. Russian strike hits military training unit Elsewhere in Ukraine, at least 12 people were killed in a Russian missile strike on an army training unit, according to the military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 60 people were injured in Sunday's attack, according to a statement by the ground forces. According to the military, no roll call or mass gathering took place during the attack, with most personnel in shelters following the air raid. The military did not say where the attack took place. Since last sitting down with Ukraine to talk peace, Russia has launched four of its five largest drone attacks against the country, killed more than 340 of its civilians and continued to peddle its false narrative about the unprovoked war it has been waging for more than a decade. Now, Moscow wants to talk. Again. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the next round of talks between Russia and Ukraine would take place in Turkey on Monday. On Sunday, Kyiv confirmed that it would be sending a delegation to the meeting, as Russian state media reported that a Russian delegation was flying to Istanbul for the talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine also announced on the same day the most ambitious simultaneous strikes on Russian air bases carried out by its forces since the war began, adding an extra layer of uncertainty to the already fragile talks in Turkey. Kyiv says that Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange their requirements for a ceasefire during their previous meeting in Istanbul last month. But while Kyiv said it presented its plan last week, Russia has not. The Kremlin has so far ignored the call by Ukraine to present the plan. In a post on Telegram on Wednesday, Lavrov said the Russian delegation would present its memorandum to Ukraine at the meeting on June 2. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Kremlins failure to hand over its plan was another Russian deception and accused Moscow of not wanting to end the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a meeting to be meaningful, its agenda must be clear, and the negotiations must be properly prepared, Zelensky wrote on X on Friday, after hosting Turkeys foreign minister for talks in Kyiv. Zelensky said hed also discussed the potential second round of peace talks with Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday, writing on Telegram: We discussed a possible next meeting in Istanbul and under what conditions Ukraine is ready to take part in it. We share the view that this meeting cannot and should not be empty. In a post on X on Sunday, the Ukrainian leader said that he had requested preparation of the (Istanbul) meeting at the highest level in order to establish a reliable and lasting peace and ensure security. Zelensky added that Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov would lead the delegation again. Emergency workers extinguish flames in the debris of a private house that was destroyed in a Russian rocket strike in Markhalivka, Kyiv region, Ukraine, on May 25. - Thomas Peter/Reuters But even though Russian and Ukrainian officials have agreed to meet on Monday, their summit is unlikely to yield any immediate results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Statements made by Russian officials in recent days make it clear that Moscow is sticking to its maximalist demands. Speaking after a phone call with US President Donald Trump on May 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his demand that the root causes of the conflict must be eliminated. The root causes include long-held Russian grievances that include the existence of Ukraine as a sovereign state, and NATOs eastward expansion since the end of the Cold War. Kyiv has dismissed these demands, as accepting them would effectively amount to capitulation. A resident stands near buildings damaged by Russian military strikes in the front line town of Myrnohrad, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Thursday. - Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters Show for Trump The talks on Monday may be designed mostly to appease Trump, who has repeatedly told both Ukraine and Russia that there will be consequences if they dont engage in his peace process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has been pressuring Kyiv to talk to Moscow, threatening to walk away from the talks and cut US aid if he concludes that Ukraine isnt cooperating. And while he has threatened massive sanctions against Russia if it doesnt agree with his 30-day ceasefire proposal, he has also voiced concern that potential new sanctions on Russia could jeopardize a deal. On Friday, a bipartisan pair of US senators met with Zelensky in Kyiv. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut are co-sponsoring a bill to impose more sanctions on Russia including a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products. It must pass both chambers of Congress and be approved by Trump to become law. Asked by reporters on Friday if he would support the bill, Trump responded: I dont know, Ill have to see it. Ill take a look at it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin has not explicitly rejected the ceasefire proposals, choosing instead to delay and distract. Russias insistence on having the talks and presenting its ceasefire proposal only once the two sides meet is just the latest example of this tactic. Putin initially proposed the first round of the talks in response to the ceasefire-or-sanctions ultimatum given to Moscow by Ukraines European allies. The Russian president ignored the ultimatum, proposing instead direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv. This prompted Trump, who initially backed the ultimatum, to change his tune and call on Zelensky to take the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscows conduct since the talks last month suggests no desire to end the war with a ceasefire. Rescuers work at a site of a trolleybus depot, hit by a Russian drone strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Friday. - Sofiia Gatilova/Reuters Russian forces have intensified airborne attacks against Ukraine in recent weeks, are stepping up ground attacks in many areas along the front line, and Moscow is building up its forces elsewhere. At the same time, Putin ordered one of the largest expansions of the Russian military in recent years. Meanwhile, over the weekend, Ukraine carried out its most ambitious simultaneous strikes on Russian airbases since the war began, using drones to destroy multiple Russian combat planes on Sunday, according to a source in the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed Ukraine had targeted Russian airfields across five regions, calling the drone strikes terrorist attacks. The day before, two bridges in western regions of Russia collapsed, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens. It was not clear on Sunday morning whether the two incidents which both involved trains in neighboring Bryansk and Kursk were related, or what exactly caused the separate collapses. Investigators from Russias Investigative Committee were working at the scenes to establish the circumstances of what happened. Expectations were running high ahead of the talks last month, the first direct meeting between Ukraine and Russia since the early days of the full-scale war. This was mostly because of speculation that Putin himself might show up, after being challenged to travel to Turkey by Zelensky. When the Russian leader sent a low-level delegation in his place, it became clear no breakthrough was in sight. Although the two sides agreed to hold the largest ever prisoner exchange during the meeting, there was no sign of a ceasefire agreement being any closer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for the latest meeting, while its obvious that neither Moscow nor Kyiv are particularly keen on talking to each other, and have little expectation of actual progress, they are likely to play along just to keep Trump interested. CNNs Catherine Nicholls, Jessie Yeung, Svitlana Vlasova and Billy Stockwell contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com MOSCOW/KYIV, June 1 (Reuters) On the eve of peace talks, Ukraine and Russia sharply ramped up the war with one of the biggest drone battles of their conflict, a Russian highway bridge blown up over a passenger train and an ambitious attack on nuclear-capable bombers deep in Siberia. After days of uncertainty over whether or not Ukraine would even attend, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Defence Minister Rustem Umerov would sit down with Russian officials at the second round of direct peace talks in Istanbul on Monday. The first round of the talks more than a week ago yielded the biggest prisoner exchange of the war but no sense of any consensus on how to halt the fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid talk of peace, though, there was much war. Ukraine destroys 40 aircraft deep inside Russia ahead of peace talks in Istanbul At least seven people were killed and 69 injured when a highway bridge in Russias Bryansk region, neighbouring Ukraine, was blown up over a passenger train heading to Moscow with 388 people on board. No one has yet claimed responsibility. Ukraine attacked Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers at a military base deep in Siberia on Sunday, a Ukrainian intelligence official said, the first such attack so far from the front lines more than 4,300 km (2,670 miles) away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official said the operation involved hiding explosive-laden drones inside the roofs of wooden sheds and loading them onto trucks that were driven to the perimeter of the air bases. A total of 41 Russian warplanes were hit, the official said. In this image taken from video released June 1, 2025, by a source in the Ukrainian Security Service shows a Ukrainian drone striking Russian planes deep in Russias territory. (Source in the Ukrainian Security Service via AP) RUSSIA ACKNOWLEDGES AIR BASE ATTACKS, SAYS FIRES PUT OUT Ukraine did not tell the Trump administration about the attack in advance, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said on X, citing an unnamed Ukrainian official. Russias Defence Ministry acknowledged on the Telegram messaging app that Ukraine had launched drone strikes against Russian military airfields across five regions on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said the attacks repelled the assaults in all but two regions Murmansk in the far north and Irkutsk in Siberia where the launch of FPV drones from an area in close proximity to airfields resulted in several aircraft catching fire. Trump was not informed of Ukraine attack on Russia The fires were extinguished without casualties. Some individuals involved in the attacks had been detained, the ministry said. Russia launched 472 drones at Ukraine overnight, Ukraines air force said, the highest nightly total of the war so far. Russia had also launched seven missiles, the air force said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia said it had advanced deeper into the Sumy region of Ukraine, and open source pro-Ukrainian maps showed Russia took 450 square km of Ukrainian land in May, its fastest monthly advance in at least six months. U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded Russia and Ukraine make peace and he has threatened to walk away if they do not potentially pushing responsibility for supporting Ukraine onto the shoulders of European powers which have far less cash and much smaller stocks of weapons than the United States. According to Trump envoy Keith Kellogg, the two sides will in Turkey present their respective documents outlining their ideas for peace terms, though it is clear that after three years of intense war, Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart. Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops to invade Ukraine in February 2022 after eight years of fighting in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops. The United States says over 1.2 million people have been killed and injured in the war since 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has called Putin crazy and berated Zelenskiy in public in the Oval Office, but the U.S. president has also said that he thinks peace is achievable and that if Putin delays then he could impose tough sanctions on Russia. In June last year, Putin set out his opening terms for an immediate end to the war: Ukraine must drop its NATO ambitions and withdraw all of its troops from the entirety of the territory of four Ukrainian regions claimed and mostly controlled by Russia. Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul will present to the Russian side a proposed roadmap for reaching a lasting peace settlement, according to a copy of the document seen by Reuters. According to the document, there will be no restrictions on Ukraines military strength after a peace deal is struck, no international recognition of Russian sovereignty over parts of Ukraine taken by Moscows forces, and reparations for Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The document also stated that the current location of the front line will be the starting point for negotiations about territory. Russia currently controls a little under one fifth of Ukraine, or about 113,100 square km, about the same size as the U.S. state of Ohio. 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. Russian forces are deploying small infantry groups to put pressure on Ukrainian defences in Sumy Oblast, aiming to expand their foothold. Source: Andrii Demchenko, State Border Guard Service spokesman, on air during the national 24/7 newscast Quote: "The situation in Sumy Oblast, particularly in Yunakivka and Khotyn hromadas, remains challenging. [Hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.]. The enemy continues to exert pressure, using small infantry and assault groups to accumulate forces and conduct operations, attacking Ukrainian defenders positions on our territory. This has been ongoing, most actively around Basivka and Zhuravka. Recently, the enemy has expanded these efforts westward, targeting settlements like Vasylivka and Volodymyrivka," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demchenko explained that Russian assault groups, often using all-terrain vehicles or motorcycles, attempt to penetrate deep into Ukrainian territory, await reinforcements, and then attack Ukrainian positions. He noted that Russian forces face Ukrainian counterfire not only in Ukraine but also in Russias Kursk Oblast. Background: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said in his report for May that the Russian army has become significantly more active on the Zaporizhzhia front and has focused its efforts on Sumy Oblast. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated. Russia launched a series of attacks on Zaporizhzhia Oblast overnight, injuring three people and damaging critical infrastructure and residential buildings, local officials reported. Two civilians, a 53-year-old woman and 21-year-old man, were injured as a result of Russian strikes on the village of Verkhnya Tersa in the evening of May 31, regional governor Ivan Fedorov reported. Both people received medical attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A house in Verkhnya Tersa was also destroyed as a result of the attack. A fire broke out and buildings near the at the impact site were damaged. The attacks continued into the next day, with Russia targeting a critical infrastructure facility in Zaporizhzhia. Russian later launched seven Shahed drones on June 1, injuring an additional person and damaging private homes, Fedorov reported. Situated in southeastern Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia Oblast has been partially occupied since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. The region capital, the city of Zaporizhzhia, remains under Ukrainian control and is frequently targeted by Russian forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russia reports 2nd consecutive day of Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russia's Defence Ministry has confirmed that first-person view (FPV) drones were used to attack military airfields in five regions, blaming the "Kyiv regime" for the strikes. Source: a statement by the Russian Defence Ministry Details: The airfields targeted in the attack were located in Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur oblasts. The defence ministry claimed that drone attacks on the airfields in Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur oblasts had been repelled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the Russians noted that the drones caused fires that damaged several aircraft. The fires are said to have been extinguished, with no casualties among personnel or civilians. The defence ministry also claimed that several individuals involved in the "terrorist attack" had been detained, although no further details regarding their identities or affiliations were provided. Background: Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Lakshadweep has launched the 'Sankalp se Siddhi' campaign to commemorate the 11th year of the Modi Government, celebrating a decade of unprecedented development and visionary leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Highlighting the transformative progress across India and the Union Territory, the campaign underscores the resolve to build a "Viksit Bharat." According to a statement issued by BJP Lakshadweep, Shaharban M, Lakshadweep BJP General Secretary, said, "India, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has witnessed a historic transformation over the past decade. His visionary developmental programmes have not only amazed the world but also empowered millions across the country. From world-class infrastructure to last-mile healthcare delivery, from digital revolution to economic resilience, Modiji's governance has redefined what it means to serve the people with dedication, vision, and unshakable resolve. Even senior Leaders of the Opposition have begun to acknowledge the scale and sincerity of this transformation. Yet, some among us still hesitate to recognise the sweeping change that is unfolding--change that is not just visible, but deeply impactful in every corner of the nation." "These state-of-the-art hospitals will not only bring world-class healthcare to island residents but also save them from the financial and emotional burden of travelling to the mainland for treatment. This is more than a development project--it is a message of care, inclusion, and empowerment for the people of Lakshadweep," she added. She further highlighted Modi's governance achievements and urged unity for a developed India. As we proudly mark the 11th glorious year of the Modi government, we celebrate this milestone as 'Sankalp se Siddhi'--from resolution to realisation. This is a time to rise above doubts, to unite in purpose, and to recognise the extraordinary journey of our nation under a leadership committed to every Indian's well-being. Let us open our eyes and hearts to the positive change that is shaping our lives. Let us not be passive bystanders but proud participants in building a Viksit Bharat--a developed India that stands tall in the world. Together with leaders like Modiji and Patelji, we are not just dreaming of a better future; we are building it, brick by brick, with determination, devotion, and hope. Meanwhile, in a bid to strengthen the island's healthcare system, Administrator Patelji announced that construction is underway for a30-bed hospitals in Minicoy, Andrott, and Kadmat, with a total investment of Rs231.96 crore. "Construction is currently underway for 30-bed hospitals at Minicoy, Andrott, and Kadmat with an investment of Rs231.96 crore," said Administrator Patelji "Proposals for 50-bed hospitals at Agatti and Kavaratti with a total outlay of Rs260.38 crore are under active consideration by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare," he added. (ANI) Russian news agencies reported on Sunday 1 June that the Russian delegation has left for Istanbul to attend negotiations concerning Ukraine. Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agencies RIA Novosti, TASS and Interfax, citing sources Details: A source familiar with the preparation of the negotiations told Interfax that "the Russian delegation flew to Istanbul on Sunday afternoon to attend talks on Ukraine". The source added that the Russian delegation will be ready to begin negotiations on the morning of 2 June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RIA Novosti and TASS have reported the same information. Updated: Sources in the Turkish Foreign Ministry told TASS that the talks between Russia and Ukraine are scheduled for 13:00 on 2 June at the Cragan Palace in Istanbul. Background: Earlier today, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the Ukrainian delegation, led by Defence Minister Rustem Umierov, will travel to Istanbul for negotiations with Russia. Before that, Zelenskyy said that as of the evening of Saturday 31 May, neither Ukraine nor its partners had clear information about what the Russians intended to propose at the talks in Istanbul. On 28 May, it emerged that Umierov had handed Russia a document outlining Ukraine's position and was awaiting their "memorandum" in response. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on what conditions Russia will put forward in its draft memorandum for a ceasefire, saying that this should be discussed privately. On 30 May, Peskov said that the Russian delegation will be in Istanbul on Monday morning for peace talks with Ukraine and will show its memorandum there. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said Russia's reluctance to officially submit its memorandum for negotiations suggests the document contains unrealistic demands and represents an attempt to stall the peace process. It was previously reported that the Russian delegation set to attend the new round of peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on 2 June would be the same group that participated in the previous meeting, which Zelenskyy criticised for its low level. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A Russian military train carrying fuel and food was blown up overnight on June 1 near Melitopol, according to Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR). "The Muscovites' key logistical artery on the occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Crimea has been destroyed," HUR's statement said. The agency stopped short of claiming responsibility for blowing up the Russian train station in southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, but said "the fight against the military logistics of the Russian occupiers continues." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HUR's statement further noted heightened Russian searches and stricter checkpoints in the region as Russian forces seek to find those responsible. It was a bad night for Russian railways. A train derailed in Bryansk Oblast, which borders Ukraine to the North, after a road bridge collapsed, killing at least seven people and injuring 69 others. Preliminary reports suggest that explosions were heard in the Vygonichsky district of Bryansk Oblast ahead of the impact, and Moscow Railways, a subsidiary of state-run Russian Railways, claimed that the bridge collapsed due to the "unlawful interference in transport operations." No further information was provided as to the cause of the bridge collapse, and the full extent of the damage was not immediately clear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the Ukrainian partisan group Atesh claimed to have sabotaged a railway in occupied Donetsk Oblast. Read also: As 50,000 Russian troops amass, Ukraines Sumy Oblast braces for potential large-scale offensive Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian forces launched a large-scale attack on Kyiv Oblast on the night of 31 May, using a combination of drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. Source: Kyiv Oblast Military Administration Details: Air defences intercepted multiple targets, including at least 15 drones. No casualties or damage to critical infrastructure were reported. In the Bila Tserkva district, 10 houses were damaged, with broken windows, cracked facades and affected roofs. The air-raid warning was in effect for more than 10 hours in the region. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A group of Russian soldiers fighting in the Kursk direction surrendered to Ukrainian paratroopers because "abuse in units is worse than captivity," Ukraine's Airborne Assault Forces said in a video posted on social media on May 31. "In their units on the territory of the Russian Federation, they were subjected to inhumane treatment, psychological pressure and threats," the post reads. Russia's abuse of its own soldiers has been well documented throughout the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation by the Insider last July reported that Russia uses a systematic program of "gulag-style" abuse directed at its soldiers in Ukraine in order to "maintain order" and punish perceived offenders. According to the Insider, the patterns of abuse of Russian soldiers in Ukraine "borrow heavily from Soviet labor camp traditions." Russian units have employed "punishment squads" that seek out soldiers who are abusing alcohol, refuse orders, or are simply disliked, and then subject them to a variety of abuse, including beatings and "confinement pits." A report in Foreign Policy in 2023 detailed a decades-long system of "sadistic hazing" in the Russian army that included one soldier who had to have his legs and genitals amputated after he was forced to squat in the snow for several hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video released by Ukraine's Airborne Assault Forces shows at least eight Russian soldiers interviewed at an undisclosed location. One describes being sent to the front less than a month ago and being "blown up immediately," leaving just two men alive in his unit. Another said his unit was left to dig trenches and fend for themselves when they were spotted by a Ukrainian drone and "after that everything fell apart." "The prisoners were provided with the necessary medical and psychological assistance," the military said. Intercepted calls released by Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) suggest numerous abuses by Russian commanders against their own troops, including one incident where one lost his temper and ordered his soldiers to shoot at their own comrades in a neighbouring unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "F**k the 55th (an adjacent Russian unit), shoot them, thats the battalion commanders order, shoot them," a Russian commander can be heard saying in an audio published by HUR on April 5. The unidentified Russian commander appears frustrated at the adjacent Russian unit for not properly following an order and revealing their positions to Ukrainian troops. The Kyiv Independent couldn't independently verify the authenticity of the audio published by HUR. Read also: Russian military freight train blown up en route to Crimea, Ukraines HUR claims Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraine carried out a massive drone strike at airbases across Russia on Sunday, claiming to have destroyed dozens of aircraft. There are also indications that Russias Northern Fleet headquarters, home of Russian nuclear submarines, was attacked as well. Overall, the attack was clearly aimed at Russias most prized strategic aerial assets, which cannot be replaced quickly in any manner and doing so at all would be extremely expensive. The Security Service of Ukraine is conducting a large-scale special operation to destroy bomber aircraft in the rear of the Russian Federation, the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff stated on Telegram. SBU drones have hit more than 40 aircraft, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22 M3, causing damage of over $2 billion. The operation, codenamed Web, targeted four key Russian airbases: Belaya, Diaghilevo, Olenya and Ivanovo, the Kyiv Post reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no immediate response from Russian officials. While The War Zone cannot independently verify these claims, video has emerged showing Russian bombers being struck by drones. We have geolocated the video to show that the attack was on the Olenya base, even though it was widely reported as the Belaya Air Base in Irkutsk. The russian terrorist state no longer has the ability to produce Tu-95s or any kind of strategic bomber. This is a tremendous victory for Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/SVeQE78v0h Michael MacKay (@mhmck) June 1, 2025 Locals filmed dozens of small FPV-like drones which reportedly struck multiple aircraft and other targets at the base. In short, a truck drove up to a gas station in the town next to the base and launched at least 20 drones.#BudanovApproves#OSINT pic.twitter.com/yrjEBSUT8g OSINT Intuit (@UKikaski) June 1, 2025 Multiple videos show that the attacks apparently came from first-person view (FPV) drones launched from trucks parked nearby. Lol Russian men climbed onto drone truck, trying to stop the drones from taking off. pic.twitter.com/CFg9oTgLpP MAKS 25 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) June 1, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian air base in Olenegorsk, Murmansk, was also attacked. Explosions and flames were observed at Russias Northern Fleet headquarters in Murmansk. It is home to some of Russias most capable submarines, like the Yasen-M class nuclear-powered cruise missile carrying Kazan. A powerful explosion was heard in the Russian North Sea where nuclear-powered submarines are serviced, Russian media reports. This city is a strategically important port and one of the main centers of the Russian Northern Fleet. Meanwhile, telephone communications are being pic.twitter.com/xySzIK98PL BLYSKAVKA (@blyskavka_ua) June 1, 2025 Russian officials denied that the Northern Fleet headquarters was attacked. The information about explosions in Severomorsk, which is being spread on social networks, does not correspond to reality, the head of the city said, according to the Russian Operation Z Telegram channel. The situation is currently stable. No threats have been recorded. Do not panic and trust only verified sources of information! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As all of this was taking place, the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff said Russia conducted one of its biggest attacks of the war, launching 472 drones and seven ballistic and cruise missiles across the country. Ukraine says it neutralised 385 aerial targets. Broader Context As we noted in the opening of this story, the fact that Ukraine went after some of Russias most prized aerial capabilities, many of which are directly tied to its nuclear deterrent, greatly ups the ante. We dont know how many strategic aircraft Russia lost today, but it could be a large portion of its long-range cruise missile carrier aircraft. While these aircraft have rained destruction on Ukraine from afar and are legitimate targets, they also underpin a leg of Russias nuclear deterrent. This will undoubtedly provoke a unique response from the Kremlin who has warned that widespread attacks against its strategic capabilities would be a red line. are dual use conventional/nuclear platforms. And they have rained destruction on Ukraine from afar as cruise missile carriers. But this is not about them being legitimate targets (clearly they are) it's about this attack bleeding into potentially a major degradation in the most Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) June 1, 2025 The threat of wide-scale, low-end, localized drone attacks against prized aircraft sitting at airfields including in the U.S. homeland has been a brewing threat, as TWZ highlighted repeatedly for many years, which includes the exact scenario that occurred in Ukraine in the last 24 hours. Drone technology has proliferated dramatically since, and the threshold requirements for executing such an attack have dropped considerably. At the same time, defenses against these types of threats still lag behind, both in wartime Russia and most everywhere else. This is also a glaring case of how the lack of any kind of hardened shelters leaves aircraft totally exposed to attack, which is another reality TWZ has highlighted for years, but still has not changed the U.S. investment strategy in this kind of infrastructure, even at forward locales in the Pacific. Meanwhile, drone incursions of U.S. bases at home and abroad another issue TWZ reported on exclusively for years have shown just how vulnerable even the Department of Defenses most prized and critical aerial assets are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are also artificial intelligence-enabled low-end drones now becoming a reality. This would allow these aircraft to fly much farther without any radio control and hit targets they recognize autonomously. You can read all about that major development and its massive implications, which have been spurred by the war in Ukraine, here. It is unclear what control method the drones used to strike aircraft at these bases were. FPV types with a human-in-the-loop nearby are possible, as are ones programmed to hit precise GPS coordinates. Both have major advantages and glaring vulnerabilities. AI-enabled ones that use image matching are possible too, which would allow the strikes to occur without emitting radio-frequency emissions and without the chance of the drones being jammed. The drones would also not require individual controllers and, like those programmed to hit GPS coordinates, they could be launched and strike in rapid succession. Russia has been covering their aircraft with tires in hopes of confusing image-matching autonomous drones in case of this kind of attack, which TWZ was first to report on. This is a developing story, and we will update it with pertinent new information. Update: 11:50 AM Eastern The Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) commented on the attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, the Kyiv regime carried out a terrorist attack using FPV drones against airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur regions, the MoD stated on Telegram. At military airfields in the Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur regions, all terrorist attacks were repelled. In the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, as a result of the launch of FPV drones from the territory located in the immediate vicinity of airfields, several units of aircraft caught fire. The fires have been extinguished, the MoD added. There are no casualties among military personnel or civilians. Some of the participants in the terrorist attacks have been detained. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky personally supervised the operation, and Vasyl Malyuk and the SBU team implemented the plan. 41 Russian strategic aviation aircraft were hit, Ukrainian journalist Sergey Bratchuk wrote Telegram. According to sources, this operation was extremely difficult from a logistical point of view. The SBU first transported FPV drones to Russia, and later mobile wooden houses. Later, in the territory of the Russian Federation, the drones were hidden under the roofs of houses already placed on trucks. At the right moment, the roofs of the houses were remotely opened, and the drones flew to strike Russian bombers. Sources in the SBU emphasize that the people who participated in this historic special operation have been in Ukraine for a long time, Bratchuk added. So, if the Putin regime demonstratively detains someone, it will be another staged operation. Unique footage and details of the preparation of the operation to destroy Russian air bases published by the SBU! Drones were hidden in the roofs of camouflaged cargo containers. According to SBU sources, Ukraine's Security Service conducted a special operation called https://t.co/JcHfeRHOOCpic.twitter.com/Z3aldQSI7L Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) June 1, 2025 Irkutsk Oblast Governor Igor Kobzev confirmed that drones were launched from a truck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the moment, it is known that this was a drone attack on a military unit in the village of Sredniy, he stated on Telegram. The source from which the drones were launched has already been blocked. Its a truck. The main thing is not to panic. There is no threat to the lives and health of civilians. Meanwhile new video emerged of the attack on Olenya. Almost 5000km from Ukraine, a Ukrainian drone operator takes his time in choosing the perfect point of impact to destroy this Tu-95 strategic bomber that regularly rains missiles on the cities of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/CqDcHqY35I Kyiv Insider (@KyivInsider) June 1, 2025 The large-scale attack comes ahead of a scheduled meeting in Istanbul that is part of ongoing peace talks. We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state, and our people, Zelensky said on X. I outlined the tasks for the near term and also defined our positions ahead of the meeting in Istanbul on Monday. First a full and unconditional ceasefire. Second the release of prisoners. Third the return of abducted children. And in order to establish a reliable and lasting peace and ensure security, preparation of the meeting at the highest level. The key issues can only be resolved by the leaders. On Monday, our delegation will be led by Rustem Umerov. I heard reports from the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the General Staff, our intelligence agencies, and the Security Service of Ukraine. Our defense, our active actions, and our diplomacy. We are doing everything to protect our independence, pic.twitter.com/MAz2stbUUR Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) June 1, 2025 Update: 12:53 PM Eastern Ukraine informed the Trump administration about the attacks ahead of time, according to Axios. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The containers with the drones were assembled in Russia, according to Russian milblogger Sergey Kolyasnikov. We found a warehouse where containers with drones were collected, Chelyabinsk, Sverdlovsk tract 28A, he wrote on Telegram. It was rented for 350,000 rubles (about $4,500). Thats why the truck in the Amur region had Chelyabinsk license plates they were leaving from there. Russian sources claim geolocation shows Ukrainian FPV drones used in the airbase attacks were assembled inside a rented warehouse at 28A Sverdlovsky Trakt, Chelyabinsk, Russia. The claimed facility lies just near the Kazakhstan border, possibly a supply route for components. pic.twitter.com/sYhhr9U1Do Clash Report (@clashreport) June 1, 2025 The Russian Rybar Telegram channel lauded local residents who tried to stop the launch of the drones from trucks. In attacks like todays, one can often observe the stupid behavior of the native civilian population, when in the fourth year of the SVO they race to film the landings and post them on the Internet, in fact helping the enemy, Rybar wrote. Fortunately, there are also examples of the opposite: a video has gone viral on the Internet showing how caring drivers in a parking lot in the Irkutsk region climbed onto a truck from which drones were taking off and tried to destroy them with stones and improvised means. People risked their lives: the drones warhead is not the smallest, and what would happen if it detonated is a rhetorical question. But the men still tried to save others, even though they were ordinary civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We hope that their merits will be duly noted, fortunately there have already been precedents, Rybar added. However, the picture is clear: the failures of some lead to the fact that the last line of defense is ordinary men, forced to break drones with their bare hands. NEW: Video of one of the trucks self-destructing (as one person appears to be inside) pic.twitter.com/vDxcPfDIMr Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) June 1, 2025 Update: 1:20 PM Eastern Axios is backtracking on its original story, now saying the attack was a surprise to the Trump administration. Ukraine did not notify the Trump administration of the attack in advance, a Ukrainian official said, the outlet is now reporting. A U.S. official also told reporters the Trump administration was not made aware of the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier today, The War Zone reached out to the White House and we will add any pertinent details provided. Update: 2:09 PM Eastern There are claims, so far unconfirmed, that Ukraine destroyed Tu-160 Blackjack bombers in the attack. According to the available information, the defeat of two Tu-160 at the Belaya airfield is confirmed, Ukrainian journalist Alexander Kovalenko claimed on Telegram. The War Zone cannot independently verify that. The strategists were not completely destroyed, but their damage is unlikely to be repaired by the Russian military-industrial complex in its current state in the near future, Kovalenko added. I will note that almost all Russian strategic missile carrier-bombers of the Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 series are not produced in Russia! What Russian propaganda passed off as the release of new Tu-22M3 and Tu-160 aircraft was nothing more than additional equipment for Soviet backlogs! To date, Russia has not produced a single, completely new, from scratch, Tu-22M3 or Tu-160 aircraft, only modifications from the times of the USSR. Regardless of which bombers were destroyed or how many, this attack represents a major coup for Ukrainian planning and operational security. Said to be in the works for more than a year, this plan reportedly included having drones installed on trucks and then covered by what appeared to be wooden structures resembling houses inside Russia. That is truly astonishing. Update: 2:27 PM Eastern Planning for this attack began more than 18 months ago, Zelensky said on X. Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk delivered a report regarding todays operation, the Ukrainian leader wrote. An absolutely brilliant result. A result achieved solely by Ukraine. One year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective execution. Our most long-range operation. Our people involved in preparing the operation were withdrawn from Russian territory in time. I thanked General Maliuk for this success of Ukraine. I instructed the Security Service of Ukraine to inform the public about the details and results of the operation that can be disclosed. Of course, not everything can be revealed at this moment, but these are Ukrainian actions that will undoubtedly be in history books. Ukraine is defending itself, and rightly so we are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war. Russia started this war, Russia must end it. Glory to Ukraine! Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk delivered a report regarding todays operation. An absolutely brilliant result. A result achieved solely by Ukraine. One year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective execution. Our most long-range pic.twitter.com/oN41NFYyfw Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) June 1, 2025 Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Three women and one man have been killed in Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Source: Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "A 67-year-old man has been killed in an enemy attack on the Polohy district. The Russians hit the village of Kopani in the Vozdvyzhivka hromada with at least three guided aerial bombs. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories ed.] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One house has been destroyed and one person killed." Update: At 20:33, Fedorov reported that three women had been killed in a Russian attack on the village of Ternuvate in the Zaporizhzhia district. Three strikes occurred, killing three women aged 18, 35 and 56. A shop and nearby houses were damaged by the blast wave and falling debris. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian attacks killed one civilian in Kherson Oblast and one civilian in Donetsk Oblast on 31 May. Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration; Donetsk Oblast Military Administration Details: Eight more civilians sustained injuries in Kherson Oblast. Russian forces attacked critical and social infrastructure, as well as residential areas of settlements across the oblast. Five apartment buildings and seven houses were damaged. The Russians also damaged a gas pipeline, outbuildings and a car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Donetsk Oblast, one civilian was killed in the town of Rodynske. Seven people were injured in the oblast during the day: two in Sloviansk, two in Novodonetske and one each in Rodynske, Pokrovsk and Mykolaipillia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! May 31The Samaritan House has raised $2 million through community donations, furthering its hefty expansion project and helping fill a funding gap created by a loss of federal dollars. "It's really a beautiful thing," said Chris Krager, executive director of the Kalispell homeless shelter and transitional living facility. "The community has risen to the occasion to help us get started." The Samaritan House is undergoing a $16.9 million expansion that would nearly double its capacity, allowing it to serve 85 more people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The $2 million will go toward the first phase of construction, which entails a new apartment building with 18 income-based two- and three-bedroom apartments. The administrative building will also be expanded to accommodate a larger cafeteria and an overflow for the shelter. Montana-based contractor Swank Enterprises is expected to roll onto the property on July 1 after the Department of Environmental Quality finishes cleanup at the former Army Reserve Armory located at 1110 Second St. W., which is where the forthcoming apartment complex will go up. Krager said that fundraising efforts will continue, though, and more community support is needed to fund a 16-unit building to house homeless veterans. AROUND $8.4 million has been raised so far, just over half of which are federal dollars, according to Krager. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're making progress. Nothing is in limbo. We are rolling," Krager said. But construction plans had to slightly shift earlier in the spring after a multimillion-dollar federal grant seemingly disappeared. The Samaritan House was in the midst of getting a $4.3 million grant approved when the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the federal agency in charge of dolling out the funds, abruptly cut contact. The Samaritan House was left in the dark on the status of the grant program until a week ago when the federal agency reached back out to Krager, inviting him to reapply. "We'll reapply. I know our application is really, really strong, so that's good," Krager said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The funding comes from the federal agency's Continuum of Care grant program, which "is designed to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness," according to the federal agency. The Samaritan House will be hosting ongoing construction tours. To schedule one, email Chris Krager at ckrager@samaritanhousemt.com. Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@dailyinterlake.com. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria is speaking out against a federal immigration enforcement operation that took place Friday afternoon at two well-known eateries in the South Park neighborhood. Federal agents carried out the raid at Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta, prompting swift backlash from local leaders and community members. In a statement issued Saturday, Mayor Gloria criticized the timing, nature and impact of the operation. Severe geomagnetic storm could spark auroras, disrupt communications next week Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like many San Diegans, I was deeply upset by Friday nights immigration enforcement operation at Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta in South Park, Gloria said. Federal actions like these are billed as a public safety measure, but it had the complete opposite effect. The mayor described the raid as damaging to public trust and counterproductive to community safety, emphasizing that it stoked fear rather than security. What we saw undermines trust and creates fear in our community, he said. Gloria added that he personally raised his concerns with Homeland Security Investigations leadership on Saturday morning. He vowed to continue advocating for policies that prioritize respect, dignity, rights, and security for all San Diegans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loyal customers lined up at the restaurants on Saturday to show their support, many of them expressing outage regarding the incident. As it stands, officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement say an investigation into the controversial operation is 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal on Sunday criticised AAP leader Sanjay Singh for his comments on PM Modi's vermilion campaign, accusing him of "losing his mental balance." Khandelwal defended the name 'Operation Sindoor,' saying it was chosen thoughtfully and reflects the campaign's significance. Speaking to ANI, Khandelwal said, "Sanjay Singh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not know the importance of 'do chutki sindoor.' He taunted PM Modi, saying vermilion is a symbol of a husband's longevity and respect in Indian culture. But after 'One Nation, One Election' and 'One Nation, One Leader,' it seems to be 'One Nation, One Husband.' I feel Sanjay Singh is losing his mental balance. Can anyone imagine the kind of thing they are talking about--one nation, one husband?" He emphasised that PM Modi understands the sanctity of vermilion and that Singh's remarks are baseless and invite ridicule. He added, "Who understands the sanctity of vermilion better than Narendra Modi? If they did not know its importance, then this operation should not have been named Sindoor. The name Sindoor was chosen very thoughtfully, and the people of the country recognised Sindoor as the right name for this operation against Pakistan. If Sanjay Singh or anyone else makes unnecessary statements on this subject, they will only become a subject of ridicule." Sindoor, which traditionally signifies the marital status of Hindu women, serves as a poignant reference to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, several women lost their husbands, who were killed in front of them. The codename 'Operation Sindoor', under which India responded to the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack by striking nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), carried a message that was both emotionally resonant and symbolically heroic. On Saturday, Sanjay Singh criticised the BJP's 'Ghar Ghar Sindoor Abhiyan,' calling it a cheap political stunt and dubbing it the 'One Nation, One Husband' scheme. He questioned if this campaign implies that all women across India are being asked to accept the Prime Minister as their husband. "Do chutki sindoor ka mahatva aap kya jante hai Modiji?," said Sanjay Singh. In a post on X, Sanjay Singh said, "In Indian culture, women apply sindoor as a symbol of their husband's long life, respect and well-being. It reflects pride, dignity, and deep emotional meaning. But now, after pushing schemes like 'One Nation, One Election' and 'One Nation, One Leader', the Prime Minister appears to have launched 'One Nation, One Husband'," Singh said. The AAP leader questioned whether this campaign implies that all women in the country are being asked to accept Prime Minister Modi as their husband. Similarly, the Kerala Congress unit shared a poster of PM Modi with the caption 'One Nation, One Husband' as a jab at the BJP's campaign. The poster also highlighted a month-long campaign starting June 9, with MPs walking 15-20 km daily to promote sindoor distribution. In response, BJP Karnataka condemned Congress, tweeting, "Congress insults Hindus day in and day out, then blames EVMs on result day. A script uglier than the gold hidden where no sun shines." However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denied media reports claiming that the party is visiting house to house to distribute sindoor (vermilion). (ANI) In 1965, Life magazine declared San Francisco the capital of gay America. And the Castro was its beating heart. Arguably the single most famous gayborhood in the United States, some of the countrys best known queer artists and activists settled there in the 20th century. It was where the first out gay male politician in the US was elected, where the Pride flag was born, and where many gay, trans and nonconforming people estranged from their biological families created new ones of their own. At the time, the Castro was known as Eureka Valley, or Little Scandinavia. Amid the tumultuous 1960s, which were marked by protests against US involvement in the Vietnam War and the dawn of the hippie movement, young people flocked to San Francisco. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Castro neighborhood has been made famous for its incredible welcoming of LGBTQ people. And I think that that built through word of mouth, says Roberto Ordenana, executive director of the GLBT Historical Society. The San Francisco institution was founded in 1985, at the height of the AIDS epidemic. Its goal was to collect as much memorabilia and ephemera as possible today, its collection includes everything from back issues of queer zines to the original Pride flag. Harvey Milk and his legacy The man who became the most visible symbol of the LGBT rights movement in the US was Harvey Milk. Born in New York state, he moved to San Francisco in 1972 and opened a camera shop on Castro Street. The neighborhood gets its name from this street, which is its main artery. Milk became politically active, founding the Castro Village Association, one of the first predominantly LGBTQ-owned business groups in the country. His biographer, Randy Shilts, dubbed him the Mayor of Castro Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1977, Milk was elected to San Franciscos Board of Supervisors, making him the first openly gay male politician in the country. He was among the leaders who worked to quash Proposition 6, a bill that would have required schools to fire gay and lesbian teachers. (Milk) crystallized the political hopes and dreams of a generation of out gay people in the aftermath of the gay liberation movement, says Timothy Stewart-Winter, associate professor of history at Rutgers University-Newark, who specializes in LGBTQ history. Less than a year after being elected to office, Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by a fellow city supervisor named Dan White. Following his murder, he became a martyr, says Stewart-Winter. Like John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr a decade before, the timing of Milks assassination froze him in history against the political and social turmoil of the era. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, Milks name has become synonymous with the LGBTQ community. In 2019, the US Navy named a ship after him, a full circle moment considering that Milk who served in the Korean War was forced to resign from the Navy due to his sexuality. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has also named a terminal in honor of Milk. However, Ordenana cautions against allowing Milk to be the sole representative of a large, diverse community. Its important for us to celebrate Harvey Milk and all of these other individuals that have done such incredible work for our community. But yet, there are stories like Sally Gearhart, who was a contemporary of Harvey Milk, who worked with him on the Proposition 6 campaign, whose story has been relegated out of mainstream narratives, says Ordenana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gearhart was a writer, teacher and activist who founded one of the first womens studies university programs at San Francisco State University. We want to make sure that we are lifting up the histories of people that have been most vulnerable in our community, adds Ordenana. That includes seniors, that includes young people, that includes women and trans people in particular. These days, the Castro is home to events like a thriving street fair. - Directphoto Collection/Alamy Stock Photo The San Francisco spirit It has been 50 years since Harvey Milk set up shop in the Castro, and some could argue that the area has become a victim of its own success. The Castro on the one hand, it is paradigmatic, its a place people associate with gayness. Its a place where people go to be gay, but its also a place that is incredibly expensive, and where the contradictions of late capitalism are played out. The larger housing affordability crisis all over the country has been really bad in San Francisco, says Stewart-Winter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tech industry has transformed San Francisco, he adds, pointing out that this neighborhood gentrification is not a recent phenomenon. The Italian clothing brand Diesel opened a shop on the Castros main thoroughfare in the 1990s. These days, Apple and Starbucks hold court alongside locally owned taquerias and art galleries. The location of Castro Camera, Harvey Milk's former store and campaign headquarters. - AztecBlue/Alamy Stock Photo Harvey Milks camera store is still there at 575 Castro Street, an official city of San Francisco landmark with a plaque in front and a mural of Milk on the wall. In a rapidly growing and gentrifying San Francisco, Ordenana says that the Historical Society also wants to keep the Castros gay history in the present tense. The organization was able to raise enough money to buy a permanent home in the neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously LGBTQ people live everywhere. We are part of every community. We are part of every neighborhood. The Castro continues to be a destination for people coming in from all over the world, which is why it was important for us to open this museum in the Castro thats available for global tourism and city residents alike. I was born and raised in San Francisco, Ordenana says. I never left. I love traveling the world, but this is home. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (KRON) Three men were arrested during a traffic stop in Santa Rosa Friday after police allegedly found a Gucci-inspired handbag containing a ghost gun and fentanyl pills. The traffic stop occurred after a Santa Rosa Police Department officer saw a car with no front license plate driving near the intersection of B and 3rd streets in Santa Rosa around 11:20 p.m. Driver slams into car while evading DUI checkpoint, suspect at large Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the stop, the officer allegedly smelled marijuana wafting from the car and saw open containers of marijuana and alcohol in plain sight. Based on the evidence, the officer proceeded to search the car. In the backseat of the vehicle was a satchel, Santa Rosa PD said. Inside the satchel contained a loaded, unregistered, unserialized 9mm P80 privately made firearm, as well as suspected fentanyl pills. A loaded ghost gun, a loaded, unregistered gun and a plastic baggy of suspected fentanyl were found during a traffic stop in Santa Rosa of May 30, 2025. (Santa Rosa PD) After finding the evidence, Santa Rosa PDs gun-detecting K9 Ghost was called to the scene. Ghost allegedly alerted officers to a second gun inside the cars trunk. The officers proceeded to search the trunk and found a loaded, unregistered, .40 caliber handgun. The driver, 27-year-old Antonio Monter of Rohnert Park, was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Jail for possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle and possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man charged with DUI, manslaughter for running over woman in SF intersection Front-seat passenger, 25-year-old Michael Diaz-Fernandez of Rohnert Park, was arrested for possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle and possession of narcotics with a loaded firearm. The back-seat passenger, 23-year-old Aaron Cade of Sacramento, was arrested for an outstanding felony warrant out of Sacramento County for a firearm violation. 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. Artificial intelligence (AI) will not destroy jobs in Germany, the head of Bitkom, the association of Germany's IT sector, predicted on Sunday. While demand for workers would be reduced overall, this was no reason for concern in the light of a lack of skilled workers in Germany, Bitkom chief executive Bernhard Rohleder told outlets of the Funke Media Group. "This can be said for Germany: that AI will not have any negative effects on the jobs market for the foreseeable future," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There will be jobs that will scarcely be done by people in the future, such as technical translations or simple office work, such as taking notes, completing protocols or standard correspondence," he said. Administrations already lacked more than half a million workers, he said. AI would increase competitiveness and productivity in admin departments and public service, he predicted. The situation was different in countries with more young people, Rohleder said. Christian Klein, chief executive of business software giant SAP, said his company saw AI as an opportunity. The focus was now on training staff and new value creation, he said. SAP had been able to boost developers' productivity by 30%, Klein said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Monotonous routine tasks will fall away, freeing up time for creative thinking and genuine value creation," he said. Klein was reacting to comments from Dario Amodei, head of US AI company Anthropic, who has predicted mass unemployment and the destruction of millions of jobs in the United States. Saudi Arabia has accused Israel of extremism and rejection of peace after it blocked a planned visit by Arab foreign ministers to the occupied West Bank. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud made the remarks during a joint news conference in Jordans capital, Amman, on Sunday with his counterparts from Jordan, Egypt, and Bahrain. Israels refusal of the committees visit to the West Bank embodies and confirms its extremism and refusal of any serious attempts for [a] peaceful pathway It strengthens our will to double our diplomatic efforts within the international community to face this arrogance, Prince Faisal said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His comments followed Israels decision to block the Arab delegation from reaching Ramallah, where they were set to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had planned the visit as part of efforts to support Palestinian diplomacy amid Israels ongoing war on Gaza. Israel controls the airspace and borders of the West Bank, and on Friday announced it would not grant permission for the visit. The Palestinian Authority which to this day refuses to condemn the October 7 massacre intended to host in Ramallah a provocative meeting of foreign ministers from Arab countries to discuss the promotion of the establishment of a Palestinian state, an Israeli official had said, adding that Israel will not cooperate with the visit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prince Faisals trip to the West Bank would have marked the first such visit by a top Saudi official in recent memory. Jordans Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said blocking the trip was another example of how Israel was killing any chance of a just and comprehensive Arab-Israeli settlement. An international conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, is due to be held in New York from June 17 to 20 to discuss the issue of Palestinian statehood. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the conference would cover security arrangements after a ceasefire in Gaza and reconstruction plans to ensure Palestinians would remain on their land and foil any Israeli plans to evict them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has come under increasing pressure from the United Nations and European countries, which favour a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, under which an independent Palestinian state would exist alongside Israel. On Saturday, Israel said it would not allow a planned meeting on Sunday that would have included ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said the Israeli government's refusal to allow a delegation of Arab ministers to the West Bank showed its "extremism and rejection of peace." His statement came during a joint press conference in Amman with counterparts from Jordan, Egypt, and Bahrain, after they met as part of an Arab contact group that was going to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Israel's refusal of the committee's visit to the West Bank embodies and confirms its extremism and refusal of any serious attempts for (a) peaceful pathway .. It strengthens our will to double our diplomatic efforts within the international community to face this arrogance," the Saudi minister said. Israel initially blocked meeting in West Bank On Saturday, Israel said it would not allow a planned meeting on Sunday that would have included ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Palestinian Authority officials said. Bin Farhan's visit to the West Bank would have marked the first such visit by a top Saudi official in recent memory. UAE FOREIGN Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan (left) speaks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud at a meeting in December in Aqaba, Jordan. (photo credit: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/REUTERS) An Israeli official said the ministers intended to take part in a "provocative meeting" to discuss promoting the establishment of a Palestinian state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said blocking the trip was another example of how Israel was "killing any chance of a just and comprehensive" Arab-Israeli settlement. An international conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, is due to be held in New York on June 17-20 to discuss the issue of Palestinian statehood. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the conference would cover security arrangements after a ceasefire in Gaza and reconstruction plans to ensure Palestinians would remain on their land and foil any Israeli plans to evict them. Israel has come under increasing pressure from the United Nations and European countries which favor a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, under which an independent Palestinian state would exist alongside Israel. By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) -Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud said the Israeli government's refusal to allow a delegation of Arab ministers into the occupied West Bank showed its "extremism and rejection of peace". His statement came during a joint press conference in Amman with counterparts from Jordan, Egypt and Bahrain, after they met as part of an Arab contact group that was going to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Israel's refusal of the committee's visit to the West Bank embodies and confirms its extremism and refusal of any serious attempts for (a) peaceful pathway .. It strengthens our will to double our diplomatic efforts within the international community to face this arrogance," the Saudi minister said. On Saturday, Israel said it would not allow a planned meeting on Sunday that would have included ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Palestinian Authority officials said. Bin Farhan's visit to the West Bank would have marked the first such visit by a top Saudi official in recent memory. An Israeli official said the ministers intended to take part in a "provocative meeting" to discuss promoting the establishment of a Palestinian state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said blocking the trip was another example of how Israel was "killing any chance of a just and comprehensive" Arab-Israeli settlement. An international conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, is due to be held in New York on June 17-20 to discuss the issue of Palestinian statehood. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the conference would cover security arrangements after a ceasefire in Gaza and reconstruction plans to ensure Palestinians would remain on their land and foil any Israeli plans to evict them. Commenting on blocking the visit, Israeli Arab lawmaker Ayman Odeh said the Arab foreign ministers' delegation aimed to end the Gaza war, enhance the Palestinian Authority's role, and support a Saudi-French U.N. initiative to set up a roadmap for a Palestinian state Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Odeh told Saudi state-owned Al Arabiya Television that the Saudi-French initiative could lead to broader international recognition of a Palestinian state, a move he said contradicts Israeli government policy. According to Odeh, the Israeli government seeks to undermine the Palestinian Authority because it views it as the "nucleus of the Palestinian state." He said Israel blocked the Arab foreign ministers' visit because it could have helped strengthen the Palestinian Authority. Israel has come under increasing pressure from the United Nations and European countries that favour a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, under which an independent Palestinian state would exist alongside Israel. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Additional reporting by Menna Alaa El Din; Additional reporting by Samia Nakhoul and Muhammad Al Gebaly; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle, David Holmes and Cynthia Osterman) House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle, on TVW's Inside Olympia. (Photo courtesy of TVW) This article was first published by TVW. The ink is hardly dry on Washingtons new budget and already legislative leaders are anticipating more fiscal uncertainty. Democrats are focused on threats to health care access if Congress slashes Medicaid funding, while Republicans are warning of renewed legal jeopardy in education funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In post-session interviews on TVWs Inside Olympia, House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, D-West Seattle, warned that a U.S. House-passed budget legislation if enacted could force Washington into a special session to make emergency Medicaid adjustments. Im very concerned about the prospects that Republicans in Congress are going to cut Medicaid at a level thats going to lead to a whole lot of people losing health care around the country, Fitzgibbon said. Were not able to insulate ourselves from that entirely. He said proposed reductions to federal reimbursement rates, particularly for hospitals and nursing homes, would force tough decisions. We would have to come back in special session and wed have to kick a lot of people off health care and close a lot of hospitals and nursing homes. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, disputed that framing. I think theres a lot of fearmongering out there, he said, adding that the U.S. House plan is much more favorable for Washington than what many people thought. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Braun pointed to proposed eligibility checks, work requirements, and reforms to prevent dual-state enrollment. These are things that will not only save the federal government money, he said. Theyll save the state government money and allow us to deliver services more equitably to the people that really need it. McCleary 2.0 concerns The two party leaders also offered starkly contrasting assessments of whether the new state budget could reignite a constitutional challenge like the 2012 McCleary decision, which mandated that Washington fully fund basic education. Fitzgibbon defended the budgets approach, saying the state continues to increase total and per-student K12 funding. I dont think that we are relying on local levies to make up the difference in what basic education costs, he said. Those are enrichment levies to cover additional programs. He argued that voters had already approved the levy increases and said the budget includes additional money for levy equalization, more formally known as Local Effort Assistance, or LEA, which provides extra state support to property-poor districts. That should very much keep the scales balanced between the property-rich districts and the property-poor districts, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Braun disagreed sharply, warning that the Legislatures move to increase local levy caps could trigger another legal challenge. I dont think theres any question. I think youll have that lawsuitif you dont have it alreadyyoull have it before the end of the year, he said. Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, during an interview on TVWs Inside Olympia. (Photo courtesy of TVW) You cant go to a school district across our state and say, Can you show me any definitive way that youre not using levies for basic education? Theyll say, No way, I cant. Were using it for basic education. Studies cite widening gaps Outside groups are warning of persistent discrepancies among districts. According to a March 2024 report by the Washington State School Directors Association, wealthier school districts consistently raise significantly more revenue through local property tax levies, allowing them to offer expanded programs and staff. Lower-income districts often struggle to generate comparable funds, creating disparities in educational access and quality. Though Washington law imposes a levy lid to limit how much local districts can raise, the system still allows for wide funding gaps. The League of Education Voters, in a summer 2024 analysis, concluded that the states LEA funding is inadequate to fully offset these disparities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report found that districts are increasingly using levies to fund what many parents and educators view as core servicesincluding special education, student mental health, and additional classroom staffundermining the notion that the state is fully funding a basic education. The result is what the League called a patchwork system where access to a constitutionally guaranteed education can depend on a students ZIP code. Braun echoed that view, saying, Its undeniably inequitable. This will result in less money per student in some districts and more in othersand thats exactly what McCleary said we could not do. Fitzgibbon acknowledged the concern but said it can be addressed legislatively. The increase in levy equalization, which was not included in that bill, but is included in the budget, is something I have every expectation well be able to put into statute. Swiss scientists have created a new plastic-like material that's flexible, biodegradable, and even edible. The secret? It's still alive. The material, which was created by a team from Empa in Switzerland, manages to balance biodegradability with toughness and versatility a feat that is far from easy in materials science. The researchers processed fibers from the mycelium (the root-like part) of the split-gill mushroom (Schizophyllum commune) into a liquid mixture, without actually killing them off or destroying their natural biological functions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resulting gel-like material is called living fiber dispersions, or LFD, and it can be molded into many different forms. It also makes full use of the extra substances produced by mushrooms, where other biomaterials might just use the core fungal cells. "The fungus uses this extracellular matrix to give itself structure and other functional properties," says materials scientist Ashutosh Sinha, from Empa. "Why shouldn't we do the same?" By developing a specific strain of the split-gill, the researchers were able to encourage the growth of two molecules in particular: polysaccharide schizophyllan and hydrophobin. These molecules are crucial in giving LFD its appealing properties. A sample of the biodegradable material. (Empa) One possible use of the material is as a thin film with a very high tensile strength. The researchers suggest it could potentially be used in compost bags that naturally rot away as well as composting their contents, or in super-thin biodegradable batteries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LFD also works well as an emulsifier, a substance that enables two other materials to mix and bind together when they otherwise wouldn't. Emulsifiers are important in food and cosmetics production, found in everything from ice cream to shampoo. Because it's still alive, the fungus keeps releasing more of its key molecules. "This is probably the only type of emulsion that becomes more stable over time," says Sinha. The researchers tested the new material as an emulsifier. (Empa) And because it comes from the edible S. commune mushroom, this LFD is completely non-toxic too you can even eat it without any problems. When it comes to foods and cosmetics, that's another big plus for the material. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's the potential for plenty of future research here too, because the team thinks that the approach used here could be tweaked to produce materials with other specific properties, like an on-demand materials maker. Scientists will often look to nature for inspiration, whether they're developing drug delivery methods or building robots, and we're seeing an increasing number of studies investigating fungi as a foundation for new materials. Fungi-based biomaterials could act as alternatives to plastic, and to form clothes that are able to repair themselves. There's a lot of benefit in materials that combine the natural and the synthetic. The researchers are hoping to find more and more practical uses for LFD over time, following in a long line of materials inspired by nature evidence that the natural world around us is the best lab there is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Biodegradable materials always react to their environment," says materials scientist Gustav Nystrom, from Empa. "We want to find applications where this interaction is not a hindrance but maybe even an advantage." The research has been published in Advanced Materials. Related News Astronomers have spotted something strange and spectacular: a mysterious object that keeps emitting pulses every 44 minutes. In a press release from Australia's Curtin University, which was part of the international team that detected the object just 15,000 light-years away in our Milky Way galaxy, astronomers explained that the find was all the more stunning because the signal is coming in the form of both X-rays and radio waves. The object, which was named ASKAP J1832-0911 after Australia's ASKAP radio telescope that was used to detect it, was discovered emitting two-minute-long pulses that would pause and then repeat 44 minutes later. As the Curtin press release explains, the researchers lucked out when they realized that NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory was observing the same part of the sky and detected the same repeating signal in X-ray form. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This dual-natured pulse belongs to a newly-discovered class of space phenomena known as "long-period radio transients," or LPTs for short. Discovered in 2022 by the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research which also sponsored this latest study these mystery pulses have unknown origins and occur in fixed intervals of minutes or hours. They're considered by astronomers to be remarkably slow as compared to the signals emitted by pulsars, those rapidly-rotating stars that send out similar bursts every few milliseconds when their poles point in Earth's direction. In the years since they were first discovered, astronomers around the world have only detected some 10 other LPTs but before now, none have been run through X-ray telescopes as well. According to Ziteng "Andy" Wang, an ICRAR-affiliated Curtin astronomer and the lead author a paper about the finding that was just published in the journal Nature, discovering the dual nature of LPTs in such a coincidental manner "felt like finding a needle in a haystack." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The ASKAP radio telescope has a wide field view of the night sky, while Chandra observes only a fraction of it," Wang explained in the Curtin press release. "So, it was fortunate that Chandra observed the same area of the night sky at the same time." Because LPTs are such a new phenomenon to astronomers, they can't say for sure what causes them. When the first of them were discovered, astronomers posited that they could be coming from magnetars, a type of neutron star with extremely strong magnetic fields that also emit radio pulses at faster intervals, leading to the ICRAR team positing that they may have an "ultra-long-period magnetar" on their hands. While the magnetar theory appears to have been scrapped, the astronomers behind this update in LPT knowledge are hopeful that it will help them figure out what these strange, slow pulses are about. "This object is unlike anything we have seen before," said Wang. More on strange space: Scientists Startled by Discovery of Small Star Swimming Through Outer Layers of Another Larger Star Harvey Weinstein, Crystal McKinney, Sean Combs. - Credit: Jefferson Siegel - Pool/Getty Images; Arnaldo Magnani/Getty Images; MEGA/GC Images A woman who is suing Sean Combs for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2003 has filed a separate lawsuit against Harvey Weinstein. In an amended suit filed Friday, May 30, in Manhattan Federal Court and obtained by Rolling Stone, former model Crystal McKinney alleges that in 2003, Weinstein raped her and her friend in a Manhattan hotel room. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McKinney claims that an unnamed modeling executive arranged a meeting between her and Weinstein for business opportunities. She had been hoping to get into the film industry, and she brought along her roommate who was also a model who wanted to work in film. They met with Weinstein at a nightclub, according to the suit. McKinney claims that Weinstein said he was having issues hearing them due to the noise of the club, so he invited them to his hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park Hotel. According to the suit, McKinney alleges Weinstein plied them with alcohol before grabbing her breasts, which caused drinks to spill on her shirt. She and her roommate went to the bathroom, where she claims Weinstein barged in, exposed himself, and forced the roommates to have sex with each other in front of him before raping them. (An attorney for Weinstein did not immediately reply to a request for comment.) In a separate lawsuit filed in May 2024, McKinney made allegations against Combs, claiming he drugged and sexually assaulted her. The suit states that she met Combs at a dinner when she was 22 during Mens Fashion Week in 2003. During the dinner at Cipriani Downtown, Combs allegedly behaved in a sexually suggestive manner and plied her with alcohol. Following the dinner, the lawsuit alleges Combs invited her over to his Manhattan recording studio. She went, believing it was a safe spot since it was a professional setting as opposed to a personal residence. While there, she alleged that Combs passed her a joint that she believes was laced with a narcotic. Afterward, she said Combs forced her to perform oral sex on him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She then passed out shortly after, and she woke up in shock to find herself in a taxicab. Combs has denied all allegations against him and is currently on trial after being arrested in September. (Hes pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy.) If convicted as charged, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. One of Combs accusers, Casandra Cassie Ventura, has testified, claiming he emotionally, physically, and sexually abused her for more than a decade. Witnesses, including Dawn Richard and Kid Cudi, have testified, backing her claims during the trial. MeToo exposed rich and powerful men in the entertain industry who target and sexually abuse young women seeking a break. Crystal McKinney, a top model at a young age, fell victim to such predation twice, Michelle Caiola, McKinneys attorney, said in a statement. The facts stand on their own and our client looks forward to her day in court when she can present her evidence to a jury. Weinstein is currently being retried on sexual assault and rape charges. In the initial 2020 case, Weinstein was convicted on two out of five charges, one for a felony sex crime, the other for third-degree rape. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison, but in April 2024, an appeals court overturned the conviction. The court ruled that prosecutors should not have been allowed to let some of Weinsteins other accusers testify, when their allegations were not related to the charges he faced. Weinstein was also convicted of rape and sexual assault, and sentenced to 16 years in prison in a separate California case. He has filed an appeal in that case, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article was updated on June 2 at 7:05 p.m. ET to include a statement from McKinneys attorney. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, accompanied by her family, visited the Har Ki Pauri ghat in Haridwar and took a holy dip in the Ganga river on Sunday. After taking a holy dip in the Ganga at Har Ki Pauri, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said, "Taking blessings from Maa Ganga, we will work to make Maa Yamuna clean and beautiful. We will work to speed up the development of Delhi. Taking the blessings of Maa, I feel very satisfied that as the Chief Minister of Delhi, I will be able to do better work for Delhi." Meanwhile, in Delhi CM Gupta performed Yamuna Aarti at Vasudev Ghat on Saturday to mark the completion of 100 days of the BJP government in Delhi. The Delhi Chief Minister could be seen offering prayers at the ghat alongwith the other party members. Addressing the gathering, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta said, "The Delhi government and the city's residents have taken the decision to clean the River Yamuna. Social workers also will be part of this." Taking a swipe at the previous AAP government, Rekha Gupta said, "The previous governments used to lie about Yamuna cleaning. They did not take a single step towards Yamuna cleaning..." Rekha Gupta participated in the '100 Din Seva Ke' program earlier in the day. The Chief Minister slammed her predecessor, saying they had claimed to be ordinary people who became greedy for power, while her government is working on the streets among the people. "When the movement started from Ramlila Maidan, thousands and lakhs of people joined it, I joined too, others also joined...Everyone supported it, thinking something better would happen in Delhi and the country. Those people who used to say that they are not greedy for power became so greedy that they could not see anything except power...My cabinet, our MLAs, all the public representatives continuously work on the streets among the people..." The Delhi Chief Minister also criticised the previous AAP government for questioning the valour of the Armed Forces. (ANI) NEED TO KNOW Sean Diddy Combs and Harvey Weinstein have both been accused of sexual assault by model Crystal McKinney An amended complaint filed on May 30 against Weinstein alleged that he raped McKinney and a friend in 2003 The model previously filed a lawsuit in 2024 accusing Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting her Sean Diddy Combs and Harvey Weinstein have been accused of sexual assault by the same woman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crystal McKinney who filed a lawsuit against Combs in May 2024, accusing him of drugging and sexually assaulting her has now been named in an amended May 30 complaint, which was initially filed in February 2025, against disgraced film producer Weinstein, 73. The complaint, which is unrelated to Diddys lawsuit, alleged that Weinstein raped McKinney and a friend in a Manhattan hotel room in 2003. According to the complaint obtained by PEOPLE, McKinney claims she received a call from an unnamed modeling company executive telling her that he had set up a business meeting between her and Weinstein at a popular West Village lounge in the evening. McKinney said she brought along a fellow modeling friend and roommate to see if he would consider her as well for an acting role. Arnaldo Magnani/Getty Crystal McKinney in 2003 Crystal McKinney in 2003 They arrived at the lounge and waited for the film mogul to arrive before they were ushered to his table, per the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McKinney then claimed that Weinstein repeatedly told them that he wanted to get to know both of them better, so he could see their real selves and suggested that they move the meeting to discuss potential acting roles to his place since the lounge was too loud and crowded. However, once they got back to the hotel room, McKinney alleges in the complaint that the film producer plied them with alcohol, ordering several bottles of Boulevardier and Dom Perignon and vodka cocktails. She claimed in the lawsuit that at one point, Weinstein grabbed her breasts and tore at her tank top, which caused drinks to slosh on her shirt and prompted her to flee to the bathroom. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. She further alleged in the complaint that her friend joined her, and Weinstein also barged into the bathroom, demanded the women strip and take a bath with him before proceeding to expose himself and enter the tub. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McKinney said she and her friend complied with his request as they felt backed into a corner and feared that he would retaliate against them if they refused his sexual advances. McKinney alleged in the complaint that he directed the women to engage in sexual acts with each other in the bathtub, before he dragged them from the tub to the bed. She claimed that he then raped her and her friend before he abruptly left the hotel room. McKinney claimed that she was disgusted but too frightened to voice her opposition and had been heavily intoxicated at the time. She claimed in the filing that Weinsteins assistant then called the hotel room, and McKinney informed her of what took place, but instead of addressing her complaints, the assistant allegedly told her to leave the hotel room immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the incident, McKinney said she experienced depression, anxiety, anger, self-blame, suicidal ideation, body image issues and demoralization. Attorneys for Weinstein and McKinney did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment on the complaint. Weinstein was convicted in New York State for rape and sexual assault in 2020 and subsequently sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, his convictions were overturned in April 2024 after the New York Court of Appeals ruled he didn't receive a fair trial because women uninvolved in the charges were allowed to testify. In January, Weinstein begged a New York judge to move up his retrial date, claiming that he was in poor health and didnt know "how much longer he could hold on." He is serving jail time on Rikers Island due to his 2022 convictions for sex crimes charges in California. As for Combs, he is on trial for sex trafficking and racketeering charges, for which he has pleaded not guilty. Read the original article on People MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) Police are still searching for a 15-year-old girl who went missing in the water near Roosevelt Island on Friday. The teenager went missing around 12:15 p.m., according to the NYPD. She was last seen in a bathing suit with flowers on it near 688 Main Street, police said. More Local News Police still do not know how she ended up in the water. Videos from the scene show police boats searching the East River as divers search underneath the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Videos from the scene also show items like a bag, sneakers and books. Police told the New York Post that these items belong to the missing teenager. Locals told PIX11 News the scene is very shocking for a peaceful and quiet area. 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. 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. HONOLULU (KHON2) Want to see your own furry friend featured in a calendar? Enter your photos today. The Hawaiian Humane Society has announced the return of its popular Pets in Paradise calendar contest. Hawaiis TMT project on chopping block amid federal cuts This annual fundraising event invites pet owners across Hawaii to submit photos of their furry companions for a chance to be featured in the organizations calendar for 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starting June 1 through June 30, the contest will accept photo submissions of dogs, cats and other animals. Entries cost $30 per photo, with no limit on submissions per household. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You This event will also raise critical funds for over 30 programs and services that Hawaiian Humane provides to support animals and the community. What makes this contest truly meaningful is seeing how pet owners across the islands come together to support animals in need, said Anna Neubauer, president and CEO of the Hawaiian Humane Society. Every photo submitted and vote cast helps us provide medical care, find homes for shelter animals and keep pets with their families during difficult times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pet owners can enter the contest by submitting high-quality, landscape-oriented photos of their pets. No people are allowed in the photos. Once entered, family and friends can vote for their favorite pets for just $1 per vote. To enter and for more information, visit the Hawaiian Humane Societys 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 KHON2. KYIV (Reuters) -The commander of Ukraine's land forces, one of the most senior positions in the country's military, announced on Sunday that he was tendering his resignation, citing a lethal strike on Ukrainian military training facility. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he had called a meeting to examine the incident. Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi has been in charge of Ukraine's vast wartime land army since November last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is a conscious step dictated by my personal sense of responsibility for the tragedy at the 239th training ground, which resulted in the deaths of our soldiers," Drapatyi wrote on Facebook. An earlier statement from the land forces' Telegram page said 12 soldiers had been killed and 60 wounded by a Russian missile strike on a military training site. "These are young guys from a training battalion. Most of them were in shelters," Drapatyi wrote. "They were supposed to study, live, fight - not die. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to all those who suffered." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskiy, in his nightly video address, said he would summon senior commanders, including top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, to consider the circumstances of the strike -- to take place after Defence Minister Rustem Umerov returns from new talks on the war with Russian negotiators on Monday in Turkey. "This is not the first strike of its kind when Ukraine has lost personnel. I have called a meeting...to deal with this," he said. "We need all our fighting men at the front to defend Ukraine," he said, adding "Every life must be preserved. All decisions needed to do this will be adopted." Russia's military issued a statement saying its forces had launched a missile on a Ukrainian military "tent camp" in central Dniepropetrovsk region. (Reporting by Max Hunder; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Ron Popeski) In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview at the Presidential Palace in Belgrade, President Vucic touched on Serbia-Israel relations, the Gaza war, Serbia's EXPO 2027 exposition, and more. BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic revealed to The Jerusalem Post last week that he personally appealed to Arab leaders to help secure the release of Israeli-Serbian citizen Alon Ohel, who was abducted by Hamas during the October 7 massacre and held in Gaza for more than 600 days. I met his family several times, Vucic said as part of an exclusive and wide-ranging interview at the Presidential Palace in Belgrade. I was so touched by the way they were presenting the case of their son and grandson when they were here. They were so proud and so dignified. They were doing everything in a solemn, serious way, doing everything to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The young dual-national was attending the Nova music festival near Reim when Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel, and last week passed 600 days in captivity. His family revealed in April that they had received information from released hostages that Ohel was now blind in one eye. Alon is injured. He lost sight in one eye, and we know that his other eye can be saved, his father, Kobi Ohel, said at the time. Taken captive on October 7 from the death shelter along with additional hostages, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ohel sustained shrapnel wounds from some of the grenades thrown into the shelter, his mother, Idit, said. President Herzog with President of Serbia Avucic (photo credit: HAIM ZACH/GPO) He was then physically abused and tortured, his mother said, adding that he received disgraceful treatment from Hamas a 19-year-old sewed him up with needle and thread, with no pain killer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vucic described his quiet but determined efforts behind the scenes to gather information and plead for assistance. I asked some of my friends in the Middle East for help, and we got some info that he was alive, Vucic shared. Of course, you never know. It is terribly difficult conveying this type of message to the mother who is waiting for her son. But I said to her, I cannot guarantee it, but we have information that he is alive. And then we got official information that he was alive, that he was injured and passing through difficult times. Importance of international cooperation to Serbia and ties with Arab countries Vucic added that Serbia had done all it could within its limited capacity, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in such cases. We will always do our best. He is our citizen, he is an Israeli citizen. He is just a young man who has the right to live. We have some friends in the Arab world too, good friends, and I am begging those people to help take care of that young guy and free him as soon as possible. I was really begging my friends for his life. Vucic has developed excellent ties with many Arab countries during his presidency, most notably United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Serbian leader reserved special praise for Ohels family. His family is amazinghis grandparents. That was the first time I saw how Israelis and Jewish people are able to bear that type of burden on their shoulders. It was not an easy meeting at all, but this is what I saw. What can you say to a mother who is waiting for her son, and not disappoint their expectations? Reflecting on the circumstances of Ohels abduction, Vucic added: These people are civilians. Being present at a music festival, listening to the musicthat was their biggest sin. Vucics comments come amid increasingly warm ties between Serbia and Israel. Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Belgrade in September 2024, and earlier this year, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko uric made an official visit to Israel, reinforcing diplomatic cooperation between the two nations. The full interview with President Vucic, covering Serbia-Israel relations, the Gaza war, Belgrades EXPO 2027 exposition, and more, will be published later this week in The Jerusalem Post. BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) Thousands of people on Sunday vowed to keep on fighting for justice and rule of law in Serbia as they demanded that President Aleksandar Vucic call a snap parliamentary election following months of persistent demonstrations that have challenged his firm grip on power in the Balkan country. Protesters led by university students blocked bridges in the capital Belgrade and rallied in 30 other Serbian cities and towns as they also marked exactly seven months since a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in the north, killing 16 people and sparking the massive wave of anti-corruption protests. The whole of Serbia has risen, protesting students said in a speech that was read at all the rallies at the same time. There will be no more silence, there will be no more surrender! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many people in Serbia believe that the deadly Nov. 1 canopy collapse in Novi Sad was the result of flawed renovation work on the station building, and they link the disaster to alleged government corruption in major infrastructure projects with Chinese state companies. Vucic, whom critics have accused of imposing authoritarian rule in Serbia since coming to power over a decade ago, initially dismissed the possibility of holding early elections but on Friday suggested they could take place, though without saying exactly when. Sunday's protests included commemoration ceremonies for the victims of the Novi Sad crash and student marches and blockades. In Belgrade, crowds halted traffic at two key bridges over the Sava River for three hours, while protesters in Novi Sad carried a white wreath for the canopy collapse victims as they walked toward the crash site. Mina Miletic, from Belgrade, said she is encouraged by so many people fighting together for the same goal: The rule of law and life in a decent country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vucic has accused the protesters of working for unspecified Western powers to destroy Serbia. Pro-government media on Sunday described the blockades in Belgrade as terror and alleged falsely that only a handful of people joined the rallies. Most media in Serbia are controlled by the ruling populists, often lashing out at government opponents and accusing them of anti-state activities. The student movement is seeking a snap vote, arguing that the current government cannot meet their demands for justice for the crash victims. Presidential and parliamentary elections are otherwise due some time in 2027. No one has been sentenced in connection with the tragedy in Novi Sad and doubts prevail that ongoing legal proceedings will uncover the alleged corruption behind the crash. Serbia is formally seeking European Union entry but the ruling populists have been accused of clamping down on democratic freedoms, including free media. Vucic's authorities have stepped up pressure on protesters, including police detentions, intimidation and physical attacks. Credit: Via Reuters Ukraine launched an audacious drone strike against Russias prized strategic nuclear bombers in an operation kept secret from Donald Trump. Swarms of attack drones emerged from parked trucks to target airfields in the coordinated assault on four bases deep behind enemy lines. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, hailed the brilliant attack, which he said will undoubtedly be in history books. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war, he said as officials from both sides of the conflict were due to meet for ceasefire talks in Istanbul. Operation Spiders Web was carried out by Ukraines security service and overseen by Mr Zelensky, but officials last night insisted that the White House was not warned in advance. Mr Trump has been urging Ukraine and Russia to end the war in Ukraine, but his peace plan has been rejected by Putin. A second round of direct talks was due to begin on Monday morning in Istanbul, but hopes of a breakthrough were dashed by heavy attacks from both militaries on Sunday. The SBU said that as many as 40 warplanes - worth $7 billion and amounting to 34 per cent of Russias strategic cruise missile carriers - had been destroyed in the clandestine drone operation. If the figures are confirmed, the attack would represent a sweeping blow to Russias ability to bomb Ukraine safely from distance and a dent to its nuclear strike capabilities. The Ukrainian attack involved smuggling drones into shipping containers with remote-controlled retractable roofs to strike Russian aircraft as far away as the Arctic. Credit: Telegram / russianocontext Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow had been forced to relocate the bulk of its expensive bomber fleet thousands of miles from the frontline in a now-failed attempt to get them out of range of Ukraine. Mr Zelensky boasted that Ukraine had set up a secret base for the operation next door to a Russian spy headquarters, and claimed all operatives returned safely to Ukraine. Russian commentators close to the military called the strikes a black day for Russian long-range aviation and Russias Pearl Harbor moment. Seeking to downplay the damage, Russias defence ministry later confirmed that several of its military aircraft caught fire in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, adding there were no casualties. Credit: Telegram / babr_mash The planes targeted are some of Russias most treasured military assets: the long-range nuclear-capable Tupolev Tu-95 Bear, the Tu-160 Blackjack, the largest combat aircraft in the world, and the supersonic Tu-22M3 Backfire all planes regularly used to strike Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you ever wanted to see Russias irreplaceable strategic number fleet destroyed, we got you covered, Ukrainian officials wrote as the attacks were unfolding. Seven people died and scores were injured when a passenger train travelling to Moscow was derailed by a collapsed bridge in Bryansk, north of Kyiv - X Earlier in the day, a wave of bombings - presumably from Ukrainian sabotage teams - also targeted Russian railways, derailing trains and killing at least seven passengers, in what Moscow called acts of terrorism. The attacks came after Russia carried out its largest drone strike on Ukraine since the war began on Saturday night. It also fired a missile at a training base, killing soldiers and forcing a senior Ukrainian army commander to resign. 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. A road bridge has collapsed on top of a passenger train in Russias Bryansk Oblast, killing seven people and injuring about 70. Source: Alexander Bogomaz, Governor of Bryansk Oblast, on Telegram; Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations; Russian media Details: The Baza Telegram channel reported after midnight on 31 May 2025 that at least 44 people had been injured in the bridge collapse. The victims were passengers on the KlimovoMoscow train which was struck by the collapsing bridge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Russian Telegram channels suggested the collapse may have been caused by an explosion. Governor Alexander Bogomaz confirmed the incident occurred in the Vygonichskyi district of Bryansk Oblast. Later, Baza reported four deaths at the scene. Moscow Railways stated that the bridge collapse and train derailment resulted from "unlawful interference in transport operations". The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations initially reported three deaths and 28 injuries. Bogomaz later updated the death toll to seven, with 35 people taken to hospital. On the morning of 1 June, he reported that a total of 66 people had been injured, including three children, and 44 people had been hospitalised. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Three armed robbers were arrested on Sunday after a brief exchange of fire in Delhi's Usmanpur area, in which two of them were injured during the shootout. The accused, identified as Sameer (21) and Tarun (23), both residents of Shahdara, and Kunal Sharma (23), a resident of Pandav Nagar, Meerut, opened fire on the police team using illegal firearms. The police retaliated, injuring all three suspects during the exchange. According to the official, a police team from PS New Usmanpur was on patrol duty when it received a tip-off regarding the presence of individuals involved in recent robberies who were allegedly planning another crime near 5th Pusta. Acting on the input, the team reached the Yamuna Khadar area and noticed three suspicious individuals. Upon seeing the police, the suspects attempted to flee into the nearby jungle. When the police team instructed them to stop for a check, the suspects opened fire in an attempt to escape. Sensing imminent danger, the police team quickly retaliated in self-defence using their service pistols. Employing their training and tactical skills, the team successfully overpowered the three suspects. Two country-made pistols and three live cartridges were recovered from their possession. During the exchange of fire, two suspects (Sameer and Tarun) sustained bullet injuries to their legs. The injured suspects were taken to JPC Hospital for medical treatment. Crime and forensic teams inspected the spot. Preliminary investigation revealed that Sameer had previously been involved in two cases, including robbery, was registered in PS Mansarovar Park case under the relevant acts of IPC and BNS. During sustained interrogation, all three accused confessed to their involvement in the present and other criminal cases, which are currently being verified. On detailed investigation, it came to light that the accused used to lure people through an online dating app and rob them when they met the accused. A case has been registered under the relevant section of the BNS at PS New Usmanpur. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Auroras above Kaikoura, New Zealand, during the severe geomagnetic storm. | Credit: Sai Shankar Wow, what a show! Our planet is currently reverberating from the impact of a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) that struck Earth head-on in the early hours of June 1 and the resulting auroras were absolutely stunning. The CME erupted during an M8.2 class solar flare eruption on May 30 at 8:05 p.m. EDT (00:05 GMT on May 31) and has been racing toward Earth at nearly 1,938 km/s or 4.3 million mph . When it slammed into Earth's magnetic field, the impact triggered a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm, which in turn led to striking auroras deep into mid-latitudes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CMEs carry electrically charged atoms , known as ions. When these ions collide with Earth's magnetosphere , they can trigger geomagnetic storms major disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere. During such storms, the ions interact with gases in Earth's atmosphere , releasing energy in the form of light. This light is observed as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, in the Northern Hemisphere, and the southern lights, or aurora australis, in the Southern Hemisphere. Geomagnetic storms are classified using a G-scale that measures their intensity, ranging from G1 for minor storms to G5, the most extreme. The severe geomagnetic storm conditions reached last night were relished by aurora chasers in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres (those who were still awake anyway). It's likely that the active geomagnetic storm conditions will continue for some time, which is good news for those in Europe, where the sun was already up when this G4 storm began. "G4 storm conditions reached! We are still in the early part of the CME and the ongoing geomagnetic storm, more to come. 12 hours to go for Europe," aurora chaser Jure Atanackov wrote in a post on X . While we wait to see what's in store for tonight, let's first sit back, relax and enjoy the stunning show from last night captured by avid aurora chasers around the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Terry Griffin captured some beautiful aurora pillars during the geomagnetic storm with his Samsung S24 Ultra. "The white pillars stood out to the naked eye more so than the colors," Griffin told Space.com in an email. Northern lights above St. George, Kansas, U.S. | Credit: Terry Griffin Griffin captured this impressive photograph at 2:39 a.m. local time from St. George, Kansas, U.S. "Sat the phone on the ground and tilted it up. Easy peasy," Griffin continued. Astronomer and astrophotographer Yuri Beletsky had one of the best seats in the house during a flight from Melbourne to Santiago. "The sky was alive with soft splashes of light," Beletsky wrote in a post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aurora chaser Brendon captured some fabulous shots of the aurora from the North side of Cheyenne, Wyoming. "Ok, so that was a show," Brendon wrote in a post on X. Aurora photographer Derick Wilson captured a stunning hyper-lapse of the northern lights dancing over Farmington, New Mexico, at 2:15 a.m. local time. Hyper-lapse of the northern lights dancing over Farmington, New Mexico | Credit: Derick Wilson "Visible aurora this far south is such a rare occurrence I knew to keep an eye on the solarwind data," Wilson told Space.com in an email. "When the expected solarstorm arrived early I knew I had to get far from city lights. And it's amazing what cell phone cameras can capture these days." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Discreet rays occasionally drifted eastward but went diffuse and faded.... For now," Wilson wrote in a post on X. The thick smoke from wildfires was no match for the northern lights above Minnesota, U.S. "Smokey auroras tonight in Northern Minnesota. It was strong enough for the aurora to completely visible to naked eye. As well tint of red color to the naked eye," Gabe Zogo wrote in a post on X. Robert Erickson saw a stunning northern lights show over Pyramid Lake, just north of Reno Nevada, U.S. Meanwhile, aurora chaser and photographer Noel Bowman captured this delightful scene unfolding above Seabeck, Washington in the early hours of the morning on June 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Auroras were also spotted over San Diego, California, during the early phase of the solar storm. "Nice catch! Confirmed #aurora visible on webcams as far south as San Diego, California, USA during the early phase of this ongoing #solarstorm," Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov wrote in a post on X. Southern Hemisphere skywatchers also got quite the treat last night, with vibrant red and pink auroras documented above Queenstown, Tasmania. Sai Shankar captured these stunning photographs from Kaikoura, New Zealand, around 9:35 p.m. local time (5:35 a.m. EDT or 0945 GMT). Image 1 of 2 auroras colored yellow and red above kaikoura New Zealand. Image 2 of 2 auroras colored yellow and red above kaikoura New Zealand. "I saw similar Auroras in May and October of last year, from Banks Peninsula, near Christchurch. This is the first time I've imaged from further north - I happened to be in Kaikoura photographing whales in the morning," Shankar told Space.com in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amateur astronomer and photographer Paul Stewart captured a striking red aurora show above New Zealand. "Bit of an #Aurora going on in New Zealand tonight," Stewart wrote in a post on X. Photographer Mitch Young took these beautiful photographs of the southern lights above Metung, Victoria, Australia around 7:50 p.m. local time. Young used 10s exposure on an iPhone 16 Pro Max to capture these shots. Editor's note: If you snap a great picture of the northern or southern lights and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com. E. Curtis Johnson is a stalwart of local radio. For nearly five decades hes been on the air and behind the scenes at some of Fresnos most popular and innovative stations, including news talk station KMJ, where he co-hosts the Afternoon Drive. Johnson retires on Friday, after two years with the station. There are many places in the Valley where E. made his mark, co-host Philip Teresi said, in a statement announcing the retirement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The entire industry is better for his contributions. Johnson came to Fresno radio in the late 1980s and launched well-known rock station KRZR. While at the station, he hired several long-time radio personalities, including Teresi and Chris Daniel (who hosted KMJs afternoon show for nearly a decade). Johnson also helped break a then-unknown metal band named Tool in the Fresno market and was also on hand for some of the stations wilder promotional stunts like offering a free trip to Bagdad (Arizona) at the start of the Gulf War and having its morning DJ make irreverent, on-the-air calls to the Iraqi Embassy in Washington, D.C., according to a story in The Bee. In 1994, a woman tried to win a $10,000 radio contest by riding a white horse along Blackstone and Shaw avenues in a G-string and cowboy hat, with two KRZR bumper stickers across her breasts. She was arrested on suspicion of indecent exposure, but remained eligible for the prize money, pending the outcome of the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KRZR was an outrageous part of Fresnos radio history: a party that spilled into the streets and refused to quiet down for 21 years, Johnson told the newspaper in 2010 when the station underwent a format change. At the time, he was program director at K-Jewel and KYNO, where he hosted his Daily Rant segment. Johnson said his retirement cuts short his stint with KMJ. I thought Id be here longer, but some unexpected health issues made the decision to retire the right choice for me. Ray Appleton returns to KMJ News of Johnsons departure comes as another host announces his return to KMJ. Ray Appleton has been on hiatus from the show since late April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to posts on his social media, Appleton spent his 75th birthday in the hospital, where he was admitted with an immune condition known as CVID. He also had pneumonia and a heart issue that required surgery. KMJ program director Blake Taylor has been filling in for the first hour of Appletons show, with the syndicated Fox News host Guy Benson running from noon to 2 p.m. Appleton teased his return in a Facebook post on Wednesday. The post shows a steaming cup of coffee with a caption overlay: Monday, June 2. Me! Where? KMJ!!! But Appletons return to the airwaves was never in question. He will return to KMJ, Taylor said on the show in mid-May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes on the mend. Hes getting better every day. Hes getting stronger every day. KVPR radio host Marv Allen died May 22 at the age of 80. KVPR radio host Marv Allen dies On Tuesday, KVPR announced the death of longtime show host Marv Allen Moore. Known as Marv Allen to listeners, Moore joined the public radio station in 2005 and became the voice of several of its signature shows, including Morning Edition, Clearly Classical and, most recently, All Things Considered. Moore had been dealing with health issues for several years, according to the station, but continued to work until his retirement on May 18. Four days later, Moore died from complications from bone marrow cancer, according to KVPR. He was 80. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore started his career in radio following his military service in Vietnam and worked at several Fresno stations, including KFIG (now ESPN Radio). But for years, he was a well-known advertising rep with a successful production company called Studio B. He did voice work on advertisements for La-Z-Boy Furniture Gallery and Gibbs International Trucking, among others. In 2010, he narrated the New Testament for the online Bible study Logos. Moore was inducted into the Central California Advertising and Marketing Hall of Fame in 2000. Marv was truly one-of-a-kind, and a local broadcasting legend, said KVPR President and General Manager Joe Moore. His voice will be missed by thousands. A sheriffs officer is dead after he fell from a window on the ninth floor of an administrative building in Jersey City, officials said. The tragedy unfolded Friday morning at the Hudson County Administration Building, which includes several county government offices, including the sheriffs office, according to a statement from the Hudson County Prosecutors Office. Witness Steve Roosen said he was nearby when the officer who has since been identified as 29-year-old Justin Rivera plunged to his death just after 9:20 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Google)I heard glass shatter and then immediately looked up, and saw a guy coming straight down, Roosen told CBS News. I saw the officers perform CPR, maybe, three times, and then just stop. Rivera, a Hudson County sheriffs officer who was on duty at the time, was rushed to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead around 10 a.m. Today is one of the saddest and most horrific days that the Hudson County Sheriffs Office has ever experienced, Sheriff Frank Schillari said. We lost an excellent officer today and an outstanding young man. An investigation into Riveras death is ongoing, but authorities at this time believe it to be accidental in nature. Rivera, a former police officer in Bayonne, leaves behind a young daughter. (PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo.) After nearly 25 hours of searching in steep and heavily wooded terrain, crews successfully rescued six hikers, including five minors, from Greenhorn Mountain on Saturday, May 31, according to the Pueblo County Sheriffs Office (PCSO). Along with PCSOs Emergency Services Divisions volunteer Search and Rescue (SAR), Custer County Search and Rescue joined the search on Friday, May 30, after a call came in from the hikers around 7:30 p.m. The hikers, all from Texas, had begun a day hike on Friday afternoon near Graneros Creek, southwest of the Town of Rye, when they left the trail. They became disoriented in dense vegetation and were unable to find their way back to the trail. Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office After receiving the call, PCSOs volunteer SAR began an immediate ground search, working through the night over rough terrain, heavy rain, and limited visibility. One of the volunteers was injured during the night, but kept searching until he could no longer continue. Around 3:30 p.m., he was airlifted from the mountain by a Colorado National Guard helicopter and taken to the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Flight for Life helicopter found the lost hikers but was unable to rescue them due to the rugged terrain. Custer County SAR teams searching the area on foot found four of the six hikers around 3:30 p.m. Two of the minors had left the group to find the trail. They were found about an hour later. All six hikers were escorted safely out of the area and taken to the command post, where they were checked out and determined to be in good health. This was a very long, difficult, and dangerous operation, and we are thankful for the positive outcome, said Pueblo County Sheriff David J. Lucero. Everyone was safely rescued, and although one of our SAR members was injured, we are grateful no one suffered serious harm. Sheriff Lucero gave special thanks to those involved in the rescue effort. We want to thank Custer County, Rye Fire, Flight for Life, and the Division of Fire Protection and Control for their assistance in this search. A special thanks goes to the Colorado Department of Public Safety and the National Guard for the successful rescue of our injured SAR team member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PCSO reminds people to be prepared and take the following precautions when heading into the mountains: Never hike alone. Share your hiking plan with someone before you go. Bring plenty of food and water. Carry a fully charged cellphone and conserve battery life. Pack emergency supplies, including a flashlight, fire starter, and emergency blanket. Stay on marked and designated trails. If you become lost, call for help and stay in place. If anyone is interested in getting involved in volunteering for community service programs such as SAR, they can call (719) 583-6200 or click on the link 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 FOX21 News Colorado. Even after local high school student and former foster youth Shekhinah Braly was adopted, she still considers Kirsti Tcherkoyan her family. Tcherkoyan was Bralys mentor through San Luis Obispo Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a program that connects foster youth with adult allies. Growing up, I never had a supportive family, Braly wrote in a letter to Tcherkoyan that she read at the Board of Supervisors budget hearing on May 20. ... Over time, you became that person for me. You became my family and one of my closest friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So when she heard the organizations foster youth mentor program was at risk of being defunded by San Luis Obispo County, she was shocked. Its necessary, Braly, now 18 and a senior at Paso Robles High School, said of the mentor program she was involved in all of high school. CASA workers give kids a chance that they didnt know that they could have. SLO CASAs youth mentor program pairs foster teens like Braly with a volunteer mentor to provide support as they navigate young adulthood, helping them to avoid high risk scenarios for foster youth like homelessness, human trafficking and joblessness. With the support of her CASA mentor, Braly will be the first in her birth family to attend a four-year college next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It gives kids something to believe in, Braly told The Tribune. Especially being in this system, its so hard to find a connection with someone, to find someone who understands you and can just see you for you. Now, CASAs foster youth mentor program is slated to lose practically all of its funding as a result of county budget cuts. SLO County budget slashes funding for Growing Grounds program. What to know These kids, they deserve a chance, Tcherkoyan said during public comment at the Board of Supervisors budget hearing on May 20. They deserve to have one of me standing next to them, walking with them, getting them into college. San Luis Obispo Court Appointed Special Advocates volunteer mentor Kirsti Tcherkoyan spoke at the Board of Supervisors meeting on May 20, 2025, to appeal for continued funding. The organizations foster youth mentor program is slated to be entirely defunded under proposed county budget cuts in 2025. SLO County slated to cut $80,000 CASA grant for foster youth SLO CASAs mentor program serves children who were removed from their homes due to severe abuse and neglect and helps them navigate the child welfare system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization currently serves about 80% of kids in the SLO County child welfare system, which is about 160 children, CASA Executive Director Marina Bernheimer told The Tribune. CASAs mentor program, specifically, supported approximately 28 foster youth teens, according to SLO Countys fiscal year 2025-26 recommended budget, which recommends to defund the program. SLO County to cut over $38 million and nearly 170 jobs to avoid budget crisis CASA volunteers just really make sure that kids dont fall through the cracks during this really traumatic chapter in their lives, Bernheimer said. They make sure that all of their needs are met, educational needs, social needs, medical needs, mental health needs. Theyre really the one caring, consistent person in a childs life while theyre in foster care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These volunteers stay with a child from the time theyre detained from their home until they achieve permanency, either by returning to their homes of origin or by being adopted by another family, Bernheimer said. Every year for over a decade, CASA has received $80,000 from the county, which pays for all the expenses that go into the mentor program, including one full-time staffer who trains volunteer mentors, Bernheimer said. Under proposed budget cuts for the upcoming year, that entire grant would be eliminated. Braly is one of the many foster youth who has benefited from the program. She had been in and out of the foster care system since second grade, and Bralys CASA mentor, Tcherkoyan, was consistently one of the most active people in her life during high school, always checking in on her, showing up to important life events and making memories of their own going to Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw concerts together. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shes always there to support me no matter what, and even when I felt like I had no one else around to help me, Braly said. Thats just a really great blessing. Bernheimer said that within the foster youth population, toddlers up to 5 years old and teenagers are especially vulnerable subsets. The mentor program serves foster teens and young adults who age out of foster care who face really grim statistics, she said. Theyre very likely, in general, to become homeless, not to attend college, to engage in real high-risk behavior unless they have a CASA (mentor), Bernheimer said. Teenagers in the mentor program, by comparison, are far more likely to attend college, far more likely to find permanent housing and far more likely to say that they have hope for their future, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bernheimer said the program isnt just about foster youth, but the broader SLO County community, too. In addition to being a vital support for teenagers, the mentor program is a vital component of public safety and community safety, because these are the adults that are going to be community members of San Luis Obispo, and theyre far more likely to be healthy and contributing members of our community If they have a CASA volunteer, she said. In Bralys case, Tcherkoyan supported her through her college applications, helping to find her a college counselor and navigate a complicated and unfamiliar system. Now, Braly will be attending Sonoma State University in the fall. Its kind of always been something that I wanted to do, but I wasnt exactly sure that I was able to do it, Braly told The Tribune. I wasnt sure if I was going to actually be able to get into a four-year, but she made sure that I got the support that I needed to be able to get where I am now. SLO Court Appointed Special Advocates mentor Kirsti Tcherkoyan, left, with her former foster youth mentee Shekhinah Braly. County budget cuts would lead to the foster youth mentor program that brought the two together to be entirely defunded. CASA faces budget losses from all directions CASAs county grant is not the only financial loss the organization is facing. The proposed county cuts come in the context of funding losses at every other level, too individual, state and federal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We rely heavily on federal, state and county dollars, and theyre threatened at every level, in addition to the threats that we face from individual donors ... who are facing their own economic uncertainty, Bernheimer said. So this is a very hard time for our organization and for all of our partners in the community doing really important work. Around 40% of CASAs current fiscal year budget of $1.5 million comes from state, county and federal sources, with county funds making up the smallest portion, according to CASA development director Katrina Cathcart. The rest comes from private donors. Roughly 15% of CASAs current year budget comes from federal dollars and roughly 19% from state, Cathcart said. Only about 6% is county-funded, she said. Similar to others local nonprofits that have been losing federal funding under Trump administration cuts, that is money that CASA stands to lose at the end of its fiscal year on June 30. That is also the time when county budget cuts would kick in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the state level, California must close a $12 billion budget deficit, which California Gov. Gavin Newsom blamed on economic uncertainty caused by President Donald Trumps policies, tariffs and potential cuts to Medicaid. According to youth and family news publication The Imprint, the most recent revision of California Gov. Gavin Newsoms state budget cuts $90.5 million from foster care, child protection services, maltreatment prevention and other child welfare programs funding sources that feed into CASA. CASA is one of many local nonprofits hit with potential budget cuts as the county attempts to close its $38 million funding gap. SLO County is chopping its budget. See where the cuts are happening Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 20, the Board of Supervisors proposed establishing a $1 million transition fund for nonprofits that were facing cuts focusing on those most in need, but there was no direct discussion of a specific funding mechanism or commitment to continue funding CASA. Any funding changes would go into effect July 1. CASA will not cut services but it needs new funding sources The county will make its final budget decisions during its June 9-11 budget hearing. But no matter what happens to their funding, Bernheimer is dedicated to continuing serving foster kids in the same capacity. At this moment, we are not planning on cutting services, she said. We also dont know the full extent of all the cuts that were facing as an organization, but we are really determined to figure out a way to continue services, even though were not sure exactly what thats going to look like. As of right now, she said the organization is trying to get creative and seek alternative funding streams. Part of that includes individual donations. If anyone has ever considered supporting our organization, this is a great time to step up and provide us with support so that we can make sure that foster youth and vulnerable kids in our community can weather this really rocky storm that were all traversing, Bernheimer said. Donations can be made online at slocasa.org or people can find more information about how to become a business donor or volunteer. (Reuters) - Slovak central bank governor and European Central Bank policymaker Peter Kazimir is not the right candidate to get another six-year term and the country's main ruling party will not back him, Prime Minister Robert Fico said. Kazimir was finance minister for Fico's SMER-SSD party in 2012-2019 but was close to Peter Pellegrini, who led a group that split away to form a new party called Hlas-SD in 2020. The two parties came together to form a government in 2023, but Fico has been at odds with Kazimir due to the party split. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kazimir, who's term as central bank governor expired on Sunday, was sentenced on Thursday to a 200,000 euro ($226,940) fine for bribery. The central bank chief, who has denied wrongdoing, has rejected the verdict and said he would appeal to a higher court. Fico, speaking at a news conference on Sunday, said he had labelled Kazimir as a "political traitor" because of his disloyalty to the SMER-SSD party not because of his conviction in the bribery case. Fico said he respected the right of coalition partner Hlas-SD to nominate the governor, under their coalition agreements. "I think that we have the right as a party (SMER-SSD) that will be important in the vote, to say if this person suits it or not," Fico said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And we have a number of principal reasons that make us say that Peter Kazimir is not the right candidate for NBS governor. Hlas-SD must come up with someone else," he said. Slovak central bank chiefs are nominated by the government, approved by parliament and appointed by the president. Fico has criticised the judge over the Kazimir bribery ruling. The court has declined to comment. Under Slovak law, Kazimir can remain a governor unless there is a final conviction of a crime. He also stays in his post past the end of his term until a new governor is appointed. Kazimir has not said publicly if he was seeking a second term. ($1 = 0.8813 euros) (Reporting by Jan Lopatka. Editing by Jane Merriman) Posting to Truth Social late Saturday night, Donald Trump boosted a claim that former President Joe Biden was a clone. "There is no #JoeBiden - executed in 2020," the reshared post reads. "#Biden clones, doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see. #Democrats don't know the difference." The claim that body doubles or clones have replaced some celebrities for nebulous and nefarious reasons holds some purchase among members of the far-right. And to give some credit to Trump, it's entirely possible that he skimmed the text and thought it aligned with his frequent claims that Biden was puppeteered throughout his second term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has been amplifying right-wing internet conspiracies for years. He gave subtle nods to QAnon, the online cult that believes Trump will usher in a great "storm" that will cleanse sex traffickers and child abusers from positions of power in the United States, while campaigning for a second term. His campaign elevated unfounded beliefs about gang and cartel activity in the country and raised the profile of an entirely fabricated claim that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were eating local pets. In the latter case, Trump's insistence that recently resettled Haitian immigrants were "eating the cats" and "eating the dogs" led to bomb threats in the city of Springfield. Still, delving into talks of cloning grown humans something that is not scientifically possible in the present is a big step into the murk of the GOP's tin-foil fringe. Sun Herald readers weigh in on local and national topics. Traffic lights Perhaps someone could develop a device that when a traffic light changed from red to green a signal was sent to the cars in front of the light. That signal would cause a loud ding to sound on the cars speakers alerting those looking at their phones that it was time to move. TACO Trump Im not sure Ive ever laughed harder than I did when I read about how people are making money on Wall Street basing their buys on the idea that Trump Always Chickens Out (TACO). Chrisley pardons With the Chrisley pardons, President Trump proved that he has zero integrity. The people who were defrauded of millions will never get their money back. If its possible to have negative integrity, Trump is the charter member of the group. Count on them to cheat If theres one thing we should have learned by now, its that Democrats will do anything to win an election. Law seems clear Considering the person in charge of the scheme admitted to it in print and on camera, Im having trouble figuring out how anyone could say there isnt election fraud in Gulfport. Same tactics Candidates have always held events where their patrons donate and pledge their support. Is that voter fraud? Running scared The GOP in Gulfport is making accusations of voter fraud already. President Trump used that to push the lie that he won the 2020 election. Now he is in office selling everything that is not nailed down. Must be scared Republicans must be really scared of the Black woman winning the mayors race in Gulfport. Wasnt Elon Musk trying to buy votes in Wisconsin? When Democrats use the Republican play book, they really get upset.. Good for the goose ... Im old enough to remember when Elon Musk traveled the country handing out checks to people. Im trying to figure out why that would be OK, but free meals arent. Dirty tricks I trust that the good people of Gulfport are smart enough to not vote for Hugh Keating, who, obviously, doesnt have enough merits to run on his own. Lies Stephen A Smith said it best: How can anyone trust the lying media, Trump was right, they cant be trusted about anything!Our country was manipulated by them. Canal Road Why cant Canal Road in Gulfport be paved to 28th Street? Send your Sound Offs to soundoff@sunherald.com. Malook Nagar of Rashtriya Lok Dal has criticised Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and other Opposition leaders for repeatedly questioning the government over the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. Nagar asked why the Opposition continues to raise questions related to Pakistan, and suggested that they should focus on the country as a whole instead. Nagar criticised Kharge for seeking clarity on US President Donald Trump's claim of brokering the cessation of hostilities, saying "The Opposition should prioritise national interests over Pakistan-specific queries." "The Pakistani Minister is crying about India destroying their camps, and the political leaders of India are questioning the mission's objectives." Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday demanded a special session of Parliament concerning Operation Sindoor, alleging that the government had "misled the nation" and instead of clarifying US President Donald Trump's assertions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi "is on an election blitz, taking personal credit for the valour of the armed forces." In a post on X, Kharge referred to remarks made by the Chief of Defence Staff during an interview and demanded a comprehensive review of the country's defence preparedness by an independent expert committee. Nagar defended Operation Sindoor, questioning AAP Leader Sanjay Singh's comments that allegedly insulted the mission's objective. "Why does he keep repeating the same questions and insulting the mission? Love for the country should be the priority, not political power." In a post on X, Sanjay Singh said, " Do chutki sindoor ka mahatva aap kya jante hai Modiji? In Indian culture, women apply sindoor as a symbol of their husband's long life, respect and well-being. It reflects pride, dignity, and deep emotional meaning. But now, after pushing schemes like 'One Nation, One Election' and 'One Nation, One Leader', the Prime Minister appears to have launched 'One Nation, One Husband'," Singh said. Further, Nagar praised All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi, saying that he has proven himself to be a global leader rather than just a Muslim leader due to his recent statement. The AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who is part of an all-party delegation to Algeria, lambasted Pakistan on Saturday, calling it an "epicentre of Takfirism." Owaisi further reiterated his demand to put Pakistan back on the Grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). "Terrorism survives on two things - ideology and money. Ideology, you know very well, you have seen the Black Decade even in South Algeria, you still have some problems. On that point, we are together. Once you bring Pakistan back in the Grey list (of FATF), we will see a decrease in terrorism in India. We'll see killings coming down," said Owaisi. (ANI) As Florida leaders call for moving the nations space-agency headquarters to Brevard County, Space Florida is launching a study about how NASA and U.S. Space Force operations could be merged at Cape Canaveral. Space Florida President and CEO Robert Long on Wednesday told board members of the state aerospace agency that a unified model would support the ongoing growth of commercial space operations and ensure government missions can be more efficient and sustainable. We think that its time that we ask ourselves as a nation, what is the optimal model to carry the worlds most active and capable spaceport into the future and enable America to continue to lead in space, Long said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How that looks will be up to a new Cape Canaveral Spaceport master plan, which Long said will include participation from NASA and the Space Force. Under Acting Administrator Janet Petro, NASA is looking to consolidate or relocate operations to streamline the organization. Gov. Ron DeSantis has supported moving NASAs headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Florida, with backers saying it would put leaders closer to the agencys operations. The idea has drawn support from most members of Floridas congressional delegation, including through proposed legislation, the Consolidating Aerospace Programs Efficiently at Canaveral (CAPE Canaveral) Act, which calls for placing the headquarters in Brevard County. Meanwhile, members of the Texas congressional delegation have asked President Donald Trump to move the headquarters to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Long said that at this stage, there is no predetermined outcome for the master plan, with a goal to recommend a governance model that will maximize spaceport capacity for the nation and minimize inefficiencies. The military and NASA have operated separate portions of the spaceport since the 1950s. The model enabled America to win the first space race, land people on the Moon, launch 135 space-shuttle missions, construct the International Space Station and begin to explore the solar system, Long said. But Long added the model has changed as the spaceport has rapidly evolved into a commercially driven economic engine that supports both government missions and commercial business cases alike. This year, there have been 31 successful launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and 13 from the John F. Kennedy Space Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, there were 67 successful launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and 26 at Kennedy Space Center, up from 58 at Cape Canaveral and 13 at Kennedy in 2023. Space Florida, which is working on upgrading wastewater facilities at the cape and expanding wharf space for the industry at Port Canaveral, manages certain operations at the spaceport through property leased from the federal government, including launch and landing facilities through an agreement with NASA. Long said infrastructure at the cape --- such as utility systems, roads and bridges --- is becoming strained as commercial activity at the spaceport has increased. He estimated $2 billion to $3 billion in unfunded infrastructure improvements will need to be addressed over the next decade at the spaceport. A consultant is expected to be named for the master plan study in June, and the first two phases are expected to be completed in eight months to a year, Long said. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) This week on The Spectrum: Lawmakers are looking to make changes to the board for the State Teachers Retirement System. Our consultants get rich, our investors get rich, our STRS management get rich, CEO of the Ohio Retirement for Teachers Association Robin Rayfield said. The only people who dont get rich are the people who put the money in. Hear from retirees on why they say its nothing more than an attempt to strip away their power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A social media giant testifies at the Ohio Statehouse in support of a bill that would require parental consent for app downloads. This isnt really about tech companies, Meta Head of Safety Policy for North America Jennifer Hanley said. Its about what parents want. Hear from state leaders who said the proposal doesnt go far enough. Is the Republican primary for Ohio governor already over or is there still a way for another candidate, like Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, to jump in and take on frontrunner Vivek Ramaswamy? Democratic strategist Brian Rothenberg and Republican strategist Will Hinman join the roundtable to weigh in. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Previous coverage on Springboro above. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) The Springboro Police Department is encouraging children to wear their bike helmets with a ticket. Kids spotted by officers wearing their helmets while biking / skating / rollerblading will be ticketed. These tickets can be exchanged for free ice cream at K&W Drive-In on South Main St. Brookville community uplifted by mans generous free bicycle giveaway Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tickets are valid until Monday, June 30. This is for National Bike Month. If you are a parent/guardian of a child who doesnt have a helmet, the Springboro PD will help get them a helmet for free. Email jennifer@cityofspringboro.com for more information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. Xianna MouaYang, Yeng Moua and Mai Moua are a family one with a story of resilience, using the past to change the futures of those around them. Each of them has battled substance use disorder, which started in their teenage years. Together, they started a St. Paul nonprofit with the aim of destigmatizing addiction and mental health issues in the Hmong community. Koom Recovery was registered by the state and officially opened in November 2024, offering culturally specific peer support to Hmong Minnesotans across generations, seeking treatment, community, education and empowerment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The word Koom in English means join, so we want all Hmong people to join us to talk about substance use disorder, Yeng Moua said. We know that we cannot do this ourselves. We need elders, we need leaders, we need women and men, stories of success and individuals that have been living in long-term recovery to join together to be able to break the silence, break the stigma and break the shame. The trio regularly connects with those experiencing homelessness and visits encampments to build trust and assess the needs of Hmong individuals. They use surveys to identify substance use disorder awareness, often provide food and harm-reduction supplies and assist people in obtaining IDs, which are needed for accessing housing and county assistance programs. A lot of individuals, without support, they become hopeless, MouaYang said. MouaYang, whose brother has experienced homelessness, said the people they meet at encampments often lack support. She said if they are suffering from addiction or mental health issues, there often isnt anyone around to encourage them to seek recovery and provide the tools and resources to do so, especially if there are cultural barriers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Koom Recovery wants to be that support where they can feel safe and can come to, MouaYang said. Thats why we came up with this. It took everything One couple Koom works with now said they could have used their help back when they first lost their home. Kim Thao and Toua Moua, a married couple from St. Paul, became homeless in 2017 after spiraling down a path of addiction as Thao turned to drugs early in their marriage after a car crash. It took everything from us: our house, our job and most of our children that we lost to child protective services, Toua Moua said. It was their first time living on the streets in tents, Toua Moua said, a life they hadnt before imagined. They were homeless for 3 years, he said, and didnt realize how bad their addiction was until it started impacting their mental health and he began to consider taking his own life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there were such an organization like this (Koom Recovery) when we were homeless and struggling with addiction, it would have helped so much, Toua Moua said. Related Articles Toua Moua and Thao were connected with Koom Recovery while in treatment at Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge. The two have been in recovery for over a year and attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings and events with Koom Recovery. Toua Moua described Koom Recovery as a safe space, and said that being in NA groups has allowed him and his wife to meet others like them, share their stories with vulnerability and receive support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are so grateful that there is Koom Recovery, because in our (Hmong) community, theres no such organization or resource that supports brokenness or people who are homeless and addicted and now that theres such an organization, its really helpful, Toua Moua said. Understanding the stigma Yeng Moua, who grew up on the East Side of St. Paul with his sister Mai, said he got involved with a gang at age 12 and began using drugs. Mai Moua used from ages 14 to 17 and said the experience was common where they grew up. During that time, a lot of the kids that grew up in the same kind of environment really banded together more than anything, and thats kind of how the gangs started: people banding together to protect themselves from being the outsiders, Yeng Moua said. To their Hmong elders and parents, however, drug use is shameful and seeking therapy or recovery didnt often feel like an option, Yeng Moua said. Now he said, he understands that his parents didnt have the education or the resources to help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They didnt know those two components to find us help, and so all they did was degrade us or compare us to others, Yeng Moua said. But that played a role of breaking us down and it crushed us. MouaYang said she was forced to marry at 16 as a punishment for skipping school and staying out overnight with a boy. Her drug use worsened with her then-husband and she said her family didnt fully understand how to help her. With the lack of education and knowledge our parents have, they cant say, if youre going through some stuff, go talk to your social worker, or lets take you a doctor, because they themselves dont utilize the service, MouaYang said. Being forced to marry as a Hmong teenager as a solution for violating cultural values, even if it was based on an assumption, was common, MouaYang said. At 18, she divorced her then-husband because the marriage was unsafe and put her in danger, she said. In 2023, she married Yeng Moua, inspired by his love for God and his commitment to recovery, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MouaYang and Yeng and Mai Moua said they dont blame their parents for not knowing how best to support them. Where they step in is by taking on the responsibility to educate others on what support looks like. You cant change the future if you dont start with the youth, but then you cant help the people now if you dont try to enrich the knowledge of the elders, MouaYang said. Pho Recovery When beginning a substance abuse recovery journey, its necessary to be understood, Mai Moua said. If someone doesnt speak the same language or understand their cultural context, it creates a barrier between them and their ability to seek resources or even understand what resources exist for their circumstances. When were talking about recovery, we think that if youve got addiction, you just need to talk to anybody, but thats not true. It helps so much to talk to somebody who gets you or maybe understands the fears, said Caddy Johnson, program director at Minnesota Recovery Connections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Koom Recovery, culturally specific programming looks like incorporating traditional Hmong values and practices, language and shared experiences in their work. Sticking to the traditional modern American practices is not going to be effective for Hmong people, MouaYang said. So if youre going to introduce mental illness to Hmong people, youve got to understand how they understand mental illness. Youve got to look at their history. MouaYang created events like Pho Recovery, a weekly gathering at Recovery Cafe in Frogtown, where anyone is welcome to join and share a pho dinner from 5 to 6 p.m. Mondays. Afterward, the gathering becomes more intimate, as those in or seeking recovery gather for a peer support group that fosters meaningful conversations, MouaYang said. She also created Beautifully Broken, a workshop inspired by the Japanese pottery technique kintsugi, which uses broken pottery to create a new, abstract and functional design. The process represents resilience and healing, MouaYang said it shows how imperfections are a beautiful part of the story of a person in recovery and not something to be ashamed of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Events like that keep people motivated and its like a fellowship where we build up one another, Toua Moua said. What is Koom Recovery not doing, Johnson said. They are at every outreach they can get their hands on, she said, because their work holds value in the Hmong community. Other regularly scheduled events include a weekly support group, All Recovery Meeting, hosted Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Anything Helps, 3859 Fremont Ave. N. in Minneapolis; virtual recovery meetings from 6 to 7 p.m. every Friday; NA meetings from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays at Talent Masters Staffing, 96 Maryland Ave. in St. Paul; and Recovery Run, a weekly group run around Lake Phalen, every Saturday at 11 a.m. Finding financial support As a new and small organization, they utilize project-based contracts to fund initiatives and have yet to secure state grants, Yeng Moua said. To further fund their efforts, the trio uses out-of-pocket money and relies on donations and sponsorships to support their mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funding is hard, but we are going out of our way, even if it means sacrificing our own income, because thats just how much heart we have for this, because we know that these people need this, MouaYang said. We know the Hmong community needs this seed planted. When the desire for recovery grows within Minnesotas Hmong community, the need for qualified certified peer recovery specialists and accessible resources will increase, Yeng Moua said. However, training and certification are costly, he said. This support is vital to sustain our impact, raising awareness, educating about substance use disorder, and encouraging openness to modern treatment while honoring traditional practices, Yeng Moua said. MouaYang and Yeng and Mai Moua currently balance working full-time jobs while continuing their education and building Koom Recovery from their home in St. Paul. Our community has long needed a dedicated recovery organization, MouaYang said. We must break the stigma, shame and silence surrounding addiction. No one should suffer alone support should be accessible in the most effective way, culturally specific and in a language every minority group can understand. Koom Recoverys long-term goal is to have a dedicated space and expand their reach. By the end of 2025, the nonprofit hopes to be officially recognized as a recovery community organization (RCO) by the Minnesota Alliance of Recovery Community Organizations, Yeng Moua said, which, to his knowledge, would make them the first Hmong-led RCO in the nation. Koom Recovery events June 14: Better Together BBQ from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Recovery Cafe, 499 Charles Ave., St. Paul. Koom Recovery joins this family-friendly event, which includes food, music and resources, hosted by Anything Helps, MRC and the Peer Advisory Council. Related Articles June 15: Peb Recover Family BBQ from 2:30 to 8 p.m. at Lake Phalen Island Picnic Shelter,1600 Phalen Drive, St. Paul. Families are encouraged to come out and share a meal together while sharing resources about preventing substance use disorder and recovery, hosted by Koom Recovery. June 17: Healing Out Loud from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wilder Foundation, 451 N. Lexington Pkwy., St. Paul. This public event is a partnership between local recovery organizations that provides opportunities to learn about substance use disorder and engage in conversations. For more information and events, visit koomrecovery.org. This story was created in partnership with Power 104.7. To listen to this story, visit power1047.fm and click listen live. Fischer was praised for his transformative impact on Israels economy and global monetary policy, especially during the global financial crisis of 2008. Stanley Fischer, former Governor of the Bank of Israel, passed away on Saturday at age 81. He held dual Israeli and American citizenship. Fischer served as Governor of the Bank of Israel from 2005 to 2013, and also served as Vice Chair of theFederal Reserve from 2014 to 2017, under the Obama administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Bank of Israel eulogized Fischer, writing, "Prof. Fischer made a decisive contributor to Israel's economy - both in his role as the IMF's representative to Israel in the 1980s, when he played a significant part in formulating the 1985 economic stabilization program, and during his tenure as Governor of the Bank, when he led a responsible economic policy during a challenging period that included the global financial crisis of 2008." Current Governor Prof Amir Yaron stated, The people of the Bank of Israel, past and present, and I bow our heads today in memory of Prof. Fischer, whose contribution to the Bank of Israel and the advancement of Israels economy was decisive. We share in the familys deep sorrow. May his memory be a blessing. Prof. Zvi Eckstein, head of the Aaron Institute for Economic Policy at Reichman University and former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Israel, commented on Fischer's passing, calling him a "visionary." Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem April 2, 2013. Fischer on Tuesday urged the passage of a law establishing a sovereign wealth fund for tax income from the country's natural gas fields to prevent an appreciation in the shekel. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) Stanley Fischer was a 'visionary' Stanley Fischer was one of the greatest economists of our generation: a visionary, a guiding teacher, and an exemplary figure in public service. I had the privilege of working alongside him for about five years at the Bank of Israel." "I saw firsthand his tremendous contribution to shaping Israels economy and to the historic legislation that enshrined the independence of the Bank of Israel. Beyond that, he was a brilliant scholar whose understanding of the dynamics of monetary policy and its impact through long-term contracts transformed economic thinking worldwide. May his memory be blessed, and may his contribution remain engraved in our hearts and our professional thinking," Eckstein wrote. WATCH: WGN Political Analyst Paul Lisnek joined Sundays WGN Weekend Morning News to discuss the $55.2 billion state budget approved by Illinois lawmakers just before their midnight deadline late Saturday night. See the attached video player. SPRINFIELD, Ill. State leaders and lawmakers, either supporters or opponents of the Illinois state budget for Fiscal Year 2026, issued statements early Sunday morning after state lawmakers approved the $55.2 billion budget and $1.1 billion tax package minutes before their midnight deadline Saturday night. Lawmakers also reacted to major legislation aiming to reform Chicago-area transit agencies and avoid a looming fiscal cliff by hiking delivery fees statewide, which passed out of the Senate but stalled in the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Here is some of what state leaders, lawmakers and others had to say after the state budget was passed: Supporters Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker: The passage of the FY26 balanced budget is a testament to Illinois fiscal responsibility. Even in the face of Trump and Congressional Republicans stalling the national economy, our state budget delivers for working families without raising their taxes while protecting the progress we are making for our long-term fiscal health. Im grateful to Speaker Welch, President Harmon, the budget teams, and all the legislators and stakeholders who collaborated to shape and pass this legislation. I look forward to signing my seventh balanced budget in a row and continuing to build a stronger Illinois. Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton: Since Governor Pritzker and I came into office, we have been focused on replacing fiscal chaos with strength and stability. For the seventh year in a row, we are delivering a balanced budget to working families without sacrificing responsibility or compassion. I am grateful to everyone who worked long hours to get this across the finish line to make our communities safer, happier, and more prosperous. No matter what chaos or reckless policies ooze out of the Trump administration, the people of Illinois know that their leaders are capable of working together to hammer out differences, cut through the noise, and do right by the working families of this state. Illinois Senate President Don Harmon: Despite the economic uncertainty emanating from Washington, we approved a budget that invests hundreds of millions of new dollars in public education, protects access to critical hospitals and health care facilities and does it all without raising state income or sales taxes. We all wish we could do more. But this is a responsible, balanced budget that continues our work to improve the lives of the great people of the great State of Illinois. I want to thank the members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, the House Democratic Caucus, Speaker Welch and Governor Pritzker for the united effort to achieve our shared goals. Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch: In a year in which every aspect of our budget-making process has been affected by the extreme and erratic leadership of Donald Trump and his allies, this balanced budget is crafted to be fiscally and socially responsible because we see the decisions made in Washington right now are neither. The decisions that shaped this budget were not easy, but were made strategically, using the best information we have to make the best decisions for working families and seniors throughout Illinois. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza (in part): I am pleased the governor and legislators completed their work on time in passing a budget for the next fiscal year beginning July 1. This budget aims to provide greater protection for medical programs, especially for safety-net hospitals, and funds key state priorities for needs like education, MAP grants for college students, social and human services, health care, nursing homes and public safety. I want to stress that the work may not be done. Constant threats of cuts to federal funding endanger some of the vital programs that serve our most vulnerable. My office will closely monitor the situation and continue to pay bills as quickly as possible with the available resources under this budget. Sarah Saheb, Director of Economic Security Illinois: In a challenging fiscal climate, this budget includes victories that will make a real difference for Illinois families. Doubling the Child Tax Credit means hundreds more dollars back in parents pockets to cover everyday costs like groceries, rent, and childcare. Greg Kelley, President of SEIU Healthcare Illinois (in part): Todays passage of a state budget providing for an increase in home care wages marks a significant step forward in our fight to ensure that Illinois seniors have access to quality care and home care workers have the wages they need to thrive. Wage increases for home care workers will help more workers stay in the field, in turn allowing more Illinois seniors to age with dignity in their homes. That state lawmakers prioritized an increase when facing a significant budget shortfall and elected to adopt several progressive revenue measures as well shows a laudable commitment to protecting seniors. While a crucial step forward, we have further to go. It has never been more important to fully fund the care that Illinois seniors need. We face a range of destabilizing threats from the Trump administration as tax giveaways for billionaires are being prioritized over the needs of our most vulnerable communities. Kristina Hamilton, Illinois Advocacy Director for American Lung Association: The American Lung Association applauds the Illinois General Assembly for voting to expand vital state funding to help curb and prevent tobacco use across the state in addition to increasing taxes on tobacco products. These are win-win policies for public health that will help kids avoid using tobacco products, urge Illinoisans addicted to tobacco products to quit and help public health leaders bolster their focus on interventions in communities that have experienced higher rates of tobacco-related health disparities. We appreciate the legislatures leadership in making this strong public health move. In the wake of the recent elimination of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions longstanding Office on Smoking and Health, we applaud the states effort to stand up to Big Tobacco and put Illinois children and communities before tobacco industry profits. We look forward to continuing our work with state lawmakers and urge the governor to support these measures to help protect the public health of all Illinoisans. Opponents Illinois Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva): Once again, the Democrat majority is raising taxes by another $1 billion on Illinois families, businesses, and job creators to pay for their bad policies and misplaced priorities. The temporary revenue sources included in this budget continue a never-ending cycle that will likely lead to future tax increases. The budget also includes a pay raise and pork projects that are targeted for Democrat-controlled districts only. The process this year included the Democrats choosing to go it alone to bring forth the budget and other important pieces of legislation in the final moments of the legislative session. Illinois families deserve better than Democrats continued reckless and non-transparent practices. We should be focusing on economic growth through reforms and good policies with no tax increases. It only requires common sense to prevail in Illinois to improve our state, rather than the majority partys focus on reactionary and costly policies. Illinois Chamber of Commerce (in part): At the start of the legislative session, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce was encouraged by Governor Pritzkers proposed budget, which emphasized fiscal discipline, investment in education, and economic development, without raising taxes. The final $55.2 billion FY26 budget passed by the General Assembly tells a different story. It includes more than $350 million in expansive and punitive corporate income tax increases and creates new gaming taxes, short-term rental taxes, tobacco taxes, telecommunications taxes, and increased fees. This breaks the commitment to avoid new taxes and sends the wrong message to employers across the state. While we applaud the economic development package that aims to attract and retain good jobs and employers, we are disappointed by the costs on businesses contained in the final budget package, which will harm the states business climate and growth opportunities. As policy impedes growth, it impacts jobs, and that, in turn, affects communities all across the state. Tom Demmer, Illinois Policy Institute: This budget relies on onetime sweeps, tax diversions and budget gimmicks to avoid dealing with the real issues: Illinois has the highest tax burden of any state and that our spending continues to grow faster than our revenues. Any claims of cuts in this budget minimize that Illinois spending is still trending up significantly. Add in millions for pet projects exclusively for members of one political party and its clear Illinois leaders are being reckless with taxpayers money. This is the exact opposite of what state leaders should be doing. Taxpayers cant afford this. Bryce Hill, Illinois Policy Institute (in part): With just over 24 hours to consider thousands of pages of legislation on spending and tax changes, the Illinois General Assembly has approved a record-setting state budget that includes more than $800 million in revenue gimmicks featuring tax hikes, fund sweeps and temporary measures that fail to truly balance the states budget. The process was so rushed that even bill sponsors seem unclear on the exact amount taxpayers will be asked to pay. Transit legislation Transit agencies and state lawmakers also reacted to the measure that passed the Senate but failed in the House. Tina Fassett Smith, Regional Transportation Authority spokesperson: We are grateful for the months of work of the General Assembly toward both funding and reform for the regions transit system. Its clear that many in both the House and Senate support transit, and our intention is to build on that shared support to identify the funding needed to avoid devastating cuts and disruption for everyone in Northeast Illinois. Balancing regional interests is challenging, but we are ready to continue our work to achieve consensus and deliver a solution. In the coming weeks the RTA will work with the Service Boards on a regional budget that by law must only include funding we are confident the system will receive in 2026. Tim Drea, President of Illinois Labor Alliance for Public Transportation (in part): Last nights failure to pass a comprehensive transportation bill to avert a fiscal cliff jeopardizes Illinois transit systems with expected cuts, massive layoffs, and service disruptions for the Chicago Transit Authority, Pace, and Metra. As the General Assembly adjourns with neither reform or revenue, transit riders and workers alike are left concerned about the future of our communities. From day one, the Labor Alliance for Public Transportation aimed to improve the states public transit infrastructure by prioritizing rider and worker safety, improving service coordination, and reforming the governing boards of the RTA agencies. We appreciate the Illinois State Senates work to pass a comprehensive package that would have secured integral reforms and funding. We are grateful for the efforts of State Senator Ram Villivalam, Leader Eva-Dina Delgado, Leader Marcus C. Evans Jr., Leader Kam Buckner, State Representative Marty Moylan, and all the elected officials who worked tirelessly to negotiate a solution. While the legislation failed to pass both chambers, our work is far from over. Illinois Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago): Over the last 19 months, I have collaborated and held discussions with stakeholders, advocates, transit workers and everyday riders about the state of transit, issues currently facing the system and what we can do to improve service for its riders. Its imperative that we deliver a public transit system that provides reliable service for its riders and is accountable to our taxpayers. Now is the time to break through the status quo and embrace solutions made for lasting change. This legislation addresses the critical relief that our public transit systems are yearning for by providing viable, long-lasting solutions to work toward making Illinois home to a world-class public transit system. Across Illinois, residents will now have greater access to affordable, safe, reliable, coordinated and economically impactful transit to get them to where they need to go. Illinois Sen. Chris Balkema (R-Channahon): Once again, Illinois Democrats are hitting hardworking families with new taxes to cover up their own failures. Whether you need medicine delivered to your door, rely on grocery delivery because youre juggling work and kids, or order household supplies online to save time youll be taxed. This is the reality for Illinois families under the new $1.50 delivery tax a tax that hits nearly every household, just to bail out a broken transit system in Chicago. This isnt about fixing roads or improving transit access for all Illinoisans. Its about forcing people in communities like ours and across Illinois to pay for a transit system many dont use. While political leaders reward mismanagement in Chicago, hardworking families across the state are left paying the bill. Its unfair and it has to stop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. AUSTIN (Nexstar) Texas lawmakers sent legislation to ban non-medical THC products to Gov. Greg Abbott for approval. Passage of Senate Bill 3, has sparked intense backlash, with opponents across the political spectrum pushing for a veto. Amid the opposition, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick held a news conference on the legislation he calls the most important bill this session, to call for more media coverage on the harms of unregulated THC. Tuesday evening, Patrick sent out a memo announcing his news conference. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will hold a media briefing, along with end-of-session beverages and snacks, the one-sentence release said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reporters shuffled into the crowded press conference room. In the center stood a table with a cloth hiding objects underneath. A table with items hidden underneath a cloth in seen in the Texas Senate Press Briefing Room before a Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (not pictured) news conference on May 28, 2025. (Nexstar Photo/Adam Schwager) I told you wed have snacks today. Want to lift the snacks? Patrick asked his staffers. The removed cloth revealed THC and CBD products, including cereal bites, gummies, lollipops and drinks. This is everything you can buy at a smoke shop and a vape shop that will either cause potentially paranoia, schizophrenia (or) tremendous health issues, Patrick said. Why have I called you here today? Because I dont think the media has taken this issue seriously. I dont think the story has been told. You talk about jobs being lost, you talk about a big industry, a big industry selling all of this to kids. Texas House bans THC products, reduces criminal penalty for possessing intoxicating hemp Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patrick then started going through the products one by one. Its all sold for kids designed for kids and adults. This one, this little bag of jellies mango, peach for $90 a bag. Send you sky high, he said. Sour bells. Slices. How about gummy worms? Gummy worms? This is what parents you need to tell this story so that parents understand. The Lieutenant Governor then explained how these products emerged due to a loophole in a law passed in 2019. We heard this horrendous testimony of one 22-year-old who bought this. I dont know what product it was, I think she said wedding cake. He stepped in front of a train and got run over and killed, Patrick said. This is serious business. This is not Dans folly. This is not Dans priority. This is to save an entire generation of being hooked on drugs. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tosses a Delta-9 THC-infused package of Cereal Bites towards reporters during a news conference on May 28, 2025. (Texas State Senate) Patrick then proceeded to ask the room of reporters if anyone would want to buy an unknown substance that could change your whole mental state for the rest of your life? Then he proceeded to gently toss a bag of cereal bites to the pool of reporters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas Lt. Gov. announces compassionate use expansion amid THC ban Anybody want this bag? Okay, you want it, Patrick said before tossing the THC snack. A reporter promptly put it back on the table. I dont think you want it. You wouldnt dare buy it. You wouldnt let your children, your grandchildren buy it. And by the way, come September, all this will be illegal anyway, so Ill be turning this over to the police before I leave here. The THC snacks Patrick tossed to reporters were made by Hometown Hero, an Austin-based consumable hemp company. Cynthia Cabrera, the companys Chief Strategy Officer, took exception to Patricks assertion that their customers cannot find out what is in their product. Flip it around and look at the ingredients, QR code, look at the test results. Its all there, Cabrera said. I mean, that seemed like a lot of show, because everybody knows that the law requires including the law that he saw, you know, he voted for, requires that you test and you provide test results to consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jocelyns Law fails to earn enough votes in Texas House Millions of people use our products every single day, and there has never been a death. Adverse effects are, I mean, thats not even an issue, Cabrera said. Patrick said that the products put Texas children at risk. During the news conference, he invited Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis to share his perspective. They are targeting our kids, not adults, not patients but our kids, Willis said. In Collin County, we see the results of it. We see the psychotic episodes. We see the suicide attempts. We sit down with parents who are heartbroken and devastated after something has happened with their child, after they consume something that everybody thought was safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Houston Chronicle reporter Jeremy Wallace asked Patrick if there was a way to protect children while still giving adults access, Patrick passionately said he doesnt want adults to have access either. What are you crazy? You want to go home and eat a bag of this tonight, see if youre here tomorrow? We focus on kids because thats where they built the shops, but adults are buying this stuff too, Patrick said. Thats crazy talk. Thats the kind of talk the reason why were here. Media that would say something as stupid as that. Im sorry, thats just true. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick holds up Delta-9 THC-infused snacks during a news conference on May 28, 2025. (Nexstar Photo/Tim Holcomb) The final hurdle for SB 3 and a total THC ban is a potential veto from Abbott. He has stayed very tight-lipped about anything regarding hemp and THC this session. Cabrera said shes hopeful that the Governor will reject the ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Governor is a very big proponent of person freedom and liberty, Cabrera said. Hes also a big, you know, Texas is open for business fan, she continued, noting that Hometown Hero located in Texas because of the welcoming business climate. Hopefully the Governor is still of the business mind that Texas is a good place to do business, because the next question you have to ask yourself is, if theyre willing to take down one industry, because somebody feels like it, what industry is next? And that will have a chilling effect on businesses coming into the state and staying in the state, because theyll no longer have any kind of security, Cabrera said. When initially asked if he was worried about the possibility of a veto, Patrick deflected. I pass bills, the Governor signs or vetoes them, Patrick said. I know the Governor, I know where his heart is, and I know where he wants to be to protect children and adults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State of Texas: THC ban approved amid push to expand medical cannabis program He was then asked why he called the press conference if the bill had already passed both chambers of the legislature. Because theres a tremendous onslaught of pressure from an $8 billion industry that has unlimited money, and theyre trying to poison the story, to stop this from happening, thats why, Patrick said. I can tell you how effective they are, because most of you in this room no criticism personally, most of you in this room have bought into a lot of their story Im not worried about the Governor. Im worried about the pressure on the media and the general public to try to keep this going in some way. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick holds up THC-A infused candy during a news conference on May 28, 2025. (Nexstar Photo/Adam Schwager) The question of Abbotts intentions then came up a third time, when a reporter asked if Patrick had spoken with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I speak to the Governor every day, Patrick said. About this? another reporter asked. Look, Im not going to speak for the Governor, okay? Patrick said. He will do what hes going to do. I have total confidence in the Governor. You will know his decision when he makes it. The reason Im here today is for you to tell the story. Im not worried about the Governor understanding it. Im worried about you all understanding it. After the press conference, Abbotts Press Secretary Andrew Mahaleris wrote, Governor Abbott will thoughtfully review any legislation sent to his desk. Texas water projects would get billions under bill headed to Governor Legislation to bolster our states water supply is headed to Gov. Greg Abbotts desk. But the final decision on the multi-billion dollar plan rests in the hands of Texas voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Friday night, the Texas Senate accepted House amendments to Senate Bill 7. The bill would dedicate $1 billion in sales tax revenue toward the Texas Water Fund each year for the next 20 years. Those funds could be used for a variety of water infrastructure projects, such as fixing aging systems, building desalination plants, and expanding water supplies in our drought-prone state. Nonprofit organization Texas 2036 estimates that the state will need more than $150 billion over the next 50 years to support growing demand. Their report was cited by supporters of the legislation, who noted the potential economic impact of inaction on water policy. If Texas doesnt have enough water, or if we continue to suffer from the problems associated with aging, deteriorating drinking water and wastewater systems, were looking at a multi billion dollar hit to the states economy, said Jeremy Mazur, Director of Infrastructure and Natural Resources Policy for Texas 2036. Mazur said the report estimated $165 billion per year in lost GDP and economic damages due to insufficient water infrastructure. Abbott made investing in water one of his priorities for the 89th Legislative Session. He is expected to sign the legislation, but there is one more step to make the plan a reality. The legislation proposes to amend the Texas Constitution, meaning Texas voters must approve a proposition in an election this coming November for the funding to take effect. Mazur is optimistic that Texas voters will say yes. He noted strong support that passed a 2023 proposition to create the Texas Water Fund. What we find at Texas 2036 is that water, in political terms, is a winner, Mazur said. Our polling shows that there are strong majorities between both Republicans and Democrats that are overwhelmingly supportive of state investment in water infrastructure. So were optimistic of what this proposition will be, what the outcome of this proposition will be in November. Medical examiner bill dies in Texas House, interim proposal could bring it back A proposal aimed at establishing more medical examiner offices sooner in Texas died amid a flurry of bills considered on the House floor late Tuesday night, though the lawmaker who carried Senate Bill 1370 in the lower chamber plans to keep the topic alive ahead of the next legislative session in 2027. I think we should have an interim charge to look at this issue to bring more medical examiners to the state, Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, told KXAN earlier this month. Anchia also filed an identical House companion to SB 1370, which did not progress this session. The idea for the interim charge came after Anchia fielded questions during a House subcommittee hearing about the availability of physicians with forensic science training who could fill the states need for medical examiners. Experts have said there is a shortage of such doctors actively practicing, with the National Association of Medical Examiners recently telling KXAN the number was around 750 nationwide. Explore A Hanging on Backbone Creek, the project that sparked SB 1370 We just need more people who are specialized in this work, and creating an incentive program makes total sense, Anchia said. A difference in death investigations Texas has 254 counties. Medical examiner offices are used in 14 of them to investigate and certify the cause and manner of unexpected deaths, and conduct autopsies. The state has one medical examiner district based around Tarrant County. The remaining counties use elected justices of the peace to investigate and certify deaths, and determine if a body may need to be sent for an autopsy usually through a contract with another another county or private entity. Justices of the peace are elected, hold numerous other court-related duties and have no required prerequisite medical or death investigation experience. KXAN has reported extensively on challenges with the justice of the peace death investigation system. Medical examiner office advocates have argued these government offices led by appointed medical doctors provide a higher level of expertise and public service. Currently, counties are only statutorily required to have medical examiner offices when their population hits 2.5 million. SB 1370 aimed to decrease the benchmark to 1 million. This map shows which Texas counties have medical examiners and which rely on justices of the peace for death investigations. Source: Various Texas Counties/Arezow Doost (KXAN Interactive/David Barer) There are three Texas counties Hays, Hidalgo and Williamson that do not currently have medical examiner offices but are projected to have populations over 1 million by 2060, according to the Texas Demographic Center. Williamson County is already making preparations to build a medical examiner office before hitting the 1 million population level. Trio of bills aim to strengthen Texas death investigations The measure also would have clarified that counties can implement a medical examiner office before reaching 1 million people. Additionally, counties that share borders can pool resources to form a medical examiner district. By expanding the pool of counties required or able to create an office or a district, S.B. 1370 aims to strengthen investigative capacity statewide, enhance public health and safety, and improve the consistency and reliability of death investigations, the bills author, Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, said in its statement of intent. KXAN reached out to Parkers office for comment following the bill stalling in the House but has not received a response. Senator pledges to refile legislation after aggressive lobbying against hospital bollard bill Despite a VERY aggressive lobbying effort by the Texas Hospital Association to kill a bill aimed at preventing vehicle crashes at emergency entrances following last years deadly crash at St. Davids North Austin Medical Center a state senator is pledging to refile the same safety measure next session, according to a senior staffer. Senate Bill 660, sparked by a KXAN investigation, sought to require crash-rated vertical barriers, called bollards, at Texas hospital entrances. The proposal was supported by the Texas Nurses Association, which said all protections should be considered to ensure healthcare workers are safe and protected. It passed the Senate but stalled in a House committee despite a last-minute amendment to only require bollards at new hospitals in cities with a population of 1.2 million or greater. I am disappointed that Senate Bill 660 died in the House Public Health Committee, especially after we took so many suggestions from stakeholders on modifying the legislation, said the bills author, Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, who called the bollard requirement common-sense public safety legislation. No one else will have to suffer Levi and Nadia Bernard with their toddlers, Sunny and Rio, left, before being run over by a car in the lobby of St. Davids North Austin Medical Center. (Source: Austin Police Department) Surveillance video shows a vehicle crashing into the entrance of St. Davids North Austin Medical Center on Feb. 13, 2024. The driver was killed and five others injured. (Source: Austin Police) On Feb. 13, 2024, a drunk driver drove into the lobby of St. Davids North, running over all four members of the Bernard family, including their two toddlers. The driver, Michelle Holloway, 57, was killed. After the crash, the Bernards who were seriously injured spoke exclusively to KXAN about their ordeal and their goal moving forward. That no one will have to suffer like we do, said Nadia Bernard, who was still in a wheelchair recovering at the time. KXAN identified 584 crashes at or into medical-related sites since 2014 in these states. (KXAN Graphic/Wendy Gonzalez) That plea led to a more than year-long KXAN investigation looking into crashes and finding solutions to prevent them. After surveying dozens of hospitals, watching bollard crash-tests at Texas A&Ms Transportation Institute and learning about the strength of the security barriers, we were asked to share our findings with lawmakers as they considered SB 660, which would have required bollards at hospitals statewide. Without a uniform statewide approach, we found a patchwork system where some hospitals are protected while others remain vulnerable, KXAN investigative reporter Matt Grant told a Senate panel. EXPLORE: KXANs Preventing Disaster investigation into medical center crashes Definitely informed the debate Using data from the non-profit Storefront Safety council, TxDOT, police and media reports, we built our own nationwide database of crashes over the past decade. KXAN identified more than 20 deaths from crashes at medical sites since 2014 in these states. (KXAN Graphic/Wendy Gonzalez) We looked at places patients receive care, according to the states definition of health care provider that includes doctors, nurses, dentists and pharmacists, among others. The result: By the start of the legislative session, we had identified more than 400 crashes since 2014 including more than 100 in Texas. KXAN identified crashes at or into nearly 160 hospitals since 2014 in these states. (KXAN Graphic/Wendy Gonzalez) Months later, as we continued to track and collect data, the list of crashes into, or at, medical-related sites had expanded to more than 580. The majority were caused by drivers who were either hurt, intoxicated like at St. Davids or had pressed the wrong foot pedal. Nearly 160 of the crashes were at hospitals and almost half of those impacted the ER entrance area. In all, we identified at least two dozen deaths and hundreds of injuries. I think youve built the best dataset in the country right now, said Ware Wendell, a consumer and patient advocate with Texas Watch. So, it definitely informed the debate here in Texas, Wendell added. And, I wouldnt be surprised if it informs the debate all around the country as hospitals evaluate how they are protecting folks inside of their emergency rooms. I have to credit you, Matt, and your team at KXAN, for doing the deep dive, for digging into the data. Ware Wendell, Texas Watch Map of crashes that have occurred at or into Texas hospitals since 2014. Source: Texas Department of Transportation, media reports, Storefront Safety Council. (KXAN Interactive/Dalton Huey) Unfunded mandate The Texas Hospital Association, which represents 85% of the states acute-care hospitals and health care systems, testified against SB 660. Singling out hospital emergency rooms to install bollards would not prevent, based on the statistics were aware of, the overwhelming majority of these types of accidents because they simply dont occur in hospitals, THA General Counsel Steve Wohleb told lawmakers in March, referring to a majority of crashes occurring at business storefronts. Behind the scenes, sources tell KXAN the industry group lobbied heavily against the proposal. In a memo sent to hospitals around the state that we obtained, the THA criticized KXAN for including other medical centers in our data, not just hospitals, and, citing autonomy and cost as a factor, called the bill an unfunded mandate, without evidence-based support. What is the cost of life safety? I would question that, said Thomas Ustach with the McCue Corporation. What is the cost of life safety? McCue is the same bollard-making company that allowed KXAN to watch its crash tests in Texas last year. The company has installed security barriers at dozens of hospitals across the country. Bollard crash-testing at Texas A&M Transportation Institute (Courtesy McCue Corporation) The cost to secure an ER entrance, typically, is between $10,000 and $30,000, depending on how many bollards are needed, Ustach said. A single crash-rated bollard, on average, costs around $1,500-$2,000 to purchase and install, he pointed out. Its really not a difficult or costly fix to the problem, Ustach said. So, Im surprised that theres so much pushback against the bill. Ustach said hes proud the crash-testing we witnessed last year could shine some light to the public and policymakers on why, when it comes to bollards, testing and strict performance requirements are necessary. You cant leave it up to chance when youre talking life safety, he added. Killed by hospital special interests Today, the Bernard family is in the middle of a $1 million lawsuit against St. Davids for not having bollards at the time. St. Davids previously said it does not comment on litigation. This isnt the first time a hospitals lack of protective barriers has been the focus of a lawsuit. In 2020, a driver lost control and drove into the patient entrance of Atlanta-based Piedmont Hospital. Several people were hit and a 55-year-old woman was killed. The lawsuit blamed the hospital for its failure to provide bollards or other barriers outside of its ER. Piedmont settled for an undisclosed amount and previously did not respond to KXANs request for comment. St. Davids North Austin Medical Center added a dozen bollards outside its ER after the fatal crash on Feb. 13. (Courtesy Howry, Breen & Herman) St. Davids previously told us it installed $500,000 worth of bollards at its Austin-area hospitals after last years deadly ER crash. However, it has repeatedly refused to say if any of those bollards are crash-rated. When asked about the bollard bill not advancing, St. Davids said it does not have anything to add to your story. This month, the hospital system admitted for the first time that it opposed Austins ordinance, which passed nearly six months ago, requiring crash-rated bollards at new city hospitals. If these hospitals wont do it voluntarily, there must be laws to protect all families from this predictable and preventable destruction. The Bernard Family in a statement to KXAN A spokesperson for St. Davids said the opposition was due, in part, to a belief the measure selectively targeted healthcare facilities based on an incident at one of its hospitals. Photo of Levi and Nadia Bernard with their two toddlers, Sunny and Rio, taken before the accident. (Courtesy SJ Culbertson Photography) Our family is very disappointed that this common sense, statewide public safety bollard bill was killed by hospital special interests, the Bernard family told KXAN. We are so grateful that Austin bravely acted to pass protective bollard legislation and know this proactive law will eventually pass at the statewide level, the family added. Former Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly said she is incredibly proud of the local bollard ordinance she initiated. She hopes it serves as a model for other communities. While Im disappointed that SB 660 did not make it out of the House Public Health Committee this session, I remain hopeful and encouraged, Kelly said. Austin led the way by acting before tragedy struck again, and I firmly believe this ideas time will come at the statewide level. Protecting patients, emergency personnel, and hospital visitors should never be a partisan issue its a matter of life safety, she added, saying she looks forward to supporting the measure again next session. The chair of the House Public Health Committee, Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, gave the bill a hearing but did not bring it back up again for a vote, allowing it to die. His office, and the Texas Hospital Association, did not respond to a request for comment. 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. Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, has described his Trump-centric family life days after his wife left her administration post to work for Elon Musk. After discussing Trumps construction of the MAGA movement, his immigration stance, and Democrats unsellable ideology, Miller explained his personal ties to President Donald Trump in a softball Fox News interview with Lara Trump, the presidents daughter-in-law. The Saturday evening interview comes days after his wife Katie Miller reportedly left her role as an adviser at the Department of Government Efficiency to work full-time for Musk, who once led the cost-cutting arm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear when the interview was recorded, and his wifes departure from the administration wasnt discussed. But Millers appearance seemed to serve as a counter to any rumors that theres a rift between Musk and Trump. The worlds richest person left DOGE after a turbulent few months taking a chainsaw to federal agencies; his 130-day special government employee status came to an end last week. The deputy chief of staff emphasized how large a role the president and his White House have played in his family life. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller discusses his personal ties to the Trump administration days after his wife is reportedly leaving to work for Elon Musk (AP) Miller described meeting his wife during the first Trump administration. When I first met her, she was the communications director at the Department of Homeland Security, so its very on-brand, the relationship, because we were on conference calls every day on border security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair even got married at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, according to the New York Times. Miller is considered the architect of the controversial family separation policy in Trumps first term. His wife, then a spokesperson to Vice President Mike Pence, was sent to a child detention center at the southern border to make her more compassionate, but it didn't work," she told reporter Jacob Soboroff. Katie Miller listens as U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on May 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Musk. She is reportedly leaving the (Getty Images) Miller then told Lara Trump about his own children. Asked about whether his children have met Trump, Miller said he has a photo of his daughter with the president when she was just a newborn. He claimed: "My daughter is always asking to see the president againShes always desperate for any chance to get face time with the president. He added that the president is great with kids, describing him as a kid magnet and a child whisperer. Under Trump, apparently, children are always welcome at the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the most family-friendly work environment. You can bring your kid to work any time you want, he added. Hes been in Trumps orbit for a decade, but to him, sometimes it only feels like its been a year. The Air Marshal is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the IAF on 16 December 1989. He has flown over 3000 hours primarily on various types of fighter aircraft. He is a pilot Attack Instructor and in his operational career, he has commanded a fighter squadron, been Chief Operations Officer of a forward base and Air Officer Commanding of a premium fighter base, stated in the release. The release further mentioned that Jasvir Singh Mann has also held various important appointments at Air Headquarters and Command Headquarters. The Air Officer has directed Joint Military Training exercises with the Republic of Singapore Air Force in 2017 and the USAF in 2018. The Air Officer held the appointments of Senior Officer-in-Charge Administration & Air Defence Commander of Central Air Command. The Air Marshal is also an alumnus of the prestigious Defence Services Staff College and Royal College of Defence Studies, London (UK). Before taking over as Senior Air Staff Officer, Western Air Command, Indian Air Force, he was Director General (Weapon Systems) at Air Headquarters. The Air Officer is a recipient of the Presidential awards 'Ati Vishist Seva Medal' and 'Vayu Sena Medal'. (ANI) The Thurston County Sheriff says his department arrested six people after spotting a stolen pickup truck at a notorious drug house. Saturday night, a deputy happened to drive by the home on Stillwell Street Northeast and noticed a newer Dodge pickup truck with fake Oregon plates. The deputy stopped to investigate and spoke with a man who insisted it was his truck. It turned out it was stolen from Seattle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When the deputy called for backup, the sheriff says the man ran into the backyard to get away. Based on recent encounters, we knew that the suspects like to run and break into the neighbors yard to flee, the sheriff said in a post online. A deputy and the sheriff got permission from the neighbor to hide on the property and see if they could catch the man. We waited in the dark as a female whispered, run guys, theyre here! from the drug house, the sheriff said. One person crawled through the fence and came face-to-face with law enforcement. Deputies found a second person hiding in the bushes nearby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He remained adamant that trespassing isnt a crime, and he was simply looking to pick some blackberries at midnight, the sheriff said. Both were arrested. On the other side of the fence, deputies detained about one dozen other people. Of that group, they ended up arresting four: one person was wanted for a robbery in Lacey. Another had a warrant for a hit and run. A third person had a warrant for reckless driving, and a fourth had a warrant for assault. Each of those people was arrested. Editors Note: This story has been updated to clarify that all four occupants of the uninvolved vehicle were taken to local hospitals. DENVER (KDVR) A police pursuit of a stolen vehicle ended with a crash on Saturday night, according to the Aurora Police Department. The department said that at around 5:45 p.m., officers encountered a stolen vehicle that was driving west on Mississippi Avenue near East Chambers Road. The officers followed the vehicle and attempted to perform a traffic stop near South Potomac Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the stolen vehicle did not pull over, and police began to pursue the vehicle. Officers said the pursuit continued primarily west through Denver and into Glendale. 2 separate crashes occur in same vicinity of I-70 on Saturday afternoon The pursuit ended when the stolen vehicle crashed into an uninvolved vehicle near South Cherry Street and South Leetsdale Drive. There were four occupants in the vehicle that was crashed into. Police said all four occupants of the vehicle were transported to local hospitals. One had serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, while the other three had minor injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The APD was on scene investigating the incident, and the Colorado State Patrol will also be conducting an investigation into the crash. The Denver and Glendale police departments were also at the crash location, assisting with traffic and scene control. The suspect from the stolen vehicle, Michael Guadalupe Freyta, 26, of Aurora, was taken into custody before being transported to a hospital. Police say he was released from the hospital overnight and booked into the Aurora Municipal Detention Center. Freyta has been charged with two counts of vehicular assault, felony eluding and motor vehicle theft, and misdemeanor driving under the influence, the department said. Freytas criminal history with the APD includes arrests for motor vehicle theft, ID theft, fraud, forgery and numerous contacts for failing to maintain his status on the sex offender registry for an Adams District Court conviction involving a minor (not an APD case), the department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Participants walk through the Broadway Townhouses in Camden, N.J., as part of a training program to help neighborhoods affected by violence. The Community-Based Public Safety Collective, which offered the training, is one of at least 554 organizations affected by the U.S. Department of Justices abrupt termination in April of at least 373 public safety grants. (Photo courtesy of Aqeela Sherrills) Community-based violence intervention programs nationwide have long worked alongside law enforcement officers to deescalate conflict, prevent retaliatory shootings and, in some cases, arrive at crime scenes before police do. In many communities, these initiatives have been credited with saving lives and reducing violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Trump administration last month abruptly terminated at least 373 public safety grants from the U.S. Department of Justices Office of Justice Programs, pulling roughly $500 million in remaining funds across a range of programs, according to a new report by the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonprofit think tank. The cuts come just as summer is approaching a season when violence consistently peaks. The grants were initially valued at $820 million, but many were multiyear awards at different stages of rollout, which means some of the money has already been spent. At least 554 organizations across 48 states are affected by the cuts, many of them small, community-based nonprofits that rely on this money. The rescinded grants supported everything from violence prevention and policing to victim advocacy, reentry services, research, and mental health and substance use treatment. Some of the grants also were cut from state and local government agencies. Another new report from the Council on Criminal Justice dug deeper into local effects: It found that the Trump administrations cuts also eliminated 473 minigrants known as subawards passed from primary recipients to smaller groups that often face challenges accessing federal dollars directly, such as rural government agencies and grassroots nonprofits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About $5 million of those subawards was intended for state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies working to reduce violence in rural areas, according to the report. Experts warn the timing couldnt be worse. The summer months historically linked to higher rates of violent crimes are approaching, and the safety net in many cities is fraying. A growing body of research has found a correlation between spikes in temperature and violent crime, with studies suggesting that heat waves and sudden weather swings can inflame tensions and increase aggression. These programs are having to cut staff and cut services, and that will be felt in communities in states all over the country at exactly the time when theyre most needed, said Amy Solomon, a senior fellow at the Council on Criminal Justice and the lead author of the report. Solomon also previously served as assistant U.S. attorney general in the Biden administration, where she led the Office of Justice Programs the Justice Departments largest grantmaking agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the primary grants that were terminated contained no references to race, gender or diversity-related language, according to the report despite claims from federal officials that such criteria were driving the cuts. Primary grant recipients received their funding from the feds directly. Wasteful grants U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the cuts in a late April post on X, stating that the department has cut millions of dollars in wasteful grants. She also signaled that additional cuts may be on the way. In her post, she specifically cited grants that supported LGBTQ+ liaison services in police departments and programs providing gender-affirming care and housing for incarcerated transgender people. The Department of Justices cuts come amid a broader push by the Trump administration and the newly created Department of Government Efficiency to pull funding from a range of federal programs a move they say is aimed at reducing spending and saving taxpayer dollars. For some groups, the sudden withdrawal of funds has meant scaling back crime victim services or pulling out of some neighborhoods altogether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community violence prevention groups aim to stop shootings and other forms of violence before they happen by working directly with those most at risk. Staff often with experience in the justice system mediate conflicts, respond to crises, and connect people to support such as counseling or job training. In some cities, theyre dispatched to high-risk areas to deescalate tensions, often before police arrive. And research shows that community-level violence prevention programs can contribute to drops in crime. After a historic surge in homicides in 2020, violent crime in the United States dropped in 2024 to pre-pandemic levels or even lower in many cities. Preliminary 2025 data suggests that the downward trend is continuing in major cities, including Baltimore, Houston, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. But the progress hasnt reached every community. Some neighborhoods are still grappling with high rates of gun violence and car theft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizations that faced the toughest financial cuts had been funded through the U.S. Department of Justices Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative the federal governments primary mechanism for supporting this work. Since the programs launch in 2022, the federal Office of Justice Programs has invested about $300 million in community violence intervention efforts and related research. But nearly half of that funding has now been wiped out, according to the Council on Criminal Justice report. Its really unprecedented to see these kinds of grants cut midstream, Solomon told Stateline. This was an effort that had bipartisan support [in Congress] and in the field all across the country. Impact on communities nationwide In late April, Aqeela Sherrills received a letter from the federal Justice Department terminating a $3.5 million grant that supported the Community-Based Public Safety Collective. Sherrills is the co-founder and executive director of the national organization, which focuses on community-led approaches to preventing violence, including mediating conflicts, building relationships in high-risk neighborhoods and connecting people to resources such as housing, mental health care and job training. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The letter said the organizations efforts no longer aligned with the federal Justice Departments priorities, which include supporting certain law enforcement operations, combatting violent crime, protecting American children, and supporting American victims of trafficking and sexual assault. Until the end of April, the collective had an agreement with the Justice Department to provide training and technical assistance to 95 local groups including community groups, police departments, city and county governments, and state agencies that had each been awarded $2 million over three years to run community violence intervention programs. We're bracing for what could potentially be a high-violence summer. Aqeela Sherrills, Community-Based Public Safety Collective co-founder and CEO But after the department cut $3.5 million, the Community-Based Public Safety Collective was forced to lay off 20 staff members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without the significant funding it destabilizes the organizations. Peoples ability to be able to provide for themselves and their family is at risk, Sherrills said in an interview. Were bracing for what could potentially be a high-violence summer. The deepest funding cuts hit states led by both Republican and Democratic governors, including California, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington. About $145 million in violence intervention funding was rescinded overall, along with an additional $8.6 million for related research and evaluation efforts, according to the Council on Criminal Justice report. Some of the canceled grants funded studies and research on forensics, policing, corrections issues and behavioral health. Now, those projects may be left unfinished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the largest losses hit intermediary organizations, such as the Community-Based Public Safety Collective, that support smaller programs by providing microgrants, training and technical assistance. For organizations such as the Newark Community Street Team in New Jersey, the loss of federal funding has left some areas of the city without coverage. The funding had allowed staff to monitor neighborhoods and engage directly with community members to prevent violence. That included weekly community walks, where team members connected with victims of crime and people who may have witnessed violence, linking them to resources such as counseling or legal aid. The team also operates a hotline where residents can report crimes or alert staff to tensions that might escalate allowing the team to step in before violence occurred. Some of the lost funding also supported school-based initiatives, where mediators helped students resolve conflicts before they escalated into fights or other forms of violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the 15 Newark positions affected by the cuts, four employees were reassigned to other departments; the others were let go. Some of the teams staff members are formerly incarcerated, a vital trait that helps them connect with residents and build trust in communities that are often wary of traditional law enforcement. We just have to continue working and serving our community the best we can, said Rey Chavis, the executive director of the street team. That work appears to be contributing to a decrease in the communitys crime rates. City crime data from Jan. 1 to April 30, 2025, shows a significant drop in violent crime in Newark compared with the same period in 2024. The total number of violent crimes reported to police fell by 49%, driven largely by a 68% decrease in robberies, according to Statelines analysis of the data. Homicides dropped by 53%, while aggravated assaults declined by 43%. Rapes dropped slightly by 3%. Stateline reporter Amanda Hernandez can be reached at ahernandez@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This report was first published by Stateline, part of the States Newsroom nonprofit news network. Its 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. State Reps. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, and Karla Lems, R-Canton, speak to the press after they announced their campaign for governor and lieutenant governor at an event in Sioux Falls on April 24, 2025, at the Military Heritage Alliance. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota Republicans could be choosing from a crowded field when they make their choice for governor in the 2026 primary. With as many as five candidates in the race, would-be governors will need to find a way to distinguish themselves from the pack. The first announced candidate for that race was Speaker of the House Jon Hansen, a Dell Rapids attorney. He declared his candidacy for the Republican nomination in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hansen was the first candidate for governor to come from the new MAGA wing of the South Dakota Republican Partyreferred to as grassroots patriots in his announcement speech. His campaign platform contains many of the topics his wing of the party has made a priority: cutting government spending, allowing school choice, protecting private property rights, opposing abortion and tightening election laws. Another topic that Hansen touched on was ending corporate welfare. Thats the name he has given to the practice of using taxpayer dollars to boost private business. His example of corporate welfare gone bad was Tru Shrimp. The company was given a $6.5 million loan of state and local funds six years ago to build a facility in Madison. While the company did manage to change its name to Iterro, it has yet to break ground. I think its just unnecessary government mingling, and its risky business, and theyre wasting our taxpayer dollars to do it, Hansen said in a South Dakota Searchlight story. Its the sort of stuff that we want to say no more to. Lets get back to the free market, low tax and low regulation. South Dakota got serious about using state dollars to entice and build business in 1987 when Gov. George Mickelson helped to create the Revolving Economic Development and Initiative Fund. Mickelson was able to convince the Legislature to implement a 1% sales tax increase that would sunset once it had raised $40 million for the REDI Fund. Since then the Governors Office of Economic Development has made loans and grants worth millions of dollars to new and existing businesses and industries in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taking state government loans and grants out of the marketplace would certainly be one way Hansen could approach his new role if he were elected governor. That tactic, however, fails to consider the fact that a financial boost from the state is sometimes what it takes to get the free market interested in investing in South Dakota. Putting an end to low-interest government loans would certainly put the state at a disadvantage when it comes to competing with other states for business and industry. A recent news release from the GOED showed just how invested the state has become in helping businesses grow. The news release noted a $3.4 million grant for the Big Stone Energy Storage Project thermal energy facility, a $2.6 million grant for a Bel Brands expansion and a $250,682 grant to Dakota Line Energy for a lagoon digester. The news release said the grants would result in $419 million in capital expenditures and create 180 full-time jobs. In essence, the state is betting $6 million in hopes of getting a $419 million payoff. That kind of government mingling, as Hansen called it, seems to offer pretty good odds. It is, however, as he noted, risky business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At its heart, investing in economic development will always be a bit of a gamble. Thats why we expect government officials to place safe bets, though there is always the chance for a bust like Tru Shrimp. Thats the nature of any gamble. Hansen wont be the only patriot in the Republican primary for governor, with Aberdeen businessman and political influencer Toby Doeden also declaring his candidacy. If corporate welfare is going to be an issue in the GOP primary, the people who like to use state loans and grants to boost their local economies have got to do a better job of telling about the benefits of government investment. One way to do that would be to keep telling their story after the initial news release has been issued. Beyond the cliched photo of local officials with hardhats and shovels for a groundbreaking, taxpayers deserve regular updates on capital expenditures and job creation. This would add a layer of government transparency to the use of tax dollars. It would also soften the criticism from people like Hansen when an outfit like Tru Shrimp is slow to pay off on its state investment. Politicians often like to tout the benefits of the free market. By curtailing state grants and low-interest loans, that market will be free to invest in states that are more financially welcoming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1987, the states economy was badly in need of a jump-start, and it got one from Gov. Mickelson and the REDI Fund. Since then, that gamble has paid off more often than its gone bust. What Hansen calls corporate welfare has been a usually sound investment for South Dakota. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Senate budget writers review auto inspection program changes Senate budget writers approved a stripped-down program of inspections for car and truck owners. In March, the House had voted overwhelmingly to get rid of the annual exams. A stripped-down safety inspection requirement for New Hampshire car and truck owners has emerged in the latest state Senate budget proposal as Republican leaders revived an issue that looked like it had been postponed until 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate Finance Committee unanimously embraced the plan of Sen. Howard Pearl, R-Loudon, and three colleagues that seeks consensus with the House of Representatives that overwhelmingly voted to eliminate the inspections (HB 649). I feel like this is a down-the-middle approach to where we want to get to. We all hear from our constituents that this was an important topic for them that they wanted to see some action on, said Pearl, who chairs the Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee. A final House-Senate compromise on inspections and the entire budget are weeks away, but it could improve the tenor of the talks since both sides are addressing the inspection testing mandate. Leading House members working on the auto inspection issue bitterly criticized the Senate earlier this month after it voted 19-3 to again refer the House-passed bill to repeal the program, which meant it would be on the sidelines until early next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres how Pearls proposal would work: New car and truck owners: They would have to pass a safety inspection, but then not have to have one for another three years. Older vehicles: All those owning vehicles three years and older would have to pass a safety inspection each year, but one that checked out a lot fewer items than the current tests do. Diagnostic/emissions: This would direct the Department of Environmental Services by Jan. 1 to ask the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for permission to eliminate on-board diagnostic and emission testing of tailpipes, currently the part of all annual inspections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delayed start-up: This would delay all these changes until Jan. 1, 2027, to give DES time to get an answer from the EPA and for lawmakers to make any adjustments based upon that response. New Hampshire has had tailpipe tests done since the early 1990s so it would be following the federal Clean Air Act. Pearls nine-page amendment includes explicit language that auto shop owners may not flunk for inspection incidental items such as an auxiliary light, mirror crack or some other computer glitch in the car or truck that doesnt affect its operation. Sen. David Watters, D-Dover, credited Sen. Dan Innis, R-Bradford, and Pearl with working out the language. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This program will ensure we have safety on our roads, and we deal with what some people call the nuisance factor of these inspections, Watters said. Sen. Tim Lang, R-Sanbornton, estimated the changes reduce the number of factors affecting a pass or fail inspection from more than 55 down to about 20. We intended it to be a safety program; with this, it would be back to being a safety program, Lang said. Senate proposal reduces what car and truck inspections would test A new proposal from Senate budget writers would get rid of tailpipe and on board diagnostic exams as part of annual inspections for car and truck owners. Under the plan, new vehicle owners would get a safety inspection after the sale and then get three years of holiday before annual tests would resume for older vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pearl said the changes would not alter up or down the cost that garage owners could charge for inspections. House budget writers put a repeal of the inspections and the layoff of all state staff to run the program into the trailer bill of the two-year state budget it approved last month. Health insurance premiums Senate budget writers endorsed a modified way for income eligible families on government insurance programs to pay a monthly premium for coverage. Gov. Kelly Ayotte had proposed those making over federal poverty level limits to pay 5% of their monthly income in the premiums. Senate Majority Leader Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead, has countered with a flat monthly premium based on the number of people in the family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee opposed the plan. On health insurance premiums, Ayotte had proposed last February: Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP): 8,000 families with children in CHIP would pay if they made at least 255% of the federal poverty level, which is roughly $72,500 a year. The 5% premium would be about $300 a month or $3,600 a year. Birdsells plan changes it to a flat monthly premium of $190 for a family of two, $230 for a family of three and $270 for a family of four. Granite Advantage: The premium would be charged to 12,000 for low-income adults in the Medicaid expansion program who made at least 100% of the federal poverty level, which for a single person is about $16,000 annually. The 5% translates to about $66 a month or $800 a year in client payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Birdsells proposal alters it to a sliding scale based on family size of $60 for a single monthly to $100 for a four-person family. Whats Next: The Senate Finance Committee will make its final votes on the spending plan Tuesday. Prospects: House leaders could decide the change to inspections achieves its top goals, getting rid of the nuisance tests and giving newer car and truck owners a break since the failure rate for these vehicles is so low. klandrigan@unionleader.com DES MOINES, Iowa Members of the community gathered for the Stuff the Truck food drive in support of the Urbandale Food Pantry. The Urbandale Food Pantry opened a new facility in April and served more than 2,000 families in the first month alone. On Saturday, they partnered with local businesses Van Meter Incorporated and Baker Electric to pack Big Grove Brewery and fill a truck with non-perishable food, personal care items, and monetary gifts. In addition, all donations were matched up to $3,000. The Urbandale Food Pantry served more than 57,000 people across 76 zip codes in 2024. They say its important to remember that even if they seem alright, families might need more help than you think. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What drew thousands to Dam to DSM, runners share stories Food insecurity isnt always visible, but its in every community, and hunger is rarely about food and more about impossible decisions that families have to make. So we can find fun and creative ways to get the community involved, said Patty Sneddon, CEO of the Urbandale Food Pantry. President and CEO of Baker Electric, Cory Sloss, says these events help build up the community. Des Moines is a small community when you stop and think about it and I think, the more youre in it and the more business you do here, everyone is your friend, you have a lot of relationships here. Its really about just coming together and helping each other with everybodys mission, the more we tie that together the more successful we all are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Danielle Monthe is the Van Meter Community Impact Manager and says its encouraging to see businesses looking out for their neighbors. Theres a lot of great companies in the area that want to do good, and as the electrical industry is booming right now. So, when we can kind of use our growth to fuel the growth of human services and specifically the food pantry, thats what we want to do, said Monthe. Learn about available services, volunteering, and more on the Urbandale Food Pantry 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 who13.com. The 12-year campaign to free Ross Ulbricht the criminal mastermind behind the Silk Road, the original crypto-enabled dark web mail-order-drug emporium finally ended in January, when newly-minted second term president Donald Trump officially pardoned the bitcoin criminal. Now, Ulbricht is picking up where he left off, getting his first taste of a world he left behind in 2013 when a federal judge sentenced him to two counts of life in prison, plus 40 years without parole. In sum, Ulbricht's feeling some culture shock. Taking the stage at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas this week, the drug kingpin was agog at the piles of kitschy tech products that had passed him by. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When I walked out of prison a few months ago, Id never seen a drone, used AI, or tried VR. I hadnt even chatted with AI," Ulbricht marveled. "Now it's all hitting me at once the freedom, the technology, the fact that I have a future again." He also basked in the glow of the crypto community's love a parasocial following that lavished his clemency petition with over 600,000 signatures and an astonishing number of right-libertarian micro-celebrity endorsements. "You didn't abandon me. You didn't forget me. You wrote me letters. You raised money for my defense. When I was silenced, you spoke up against the slander and the smears," the former dope baron lauded. Keep in mind, this wasn't a political activist jailed for protesting an unjust war, or a whistleblower whose life was destroyed after revealing a massive corporate fraud scheme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a guy who made millions selling drugs to teenagers and communities ravaged by the opioid crisis, resulting in at least six overdose deaths that we know of. (Not to mention the hitmen he tried to hire to take out his enemies, though he was unsuccessful.) At its peak in 2013, Ulbricht's Silk Road saw an estimated daily connected user base of 5.5 million. In just two years, it processed some $1.2 billion in illicit sales, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Through transaction fees, the service generated over $80 million worth of Bitcoin. Authorities in 2014 called it the "most sophisticated and extensive criminal marketplace on the internet." Of course, Ulbricht's saving grace isn't some ethical dilemma Trump has over incarceration or judicial mishandling, but the fact that he built Silk Road off the then-nascent blockchain. That single fact has cemented his status as a crypto superstar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For context, out of the 1.2 million citizens incarcerated in the US, over 360,000 of them face charges of nonviolent drug possession. In 2023, there were roughly 870,000 arrests for drug-related charges, the vast majority, or 87.8 percent of which were for drug possession in other words, for carrying an impossibly tiny fraction of the volume that passed through Ulbricht's drug empire every minute. With his new lease on life, Ulbricht plans on paying it forward not as an advocate for carceral reform or prison abolition, but to the crypto community of get-rich-quick schemers and granny scammers. "With so much speed and chaos, its more important than ever to stay true to our principles," he told the crowd of cryptobros. "If we agree that we deserve freedom and that [crypto] decentralization secures it, we can stand together. Have each others backs, as you had mine. Freedom, decentralization, unity stay true to these, and the future is ours." More on crypto: Visitors At This Bitcoin-Heated Spa Are Complaining About Mold and UTIs UPDATE: Joel Arocho has been safely located, according to Suffolk Police. SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Suffolk Police is seeking the communitys help in locating a 16-year-old boy. Joel Arocho (Courtesy: Suffolk Police Department) Joel Arocho was last seen on Saturday near the 200 block of Smith Street at approximately 6 p.m. Arocho is described as approximately 5 feet, 10 inches and 130 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a burgundy shirt and blue jeans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has a history of mental health issues and is believed to be a danger to himself following harmful comments he made before leaving his residence. The investigation remains ongoing. If you have any information about this case, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP, downloading the P3 tips app to a mobile device, or visiting www.P3tips.com and submitting a tip. 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. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) After a cool start Sunday morning, temperatures will warm into the low to mid 70s Sunday afternoon. While we will have plenty of sunshine, so haze maybe noticed in the sky. The haze in the sky is from the Canadian wildfires, however it is not expected to have a major impact on air quality (most of the smoke is high up in the atmosphere). Our dry trend continues into the new work week, bringing summer-like weather early into June. Temperatures will climb into the low 80s and mid 80s by Wednesday. We will see a chance of storms late Wednesday, with most of the activity coming overnight as a slow moving cold front approach the area. Thursday is the best chance to see rain this week, as that front stays stalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cold front will move through going into Friday with highs dropping back into the mid 70s and another chance of rain. 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. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat dismissed the need to address Sanjay Singh's remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Sunday, Shekhawat told reporters, "I don't believe there is any need to respond to someone like Sanjay Singh, who is making such frivolous and low-level comments." Shekhawat said that the armed forces avenged the nation's daughters whose sindoor was wiped off in the Pahalgam terror attack, and that everyone is appreciating the valour of the armed forces and grateful to PM Modi. Shekhawat added, "The way the 'sindoor' of the nation's daughters was wiped off in the Pahalgam terror attack -- in front of their families and young children -- was heartbreaking. But our armed forces have avenged that through 'Operation Sindoor'. After this action, crores of women across the country, who were deeply pained and disturbed by that incident, now feel a sense of relief and justice. Whether it is the families of the martyrs or the general public, they are all appreciating the valour of our armed forces and expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and his government." Sindoor, which traditionally signifies the marital status of Hindu women, serves as a poignant reference to the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, several women lost their husbands, who were killed in front of them. The codename 'Operation Sindoor', under which India responded to the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack by striking nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), carried a message that was both emotionally resonant and symbolically heroic. On Saturday, Sanjay Singh criticised the BJP's 'Ghar Ghar Sindoor Abhiyan,' calling it a cheap political stunt and dubbing it the 'One Nation, One Husband' scheme. He questioned if this campaign implies that all women across India are being asked to accept the Prime Minister as their husband. "Do chutki sindoor ka mahatva aap kya jante hai Modiji?," said Sanjay Singh. In a post on X, Sanjay Singh said, "In Indian culture, women apply sindoor as a symbol of their husband's long life, respect and well-being. It reflects pride, dignity, and deep emotional meaning. But now, after pushing schemes like 'One Nation, One Election' and 'One Nation, One Leader', the Prime Minister appears to have launched 'One Nation, One Husband'," Singh said. The AAP leader questioned whether this campaign implies that all women in the country are being asked to accept Prime Minister Modi as their husband. Similarly, the Kerala Congress unit shared a poster of PM Modi with the caption 'One Nation, One Husband' as a jab at the BJP's campaign. The poster also highlighted a month-long campaign starting June 9, with MPs walking 15-20 km daily to promote sindoor distribution. In response, BJP Karnataka condemned Congress, tweeting, "Congress insults Hindus day in and day out, then blames EVMs on result day. A script uglier than the gold hidden where no sun shines." However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denied media reports claiming that the party is visiting house to house to distribute sindoor (vermilion). (ANI) The Trump administration has ramped up its standoff with the courts over tariffs in recent days, with top advisors condemning two rulings that attempted to block tariffs from proceeding as planned. On Thursday, an appeals court temporarily paused an order that would have halted international tariffs. Despite the ruling in favor of the administration, deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller blasted the orders as judicial tyranny while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused magistrates of inserting themselves into the presidential decision-making process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent months, Supreme Court justices have spoken out in defense of judges across the nation, urging them to stand tall in the midst of attacks. However, Trumps officials have maintained that tariffs and other measures are permitted by federal law in the wake of legal battles and schisms. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett has blamed activist judges for blocks to Trumps trade policy and will likely expand on his criticism of the judiciary during a Sunday appearance on ABCs This Week. As verbal tensions flare, the president has pushed ahead with expansions, including a decision to double the price of steel imports, as revealed in a Friday announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to bring it from 25 to 50 percent on steel into the United States of America, which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States, Trump said during remarks at a steel factory in Pittsburgh, lauding the U.S. Steel partnership with Nippon Steel. The move will increase factory opportunities in Pennsylvania but hurt foreign car manufacturers that have projected billions in losses due to duties. Rep. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) will likely address how the U.S. partnership with Nippon will affect his constituents and the nations auto industry more broadly during his appearance on Fox News Sunday. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will join him on the show and may address forthcoming taxes on imported items and sector-specific policies. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is likely to hit on the status of trade talks with China, Japan and other global partners on CBSs Face the Nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Cabinet members lay the foundation for America First foreign policy, Republicans in Congress are shaping their own hierarchy at home. GOP senators are tasked with advancing the House-passed spending bill that would effectively strike millions from Medicaid, increase the federal debt and extend Trumps 2017 tax cuts. Democrats have taken stark issues with the legislation, as have Republican fiscal hawks whove claimed the bill is a debt bomb ticking. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he doesnt expect too many surprises from the Senate on the GOP budget bill as Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) have voiced concerns with the big, beautiful text. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paul is set to appear on CBSs Face the Nation and Johnson will be interviewed on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures. I have nothing but support for what President Trump is trying to do, and I love the way hes acting boldly and swiftly, decisively, to fix the enormous messes left by the Biden administration, Sen. Johnson said. We have to reduce the deficit, and so we need to focus on spending, spending, spending. The House Speaker has urged senators not to mess with the delicate equilibrium he established for the bill in the lower chamber, and will likely echo those defenses during a Sunday appearance on NBCs Meet the Press. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) will likely rail against the spending package with full force during their Sunday comments on CNNs State of the Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These topics and more will be addressed on this weeks Sunday shows. Please see the full list of appearances below: NewsNations The Hill Sunday: Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.); Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R-Va.) ABCs This Week: National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett; World Food Program Executive Director Cindy McCain CNNs State of the Union: Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.); Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.); Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.); Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought CBS Face the Nation: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent; Martin Makary, commissioner of the Federal Drug Administration; Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.); Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.); Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBCs Meet the Press: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.); Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) Fox News Fox News Sunday: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick; Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.); Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass. Fox News Sunday Morning Futures: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem; Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), Brad Gerstner, Altimeter Capital Founder, Chairman And CEO 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. The Swedish government has introduced regulations to enhance insurance checks on foreign vessels to counter Russias shadow fleet. Source: a statement of the Swedish government, as quoted by AP News and reported by European Pravda Details: Effective from 1 July 2025, the Swedish Coast Guard and Maritime Administration can request insurance details from vessels transiting Swedens territorial waters or economic zone, beyond those entering ports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are seeing more and more problematic events in the Baltic Sea and this requires us not only to hope for the best, but also to plan for the worst," said Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Russias shadow fleet transports oil, gas and reportedly stolen Ukrainian grain, evading Western sanctions. Background: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on 21 May that a Russian shadow fleet vessel had carried out suspicious manoeuvres near a power cable connecting Poland and Sweden. Polish forces intervened in the incident. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) Summer kicked off in the sweetest way at the Pekin Public Library, where more than 500 people and families stepped into a life-sized game of Candy Land. The event was the librarys Summer Adventure Kickoff Party, and was one of the largest turnouts in the librarys history. Library staff say the goal was to spark joy, bring the community together, and encourage a love of reading as summer begins. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its very important because then they can keep up on their reading skills, said Catrina Klassen, Head of Youth Services at Pekin Public Library. So then when they go into the school year, next year theyre ready to go. And then teachers dont have to go back and re-teach some of those skills so that they can keep up on those skills throughout the summer. The event was held on Saturday, May 31, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., which had the library transformed into a colorful, candy-themed wonderland to launch its annual Summer Reading Program with imagination and excitement. Children followed a rainbow path through the library, picking up their Summer Reading Game Cards and exploring a magical land of sweet surprises. Families enjoyed a day packed with fun, including a bouncy house, balloon artists, interactive games, and meet-and-greet moments with Sonic and Mario, adding to the excitement for kids of all ages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Klassen also explained the motivation behind this years program theme. Illinois does like a summer reading theme for all the libraries, so Level Up was the whole thing for the state of Illinois, which I think is a great motivator because kids love games. So this is a great way to get them to want to read. Whether bouncing, reading, or racing through Candy Land, families left with big smiles and even bigger stacks of books. 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. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Maternal health has made progress in the legislative session, but there is more to do for families and children. Talk Business & Politics host Roby Brock met with Olivia Walton, with Ingeborg Investments, who has been a leader on this issue in Arkansas has ideas for the state and federal level. Roby then talks with Arkansas Democrat-Gazette senior editor Rex Nelson chimes in on a variety of topics in the Natural State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Talk Business & Politics airs Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on FOX 16. For more coverage, head to TalkBusiness.net. 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 KLRT - FOX16.com. LAS VEGAS On West Bonanza Road near Martin Luther King Boulevard, not far from the glittering casino lights of the Strip, motorists pass a dire message for the upcoming summer tourism season. A billboard mimicking a postcard from one of the most extreme places on the continent reads: Greetings from Death Valley National Park, before a more sinister warning: Heat deaths rise. Safety staff cut. Made possible by D.O.G.E. Its one of around 300 billboards placed across Arizona, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida by More Perfect Union, a nonprofit labor advocacy organization seeking to bring attention to staffing cuts brought on by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Parks Conservation Association, an independent advocacy organization, estimates that around 2,500 employees roughly 13% of the National Park Services staff took buyouts or accepted early retirements or deferred resignations as part of DOGEs efforts to significantly slash the size of the federal government. There are concerns that deep cuts across the National Park Service could jeopardize public safety. In far-flung places like Death Valley, park rangers are there to help maintain your safety, said Faiz Shakir, More Perfect Unions founder and executive director. If you pass out from heat exhaustion, theyre the ones making sure youre taken care of. In Nevada alone, 19 billboards are on display in Las Vegas and Reno, highlighting the public safety risk of heat-related illness and death for park visitors this summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Death Valley National Park extends from eastern California to Nevada and is about a 2.5-hour drive from Las Vegas. The area is often known as the hottest place in North America, with temperatures often reaching 130 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in the summer. Tourists visit Badwater Basin as an extreme heat warning was issued in Death Valley National Park on Thursday. (Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu via Getty Images) An early-season heat wave has scorched much of the West with dangerously hot conditions, prompting an extreme heat warning that extended from Friday to late Saturday. Triple-digit highs were widespread across southern Nevada, and temperatures over 115 degrees were expected in Death Valley. Such extreme heat weeks before the official start of summer added urgency to More Perfect Unions message. The organizations billboard campaign is targeting broad impacts of DOGEs layoffs and cuts to the nations most popular national parks. In the Southwest, that meant zeroing in on extreme heat, Shakir said. We had to tailor the message to get at where the rubber meets the road, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The full consequences of National Park Service reductions remain to be seen, and peak summer tourism season is looming. Abigail Wines, acting deputy superintendent of Death Valley National Park, said park employees are working to keep the public safe and raise awareness about the dangers of extreme heat. She encouraged people to take necessary precautions before visiting Death Valley, such as checking for weather alerts or closures and packing adequate water, sunscreen and other essentials. As always, the National Park Service is working to provide visitors with amazing, safe and memorable experiences in Death Valley National Park, and throughout the country, Wines told NBC News in a statement. More Perfect Unions bigger goal with its billboard campaign is to bring attention to DOGEs controversial work and the Trump administrations sweeping cuts to federal agencies. Shakir said the organization purposefully used the bipartisan support that national parks enjoy as a way to provoke debate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2024 poll from the Pew Research Center found that the National Park Service was the most popular federal agency, with 76% favorability among the more than 9,400 Americans surveyed. A lot of places we put the billboards in are in red areas, where its assumed that a lot of people may have voted for Donald Trump, like Donald Trump and even like components of DOGE, quite frankly, Shakir said. But with national parks, we thought this was a good example of where theyve gone way too far. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A 17-year-old high school senior left a goodbye note on Instagram and said farewell to his friends via group text before jumping off the Staten Island Ferry, his distraught sister said Sunday. The NYPD has been searching the waters of New York Harbor for Brandon Pino since he jumped about 9:45 a.m. on Saturday as the ferry approached the southern tip of Manhattan, cops said. Brandons sister Cathleen Pino reached out to the Daily News because her family hopes public attention will lead to her siblings recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were doing our own search with family members. We are going along Jersey City, Battery Park, Brooklyn, just looking around the borders, said Cathleen, 27, adding that she hasnt gotten any updates from authorities. Weve gone on Governors Island yesterday and were doing it again today. Brandon, a senior at Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School on Staten Island, went to his uncles house on Staten Island about 7 a.m. on Saturday, then headed for the 9:30 a.m. boat from the St. George Ferry Terminal, not telling anyone, his sister said. He had posted on his Instagram, she said. It was saying, My last day on Earth. And then he also made a post about mental health awareness. Hashtag mental health awareness, his sister said. He was texting a group of friends, who started getting increasingly worried, just before he jumped overboard, she said. A witness notified the ferry crew after it docked in Manhattan, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police searched the waters, but called off the search at about 6 p.m., the sister said. Brandon lived with his mom and two older sisters in Port Richmond, and his nieces and nephews looked up to him because of his commitment to fitness. His friends told me that they had seen that he was more happy than usual at school lately, Cathleen said. And it seems very odd because he was being himself, which was eating, cooking for himself, cooking his healthy food, going to the gym, going to school early, being there for his graduation practice. Still, she said, his friends said hed express worries about his body, to be a certain weight or look a specific way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of his classmates had recently died by suicide, she added. We want help to see if there can be more attention, so to see if they can actually do at least a recovery, for my mom to get some type of closure, so she can bury her son, she said. A Monroe police officer was shot multiple times during an early morning pursuit Saturday, and police killed the armed teenage suspect after an extensive manhunt, officials said. Hours later, Union County deputies found a man dead in a home after responding to a 911 call and connected the teen to the killing, Sheriff Eddie Cathey said. Cathey said the teen may have believed officers were after him in connection with the homicide, but he said police didnt know about the killing at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer was hospitalized in stable condition, according to a Monroe Police Department statement. The department released a picture of her bullet-riddled patrol car. Police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Joshua Hayden Sikes. Driving on Old Charlotte Highway at 1:45 a.m., a Monroe officer saw what the police statement said was a suspicious vehicle near Rocky River Road. Police didnt immediately say what made the vehicle suspicious to the officer. The driver took off, and the officer pursued, according to the statement. The chase ended four minutes later when officers put stop sticks on Goldmine Road near River Chase Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect opened fire on officers, hitting a female officer multiple times, according to the statement. The officer was treated at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, where she remained later Saturday, police said. Police didnt immediately name the officer. The suspect ran into thick woods, and the departments special response team began a manhunt with K9s and a drone, and help from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department helicopter, police said. Monroe police officers found the suspect at 3:52 a.m. The suspect had a rifle and shot at the officers, according to the statement. The Special Response Team shot back, killing the suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This suspect intended to kill our officer, and by the grace of God shes alive right now, Police Chief Rhett Bolen said in the statement. Everyone on our team followed their training and acted decisively to stop a deadly threat. We stand firmly behind their actions and are grateful that our officer will eventually be able to go home to her family, Bolen said. Teen suspected in earlier killing of man, 23 Investigators suspect Sikes in the earlier killing of 23-year-old Alvin Parson in a home in the 2000 block of Astoria Drive in Indian Trail, Cathey said. Parson appeared to have died of a gunshot wound, the sheriff said. As detectives began their investigation into Parsons death, evidence quickly connected Joshua Sikes to the homicide, Cathey said, without disclosing the evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators believe Sikes drove from the homicide in the same vehicle that Monroe officers later pulled over, Cathey said. Law enforcement investigators now believe Sikes was actively evading capture for Parsons murder when he encountered Monroe police officers, leading to the violent exchange that left one officer injured and Sikes dead, according to the sheriffs statement Sheriffs investigators havent said if they know what prompted Parsons killing. The Sheriffs Office is leading the investigation into his death. The State Bureau of Investigation will investigate the fatal shooting, which is standard procedure when an officer shoots someone, according to the statement. Bolen thanked local, county and state law enforcement agencies that helped in the investigation. This is a developing story. CHICAGO A teenage boy around 18 years old died after being shot in the head in a West Pullman alley overnight on the citys South Side, according to Chicago police. Police sources: Woman sexually assaulted at gunpoint on Blue Line train Police say officers responded to a call of a person shot just after 3 a.m. Sunday in the 11900 block of South Wallace Street and were told by a witness that the victim, approximately 18, was in the alley when the witness heard gunshots. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The witness then went to where the victim was, according to police, and found the victim unresponsive on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head. The Chicago Fire Department arrived to treat the victim, who was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Police say nobody is in custody, and Area Two detectives are investigating the incident. 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. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) A teenage boy was injured during a Sunday shooting in Southeast D.C., according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Police say officers responded to reports of a shooting at 3:44 p.m. in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, SE. Man critically hurt in Southeast DC apartment fire There, a boy was found suffering from a gunshot wound, conscious and breathing. The shooting remains under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. I want a big beautiful yacht! Sell that $10 million stock I bought for $6 million woo hoo! What? You want me to donate it to a private school voucher program? Nope, I dont believe in those. A tax loophole? OK, well, donate it to childrens cancer research instead. What do you mean that wont work? Hows that for a fun new federal tax scam to help the super-wealthy? Donate $10 million in stock to charity, purchased for $6 million then get all $10 million back in tax credits and avoid more than $1 million in capital gains taxes. Massive benefits for already rich individuals you gotta love it. And its all created by House Resolution 1 in Congress the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Kansas Reps. Ron Estes, Tracey Mann and Derek Schmidt all voted yes for it. Who benefits from these donations? Farmers devastated by drought? Disabled veterans? Your cherished cause? No. At best, you net a maximum tax benefit of 35 cents per dollar. Donating that $10 million to any other cause would likely net a just $3.5 million tax benefit, not enough for that $10 million yacht. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dollar for dollar plus tax scheme was cooked up for nonprofits known as Scholarship Granting Organizations, for private school vouchers only, such as Renewanation, a Virginia-based SGO operating in Kansas, whose mission is to promote the Christian worldview. If your donations go to one of these entities, you get back everything you put in as tax credits, plus you skirt the capital gains tax. Rep. Estes, whose constituent Charles Koch could have profited $2.4 million from this loophole, voted no on an amendment to end it. Kochs state Rep. Susan Estes, supports Senate Bill 87, another expansion of the Kansas voucher program, which attempted to make the state tax credit equal to 100% of voucher donations, and create three new categories of eligibility with no income limits at all. The federal voucher would benefit families with incomes at or below 300% of the areas median income. In Johnson County, this includes families earning over $320,000, based on 2023 data. The Wichita Diocese, in the Estes districts, operates the only Catholic schools in the country that charge no tuition, doing so successfully for 28 years before private schools came to the Legislature to siphon tax revenue. Since 2014, these schools have received $9.7 million of the $32 million that could have funded other state priorities, such as public safety, agriculture and the Intellectual/Developmental Disability waitlist. Why arent we promoting the Wichita stewardship model instead of funding private schools using public funds with no accountability? Evidence shows we shouldnt support vouchers at all. More than 60 of 105 Kansas counties dont have private schools. Those that pop up in response to vouchers have a terrible track record of student learning losses. Elite private schools parents dream of can still deny any child admission for any reason they want. Vouchers overwhelmingly benefit students already enrolled in private schools (92% in Oklahoma), and raise tuition at private schools (21-58% in Iowa), keeping them out of reach for low-income families, even with the voucher. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One Big Beautiful Bill creates one big beautiful windfall for one type of charitable contribution, unavailable for any other cause wildly unprecedented cronyism in the federal tax code. Whether the ultra-wealthy agree with vouchers or not, their accountants would be absolutely negligent in their fiduciary responsibility if they dont recommend this profitable way to liquidate appreciated stocks. Research from the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy notes it harnesses wealthy families interest in tax avoidance and personal profit as a means of bolstering private schools at the expense of public budgets to the tune of $26 billion of federal and state dollars over the next 10 years if capped. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas wants no cap. Angry? Me, too. Tell Kansas Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt in Missouri to vote no on this egregious tax scheme for the super-wealthy. Perhaps suggest that they fund special education at the full level in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act instead? Mari-Lynn Poskin represents District 20 in the Kansas House of Representatives. Congress MP Pramod Tiwari hit out at the Modi government on Sunday after CDS Gen Anil Chauhan's interview in Singapore on Operation Sindoor. He said the CDS gave a soldier's message, which does not match what government ministers are saying. Tiwari accused the government of misleading the country, stating that Congress stands with the Indian Army and salutes its bravery. Speaking to ANI, Tiwari said, "Yesterday, on foreign soil, CDS had a big interview in which he also said many things related to 'Operation Sindoor.' The way he said it, when war happens, planes also fall. This is not important, but what is important is what we learn from it. This is a soldier's message, and his statement does not match with the statements made by Modi government's ministers..." He added, "The government is constantly misleading the country in this matter. We are standing with the Indian army and salute their bravery. " Earlier in the day, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh also expressed disappointment that the Defence Minister did not share crucial information with opposition leaders in two all-party meetings, following recent comments made by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Anil Chauhan in Singapore. On May 11, Director General Air Operations Air Marshal Bharti, when commenting on Aircraft losses, had said, "I can't comment about loss of aircraft as we are in a combat scenario and losses are part of combat." Speaking to Reuters, General Chauhan had dismissed Pakistan's claims that India ceased aerial operations after May 7, stating that India's response became more sustained and powerful. Indian fighter jets, drones, and missiles struck 11 Pakistani air bases on May 10, including one near the Pakistani capital Islamabad, the Nur Khan airbase, when the residents surrounding were able to witness a sort of 'new dawn' in the middle of the night, as PM Narendra Modi put forth during his speech following the cessation of hostilities at Adampur airbase. Satellite imagery, both from Indian sources and global platforms, later confirmed the precision of these strikes as well as how devastating they have been. After India carried out strikes on terror bases in Pakistan, the Pakistani side responded by attempting to target defence and civilian installations in India. India then carried out another series of precision attacks, which saw the destruction of several Pakistani air bases. An understanding on the cessation of hostilities was then reached between the two sides on May 10. (ANI) Temple, TX (FOX 44) Around 3:47 Saturday morning, Temple Police responded to the 800 block of E French Street after hearing gun shots. Upon arrivals officers reported seeing people exiting the area on foot and in their vehicles. According to witnesses, there was a physical altercation which led to an individual firing a weapon. Although police did not locate any victims at the scene, contact was later made with two victims at a local hospital. The victims were described to have non-life-threatening injuries related to a physical altercation. Around 5:40A.M. a gunshot victim arrived at a nearby urgent care facility. Their injury is non-life-threatening and consists of an injury to an elbow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This case is under investigation. Anyone with information should contact the Temple Police Department at 254-298-5500 or the Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-8477 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 KWKT - FOX 44. LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) The Limestone County Sheriffs Office said it arrested a man involved in a shooting on I-65 Saturday. LCSO said deputies responded to a report of a shooting on I-65 in the area of Mile Marker 347. The sheriffs office said a 911 caller reported that a man on a motorcycle fired shots at him and his family while traveling northbound. The gunfire hit the victims vehicle, endangering the lives of everyone inside, LCSO said. Following the alert issued with a detailed description of the suspect, troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency found the suspect approximately 10 miles from the scene. LCSO deputies then responded to assist with the traffic stop and positively identified the suspect as Jason Jermain Johnson, 30, of Centerville, Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Community support for family involved in deadly Mothers Day wreck going beyond state lines During the arrest, Johnson was found in possession of a loaded pistol, two additional loaded magazines and was wearing a bullet-resistant vest beneath an Outcast Motorcycle Club vest. Johnson was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle. A bond has not been set at this time, and Aniahs Law hearing will be scheduled later. This reckless violence has no place on our highways, Sheriff McLaughlin said. We are thankful no innocent lives were lost, and we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure the publics safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. A Rutherford County resident's pet zebra broke free on Saturday, May 31, and made its way to the interstate causing an afternoon of chaos before escaping into the woods. Drivers took to social media to report narrowly dodging the animal as it was weaving in and out of traffic. Rutherford County Sheriff's deputies quickly closed a section of I-24 eastbound and westbound in Christiana, but they were unable to capture the zebra. Corporal Zach Campbell met with the owners of the zebra, who said they obtained the animal less than 24 hours before it fled their property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday morning, the sheriff's office reported that the zebra had still not been caught. Other official social media pages, including the Rutherford County EMA, continued to update the situation into the afternoon. A pet zebra runs loose in Rutherford County on May 31, 2024. The zebra was last spotted heading into the wooded area between Joe B. Jackson Parkway and the Epps Mill Road exit late Saturday afternoon, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. Some reports Saturday evening falsely stated that the animal had been captured. "Initial reports stating the zebra was contained were mistaken," Rutherford County Commissioner Jonathan Beverly said in a statement. Can zebras be pets in Tennessee? While the Library of Congress says zebras "unpredictable nature and tendency to attack preclude them from being good candidates for domestication," it is legal to own one in Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tennessee categorizes zebras as Class III animals along with llamas, camels, and giraffes which means they do not require any special permits or paperwork to be kept as pets. Found the zebra? Call the sheriff The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office asks anyone who spots the zebra to call 615-898-7770 and report the location. Individuals should not approach the zebra if found, officials said. Hadley Hitson covers business news for The Tennessean. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Pet zebra escapes in Rutherford County, shuts down traffic Clock out House Bill 1393 attempts to adopt permanent daylight saving time for Texas. If the governor signs it, this bill will, at best, accomplish nothing not even eliminating the semiannual clock switches because federal law prohibits year-round daylight saving time. At worst, Congress will pass the Sunshine Protection Act, championed by Sen. Ted Cruz, to remove this prohibition and allow implementation of permanent daylight saving time here. The result would be year-round alignment of Texas clocks with New Jerseys sunrises and sunsets. Permanent daylight saving time was tried twice before, during World War II and the oil embargo of the 1970s. Rejected by Texans, it failed both times. Permanent standard time is most Texans preferred solution. Lets stop waking our young children in the dark and putting them to bed in the light, the result of daylight saving in the spring and fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - Josh Findley, Dallas Mapped out As a Tarrant County resident and attorney, I am deeply concerned about the proposed Commissioners Court precinct maps and the racial gerrymandering they represent. These maps intentionally pack high-minority populations into Precinct 1, concentrating our voting power while minimizing our influence in surrounding precincts. This is not only unjust its undemocratic. The redistricting process should reflect the diversity of our county, not suppress it. Communities of color deserve fair representation across all precincts, not to be strategically confined to one. The proposed maps send a clear message: Our voices are being sidelined. I urge commissioners to reject any plan that undermines equitable representation and to commit to drawing maps that serve all residents of Tarrant County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - MarQuetta Clayton, Fort Worth What a joke I dont know why the Fort Worth City Council is in such an uproar over the so-called gerrymandering of the proposed Tarrant County Commissioners Court maps. Take a look at what council members did to east Fort Worth when they did their redistricting. District 11 is a joke. In my advanced years, its the worst map Ive ever seen. - Wanda Conlin, Fort Worth Not critical Jonathan Butcher and Lindsey M. Burke of The Heritage Foundation wrote that teaching the classic texts of Western literature will produce better military graduates, skilled in critical thinking and logic. (May 18, 8C, A Test Fit for U.S. Service Academies) That is typical conservative claptrap that longs for a return to the good old days. They have obviously never taught critical thinking or even had a course in it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We pay lip service to critical thinking, but it is not taught in American public schools or even in colleges. I have taught it in Europe, and simply reading texts whether the Declaration of Independence (suggested by the authors) or Maya Angelou does not instill critical thinking skills. Book learning in the classics, even military classics such as Carl von Clausewitz and Antoine-Henri Jomini, does not make better soldiers. - Dr. Richard Selcer, Fort Worth True justice Days before the anniversary of George Floyds murder, the Trump administration declared it would stop overseeing many local police agencies accused of violence and abuses, particularly against Black people. I hope the Justice Department continues to oversee local police agencies accused of abuses against all communities, including white, Hispanic and Asian populations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets not forget that Donald Trump granted pardons to many of the Jan. 6 rioters who were involved in violent actions and abuses targeting police officers. The officers represented a diverse range of backgrounds. Which side is Trump on? - Leslie J. Smith, Grapevine AUSTIN (KXAN) The Texas budget bill, following conference committee agreement, has passed the legislature and will soon head to Gov. Greg Abbott for consideration. Included in Senate Bill 1 is a fix to the performance reporting process of the states Crime Victims Compensation Program sparked by a KXAN investigation. EXPLORE: KXANs Crime Victims Compensation fund investigations In 2022, KXAN began reporting on the impact of delayed payments by the CVC program, which is run by the Office of Attorney General. Amid that investigation, KXAN found the OAG was reporting an inaccurate picture of its performance to state officials and lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KXAN discovered the office was using a flawed formula that mixed two different types of payments in its calculation: victim claims and sexual assault examination reimbursements, the latter of which take just days and are paid directly to hospitals. That method made it appear crime victims and their loved ones were paid much faster for items like funeral expenses and medical restitution, on average, than the months-long reality our team documented through victim interviews and related records. After KXANs reporting, the OAG acknowledged to lawmakers that the measurements werent accurate. The budget bill directs the measurements be split apart, and it provides a 90-day average goal for victims first payments. The bill also indicates the OAG shall submit a report detailing the expenditure of funds for victim assistance. That report which is to be submitted within 100 calendar days after the close of each fiscal year to the Legislative Budget Board, governor, Senate Finance Committee and House Appropriations Committee will include audit and oversight activities conducted related to the grants, thus increasing transparency and accountability for victims under the program. SB 1 next heads to the State Comptroller for certification. The comptroller will confirm the spending bill does not exceed the amount of revenue available. After certification, the bill heads to the governor for approval. The governor does have the power to line-item veto specific appropriations in the bill. Once signed, the bill becomes law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. High school students in Texas may be required to take a personal financial literacy course staring in the 2026-2027 school year. The Texas Legislature has approved House Bill 27, which updates the graduation requirement. The bill is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott, who can sign the bill into law or veto it. Requiring the course is a no-brainer, said Rep. Linda Garcia, a Mesquite Democrat, joint author on the bill and the author of a book about the stock market. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need money for everything in life, and so why are we not centering that in schools? Garcia said. According to the legislation, the foundation high school program the default graduation program for students that outlines what courses must be taken in high school would be updated to include at least one semester of personal financial literacy. Students would need three social study credits total to graduate, made up of one year of U.S. History, a semester of government, a semester of personal financial literacy and a year of either either economics, world geography or world history. Students could also take an equivalent advanced placement class designed by the State Board of Education for the personal finance credit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope that they take away confidence in understanding how to navigate money moving forward, as they begin their careers and as they begin earning money, Garcia said. The legislature passed a bill in 2021 offering the option of a course that combines economics and financial literacy, but students arent required to take it. Texas also offers a personal financial literacy elective. The bill doesnt outline what the course should entail, but Garcia said shed like to see it give students an understanding of things like credit scores and tax refunds. She used college students racking up debt after getting a credit card from a predatory credit card company as they begin their higher education as an example of why the class is needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of May 23, there are 28 states that require a personal financial literacy course for high school students to graduate, according to Next Gen Personal Finance, a non-profit that advocates across the nation for personal finances in schools and pushed for the course in Texas this legislative session. The group has curriculum available for use for no cost, Garcia said. Some of the lessons are about budgeting, banking, filing taxes, credit cards and loans. The bill passed out of the Texas Senate unanimously, and with near unanimous support in the Texas House. Rep. Ken King, a Republican from Canadian, was the bills primary author. His office did not immediately return requests for comment. Asked whether Abbott plans to sign the bill, spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris said the governor will thoughtfully review any legislation sent to his desk. The Texas legislative session ends June 2. Texas lawmakers agreed to give the new city of Starbase the authority to periodically close down a South Texas beach, giving more power to municipal officials with close ties to SpaceX over the objections of local activists trying to preserve access to the beach. After previous versions of the measure died earlier during the legislative session, a last-minute addition to a bill related to the Texas Space Commission successfully granted Starbase officials the authority to temporarily close down Boca Chica Beach for SpaceX launches. House Bill 5246 revises the power and duties of the Texas Space Commission and the Texas Aerospace Research and Space Economy Consortium. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A conference committee report of the bill added a section that allows the Space Commission to coordinate with a city to temporarily close a highway or venue for public safety purposes. In South Texas, that will give the Starbase city commissioners the authority to approve those closures which would affect State Highway 4, a road that runs through Starbase and leads to the beach, as well as the beach itself. Rep. Greg Bonnen, a Republican from Friendswood who chaired the conference committee on the bill, said the bill would ensure Texas remained the gateway for the future in space exploration. "The future is being shaped right here in Texas, Bonnen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defending the addition to the bill, Rep. Richard Pena Raymond, a Democrat from Laredo, argued that the city of Starbase would have a better idea of whether it is safe for people to be out on the beach in a similar way the Laredo manages their international bridges. However, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, along with other Democrats, pushed back against the bill, noting that previous attempts to give Starbase this authority never made it to the House floor. Martinez Fischer also argued that the county commissioners were responsible for the beach and should get to make the call on when to shut it down. The question is who gets to make the call and who is in the best position to have the public interest in mind in closing a public beach? Martinez Fischer said on the floor Sunday. I submit to you its not the people in the company town thats effectively a wholly-owned subsidiary of SpaceX, and its not the Space Commission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local organizations strongly opposed the measure, hosting phone banking events to urge lawmakers to vote against the bill. Their objections to the measure stemmed from concerns that the public would increasingly be shut off from Boca Chica Beach, which is affectionately known as the people's beach. It was once the most accessible beach before the Queen Isabella Causeway was built to connect Port Isabel to South Padre Island in 1954. Today, Boca Chica is beloved because it lacks the heavy commercialization of the beaches of South Padre Island. Additionally, the Estok Gna Tribal Nation, commonly known as the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, view the beach as part of their ancestral land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tribal and environmental groups have also opposed the increasing space flight activity that SpaceX is conducting on the beach over fears that the company's rocket launches are damaging nearby wildlife and polluting the gulf waters. Despite their efforts, the Federal Aviation Administration gave SpaceX the green light to increase the number rocket launches from Boca Chica Beach from five to 25 times per year. This authorization came after the FAA found through an environmental assessment that there would be no significant environmental impacts. The FAA released a draft of the environmental assessment last year for public review and held public meetings in January. Critics from the environmental and indigenous groups argued that the FAA's review was not thorough and that the agency did not consult with the Carrizo/Comecrudo tribe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move to allow Starbase to close the beach shifts that authority away from Cameron County, a power that the county inherited in 2013 just as SpaceX was about to begin their spaceflight activities there. Now that authority lies with Starbase, a new city whose residents and elected officials are either SpaceX employees or have ties to the company. The mayor and city commissioners held their first public meetings this week, appointing key staff, adopting city codes, and approving a financial plan to seek a loan from SpaceX to help fund the city through the end of the fiscal year. Reporting in the Rio Grande Valley is supported in part by the Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. 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! BANGKOK (Reuters) - Rungthiwa Pimphanit waited months for a long-promised cash handout of 10,000 baht ($307) from Thailand's ruling party, which she backed in 2023 elections, but now the scheme to stimulate a stalling economy has been put on ice. "I'm very disappointed and angry," said the 34-year-old government employee from the northeastern province of Nong Bua Lam Phu, who had counted on the money to pay for her son's school supplies. "There's no way I will vote for them again." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rungthiwa's hopes withered last month after news that the scheme, a key election plank of the ruling Pheu Thai party, would be delayed, fuelling doubt about any recovery in southeast Asia's second largest economy after years of tepid growth. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra blamed steep tariffs proposed by the United States, but the delay to her government's flagship programme, on which it has already spent 174 billion baht ($5.3 billion), poses a major political risk, say analysts. "No one will believe anything they say," said Thanaporn Sriyakul, director of the independent Political and Policy Analysis Institute. "The government must keep its promises to the people during the campaign. If they can't do what they said, it's over." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government still has time left in its term, said spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub, reiterating that the scheme had only been postponed. The next polls are two years away. "By that time, if the economy is good, there may even be something more than this programme," he told Reuters. The handout scheme is popular across Thailand, with its continuation backed by about 60% of 1,310 respondents in a May survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, while about 46% said they would be angered if it was scrapped. "I'm upset," said 52-year-old Sathanee Siriphonchaikul in Bangkok, who had planned to use the funds to buy a washing machine. "I don't think they'll do it again. The economy is bad." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Pheu Thai party's failure to fully implement the scheme had damaged its credibility, said political analyst Sukhum Nuansakul. "The digital wallet project hasn't worked," he added. "People hoped they would get it and they waited for it, but didn't get it." The remaining 16 million people registered for handouts should be notified, said Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala, deputy leader of the opposition Palang Pracharath Party. "The government should tell the truth to these people that it actually won't be able to continue the programme due to budget and technical problems," he said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GROWTH AND DEBT Three months after its launch, the stimulus plan had been unable to boost consumption, mainly because the handouts were sometimes used to pay down debt, central bank Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput told Reuters this year. Thailand's household debt is among Asia's highest, at 88.4% of gross domestic product. On the campaign trail, the party floated the scheme as a multibillion-dollar initiative to kick-start Thailand's pandemic-hit economy and reach annual growth of about 5%. Yet, the $550-billion economy expanded by just 2.5% last year, lagging regional peers, and this year looks even worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since launching the scheme last September, after numerous adjustments and delays, the government has distributed just over a third of the earmarked 450 billion baht ($14 billion). The first tranche of 144.5 billion baht in September went to welfare cardholders and people with disabilities, with a second phase of 29.9 billion baht delivered to senior citizens in late January. The 157 billion baht meant for the scheme's next stages will now go to fund projects to help the economy cope with the impact of proposed U.S. tariffs, on advice from the central bank and a state planning agency. "Both of them asked us to reconsider, to see if this money can be used for something more urgent and necessary than the digital money handout," Paetongtarn said when announcing the delay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thailand faces a U.S. tariff of 36% if it cannot negotiate a reduction before expiry of a July deadline, until which a rate of 10% prevails. Last month the state planner shaved its economic growth forecast for this year by one percentage point, to a range of 1.3% to 2.3%, warning that the tariff impact would last for two years. The government's mismanaged policies are reflected in GDP growth of just 2% in 2023 and 2.5% in 2024, said Prakit Siriwattanaket, managing director of Merchant Partners Asset Management. "The downside of the digital wallet is that it didn't stimulate the economy as they thought," he said. "It's an extremely wasteful handout." ($1=32.55 baht) (Reporting by Orathai Sriring, Thanadech Staporncharnchai and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Devjyot Ghoshal and Clarence Fernandez) Family and friends gathered at Naval Air Station Jacksonville Saturday afternoon to welcome back the Proud Warriors - a team of servicemembers who have been gone on deployment for months. Family and friends watch as servicemembers arrive home They make up Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 72, which embarked on its latest mission back in September, eight months ago. NAS Jax says the squadron was never meant to be gone so long -their time away was extended three times before Saturdays homecoming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It definitely never gets easier. This is, this is the longest one Ive done, said Commanding Officer John Zilai. Eight hurts. But you know, whatever. Its been fantastic to come home. HSM 72 Commanding officer John Zilai >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The squadron left on the the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), along with her escort ships, the USS Gettysburg (CG 64), and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109). We spent the first two months conducting exercises with NATO allies, with port visits in Norway and France. In late 2024, we entered the Red Sea as the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) began combat operations to safeguard Americas national security interests and maintain the U.S. Navys maritime dominance worldwide, said Cmdr. Zilai. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While on the Red Sea in February, the strike group supported a large-scale airstrike on ISIS-Somalia operatives, delivering 124,000 pounds of ordinance. Later, in March, they also led initial strikes against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen as part of Operation Rough Rider. Those missions came with a lot of risk and danger, making the homecoming even more special for family members. Just out-of-our-minds excited to have him come home safe, said Cmdr. Zilais father, Rob. Now that hes home, Zilai is excited for some well-earned time home relaxing. If I could pick one thing, its take the boots off, put some flip flops on for a little bit, that would be fantastic. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Congress MP Jairam Ramesh on Sunday again attacked the government's response to Donald Trump's statements on India-Pakistan issues and reiterated his question on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the US President's claim of brokering a truce between the two neighbouring countries. "I made a count, President Trump has repeated the same point he has been making for 21 days. He has claimed to have mediated and brokered the ceasefire, the new thing he has said is about nuclear escalation. He has reiterated his trade and tariffs threat as well...Secretary of State Marco Rubio, VP Vance, and even their Trade Secretary have said this." Ramesh told ANI on Sunday. The General Secretary In-Charge Communications, AICC, called out the government and claimed that PM Modi is targeting the Congress party instead of Pakistan. He said, "Our Prime Minister is silent. He has not responded to what President Trump has been saying. He is targeting the Congress party when he should be targeting Pakistan. He should be making sure that the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack are caught and killed..." Ramesh emphasised that the Congress party has extended its full support to the government during this crisis, beginning April 22. "The Congress has demanded, advocated, and championed unity and solidarity at this moment of great crisis, beginning April 22, and we have extended our full support to the government.", Ramesh stated. Drawing parallels between the present and past governments, Jairam Ramesh highlighted the 'democratic tradition' prevalent during Jawaharlal Nehru's regime. "Vajpayee ji wanted PM Nehru ji to convene Parliament when the Chinese attack was going on in 1962, and the Parliament was convened. That was a democratic tradition that the LoP calls for a Parliament session and the PM responds and he listens.", Ramesh stated. The Congress MP reiterated the party's demand for an all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister and a special session of Parliament to discuss the crisis. Ramesh said recent revelations by CDS Gen Anil Chauhan in Singapore have made this demand even more relevant. " All we asked was for the Prime Minister to chair an all-party meeting and call for a session of the Parliament. Revelations made by Gen Chauhan yesterday in Singapore make our demand even more relevant now... The outcome of the Parliament session should be a resolution, which reiterates the resolution of February 22, 1994, on PoK and brings in new elements...", he added. Earlier, speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the CDS admitted that the Armed Forces had suffered losses in the initial stages of the operation but then struck with impunity at Pakistan's bases."So what I can say is, on May 7 and the initial stages, there were losses, but the numbers and that's not important. What was important is why did these losses occur, and what will we do after that? So we rectified the tactics and then went back on seventh, eighth and 10th, and 10th in large numbers, to hit their bases deep inside Pakistan, penetrated all their defences with impunity, with scattered opposition strikes," Gen Chauhan was quoted as saying by Reuters. Earlier, on May 11, Director General Air Operations Air Marshal Bharti, when commenting on Aircraft losses, had said, "I can't comment about loss of aircraft as we are in a combat scenario and losses are part of combat." Meanwhile, speaking to Reuters, General Chauhan dismissed Pakistan's claims that India ceased aerial operations after May 7, stating that India's response became more sustained and powerful. Indian fighter jets, drones, and missiles struck 11 Pakistani air bases on May 10, including one near the Pakistani capital Islamabad, the Nur Khan airbase, when the residents surrounding were able to witness a sort of 'new dawn' in the middle of the night, as PM Narendra Modi put forth during his speech following the cessation of hostilities at Adampur airbase. Satellite imagery, both from Indian sources and global platforms, later confirmed the precision of these strikes as well as how devastating they have been. After India carried out strikes on terror bases in Pakistan, the Pakistani side responded by attempting to target defence and civilian installations in India. India then carried out another series of precision attacks, which saw the destruction of several Pakistani air bases. An understanding on the cessation of hostilities was then reached between the two sides on May 10. (ANI) FLIN FLON, Manitoba (AP) More than 25,000 residents in three provinces have been evacuated as dozens of wildfires remained active Sunday and diminished air quality in parts of Canada and the U.S., according to officials. Most of the evacuated residents were from Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last week. About 17,000 people there were evacuated by Saturday along with 1,300 in Alberta. About 8,000 people in Saskatchewan had been relocated as leaders there warned the number could climb. Smoke was worsening air quality and reducing visibility in Canada and into some U.S. states along the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour, Saskatchewans Public Safety Agency warned Sunday. As smoke levels increase, health risks increase. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said firefighters, emergency crews and aircraft from other provinces and U.S. states, including Alaska, Oregon and Arizona, were being sent to help fight the blazes. We are truly grateful, and we stand stronger because of you, Moe said in a post on social media. He said ongoing hot, dry weather is allowing some fires to grow and threaten communities, and resources to fight the fires and support the evacuees are stretched thin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The next four to seven days are absolutely critical until we can find our way to changing weather patterns, and ultimately a soaking rain throughout the north, Moe said at a Saturday news conference. In Manitoba, more than 5,000 of those evacuated are from Flin Flon, located nearly 645 kilometers (400 miles) northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg. In northern Manitoba, fire knocked out power to the community of Cranberry Portage, forcing a mandatory evacuation order Saturday for about 600 residents. The fire menacing Flin Flon began a week ago near Creighton, Saskatchewan, and quickly jumped the boundary into Manitoba. Crews have struggled to contain it. Water bombers have been intermittently grounded due to heavy smoke and a drone incursion. The U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service deployed an air tanker to Alberta and said it would send 150 firefighters and equipment to Canada. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In some parts of the U.S., air quality reached unhealthy levels Sunday in North Dakota and small swaths of Montana, Minnesota and South Dakota, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys AirNow page. We should expect at least a couple more rounds of Canadian smoke to come through the U.S. over the next week, said Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the U.S. Separately, a fire in the U.S. border state of Idaho burned at least 100 acres (40 hectares) as of Sunday, prompting road closures and some evacuations, according to the Idaho Department of Lands. The agency said in a news release that at least one structure was burned, but did not provide additional details about the damage. Strong gusty winds of 15 to 20 mph (24 to 32 kph) and steep terrain were making it difficult for firefighters battling the fire, which ignited Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evacuation centers have opened across Manitoba for those fleeing the fires, one as far south as Winkler, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the U.S. border. Winnipeg opened up public buildings for evacuees as it deals with hotels already crammed with other fire refugees, vacationers, business people and convention-goers. Manitobas Indigenous leaders said Saturday at a news conference that hotel rooms in the cities where evacuees are arriving are full, and they called on the government to direct hotel owners to give evacuees priority. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson said it was one of the largest evacuations in the province since the 1990s. Its really sad to see our children having to sleep on floors. People are sitting, waiting in hallways, waiting outside, and right now we just need people to come together. People are tired, Wilson said at a news conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Canadas wildfire season runs from May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months. ___ Associated Press reporter Julie Walker contributed from New York. More than 25,000 residents in three provinces have been evacuated as dozens of wildfires remained active Sunday and diminished air quality in parts of Canada and the U.S., according to officials. Most of the evacuated residents were from Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last week. About 17,000 people there were evacuated by Saturday along with 1,300 in Alberta. About 8,000 people in Saskatchewan had been relocated as leaders there warned the number could climb. Smoke was worsening air quality and reducing visibility in Canada and into some U.S. states along the border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour, Saskatchewans Public Safety Agency warned Sunday. As smoke levels increase, health risks increase. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said ongoing hot, dry weather is allowing some fires to grow and threaten communities, and resources to fight the fires and support the evacuees are stretched thin. The next four to seven days are absolutely critical until we can find our way to changing weather patterns, and ultimately a soaking rain throughout the north, Moe said at a Saturday news conference. In Manitoba, more than 5,000 of those evacuated are from Flin Flon, located nearly 645 kilometers (400 miles) northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg. In northern Manitoba, fire knocked out power to the community of Cranberry Portage, forcing a mandatory evacuation order Saturday for about 600 residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire menacing Flin Flon began a week ago near Creighton, Saskatchewan, and quickly jumped the boundary into Manitoba. Crews have struggled to contain it. Water bombers have been intermittently grounded due to heavy smoke and a drone incursion. The U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service deployed an air tanker to Alberta and said it would send 150 firefighters and equipment to Canada. In some parts of the U.S., air quality reached unhealthy levels Sunday in North Dakota and small swaths of Montana, Minnesota and South Dakota, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys AirNow page. We should expect at least a couple more rounds of Canadian smoke to come through the U.S. over the next week, said Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately, a fire in the U.S. border state of Idaho burned at least 100 acres (40 hectares) as of Sunday, prompting road closures and some evacuations, according to the Idaho Department of Lands. The agency said in a news release that at least one structure was burned, but did not provide additional details about the damage. Strong gusty winds of 15 to 20 mph (24 to 32 kph) and steep terrain were making it difficult for firefighters battling the fire, which ignited Saturday. Evacuation centers have opened across Manitoba for those fleeing the fires, one as far south as Winkler, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the U.S. border. Winnipeg opened up public buildings for evacuees as it deals with hotels already crammed with other fire refugees, vacationers, business people and convention-goers. Manitobas Indigenous leaders said Saturday at a news conference that hotel rooms in the cities where evacuees are arriving are full, and they called on the government to direct hotel owners to give evacuees priority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson said it was one of the largest evacuations in the province since the 1990s. Its really sad to see our children having to sleep on floors. People are sitting, waiting in hallways, waiting outside, and right now we just need people to come together. People are tired, Wilson said at a news conference. Canadas wildfire season runs from May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW HOLYOKE Police have tracked down a juvenile accused of a making a threat to Holyoke High School on social media. Students first saw the threat last week and notified School Resource Officers Manuel Rivera and Juan Cruz about the post, Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan said. They immediately started investigating the threat, made on Instagram, and determined it was not credible. The original post was deleted but has been passed through screenshots by students and the others in the school community, Keenan said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives spoke with the juvenile with a parent present to reinforce the seriousness of posting any type of threat online, Keenan said. Police did not release any information about the suspect because of the accuseds age or the nature of the post. Our department treats any threat to our community seriously and thoroughly investigates each situation to determine if any threat is credible. In this case, thankfully it was not, Keenan said. The safety and well-being of our students and community is paramount. I appreciate the vigilance of the students who brought this post to our officers attention, and in doing so, the officers were able to quickly identify the person responsible for the post. Mayor Joshua Garcia thanked police for their quick action and reinforced that no students or staff were ever in danger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to assure our community, students, staff and teachers that there is no ongoing threat, and this post was deemed to not be credible, he said. If there was a situation where we received a threat, and it was deemed credible or if it was unclear, we would alert our community immediately. Read the original article on MassLive. Three men are facing charges following an assault in Waterbury on Friday night. The Waterbury Police Department responded to a report of a fight involving a group of men in the road in the 600 block of South Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. Two male victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a local hospital. Esteban Garcia, Aaron Brown and Jesus Arroyo, all Waterbury residents, were all arrested and charged following an investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Garcia, 37, is charged with second-degree assault, breach of peace and was held on a $2,500 bond. Brown, 32, is charged with breach of peace and was released on a promise to appear in court. Arroyo, 39, was charged with breach of peace, interfering with police and was released on a promise to appear. The incident remains under investigation. Three men were killed and dozens were injured in a fire at a hospital operated by the Catholic Church in the northern German city of Hamburg, officials said on Sunday. The men were aged 84, 85 and 87, police reported early on Sunday afternoon, putting the number of injured at 34, with one in critical condition. The fire broke out in the geriatric ward on the ground floor of the Marien Hospital overnight before spreading to the first floor. Parts of the hospital in the Hohenfelde district of the city were evacuated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smoke from the blaze affected all four of the building's floors. Patients in adjacent buildings were also assessed for the effects. The cause of the fire was initially unclear, as was the extent of the damage. One ward had been completely burnt out, according to a dpa reporter at the scene. Rescue work was complete and the fire doused after around 20 minutes, a fire department spokesman said. Firefighters had rescued people through windows, he said. Around 160 rescue workers were deployed. The hospital, part of a group owned by the Catholic archdiocese of Hamburg, is one of the largest denominational hospitals in northern Germany. It has about 600 beds and treats approximately 93,000 patients each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm deeply concerned and very sad. I am with the deceased and injured in my thoughts and in my prayers," Archbishop Stefan Hesse said. He paid tribute to the rescue services for their work and called on Hamburg's parishes to remember all involved in their Sunday services. Hesse was due to visit the hospital on Sunday afternoon. Hamburg police are investigating the blaze along with the fire department. A hospital spokeswoman said the hospital's operating theatres had been unaffected. Thurston County deputies will increase impaired driving enforcement during the summer after securing a state grant. The Thurston County Sheriffs Office is funding the additional patrols with a $50,000 grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the states designated highway safety office. The Board of County Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement for the grant funding during its May 20 meeting. In a Monday Facebook post, Sheriff Derek Sanders said the money will help fund about 100 six-hour overtime shifts through the end of September. These shifts will be focused on weekends and other high risk days, according to a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are approaching the most deadly time of the year on our public roadways, with nearly half of our fatal crashes involving an impaired driver, Sanders said in his post. If youre going to drink, make a plan ahead of time and save lives. Earlier this year, the Sheriffs Office unsuccessfully applied for a grant to fund a full-time deputy who would be dedicated to impaired driving enforcement. Although we were not selected for that opportunity, we are grateful to have secured this critical summer funding, which will help us make a meaningful difference on our roadways, the release says. The Sheriffs Office says impaired driving, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, continues to be one of the most preventable and devastating threats to public safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The release states Thurston County has seen an alarming rise in serious injury and fatal collisions involving impairment. The Olympian has asked the Sheriffs Office to provide data to support this. Data from the WA Traffic Safety Commission indicates the number of impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes in Thurston County was 9 in 2020, 10 in 2021, 11 in 2022, 20 in 2023 and 18 in 2024. Over that same time period, impaired drivers ages 25-30 were involved in 15 fatal crashes, those 31-35 were involved in 9 crashes and those 36-40 were involved in 11 crashes. The data shows 76.5% of impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes were men. About half of these crashes were single-vehicle crashes and half were multi-vehicle crashes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data indicates 27 such crashes occurred on county roads followed by 14 on city streets, 12 on interstate highways, 7 on state routes and 7 on U.S. highways. The WA Traffic Safety Commission does not have a data dashboard that shows the number of impaired drivers involved in non-fatal crashes. The Sheriffs Office says the new grant will allow it to take a proactive approach to protecting Thurston County residents and visitors. We remain committed to supporting the states goal of reducing traffic-related fatalities and are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to making Washingtons roads safer for everyone, the release says. Heres a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on June 1, according to the Tribunes archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Here are Chicagos hottest days with temperatures of 100 degrees or higher on record Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 102 degrees (1934) Low temperature: 37 degrees (1993) Precipitation: 1.62 inches (1947) Snowfall: None Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1924: WDAP radio station was renamed WGN by the Tribune in honor of the papers slogan Worlds Greatest Newspaper. The station broadcast from The Drake. Among WGNs first broadcasts was the Memorial Day 500-mile classic in Indianapolis. 1984: The Delta Air Lines complex opened at OHare International Airport. Consisting of a 391-foot addition to Terminal 3 and a 740-foot Concourse L, it was the first new passenger area constructed since the airport opened 22 years earlier. The project was part of a $1 billion modernization program. 2011: For the first time in Illinois history, gay and lesbian couples obtained civil unions. Many of the same rights married counterparts received including sharing a nursing home room, visiting a loved one in a hospital, preventing those in the union from testifying against each other in court, funeral and end-of-life decisions, inheritance of property and certain employment-related benefits such as insurance now applied to same-sex couples who were united in civil unions. Illinois became the sixth state to recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. Another five states and the District of Columbia already allowed gay marriage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2014: Marriage licenses were available for same-sex couples for the first time in the state as part of the Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. The new law changed the definition of marriage in Illinois from an act between a man and a woman to one between two people. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn put his signature on the historic measure in November 2013. The action made Illinois the 16th state to allow same-sex marriage, capping a 40-year push for gay rights that picked up major momentum during the previous decade. Want more vintage Chicago? Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicagos past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Sunday, said that the country's criminal justice system is entering a new era, underlining the importance of strong forensic institutions to ensure a secure, transparent, and evidence-based framework. Amit Shah, who is on a two-day visit to West Bengal, inaugurated the new building of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) at Rajarhat in Kolkata. In his address after the inauguration, Shah said, "The Indian government is creating a secure, transparent and evidence-based criminal justice system....it is necessary that those who stop crime should be two steps ahead of the criminals. Our criminal justice system is entering a new era." He further pointed out that the central government in 2020 established the first National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), way before the three new criminal laws - BNS, BNSS and BSA - came into force. He highlighted that eight such institutions have already been established nationwide, with eight more planned, emphasizing that graduates from these colleges will play a vital role in strengthening the state's law and order. "We have extended help to every state to establish a forensic van in every district. Many states have expanded their forensic labs. We had already established the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in 2020. Sixteen institutions have been approved, eight have already been established, and the remaining eight are in process. We have already completed the creation of trained human resources. I believe the new students will contribute to our law and order," he added. "Our duty is to ensure that every poor person can get justice as soon as possible. I believe that we will create an environment where our people will trust the law and order of the country," the Union Minister said, stressing the priority of delivering justice to the poor at earliest. His visit comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to North Bengal, underscoring the central leadership's sustained focus on the state. Earlier, Shah had posted on X in both English and Bengali: "Leaving for Kolkata. Tomorrow, will inaugurate the new building of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory, which will contribute immensely to strengthening the criminal justice system in West Bengal and Northeast India." "In the afternoon, will interact with the Karyakartas at Vijay Sankalp Karyakarta Sammelan in Kolkata. Looking forward to attending the programmes," he added. The visit is also expected to focus on the BJP's roadmap for West Bengal ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. (ANI) When Tom Llamas finishes his first night as permanent anchor of NBC Nightly News on Monday, hell go right on into his next assignment, Top Story, the nightly NBC News Now streaming newscast hes anchored for nearly four years. The rehearsals have included this key switch-off, as the show will move from one production team to the next. Monday is the real test, Llamas said. It will be trial by fire. Its never been done like that in this capacity but we have the best at 30 Rock and I know we are going to get there. More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Llamas dual roles speak to where things are for the face of broadcast news divisions, as networks seek to capture younger viewers who never picked up linear television habits. Top Story, he noted, has captured new news viewers on platforms like Roku and YouTube. Llamas, 45, is succeeding Lester Holt, who will remain at the network with a full-time role on Dateline. Llamas will be the youngest of all of the broadcast evening news anchors. While broadcast network news audiences arent what they were a generation ago, they still pull in significant core viewership. The evening news landscape remains highly competitive, as networks trumpet any spike in viewership or indication of movement. ABCs World News Tonight with David Muir remains the leader, landing at times as the most watched show of the week in all of broadcast television. In the first quarter, it averaged 8.13 million viewers, compared to 6.6 million for Nightly News and 4.59 million for CBS Evening News. In the 25-54 demo, World News Tonight averaged 1.16 million viewers, compared to 983,000 for Nightly News and 657,000 for Evening New Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Llamas, a native of Miami, is the son of Cuban refugees and recalls getting interested in journalism through his parents avid interest and conversations about current events, as they read the Miami Herald cover to cover, and watched the news in English and Spanish. On career day in a high school writing class, a local news anchor and alumnus, Louis Aguirre, visited and encouraged Llamas to look into journalism and TV news. When he was 15, Llamas got an internship at Telemundo, and my summers were spent going to crime scenes and interviewing local officials, and I got bit by the bug there, he said. Llamas became a production assistant at NBC News overnight in 2000, and worked his way up through multiple roles including at MSNBC, where his roles included associate producer guest booker and later as a campaign embed. He moved to WTVJ in South Florida in 2005, then to WNBC in New York in 2008, and became an anchor there three years later. He joined ABC News as correspondent in 2014, later taking on the title of chief national affairs correspondent and as weekend anchor for World News Tonight. He returned to NBC News in 2021. Even with an experienced new anchor, any transition is a bit of a risk for a broadcast network, and dramatic changes to format can struggle. CBS Evening News switched up its anchors earlier this year in a switch that leaned in to 60 Minutes style correspondent storytelling. But the newscast has been down year-to-year. In promos, NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas is drawing on consistency and the network legacy, with shots of John Chancellor, Tom Brokaw, Brian Williams and Holt before introducing Llamas and the voice-over saying As the world changes, we look for what endures. We look for a constant, and from one era to the next, trust is the anchor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among other things, Nightly News will retain a franchise started under Holt, Good News Tonight. Still, Llamas said there will be some new elements to the broadcast. Hes planning a new franchise, called The Cost of Denial, looking at the insurance industry and the troubles consumers are having with rising costs and lost coverage. Weve already launched some stories and weve already gotten some results, Llamas said. And I want to go back to that, because I believe if you look at the Nightly News, you want to inform people in the first block. You want to empower people in the second block, with investigations, with stories that matter and getting results for viewers. And then you want to inspire people at the end. Llamas, who also will have the title of managing editor, spoke with Deadline last week about his pending debut. DEADLINE: You will be anchoring Nightly News and then right into Top Story. Why do you think that was important? TOM LLAMAS: I sort of believe in a family-style newsroom, and by that, I mean that we share everything. And so by having the Top Story team now with the Nightly News team, when stories break that either show sees, were going to know about it. Were going to be aware of it. And any changes within the day, were all on the same page. And so a story that might develop on Top Story thats really good, and maybe it is good for Nightly News, we can move it into Nightly News, and vice versa. And so that allows us that freedom. Honestly, I believe that to stay relevant and to keep growing in this business, you have to be everywhere. And the viewer is everywhere. We have to be on television, because thats what we know how to do, and thats where we have a giant audience that still believes us, that still loves us, and I think well still grow. And then you have to go to streaming which is this new frontier. And because of the great leadership from NBC News and people who had a real vision, people like Cesar [Conde] and Janelle [Rodriguez], whos been running News Now, weve set a beachhead early on in the streaming world. And I think NBC News Now is as good as anybody thats out there when it comes to delivering news. And so I didnt want to step away from something like that. DEADLINE: A blunt question: How do you beat David Muir? LLAMAS: I cant wake up at night thinking about that question, but what I can control is what we put on Nightly News, and making Nightly News the best show possible. I think Lester has built a beautiful show. That audience has grown to trust and love Lester, and its an honor for me to take over for him. And then little by little, Ill put my stamp on the show. But I think I have to focus on the journalism. I have some new ideas that I hope to bring to Nightly News that I think the audiences will love, and I think were gonna run our own race, and I think thats how you get to number one. I have a clear vision on how to get there, and I think theres things that we can do that were already doing and just doubling down on, and just working really hard at it, but I believe it can be done, and I know it can be done, and its something that were going to aim for. Whats going to separate us is were going to have a show that is both interesting but impactful. DEADLINE: Broadcast news audiences are still significant, but lots has been written about they dont have the same impact as a generation ago. What do you see as key to bringing in the next generations of viewers? LLAMAS: Ill take a little issue with your question, and heres why. Have the audience sizes changed? Sure, but weve gone from a time when there were three channels to 20 channels to 50 channels, to now, arguably an infinite number of channels and streaming and content and YouTube. But I will say this, when a wildfire explodes in L.A., or a war breaks out, or there is a natural disaster somewhere else, or a new president is elected, you can go and try to do a podcast from there, but when you really need answers and you really want to understand whats going on, you got to have a team in place that been doing this for years that knows how to do it. Thats what NBC News is doing, and thats why the network news at night still matters. So I still think the impact is the same. Are people going to other places? They are, but its why were doing Top Story. Its why weve launched podcasts. And its why weve tripled down on our news site I know these are tough times. Im fully aware of it, but I think quality journalism always wins, and you see that across the board. DEADLINE: One thing the current FCC chairman has often has been bringing up lately is the low trust of the national news media. How do anchors get that back? How do you see your role in restoring that trust? LLAMAS: Im taking over for a guy who is the most trusted news anchor in America. That was Lesters brand, and he earned that, and I think he earned that by doing the things you need to do as an anchor, and its what Im going to do as well. We didnt write these two tenets in journalism, but I live by them as a reporter, as an anchor. You got to be tough but fair. So if youre tough on the Republicans, you got to be tough on the Democrats, but fair. NBC News has always done that. And then you have to report the news without fear or favor. And then at the end of the day, I think you earn the viewers trust by making sure they know that even though I work for NBC News, I really work for them, and I believe that. Im there to help them. Im there to make sure that their questions are answered. DEADLINE: Why do you think there is such low trust in the media? LLAMAS: Theres a million reasons why. I dont think theres a single reason to say This is the reason. But I think thats one way to look at the issue. I think the other way to look at it is that there are still millions and millions and millions of people that are tuning to places like Nightly News and are watching the Today show in the morning, that are trusting hours of their days with NBC News, because they still trust us. If you look at someone like President Trump, who is coming on Meet the Press time and time again, its because he knows hes going to get a fair shake. Its because Kristen Welker has done a masterful job of helping Americans get information and being fair with President Trump. DEADLINE: Trump has attacked you before. What is your approach to covering him? How do you handle it? LLAMAS: You do it like we have been doing it, I guess it is going on 10 years now. You just have to go out, you have to ask the tough questions, you have to understand that sometimes youre going to get some incoming. Thats part of it. I think our NBC White House team has been really good at doing that, of asking the tough questions, and then sometimes taking the incoming and understanding that the story is not about us. Its about whats happening in this country and whats happening to Americans and whats happening overseas. DEADLINE: A challenge in interviewing Trump is when he says something that is not true when to point that out and when not to. What would your approach be? LLAMAS: I dont really love hypotheticals, but I think theres a way to interview the president. This is just doing the job. He might be a different person, but hes still the president. And you interview any president the same way. Its like I told you, if you follow those tenets of journalism, and youre going in there without fear or favor, I think youre going to get the job right. I think you should always be respectful, especially when youre interviewing someone like the president of the United States, who is giving you the time. And also its important that you need to get information back, because, again, were working for the viewers, so if that interview gets derailed, thats not going to help anybody out. Youre there to get answers, and youre there to get the president to answer your questions. If he makes a mistake, if something is incorrect, of course, youve got to correct the record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DEADLINE: You have gotten a number of what I call big gets. Do have any plans for a special interview during the first week? LLAMAS: I dont know if well have any interviews. We always have lines out. We have an incredible booking team that establishes a lot of these relationships, but I think you have to get on the phone yourself, and you have to make the calls, and I am, and were working on on interviews. One of the most competitive parts of our business is getting those big interviews. They take a lot of work, and they take a lot of phone calls, and sometimes they take face-to-face meetings. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 21: Lester Holt speaks onstage at the Committee to Protect Journalists' 29th Annual International Press Freedom Awards on November 21, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images) DEADLINE: What advice have you gotten from Lester Holt or other anchors youve worked with? LLAMAS: Ive been very, very lucky to have a lot of good mentors in this business. People like Jose Diaz-Balart at NBC, who is like a brother to me and is constantly giving me great, great advice. People like Byron Pitts, who Im still very much in contact with, has always been a good friend to me. And Lester, throughout my career, has actually guided me and given me good advice. Ive known him since I was 21 years old. I worked on his MSNBC show as a production assistant, and hes always treated me the same way, even back then. Lester is such an amazing guy. Hes also an amazing journalist, and hes just always been there for me. Ive been coming to see him almost weekly since it was announced, just picking his brain about different things, and hes offered some good advice. So much Im going to keep to myself. Other [advice] that I can share, like weve talked a lot about family, and hes kind of walked me through that. Hes made it very clear to me how my life will change once it starts, and the things to be aware of. The other thing is that this is going to be a constant and open conversation. Lester is moving to Dateline, but hes still going to be my friend. Hes still going to be a mentor to me. DEADLINE: Do you have a nightly signoff? LLAMAS: I always make it a point to thank viewers at the end of the broadcast. I have done that for a few years. That signature line, I dont have yet. I think once it comes organically, if it comes, Ill use it. But for right now, I just want the viewers to know that Im grateful that theyre watching, that they spent their night with us, and that theyre going to be with us, and theyre supporting us. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SINGAPORE (AP) China and North Korea's support for Russia in its war against Ukraine has exposed how lines between regions have blurred, and the need for a global approach toward defense, top security officials said Sunday. North Korea has sent troops to fight on the front lines in Ukraine, while China has supported Russia economically and technologically while opposing international sanctions. Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene told delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premiere defense forum, that if Ukraine were to fall, it would have a ripple effect in Asia and suggested it could embolden China in its territorial claims on Taiwan and virtually the entire South China Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Russia prevails in Ukraine, its not about Europe. Its not about one region," she said. It will send a very clear signal also to smaller states here in Indo-Pacific that anyone can ignore their borders, that any fabricated excuse can justify invasion. The comments echoed those from French President Emmanuel Macron as he opened the conference on Friday advocating for greater European engagement in the Indo-Pacific. On Saturday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested European countries should focus their defense efforts in their own region and leave the Indo-Pacific more to the U.S., but Sakaliene said the regions were clearly intertwined. It's not a secret that when we talk about the main perpetrators in cyber security against Japan it's China, Russia and North Korea, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we talk about main cyber security perpetrators against Lithuania it's Russia, China and Belarus two out of the three are absolutely the same. She added that the convergence of Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea into an increasingly coordinated authoritarian axis, demands a unified response. Iran has been a key supplier of attack drones to Russia for its war effort. "In this context, the United States' strategic focus on Indo-Pacific is both justified and necessary, but this is not Americas responsibility alone, she said. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles told reporters on the sidelines that his main takeaway from the three-day conference, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, was the real intent in the way in which European countries have engaged in the debates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It reflects the sense of connection, interconnectedness ... between Indo-Pacific on the one hand and the North Atlantic on the other, he said. China sent a lower-level delegation from its National Defense University this year to the conference, but its Foreign Ministry on Sunday responded to comments from Hegseth that Beijing was destabilizing the region and preparing to possibly seize Taiwan by force. No country in the world deserves to be called a hegemonic power other than the U.S. itself, who is also the primary factor undermining the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific, it said, while reiterating its stance that the Taiwan issue was an internal Chinese matter. The U.S. must neve play with fire on this question, the ministry said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr, whose country has been involved in increasingly violent clashes with China over competing claims in the South China Sea, scoffed at the idea that the U.S. was the problem. What the Chinese government considers fair and just may stand in stark contrast to the norms and values accepted by the rest of the world, especially the smaller countries, he said. "To envision a China-led international order, we only need to look at how they treat their much smaller neighbors in the South China Sea. He also underscored the international implications of the tensions in the Indo-Pacific, noting that the South China Sea was one of several maritime routes that are arteries of the global economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disruption in any of these maritime corridors triggers ripple effects across continents, impacting trade flows, military deployments, and diplomatic posture, he said. Singapores Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing said China missed an opportunity to have its voice heard by not sending its own defense minister, but it was still incumbent upon others to reach out to Beijing to try and build bridges and prevent misunderstandings. Singapore has close ties to both the U.S. and China, and is part of the regionally influential Association of Southeast Asian Nations along with the Philippines and others. It is in the interest of all of us to work with China, and it is also in the interest of China to work with everyone else in the world, he said. It is in the interest of all of us to have a deeper understanding of Chinas fears, concerns and aspirations, just as it is important for China to understand how the rest of the world perceives China. The value of new construction in Palm Beach County will top $5 billion this year as thousands of new residences are added. This is according to Palm Beach County Property Appraiser Dorothy Jacks, who recently told county commissioners about the state of the market from last year and what to expect this year. New construction value also hit $5 billion in taxable value in 2024 with nearly 6,500 new livable units added to the tax roll for 2025, Jacks said during a recent public County Commission meeting. And the new construction estimates for this year include more than 3,000 new homes and more than 4,000 rentals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Palm Beach County, we still have a lot of land to build on and also the cost of construction is rising, which causes the new construction values to rise because all of that new construction is being better built, probably more solidly built, and so I suspect well see a continuation of these high new construction numbers over the next few years, Jacks said. Palm Beach County Chief Appraiser Cecil Jackson explained that the $5 billion in taxable value is essentially the same as assessed value, which is a propertys deemed worth. This is different from market value, which is the cost for which the property would sell. Adding the $5 billion in new construction ultimately means a widening of the tax base for all taxpayers in Palm Beach County, said Becky Robinson, a spokesperson for the Property Appraisers Office. And for prospective buyers who may want a property that is newer and more vibrant, rather than buying a used property, the new construction is good news for them, too, Jackson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its just a lot like buying a new car. Some people like new cars. Some people like used cars. It just depends on the motivation of the buyer, he said. The county also is insulated in many ways from the inevitable development problems that will be spurred by the slowing economy, Jacks said. We still have a lot of interest from people who want to develop in this particular area in Florida but also in South Florida and really Palm Beach County is right there at the center of it now as Broward is built out, Jacks said. Broward really is east-to-west built out. They can only go up now, and Miami-Dade certainly still has a fair bit of land to build but also a very large population already. Jackson called Palm Beach Countys market a robust one. We have very diverse types of property here throughout the county from mobile homes to multimillion-dollar, single-family properties to the condominiums, he said. Three-year-old Kashtyn Grogan hoists up a new set of toy tools he won for 2,500 tickets at the Fun Plaza on Ocean Boulevard. His mom Kaitlyn Grogan browses the prizes to budget the 1,600 extra tickets her son won at the Willy Wonka game. He and his two younger brothers are on vacation at Myrtle Beach for the start of the summer. Friday evening kicked off with a stormy start, with winds powerful enough to tear down fences surrounding the Pavilion Park and knock over trash cans. Downtown visitors rush for cover as a summer thunderstorm hits Myrtle Beach, SC on Friday evening. Downtown Myrtle Beachs tourist district was relatively quiet for a Summer evening on Ocean Boulevard and the Boardwalk. Storms put a damper on the evening activities but as the skies cleared, visitors returned to enjoy the attractions. Friday, May 30, 2025. Many visitors sought refuge in local restaurants or their hotel rooms before the night got started after the sun set, when dozens of young people walked up and down the boulevard to play arcade games, eat funnel cake, and gawk at the modified trucks cruising down the traffic funnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont even remember me, Kaitlyn Speaks shouted at an employee at an airbrush T-shirt vendor. Speaks goes to Myrtle Beach every year, she said. Shes downtown for a girls trip and a wedding with her friend Emma Mullins as she brushes off another sales pitch from the persistent employee. Were beefing with him right now, Mullins said as she scoops up a bite of funnel cake. The employee threw up his hands and turned to coax more passers-by for a sale. They all walk on and wish him a nice night. Yall want a T-shirt? he said. Im just bored as hell. Soon after, Issac Shinault from Greensboro, NC, cruises by on a Onewheel electric skateboard and a bucket of roses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He rolls up and down the boulevard handing them out to children, and even one of the shopkeepers waves him down with a dollar in hand. Im just here to spread positivity, he said. Theres never a bad reason for flowers. Issac Shinault of Greensboro NC, rides his One Wheel around the downtown area selling flowers to tourist. Shinault was on vacation himself on Friday night be said the saw an opportunity to make a little money. Downtown Myrtle Beachs tourist district was relatively quiet for a Summer evening on Ocean Boulevard and the Boardwalk. Storms put a damper on the evening activities but as the skies cleared, visitors returned to enjoy the attractions. Friday, May 30, 2025. Henry and Cheryl Seaborn from St. Louis, MO, joke with each other as they meander down the boardwalk. They said they feel safe while walking downtown. It cant be worse than Washington, D.C., Henry Seaborn said. I aint seen too many criminal-looking people around here. Speak for yourself, Cheryl Seaborn said. Grogan said her family has paid attention to when the bike week comes to town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we were here last week with what happened in Little River, I would not feel safe, she said and pointed to her two sons in a beach cart. Myrtle Beach Police officers patrolled the streets after dark. Theyre keeping a watchful eye out for any commotion and offering directions to families and summer party-goers. There was a tragedy not too long ago on the strip where these families visit. Business has been much slower since April, one shop employee lamented. This time last year, many more people were coming into his shop, he said. Myrtle Beach Police maintain a presence along Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, SC. Downtown Myrtle Beachs tourist district was relatively quiet for a Summer evening on Ocean Boulevard and the Boardwalk. Storms put a damper on the evening activities but as the skies cleared, visitors returned to enjoy the attractions. Friday, May 30, 2025. On April 26 at 11:50 p.m., 18-year-old Jerrius Davis fired his gun on North Ocean Boulevard near 9th Avenue North. A Myrtle Beach Police officer returned fire, hitting and killing the Bennettsville teenager. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Myrtle Beach Police Department released dash cam footage of the incident on May 29. The footage showed Davis bending over to reach for a gun and firing it into a crowd. He was then pursued within seconds by Officer Brandon ORourke, who is shown firing his gun five times and killing Davis while running down Ocean Boulevard as Davis fled into a crowd. The incident injured 11 people. It is unclear what victims were injured by Davis gunfire or ORourkes. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is still investigating the incident. ORourke and two other officers who responded to the incident, Mohamad El-Kelwi and Jeramiah Johnson were put on paid leave during the investigation and have since been put back on the job, according to a video released by Myrtle Beach police. Two of the people injured in the incident include 13-year-old Zavian Hairston of Virginia and 15-year-old Serenity Chavis of North Carolina. Chavis has claimed Myrtle Beach police shot her that night. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) The Mountaineers Indivisible Citizen Action (MICA) held a town hall on Saturday where concerned citizens aired their grievances with the representation from Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Representative Riley Moore. MICA said of the event on Facebook that they invited Senator Capito and Representative Moore and described the event as a Town Hall with (or without) Our Representatives. Senator Capito and Representative Moore were not at the event. Instead, over 100 people filed into First Presbyterian Church in Morgantown to present their questions, concerns, and anger at two pictures of the Senator and Representative on stage. The grievances of the attendees of the town hall included cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, the executive branch overstepping its power, the abuse of the rights of immigrants and what attendees generally saw as the failure of Senator Capito and Representative Moore to speak out against these actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A number of speakers presented their views on the Trump Administrations actions over the last couple of months. Towards the beginning of the town hall, West Virginia University Professor of Law Allison Peck said that the administration is not respecting the balance of power outlined in the Constitution. Peck went on to use the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia as an example, saying that the Trump Administration is violating court orders to return Garcia and not respecting a congressional law passed in 1952 that Peck said Garcia had previously successfully invoked in immigration court. After Peck, social worker Danny Trejo, who said he works a lot with Latino families, spoke on the impact the last few months has had on the immigrant community in Morgantown. He said that after federal law-enforcement reach an immigrant, the family that remain face hard times. [ICE] usually get the breadwinners, Trejo said. A lot of the families Im hearing of are having problems trying to make ends meet and trying to decide if theyre going to stay here or if theyre going to go back to Latin America, Mexico, or South America. Trejo went on to say that he is trying to organize donations for these families. Trump tells US steelworkers hes going to double tariffs on foreign steel to 50% Attendees were also invited to speak their thoughts and questions into a microphone. One woman asked why Senator Capito and Representative Moore were not standing up to President Trump, who she saw as breaking the law. A scientist lamented what he sees as the Trump Administrations attack on science and research. An elderly man decried that Medicare is at risk of losing significant funding under the Trump Administration. One man voiced his anger that a family member, who is a legal resident of the United States but is from Central America, is afraid to leave the house due to the Trump Administrations crackdown on immigration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the organizers of the event, Mindy Holcomb, said she was heartened by the display shown at town hall. Its heartwarming, really, because they are concerned about their neighbors. They are concerned about their family. And they dont want to see people go hungry and they dont wanna see people suffer and die or become seriously ill. Holcomb went on to say that MICA has tried to meet with Senator Capito and Representative Moore with little success, and that MICA will continue to put pressure on Senator Capito and Representative Moore to try to get them to hear their voices. When people have stories like youve heard today, when they have suffering, only they can convey that, Holcomb said. Having someone write down notes about what theyre saying and convey that in theory to the congressman or the senator, thats not the same thing. Thats not answering their questions. Thats not hearing the pain that they are going through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holcomb ended the interview by saying, [Senator Capito and Representative Moore] dont work for the Trump Administration. They work for us. We are their boss, and they owe us answers. 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. Trail cameras captured elusive sightings of a few endangered species in Oman in the first half of this year. Times of Oman reported that the Arabian lynx, Arabian tahr, and Arabian wolf were recorded. They are all unique to the Arabian Peninsula and some surrounding countries. This is great news for the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate in Oman, which is where the animals were found. These observations mean that natural resources are becoming balanced again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oman Environment Authority has been observing the Arabian lynx since the 1990s. Trail cameras have observed the species at least since 2021. Suhail bin Muhammad Al-Mushaykhi, an environmental systems specialist at the Jabal Samhan Natural Reserve, told Arabian Daily that 15 observations of Arabian lynx were captured between 2021 and 2023. Of those, five were caught by trail cameras. Jabal Samhan is the largest nature reserve in Oman. As of 2023, it has an approximate population of 50 Arabian lynx. While human activity is very limited inside the reserve, people can still visit and appreciate its environment. Being in nature can be great for your mental health. An experience like this can also drive home how we all affect each other within an ecosystem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By using tools like trail cameras, researchers are using non-invasive methods to keep tabs on animal populations. Observing in this way allows animals to act as they would without human intervention. It can also aid in rehabilitating how an ecosystem functions. Ahmed Salim Al Amiri, director of Al Dakhiliyah's Environment Department, has been pleased with Oman's use of trail cameras. Al Amiri told the Times of Oman that local communities are critical "in supporting environmental efforts, stressing the need to comply with regulations protecting wildlife to ensure these natural treasures endure for future generations." By monitoring animal populations, local researchers play a huge role in ensuring our environment's stability for years to come. 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. Troopers with Washington State Patrol arrested a driver Sunday morning accused of driving under the influence. It happened around 6 a.m. on SR 518 near Burien. Troopers say the driver crashed into a barrier on the highway. A photo shows that the drivers BAC was .192. No one was hurt but it appears the front end of the car was badly damaged. May 31WASHINGTON The most fundamental job of Congress is to fund the government each year, typically through a bipartisan process that distributes dollars more or less evenly between red states and blue states. But a dustup over a dam construction project in Washington state has thrown a wrench into that process and raised the stakes of a government funding showdown in September. Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, has accused President Donald Trump's administration of pulling $500 million that Congress allocated last year to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a fish passage project on the Green River, east of Tacoma. In a news conference at the Capitol alongside her fellow Democratic senators from Washington and California, Murray said that move undermines the trust lawmakers rely on to negotiate spending bills. "Trump is robbing our states in broad daylight, and we are not going to be quiet about this," Murray said. "President Trump is ripping up the road map that we all agreed on, even the House Republicans, and turning the Army Corps construction funds into his personal political slush fund." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Republicans and Democrats in Congress agreed last year to appropriate the money for construction at Howard Hanson Dam, Trump shot down the bipartisan funding bill they had negotiated and Congress eventually passed a short-term funding bill, with the help of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and a handful of other Democrats. Murray staunchly opposed that legislation, warning that its wording would give extraordinary leeway to the White House. Her fears came to pass when Trump's Office of Management and Budget helmed by Russell Vought, a lead architect of the policy initiative known as Project 2025 intervened to redirect Army Corps funding from states represented in the Senate by Democrats to those represented by Republicans. As the Columbian of Vancouver, Washington, reported, an analysis by Murray's office found that the Trump administration reallocated funds that were split roughly 50-50 between red and blue states so that only 33% of the money goes to states with two Democratic senators, while 64% goes to states with only GOP senators and 4% to "purple" states with one senator from each party. In addition to zeroing out the funding for Howard Hanson Dam, the Trump administration cut overall funding for the Army Corps' civil works projects by about $1.5 billion and slashed the Columbia River Fish Mitigation program intended to reduce the impact of dams on salmon and steelhead runs by nearly half. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to questions from The Spokesman-Review, the Office of Management and Budget didn't directly say what role it had played in redirecting Army Corps' resources or why it had defunded the Howard Hanson Dam project. But the office said the new Army Corps work plan "will generate billions of dollars in economic activity by building American energy dominance and shipping capacity while investing in important conservation projects." "The available funds were allocated by the administration based on need and urgency, in accordance with the guidelines set by Congress," the office said in a statement. In a House subcommittee hearing on May 21, Army Corps official Robyn Colosimo confirmed that it was the Office of Management and Budget, and likely Vought , that made the decision to shift the money to red states. The Army Corps didn't respond to a request for comment from The Spokesman-Review, but a spokesman for the agency previously told the Columbian that the Columbia River Fish Mitigation funding is "an important source for many projects in the basin" and the Army Corps would "work with our partners in the region to prioritize projects depending on how much funding we actually receive from Congress." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That proposition gets more complicated if the Trump administration, which has taken a maximalist view of executive power, can change how much money agencies receive from Congress. At the news conference, Murray said she intends to "explore every opportunity and every wording" as she crafts the language of the next funding bill "to make sure that we have funds protected." Congress has been historically unproductive this year, and the annual appropriations process is so far behind schedule that another short-term spending bill is the most realistic option to avert a government shutdown when the current stopgap bill expires at the end of September. Even with Republicans in control of both the House and Senate, they need Democratic senators to help pass a spending bill. That gives Democrats some leverage to include language in the legislation to require that funds be spent as Congress directs, but it would require the party to be willing to let the government shut down. By choosing to help Republicans pass the partisan spending bill in March, Schumer may have squandered that leverage and encouraged the GOP to try the same move again. If Murray can help it, she said, the government won't operate under such an open-ended funding bill when the next fiscal year begins in October. 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. Global defence leaders, including those from Australia, the European Union, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, the UK, and the US, discussed critical security challenges, emerging trends, and innovative solutions in Dialogue. The talks focused on strategic decision-making, sharing best practices, and fostering cooperation to promote stability and address evolving security concerns in the defence sector. While addressing the dialogue on 'Defence Innovation Solutions for Future Challenges', General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, highlighted the evolving geopolitical dynamics and rapid technological shifts that were redefining the nature of warfare, underscoring that the democratisation of technology has empowered non-state actors, fueling proxy wars and instability. CDS emphasised that Future Warfare will be shaped by four trends: the proliferation of sensors across all domains, long-range hypersonic and precision weapons, manned-unmanned teaming with autonomous systems, and the intelligentisation of the battlefield driven by AI, ML, LLMs, and quantum tech. CDS also outlined the approach to Capability Development through adaptability, innovation, and self-reliance, wherein India has created collaborative defence manufacturing ecosystems with private industry, adopting a 'Tactics-led Modernisation' strategy in developing systems suited to operational needs and local conditions. He emphasised that the ongoing transformation would include changes to doctrine, organisational culture and human capital, where India's unique geography, experience and aspirations shape its defence outlook. General Anil Chauhan affirmed India's commitment to global peace & responsible innovation and commended the Shangri-La Dialogue as a critical forum for fostering dialogue and cooperation in the collective pursuit of global stability. Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia's premier defence and security summit that brings together defence ministers, military chiefs, policy makers and strategic experts across the globe. The event will witness leaders from 40 nations addressing Indo-Pacific Security challenges. The engagements will provide a platform to strengthen defence cooperation, discuss mutual security interests and enhance India's strategic partnerships in the Indo - Pacific region. (ANI) President Donald Trump has offered an outlandish rebuttal to reports that one of his top officials at the White House was hacked. A reporter asked the president about a report from the Wall Street Journal that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles had not only had her devices hacked, but that the hackers used her phone to send messages and place calls under her name. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was targeted by an impersonator plot, according to the Wall Street Journal. / Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images Nobody can impersonate Susie, Trump shot back. Theres only one Susie. Theres only one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added in the exchange Friday evening that he considers his chief of staff an amazing woman and that he has every confidence she can handle it. The Trump administration has been plagued by concerns about information security following the Signalgate controversy in March, in which top security officials discussed plans to bomb Yemen in a chat with a journalist. / KENT NISHIMURA / Kent Nishimura/Reuters The White House has responded to the Journal report by insisting that the Trump administration takes the security of all staff very seriously, and this matter continues to be investigated. The incident nevertheless comes hot on the heels of the Signalgate scandal earlier in March, in which The Atlantics editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was accidentally added to a group chat used by top members of the Trump administration to discuss sensitive details of imminent missile strikes against Yemen. Those officials included Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard, among others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident sent shockwaves across Washington, DC, prompting alarm over the apparent severity of informational vulnerabilities at the White House. Those concerns have been further exacerbated in the weeks since following repeated reports into Hegseths prolific use of the messaging platform, with the Defence Secretary reportedly even bypassing Pentagon security protocols in order to install the app on his computer. Just days before the Senate was set to vote on his future as NASA administrator, the White House has confirmed that the Trump administration is planning to withdraw Jared Isaacmans nomination. Isaacman, a commercial astronaut and billionaire, is a longtime friend and business associate of Elon Musk, and Musk had lobbied President Donald Trump directly for his friends nomination to the role of NASA chief. Former Deputy Director of the Kennedy Space Center Janet Petro is currently acting as NASA administrator. Many had raised concerns about Isaacmans ties to Musk, with Isaacman going so far as to promise during his committee hearing that he would focus on a lunar landing, putting him at odds with Musks vision for the future of space exploration, which is focused on Mars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) about his relationship with Musk, Isaacman denied that they were close, claiming that only Trump had interviewed him for the role. However, he later demurred when asked by Markey if Musk had been present at his interview with Trump. Others, such as Laura Loomer, suggested Isaacmans nomination could be in jeopardy following Musks exit from the Trump administration this week. On Saturday, Loomer tweeted that deep state operatives with ulterior motives were seeking to derail the nomination in retaliation for his friendship with Musk. Other Republicans also rushed to Isaacmans defense, with Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT), a Trump ally who sits on the committee that approved Isaacmans nomination, tweeting, Astronaut and successful businessman @RookIsaacman was a strong choice by President Trump to lead NASA. I was proud to introduce Jared at his hearing and strongly oppose efforts to derail his nomination. According to The New York Times, Trump had decided to rescind the nomination after learning that Isaacman had previously donated to prominent Democrats, including Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and the California Democratic Party, during the past two elections. He also donated $2 million to Trumps inaugural committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the time of Isaacmans nomination in December, Trump made a celebratory post to Truth Social, describing him as ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new era and congratulating him on the nomination. Liz Huston, the White Houses assistant press secretary, said of the change in nomination: The Administrator of NASA will help lead humanity into space and execute President Trumps bold mission of planting the American flag on the planet Mars. Its essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trumps America First agenda and a replacement will be announced directly by President Trump soon. Isaacman is the CEO of payment processing company Shift4, which he founded when he was 16 years old, in 1999. He also founded Draken International, which provides tactical fighter aircraft and training to NATO forces. He is also a commercial astronaut who has previously flown to space twice with Musks SpaceX. (The Center Square) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has published a list of sanctuary jurisdictions in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Illinois has the greatest number of counties listed of any state of 96, just a few shy of its 102 counties. All but one of Massachusetts 14 counties are listed. Washington is not far behind with 36 out of its 39 counties listed. Fifteen states arent on the list, nearly all are run by Republicans: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the first time DHS has published a sanctuary jurisdiction list. The list was published in accordance with an executive order President Donald Trump issued last month, Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens, The Center Square reported. In it, Trump directs the attorney general and Homeland Security secretary to identify sanctuary jurisdictions that defy or obstruct federal immigration enforcement and are engaging in a lawless insurrection against the supremacy of Federal law and the Federal Governments obligation to defend the territorial sovereignty of the United States. The prior administration allowed unchecked millions of aliens to illegally enter the United States, the order states, which created public safety and national security risks, exacerbated by cartel, transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist organizations operating in the U.S. who intend to harm the American people. Because Trump declared the U.S. was under invasion, he said the federal government must take measures to fulfill its obligation to the States. Hes referring to the Guarantee Clause, (Article IV, Section 4) of the Constitution, which states the federal government shall protect each state against invasion. Fifty-five Texas counties cited it when they were the only ones in America that declared an invasion during the Biden Administration, The Center Square exclusively reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because some state and local officials continue to violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of Federal immigration laws, committing lawless insurrection against the supremacy of Federal law and the Federal Governments obligation to defend the territorial sovereignty of the United States, the president said he is taking action. Trumps order also says these jurisdictions are creating national security risks, violating federal criminal laws, including obstructing justice, unlawfully harboring or hiring illegal aliens, conspiring against the U.S., potentially violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, among others. Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril, DHS said. Each jurisdiction is being notified of non-compliance, instructed to comply, or face legal action and withholding of federal funds. The initial list includes the District of Columbia and 35 states: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alaska: Anchorage California: self-identifies as a sanctuary state; 48 of its 58 counties; 63 cities Colorado: self-identifies as a sanctuary state; 41 of its 64 counties; 14 cities Connecticut: self-identifies as a sanctuary state; 6 cities Delaware: self-identifies as a sanctuary state; New Castle County; Camden and Newark Georgia: four counties, Athens and Atlanta Hawaii: Honolulu Idaho: Boise Illinois: self-identifies as a sanctuary state; 96 of its 102 counties; 7 cities Indiana: Monroe County Kansas: Lawrence County, Douglas County Kentucky: four counties, Louisville Louisiana: New Orleans/Orleans Parish Maine: two counties, Portland Maryland: self-identifies as a sanctuary state; 8 counties; 10 cities, including Annapolis, where the U.S. Naval Academy is based Massachusetts self-identifies as a sanctuary state; 13 counties; 12 cities. The list is missing Natick, whose officials voted for sanctuary status after an Iranian national was arrested there for his alleged ties to a terrorist attack that killed three U.S. service members, The Center Square reported. Michigan; six counties; Ann Arbor and East Lansing Minnesota: self-identifies as a sanctuary state; 20 counties; Minneapolis and St. Paul Nebraska: 10 counties Nevada: Las Vegas City New Hampshire: Hanover, Lebanon New Jersey: self-identifies as a sanctuary state; three counties; 18 cities New Mexico: 23 out of 33 counties; Albuquerque and Santa Fe New York: self-identifies as a sanctuary state; 15 counties; 12 cities North Carolina: five counties North Dakota: seven counties Ohio: three counties; Cincinnati and Columbus Oregon: self-identifies as a sanctuary state; 15 counties; four cities Pennsylvania: 11 counties; five cities Rhode Island: self-identifies as a sanctuary state; Central Falls and Providence Tennessee: Shelby County and Nashville, whose mayor is being investigated by Congress, The Center Square reported. Vermont: self-identifies as a sanctuary state; Burlington, Montpelier and Winooski Virginia: 20 counties; 13 cities, including the states capital of Richmond Washington: self-identifies as a sanctuary state; 36 of 39 counties and five cities Wisconsin: two counties; Madison and Milwaukee While Texas is not on the list, some county commissioners and some in law enforcement have expressed opposition to working with federal immigration authorities in Democratic strongholds, including in Houston and Harris County, The Center Square reported. The Office of the Texas Attorney General also provides millions of dollars in grants to nonprofits providing legal assistance to illegal foreign nationals fighting deportation through a legal defense fund. The Texas legislature allocates the funds as part of the AOGs budget request. As Ukraine and Russia prepare for peace talks scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul, few observers expect a breakthrough. While the U.S. and Ukraine have pushed for an unconditional ceasefire, the Kremlin has rejected it. Instead, Moscow has regularly voiced maximalist demands that are unlikely to be accepted by Kyiv, such as recognition of Russia's illegal annexation of Ukrainian regions and withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the parts of these regions remaining under Kyivs control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed frustration with Russia's reluctance to make concessions and its intensifying and deadly attacks on Ukraine. However, he has so far refused to sanction Russia. Jenny Mathers, a lecturer in international politics at the U.K.'s Aberystwyth University, said that "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is clearly engaged in a balancing act between making gestures towards peace to keep Trump quiet without making any compromises or actually trying to ensure that the peace talks make any real progress." "There are no signs that Russia is willing to consider making any concessions, and every sign that Russia intends to keep pushing ahead on the battlefield to try to take control of as much Ukrainian territory as possible," she told the Kyiv Independent. Read also: Trump doesnt know how to deal with gangsters US lets Ukraine down, once again No breakthrough during the first round During the first round of talks in Istanbul on May 16, the two sides failed to reach agreement on a 30-day ceasefire. The only concrete result of the Istanbul talks was a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap completed on May 25 the biggest prisoner exchange during the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine sent a delegation headed by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to Istanbul, while Russia sent a low-level delegation led by Putin's aide Vladimir Medinsky. Putin did not attend the Istanbul peace talks, despite an invitation from President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet him face-to-face. "The talks did yield a quite sizable exchange of prisoners," Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, told the Kyiv Independent. "But the glass was more half empty than half full. Putin refused to send a high-level delegation and seemingly little progress was made on the key issue attaining a ceasefire and durable settlement." Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky speaks to reporters with other members of a Russian delegation ahead of a planned meeting between Ukrainian and Russian delegates on May 15, 2025, in Istanbul, Turkey. (Burak Kara/Getty Images) Peter Rough, a senior fellow at Hudson Institute, also argued that the first round "didnt produce a strategic breakthrough and is more interesting procedurally in that it put Russian and Ukrainian negotiators face-to-face." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Russia was just going through the motions of talks showing up and issuing a set of demands before going home," Mathers said. "It was striking that the team for the talks with Ukraine was composed of more junior people than the team sent for talks with the U.S. weeks earlier this was almost certainly a calculated insult to the Ukrainians." Read also: There we go again For war-weary Europe, Trump-Putin call yet another signal to wake up Russia dragging its feet on the memo Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on May 28 that Ukraine had submitted its memorandum on proposed ceasefire terms to Russia. Ukraines proposed memorandum to Russia includes provisions for a ceasefire on land, in the air, and at sea, to be monitored by international partners, The New York Times (NYT) reported on May 30, citing an unnamed senior Ukrainian official. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Istanbul talks, Russia also promised to submit a memorandum outlining its ceasefire conditions to Ukraine. However, the Kremlin has been dragging its feet on presenting the document. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on May 23 that Moscow would present the memorandum immediately after the completion of the prisoner exchange between the two countries. However, the memo was not submitted after the exchange was completed on May 25. Lavrov announced on May 28 that the Russian memorandum would be unveiled during the next round of negotiations set for June 2 in Istanbul. "Russia is dragging its feet for two reasons," Kupchan said. "First, Russia has been advancing on the battlefield, which encourages the Kremlin to keep the war going. Second, Putin has not yet given up on his maximalist war aims and seeks to subjugate as much of Ukraine as possible. He will stop only when Ukraine has the military wherewithal to stop him, which is why Europe and the United States need to keep the arms flowing." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Stefan Wolff, professor of international security at the University of Birmingham, argued that Russia wants "to limit the time that Ukraine has to consider the Russian demands and discuss them with their allies in Europe and the U.S." "Dragging out the negotiations process buys Russia time for further advances on the battlefield and improving and shoring up their position ahead of a ceasefire agreement that will most likely freeze the front lines," he added. Read also: Bracing for more Russian attacks, an anxious Ukraine waits for Trump to do something Russia's maximalist demands During the talks, Russia has consistently stuck to its maximalist demands and refused to make concessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin said in March that Russia would agree to a ceasefire only if there was a ban on Ukrainian mobilization and training of troops and a halt on Western military aid for Kyiv. Experts argue that these conditions are tantamount to demands for Ukraine's surrender. Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's envoy to the United Nations, reiterated the demands on May 30, saying that Russia would only consider a ceasefire if Kyiv stopped receiving Western weapons and halted mobilization. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the Kremlin during an annual meeting of the supervisory board of the Senezh Education Center 'Russia is a country of possibilities' on May 27, 2025 in Moscow, Russia. (Contributor/Getty Images) During the Istanbul talks, Russia also demanded that Ukraine recognize the illegally annexed territories as Russian, withdraw from the Kyiv-controlled parts of these regions, and adopt a neutral status, according to a source in the Presidents Office who spoke with the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity. Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014. The Kremlin also announced the illegal annexation of Ukraine's Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts in 2022 despite only partially controlling them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reuters reported on May 28, citing its sources, that Putin was demanding a written pledge by NATO not to accept more Eastern European members and the lifting of several sanctions as conditions for ending Russia's war in Ukraine. Read also: Conditions for Ukraines surrender Why Putins demands for ceasefire make no sense Trump frustrated but fails to act As Russia remained intransigent, Trump has continued his usual rhetoric, alternating between praise for Putin and frustration with Russia's actions. During a phone call with Trump on May 19, Putin again rejected an unconditional ceasefire. Despite this, Trump said the call "went very well" and once again refused to impose sanctions against Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with Russia. Some of Trump's critical statements followed massive Russian drone and missile strikes from May 24 to May 26 one of Russia's largest and deadliest aerial attacks during the war. On May 25, Trump said that Putin had gone "absolutely" crazy and warned that if he didnt stop his actions, it could bring about the collapse of Russia. At the same time, Trump also lashed out at Zelensky, saying that he "is doing his country no favors by talking the way he does" an apparent reference to Zelensky's criticism of Russia and of Washington's failure to crack down on Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 27, Trump also admitted that "if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia. Trump has also repeatedly threatened to impose sanctions on Russia but no action followed. The U.S. Senate is considering a bill that would impose 500% tariffs on imports from countries purchasing Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products. The Senate is expected to "start moving" the bill next week, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on May 30. However, it is still unclear if Trump will back the bill. "Trump appears to be getting frustrated with Putin and may be arriving at the conclusion that Putin is playing for time rather than working with Trump to end the war," Kupchan said. "The massive Russian air attacks that keep coming reinforce the view that Russia is not negotiating in good faith." At the same time, there is no indication that Trump's threats will lead to any action. "One of the constants in Trump's behavior has been his tendency to be sympathetic to Russia's positions and arguments and to regard Putin with respect," Mathers said. "Despite brief expressions of frustration and irritation, Trump always seems to return to his default setting of finding Russia's arguments persuasive and being eager to get rid of obstacles to doing business with and in Russia." Wolff also argued that "for Trump, a deal with Russia, any deal, is really important." "Too much pressure on Putin, in Trumps mind, is probably counter-productive to get a deal done," he added. "By contrast, pressure on Ukraine seems like an easier option, including because the U.S. has, or at least thinks it has, more leverage over Kyiv." Read also: As Russia refuses to accept ceasefire, will Trump pressure Moscow? Any hope for the future? As Trump remains reluctant to punish Russia, the Kremlin appears to have no incentives to agree to a ceasefire. Analysts are skeptical about the possibility of a breakthrough during the second round of talks. "Russia does not yet seem prepared to make the concessions and compromises needed to get a ceasefire," Kupchan said. "There are as yet no signs that Putin is negotiating in good faith and making a sincere effort to end the war." Michael O'Hanlon, director of research in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, said that "we will need to turn up the pressure on Putin in several ways for talks to have any real chance of success." "I dont expect much from June 2," he added. "President Trump is learning that Putin is the problem but hasnt fully accepted or internalized that fact yet." Analysts agree that the main problem is Trumps failure to realize that sanctions would be the only realistic way to push the Kremlin towards a ceasefire. Putin seems to believe that time is on Russia's side and that Trump will not impose serious constraints on Russia, so Russia is free to demand preconditions that make a ceasefire impossible, Richard Betts, professor emeritus of war and peace studies at Columbia University, told the Kyiv Independent. This might change if Russia suffers some defeats on the battlefield, or political support for Putin within Russia drops, but there is no evidence yet that either of those conditions is likely to occur soon. Read also: Dangerous and cruel Trumps reported Crimea proposal sparks horror among Ukraines lawmakers Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. CNNs resident data guru says President Donald Trumps hated TACO nickname is gaining popularity. Short for Trump Always Chickens Out, TACO has been increasingly thrown around on Wall Street to describe President Donald Trumps frequent flip-flops on tariffs and other signature policies. [TACO] is actually entering the mainstream culture, and we can see this right here in Google searches, CNN data expert Harry Enten said, pointing to a graph that showed a 9,900 percent increase on Thursday versus Tuesday in searches for the term. Trump has made little secret of his hatred of the term, accusing a reporter who quizzed him about it of asking him the For instance, after Trump imposed a 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods on Liberation Day, April 2, and China retaliated with 125 percent tariffs of its own, the president walked back the tariffs to 30 percent. He has similarly reduced tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and the European Union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The acronym has also lately been weaponized by Trumps detractors, with high-ranking Democratic Party figures like California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Jon Cooper, a former campaign chair for former President Barack Obama, slinging the term around this week. Trump is clearly unhappy about it, too. Thats a nasty question, he told a reporter at a White House press briefing on Wednesday after being quizzed about the term. Dont ever say what you said. Thats a nasty question. To me, thats the nastiest question. Coined by Wall Street traders, the TACO nickname has lately been picked up by Democratic Party officials like Gavin Newsom. / Mario Tama / Getty Images Nevertheless, it may very well be here to stay if the latest numbers by CNN are anything to go by. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This to me is quite troubling for Donald Trump because obviously he trades on his name, Enten said Friday. He trades on the idea that he does what he says, Enten added. If all of a sudden youre associated Trump Always Chickens Out with Donald Trump, well, that is no bueno. President Donald Trump joined TikTok as a Republican presidential candidate a year ago, quickly gaining millions of followers, even though he tried to ban it in his first presidency. His debut video was taken alongside UFC president Dana White at a fight in Newark, New Jersey. "The President, is now on TikTok," White said. "It's my honor," Trump responded. The app is facing an upcoming deadline for a ban after President Joe Biden signed a law forcing the Chinese parent company ByteDance to spinoff the app. Trump had unsuccessfully tried to ban TikTok through executive action in 2020. But now he's trying to save it by facilitating a buyout deal. "Id like to see it done," Trump previously said about the divestment, adding that he has a "little sweet spot" in his heart for TikTok, which he claims helped him win votes during the 2024 presidential election. "Itll be protected. Itll be very strongly protected. But if it needs an extension, I would be willing to give it an extension." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: No, Trump did not approve $1,200 for stay-at-home moms, despite viral TikTok videos Is TikTok getting banned? Next deadline is June 19 If ByteDance does not divest TikTok by June 19, it could be banned in the U.S. again. However, Trump has stated that if a sale is not finalized in time, he will extend the deadline. Under federal legislation that put the ban in place, the president can implement a 90-day extension on the deadline to sell. But Trump didn't take this route in January or April, instead, he signed executive orders delaying the ban by 75 days. If Trump wishes to sign another executive order ahead of the June 19 deadline, he can. Who might buy TikTok? Ahead of the April 5 deadline, several buyers expressed interest in striking a deal to buy the app. A White House official previously told USA TODAY that a deal to spin off the platform to be operated in the U.S. had been reached, but it was derailed when tariffs were imposed on Chinese imports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China and the U.S. were in an escalating trade war until May 11, when they both walked back the steep tariffs for 90 days while they ironed out a trade deal. But the talks could be stalled as Trump accused China of violating the agreement in a May 30 Truth Social post. The White House did not comment on the latest update about the deal. Who put their hat in to buy TikTok? Amazon, Blackstone, OnlyFans founder among the bidders Why might TikTok get banned? How we got here In January, TikTok went dark for a little more than 12 hours in the U.S. after the app was effectively banned under federal legislation. U.S. internet hosting services made TikTok unavailable to access, and app stores removed the app for download. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This federal legislation was signed by Biden in 2024. The legislation gave ByteDance until Jan. 19, 2025 to divest TikTok or face a ban. Some politicians see TikTok as a national security threat, expressing concern that ByteDance may be sharing U.S. user data with the Chinese government. ByteDance has denied these claims, which remain unsubstantiated. During the short-lived January shutdown, Trump promised internet hosting services and app stores that they could restore TikTok and not face legal penalties. Under the federal legislation, companies could be fined $5,000 per user they help access TikTok. For companies like Google and Apple, this could mean a $5,000 fine for each user who downloads or updates TikTok. Internet hosting services like Oracle didn't waste time rebooting the app, but it wasn't until Feb. 13 that TikTok became available again in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Trump also tried to ban TikTok in his first presidency Trump cited national security concerns when he signed an executive order in 2020 ordering ByteDance to sell or spin off its U.S. assets within 90 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The executive order was challenged in court and never came to fruition, but Congress has overwhelmingly passed a law under the Biden administration that forced ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations within a year or else face a nationwide ban. Despite Trump's own efforts to ban the app, he has criticized Biden for doing the same, posting on Truth Social, "just so everyone knows, especially the young people, Crooked Joe Biden is responsible for banning TikTok." See Trump's most popular TikToks: Trump's most-viewed TikToks are his first few, including a staged face-off with Logan Paul and a tribute to the man who died at Trump's first assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump has not posted any TikToks since Election Day. Here are some of his other most popular videos on his TikToks: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contributing: Sarah Wire, Zac Anderson, Francesca Chambers, Sudiksha Kochi, Riley Beggin and Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY 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: TikTok Trump ban? He joined a year ago and now wants to save it Donald Trump was not told about Ukraines mass drone attack on Russias strategic bomber bases. The coordinated strikes, orchestrated by Ukraines security services, targeted four airfields deep inside Russia in what could be the most damaging drone attacks of the three-year war. Operation Web allegedly hit more than 40 strategic bombers, took 18 months to execute and was personally overseen by Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukrainian security sources said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the US president was not notified in advance of the attack in advance, Ukrainian and US officials said. Despite the Trump administrations efforts to broker a ceasefire, both sides have ramped up their attacks in recent weeks. Overnight, a wave of bombings targeted Russian railway lines, derailing trains and killing seven passengers. Soon after, Ukraine said Russia launched the largest drone attack of the war so far and used a missile to strike a Ukrainian training camp, killing 12 troops and injuring dozens. Ukrainian and Russian delegations will meet in Istanbul on Monday, where they will both present their roadmaps towards peace. Expectations on the meeting are low as each side has so far refused to back down on their key negotiating positions. 07:04 PM BST Thats all for today. Here is a round-up of todays events: Ukrainian drones targeted four Russian bases deep behind enemy lines The operation, known as Spiderweb or Web, destroyed almost a third of Russias strategic bombers, Kyiv says Remote-controlled FPV drones were smuggled by Ukraines security service in trucks close to the bases and then launched The reported damage amounts to $7 billion Russian confirmed the strikes, but claimed several war planes caught fire Donald Trump was not warned in advance of the coordinated attacks A wave of bombing attacks also targeted Russian railways overnight, killing seven passengers A Russian missile hit a Ukrainian training camp, killing 12 soldiers and injuring dozens Russia and Ukraines second round of direct talks will take place in Instanbul tomorrow morning Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of the war 06:59 PM BST What planes were targeted in the attack? The strikes, according to sources, targeted Russias the long-range nuclear-capable Tupolev Tu-95 Bear, the Tu-160 Blackjack, the largest combat aircraft in the world, and the supersonic Tu-22M3 Backfire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the planes are regularly used to strike Ukraine. 06:13 PM BST Ukraine wiped out a third of Russias strategic bombers Ukraines security service says it wiped out 34 per cent of Russias strategic missile carriers, amounting to $7 billion in damages. In a post on Telegram, the SBU wrote: 7 billion US dollars. This is the estimated cost of the enemys strategic aviation, which was hit today as a result of the SBU special operation Spiderweb. 34% of strategic cruise missile carriers at the main airfields of the Russian Federation were hit. We will tell you about the details of the special operation of the Security Service a little later. The head of Ukraines SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, looking at a map showing a Russian military aircraft base - AFP 05:29 PM BST Zelenskys chief of staff posts coded message Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelenskys top aide, posted just one emoji online - a spiderweb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The coded message is a reference to Ukraines Operation Spiderweb that officials claim destroyed 40 of Vladimir Putins prized strategic bombers across four bases deep inside Russia. Ukraine does not typically comment officially on attacks inside Russian territory, but often alludes to them. Andriy Yermak (@AndriyYermak) June 1, 2025 05:22 PM BST The King of Drones: Ukraines deputy foreign minister reacts to attack There is more reaction coming from Ukraine about its strikes on the bomber bases. Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraines deputy foreign minister, posted an edited playing card on X that features FPV (first-person-view) drones - the same type used to destroy Russias strategic bombers today. In an apparent reference to Ukraine still having cards to play before peace negotiations, he captioned the post: The King of Drones. The King of Drones pic.twitter.com/6tCZODiPIm Sergiy Kyslytsya (@SergiyKyslytsya) June 1, 2025 05:08 PM BST Watch: Explosion near Russias Northern Fleet HQ Credit: Via X / United24media 05:00 PM BST Pictured: Zelensky speaks to his ministers Volodymyr Zelensky has not spoken about the large-scale drone attacks on Russian strategic bombers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian leader met with his ministers ahead of the second round of direct talks with Russia on Monday 04:46 PM BST Russia admits several warplanes caught fire Russia has now confirmed that several of its military aircraft caught fire after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack. In the regions of Murmansk and Irkutsk, several aircraft caught fire following the launch of FPV drones from a territory located in the immediate vicinity of the airfields, the Russian defence ministry said. It added that there were no casualties and that several participants had been arrested. 04:45 PM BST Russian war bloggers urge Putin to use Oreshnik missile on Ukraine Pro-Kremlin war bloggers are urging Russias military to use its new intermediate-range ballistic missile, that Vladimir Putin has lauded as unstoppable, against Ukraine. On Telegram, prominent bloggers called Ukraines coordinated drone attacks on strategic bomber bases Russias pearl harbour moment, referencing Japans 1941 attack on Americas Pacific fleet that brought the US into World War Two. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calling for revenge, they said Vladimir Putin should strike Ukraine with the lethal missile, used for the first time in November, which splits into multiple warheads that rain down on targets in a deadly synchronisation. 04:23 PM BST Mapped: Russian bases hit Ukraine in Operation Spiderweb 04:11 PM BST Russian missile strikes Ukrainian training base A Russian missile hit a Ukrainian army training site, killing at least 12 soldiers and injuring scores on Sunday. Kyiv did not disclose where the attack occurred, but reports suggest it was in the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, which borders Donetsk to the east and Kharkiv to the north. Twelve people are known to have been killed and more than 60 wounded, the Ukrainian army said this morning, in a rare acknowledgement of casualties in its ranks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to the strike, the commander of Ukraines land forces, one of the armys most senior military positions, has resigned. Mykhailo Drapatyi called the attack a tragedy and said he had ordered an investigation into the incident. Every commander is responsible every day - for orders, for decisions, for people, he wrote. In late May, a Russian missile hit a Ukrainian training ground in the Sumy region, killing scores of soldiers. Russia claimed the strike killed as many as 70 troops, while Ukraine put the figure at six. Sundays strike came just after a wave of bombings targeted Russian railway lines overnight, which derailed trains and killed at least seven people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just hours later, Ukraine destroyed Russian strategic bombers in a mass drone attack on four airfields deep inside Moscows territory. 04:01 PM BST Watch: Drones launched from a truck strike Russias Belaya airbase Credit: Telegram / russianocontext 03:44 PM BST Ukraine and Russian talks to start at 11am BST A meeting between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul aimed at paving the way for a potential ceasefire is expected to take place at 1pm local time (11am BST), at the Ciragan Palace, according to the Turkish foreign ministry. 03:06 PM BST Inside Ukraines Operation Spiderweb The operation to destroy Russian strategic bombers at four Russian airbases, according to Ukrainian sources, first involved Ukraine transporting small kamikaze first-person-view (FPV) drones to Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drones, which were laden with explosives, were allegedly then hidden under the roofs of containers inside trucks. Once the trucks were positioned close to their targets, where the drones would be in range, the lids of the containers were opened remotely and the drones flew on to strike the bombers. Ukrainian security sources have revealed the preparations behind Operation Spiderweb which saw Ukrainian drones target four air bases deep inside Russia - Telegram The operation, planned by Ukraines security agency, reportedly took 18 months to execute and was personally supervised by Volodymyr Zelensky - Telegram FPV drones were launched from the back of trucks parked close to the targets, sources said - Telegram 02:42 PM BST Revealed: Ukraines roadmap for peace Ukrainian negotiators at the talks at Istanbul will present a proposed roadmap for reaching a lasting peace settlement. The proposed roadmap, published by Reuters, begins with a full ceasefire of at least 30 days across land, sea and sky, to be followed by the return of all prisoners held by each side, and of Ukrainian children deported to Russia. A meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the blueprint which has been sent to Russia, Moscow and Kyiv - with the participation of the United States and Europe - will work to hash out the terms on which they can agree to put a complete end to their three-year-old war. The terms include no restrictions on Ukraines military strength after a peace deal is struck, no international recognition of Russian sovereignty over parts of Ukraine taken by Moscows forces, and reparations for Ukraine. The document also stated that the current location of the front line will be the starting point for negotiations about territory. 02:14 PM BST Russian strike kills 12 Ukrainian soldiers during training A Russian missile strike on a Ukrainian army training area killed at least 12 soldiers on Sunday and wounded more than 60 others, the Ukrainian army said. Today, on June 1, the enemy launched a missile strike on the location of one of the training units of the Ukrainian army, it said in a statement. As of 12:50 pm (0950 GMT), 12 people are known to have been killed and more than 60 wounded. 01:53 PM BST Russian delegation departs for talks with Ukraine The Russian delegation has departed for Istanbul for the next round of talks with Ukraine scheduled for Monday, June 2, state-run RIA news agency reported on Sunday, citing a source. Their departure came after Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine will participate in the talks. 01:36 PM BST Ukraine says Russia launched biggest drone attack of war Russia launched the biggest number of drones on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion three years ago, Ukraines air force said Sunday. The air force said 472 drones were launched over Ukraine along with seven missiles. It added that 382 of the drones were shot down or otherwise neutralised, along with three of the missiles. Russia has recently stepped up the amount of drones it launches at Ukraine in its regular nightly barrages. 01:28 PM BST Watch: Ukraine targets Russias Arctic base of Olenya Credit: Stratcom Centre 01:20 PM BST Explosions heard close to Russias Northern Fleet base A large explosion has rocked the Russian Arctic city of Severomorsk, which is home to the Northern Fleets main naval base. Footage showed a large blast, followed by a huge dust cloud, rising above the city. There has not yet been official comment from either Russia or Ukraine on the explosion. 01:15 PM BST Kyiv will attend peace talks tomorrow Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Ukraine will attend a second round of direct talks with Russia in Istanbul on Monday. I outlined (Ukraines) positions ahead of the meeting in Istanbul on Monday, Mr Zelensky wrote on Telegram after meeting with his officials. He added that the Ukrainian delegation would once again be headed by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov. For days, there had been uncertainty around Kyivs attendance at the Russia-proposed meeting after the Kremlin refused to share its peace settlement plans in advance of the high-level meeting. I heard reports from the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the General Staff, our intelligence agencies, and the Security Service of Ukraine. Our defense, our active actions, and our diplomacy. We are doing everything to protect our independence, pic.twitter.com/MAz2stbUUR Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) June 1, 2025 12:58 PM BST Analysis: Ukraine is breaking new ground These Ukrainian attacks on Russian air bases look very significant. Even if only some of the claims about the scale of the attacks are true (ie that more than 40 Russian aircraft were destroyed), the fact that you have combined strikes on Murmansk in Russias far north, more than 1,000 miles from the Ukrainian border, and even more extraordinary the Belaya Base in Irkutsk, 2,500 miles away, is breaking new ground. In March, Ukraine announced it had developed a drone with a range of 3,000km but this appears to go further. Some of the Russian planes allegedly hit are very vital pieces of kit, such as the A-50s, which have a $350m price tag. There has been much talk about an expected Russian summer offensive, but todays attack is Ukraines June surprise. 12:50 PM BST Drone attacks follow rail bombings The drone attacks on Russian air bases come just hours after a wave of explosions rocked the Russian rail network around Ukraine. Bombings targeted bridges and rail lines in regions bordering Ukraine, and inside Ukrainian-occupied territory, in what the Kremlin called acts of terrorism. Seven people died and scores were injured when a passenger train travelling to Moscow was derailed by a collapsed bridge in Bryansk, north of Kyiv. Meanwhile, a freight train was derailed by another fallen bridge in Kursk, the territory that Ukraine seized before being forced out by Russian forces earlier this year. On Saturday, Vladimir Putin was briefed on the alleged attacks by the FSB, Russias spy agency, the Kremlin said. 12:49 PM BST The worst day in history of Russia air force Ukraines strategic communications called todays strikes on Russian airfields probably the worst day in the history of the Russian air force. In what is probably the worst day in the history of the Russian air force, another airfield is exploding. Belaya airfield, with the voice of the head of the Ukraine's SBU, Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, commenting as more live footage comes in. Apparently 40 aircraft pic.twitter.com/sIwcSywlcz SPRAVDI Stratcom Centre (@StratcomCentre) June 1, 2025 12:44 PM BST Ukraine destroys Russian nuclear bombers in air base attacks Ukraine destroyed Russian strategic bombers in a mass drone attack on airfields deep inside Moscows territory. The operation, carried out by Ukraines security service (SBU), targeted four airfields in what could be the most damaging drone strike of the three-year war. Confirming the strike, an SBU source said: Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia this is the result of a special operation by the SBU. Footage from Belaya base in Siberia shows rows of Russian strategic and nuclear bombers burning, while heavy plumes of black smoke were seen rising above Olenya air base in the Arctic. Russia moved its expensive bombers thousands of miles from the frontline to get them out of range of Ukraines drones. Drones also targeted the Ivanovo air base, northeast of Moscow, and Dyagilevo base, south of the capital. A huge explosion has also rocked the Russian Arctic city of Severomorsk, which is home to the Northern Fleets main naval base, although the damage is not yet clear. The simultaneous strikes raise questions about the range at which Ukraine can carry out such sophisticated attacks, with some reports suggesting smuggled drones were launched from trucks close to the targets. It comes after a wave of bombings targeting Russian railway lines overnight, which derailed trains and killed at least seven people. Credit: Via Reuters 12:37 PM BST Hello and welcome to our live coverage Were bringing you all the latest from the war in Ukraine. 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. Donald Trump was not given a heads-up about Ukraines unprecedented drone strikes that took out a huge fleet of Russian planes on Sunday, according to reports. Ukraines large-scale drone attack launched deep into Russian territory wiped out 40 military bombers and targeted five bases, Ukrainian security sources told CBS News. The attack took over a year and a half to plan and was personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the sources added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian officials did not give the Trump administration advance notice of the attack, both Ukrainian and U.S. officials told Axios. The attack comes as Zelensky announced he would send a delegation headed by Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov to conduct ceasefire talks with Russia in Istanbul on Monday. President Donald Trump was kept in the dark about a Ukrainian drone strike that took out a huge fleet of Russian planes, according to reports. (REUTERS/AFP via Getty Images/EPA) A Ukrainian official told Axios the operation was conducted by the countrys security service, with officers launching drones from trucks covertly parked near Russian air bases. Some of the trucks were parked in Siberia, thousands of miles away from Ukraine, according to the report. About 40 Russian military planes, including strategic bombers, were reportedly struck in the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the first months of his second term, Trump has pushed for the now three-year-old war between Russia and Ukraine to come to an end. Trump, who has long been an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, recently vented his frustrations about the Russian leader online, writing on his Truth Social platform that Putin was absolutely CRAZY and needlessly killing a lot of people in Ukraine. Ukraines unprecedented drone attack on Russia comes as seven people were killed and 69 more injured after bridges collapsed in separate incidents across Russia. Russias Railways initially blamed the collapse in the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, on illegal interference in the operation of transport, in a likely reference to Ukrainian saboteurs, but the Telegram post was later removed. Historically, President Donald Trump and Russias President Vladimir Putin have enjoyed a very special relationship at least if youre viewing it through Trumps perspective. Mikhail Svetlov / Getty Images As far back as 2013, Trump was envisioning a friendship with the Russian authoritarian leader, whose allegiance to Trump has proved more ambiguous through the years. Do you think Putin will be going to The Miss Universe Pageant in November in Moscow if so, will he become my new best friend? Trump, the beauty pageants then-owner, tweeted in June 2013. Later, Trump praised Putin as a big hero in Russia and a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond. (CNN has a more exhaustive list of Trumps effusive remarks about Putin, if youre into that sort of thing) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin has spoken admiringly of Trump here and there, including a compliment about Trump behaving like a real man after an assassination attempt last year. But many, including former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton, believe Putin sees Trump as an easy mark on the global stage. As a former KGB agent, Putin knows exactly how to manipulate him, Bolton told the Kyiv Independent in March. (Of course, all of this is complicated by multiple investigations that have documented Russias interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, which Trump won. Putin has denied any tampering.) Related: A Republican's Response To A "Tax The Rich" Chant At His Town Hall Is Going Viral Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That very brief history brings us to the current day: Nearly four months into his second term, Trumps arguably one-sided bromance with Putin has apparently soured. Trump has become increasingly disillusioned with his political BFF as Putin continues to refuse to negotiate a ceasefire with Ukraine. Handout / Getty Images I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! Trump wrote in a widely mocked Truth Social post last month. On Sunday, after Putin launched the largest aerial attack of Moscows three-year full-scale war on Ukraine, Trump again criticized the Russian leader. Ive always had a very good relationship with Vladimir Putin of Russia, but something has happened to him. He has gone absolutely CRAZY! Trump wrote on Truth Social. He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and Im not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into Cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever. Truth Social / Via truthsocial.com Related: "I Am So Torn With What You Are Doing" 11 Posts From MAGA Business Owners Who Are So Close To Getting It Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then came Putins response, which couldnt have gone over well with Trump. Trump seemed to be experiencing emotional overload, the Kremlin mused the geopolitical equivalent of telling your wife she sounds crazy in the middle of an argument. Whats going on with these two? Is the honeymoon stage over? Was there ever much of a bromance to begin with? To untangle all of this, we reached out to Tracy Ross, a couples therapist in New York City, who characterized Trump and Putin as very much a toxic couple. For years, Trump unhealthily idealized and even seemed to aspire to be like the Russian strongman leader, Ross said. It didnt seem to register for Trump that the relationship was unrequited. He seemed to exhibit denial in order to maintain his version of who Putin is and what their relationship was, she said. Trump acted like someone with blinders on rose-colored glasses, defending Putins intentions and reasoning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The way he continuously expresses alignment with Putins positions even making the audacious claim that Ukraine started the war mirrors an unhealthy relationship dynamic (not to mention, puts the U.S. at risk). The stakes are different but the dynamics are similar, Ross said. In a toxic or unhealthy relationship dynamic, one person ignores, justifies or reasons away the behavior of the other that is damaging and even destructive. MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV / SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images Trump held tightly to his trumped-up, idealized version of Putin because he believed he was equally admired and respected by the other man, and that his loyalty would allow him to influence Putins actions. That doesnt seem to be the case, which may come as a surprise to Trump, but not to outsiders, which again mirrors an unhealthy relationship dynamic when the world sees what you dont because you are too far in it, or invested in your version until something breaks through the denial, Ross said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it does appear that Trump is finally waking up when it comes to all things Vlads, the tone hes taking lately is the opposite of strong or statesmanly. Those Truth Social posts speak to Trumps insecurity and need for approval and validation. The Vladimir, STOP! statement is oddly childish and groveling, Ross said. Its the way you would speak to someone you are very familiar with and close to. Hes trying to express his disapproval and yet hoping to maintain the perceived relationship, the emotional attachment he has to Putin. It wont be effective, because Putin doesnt need the approval and validation the way Trump does, Ross said. The Kremlins emotional overload comment is a classic deflective response. Its textbook gaslighting, but then again, so was Trump calling his buddy absolutely CRAZY earlier this week. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI via Getty Images Neither one is taking any accountability or trying to gain clarity, Ross said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this were a therapy setting, we would work on being interested in how they are impacting one another, trying to get them each to take responsibility instead of escalating, and trying to find resolution instead of upping the ante and continuing to place blame, she explained. In a marriage, these kinds of petty and small interactions would only lead to more fission. In a geopolitical bromance, the same could be said but then it wasnt much of a bromance to begin with. Friendship requires reciprocity, taking each others feelings and points of view into account, a back and forth, a give and take, and mutual respect and regard, she said. Mikhail Svetlov / Getty Images The Trump-Putin rapport always felt asymmetrical and politically imbalanced, with Putin gripping the lions share of the power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump often praised or defended Putin, while Putin remained measured or even condescending. There was admiration but it was one-sided, Ross said. Given that this was more of a fantasy bond than an actual bond, a friendship reconciliation is unlikely to happen. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in In the News: People Can't Believe This "Disgusting" Donald Trump Jr. Post About Joe Biden's Cancer Diagnosis Is Real Also in In the News: Miss USA's 2024 "National Costume" Has Been Revealed, And It's Obviously An Interesting Choice Also in In the News: One Body Language Expert Spotted Something Very Telling When Donald Trump "Held His Own Hand" At His Recent Press Conference US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are committed to the Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations and will make decisions based on the outcome of a two-week deadline set by Trump. Source: Tammy Bruce on Fox News, quoted by Interfax-Ukraine Details: When asked by the host whether the repeatedly mentioned two-week deadline, which appears to shift, will be met, Bruce responded: "It doesnt keep moving." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "I think what we have is a statement by both, certainly, the president recently and the secretary, noting that this is not a long-term thing. This is not simply standard operating procedure. Its not gonna go on for months or years, that we had standards and benchmarks for what should happen." Bruce noted that Trump remains "hopeful" for progress in the negotiations but is resolute, citing his recent posts on Truth Social expressing disappointment with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, indicating a shift in his stance. Quote: "The president is being very public that he feels there is this new framework, this timeline, about when we would know if they [Ukraine and Russia] are serious, and they [Trump and Rubio] will make decisions accordingly." Bruce added that the US requirements are known to both parties. Background On 30 May, US President Donald Trump once again said he was "surprised" and "disappointed" by the latest Russian strikes on Ukraine which were preventing the swift conclusion of a "deal". Earlier this week, Trump said he would only be able to determine "in about two weeks" whether Putin is deceiving him about his intention to establish peace in Ukraine. It is believed that Trump, who recently warned Putin that his unwillingness to engage in serious peace negotiations to end the war against Ukraine is "playing with fire", may be losing patience with Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said that it is a "great" pleasure to meet and congratulate Indian Navy officers Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A on the successful completion of the 'Navika Sagar Parikrama II' aboard INSV Tarini in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. In a post on X, the Goa Chief Minister said that it was truly inspiring to hear firsthand about their remarkable courage, unwavering commitment, and exceptional endurance in completing this historic circumnavigation. "It was a great pleasure to meet and congratulate Indian Navy officers Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A on the successful completion of the 'Navika Sagar Parikrama II' aboard INSV Tarini, in the presence of Hon'ble Defence Minister Shri @rajnathsingh ji at INS Hansa," CM Sawant said on X. "It was truly inspiring to hear firsthand about their remarkable courage, unwavering commitment, and exceptional endurance in completing this historic circumnavigation - a powerful testament to the strength, resilience, and determination of women in service to the nation," he added. "The Government of Goa looks forward to formally honouring their inspiring achievement in the days to come," the Goa CM affirmed. https://x.com/DrPramodPSawant/status/1929046273749037298 Indian Navy Officers Lieutenant Commander Dilna K and Lieutenant Commander Roopa returned to Goa on Saturday after successfully completing Navika Sagar Parikrama II, a circumnavigation expedition aboard the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini. A major highlight of the expedition was reaching Point Nemo, the most remote location on Earth, marking a rare feat for any sailing crew and a first for the Indian Navy's women officers. On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded the role of the women in the Indian armed forces while attending the flag-in ceremony of the Indian Navy Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini, which was out at sea for nearly 8 months on the voyage 'Navika Sagar Parikrama II' for circumnavigating the globe, with a crew of two: Lieutenant Commander Roopa. A Lieutenant Commander Dilna K. The Defence Minister lauded the bravery of the Navy officers, saying that to travel 45 thousand kilometres while facing the ocean is a feat of its own. "Around 25 thousand nautical miles, meaning around 45 thousand kilometres, were travelled in 8 months; that too, doing it while in the middle of the sea, is a big feat of bravery on its own," the Defence Minister said during his speech. "The loneliness you might have witnessed cannot be truly put into words. Here people stay with each other and feel lonely, and you people (the crew of INSV Tarini), facing the lonely sea, where one forgets about humans and cannot see any animals either. In that situation, you have spent 8 months. I understand that you might have faced many problems," Singh said. He highlighted the contribution of women in the armed forces. "Today, the daughters of our country are fulfilling their responsibilities very well from the heights of Siachen to the depths of the sea. The doors of the schools of armed forces have been opened for women," he said. (ANI) President Donald Trump has shared a baseless conspiracy theory that former President Joe Biden died and was replaced by a robotic clone. Late Saturday night, Trump, 78, shared a Truth Social post claiming his former political opponent, Biden, 82, was killed in 2020 and replaced by a clone unbeknownst to Democrats. There is no #JoeBidenexecuted in 2020, the post reads. The post goes on to claim that the real Biden was replaced by clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities and that Democrats dont know the difference. President Donald Trump on Saturday shared a baseless conspiracy theory that former President Joe Biden died and was replaced by a robotic clone. (AFP/Getty) Trumps supporters were quick to get behind his message, some sharing side-by-side memes of Biden claiming these are not the same people, and others egging on Trump for trolling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some commentators pointed to Bidens earlobes, claiming that before 2020, they appeared to be unattached to his head, whereas now they are. Another even insisted that the government televised giving Biden a funeral cannon salute at Arlington on his Inauguration Day. Detractors of the president, meanwhile, branded his sharing of the post concerning. Trumps wife, Melania, has also been the subject of similar conspiracy theories, with some claiming a body double replaced her during his first term. The White House at the time dismissed the theories as a non-story. Trumps Truth Social post has been jumped on by some of his supporters. (Truth Social) Trump has seemingly been digging into conspiracy theories all weekend, including on Friday when he claimed CBS deleted his 2015 interview with Stephen Colbert. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump reposted a Facebook video on his Truth Social account containing heavily edited clips of his September 2015 interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. A message next to the video states: You are not supposed to see this video. CBS DELETED this entire episode from their official website. You will not find these segments on YouTube either. However, a quick search on YouTube revealed otherwise. Clips from the Trump-Colbert interview are still available to be watched on the official Late Show account. One video has 17 million views. The Independent has contacted the White House for comment. President Donald Trump spewed out a bizarre conspiracy theory, reposting an outlandish claim that former President Joe Biden died in 2020 and was replaced with clones. Late Saturday night on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump shared a post from a pro-Trump account that seemingly alleged Biden was killed in 2020 and the country had been run by clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities during Bidens entire term. There is no #JoeBiden - executed in 2020. #Biden clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see. Democrats dont know the difference, the post that Trump shared read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HuffPost has reached out to the White House for comment. Trumps wife was previously at the center of similar conspiracy theories. Back in 2019, Trump denied the rumors and conspiracy theories that flooded the internet, which claimed his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, had been replaced by a body double during his first term in the White House. The Fake News photoshopped pictures of Melania, then propelled conspiracy theories that its actually not her by my side in Alabama and other places, Trump tweeted at the time. They are only getting more deranged with time! Last month, Trump entertained another conspiracy theory that Biden hid his cancer diagnosis while he was in office. The White House announced on May 18 that Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are things going on that the public wasnt informed [about], Trump alleged of Bidens diagnosis while speaking with reporters in the Oval Office on May 19. Trump then appeared to suggest that the situation should be investigated. Why wasnt the cognitive ability, why wasnt that discussed? And I think the doctor said hes just fine, he continued. And, its turned out thats not so. Its very dangerous. Look, this is no longer politically correct. This is dangerous for our country. Related... Donald Trump reposted a baseless conspiracy theory claiming Joe Biden was executed in 2020 and replaced with a robot clone. The president shared a post from a user on Truth Social late Saturday that alleged: There is no #JoeBiden executed in 2020. #Biden clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see. #Democrats dont know the difference. Similar unfounded theories about Biden have been floating around the internet for years. An eight-hour Facebook video posted in 2021 claimed that Biden is computer generated. Others have more recently purported that Biden was replaced with artificial intelligence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Truth Social account that posted the allegation that Biden is a robot has dabbled in other conspiracy theory lies, including that the 2020 election was stolen as part of a military-grade coup and that Trump has saved the world from the Satan Worshipping Deep State (DS) Global Elites. The presidents supporters encouraged the conspiracy in the replies, sharing side-by-side photos of Biden that they say are evidence he was replaced by a lookalike. One user shared a video that claimed Joe Bidens eyes changed from blue to black. This is not the first conspiracy theory Trump has dabbled in, although it may be one of the weirdest. Trump has relentlessly and falsely claimed the 2020 election was rigged. He alleged that former President Barack Obama was not born in the U.S. (and then falsely blamed Hillary Clinton for starting the birther controversy). And he has said the physical attack against Paul Pelosi, husband of former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, was staged. During the 2024 campaign, Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance repeated fabricated claims that Haitian immigrants were eating pets. These theories have all been proven untrue or have zero credible evidence to back their assertions. Members of Trumps administration have also pushed conspiracy theory lies into the mainstream. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has shared debunked claims, including that vaccines cause autism and that condensation emitted by airplanes is actually made up of harmful chemicals (a.k.a. chemtrails). These high-profile endorsements have arguably led to more people believing in them, including state legislators in Louisiana who recently voted to ban chemtrails. Trumps FBI Director Kash Patel has frequently endorsed the beliefs of QAnon, a specious conspiracy theory that alleges the U.S. government is run by a deep state pedophile ring of Satan worshipers. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. President Donald Trump is withdrawing the nomination of tech billionaire Jared Isaacman to lead NASA, a person familiar with the administrations personnel decisions said Saturday. The individual was not authorized to comment publicly. The White House and NASA did not immediately respond to emailed requests for comment. Trump announced last December during the presidential transition that he had chosen Isaacman to be the space agencys next administrator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isaacman is the CEO and founder of Shift4, a credit card processing company. He also bought a series of spaceflights from SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk. Isaacman testified at his Senate confirmation hearing on April 9 and a vote to send his nomination to the full Senate was expected soon. SpaceX is owned by billionaire Elon Musk, a Trump supporter and adviser who announced this week that he is leaving the government after several months at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Trump created the agency to slash the size of government and put Musk in charge. Semafor was first to report that the White House had decided to pull Isaacmans nomination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Administrator of NASA will help lead humanity into space and execute President Trumps bold mission of planting the American flag on the planet Mars. Its essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trumps America First agenda and a replacement will be announced directly by President Trump soon, said Liz Huston, a spokesperson for the White House. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. US President Donald Trump has withdrawn his nomination of billionaire tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as NASA head "after a thorough review of prior associations." On taking office in January, Trump proposed Isaacman, a close associate of SpaceX boss Elon Musk, to succeed Bill Nelson at the helm of the space agency, who left at the end of the presidency of Joe Biden. According to US media reports, Isaacman was to have been approved by the Senate shortly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But on Saturday evening, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that he would soon announce a new nominee "who will be Mission aligned, and put America First in Space," without elaborating further. In an indication of growing distance from Trump, Musk responded on his own social media platform X: "This sucks. I can't think of a better person for the job than Jared." Trump's decision took observers by surprise, as he had praised Isaacman highly in December before taking office, saying he would "drive NASA's mission of discovery and inspiration." Responding to Trump's decision, Isaacman posted on X that he was grateful for the opportunity and said he would be cheering the president and NASA on. "I have not flown my last mission whatever form that may ultimately take," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isaacman has participated in two private space missions. In 2021, he was one of the first non-professional crew in space, joining three others on a three-day trip around Earth. In September last year, he was part of the Polaris Dawn mission alongside three other space tourists, undertaking a space walk. In both missions he collaborated with Musk's SpaceX. Citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, the New York Times reported that Trump had told associates he intended to "yank" Isaacman's nomination after being told that Isaacman had donated to prominent Democrats. The decision was the latest example of how Trump "uses loyalty as a key criterion for top administration roles," the daily wrote. US President Donald Trump has withdrawn his nomination of billionaire tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman as NASA head "after a thorough review of prior associations." On taking office in January, Trump proposed Isaacman, a close associate of SpaceX boss Elon Musk, to succeed Bill Nelson at the helm of the space agency, who left at the end of the presidency of Joe Biden. According to US media reports, Isaacman was to have been approved by the Senate shortly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But on Saturday evening, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that he would soon announce a new nominee "who will be Mission aligned, and put America First in Space," without elaborating further. In an indication of growing distance from Trump, Musk responded on his own social media platform X: "This sucks. I can't think of a better person for the job than Jared." Trump's decision took observers by surprise, as he had praised Isaacman highly in December before taking office, saying he would "drive NASA's mission of discovery and inspiration." Responding to Trump's decision, Isaacman posted on X that he was grateful for the opportunity and said he would be cheering the president and NASA on. "I have not flown my last mission whatever form that may ultimately take," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isaacman has participated in two private space missions. In 2021, he was one of the first non-professional crew in space, joining three others on a three-day trip around Earth. In September last year, he was part of the Polaris Dawn mission alongside three other space tourists, undertaking a space walk. In both missions he collaborated with Musk's SpaceX. DENVER (KDVR) As the weather starts to heat up, many around the state look to cool off by floating down a river in a tube. While it can be a fun time, rescue crews encourage people to enjoy the water safely. Rockies set several more unwanted records on Saturday Lt. Doug Picone at West Metro Fire Rescue said there are two to three water rescues a week on Clear Creek. Each and every day its getting more and more busy, said Picone. Every time we go by the river, we see more and more people out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the weather continues to heat up and more people flock to rivers like Clear Creek in Golden, the chance for rescues grows. Its more and more dangerous as the weather gets nicer and we just have not hit that peak sunshine yet, said Picone. The sunshine plays a big factor. While tubers took to a relatively slow-moving river on Saturday, it could look entirely different in a few weeks. We havent had that increase in temperature to melt the snowmelt to bring the really rapid waters down, he said. He encourages people to keep an eye on water speeds, which can change from safe to dangerous quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They underestimate the waters ability to swiftly take you away, said Picone. He also stresses being aware of the water temperature, because it comes from snow melt, its a near certainty that the water will be cold, and prolonged exposure can lead to his team being called. That water can definitely bring your body temperature down, create hypothermia, said Picone. If you do go out, Picone said its best to do it sober. Drugs and alcohol and water and tubing can be a very poor mix, he said. 2 separate crashes occur in same vicinity of I-70 on Saturday afternoon No matter what time of the summer you decide to hit the river, your best practice is simply to be aware. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Be prepared because it can overwhelm you, he said. Know what youre getting into. 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. (Reuters) - The mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Sunday announced more than a $100 million trust aimed at repairing and addressing the "systemic impacts" of the 1921 massacre that targeted African American homes and businesses. The announcement was made on the 104th anniversary of the massacre, which started on May 31, 1921 and ended the following day, leaving as many as 300 dead. "This is a critical step to help to unify Tulsans and heal the wounds that for so long prevented generations of our neighbors from being able to recover from the race massacre," Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trust, which is named after the city's Greenwood District, where the massacre took place, will be created with the goal of securing $105 million in assets. It aims to secure those funds by the 105th anniversary of the attack on June 1, 2026. Assets could include property transferred to the Trust, philanthropic funding and public funding, according to a statement from the city. The focus areas for the trust include a $24 million housing fund to benefit residents of Greenwood and North Tulsa, and a $60 million cultural preservation fund aimed at improving buildings, among other things. Another focus will be a $21 million legacy fund for the development of trust-owned land and acquisition of land for the benefit of survivors and descendants of the massacre. The first year of operation will focus on planning, the mayor said, adding initial staff will be hired for fundraising efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Greenwood Trust is really a bridge that connects what we as a community can bring to the table and what the community needs," Nichols said in a statement. "As we seek to make this framework a reality, I am eager to work alongside my fellow Tulsans and partners across the country to create a fundamental shift in how we further establish generational wealth, housing opportunities, and repair for so many Tulsans." The Biden administration's U.S. Department of Justice in January said while there are credible reports that law enforcement was involved in the attack, it had no avenue to prosecute the crimes that occurred, citing the expiration of relevant statutes of limitations and the youngest potential defendants being more than 115 years old. (This story has been refiled to add a missing word in paragraph 1) (Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Aurora Ellis) Restoration efforts are currently underway on the Phidang Bailey Bridge after it sustained partial damage caused by the strong current of the Teesta River. The damage followed heavy rainfall in the region, which has raised concerns among local residents who depend heavily on the bridge for daily connectivity. Speaking to ANI, a local resident said, "Till the water level recedes, we will not be able to tell about the condition of the Phidang Bailey bridge. The bridge has suffered a lot of damage. This bridge is our lifeline...We request the officials to repair the bridge as soon as possible..." The damage to the bridge has raised concerns about the impact on the local population and the Army's movement in the region. Locals have expressed frustration that, despite their complaints almost a month ago, no action was taken. "The damage to Phidang Bailey Bridge will not only affect the people of Dzongu but the entire North Sikkim population as well as the Army movement. This is the only lifeline for the entire Mangan District. The District Magistrate and administration need to take quick action as despite our complaints almost a month ago, they failed to act. If the bamboo bridge was restored, it would have proved to be an alternative bridge in times of emergency like this, " another resident shared. Local residents and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) personnel worked overnight to ensure safe passage across the bridge, but the bridge's future depends on water levels stabilising. "If this continues, it will collapse. Half of North Sikkim will be cut off," warned a local. Despite repeated pleas from residents, the District Collector has dismissed renovation requests, stating the bridge is still functional. With the monsoon expected to continue for another three to four months, locals and stranded tourists in Lachen and Lachung remain anxious as the infrastructure struggles to withstand the persistent pressure of natural forces. Earlier in the day, the Teesta River's water level rose significantly due to the heavy and continuous downpour in Sikkim. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for today in the State's Mangan district for heavy to very heavy rain in the region. The MeT also issued an orange alert for the next 24 hours for Sikkim's Gyalshing, Namchi, Soreng, Gangtok, and Pakyong. Superintendent of Police (SP), Mangan district, Sonam Detchu Bhutia, on Saturday said that rescue operations are underway for the second day to find the nine missing persons after a tourist vehicle carrying 11 people plunged nearly 1,000 feet into the Teesta River near Chubombu, Mangan district on May 29. Rescue Volunteer from the Tourism Department, Anand Gurung, told ANI, "We were on our way for the rescue operation, going on to find the tourists who went missing after their car fell into the river. The roads are blocked for the next 7-8 km... The teams at the spot are carrying out the rescue operations. Our team was on backup, but we won't be able to reach today... Any vehicle cannot pass from here as of now..." According to the district administration, many properties have also been damaged due to a landslide reported in the Theeng and Chungthang areas in North Sikkim. The IMD has strongly advised citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, remain indoors wherever possible, and stay away from riverbanks and vulnerable slopes. (ANI) TULSA, Okla. (AP) Tulsa's new mayor on Sunday proposed a $100 million private trust as part of a reparations plan to give descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre scholarships and housing help in a city-backed bid to make amends for one of the worst racial attacks in U.S. history. The plan by Mayor Monroe Nichols, the first Black mayor of Oklahoma's second-largest city, would not provide direct cash payments to descendants or the last two centenarian survivors of the attack that killed as many as 300 Black people. He made the announcement at the Greenwood Cultural Center, located in the once-thriving district of North Tulsa that was destroyed by a white mob. Nichols said he does not use the term reparations, which he calls politically charged, characterizing his sweeping plan instead as a road to repair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For 104 years, the Tulsa Race Massacre has been a stain on our city's history, Nichols said Sunday after receiving a standing ovation from several hundred people. The massacre was hidden from history books, only to be followed by the intentional acts of redlining, a highway built to choke off economic vitality and the perpetual underinvestment of local, state and federal governments. Now it's time to take the next big steps to restore. Nichols said the proposal wouldn't require city council approval, although the council would need to authorize the transfer of any city property to the trust, something he said was highly likely. The private charitable trust would be created with a goal to secure $105 million in assets, with most of the funding either secured or committed by June 1, 2026. Although details would be developed over the next year by an executive director and a board of managers, the plan calls for the bulk of the funding, $60 million, to go toward improving buildings and revitalizing the city's north side. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Greenwood District at its height was a center of commerce, Nichols said in a telephone interview. So what was lost was not just something from North Tulsa or the Black community. It actually robbed Tulsa of an economic future that would have rivaled anywhere else in the world." Nichols' proposal follows an executive order he signed earlier this year recognizing June 1 as Tulsa Race Massacre Observance Day, an official city holiday. Events Sunday in the Greenwood District included a picnic for families, worship services and an evening candlelight vigil. Nichols also realizes the current national political climate, particularly President Trump's sweeping assault on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, poses challenging political crosswinds. The fact that this lines up with a broader national conversation is a tough environment, Nichols admitted, but it doesn't change the work we have to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacqueline Weary, is a granddaughter of massacre survivor John R. Emerson, Sr., who owned a hotel and cab company in Greenwood that were destroyed. She acknowledged the political difficulty of giving cash payments to descendants. But at the same time, she wondered how much of her family's wealth was lost in the violence. If Greenwood was still there, my grandfather would still have his hotel, said Weary, 65. It rightfully was our inheritance, and it was literally taken away. Tulsa is not the first U.S. city to explore reparations. The Chicago suburb of Evanston, Illinois, was the first U.S. city to make reparations available to its Black residents for past discrimination, offering qualifying households $25,000 for home repairs, down payments on property, and interest or late penalties on property in the city. The funding for the program came from taxes on the sale of recreational marijuana. Other communities and organizations that have considered providing reparations range from the state of California to cities including Amherst, Massachusetts; Providence, Rhode Island; Asheville, North Carolina; and Iowa City, Iowa; religious denominations like the Episcopal Church; and prominent colleges like Georgetown University in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Tulsa, there are only two living survivors of the Race Massacre: 110-year-old Lessie Benningfield Randle and Viola Fletcher, who is 111. The women, both of whom were in attendance on Sunday, received direct financial compensation from both a Tulsa-based nonprofit and a New York-based philanthropic organization, but have not received any recompense from the city or state. Damario Solomon-Simmons, an attorney for the survivors and the founder of the Justice for Greenwood Foundation, said earlier this year that any reparations plan should include direct payments to Randle and Fletcher and a victims' compensation fund for outstanding claims. A lawsuit filed by Solomon-Simmons on behalf of the survivors was rejected by the Oklahoma Supreme Court last year, dampening racial justice advocates' hopes that the city would ever make financial amends. ___ This story has been corrected to show one of the two living survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre is Lessie Benningfield Randle, not Leslie, and that the other living survivor, Viola Fletcher, is 111, not 110. The Ukrainian and Russian delegations are scheduled to meet for talks in Istanbul at 13:00 on Monday 2 June. Source: Turkish news agency Anadolu, citing diplomatic sources, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Turkish side has determined the venue for the talks between the delegations. Sources told Anadolu that the meeting will be held at the Cragan Palace, a five-star hotel in Istanbul. Background: Russian propaganda outlets have reported that the Russian delegation has left for Turkiye. On the afternoon of Sunday 1 June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the Ukrainian delegation, led by Defence Minister Rustem Umierov, would travel to Istanbul for negotiations with Russia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! PHOENIX Turning Point Action didnt leave a single stone unturned for Rep. Andy Biggs first rally in his bid for governor sixteen months ahead of the 2026 election. At the rally, Biggs made it clear he is all in on President Donald Trumps plan to reinstitute federalism. When the president does give the power back to the states, Arizona will need a strong, conservative governor, Biggs told the attendees at the rally, held in a ballroom at the Arizona Biltmore Resort Saturday evening. More than a thousand people showed up to support Biggs in the sweltering desert heat, with temperatures rising above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is Biggs vision for the Grand Canyon State? He joked he wants to make Arizona the Florida of the West, a nod to his colleague Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., who plans to run for governor of the Sunshine State. Donalds expressed support for Biggs in a video showed at the rally. Like Biggs, Donalds launched his bid earlier this year. For that, Biggs called him, jokingly, a copy cat. Byron, heres the deal, my good friend, youre going to win. Im going to win, and about 90 days after we win, in particular me, youre going to see the tail lights in Arizona scream past you, Biggs said. The idea was to initially be the Florida of the West, but we dont want to be just the Florida of the West. We want to be the most free, most prosperous, safest state, and thats what were going to do, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point Action, marveled at the idea of making the Grand Canyon State the new Florida. Biggs thanked his many friends who showed up and spoke in support of him, including Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah. Other Republicans who turned out included Arizona Reps. Eli Crane and Paul Gosar, Lauren Boebert of Colorado as well as former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, also made an appearance in a pre-recorded video. Biggs works harder than just about anybody you could ever meet in Congress, or anybody who exists, Lee said in the video message, and asked the attendees to join the friends of Biggs club, of which he said hes a proud member. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, speaks during the Utah Republican Partys state organizing convention held at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 17, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News Turning Point Action brings back energy to Arizona politics Its hard to ignore Biggs lucky streak. For starters, in 1993, he won a $10 million sweepstakes. More recently, in 2016, he initially won the Republican primary for his congressional district by nine votes, although the recount showed a 27 vote difference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this Brigham Young University graduate and Latter-day Saint has an extensive history in politics that goes beyond the congressional seat he has held since 2016. Biggs served as an Arizona state representative for eight years before being elected as a state senator, then served as the state Senate majority leader and Senate president during three legislative sessions. Andy was one of the first to endorse me when I ran back in 2020 and he and his wife, Cindy, came up to Utah, Owens recalled in a conversation with the Deseret News ahead of the event. Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, speaks as part of a panel during the Utah Republican Partys state organizing convention held at the UCCU Center in Orem on Saturday, May 17, 2025. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News We sat in an IHOP and just talked a little bit. ... I have a lot of respect for him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Owens, Biggs understands the America First agenda, and should he become governor, the Arizona representative would have a connection to Washington, D.C., knowing exactly what levers to pull, who to talk with and how it works. Attendees at the Biggs rally took their MAGA hats, shirts and other gear out for a serious spin for the first time since the 2024 presidential election. Its what hope looks like, Owens said about the energy at the rally. One attendee, Phoenix Union High School District board member Jeremiah Cota from Laveen, Ariz., thinks it may have to do with Gov. Katie Hobbs record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont fill a room with this many people unless the energy is on your side, he said. People have seen what Katie Hobbs has done. Its a disaster for Arizona, Cota said, calling her a veto governor. According to the Phoenix New Times, Hobbs vetoed 216 bills during the latest state legislative session, far more than the 143 bills she vetoed in 2023 and 73 in 2024. Republicans control both chambers of the state legislature. Owens said he doesnt think the fact that President Donald Trump has endorsed two Republican candidates for governor in Arizona will be a problem for Biggs, especially given the Arizona representatives personal relationship with the president. Biggs touted his endorsement from Trump but didnt mention his Republican opponent, attorney Karrin Robson, who also has Trumps support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a difference between being endorsed by Mr. Trump and being endorsed by President Trump (and) having his personal cell, Biggs said. And we have a kind of mutual respect, he said, adding their friendship goes beyond Congress. During Trumps first administration, Biggs said Trump invited him to go sit in this box (at) the World Series, but thats not the highlight of knowing the president. Biggs also served on the Latter-day Saints for Trump committee during the 2024 election. A decade of Trump Before bringing Biggs up to the stage, Kirk spoke about the need to remember. The Bible says over and over, remember, remember, remember ... because remembering leads towards constructive action, Kirk said. Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk speaks before Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives at the Turning Point Believers' Summit, Friday, July 26, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. | Alex Brandon Kirk reminded the audience that the very first Trump rally took place in Phoenix. This milestone helped cement the term MAGA into the mainstream conversation. From that rally through the last several election cycles, Kirk said Trump was tested before he finally won a second term in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What started here in Arizona 10 years ago is still continuing, Kirk said of the initial rally. Diane Anderson, the president of the Leisure World Republican Club in Mesa, Ariz., was one of the thousands of people to attend the first rally at the Phoenix Convention Center in 2015. We stood outside for hours. It was so hot, Anderson said. The venue didnt have any chairs set up so they stood close to the stage. There were speakers, and when Donald Trump came on ... I thought that he was rude, she said, laughing. But after he spoke about shutting down the southern border, she said she was all in and has been a staunch supporter ever since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A decade later, now at Biggs rally, Anderson said she thinks Turning Point Action is revitalizing the Republican Party. Theyre not turning the government around but theyre changing minds of the young people. .. And thats what we need. Anderson said she considers Biggs a dear personal friend of hers and thinks this election an important one. Arizona has 300,000 more registered Republican than Democratic voters and Trump won this swing state by 5.5% last year. They call us a red state. How can we be a red state with a Democrat governor, a Democrat secretary of state, a Democrat attorney general, and our legislature, (which) is red just by a hair, she said. Almost a quarter of eligible voters had cast their ballots in the run-off for the Polish presidential elections by midday on Sunday, slightly exceeding the figure for the 2020 election, the electoral commission reported. The commission put turnout at 24.83% at midday. Around 29 million Poles are eligible to vote. Pre-election polling put Rafa Trzaskowski from Prime Minister Donald Tusk's alliance virtually level with Karol Nawrocki, an independent backed by the conservative nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS) opposition. Polls close at 9 pm (1900 GMT), with the result to be declared on Monday. Russian forces have dropped an explosive from a drone onto a car in the settlement of Komyshany in Kherson Oblast, injuring two children. Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "Two children have been injured in a Russian drone attack in Komyshany. At around 17:10, the Russians dropped an explosive from a UAV onto a car carrying two boys aged 11 and 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have sustained mine-blast and craniocerebral injuries, as well as concussions. The younger boy has suffered a chest wound. The older one sustained injuries to his leg and arm. They have been taken to hospital. Doctors are providing all the necessary assistance." Background: On the morning and afternoon of 1 June, Russian forces launched artillery and drone strikes on the city of Kherson, killing an elderly woman and a man and injuring four people. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! PARIS (Reuters) - More than 500 people were arrested by police during the Champions League final celebrations in France, and two people were reported dead and 192 injured, the interior ministry said as further festivities were planned on Sunday. Wild celebrations erupted across the French capital and beyond on Saturday night after Paris St Germain crushed Italian opponents Inter Milan to win the Champions League for the first time. The interior ministry's provisional assessment on Sunday morning was that 559 people had been arrested, including 491 in Paris, which led to 320 people being placed in police custody, 254 of them in Paris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was one fatal accident when a young man in his twenties died in a collision with a vehicle, police chief Laurent Nunez told reporters, while in the southwestern city of Dax, a 17-year-old died from stab wounds, French media reported. "A judicial investigation will determine whether or not it (the fatality in Paris) can be linked to the celebrations. At this stage, it appears to be connected to the festivities," Nunez said. On the boutique-lined Champs Elysees avenue, bus shelters were smashed and projectiles hurled at riot police, who fired tear gas and water cannon to push back surging crowds as thousands of supporters who descended on the area. The interior ministry on Sunday reported hundreds of fires, including more than 200 vehicles burned. Some 22 members of the security forces and seven firefighters were harmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nunez warned that more skirmishes could occur on Sunday as PSG will parade on the Champs Elysees before celebrating the title with their fans at the Parc des Princes stadium. "Were at halftime, so to speak, as this afternoon we have the parade taking place on the Champs Elysees," Nunez said. "Only those attending the parade will be allowed on site. A maximum attendance of just over 100,000 people has been set beyond that, no-one else will be allowed in. "This evening, there will be a celebration at the Parc des Princes as well. We also expect gatherings around the Place de la Porte de Saint Cloud, and we will respond in the same measured but firm way should there be any attempts to block the ring road, attack law enforcement, or cause further damage." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paris had deployed 5,400 officers in anticipation of celebrations following a PSG win, Nunez had said on Friday. (Reporting by Juliette Jabkhiro and Julien Pretot; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and David Holmes) One person has been killed in southern France amid celebrations over Paris Saint-Germain's victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final on Saturday, French police said on Sunday. The young man was fatally stabbed in the town of Dax, south of Bordeaux, as a crowd of people was celebrating the win in Munich, according to a police spokeswoman. The exact circumstances of the incident remained initially unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Interior Ministry reported a second death on the sidelines of the celebrations. According to local media, a woman on a scooter was hit by fans with a car in Paris and died. Across France, some 192 people were injured, including 22 security forces and seven firefighters during clashes that occurred amid the celebrations, according to a preliminary estimate by the ministry. At least 559 people were detained during riots overnight, most of them in Paris. Elsewhere in France, a car drove into a crowd of people in the eastern city of Grenoble on Saturday evening. Police have said they are treating the incident as an accident, with four members of the same family injured, two of them seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police initially did not provide further figures on the number of people injured in connection with the Champions League celebrations. PSG won the Champions League final 5-0 for their first European Cup. LOGAN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) Two people are dead after a three-vehicle crash in Logan County. Troopers with the Illinois State Police responded to the intersection of Illinois 121 and 1100 Street around 1:21 p.m. on Friday. Four dead after car vs. train crash in Shelby Co. After investigating, State Police said the accident involved a truck-tractor semi-trailer, an unoccupied parked vehicle, and a vehicle with two people inside. The driver of the semi-trailer was uninjured, but both occupants inside the other vehicle were fatally injured, Illinois State Police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this time, the Illinois State Police said they are not able to release further details about how the accident happened. IL-121 was temporarily closed from County Road 1200 N. to 1600th Avenue but has since re-opened. The Logan County Coroners Office told WCIA that the families of the victims have been notified. No other information is available 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. The 2025 Womens Volleyball Nations League (VNL) roster was announced for USA Volleyball on Friday. The roster with 14 players who will head to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in early June to compete against 17 of the worlds top teams. Former Rainbow Wahine, Amber Igiede and Iolani Alum Saige Kaahaaina-Torres were named to the roster. Kaahaaina-Torres is 1 of 2 setters on the team and will be making her first appearance in her career for the USA in the VNL. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Igiede is also making her 1st career appearance on the USA Volleyball squad in the VNL and she is 1 of 4 Middle Blockers on the roster. The USA Womens team are currently ranked no.3 in the world and just recently won the silver medal in the Olympics. This team has won the VNL 3 times since it began in 2018, with their last win coming in 2021. Igiede and Kaahaaina-Torres will look to help continue this success as they will head with the team to Brazil from June 4th-8th. 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. According to Delhi Police, information was received regarding a murder in the Baljeet Nagar area of PS Patel Nagar. It was found that a 32-year-old lady identified as Menaka Singh was strangled. She was a homemaker whose husband works as a salesman in a Kirti Nagar furniture store. The accused, Dharmendra Kumar, aged 28 years, has been arrested. He works at a printing press. The motivation behind the situation is an illicit relationship that led to a quarrel. (ANI) The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two occupants from a plane that crashed into the Long Island Sound southeast of the Thimble Islands near Branford. The two people were in stable condition and were taken to Stony Creek Pier for EMS support, according to a post by the U.S. Coast Guard on X. In addition to the U.S. Coast Guard, the New Haven and Branford fire departments responded as well. The crash happened six miles from Tweed Airport. The airport said on a Facebook post that the plane was a Piper Cherokee and confirmed that were two people on board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A small aircraft has been reported in the water off the coast of the Town of Branford. The flights origin and destination are currently unknown, the post reads. The Coast Guard has been notified. The control tower has contacted local authorities. Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting has been activated and is on standby. Andrew King, a Tweed spokesperson, said the Branford Fire Department launched its water rescue craft. He confirmed that this was not a flight that had departed or was destined for Tweed. On its initial course it did not look like (the plane) had any purpose or intent to go to Tweed, King said. He said he doesnt expect any effects to activity at the airport today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to AirNav, a data service company that tracks global flights, the plane took off from Bridgeport this morning. The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating the crash. A Piper PA-32 crashed into Long Island Sound south of Tweed New Haven Airport in Connecticut around 10:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, June 1. Two people were on board. The FAA will investigate, according to an email from the FAA. According to the FAA, the fixed wing single-engine plane was registered by a resident of Newtown. A spokesperson from the National Transportation Safety Board said the organization is still gathering information. The NTSB is aware and collecting information about the incident, but we are currently waiting on recovery efforts to make a determination on an investigation, the NTSB spokesperson said. NEW YORK United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew won his reelection bid Saturday, edging out two rival candidates who challenged the longtime incumbent over his handling of retiree health care and dissatisfaction with the status quo. Mulgrews caucus, known as Unity, secured 54% of the vote this election cycle, compared to 32% and 14% for the opposition slates, A Better Contract (ABC) and Alliance of Retiree and In-Services Educators (ARISE), respectively. More than 58,300 UFT members cast ballots the highest voter turnout in a teachers union election in recent years. I want to thank the tens of thousands of UFT members who put their trust in Unity and in our work on behalf of the union, Mulgrew said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UFT is New York Citys second-largest, public-sector union with nearly 200,000 active and retired teachers, paraprofessionals and other members. With his latest victory, Mulgrew, the UFT president since 2009, has won six consecutive elections, but by increasingly smaller margins. In 2022, Unity won roughly 66% of the vote, while the opposition slate in the race secured 34% of ballots. This years election results continued that trend. The results cap off a particularly invigorated election cycle, including an unsuccessful legal challenge by A Better Contract over in-person voting. In recent months, Mulgrew campaigned on the passage of the states 2022 class size law, took a sharply critical stance of Mayor Eric Adams relationship with the Trump administration, and tried to push through legislation to boost pay for paraprofessionals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ARISE brought together three caucuses, including the progressive Movement of Rank and File Educators (MORE) and Retiree Advocate, which last year toppled Mulgrews ally who led the Retired Teacher chapter. The ARISE coalition, led by Olivia Swisher, a middle school art teacher in Brooklyn, hoped to harness the anger against Mulgrew over efforts to move former city workers onto privatized health care, known as Medicare Advantage, which retired teachers said could diminish their care. Acknowledging those headwinds, Mulgrew has since withdrawn the UFTs support for the the plan, which would have provided the city with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual savings. A Better Contract was led by Amy Arundell, a former top borough official at Unity. She left the caucus after she was removed from her position overseeing all union matters in Queens amid controversy over a pro-Israel union resolution. ABC, too, stood against the switch to Medicare Advantage. The insurgent bids seized on a growing anti-incumbent sentiment, which most recently played a part in the ouster of longtime health care labor leader George Gresham of 1199SEIU, who POLITICO reported used member dues to benefit himself, his family and political allies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Driven in part by that feeling, voter turnout increased by 15% since last election, according to the results. Both slates insisted that pay raises in the last contract did not keep pace with the cost of living. Mulgrews rivals have also accused current leadership of not giving the rank and file enough of a voice in union matters and also of backroom dealings. In particular, some of his critics took issue with the citys new reading curriculum mandates, which were announced alongside the UFT, which they said threaten teacher autonomy and professionalism. The UFT president and other newly elected officers will serve three-year terms, starting on July 1. By Elizabeth Piper and Sam Tabahriti LONDON (Reuters) -Britain said on Monday it would radically change its approach to defence to address threats from Russia, nuclear risks and cyber-attacks by investing in drones and digital warfare rather than relying on a much larger army to engage in modern combat. Responding to U.S. President Donald Trump's insistence that Europe take more responsibility for its own security, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged the largest sustained increase in British defence spending since the end of the Cold War. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with limited finances, the government's plan envisages making the army more lethal, not much larger, by learning from Ukraine, where drones and technology have transformed the battlefield. Defence Secretary John Healey said Britain's adversaries were working more in alliance and technology was changing how war was fought. "Drones now kill more people than traditional artillery in the war in Ukraine and whoever gets new technology into the hands of their armed forces the quickest will win," he said. Starmer commissioned a Strategic Defence Review shortly after he was elected in July, tasking experts including the former NATO boss, George Robertson, and a former Russia adviser to the White House, Fiona Hill, with formulating a plan for the next 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite cuts to the military budget in recent years, Britain still ranks alongside France as one of Europe's leading military powers, with its army helping to protect NATO's eastern flank and its navy maintaining a presence in the Indo-Pacific. But the army, with 70,860 full-time trained soldiers, is the smallest since the Napoleonic era and the government has said it needs to be reformed given the growing strategic threats. James Cartlidge, defence policy chief for the opposition Conservatives, said the government had failed to prove it could finance the review's recommendations, meaning it had "dodged the big decisions". "An SDR (Strategic Defence Review) without the funding is an empty wish list," Cartlidge told lawmakers, many of whom criticised the government for not releasing the review first to parliament rather than to the media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Britain's biggest defence company BAE Systems welcomed the review, describing it in a statement as a "clear demand signal" for the defence sector to invest in capacity and develop technologies. NEW DEFENCE AGE Under the plan accepted by the government, Britain will expand its fleet of attack submarines, which are nuclear-powered but carry conventional weapons, and will spend 15 billion pounds ($20.3 billion) before the next election, due in 2029, on the replacement of the nuclear warheads for its main nuclear fleet. It will build at least six new munitions plants, procure up to 7,000 British-made long-range weapons, and launch new communication systems for the battlefield. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Cyber and Electromagnetic Command will lead defensive and offensive cyber capabilities, after British military networks faced more than 90,000 "sub-threshold" attacks in the last two years. But on the size of the armed forces, the review said it would not reduce numbers, even as a greater emphasis is put on technology, but would increase the total number of regular personnel when funding allowed. Healey said the number of full-time soldiers would reach 76,000 in the next parliament, likely after 2029. "The moment has arrived to transform how we defend ourselves," Starmer told workers at BAE Systems' Govan shipbuilding site in Scotland, saying he would "end the hollowing out of our armed forces". "When we are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, the most effective way to deter them is to be ready," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starmer has already said defence spending would increase to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, from 2.3%, but critics and political opponents urged the government to put a date on when it would move to 3% of GDP. Reuters has previously reported that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte wants members to raise defence spending to 3.5% of their GDP, and a further 1.5% on broader security-related items to meet Trump's demand for a 5% target. Starmer said he was "100% confident" that British defence spending would hit 3% in the next parliament, likely between 2029 and 2034, something the review took into account when drafting its recommendations. The government described its policy as "NATO first", drawing on the strength of the alliance's members which meant it would never fight alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Starmer has sought to cast the higher defence spending as a way to create jobs and wealth, as he juggles severely strained public finances, a slow-growing economy and declining popularity among an increasingly dissatisfied electorate. The announcement about new submarines helped lift the share prices of defence groups Babcock, BAE and Rolls Royce. ($1 = 0.7386 pounds) (Writing by Kate Holton and Elizabeth Piper; additional reporting by William James, Muvija M and Paul Sandle; Editing by William Maclean, Alex Richardson and Cynthia Osterman) LONDON (AP) The U.K. is about to see the biggest increase in defense spending since the end of the Cold War as it seeks to send "a message to Moscow," the British defense secretary said Sunday. John Healey said the Labour government's current plans for defense spending will be enough to transform the country's military following decades of retrenchment, though he does not expect the number of soldiers currently at a historic low to rise until the early 2030s. He said plans for defense spending to hit 2.5% of national income by 2027, which amounts to an extra 13 billion pounds ($17 billion) or so a year, were on track and that there was no doubt it would hit 3% in the next parliament in the early 2030s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The government will on Monday respond to a strategic defense review, overseen by Healey and led by Lord George Robertson, a former NATO secretary general and defense secretary in a previous Labour government. It is expected to be the most consequential review since the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, and make a series of recommendations for the U.K. to deal with the new threat environment, both on the military front and in cyberspace. Like other NATO members, the U.K. has been compelled to take a closer look at its defense spending since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This is a message to Moscow, Healey told the BBC. This is Britain standing behind, making our armed forces stronger but making our industrial base stronger, and this is part of our readiness to fight, if required. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. President Donald Trump has also piled pressure on NATO members to bolster their defense spending. And in recent months, European countries, led by the U.K. and France, have scrambled to coordinate their defense posture as Trump transforms American foreign policy, seemingly sidelining Europe as he looks to end the war in Ukraine. Trump has long questioned the value of NATO and complained that the U.S. provides security to European countries that dont pull their weight. Healey also said Russia is attacking the U.K. daily as part of some 90,000 cyber attacks from state-linked sources that were directed at the U.K,s defense over the last two years. A cyber command to counter such threats is expected to be set up as part of the review. The tensions are greater but we prepare for war in order to secure the peace, he said. If youre strong enough to defeat an enemy, you deter them from attacking in the first place. While on a visit to a factory on Saturday where Storm Shadow missiles are assembled, Healey said the government would support the procurement of up to 7,000 U.K.-built long-range weapons and that new funding will see U.K. munitions spending hitting 6 billion pounds in the coming years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Six billion over the next five years in factories like this which allow us not just to produce the munitions that equip our forces for the future but to create the jobs in every part of the U.K., he said. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary for the main opposition Conservative Party, welcomed the governments pledge to increase defense spending but said he was skeptical as to whether the Treasury would deliver. He called on the government to be more ambitious and raise spending to 3% of national income within this parliament, which can run until 2029. We think that 2034 is a long time to wait, given the gravity of the situation, he told Sky News. The U.K. is looking to revamp its defense capabilities and on the wish list of new weapons are U.S.-made fighter jets capable of launching tactical nuclear weapons to, in part, counter the threat from Russia, the Sunday Times reported on June 1. The British military has a substantial nuclear arsenal, but after decommissioning a number of platforms at the end of the Cold War, can today only launch such weapons from its submarines. According to the Sunday Times, the new air fleet will form a key part of the UK's strategic defense review, set to go public on June 2. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military is looking at F-35A Lightning stealth fighter jets, made by Lockheed Martin, the report says. The review is largely in response to the increasing risk of state-on-state warfare, specifically the threat of a Russian attack. In other line items from the pending review, the U.K. government is asking for 6 billion ($8 billion) for more ammunition, to be manufactured in six new factories, as well as a boost in the number of the navy's fleet of destroyers and frigates from 14 to 25. The U.K. government will also consider a new missile defense shield capable of protecting against prospective ballistic attacks. The broad plan is to boost British defense spending to 3% of GDP. But the projected timeframe for that boost is between now and 2034. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Post-Cold War plans for increasing defense spending in Europe have historically sunk amid murky deadlines and administration handoffs. Read also: As 50,000 Russian troops amass, Ukraines Sumy Oblast braces for potential large-scale offensive Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MOSCOW (Reuters) -Ukraine attacked Russian nuclear-capable long-range bombers at a military base in Siberia on Sunday, the first such attack so far from the front lines more than 4,300 km (2,670 miles) away, according to pro-Russian bloggers. Unverified video and pictures posted on social media showed Russian strategic bombers - whose purpose is to drop nuclear bombs on distance targets - on fire at the Belaya air base north of Irkutsk. Reuters was unable to immediately verify the footage but in Kyiv, a Ukrainian intelligence official told Reuters that Ukraine's domestic security agency, the SBU, conducted a large drone attack on over 40 Russian military aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian source, speaking on condition of anonymity to Reuters in Kyiv, said the struck aircraft included Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers, which Russia uses to fire long-range missiles at Ukraine. Igor Kobzev, the governor of Irkutsk, said that there had been a drone attack on a military unit near the village of Sredny in the Usolsky district, but did not mention strategic aviation. In video that he posted on Telegram, drones could be heard flying overhead and a giant plume of smoke rising into the sky. He said, though, that it was the first such attack in that part of Siberia - and added that the number of drones in the attack was unclear. The drones, he said, had been launched from a truck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Belaya, or Sredny, airbase is located near the village of Sredny, and hosts Tupolev Tu-22M supersonic long-range strategic bomber, according to open source details about Russia's armed forces. There was also a Ukrainian drone attack in the Murmansk region of northern Russia, according to local officials. The Olenya airbase, which also hosts strategic aviation, is located in the Murmansk region, according to open source data. (Reporting by Reuters in Moscow and Tom Balmforth in Kyiv; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) Ukrainian forces have destroyed dozens of Russian warplanes parked at air bases thousands of miles from the front lines, according to a source in the countrys security services, in one of Kyivs most audacious and sophisticated counter assaults since the beginning of the war. The operation, dubbed Spiderweb, saw drones hit targets across a large swathe of Russia, including in Belaya which is closer to Japan than Ukraine and at Olenya base near Murmansk in the Arctic Circle, according to the source. More than 40 Russian aircraft were burning en masse at four air bases, the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The SBU, Ukraines domestic intelligence agency, said the strikes caused an estimated $7 billion in damages and hit 34% of Russias strategic cruise missile carriers at its main air bases. The drone attacks came on the eve of expected peace talks in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine, which were already strained by uncertainty and pressure from US President Donald Trump. The Trump administration was not given a heads-up about the operation, an administration official told CNN. The strikes appear intended to send a message to Russia that Ukraine could still apply pressure more than three years since Russias unprovoked invasion. Kyiv has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of not wanting to end the war as Moscow ramps up its attacks and offensive operations, including launching its largest drone assault on Ukraine since the war began overnight Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The operation, more than a year and a half in the making, involved drones being smuggled into Russian territory and hidden in wooden mobile houses atop trucks, according to the security source. The roofs were then remotely opened, and the drones deployed to launch their strikes. This picture shows drones said to be used by Ukraine in its coordinated attacks on Russian air bases. - Obtained by CNN Social media video geolocated by CNN to seven kilometers southeast of the Belaya Air Base in Russias eastern Irkutsk region, appears to show a drone flying out of a wooden shed loaded onto a truck as smoke rises in the background. Images also show drones stacked inside what appear to be wooden crates with retractable roofs ahead of the operation. The planning, organization, and all the details were perfectly prepared. It can be confidently said that this was an absolutely unique operation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X. Zelensky said 117 drones were used to carry out the attacks, which were played up as a military and propaganda win for Ukraine that caught Russia off-guard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The office of our operation on Russian territory was located directly next to FSB headquarters in one of their regions, Zelensky said on X. More than 40 aircraft were known to have been hit, according to the Security source, including TU-95 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers and one of Russias few remaining A-50 surveillance planes. We are doing everything to drive the enemy from our native land! We will strike them at sea, in the air, and on land. And if needed well reach them even from underground, the SBU said in a statement. A senior US defense official told CNN that Ukraines attack showed a level of sophistication that they had not seen before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth received regular updates as he traveled to Joint Base Andrews on Sunday but has not yet spoken to his Ukrainian counterparts, the official said. The airfields targeted included Belaya in Irkutsk, some 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) from Ukraines border with Russia, and the Dyagilevo base in Ryazan in western Russia, about 520 kilometers (320 miles) from Ukraine, which is a training center for Russias strategic bomber force. The Olenya base near Murmansk in the Arctic Circle, more than 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from Ukraine, was also struck, according to the source, as well as the Ivanovo air base, more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) from Ukraine. Ivanovo is a base for Russian military transport aircraft. Smoke rises above the area following a Ukrainian drone attack in the Usolsky district of the Irkutsk region of Russia, in this still image from a video published June 1, 2025. - Governor of Irkutsk Region Igor Kobzev/Handout via Reuters The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed Ukraine had targeted Russian airfields across five regions on Sunday, calling the drone strikes terrorist attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ministry said strikes were repelled in the Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur regions but that several pieces of aircraft caught fire after attacks in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions. It added that the fires had since been extinguished. There were no casualties as a result of the attacks, the ministry continued, adding that some participants in the terrorist attacks have been detained. The governor of Irkutsk region, Igor Kobzev, said that drones had been launched from a truck near the Belaya base. Kobzev said on Telegram that the exact number of drones deployed had not been determined. Emergency and security services were at the site, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SBU drones were targeting aircraft that bomb Ukrainian cities every night, the security source said. One video supplied by the source purportedly shows the Belaya airfield in flames and the voice of the head of the SBU, Lt. Gen. Vasyl Malyuk, commenting on the situation. How beautiful Belaya airfield looks now. Enemys strategic aircraft, he says. CNN was able to confirm the location of that video, as well as two others posted on social media showing smoke rising from the Belaya air base. It was not immediately able to independently verify other videos provided by the SBU. The security source said that the operation was extremely complicated from a logistical point of view, with the drones carried inside wooden mobile homes that had been carried into Russia on trucks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drones were hidden under the roofs of the houses, which were already placed on trucks. At the right moment, the roofs were remotely opened, and the drones flew to hit Russian bombers. One video purportedly of one attack appears to show drones rising from a truck, as vehicles pass on a nearby highway. Another image shows the roof of the truck on the ground. Ukrainian forces have destroyed dozens of Russian warplanes parked at air bases thousands of miles from the front lines, according to a source in the countrys security services. - Obtained by CNN The source added that people involved were already back in Ukraine. Ukraines operation followed a Russian attack overnight Saturday that involved 472 drones Moscows largest drone attack since the war began. It came the same day as a Russian missile strike on a training site used by Ukrainian forces, killing at least 12 people and wounding more than 60 others. It also came soon after two bridges collapsed in Russias western regions bordering Ukraine in unclear circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This chain of events comes as Russia and Ukraine are set to return to peace negotiations on Monday. The talks, which will take place in Istanbul, have been strained by uncertainty. US President Donald Trump has expressed frustration around Russian President Vladimir Putins resistance to advancing the peace talks. Putin proposed holding direct talks in Turkey earlier this month but never showed up, despite Zelensky agreeing to meet. In the end, the two nations sent low-level delegations to negotiate instead. A framework from the Ukrainian delegation lists key principles for the talks that include a full and unconditional ceasefire, an exchange of prisoners, and the release of hostages and return of abducted children. CNNs Frankie Vetch, Eve Brennan and Catherine Nicholls contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, each candidate requires a minimum of 34 votes to clinch a Rajya Sabha seat. The DMK-led INDIA bloc, with 158 MLAs (DMK: 133, Congress:17, VCK: 4, CPI: 2, CPM: 2), is poised to win four seats comfortably. Actor Kamal Haasan launched Makkal Needhi Miam at a public meeting in Madurai in 2018. Makkal Needhi Miam did not contest in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, and instead it campaigned for the DMK-led INDIA bloc in the State. In return, the DMK had promised a Rajya Sabha seat for the party. Makkal Needhi Miam had secured 2.62% of the votes in the 2021 State Assembly election. Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan has courted a political controversy with his alleged remarks claiming that "Kannada has its roots in Tamil." Haasan reiterated his faith in "law and democracy" on Friday while responding to the ongoing controversy surrounding his purported remark on the Kannada language during the promotion of his movie 'Thug Life' in Chennai. Terming India as a "democratic country," the actor stated that he won't "apologise" to anyone for his actions if he is "not wrong". Pro-Kannada organisations have demanded a public apology from him for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Kannada people. (ANI) Corrected at 19:12. The headline and the first three paragraphs of the article have been revised due to changes in the source article, and a fourth paragraph has been added. Axios has reported that Ukraine did not inform the United States in advance of its Security Service (SSU) operation that resulted in the destruction of dozens of Russian aircraft. Source: Axios, citing an anonymous Ukrainian official; European Pravda Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The Ukrainian official, speaking to Axios on condition of anonymity, said that Ukraine had not informed the administration of US President Donald Trump in advance of the planned attack on Russian airfields. This was also confirmed by CBS News sources within Trumps administration, while the TV channel added that the White House declined to comment officially. Background: On 1 June, Russia was hit by a series of strikes on at least four airfields. Sources told Ukrainska Pravda this was an SSU special operation that resulted in damage to approximately 40 aircraft, particularly strategic bombers. An Ukrainska Pravda source within the SSU said that this operation had been in preparation for over a year and a half. As part of the operation, the Ukrainian special service first smuggled first-person view drones into Russia, followed later by mobile wooden crates used to conceal the drones. "At the right moment, the roofs of the crates were remotely opened and the drones flew out to target Russian bombers," the source stated. The strikes on Russian aircraft have taken place shortly before the Ukraine-Russia negotiations scheduled for 2 June in Istanbul. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Credit: Social Media In an undisclosed location near the front line, Vanya, a Ukrainian soldier, traverses through a field covered in the traces of a deadly Russian weapon. Its not unexploded ordnance or landmines beneath his boots, however, but an endless stream of razor-thin fibre-optic cables, glistening in the sun while spooled out across the landscape. These are the lifelines of Russias most effective weapon fibre-optic guided FPV (first-person view) drones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once an obscure experiment, these drones have become one of the defining weapons of the battlefield in recent months, impervious to jamming and able to strike targets far behind enemy lines with chilling precision. X/@GrandpaRoy2 Whats more, while Ukraine first pioneered drone warfare, its Russia that appears to have mastered this next phase. Our advantage in drones, which we have held since 2023, has been surpassed by the Russians, a senior non-commissioned officer with Ukraines 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, call sign Jackie, told The Telegraph. We did all the work of innovating drones as a weapon, but we did not scale this weapon fast enough on an industrial level for it to have a meaningful strategic effect. We were too slow. Pivot in drone warfare The dominance of fibre-optic drones marks a pivot in drone warfare. In 2024, Ukrainian and Russian production of traditional, radio-controlled FPV drones surged. But these drones relied on radio frequencies, meaning they increasingly fell prey to electronic warfare (EW) jamming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, by the end of last year, up to 75 per cent of drones fired by Russia and Ukraine were being knocked out by jamming, according to military expert Pavlo Narozhny. Enter the fibre-optic drone a wired throwback to Cold War-era anti-tank missiles like the US-made TOW (Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided), but refashioned for modern aerial warfare. The drones themselves appear unremarkable quadcopters rigged with explosive payloads except for a large, cylindrical spool mounted underneath, feeding out a strand of fibre-optic cable as they fly. This physical tether between pilot and drone makes them impossible to knock out using jamming. A Ukrainian decoy designed to trick Russias drones The tactical implications are vast. Fibre-optic drones can fly into hangars, bunkers, dense urban terrain or tree cover with no loss of signal. Their camera feed is clearer. They dont emit detectable signals, meaning typical radio frequency detectors cant pick them up. And they dont expose the operators location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre really great when you need to fly into some kind of building, like a large shed or hangar, to have a look inside if there is something there with the ability to strike it straight away, Oleksandr Skhid, an FPV drone team commander in Ukraines Achilles Strike Drone Regiment, told the Kyiv Independent. The same goes for other types of cover, and flying in forested areas. Technology isnt new The drones can typically travel up to 25km, comparable to the range of the most commonly used radio controlled FPVs, with a prototype developed by Ukraines 414th Strike UAV Battalion reaching up to 41km. The technology itself isnt new. In fact, Russia began deploying these makeshift drones after Ukraine launched its daring incursion into Kursk last August. But what makes the Russian deployment of these drones so dangerous is the recent increase in scale. Ukrainian fighters control an FPV drone during a combat mission in Zaporizhzhia. Last year the production of traditional FPV drones surged - NurPhoto/Getty Once seen as clunky and niche, they are now being mass-produced and have been deployed along key front lines. You can barely walk through the fields after fibre optic drones have flown through, Pasha, a senior instructor at Kyivs Dragon Sky UAV training centre, told the Telegraph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russias ruthless deployment of the drones was on full display during the recent intensive push to drive Ukrainian forces out of Kursk in an effort led by Russias elite Rubicon drone unit. Footage captured in March showed a Ukrainian vehicle packed with soldiers hurtling along the R200 road, which linked Ukraine to the town of Sudzha, its last remaining stronghold inside the Russian border region. Credit: Telegram/@Brigada83 It was hunted down and destroyed by a Russian fibre-optic drone, which was lying in wait on the side of the road. Within weeks, that same road was littered with the carcasses of vehicles destroyed in a similar fashion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drones have also been responsible for the destruction of Ukrainian armoured vehicles and key weapons often deep behind the front line in locations radio-controlled drones would struggle to reach because of jamming and radio horizon. In Chasiv Yar, for example, the Rubicon unit destroyed one of Ukraines precious US-made Himars using a fibre-optic drone 10km behind the front line. They have pushed the safe zone to 10-15 km away from the front line, have made logistics and troop rotation more complicated and forced us to double down on digging deep down and disguising the locations and bunkers, a spokesperson for the Khartia Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard said. Theyre a game changer, agreed Uncle Sasha, a front-line FPV instructor and officer in Ukraines National Police Aviation Division. Everyone is trying to find countermeasures to fibre-optic drones we dont have them, and neither do the Russians. Credit: Russian Ministry of Defence / 'Rubicon' drone unit No silver bullet Despite their battlefield success, fibre-optic drones are no silver bullet. Theyre expensive just one fibre spool can cost $700 (520), enough to buy two conventional drones and their range is limited by the cable length. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are also heavier, and therefore often slower. To achieve the same speeds as a radio-controlled drone, a heavier fibre-optic drone must expend more battery power, limiting its range. As a result, most pilots flying fibre drones typically fly them at much slower speeds. They also have much lower manoeuvrability, due to the trailing cable, which must be precisely spooled to avoid tangles, and a strong wind can upend a stationary drone hunting its prey mid-mission. Fibre optic drones are very, very, very slow, explained Mr Narozhy, whose Reactive Post NGO provides spare parts to the Ukrainian military. At the start of the flight, the weight is well-centred, but by the end, its often off-balance. A soldier holds an optic fiber reportedly from an FPV drone in front of a damaged building on a street in Kostyantynivka - GENYA SAVILOV/GETTY There are signs that both sides are developing countermeasures, however rudimentary. In one case, a group of Ukrainian soldiers saw a Russian drone fly past them, recalled Pasha. They realised it was a Russian drone so just went out and snapped the cable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine is also experimenting with drone-catching fishing nets, wooden decoys, and even placing soldiers with shotguns near artillery systems, a solution so manpower-intensive it is near impossible to sustain. High-tech radar systems that can detect fibre-optic drones up to 20km away do exist but cost over a million euros each. Ukraine cannot afford to put this on every artillery station, Mr Narozhy said. Such systems also produce emissions that are easily detected by Russian radar detectors. Credit: Telegram/@Brigada83 Ironically, Ukraine may have had the head start. Fibre-optic drones were reportedly first conceived by Ukrainian engineers but shelved early on due to the effectiveness of cheaper, more agile FPV drones, and the absence of effective Russian jamming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, at least on the fibre optic front, Kyiv is playing catch-up. While Ukrainian drone teams and innovators have achieved great success at the tactical level, we have failed to leverage our tactical advantage into strategic success, said Jackie of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. The window of time we held this tactical advantage has now closed. Its possible we will achieve another level of technological innovation during this war, he added. But its not important that it works. Its important that we can scale it up so fast that the enemy cannot react to it. For Russia, the Rubicon-led development of fibre-optic drones is part of the Kremlins wider push to gain the upper hand in the battle for drone supremacy. Following the successful Kursk counter-offensive, Rubucions drone pilots now operate in at least seven specialist detachments across eastern Ukraine, carrying out complex, decentralised missions. FPV drones are controlled via a fibre optic connection, making them resistant to electronic warfare The Russian defence ministry has also established its own version of Ukraines unmanned systems forces to boost the use of all types of drones by Russias armed forces, with Andrei Belousov, the Russian defence minister, announcing the creation of a new military unit planned to be completed by July 1 this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is also worth noting that Ukrainian drones, both radio-controlled and fibre-optic, still retain their brutal effectiveness. With Russia currently on the offensive, Ukrainian drone pilots have an easier time striking infantry and armoured vehicles, while Ukraines own elite drone teams regularly strike Russian logistics vehicles, air defence systems, and artillery pieces deep behind the front line. Warning for the West In any case, the implications, as with many new developments in the war, extend beyond Ukraine. Western militaries, reliant on jamming and electronic warfare to counter drones, would be completely and totally vulnerable to fibre optic FPV drones, one Ukrainian source warned. All current counter-measures used by Western militaries, such as electronic warfare systems, are useless against such drones, and they have no experience operating in an environment where FPVs saturate the battlefield. In the meantime, Ukraine is racing to find an effective countermeasure that extends beyond using wooden decoys and shooting drones down with shotguns. This is a technological arms race and Russia, even if temporarily, has the lead. We were laughing at them before, said Pasha. But now its not funny. Still, hope persists. This is a big problem for us, said Uncle Sasha. But its a problem for the Russians too, and I think we will solve it. We will find a solution to protect us from this technology. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Ukrainian delegation intends to propose a clear roadmap for achieving a sustainable peace settlement during the negotiations with Russia in Istanbul. Source: Reuters, citing a document, as reported by European Pravda Details: Ukraines plan envisages the following: a full ceasefire for at least 30 days, to be monitored by the United States and "third countries"; a subsequent exchange of prisoners based on the "all for all" formula, the release of civilian hostages by Russia and the return of abducted Ukrainian children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After that, a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is proposed "to agree on the key aspects of a final peace settlement". Reuters reports that Ukraines demands include a complete cessation of hostilities, security guarantees, territorial issues, compensation for damage caused by Russia and sanctions in the event of any breach of the agreement. The document also states that Ukraine rejects any ban on joining NATO or the EU, any restrictions on the size of its Armed Forces, or any ban on the deployment of foreign troops on its territory. In addition, Kyiv declares it does not recognise any territory occupied by Russia since 2014 and proposes using the current line of contact as the "starting point for negotiations" between the parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The document allows for the lifting of "certain sanctions" against Russia, "but gradually and with a reinstatement mechanism if necessary", and suggests using frozen Russian assets either to pay reparations to Ukraine or as a guarantee of such payment. Background: It was previously reported that Ukraine would attend negotiations with Russia in Istanbul on 2 June, with Defence Minister Rustem Umierov leading the Ukrainian delegation. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Security Service of Ukraine oversaw a drone operation on Sunday that struck dozens of Russias strategic bombers just ahead of planned peace talks in Istanbul. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the absolutely brilliant outcome of the attack, which he described as our most long-range operation to date. Zelensky said the attack had been in planning for more than one and a half years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, not everything can be revealed at this moment, but these are Ukrainian actions that will undoubtedly be in history books, Zelensky said Sunday in a post on the social platform X. Ukraine is defending itself, and rightly so we are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war. Russia started this war, Russia must end it. Glory to Ukraine! he continued. A military official told The Associated Press that the drones hit 41 planes stationed at military airfields on Sunday afternoon, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M aircraft. Moscow has previously used Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers to launch missiles at Ukraine, while A-50s are used to coordinate targets and detect air defenses and guided missiles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The military source told the AP that the complex attack included the smuggling of first-person view drones into Russia, where they were then placed in mobile wooden houses. Later, drones were hidden under the roofs of these houses while already placed on trucks. At the right moment, the roofs of the houses were remotely opened, and the drones flew to hit Russian bombers, the official told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity to disclose details of the military operation. Zelensky said the Ukrainian officials involved in planning the operation were withdrawn from Russia with enough time to spare. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the attack in a social media post but said the attacks only caught fire in the regions of Murmansk and Irkutsk, according to a Google translation of the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia said the fires had been put out with no casualties among service members or civilians. Russia also said it had detained some participants of the attack. The Associated Press contributed. 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. Russia has spent over half of its National Wealth Fund (NWF) during the three years of its invasion of Ukraine, says Ukraines Foreign Intelligence Service. Source: Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine Details: If the current restrictions and additional measures imposed by the West are maintained, including increasing control over the circumvention of oil sanctions, the Russian Federation risks losing the last remnants of its national welfare fund as early as 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report notes that the NWF's liquid assets had reached US$145 billion as of the beginning of July 2022. A year later, in July 2023, this figure had dropped to US$78 billion. On 1 May 2025, the reserves were down to only US$39 billion. Since the start of the full-scale war, the fund has reduced almost fourfold. "The average price of Brent oil is projected to be US$64 for a barrel in 2025 and US$60 in 2026. For Russia, whose budget is replenished with oil and gas revenues, such a dynamic creates critical fiscal risks," the report said. It is also pointed out that state corporation Rosatom's 2025 projects are still 80% underfunded, Russian railways is experiencing a drop in traffic, production in the mining, metallurgical, and construction sectors are falling and Russian corporations are suspending dividend payments in large numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Despite this, Moscow continues to publicly demonstrate confidence in the stability of the economy. However, state-controlled propaganda that conceals the real extent of the economic downturn does not change the facts: the resource-based model of the Russian economy is losing efficiency," the Foreign Intelligence Service said. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian forces launched a record 479 aerial weapons on Ukraine overnight on 31 May 1 June 2025, with Ukrainian air defences shot down 385 targets, including 210 drones and 3 cruise missiles, while 172 drones disappeared from radar (without causing adverse effects) or were suppressed. Source: Ukrainian Air Force on Telegram Details: The assault began at 19:30 on 31 May 2025, involving: 472 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones, launched from Millerovo, Shatalovo, Kursk, Oryol, Bryansk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia; Three Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles from Kursk and Voronezh oblasts, Russia; Four Kh-101 and Iskander-K cruise missiles launched from air and ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The primary targets were Kharkiv, Sumy, Zhytomyr, Odesa, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. As of 13:30 on 1 June 2025, air defences neutralised 385 targets: 210 Shahed-type and other drones, as well as 3 Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles, across eastern, southern, northern, western and central Ukraine. Of these, 213 were shot down by firepower and 172 disappeared from radar or were suppressed by electronic warfare. The Russians succeeded in hitting 18 targets across Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! For the citizens of Russias far-flung regions, filming it all on their phones, it scarcely seemed believable. Life in the villages of deepest Siberia or Russias Arctic north felt a world away from the front lines of their countrys war with Ukraine. Yet suddenly, as they went about the Sunday business, the war unmistakably and dramatically arrived at their doorsteps. From the roof panels of nondescript container lorries parked in quiet rural lay-bys, drone after buzzing drone rose nonchalantly into the sky before hurling itself at nearby airbases housing some of Russias most prized military assets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few hardy onlookers scrambled onto the lorries, vainly trying to stop the tiny drones from completing their kamikaze missions. Most stood gaping as explosions echoed across the tundra. Five airfields came under attack on Sunday as Ukraine launched Operation Spiders Web, the most daring mission it has mounted on Russian soil in more than three years of war. Its target: Russias strategic bomber fleet, long considered beyond Kyivs reach. As plumes of smoke rose over the Olenya and Belaya bases and footage emerged of 75-million supersonic jets reduced to fireballs by drones costing only a few thousand pounds, the scale of the Kremlins miscalculation became clear. According to Ukrainian officials, as many as 40 of Russias most expensive and sophisticated bombers perhaps a third of Russias entire strategic bomber fleet were eliminated in the space of a few hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attacks came at a critical juncture, just hours before Russian and Ukrainian delegates were due to meet again in Istanbul. With Donald Trumps peace initiative already teetering flimsily, the talks have taken on a new complexion. Credit: Telegram / russianocontext Though the timing was most likely calculated to send a message, Ukrainian officials say planning on the operation began 18 months earlier. The final stage began a few weeks ago, when dozens of first-person view drones were smuggled into Russia under the supervision of Ukraines domestic intelligence agency, the SBU. Russias bombers had always been the target but adjustments were required after Moscow moved much of its strategic air fleet deeper inland to shield it from strikes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The drones were hidden in modified containers fitted inside commercial hauliers whose roof panels retracted at the push of a remote-control button. By all accounts, the drivers had no idea what cargo they were carrying. Residents near the Olenya base in Russias far north one of the targets described watching as a panicked driver ran in circles as drones launched, one after another, from the back of his lorry. The drones concealed inside shipping containers He later told police that he had been instructed to park his vehicle in a lay-by near the town of Olenegorsk where somebody would meet him. Not all of the lorries made it to their destinations, with videos showing at least two self-destructing en route. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was not the first time trucks had been used in the war. In 2020, a lorry carrying explosives was remotely detonated during an attack on the Kerch Bridge connecting Crimea to the Russian mainland. But this was rather more sophisticated. Reports suggest the drones had been trained using artificial intelligence to strike aircraft at their weakest points. The attack came so swiftly no Russian airman is believed to have reached the relative safety of the skies. Just weeks earlier, Russia had relocated many of its strategic bombers to bases deeper inside its territory. Olenya, located within the Arctic Circle, is more than 1,000 miles from the Ukrainian border; Belaya, in Siberia, 2,500 miles. Until Sunday Ukraine had never struck more than 1,000 miles inside Russia. A Russian man enters one of Ukraines drone trucks, and moments later a self-destruction mechanism ignites and the vehicle explodes The aircraft based at Olenya and Belaya were among the jewels of the Russian Air Force: the Tu-95 Bear, a long-range bomber capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads; the Tu-160 Blackjack, the largest combat aircraft in the world, and the Tu-22M3 Backfire, a supersonic workhorse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russians had not counted on Ukraines Mossad-like ingenuity or its desperation to retaliate against the bombers that had rained destruction on its cities. Operation Spiders Web did not rely on long-range drones or missiles, but on small, hand-held FPV drones relatively simple devices that have proved devastating on the battlefield. Ukrainian drone uses AI to pick the weakest spot of a Russian strategic bomber and then destroys it Russian military bloggers were quick to liken it to the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941. An exaggeration, certainly yet in terms of chutzpah, scope and possibly damage, the operation marked an unprecedented moment in the war. Ukraines security services had set a new bar of skill in conducting large-scale combat operations on enemy territory, Iryna Vereshchuk, deputy head of Ukraines presidential office, wrote on Telegram. This is not a knockout, but a very serious knockdown for the enemy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ukrainian claim of 40 destroyed aircraft awaits independent verification, yet whatever the finally tally, Ukraine has inflicted a humiliating blow on Russia and sent a powerful signal to its Western allies. 0206 Ukrainian attacks on Russian air bases In the days leading up to the strike, Ukraines cities had endured some of the most intense Russian bombardment of the war. Dozens had died, children among them. The Kremlin has shown no sign of relenting and is likely to take its vengeance in the coming days. As his envoys prepared for a second round of negotiations in Istanbul, Vladimir Putin seemed determined to project military dominance. Confident of victory, he ignored requests Kyivs requests to share his peace terms in advance. But hours before the talks began, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian leader, delivered a pointed message of his own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There had been coordinated attacks on Russian airfields before. On August 13 last year, Ukraine targeted four airbases in Kursk, Voronezh and Nizhny Novgorod. But all were within a few hundred miles of the Ukrainian border. Operation Spiders Web was conceived on a much grander scale. The night before the strike, Ukraine endured perhaps the heaviest aerial support of a bloody week. Kyiv reported that 472 drones and seven ballistic and cruise missiles had struck targets across the country. Twelve Ukrainian soldiers died in a separate attack on a training base on Sunday. But revenge would follow. Early that day, two transport bridges in the Russian regions of Bryansk and Kursk were blown up as trains passed, killing seven people. Russians officials blamed Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet those attacks were just a prelude. The main attack came hours later, with far greater effect. Among the planes destroyed, Ukrainian intelligence said, was an A-50 Mainstay, a 230 million Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft. The A-50 is essentially a flying radar and command post, critical to coordinating fighter jets and air defences. Russia only has a handful left. They are considered irreplaceable. Vasyl Malyuk, head of Ukraines security service, looking at a map showing a Russian military aircraft base - Getty Images According to Ukrainian intelligence officials, all those knowingly involved in the operation returned safely their mission accomplished in the most astonishing way. This was no Pearl Harbour. The Japanese attack killed 2,403 Americans and destroyed or damaged 347 US aircraft and 15 warships. A better comparison might be the 1942 SAS raid on the Sidi Haneish airfield in Egypt, when British commandos destroyed or damaged 40 Luftwaffe aircraft using machine-gun-mounted jeeps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was not a turning point in the Desert War but it boosted morale, disrupted Axis logistics, and helped forge the legend of the SAS. Operation Spiders Web might have a similar impact. Ukraine will now approach the Istanbul talks with renewed confidence. Hours after news of the attack broke, Mr Zelensky confirmed his delegation would attend, naming Rustem Umerov, his defence minister, as its head. Mr Umerovs presumed involvement in the operation will no doubt discomfit the Russians seated across from him. Ukraines ability to to strike so deeply and with such apparent ease is clearly an embarrassment. It exposed vulnerabilities at what should have been among Russias best-protected military installations. Smoke rises following a drone attack on a military unit in the Sredny settlement - Governor of Irkutsk Region/Reuters The damage was not just symbolic. Russias long-range strike capabilities have been degraded. A significant financial cost has been incurred. It is possible that Ukraine has inflicted material damage of more than 1 billion. Even in a country where public dissent is not tolerated, such a debacle may well provoke recriminations within the armed forces and Russias influential military bloggers. Granted, Russia still has dozens of strategic bombers. But they may now have to be moved even farther east. Even then, the nagging suspicion will remain that nowhere in Russia is truly safe. That fear will be felt acutely in the the civilian populations of Siberia and Russias far north regions that, until now, seemed far removed from the conflict. The war has arrived at their doorstep. 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. By Tom Balmforth and Max Hunder KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian secret services were able to attack strategic bomber aircraft at Russian air bases on Sunday by hiding explosive-laden drones inside the roofs of wooden sheds, according to a Ukrainian security official and images posted online. Ukraine's domestic security agency, the SBU, acknowledged that it carried out the operation, codenamed "Spider's Web" and said it had caused considerable damage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheds were loaded onto trucks that were driven to the perimeter of the air bases. The roof panels of the sheds were lifted off by a remotely-activated mechanism, allowing the drones to fly out and begin their attack, the official said. The security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said strikes were conducted on Sunday on four air bases, and that 41 Russian warplanes were hit. An SBU statement posted on the Telegram messaging app estimated the damage caused by the assaults at $7 billion. "Thirty-four percent of strategic cruise missile carriers at the main airfields of the Russian Federation were hit," the SBU said on the Telegram messaging app. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, writing on Telegram, expressed delight at the "absolutely brilliant outcome". "And an outcome produced by Ukraine independently," he wrote, noting that the operation had taken more than a year and a half to prepare. "This is our longest-range operation." Speaking shortly afterwards in his nightly video address, the president noted that 117 drones had been used to attack the Russian bases and that Russian forces suffered "very tangible losses, and justifiably so". Zelenskiy said the SBU had set up a nerve centre for the operation right next to a regional office of Russia's FSB intelligence service. All operatives taking part had been brought out of Russia "on the eve of the operation", he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement VIDEO SHOWS BOMBERS ABLAZE Unverified video and pictures posted on Russian social media showed Russian strategic bombers on fire at the Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region of Siberia. Igor Kobzev, the regional governor, said there had been a drone attack on a military unit near the village of Sredny, which is near the Belaya base, though he did not specify what the target was. He said the drones had been launched from a truck. The Irkutsk region attack was the first time a drone assault had been mounted by Ukraine so far from the front lines, which are more than 4,300 km (2,670 miles) away. That is beyond the range of the long-range strike drones or ballistic missiles Ukraine has in its arsenal, so required a special scheme to get the drones close enough to their targets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photographs shared with Reuters by the Ukrainian security official showed dozens of short-range quadrocopter drones piled up in an industrial facility. The official said these were the same devices used in the attack. Other images shared by the official showed the wooden sheds with their metal roofing panels removed, and the drones sitting in the cavities between roof beams. Separate video posted on Russian Telegram channels, which has not been verified by Reuters, appeared to show matching sheds on the back of a truck. The roof panels can be seen lying on the ground next to the truck, and the video footage shows at least two drones rising out of the top of the sheds and flying off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian online media outlet that posted the video, Baza, said in a caption that it was filmed in the district near the Belaya air base. The Irkutsk region air base hosts Tupolev Tu-22M supersonic long-range strategic bombers, a type of aircraft that has been used to launch missiles against targets in Ukraine. The operation, according to the Ukrainian security official, was personally overseen by Zelenskiy and Vasyl Maliuk, head of the SBU domestic intelligence agency. If confirmed, the strikes would be the most damaging Ukrainian drone attack of the war, and would be a significant setback for Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The source shared video footage shot from a drone, saying it showed one of the strikes. The images showed several large aircraft, some of which appeared to be Tu-95 strategic bombers, on fire. (Writing by Max Hunder and Christian Lowe; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Ron Popeski) Congress leader Shama Mohamed on Sunday sharply criticized former US President Donald Trump for allegedly equating India and Pakistan in the context of terrorism. Mohamed accused Trump of placing both countries "in the same basket," despite Pakistan's role as a perpetrator of terrorism and India being its victim. The Congress leader's remarks were made amidst India sending out all-party delegations to various countries as part of its diplomatic outreach against Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Speaking to ANI, Mohamed said, "Trump has repeatedly said... 11 times now...that has brought in the ceasefire. The Trump administration clearly said that we have imposed a trade embargo on Pakistan and India to get the ceasefire. Trump has put India and Pakistan in the same basket. They are the perpetrators of terrorism, while we are their victims. After 26/11, the whole world was with us, now who is with us? Why is Pakistan getting deals and MoUs?... Why is everybody with Pakistan and not with India?..." Trump has repeatedly claimed the US brokered the ceasefire and on Friday said that he had told India and Pakistan that the US can't trade with nations that shoot at each other. India has categorically denied any links between trade and tariffs and the recent ceasefire discussion with Pakistan. It also denied US role in the ceasefire understanding. On Saturday, Congress leader Pawan Khera sought clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over US President Donald Trump's recent statement, in which he claimed that trade diplomacy helped de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. "Prime Minister Modi is going around the country, doing a fancy dress competition. He hasn't brought up Donald Trump even once," Khera told ANI. He insisted that only the Prime Minister could provide clarity on the matter, saying, "Now, only our Prime Minister can respond for Donald Trump, you and I certainly cannot. What is this pressure to respond, what is this fear about?" He added, "We are repeatedly asking: Did you make a deal over Sindoor (Operation Sindoor) out of fear of losing trade? That has been our question from day one." US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) had again claimed credit for brokering a cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, asserting that his administration's trade negotiations potentially averted a nuclear war between the two nations. During an interaction with reporters, Trump expressed pride in achieving peace through trade rather than military conflict, reigniting debates over the US role in the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire following the escalation of tension after the Pahalgam Terror Attack and India's subsequent reply through Operation Sindoor. The cessation of hostilities between the two nations came on May 10 after India's 'Operation Sindoor', launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists, including a Nepali national. The operation targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), leading to intense clashes, including Pakistan's attempted drone attacks on Indian cities along the International Border and Line of Control (LoC) and shelling along the LoC. Before India could officially announce any understanding of cessation of hostilities with Pakistan, US President Donald Trump announced the "full and immediate ceasefire", claiming that the US played a key role as mediator. However, India refuted the claims made by the US President, reiterating its policy that India and Pakistan bilaterally address any matter related to the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The MEA further stated that the "issue of trade" did not come up between Indian and US leaders since the commencement of 'Operation Sindoor' and the cessation of hostilities." "From the time Operation Sindoor commenced on May 7 till the time of cessation on May 10, there was conversation between India and the US. But the issue of tariffs never came up in these discussions," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday in his media briefing. (ANI) Key developments on May 31-June 1: Ukrainian drone strikes hit more than 40 aircraft at key airfields, damage 34% of Russian strategic bombers Russian soldiers surrender because 'abuse in units is worse than captivity,' Ukrainian military says Russian military freight train blown up en route to Crimea, HUR says Ukrainian commander resigns after Russian attacks kills 12 soldiers on training grounds Zelensky announces updated Ukrainian delegation list for upcoming peace talks with Russia An operation by Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) using first-person-view (FPV) drones smuggled deep inside Russian and hidden inside trucks has hit 41 Russian heavy bombers at four airfields across the country, a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent on June 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The operation codenamed "Spider Web" was planned for more than a year and a half and has dealt a major blow to Moscow's ability to attack Ukrainian cities. According to the SBU, the drone operation resulted in $7 billion in damages and disabled 34% of cruise missile bombers in key Russian air bases. "The SBU first transported FPV drones to Russia, and later, on the territory of the Russian Federation, the drones were hidden under the roofs of mobile wooden cabins, already placed on trucks," the source said. "At the right moment, the roofs of the cabins were opened remotely, and the drones flew to hit Russian bombers." A screenshot from a video of the alleged attack released by the SBU on June 1, 2025 (Ukraine's Security Service) The operation targeted multiple Russian air bases, including Belaya in Irkutsk, Olenya in Murmansk, Diaghilev in Ryazan, and Ivanovo in Ivanovo Oblast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Currently, more than 40 aircraft are known to have been hit, including the A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22 M3," the source added. President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the results of the drone operation, calling it "absolutely brilliant." Ukrainian intelligence promised to reveal more details soon and vowed to continue driving Russian forces out of Ukrainian territory. "We will strike (Russia) at sea, in the air, and on the ground. And if needed, we'll get them from underground too," the SBU said. Read also: Western hesitation continues to undermine Ukraine Russian soldiers surrendered because 'abuse in units is worse than captivity,' Ukrainian paratroopers say A group of Russian soldiers fighting in the Kursk direction surrendered to Ukrainian paratroopers because "abuse in units is worse than captivity," Ukraine's Airborne Assault Forces said in a video posted on social media on May 31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In their units on the territory of the Russian Federation, they were subjected to inhumane treatment, psychological pressure and threats," the post reads. Russia's abuse of its own soldiers has been well documented throughout the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. An investigation by the Insider last July reported that Russia uses a systematic program of "gulag-style" abuse directed at its soldiers in Ukraine in order to "maintain order" and punish perceived offenders. According to the Insider, the patterns of abuse of Russian soldiers in Ukraine "borrow heavily from Soviet labor camp traditions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian units have employed "punishment squads" that seek out soldiers who are abusing alcohol, refuse orders, or are simply disliked, and then subject them to a variety of abuse, including beatings and "confinement pits." A report in Foreign Policy in 2023 detailed a decades-long system of "sadistic hazing" in the Russian army that included one soldier who had to have his legs and genitals amputated after he was forced to squat in the snow for several hours. The video released by Ukraine's Airborne Assault Forces shows at least eight Russian soldiers interviewed at an undisclosed location. One describes being sent to the front less than a month ago and being "blown up immediately," leaving just two men alive in his unit. Another said his unit was left to dig trenches and fend for themselves when they were spotted by a Ukrainian drone and "after that everything fell apart." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The prisoners were provided with the necessary medical and psychological assistance," the military said. Intercepted calls released by Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) suggest numerous abuses by Russian commanders against their own troops, including one incident where one lost his temper and ordered his soldiers to shoot at their own comrades in a neighbouring unit. "F**k the 55th (an adjacent Russian unit), shoot them, thats the battalion commanders order, shoot them," a Russian commander can be heard saying in an audio published by HUR on April 5. The unidentified Russian commander appears frustrated at the adjacent Russian unit for not properly following an order and revealing their positions to Ukrainian troops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kyiv Independent couldn't independently verify the authenticity of the audio published by HUR. Read also: As Trump fails to sanction Moscow, few expect breakthrough during upcoming Russia-Ukraine talks Russian military freight train blown up en route to Crimea, Ukraine's HUR claims A Russian military train carrying fuel and food was blown up overnight on June 1 near Melitopol, according to Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR). "The Muscovites' key logistical artery on the occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Crimea has been destroyed," HUR's statement said. The agency stopped short of claiming responsibility for blowing up the Russian train station in southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast, but said "the fight against the military logistics of the Russian occupiers continues." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HUR's statement further noted heightened Russian searches and stricter checkpoints in the region as Russian forces seek to find those responsible. Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian partisan group Atesh claimed to have sabotaged a railway in occupied Donetsk Oblast. Read also: Mass casualties after Russian train derailment and bridge collapse in Bryansk Oblast, officials say Ukrainian Land Forces Commander resigns after Russian attack that killed 12 soldiers on training grounds The head of the Land Forces of Ukraine resigned on June 1 following a Russian attack that killed 12 service members under his command. "I have made the decision to file a letter of resignation from the position of Commander of the Land Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces," Major General Mykhailo Drapatyi in a statement on Telegram. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Twelve dead. There are injured. These are young lads from the training battalion. Most of them were in shelters. They should have learned, lived, and fought not died." Drapatyi was referring to an incident in the morning of June 1 in which a Russian missile attack struck a training field and killed 12 soldiers and wounded 60 more. The field was at the time unidentified, but Drapatiy named it as the 239th Polygon, north of the city of Dnipro. Russia has targeted Ukrainian training grounds aggressively in recent months. The 239th Polygon was also the site of a similar attack with an Iskander ballistic missile in March. At the time, Drapatyi wrote: "Everyone who made decisions that day, and everyone who did not make them on time, will be held accountable. No one will hide behind explanations or formal reports." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its announcement of the June 1 attack, the Land Forces press office wrote: "In the event of a determination that the action or inaction of responsible individuals led to the death and injury of servicemen, those responsible will be brought to strict accountability." Read also: Russia steps up offensives in Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Sumy oblasts, Syrskyi says Zelensky announces updated Ukrainian delegation list, ahead of planned peace talks with Russia Zelensky announced on June 1 an updated 14-member Ukrainian delegation for upcoming peace talks with Russia in Istanbul, expanding the original group of 12. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will again lead the delegation, which will include several new figures from Ukraine's military, human rights, and legal sectors. Three officials Andrii Fomin, Yurii Kovbasa, and Yevhenii Ostrianskyi will participate for the first time, while Oleksii Malovatskyi, involved in the May 16 talks, will not join. The meeting is scheduled to take place on June 2, with both Russian and Ukrainian delegations expected to attend. Also, security advisors from the U.S., U.K., France, and Germany plan to attend, according to U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. Russia has not officially submitted its memorandum outlining peace terms, but Ukraine plans to present a detailed roadmap aimed at securing a lasting settlement. According to the proposal, the process would begin with a minimum 30-day ceasefire, followed by a full exchange of prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russian-held areas, ultimately leading to a potential meeting between Zelensky and Putin. The plan was reported on June 1 by Reuters, which reviewed a copy of the document. While the U.S. and Ukraine have pushed for an unconditional ceasefire, the Kremlin has rejected it. Instead, Moscow has regularly voiced maximalist demands that are unlikely to be accepted by Kyiv, such as recognition of Russia's illegal annexation of Ukrainian regions and withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the parts of these regions remaining under Kyivs control. Trump has expressed frustration with Russia's reluctance to make concessions and its intensifying and deadly attacks on Ukraine. However, he has so far refused to sanction Russia. The talks are tentatively still set to continue on June 2, though Russia has not officially commented yet, following Ukraines "Spider Web" drone operation earlier today. Read also: May 2025: Ukraine in photos Note from the author: Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) conducted a special operation codenamed Pavutyna (Web) on 1 June 2025, striking 41 Russian strategic aircraft, following over 18 months of preparation. Source: Ukrainska Pravda source in the SSU Details: The operation, overseen by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and executed by SSU chief Vasyl Maliuk, was logistically complex, the source emphasised. Quote: "The SSU first transported first-person view drones to Russia, then mobile wooden crates. On Russian territory, drones were concealed under the roofs of these crates, mounted on lorries. At the designated time, the roofs were remotely opened and the drones took off to strike Russian bombers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainska Pravda has obtained a photograph from the operations preparation phase. Quote: "The operatives involved in this historic operation are safely back in Ukraine. Any detentions by Putins regime would be staged for domestic propaganda." Background: On the afternoon of 1 June 2025, Ukraines Security Service launched drone attacks on Russian military airfields, targeting strategic bombers and reportedly damaging up to 41 aircraft. Russian media later claimed that Ukrainian drones had been deployed from lorries parked at petrol stations. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A massive Ukrainian drone strike on parked Russian jets offered a glimpse into the future of war. Sundays audacious operation took more than a year to plan, the Financial Times reported, hitting more than 40 aircraft at four airfields deep inside Russia Ukraine smuggled the first-person view drones in, and loaded them onto trucks, before remotely opening the roofs and launching the explosive-laden drones, Meduza reported. Dubbed Russias Pearl Harbor by military bloggers, the attack reflects the prevalence of low-end, artificial intelligence-enabled drone technology, The War Zone reported: Such devices can fly much farther without any radio control and hit targets they recognize autonomously. The strike comes a day before Ukraine and Russia are set to hold peace talks in Istanbul. Statements by the United States at the United Nations demonstrate the utmost clarity of their position on a ceasefire in Ukraine: it must be unconditional and immediate, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Serhii Kyslytsia says. Source: Kyslytsia commenting on the shift in rhetoric of US diplomats regarding Russia during the last two UN Security Council sessions, as cited by Ukrinform Quote: "Two consecutive statements by the United States at the [UN] Security Council show that their position is absolutely clear: the ceasefire must be unconditional and immediate." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Kyslytsia reiterated that Ukraine had long declared its readiness to accept such a ceasefire, but Russia categorically rejected the possibility of an unconditional ceasefire during talks in Istanbul. Quote: "It is also important that Washington, through its representatives in New York, stated that Ukraine is not an obstacle to establishing a regime of unconditional ceasefire." Details: He noted that both US statements on Thursday and Friday are "important, particularly in the context of the expected meeting in Istanbul on 2 June". Kyslytsia emphasised that any statement made at the UN Security Council reflects the official position of the state, not the personal opinion of a diplomat. Background: Earlier, Kyslytsia revealed that on 16 May, Russian delegates, led by Vladimir Medinsky, made threatening and inflammatory remarks, including Medinskys claim that the war against Ukraine is "Russians killing Russians". On 16 May, direct talks between Russia and Ukraine took place in Istanbul for the first time in more than three years. Media reports stated that during the talks, the Russians demanded the exclusion of US representatives from the negotiations with Ukraine and presented a number of unacceptable conditions. Russian representatives voiced several demands to the Ukrainian delegation during a closed meeting in Istanbul on 16 May, setting out the conditions under which Moscow was ready to cease fire. Among them were Ukraine's renunciation of territories and claims for reparations. Vladimir Medinsky, the head of the Russian delegation in Istanbul, said during the talks that Russia was ready for an endless war against Ukraine and threatened to seize Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts. "We fought Sweden for 21 years. How long are you ready to fight?" he asked the Ukrainian side. Kyslytsia described the Russian delegates, particularly Medinsky, as behaving like "gangsters" and issuing direct threats to the Ukrainian side. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Russian media reports indicate that Ukrainian drones, launched from lorries parked at petrol stations, attacked military airfields hosting strategic aircraft on 1 June 2025. Source: Russian Telegram-based news outlets Mash and Baza Details: A video circulating on social media shows drones emerging from a lorry at a petrol station in the city of Olenegorsk, Murmansk Oblast. Russian media claim a similar tactic was used in Usolye-Sibirskoye, Irkutsk Oblast, where at least 20 drones have been launched, targeting unspecified sites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports suggest that a lorry stopped at a petrol station near Usolye-Sibirskoye in the morning, after which drones flew out of its cargo area to attack "various targets". The driver of the Olenegorsk lorry, reportedly unaware of the drone cargo, has been detained, according to the Russian media outlets. Ukrainska Pravda has found that the Security Service of Ukraine has simultaneously attacked four Russian military airfields. Sources note that warplanes are burning at Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya and Ivanovo airfields. Background: On the afternoon of 1 June, multiple Russian strategic bombers caught fire after Ukraines Security Service launched drone strikes on Russian airfields, reportedly hitting 40 aircraft. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! KYIV (Reuters) - Reuters has seen the text of the peace proposals that Ukrainian negotiators plan to present to the Russian side at peace talks scheduled to take place on June 2 in Istanbul. The text of the Ukrainian document is published in full with no changes. Ukraine-Russia Negotiations Framework I. Key Principles of the Agreement and the Negotiation Process Full and unconditional ceasefire in the sky, on land and at sea as a necessary background and prerequisite for peace negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Confidence-building measures addressing humanitarian issues: unconditionally return all deported and illegally displaced Ukrainian children. Exchange of all prisoners (the all for all principle). Release by Russia of all civilian hostages. Non-repetition of aggression: The aim of the negotiations is to restore a permanent basis for lasting peace and security and to ensure that aggression does not occur again. Security guarantees and engagement of the international community: Ukraine must receive robust security guarantees. The parties will invite the international community to participate in the negotiations and provide guarantees to ensure the implementation of the agreements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sovereignty: Ukraine is not forced to be neutral. It can choose to be part of the Euro-Atlantic community and move towards EU membership. Ukraines membership in NATO depends on consensus within the Alliance. No restrictions may be imposed on the number, deployment, or other parameters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as on the deployment of troops of friendly foreign states on the territory of Ukraine. Territorial issues: Territorial gains made by Russia since February 2014 are not recognized by the international community. The contact line is the starting point for negotiations. Territory issues are discussed only after a full and unconditional ceasefire. Sanctions: Some sanctions may be lifted from Russia, but in stages and only gradually, with a mechanism for resuming sanctions if necessary (snapback). Frozen Russian sovereign assets are used for reconstruction or remain frozen until reparations are paid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Implementation: Agree on a clear, balanced and achievable roadmap for implementation and enforcement of the agreements. II. Next step agreeing ceasefire and agenda of the leaders meeting After the meeting in Istanbul, the parties continue the talks which shall focus on: (1) full and unconditional ceasefire: its modalities and monitoring; (2) confidence building measures; (3) preparation, agreeing agenda and structure of future leaders negotiations on key topics. Negotiations to be held with the U.S. and Europe participating. III. Ceasefire Full and unconditional ceasefire in the sky, on land and at sea at least for 30 days (with the possibility of rolling extensions every 30 days) as a necessary background and prerequisite for peace negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ceasefire monitoring, led by the US and supported by third countries. IV. Confidence-building measures After successful exchange of PoWs after Istanbul talks, the parties continue the exchange process for all prisoners of war (all for all principle). Agreement on unconditional return by the Russian Federation of all deported and displaced Ukrainian children, and release by Russia of all civilian prisoners. These measures should include all categories of persons listed, starting from February 2014. V. Leaders' meeting The leaders of Ukraine and Russia meet to agree on key aspects of final peace settlement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Key topics of peace agreement to be agreed by the leaders: 1) Permanent and complete cessation of hostilities: conditions, monitoring, sanctions for violations 2) Security guarantees and non-repetition of aggression 3) Territorial issues 4) Economy, compensation, reconstruction 5) Penalties for breach of agreements 6) Conclusion of a final peace agreement (Reporting by Tom Balmforth, Editing by William Maclean) Mayor Lauren McLean told the crowd on Saturday at Boises first LatinX Pride that these are uncertain times, that make people feel topsy-turvy. Her speech comes amid the Trump administrations nationwide rollback of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. In some cases, corporate sponsors have pulled out of large pride events. We see you, we welcome you, we love you, we need you here, McLean told the audience in Cecil D. Andrus Park. We will make it through these tough times better for it, stronger for it and more Boise than Boises ever been. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although polls show the term LatinX is unpopular with the Latino community, organizers said they wanted people to feel included. The festival comes at a time of uncertainty in Idaho for the LGBTQ+ community, in part because of anti-LGBTQ+ bills from the state Legislature. Boise Pride recently canceled a Pride Season Kickoff event scheduled for June 6, according to a news release, because not enough people were going to come. Boises Pride Festival will be held in September. McLean, in an interview with the Idaho Statesman, said the energy Saturday was celebratory. Boise Pride is feeling the support that is truly indicative of the community that Boise is, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration also recently listed Boise as a sanctuary city for immigrants, even though Idaho banned sanctuary cities two years ago. In her address, McLean said she wanted the Boise Police Department to strengthen its relationship with the immigrant community. On Saturday, music with Spanish lyrics blared out between speakers. Variants of the rainbow Pride flag lined a stone path. A line formed at a tent labeled Mexican Food in red, white and green letters. The majority of LGBTQ+ adults have attended Pride events, according to recent polling from the Pew Research Center. And several attendees told the Statesman that LatinX Pride was not their first function. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Zieske, who identifies as Latin and gay, said he came to support the event. Latin is just more of the music, its the way the energy goes off of versus just a regular Pride, Zieske. They add the culture. And Miguel Barrera, sitting with his partner in the shade, said cultural events are needed in Idaho. The Latin community is the backbone of Idaho, Barrera said. It is Idaho. Trump administration just listed Boise as an immigrant sanctuary. But is it? A new Pride event is coming to Boise. Heres when, where and why Nayib Bukele, the self-declared worlds coolest dictator, will mark six years as El Salvadors president on Sunday, a period defined by contentious reforms, which critics say have brought peace to the streets at an incredibly high price. His iron-fisted crackdown on crime in the country, that was once the most violent nation in the western hemisphere, led to the arrest and detention of around 87,000 people, often with little due process. The government has defended the move, pointing to significant reductions in gang violence nationwide, but opponents say it has come at the cost of mass incarceration and the erosion of civil liberties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dragnet expanded as time wore on to include civil society groups and journalists investigating official collusion with the countrys gangs, critics say. On May 19, Ruth Lopez, an anti-corruption lawyer for the human rights group Cristosal, who is also a prominent critic of Bukele, was detained by Salvadoran authorities for allegedly stealing funds from state coffers. However, Lopez still has not been charged with a crime despite remaining in detention. Soon after Lopez was arrested, Bukeles government passed a law taxing foreign donations to NGOs like Cristosal at 30%, which rights groups have described as an existential threat. What we have seen is a massive concentration of power in (Bukeles) hands, Juan Pappier, deputy director for Latin America at Human Rights Watch, said of Bukeles six years in power. Bukeles rule has been based on demolition of the checks and balances of democracy and increasing efforts to silence and intimidate critics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reduction of gang-related crime in El Salvador has made Bukele popular in the Central American nation, so much so that he was reelected in a landslide victory last year, even though the countrys constitution had barred anyone standing for a second term. (Bukeles allies in Congress eventually replaced the Supreme Courts top justices with judges willing to interpret the constitution in his favor.) Since March 2022, the country has been under a state of exception, allowing the suspension of numerous constitutional rights. In the capital San Salvador, many people say they now feel safe walking through neighborhoods once considered dangerous. Though they acknowledge the country has seen a massive increase in incarcerations and a suspension of rights, Bukeles supporters believe the resulting peace and security has been worth the tradeoff. Soldiers patrol a neighborhood in San Marcos, El Salvador, in an armored vehicle on October 28, 2024, after Nayib Bukele announced the deployment of security forces to search gang remnants. - Jose Cabezas/Reuters Not everyone agrees. Samuel Ramirez, founder of the Movement of Victims of the Regime (MOVIR), a human rights group that works with families of people believed to have been detained without due process, says thousands have been arrested over unfounded suspicions of being linked to gangs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bukele has previously admitted that some innocent people have been detained by mistake but said that several thousand have already been released. Ramirez and other activists believe that many are too afraid to speak publicly. Here we see soldiers armed to the teeth in the streets, the police, even armored trucks in the streets tanks. Thats synonymous with a country at war, he said. The gangs, for me, have already been neutralized. And now the war is against the people, so they dont demonstrate, dont speak out. Alleged back door dealings Though he presents himself as a law-and-order leader, Bukele has long faced allegations that he negotiated the peaceful security situation in El Salvador through back-door dealings with the gangs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2021, the Biden administration accused Bukeles regime of bribing MS-13 and Barrio 18, two of the most notorious gangs in El Salvador, to ensure that incidents of gang violence and the number of confirmed homicides remained low. Alleged payoffs included cash, cell phones and prostitutes for imprisoned capos. Bukele promptly denied the allegations, calling them an obvious lie. But four years later, independent newsroom El Faro published an explosive interview with two self-styled gang leaders from Barrio 18 who claimed that, in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, they had intimidated voters into casting their ballots for Bukele during his 2015 bid for mayor of San Salvador. The two men gang leaders also claimed that when he became president in 2019, Bukele had arranged that the most powerful gangs in El Salvador refrain from wanton murder and extortion, lest they make him look bad, El Faro reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bukele has not yet responded publicly to their allegations, but obliquely referenced the reporting from El Faro in a post on May 10, sarcastically implying the only pact he made with the gang leaders involved putting them in prison. The journalists from El Faro who broke the story fled the country before it was published, anticipating arrest. I think Bukele will try to put us in jail. I have no doubt about that. I have no doubt, after what he did to Ruth Lopez, that Bukele has decided to raise the bar and persecute those he considers the most visible critics in El Salvador, El Faro Editor-in-Chief Oscar Martinez told CNN. He said seven of the publications journalists are facing arrest warrants for reporting on the alleged deals. Even so, he said the newspaper would continue its journalistic work. For the past two years, the publication has been running most of its operations in exile from Costa Rica. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there was any semblance of democracy left in El Salvador, it was in independent journalism, said Noah Bullock, executive director of Cristosal. CNN has reached out to the presidency for comments. We are under a dictatorship Last week, Bukeles government passed a law taxing foreign donations to NGOs at 30%. He had proposed a similar law in 2021, but it didnt pass. In any case, Bullock says that its irrelevant whether any law is proposed, passed or tabled in El Salvador: after six years of virtually unfettered power, Bukele is a law in and of himself. Gracia Grande, the program officer at the Salvadoran branch of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy, told CNN that the law is an existential threat to her NGOs work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said the law will make it impossible for them to continue working. It gives them three months to renew their registration as an NGO, but they dont know how the process will work. Grandes assessment of the situation is unambiguous: Right now, we can say very openly that we are under a dictatorship. Despite the growing outrage from rights groups, Bukeles punishing penal system has won him fans. A prison officer stands guard in the watchtower at CECOT (Center for the Compulsory Housing of Terrorism) in Tecoluca, San Vicente, El Salvador, on April 4. - Alex Pena/Getty Images US President Donald Trump has praised the crackdown and cut a deal with Bukele, who agreed to hold hundreds of Venezuelan deportees in El Salvadors Center for Terrorism Confinement, alongside thousands of detained Salvadorans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Known as Cecot, the mega-prison is considered the largest penitentiary in the Americas and is notorious for the spartan conditions, which rights organizations have denounced as inhumane. I think what is happening here is a kind of laboratory for what could happen in other countries, NGO worker Grande warned. Even the United States. During Trumps April meeting with Bukele at the White House, Bukele suggested the US president follow his lead when it comes to mass detentions. Mr. President, you have 350 million people to liberate, you know, Bukele said of the US population. But to liberate 350 million people, you have to imprison some. You know, thats the way it works, right? For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The world-renowned Valley of Flowers in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand welcomed tourists on Sunday. On its first day, the forest department staff welcomed visitors at the main gate, where 62 tourists had registered so far in June. This valley features over 300 species of Himalayan flowers. The Valley of Flowers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its over 500 plant species. It is open for tourists every year from June to October. The valley is situated in the Garhwal Himalayas, next to Nanda Devi National Park, and is known for its serene, picturesque beauty. The chief minister announced on Saturday that the Uttarakhand government is ready to take a step toward scientific, safe, and environmentally responsible medicine disposal in the state. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has started work towards implementing the guidelines issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in the state. A release said this decision is not just an administrative process but a transformative initiative to make Uttarakhand a model state of a "green health system" across the country. Health Secretary and Commissioner of the FDA, Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar, said that till now, there has been a lack of a clear and consistent system for the disposal of expired and unused medicines."This challenge becomes more serious in an environmentally sensitive state like Uttarakhand. Now we are moving towards controlling it under a well-planned system," Kumar said. He informed that in these guidelines, the process has been decided keeping in mind every stage of the life cycle of medicines from production to consumption and then proper disposal. Kumar further said that under the "Healthy Citizen, Clean Uttarakhand" mission announced by the Chief Minister, this initiative will take the state towards a green and sustainable healthcare model. With this decision, the possibility of establishing the state as a leading state in the field of environmental responsibility and health security at the national and international levels has also become stronger. Only the active participation of all the parties involved in this entire process, policymakers, business organisations and common citizens, can make this mission successful. Uttarakhand is moving towards becoming an example in this direction. Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar informed that as per the plan of the Health Department, "Drug Take-Back Sites" will be set up in a phased manner in urban, semi-urban and hilly areas of Uttarakhand. Here, common citizens will be able to deposit unused, expired or spoiled medicines lying in their homes. Medicines from these centres will be collected scientifically and disposed of in specially approved processing units. (ANI) Carol Lemke, a member of the nurses union bargaining team at Meriter hospital in Madison, addresses nurses before they return to work Sunday morning after ratifying a new labor contract. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner) Nurses at Meriter hospital in Madison returned to work Sunday with a new contract at the end of a five-day strike, the first in the hospitals history. The agreement, reached Saturday and ratified by union members late Saturday night, for the first time gives nurses direct input on staffing concerns at the hospital, said Pat Raes, president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Wisconsin and also a nurse at the hospital. Raes spoke at a short return-to-work rally Sunday morning outside the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it falls short of establishing guaranteed ratios of patients to nurses, Raes said the new two-year contract establishes a precedent by including language about staffing concerns. Wages will go up by 10% over two years, Raes said. She said the wage gain offered meaningful raises including 8% across the board and the other 2% for step increases recognizing our experience and attracting new talent. Raes said the contract also contains enforceable language addressing the safety of health care staff and patients, including a commitment to install a metal detector by the end of the summer. Staffing concerns and a push for the hospital to guarantee specific ratios of patients to nurses on duty were among the issues that the union stressed in contract negotiations and during the five-day walkout. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In public statements during the contract talks and strike, UnityPoint Health-Meriter officials said they shared the unions concerns for safe staffing levels but opposed dictating ratios, claiming it would hinder flexibility to respond to changing conditions. Raes said the agreement builds on an existing system of committees in which nurses are in charge. We really felt that was the format for having the staffing discussions and noting where those issues were, she said Sunday. The contract also commits the hospital to an annual discussion with the union on staffing concerns and issues, Raes said. Meriter hospital nurse Pat Raes, who is also president of SEIU Wisconsin, speaks to nurses waiting to return to work at the hospital Sunday morning after ratifying a new contract and ending a five-day strike. Behind her is Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner) This was a long and difficult negotiation, Raes said. We acknowledge Meriters management for ultimately coming to the table and reaching an agreement that prioritizes the needs of our patients and our dedicated professionals. Today, we turn the page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The final negotiating sessions were conducted with the aid of a mediator from the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC). We did not want to walk, said bargaining committee member Carol Lemke, but we felt it was the only thing we could do to get staffing-related language in the contract. In a statement distributed by UnityPoint Health-Meriter Saturday night after the agreement was announced, Sherry Casali, the hospitals chief nursing officer, said, We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in the negotiations. This tentative agreement represents meaningful progress toward a contract that recognizes the important contributions of our nurses. Raes said the union is now turning its attention to state legislation lawmakers have reported they are drafting that would establish a state mandate for the ratios of health care workers to patients in health care institutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After five days of large throngs of picketing nurses, the crowd outside the hospital Sunday morning was smaller. The scene was cheerful and celebratory, accompanied by a sense of relief. Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway turned out for the 6:30 a.m. return-to-work rally. I want to thank you for your courage because I know this wasnt easy, she told the nurses. While she said she was grateful mostly to the nurses, Rhodes-Conway also said she was grateful to management for coming to the table and finally understanding that we are stronger when we collaborate. The contract was ratified Saturday night by a supermajority of nurses, Raes said. Although the union didnt release the official vote count, Raes said, We had more people vote for this contract than we have ever had vote in the past. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The union pushed to ensure the votes were cast and counted before midnight because the pay increases take effect with the start of the next pay period, Sunday morning. The timing was also important for another reason. Meriter management told the union and employees that nurses on strike would be removed from the list of active employees effective Sunday, which would end their health insurance coverage. The union wanted to complete the ratification process Saturday night so there would not be any issues there would not be any threat, Raes said. We have nurses that are being treated for long-term health issues that cannot afford to lose their insurance who were out striking, and we have had other ones that felt they had to cross the picket line to not risk their health insurance, Raes said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she doesnt expect divisions among members because of those choices, however. Everybody, all the nurses, will continue to work together and have each others back on the floors, Raes said, because that is how we have to work. Striking nurses left the message We would rather be working! in chalk on the sidewalk in front of Meriter hospital in Madison. The graffiti was still visible Sunday morning as the nurses returned to work. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner) SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX An 11-ton sandstone sign now marks the entrance to Teninos new Agriculture Innovation Park on Old Highway 99 Southeast. I was so honored to be asked to do this, said stone carver Dan Miller. And the other thing that gets me is that we managed to get Tenino sandstone here in Tenino at the Ag Park because its so important. The sign features a 10-ton quarry block base thats chiseled with the name and address of the park as well as a bull wheel and a cattle head. Its topped with an almost one-ton piece that spells out Tenino and features unique symbolism, Miller said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the sign there is a mallet and paintbrush, Miller said. The mallet symbolizes us, the stone trades and the long-running history of stone carving in Tenino. The paintbrush symbolizes the arts and the (Tenino) Creative District. A camas plant adorns the sign as well. This blue and purple flowering bulb grows in local prairies and has been harvested by Native communities for countless generations. Lastly, undulating waves line the top piece to represent the areas unique Mima Mounds. Miller carved the locally sourced stone in about a month and presented it at a Wednesday grand opening event for the agriculture-focused business park. Elite Mechanical Services workers lifted a large box with a crane to reveal the sign to a crowd of onlookers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prior to the reveal, the crowd gathered at Stone City Event Center, one of the parks first tenants in the north building. There, Thurston Economic Development Council (EDC) Executive Director Michael Cade introduced a series of people who had a hand in realizing this years-in-the-making project. Today is really about partnership, Cade said. Today is really about identifying and recognizing the success, the lineage of history and the lineage of leadership that it takes to build something like this. The grand opening of the new Agriculture Innovation Park in Tenino drew a large crowd of well wishers on May 29, 2025. The event featured self-guided tours and speakers and concluding with the unveiling of a multi-ton, hand carved sign crafted out of local sandstone by Daniel Miller with the Tenino Stone Carvers seen here addressing the crowd. Elected officials take the stage Current Thurston County Commissioner and former Tenino mayor Wayne Fournier had a lot to say about the project. Let me be clear: this is not just a business park, Fournier said. This is not just a new building in a rural town. The Tenino Ag Park is more than an economic development project its a community-built blueprint for regional resilience, rural prosperity and food security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fournier said he and other city leaders first envisioned the park back when he was mayor of Tenino, an office he held from 2015 to 2023. Then the COVID-19 pandemic showed how vulnerable the community was to a breakdown in the food system, he said. Its about building local capacity to grow, to process, to distribute and to sustain ourselves, Fournier said. He also gave a shout out to Aslan Meade, director of strategic alliances for the Thurston EDC. No one worked harder, Fournier said. No one believed more deeply. Aslan, this community owes you a debt of gratitude. Aslan Meade, director of strategic alliances for the Thurston EDC acknowledges the public applause for his work during the grand opening of the new Agriculture Innovation Park in Tenino drew a large crowd of well wishers on May 29, 2025. The event featured self-guided tours and speakers and concluding with the unveiling of a multi-ton, hand carved sign crafted out of local sandstone by Daniel Miller with the Tenino Stone Carvers. Tenino Mayor Dave Watterson said the city appreciated the support from local, county, state and federal partners. He also took a moment to thank city staff for working very hard on this project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were a small community of 2,000 people and to do something like this is really just incredible, Watterson said. Former Washington state Rep. J.T. Wilcox said he supported the project to help revitalize the once-vibrant agriculture economy in the region. A huge part of our history has just left, Wilcox said. What I think happened is people that were my age who wanted to stay in farming kind of bought into the idea that our job is to produce as much food as we can, as cheaply as possible and feed the world. Thats a great mission but almost everybody went out of business doing it. Wilcox said he hopes producers realize they are in the food business rather than a farming or commodity business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre going to stay in business in a place that is not a low-cost producing area, you have to add value to your food and you have to find people that are willing to pay more for it, Wilcox said. The grand opening of the new Agriculture Innovation Park in Tenino drew a large crowd of well wishers on May 29, 2025. The event featured self-guided tours and speakers and concluding with the unveiling of a multi-ton, hand carved sign crafted out of local sandstone by Daniel Miller with the Tenino Stone Carvers. For the next phase of the Agriculture Innovation Park, Colvin Ranch intends to open a regional meat processing facility that should alleviate a bottleneck in their production. Currently, the ranch hauls its animals east to Pure Country Harvest, another family-run business in Moses Lake, for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved meat processing. Ranch owner Jennifer Colvin previously told The Olympian the meat processing facility will be open for business to other local ranchers in the region as well. Washington state Rep. Ed Orcutt said he is pleased with how the park has turned out so far. He said the meat processing facility will be critically important to bringing costs down for ranchers in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre in farming, you know that youre price takers, youre not price makers, Orcutt said. All of the costs that are associated with producing whatever agricultural product youre producing, whether its crops or whether its livestock, all of those costs come out of your bottom line. U.S. Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez said she was honored to fight for this project alongside many others in the room. Projects like this is one of the reasons that we were able to bring back our federal tax dollars, Perez said. Good people sat down, they didnt wait for somebody else to tell them that they had a problem and weve got a grant for you. You all came to us with the solution and said this is a root cause, its not a band aid, its a root cause that were addressing here. Colvin Ranch opens new storefront Colvin Ranch Provisions, a new storefront for the ranch next door, opened in the south building Wednesday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The store sells beef products, HotBabe Hotsauce and Wild Heart Sipping Vinegar as well as candles, soaps and lotions. Jennifer Colvin said more food will fill their shelves within the next couple of weeks. This is really about focusing on our local producers and local food, Colvin said. I really want to make this a destination for the place to get the best locally made food in the region. HotBabe Hotsauce also recently moved into the south building. Rather than having a storefront, the business has a production kitchen right behind Colvin Ranch Provisions. In addition to Stone City Event Center, the Tenino-owned north building houses Simply Organic Cafe and Catering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City of Tenino, Thurston EDC Center for Business and Innovation and private investor Dragonwheel Investment Group partnered to create the 13-acre park. They were supported by the Port of Olympia, Thurston County, Washington State University Thurston County Extension, Northwest Agriculture Business Center and Experience Olympia and Beyond, according to their website. Cafe, event center open at new Tenino agriculture and business park. Take a look inside GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) A Greenville man was indicted for stealing approximately $1.6 million from a Long Island company. Tony Ream, 33, of Greenville, South Carolina, was arraigned in a federal court on Friday. Authorities say hes accused of wire fraud and money laundering for a worldwide medical and dental supply distributor company based in New York. According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Ream was a credit supervisor for the company. Ream was hired in 2019 by the company to work in their credit department, and was given the role of credit supervisor in 2020, according to the United States Attorneys Office. Investigators said over the course of four years, Ream was accused of stealing corporate funds from customer refund accounts and reportedly sent wire transfers that reached a total of $1.6 million from the companys bank account to a bank account he owned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ claimed that Ream used the funds to pay for his wedding, as well as fund a failed restaurant in South Carolina. Ream also accused of spending the funds on luxury vacations. As alleged, Ream is a thief who abused his authority and betrayed his employer to fund his lifestyle, including paying for the renovations of a restaurant he opened, footing the bill for his own wedding, and traveling around the world, all on the companys dime, stated United States Attorney Nocella. Embezzling company funds is a serious crime and my Office will vigorously prosecute this case to ensure Ream is held accountable for his brazen scheme. If convicted, Ream could face a charged of up to 20 years in prison. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. The U.S. military has carried out more than two dozen airstrikes on targets in Somalia in the first five months of this year, double the total number of strikes in 2024. The escalation of the air war comes as the United States is actively pursuing and eliminating jihadists in the country, at the request of Somalias government, Gen. Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command, said in a May 30 briefing. The air campaign has targeted ISIS militants and fighters with the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group, which continues to fight for territory against the federal Somali government. While Langley claimed 25 separate strikes, American forces carried out 33 airstrikes on Somalia this year, Kelly Cahalan, a spokeswoman for U.S. Africa Command, told Task & Purpose this week. New America, which tracks airstrikes in Somalia and other countries the United States is militarily engaged in, reports 34 total airstrikes in 2025. Between 109-174 people have been killed so far, per New America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Langley noted that the purpose of the air campaign is to back Somali military operations on the ground against ISIS members and al-Shabab fighters. He said that the rising number of strikes have achieved tactical gains against both groups. Langley emphasized a moral imperative in protecting civilians in strikes. Its unclear how many civilians have been killed by American airstrikes this year. Over the last two decades, at least 33 civilians died as a result of those bombings. In February, the USS Harry S. Truman operating in the waters around Yemen and the Horn of Africa to fight Houthis in Yemen carried out a major airstrike on Somalia. More than a dozen aircraft from the Truman Carrier Strike Group dropped 124,000 pounds of munitions on ISIS fighters on Feb. 1, killing 14. The acting chief of naval operations initially called it the largest air strike in the history of the world earlier this month, although the Navy walked that back, qualifying it in terms of the amount of firepower sent by a single aircraft carrier. Since the start of the Global War on Terror, the United States has regularly bombed Somalia. The first post-9/11 strike occurred in 2007 under the George W. Bush administration, which carried out a dozen total. Barack Obamas presidency saw that quadruple. But the largest expansion happened during Donald Trumps first term, with 219 airstrikes reported, per Airwars. The Biden administration drastically scaled back its air campaign in the country, carrying out 51 over four years, even as the U.S. redeployed several hundred troops to the country. In the first four months of the second Trump administration the U.S. has already carried out approximately half as many strikes. The latest on Task & Purpose US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that China poses an imminent threat to Taiwan and called on Asian allies to boost defense spending, in a speech that won plaudits from other regional officials. Washingtons partners had reason to be wary of Hegseths remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense conference: Vice President JD Vance used a similar gathering in Munich this year to flame European allies. But Hegseths criticism of China which Beijing rebuked as divisive was a clear statement of commitment to the region, an expert told The Japan Times. While his speech may not have burned diplomatic bridges, it hasnt allayed Asian allies economic anxiety over US President Donald Trumps erratic tariff policy, Bloomberg wrote. The U.S. has sent Iran a nuclear proposal, the White House told The Hills sister network NewsNation. President Trump has made it clear that Iran can never obtain a nuclear bomb. Special envoy [Steve] Witkoff has sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to the Iranian regime, and its in their best interest to accept it, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told NewsNation. Out of respect for the ongoing deal, the administration will not comment on details of the proposal to the media, Leavitt added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post Saturday on the social platform X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his dear brother @badralbusaidi, distinguished Foreign Minister of Oman, paid a short visit to Tehran today to present elements of a US proposal which will be appropriately responded to in line with the principles, national interests and rights of the people of Iran. Back in 2018, President Trump withdrew from an Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran and imposed sanctions on the Middle Eastern country. However, U.S. and Iranian officials have recently taken part in multiple rounds of talks relating to Irans nuclear program. On Friday, Trump indicated that the U.S. and Iran were fairly close to coming to a new agreement. I think we have a chance of making a deal with Iran, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They dont want to be blown up, he added. They would rather make a deal, and I think that could happen in the not-too-distant future. 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. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Delegates gathered at the Utah Democratic Convention in Ogden on Saturday, May 31 and with all eyes on the race for the new chair of the party, the results are in, with Brian King winning with 52% of the vote. As the newly elected party leader, King is a seasoned politician with 16 years of experience as a state legislator. He is the former House Minority Leader and ran for governor last year. This is a new era and this is our moment. As Chair, Im ready to lead the charge to hold out-of-touch Republicans accountable, to connect with voters across the state and political spectrum, and to flip seats from the top of the ballot to the bottom. Monopolies, in politics and otherwise, arent good for anyone and Utahns deserve better, said King. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Democratic Chair Diane Lewis said she was delighted to pass the torch to King, and is excited to see how new leadership moves forward together for the future of Utah. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who was anticipated to speak at the convention and is thought by many to be preparing for a presidential run, shared a message in a recorded video: Utah Democrats know a thing or two about showing up to the fight, he said. You know how to stand up against the odds and get things done. Over 1400 votes were counted in the race a record number and over 600 ballots more than last year. This years race for chair included former executive director of Salt Lake Democrats Ben Peck, former congressional candidate Jonathan Lopez, and perennial democratic hopeful Archie Williams III. Considered a fresh face among the group, Peck, at just 25 years old, has already ran two successful campaigns for democratic candidates one in Salt Lake County and another in Murray. Many delegates were convinced he may have been elected as the new party chair, but Peck came up short with 45% of the vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Election results are as follows: Chair: Bring King, 52% Vice-Chair: Susan Merrill, 52% Secretary: Brad Dickter, 56% Treasurer: Catherine Voutaz, 77% In addition to electing new leadership, the party adopted a new platform, which remains grounded in their collective core values of economic security, equality of opportunity, and investing in the common good, according to the party. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. UTV driver arrested after striking deputy's squad car, fleeing the scene originally appeared on Bring Me The News. A UTV driver was arrested in western Wisconsin early Sunday after crashing into a deputy's squad car and then fleeing the scene. The incident happened around 1:20 a.m. on Highway 35 in Dresser, with the Polk County deputy's vehicle struck along the driver's side. The driver of the UTV then fled the scene, with the driver and a passenger found at a later time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated and hit-and-run. Polk County Sheriff's Office The deputy and a K-9 officer inside the squad car were not injured, but the vehicle sustained "major damage." The incident is being investigated by the Wisconsin State Patrol. Note: The details provided in this story are based on law enforcements latest version of events, and may be subject to change. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya slammed Congress, accusing it of demoralising the army and stating that it would have to pay a political price for the act. "Congress is conspiring with Pakistan... From surgical strikes to 'Operation Sindoor', the statements of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge have hurt the sentiments of 140 crore people of the country," Maurya told ANI on Sunday. "This is the language that demoralises the army, and they do not realise that they will have to pay such a huge political price for using this language... It is our and our army's resolve that Operation Sindoor is not over yet," he added. Meanwhile, Malook Nagar of Rashtriya Lok Dal has criticised Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and other Opposition leaders for repeatedly questioning the government over the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. Nagar asked why the Opposition continues to raise questions related to Pakistan, and suggested that they should focus on the country as a whole instead. Nagar criticised Kharge for seeking clarity on US President Donald Trump's claim of brokering the cessation of hostilities, saying, "The Opposition should prioritise national interests over Pakistan-specific queries." "The Pakistani Minister is crying about India destroying their camps, and the political leaders of India are questioning the mission's objectives." Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday demanded a special session of Parliament concerning Operation Sindoor, alleging that the government had "misled the nation" and instead of clarifying US President Donald Trump's assertions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi "is on an election blitz, taking personal credit for the valour of the armed forces." In a post on X, Kharge referred to remarks made by the Chief of Defence Staff during an interview and demanded an independent expert committee's comprehensive review of the country's defence preparedness. Nagar defended Operation Sindoor, questioning AAP Leader Sanjay Singh's comments that allegedly insulted the mission's objective. "Why does he keep repeating the same questions and insulting the mission? Love for the country should be the priority, not political power.", Nagar said. (ANI) JOHNSTOWN, Pa. A veteran has been selected to be the recipient of a brand-new free house through a collaborative project of the Polacek Veteran Home Initiative, Vision Together 2025 and Hosanna Industries. A panel of representatives from local veterans organizations made the pick after privately interviewing five finalists on Saturday. The application process was open to honorably discharged veterans from Cambria and Somerset counties with dependents, who met other criteria regarding military service, community involvement and personal finances. The home, which will be constructed on Somerset Street in Johnstown, will be gifted by the Polacek Veteran Home Initiative, led by JWF Industries CEO and Chairman Bill Polacek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bill has a very respectful understanding of veterans and service members because a good portion of his business is involved in that, said retired Army Col. Jeff Pounding, who helped organize the application and selection process. And he has a very good sense of honor. Pounding said the groups will now figure out when to introduce the recipient to the community. The entire process is expected to move quickly. Vision is currently undergoing the legal steps to acquire the property and prepare it for construction. Allegheny County-based Hosanna Industries is expected to do a blitz build from July 14-17. A foundation will be established before that time. Then, over four days, volunteers plan to construct an entirely new home that will be ready to move into, with flowers on the table and towels in the bathroom, on the 17th. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will be a 1,000-square-foot, three-bedroom ranch house. Weve done this several hundred times, but its always a leap of faith, Johnstown area native Rev. Donn Ed, founder of Hosanna Industries, said. We always hope and pray that its all going to work well, and it always has. "I dont want to minimize the effort. Its a monumental effort on the part of hundreds of people to make all those pieces fit together properly in the right sequence at the right time. This blitz building procedure that Hosanna has kind of invented, its extremely time-critical. From Day 1 until the very end, every moment is accounted for. There cant be any slop in the gears because theres not enough allowance of time to permit it. Everythings got to be right on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 150 volunteers are needed. Even people without construction skills can help in other ways, such as cooking or donating landscaping materials. Anybody interested in participating can contact Hosanna Industries at 724-770-0262. People who know nothing about home construction are welcome to volunteer, because their energies will be properly channeled into productive results by the Hosanna team, Ed said. Skilled volunteers are also needed: block layers, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, drywall mechanics, all of these are very much needed and invited to join in this unique community building venture. This is the first home in Visions plan to construct 21 new houses throughout Johnstown, using revolving funds provided by community organizations through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Developments Neighborhood Partnership Program tax credit initiative. The other houses will be sold to people, unlike the first home, which is free to the selected veteran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ones going forward are for anybody, Vision Together 2025 Executive Director Robert Forcey said. In fact, thats kind of a misconstrued assumption that a lot of people have been making that these are only for low-income families. We made them affordable enough for somebody that they should be able to afford it on low- to middle-income. But for these houses weve had applicants all the way from a first-year graduate from UPJ (the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown) all the way to a couple thats been renting for 30 years and they want to move into their first house for the first time. Forcey said one of the goals of the first free house is to show everybody that its a viable project and its going to move forward. We get it. Privacy laws exist preventing employers from publicly disclosing details about an employees discipline or dismissal or departure of their own choice. But some employers improperly hide behind those laws declaring all details are confidential personnel matters, regardless of the publics right to know. This week, Kern Community College District Chancellor Steven Bloomberg announced Bakersfield Colleges president is on permanent leave. Bloomberg declined to explain why. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jerry Fliger only served as BCs president for 14 months. Bakersfield College is the largest college in the district and one of the oldest community colleges in the state. Bloomberg cited personnel matters in declining to explain why Fliger is on permanent leave and its financial consequences. What I can say is at this point, I made a decision, and every single decision I make is based on one thing: Is this in the best interest of serving students? Thats the why for every decision, Bloomberg said during a Tuesday morning exchange with BC faculty and staff. Bloomberg declined to say if Fliger is being paid his $255,000 annual salary while on permanent leave. Instead, he referred people to Fligers online contract, which expires in 2027. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Fliger is terminated without cause, the contract requires the district to pay his salary for the remainder of his contracts term, or 18 months of salary, whichever is less. If he is terminated for cause, he has no rights to payment or benefits. Bloomberg announced the appointment of Stacy Pfuger, the districts vice chancellor of educational services and student success, to serve as BCs interim president until Fligers permanent replacement is hired. Responding to questions about Fligers abrupt departure, district officials issued a press release later reassuring the public there has been no change in Bakersfield Colleges academic and fiscal standing, which remain excellent, and the college continues to operate smoothly and effectivelyand without interruption. Public concerns need to be addressed by more than a trust us, we know what we are doing press release. KCCD officials must disclose basic information, such as: What does permanent leave mean? Did he get fired, or quit, or mutually agree to resign? Who just gets permanently left? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is Fliger continuing to receive his taxpayer-funded salary? If he is, that suggests he was let go without cause. If he isnt, that suggests he quit, or was fired with cause. Those of us who pay Fligers salary are entitled to know. Disclosing those basic facts is a matter of public record, not a confidential personnel matter. Bloomberg and Fliger were both hired in December 2023. They made their public debuts in March 2024. Bloomberg is a former KCCD administrator, who left the district and served as the Southeast Arkansas College president, before returning to the local college district as its chancellor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fliger was interim president at College of the Mainland in Texas, before he was appointed BCs 11th president since its establishment in 1913. Fliger was appointed BC president after a two-year nationwide search to replace former President Sonya Christian, who now is serving as the chancellor of the statewide California Community Colleges system. At the time of his appointment last year, KCCD Board President John Corkins proclaimed, Dr. Fligers extensive experience in instruction, academic affairs and workforce development is the exact leadership we need to advance student success and ensure we are developing the future workforce of Kern County as innovation and new opportunities are brought to the area. So, what happened? We may never know the exact details. But the district owes the public (taxpayers) at least basic information that is a matter of public record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bloomberg said Tuesday that the district will likely use a hiring agency to conduct a search for Fligers replacement. The goal is to open applications in late summer and identify three finalists by the fall. It took the district two years and a nationwide search to find and appoint Fliger as the full-time BC president to replace Christian. Are we to expect this announced fast-track process will yield a more acceptable replacement for Fliger? KCCD officials have a long way to go in restoring the publics confidence after obscuring their handling of Fligers permanent leave. A fashion icon was spotted at the White House this weekputting ICE Barbie Kristi Noem to shame. Anna Wintour, the celebrated Vogue editor, rolled up to the South Lawn sporting her perfectly sleek bob and tasked with one missionto discuss the impact of President Donald Trumps tariffs on the fashion industry. She was not there, however, to end the feud between herself and the first lady by offering Melania Trump a coveted spot on the cover. Melania Trump, Donald Trump and Anna Wintour were New York City socialites at the same time in the early 2000s, and were often found in similar circles. Today, Wintour has a well-known rivalry with the duo. She is an avid Democrat. / WWD / WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images Wintour was flanked by two other industry legends: Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and Stephen Lamar, president and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trumps opened their home for the party, even though Wintour has famously snubbed the pair on more than one occasion. Melania and Wintour share a host of similaritiesboth are foreign-born, cold and commanding figures who have an affection for Italian designers. For a while, the two seemed to get along finebefore his presidential run, Trump and his wife were routinely invited to the Met Gala and other Vogue events. Melania even graced the cover of Vogue in 2005 wearing her wedding dress. Melania Trump used to be on good terms with Anna Wintour. But in 2017, Wintour vowed to never invite President Donald Trump to the Met Gala again. / Paul Hawthorne / Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images But things changed once Trump was elected. In October 2017, Wintour vowed she would never invite Trump back to the Met Gala. Wintour pointedly chose not to put Melania on the cover of Vogue, unlike former first ladies Jill Biden and Michelle Obama. Wintour arrived in Washington, D.C. to meet with Susie Wiles, Trumps chief of staff, in the hopes of finding relief for the heavily tariffed, $500 billion fashion industry. The industry, which supports 10 million jobs nationwide, has been particularly hard hit by Trumps tariff attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, the average tax on fashion items is nearly 13 percent. And even though the products only make up approximately 5 percent of what the U.S. imports, they are responsible for over 25 percent of the total tariffs collected. Since the fashion industry is already so heavily taxed, the three industry leaders told Wiles the extra tariffs would only put the fashion industry at a disproportionate disadvantage. Anna Wintour visited the White House in an effort to get the Trump administration to relieve the fashion industry after they imposed additional tariffs. / Kevin Mazur/MG25 / Kevin Mazur/MG25/ Getty Images Wintour, a proud Democrat, was there to say her pieceand butter up to the Trump administrationdespite the ongoing feud with Melania. According to Wintours biographer, Amy Odell, Vogue twice tried to photograph Melania during Trumps first term. She declined both times when she learned it would not guarantee her a cover. Immediately after Melania posed for her first White House official portrait, wearing a black Dolce & Gabbana business suit, Vogue published a scathing article saying that the outfit made Melania appear more like a freelance magician than a public servant. Trump looked more like she was guest-starring on an episode of The Apprentice than assuming the role of First Lady of the United States, wrote Vogues Hannah Jackson. Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Michael Kors and Anna Wintour attend a 2005 party. Wintour's rift with Melania escalated when the first lady was not put on the cover of Vogue. / Patrick McMullan / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images Republicans fell in line to support Melania. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Melanias friend Bill White wrote on X: We cherish and support [Melania]. Weve decided to cancel all our subscriptions to Conde NASTY. I urge everyone who loves America to join us in this action. Melanias former confidante, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, wrote a book that shone a light on the depth of the rivalry: I dont give a f--- about Vogue or any other magazine," Melania allegedly said. They would never put me on the cover. All these people are so mad. The drama extends to the president, too. According to Odell, when Wintour came to visit Trump in New York in 2016, after he won the election, he reportedly felt offended that nobody told him ahead of time. He was so upset he didnt even say hello. Are Republicans the new infrequent voters? In a new Catalist study, researchers say yes. Big shifts may be coming in both political campaigning and election laws. Unlike misreported horse race polls during election season, the Catalist study is public opinion polling done right. Catalist collects comprehensive data from a sample featuring a broad cross-section of Americans. This includes panel data, in which the same people are repeatedly interviewed over time to see how their opinions change. Political campaigns and academics both consider the for-profit firm to be a gold standard for well-collected data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Catalist study found that in 2024, Democratic support increased markedly among frequent voters, that is, voters who regularly participate in elections. Support for Donald Trump surged among infrequent voters, including a growing coalition particularly of men that was far more diverse than Trumps traditional base of older, white voters. Frequent voters could also be called self sufficient voters. They do not need much help from campaigns or get out the vote drives, and are less likely to be influenced by either. Frequent voters are more likely to make up their minds on their own, without reference to advertising or candidate appearances and well in advance of the election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are more likely to be abreast of any changes in election laws, to keep their voter registrations up to date, to go to the right polling place, and to have the right documentation such as state-issued photo ID without needing prompts or reminders. In recent decades, Democrats have invested heavily in get-out-the-vote or GOTV efforts, otherwise known as the ground game, particularly in battleground states and districts. These target infrequent voters. In 2024, the Trump campaign countered with more investment of their own in GOTV, and it paid off handsomely. If the Democrats base is now made up mostly of self-sufficient, unpersuadable voters, both parties strategies will shift. Democrats will have to target infrequent voters more carefully, in order to avoid accidentally mobilizing more Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Republicans will increase their investment in the ground game more generally. They face major challenges. This spring, I attended the post-election symposium at the Dole Institute of Politics at KU, where panelists speculated that some voters in battleground states, such as Arizona and Wisconsin, simply voted for Trump and then left the rest of their ballots blank, enabling Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate to win. This behavior is consistent with infrequent voting, and the election results from these states suggest that the Dole panelists were at least partially correct in both. What about election laws? For decades, Republicans have backed new laws that may lower turnout among infrequent voters, including photo ID and proof of citizenship laws, the latter enthusiastically championed by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since 2020, Republicans have added crackdowns on dropbox and mail-in voting, such as the new Kansas law eliminating the grace period for mail ballots. What if the voters disenfranchised by these crackdowns are now mostly Republicans? Well before 2024, and despite Democrats objections, political science research has consistently shown that photo ID laws have little impact on election results. Photo ID requirements may lower voter turnout by an average of about 2%, but those numbers include roughly equal numbers of Democratic and Republican voters. It is well-documented that these laws are unnecessary there is no widespread election fraud. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with these recent changes, restrictive laws may hurt the Republican vote share. Conspiracy theories notwithstanding, GOP legislators may want to do some serious soul-searching before passing any more voting restrictions. Michael A. Smith is a professor of political science and chair of social sciences at Emporia State University. The height of corruption Trump is the most corrupt individual elected to the office of president. He has been an unethical, immoral grifter his entire life. Now he is aided by the Supreme Court, which granted him immunity, and the Republicans in the Senate and House, who blindly support his illegal activity to destroy the Constitution (Project 2025). Day one, Trump pardons 1,500 insurrectionists. Then enlists Elon Musks DOGE to illegally fire federal employees and close agencies needed by US citizens Then he enacts his tariffs, which throws the economy into chaos. Prices rise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, he received a $400,000 bribe from Qatar, which could cost the taxpayers a billion dollars to retrofit. Next comes the Big Beautiful Bill that only benefits the rich. A day later, he hosted a dinner to sell his corrupt cryptocurrency. The guests paid an average of $1.8 million to enrich the Trump Crime Family. This week he is pardoning fellow felons who were tried and convicted by a jury of their peers. Some even pleaded guilty. This goes against the norms of pardon policies. All while deporting immigrants and sick children who entered the country legally. Cant get more corrupt than this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steve Golubic, Puyallup Scouts helping to revitalize Tacoma Dear Tacoma residents. Im in Troop 507, located in the Fernhill area. One of my troop members is an Eagle Scout now, but to become an Eagle, he had to do a community project. His project was cleaning up part of a neighborhood, which is at South D Street behind Fred Meyer. A neighborhood group that helped with the success of this project, are part of a group called South End Neighborhood Council (SENCO). Not only was our troop there helping, but we had a lot of volunteers helping too. The first thing we did was spread mulch and dirt, but before we could do that, we had to clean up the place. We found random assortments of trash, including needles. With help from everyone together we got the cleaning done and were also able to plant a variety of plants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our troop came back several more times to clean it up. Then we came back to enjoy a neighborhood party. The work it took to revitalize that area was worth it. It looks amazing now, and I hope to do something similar for my Eagle Scout project. Lets revitalize Tacoma! James Frazier, Tacoma Dying for American empire Every Memorial Day, were asked to bow our heads and salute the flag in solemn gratitude for those who died for our freedom. But the truth is far more painful: our soldiers arent dying for freedom theyre dying for profit. We are not a peace-loving nation. We are an empire addicted to war, propped up by a military-industrial complex that profits from every bullet fired and bomb dropped. The children of senators and CEOs dont enlist. Its the poor, the forgotten, the desperate offered a uniform and a promise, but handed a death sentence wrapped in a flag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre sent across the world to kill people theyve never met, in wars that crumble under scrutiny. Civilians become collateral. Our democracy erodes not from foreign threats but from within, by those who trade lives for power and profit. The hardest truth? Many of our fallen didnt die for a cause they were sacrificed yo keep defense stocks soaring and politicians in office. Stop repeating the lie. They didnt die for freedom. They died for empire. If we truly want to honor them, we must make sure no one else dies for a lie. Let them be the last. Gregory Alderete, Steilacoom Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said his fellow party members need to be a bit more harsh in upcoming elections to put an end to political intimidation. After an unsuccessful bid for the vice presidency in November, Walz has shared staunch criticism of Elon Musk and other officials within the Trump administration. Im getting called out on this because I called Donald Trump a wannabe dictator its because he is. Its because he is, Walz said Saturday during his keynote address for the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said people alleged that his comments were mean. Well, maybe its time for us to be a little meaner. Maybe its time for us to be a little more fierce, because we have to ferociously push back on this, Walz said, urging critics to rebuke the Trump administrations policies. Walzs words were echoed by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) during his remarks at the annual South Carolina Democrats Blue Palmetto Dinner Friday night. I want to be clear: We can and we must condemn Donald Trumps reckless actions. But we would also be foolish not to learn from his impatience, Moore, a first-term governor, said during his roughly 30-minute speech to the state partys officials and activists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald Trump doesnt need a study to dismantle democracy or use the Constitution like a suggestion box. Donald Trump doesnt need a white paper to start arbitrary trade wars that raise the cost of virtually everything in our lives, he added. Walz and Moore also made an appearance at Rep. Jim Clyburns (D-S.C.) annual fish fry Friday night, an event known to be dazzled by presidential hopefuls. The Maryland governor said he would not run for the Oval Office next election cycle but party members have floated him as a viable leader for 2028. On Saturday, Walz said that any work geared towards ensuring a Democratic win in the next presidential campaign would need to start soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It starts this Saturday as us starting to organize. Donald Trump ran for president for four years after he got beat in 2020. The Republican Party ran for four years. Their school board members ran for four years. All of those things were happening, the Minnesota governor said. And what I know about our party is we know how to work. Were people with grit and resilience. We know how to get things done, he added. 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. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says Democrats need to take a page from President Donald Trumps own playbook. Maybe its time for us to be a little meaner, the former vice presidential hopeful said during a speech at the South Carolina Democratic Partys annual convention in Columbia, South Carolina. Maybe its time for us to be a little more fierce because we have to ferociously push back on this. When its a bully like Donald Trump, you bully the s--t out of him, Walz added. HOLY CRAP! Tim Walz unleashes on Donald Trump; "I'm getting called out on this because I called Donald Trump a wannabe dictator? It's because he is. Maybe it's time for us to be a little meaner, a little more fierce... When it's adult like Donald Trump, you bully the shit out of pic.twitter.com/Ma7jhocb19 Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) May 31, 2025 Walz said a more aggressive stance on Trump will leave Republicans on the defensive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What they dont want to do is stand toe-to-toe and punch back with someone whos calling [Trump] out, he said. The governor also had some choice words for his fellow Democrats during a separate address at another state party conference in Anaheim, California on Saturday. Walz copped to his own failings at last year's elections while urging his party to do more to combat the Trump administration. / Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Acknowledging that hes perhaps the last person to lecture the party on losses given his and former Vice President Kamala Harris loss to Trump and Vice President JD Vance, Walz said hed recently been told by a political researcher that the Democrats have behaved like a deer in car headlights post-election. You see the car coming at you, but you go ahead and stand there and you get hit by it anyway, he added. Nobody votes for roadkill. The Minnesota governor has said he would Walz went on to say Democrats had strayed from our North Star by failing to persuade voters they are champions of the working class. As a result, We lost to a grifter billionaire giving tax cuts to his grifter billionaire buddies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the Minnesota governor has not given any clear indication hes eyeing his own run for the presidency in 2028, he told The New Yorker in a podcast appearance in March that he would certainly consider the possibility if he thought I could offer something. As Democrats remain divided as to who might be best placed to challenge Trump in three years time, Walz has remained firmly in the limelight in the months since Trump took office, headlining a series of town halls across the country as well as speaking at events in a number of Republican districts where Democrats lost by a thin margin last year. UPDATE: The Hart County Sheriffs Office says Greata Nikki Nichole Thomas was arrested in South Carolina late Sunday. A huge thank you to the Anderson County Sheriffs Office, Abbeville County Sheriffs Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and all other agencies involved for their assistance. We greatly appreciate the support and coordination throughout this case, Sheriff Chris Carroll said. ORIGINAL STORY JUNE 1 A search for a suspect is underway in northeast Georgia after a woman was found dead in Royston. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hart County Sheriffs Office is searching for a woman accused of murder related to their investigation. According to deputies, officers were sent to a home on Barton Road in Royston on Saturday and found a woman whod been shot. The woman who was killed was later identified as Breiana Danielle Johnson, 34 of Royston. Now, officers are searching for Greata Nichole Thomas, also called Greata Nichole Mobley, 26, accused of murder. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office said Thomas may be driving a 2008 grey Honda Accord with an Alabama license plate reading 13ABB80. Anyone with information about the vehicle or Thomas whereabouts is asked to contact the Hart County Sheriffs Office at 706-376-3114 or call 911 immediately. Officers said not to approach Thomas if she is seen. Details about what led to Johnsons death were not immediately available. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] According to the Police, two minors died during the treatment in a Sunder Nagri CNG cylinder blast case. The incident occurred on Saturday evening around 4:33 PM in the K-Block area of Sunder Nagri, where a blast took place inside a godown used for storing and repairing old CNG cylinders. A police team rushed to the spot and found that the blast had occurred during the repair of an old CNG cylinder. The explosion's force caused the godown's iron gate to break off. In the incident, three children--aged 4, 7, and 9--who were playing outside the premises at the time, sustained injuries. A 25-year-old worker inside the godown, identified as Arshad, was also injured in the explosion. He is currently undergoing treatment and is reported to be in stable condition. The godown was reportedly being used for the storage and repair of old CNG cylinders. Teams from the Crime Branch and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) are inspecting the scene to ascertain the exact cause and sequence of the blast. Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI) MEMPHIS, Tenn. The Shelby County Sheriffs Office announced that the body of a missing man has been found in the Wolf River. The body of 31-year-old Thaddeus Smiley was found on Sunday afternoon. The announcement came during a press conference SCSO hosted at the Wolf River. We were able to locate his body, about a half mile downriver, from where he went into the water, SCSO Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews had been searching for Smiley since he was swept away by the water on Friday. Smiley and another man had been trying to rescue a 10-year-old child who was struggling to swim. One thing about the Wolf River, it is complete with sand and mud, Buckner said. There are times when people enter the river, and just a little bit of weight on the bottom of the river can create suction that can pull someone down or hold them down. 120 people searching Wolf River for missing man: SCSO Since Friday, more than 100 first responders and volunteers have assisted in the search for Smiley, including crews from the sheriffs office, the Memphis Fire Department, and the Shelby County Fire Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The conditions of the river didnt change much, in terms of its complexities, in terms of the danger, Buckner said. And so, our divers and our search and rescue teams are not immune to the troubles of the Wolf River. Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley confirmed the victim was his relative. He made a tweet after the announcement saying, Its been an incredibly difficult time. Im heartbroken to share that the body of my nephew, Thaddeus Smiley, who was swept away by the Wolf River, has been found. Thanks to the first responders & volunteers. Please keep our family in your prayers as we grieve this tragedy. As the Smiley family mourns the loss of their loved one, theyre focusing on the positives that have come out of this situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We didnt get the result we wanted, but we got something that was deeply important to every single person that uses the Smiley name, JB Smiley said. Our beloved family member, Thaddeus Smiley, is back with us. Hes no longer in the river, we know exactly where he is. In a social media post, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris extended his condolences to the Smiley family and called Thaddeus a hero. Mr. Smiley is a hero in every sense of the word who gave everything in heroic sacrifice to help a vulnerable child in danger, Harris said. He was an incredible young man, someone with the type of courage we should also wish we could emulate in similar circumstances. On behalf of the Memphis City Council, Chairman J. Ford Canale released a statement regarding Thaddeus death, noting that he was more than a loved one he is now a symbol of the kind of selflessness and love that uplifts and inspires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Smileys bravery risking his life in an effort to save a child will never be forgotten. His selfless act of courage stands as a powerful reminder of the strength, compassion, and humanity that reside within our community. In the face of danger, he chose to act, and his legacy as a true hero will forever be etched in the heart of our city. 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. By Cynthia Kim JECHEON, South Korea (Reuters) - When then-President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law decree plunged South Korea into chaos, it plummeted sales at Park Myung-Ja's diner in Jechon and became a turning point for many voters in the town. The 66-year-old chef and restaurant owner is one face of South Korea's North Chungcheong Province, a swing region that has become even more pivotal at a time of deep political polarisation in Asia's fourth-largest economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We need to get furthest away from all that martial law drama to get things back to where they were," Park said at her Korean restaurant two hours south of Seoul, adding liberal candidate "Lee Jae-myung looks alright for that". Voters are now looking for the winner of the June 3 snap election to calm the economic and political shocks that have roiled the country since Yoon's December 3 martial law decree led to months of economic downturn and sparked nationwide protests. Park's Chungcheong Province is a key battleground for Kim Moon-soo, candidate for the conservative People Power Party campaigning on deregulations for companies, and liberal Democratic Party frontrunner Lee, who's vowing to bring back stability after months of turmoil. In swing regions such as North Chungcheong Province, where Jechon is located, the ruling conservative party risks losing a big chunk of its vote base with many voters blaming the martial law debacle for weaker private consumption and easing export momentum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Park's business crashed after Yoon's declaration with some of her biggest customers who are local council officials cancelling dinner reservations in groups of five to 10. "The first call I got on Dec. 4 was from a regular customer who does his year-end dinner here every year. I asked him why he is cancelling it, and he said -- 'don't you watch news?'" Lee, who defied Yoon's martial law decree, had a 10-percentage point lead over Kim in one of the final opinion polls issued on Tuesday with 45% of voters trusting him to revive the economy compared to 32% for Kim. Conservatives have criticised Lee for a series of criminal cases he faces over accusations of election law violations, corruption, and other issues, but they have struggled to unify behind a single candidate and to distance themselves from Yoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, right-winger Kim said voting for Lee would end up "collapsing our economy", hoping to sway voters in small cities such as Jecheon, an inland town of about 130,000 surrounded by mountainous tourist spots, who are looking for a turning point to revive South Korea's fortunes. But the martial law call continues to weigh heavily on conservative chances. "We definitely had fewer customers, especially from office dinners, after the martial law declaration. It did bite us hard," said Choi, a Chinese restaurant owner in Pangyo, a town south of Seoul. "Lee is someone who will uplift more of us who are not doing so well." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement HEAVY ON SPECTACLE Consumer sentiment, which dropped by the most since the outbreak of COVID-19 in December, recovered to pre-martial-law levels of 101.8 in May, on expectations of a fresh stimulus package under a new leader. The shock move rattled markets and put the won among the region's worst-performing currencies of the last year, hurt business sentiment even before exporters absorbed the full force of U.S. President Donald Trump's punitive tariff policies. Now, the strains are setting in, as economic tailwinds from the semiconductor boom and reforms in the capital markets in the past few years are fading. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whoever wins the June 3 election will face an economy that contracted in the first quarter, manage negotiations with Washington to avoid high tariffs, and assuage voters such as Park who are seeing their living standards go backwards from elevated grocery bills and weak spending. South Korea's election campaign has been light on policy and heavy on spectacle after twists and turns involving the main candidates. "I wish they had taken housing supply and boosting the domestic market more seriously in their pledges," said 59-year-old Jung Soo-hyeon. "But perhaps because it's a snap election, that kind of in-depth consideration seems to be missing which is a bit disappointing." Analysts say voters watched economic pledges closely as consumption has been badly hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A win for Lee could spur "faster economic growth in the short term," Kim Jin-wook of Citi Research said. The Democratic Party "would likely be relatively more keen on providing policy and support for the mid-to-low-income bracket," he added. While both top candidates have pledged to draft a second supplementary budget for the year as soon as the election is over, Lee has also promised vouchers to help local businesses and subsidies for childcare, youth, and the elderly. While Lee has backed away from advocating for universal basic income, some voters including Park, who backed Yoon last time, said they see Lee as most likely to look out for their interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Lee's party seems to be willing to give out more to those who are struggling," Park said, emphasizing that "change" is important. ($1 = 1,376.1000 won) (Additional reporting by Yeonbin Park; Editing by Saad Sayeed) HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Its been 50 years since the Hartford Whalers first took the ice in Connecticut in 1975. Dennis House speaks with Pat Pickens, producer of The Whalers documentary and Jay Sloves, a former Whalers executive, about the lasting legacy of the franchise, on This Week in Connecticut. Watch above. THIS WEEK IN CONNECTICUT 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. WELSH, La. (KLFY)-The town of Welsh celebrated the opening of a new building at the McBurney Memorial Library, a library that has stood since being built in the 1970s. Jeff Davis Parish Library board officials said the McBurney Memorial Library has been in need of upgrades for over a decade, but they say their plans to expand have become a reality with their new $1.3 million facility. Michael Staton, The Jeff Davis Parish Library director, said the building is a result of former directors pointing out the lack of space in the library. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is really a product of the former directors recognizing that we were outgrowing the space in the Welsh branch here and being able to come up with a solution that was both fiscally responsible with the taxpayers money but still met the needs of the community, said Staton. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest To celebrate, the library held a community festival with many activities such as live music, face painting, an escape room, and a petting zoo. Welsh Library Branch Manager, Jean Stoute, said the new building includes an 85-person meeting room, study rooms, and storage rooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the new facility, well be able to supply more needs to our community, said Stoute. Well have more programs, and well get different needs, we already have four programs a week, we are hoping to increase that, so were excited about the progress, said Stoute. Staton said more resources for children, the updated library will now be better equipped to support families. We see a lot of grandparents taking care of their kids, and this gives people something to do, keep kids occupied during the summer and just provide a safe place where we know that theyre being looked after and engaged and increase their literacy, just increase their participation in their communities, said Staton. Staton said the future of the Welsh library looks very promising. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It gives us our own space to be able to prep programs and have things ready to go and grow and expand for the community, and the Welsh library has always been really supportive by their local community, so were eternally grateful to the Welsh community, said Staton. Latest news 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 KLFY.com. KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) Kalamazoo and Kent counties were among the eight local governments listed as sanctuary jurisdictions by the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday. However, county leaders say the department got it wrong. The list highlights communities DHS officials claim are deliberately obstructing federal immigration law enforcement. These sanctuary city politicians are endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens, said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in the press release. We are exposing these sanctuary politicians who harbor criminal illegal aliens and defy federal law. President Trump and I will always put the safety of the American people first. Sanctuary politicians are on notice: comply with federal law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The effort is part of the Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens executive order issued by President Donald Trump in late April. Once on the list, the local governments will get a formal notification of non-compliance, and all potential federal violations. Kent Countys response Kent Countys Assistant Administrator said it was erroneously listed. Kent County is notand has never beena sanctuary county, said Lori Latham in a statement to News 8. The Kent County Sheriffs Office has consistently maintained a cooperative relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and all other law enforcement partners. She said the county is working with federal partners to get it off the list. Kalamazoo Countys response Kalamazoo County said the designation is inaccurate and that the county has never declared to be a sanctuary county, nor do they have policies to interfere with federal immigration law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have, however, publicly stated our values as a welcoming and inclusive community a belief that all people should be treated with dignity and fairness, Kalamazoo County said in a statement.These values are fully consistent with following the law, and we remain committed to both. The county follows state and federal laws in all parts of governance including when providing public services, they said. That includes health care, housing support, public safety and economic development programs. Unfortunately, false labels from the federal government can have real consequences. When the County is incorrectly listed as non-compliant, it puts important federal funding at risk, the county said. That directly impacts the families, workers, and neighborhoods who rely on these services even though the County is fully following the law. Board of County Commissioners Chair Jen Strebs said the label pulls away from public service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no contradiction between treating people with dignity and upholding the law, Strebs said in a statement. Thats not just what our community deserves its a core value and guiding principle for how we live and serve here in Kalamazoo County. And thats exactly what well keep doing. Kalamazoo County suing EPA over $18.9 grant termination News 8 reached out to DHS to learn what exactly led them to consider Kalamazoo County as a sanctuary jurisdiction. While a spokesperson did not provide specific reasons, they shared what some of the conditions could be. Designation of a sanctuary jurisdiction is based on the evaluation of numerous factors, including self-identification as a sanctuary jurisdiction, noncompliance with Federal law enforcement in enforcing immigration laws, restrictions on information sharing, and legal protections for illegal aliens, the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They added that the list will be regularly reviewed, updated and can change at any 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 WOODTV.com. Dutch right-wing populist Geert Wilders has reiterated his threat to break up the governing coalition in The Hague if his demands for a relentlessly tough stance on asylum seekers are not met. Millions of Dutch people, he said, expected the implementation of a corresponding 10-point plan from his Party for Freedom (PVV), Wilders wrote on X on Sunday. The PVV leader added: "Let me be very clear: If the majority of our proposals from the 10-point asylum plan are not adopted (and thus added to the coalition agreement) and the government does not implement them as quickly as possible, the PVV will exit this coalition." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wilders issued the threat shortly before consultations by the four-party coalition on the PVV's demands, which, according to the ANP news agency, were scheduled for Monday evening. The PVV, the strongest force in parliament since the recent election, is demanding the closure of borders to all asylum seekers. If necessary, the army should be deployed to control the borders, Wilders had stated during the presentation of the plan a week ago. He also demanded that tens of thousands of Syrian refugees should be sent back to their homeland, and asylum centres should be closed. Additionally, Wilders is calling for an end to family reunification for recognized refugees and the expulsion of criminal individuals with dual nationality, with their Dutch nationality then being revoked. Two key associates, Karajpreet Singh from Verowal, Tarn Taran, and Gurlal Singh alias Harman from Goindwal Sahib, Tarn Taran, have been arrested. According to police, preliminary investigations reveal that Jeevan Fauji, a prominent BKI member, was running an extortion racket targeting individuals in Punjab's border areas. He allegedly supplied a .30 bore pistol to the arrested duo and instructed them to carry out a shooting at a furniture shop in Amritsar as part of an extortion bid. The ransom demand was directed at a relative of the shop owner residing in Canada. Following Gurlal Singh's disclosures, a police team accompanied him to recover the weapon used in the crime. During the operation, Gurlal attempted to open fire on the police, leading to retaliatory firing in self-defence. Gurlal sustained a bullet injury to his left leg and was promptly shifted to Civil Hospital, Amritsar, for medical treatment. Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered, and further investigation is underway to completely dismantle this terror network. On May 20, Punjab Police arrested six BKI operatives who were involved in a failed grenade attack on a liquor vend in Batala. The terror operation was directed by foreign-based handlers Maninder Billa, based in Portugal, and Mannu Agwan, who recently took operational control of BKI following the arrest of Happy Passian in the United States. Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav posted on X on Tuesday that the arrested individuals, identified as Jatin Kumar alias Rohan, Barinder Singh alias Sajan, Rahul Masih, Abraham alias Rohit, Sohit, and Sunil Kumar, were receiving direct instructions from Billa and Agwan, under the command of BKI mastermind Harwinder Singh Rinda. During the operation, Jatin Kumar was injured in an exchange of fire with police while being taken for recovery. He opened fire on the police team, sustaining injuries in retaliatory action, and is currently admitted to Civil Hospital, Batala. Police recovered a 30-bore pistol from the module, the Punjab Police DGP said. A case has been registered at PS Civil Lines, Batala, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). (ANI) UPDATE: Williamsburg officials confirmed just before 2 p.m. Monday that Danielle Marie was located and is safe. WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) The Williamsburg Police Department is requesting the publics help in finding a woman whos disappearance is deemed critical. Danielle Marie, 57, was last seen in Williamsburg near Patriot Lane around 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon driving a white Honda. She is believed to be in West Virginia currently, but her exact whereabouts are unkown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those with information on Maries whereabouts are encouraged to call 757-220-2331. 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. WILLOWICK, Ohio (WJW) A 16-year-old is recovering after being shot late Saturday. According to police, officers responded to a call of a gunshot in the area of Willowick Drive between East 326th Street and East 330th Street. Once officers arrived they found the teen who had a gunshot wound to his chest. Lawsuit filed against Cleveland heights and mayors wife: I-Team Willowick police and firefighters treated him and took him to the hospital. Police say he was released Sunday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No arrests have been made but detectives are continuing to investigate. At this time, the Willowick police department is asking for anyone with information related to this incident to please come forward and assist in our investigation, a press release states. Police are also asking for residents that live in the area to check their security video. Local man helped traffic more than 150 pounds of popular party drug: Feds Willowick Police Chief Rob Daubenmire stresses the incident did not happen at a nearby festival. Anyone with information is asked to contact Willowick Police at 440-585-1234. 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. An 18-year-old is slowly recovering after being severely injured when a tornado hit his Henry County home on Thursday afternoon, his father said. Malachi Chaney was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was listed in critical condition. His father said he was thrown 300 feet from the house. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Tray Chaney, Malachis father and an actor best known for his role as Malik Poot Carr on The Wire, was also injured when a EF-2 tornado destroyed their home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a video posted to social media on Saturday, Tray Chaney said his son is now stable in the hospital, but will have a long road to recovery. He says his sons progress is very slow, but he is grateful that the young man is living and breathing. RELATED STORIES: Me and my son went to war with a tornado. To be living and breathing, I know who God is, Tray Chaney said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that he could remember seeing stuff start flying toward him and felt himself lift off the ground. He said that hell be messed up forever because of the experience. He also posted that Malachi Chaney will celebrate his 19th birthday in the hospital on Sunday. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The Wire actor Tray Chaney said his son is in the hospital after being thrown by a tornado in Georgia. Chaney, who played Malik Poot Carr on the HBO show set in Baltimore, posted about his son in a video on social media, with his destroyed home in the background. I lost my house, Chaney said. I lost everything in it. He said his son, Malachi Chaney, who turned 19 on Sunday, was thrown over 300 feet by the tornado Thursday and is fighting for his life in an intensive care unit. An update Sunday said Malachi is still in the hospital and making process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tearful with a hospital wristband on, Tray Chaney said he and his son had had a beautiful day Thursday that included a big-ticket show and meeting up with Felicia Pearson, who played a fictionalized version of herself, nicknamed Snoop, in The Wire. Tray Chaney recalled sitting on his bed in his home in Locust Grove, Atlanta, around 3 p.m. when he heard wind moments prior to his house being destroyed. Chaney said he had to crawl through the remains of his home to find his phone. Cherish life as much as you can, Chaney said on social media. I wish he was the one doing the video, and I was in the ICU Thank God I am still living. Have a news tip? Contact Matt Hubbard at mhubbard@baltsun.com, 443-651-0101 or @mthubb on X. GERMANTOWN, Wis. (WFRV) A 34-year-old man in Wisconsin was found dead in the drivers seat of a vehicle on Saturday morning. The Germantown Police Department reported that dispatchers received a call around 7:18 a.m. on Saturday for a vehicle crash with one person in the drivers seat, appearing to be dead. Wisconsin man spraying weeds dies after being pinned under rolled over ATV Officers arrived and found the vehicle off-road near a line of trees and confirmed that the driver, a 34-year-old Cedarburg man, was dead on the scene. The cause has not yet been determined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident is still under investigation. No additional details available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Exclusive: WiSpa Suspect Not Guilty on All Nine Counts of Indecent Exposure originally appeared on L.A. Mag. Darren Merager enters the Los Angeles County Superior Court - West DistrictLAMag/Jeremy Lee Quinn The not guilty verdict for Darren Merager was read aloud to an audience of one in the Los Angeles courtroom gallery. Gone were the leftist activists and black clad SoCal Antifa militants who attacked conservative demonstrators outside WiSpa in the name of smashing transphobia. Gone were the Christian conservatives and self-identifying trans-exclusionary feminists who found common cause, protesting for traditional womens spaces in July of 2021. Gone were all the other reporters. There were bombshells throughout the 4 week jury trial. An email from a WiSpa manager named Mr. Suh was entered into evidence. It instructed managers on duty not to admit customer Darren Merager, the now 55-year-old heterosexual male who also identifies as transgender (referred to as he/him and she/her on the record). The ignored email referred to a customer only by an ID number. The prosecution submitted that the communication predated the night in 2021 that the embattled bather sat nude on the edge of the spa jacuzzi tub, legs akimbo, until female patrons complained and then filed police reports weeks later. A woman recorded a viral video that night, objecting to a penis on the womens side of the 24 hour Korean spa. The public firestorm was followed by felony criminal charges. They let the defendant in, the jury foreman commented after the final day of the four-week trial in May of 2025, which cleared Merager of indecent exposure charges at both the WiSpa near LAs Koreatown and a similar incident at the West Hollywood Aquatic Center in 2018. The author of the viral WiSpa video, a woman named Christina R. who went by cubana angel online, did not even testify for the prosecution. It would have meant entering the selfie-video of Christina complaining at WiSpa into evidence. The defense wanted the video played so the jury could hear the colorful reactions from those set against Merager that night. Whats more, absent from the extended video was any mention of the key claim that might prove sexual intent: an alleged erection. Judge Joseph Burghardt ruled to the dismay of the defense that only a short section of the WiSpa kerfuffle could be played sans audio. Pronoun discipline was a Herculean task throughout the month of the trial. The defense attorney and judge constantly shifted between referring to Merager as he and she and Meragers attributes as his penis and her penis. Deputy Prosecutor Karen Montoya only slipped up once over the 4 week ordeal and quickly apologized, correcting herself after straying from genderless terminology. Merager was unoffended, as the defendant accepts being referred to by both sets of pronouns. The jury was asked to decide, by official language, if the defendant exposed himself/herself with the intent of sexual gratification. Jurors came to a not guilty decision in less than an hour and a half. The foreman summed up the prosecutions case to me in three simple words: It wasnt enough. Testimony of an alleged erection was inconsistent, yet, a previous judge had ruled that the claim was sufficient pre-trial evidence to go forward. One woman, a mother at the spa with her two teenage daughters, changed her characterization of Merager over the years. The defense seized on the witness's account differing from the police report to the preliminary hearing and then at the trial. The woman's testimony escalated to claims of the defendant's hand on his thigh to then, via the court Spanish language interpreter, insinuations of more animated activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A witness that jurors told me they found to be one of the most credible appeared on behalf of the defense. She was a psychiatric nurse practitioner who was also in the nude area of the spa with her two daughters. She admitted to concern over Meragers presence but also could see Merager for the better part of a half hour through the window of the sauna, as the defendant remained at the jacuzzi pool. Doctor Natarajan testified Meragers demeanor was pleasant and that there was no erection. Jurors told me that they were suspicious that two WiSpa complainants said they just happened to show up at the same time at an LA police station to file police reports, weeks after the WiSpa incident. Another prosecution witness dramatically took the stand at the very last minute. A woman named Tamra was upset that her autistic daughter had to bear witness to Meragers manhood in the womens showers of a Sherman Oaks pool. She offered up a litany of choice words in court and admitted to telling Merager Ill drag you out by your hair. Jury members told me that the highly charged witness testimony did not help the prosecution. Amazingly, the Sherman Oaks incident took place during the actual trial, on what should have been the third day of jury selection at the end of April. Merager had gone to the ER to get physical ailments checked out. As a result, court proceedings were cancelled for the day. Then, Merager went to the Sherman Oaks pool where yet another incident of controversy played out. It all spectacularly came to the courts attention, as a sister of a jury candidate happened to be there. The juror researched and reported back to the court what she had learned (and was removed from the jury pool, naturally). If anything, the defendant was consistent, continuing to bathe in the womens section of pools and spas in LA, Orange County and Palm Springs, even after the headline-grabbing WiSpa incident of 2021. Merager seized on the right to do so as Californias legislature passed gender self-identification in 2018. The Gender Recognition Act was brought forward by California legislators Scott Wiener and Toni Atkins before being signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2019. The first week that the law went into effect, Merager, who has an extensive rap sheet in Southern California from incidents of indecent exposure to motor vehicle theft to spearheading a multimillion-dollar art heist caper, registered with the DMV as female. Per the new law, no medical documentation was necessary. Merager acknowledged having had quite enough of male spaces following stints in men's prisons. Meragers origin story or gender journey began with a 2017 car accident, after which a therapist brought up the possibility that Darren might lose his lower extremities. And had Merager ever considered gender fluidity? It all clicked, Merager characterized his first epiphany that he/she was androgynous male and female, a transgender designation Merager considers distinct from non binary. But none of Meragers gender journey or sexuality were part of the case. The jury was told it could consider Meragers 2003 plea deal for a public masturbation charge. But the jury could not convict on priors alone. So it didnt. Meragers driver's license with a female marker was projected on screen in the courtroom by Defense Attorney Elliot Tiomkin during the opening remarks. Deputy Prosecutor Montoya matched Tiomkin every step of the way, arguing that the driver's license had come into existence only after the West Hollywood incident, which upset parents of a girls' swim team. Two of the children at the public pool, now adults, testified that they were shocked by Merager showering in the buff, no curtain drawn, while fellow swim team members giggled and scurried away in their swimsuits. Yet, jurors decided that Merager hadnt actually done anything except what others were doing. Merager showered, toweled off and changed clothes. He didnt stare at others or solicit their attention verbally. So it would all come down to the penis an organ shrouded in reasonable doubt. Witness descriptions varied from slightly lifted to not flat to 45 degrees, as the prosecution interpreted an Eastern European mothers shape made with her hands to indicate the alleged offending angle. The women who were minors at the time of the incidents varied in their descriptions as well. But one summed up her emotional state on the stand by saying simply, I knew I shouldnt have been seeing that. Meragers reaction? Im relieved, the defendant told me after the verdict was read, as the felony charges could have led to serious jail time given Meragers history. Merager plans to continue to use the womens side at facilities and says he still calls in advance to confirm the policy for transgender patrons. Im something of a pioneer, Merager marveled of his status, now innocent of all charges. That said, Merager is considering a possible move to Europe to live in a country with more evolved attitudes towards nudity. Defense attorney Tiomkin evoked Clarence Darrow in his opening statements, casting Merager among the unjustly damned given the multiple felony charges. Here in tolerant California, there had been much ado, with jurors deciding in the end that Darren Merager simply was behaving like any other woman in a shower, spa or changing room. One female juror approached Merager at the end of the trial that had taken up 4 weeks of her and everybody elses lives. You are a guest in a womans space, she told Merager. She then offered some words of advice for the now exonerated defendant, given his male attributes. You should please cover up, she said. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared. DENVER (KDVR) A woman recently attacked in an Aurora park is now encouraging other women to take self-defense classes that she credits with saving her own life. Westbound I-70 closed due to motorcycle crash Aurora police are still searching for a man accused of attacking a woman on May 8 who was walking on the High Line Canal Trail at about 6:30 a.m. While she wants to remain anonymous for privacy, she has shared her story with FOX31 to bring awareness to other women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I felt somebody come grab me from the back. It felt like a hug from somebody that I know, and I thought, did my husband catch up to me? said the victim. This is an attack, I need to fight. I remember thinking, I cannot fight standing up, hes a little bit bigger than me. So, I grabbed his head and we went down together. The victim said her mother took her to a self-defense class 30 years ago when she was in her teens. Training that came in use during her attack. I put my hands in his mouth, I put my fingers in his eyes, and I thought soft spots. I dont have to fight hard, I have to fight smart, said the victim. My head wishes that I could have done so many more things but I am so freaking proud of me because I felt like the spirit of my mom, my ancestors, my abuelitas fighting with me to just say, you are not going to die today. We are here with you, were going to protect you. The victim was eventually able to fend off the suspect and warn the surrounding women of the attack. Now, the victim is sharing her story with others in hopes that they learn how to protect themselves too, while hosting a free self-defense class on Saturday at the Colorado Krav Maga in north Denver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Too often, we live in fear, were too afraid to walk on trails by ourselves. Honestly, its very unfair, actually, makes me mad we have to do this, but women need to be able to feel empowered, said Shannon Lukeman-Hiromasa, Colorado Krav Maga Co-Founder and Co-owner. Instructors taught dozens of women on Saturday not only physical defense, but also awareness and avoidance tactics. As I left the hospital, my first call was to Shannon to say, Shannon, we need to do this for more women because its not fair that not enough of us have the tools so our bodies essentially freeze because we dont fight back because we dont know how to, said the victim. Neighbors evacuated after truck crashes into home in Loveland Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect is still on the run. Aurora police said he may have injuries to his face incurred during the attack. The agency is still investigating and asks anyone with information to contact the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000 Colorado Krav Maga has hosted free self-defense classes for many years. To find out more, 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 FOX31 Denver. Woman becomes 71st charged in Feeding Our Future scheme after arrest at MSP airport originally appeared on Bring Me The News. A 71st suspect in the $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme has been indicted after she allegedly attempted to flee the country to Dubai. Hibo Daar, 50, was apprehended at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport this week, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daar was attempting to board a plane, with Dubai her ultimate destination. Shes since been indicted on two counts of wire fraud in connection with the large-scale COVID child nutrition program fraud. According to court documents, Daar owned and operated Northside Wellness Center and claimed she was using it as a COVID food distribution site under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future in 2020. Daar claimed to provide 40,000 meals to children every week from a small business park on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. But Daar used false invoices and attendance records to inflate those numbers, according to court documents. In total, Northside Wellness Center submitted over $2.4 million in reimbursement claims, with Daar receiving $1.7 million in taxpayer dollars. Daar then allegedly transferred most of the money to family, associates and herself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daar is also accused of paying $72,000 in bribes to a Feeding Our Future employee to process the fraudulent reimbursement claims. As we have said, the U.S. Attorneys Office is not stopping. We will continue to investigate and charge defendants who defrauded the government in the Feeding Our Future case the largest COVID fraud scheme in the country and the single largest case charged in the history of this office, Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick said in a statement. "Our work is not done." Picture: David Shane, Flickr This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared. OBETZ, Ohio (WCMH) A woman is facing charges after she allegedly hid the man wanted for shooting two police officers earlier this week. Court records show Jayla Call, 31, was arrested Saturday and charged with felony obstructing justice and tampering with evidence. She is being held in Franklin County Jail. Manhunt ends with person accused of shooting two Mifflin Township police officers in custody Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daveonte Dixon, 21, was on the run for about two days after allegedly shooting two Mifflin Township police officers Wednesday evening. The U.S. Marshals Service and the Franklin County SWAT officers arrested Dixon Friday at an apartment complex in the 4300 block of Thelma Drive in Obetz. Following Dixons arrest, according to court records, Call approached law enforcement and was taken into custody; during an interview, Call allegedly admitted to knowing Dixon was a fugitive while he was inside her apartment and she allegedly deleted text messages on her phone that were between Dixon and his girlfriend. Dixon was taken to a local hospital for treatment from a self-inflicted gunshot wound; his condition is not known. Man charged with attempted murder for shooting of Marysville police officer Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dixon is charged with attempted murder and felonious assault. Online court records do not list his next court date. Call is scheduled to appear in Franklin County Common Pleas Court 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. The motorist responsible for fatally striking a pedestrian and driving off is still on the loose nearly two weeks later, and police are asking for the communitys help to solve the case. The felony hit-and-run happened around 9:20 p.m. on May 17, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, in the Vermont Vista neighborhood. A preliminary investigation unveiled that the suspect vehicle, which was not described, was driving northbound on Figueroa Street when it struck a woman walking in the intersection at 115th Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details are limited, and police did not immediately provide a suspect description or details such as what speed the vehicle may have been travelling, or if drugs or alcohol may have been a factor. The driver of the vehicle continued northbound on Figueroa Street, fleeing the scene without identifying themselves or rendering aid as required by law, LAPD said in a statement. L.A. Fire Department paramedics arrived at the scene to treat the victim, but ultimately pronounced her dead. Officials said the victims identity is being withheld pending notification to next of kin, but noted that she appeared to be a woman in her 30s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LAPDs South Traffic Division detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information related to the collision to come forward with any information. The department reminded the public that a reward of up to $50,000 is available to community members who provide information leading to the offenders identification, apprehension, and conviction or resolution through a civil compromise. Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact Officer Noland, Serial No.43371, South Traffic Division Detectives at 323-421-2500. LAPD said tipsters can also go to www.lapdonline.org and click on Anonymous Web Tips under the Get Involved-Crime Stoppers menu to submit an online tip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has left for Brazil to participate in the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, scheduled to be held in the capital city of Brasilia. Birla will represent India at the forum from June 3 to June 5. The event will focus on discussions around the role of BRICS parliaments in global governance. During the forum, Birla is set to address key topics, including Responsible and Inclusive Artificial Intelligence (AI), among other significant issues. He will also engage in bilateral talks with presiding officers from BRICS countries. In the current geopolitical context, Speaker Birla's visit holds strategic importance for India. The Indian delegation accompanying Birla includes the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Members of Parliament, and other officials. The delegation will also comprise Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; Surendra Singh Nagar, Member of Parliament; Vijay Baghel, Member of Parliament; Vivek Thakur, Member of Parliament; Shabari Byreddy, Member of Parliament; Utpal Kumar Singh, Secretary General, Lok Sabha; and P.C. Mody, Secretary General, Rajya Sabha. According to a press release, the overall theme of the Eleventh BRICS Parliamentary Forum is 'The Role of BRICS Parliaments in Building a More Inclusive and Sustainable Global Governance.' Presiding Officers and Members of Parliament from BRICS countries--Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran--and invited nations--Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Nigeria, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan--along with the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), H.E. Ms. Tulia Ackson, will also participate in the Forum meetings. The Lok Sabha Speaker will address the forums on 'Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation for Responsible and Inclusive Artificial Intelligence' and 'BRICS Parliaments United for the Reform of the Multilateral Peace and Security Architecture.' The delegation will also participate in the proceedings during the Plenary Sessions on sub-themes including 'BRICS Parliamentary Action in Search of New Paths for Economic Development'; 'Towards Stronger and More Durable BRICS Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation'; 'BRICS Inter-Parliamentary Alliance for Global Health'; and 'BRICS Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue on Climate and Sustainability.' A Joint Statement will be adopted at the end of the Summit. The Speaker, Lok Sabha, may also hold bilateral meetings with Presiding Officers of participating Parliaments on the sidelines of this Forum. (ANI) EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A woman was seriously injured in a head-on crash Saturday evening, May 31 outside of Deming in Luna County, New Mexico State Police said. The crash happened at about 7:20 p.m. along New Mexico Highway 26 near milepost 4. A woman, driving a passenger car, for unknown reasons, crossed over into the opposite lane and crashed head-on into a semi-truck, State Police said. The womans car rolled because of the impact. The woman was transported to a local hospital and her current condition is unknown, State Police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver and passenger in the semitruck were not hurt. Officers are still at the scene investigating. 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 KTSM 9 News. DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) A woman is hospitalized, in serious condition, after being shot in the stomach on Saturday night on Bragg Place. According to the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch, the shooting happened in the 0 block of Bragg Place, the DeSoto Bass Apartments, at approximately 5:20 p.m. There were multiple gunshots audible in the background of two separate 911 calls from the scene. Demolition begins at DeSoto Bass Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daytons Sgt. Roberta Bailey said the woman is a 28-year-old. As of Tuesday, she is a local hospital listed as being in serious but non-life-threatening condition. Bailey said the alleged suspect is a 45-year-old man, the father of the womans four-year-old daughter. This shooting is currently under investigation by Detectives from the Family Justice Center and Violent Offender Unit. 2 NEWS will update this article when more information is available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com. SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) A group of veterans have found a sisterhood in the Hostess City. The Women Veterans of the Coastal Empire met Saturday at the Mighty Eighty Musuem to connect each other to resources. It can be isolating to be a veteran. And when WSAV News 3s Eden Hodges met with some local veterans, she was told being a woman in the military can be even moreso. Renea Jones-Hudson, a veteran, said, We have different issues and we cant talk to the males about certain things so just coming here and realizing there are so many other female veteran organizations thats out there supporting were just out here supporting each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Women Veterans of the Coastal Empire represented the state of Georgia in a conference for womens veteran organizations. Suzy Suttle-Willis, the event organizer, says these women are always here for support. Community, connection, education is at the heart of our organization as well as other women veteran organizations. The veterans at Saturdays event told Eden they came to make connections with others like them and see where they could help others who may be struggling. Aritza Sacaza said coming to the event was very meaningful. So much power in a woman in the veterans community that were able to do more for others. The group does work within the community as well. Sometimes women veterans may experience an identity crisis when coming back home and are faced with their family duties. They say it helps a lot to have someone who understands. Its good for us to have that community especially with so many of the challenges that we have that we have to work through. The Women Veterans of the Coastal Empire meet regularly throughout the year and are always looking for new faces to join them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on June 1 an updated 14-member Ukrainian delegation for upcoming peace talks with Russia in Istanbul, expanding the original group of 12. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will again lead the delegation, which will include several new figures from Ukraine's military, human rights, and legal sectors. Three officials Andrii Fomin, Yurii Kovbasa, and Yevhenii Ostrianskyi are participating for the first time, while Oleksii Malovatskyi, involved in the May 16 talks, will not join. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The meeting is scheduled to take place on June 2, with both Russian and Ukrainian delegations expected to attend. Also, security advisors from the U.S., U.K., France, and Germany plan to attend, according to U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. Russia has not officially submitted its memorandum outlining peace terms, but Ukraine plans to present a detailed roadmap aimed at securing a lasting settlement. According to the proposal, the process would begin with a minimum 30-day ceasefire, followed by a full exchange of prisoners and the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russian-held areas, ultimately leading to a potential meeting between Zelensky and Putin. The plan was reported on June 1 by Reuters, which reviewed a copy of the document. While the U.S. and Ukraine have pushed for an unconditional ceasefire, the Kremlin has rejected it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, Moscow has regularly voiced maximalist demands that are unlikely to be accepted by Kyiv, such as recognition of Russia's illegal annexation of Ukrainian regions and withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the parts of these regions remaining under Kyivs control. Trump has expressed frustration with Russia's reluctance to make concessions and its intensifying and deadly attacks on Ukraine. However, he has so far refused to sanction Russia. The talks are tentatively still set to continue on June 2, though Russia has not officially commented yet, following Ukraines Security Services (SBU) major intelligence drone operation earlier today. The drones destroyed 41 Russian bombers at four airfields across Russia, in what Kyiv called a long-planned blow to Moscows strike capabilities. Read also: Officials from US, UK, France, Germany to attend Ukraine-Russia peace talks, Kellogg says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country's delegation at another round of direct talks with Russia will be led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, indirectly confirming Ukraine's participation in the talks set for Monday in a post on X. This is the first time Ukraine has officially said it is taking part in the negotiations proposed by Russia to be held in Istanbul, after previously slamming the ceasefire conditions laid out by Moscow as "arrogant." The two sides last met in Istanbul in mid-May, marking their first direct public contact since 2022. A significant prisoner exchange followed the negotiations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his post on Sunday, Zelensky said he had outlined to his defence and foreign minister, the general staff and intelligence and security services "the tasks for the near term and also defined [Ukraine's] positions ahead of the meeting in Istanbul on Monday." The priorities listed by the president include "a full and unconditional ceasefire," "the release of prisoners," and "the return of abducted children." "On Monday, our delegation will be led by Rustem Umerov," he added. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has celebrated the surprise attack by his intelligence service, the SBU, on several Russian military airfields as an "absolutely brilliant success." He said this was Ukraine's most far-reaching operation in the course of the war so far. "One year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective implementation," Zelensky wrote on the platform X on Sunday evening. He instructed the intelligence service to inform the public about part of the operation. The SBU attacked several Russian military airfields in a coordinated action, claiming to have destroyed over 40 combat and reconnaissance aircraft. According to the SBU, about 34% of the Russian bombers capable of launching cruise missiles were destroyed. The SBU estimated the value of the damaged or destroyed bombers at $7 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The information has not been independently verified. The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed the drone attack early Sunday evening, describing them as "terrorist attacks" on military airfields in the regions of Ivanovo, Ryazan, Amur, Murmansk and Irkutsk. The attacks in the regions of Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur were repelled, Moscow said. In the regions of Murmansk and Irkutsk, "some" aircraft caught fire due to drone attacks, but the Russian Ministry of Defence downplayed the impact of the attacks. The fires were extinguished, it said, adding that there were no injuries among military personnel or civilians. The agents involved in the operation have already returned to Ukraine, according to the SBU and Zelensky. If Russia reports arrests, this claim "only serves the domestic audience," the SBU said. Early Sunday evening, Russian security forces were cited by the state news agency TASS as saying that some participants had been arrested. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday touted the absolutely brilliant result of a large-scale drone attack on Russian strategic bombers. Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Maliuk delivered a report regarding todays operation. An absolutely brilliant result, Zelensky said in an afternoon post on the social platform X. A result achieved solely by Ukraine. One year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective execution. Our most long-range operation, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A military official told The Associated Press that the drones hit 41 planes stationed at military airfields on Sunday afternoon, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M aircraft. Moscow has previously used Tupolev Tu-95 and Tu-22 long-range bombers to launch missiles at Ukraine, while A-50s are used to coordinate targets and detect air defenses and guided missiles, the AP reported. The military source said the complex attack included smuggling of first-person view drones into Russia, where they were then placed in mobile wooden houses. Later, drones were hidden under the roofs of these houses while already placed on trucks. At the right moment, the roofs of the houses were remotely opened, and the drones flew to hit Russian bombers, the official told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity to disclose details of the military operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky said Ukrainian officials involved in planning of the operation were withdrawn from Russia with enough time to spare. Of course, not everything can be revealed at this moment, but these are Ukrainian actions that will undoubtedly be in history books, Zelensky added in his post. Ukraine is defending itself, and rightly so we are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war. Russia started this war, Russia must end it. Glory to Ukraine! he continued. The attack comes a day ahead of the next scheduled ceasefire talks in Turkey with Russia. Reuters reported on Sunday that it had obtained a copy of Ukraines demands in the talks, which include full and unconditional ceasefire and not making Kyiv stay diplomatically neutral, among other issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved the composition of Ukraine's delegation for the talks with Russia in Istanbul, expanding it to 14 members, whereas the first round of negotiations involved 12 delegates. Source: Zelenskyy in a decree Details: The delegation is again led by Defence Minister Rustem Umierov. The following officials have also been included in the delegation: Oleksandr Bevz, adviser to the Head of the Office of the President Oleksandr Diakov, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Naval Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Serhii Kyslytsia, First Deputy Foreign Minister Yurii Kovbasa, representative of the Ukrainian Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights in the security and defence sector (by consent) Heorhii Kuzmychov, protocol officer of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleh Luhovskyi, First Deputy Head of Foreign Intelligence Service Yevhenii Ostrianskyi, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Poklad, Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Andrii Fomin, Head of the International Law Division, Deputy Head of the Department of International and Operational Law, Central Legal Directorate of the General Staff Oleksii Shevchenko, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Sherikhov, senior officer of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff Yevhen Shynkarov, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force Command Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oleksii Malovatskyi, who participated in the negotiations on 16 May, is not included in the current delegation. Meanwhile, three officials who were not part of the 16 May meeting Fomin, Kovbasa and Ostrianskyi have been added. Background: On the afternoon of Sunday 1 June, Zelenskyy announced that the Ukrainian delegation, led by Defence Minister Rustem Umierov, would travel to Istanbul for negotiations with Russia. Russian news agencies reported that their delegation had departed for Turkiye. Sources told Turkish news agency Anadolu that the meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian delegations is scheduled to take place at 13:00 in the Cragan Palace, a five-star hotel in Istanbul. On 28 May, it emerged that Umierov had handed Russia a document outlining Ukraine's position and was awaiting their "memorandum" in response. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on what conditions Russia will put forward in its draft memorandum for a ceasefire, saying that this should be discussed privately. On 30 May, Peskov said that the Russian delegation will be in Istanbul on Monday morning for peace talks with Ukraine and will show its memorandum there. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said Russia's reluctance to officially submit its memorandum for negotiations suggests the document contains unrealistic demands and represents an attempt to stall the peace process. It was previously reported that the Russian delegation set to attend the new round of peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on 2 June would be the same group that participated in the previous meeting, which Zelenskyy criticised for its low level. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that a delegation led by Defence Minister Rustem Umierov will attend negotiations with Russia in Istanbul on 2 June 2025. Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: On Sunday 1 June, Zelenskyy held a meeting with the leadership of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, Defence Ministry, General Staff, Security Service and intelligence services to set priorities for the talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "First a full and unconditional ceasefire. Second the release of prisoners. Third the return of abducted children. And in order to establish a reliable and lasting peace and ensure security, preparation of the meeting at the highest level," he said. Zelenskyy confirmed that Umierov will lead Ukraines delegation. Background: Russia has proposed new talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on Monday 2 June 2025, during which it will present a memorandum outlining a ceasefire and peace proposals. Kyiv emphasised the importance of reviewing Russia's memorandum in advance to ensure productive negotiations, with Umierov citing delays in its delivery. Ukraine also called on international partners to tighten sanctions against Russia following recent air raids on Ukrainian cities. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described an operation by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) that destroyed more than 40 strategic aircraft at Russian airfields as having achieved a brilliant result that will go down in the history books. Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram Details: Zelenskyy said he had been briefed on the operation by Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk, Head of the SSU. He said the operation was an independent achievement by Ukraine that had been over 18 months in the planning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "An absolutely brilliant result. An independent achievement by Ukraine. One year, six months and nine days from the start of planning to effective implementation. Our most far-reaching operation. Our people who prepared the operation were withdrawn from Russian territory in time." , Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vasyl Maliuk Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine Details: The president noted that he had thanked Maliuk for this triumph by Ukraine and has also instructed the Security Service of Ukraine to disclose the details and results of the operation that can be made public. "Of course, we cannot reveal everything now, but these are Ukrainian actions that will definitely be in the history books," Zelenskyy added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Update: During his evening address, Zelenskyy revealed that a total of 117 drones were used in the SSU operation and that the operation's "office" in Russia was situated next to the office of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in one of the oblasts. Quote: "The most interesting thing and we can now say this publicly is that our operation's "office" in Russia was located right next to the FSB office in one of their regions. A total of 117 drones were used in the operation, and the corresponding number of drone operators were involved. Thirty-four percent of strategic cruise missile carriers were hit at their main airbases. Our people were operating in various Russian regions spanning three time zones. Our people withdrew from Russian territory on the eve of the operation and are now safe, as are those who helped us. It's really great to see the results of projects I authorised over a year and a half ago, which have taken more than 40 strategic aircraft away from the Russians. We will continue this work." Background: On the afternoon of 1 June, a series of strikes took place targeting Russias Aerospace Forces at no fewer than four airfields. Sources told Ukrainska Pravda that the operation, which was carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), had hit around 40 aircraft, particularly strategic bombers. A source in the SSU told Ukrainska Pravda that the special operation, codenamed Pavutyna (Spiderweb), had been over 18 months in the planning. The plan involved smuggling first-person view drones into Russia, followed by mobile wooden crates in which the drones were concealed. Russia's Defence Ministry has confirmed that military airfields in five regions were attacked by first-person view (FPV) drones. The ministry blamed the "Kyiv regime" for the strikes. Axios has reported that Ukraine did not inform the US in advance of its Security Service operation that resulted in the destruction of dozens of Russian aircraft. Ukraine's Security Service has estimated the value of the Russian strategic aircraft hit during its 1 June special operation at US$7 billion. The SSU has stated that 34% of Russia's strategic cruise missile carriers at its main airbases have been destroyed as a result of the operation. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! At its General Council meeting held on Sunday in Madurai, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) passed a resolution condemning the Union Government for denying Tamil Nadu its rightful financial allocations. During the meeting, which was held on a sprawling 90-acre site in Uthangudi, 27 important resolutions were passed. DMK functionaries read out the resolutions one by one. Among them was a resolution condemning the Union Government for denying Tamil Nadu its rightful financial allocations. The gathering saw the participation of over 10,000 party leaders, including Chief Minister MK Stalin and ministers, MPs, MLAs, and senior functionaries. The meeting holds political significance as it is the first time in 47 years that event was held in Madurai, solidifying the party's influence in the southern region. The key resolutions include ensuring the victory of the party in the 2026 Assembly elections and electing MK Stalin as Chief Minister, declaring June 3rd, the birth anniversary of Karunanidhi, as "Classical Tamil Day," and expressing gratitude to the Chief Minister for being a pioneer in improving the lives of women in the State. Another resolution emphasised the need to publicise the DMK government's achievements among the people. Earlier, the DMK had 23 internal wings, and two new wings have now been added, bringing the total to 25. The newly formed wings are the Differently Abled Wing and the Academics Wing. Meanwhile, on Sunday, in another political development in the state, AIADMK announced that IS Inbadurai and M Dhanapal will be its candidates for the Rajya Sabha election scheduled for June 19 this year. "With the approval of AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami, we are announcing candidates for Rajya Sabha. IS Inbadurai, M Dhanapal will contest on behalf of AIADMK," AIADMK Deputy General Secretary KP Munusamy told reporters. Munusamy also said that AIADMK will allocate one Rajya Sabha seat to its alliance partner DMDK in 2026 when the vacancy arises. Earlier this week, the DMK announced its candidates for the election and allocated one seat to Kamal Haasan, the founder of Makkal Needhi Maiyam. According to a DMK release, Salma, Advocate P Wilson, and SR Sivalingam are its candidates. In the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, each candidate requires a minimum of 34 votes to clinch a Rajya Sabha seat. The DMK-led INDIA bloc, with 158 MLAs (DMK: 133, Congress:17, VCK: 4, CPI: 2, CPM: 2), is poised to win four seats comfortably. (ANI) Ellen Allmendinger is a published author, freelance writer, researcher, public speaker, tour guide and mom. She is the author of four books, including her most recent, We Went West, which was published in 2023. In her previous work life, after earning her civil engineering technology degree, she worked for more than 30 years as an engineering technician for Yakima County. Support Local News Reporting Journalists at the Yakima Herald-Republic bring you timely, in-depth and credible local news. Your generous donation supports their work. Highlighting that profit must be shared among promoters, shareholders, labour, government, consumers, society and other stakeholders, Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram stated on Sunday that because of the lack of sufficient competition, consumers are exploited in several sectors, such as air travel, insurance, and pharmaceuticals. In a post on X, Chidambaram said, "That 'profit' in business is not a bad word became government policy in 1991 when Dr Manmohan Singh was finance minister. The question is how the profit must be shared among promoters, shareholders, labour, government, consumers, society and other stakeholders," the Congress leader said on X. "As the Chief Economic Adviser has said many times, the tilt is in favour of capital/promoters and against labour. Wages have stagnated. I may add that because of lack of sufficient competition, consumers are exploited in several sectors, for example, air travel, insurance and pharmaceuticals," he added. https://x.com/PChidambaram_IN/status/1929058507883676127 On May 26, Chidambaram said that while the rise in India's per capita income under the BJP-led NDA government is "broadly correct", the rate of growth was higher during the tenure of the Congress-led UPA government. Responding to recent remarks by the CEO of NITI Aayog, BVR Subrahmanyam, who stated that India's per capita income had nearly doubled from USD 1,438 in 2013-14 to USD 2,880 in 2024, Chidambaram said he welcomed the progress but added that the complete picture tells a different story when the performance of the two successive governments is compared. Quoting data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Chidambaram noted that India's per capita income stood at USD 543 in 2003, when the UPA took office, and rose to USD 1,438 by 2013 - a 2.64 times increase in 10 years. Under the NDA government, however, the increase from USD 1,438 in 2014 to USD 2,878 in 2024 amounts to just 1.89 times, falling short of a doubling in the same time frame. "Under the UPA government, the per capita income more than doubled in 10 years. Under the NDA government, it fell short of doubling. The per capita income doubled in 11 years. I am happy with the record of both governments, but a shade happier with the UPA record," said the former Finance Minister. (ANI) Mumbai: Maharashtras Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cancelled the food business licence of Zeptos facility in Dharavi after a surprise inspection found multiple serious violations of food safety rules. This move is part of a larger crackdown on Zepto's operations in Mumbai. According to FDA officials, the inspection at the Dharavi location revealed poor hygiene and unsafe food storage conditions. Some food items were found with fungal growth, while others were stored near stagnant water. The cold storage units were not keeping the required temperature, and the floors were dirty and wet. Inspectors also found expired food items not clearly separated from the fresh stock. The inspection was triggered by a tip-off received from the Minister of State for FDA, Yogesh Kadam. Based on the findings, the Assistant Commissioner, Food, Anupamaa Balasaheb Patil, ordered the suspension of the facilitys licence under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.This suspension will remain in place until Zepto corrects all the issues and gets clearance from the licensing authority. Zepto, a fast-growing quick commerce company, has also faced inspections at its Bhiwandi, Bandra East, and Borivali facilities. While the licences at Bhiwandi and Bandra East were not cancelled, notices were issued for violations. In Borivali, the licence was temporarily suspended, but operations resumed after corrective measures were taken and approved by the appellate authority. A Zepto spokesperson said: "Maintaining the highest standards of food safety and hygiene is non-negotiable. We have already started an internal review and are working with authorities to fix the issues quickly." This is not the first controversy for Zepto. The company has recently faced criticism from customers for allegedly increasing delivery charges and using deceptive practices on its app. Social media has seen a rise in complaints from users expressing disappointment with the company. Zepto CEO Aadit Palicha has also made headlines recently, accusing the CFO of a rival company of spreading false information and funding bots to damage Zeptos reputation. In another blow, Zeptos Rural Mobilisation Programme is under scrutiny. The Rajdhani App Workers Union has accused the companys recruitment partners of unfairly reducing the wages of delivery agents from small towns and keeping them in poor living conditions. BSEB Class 10, 12 Compartment Exam Result 2025: Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) has officially announced the results for Matric (Class 10th) and Inter (Class 12th) Compartment examination results on 31st May, 2025. All the students who have appeared for the class 10th or 12th compartment exam can now check their result from the official website, i.e. secondary.biharboardonline.com or results.biharboardonline.com. The pass percentage of class 12th compartment exam stands at 61.13 per cent, a total of 45,524 students appeared for the examination out of which 27,829 successfully passed the examination. And the pass percentage of class 12th special exam is 55.31 per cent, 6,624 students appeared and 3,964 passed. The overall pass percentage for class 1oth compartment examination is 32.93 per cent, a total of 52,552 students appeared for the examination, out of which only 17,309 students passed the exams. And 52.20 per cent students passed the class 10th special exams, where 8,830 students appeared and 4,609 passed. BSEB Class 10, 12 Compartment Exam Result 2025: Steps to Check the Result Step 1: Go to the official BSEB website- secondary.biharboardonline.com or results.biharboardonline.com. Step 2: You will see the link of 10th or 12th Compartment Result 2025 on the homepage, click on it. Step 3: A new page will be opened on your screen to login. Step 4: Enter the required details of yours like your roll number and roll code correctly and then submit it. Step 5: After submission your BSEB class 10th or 12th compartment result will appear on the screen. Step 6: Check your scores and download the mark sheet. Step 7: Print out your scorecard for future reference. The bihar board class 10, 12 compartment examination took place from 2nd May, 2025 to 13th May, 2025. The exams were held in two shifts. The first shift started at 9:30 AM and the second shift started at 2 PM. The board has also released the answers keys for compartment exams. All the students are advised to keep checking the official website for all the important updates. NEET UG Answer Key 2025: The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to release the provisional answer key for NEET UG 2025 soon. While the exact date and time have not been officially announced, the answer key will be published shortly on the official website, i.e. neet.nta.nic.in. Once released, it will enable candidates to assess their performance and estimate their scores prior to the final result declaration. NEET UG 2025 was conducted on 4th May, 2025, with over 20 lakh candidates appearing for the prestigious medical entrance exam. The provisional answer key will contain the correct answers to all the questions asked, and candidates will be given the opportunity to raise objections if they find any discrepancies. NEET UG Answer Key 2025: Steps to Download Here After the release, candidates can follow these steps to download the NEET UG 2025 provisional answer key: Step 1: Visit the official website of NEET UG: neet.nta.nic.in Step 2: You will see the link of NEET UG 2025 Answer Key on the homepage, click on it. Step 3: A new page will be opened to login. Step 4: Enter your application number, date of birth, and the security pin shown on the screen correctly and submit it. Step 5: After submission, the NEET UG provisional answer key will appear on your screen. Step 6: Download the PDF and save it for future use. NEET UG Answer key 2025: Marking Scheme For every correct answer or the most appropriate answer, candidates will be awarded +4 marks and there will be a penalty of one mark (-1) for every incorrect answer. And if candidates have not answered the question or marked it for review then no marks will be awarded to them. If multiple options are found to be correct for a question, candidates who have selected any one of the correct options will be awarded +4 marks. In cases where all options are deemed correct, +4 marks will be given to all candidates who attempted the question. Additionally, if a question is identified as incorrect or is dropped from the evaluation, +4 marks will be granted to all candidates, irrespective of whether they attempted the question or not. As per the official information bulletin issued by the NTA, the NEET UG 2025 results are expected to be declared on June 14, 2025. Once the results are announced, candidates can view them by logging into the official website using their credentials. The final answer key will be published either alongside or shortly before the result announcement. All the candidates are advised to keep checking the official website for all the important updates. Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of "opposing" Operation Sindoor. While addressing a BJP workers' special organisational meeting at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, Shah said that if CM Banerjee has the courage, she should try contesting elections without violence. Amit Shah in Kolkata criticised the Bengal Chief Minister for crossing all limits of appeasement for vote bank politics and said, "Our people were killed in Pahalgam... Under Operation Sindoor, we went 100km (inside Pakistan) and destroyed their headquarters. 100s of terrorists were killed, and this hurts Didi's stomach... She gave a political speech and opposed Operation Sindoor." Ahead of approaching polls in Bengal next year, Shah said that sisters and mothers of West Bengal should teach Mamata Banerjee the value of Sindoor in the upcoming elections. "She has also played with the emotions of crores of women in the country... The sisters and mothers of West Bengal should teach Mamata Banerjee the value of Sindoor in the upcoming elections," he added. He also said that CM Bengal has converted the great land of Bengal into a land of infiltration, atrocities on women, crime, bomb blasts and immorality with Hindus. "... For years, Bengal was ruled by communists. After that, Mamata Banerjee came by with the slogan 'Maa, Maati, Maanush'. She converted the great land of Bengal into a land of infiltration, atrocities on women, crime, bomb blasts and immorality with Hindus," Shah said. He further added that BJP has to from the government in Bengal to stop infiltration, stop corruption, stop the Hindu exodus "... We have to form the BJP government in West Bengal, have to stop infiltration, stop corruption, stop Hindu exodus," Shah said. He expressed confidence that the BJP will form the government in 2026 and said, "Hundreds of BJP workers were killed in West Bengal after Mamata Banerjee became the CM... Didi, listen to me, your time is over now..." New Delhi: Once a weapon fails to create its impact, its value drops to dust in the world of warfare. And that is exactly what happened when Pakistan deployed two of its most powerful foreign weapons against India only to watch them fail catastrophically. During its latest clash with India, Pakistan launched Chinas cutting-edge PL-15 missile and Turkeys hyped Bayraktar TB2 drones. But India did not only defend itself, it flipped the script. Touted as one of the most advanced in Beijings arsenal, PL-15 air-to-air missile was intercepted intact by Indian forces. That wreckage is now a geopolitical prize. Countries like the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan and Australia are reportedly lining up to study the missiles tech. Sources suggest India may have already handed it over to Japan for analysis, effectively exposing Chinas deadliest missile to the world. In what can only be described as a humiliating defeat for Turkish defense exports, Pakistans use of Bayraktar TB2 drones during Operation Sindoor turned into a disaster. Indias indigenous Akashtir air defense system shot down every single drone with 100% accuracy, including Bayraktar TB2s, Byker YIHA III kamikaze drones, Songatri and eYatri loitering munitions. Not a single drone reached its target, confirmed a senior Indian Air Force officer to The Times of India. Developed by the Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), Akashtir is being hailed as Indias version of Israels Iron Dome but potentially even better suited for low-altitude drone warfare. It integrates seamlessly with Indias existing radar and weapons systems, detects threats autonomously and assigns weapons in real time. Against Pakistans swarm drone strategy, it proved deadly effective. A defense official said, Akashtir did not roar or flash, it simply calculated, executed and destroyed. Quiet precision was its loudest weapon. The failure of Turkish drones has shaken the foundations of President Erdogans defense ambitions. For years, he touted the Bayraktar as a symbol of Islamic military resurgence and Turkish innovation. But Indias clean takedown has now put Turkeys global drone deals from Africa to the Middle East in jeopardy. Reports suggest Pakistan may cancel future orders, and countries fearing Turkish drones may now turn to Indias Akashtir instead. Even Turkish defense insiders are rattled. Michael Rubin of the American Enterprise Institute bluntly stated, Erdogan can sell anything religion, weapons or dreams to enrich his family. But the product is junk now. Baykar stopped innovating the moment it felt safe under government backing. Pakistan had banked on hundreds of Turkish drones to breach Indian air defenses. But after this spectacular failure, the Islamabad-Ankara arms axis is in crisis. Sources say Turkeys aim was to use these drones to cover artillery and fighter jets, but Indias integrated air defense systems, including L70 guns and Akashtir radars, ensured the drones never even got close. The skies over the LoC are now littered with the wreckage of over 400 Turkish drones a dramatic symbol of Indias superiority in air defense. Whats Next for India and Turkey? Turkey is scrambling to save face. Meanwhile, India is planning to triple its investment in drone technology over the next two years. Akashtirs success is being closely watched by nations facing drone threats, and new export deals could soon be on the table for India. Back in Pakistan, the military is rebuilding its airfields, but the damage is done. The defeat is too big to hide and too costly to ignore. India did not just win a battle. It exposed Chinas missile secrets, destroyed Turkeys drone credibility and put Pakistans war doctrine in disarray. In the world of defense tech, perception is power and right now, India holds the high ground. Senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Pakistan, saying that there is rebellion everywhere against its army, and the fear of India will divide it into pieces. He said that Pakistan is so burdened with debt that people are suffering from hunger and thirst. "There is rebellion everywhere against the Pakistani army, which is following the tradition of bullets in exchange for bread," Dubey said. "Pakistan sees its country being divided into pieces, so it is calling the fight for bread in Balochistan a fight against Islam, and is calling the citizens of its country agents of India. This fear of India will divide Pakistan into pieces," he wrote on his X handle in Hindi (loosely translated). Dubey, in his post on X, also shared an official letter from the Pakistan government's Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control. The letter is dated May 31, 2025, with the subject: "Reference to terrorist organisations in official correspondence and documents" written on it. Pakistan has alleged that the unrest in Balochistan is happening "at the behest of India" and this is "detrimental to Islamic faith and sovereignty of Pakistan". The people in Balochistan have been fighting for their rights, resources and dignity to live for the past several decades. The Baloch people, who are a unique ethno-linguistic group, have been the victims of marginalisation and subjugation in Pakistan. Despite being one of the largest Pakistani provinces, this region remains relatively underdeveloped and least populated. The region has abundant natural resources, which are being exploited by the Pakistani Army and other government bodies without giving any benefits to the locals. The people have intensified the struggle lately, even as a majority of their leaders have been arrested and imprisoned. A large number of civilians have also been arrested, and the Pakistan Army is notorious for extrajudicial killings in the region, which has further fuelled the hatred. The people in the region have been denied even the basic rights. Not taking into consideration the genuine demands of the people, the Pakistani government has labelled their protests as terrorist activities. In the Pakistan government's letter, it is mentioned that "keeping in view the involvement of some organisations and groups in terrorist activities in Balochistan, at the behest of India (Hindustan), which are detrimental to Islamic faith and sovereignty of Pakistan, and customary traditions, it has been decided that, henceforth, all Terrorist Groups and Organizations operating in Balochistan will be referred to as 'Fitna al Hindustan'." The letter states that the "change aims to reflect the true nature and ideology of these terrorist organisations and groups and nefarious designs of India (Hindustan) against the people of Pakistan". The communication further says that all government entities need to adopt and use this stance. Dubey has also questioned the IMF loan to Pakistan. He said in another post on X that whether the IMF or China, America, Saudi Arabia, or Turkey is giving a loan to Pakistan, all the money will go down the drain. "Worthless Pakistan will perish under the burden of debt," he said. All-Party delegation leader and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday arrived in Brazil, where he will be holding meetings. Tharoor said that the feedback to the delegation so far has been positive, especially after the Colombian government retracted its statement condoling Pakistani terrorists' deaths after India expressed its disappointment. "Well, we are on a five-country visit. We've done three countries already, Guyana, Panama, and Colombia. And we are now in Brazil, though Sunday, it's now 1 am Sunday as we've landed, is actually a day of rest, which I think the team has earned up for a fairly hectic program since we left. We then have meetings in Brazil all day, and then we proceed to Washington, which will be the final leg of our visit," Tharoor said. "Feedback has been very positive in both Guyana and Panama, which are Security Council members, it was tremendous understanding and support for our mission and expressions of solidarity for our fight against terror," the Congress leader said. Tharoor recounted how the Colombian government later showed support after the delegation explained the events from the Indian side, i.e. the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor. "In Colombia, there had unfortunately been a statement issued during Operation Sindoor, which actually condoled the Pakistani victims rather than saying anything about India. So we had that rectified, we met with the government and I'm very pleased to say that they have withdrawn that statement and instead they have issued something very positive and supportive, both from the government and even more strongly from the parliament where we met both the equivalent of the Lok Sabha speaker and the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Second Committee as they call it. So on the whole, we've had some very good results," he said. Tharoor appreciated the efforts of all the members of his team, saying, "My team has been fully participating in everything. We are all equal participants in this venture." Tharoor said that Brazil is an important country of strategic importance, being a part of BRICS. "And here in Brazil, we're looking forward to having some very solid, constructive discussions. Brazil is a major power in the region. It's a BRICS partner of ours. We've elevated our relationship to a strategic partnership going back to 2006. So it's a country that really matters to us. And though they're not currently on the Security Council, we felt keeping them fully abreast of our position and continuing to keep the dialogue channels open is very important," Tharoor said. New Delhi: Pahalgam was the beginning of Pakistans end. The terror strike in Jammu & Kashmir was not only another act of provocation, it turned out to be the final nail in the coffin for Pakistan. Responding to the ghastly act, India unleashed its most powerful and calculated counterstrike. It came at a time when the neighbor is already faced with a ferocious Baloch rebellion. The two offensives have squeezed Islamabad from both sides. Following the Pahalgam attack, India took an unprecedented step such as revoking the Indus Waters Treaty, which had stood since 1960. The message was loud and clear: no more water for terror. Suddenly, a nuclear-armed Pakistan was gasping not for air, but for water and forced to rely on Indian flow control. India did not stop at diplomacy. In a covert military operation code named Operation Sindoor, Indian forces demolished nine major terror launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Over 100 terrorists were neutralised, wiping out key infrastructures used to plot attacks on India. Desperate and humiliated, Pakistan struck back with Turkish-made drones. But Indian military responded with surgical precision, shooting down every drone mid-air. Pakistan was playing with fire, but this time, India was not playing at all. While Pakistan reeled from Indias blow, a second battlefield opened inside its borders. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched a lightning assault and captured Sohrab city a strategic town in Balochistan. With that, Pakistan lost control of yet another piece of its own territory. BLA spokesperson Jeyand Baloch confirmed that their fighters had seized police stations, banks, government buildings and were patrolling the Quetta-Karachi Highway. During the 3-hour assault, several Pakistani soldiers were taken hostage and many others killed or are missing. The Pakistani Army retreated and left entire districts vulnerable. One top administrative officer, Hidayat Buledi, was burned alive while trying to save his family. BLA fighters reportedly breached high-security zones and looted banks, marking an escalation unseen in recent years. The fall of Sohrab has sent shockwaves through Islamabad. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir are under siege not by a foreign army, but by their own failures. The silence from Pakistans government speaks volumes Islamabad is scared, confused and cornered. Pakistan on the Brink of Collapse? The Baloch freedom movement is at its peak. In the past year, the BLA has temporarily controlled highways, cities and critical infrastructure. Many experts now say the disintegration of Pakistan is not a question of if, but when. While Pakistan continues plotting against India, its own land is slipping from its hands. Pahalgam may well be remembered as the trigger that collapsed a failing state. Pakistan is cracking from the outside and imploding from within. And this time, no amount of denial or diplomacy will save it. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP Arun Bharti on Sunday hinted at the possibility of Union Minister and party president Chirag Paswan contesting the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Bharti also revealed that during a recent state executive meeting, party leaders formally proposed that Paswan consider a larger role in Bihar politics. "Chirag Paswan ji has said from every platform that Bihar is the centre of my politics...the whole of Bihar loves him. We had given him a formal proposal in the state executive meeting that he should come to Bihar and think about playing a bigger role. We are conducting a survey. The result of that survey will come, and if everything goes well, then I think that in the coming time, Chirag Paswan ji will seriously consider all these things and think about coming to Bihar and contesting elections," Bharti said. Highlighting Paswan's commitment to Bihar, the LJP leader said, "He is working for the Biharis and does all his politics by focusing on his vision for Bihar. Will it not be right that Chirag Paswan ji raises his voice from the Bihar Assembly and realises the vision of Bihar First, Bihari First." There is, however, no official confirmation that Union Minister Chirag Paswan will contest the election. Earlier, Chirag Paswan asserted that there is "no vacancy" currently in Bihar for the post of Chief Minister, and incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will lead a strong NDA government after the Assembly polls. "There is no vacancy currently in Bihar for the post of CM. After the election results, under the leadership and vision of PM Modi, CM Nitish Kumar will lead a strong NDA government. After the Bihar election results, the DA government will be formed," Paswan told reporters in Darbhanga. In a significant political development in Bihar ahead of the Assembly polls scheduled to be held later this year, former Union Minister Ram Chandra Prasad Singh has merged his political outfit, Aap Sabki Awaz (ASA), with the Jan Suraaj Party, led by Prashant Kishor. The Bihar Assembly elections are expected to be held in October and November this year, wherein the NDA, which consists of the BJP, JD(U), and LJP, will be once again looking forward to returning to power. In contrast, the INDIA Bloc will be giving competition to the incumbent Nitish Kumar government. (ANI) Sikkim reeled under relentless rain on Sunday, causing the Teesta Rivers water level to surge, even as the search for nine missing persons remained suspended following a tragic accident earlier this week. A tourist vehicle carrying 11 people veered off the road and plunged nearly 1,000 feet into the Teesta near Chubombu in Mangan district on Friday. While two passengers were rescued that night, the remaining nine, including the driver, are still unaccounted for. Superintendent of Police (SP) Sonam Detchu Bhutia confirmed on Saturday that rescue efforts entered their second day, involving personnel from the ITBP, SDRF, and NDRF. "The vehicle remains lodged in debris and cannot be retrieved. No bodies were found nearby," SP Bhutia told media, adding that adverse weather continued to hamper operations. Heavy rainfall overnight, coupled with a reported cloudburst in upper regions, has worsened conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Mangan district, forecasting heavy to very heavy showers. An orange alert has also been issued for Gyalshing, Namchi, Soreng, Gangtok, and Pakyong over the next 24 hours. Landslides triggered by relentless rainfall have damaged several properties in the Theeng and Chungthang areas of North Sikkim, district officials have confirmed. According to Mangan Superintendent of Police Sonam Detchu Bhutia, 115 tourists are currently stranded in Lachen and approximately 1,350 in Lachung. "With access blocked from both directions due to multiple landslides, tourists have been advised to stay in their hotels. Once the roads are fully cleared, evacuation will begin," Bhutia said. Heavy rainfall continued to lash the region throughout the day, particularly affecting the Chungthang sub-division. The power supply, which was disrupted on Friday afternoon, was restored by Saturday evening. Mobile connectivity -- cut off for nearly 24 hours -- was reinstated around 3 p.m. on Saturday. Authorities are also working to restore the drinking water supply by Sunday. Officials noted that a cloudburst in the region contributed to the swelling of the Teesta River, adding to the challenges facing rescue and relief operations. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee, part of the Indian all-party delegation visiting Malaysia led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, has stressed the need for India to engage in dialogue with Pakistan only on the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) issue. Addressing the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur, Banerjee said that the ruling government must ensure that future dialogues with Pakistan focus on reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He warned that unless this is addressed, Pakistan-sponsored terrorism will continue. "I want to tell the ruling dispensation that if they want to engage in dialogue with Pakistan, we have to make sure that this time we engage in a dialogue where we only talk about reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Otherwise, this will continue," ANI quoted Banerjee as saying. Banerjee stressed the need to counter Pakistan's attempts to destabilise India's economy by ensuring Kashmir's prosperity and growth. "They were trying to pull the Indian economy down by inflicting this terrorist attack, it is incumbent upon us to do the opposite and make sure that Kashmir keeps flourishing and prospering. When you book a trip to India, make sure you extend the trip by at least 3-4 days and those 3-4 days should be solely dedicated to the people of Kashmir," Banerjee said. Banerjee pointed out that there is enough evidence present on social media showing high-ranking Pakistan military officials attending funerals of terrorists, underscoring Pakistan's role in supporting terrorism. "We are here with all the evidence...There are pictures all over social media, where high-ranking Pakistan military generals and high officials from the Pakistan army are attending the funeral of terrorists. What else can India offer the world as evidence?" he said. Notably, Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a US-designated global terrorist and Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, led funeral prayers for those who died during Operation Sindoor. Abdul Rauf has been linked to facilitating LeT's operations, including the 2008 Mumbai terror attack that killed 166 people. The Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. This operation began in the early hours of May 7 and targeted nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK), resulting in the deaths of more than 100 terrorists. Banerjee is a member of the all-party parliamentary delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, which is presently visiting allied nations to reinforce India's strong commitment against cross-border terrorism and its policy of zero tolerance. The delegation includes BJP MPs Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi, and Aparajita Sarangi; Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee; CPI-M's John Brittas; Congress leader and former Union minister Salman Khurshid; and Mohan Kumar. This afternoon, another missile was fired from Yemen towards Israel, triggering sirens in Jerusalem and the Shfela region of central Israel. According to an IDF spokesperson, it was intercepted. Magen David Adom announced that there were no casualties following the attack, which also caused a temporary suspension of flights at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. Meanwhile, the Fire and Rescue Services reported that a fire had broken out in the Shfela region, near the Highway 6 between the Nesharim and Sorek interchanges. 'Seven firefighting teams are working to extinguish the fire and prevent its spread,' officials said. It is not yet known whether the fire was caused by falling debris or whether it is connected to the attack from Yemen. Around 30 people, including women and children, died in the northeast in the last two days due to landslides, house collapse, drowning and heavy rain-related calamities. As reported by several media, out of the 30 victims, five were killed in Assam, seven in Arunachal Pradesh, six in Meghalaya, five each in Assam and Mizoram, and one each in Tripura and Nagaland. In Arunachal Pradesh, seven people, including two women and two children, were killed in a massive landslide on National Highway-13 in Arunachal Pradesh's East Kameng district amid heavy rains, as reported by IANS. An official said that a vehicle carrying seven people was swept away by a massive landslide between the Bana-Seppa stretch of NH-13 in East Kameng district and plunged into a gorge, as reported by IANS. In Assam, incessant rains have triggered landslides, killing five people in Kamrup Metropolitan district in the last 24 hours. Additionally, floods have impacted six districts, affecting more than 10,000 people. In Mizoram, one individual died and another suffered injuries after a wall collapsed at Thuampui in Mizoram's Aizawl. In the Serchhip district, one person died, and three Myanmar refugees were killed due to house collapse in Vaphai village in Champhai district on Friday after incessant rains during the past 24 hours. Following this, Mizoram Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Lalnilawma said that the government plans provide ex gratia payments of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of the deceased. Six people, including an elderly woman and a child, were killed due to heavy rains in the last 24 hours in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of the victims. In Nagaland, a truck driver lost his life on Friday due to a rockfall on National Highway-29 at the Pagala Pahar area in Chumoukedima district, after rocks and sludge fell on the moving truck. In Tripura, a 16-year-old boy named Tanmoy Debnath lost his life while fishing in a pond following continuous rainfall at Jirania in the West Tripura district on Friday. Moderate to heavy rainfall, along with flash floods and landslides, have caused severe disruptions to road communications and severely impacted life in many districts of the northeastern states. An advisory from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the deep depression over the northwest Bay of Bengal off West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts moved nearly northwards and crossed West Bengal-Bangladesh coasts, causing heavy rains in most northeastern states, as reported by IANS. Due to flash floods, heavy rain, and landslides, all northeastern states have deployed numerous national and state disaster response teams, volunteers, and state security personnel to conduct rescue and relief efforts. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi, part of an all-party delegation to Algeria, criticised Pakistan, labelling it the epicentre of Takfirism, a term often used for radical ideologies that label others as non-believers. Owaisi added that there is no difference in ideology between the terrorist groups in Pakistan and Daesh and Al-Qaeda. Addressing Algerian media, think tank members and Indian expatriates, Owaisi compared the ideology of Pakistani terrorists to al-Qaeda and said they believe they have "religious sanction" to kill others in the name of religion. "Pakistan is the epicentre of Takfirism and there is no difference in ideology between the terrorist groups in Pakistan and Daesh and Al-Qaeda. They believe that they have a religious sanction, which is completely wrong. Islam does not allow the killing of any person, and unfortunately, that is their ideology," ANI quoted Owaisi as saying. Emphasising that terrorism thrives on ideology and funds, Owaisi stressed the necessity of placing Pakistan back on the Grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). He added that terrorism in India would decrease once Pakistan is put on the Grey list. "Terrorism survives on two things ideology and money. Ideology, you know very well; you have seen the Black Decade, even in South Algeria, you still have some problems. On that point, we are together... Once you bring Pakistan back on the Grey list (of FATF), we will see a decrease in terrorism in India. We'll see killings coming down. We have the 2018 experience when Algeria and other countries helped India," Owaisi said. Owaisi emphasised the effectiveness of the FATF Grey list in combating terrorism, saying, "There was this one terrorist called Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi - no country in the world would allow a terrorist who's facing a terror charge. He became a father to a son while sitting in prison. The trial progressed immediately when Pakistan was put on the Grey list (of FATF)." India, in its effort to showcase its resolve and project its national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, has dispatched seven All-Party Delegations to visit key partner nations, including members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). This was in response to the April 22 terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 25 innocent Indian citizens and one Nepali citizen. In retaliation for the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor during the early hours of May 7, targeting nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and eliminating over 100 terrorists. (with ANI inputs) New Delhi: After the high-stakes Operation Sindoor, tensions between India and Pakistan have once again surged. In this new phase of defense recalibration, the spotlight is now on fifth-generation fighter jets. Russia has once again offered India its most advanced export fighter jet, the Su-57E. But this time, it is not just a sales pitch. The offer comes with a promise deeper localisation, seamless integration with Indian systems and full support for Make-in-India defense ambitions. This new proposal includes some of the key technologies originally planned for Indias Super-30 program, which is meant to upgrade the IAFs Su-30MKI fleet. The Su-57E would be equipped with GaN-based AESA radar and indigenous Indian mission computers. These additions not only supercharge Su-57Es combat capability but also ensure technical similarity with the Super-30 jets, streamlining maintenance and logistics for the Indian Air Force. Desi Missiles for a Russian Machine The real game-changer? The Su-57E would carry Indian-made beyond-visual-range air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles. This reduces dependency on foreign suppliers and aligns perfectly with Indias growing self-reliance in defense manufacturing. Russia is also ready to allow India to make custom modifications to the aircraft. Sources suggest that even source codes and technology transfer are on the table. That means Indian firms, including HAL and private players, could co-produce this stealth jet. What Makes the Su-57E So Deadly? The Su-57E is Russias only fifth-generation stealth fighter, designed to evade even the most advanced radar systems. It boasts of stealth shaping for low observability, supercruise capability and R-37M missiles with a staggering 400 km range. Moscow claims that the Su-57E outperforms even the French Rafale in certain combat scenarios, particularly in range and missile payload. Amid backlash over the arrest of Sharmishta Panoli, the Kolkata Police on Sunday stated that some social media accounts are spreading false information about the unlawful arrest of the law student. The police called the narrative "mischievous and misleading." In a post on X, police expressed that the law student was not arrested for expressing patriotism or for personal belief, but legal actions were taken for sharing offensive content which promotes hatred among the communities. "Kolkata Police acted lawfully according to the procedure established by law. The accused was not arrested for expressing patriotism or for personal belief; legal actions were taken for sharing offensive content which promotes hatred among the communities," the post read. "Expressing national pride and patriotism is a thing that every citizen and organisation stands for. Kolkata Police being no different, stands firmly with the citizens of India," it added. Some social media accounts are spreading false information that Kolkata Police has unlawfully arrested a law student for opposing Pakistan. This narrative is mischievous and misleading. Expressing national pride and patriotism is a thing that every citizen and organisation Kolkata Police (@KolkataPolice) June 1, 2025 In a statement, police said that the video posted by Sharmishta was insulting to the religious belief of a class of citisens of India and amounted to promoting hatred between different communities. Kolkata police urged people to act responsibly and refrain from doing anything that would benefit enemies. On Saturday. a court in Kolkata remanded social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli, arrested for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, in judicial custody for 14 days. Kolkata Police has arrested Panoli from Gurugram, Haryana on Friday night. Kochi: The arrest of travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra on espionage charges has taken a new turn with allegations that she was hosted by the Kerala Tourism Department during her visit to Kannur. BJP leader and former Kerala state president K. Surendran raised questions about the nature of her visit and the involvement of the state-run tourism body. Surendran took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday and alleged that Malhotra's trip to Kannur was sponsored by Kerala Tourism, which is headed by Tourism Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas, the son-in-law of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He questioned the purpose of her visit and the individuals she met during her stay. Pak-Spy Jyoti Malhotras Kannur trip was sponsored by Kerala Tourism, run by none other than Pinarayi Vijayans son-in-law. Who did she meet? Where did she go? Whats the real agenda? Why is Kerala rolling out red carpets for a Pak-linked spy? Surendran posted on X. These allegations come weeks after Malhotra, a resident of Hisar and creator of the Travel with JO YouTube channel, was arrested as part of a crackdown on alleged ISI-backed spy network across Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi following Operation Sindoor. She faces charges under the Official Secrets Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Investigators revealed that Malhotra maintained direct contact with Pakistans intelligence agency, allegedly passed sensitive data and had multiple interactions at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi. She also reportedly made two trips to Pakistan, and one surfaced video shows her in Lahores Anarkali Bazaar under armed escort. She was remanded to 14-day judicial custody on May 26, 2025. The Haryana Police have been examining approximately 13 terabytes of data recovered from five mobile phones and a laptop belonging to Malhotra and an accomplice, Harkirat. Her bank accounts are also under investigation. While investigators have not found any evidence that she accessed sensitive military, defense or strategic information, nor any connections to terrorist activities or organizations, Malhotra has admitted to being in contact with known Pakistani intelligence operatives. The Kerala Tourism Department's Role A public sector undertaking, the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) conducts and regulates tourism activities in the state. Headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, it also operates hotels, resorts and tourist rest houses in the state. The involvement of the Kerala Tourism Department in hosting Malhotra during her visit to Kannur raises questions about the vetting process for foreign visitors and the potential misuse of state resources. The department has yet to respond to the allegations made by Surendran. The allegations have sparked a political controversy in the state. The BJP is demanding a probe into the matter. Surendran has sought transparency regarding the details of Malhotras visit and the individuals she interacted with during her stay in Kannur. The Kerala government has not any statement in this regard so far. New Delhi: In a strong response to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's comments on the Indus Waters Treaty, Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh at a UN conference on glaciers in Tajikistan, said that Islamabad should stop blaming India for the treaty's breach. Singh asserted that persistent cross-border terrorism from Pakistan is hampering the implementation of the treaty. "We are appalled at the attempt by Pakistan to misuse the forum and to bring in unwarranted references to issues which do not fall within the purview of the forum," Singh said. He added that it is an "undeniable fact" that fundamental changes in circumstances since the treaty was signed require a reassessment of its obligations. Singh pointed out that technological advancements, demographic changes, climate change, and the ongoing threat of cross-border terrorism have significantly altered the context in which the treaty operates. "However, the unrelenting cross-border terrorism from Pakistan interferes with the ability to exploit the treaty as per its provisions," he said. The Indian government had suspended the Indus Waters Treaty in response to Pakistan-based terrorists killing 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had termed the decision a "weaponisation of water" and an "unilateral and illegal decision." At the International Conference on Glaciers Preservation, Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said, Millions of lives must not be held hostage to narrow political gains, and Pakistan will not allow this. We will never allow the red line to be crossed." Singh's remarks come as a strong rebuke to Pakistan's attempts to internationalize the issue and shift the blame for the treaty's breach onto India. "However, the unrelenting cross-border terrorism from Pakistan interferes with an ability to exploit the treaty as per its provisions. Pakistan, which itself is in violation of the treaty, should desist from putting the blame for the breach of the treaty on India," he said. New Delhi: Pakistans handling of Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav has been a subject controversy. Pakistan claimed that Jadhav was abducted from Iran and accused him of being an Indian spy. The country went on to conduct a military trial and sentenced him to death. However, under international pressure, Pakistan temporarily halted the execution and granted India consular access after intervention by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). While this saga has been well-publicised, very few know the fate of the Pakistan Army officer involved in Jadhavs abduction Captain Qadeer Baloch. On May 3, 2016, Pakistan announced the arrest of Kulbhushan, an Indian naval officer, alleging his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities. According to Pakistani officials, Jadhav was apprehended in a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistan, where he was accused of conducting operations on behalf of Indias Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Pakistans claims led to tensions between the two nations. However, India categorically denied the charges and asserted that Jadhav was a retired naval officer who had been conducting business in Irans Chabahar and that he was abducted by Sunni terrorist group Jaish-ul-Adl and later handed over to Pakistani authorities illegally. Captain Qadeer Balochs Role A Pakistani army officer, Captain Qadeer played a crucial role in the operation leading to Jadhavs capture. Based in the volatile region of Balochistan, near the Iran-Pakistan border, the captain had been investigating Indian activities in the region, especially Indias alleged involvement in Chabahar, a strategic port in Iran that lies just 250 km from Pakistans Gwadar port which is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This geographical proximity highlights the broader geopolitical rivalry involving India, China and Pakistan. While official reports suggest that Qadeer was instrumental in the intelligence operation that led to Jadhavs arrest, there are whispers about his direct involvement in the kidnapping. Pakistans military has officially denied the claim, but speculation around his role continues, particularly given the highly sensitive nature of Jadhavs case. Jadhavs Kidnapping It is well-known that Pakistan maintains close relations with several militant groups, including Jaish-ul-Adl, who were allegedly involved in Jadhavs abduction. Officially, Pakistan maintains that Qadeer played an essential role in the operation. While there is no concrete evidence linking him to the kidnapping itself, reports indicate that he was involved in gathering intelligence related to Jadhavs alleged activities in Chabahar. On March 3, 2016, Qadeer led the operation that culminated in Jadhavs arrest. According to Pakistans Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Jadhav, operating under the alias Hussain Mubarak Patel, confessed to carrying out terrorist activities under RAWs instructions to destabilise the CPEC and disrupt regional stability. However, as with many of Pakistans allegations, no substantial proof was provided to back these claims. A controversial confession video was instead released, where Jadhav appeared under duress with visible injuries on his face and allegedly admitted to espionage activities. Indias Legal Battle India rejected Pakistans accusations and took the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), arguing that Jadhav was a legitimate businessman who had been abducted from Iran. India contended that his trial was conducted under opaque conditions and lacked the fair trial standards required under international law. In April 2017, Pakistans military court sentenced Jadhav to death a decision widely criticised as a pre-planned judicial murder. In response, the ICJ intervened and stayed Jadhavs execution while ordering Pakistan to review the case and provide India with consular access, which was granted in July 2019. Qadeers Mysterious Death Two years after Jadhavs arrest, on May 31, 2018, Captain Qadeer, a man hailed by some Pakistani circles as a national hero for his role in Jadhavs capture, died in a mysterious road accident in Quetta. He was reportedly on his way to attend a military course when the accident occurred. His sudden death, under such peculiar circumstances, raised suspicions, particularly considering the high-profile nature of the Jadhav case. Some speculate that Qadeer may have been silenced to prevent further revelations about his involvement in the operation or as a result of internal rivalries within the Pakistani military. Officially, his death was labeled as a tragic accident, but the timing and conditions surrounding it have fueled conspiracy theories. Unanswered Questions Despite the official narrative, many questions remain unanswered. Captain Qadeers sudden death and the broader mystery surrounding his involvement in Jadhavs abduction highlight the shadowy world of military and intelligence operations in volatile regions like Balochistan. While Pakistan continues to insist on Jadhavs guilt, the lack of solid evidence and the highly questionable nature of his confession have only fueled international skepticism. As the Jadhav case continues to progress in international courts and diplomatic channels, the role of individuals like Captain Qadeer may remain one of the most enduring mysteries of this complex geopolitical saga. For now, the truth about what happened behind closed doors, in the shadows of espionage and intelligence warfare, remains elusive. Heavy rainfall and hailstorms lashed Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar district on Sunday, causing disruptions in the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a local weather report for Jammu today, confirming a drop in temperature and increased humidity due to recent rain. The maximum temperature, recorded on Saturday, dropped to 32.9 degrees Celsius, which was 6.1 degrees Celsius below normal, while the minimum temperature stood at 20.2 degrees Celsius, 5.3 degrees Celsius below average. The sudden change in weather led to traffic slowdowns and interrupted outdoor activities across the region. A total of 7 mm of rainfall was recorded in the past 24 hours, with relative humidity measured at 42 per cent at 08:30 am and 45 per cent at 05:30 pm. The department predicted a partly cloudy sky over the next two days, with rain or thundershowers possible on June 3 and 4. According to the seven-day forecast, temperatures in Jammu were expected to gradually rise from 35 degrees Celsius on June 1 to 40 degrees Celsius on June 7, with clearer skies expected towards the end of the week. Local authorities urged citizens to remain cautious while travelling and to avoid waterlogged or hail-affected areas. Farmers were also advised to protect vulnerable crops from further weather damage. According to meteorologists, the sudden spell of rain and hail was part of a wider pattern of pre-monsoon weather activity across northern India. On Saturday, heavy rainfall and hailstorms lashed Jammu & Kashmir's Ramban district, causing regional disruptions. Meanwhile, parts of Srinagar city witnessed moderate to heavy rain, affecting daily activities. However, tourists in Srinagar welcomed the rain. A vistor said, "The rainy weather here feels refreshing and wonderful. We're visiting as tourists, and just a few days ago, the heat here was almost as intense as in Uttar Pradesh. But since arriving, this cool, rainy climate has been a delightful change. Dal Lake looks stunning in this weather, and the locals seem thrilled with the shift. Rain is so vital--it brings such relief. We've heard it gets hot for a couple of days, followed by rain, and luckily, our visit has perfectly coincided with this beautiful weather." (ANI) New Delhi: Denmarks former Ambassador to India, Freddy Svane, has endorsed Indias recent military operation Operation Sindoor and called for global action against Pakistans alleged support for terrorism. Svane, who served as Denmarks envoy to India, praised Indias decisive military response and emphasised its importance in sending a strong message to the international community. He highlighted that Pakistans shifting narratives, particularly regarding Sajid Mir, an accused of 26/11 Mumbai attacks, have exposed the countrys inconsistencies in combating terrorism. In an exclusive interview with IANS, Svane urged the global community to take a stand against Pakistans actions. Terrorism does not emerge spontaneously. It is funded, structured and executed with intent. Pakistans role in this is evident, he said. Svanes comments align with concerns raised by Indian officials about Pakistans alleged misuse of international financial assistance, including IMF loans, to support military-intelligence operations and terrorist groups. Svane also commended Indias decision to send an all-party delegation led by Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to Copenhagen, highlighting the importance of international solidarity in addressing the issue. He noted that this initiative has been well-received in Denmark and reflects Indias commitment to combating terrorism. In addition, Svane criticised Pakistans handling of terrorist activities. Pakistan may present many faces, but when it comes to terrorism, it reveals its true and ugly face, he said, referring to recent incidents such as the Pahalgam attack as evidence of Pakistans continued involvement in cross-border terrorism. Svane concluded by emphasising the need for a unified global response to combat terrorism and hold accountable those who support and finance such activities. His statements add to the growing international pressure on Pakistan to take concrete actions against terrorism and its financing. A day after a court in Mau sentenced Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) MLA Abbas Ansari to two years imprisonment in a hate speech case, the leader was disqualified from the Assembly on Sunday. The Mau Sadar assembly seat in Uttar Pradesh was declared vacant after Ansaris disqualification from the state assembly, ANI reported. The Chief Judicial Magistrate (MP-MLA) court in Mau district on Saturday sentenced Abbas Ansari, the son of the dead mafia don, Mukhtar Ansari. Furthermore, as per the Representation of the People Act, a sentence of two years or more can lead to disqualification from holding public office, pending appeal. Abbas Ansari Case Details In addition, Abbas Ansari's close aide, Mansoor Ansari, was also sentenced to six months of imprisonment. The former was booked for delivering a provocative speech against the Mau district administration while the model code of conduct was in place, according to ANI. Earlier, the Allahabad High Court refused anticipatory bail to him in the same case. He approached the top court against the HC's December 2023 order. An FIR was lodged in March 2022 at Kotwali police station in Mau district against Abbas Ansari, Umar Ansari, and others. In the FIR, it was alleged that on March 3, 2022, at Pahadpura ground, Abbas Ansari, Umar Ansari, and organiser Mansoor Ahmad Ansari in a public meeting called for settling a score with the Mau administration. Will File Appeal: Ansaris Legal Counsel After Ansari was sentenced, his legal counsel, Advocate Daroga Singh, on Saturday, said that they will approach the higher court against the verdict. ANI quoted Advocate Daroga Singh as saying, "While the trial was established, there was a sentence of only six months. Later, after discussing this with the police, it was increased to several sections, and now he has been sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment... We will file an appeal against the order..." Meanwhile, Joint Director Prosecution Chandrakesh Rai had informed that the accusations were under sections 153(A) and 171(F). The court has sentenced the MLA to two years' imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 11,000. The accusations were under sections 153(A) and 171(F). If someone is convicted under these sections, then it is not just a 2-year imprisonment, the membership of the Legislative Assembly can also be taken away Joint Director Prosecution said. Abbas Ansari fought and won on a ticket from the SBSP in the 2022 state assembly elections from the Sadar seat in Mau. (with ANI inputs) A political row has erupted following the arrest of 22-year-old law student and social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli, with several leaders accusing the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government of practicing vote-bank vendetta. Kolkata police arrested Panoli for allegedly making communal remarks while criticizing Bollywood actors for not speaking up on Operation Sindoor. West Bengal BJP president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar termed Panoli's arrest as vote-bank vendetta and a form of injustice. "Sharmistha Panoli, 22, law student, arrested for a now-deleted video and a public apology. No riots. No unrest. Yet Mamata Banerjees police acted overnight, not for justice, but for appeasement. But when TMC leaders insult Sanatan Dharma, call Jai Shri Ram a gaali, mock Maha Kumbh, and push communal poison theres no FIR, no arrest, no apology. This is not justice. This is vote-bank vendetta. India is watching," Majumdar said on X. Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari assured that the Nationalist Lawyers are taking up Sharmistha's matter and will provide her with the best legal defense. "Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and influencer, made a personal comment in wake of the Pahalgam Terrorist attack where Hindus were targeted selectively, which she later deleted and apologized for, yet was arrested by Kolkata Police from Gurgaon. @KolkataPolice, where is this same zeal when idols of Hindu deities are vandalized in West Bengal? When stone pelting happens on Ram Navami & Hanuman Jayanti Processions? I would like to assure everyone that the Nationalist Lawyers are taking up Sharmistha's matter, and the best legal defense will be provided to her. I hope that she will be free from the clutches of the vile & vicious Mamata Police," Adhikari said on X. Andhra Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said Panoli had apologised for her remarks but was still punished, and he urged the West Bengal police to act justly. "During Operation Sindoor, Sharmistha, a law student, spoke out; her words regrettable and hurtful to some. She owned her mistake, deleted the video, and apologized. The WB Police swiftly acted, taking action against Sharmistha. But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is called 'Gandha Dharm'? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest? Blasphemy must be condemned, always! Secularism isn't a shield for some and a sword for others. It must be a two-way street. West Bengal Police, the nation is watching. Act justly for all," Kalyan said on X. As per media reports, the Kolkata police have filed an FIR against the influencer under sections 196(1)(a) promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste, or community; 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens); 352 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace); 353(1)(c) (statements that incite public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation for Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 innocent civilians were gunned down in cold blood. Under Operation Sindoor, India hit nine terror sites inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), killing 100 terrorists. Bangladesh Protests Pakistan Role: After former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster, the asian country became a global talking point. Now, with Muhammad Yunus at the helm, perceived as anti-India and pro-Pakistan, the Islamic state has made a sensational revelation. Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawa leaders, Saifullah Kasuri and Mujammil Hashmi, claim they orchestrated Hasina's downfall. Kasuri stated that he was just four years old when Pakistan was defeated in 1971, and India liberated Bangladesh. Kasuri said, "I was just four years old when Pakistan broke apart in 1971, and Indira Gandhi said that we had sunk the two-nation theory in the Bay of Bengal. But on May 10, 2024, we avenged 1971." However, he claimed that on May 10, 2024, they avenged that defeat by fueling student protests that led to Hasina's ouster. Hashmi added that they defeated India in Bangladesh, and relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have improved significantly since Hasina's departure. Mujammil Hashmi said, "We defeated India in Bangladesh." He also stated that relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan have improved significantly since Hasina's ouster. Kasuri mentioned the death of his associate, Mudasar, who was killed in an airstrike by the Indian Air Force in Muridke on May 7. Kasuri said that he was not allowed to attend Mudasar's funeral, but high-ranking officials from the Pakistani army and administration attended the funeral in front of cameras. The leaders also mentioned the killing of their associate, Mudasar, in an Indian airstrike in Muridke. Kasuri expressed frustration over not being allowed to attend Mudasar's funeral, while Pakistani officials attended. Pakistan is reportedly pleased with Yunus's government, which took over after Hasina fled to India amid mass protests on August 5, 2023. Despite internal instability in both countries, terrorist leaders are making statements to assert their influence. What Is Dark Pattern? Amid the Consumer Affairs Ministry's move to make people aware of dark patterns deployed by apps and e-commerce sites, a formal complaint has been submitted to the Reserve Bank of India highlighting concerns about certain apps allegedly engaging in deceptive auto-debit practices, reported Times Now. The report said that these apps reportedly mislead users by offering trial subscriptions for Rs 1 or Rs 2, without clearly disclosing that initiating the trial will automatically activate an auto-debit ranging from Rs 149 to Rs 699 once the trial period concludes. The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India recently convened a meeting which brought together key representatives from major e-commerce companies, industry associations, Voluntary Consumer Organizations, and National Law Universities for a focused dialogue on eliminating deceptive online practices. What Is Dark Pattern? A dark pattern is a design tactic used in websites, apps, or digital interfaces that deliberately manipulate users into making decisions they might not otherwise make like subscribing to a paid plan unknowingly. These patterns are deceptive and often serve the interests of the company rather than the user. False urgency tricks you into making quick purchases it's a dark pattern. Stay smart, verify before you buy! Report violations to the National Consumer Helpline at 1915 or WhatsApp 8800001915. #ConsumerRights #ShopSmart #DarkPatterns #FalseUrgency #JagoGrahakJago #NCH1915 pic.twitter.com/ExKUQ33Hpb Consumer Affairs (@jagograhakjago) May 31, 2025 Several well-known Indian platforms, including Kuku, Stage, and Seekho, have come under increasing scrutiny for reportedly using misleading billing methods that take advantage of gaps in digital payment systems a pattern that poses significant concerns for both users and investors alike, reported CNBC TV18. Dark patterns, formally recognized as unfair trade practices under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, include tactics such as false urgency, basket sneaking, bait and switch, drip pricing, and subscription traps. Guidelines to curb these were issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) in November 2023. What Did The Government Say? Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi has expressed concern around dark patterns in digital commerce. The Union Minister emphasised the importance of responsible industry behaviour, adding that the Guidelines on Dark Patterns were the result of intensive consultations with various stakeholders, including leading e-commerce companies and industry associations. With mutual agreement reached, the Minister urged all companies to now fully comply with the guidelines and integrate them into their internal governance and consumer protection mechanisms. Highlighting recent developments, Joshi noted a significant surge in consumer complaints related to dark patterns on the National Consumer Helpline (NCH). To address this, he issued a clear directive to all major e-commerce companies: conduct regular internal audits to identify and eliminate dark patterns on their platforms. Companies must not wait for the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to intervene. They should proactively recognize and remove these deceptive practices before notices are issued. This is not just regulatory complianceits about building trust with your consumers, he stated. He said that the Jagriti App enables consumers to report dark patterns on e-commerce platforms directly to the CCPA and flags suspicious websites, while the Jago Grahak Jago App shields users from malicious platforms and offers real-time safety scores for the e-commerce link which a consumer is visiting. The Union Minister warned of action if companies failed to comply with the law. Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare stated that the CCPA has issued 11 notices related to violations involving dark patterns, along with over 400 notices for broader unfair trade practices. She also mentioned that the focus of regulatory scrutiny will now expand to include the quick-commerce and ride-hailing industries. The representatives of the major e-commerce companies 1mg.com, AIRBNB, Amazon, Apple, Zepto, Booking.com,Ola Electric, Tata Digital, Adidas India, Samsung, Ikigai Law, Indigo Airlines, Ixigo, MakeMyTrip, Mastercard, Meta, Netmeds, Namma Yatri, PharmEasy, Reliance Retail, Rapido, Shiprocket, Snapdeal, Swiggy, Thomas Cook, Uber, Whatsapp, Yatra, Zomato & Blinkit, Flipkart, Google, Justdial, ONDC, and Paytm were present during the meeting. Further, the major industry associations CAIT, CCI, FICCI, NASSCOM, PHDCCI, and Retailers Association of India along with Voluntary Consumer Organisations and National Law Universities, attended the meeting. New Delhi: Leading Indian airline IndiGo announced on Sunday that it has signed a new agreement with major international carriers Delta Air Lines, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic. This move is part of IndiGos plan to expand its long-haul flight services to Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America. With this partnership, IndiGo customers will be able to travel more easily to destinations in these regions by connecting to flights operated by the partner airlines. The airlines will work together to offer better connectivity, a smoother travel experience, and improved loyalty programme benefits. IndiGos CEO, Pieter Elbers, said in a statement that the airline is excited to start long-haul operations from this summer. He added that the agreement will give travellers access to a large international network and a better flying experience. As part of this deal, IndiGo welcomed Delta Air Lines as a new partner. The airline has already been working with Air France-KLM since 2022. Once all regulatory approvals are completed, passengers will be able to book connecting flights on Delta, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic directly through the IndiGo website. The partnership allows IndiGo customers to connect from Amsterdam on KLM flights to 30 European cities, and to North America on flights operated by either Delta or KLM. Travellers can also fly on Virgin Atlantic from Manchester to several US cities. In addition, Air France-KLM will begin selling IndiGo-operated flights to 24 cities beyond Hyderabad starting in September 2025. Delta Air Lines is also planning to restart its flight service between Atlanta and Delhi, but the start date will be announced later after getting the required approvals. This agreement also sets the stage for deeper cooperation between all four airlines. It includes possible collaborations in areas such as cargo, sales, frequent flyer programmes, and route planning. IndiGo is preparing for its long-haul growth by leasing six Boeing 787 aircraft later this year. The airline has also ordered 30 Airbus A350-900 planes, with an option to buy 70 more. These wide-body aircraft will help IndiGo operate longer international routes and strengthen its partnership with the global airlines involved. Mumbai: Actress and Member of Parliament Kangana Ranaut, who was recently seen in the biopic Emergency, has called for the release of social media influencer, Sharmishta Panoli. Sharmishta was booked by the Kolkata police after her allegedly controversial remarks against Pakistan. Kangana took to the Stories section of her Instagram, and shared a picture of Sharmishta. She also penned a note, as she said that the social media influencer has tendered an apology, and she should not be bullied by the authorities in West Bengal. She wrote, I agree that Sharmistha used some unpleasant words for her expression, but such words most youngsters use these days, she apologised for her statements and that should be enough, no need to bully and harass her further she should be released immediately. Earlier, in a now deleted video, Sharmishta had criticised Bollywood actors for their silence on the Pahalgam terror attack and Indias counter-terror strike, Operation Sindoor. As per media reports, Kolkata police has the FIR against the influencer under sections 196(1) (a) promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste, or community, 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens), 352 ( intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace), 353(1)(c) (statements that incite public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. India had launched Operation Sindoor after the cowardly terror attack, sponsored by Pakistan in Pahalgam where 26 civilians were gunned down in cold blood. Under Operation Sindoor, India attacked the 9 terror sites inside Pakistan. While Indias earlier responses to terror attacks in Uri and Pulawama targetted to terrori sites in PoK and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, this time, India hit deep inside Pakistans Punjab, which is the heartland of its hybrid leadership consisting of civil administration and Army rule. Indias actions in Operation Sindoor were measured, precise and non-escalatory. India destroyed military infrastructure including 9 military bases in Pakistan in its response to Pakistans indiscriminate bombing on civilians in India. While all the projectiles of Pakistan (most of which were developed by China except Fatah-II which also needs a Chinese launch vehicle) were neutralised by India's superior air-defence, Indias counter-offensive inflicted deep wounds to Pakistans leadership. Hyderabad: Thailand's Opal Suchata, who was crowned Miss World 2025 in a grand ceremony held in Hyderabad, Telangana, shared her feelings after winning the title. The 72nd edition of the global beauty pageant was a star-studded event and marked another proud moment for Thailand, as this was the country's first-ever Miss World crown. Speaking to ANI after her win, Opal expressed a mix of joy and disbelief, calling the moment "surreal." She was overwhelmed with emotion, especially because her country had waited over seven decades for this achievement. "I was very excited, especially when they were announcing all the girls and their placements, and when I was announced the winner, I still couldn't believe it. I was very confused because it was so unreal, because my people and I've been waiting for the first crown of Miss World for more than 72 years. It is such an honour to be able to bring back home the first crown. The moment I was crowned, all I thought about was the faces of my family, my people, my team and everyone. I cannot wait to really bring this crown back to Thailand...," Suchata told ANI. Also Read | From Surviving Breast Surgery At 16 To Making History: Meet Opal Suchata Chuangsri, Miss World 2025 She also highlighted her ongoing commitment to her 'Beauty with a Purpose' cause. "I would love to continue on my purpose, which is breast cancer. I am glad that being here in Miss World, a lot of people know more about my Beauty with a Purpose project and have more awareness of the cause that I'm setting up for. I believe that with the Miss World title, in the future, I could definitely make more impact and also help other projects that are in need," she added. Reflecting on her win, she added, "Now, I would like to define Miss World as my success because I just received it, and it's the highest and most honourable success I've ever had in my life. But if I could define another way of success. I would say that to live your life and to create a life that's better for people around you as well. That's also the success of being alive." Also Read | Miss World 2025: Ethiopias Hasset Dereje Makes History As First Runner-Up Meet Beauty Behind The Crown While Thailand rejoices in Opal's crowning, India's hopes were dashed as Nandini Gupta, the country's representative, failed to make it into the Top 8 finalists. The announcement came through Miss World's official Instagram page. Nandini had made it to the Top 40 after a standout performance in the earlier rounds, where she was among the 18 contestants who 'fast-tracked' to this prestigious category. Also Read | India's Nandini Gupta Out Of Miss World 2025 Race, Finishes In Top 20 However, she could not make it to the final cut as the competition progressed. Mumbai: Miss Thailand Opal Suchata Chuangsri, who has been crowned as the winner of the 72nd Miss World Pageant, revealed that she loved watching Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt in Gangubai Kathiawadi. She also expressed her admiration for former Miss Worlds Priyanka Chopra and Manushi Chillar. Talking about her favourite Indian Miss World, Chuangsri told IANS: Thats a tough one! I actually met one of my favorites todayManushi Chhillar. I also truly admire Priyanka Chopra. I love both of them so much." She went on to speak about Bollywood actresses and Indian films she loves. I know Alia Bhatt! I saw her in Gangubai Kathiawadioh my God, I loved it. It was so inspiring. I also know Baahubali! I haven't watched it yet, but Ive been to Ramoji Film City, and I promised myself Id watch it after the competition. So next time we meet, Ill give you my review, she said. After being crowned, the beauty queen called it the best day of her life. It marks a huge milestonenot just for me personally, but also for my Beauty with a Purpose project and the people of Thailand. Im incredibly proud, especially now that Thailand is recognized on the Miss World stage. This is our very first Miss World crown, and weve waited more than seventy years for it. I truly believe my people are as proud as I am. She said she worked very hard to win. I wouldnt say it was difficult in a negative way, because when something really matters to your heart, the effort becomes meaningful. But yes, honestly, it wasnt easy to win a title like Miss World. Thats why this victory means so much, especially being the first crown for Thailand. During her stay in India, did she get to try any Indian food or cultural attire, Chuangsri said: Yes, I did! I tried wearing a saree and also enjoyed some Indian cuisineit was wonderful. Now that youve won, the challenge is often in sustaining that success, what are her plans ahead: Thats something people often think abouthow to maintain fame or success with only one year in your reign. But I believe its not just about that one year. Its about the impact you make. If you create something meaningful, something that touches lives, then your legacy remains long after you pass the crown. For me, that is the true definition of success. Asked if she sees any similarities between the Thai and Indian film industries, the beauty queen nodded her head and said yes. The Thai film industry is also very big. Thai people love movies and TV series, and our crewsactors, actresses, behind-the-scenes professionalsare very talented. We hope to produce even more high-quality content for the world to enjoy, she said. She is now considering acting in Thai dramas or Hindi series. Of course! I grew up watching Thai dramastheyre very close to my heart. It would be a wonderful opportunity to be a part of that world, whether its Thai or Hindi content, she said. Kerala: Actor Unni Mukundan has broken his silence over the recent allegations of assault levelled against him by his former manager, Vipin Kumar. In a press conference held in Kochi, Mukundan clarified that there was no physical assault and that the dispute had been misrepresented. "This is not a case of assault. There was no physical violence," the actor said, adding, "As a friend, I only wanted to confront Vipin about why he was speaking negatively about me. During the heated exchange, I did throw his sunglasses -- that is true. But there was no physical contact." Mukundan further alleged that Vipin Kumar, who managed the actor's career for six years, is already facing multiple complaints from within the film industry. "There are cases against Vipin in FEFKA. More than one actress has approached film organisations with complaints about him," he said, adding that Vipin is not a registered member of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala. The controversy erupted following an FIR filed by Vipin Kumar on May 26, accusing Unni Mukundan of physical assault and issuing threats during a confrontation at the basement parking of Mukundan's apartment complex in Kochi. "He called me for a meeting. When I arrived, he shouted at me, punched and hit me. Another person had to step in to stop him," Vipin told reporters. Kumar claimed that the incident may have been fueled by Mukundan's disappointment over the lukewarm industry response to his recent film Marco. "After the movie's release, he was disheartened that top directors weren't reaching out. He vented that frustration on me," Vipin alleged. In response, Mukundan has filed a counter-complaint with the Kerala Director General of Police (DGP), stating that he has been targeted unfairly and maliciously. "Two weeks ago, I received a call from an unknown number. The caller named several people, including Vipin. That was when I realised something was wrong," the actor said. The actor also addressed a broader pattern of controversies surrounding his career. "Allegations have been made against me before. Some even said the RSS funded my film Meppadiyan. The truth is, I financed that movie by mortgaging my own house," he said. He also hinted that there might be a larger network behind the current controversy, adding, "I suspect more people are involved in trying to bring me down." Reaffirming his respect for his colleagues, Mukundan said he maintains a strong relationship with fellow actor Tovino Thomas, despite rumours. "I have never said anything about Tovino. We are very close friends," he clarified. Mukundan expressed his deep gratitude to the people of Kerala for supporting his journey in cinema and added, "I've worked hard to bring out my films. I will continue to do so with honesty." The incident comes just months after Unni Mukundan stepped down from his role as Treasurer of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) in January this year, citing mental health and professional strain. His resignation occurred shortly after AMMA's executive committee, including President Mohanlal, tendered their resignations in the wake of the Justice K. Hema Committee Report, which exposed widespread challenges faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. According to police, the robbers snatched Dharmendra's mobile phone and around Rs4,000 in cash. When he resisted, one of the attackers stabbed him in the stomach before fleeing the scene. Dharmendra was rushed to RML Hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment. Authorities have launched a search operation to apprehend the culprits. Further investigations are underway. Meanwhile, a 32-year-old woman, identified as Menaka Singh, was allegedly strangled to death in the Baljeet Nagar area under the Patel Nagar police station, Delhi Police reported on Saturday. According to Delhi Police, information was received regarding a murder in the Baljeet Nagar area of PS Patel Nagar. It was found that a 32-year-old lady identified as Menaka Singh was strangled. She was a homemaker whose husband works as a salesman in a Kirti Nagar furniture store. The accused, Dharmendra Kumar, aged 28 years, has been arrested. (ANI) Mumbai: Opal Suchata Chuangsri from Thailand, who has been crowned the Miss World 2025, has shared that she plans to visit many temples in India, and the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is on her list. Chuangsri spoke with IANS after her massive win, and spoke about the cultural ties between India and Thailand. She said, I would love to visit so many temples here in India. I think it's very charming and like I said that we share a lot of cultures and traditions between India and Thailand. So it would be great to visit and to know those places. India and Thailand share a long history of cultural and commercial relations. In Thailand, the Ramayana is known as Ramakien. The Indian epic profoundly influenced Thai literature, art, and royal traditions. The story, while based on the original Indian Ramayana, has been adapted into a distinctive Thai version with its own interpretations and cultural nuances. Lord Hanuman is given a more prominent role in the Thai version and is sometimes portrayed with a more playful character. Chuangsri also shared her message for the women of Telangana, the state where the Miss World 2025 grand finale was held. She said, I would say that first meeting all of the women here in Telangana, India. You all have really inspired me on this journey with all your strength and resilience and the beauty from within all of you. And all the support and caring that I have received from all of the women here in India. And I think that they are very strong and very capable of all the things they wanted to do in life. Opal Suchata Chuangsri has been crowned Miss World 2025 in a star-studded grand finale ceremony which was held on Saturday in Hyderabad, Telangana. She edged out Hasset Dereje Admassu of Ethiopia in the grand finale as the latter emerged as the runner-up. For the ceremony, Suchata donned a white gown adorned with opal-like florals. New Delhi: The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is likely to roll out EPFO 3.0 in June 2025, as per a DD News report. One of the key highlights of this upgrade is the expected introduction of UPI and ATM-based withdrawals which could make managing and accessing PF accounts faster and more convenient than ever before. What is EPFO 3.0? EPFO 3.0 is a new digital platform designed to make services faster and easier for EPF account holders. It is backed by upgraded IT systems and will allow users to do important tasks like withdrawing funds or updating account details more smoothly. This initiative is part of the Labour Ministrys broader effort to simplify and digitise financial services for both salaried employees and those in the informal sector. Using UPI and ATMs to Access Your EPF: What to Expect While the full details are yet to be revealed, EPFO 3.0 is expected to connect PF accounts with UPI and ATM networks. This could soon allow subscribers to withdraw their eligible EPF funds directly through UPI apps or bank ATMs, using secure methods like a PIN or Aadhaar verification. Withdrawal limits and safety rules will likely be in place to protect your funds. When Will EPFO 3.0 Launch and What to Expect Next? According to a DD News report, EPFO 3.0 is expected to roll out in June 2025, although the exact launch date hasn't been officially confirmed yet. The launch may begin with pilot testing in select regions before expanding across the country. Once fully implemented, the upgrade could benefit over 6 crore EPF account holders across India.// EPFO Pension Access from Any Bank Branch Starting January 1, 2025, pensioners under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS) 1995 will be able to receive their pension from any bank branch across India. This means retirees wont be tied to a specific branch and can access their pension from any bank location, making the process more flexible and convenient. New Delhi: Elon Musks father Errol Musk, Global Advisor to Servotech Renewable Power System Ltd, arrived in India on Sunday. He is scheduled to visit Servotechs manufacturing plant with other high-level engagements, including a visit to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya this week. According to the company, Errol Musk arrived in India for a visit focused on accelerating the nation's green technology and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure development. His visit underscores the burgeoning global interest in India's rapid strides towards sustainable development and its ambition to be a leader in green technology exports, said the company. "We are incredibly excited to welcome Errol Musk to India," said Raman Bhatia, Managing Director, Servotech Renewable Power System Ltd. "His profound expertise and global vision as our Global Advisor are invaluable as we drive India's mission to become a powerhouse in green technology and EV charging exports. This visit signifies a major step towards 'Keeping Bharat Ahead' on the global stage, Bhatia added. Elon Musks father, Errol, is set to visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, India. He is also expected to promote the Indian government's lofty and increasingly scrutinized ambition to become a global leader in green technologies and EV charging infrastructure exports pic.twitter.com/RhlmeRjXkM (@TrumpUpdateHQ) June 1, 2025 During his stay, Errol Musk will engage with a diverse set of stakeholders. He is slated to deliver a keynote address at the IndiaGlobal Green Tech Vision Forum 2025 in the national capital. This event will bring together policymakers, investors, business leaders, and senior bureaucrats to discuss India's strategic push for leadership in green technologies. He will also undertake a visit to Servotech Renewable's state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Sonipat, Haryana, to witness first-hand the innovative production of EV chargers, solar solutions, and other sustainable technologies, showcasing the 'Make in India' excellence, said the company. "It is an immense privilege to be in India and witness its vibrant progress in green technology and sustainable development," said Errol Musk. "India's commitment to a cleaner future and its burgeoning EV ecosystem present incredible opportunities. I am eager to contribute to Servotech's vision and explore the potential for India to lead the global green revolution, he added. New Delhi: The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) prosecution has pressed formal charges against former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a case related to crimes against humanity during the July mass uprising. The charges were submitted by Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, who alleged that Hasina is directly responsible for ordering state forces and her party to carry out actions that led to mass killings, injuries, and torture. A report by The Daily Star stated that the Tribunal's investigation agency's probe report, submitted on May 12, brought five allegations of crimes against humanity against Hasina, including mass killings, targeted violence against women and children, and denial of medical treatment to the wounded. The report also named former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun as co-accused. According to the probe report, over 1,500 individuals were killed, over 25,000 wounded, and countless others subjected to torture and inhumane treatment during the July uprising. The ICT prosecution claims that Hasina's directives led to these atrocities. This is not the first case against Hasina, who is already facing two other cases filed with the ICT - one over alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during the Awami League rule, and another over killings during the 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel, The Daily Star further noted. New Delhi: Russia has categorically rejected Pakistans recent claims of expanding economic cooperation, including the establishment of a new steel mill in Karachi. The Russian government labeled these reports as fabricated and accused Pakistan of attempting to undermine the longstanding strategic partnership between Moscow and New Delhi. The controversy began when Pakistani media reported that Russian officials had met Pakistani counterparts to discuss industrial collaboration, particularly the creation of a steel mill in Karachi. These reports suggested a revival of the industrial cooperation reminiscent of the 1970s when the Soviet Union assisted in establishing Pakistan Steel Mills. However, Russian authorities swiftly dismissed these reports. A senior Russian official stated, These reports are exaggerated and are being spread by those attempting to disrupt the strong and privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India. The official further emphasised that no such agreements had been made, and the discussions were misrepresented. The Russian Foreign Ministry echoed these sentiments and stated that while certain discussions had taken place, they did not involve any multi-billion-dollar contracts with Pakistan. The ministry accused Pakistan of fabricating these stories to create discord between Russia and India. This incident highlights the delicate nature of international relations and the potential for misinformation to strain diplomatic ties. Russias swift denial emphasises its commitment to its strategic relationship with India and its vigilance against attempts to destabilise this alliance. Russia Train Tragedy: At least seven people lost their lives, and 30 others were hospitalised after a railway bridge collapsed, causing a train derailment in Russia's Bryansk region, which shares a border with Ukraine. Authorities have cited "illegal interference" as the reason behind the incident, which occurred early Sunday. Russian Railways, in a post on Telegram, stated that the train's locomotive and several cars derailed "due to the collapse of a span structure of the road bridge as a result of an illegal interference in the operation of transport." Bryansk region governor Alexander Bogomaz said two children were among those hospitalised, with one in serious condition. The locomotive driver was among those killed, according to Russian state news agencies citing medical sources. The Ministry of Emergency Situations said on Telegram that around 180 personnel were deployed to the scene, with the primary focus on locating and rescuing any remaining victims. Reports from Russia's Baza Telegram channel, which frequently shares information sourced from law enforcement and security services, suggested that preliminary findings indicated the bridge may have been blown up. However, the channel did not provide evidence to support the claim. Since the onset of the war, the Bryansk region -- along with the neighbouring Kursk and Belgorod regions -- has repeatedly faced cross-border shelling, drone attacks, and covert incursions from Ukrainian territory. The train was en route from Klimovo to Moscow when it collided with the collapsed bridge near a federal highway in the Vygonichskyi district of the Bryansk region, Governor Bogomaz added. The district is located approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the Ukrainian border. In the broader context of the ongoing conflict, US President Donald Trump has called on both Moscow and Kyiv to collaborate on a peace deal to bring the war to an end. Meanwhile, Russia has proposed a second round of direct negotiations with Ukrainian officials, slated for next week in Istanbul. Ukraine, however, has yet to confirm its participation in the proposed talks on Monday, stating it first needs to review the specifics of Russia's proposals. New Delhi: Ukraine launched a series of drone attacks deep inside Russia on Sunday. The strikes hit several military airfields in Siberia and the Arctic hitting around 40 aircraft. This is one of the biggest drone raids on Russian forces so far. Ukraines security agency, the SBU, said it targeted over 40 Russian strategic bombers. These include powerful Tu-95 and Tu-22 aircraft, used to launch long-range missiles. The SBU called it a large-scale special operation to destroy enemy bombers far behind the front lines. Videos surfaced online showing drone attacks on Belaya airbase in Irkutsk region. This base is thousands of kilometers from Ukraines border. Officials said drones also hit a military site near Murmansk in northern Russia. On such footage recorded by Irkutsk region governor Igor Kobzev reveals Ukrainian drones hovering over a military facility in Siberia. Russias Irkutsk region governor confirms 1st DRONE attack in Siberia Says military unit targeted Army and civilian responders already mobilized to tackle threat, source of drone launch blocked pic.twitter.com/jMgCajhXbT RT (@RT_com) June 1, 2025 The strike was not limited to just one base. The drones also targeted the Olenya air base in Murmansk, a critical Russian aviation hub known for housing aircraft capable of carrying nuclear payloads. Earlier today, unverified videos of the drone attacks quickly spread across social media platform X. While the authenticity of these clips remains unconfirmed, Ukrainian officials have acknowledged the strikes, further escalating tensions. BREAKING: Major Ukrainian FPV drone swarm hits Russian airbases. Massive FPV drone attacks struck Olenya and Belaya airbases. Several Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers on fire. pic.twitter.com/GFxWt4EJ1O Clash Report (@clashreport) June 1, 2025 Irkutsks governor confirmed the attack. He said drones launched from a truck struck a military installation and an abandoned building nearby. Local authorities blocked the launch site quickly. No civilians were harmed. Russian military has not officially commented yet. But this strike marks the first drone attack so far east in Siberia. It shows Ukraines reach is growing. The attack came just before peace talks between Russia and Ukraine scheduled in Istanbul on Monday. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is leading a delegation for the talks. He stressed that Russia must commit to a clear agenda for peace. Russia recently launched hundreds of drones and missiles against Ukrainian cities. Ukraine shot many down but suffered damage and casualties. The conflict is intensifying on all fronts. Experts say the drone strikes are part of Ukraines strategy to weaken Russias long-range strike power. The drones were reportedly hidden in mobile wooden sheds on trucks. They launched remotely, surprising Russian defenses. This operation, codenamed Spider Web, took over a year to plan. Ukraines drone fleet has become a key weapon against Russian forces. The attacks signal a shift in the war. Ukraine is no longer just defending but striking deep into Russias heartland. The battle is spreading far beyond the frontline. The coming talks in Istanbul carry heavy weight. Both sides face pressure to end the fighting. But after days of fierce attacks, trust is thin. The world watches closely as this new phase unfolds. Hours after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that China is preparing to invade Taiwan by 2027 and wants to alter balance of power in Indo-Pacific, Chinese embassy hit back at America, terming the remarks provocative and instigative. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping has given time till 2027 to its military to prepare to take control of Taiwan, an independent island claimed by Beijing as its own. Hegseth also said that the US doesn't want war or conflict with China but called upon Asian nations to boost their defense spending and work with the US to deter Beijing. China has protested to the United States over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths negative comments about it at the Shangri-La Dialogue, the foreign ministry said on Sunday. China objected to Hegseth's characterization of it as a threat in the Indo-Pacific, terming his remarks "deplorable" and "aimed at creating division." Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region and instead touted a Cold War mentality of bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely called China a threat. The remarks were filled with provocations and intended to sow division. China deplores and firmly opposes them and has protested strongly to the US, the ministry said in a post on X. China claimed that as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy, the United States has deployed offensive weaponry in the South China Sea and continues to stoke flames and create tensions in the Asia-Pacific, turning the region into a powder keg. To perpetuate its hegemony and advance the so-called Indo-Pacific strategy, the US has deployed offensive weaponry in the South China Sea and kept stoking flames and creating tensions in the Asia-Pacific, which are turning the region into a powder keg and making countries in the region deeply concerned, the ministry added. The ministry also said that Taiwan is entirely Chinas internal affair, warning the United States not to "play with fire" on this issue. The Taiwan question is entirely Chinas internal affair. No country is in a position to interfere. The US should never imagine it could use the Taiwan question as leverage against China. The US must never play with fire on this question. China urges the US to fully abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, and stop supporting and emboldening the Taiwan independence separatist forces, the ministry said. Earlier on Saturday, United States Defence Secretary Hegseth warned its Indo-Pacific allies that China is gearing up to seize Taiwan and that the region could soon confront a significant military crisis. We are not going to sugarcoat it, the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent, Times Of India quoted Hegseth as saying. New Delhi: The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), once seen as a ragtag rebel group fighting for its separation, is now storming Pakistani cities with a deadly arsenal that includes U.S. Marine Corps M240B machine guns, M16A4 rifles, night-vision gear and Soviet-made RPG-7 rocket launchers. The BLA has claimed that it has captured Sohrab city in just three hours and taken over banks, police stations and key government offices. The development has left Islamabad rattled. Military analysts are alarmed by the sophistication of BLAs firepower. Capable of firing 500 to 950 rounds using 7.62mm NATO cartridges, the M240B has a deadly range of up to 2 km. The M16A4 rifle, standard issue for the U.S. Marines, can unleash up to 950 rounds per minute. The group is also using RPG-7 launchers, which were first deployed by the Soviet Union and now a staple in insurgencies worldwide. So how did this insurgent group get hold of such elite weaponry? There is a growing speculation that Taliban fighters, now in control of Afghanistan, may have passed on abandoned U.S. weapons to Baloch and TTP militants. After the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, billions worth of military equipment was left behind some of which is now suspected to be circulating in the regions black markets. BLA fighters are believed to be sourcing arms via underground networks in Iran and Afghanistan, bypassing Pakistans border controls. Pakistani authorities have long alleged that the group is being armed through a regional arms bazaar fueled by instability. Sohrab Operation BLA spokesperson Jeyand Baloch on Friday evening declared that their fighters had captured Sohrab city and disabled all state institutions, including financial and military offices. What is even more striking is Pakistans Army chief was reportedly in nearby Quetta at the time. This is not BLAs first major offensive, but it is one of the boldest. With each operation, they inch closer to resembling a structured guerrilla force rather than a loose band of insurgents. The natural comparison arises could BLA do to Islamabad what Taliban did to Kabul? The short answer is not yet. The Taliban had nationwide ambitions and tribal loyalty. On the other hand, the BLA is focused on Balochistans independence, not ruling all of Pakistan. They lack political backing, their resources, while growing, cannot match the Pakistani military and they do not have mass appeal beyond Balochistan. Still, the local support they command in their home region is undeniable. As protests erupt across Pakistan from Sindh to Balochistan calls for secession are getting louder. Balochistan has already declared itself an independent nation, appealing to India and the international community for recognition. With Pakistani troops frequently under attack, Chinese projects targeted and territory slipping from Islamabads grasp, the BLA is no longer a fringe player, it is a growing threat. Who Are the BLA? The Baloch Liberation Army is an ethno-nationalist militant group fighting for Balochistans independence. Long accusing Islamabad of exploiting the provinces rich natural resources while subjecting locals to military repression, the BLA sees itself as a liberation force. Their operations have increasingly targeted both Pakistani state forces and Chinese nationals involved in CPEC projects. The weather department issued a red alert for West Tripura and Khowai, with forecasts of thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching up to 50 kmph. In its latest bulletin, the IMD stated, "Heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall is very likely to continue over Tripura till 4th June 2025." The rainfall activity was triggered by a trough at mean sea level stretching from East Uttar Pradesh to Arunachal Pradesh and a cyclonic circulation over northeast Assam at about 0.9 km above sea level. These weather systems caused strong moisture incursion over the northeastern state. The state recorded significant rainfall today. Budhjongnagar (19.9 cm), Kailashahar (19.2 cm), AD Nagar (18.6 cm), Jirania (17.6 cm), Kadamtila (15.8 cm), Khowai (14.5 cm) and DM Office (14 cm) were among the highest. In the North District, Nutanbazar received the highest rainfall at 29.6 cm. The IMD warned of possible traffic disruptions, flash floods, landslides, crop damage, and power outages. "Visibility may become poor due to an intense spell of rainfall leading to traffic congestion," IMD said in the statement. It also added, "Possibility of damages to vulnerable structures due to heavy to very heavy rain. Partial damages to kutcha houses and huts due to uprooting of trees." Farmers were advised to postpone sowing of crops such as rice, maise, and jute, and avoid working in fields during thunderstorms. "Postpone sowing of rice, jute, maise and vegetables; if already sown, avoid water stagnation in the field and cover the seeded area with natural mulching materials like straw, farm residues etc," the advisory added. Residents were urged to take shelter indoors, stay away from water bodies and electrical appliances, and avoid leaning against concrete walls during lightning activity. The official suggested strict adherence to traffic advisories, staying indoors, avoiding vulnerable areas, and taking shelter away from trees and metal poles. (ANI) Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday raised several questions, including the sudden nature of the ceasefire announcement by the US President and the implications of Donald Trump's claims. He also pointed to the statements of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Anil Chauhan, raising further questions about defence preparedness. "Questions are arising every day, the biggest of them is Donald Trump's claims. We also want to know the conditions of the ceasefire, why was it so sudden and announced by the US President?... The CDS' statements again raise many questions. The government needs to come forward... The country needs to know our defence preparedness...," Khera told ANI. US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) once again claimed credit for brokering a cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, asserting that his administration's trade negotiations potentially averted a nuclear war between the two nations. During an interaction with reporters, Trump expressed pride in achieving peace through trade rather than military conflict, reigniting debates over the US role in the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire following the escalation of tension after the Pahalgam Terror Attack and India's subsequent reply through Operation Sindoor. Moreover, speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the CDS admitted that the Armed Forces had suffered losses in the initial stages of the operation but then struck with impunity at Pakistan's bases. "So what I can say is, on May 7 and the initial stages, there were losses, but the numbers and that's not important. What was important is why did these losses occur, and what will we do after that? So we rectified the tactics and then went back on seventh, eighth and 10th, and 10th in large numbers, to hit their bases deep inside Pakistan, penetrated all their defences with impunity, with scattered opposition strikes," Gen Chauhan was quoted as saying by Reuters. Earlier, on May 11, Director General Air Operations Air Marshal Bharti, when commenting on Aircraft losses, had said, "I can't comment about loss of aircraft as we are in a combat scenario and losses are part of combat." Khera stressed the need for the government to come forward and provide clarity on these issues, ensuring that the country is informed about its defence preparedness and the circumstances surrounding the ceasefire. He also emphasized the party's long-standing demand for a special session of Parliament to discuss critical issues. He cited the precedent of calling a special session during the 1962 war, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in governance. "Congress party has been demanding for a long time that a special session of the Parliament be called. It was called during the war of 1962, but it's astonishing that now, even after the war has ended, there has been no Parliament session," Khera told ANI. Earlier in the day, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh expressed disappointment that the Defence Minister did not share crucial information with opposition leaders in two all-party meetings, following recent comments made by CDS Gen Anil Chauhan in Singapore. He further questioned why the government waited for Gen Chauhan to make these revelations rather than share the information with opposition leaders and convene a special session of Parliament. "It would have been better that what he has spoken, the Defence Minister should have said in the two all-party meetings he had chaired... Whatever Gen Chauhan has said, this information should have been shared with the opposition leaders, and a special session of the Parliament should have been convened. We had to wait for General Chauhan to make these revelations from Singapore..." said Ramesh. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Sunday, accused the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee regime in West Bengal of fostering lawlessness, corruption, and religious appeasement. Addressing the BJP Workers Special Organisational Meeting in Kolkata, Shah alleged that that the CM had turned the State into "a land of infiltration and atrocities on women" In his address at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, Shah also declared that BJP will form the government in 2026. "For years, Bengal was ruled by communists. After that, Mamata Banerjee came by with the slogan 'Maa, Maati, Maanush'. She converted the great land of Bengal into a land of infiltration, atrocities on women, crime, bomb blasts and immorality with Hindus..." "Hundreds of BJP workers were killed in West Bengal after Mamata Banerjee became the CM... Didi, listen to me, your time is over now. The BJP will form the government in 2026..." "... We have to form the BJP government in West Bengal, have to stop infiltration, stop corruption, stop Hindu exodus..." He alleged that the state government had denied land for fencing India's international border with Bangladesh, accusing Banerjee of obstructing central efforts to curb infiltration. The Union Minister said, "Mamata Banerjee has opened the nation's borders for Bangladeshis. She is allowing infiltration... Mamata Banerjee cannot stop infiltration; only a Lotus government can do that. We have asked her for land to create the fence... She is not providing land at the borders, so that infiltration continues, and her vote bank keeps increasing, and your nephew becomes the CM after you. But this is not going to happen..." In a blistering critique of violence during elections in the state, Shah challenged the Chief Minister directly. Shah said, "... If Didi (Mamata Banerjee) has courage, she should try to contest elections without violence, her deposit would be seized. Mamata Banerjee has crossed all limits of appeasement for the votebank... Our people were killed in Pahalgam... Under Operation Sindoor, we went 100km (inside Pakistan) and destroyed their headquarters. 100s of terrorists were killed, and this hurts Didi's stomach... She gave a political speech and opposed Operation Sindoor," Giving an emotional turn to his speech Shah said, "CM has also played with the emotions of crores of women in the country... The sisters and mothers of West Bengal should teach Mamata Banerjee the value of Sindoor in the upcoming elections..." Shah also issued a stern warning and once again clarified that Operation Sindoor is "not yet over. "...Mamata Banerjee may favour the Pakistani terrorists as much as she wants, but I want to tell her that this is PM Modi's government and Operation Sindoor is not yet over. Anyone who dares anything will be given a proper answer," said Amit Shah. Amit Shah's visit is also expected to focus on the BJP's roadmap for West Bengal ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. (ANI) Around 1,300 families have taken shelter in government-run relief camps across West Tripura district following incessant rainfall over the past two days that has triggered severe flooding in several parts of the region. "Incessant rainfall over the past two days has led to severe flooding across various parts of West Tripura district. As a result, nearly 1,300 families have been shifted to government shelter homes for safety. The state government is closely monitoring the flood-affected areas," Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said in a Facebook post on Sunday. The Chief Minister added that the district administration has deployed teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), civil volunteers, and other agencies to assist in rescue and relief operations. "Several localities in Agartala have also experienced heavy waterlogging, prompting authorities to activate water pumps to drain out the accumulated water. Officials are urging residents in flood-hit areas to follow government advisories and relocate to designated safe zones," the CM said. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall and thunderstorms across Tripura between June 1 and June 5, 2025. The forecast also warns of extremely heavy rainfall in isolated pockets, particularly in Dhalai and West Tripura districts. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) are also likely in some areas. The IMD has advised residents to take precautions, including avoiding areas prone to waterlogging and landslides, refraining from unnecessary travel, and adhering to traffic and weather advisories. According to officials, arrangements for food, shelter, medical care, and drinking water have been made at nearly 25 to 30 government shelters across the state. "Food, drinking water, medical assistance, and all necessary amenities are being provided at the shelters," they said. Tripura CM Manik Saha also visited flood-affected areas in Agartala and relief camps to review the ongoing relief efforts. "According to eyewitnesses, teams comprising SDRF, NDRF, and Aapda Mitra volunteers are working tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of the affected population. Temporary shelters have been set up in schools across the district to accommodate those displaced by the floods," the Chief Minister said. He added that Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Manipal is coordinating closely with the district authorities to expedite relief measures. "We're doing everything possible to ensure everyone's safety and to provide the necessary aid," he said during a visit to the affected areas. In addition, the India Meteorological Centre in Agartala has warned of potential impacts such as poor visibility due to intense rainfall, traffic congestion, flash floods, waterlogging, and the possibility of landslides or mudslides. People have been advised to stay away from vulnerable areas and take all necessary precautions. Elsewhere in the Northeast, heavy rainfall on Friday led to severe waterlogging in Guwahati, affecting areas such as Rukminigaon, Beltola Survey, Hatigaon, Geetanagar, Anil Nagar, Lakhimi Nagar, Jatia, Maligaon, and Panjabari. (ANI) Police have registered a case and conducted raids in connection with the death of two children due to a CNG cylinder explosion in Delhi's Nand Nagri on Sunday. Two children aged 4 and 7 died during treatment after a CNG cylinder exploded at a warehouse in northeast Delhi's Nand Nagri, Delhi Police said on Sunday. A case under sections 287, 125A, and 326G of the BNS was registered at PS Nand Nagri, with Section 106(1) added. Police teams are conducting raids at possible hideouts to arrest the alleged accused. The incident occurred on Saturday evening around 4:33 PM in the K-Block area of Sunder Nagri, where a blast took place inside a godown used for storing and repairing old CNG cylinders. A police team rushed to the spot and found that the blast had occurred during the repair of an old CNG cylinder. The explosion's force caused the godown's iron gate to break off. In the incident, three children aged 4, 7, and 9, who were playing outside the premises at the time, sustained injuries. A 25-year-old worker inside the godown, identified as Arshad, was also injured in the explosion. He is currently undergoing treatment and is reported to be in stable condition. The godown was reportedly being used for the storage and repair of old CNG cylinders. Teams from the Crime Branch and Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) are inspecting the scene to ascertain the exact cause and sequence of the blast. Earlier on Saturday, a massive fire was reported at the Sunday Bazar in Budh Vihar Phase 2 of New Delhi, according to officials, and two to four fire tenders rushed to the incident spot. The fire was in 10 to 12 huts in the area, which the fire officials have completely doused. The reason behind the accident is yet to be revealed, and no casualties have been reported. "Fire at Sunday Bazar road, Budh Vihar phase 2, 4 fire tenders were rushed to the site, Fire was in 10 to 12 huts, now fire is doused, No casualty reported", Delhi Fire Service said in their statement. (ANI) ESPS Reina Sofia, commanded by Cdr Salvador Moreno Regil, Spanish Navy and ITS Antonio Marceglia, commanded by Cdr Alberto Bartolomeo, Italian Navy, are in Mumbai from 26 May to 1 June 2025 for an operational turnaround. Both ships currently operate under the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR). It is the first such visit to India conducted under the aegis of the European Union. It is a follow-up to the discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Union, highlighting their shared commitment towards international peace and security. The EUNAVFOR side, led by Rear Admiral Davide Da Pozzo, Force Commander, Op Atalanta, interacted with Rear Admiral Vidyadhar Harke VSM, Chief Staff Officer (Operations), Western Naval Command of the Indian Navy at the Headquarters, Western Naval Command and discussed matters related to furthering maritime cooperation between the two sides. Both sides agreed on the need for extended cooperation in the military domain, and the meeting was a stepping stone for expanding avenues of cooperation between the Indian Navy and EUNAVFOR. During the ships' stay in harbour, activities such as Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) and a Table Top Exercise (TTX) were conducted between the two sides, aimed at refining key issues necessary for tactical-level cooperation at sea. Both sides benefitted immensely from the exchanges on experiences gained during Anti-Piracy and Anti-Smuggling operations. The harbour engagements laid the foundation for the Joint Exercise between the Indian Navy and EUNAVFOR which is planned post-departure of the ships from Mumbai on 1 June. The exercise at sea will see participation by ESPS Reina Sofia and ITS Antonio Marceglia from EUNAVFOR and ships and aircraft from the Indian Navy. The complex tactical exercises are aimed at enhancing the interoperability between the two sides and will enable seamless operations when deployed for combating non-traditional threats in the Indian Ocean Region. Both India and the EU share a strong commitment towards a rules-based maritime order, allowing for free and open use of international waters while respecting the territorial integrity of littoral states. The current visit embodies the shared interest of safeguarding legitimate trade and countering non-traditional threats such as piracy, smuggling, and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, which also reflects the discussions undertaken during the 4th India-EU Maritime Security Dialogue, held in New Delhi in March 2025. These maritime engagements would further strengthen the increasing multi-domain cooperation between India and EU, with a common aim of progressing shared interests. (ANI) The rains are due to an east-southeastward-moving cloud cluster, according to the Meteorological Department. The spell of rain offered a much-needed respite from the heat, as the national capital recorded maximum temperatures of more than 39 C earlier in the morning. According to IMD, Safdarjung area recorded a maximum temperature of 39.7 degrees Celsius, Ayanagar 39.5 degrees Celsius, Lodhi Road 39.4 degrees Celsius and Palam recording 39.1 degrees Celsius. The IMD has issued warnings of thunderstorms, lightning and squall for the next two days, on June 2-3, in the national capital. The IMD has issued warnings on the nowcast for atleast 8 districts, including South, South East, New Delhi, East, Central, Sahadara, North East. The Met Department has said that the winds could reach up to 80 kmph too. Meanwhile, South West, West and North West Districts have been issued an advisory to watch out for light rains, thunderstorms and lightning. Earlier on May 29, parts of the national capital received light showers, with Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Marg seen glistening under overcast skies, as light showers swept parts of the city. The Regional Meteorological Centre of Delhi issued a yellow alert on May 29 for lightning, thunderstorm and squall in Delhi. Meanwhile, IMD has said on Thursday that the Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into some more parts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, some more parts of northern Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of northeastern states and some parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and entire Sikkim on Thursday. Following the arrival of the monsoon, certain parts of Assam witnessed heavy rains, flood-like situation and landslides. IMD had predicted inclement weather over Assam for Thursday with likelihood of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall across western and southern parts of the state in next two to three days. (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a fresh offensive against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her government of appeasement politics and favouritism through the Waqf Act. In his address at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on Sunday, Shah said, "Is something wrong with the Waqf Act? Should the land of Bengal be sacrificed because of Waqf? Who is Mamata Banerjee favouring by opposing the Waqf Act?... Mamata Banerjee may oppose the Waqf till 2026 because after that she will not be the CM anymore..." Addressing the BJP Workers Special Organisational Meeting here, Shah also referred to the recent violence in Murshidabad, calling it a deliberate failure of state law enforcement and accused Bengal ministers of actively supporting the rioters. "...There was violence in Murshidabad. The Home Ministry insisted on calling the BSF, but they did not... Our party workers went to the HC, and after the court order, the BSF came and protected the Hindus," he said. "Mamata Banerjee's minister abused the BSF, and your leaders were standing there and encouraging the rioters. The ministers of the Bengal government were involved in these riots. This was a state-sponsored riot which caused injustice to the Hindus... Mamata Didi has crossed all limits of Muslim appeasement," the union minister said. Shah also accused the Mamata Banerjee's regime in West Bengal of fostering lawlessness, corruption, and religious appeasement. Shah also alleged that the Chief Minister had turned the State into "a land of infiltration and atrocities on women" Shah declared that the BJP will form the government in 2026. "For years, Bengal was ruled by communists. After that, Mamata Banerjee came by with the slogan 'Maa, Maati, Maanush'. She converted the great land of Bengal into a land of infiltration, atrocities on women, crime, bomb blasts and immorality with Hindus..." "Hundreds of BJP workers were killed in West Bengal after Mamata Banerjee became the CM... Didi, listen to me, your time is over now. The BJP will form the government in 2026..." "... We have to form the BJP government in West Bengal, have to stop infiltration, stop corruption, stop Hindu exodus..." He alleged that the state government had denied land for fencing India's international border with Bangladesh, accusing Banerjee of obstructing central efforts to curb infiltration. The Union Minister said, "Mamata Banerjee has opened the nation's borders for Bangladeshis. She is allowing infiltration... Mamata Banerjee cannot stop infiltration; only a Lotus government can do that. We have asked her for land to create the fence... She is not providing land at the borders, so that infiltration continues, and her vote bank keeps increasing, and your nephew becomes the CM after you. But this is not going to happen..." In a blistering critique of violence during elections in the state, Shah challenged the Chief Minister directly. Shah said, "... If Didi (Mamata Banerjee) has courage, she should try to contest elections without violence, her deposit would be seized. Mamata Banerjee has crossed all limits of appeasement for the votebank... Our people were killed in Pahalgam... Under Operation Sindoor, we went 100km (inside Pakistan) and destroyed their headquarters. 100s of terrorists were killed, and this hurts Didi's stomach... She gave a political speech and opposed Operation Sindoor." Giving an emotional turn to his speech, Shah said, "CM has also played with the emotions of crores of women in the country... The sisters and mothers of West Bengal should teach Mamata Banerjee the value of Sindoor in the upcoming elections..." Shah also issued a stern warning and clarified that Operation Sindoor is "not yet over." "Mamata Banerjee may favour the Pakistani terrorists as much as she wants, but I want to tell her that this is PM Modi's government and Operation Sindoor is not yet over. Anyone who dares anything will be given a proper answer," said Amit Shah. Amit Shah's visit is also expected to focus on the BJP's roadmap for West Bengal ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. (ANI) The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested a Nigerian national in connection with the possession and intended distribution of 282 grams of cocaine. The arrest was made during a targeted operation in the Old Mahabir Nagar area of Tilak Nagar, Delhi, following specific intelligence inputs. Deputy Commissioner of Police, ANTF (Crime Branch), Apoorva Gupta, stated that the accused, identified as David Leanne, was caught carrying a bag containing a yellow-coloured powdery substance. A field test conducted on-site by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team confirmed the substance to be cocaine, classified as a commercial quantity under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. A case has been registered under FIR at the Crime Branch Police Station, and further investigation is underway. This operation was the result of dedicated surveillance and intelligence-gathering efforts led by ASI who received credible information about a foreign national involved in cocaine distribution across the Delhi-NCR region. The ANTF team swiftly responded and laid a trap in the Tilak Nagar area, where Leanne was apprehended. During interrogation, Leanne disclosed that he was working as a drug carrier for a cartel operated by another Nigerian national named Leo. He claimed to have entered the narcotics trade approximately six months ago, after being introduced to Leo through an African community kitchen he had set up in Tilak Nagar. According to his statement, he was supposed to receive Rs. 35,000 for delivering the seized consignment. Further investigation led to the discovery of a passport from the Republic of South Africa in Leanne's name. The passport, along with the associated visa, was found to be fake. Leanne admitted that he had procured the forged documents through a contact in Tilak Nagar. A search was also conducted at his rented residence in Krishna Puri, Tilak Nagar, where he lives with his wife and one-year-old son, DCP Gupta Said. Leanne, originally from Amube district in Enugu State, Nigeria, arrived in India in 2015 on a medical visa valid for three months. Since then, he remained in India illegally, initially opening a series of salons and later working as a property agent and running a kitchen. Following financial difficulties, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, he allegedly turned to drug peddling. The Delhi Police Crime Branch has launched a search to trace Leo and other associates involved in the drug syndicate. Efforts are ongoing to dismantle the broader network and identify the source of the contraband. Authorities emphasised their continued commitment to cracking down on narcotics and safeguarding the community from the dangers posed by illegal drug trafficking. (ANI) Under the 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, 'Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday interacted with farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut and recalled his tenure as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh "When I used to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, I used to think about my state, and since I have become the Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development 'mere rom rom mein kisan hey aur har saans mein kheti hey'. So, I don't sit in Delhi...I have come to you," Chouhan told the farmers. Bharatiya Janata Party MP Arun Govil also interacted with the farmers. Earlier in the day, Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated in a seminar organised on the 60th anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay's 'Integral Humanism.' Meanwhile, Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday hailed Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, saying that under this campaign, demand-driven research will be done on the basis of feedback coming from the village. "I congratulate our scientist.... Now, research will not be done sitting in Delhi. Demand-driven research will be done based on feedback coming from the village. Agriculture remains the backbone of the Indian economy... This growth rate results from policy changes by PM Modi, his vision, and the hard work of the farmers," he said earlier. Earlier, Chouhan launched the 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan' from Sakhigopal of Puri district, Odisha. This historic initiative, launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), is a concrete step towards transforming Indian agriculture and securing the food future of the country through scientific innovation and grassroots participation. During the 15-day campaign, Chouhan will travel to about 20 states. State governments will play a key role in realising this mission, and all states are expected to make this campaign a success through collective ownership and dedication. This campaign will be organised in more than 700 districts from 29 May to 12 June . 731 KVKs, 113 ICAR institutes, state-level departments and officials of agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and innovative farmers will participate in this campaign. Through this campaign, an effort has been made to add a strong chapter towards the resolution of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a Vikashit Bharat. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday attended an event on the occasion of the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar in Agra and highlighted her contribution to women's empowerment, farmers and youth. "Maharani was from the Malwa empire, which covered areas in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh... This event is a celebration of the work she did 250 years ago. She worked for the restoration of temples and India's identity and faith, that's why we are celebrating the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata," CM Adityanath said while addressing the gathering in Agra. Praising her contributions, he said, "Whatever Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar did for women empowerment, for artisans, farmers, youth, security and for saving India's heritage is unforgettable... Inspired by this, today, the double-engine government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi is working to take all the programs forward in a systematic manner," he added. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar was also present at the event. "Today is a day filled with immense pride and emotion for me. I consider myself blessed to be a witness to this historic occasion. On this occasion, we will have to take inspiration and we will have to take a pledge that we will follow her ideals." Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Mahila Sashaktikaran Mahasammelan in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, where he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects in the city. Speaking at the event, he began by paying tribute to 'Maa Bharati' and acknowledging the strength of India's women. He expressed gratitude for the large gathering of sisters and daughters who had come to bless the event, stating that he felt honoured by their presence. Quoting Devi Ahilyabai, he reiterated that true governance means serving the people and improving their lives. He remarked that today's program embodies her vision and carries forward her ideals. The Prime Minister noted the launch of the Indore Metro, along with the addition of air connectivity for Datia and Satna. Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar is remembered for her people-centric policies, deep commitment to economic and socio-cultural issues, especially those that affected the life of women. She encouraged the education of women and their participation in the social and religious life of the local community. She supported and encouraged women weavers to make Maheshwari sarees. Her contributions were wide-ranging, from infrastructure development (water bodies, roads, dharamshalas) to reconstruction and revival of temples across the length and breadth of the land. The edifices created by her have not only left an indelible mark on India's cultural and spiritual landscape but also stood the test of time. (ANI) The Special Task Force (STF) of Assam police on Sunday arrested another prime accused under the ongoing Operation Ghost SIM. The arrested person has been identified as Mostafa Rahman (29), resident of Pokalagi village, under Golokganj police station in Dhubri district of Assam. The STF, led by its Chief Partha Sarathi Mahanta, launched the Operation Ghost SIM last month and earlier arrested 10 persons from various parts of the country. The STF chief said that, on the night of May 31, a prime accused, Mostafa Rahman, was apprehended by a police team from STF, Assam and Dhubri district police. "The operation was conducted after working on an input provided by Gajraj Military Intelligence. Several items have been recovered during the operation. The STF team recovered one Laptop, 2 Mobile Phones, 3 Micro ATM Machines, one Biometric Device, 6 numbers of ATM Cards, 11 Voter ID Cards, one Aadhaar Card, one PAN Card," Assam police CPRO, Rajib Saikia, said in a press statement. With this arrest, the number of accused persons arrested under Operation Ghost SIM now stands at 11. Further interrogation of the accused is currently underway. In May, the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam police busted a racket of Fake SIM cards and arrested seven people.The entire operation, Operation Ghost SIM, launched by the Assam Police STF, was led by Mahanta. Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Harmeet Singh had said that, information was received from Gajraj Military Intelligence about a racket involving fake SIM cards, operating with bases in Assam, Rajasthan, and Telangana. "This information was further developed into actionable input by the Special Branch and Special Task Force of Assam Police. Therefore, after strategic deliberation, an operation was planned to be carried out simultaneously in two districts of Assam and Rajasthan and one district in Telangana. The operation has been named Operation GHOST SIM. On May 14, a case was registered at STF, Assam, under Sections 61(2)/147 /148/62 of BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA (BNS), read with Section 18 of the UA(P) Act and Section 66 of the IT Act, and an investigation was launched," Singh had said. (ANI) After Tripura received heavy rainfall across multiple districts, Chief Minister Manik Saha visited affected areas in the Northeastern region. "There is heavy rainfall in the entire Northeastern region... I am visiting the affected areas. The secretary of the Disaster Management is also with me... Other officials are also there with me. We are making sure that food supplies are adequate... Shelters have been formed in schools... Even after heavy rains, the water receded within 2-3 hours. This means that the drainage system is fine...," CM Saha told ANI. Tripura witnessed heavy to very heavy rainfall across multiple districts on Sunday and is expected to receive extremely heavy downpour in isolated areas till June 4, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The weather department issued a red alert for West Tripura and Khowai, with forecasts of thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching up to 50 kmph. In its latest bulletin, the IMD stated, "Heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall is very likely to continue over Tripura till 4th June 2025." The state recorded significant rainfall today. Budhjongnagar (19.9 cm), Kailashahar (19.2 cm), AD Nagar (18.6 cm), Jirania (17.6 cm), Kadamtila (15.8 cm), Khowai (14.5 cm) and DM Office (14 cm) were among the highest.In the North District, Nutanbazar received the highest rainfall at 29.6 cm. The IMD warned of possible traffic disruptions, flash floods, landslides, crop damage, and power outages."Visibility may become poor due to an intense spell of rainfall leading to traffic congestion," IMD said in the statement. It also added, "Possibility of damages to vulnerable structures due to heavy to very heavy rain. Partial damages to kutcha houses and huts due to uprooting of trees. "Farmers were advised to postpone sowing of crops such as rice, maise, and jute, and avoid working in fields during thunderstorms."Postpone sowing of rice, jute, maise and vegetables; if already sown, avoid water stagnation in the field and cover the seeded area with natural mulching materials like straw, farm residues etc," the advisory added. Residents were urged to take shelter indoors, stay away from water bodies and electrical appliances, and avoid leaning against concrete walls during lightning activity. Around 1,300 families have taken shelter in government-run relief camps across West Tripura district following incessant rainfall over the past two days. (ANI) The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called for a 24-hour strike in West Bengal's Siliguri on Monday to protest against the alleged attacks on Hindus and business establishments in Matigara area, as well as the arrest of workers from Hindu organisations. The unrest began on Friday following a dispute over the alleged illegal transportation of meat in a vehicle in Siliguri's Matigara locality. The vehicle was reportedly set on fire, sparking tension between two groups and leading to subsequent police action. VHP's North Bengal region president, Laxman Bansal, said, "VHP North Bengal has called for a 24-hour strike in Siliguri. There has been prevailing chaos in West Bengal for many years...Our Hindu women and children are being traumatised, and their businesses attacked." He alleged that on May 30, Bajrang Dal workers intercepted a vehicle in the Matigara block allegedly transporting meat. "There were four people in the vehicle, reportedly carrying weapons. An FIR was lodged," Bansal claimed. "When they were stopped, members of the Hindu community gathered at the spot, and they were outraged and set the vehicle on fire. However, the police did not apprehend the accused and instead arrested our Bajrang Dal workers, slapping 14-15 IPC sections on them," he said. "Tomorrow, the entire city of Siliguri will observe a shutdown. I urge everyone to join the protest to protect Sanatan Dharma," he added. Bansal further alleged, "We will never hurt anyone, but if any government supports anti-social elements, the VHP will not remain silent. When the state leadership indulges in appeasement politics for the vote bank, what can you expect from the police? Whenever there is any Hindu festival, the police resort to barricading and water cannons as if there is a conflict. Meanwhile, culprits are given protection." He demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and urged the West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to arrest those responsible. "If not, we will be forced to march to the streets," he said. (ANI) The discussions focused on enhancing military collaboration and interoperability to address evolving security challenges in the region, particularly in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor. In a post on X, the Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff wrote, "General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff #India holds bilateral talks with Vice Admiral Aaron Beng, Chief of Defence Force #Singapore, reinforcing defence ties between both nations. Discussions held on enhancing #MilitaryCollaboration and interoperability to address evolving security challenges in the region, in the backdrop of #OperationSindoor." Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a stable, secure, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, further consolidating strategic cooperation between India and Singapore. "Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a stable, secure and rules-based #IndoPacific, reinforcing strong defence ties between the two nations. A crucial step in deepening India-Singapore strategic cooperation!" the post added. Earlier in the day, General Chauhan participated in the Chiefs of Defence Round Table at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. At this event, global defence leaders from countries including Australia, the European Union, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, the UK, and the US discussed critical security challenges, emerging trends, and innovative solutions. The talks focused on strategic decision-making, sharing best practices, and fostering cooperation to promote stability and address evolving security concerns in the defence sector. While addressing the dialogue on 'Defence Innovation Solutions for Future Challenges', General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, highlighted the evolving geopolitical dynamics and rapid technological shifts that were redefining the nature of warfare, underscoring that the democratisation of technology has empowered non-state actors, fueling proxy wars and instability. CDS emphasised that Future Warfare will be shaped by four trends: the proliferation of sensors across all domains, long-range hypersonic and precision weapons, manned-unmanned teaming with autonomous systems, and the intelligentisation of the battlefield driven by AI, ML, LLMs, and quantum tech. General Anil Chauhan affirmed India's commitment to global peace & responsible innovation and commended the Shangri-La Dialogue as a critical forum for fostering dialogue and cooperation in the collective pursuit of global stability. (ANI) A case has been registered at APMC Police Station under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other relevant sections, they said. According to Belagavi Police, the main accused initially befriended the victim, lured her, and raped her with the assistance of another accomplice. "The assault was recorded, and the video was subsequently used to threaten and blackmail the girl. Under pressure and fear, the victim was later gang-raped by three other accused at multiple locations," Belagavi Commissioner of Police Bhushan Borse said. "We have taken five of the accused in custody, and a search operation is ongoing to apprehend the sixth accused," he added. Further details are awaited. (ANI) Amidst rising water levels caused by continuous rainfall in Agartala, Assam Rifles launched swift rescue operations on June 1 in the general areas of Chandrapur and Resham Bagan under Sadar Subdivision, West Tripura. Flood Relief Columns were immediately deployed to the affected areas in close coordination with the West Tripura District Disaster Management Team. The quick response and dedicated efforts of Assam Rifles personnel resulted in the safe rescue of 67 civilians, including women and children, from flood-prone localities. The operation highlights the Assam Rifles' unwavering commitment to humanitarian assistance and close synergy with civil administration in times of natural calamity. Tripura witnessed heavy to very heavy rainfall across multiple districts on Sunday and is expected to receive extremely heavy downpour in isolated areas till June 4, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The weather department issued a red alert for West Tripura and Khowai, with forecasts of thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching up to 50 kmph. In its latest bulletin, the IMD stated, "Heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall is very likely to continue over Tripura till 4th June 2025." The rainfall activity was triggered by a trough at mean sea level stretching from East Uttar Pradesh to Arunachal Pradesh and a cyclonic circulation over northeast Assam at about 0.9 km above sea level. These weather systems caused strong moisture incursion over the north-eastern state. Around 1,300 families have taken shelter in government-run relief camps across West Tripura district following incessant rainfall over the past two days that has triggered severe flooding in several parts of the region. "Incessant rainfall over the past two days has led to severe flooding across various parts of West Tripura district. As a result, nearly 1,300 families have been shifted to government shelter homes for safety. The state government is closely monitoring the flood-affected areas," Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said in a Facebook post on Sunday. The Chief Minister added that the district administration has deployed teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), civil volunteers, and other agencies to assist in rescue and relief operations. "Several localities in Agartala have also experienced heavy waterlogging, prompting authorities to activate water pumps to drain out the accumulated water. Officials are urging residents in flood-hit areas to follow government advisories and relocate to designated safe zones," the CM said. (ANI) https://x.com/DGPPunjabPolice/status/1929149175737839791 Director General of Police, Punjab - Gaurav Yadav, said in a post on X, "Acting on intelligence inputs, Amritsar Rural Police dismantles a transnational criminal network and recovers eight foreign-made sophisticated pistols during a checkpoint operation conducted on the link road between Village Brar & Kohala" "During the operation, three persons traveling on a motorcycle were intercepted under suspicious circumstances. Upon thorough verification and search, the following accused were apprehended," he added. The accused have been identified as Fatehbir Singh, Jagroop Singh and Ranjit Singh, all residents of, Vaniake, he said. He added that preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested persons were in-direct contact with primary suspect, identified as Dugh, a resident of Manawala. "Technical and scientific investigations have indicated that the accused were in active communication with #Pakistan-based arms smugglers, allegedly conspiring to smuggle weapons into Indian territory. An FIR has been registered, and further investigation is underway to dismantle the entire terror network," the DGP added. Earlier today, the Amritsar Commissionerate Police dismantled a terror and extortion module associated with Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) operative Jeevan Fauji. Two key associates, Karajpreet Singh from Verowal, Tarn Taran, and Gurlal Singh alias Harman from Goindwal Sahib, Tarn Taran, have been arrested. According to police, preliminary investigations reveal that Jeevan Fauji, a prominent BKI member, was running an extortion racket targeting individuals in Punjab's border areas. He allegedly supplied a .30 bore pistol to the arrested duo and instructed them to carry out a shooting at a furniture shop in Amritsar as part of an extortion bid. The ransom demand was directed at a relative of the shop owner residing in Canada. Following Gurlal Singh's disclosures, a police team accompanied him to recover the weapon used in the crime. During the operation, Gurlal attempted to open fire on the police, leading to retaliatory firing in self-defence. Gurlal sustained a bullet injury to his left leg and was promptly shifted to Civil Hospital, Amritsar, for medical treatment. (ANI) BJP MLA B Suresh Gowda on Sunday said the people of Tumakuru district strongly protested against the Hemavati Linking Canal project. Thousands of farmers in Karnataka held a large protest on Saturday near Gubbi town in Tumakuru district, opposing the start of work on the Hemavathi River Link Canal Project. He said that the message was sent to the government to stop the project immediately. Gowda said that the district officials said that a temporary halt will be put. Gowda warned that the project could harm Tumakuru's development and water supply. Speaking to ANI, B Suresh Gowda said, "We have given a call that the Hemavati Linking Canal project must be stopped, and whole Tumakuru district participated in the agitation... It went well. We sent a message to the government to stop immediately. District Commissioner and SP intervened and said that a temporary halt will be put... We explained to them what issues this project will cause... G Parmeshwara wants to make Greater Tumakuru... In this process, Tumakuru will not develop, since it also has an increased need for drinking water like Bengaluru. Therefore I request the stoppage of this project... We are willing to sacrifice our lives for the struggle..." Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Saturday that the protest against the Hemavati Link Canal project is a political protest. He said 40 per cent of the work is already done, and the project will not be stopped as it will help farmers. He also accused BJP leaders of trying to create problems. Speaking to the mediapersons about the protest against the project, DK Shivakumar said, "That is all a political protest. Nothing is there within the water. We have sorted it out. I have discussed with them. We have a technical report. Everything is over. Already, 40 per cent of the work is over. There is no question of stopping any work. We will continue with it. It will help every farmer in the area... BJP leaders always do that. They are known for creating problems." (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the Vatsalya Ganga Ashray in Haridwar on Sunday. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was also present on this occasion. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also prayed for the happiness and prosperity of all the people of the state. He offered prayers to the river Ganga. Mahamandaleshwar Parmanand Maharaj was also present. Chief Minister Dhami said, "The divine work of giving new life to destitute daughters under the leadership of Sadhvi Ritambhara Ji is a strong symbol of hope, compassion and reconstruction in the society." He said that the lives of many daughters have changed in a positive direction due to his project. This is truly an inspiring example of social service. CM Dhami and Delhi CM Rekha Gupta offered prayers to the Ganga river in Haridwar. Dhami further said, "Delhi CM Rekha Gupta has come to take God's blessings. Tomorrow, she will visit Kedarnath and Badrinath. I extend best wishes to her...After 27 years, a government has been elected in Delhi which is working for the development of Delhi..." Earlier, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta on Sunday heaped praise on CM Dhami for his developmental work in the state, which she said serves as an inspiration for the national capital. Addressing the gathering during her visit to Haridwar, Gupta said, "... The work done by CM Dhami in Uttarakhand is an inspiration for Delhi. Pushkar Singh Dhami extensively campaigned in Delhi during the Vidhan Sabha elections, interacting with the voters who hail from Uttarakhand..." Hours after taking a dip in the Ganges, Delhi Chief Minister asserted that her government is continuously working towards cleaning the Yamuna river in the national capital. Addressing a public rally in Haridwar, Gupta said, "Yesterday, we performed the aarti of Yamuna ji in Delhi and today I took a dip in Ganga ji. Today, I want the blessings of all the saints sitting on this stage that one day we will be able to take a dip in Yamuna ji. Yamuna is dry; there is no water in it, and the water that is there is very dirty. I have to work continuously to achieve this goal of cleaning the Yamuna River..." (ANI) Union Minister and Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy held a meeting at the party's state office in Hyderabad on Sunday to review ongoing and upcoming party programmes. He said the BJP would organise a series of outreach events from June 8 to June 18 to highlight the Central government's achievements. Reddy emphasised that over the past 11 years, the BJP-led government at the Centre has delivered in multiple areas, from basic sanitation to space exploration. "Under the leadership of PM Modi, NDA-BJP won the Lok Sabha elections three times in a row with the blessings of the people. In these 11 years, many works have been done towards making a corruption-free India a global power through good governance. PM Modi's government has worked in different areas. Many works have been done from building toilets in a poor household in a village to hoisting the country's flag on the moon," Reddy said. He said the upcoming booth-level events will serve as a medium to connect directly with the people. "From 8th June to 18th June, we will organise programs at every polling booth among the people and will go door-to-door to tell the people about the work done by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards building a new India," he said. Earlier, in a post on X, Reddy highlighted how he mentioned the various developmental initiatives and how the government has ensured that Centrally Sponsored Schemes and projects "reach the deserving population." https://x.com/kishanreddybjp/status/1929161200610226527 "I emphasized on the need to take various development initiatives of Narendra Modi govt., made throughout the last decade in various sectors like Agriculture, Industries, MSMEs, Railways, Roadways, and Technology among others to every household. Under the leadership of Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi ji, we have ensured that all the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and projects reach the deserving population, while contributing to grassroots-level development and empowerment of all," he wrote. The meeting was attended by several senior leaders, including BJP state General Secretary (Organisation) Chandrashekar, Mahabubnagar MP D K Aruna, and the BJP national vice president. (ANI) In a remarkable feat of medical coordination and swift response, a live heart was successfully transported from Yashoda Hospital, Ghaziabad, to Fortis Escorts Hospital in Delhi's Okhla Road, in just 19 minutes on Sunday, thanks to a specially created green corridor. Covering a distance of 17 kilometres, the heart was transported between 11:40 AM and 11:59 AM, enabling a life-saving transplant for a critically ill patient. The recipient, a 49-year-old man, had been suffering from Ischemic Cardiomyopathy -- a condition in which the heart's pumping capacity is severely compromised due to damage to the heart muscles, often caused by restricted blood flow from coronary artery disease. He had been on the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) registry since August 2024, awaiting a suitable donor. He had been registered with the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) since August 2024, awaiting a suitable donor. The donor was a 35-year-old woman who was declared brain dead following a cerebral blood vessel rupture. In a deeply selfless act, her family consented to donate her organs, providing others a second chance at life. The heart was allocated by NOTTO and successfully matched for transplant at Fortis Escorts. Dr Vikram Aggarwal, Facility Director, Fortis Escorts, Okhla Road, said, "We are immensely grateful to the Delhi and Ghaziabad Traffic Police for their exceptional coordination in enabling the green corridor. Their swift support was crucial to the timely transport of the heart. Our heartfelt gratitude also goes to the donor's family for their noble act of organ donation. This case is a powerful reflection of Fortis Escorts' cardiac expertise and our continued commitment to saving lives through advanced, compassionate care. Earlier on January 23, two green corridors were prepared at the Super Speciality Hospital, located on the premises of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district, to facilitate the transport of human organs to Bhopal and Indore. According to the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO), one green corridor was prepared from the hospital to Jabalpur airport to transport 'Liver' to Choithram Hospital Indore, while another green corridor was prepared from the hospital to a helipad made at Tilwara road to transport 'Heart' to AIIMS Bhopal. (ANI) Union Minister J P Nadda on Sunday visited the 'Ekatma Manavvad' exhibition, also known as 'Integral Humanism' in New Delhi, which is dedicated to showing the philosophy proposed by Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. An event was also organised to highlight the contributions of Pandit Deen Dayal to the country and economy. "Deen Dayal ji was a three-in-one, a leader in its own right, a thinker and organiser. That is why we hear that Guruji (MS Gowalkar) also said that if we get 4 Deen Dayal's, then I can bring change in the world. We also know how in a short duration he established Jana Sangh a national party," J P Nadda said. Talking about how the Jana Sangh founder wanted to move away from 'western political thought, and establish an Indian thought instead. "He went away, but he did the work of planting the seed of the party's ideology...I also want to point that there was an influence of western political thinking in India. Whatever ideology is there, Fabian socialism, socialism, capitalism, communism, they came from outside India to impose on us. In such a situation, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya said that we have to create our own ideology and take it forward by giving prominence to Indian thinking," Nadda said during the program. "Which is why he took this forward with Integral Humanism, 'Ekatma Manavvad'... We have to be a decentralized system and hence he strengthened economic progress," he added. Encouraging people to bring forth the ideals of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, he said, "60 years ago, he gave a 4-day lecture on ideology, and now we, 60 years later are organising a 2 day program on this, so I believe it is good, and I would like to tell people that we shouldn't stop here, we should demonstrate it and move it forward, and give it a shape." Nadda further advocated for a decentralised system of governance, which takes into account the huge population and various regions of the country. "...Our traditions have not been made in 2 days, it has taken thousands of years, and it is valuable to society, and economy. We need to demonstrate this with an economic point of view too. We are such a big nation of 140 crore people, to run this country we cannot be a centralised system, we have to be a decentralized system and hence he (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya) strengthened economic progress," Nadda said. Quoting Pandit Deen Dayal, Nadda said that the words of the Jana Sangh founder are becoming a reality under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi "He said, 'World standards cannot be the standards we have to adhere to, we need to set our own standards'. When Deen Dayal said this, it might have looked like it is impossible, but today this has become possible under the leadership of PM Modi. We are preparing all parameters on Indian standards." Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also attended the program, underlining the resolve to build power to defend against anyone who attacks us, a veiled reference to Operation Sindoor. "Our country's sages said, 'Atmavat Sarva Bhuteshu' (meaning 'treat all beings as if they were your own self')... But on the other hand, we also say that to apply such a principle, we need strength and power. We have to save our existence, not only for ourselves but also for the world... That is why we do not leave anyone who attacks us... We will have to do that," Chouhan said. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya was the leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh from 1953 to 1968, the precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party. Born on September 25, 1916, in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district, in the village of Nagla Chandrabhan, his father was a well-known astrologer. Pandit Deen Dayal also established a publishing house, various magazines and daily newspapers too. On February 11, 1968, he died under mysterious circumstances after boarding a train in UP. (ANI) Flight 6E 6313 landed safely at Delhi airport after making many circles in the air. The video of the incident also went viral on social media. The pilot announced that the wind speed was upto 80 km/hrs, and he discontinued the approach and climbed back till the weather cleared. Meanwhile, the national capital on Sunday witnessed a spell of rain, accompanied by strong winds over the southern parts of Delhi. The rains are due to an east-southeastward-moving cloud cluster, according to the Meteorological Department. The spell of rain offered a much-needed respite from the heat, as the national capital recorded maximum temperatures of more than 39 C earlier in the morning. According to IMD, Safdarjung area recorded a maximum temperature of 39.7 degrees Celsius, Ayanagar 39.5 degrees Celsius, Lodhi Road 39.4 degrees Celsius and Palam recording 39.1 degrees Celsius. The IMD has issued warnings of thunderstorms, lightning and squall for the next two days, on June 2-3, in the national capital. The IMD has issued warnings on the nowcast for atleast 8 districts, including South, South East, New Delhi, East, Central, Sahadara, North East. The Met Department has said that the winds could reach up to 80 kmph too. Meanwhile, South West, West and North West Districts have been issued an advisory to watch out for light rains, thunderstorms and lightning. (ANI) Leader of the Opposition and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led state government on Saturday, accusing it of deep-rooted corruption and administrative failure. Addressing the media in Shimla and later speaking to ANI, Thakur demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on moral grounds, particularly in connection with the controversial Vimal Negi case. "The entire Himachal Pradesh government is drowning in corruption. From massive scams in the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation to liquor scandals worth crores this government has lost all credibility. The Chief Minister must resign on ethical grounds," the BJP leader said. Thakur raised questions over the government's handling of the Vimal Negi case, specifically targeting former Shimla Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi. He accused SP Gandhi of either going rogue against the government or, more worryingly, acting under secret orders from the government itself. "Is this the first time that an SP is running the government? The CM claims ignorance for two days while SP Gandhi holds a press conference do you really believe that happened without the CM's approval?" Thakur remarked. "I am saying this with full confidence: Gandhi addressed the media only after consulting the CM," he added. He also alleged that after SP Gandhi attempted to submit an affidavit and file a petition in court regarding the investigation, the government turned against him. "Why has no action been taken yet in this case? The people of Himachal want to know. Why is the state resisting a CBI probe? Is the demand for a Special Investigation Team in the High Court Gandhi's idea alone, or is it the government's?" Thakur raised the questions. Thakur claimed the state government is visibly shaken after the High Court directed a CBI probe into the Vimal Negi death case. He further said that several officials fear exposure and potential prosecution. In Vimal Negi case he said there are several unanswered questions, missing phone and also destroyed evidence. Thakur referred to the family of Vimal Negi, who have questioned the disappearance of key evidence particularly his mobile phone, which was reportedly visible in initial recovery photographs of his body but has since gone missing. He also pointed out contradictions in the government's statements regarding a formatted pen drive. "The CM himself accepted that the pen drive, once formatted has been restored. This proves that an attempt was made to destroy evidence," he added. He alleged that digital evidence, such as pendrive handed to the police, had also been ignored or rejected under political pressure. "There is no law and order left in Himachal. The CM has lost control. He and his officers are registering false cases to suppress dissent," said the BJP leader. Jai Ram Thakur accused the government of launching politically motivated cases against journalists, elected panchayat representatives, and opposition leaders. "We ended this culture of vendetta during our five years in power. But now, even minor incidents are being used to file cases against journalists and leaders. What does the CM think he will gain by doing all this?" Thakur asked. Thakur dismissed the Chief Minister's recent statements suggesting that the government would have ordered a CBI probe if the family had requested it earlier. He further accused the CM of repeatedly lying both inside and outside the Assembly. He also alleged that the government is not cooperating with the CBI probe and withholding documents required by the investigating agency. Thakur questioned whether SP Sanjeev Gandhi's appearance in court--where he claimed he acted after consulting the CM was without top-level consent. "If an SP refers to the CM by name in court and claims to have discussed the matter before taking action, why is the government denying it?" he asked. "It's clear the government is trying to ensure that no substantial evidence reaches the CBI. They are trying to shield specific officers. But the law will prevail--neither Gandhi nor anyone else will decide that; only the court will," he further added. Thakur cited the Phekuwela solar project as a prime example of corruption under the current government, saying, "The Phekuwela solar project stands as a monument to corruption. There are numerous such incidents across the state. Yesterday, it was revealed that Shesh Mishra's liquor factory had been running illegally for two years. Police recovered 4 lakh high-end stickers from the site how is this even possible?" He added, "The Chief Minister must resign. If he cannot handle the responsibility, he should step aside. There is honour in acknowledging one's limitations. The people around him know that he is no longer in control. The bureaucracy has made it clear--'we will do what we want, regardless of the CM.' That is the reality." Vimal Negi, an engineer with the Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL), had joined the corporation on June 15, 2024. Just two weeks later, on July 1, 2024, he was reportedly under stress and receiving medical treatment for anxiety. Vimal Negi had gone missing on March 10, and his body was recovered ten days later. His family and colleagues had earlier raised concerns about pressure at the workplace. After days of protest and search efforts led by IG Gyaneshwar Thakur, his body was finally recovered, leading to widespread outrage and demands for justice. However, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the state police, failed to provide any clarity about his whereabouts between March 10 and 14, raising serious questions about the credibility of the investigation. (ANI) Several Ministers and senior officials attended the meeting in person, while Deputy Commissioners from different districts joined via video conference. During the meeting, the Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to all those working tirelessly across the state -- including first responders, support teams, and personnel involved in evacuation and relief operations. He lauded the resilience of the Mizo people and urged continued support for affected individuals and families. A key priority highlighted in the meeting was ensuring that access to district capitals and the airport remains uninterrupted by keeping essential roads operational. The Chief Minister also directed that adequate funds be allocated to all District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), and that relief funds for victims be released at the earliest. It was resolved that disaster-affected areas must be continuously monitored under the supervision of the Department of Disaster Management & Rehabilitation (DM&R). Comprehensive and timely reports are to be submitted to the central government to ensure proper coordination and response. According to a preliminary report from the DM&R, 211 landslide locations have been recorded, 60 houses have collapsed, 69 families have been evacuated due to the risk of house collapse, 83 road blockages have been reported, 4 retaining walls have collapsed, 1 electric pole has fallen, 2 major landslides have occurred, and 4 deaths have been reported. Additionally, rising water levels in riverside habitation areas were noted, with some updates continuing to come in during the course of the meeting. Deputy Commissioners also submitted detailed status reports from their respective districts. The meeting was attended by Home Minister K. Sapdanga, PWD Minister Vanlalhlana, DM&R Minister Prof. Lalnilawma, P&E Minister F. Rodingliana, and several senior government officials. (ANI) Rana relinquished the appointment of Director General Defence Intelligence Agency and Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Intelligence on May 31. In a post on social media X, Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff wrote, "Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, #CISC & All Ranks of HQ IDS congratulate and wish him best of luck in future endeavours." Rana was commissioned into the 10th Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles on December 19, 1987 and commanded the same battalion. In a career spanning over 37 years, the General Officer has held diverse operational, instructional, and staff appointments across various terrains and theatres. His service includes tenures with the Indian Military Training Team and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. He has commanded an Infantry Brigade and Division in the Eastern Sector and subsequently led the Gajraj Corps along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Rana has also served as an instructor at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. His staff appointments include Brigade Major of an Independent Armoured Brigade, Deputy Director General Staff Duties, Brigadier Military Intelligence (East), Provost Marshal, and Director General Staff Duties at Integrated Headquarters, Ministry of Defence (Army). Prior to taking over as CINCAN, the General Officer served as Director General, Defence Intelligence Agency, making history as the first Chief of Defence Intelligence to be elevated to the rank of Commander-in-Chief -- a reflection of the growing importance of defence intelligence and jointmanship in India's military leadership. For his distinguished service, Lt Gen Rana has been awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Yudh Seva Medal (YSM), Sena Medal (SM), and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card. As a young officer, he earned the Sena Medal and COAS Commendation for gallantry in Kashmir. He also holds a Ph.D. in China's defence modernisation. (ANI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed a gathering of the Chitpavan Brahmin community in Nashik on Sunday. He emphasised the need to eliminate caste-based discrimination while acknowledging the enduring presence of caste identities in Indian society. Speaking at the event organised by the Chitpavan Brahmin community, CM Fadnavis lauded the community's historic contributions to social reform and national development. "It is often said that the caste system should not exist, but the truth is that caste never really disappears. It would be more appropriate to say that caste-based discrimination should not exist. It is our responsibility to eliminate this discrimination. To remove this discrimination, we have to face many challenges," he said. Fadnavis further praised the community for its inclusive approach, and said, "In this event organised by the Chitpavan Brahmin community, I want to say that this community has never thought only of itself. The work done by them in the fields of social reform and development has been beneficial to everyone." Highlighting the importance of social unity, the Maharashtra CM said, "While strengthening our own community, we have also contributed to the welfare of other communities. Regardless of our individual identities, we are all Hindus. Our Prime Minister has also given the slogan 'Ek hain to safe hain'. What does this mean? It means we are all followers of Sanatan Dharma and must be one. We must pass on this spirit of unity to the coming generations..." CM Fadnavis also spoke about the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar and said detailed preparations are in progress. "A meeting was organised in relation to the Kumbh Mela of Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, in which the 13 major Akharas were also present. We discussed the event in the presence of all the Mahants, saints, priests... This time the fair is going to be long, so people will get to see many important 'Amrit Snan' dates and holy festivals...," CM Fadnavis told reporters. He also said that the government has come up with a plan to ensure the cleanliness of the Godavari River. "A plan has also been prepared to ensure that our Godavari Maa flows clean and uninterrupted... Works worth Rs 2,000 crores are in the pipeline. Overall, preparations have been made here so that a divine and grand fair is held," the CM said. (ANI) The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, in collaboration with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), successfully launched the pilot chapter of Niveshak Shivir in Pune on Sunday. The initiative is a part of IEPFA's continued mission to empower investors and strengthen financial literacy. The event marked a significant step in facilitating direct engagement with investors and addressing unresolved financial claims, according to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. In line with IEPFA's broader investor outreach initiatives, Niveshak Shivir was conceptualised to assist investors in resolving pending issues related to unclaimed dividends and shares, updating KYC and nomination details, and facilitating faster settlements of claims - all under one roof. Over 450 claimants participated enthusiastically in the event, which attracted investors and stakeholders from Pune and nearby regions. By bringing together representatives from MIIs (Market Infrastructure Institutions), Registrars and Transfer Agents (RTAs), Depositories and Depository participants, the event successfully created awareness of the processes, thereby ensuring a transparent and seamless awareness towards demat of physical shares, updating KYC and nomination and the processes of IEPF claim were demystified. Investors were guided through every step of the process by trained officials at nineteen dedicated kiosks. To further streamline the process, search facility was made available at the venue, enabling participants to quickly check whether they or their family members had held any unclaimed shares or dividends. Once verified, trained officials assisted claimants in accurately filling out the IEPF-5 form, ensuring a smooth and guided claim submission process. Anita Shah Akella, CEO of IEPFA and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, along with Ananth Narayan, whole time Member, SEBI, and other officials inaugurated a special investor guide brochure developed by NSDL titled "Investor Guide to Claiming Unclaimed Shares and Dividends." The brochure outlines, in simple language, the step-by-step process for reclaiming unclaimed dividends and shares through the IEPF portal, key documents required (such as PAN, Aadhaar, and Entitlement Letter), and tips for avoiding common reasons for claim rejections. This initiative is expected to further empower investors with the knowledge needed to effectively navigate the claim process. The Shivir is the first in a planned series of Niveshak Shivir events to be held in major cities with significant volumes of unclaimed investor funds. This reflects IEPFA's deep commitment to investor-centric governance and transparency. Citywise calendar of events of Niveshak Shivir would be rolled out based on the learnings of this pilot. The Government of India established the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Its mandate is to promote investor awareness, ensure effective grievance redressal, and facilitate the recovery of unclaimed investments through accessible and user-friendly platforms. (ANI) In line with his commitment to developing world-class air infrastructure and enhancing connectivity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) 81st Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 2, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The IATA 81st Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) will be held from June 1 to 3. PM Modi will also address the gathering on the occasion, according to the Prime Minister's Office. The last AGM in India was held 42 years ago in 1983. It brings together more than 1,600 participants, including top global aviation industry leaders, government officials and international media representatives. The World Air Transport Summit will focus on key issues facing the aviation industry, including Economics of the Airline industry, Air Connectivity, Energy Security, Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production, Financing Decarbonisation, Innovations among others. The aviation leaders and media representatives from around the world will also get to witness India's remarkable transformation in the aviation landscape and its contribution to the country's socio-economic development. Earlier on May 31, PM Modi virtually inaugurated the newly developed Satna Airport and the upgraded Datia Airport in Madhya Pradesh. The historic occasion, which marks a transformative leap for the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand regions, was celebrated through physical events held at both airports, symbolising the Government of India's resolve to extend the benefits of air travel to every corner of the country under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The ceremony at Datia Airport was graced by the presence of Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu, while the event at Satna Airport was attended by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol. Both ministers highlighted the Ministry of Civil Aviation's unwavering focus on enhancing regional connectivity, improving accessibility, and catalysing local economies. The Satna Airport, developed by the Airports Authority of India at a cost of Rs 36.96 crore, is set to serve as a major regional hub in northeastern Madhya Pradesh. Known for its cultural and industrial prominence, Satna's new airport will now provide seamless connectivity to religious and industrial centers such as Chitrakoot and Maihar. (ANI) He through a statement issued stated that, her detention over a now-deleted social media video--despite her immediate apology--has sparked outrage, with Mishra denouncing it as a grave miscarriage of justice and a direct attack on freedom of expression. Mishra asserted that the Bengal government and Kolkata Police have repeatedly demonstrated selective enforcement of the law, targeting individuals from specific communities while overlooking more serious offences committed by others. He pointed to historical injustices in West Bengal, such as the Marichjhanpi massacre, Nandigram violence, and politically motivated killings, as evidence of systemic failures in the state's justice system. Recent incidents, including the Murshidabad riots, further exemplify what he termed "appeasement politics," where the state shields perpetrators of violence against certain groups while swiftly punishing those who express dissent. He also criticised the government's opposition to Operation Sindoor, a counter-terror initiative, questioning its priorities in safeguarding innocent lives. Mishra stressed that Sharmishtha's case highlights the continued persecution of individuals based on selective outrage and political bias, stating that a mere misstep in the choice of words does not warrant such severe legal action. Calling for immediate intervention, Mishra urged the West Bengal government and police to uphold the principles of democracy by ensuring equal protection under the law. He demanded Sharmishtha Panoli's swift release, a fair trial, and an end to the double standards that have long plagued the state's judicial system. Law student and social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli was taken into custody by Kolkata Police in Gurugram on Friday night after facing intense backlash over a video she shared earlier this month. The now-deleted footage allegedly featured communally sensitive language and remarks that sparked outrage online and led to legal proceedings. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Centre is working with a vision to build a secure, transparent, and evidence-based criminal justice system in the country. Inaugurating the new building of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Kolkata here, he said that today, another important link is being added to this effort. He stated that the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), built in Kolkata at a cost of Rs 88 crore, will help West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Sikkim, and all the states of the Northeast in developing an evidence-based criminal justice system and in fulfilling the role with a holistic approach. Shah said that in the implementation of the three new criminal laws, this FSL will play a significant role in understanding, adopting, and delivering the importance of evidence, forensic science, and securing convictions to every police station. Union Home Minister said that the Modi government is working to establish a network of FSLs across the country by forming clusters of 3-4 states to make their criminal justice systems evidence-based. He said that with this cluster approach, a campaign will be launched from January 2026 to take forensic science down to the police station level, to establish its importance as evidence in every court, and to make every investigating officer in police stations understand its significance. Through this, the criminal justice system across the country will be transformed from being based on argument to being evidence-based, ensuring that the guilty do not benefit from the benefit of doubt and that justice is delivered to the victim. Shri Shah said that this entire process is only possible when police stations, public prosecutors, and courts understand its importance, adopt it, and give it priority in their functioning. He added that by creating an FSL network and adopting a cluster approach, the involvement of experts in complex cases will lead to decisions being made more efficiently, resulting in a radical transformation of the entire criminal justice system. He also mentioned that today, the Narcotics Version 2.0 and Explosives Version 2.0 have been formally launched, which will simplify various tasks for forensic science laboratories across the country. Amit Shah said that today,"In the 21st century, when our transactions, communication, identity, and basic details are all being stored in one place, the nature of crime is also changing rapidly." He said it is very important that those who prevent crime stay two steps ahead of the criminals, and "if we do not use science and clear laws in this effort, we cannot stay ahead of the criminals." He stated that major financial scams are now being exposed through forensic audits, and our criminal justice system is entering a new era. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) are laws made by the Parliament elected by the people of India to protect the constitutional rights of the people of India. He stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the Government of India abolished the 160-year-old laws made by the British and introduced new laws for a new India. He said this is a revolutionary change in the direction of delivering justice to the people, as now the guilty will not be able to escape due to a lack of evidence. He added that these laws have already incorporated and defined all potential technological changes that may occur in the next 100 years. Amit Shah said that the new criminal laws have provided a legal basis for the use of technology in crime scene investigation and trial. He stated that in offences punishable with more than seven years of imprisonment, the visit of a forensic science team has been made mandatory. He said that these laws ensure timely justice, with a provision for filing the chargesheet within 60 days. He added that now, in nearly 60 per cent of cases, chargesheets are being filed within 60 days, which is a major achievement. He also stated that through "trial in absentia," trials will be conducted and punishments will be pronounced even in the absence of absconders, and they will be brought back using international agreements. He said that 17,184 police stations in the country are connected to CCTNS, are online, and their data is being generated collectively. Union Home Minister said that the Government of India has offered support for one forensic mobile van in every district, and many states have increased the number of vans on their own based on the number of FIRs registered. He stated that 16 campuses of the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) have been approved, 7 have been established, and the rest are in process. He said that, in addition to this, an NFSU college will be set up in every major state to ensure the availability of trained manpower. He noted that from 26 campuses across the country, 36,000 students will graduate annually with degrees, diplomas, and PhDs, while the country's requirement is 30,000 trained professionals per year. In this way, the task of creating human resources as per the requirement has been completed in advance. Shah added that 9 more NFSU campuses will be built at a cost of Rs1,300 crore, and 7 new CFSLs will be established at a cost of Rs 860 crore in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Bihar. He said the Ministry of Home Affairs has supported the forensic science infrastructure of the states. He also mentioned that a Rs 2,080 crore plan is being introduced for the modernization of forensic capabilities, and a National Forensic Data Centre will be established at a cost of Rs 200 crore. Amit Shah said that our Constitution-makers infused the spirit of freedom into the Constitution, but we have begun the work of implementing it on the ground very late. He said that it is our responsibility to ensure that even the poorest person can walk into a police station with dignity and confidence in the system, and receive justice through the legal process in the shortest possible time. (ANI) As the northeast region reels under heavy rains, with various areas in Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and more are experiencing flooding, landslides and increasing river levels. According to Assam Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah, at least 5 people have died due to landslides in Assam, with the state government announcing Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of the victims. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also assured of every possible help to the flood-affected areas in the northeast region, and also spoke with the Chief Ministers of Assam, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh and the Governor of Manipur. "Spoke with the Chief Ministers of Assam, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh and the Governor of Manipur in the wake of ongoing heavy rainfall in their states. Also assured them of every possible help to tackle any situation. The Modi government stands like a rock in support of the people of the Northeast," Shah posted on X Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also warned of rising river levels, telling people to be careful, especially on river banks. "Heavy rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh -- Kibitoo (17 cm), Hayuliang (15 cm), Kalaktang (10 cm) -- may lead to a sharp rise in river levels downstream. Assam already witnessing intense rain in Silchar (42 cm), Karimganj (35 cm), Hailakandi (30 cm) and in nearby areas. People in low-lying and riverbank areas are advised to stay alert and follow local advisories," CM Sarma posted on X. Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi also reaffirmed his support for the people in the state, saying that party leaders will be visiting affected areas across the state, who will then work on immediate assistance and work to solve the "recurring flood crisis." "Floods have once again disrupted lives across Assam, especially in districts like Lakhimpur and Sivasagar. As APCC President, I have asked senior leaders to visit the worst-affected areas, assess the situation on the ground, and work with local authorities to push for timely relief and support. Former PCC President and campaign committee chief Bhupen Bora ji also visited Ranganadi to take stock of the situation and meet the affected people," Gogoi posted on X. "Their reports will guide our next steps, both in immediate assistance and in demanding long-term solutions to Assam's recurring flood crisis. We remain committed to standing with the people of Assam during this difficult time," he added. According to the flood reports of Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), one person drowned in flood waters in Sribhumi district, while a child lost his life after drowning in flood waters in Cachar district. The flood situation in the state has become critical on Sunday, affecting 3.64 lakh people of 19 districts of the state - Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Hailakandi, Hojai, Kamrup, Dhemaji, Nagaon, Sribhumi, Darrang, Karbi Anglong, Sonitpur, DimaHasao, Biswanath, Cachar, Sivasagar, Majuli, Golaghat, Tinsukia, Karbi Anglong West. The ASDMA report has said that more than 1 lakh people have been affected in Cachar district while more than 83 thousand affected in Sribhumi, 62 thousand in Nagaon, 46 thousand in Lakhimpur, 19 thousand in Tinsukia, 10 thousand in Dibrugarh. The flood waters have submerged 764 villages under 56 revenue circles covering 3524 hectares of crop area. More than 55,000 people have taken shelter in 155 relief camps and distribution centres set up by the district administration in the flood affected areas, while the Air Force, NDRF, SDRF, fire and emergency services, Civil defence and local administration engaged in rescue operations in the flood affected areas, rescuing over 500 people. Meanwhile, in Manipur, the Assam Rifles, with the Army and fire officials, have rescued over 1500 people, providing them with relief materials. Talking about the rescue efforts, Engineer Task Force Commander said that they are closely monitoring the situation as the rains have started become severe. According to Colonel Gunavrat Bhivgade thousands of people have been rescued in the last 48 hrs in multiple areas. Commanding officer of 33 Assam Rifles Colonel Radha Krishnan said that over 1500 people have been rescued in Imphal East and West. "So far, we have rescued around 1500 people from Imphal East and West. Eight columns and four reserve columns are deployed on the ground, helping the people," he added. Earlier today, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha visited the affected areas in the state, as schools are being used for shelter. Saha said that looking at the water receding after a few hours have shown that the drainage system is fine. "There is heavy rainfall in the entire Northeastern region... I am visiting the affected areas. The secretary of the Disaster Management is also with me... Other officials are also there with me. We are making sure that food supplies are adequate... Shelters have been formed in schools... Even after heavy rains, the water receded within 2-3 hours. This means that the drainage system is fine...," CM Saha told ANI. Tripura witnessed heavy to very heavy rainfall across multiple districts on Sunday and is expected to receive extremely heavy downpour in isolated areas till June 4, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Arunachal Pradesh's CM, Pema Khandu offered condolences to the families of the people who died due to massive landslides triggered by incessant monsoon rains since last few days across the state and announced ex-gratia worth Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. Atleast 9 deaths have been reported in the state, seven in East Kameng district and two in Ziro valley. Expecting more rain in the coming days, Chief Minister Khandu has called upon the people to remain vigilant and maintain extreme caution. He appealed to all not to travel, especially during the night, if not absolutely necessary, as almost all rivers, rivulets, and streams across the state are in spate, Khandu advised all not to venture into rivers and urged dwellers in vulnerable areas to move to safer locations. "My heart goes out to the departed souls. Our prayers are with them. Let's maintain extreme caution and remain vigilant to avoid further loss of lives," he added. Moreover, seven people have been killed due to a landslide on the National Highway in Seppa West assembly constituency, Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Mama Natung said on Saturday. Assam Rifles has also launched relief operations in coordination with the Army and local administration across various states. Flood Relief Columns were immediately deployed to the affected areas in close coordination with the West Tripura District Disaster Management Team. The quick response and dedicated efforts of Assam Rifles personnel resulted in the safe rescue of 67 civilians, including women and children, from flood-prone localities. Meanwhile, in Sikkim, Mangan district Superintendent of Police Dechu Bhutia said that over a thousand tourists were stranded in Lachen and Lachung in Mangan District due to the rains inducing landslides, bridge collapse and damage along with a high rise of the River Teesta. He said that the evacuation process had to be delayed due to the landslide which happened on Friday in Shipgyer in Upper Dozongu. The Mangan SP assured that the evacuation of tourists will be carried out on Monday Further, with damages to the base of Phidang bridge has restricted vehicular movement to Dzongu constituency. The GREF carried out the restoration work on Sunday, allowing on foot commute for local residents and few emergency service vehicles. Multiple tourists are also reported missing, he said, "Our teams are working to locate them. The vehicle was visible two days prior, but now with the rising river level, the vehicle cannot be located... We were able to locate a few mobile phones and identity cards, which we have kept in the police station, but no trace of missing individuals. Something like a dead body was visible. The body is at such a location in the cliff that we were unable to reach it either through the use of ropes or by crossing the river with a lifeboat." The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on May 30 that as the depression over Bangladesh is likely to move nearly north-northeastwards and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area during the next 12 hours, warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall to continue in various regions. For the next few days, IMD has forecast that rains are likely to occur in most regions of the northeast until June 5, with no large change in maximum temperature in various areas. Thunderstorm and lightning warnings over isolated places in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura have been issued by the IMD till June 4, with heavy rainfall also expected over Arunachal, Assam, and Meghalaya (ANI) The upcoming Nashik Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 will witness a significant traditional change, as the age-old practice of 'Shahi Snan' or royal bath will be replaced with 'Amrit Snan' for the first time. This decision was taken during a meeting of the Akhara Parishad and the Kumbh Mela organisers with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Nashik on Sunday. "The Kumbh Mela is held at four locations across the country Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik and it takes place based on where the drops of Amrit fell. The term Shahi Snan was introduced during the Mughal era. Therefore, this tradition is now being changed, and the Shahi Snan will henceforth be referred to as Amrit Snan. This decision was taken after discussions during a meeting between all 13 Akharas and the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Nashik," Mahant Bhakti Charan Das, spokesperson of All India Vaishnav Akhara told ANI. The move aims to infuse the event with a deeper spiritual and religious essence, steering it away from the display of grandiosity and power. Saints from various Akharas have stressed that the bathing ritual should symbolize spiritual discipline rather than royal pageantry. "Referring to the sacred bath as 'Amrit Snan' aligns more closely with the true purpose of the event," said Mahant Bhakti Charan Das. According to Hindu beliefs, bathing during the Kumbh Mela cleanses one of all sins. The name "Amrit Snan" draws from the mythological tale of the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean), where drops of divine nectar--Amrit--were believed to have fallen at the Kumbh sites, including Nashik. The Akharas view 'Amrit Snan' as a return to the festival's spiritual roots, ensuring the focus remains on devotion, penance, and salvation rather than spectacle. Earlier today, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said preparations have been underway following discussions with chiefs of various Akharas ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela 2027 in Nashik. "A meeting was organised in relation to the Kumbh Mela of Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, in which the 13 major Akharas were also present. We discussed the event in the presence of all the Mahants, saints, priests... This time the fair is going to be long, so people will get to see many important 'Amrit Snan' dates and holy festivals...," CM Fadnavis told reporters here. He also said that the government has come up with a plan to ensure the cleanliness of the Godavari River."A plan has also been prepared to ensure that our Godavari Maa flows clean and uninterrupted... Works worth Rs 2,000 crores are in the pipeline. Overall, preparations have been made here so that a divine and grand fair is held," CM Fadnavis said. The Nashik Kumbh, one of the largest religious gatherings in India, is held once every 12 years, where devotees come to take a holy bath on the banks of the Godavari River. The Maharashtra government is focused on ensuring smooth arrangements, including sanitation, security, and infrastructure development. Key decisions are expected to be finalized in the coming months. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai on Sunday raised objections to Rajeev Krishna's appointment as the acting Director General of Police (DGP), questioning the state government's intent and the overall law and order situation. " Why is acting DGP being nominated, why can't you appoint permanent DGP?...there is zero law and order in the state. This way a strong message is not being sent to the state. When the Police chief himself is on acting post, that means the whole Police force is on acting posts," Rai said while speaking to media. The remarks came a day after Rajeev Krishna was appointed as acting DGP of Uttar Pradesh, following the retirement of incumbent DGP Prashant Kumar. Senior IPS officer Rajeev Krishna is from 1991 batch. He is the fifth acting director general of police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh appointed in the last three years. Yesterday, in a brief interaction with the media on Saturday evening after assuming charge, Krishna said, "I have taken charge (as the new DGP). Further discussions will be done in a press conference." Reacting to the appointment, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government for not appointing a permanent DGP. In a post on X, Yadav said, "Why should the people of Uttar Pradesh and the poor law and order situation bear the brunt of the Delhi-Lucknow fight? When the 'double engine' cannot together elect a single officer then how will they run the country and the state." (ANI) Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Sunday addressed the National Memorial Symposium organized at the NDMC Convention Centre in New Delhi on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Ji's philosophy of 'Integral Humanism', Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said in an official statement. On this occasion, the Union Minister elaborated on what 'Integral Humanism' meant and highlighted its relevance in the present context. While addressing the symposium, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "I bow at the feet of the revered Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Ji. I say this with complete conviction: the solutions to the problems the world faces today lie in the philosophy of 'Integral Humanism'. It is not a complex philosophy; rather, it is the essence of Indian thought." Chouhan said that earlier, the world had monarchies, but people later questioned why only one person should rule. Monarchies were either abolished or their powers significantly curtailed under the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Ji said not to blindly imitate the West. He asked whether India had its own philosophy on which to build society and the state. It was then that Pandit Deendayal Ji presented 'Integral Humanism'. Speaking in the context of agriculture, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that if there is any greatest strength of the Indian economy, it is farming. "I am not just the Agriculture Minister; I live the term 'agriculture'. Farming and farmers run in my veins." Reflecting on different forms of humanism, Chouhan said, "Newton discovered the force of gravity, the reason objects fall to the ground. The happiness he experienced from this discovery is called the joy of intellect." Shedding light on the importance of wealth in life, Chouhan said Pandit Deendayal Ji emphasized the need for material resources as well. Money is important for living and meeting basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. But wealth is a need that should neither be excessively lacking nor overwhelmingly dominant. Chouhan said that the core principle of 'Integral Humanism' is a single consciousness. This same consciousness exists in nature. Under this principle, everyone should take part in the great tree plantation campaign and plant one tree in the name of their mother (Ek Ped Ma Ke Naam). We must not exploit nature, but rather utilize it wisely. Trees are sacred. The Earth is not only for humans; all living beings have an equal right to it, and we must care for them. He further noted the encouraging decline in rural poverty and the positive changes in living standards of people in the country. Chouhan added that the Lakhpati Didi Yojana is a major campaign for women empowerment. "If we leave half of our population behind, the country can never progress. This is the land of Gayatri, Sita, Satya, Savitri, Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati." Discussing advancements in the agriculture sector, the Union Minister shared that two new varieties of paddy have recently been developed, which will increase the yield by 30%, require 20% less water, and mature 20 days earlier. In conclusion, Chouhan said that with a harmonious blend of cultural heritage and modernity, we as a nation will move forward, building a new India on the foundation of the past and guiding the world towards a better future. (ANI) An all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde arrived in Liberia on Saturday (local time), where they were warmly welcomed by the Representative and Chairman of the Executive of the House of Representatives of Liberia, Sekou S. Kanneh and Ambassador of India to Liberia Manoj Bihari Verma. Welcoming the delegation, Sekou S. Kanneh extended their support to India in its fight against terrorism. Speaking with ANI, he said, "We welcome our counterpart from India, and we stand with them in a fight against terrorists. We have our share of war. We don't want any more trouble in West Africa. Terrorists are our number one enemy. So we stand with our colleagues from India in the fight against terrorists. Unfortunately, this is going on, but the entire world needs to stand together to fight against terrorists," Sekou S Kanneh said. Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde expressed gratitude for the warm welcome of the delegation in Liberia. He emphasised on the India and Liberia ties. "The Indian delegation has reached Liberia... I am very much grateful to the Liberian government for a warm welcome. Liberia also has a very good bilateral relationship with India for a period of time, and we hold special positions for each other... This message of peace, this message of zero tolerance against terrorism, the message of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the message from 1.4 billion Indians will be best appreciated in Liberia," Shinde said. The delegation has reached Liberia as part of India's efforts to reach out to partner countries to highlight its fight against cross-border terrorism and its policy of zero tolerance to terrorism. The delegation led by Shinde also includes BJP MP Atul Garg and Manan Kumar Mishra, BJD MP Sasmit Patra, Indian Union Muslim League's ET Mohammed Basheer and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Baijayant Panda, who is leading an all-party delegation to Algeria, slammed Pakistan on Saturday (local time), highlighting that the neighbouring country is using its nuclear power to shield its terrorist activities. Addressing the Algerian media, members of think tanks and the Indian diaspora, Baijayant Panda said, "Pakistan has used its nuclear power to shield its terrorist training, funding and arming program. When I say that they have been doing this with terrorists openly, it is not just me saying it. You can look it up on the internet. Everybody knows Pakistan has done this many times in the past." Referring to Pakistan's support in hiding Osama Bin Laden in the country, Panda said, "Remember Osama bin Laden, for years, they used to lie until the Americans intervened and took him out. They are doing the same thing, except there are 52 Osama bin Ladens." "The United Nations Security Council, of which Algeria is a member today, has sanctioned and banned a number of terrorist organisations and individuals, among them 52 terror organisations and terrorists are openly operating in Pakistan today," he added. Additionally, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey slammed Pakistan, saying, "Since 1980, they (Pakistan) have been spending 20-25 per cent of their budget for Defence. IMF, Saudi Arabia, and the US give them loans. 80 per cent of their economy is on loans only... Their economy is in such a condition that any day, they can be the next Somalia or Sudan. Any country giving them any help will lose its money. " "In 1972, we gifted them (Pakistan) back their 93,000 soldiers, still, 54 of our army personnel are in Pakistani jail, they didn't returned them to date. This is Pakistan, and that's why we are here," he added. Joining the criticism, Rajya Sabha MP Rekha Sharma noted that Pakistan has repeatedly orchestrated these terrorist attacks on India. "It is not the first time that we are facing such a challenge. Time and again, Pakistan has done this. But this time, our Prime Minister said, we will not take it any further... They (Pakistan) started every war, but we finished on our own terms, and the same thing happened again," Rekha Sharma The delegation also observed a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Pahalgam. Baijayant Panda-led delegation includes senior parliamentarians and officials such as Nishikant Dubey, S. Phangnon Konyak, Rekha Sharma, Asaduddin Owaisi, Satnam Singh Sandhu, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla. India has sent several all-party delegations to showcase India's resolve against terrorism and garner international support for a united stand against this global threat. The Indian government's diplomatic outreach efforts aim to strengthen partnerships with countries in East and Southeast Asia, emphasising the need for a collective response to the threat of terrorism. (ANI) Cairo [Egypt], June 1 (ANI/WAM): Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Yamahi, Speaker of the Arab Parliament, has congratulated Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais on her election as Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for the term 2026-2029. This historic achievement marks her as the first woman from the region to assume this position since UNWTO's founding in 1975, representing another milestone that reinforces the UAE's leadership position on the global tourism map. In a statement issued today, Al Yamahi praised this major accomplishment, which embodies the exceptional successes achieved by Emirati women both regionally and internationally. He attributed these successes to the unlimited support and insightful vision of the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who gives great attention to empowering women and creating a supportive environment for them to play a central role in the UAE's comprehensive development across all sectors. He added that this achievement is also a reflection of the tireless efforts of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), in supporting and empowering Emirati women across all fields of work and leadership, enabling them to reach the highest regional and international positions. Al Yamahi emphasised that the election of Shaikha Al Nowais to this high-level international position highlights the UAE's prestigious position in the field of global tourism and its international leadership in the sector. It adds to the nation's honourable track record in various global forums. He stated that this achievement is a source of pride not only for the UAE but for all Arabs. It strengthens the presence of Arab women in global decision-making positions and proves the capability of Emirati professionals to lead international organisations with competence and distinction. (ANI/WAM) Group 6 of the all-party parliamentary delegation from India arrived in Madrid on the final leg of its multi-nation outreach. Led by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, the delegation was received by Dinesh K Patnaik, India's Ambassador to Spain. Speaking in Madrid, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Dr Ashok Kumar Mittal outlined the purpose of the visit. "Our final stop on this journey is Madrid, Spain, and first of all, we are meeting with the Indian diaspora here. We want to understand their sentiments and also make them aware of the sentiments of the Government of India and our Prime Minister," he said. The delegation aims to engage with local government representatives, policy think tanks and Spanish parliamentarians during its visit. "We want to inform them about how we outmanoeuvred Pakistan in Operation Sindoor and how we brought India back from the clutches of extremism. Alongside this, we have meetings scheduled with the local government, with think tanks here, and with parliamentarians. In these, we will present India's stance -- that India has always been opposed to extremism." He also addressed the delegation's broader strategic message, saying, "Not only will India eliminate extremism within its own borders, but it is also committed to eradicating Pakistan-sponsored extremism in other parts of the world. Our government and our Prime Minister are fully determined and strongly committed to eliminating it." The delegation, led by MP Kanimozhi, also includes Rajeev Rai (Samajwadi Party), Mian Altaf Ahmad (Jammu and Kashmir National Conference), Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Prem Chand Gupta (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Ashok Kumar Mittal (Aam Aadmi Party), and Former envoys Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf. Meanwhile, the all-party delegation led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi saw fruitful outcomes as Indian delegations worldwide continued with their outreach program under Operation Sindoor. India's Ambassador to Latvia, Namrata S Kumar, noted that the visit conveyed India's message of how cross-border terrorism poses a threat not only to India but to the world at large. Speaking about the outcome of the visit of the all-party delegation from India, Ambassador Namrata S Kumar said, "The All-Party Delegation from India carried a strong message through Operation Sindoor, which I conveyed during meetings in Latvia. They engaged with Latvian parliamentarians... and key think tanks, where they clearly laid out the reality of cross-border terrorism that India has faced for decades, especially from Pakistan... They emphasised that the threats of cross-border terrorism are not confined to only India... They emphasised that these threats, particularly attempts to divide societies along religious lines, are not just regional but global in nature. This has ramifications on a global level, that's why a global alliance is crucial." India has sent several all-party delegations to showcase India's resolve against terrorism and garner international support for a united stand against this global threat. The Indian government's diplomatic outreach efforts aim to strengthen partnerships with countries in East and Southeast Asia, emphasising the need for a collective response to the threat of terrorism. (ANI) Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Washington DC from May 27 to 29, where he held a series of high-level engagements with senior officials of the US Administration. Foreign Secretary Misri held wide-ranging discussions with counterparts across the Department of State, National Security Council, Department of Defence, Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Commerce, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. The visit was a follow-up to the Prime Minister's visit to the United States on February 13, during which both sides launched the India-U.S. COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century. Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor was also part of the Indian delegation. According to MEA, at a luncheon meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, both sides reviewed the full spectrum of the bilateral agenda. They underscored that Technology, Trade, and Talent would be the key pillars shaping the India-U.S. partnership in the 21st century. In meetings with Deputy Secretary of Defence Steve Feinberg and Under Secretary for Policy Elbridge Colby, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a robust and forward-looking defence partnership. Discussions focused on co-production and co-development initiatives, sustained joint military exercises, logistics and information-sharing frameworks, and enhancing interoperability between the armed forces, MEA said. Vikram Misri met with Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender, the Foreign Secretary and discussed ways to deepen economic and financial ties, including collaboration in international financial institutions and coordination in the upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) processes. In his meeting with Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler, both sides reviewed progress on the India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement, cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, and the need to streamline ITAR and export control regulations. They agreed to convene the next meeting of the India-U.S. Strategic Trade Dialogue at the earliest opportunity, according to MEA. Consistent with the vision outlined in the COMPACT, detailed inter-agency discussions were also held on a range of strategic areas, including defence cooperation, energy security, the TRUST initiative, counter-terrorism, the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture, and collaboration through platforms such as the Quad, I2U2, and IMEEC. Foreign Secretary Misri, along with DNSA Kapoor, jointly chaired a roundtable with industry representatives, focusing on deepening bilateral collaboration in critical and emerging technologies. Additionally, they held a substantive interaction with members of the think tank community, covering the full breadth of the India-U.S. strategic partnership, MEA said. (ANI) US-based Tibet Action Group has come up with a new report that reveals that China is using colonial boarding schools for political assimilation and not for education access. The report says that China has designed this system to assimilate Tibetan children. The report describes how these preschoolers from different regions of Tibet are separated from their parents and kept in these boarding schools where the Tibetan language is banned and the practice of their religion or culture is prohibited even during school holidays. They are forced to learn only in the Chinese language. The Tibetans in-exile have strongly condemned the execution of these colonial boarding schools by communist party of China. Namgyal Dolkar, member of Tibetan parliament in-exile told ANI, "It is a report that has been out in public in front of the human rights advocates, an organisation for several years now. We are well aware of the fact that China has not only signed but rectified many of the important international treaties, including those who are human rights and trade in many matters but what is crucial is the fact that a nation that has signed those important treaties which includes protection of children and preservation of language. Nor is it just international treaties, but we have the Chinese constitution that talks about protection of the language and the customs of the minorities which includes the Tibetans in the occupied Tibet. "We are looking into a very very categorically, a planned move that has been systematically set up by the Chinese communist party over the years of making sure that they are able to control the minds and brains of the Tibetans for many coming years and we have known that over the years they have learnt to target the young minds of Tibetans within the occupied Tibet. We are looking into how they have learnt that it is important to be able to control the narrative of the Tibetans for them to be able to embrace the so-called motherland China and the very motivated propaganda of Chinese Communist party to bring that propaganda within the school system of making sure that they really grill it in the minds of the Tibetan children that you are a part of that so called motherland and that you are one of the small fracture of that Chinese identity and you are not a Tibetan. "That perhaps your identity does matter. I think they have brought that within the school system, they have learnt that Tibetan children being within the embrace of their parents, their family leads to these children being brought up as pro Tibetan and that is a major threat to Chinese communist party, hence they have now made it mandatory for any family member to enroll their children in those colonial boarding schools and the reason why we are calling it as colonial boarding school exactly because of that sort of propaganda that is taught to the Tibetan children because it is entirely politically motivated..." Tenzin Tsundue, a Tibetan activist told ANI, "This is 62 pages report by Tibet Actions and the report is based on continued research and their search in Tibet how and what is unfolding ever since China has started to implement what is called, is bilingual policy in certain areas from 2009 and in certain areas from 2012 and the following years. What Tibet action has found is almost about 100,000 children are being forcibly indoctrinated in China's colonial boarding schools in Tibet. These are the boarding schools in towns and cities and villages where there are direct access for the children to go to their own homes. But China is not allowing to go to their homes. But these boarding schools are compulsory education process where children are kept in these boarding schools and given education only in Chinese language. This is our fear that in the next 5, 10 or 15 years, Tibetan children may grow up only as Chinese knowing only Chinese language and therefore directly causing in literal terms genocide in Tibet."\ The report estimates that at least one lakh Tibetan children aged four to six are currently in boarding preschools across Tibetan areas. And more than nine lakh children aged 6- 18 already known to be enrolled in such boarding schools. The exile community is seeking an intervention by the international community to pressure China. (ANI) All-party delegation led by NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule on Sunday presented a cohesive message to the international community, showcasing India's collective commitment to addressing terrorism and security concerns. By involving members from different parties, the delegation highlighted national consensus on key issues, strengthening India's position globally. Underlining the delegation's united front, Supriya Sule said, "For us, the country comes first, state second, party third and then our family. We come here as a team of all parties. For me, ours is a heavyweight delegation, as most have served as ministers in important departments..." BJP MP Anurag Thakur criticised Pakistan for allegedly glorifying terrorists. He said, "... Pakistan Army officials, Police personnel and leaders attended the funerals of slain terrorists and the bodies of those terrorists were wrapped in the Pakistani flag; no country does so but Pakistan did... Their minister accepted on camera that Pakistan has been doing this dirty work for decades..." Notably, Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a US-designated global terrorist and high-level Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, led funeral prayers for those who died in the Indian missile strikes. Rauf has been implicated in facilitating LeT's operations, which include high-profile attacks such as the 2008 Mumbai terror attack that killed 166 people. The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Rauf as a global terrorist in 2010 under Executive Order 13224 for his role in LeT's financial and logistical networks. AAP MP Vikramjit Singh Sawhney echoed the call for peace and condemned the attempt to link terrorism with religion. "...We have come to give a message of peace... Terrorism has no religion, but the neighbouring country (Pakistan) is trying to give it a mask of religion. We will never let them succeed..." Congress MP Anand Sharma also addressed the Indian community in Addis Ababa and spoke about India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. He said the country gave a "befitting reply" under Operation Sindoor and emphasised India's long-standing belief in non-violence. "It is an ancient culture of centuries that we do not attack any country, but we gave the attackers a befitting reply. Our army fought back strongly this time too; they targeted only the terrorist organisations," Sharma said. Congress MP Manish Tiwari warned Pakistan of consequences if it continues supporting terrorism. "If they do not stop promoting terrorism, then India's response will be very aggressive," he said. Earlier, the delegation met Tagesse Chaffo, Speaker of the House of Peoples' Representatives of Ethiopia, and members of the House. They also delivered remarks on Operation Sindoor and India's united stance against terrorism. The Supriya Sule-led delegation includes Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP), Vikramjit Singh Sahney (AAP), Manish Tewari (Congress), Anurag Singh Thakur (BJP), Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (TDP), Anand Sharma (Congress), V Muraleedharan (BJP), and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin. Seven such all-party delegations are currently participating in outreach programmes in different countries. The delegations aim to brief international partners on India's strong response to the April 22 terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism. (ANI) The multi-party Indian Parliamentary delegation, currently visiting Ethiopia from May 30 to June 1, 2025, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, held fruitful engagements and intense discussions with top Ethiopian lawmakers, dignitaries, and the African Union Commission According to a press release by Indian Embassy in Ethiopia, the Indian delegationled by Supriya Sule began their visit by meeting with Adem Farah, Deputy Chairperson of the Prosperity Party in the rank of Deputy Prime Minister. The visiting delegation conveyed India's unified and determined stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The Members of Parliament briefed on India's 'New Normal' against cross-border attacks, zero tolerance for terrorism, and all political parties' resolve to stand united in all matters of national interest. Both sides reiterated their zero-tolerance approach to terrorism. Deputy PM Farah strongly condemned the terrorist act and expressed the need for collective international action. He also conveyed Ethiopia's strong commitment to work with India in the field of counter-terrorism. The delegation also held fruitful discussions with the African Union and exchanged views on ways and means to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The African Union has a well-structured definition for terrorism which clearly defines the acts which constitute terrorist acts. This interaction provided the delegation with valuable input on international trends and the African Union's role in preventing and combating terrorism more effectively. This was followed by a meeting with Tagesse Chaffo Speaker of the House of People's Representatives of Ethiopia. Both sides explored the possibility of strengthening cooperation between the two nations in the field of counter-terrorism as well as mutual exchanges of parliamentary delegations. The Speaker conveyed his deepest sympathy and appreciated India for the strong message of unity and zero tolerance of terrorism. He also said the visit underlined the importance of solidarity in the fight against terrorism and highlighted the role of parliamentarians in this global effort. During the meetings, the Indian members underscored the continued threat of cross-border terrorism and deliberate attempts to sow social discord in India. They highlighted that Operation Sindoor, conducted by India in response, was calibrated, highly precise, and demonstrated India's strong commitment to international norms against terrorism. The Ethiopian side appreciated India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and condemned the terrorists who carried out the 22 April 2024 Pahalgam attack. They expressed willingness to work with India to address this global challenge. The day concluded with fruitful interaction with the Indian community in Ethiopia. The delegation recognised the vital contribution of diaspora and conveyed India's commitment towards its diaspora. The members condemned the propaganda of some individuals who seek to undermine social harmony, citing the divisive principles of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' and their contribution in resisting divisive forces in destabilising India's social fabric. The visit underscores the importance of international solidarity in combating terrorism and promoting peace. (ANI) All-party delegation of Indian parliamentarians, led by JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, was received by Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia, BN Reddy, at the High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. The High Commissioner provided the delegation with an in-depth briefing on India's ties with Malaysia. According to the official Twitter handle India in Malaysia (@hcikl), High Commissioner BN Reddy set the context for the Indian delegation's engagements in Malaysia, emphasising India's firm resolve in fighting terrorism. https://x.com/hcikl/status/1929007648533532696 The delegation arrived in Malaysia after successfully completing the Indonesia leg of their outreach program under Operation Sindoor, continuing their efforts to strengthen international cooperation against Pakistan's cross-border terrorism. Earlier on Friday, while addressing the Indian diaspora in Jakarta, India reiterated its new approach in combating cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, underscoring its firm stance under Operation Sindoor. "The new India will not just share information and data. If anything happens to the country, 'India ab andar ghus ke marega'...PM Modi said very clearly that this is the new normal. Our nation is progressing, and there is peace," said Jha. He emphasised that terrorists' attempts to spread communal disharmony have failed, showcasing India's maturity in handling such incidents. "The way terrorists targeted a particular community, their purpose was to spread communal disharmony in our country, but we are a mature nation. Even a small incident did not erupt...," Jha said while addressing the diaspora. The delegation's mission is to showcase India's resolve against terrorism and garner international support for a united stand against this global threat. The Indian government's diplomatic outreach efforts aim to strengthen partnerships with countries in East and Southeast Asia, emphasising the need for a collective response to the threat of terrorism. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Indian armed forces 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. After this, on May 10, an understanding regarding the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced. The delegation to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Singapore is led by JD-U MP Sanjay Kumar Jha and includes Aparajita Sarangi (BJP), Abhishek Banerjee (Trinamool Congress), Brij Lal (BJP), John Brittas (CPI-M), Pradan Baruah (BJP), Hemang Joshi (BJP), Salman Khurshid and Mohan Kumar. (ANI) The Israel Defence Forces claimed to have killed the chief of Hamas, Muhammad Sinwar, in May 13 strike on the grounds of the European Hospital in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli defense officials confirmed on late Saturday night, as per The Times of Israel. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a similar announcement earlier. In a post on X, the IDF said, "We eliminated the Head of Hamas, again. He happens to be a Sinwar too." https://x.com/IDF/status/1928865440035377652 In a joint statement, the Israel Defence Forces and Shin Bet security agency said they had confirmed that the May 13 strike on the grounds of the European Hospital in Khan Younis had killed Sinwar along with Muhammad Shabana, commander of the terror group's Rafah Brigade, and Mahdi Quara, commander of the South Khan Younis Battalion, as per The Times of Israel. "The terrorists were eliminated while operating in an underground command and control center under the European Hospital in Khan Younis, deliberately endangering the civilian population in and around the hospital," the joint statement said. Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal quoted Hamas and Arab officials as saying that the meeting of the top Hamas figures was convened to discuss their approach to talks on a ceasefire and hostage release deal, among other matters. Presented with this opportunity, the Israeli Air Force immediately began preparing for a strike, though top officers expected it would likely be called off due to fears of harming hostages, which Sinwar reportedly kept close to him. When solid intelligence arrived that no hostages were present near the senior commanders, the IAF was given the green light, jets were scrambled, and the bombing went ahead. Earlier on Saturday, the IDF said it killed Mohammad Ali Jamoul, the Shaqif region commander of Hezbollah's rocket array in the area of Deir al-Zahrani in southern Lebanon. https://x.com/IDF/status/1928732830718472515 Muhammed Sinwar, a senior Hamas military commander, was the younger brother of the former Hamas leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. The younger Sinwar had been at the top of Israel's most wanted list. After Yahya Sinwar was killed in combat in October 2024, Muhammad Sinwar became the de facto leader of the terror group in the Gaza Strip, as per The Times of Israel. (ANI) President Donald Trump has withdrawn the NASA nomination of Jared Isaacman, a billionaire tech entrepreneur and private astronaut who has commanded and funded two SpaceX missions to Earth orbit, the White House has confirmed. Isaacman's removal comes just days after Elon Musk's official departure from the White House, where the SpaceX CEO was serving in the role of a "special government employee" leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Trump said he would announce a new candidate soon. "After a thorough review of prior associations, I am hereby withdrawing the nomination of Jared Isaacman to head NASA," the US president posted on his Truth Social platform on Saturday. "I will soon announce a new nominee who will be mission aligned and put America first in space," he said. The move came just days before the Senate was scheduled to vote on his confirmation, where he was widely expected to be approved. According to The New York Times, President Donald Trump had concerns about Isaacman's political loyalty. The news outlet reported that Trump was informed of Isaacman's donations to Democrats in the past two campaign cycles. "The Administrator of NASA will help lead humanity into space and execute President Trump's bold mission of planting the American flag on the planet Mars," White House Assistant Press Secretary Liz Huston told Fox News Digital on Saturday. Isaacman, 42, said he was "incredibly grateful" to Trump and all those who supported me throughout this journey. "I have gained a much deeper appreciation for the complexities of government and the weight our political leaders carry," he posted on X. "It may not always be obvious through the discourse and turbulence, but there are many competent, dedicated people who love this country and care deeply about the mission." Meanwhile, Musk also took to X to post, "It is rare to find someone so competent and good-hearted." Trump announced his choice of Jared Isaacman in December, before the president's inauguration, and the nominee seemed poised to be confirmed by the US Congress. A US Congress Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted this April to advance his nomination to the full Senate for confirmation. Issacman had, in September last year, become the first private astronaut to perform a spacewalk after launching on a SpaceX rocket. Meanwhile, on May 30, the White House released its NASA budget request for the 2026 fiscal year. The documents propose a USD 6 billion budget cut for the agency, from USD 24.8 billion to USD 18.8 billion, with funding for NASA's science programs slashed by 47 per cent. It indicated that NASA's workforce would be reduced by nearly a third, for example, and dozens of the agency's science missions -- including the Juno Jupiter orbiter, New Horizons Pluto probe and a number of other spacecraft that are currently gathering data in deep space -- would be cancelled. (ANI) Indian National Army (INA) veteran SP Narayanasamy on Sunday expressed pride over 'Operation Sindoor', stating that the name of the operation brought honour to those who fought for the nation. "Yes. And today I am very proud of the war between India and Pakistan. And especially the name, Sindoor, that gives honour for us," Narayanasamy told ANI, referring to the recent military operation as a continuation of the spirit fostered by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. India, on May 7, launched Operation Sindoor against Pakistan in response to the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, in which 26 people lost their lives. Without crossing the Line of Control or international boundary, Indian forces struck terrorist infrastructure and eliminated multiple threats. However, beyond tactical brilliance, what stood out was the seamless integration of indigenous hi-tech systems into national defence. Whether in drone warfare, layered air defence, or electronic warfare, Operation Sindoor marked a milestone in India's journey towards technological self-reliance in military operations. Sharing his memories of joining the INA, Narayanasamy recalled, "1943, if I'm not mistaken, March, I think. I was a 10-year-old boy. Earlier, my elder brother and sister joined. They had already been trained in Singapore and went to Burma, so I was very anxious to join." He said his first attempt to enlist in the INA was turned down, but six months later, he was recruited into the Balak Sena after an invitation from headquarters. "I was in the third group, 12 boys... we had one and a half years of training". The training, he said, took place at what is now the PWD building in Singapore. Narayanasamy recalled meeting Netaji twice--first in a bunker while having a meal. "When we were eating, he came and he sat with us. You know, he also joined us. He called the cook and said something in Hindi, but I didn't understand at that time." The second encounter was more formal. "Second time with my father. There's a first meeting in Kuala Lumpur. That is in Selangor Padang. A lot of Japanese high-ranking people were sitting to receive him. First time I'm seeing a foreign... military top brass standing for Netaji." He spoke of the crowd's emotional response to Netaji's speech. "When he entered the hall, I mean, Padang, he spoke both in Urdu and English... While he was speaking into the microphone, the ladies had already started in line, donating their jewellery. That helped." Among the quotes he remembered vividly was, "You give bread, I'll give you freedom." Narayanasamy also described how Netaji changed people's mindset during colonial rule. "We had some sort of feeling that before Netaji's arrival, when we saw a white man, we used to think that they were very great... After Netaji, we didn't care about them." Urging the youth to draw inspiration from Netaji's legacy, he said, "You must have a feeling that you are Indian, always. That is the best thing he told everyone." Narayanasamy highlighted Netaji's lasting impact on the Indian diaspora, noting that he inspired a sense of belonging and pride in their motherland. Emotionally concluding his tribute, Narayanasamy said, "Until my death, I will still remember the service that I did in the training... Not only are we happy, but Netaji's arrival made us humans with a new feeling... I want to give a feeling to the Indian people from Singapore to Saigon and Burma. I have never seen a leader like him." (ANI) The opening ceremony was attended by key dignitaries, including India's Ambassador to Mongolia, Atul Malhari Gotsurve, and Major General Lkhagvasuren Ganselem from the Mongolian side. Both leaders extended their best wishes to the participating troops and expressed hope that the exercise would strengthen cooperation and mutual understanding between the armed forces of India and Mongolia. They emphasised that the joint exercise would enhance the operational readiness of both armies and contribute to deepening the enduring defence relationship between the two nations. This annual exercise is conducted alternately in India and Mongolia. The last edition was held at Umroi, Meghalaya, in July 2024. The Indian contingent comprises 45 personnel, mainly troops from a battalion of the Arunachal Scouts. The Mongolian armed forces contingent, of similar strength, is represented by a 150 Special Forces unit. Scheduled activities include platoon-level field training exercises focusing on semi-conventional operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain under the United Nations mandate. The joint drills will include counter-terrorism operations in semi-mountainous terrain, endurance training, reflex shooting, room intervention, small team tactics, rock craft training, and cyber warfare aspects. Troops from both sides will also rehearse activities conducted during United Nations peacekeeping operations, simulating scenarios where multinational forces must work together effectively in complex situations. This collaboration aims to improve the ability of both forces to respond swiftly and efficiently during operations. Soldiers from both sides will learn from each other's operational experience, share knowledge and expertise, and build lasting bonds of friendship and trust. The exercise underscores the shared commitment of India and Mongolia towards regional security, peace, and stability. Exercise Nomadic Elephant reinforces the India-Mongolia relationship as a cornerstone of regional cooperation, fostering strong military ties and promoting cultural understanding. It stands as a testament to the enduring bond of friendship, trust, and cultural linkages between India and Mongolia, setting the stage for meaningful professional engagement and highlighting the unwavering commitment of both nations to broader defence cooperation. (ANI) At least seven people were killed when the road bridge collapsed on the Vygonichi-Pilshino section in the Bryansk region of western Russia late Saturday, and the debris fell on a passenger train passing underneath. Railway authorities are blaming "illegal interference," TASS news outlet said. The incident took place on May 31, around 10.50 pm (local time), close to the Ukrainian border when the train was travelling from the town of Klimov to the capital, Moscow. According to the Governor of the Bryansk Region, Alexander Bogomaz, 44 people were hospitalised, 22 are being examined as outpatients. An investigation has been launched, and a team is inspecting the site, state news agency TASS reported. Three victims, including an infant, are in serious condition, Russian state media reported. Passengers were evacuated from the wreckage and taken to a temporary accommodation centre at a nearby station, according to TASS. In a separate incident, a bridge also collapsed in Russia's Kursk region as a freight train was passing over it, injuring one of the drivers, according to the acting governor of the Russian region that also borders Ukraine, Reuters reported. It was unclear early on Sunday whether the two incidents were connected. Meanwhile, Moscow has confirmed it was sending a team to talks in Istanbul with Ukraine on Monday. (ANI) All party delegation led by JD (U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha on Sunday highlighted that terrorists attempted to create communal disharmony in India through the Pahalgam terror attack by targeting specific groups, but their efforts were unsuccessful. While interacting with the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur, Jha showcased India's resilience and unity in the face of terrorism sponsored by Pakistan. "... In Pahalagam, they segregated on our religious lines to create communal disharmony in the country. But nothing such happened in India...," said Jha. Jha also shared details about Pakistan's attempt to establish a ceasefire, stating that the Pakistan DGMO tried to contact India's DGMO in the morning. However, due to a hotline issue, the message was conveyed through the Pakistan embassy in India. "The Pakistan DGMO had tried talking to us about a ceasefire in the morning. But there was a problem with the hotline. Then people from the Pakistan embassy in India informed us that the Pakistani DGMO is trying to reach us," Jha explained. He added, "Then there was a message that we will talk after 1:30 or 2. Then DGMO India talked to him. He requested the ceasefire, which was around 3:35 in the afternoon. Then India agreed to the ceasefire because India is not for a war." Referring to the recent Indian Air Force strikes on terror infrastructure, Jha said, "After two weeks, the Indian Air Force attacked their terror base. Nine terror infrastructure bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir were attacked. Operation has started at night so that no civilian is injured... and they were destroyed." He further stated, "Then after two days, Pakistan also attacked the civilians in Poonch and other areas, and India retaliated and demolished their airbase--nine airbases or ten airbases." Criticising efforts to incite communal tensions in Pahalgam, Jha reiterated, "In Pahalgam, they segregated on our religious lines to create communal disharmony in the country. But nothing such happened in India." Jha also detailed the Indian government's coordinated global outreach on the issue of terrorism. "The Indian government had decided that we will go across the world... when it comes to the country's interest, when it comes to peace, when it comes to fight against terrorism--the entire 1.4 billion are together." He highlighted meetings held across Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Indonesia with foreign ministers, law ministers, and political representatives. "In all four places, there is one voice--that there is support for India's fight against terrorism," he said. Concluding his remarks, Jha shared that there was widespread understanding and support for India's stance on terrorism. "There were questions, but largely we received support from the government, think tanks, and even the media. There was overwhelming backing for India's stand in the fight against terrorism." The delegation, led by Jha, is on a visit to partner countries to reinforce India's firm resolve against cross-border terrorism and its zero-tolerance policy. So far, they have visited Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. The delegation includes BJP MPs Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi, and Aparajita Sarangi; Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee; CPI-M's John Brittas; Congress leader and former Union minister Salman Khurshid; and Mohan Kumar. (ANI) All-Party delegation leader and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday arrived in Brazil, where he will be holding meetings. Tharoor said that the feedback to the delegation so far has been positive, especially after Colombian government retracted its statement condoling Pakistani terrorists' deaths after India expressed its disappointment. "Well, we are on a five-country visit. We've done three countries already, Guyana, Panama and Colombia. And we are now in Brazil, though Sunday, it's now 1am Sunday as we've landed, is actually a day of rest, which I think the team has earned up for a fairly hectic program since we left. We then have meetings in Brazil all day, and then we proceed to Washington, which will be the final leg of our visit," Tharoor said. "Feedback has been very positive in both Guyana and Panama, which are Security Council members, it was tremendous understanding and support for our mission and expressions of solidarity for our fight against terror," the Congress leader said. Tharoor recounted how the Colombian government later showed support after the delegation explained the events from the Indian side, i.e. the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor. "In Colombia, there had unfortunately been a statement issued during Operation Sindoor, which actually condoled the Pakistani victims rather than saying anything about India. So we had that rectified, we met with the government and I'm very pleased to say that they have withdrawn that statement and instead they have issued something very positive and supportive, both from the government and even more strongly from the parliament where we met both the equivalent of the Lok Sabha speaker and the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Second Committee as they call it. So on the whole we've had some very good results," he said. Tharoor appreciated the efforts of all the members of his team, saying, "My team has been fully participating in everything. We are all equal participants in this venture." Tharoor said that Brazil is an important country of strategic importance being a part of BRICS. "And here in Brazil, we're looking forward to having some very solid, constructive discussions. Brazil is a major power in the region. It's a BRICS partner of ours. We've elevated our relationship to a strategic partnership going back to 2006. So it's a country that really matters to us. And though they're not currently on the Security Council, we felt keeping them fully abreast of our position and continuing to keep the dialogue channels open is very important," Tharoor said. (ANI) Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee, who is part of the JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha-led all-party Indian delegation visiting Malaysia, emphasised the need for India to engage in dialogue with Pakistan only if it involves reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). While addressing the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur, Banerjee said, "...I want to tell the ruling dispensation that if they want to engage in dialogue with Pakistan, we have to make sure that this time we engage in a dialogue where we only talk about reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Otherwise, this will continue..." Banerjee pointed to social media evidence showing high-ranking Pakistan military officials attending funerals of terrorists, underscoring Pakistan's role in supporting terrorism. He emphasised that India has ample evidence to present to the world. "We are here with all the evidence...There are pictures all over social media, where high-ranking Pakistan military generals and high officials from the Pakistan army are attending the funeral of terrorists. What else can India offer the world as evidence?" he said. Notably, Hafiz Abdul Rauf, a US-designated global terrorist and high-level Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, led funeral prayers for those who died in the Indian missile strikes. Rauf has been implicated in facilitating LeT's operations, which include high-profile attacks such as the 2008 Mumbai terror attack that killed 166 people. Despite being from the opposition, Banerjee emphasised his commitment to national security and sovereignty, stating that he would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the country. He prioritised national interests over political differences. "I might have differences with the ruling party. I am from the All India Trinamool Congress but I am representing India here. I will not let my political interests come in the way of national interest...When it comes to national security and safeguarding the sovereignty of my country, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with my country...," said Banerjee. Banerjee stressed the need to counter Pakistan's attempts to destabilise India by ensuring Kashmir's prosperity and growth. He encouraged tourists visiting India to spend time in Kashmir, highlighting the region's beauty and resilience. Banerjee said, "They were trying to pull the Indian economy down by inflicting this terrorist attack, it is incumbent upon us to do the opposite and make sure that Kashmir keeps flourishing and prospering. When you book a trip to India, make sure you extend the trip by at least 3-4 days and those 3-4 days should be solely dedicated to the people of Kashmir..." Banerjee is part of the all-party parliamentary delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, which is currently visiting partner countries to reinforce India's firm resolve against cross-border terrorism and its zero-tolerance policy. The delegation has so far visited Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. It includes BJP MPs Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi, and Aparajita Sarangi; Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee; CPI-M's John Brittas; Congress leader and former Union minister Salman Khurshid; and Mohan Kumar. (ANI) Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi has announced that his Omani counterpart Badr Al Busaidi to Tehran, during his visit to Tehran, has presented the elements of the US proposal to Iran for a nuclear deal between the two countries, state media reported. "My dear brother @badralbusaidi, distinguished Foreign Minister of Oman, paid a short visit to Tehran today to present elements of a US proposal which will be appropriately responded to in line with the principles, national interests and rights of the people of Iran," Araqchi wrote in a post on his X account. According to the official news agency IRNA, Iran and the US have held five rounds of talks -- three in Muscat and two in Rome--mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi. The talks sought to replace the agreement that President Donald Trump withdrew the US from during his first term in office. As per a report in Al Jazeera, the IAEA in a confidential report that has been seen by several agencies, said that as of May 17, Iran had amassed 408.6kg (900.8 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60 percent - the only non-nuclear weapon state to do so, according to the UN agency - and had increased its stockpile by almost 50 percent to 133.8kg since its last report in February. Iranian foreign minister Araqchi on Saturday strongly rejected Western demands for Iran to abandon uranium enrichment, calling them an effort to impose dominance over the Iranian nation, IRNA reported. "When the other parties say you must not have enrichment, they are essentially trying to assert a kind of dominance and superiority over us," he said. "Under international law, we have the same right as any other country to benefit from peaceful nuclear technology, including enrichment." Earlier, in a May 22-dated letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UN Security Council President Evangelos C Sekeris, and the IAEA. Chief Rafael Grossi, Araqchi, warned that any Israeli adventurism targeting Iran's nuclear sites would be met with a decisive response, as has been the case in the past. The Iranian foreign minister cited a CNN report from May 20, 2025, which quoted U.S. officials alleging that the Israeli regime was preparing an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. Araqchi also emphasised that Israel's nuclear program presents a serious threat to global security, urging the international community to exert pressure on the Israeli regime to dismantle its nuclear arsenal and commit to disarmament agreements. Washington maintains that Iran's uranium enrichment programme could lead to developing nuclear bombs, while Tehran has consistently denied the claim, insisting that its nuclear programme is meant for civilian purposes. In July 2015, the Iran nuclear agreement- known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed between Iran and several world powers, including the United States, which capped Tehran's enrichment level at 3.67 per cent and reduced its uranium stockpile to 300 kilograms. The deal collapsed in 2018 with Trump's unilateral withdrawal of the US from the accord. Since then, Iran has started exceeding agreed-upon limits to its stockpile of low-enriched uranium in 2019, and began enriching uranium to higher concentrations up to 60 per cent purity, which is very close to the weapons-grade level. (ANI) All-party delegation leader and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday underscored the importance of focusing on their mission Operation Sindoor outreach, informing the world about India's anti-terrorism stance and response, while engaging with international counterparts. This global outreach aims to strengthen diplomatic efforts against terrorism and convey India's message of zero tolerance. He acknowledged the criticism and questions raised by colleagues but prioritised conveying India's message to the countries they visited. When asked for comments on the criticism going on in India, even within his (Congress) party against him, he said, "I think this is a time for us to focus on our mission. Undoubtedly, in a thriving democracy, there are bound to be comments, criticisms. But I think at this point, we can't afford to dwell on it, when we get back to India, no doubt we have a chance to speak to our colleagues, critics, and media there. But right now we're focused on the countries we're coming to and getting the message out to the people here. A political storm has erupted after Congress MP Jairam Ramesh made a controversial remark stating, "Our MPs are roaming and terrorists are also roaming," prompting a sharp response from BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla, who strongly condemned the statement, calling it "shameful, condemnable, and senseless." BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla urged the Privileges Committee of Parliament to take immediate cognisance and initiate action against Ramesh. "This is the most shameful, condemnable, and senseless statement. The Privileges Committee of the Parliament should immediately take cognisance of this and take action," Poonawalla said while speaking to ANI on Thursday. He highlighted internal contradictions within the Congress party, citing party leaders' recent comments on senior MP Shashi Tharoor and pointed out that Ramesh's comments could be exploited by Pakistan. "First, they cornered their own MP Shashi Tharoor, and now this comment against their ally MPs is condemnable. This is what Pakistan wants. Pakistan uses statements like these to give a clean chit to itself. Jairam Ramesh is speaking the language of Pakistan's DG-ISPR," he said. Earlier on Thursday, Ramesh took a jibe at the Central government for sending out parliamentarians across the world while the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack are "roaming around." "It has been a month since the Pahalgam attack on April 22. Today, those terrorists are roaming around. They had a role in the December 2023 Poonch terror attack; the Ganderbal attack in October 2024; and in the same month, another attack took place--they had their role in that too. This means that the Pahalgam terrorists are responsible for four attacks in 18 months, and they are roaming around. Our MPs are roaming around, and our terrorists are roaming around too," Ramesh told ANI. Tharoor in Brazil, leading an All-Party delegation to the Americas. After visiting Panama Guyana and Colombia, Tharoor and his delegation arrived in Brazil on Sunday in an effort of India's global outreach to convey India's zero tolerance against terrorism. After concluding the Brazil visit, the all-party delegation will be heading to the United States on Saturday. (ANI) Local police told the outlet that the blast was the result of explosives planted by terrorists. While no casualties have been reported so far, authorities have launched an investigation to determine the motive and those behind the attack. The incident comes amid a surge in violence in the region. ARY News also reported that at least seven people, including police personnel, were martyred in separate firing incidents within a 24-hour period in Bannu. Five others, including civilians, sustained injuries. In a related series of attacks earlier this year, terrorists targeted the Saddar Police Station in Bannu, injuring Station House Officer (SHO) Waseem Sajjad and Constable Hayatullah. ARY News said both were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. Police managed to kill one of the attackers while another escaped. Senior officials, including DIG Sajjad Khan and DPO Saleem Abbas Kulachi, later visited the injured officers in hospital to boost their morale. On April 22, as per ARY News, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police foiled a major terrorist assault on the Dharey Pul police post. A group of around 18 to 19 militants, some on motorcycles and others approaching stealthily, attempted to storm the outpost. The attackers, affiliated with the banned outfit Fitna al-Khawarij, reportedly aimed to destroy surveillance infrastructure during the assault. However, a swift and robust response from security personnel forced the group to retreat. Police say they continue to remain on high alert amid increased threats in the province. (ANI) All-Party delegation leader and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday arrived at Brasilia, where he was accorded a warm welcome. The delegation was received at the airport by Sandeep Kumar Kujur, Charge d'Affaires of the Indian Embassy in Brazil. https://x.com/indiainbrazil/status/1929027863119814971 https://x.com/indiainbrazil/status/1929047853021933811 Taranjit Singh Sandhu, a member of the All-Party Delegation said in a post on X, "Just landed in Brasilia, Brazil in the early hours of Sunday as part of Indian parliamentary delegation led by Shashi Tharoor to Americas!" https://x.com/SandhuTaranjitS/status/1929027226609266911 "Arrived in Brasilia near 1 AM, to a warm welcome from our Embassy, currently headed by a charge d'affaires since the Ambassador-designate only arrives after our departure," Tharoor said. https://x.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1929027521531548125 Lok Sabha MP Tejasvi Surya said he looked forward to engagements in Brazil. "After a day full of travel, our delegation has reached Brasilia, Brazil midnight now. The last week has been hectic but greatly productive. Looking forward to the next two days of work here," he stated in a post on X. https://x.com/Tejasvi_Surya/status/1929028366109179929 As part of India's ongoing efforts to foster international cooperation in the global fight against terrorism. particularly in the context of Operation Sindoor and the country's sustained sustained campaign against cross-border terrorism, a high-level All-Party Parliamentary Delegation has arrived in the Federative Republic of Brazil for an official visit from June 1-2, a statement by the Indian Embassy in Brazil said. The delegation is led by Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. The nine-member delegation includes Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, reflecting the vibrant and inclusive democratic character of India. The delegation comprises Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. During the course of their visit, the delegation is scheduled to meet senior Brazilian dignitaries, including Ambassador Celso Amorim, Chief Advisor of the Special Advisory Office of the President, Ambassador Maria Laura da Rocha, Secretary General of Foreign Affairs, the India-Brazil Friendship Front in the Federal Senate, led by Senator Nelson Trad and Federal Deputy Filipe Barros, President, Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Defense, as per the statement. These engagements will provide an opportunity for the Indian delegation to brief Brazilian counterparts on recent developments in India, particularly in the aftermath of the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The delegation will convey India's strong national consensus and resolute stance in the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, reaffirming the country's policy of zero tolerance towards cross-border terrorism. (ANI) In a statement issued on Saturday, Paank highlighted the recent targeted killing of Sageer Ahmed, a police employee and resident of Gwrjak Mashkai. Ahmed was reportedly shot dead by a state-backed death squad in Shareeki Awaran on May 30. "This cold-blooded murder of a public servant adds to the growing list of victims of state repression in Awaran," the statement read. The rights group documented several other recent cases as part of what it called "a systematic campaign of terror." On May 26-27, Pakistani military forces conducted a raid in Malaar Machi, where two civilians, Naeem Baloch and his aunt Hoori, were killed. Another woman, Dadi Baloch, was critically injured during the operation and reportedly denied medical treatment. On May 24, journalist Abdul Latif Baloch was assassinated at his home in what Paank described as a targeted killing aimed at silencing dissenting voices. In another incident, on May 27, Ghaus Bakhsh was found tortured to death after being summoned to a military camp in Kolowa. Paank also raised alarm over reports of a so-called "kill list" circulating in the area, allegedly containing the names of over 50 individuals marked for assassination by state-backed squads. "These incidents reveal a disturbing pattern of violence and impunity," Paank said, calling on the United Nations and international human rights organisations to urgently launch an independent investigation into the killings and hold Pakistan accountable under international law. The group reaffirmed its solidarity with the victims' families and demanded an immediate halt to all state atrocities in Balochistan. (ANI) In two separate incidents of extrajudicial killings in Balochistan, two Baloch civilians, Yasir Baloch and Musafir Baloch, were reportedly killed by operatives of state-backed death squads in the Kech and Turbat regions, intensifying concerns among rights groups over the continued targeting of Baloch youth by Pakistani security forces and affiliated militias. On May 20, Yasir Baloch, son of Nasram Baloch and a resident of Geshkur, Tehsil Buleda in the Kech district, was shot and killed by members of a death squad allegedly backed by Pakistani forces. Yasir was working as a daily wage labourer in a local orchard and was the sole breadwinner for his family. His killing has left his relatives devastated and local communities alarmed, according to a statement by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee. Ten days later, on May 30, another Baloch civilian, Musafir Baloch, son of Pir Dad and a resident of Apsar, Turbat, was similarly gunned down by operatives of a state-backed militia. Musafir, a professional driver, was reportedly targeted without cause. Both killings are part of what rights activists describe as a systematic campaign of extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances in Balochistan. Over the past two decades, numerous cases have surfaced involving Baloch students, teachers, labourers, and ordinary civilians being abducted or killed by shadowy armed groups operating with impunity, allegedly under the protection or direct command of Pakistani security institutions. The killings of Yasir and Musafir have sparked renewed calls from human rights organisations for an international investigation into state-linked violence in the region. Advocacy groups urge the global community to press Islamabad to halt these unlawful killings and hold perpetrators accountable. (ANI) After interacting with the all-party delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, Indian diaspora members hailed Operation Sindoor outreach for its efforts against terrorism. One of the members of the Indian diaspora said, "...The all-party delegation gives a sense of unity to the countries that they are visiting and also to the Indian diaspora, which is away from India. We are all one in the fight against terrorism." Another member of the Indian diaspora expressed confidence in India's commitment to peace. He said, "...India is working for eminent peace...We should make everyone in the world aware that there is no place for terrorism, India is a peaceful country..." The all-party delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha on Sunday highlighted that terrorists attempted to create communal disharmony in India through the Pahalgam terror attack by targeting specific groups, but their efforts were unsuccessful, reflecting India's resilience and commitment to peace despite such provocations. While interacting with the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur, Jha showcased India's resilience and unity in the face of terrorism sponsored by Pakistan. "... In Pahalagam, they segregated on our religious lines to create communal disharmony in the country. But nothing such happened in India...," said Jha. Jha also shared details about Pakistan's attempt to establish a ceasefire, stating that the Pakistan DGMO tried to contact India's DGMO in the morning. However, due to a hotline issue, the message was conveyed through the Pakistan embassy in India. "The Pakistan DGMO had tried talking to us about a ceasefire in the morning. But there was a problem with the hotline. Then people from the Pakistan embassy in India informed us that the Pakistani DGMO is trying to reach us," Jha explained. He added, "Then there was a message that we will talk after 1:30 or 2. Then DGMO India talked to him. He requested the ceasefire, which was around 3:35 in the afternoon. Then India agreed to the ceasefire because India is not for a war." Criticising efforts to incite communal tensions in Pahalgam, Jha reiterated, "In Pahalgam, they segregated on our religious lines to create communal disharmony in the country. But nothing such happened in India." Jha also detailed the Indian government's coordinated global outreach on the issue of terrorism. "The Indian government had decided that we will go across the world... when it comes to the country's interest, when it comes to peace, when it comes to the fight against terrorism--the entire 1.4 billion are together." He highlighted meetings held across Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Indonesia with foreign ministers, law ministers, and political representatives. "In all four places, there is one voice--that there is support for India's fight against terrorism," he said. The delegation, led by Jha, is on a visit to partner countries to reinforce India's firm resolve against cross-border terrorism and its zero-tolerance policy. So far, they have visited Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. The delegation includes BJP MPs Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi, and Aparajita Sarangi; Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee; CPI-M's John Brittas; Congress leader and former Union minister Salman Khurshid; and Mohan Kumar. (ANI) BJP MP Hemang Joshi, who is a member of the all-party delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha as part of Modi government's big diplomatic outreach to highlight India's stance on terrorism in the wake of the operation Sindoor, said that Pakistan, by waging proxy wars, is trying to "derail" India from the path of Viksit Bharat. While addressing the Indian community in Malaysia, Joshi said that it is imperative that everyone must stand together in the face of terrorism. "Pakistan tries to derail us from our path of Viksit Bharat through such proxy wars, because they can never in their wildest dreams be like India in any capacity. We need to stand together in this fight against terrorism," he said. Jha-led delegation on Sunday highlighted that terrorists attempted to create communal disharmony in India through the Pahalgam terror attack by targeting specific groups, but their efforts were unsuccessful. While interacting with the Indian diaspora in Kuala Lumpur, Jha showcased India's resilience and unity in the face of terrorism sponsored by Pakistan. "... In Pahalagam, they segregated on our religious lines to create communal disharmony in the country. But nothing such happened in India...," said Jha. Jha also shared details about Pakistan's attempt to establish a ceasefire, stating that the Pakistan DGMO tried to contact India's DGMO in the morning. However, due to a hotline issue, the message was conveyed through the Pakistan embassy in India. "The Pakistan DGMO had tried talking to us about a ceasefire in the morning. But there was a problem with the hotline. Then people from the Pakistan embassy in India informed us that the Pakistani DGMO is trying to reach us," Jha explained. He added, "Then there was a message that we will talk after 1:30 or 2. Then DGMO India talked to him. He requested the ceasefire, which was around 3:35 in the afternoon. Then India agreed to the ceasefire because India is not for a war." The delegation, led by Jha, is on a visit to partner countries to reinforce India's firm resolve against cross-border terrorism and its zero-tolerance policy. So far, they have visited Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. The delegation includes BJP MPs Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi, and Aparajita Sarangi; Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee; CPI-M's John Brittas; Congress leader and former Union minister Salman Khurshid; and Mohan Kumar. (ANI) The Indian community in the Eastern China Region gathered on Sunday in large numbers to celebrate the 164th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore and the 101st anniversary of his first visit to China. Consulate General to China, Pratik Mathur, while speaking at the occasion, underlined the abiding relevance of Tagore's words and vision. In a post on X, the Consulate said, "Remembering Gurudev in China! India's Cultural Heritage Shining Bright- Indian community in Eastern China Region gathered today in large numbers to celebrate 164th birth anniversary of Gurudev and the 101st anniversary of his first visit to China. Speaking on the occasion CG Pratik Mathur underlined the abiding relevance of Gurudev's words and vision. Friends of India and lovers of Rabindra Sangeet gathered in large numbers for the function today." https://x.com/IndiaInShanghai/status/1929057916155568591 The Consulate General of India in the Chinese city of Shanghai on Sunday commemorated the 164th birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore with a vibrant cultural event that also served as a moment of solemn tribute to the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. Held at the Vivekananda Cultural Centre, the celebration brought together over a hundred attendees, including members of the Indian diaspora, Chinese students, Tagore enthusiasts, and friends of India. According to a post on X by the Indian Consulate in Shanghai, the event began with a solemn pledge ceremony led by Consul General Pratik Mathur, who reaffirmed India's firm national resolve to combat terrorism with a zero-tolerance approach. He underscored that this stance was clearly demonstrated through Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the recent attack in Jammu and Kashmir. https://x.com/IndiaInShanghai/status/1929060252093395091 In his opening remarks, CG Mathur paid homage to the victims and highlighted Gurudev Tagore's enduring cultural legacy both in India and abroad. He noted Tagore's special connection with China, mentioning that his stories are still part of Chinese school curriculums and that his literary and musical works--especially Rabindra Sangeet--are studied in Chinese universities. "Tagore continues to serve as a bridge for mutual understanding and cultural exchange between India and China," Mathur said. He also recalled that Tagore had visited Shanghai twice after becoming the first Asian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, and that the city honours his legacy with two statues--one at the historic Lu Xun Park and another at Maoming Lu in central Shanghai. (ANI) The Consulate General of India in Shanghai, Pratik Mathur on Sunday observed Rabindra Jayanti with a solemn pledge ceremony to honour the victims of the Pahalgam terror attacks. The ceremony reaffirmed India's commitment to fighting terrorism with a zero-tolerance approach. In a post on X, the Consulate said, "On Rabindra Jayanti, a solemn pledge ceremony was held at Consulate General of India today to remember and pay homage to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attacks. CG Pratik Mathur reaffirmed our firm national resolve to fight terror with a zero tolerance approach as the nation has clearly manifested with Operation Sindoor. Jai Hind! Jai Bharat!" https://x.com/IndiaInShanghai/status/1929060252093395091 In the context of Operation Sindoor and India's continued fight against cross-border terrorism, seven all-party delegations are visiting key partner countries, including members of the UN Security Council. The all-party delegations will project India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations. They are carrying forth to the world the country's strong message of zero-tolerance against terrorism. Members of Parliament from different parties, prominent political personalities, and distinguished diplomats are a part of each delegation. However, India has not sent any delegation to China. Meanwhile, on May 30, a Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson, Zhang Xiaogang, refused to provide any details on the effectiveness of Pakistan's weapons during the recent military confrontation with India, sidestepping direct answers and instead urging both sides to remain calm, Global Times reported. This comes amid reports of India recovering an unexploded PL-15E missile, a Chinese-made beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile. Speaking at a regular Thursday press briefing, spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang emphasised China's hope that both sides will remain calm and restrained to avoid further complicating the situation. When asked for the ministry's comment on the performance of Chinese equipment in the recent India-Pakistan conflict, and on the remarks by Indian military officials that "Pakistan received support from China's air defense and satellite systems, but the performance of these systems was below average," Zhang said, "We would like to stress that India and Pakistan are neighbors that cannot be moved. We hope both sides will remain calm and restrained to avoid further complicating the situation." He said that China is willing to continue playing a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability. (ANI) All-Party Delegation Member and CPI-M MP John Brittas, who is part of the JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha-led delegation visiting Malaysia on Sunday, said that they have successfully conveyed India's message that all countries should unite against terrorism. Brittas, while talking to ANI, said that the delegation has held several meetings and also addressed the Indian community here. "We have a comprehensive strategic friendship with Malaysia...We had a couple of meetings and also addressed the Indian community...We feel that the purpose of the mission has been accomplished. We successfully conveyed the message of India that all the countries have to unite in the fight against terrorism," Brittas said. While interacting with the Indian diaspora here, he pointed out that Pakistan is a rogue nation, which has now become a military-controlled nation. "Pakistan has plummeted to a military-controlled nation. Their military leader, Asim Munir, has self-declared himself the Field Marshal. This happens only in a banana republic or a rogue nation," Brittas said, referring to Munir's comments on two-nation policy and his promotion despite Pakistan's embarrassing failure in the face of Operation Sindoor. Brittas appealed to Malaysia that a country must not stay silent when another faces terror attacks stating that terrorism catches up with those who stay silent. "A significant distinction between Indian and Pakistan is that we are a secular nation and Pakistan is a theocratic nation... Pakistan doesn't even have a civil administration... That is one message we wanted to convey to all the nations- You shouldn't be neutral or silent when terror inflicts India, because terror always turns around and catches up with those who helped it," he said. Brittas said that India has a no first use policy, as all Indian Prime Ministers have tried to co-exist with Pakistan. "India is the one country that has taken a decision that we will never use nuclear weapons as a first resort against any country... We have tried to co-exist with Pakistan. All the Prime Ministers, all the governments of India have tried their level best to extend their hand for friendship towards Pakistan... Our message is that no nation should be neutral or silent on this cardinal aspect of terrorism." The delegation to Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore is led by JD-U MP Sanjay Kumar Jha. It includes Aparajita Sarangi (BJP), Abhishek Banerjee (Trinamool Congress), Brij Lal (BJP), John Brittas (CPI-M), Pradan Baruah (BJP), Hemang Joshi (BJP), Salman Khurshid and Mohan Kumar. (ANI) In a significant escalation of the ongoing Baloch insurgency, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for a large-scale armed operation in Surab city, asserting complete control over the area and targeting key state installations. According to a statement released by BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch, freedom fighters launched a coordinated operation on the evening of May 31, taking over major military, administrative, and financial facilities of the Pakistani state in Surab. The operation lasted for more than three hours. BLA fighters reportedly took positions across the city, seizing control of the Levies and police stations, the Deputy Commissioner's office, a government guest house, and local bank branches. The group claims it paralysed the state's infrastructure, damaged facilities, and set fire to three vehicles of security forces, several banks, warehouses, and a guest house. In addition, BLA fighters arrested several Levies and police personnel and confiscated 30 Kalashnikov rifles along with other weapons and military equipment from state facilities. The detained personnel were later released on what the BLA described as "conditional concessions" based on their Baloch identity. The statement added that during the seizure of the DC office, Assistant Deputy Commissioner Hidayatullah Buledi attempted to confront the fighters and was detained. He was reportedly locked in a room where he later died due to suffocation, a death the BLA described as accidental. Following the operation, the BLA established checkpoints on the Quetta-Karachi and Surab-Gidar highways, further restricting state movement in the region. The BLA reiterated that this operation is part of its broader struggle for Baloch national liberation, vowing to continue targeting all symbols and institutions of the Pakistani state. (ANI) The Deputy Prime Minister will meet leaders and counterparts in the South and Southeast Asia as part of the Government's commitment to deepening diplomatic and defence partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. During his visit to Maldives and Sri Lanka, the Deputy Prime Minister will discuss ongoing Australian support for both nations' sovereign capability development, the release added. According to Australian defence government, the visit to India coincides with the fifth anniversary of Australia and India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which underpins our relationship and shared vision for the Indian Ocean. In Indonesia, the Deputy Prime Minister will meet his counterpart to reaffirm our commitment to a peaceful, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Ahead of Marles visit he said, "Australia values our relationships with neighbours in the Indo-Pacific. Our deepening cooperation is at the heart of Australia's approach to ensure the Indo-Pacific remains open, inclusive and resilient" "I look forward to meeting leaders and welcome productive discussions on how we can work together to shape a peaceful, secure, and prosperous region that is respectful of sovereignty," he added. On May 23,Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated Richard Marles on his reappointment as Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. In a post on X, Rajnath Singh stated that he looked forward to continuing India's close cooperation with Australia to strengthen bilateral defence ties further. "Heartiest congratulations to my friend @RichardMarlesMP on his reappointment as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence for Australia. Looking forward to continuing our close cooperation to further strengthen bilateral defence ties under India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," Singh posted on X. Richard Marles' reappointment as Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister comes after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently secured victory in the elections. Senior ministers, including Defence Minister Richard Marles, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Education Minister Jason Clare, continue to hold their portfolios. (ANI) Pakistani paramilitary forces have reportedly detained two young men in the Mastung district of Balochistan and transferred them to an undisclosed location, where their whereabouts remain unknown, according to The Balochistan Post. The incident took place on May 29, when personnel from the Frontier Corps (FC) intercepted Bismillah, son of Ghulam Sarwar, and Samiullah, son of Muhammad Hanif, both residents of the Pringabad area. The two men were reportedly travelling from Mastung to Mangocher when they were taken into custody by FC troops. Since their detention, neither of the two has been seen or contacted their families, raising serious concerns among relatives and local human rights defenders. Family members have called on the authorities to disclose the location and legal status of the detained individuals immediately. The incident is the latest in a series of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, where Pakistani security forces are frequently accused of abducting civilians without charge or trial. Rights groups say such detentions violate both domestic and international human rights laws, and they continue to urge Islamabad to end the practice. As per The Balochistan Post, the forced disappearances have created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation in the region, with many families reluctant to speak out publicly due to fear of retaliation. Human rights organisations have repeatedly appealed to the Pakistani government to address the crisis of missing persons in Balochistan and to ensure due legal process for all individuals taken into custody. The case of Bismillah and Samiullah adds to mounting calls for international human rights mechanisms to investigate disappearances in the region and hold those responsible accountable. (ANI) The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has issued an urgent international appeal to halt the deportation of 48 Uyghur refugees from Thailand to China, warning of grave consequences if the move proceeds, according to a WUC release. The deportation is scheduled for February 27. In its statement, the WUC warned that returning these refugees would likely subject them to torture, enforced disappearances, or even execution upon arrival in China. The group has already endured more than a decade of unlawful detention. WUC President Turgunjan Alawdun called on Thai authorities to stop the deportation and urged the international community to take immediate, coordinated action to ensure the safety and release of the refugees, the release stated. Alongside this urgent call, the WUC has stepped up its global advocacy efforts to spotlight the Chinese government's systematic repression of the Uyghur people. During the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, the WUC organised a powerful exhibition exposing China's extensive abuses in East Turkistan. According to the WUC release, the exhibition focused on themes such as transnational repression, forced deportations, systemic forced labour, imprisonment of Uyghur intellectuals, and forced abortions. During the session, WUC President Turgunjan Alawdun addressed the council, denouncing Beijing's persistent violation of Uyghurs' religious freedoms and calling for meaningful international accountability. "The international community must act with urgency and unity," Alawdun stated, according to the WUC. The WUC underscored the critical importance of sustained global pressure to address ongoing human rights abuses targeting the Uyghur population. The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to justice and called on democratic governments, institutions, and civil society to amplify efforts in defence of Uyghur rights and freedom. (ANI) DPP Legislator Puma Shen said on Saturday that while Taiwan's current laws prohibit cooperation with Chinese officials on political and security matters, they lack enforcement mechanisms when it comes to private individuals, creating loopholes that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) can exploit. Citing the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, Shen noted that the government can restrict Taiwanese citizens from engaging in quid pro quo relationships with Chinese officials involved in sensitive state activities. However, the act does not currently empower authorities to impose penalties on such individuals. He emphasised that any legislative updates should focus on punishment rather than preventive controls, to avoid infringing on freedoms of speech, association, and movement. According to a report by Taipei Times, Shen also questioned the administrative capacity of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), saying it should not be the sole agency responsible for regulating cross-strait engagements and reviewing interaction applications. Shen further urged lawmakers to strengthen the Anti-Infiltration Act by refining its language to specifically address the role of influencers in China's election interference campaigns. Fellow DPP Legislator Michelle Lin warned of China's evolving media infiltration tactics, including the state-run Fujian Broadcast and Television Network's covert ownership of platforms like Taiwan Reports, Eagle Eye Daily, and We Truth News. Lin said China's strategies have evolved from convergence media in 2020 to influencer-led tourism campaigns in 2024. She called on the National Security Bureau and MAC to coordinate more closely, amend existing legislation, and strengthen financial oversight to block foreign interference. (ANI) All-party delegation led by NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule which is on diplomatic mission to key global capitals to highlight India's stand on terrorism said on Sunday that during their visit, people from every state met the delegation and highlighted how the Indian diaspora have remained connected to their culture. After meeting people from Indian community, Sule told ANI, "We are very happy as people from all over India met at the community event. People from every state met us. Several Maratahi people met us too. People from the Indian diaspora are wearing sarees and kurta here. This shows that they might be staying in Ethiopia, but they have not forgotten their culture" Earlier in the day, the all-party delegation held a meeting with the Policy Studies Institute (PSI) Director General Fekadu Tsega and other members in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. TDP MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, who is part of the delegation, said their meetings with people and officials in Ethiopia were very useful. He added that they all understand the problem of terrorism because they face it too. He said the African Union has a clear definition of terrorism, and they suggested taking it to the United Nations. They also discussed actions against countries that support terrorism. "...All the interactions we had with various people, government bodies, politicians, think tanks, all have been very fruitful. They understand what terrorism is because they are also facing it day in and day out. They are with us... They condemn the terrorist activities... The African Union has a very comprehensive definition of terrorism. We suggested that they push it forward to the United Nations... We also talked about FATF's action on countries that harbour terrorism," Devarayalu said. The all-party delegation led by Supriya Sule also includes Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, Manish Tewari, Anurag Singh Thakur, Lavu Sri Krishna devarayalu, Anand Sharma, former Minister of Commerce & Industry, V Muraleedharan, Former Minister of State for External Affairs, and Syed Akbaruddin, Former Permanent Representative of India to the UN. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in key countries. The multi-party delegation, consisting of seven groups led by one MP each, has been initiated to counter global misinformation and highlight India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. (ANI) JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, leader of an all-party delegation, said Malaysia strongly condemned the Pahalgam attack and supported India's fight against terrorism. Jha added that countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Indonesia have also supported India's stance during their visits. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Sanjay Kumar Jha said, "Our first visit was to Japan and it was an important country because so many trades of ours happen with Japan...Japan endorsed the stance of the country...Then we went to South Korea...they also appreciated and supported us...in Singapore also...we had positive talks...Jakarta has the highest Muslim population in the world...their stand against terrorism was in support of India...the whole world has criticised the Pahalgam attack". The delegation asked Malaysia and Indonesia for their support in bringing Pakistan back to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list. "We will be in Malaysia till the day after tomorrow...the President of Malaysia has strongly condemned (Pahalgam attack)...we have made two requests, the first one is that we are not part of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) even though India has a large Muslim population...Pakistan keeps passing resolutions against us...so we have sought support from Malaysia and Indonesia...Pakistan needs to be brought back to the FATF list, so we have kept this demand before all the countries to consider this and extend support to this. Malaysia has supported us in getting a permanent membership in the UN Security Council...," Jha said. Additionally, the all-party delegation visited Ramkrishna Mission and paid floral tribute to the statue of Swami Vivekananda. The delegation, led by JD-U MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, includes Aparajita Sarangi (BJP), TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, Brij Lala (BJP), John Brittas (CPI-M), Pradan Baruah (BJP), Hemang Joshi (BJP), Salman Khurshid, and Mohan Kumar. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists, in which 26 people were brutally killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the elimination of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI) The all-party delegation is in Algeria from May 30 to June 2 to strengthen global cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. Before arriving in Algeria, the delegation spent two days in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where they held extensive discussions with senior government officials, policy think tanks, media representatives, and the Indian diaspora. Baijayant Jay Panda told ANI that the talks were open and candid, particularly on the challenge of terrorism. "Saudi Arabia has a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, like us. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia following the Pahalgam attack and the joint statement by both governments made it clear that there is no tolerance for any kind of terrorism," Panda said. He also highlighted the strengthening ties between India and Saudi Arabia in defence, counterterrorism, and trade, describing Saudi Arabia as a major regional power. The delegation also visited Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its traditional mud-brick architecture. The delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, also includes Nishikant Dubey MP, BJP; Phangnon Konyak, MP, BJP; Rekha Sharma MP, NJP; AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi; Satnam Singh Sandhu MP; Ghulam Nabi Azad; and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria. India has sent several all-party delegations to showcase India's resolve against terrorism and garner international support for a united stand against this global threat. The Indian government's diplomatic outreach efforts aim to strengthen partnerships with countries in East and Southeast Asia, emphasising the need for a collective response to the threat of terrorism. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a member of the all-party delegation, said on Sunday that Ethiopia and its people stand in solidarity with India against terrorism. Speaking to ANI, he said, "Across the party lines across all spectrums of the people we met, whether it was intellectuals, policymakers, ministers, government and the media, all are in unison and saying that terror cannot be accepted." Rudy emphasised that the international community is aware of India's stance on terrorism, particularly after the Pahalgam attack. He added, "They are absolutely for India when it comes to self-defence. They are aware of what happened in Pahalgam. They say and feel that we should have acted against terror, and they would stand by us as far as terror is concerned." Highlighting the motive of this diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, he affirmed, "This campaign and this messaging to the world through the various teams of parliamentarians, senior leaders, and bureaucrats is an exercise that will position Pakistan as a node of terror across the world. It is a great and positive exercise. Thanks to the PM for that." Meanwhile, Congress MP Manish Tewari said that the delegation met with Policy Institute of Ethiopia, a premier think tank. Tewari stated, "Today, we were invited by the Policy Institute of Ethiopia. It is a premier think tank. We had intellectuals and policymakers, other stakeholders from all across Ethiopia who congregated here." "There was a vibrant discussion as to how India and Africa can collaborate in creating an upscaling, a global convention, against state sponsored terror so that this menace of export of terror, which is unique to India in the context of South Asia but is also happening in other parts of the world, can be fully and finally proscribed and consigned to the dustbin of history," he added. The Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SCP) MP Supriya Sule-led delegation is in Ethiopia. The delegation includes Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP), Vikramjit Singh Sahney (AAP), Manish Tewari (Congress), Anurag Singh Thakur (BJP), Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (TDP), Anand Sharma (Congress), V Muraleedharan (BJP), and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin. The delegation had arrived at Bole International Airport in Ethiopia on Friday, where they welcomed by the Ambassador of India to Ethiopia, Anil Kumar Rai. Recently, the delegation concluded its diplomatic visit to South Africa with a series of meetings at India House in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, involving political leaders, think tanks, and the Indian diaspora. In a diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, the Modi government has formed seven multi-party delegations to inform nations about Pakistan's links to terrorism and India's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Seven all-party delegations are taking part in various outreach programmes in the countries they are assigned to. The delegations aim to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its fight against cross-border terrorism. The seven delegations are visiting Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Algeria, the UK, France, Germany, the EU, Italy, Denmark, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, Singapore, the UAE, Liberia, Congo, Sierra Leone, the US, Panama, Guyana, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Latvia, Russia, Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia, and South Africa. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces 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. (ANI) BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, a member of an all-party delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, said their talks focused on fighting terrorism and India's stand on the issue. She said Pakistan is supporting terrorism and does not want peace and normalcy within the boundaries of India. Speaking to ANI, Aparajita Sarangi said, "This is the last leg of the tour...we have covered four countries before this. It is a great experience in Malaysia too...we met a cross-section of people...today we met members of the Indian diaspora...we came here to talk about terrorism and India's stand on terrorism...Pakistan has been indulging in terrorist activities for quite some time, and it doesn't want peace and normalcy within the boundaries of India. It did not like the growth in J&K...Pakistan is nurturing, nourishing and promoting terrorism...one good thing, there is almost a consensus in all these five countries, whomsoever we have gone to and spoken to...nobody wants terrorism...everybody came forward and said that we must combat terrorism unitedly..." Additionally, the all-party delegation visited Ramkrishna Mission and paid floral tribute to the statue of Swami Vivekananda. The delegation, led by JD-U MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, includes Aparajita Sarangi (BJP), TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, Brij Lala (BJP), John Brittas (CPI-M), Pradan Baruah (BJP), Hemang Joshi (BJP), Salman Khurshid, and Mohan Kumar. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists, in which 26 people were brutally killed. Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the elimination of over 100 terrorists affiliated with groups including Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. (ANI) All-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda interacted with Mohamed Khouane, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and the National Community Abroad in the Algerian Parliament on Sunday. Earlier in the day, the all-party delegation visited Wilaya D'alger Etablissement De Gestion Des Pompes Funebres Et Cimetieres and paid floral tributes to Emir Abdelkader, the founder of the modern Algerian state. The all-party delegation is in Algeria from May 30 to June 2 to strengthen global cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. Before arriving in Algeria, the delegation spent two days in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where they held extensive discussions with senior government officials, policy think tanks, media representatives, and the Indian diaspora. Baijayant Jay Panda told ANI that the talks were open and candid, particularly on the challenge of terrorism."Saudi Arabia has a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, like us. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia following the Pahalgam attack and the joint statement by both governments made it clear that there is no tolerance for any kind of terrorism," Panda said. He also highlighted the strengthening ties between India and Saudi Arabia in defence, counterterrorism, and trade, describing Saudi Arabia as a major regional power. The delegation also visited Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its traditional mud-brick architecture. The delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, also includes Nishikant Dubey MP, BJP; Phangnon Konyak, MP, BJP; Rekha Sharma MP, NJP; AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi; Satnam Singh Sandhu MP; Ghulam Nabi Azad; and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria. India has sent several all-party delegations to showcase India's resolve against terrorism and garner international support for a united stand against this global threat. The Indian government's diplomatic outreach efforts aim to strengthen partnerships with countries in East and Southeast Asia, emphasising the need for a collective response to the threat of terrorism. (ANI) BJP MP Anurag Thakur, member of the all-party delegation led by NCP-SCP Supriya Sule noted that no society, no government will accept any form of terrorism. This visit is a part of Modi government's big diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor. "I think all the meetings we had, starting with the former Prime Minister to the Speaker of the Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister to the leaders of various political parties and the member of Parliament, one thing we have seen that the special significant and the historic ties between India and Ethiopia goes in the favor. We are on the same page as far as zero tolerance against terrorism is concerned," Thakur told ANI. He also rebuked Pakistan for it state-sponsored terrorism which emanated from its soil. "No society, no government will accept any form of terrorism. No terrorism is good or bad, terrorism is terroris...In India, it is state-sponsored terrorism which emerged from the soil of Pakistan. They are being given shelter there, financing, training, logistics, handling and post-attack also, when you give enough proof to them, Pakistan don't take action on them. That is the challenge we face..." Meanwhile, BJP leader V Muraleedharan also highlighted the issue of state-sponsored terrorism, particularly in relation to India's neighbor, Pakistan. Muraleedharan stated, "For us in India, one major issue is that our neighbour, since its inception, has been to encourage, train and finance those elements who want to create problems and terror in the territory of India." "We see terrorism as a global phenomenon, but mostly by non-state players...A country has made terrorism their state policy, which is the biggest threat that the world is facing now. It's not an allegation by India, but it is a fact that has been very specifically mentioned, recorded and documented by the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee," he added. After interacting with the Indian Delegation, Civil Society Member from Addis Ababa, Bilen expressed appreciation for the Indian delegation's. Bilen stated, "The Indian delegation well explained the current situation as well as the future plans... Explaining one's side of the situation clears misunderstandings and therefore I think whatever they are doing is very good." The Supriya Sule-led delegation is in Ethiopia. The delegation includes Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP), Vikramjit Singh Sahney (AAP), Manish Tewari (Congress), Anurag Singh Thakur (BJP), Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu (TDP), Anand Sharma (Congress), V Muraleedharan (BJP), and former diplomat Syed Akbaruddin. The delegation had arrived at Bole International Airport in Ethiopia on Friday, where they were received and welcomed by the Ambassador of India to Ethiopia, Anil Kumar Rai. Recently, the delegation concluded its diplomatic visit to South Africa with a series of meetings at India House in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, involving political leaders, think tanks, and the Indian diaspora. The delegations aim to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its fight against cross-border terrorism. The seven delegations are visiting Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Algeria, the UK, France, Germany, the EU, Italy, Denmark, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, Singapore, the UAE, Liberia, Congo, Sierra Leone, the US, Panama, Guyana, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Latvia, Russia, Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia, and South Africa. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces 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. (ANI) Tel Aviv [Israel], June 1 (ANI/TPS): This afternoon, another missile was fired from Yemen towards Israel, triggering sirens in Jerusalem and the Shfela region of central Israel. According to an IDF spokesperson, it was intercepted. Magen David Adom announced that there were no casualties following the attack, which also caused a temporary suspension of flights at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. Meanwhile, the Fire and Rescue Services reported that a fire had broken out in the Shfela region, near the Highway 6 between the Nesharim and Sorek interchanges. 'Seven firefighting teams are working to extinguish the fire and prevent its spread,' officials said. It is not yet known whether the fire was caused by falling debris or whether it is connected to the attack from Yemen.(ANI/TPS) Tel Aviv [Israel], June 1 (ANI/TPS): "I have instructed the IDF to continue forward in Gaza against all targets, regardless of any negotiations, and to use every means necessary to protect IDF soldiers and to eliminate and crush the Hamas murderers," Defense Minister Israel Katz stated in a post a while ago on X. The IDF also announced that the Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has instructed the military to expand the ground offensive against Hamas to additional areas in the Gaza Strip. This according to the announcement, follows an assessment held by Zamir in southern Gaza with the chief of the Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor, thw chief of the Israeli Air Force, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, the COGAT head, the Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian, and other commanders. (ANI/TPS) NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule, leading an all-party delegation, said on Sunday that their visits to Qatar, South Africa, and Ethiopia were very successful. She added that all three countries have been very supportive of India's message from the Prime Minister's Operation Sindoor to reach the next level of "zero tolerance against terrorism." She also expressed gratitude towards the Ministry of External Affairs, which has organised these important meetings and made the visit successful. Speaking to ANI, Supriya Sule said, "We first went to Qatar. From Qatar, we went to South Africa. From South Africa, we have come to Ethiopia. It has been an outstandingly successful trip. All three countries have been very supportive, and the message that we have brought from India, the Prime Minister's Operation Sindoor, to take it to the next level of 'zero tolerance against terror'. All three countries have reassured us that they will stand with India firmly, and they will not tolerate or support any country that supports or encourages or trains terrorists. They are very clear and I'm very grateful to the Ministry of External Affairs, which has organised these important meetings...I think this whole idea of making this outreach program so far in the three countries that we have come to has been hugely successful, and the entire credit goes to the Ministry of External Affairs, which has worked overtime to make it successful." Earlier during the media interaction, Supriya Sule said India wants peace and will not accept terrorism anywhere. She praised past and current Indian Prime Ministers for their peaceful policies and expressed sadness over recent terrorist attacks that caused many deaths. "Our earlier Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and current PM Narendra Modi have continued on our foreign policy of peace and harmony. It is unfortunate that the last few years haven't been very pleasurable. We lost several lives in terrorist attacks. India is committed to having zero tolerance towards terrorism anywhere in the world...we are not here as politicians but Indians," Sule said. The all-party delegation led by Supriya Sule also includes Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, Manish Tewari, Anurag Singh Thakur, Lavu Sri Krishna devarayalu, Anand Sharma, former Minister of Commerce & Industry, V Muraleedharan, Former Minister of State for External Affairs, and Syed Akbaruddin, Former Permanent Representative of India to the UN. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in key countries. The multi-party delegation, consisting of seven groups led by one MP each, has been initiated to counter global misinformation and highlight India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. (ANI) Highlighting growing global confidence in India's economic prospects, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Sunday said there is strong enthusiasm in Europe to enter into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India. Speaking to ANI during his ongoing visit to Paris, France, Goyal noted that India's rising reputation has made nations increasingly eager to deepen trade and diplomatic ties. He also noted the positive momentum following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi earlier this year. "There is no time limit for these discussions, but the European Union President, Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Modi had a meeting in New Delhi in February. It was decided that we should conclude a good Free Trade Agreement by the end of this year. Considering the relations that I have built with my counterpart, the European Union Trade Commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, I feel that we will progress very fast and take it forward soon. There is enthusiasm in Europe to enter into a Free Trade Agreement with India, and from the feedback we get from the industry in India, it seems India will also benefit from this," Goyal said, adding that when both will benefit, it is natural that it is our responsibility to do it quickly. Earlier, while speaking to the media in Paris, Goyal also expressed gratitude towards France for its support following the terror attack in Pahalgam. "India is very grateful to France for the strong support and solidarity expressed when there was a terror strike at Pahalgam. The French people and government also stand for zero tolerance against terrorism, just like India," he said. He emphasised the strong personal rapport between PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, which he said had given "fresh momentum" to the robust Indo-French relationship. "The French Senate delegation that visited India fully supported India's stand and gave us confidence that the world stands with India when we are fighting against terrorism in all forms, whether state-sponsored or non-state actors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Macron share a very deep personal connect and rapport and have had frequent interactions, giving afresh momentum to the strong French-India ties..." he said. The commerce minister commenced his three-day official visit to France on Sunday, part of his ongoing visit to France and Italy from June 1 to 5. As part of his visit, Goyal will hold bilateral meetings with several French leaders, including Minister of Economy Eric Lombard and Trade Minister Laurent Saint-Martin. The discussions will focus on strengthening the Indo-French economic partnership and exploring new avenues for enhancing trade and investment cooperation. As part of the high-level visit to France, a comprehensive agenda of strategic business meetings and engagements has been scheduled. With top leadership of major French companies such as Vicat, Total Energies, L'Oreal, Renault, Valeo, EDF, and ATR, the visit will feature the India-France Business Round Table and the India-France CEO Forum, fostering dialogue between leading industry stakeholders from both countries. During his stay, the Minister will also participate in the informal gathering of WTO Ministers on the margins of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. At this crucial forum, he will engage with global counterparts on key multilateral trade issues and articulate India's perspectives and priorities. Following his engagements in France, the commerce minister will proceed to Italy for the next leg of his visit. (ANI) Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal expressed India's gratitude to France for its unwavering support and solidarity following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, emphasising the shared commitment between both nations in maintaining zero tolerance against terrorism. Goyal is on his three-day official visit to Paris as part of his ongoing visit to France and Italy from 1-5 June 2025. Goyal highlighted the strong understanding between India and France on counter-terrorism efforts. "The French people and government also stand for zero tolerance against terrorism, just like India," he stated. "The French Senate delegation that visited India fully supported India's stand and gave us confidence that the world stands with India when we are fighting against terrorism in all forms, whether state-sponsored or non-state actors," Goyal said. The April 22 attack, carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, is one of the deadliest in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama strike in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. The minister drew parallels between both countries' experiences with terrorism, referencing the devastating 2015 Paris attacks that killed approximately 125 people just days before the COP21 climate summit. "Acts of terrorism in France have caused a lot of damage," Goyal noted. "The people and the government of France can understand India's anger. They could connect with the displeasure the people of India felt," Goyal said. The visit underscores the deepening ties between India and France, built on the strong personal relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Macron share a very deep personal connect and rapport and have had frequent interactions, giving afresh momentum to the strong French-India ties," Goyal emphasised. This momentum was recently demonstrated in February 2025 when India and France co-hosted the AI Action Summit, which Goyal described as "a strong endorsement of our shared objective to further the ethical use of artificial intelligence and promote good regulations." During his Paris visit, Goyal is scheduled to meet with CEOs of several French companies to encourage investment in India, leveraging the country's market of 1.4 billion people and its skilled workforce. The minister will also hold bilateral meetings with his French counterparts and trade ministers from around the world. A key focus of the discussions will be advancing the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, with France being one of its strongest supporters. Goyal is set to meet EU Trade Commissioner Maurus Sarkovic to take the trade partnership "to the next level at the earliest." The meetings aim to advance the Horizon 2047 roadmap finalised between Modi and Macron, which includes a mini-ministerial gathering of trade ministers from major economies to discuss strengthening multilateral trading systems and WTO reforms. The minister highlighted the role of approximately 120,000 Indians living in France as "a living bridge between India and France." He also mentioned the upcoming Swaminarayan temple near Paris as a symbol of Indian culture and heritage in Europe. In a significant cultural collaboration, the Louvre has entered into an MoU with India to help establish the Yug Yugeen Bharat Museum, described as the world's largest museum, which will showcase India's rich cultural heritage at the North and South Block complex in New Delhi. Goyal's visit represents a significant step in strengthening the multifaceted partnership between India and France, built on shared values of democracy, counter-terrorism cooperation, and mutual economic growth. (ANI) BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, a member of the all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, said India's relationship with Algeria is very old. He said India supported Algeria's freedom struggle, and they remember this help. Speaking to ANI, Nishikant Dubey said, "Our relationship with Algeria is very old...India supported the National Liberation Front (FLN)...France had threatened us at that time. Then, the Indian government and the opposition decided to support the freedom struggle of Algeria. Algeria acknowledges it." The all-party delegation is in Algeria from May 30 to June 2 to strengthen global cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. Before arriving in Algeria, the delegation spent two days in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where they held extensive discussions with senior government officials, policy think tanks, media representatives, and the Indian diaspora. Baijayant Jay Panda told ANI that the talks were open and candid, particularly on the challenge of terrorism. "Saudi Arabia has a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism, like us. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia following the Pahalgam attack and the joint statement by both governments made it clear that there is no tolerance for any kind of terrorism," Panda said. He also highlighted the strengthening ties between India and Saudi Arabia in defence, counterterrorism, and trade, describing Saudi Arabia as a major regional power. The delegation also visited Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its traditional mud-brick architecture. The delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, also includes Nishikant Dubey MP, BJP; Phangnon Konyak, MP, BJP; Rekha Sharma MP, NJP; AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi; Satnam Singh Sandhu MP; Ghulam Nabi Azad; and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria. India has sent several all-party delegations to showcase India's resolve against terrorism and garner international support for a united stand against this global threat. The Indian government's diplomatic outreach efforts aim to strengthen partnerships with countries in East and Southeast Asia, emphasising the need for a collective response to the threat of terrorism. (ANI) An all-party Indian delegation, led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, paid tribute to BR Ambedkar at the Ambedkar Museum in London on Sunday, describing him as a "great Indian and a social reformer." Prasad noted that the Indian government had purchased the house where Ambedkar once lived, and the Indian High Commission now maintains it, along with four other sites associated with his legacy, recognized as 'Smriti Sthal.' Speaking to reporters, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "We are pleased to be here. Dr Ambedkar lived here for two years in London. The government has bought this house, and the Indian High Commission maintains it. We offered flowers to him. He was a great Indian. All five places related to him are maintained as 'Smriti Sthal'...We are happy to be here. My respect for Dr Ambedkar as he was a great social reformer." Former Union Minister MJ Akbar said Ambedkar's vision of a new social order and respect for every individual, challenging inconsistencies and inequalities of traditional social hierarchies, remains one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. Speaking to ANI, Akbar said, "Dr Ambedkar's vision of a new social order and respect for every individual, challenging inconsistencies and inequalities of our traditional social hierarchies, I think, remains one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. Today, we feel humbled and proud that we are on the premises of the home where so much of his achievement was conceived before it was brought into practice. He is one of the great people of modern India and the least we can do to pay homage to him is remember him each day." AIADMK MP, M Thambidurai, called BR Ambedkar a "great man" and stated that the delegation is pleased to come here to pay its respects to Ambedkar. He noted that India is running a government based on the constitution created by Ambedkar. On paying tribute to Ambedkar, he said, "A great opportunity as a delegation to come over here. At the same, you have the opportunity to see the memorial place of Dr. Ambedkar. He studied here, spent his time, his knowledge and everything, helped India to frame the constitution and also to uplift the suppressed people. He is a great man. In that way, we are, at the opportunity, happy to see that as a delegation, they have come over here, and it is our bounden duty to come and see the memorial in this place, and also pay our respect to Dr. Ambedkar. Therefore, the constitution has given every right, equal rights. But, India is running the government based on the constitution, democratic way, which our Ambedkar had created. But we are seeing unfortunate things happening in Pakistan, which they are not at all following the constitution and the democracy, which is an unfortunate thing." Indian High Commission in London said that the all-party delegation recalled that one of the most outrageous examples of Pakistan-abetted and directed terror began in Mumbai on 26 November 2008, on the anniversary of the adoption of our Constitution on that day in 1949, the drafting of which was led by Babasaheb Ambedkar In a post shared on X, the Indian High Commission in London stated, "All Party Delegation visited Ambedkar Museum in London and paid tributes to Dr. B R Ambedkar on the 75th anniversary of the entry into force of the Constitution of India. In commemorating Babasaheb's leadership and vision, they also recalled that one of the most outrageous examples of Pakistan-abetted and directed terror began in Mumbai on 26 November 2008, on the anniversary of the adoption of our Constitution on that day in 1949, the drafting of which was led by Babasaheb Ambedkar. They emphasized the resolve of Indian democracy to confront and defeat terrorism in all its forms." https://x.com/HCI_London/status/1929212579509104975 Earlier, India's High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, briefed the all-party delegation on India-UK ties, highlighting the strong diaspora ties and shared challenges in countering terrorism following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor. "The All-Party Delegation was briefed by team @HCI_London led by HC @VDoraiswami on India-UK bilateral relations, highlighting the strong diaspora ties, and shared challenges in countering terrorism in light of #PahalgamTerrorAttack and #OperationSindoor." https://x.com/HCI_London/status/1929120003250684279 An all-party delegation, led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, arrived in London on Saturday (local time) as part of India's global outreach program to convey the country's firm stance against terrorism. The delegation landed in the United Kingdom after completing visits to France, Italy, and Denmark, where they engaged with government officials, diaspora, and other stakeholders to raise awareness about India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. Upon their arrival, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "We are here in London. We will keep our stance on terrorism effectively, here. We believe that we will get that support here as well, the way we have received the support in those three countries." The Indian delegation, led by Ravi Shankar Prasad, includes BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari, Samik Bhattacharya, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress MPs Ghulam Ali Khatana and Amar Singh, former Union Minister MJ Akbar, and Ambassador Pankaj Saran is in Copenhagen. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in France, the UK, Germany, the EU, Italy and Denmark. (ANI) Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Karunanidhi, who is leading the all-party delegation to Spain, described interaction with the Indian community a "heartwarming experience" and noted that the kind of understanding the Indians in Spain had that they belong to India and how they want to fight against terrorism was a "positive message" and very promising." The all-party delegation interacted with the Indian diaspora in Spain and reaffirmed India's unwavering commitment to peace in the face of terrorism, the Indian Embassy in Spain said on Sunday. After interacting with the Indian diaspora in Spain, Kanimozhi said, "It was a very good interaction with the Indian community in Spain. We have a large number of Indian diaspora in Spain, just not the first generation people, it's people who've lived here, who are born and brought up here. Yet they came together to meet with the Indian delegation that had come here. And it was a very heartwarming experience and the kind of understanding they had and the feeling of, you know, that they belong to India and how they want to fight against terrorism, that was a very, very positive message, we'll be taking back with us and it was very promising." She also talked about the delegation's schedule in Spain, wherein the Members of Parliament will be meeting the country's Foreign Minister, parliamentarians and think tanks. She spoke about the meeting with a 26//11 Mumbai attack survivor. On the delegation's upcoming meetings in Spain, Kanimozhi said, "We'll be meeting with the Foreign Minister. We will be meeting with the think tanks, parliamentarians and many people. Today, we actually met with the person who was at the Taj Hotel when it was attacked by terrorists who escaped and he was sharing his experiences with us. Tomorrow, it's a very important day and we will as a delegation be talking to lawmakers and policymakers about India's stand and what we expect from Spain and we'll also be explaining about what is happening and we'll be answering any questions they have also." "The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation visiting Spain interacted with Mr Arturo Fernandez Alvarez, a Spanish businessman, who is a survivor of the horrible terror attacks that took place in Mumbai on 26 November 2008. Mr Arturo joined the delegation in condemning the menace of terrorism," Indian Embassy in Spain posted on X. https://x.com/IndiainSpain/status/1929203366669795472 Meanwhile, SP MP Rajeev Rai expressed hope that India will give a stronger response to Pakistan if it commits a terrorist attack again. He stated that Pakistan has a puppet government and the country needs to be isolated. "Wherever we have gone, every country said we are with India in this fight against terrorism...I hope that if Pakistan commits any terrorist attack again, we won't do the ceasefire this easily; the ceasefire should be done only after giving a befitting reply to cunning Pakistan, because you can't make the wicked learn through love. During the interaction, I told the story of Pakistan from 1947 to under Imran Khan-led government. Terrorism is in the DNA of Pakistan...Pakistan's army uses terrorism...Pakistan's government is a puppet government and I have been explaining this to the world, that whom should one talk to, as the government there is a puppet government. Pakistan needs to be isolated. I think the government has the support of the people and all the parties, and the government's response will be stronger if Pakistan dares to misbehave again," he told ANI. According to the Indian Embassy in Spain, the all-party delegation, during the interaction with the Indian diaspora, emphasised that India will lead the global fight against terrorism, upholding the values of peace and resilience. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in Spain stated, "The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation had an insightful interaction with the Indian diaspora, reaffirming India's unwavering commitment to peace in the face of terrorism. They emphasised that India will lead the global fight against terrorism, upholding the values of peace and resilience." https://x.com/IndiainSpain/status/1929223885288825229 The all-party delegation, led by Kanimozhi, includes Rajeev Rai (Samajwadi Party), Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Prem Chand Gupta (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Ashok Kumar Mittal (Aam Aadmi Party), and Former envoys Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf. Earlier, the all-party delegation paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Madrid. The delegation is on the final leg of its multi-nation visit as part of the Modi government's big diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor. In a diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, the Modi government has formed seven multi-party delegations to inform nations about Pakistan's links to terrorism and India's strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism. Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by Pak-sponsored terrorists in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces 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. (ANI) Nepal's longest-chariot procession, dedicated of Rato Machhindranath, the valley's "Red God" has concluded for the year with the showing of 'Bhoto' or the jewel-studded vest, which has remained unclaimed for ages. The chariot procession of Rato Machhindranath is observed for at least a month to the four months' end with showing the 'Bhoto', expecting the rightful owner to come and claim it. Historians are yet to determine the exact origin date of Bhoto Jatra. However, many mention that the chariot procession of Machindranath started around 1,300 years ago. As the legend goes, shortly after the procession started, the queen of the serpent king Karkotak developed an eye ailment. While searching for a healer, Karkotak mistook a farmer working in the fields for a physician and brought him to Taudaha, a wetland on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Frightened, the farmer prayed to Machhindranath and rubbed his hands on the soil to make an herbal paste. He offered it to Karkotak as medicine, and the paste cured the queen's eyes. Grateful, Karkotak rewarded the farmer with a jewel-studded vest (photo) and returned him to the human world. The farmer began wearing the bhoto while working in his fields. One day, a ghost in human form stole the vest. The farmer searched everywhere but could not find it. Later, while attending the Machhindranath chariot festival, he saw the ghost wearing the same vest and claimed it as his. When the ghost refused to return it, a dispute broke out. People summoned Karkotak to resolve the conflict. In the end, because neither party could prove ownership, they entrusted the bhoto to Machhindranath. Since then, devotees have followed the tradition of displaying the bhoto after the chariot procession, hoping that someone with valid proof of ownership will come forward. Each year, they display the sacred vest on an auspicious date. According to legend, no one has succeeded in proving ownership of the bhoto so far. Speaking to ANI, Rishil Shrestha, a festival goer, said, "The observance of the festival has passed down to generations. The RatoMachhindranath Jatra starts from Pulchowk and after the entourage of the city, the chariot is finally brought here to Jawalakhel and the procession ends with the display of Bhoto." The Bhoto displayed annually at Jawalakhel in Lalitpur has pearls and jewels attached on it. The jewel-studded vest is packed and kept inside the cloth pouch for a year and opened only in the presence of Sthe tate head on particular day fixed by the priests when the Rato Machhindranath Jatra commences. The showing of vest on that particular day shows it to be safe with the state, and who so over is the owner of the vest is to come and claim it. This practice which has run for a long now has become an integral part of month's long festival. Along with, there also exists another myth about the commencement of the festival in Nepal's oldest cities. According to Hindu culture, there is a myth that yogi Gorakhnath (Founder of Nath Hindu) came to seek alms in Patan. The people of that region did not provide him with any alms. Hence, he became very furious and captured all the rain-causing serpent andsat above them and meditated. There was no rain in Patan for ages. To solve problems, astrologers and Pandits advised the king to invite Machhedranath. Machhedranath is believed to be teacher of yogi Gorakhnath; knowing that his teacher was in town, he went to meet him freeing all the serpents which resulted in plenty of rainfall. So, this festival is also claimed as the symbol of rain and fertility. This festival is celebrated by pulling the wooden wheeled chariot along various parts of the city. A 60-foot-tall spire fabricated from bamboo poles raised from all four ends is carried by the chariot. (ANI) OSAKA, Jun 01 (News On Japan) - A grand maritime parade featuring the iconic Japanese tall ship Nippon Maru and around 50 small yachts took place in Osaka Bay on May 31st near Yumeshima, the man-made island hosting the Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai. The Nippon Maru is one of Japans most celebrated sailing ships, originally built in 1930 as a training vessel for cadets of the merchant marine. Constructed at the Kawasaki Shipyard in Kobe, the ship measures about 97 meters in length and features four towering masts rigged with 29 sails, earning it the nickname "Swan of the Pacific" for its graceful appearance at sea. For more than half a century, the Nippon Maru served as a training platform, preparing over 11,000 cadets during its active years. The ship sailed extensively, both in domestic waters and abroad, representing Japan at international maritime events and goodwill visits. In 1984, the vessel was retired from active training duty and later preserved as a museum ship in Yokohamas Minato Mirai district, where it remains docked today, welcoming visitors aboard. In 1989, a second-generation Nippon Maru was launched to continue training operations, ensuring that the spirit and tradition of the original vessel lived on. Source: Kyodo Kitakyushu, Jun 02 (News On Japan) - Nippon Steel, which operates major steelworks in Kitakyushu, announced on May 30th a new investment plan to introduce an electric arc furnace that uses electricity instead of coal to produce steel. The company will invest approximately 630 billion yen in the Yawata area of Kyushu Works in Kitakyushu to construct the first-phase electric arc furnace, with an annual production capacity of around 2 million tons. Currently, the site operates a traditional blast furnace that relies on coal, but switching to an electric furnace is expected to significantly cut carbon dioxide emissions, though it may also result in higher production costs. Kitakyushu Mayor Kenji Takeuchi welcomed the move, stating, "This development will establish Kitakyushu not only within Japan but globally as a new center for manufacturing and innovation. Its a major and encouraging step forward." Nippon Steel plans to introduce electric furnaces at three domestic sites, including Kitakyushu, and aims to begin operations by the second half of fiscal 2029. Source: FBS We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Moroccos automotive sector, phosphates, agri-food and the aerospace industry exports showed resilience in the face of global economic uncertainties and helped mitigate an expanding trade deficit in the first four months this year. Home to production plants by Stellantis Renault and part suppliers, the automotive sector sold 49 billion dirhams, down 7%, topping all industrial exports. Thanks to the Worlds largest reserves, Morocco exported 27.6 billion dirhams of phosphates and fertilizers, up 12.3%. The phosphates giant OCP said earlier this week exports have improved in the first quarter thanks to higher demand from key markets in Europe, Brazil, India and Africa and Chinese DAP/MAP export restrictions. The growing aerospace industry reported exports up 1% to 9 billion dirhams, while the agrifood industry exports were stable at 35 billion dirhams. Most of Moroccos imports were finished and semi-finished products, consumption goods, and equipment totaling 178 billion dirhams. Food imports, including wheat, rose to 33.4 billion and energy imports decreased to 37.29, thanks to a drop in prices. Remittances from Moroccans abroad, key to its inflow of hard currency, dropped 3.7% to 35.9 billion dirhams, while tourism revenue was up 7.5% to 34.5 billion dirhams. Foreign direct investments rose 22.8% to 17.2 billion dirhams. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has posthumously awarded the Dag Hammarskjold Medal to 1st Corporal Karim Temara, a member of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, during a ceremony held lately at UN Headquarters in New York. Temara died in 2024 while serving with the UN Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). The medal was handed over to Moroccos Permanent Representative to UN Omar Hilale in presence of Military Advisor Colonel Najim Assid. On this occasion, the UN Secretary General paid tribute to the more than 4,400 peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948. Last year, 57 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers fell under the UN flag and were honored with posthumous medals. In his message, the UN Chief said: Today, we honor their service, we draw our inspiration from their resilience, dedication, and courage. And we remember all the brave women and men who made the ultimate sacrifice for peace. Today, nearly 70,000 men and women serve as UN military, police, or civilian personnel in 11 conflict zones in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Currently, 119 UN member countries provide UN Blue Helmets. Morocco is one of the major contributors to UN peacekeeping operations with 1,700 military and police peacekeepers deployed in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan. The UN refugee agency has decided to close its offices in Laayoune (Southern Morocco) and Tindouf camps (Algeria) by the end of September 2025, according to diplomatic sources cited by several press reports. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has informed its employees in these two locations as well as 14 employees operating in Rabat that their contracts will be terminated by Sept.30. The UN agency said it will end operations in the three coming months due to lack of funding. The UNHCR had supervised the Confidence-Building Measures program, launched by the UN nearly twenty years ago. This program had allowed thousands of Sahrawis, residing either in the Sahara or in the Tindouf camps, to visit their families. In 2013, the Polisario separatist front unilaterally announced its withdrawal from the program. The UN attempted twice, in 2016 and 2019, to revive the family visits between the two sides, without success. Some experts say the withdrawal of the UNHCR comes following the growing international recognition of Moroccos sovereignty over the entire Saharan territory and support for the autonomy plan offered by the North African Kingdom for the Sahara as the ONLY realistic solution to the Sahara regional conflict. Additionally, the move reflects a shift in the UNs perspective, no longer viewing those living in Tindouf camps as refugees but as permanent residents on Algerian soil, suffering inhumane conditions and deprived of basic human rights, including freedom of expression and movement. On the contrary, Moroccan Sahrawis are living in peace, security, and prosperity in Laayoune and other Moroccan southern provinces, which are witnessing inclusive growth and impressive socioeconomic development. The UNHCRs decision sends a strong message to the Algerian regime and their Polisario puppets, telling them that their game and procrastination tactics are over. Both the Algerian junta and the separatist group are using innocent people held in Tindouf camps to serve their own political agenda, fuel continuous tension in the region and blackmail international community to get humanitarian aid which they re-sale in black markets to line-up their pockets. After five decades and billions of dollars spent, no progress has been made and the UN-led political process for the resolution of the Sahara issue remains stalled due to the disengagement and procrastination of Algeria and Polisario. Experts say time has come to end failed peacekeeping missions such as MINURSO and UNHCR which at best, do nothing and, at worst, preserve conflict. The United Kingdom, permanent member of the UN Security Council, has joined many major super powers to express clear support for Moroccos autonomy plan for the Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty, a plan it considers the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis for settling the dispute. and said it intends to act in line with this position at the bilateral, regional, and international levels, and can consider supporting projects in the Sahara. The United Kingdom considers Moroccos autonomy proposal, submitted in 2007 as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute over the Sahara, and shall continue to act bilaterally, including economically, regionally, and internationally in line with this position to support resolution of the conflict. This position was expressed in a Joint Communique signed, in Rabat this Sunday June 1, during the 4th Morocco-UK Joint Strategic Dialogue, co-chaired by British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy, and Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita. The UK follows closely the current positive dynamic on this issue under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, the Joint Communique states. London recognizes the importance of the Western Sahara issue for the Kingdom of Morocco, the document points out, noting that the settlement of this regional dispute would strengthen the stability of North Africa and the relaunch of the bilateral dynamic and regional integration. The UK affirms that it can consider supporting projects in the Sahara, notably as part of the UK Export Finances 5bn commitment to support new business across the country, the Joint Communique underlines, affirming that the UK recognizes Morocco as a key gateway to Africas socio-economic development and reaffirms its commitment to deepening engagement with Morocco as a partner for growth across the continent. According to the Joint Communique, both countries support, and consider vital, the central role of the UN-led process in the issue, and reaffirm their full support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy, Mr. Staffan de Mistura. To this end, the UK underlines that it is ready, willing, and committed to lend its active support and engagement to the Personal Envoy and the parties. As a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, the United Kingdom agrees with Morocco on the urgent need to find a resolution to this long-held dispute, which would be in the interest of the parties, the document notes, adding that the time for a resolution and for moving this issue forwards is long-overdue, and would strengthen the stability of North Africa and the relaunch of the bilateral dynamic and regional integration. This new position of the United Kingdom, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, aligns with the strong stances expressed by many major powers, notably the United States, France, and Spain, and reinforces the growing international momentum driven by King Mohammed VI in support of the Autonomy Plan under Moroccan sovereignty. It also confirms the credibility of this initiative and the broad consensus backing it to reach a final settlement of the regional dispute over the Sahara. A high-level Moroccan medical team conducted a series of complex surgical procedures in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, at the National Hospital Center. This initiative is part of an advanced health partnership between the center and Moroccos Ibn Sina University Hospital. This medical campaign, conducted with the participation of both Moroccan and Mauritanian surgeons, aims to provide essential care for patients suffering from complicated conditions related to the liver, bile ducts, and pancreas. It also seeks to expand the capabilities of local teams through knowledge transfer and the exchange of advanced medical expertise. The surgeries are overseen by a Moroccan medical team made up of renowned doctors with international credentials, working alongside Mauritanian specialists who are actively participating in both the operations and training sessions. This reflects a bilateral cooperation approach designed to gradually achieve self-sufficiency in such sensitive medical interventions. In a special statement to the Mauritanian News Agency, the Director General of the National Hospital Center, Mr. Cherif Jedou Mini, noted that this initiative is part of a joint action plan agreed upon last April, which aims to establish sustainable cooperation between the two health institutions in Mauritania and Morocco. He emphasized that this medical mission presents a valuable opportunity for Mauritanian healthcare professionals to gain both practical and theoretical experience in dealing with liver and pancreatic diseases. One of the key objectives, he added, is to reduce the need to send patients abroad for treatment, thereby alleviating financial and emotional burdens. For his part, Professor Othman Mouhihem, one of the Moroccan surgeons leading this campaign, highlighted that the mission is not limited to surgical operations. It also includes lectures and training sessions for Mauritanian physicians, meant to enhance their skills and equip them with the scientific and practical tools needed to keep pace with medical advancements in the field. He added that such initiatives embody the spirit of active cooperation between the two countries and help ensure that Mauritanian patients can receive appropriate care in their own country, reducing medical evacuations and expenses, in addition to promoting capacity building. This initiative stands as a successful example of South-South cooperation in the health sector and reinforces the bonds of brotherhood and solidarity between Morocco and Mauritania. Alayna Wilson, Miss Douglas County, hosted a confidence workshop for Girl Scouts at Rock Church Saturday. Wilson said she was excited to meet all 11 girls from the local Girls Scouts troop. The entire outline of the workshop Wilson said is to tell her story and the things that matter to her. We will talk about their unique abilities and differences, Wilson said. And then I will get to read a book that I wrote called Unlocking Your Superpower. During her time as a Miss Nebraska contestant, the Columbus native has helped donate to pediatric cancer research and raise awareness. Wilson said her program helps raise awareness, sympathy and empathy for those diagnosed with cancer, but also talks about the entire book-making process. I would not have been able to write this book and publish it and give it to hundreds of children if I didnt lean to other peoples strengths that I didnt carry that time, she said. Wilson said that later the Girl Scouts would be making cards for kids in the hospital. Wilson also performed the talent portion of her program one last time before performing it on the Miss Nebraska stage at the end of the week. And then we are going to hang out and talk, she added. Girl Scouts troop leader Lisa Frederick said they corroborated with Wilson, and she just came to town a little bit early to do the event with them. Frederick said the topic was how to be confident and be yourself; you dont have to be different. She taught the girls that its OK to be different and true to yourself. You dont have to be like everyone else to be cool, she added. Frederick said especially at the age the Girl Scouts are, they like to be like everyone else and its hard at their age to truly be true to who they are because they think they might not be cool enough. So having Wilson here especially as a title holder to talk to the girls about things like this will encourage them to embrace their differences and shine their light that way instead of trying to be like everyone else, she said. Wilson will be competing for the sixth time at Miss Nebraska. She was first-runner up a year ago to current Miss Nebraska Raechel Warren. My entire goal as Miss Nebraska is to influence the lives of young girls and theres no better compliment than acknowledging that I am who I needed when I was a 12-year-old girl, she added. Wilson said she is no stranger to the Miss Nebraska stage; her sixth time competing and has been involved for the past eight years. I didnt just wake up this morning deciding to take on the job of Miss Nebraska, she said. This is something I have had to work for every single year and every year am told not yet gives me another year where I get to refine my skills and I get to pour more into my community -and take on different challenges and endeavors that I would not have been able to otherwise. Wilson said no matter what happens, of course I hope to get away as Miss Nebraska but even if not, I gained so much from this year, and nothing can take that away from her. She encouraged girls to look at the many opportunities available in Miss Nebraska because it is the opportunity of a lifetime and as much as you give it you will get even more back. The shift towards nuclear energy in Europe is driven by a desire for energy independence, a reaction to recent energy market volatility, and the need for a stable energy supply while renewable energy infrastructure develops. Europe is embracing nuclear energy with a new vigor. Even the most historically staunch nuclear opponents are softening their restrictions on the carbon-free form of energy production as the continent continues to pivot away from oil and gas imports and toward energy independence in the long shadow of Russias invasion in Ukraine and the European energy crisis that followed. In March, the government of Italy made a significant step toward overturning the nations 40-year ban on nuclear power production. In April, leadership in Spain indicated that they would be open to reconsidering the phase-out of nuclear plants in that nation. And just this month, Denmark followed Italys lead in publicly announcing the legal revisitation of its nuclear ban, and Germany Europes starkest nuclear energy adversary agreed to drop its opposition to nuclear power in European Union legislation, in cooperation with France. A German official called the move a sea-change policy shift that will remove roadblocks and increase efficiency in energy policymaking within the European Union. According to a report from CNBC, The renewed European interest in nuclear shows how some countries are hedging their bets in pursuit of more energy independence. However, its also related to the hidden cost of balancing and transporting electricity from renewables, the outlet reports. While solar and wind remain much cheaper alternatives for power generation, their rapid expansion in European grids has not been without challenges. Last month, one of the worst blackouts in European history crippled power grids across Spain and Portugal, and many think that the rapid buildout of renewable resources in that region could be to blame. While official reports on the cause of the blackout are still in investigation stages, critics have been quick to point to the fact that around 70% of Spain's electricity production at the time of the blackout, and that Spains solar capacity growth has outpaced the rest of Europe by a factor of two. Furthermore, the pivot toward renewable energy has caused some volatility in European energy markets, where prices have occasionally dropped below zero over the past year. While these price crashes are great news for European consumers, who have been battered by high utility bills in recent years, theyre bad news for the sector and the climate, as they can discourage further investment in renewable capacity expansion. Despite these challenges, solar and wind remain critically important to Europes energy independence and for climate goals. But leadership is clearly looking for a stop-gap while renewable-charged grids get their sea legs. Solar and wind are still the cheapest and fastest way to drive the green transition, and that remains our focus. But we also need to understand whether new nuclear technologies can play a supporting role, Lars Aagaard, Denmarks minister for climate, energy and utilities, was quoted by CNBC. A lot of this renewed attention to nuclear power is focused on the rollout of small modular reactors, rather than traditional nuclear plants. This relatively nascent technology offers a lot of advantages for countries like Denmark and Italy who phased out their nuclear workforces, and thereby national nuclear expertise, years ago. Unlike full-scale nuclear power plants, which require years of design and planning, these small modules are built in a factory setting and assembled on-site with a relatively small crew, and require little oversight. We have no recent experience with nuclear power, and we lack the necessary knowledge regarding safety and waste management. Thats why we must begin a serious analysis not to replace solar and wind, but to see whether new nuclear can complement our energy system in the future, Aagaard said about Denmarks aversion to traditional nuclear development. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com NORMAL While inpatient behavioral health services are a necessity everywhere, they are often considered a last resort, as there are many local outpatient resources available. Earlier this year, Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal launched a Mental Health Intensive Outpatient Program, a daytime program in which patients can participate in educational and counseling groups, meet with a licensed therapist and develop a Wellness Recovery Activity Plan, or WRAP. The center is on the hospital's main campus at 1304 Franklin Ave. in Normal. Wendi Ashford, manager of therapy services and program development, has been with Carle for over eight years and has worked in the mental health and addiction recovery field for over 30 years. In speaking about how Carle is working to further develop its mental health resources, Ashford said, "By opening up this center right here. Patients can either up-step from individual sessions they're doing with their therapist, or down-step from the mental health (inpatient) unit, once they get stable, then they can come here. So, it's a place where they can come learn more skills and practice here, and then go out in the community ... and come back and tell us how it works." The outpatient program is offered from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday during four to six week periods for 12-14 individuals at a time. New clients are being accepted, but they must be 18 or older and be referred by a health care provider; they do not have to be Carle patients already. Ashford said one of the most common misconceptions about mental health treatment is people will be automatically be admitted if they are experiencing a mental health issue. She recalled a patient who believed she needed inpatient treatment but was apprehensive because of what she had seen on television, and she had never seen a mental health unit in real life. "Most people think you seek out treatment if you have something chronic or severe going on ... not realizing that's not where it has to start. ... Even if you have something mildly going on, treatment is there, and you should seek it out," Ashford said. "It's not the scary place that it once was. You know, it's welcoming pictures on the wall ... it's a pretty place, actually ... walls have color ... it's just a real nice, peaceful place to be in." Carle has a recreational therapist who offers group therapy, incorporating games, yoga and other activities, as well as a volunteer who sings to patients. Mental health first aid classes are available, too, and offered at various locations in Bloomington-Normal, Champaign-Urbana, Eureka, Olney, or as a virtual option. Angie McLaughlin is the behavioral health practice manager at Carle BroMenn's Outpatient Center at 3024 E. Empire St. in Bloomington, which focuses on psychiatry, counseling and psychology for ages 5 and up. In 2024, the Outpatient Center saw 22,150 visits from over 3,300 patients throughout the state. McLaughlin said as patients are referred by their primary care providers, Carle personnel are able to develop relationships with both the patient and provider, which also helps keep patients from needing to go to the emergency room or inpatient unit. Carle also has a nurse navigator who helps patients access resources while they're waiting for services. McLaughlin said Carle has added several mental health providers over the last few years, which has helped alleviate waitlists and make care more accessible to those who need it. Just two years ago, Carle was the only site in Central Illinois that had child psych providers taking new patients. Now there are approximately 518 child psychiatrists throughout Illinois, according to US News Health. "Carle is a part of the McLean County effort ... there was a behavioral health coordinating council that had been in place for a long time that had some things that got revamped last year," McLaughlin said. "(We're) really looking at what our priorities are as a community, and then how do we really work towards them together. Access to basic counseling and psychiatry services is always going to be an issue." This effort includes the Center for Youth and Family Solutions, Project Oz, homeless shelters, the local hospitals, Chestnut Health Systems and the Center for Human Services. McLaughlin said she would like to see supportive services and more integrated care within local schools and other areas, so families don't have to face mental health issues alone. OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington offers behavioral and mental health support to children, teens and adults, including short-term treatment and long-term management ranging from outpatient therapy to medication management. There is also McLean County's Frequent User System Engagement, or FUSE program, which is run through the health department and offers wraparound services for those diagnosed with serious mental health issues and who are frequent users of emergency departments, inpatient units, jails and homeless shelters. Carle even has an adult psychiatric nurse practitioner who provides services for Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University students, and another psychiatric nurse practitioner who serves patients at the McLean County jail. At the Center for Human Services in downtown Bloomington, Chief Clinical Officer Kim Freymann oversees the center's program managers and outpatient clinical programs, which includes the behavioral health urgent care program. Freymann said new grant funding has allowed them to see children as young as 5 for psychiatric medication management. They also have an outreach counseling program where they work with school-age kids, even when they're out of school. Meghan Moser is the center's crisis program manager. The grant-funded crisis program has existed in the area for nearly 50 years, and the mobile crisis team helps facilitate free transportation to the hospitals for psychiatric hospitalization. In 2024, the center had 3,497 clients, with most of them being Caucasian women ages 22-30, and mainly residing in Bloomington. "We've had a mobile crisis team for a very long time in McLean County, which is not true for a lot of other places," Moser said. "It's been a more recent occurrence that when the State of Illinois went to become a 988 state (referring to the suicide and crisis lifeline, 988), they started making a mandate that each county have ... some type of a crisis team. However, we're really lucky, because we're a crisis team for our county, and pretty much our county alone. Some of the other areas have one team for like four different counties, so obviously that's a lot of coverage area." 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 tourist explores the Ritacuba Blanco glacier at the Natural National Park Nevado El Cocuy in Boyaca Department, Colombia, on April 19, 2024. More than three-quarters of the world's glaciers are set to vanish if climate change continues unchecked, a major new study warned Thursday, fueling sea-level rise and jeopardizing water supplies for billions. Published in Science, the international analysis provides the clearest picture yet of long-term glacier loss, revealing that every fraction of a degree in global temperature rise significantly worsens the outlook. It may sound grim, but co-lead author Harry Zekollari, a glaciologist at Vrije Universiteit Brussel and ETH Zurich, told AFP the findings should be seen as a "message of hope." Under existing climate policies, global temperatures are projected to reach 2.7 degrees Celsius (4.9F) above pre-industrial levels by 2100a pathway that would ultimately erase 76% of current glacier mass over the coming centuries. But if warming is held to the Paris Agreement's 1.5C target, 54% of glacial mass could be preserved, according to the study, which combined outputs from eight glacier models to simulate ice loss across a range of future climate scenarios. "What is really special about this study is we can really show how every tenth of a degree of additional warming matters," co-lead author Lilian Schuster of the University of Innsbruck told AFP. The paper's release comes as Swiss authorities monitor flood risks following the collapse of the massive Birch Glacier, which destroyed an evacuated village. While Swiss glaciers have been heavily impacted by climate change, it remains unclear how much the latest disaster was driven by warming versus natural geological forces. Cultural and economic importance Glaciers are found on every continent except Australiafrom Mount Kilimanjaro to the Austrian Alps and the Karakoram range in Pakistan. While most are clustered in the polar regions, their presence in mountain ranges across the world makes them vital to local ecosystems, agriculture and human communities. Vast bodies of snow, ice, rock, and sediment that gain mass in winter and lose it in summer, glaciers formed in Earth's deep past when conditions were far colder than today. Their meltwater sustains rivers critical for farming, fisheries, and drinking water. A woman looks on with the Pizol range in the background during a symbolic farewell ceremony to mark a glacier's disappearance in 2019, in eastern Switzerland. Their loss can have profound ripple effects, from disrupting tourism economies to eroding cultural heritage. In recent years, symbolic glacier funerals have been held in Iceland, Switzerland and Mexico. "The question I always get is, why are you a glaciologist in Belgium?" said Zekollari. "Wellsea level rise. Glaciers melt everywhere on Earth... and that affects coastal defenses even in places far from mountains." Around 25% of current sea-level rise is attributed to glacier melt. Even if all fossil fuel use stopped today, the study finds that 39% of glacier mass loss is already locked inenough to raise sea levels by at least 113 millimeters (4.4 inches). Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Uneven impacts One key finding of the study is that some glaciers are far more vulnerable than othersand the global average obscures drastic regional losses. Glaciers in the European Alps, the Rockies of the US and Canada, and Iceland are expected to lose nearly all their ice at 2C of warmingthe fallback goal of the Paris accord. In the central and eastern Himalayas, whose rivers support hundreds of millions of people, only 25% of glacier ice would remain at 2C. By contrast, the west of the range may retain 60% of its ice at the same temperature thanks to its wide range of elevations, which allows some glaciers to persist at colder, higher altitudes, said Shuster. Glacier loss is already affecting communities. In a related commentary in Science, Cymene Howe and Dominic Boyer of Rice University describe how the retreat of Oregon's Glisan Glacier has imperiled orchards, fisheries, and the cultural heritage of the Indigenous Quinault people. "Unfortunately we'll lose a lot, but with ambitious targets we can still save many of these glacierswhich are not only beautiful, but vital for water supply, sea-level regulation, tourism, hydroelectricity, spiritual values, ecology, and more," said Zekollari. More information: Harry Zekollari et al, Glacier preservation doubled by limiting warming to 1.5C versus 2.7C, Science (2025). DOI: 10.1126/science.adu4675. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adu4675 Journal information: Science 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Geographic and temporal framework of the analyzed ancient and modern individuals. Credit: Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ads6284 People coming from the north settled South America. The first hunter-gatherers entered the continent from the region of what is Colombia today and then spread out from there. An international research team from the University of Tubingen, the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment and the Universidad Nacional de Colombia have now found genetic evidence of a previously unknown, early population. These early settlers of the high plains around Bogota, the Altiplano, have been dated back to 6,000 years ago. They represent a population that has yet to be described. They disappeared 2,000 years ago at the latest and were replaced by a second migration from Central America. The study is published in the journal Science Advances. The research team investigated the genetic material of 21 individuals from five archaeological sites on the Colombian high plains. Senior study author Professor Cosimo Posth from the University of Tubingen says, "These are the first ancient human genomes from Colombia ever to be published." The genetic samples were taken from bones and teeth, and cover a time period of almost 6,000 years, until shortly before the start of Spanish colonization. The oldest individuals come from the Checua excavation site north of Bogota, at an elevation of around 3,000 meters. Complete change of population The genomes from the Checua site belong to individuals from a comparatively small population of hunter-gatherers on the Altiplano. "Our results show that the Checua individuals derive from the earliest population that spread and differentiated across South America very rapidly," says the study's first author, Kim-Louise Krettek, of the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment. What surprised the researchers was that the genetic material of these people disappeared completely and can no longer be detected in individuals from the region who are around 2,000 years old. Krettek explains, "We couldn't find descendants of these early hunter-gatherers of the Colombian high plainsthe genes were not passed on. That means in the area around Bogota there was a complete exchange of the population." The genetic examinations suggest the culture of the Altiplano which followed came via people from Central American regions. "In addition to technological developments such as ceramics, the people of this second migration probably also brought the Chibchan languages into what is present-day Colombia. Branches of this language family are still spoken in Central America today," says co-author Andrea Casas-Vargas of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. "That genetic traces of the original population disappear completely is unusual, especially in South America," Casas-Vargas says. Up to now, strong genetic continuity has been observed in the population of the Andes and the southern cone of South America over long time periods and cultural changes, she elaborates. "And it was that way as well in the populations which followed the hunter-gatherers in the Bogota Altiplano until the arrival of European conquerors about 500 years ago, although in this region there was massive cultural change with the development of the Muisca culture," says Casas-Vargas. Genetic history is not cultural history "Questions about history and origins touch upon a sensitive area of the self-perception and identity of the Indigenous population," says Cosimo Posth. "The genetic disposition must not be viewed as equal to cultural identity." That is whybefore they concluded their workthe research team from Tubingen and Bogota interacted with the Guardia Indigena Muisca, the living descendants of the Muisca culture in the high plains of Bogota. Posth says, "As scientists addressing questions relevant to the Indigenous communities in Colombia, we respect and value the wealth of community-based knowledge." More information: Kim-Louise Krettek et al, A 6000-year-long genomic transect from the Bogota Altiplano reveals multiple genetic shifts in the demographic history of Colombia, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ads6284 Journal information: Science Advances 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 During his first few months in office, President Donald Trump has been establishing a framework for deporting undocumented immigrants en masse. It's something he has previously vowed will be "the largest deportation operation in the history of our country." Part of that operation includes what's known as the federal 287(g) program. Established in 1996, it allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, whose work is normally carried out by federal officials, to train state and local authorities to function as federal immigration officers. Under 287(g), for example, local police officers can interview people to determine their immigration status. They can also issue immigration detainers to jail people until agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement take custody. "Illegal immigration has wide-ranging consequences, including a troubling surge of dangerous drugs into our state," T.K. Waters, sheriff of Jacksonville, Florida, said in a February 2025 statement to explain his office's participation in 287(g). "We remain committed to partnering with President Trump's administration and our federal counterparts to secure our borders, protect Floridians, and establish a framework for the rest of the nation to follow." Local police authorities across the countryfrom Jackson County, Texas, to Frederick County, Marylandare participating in 287(g) for similar reasons. Since Trump began his second term in January, ICE has increased 287(g) agreements from 135 in 25 states in December 2024 to 628 in 40 states as of May 28, 2025. As a criminal justice scholar, I believe the surge of 287(g) agreements sets a dangerous precedent for local policing, where forging relationships and building the trust of immigrants is a proven and effective tactic in combating crime. In my view, the expansion of 287(g) will erode that trust and makes entire communitiesnot just immigrantsless safe. Past federal-local cooperation There is a long history of federal authorities collaborating with local police to enforce immigration laws. During the Great Depression, federal officials blamed Latinos for taking American jobs, and local agencies helped them deport up to 1.8 million people to Mexico. It's estimated that 60% of those deported were U.S. citizens. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. In the early 1930s, local police participated in immigration raids in California and other states. As author Adam Goodman details in his book "The Deportation Machine," state and local government agencies, including social workers, welfare agencies and police, acted as "de facto immigration agents." Trump's mass deportation plan mirrors President Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1954 federal immigration initiative, which resulted in 1.3 million deportations. As author Natalia Molina notes in her book "How Race is Made in America," local police often served as "immigration cops" in Eisenhower's program because the federal government "did not have enough agents to cover such a large territory" as the U.S. During his two terms, President Barack Obama deported over 5 million people and used the 287(g) program to help him do that, primarily to target jailed or recently arrived undocumented people. Obama's use of 287(g) peaked at 76 agreements during his first term but dropped to 35 during his second term. A Justice Department investigation launched in 2008 found the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office in Arizona engaged in unconstitutional law enforcement actions against Latinos. The Justice Department found that the sheriff's office engaged in a pattern of "unlawful seizures, including unjustified stops, detentions, and arrests, of Latinos in violation of the Fourth Amendment." Power of local policing Forty states have adopted 287(g) agreements as of May 2025. This could have effects outside of the immigration laws. In the past 45 years, many law enforcement professionals in urban areas have highlighted the importance of forging relationships and building trust with immigrant communities. That's because the police depend on the participation of all citizens to prevent crime and solve criminal investigations. But police departments across the U.S. have found that 287(g) partnerships erode that trust. In 1979, Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl Gates created Special Order 40 that prohibited local officers from enforcing immigration laws in response to community complaints alleging discrimination against Latinos. Gates issued the order "to encourage immigrants to cooperate with police and build community trust." Other large police departments followed. In places such as Chicago and San Francisco, they shifted focus from helping federal immigration officials to prioritizing community relationships. William Bratton, who led six police departments, including in Boston, Los Angeles and New York, criticized 287(g) in a 2009 op-ed. He said that deputizing local officers to enforce immigration laws immediately "undermines their core public safety mission." Conservative police scholar George Kelling, co-author of the broken windows theory, which presumes that visible signs of disorder can lead to crime, also expressed support for local police agencies prioritizing their community relationships. In a 1999 study, Kelling highlighted a San Diego police memo announcing its refusal to enforce federal immigration laws. The San Diego Police Department, he wrote, "thought through its values, mission, and functions and elaborated a policy that put public safety and harmony above aggressive attempts to ferret out undocumented aliens." During Trump's first administration, some police chiefs echoed Bratton and Kelling. They warned that employing local officers to enforce immigration measures could spark fear and damage public safety. Former Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole stated in 2016 that Seattle police officers were prohibited from "inquiring about a person's immigration status." And former Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn announced in 2016 that his department does not enforce immigration law. He added, "It is our opinion, our strongly held belief that our responsibility is to protect the residents of our city. To protect them, they must trust us, they must be willing to report crimes, they must be willing to be witnesses." Consequences of 287(g) President Trump has frequently linked immigrants with higher crime rates, calling them murderers and rapists. But multiple studies have found that undocumented people commit fewer crimes than U.S. citizens. Although the Trump administration is expanding the use of local police in immigration enforcement, research casts doubt on using mass deportation as a crime reduction strategy. A 2018 study on 287(g) from the libertarian Cato Institute found no evidence that ICE-led partnerships with local police decreased crime rates. And a 2014 study on the Secure Communities Program, which calls for local police agencies to share arrestee information with federal immigration officials, found that this program has "no discernible impact" on crime in medium and large municipalities. The Trump administration's expansion of 287(g) ignores the shift that some big city police departments have made away from immigration enforcement in favor of community policing. And I believe it threatens to undermine the relationship between local police and the increasingly diverse communities they serve. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A major Australian study tracking more than 80,000 Queenslanders from birth to adulthood reveals stark differences between men and women in patterns of criminal behavior. These patterns offer insights into effective crime prevention strategies. Our findings point to a clear takeaway: most people will never seriously come into contact with the criminal justice system. But for the small proportion who do, their paths into crime are shaped early and differently for men and women. That means crime prevention efforts need to start earlier and be tailored to the experiences of those most at risk. A rare opportunity Our research followed more than 83,000 people born in Queensland in 1983 and 1984, and linked their early life records with official police data to understand who offended and how their patterns changed over time. Few studies worldwide have followed such a large population from childhood through to early adulthood. This gave us a unique opportunity to examine not just if people committed crime, but when, how often and the types and seriousness of their offenses. Most people don't offend but some dorepeatedly The clearest finding was also the most reassuring: the vast majority of people never commit serious offenses. That means efforts to prevent crime can be more precisely targeted, ensuring interventions focus on a smaller, high-risk group rather than the general population. Non-offending was most prevalent, but five distinct offending groups for both men and women were identified. Among men, these ranged from those who rarely offended to a small group that started early and continued into adulthood, and another that mostly offended during adolescence but later stopped. In contrast, most women fell into the low or non-offending groups. Only a small proportion followed a pattern of serious or repeat offending. These trajectories were categorized as follows: Women: non-offending: 79.9% adolescent-limited low: 8.5% adult-onset low: 8.6% early adult-onset escalating: 1.3% early onset young adult peak: 1.4% chronic early adult peak: 0.4% Men: non-offending: 54.4% low: 31.0% early adult-onset low: 6.5% early onset young adult peak: 4.8% chronic adolescent-onset: 2.2% chronic early adult peak: 1.1% Among the women who did offend, there were notable differences compared to mennot just in frequency but in the types of offenses, how often they had contact with police and their experience with youth detention. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. Patterns differ by sex For boys and young men, those in the persistent offending group had earlier and more frequent contact with police, were more likely to face serious charges and often experienced youth detention. For girls and young women, fewer entered the system overall, but those with repeat contact showed distinct patterns: their offenses tended to differ from those of men, with a greater focus on property-related crimes as well as drug and traffic violations, rather than the more frequent violent crimes seen among young men. While they were less likely to be detained, their level of system contact was higher than that of most men in the low offending group. These differences suggest sex shapes not just the likelihood of offending, but the nature of offending and how people interact with the justice system. One-size-fits-all crime prevention won't work Our findings suggest a nuanced approach to crime preventionone that recognizes both the gendered nature of offending and the early life experiences that shape it. For boys and young men, this could mean early identification of behavioral issues, stronger support in schools and support to create stable, safe home environments. For girls and young women, more effective interventions might involve trauma-informed care (an approach that acknowledges past trauma and prioritizes safety, trust and empowerment), along with tailored mental health support and services focused on recovery. These gender-sensitive approaches are not just about being fair, they're about being effective and equitable. When we better understand the roots of offending behavior, we can design policies that reduce it. Why early intervention matters It's easy to think of crime as something that starts with a police report or a court appearance. But the conditions for offending, or avoiding it, are often set much earlier. Here are two real-life examples. What if we saw a child's aggression at school not as "bad behavior" but as a red flag for family violence at home? What if a teenage girl's shoplifting was a symptom of trauma or mental illness? This research reinforces the value of early, targeted intervention. That doesn't just mean more programs, it means smarter programs, ones that focus resources on those most at risk in ways that match their lived experience. Our study is one of the most comprehensive of its kind in Australia. It confirms that while most people never offend, a small group follow early, distinct pathways into crime. Recognizing these patterns gives us a powerful opportunity: to design earlier and more targeted prevention. That means fewer people in the justice system and healthier, safer communities for everyone. If we want to stop crime before it starts, we need to start early, and we need to pay attention to the very different paths children may be on. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A score of the waltz 'On the Beautiful Blue Danube', pictured at the Johann Strauss Museum in Vienna. Austrian composer Johann Strauss II's "The Blue Danube" has, for many people, been synonymous with space travel since it was used in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 scifi classic "2001: A Space Odyssey". But the worldfamous waltz truly traveled among the stars on Saturday when the European Space Agency's antenna broadcast a live performance of it into space to celebrate the composer's 200th birthday. The Vienna Symphony Orchestra played a concert in the Austrian capital. The concert was broadcast live on the internet and also shown at a public screening in Vienna, in New York at Bryant Park, and near the antenna in Spain. "The digitized sound will be transmitted to the large 35meter satellite dish at ESA's Cebreros ground station in Spain," Josef Aschbacher, the ESA's director general, told AFP ahead of the performance. And from there, the waltz will be "transmitted in the form of electromagnetic waves", the Austrian astronomer said. 'Typical of space' "The Blue Danube" evokes the elegance of 19thcentury Vienna, which lives on in the city's roaring ball season. For Norbert Kettner, director of the Vienna tourist board, the Danube waltz is a "true unofficial space anthem" because of Kubrick. The timeless waltz is the "typical sound of space", Kettner said, with the tunes being played "during various docking maneuvers of the International Space Station (ISS)". This year is the 200th birthday of Austria's world-famous waltz composer Johann Strauss II. When the waltz was performed on Saturday, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra noted the waltz's airiness as if it were floating through space, its director Jan Nast said. Nast, who put together the program for Saturday's hourlong "interstellar concert", said music is a language "which touches many people" and has "the universal power to convey hope and joy". Filling a gap Once transmitted via Spain's satellite dish, the signal will travel at the speed of light to eventually reach NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraftthe most distant manmade object in the universein approximately 23 hours and 3 minutes. After surpassing Voyager 1, it will continue its interstellar journey. By catching up with the spacecraft and its twin, Voyager 2, Austria also seeks to right a perceived wrong. Both Voyagers carry "Golden Records"12inch, goldplated copper disks intended to convey the story of our world to extraterrestrials. The record holds 115 images of life on Earth, recorded in analog form, and a variety of sounds and snatches of music. While "The Magic Flute" by Austria's composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was included among the selection of 27 music pieces, Strauss's famous waltz was not. 2025 AFP Bright sun reflected off a newly installed bronze statue of a Native American family on Saturday. The father and mother face opposite directions, arms outstretched in a protective stance around their children, sorrow on their faces. The boy is wearing a suit and his hair is cut short. The girl wears traditional clothing. Behind the children are grandparents. Alcoves for sage along the bottom wafted smoke through 50 stars at the top of the statue to symbolize the roughly 50 children who died at the Rapid City Indian Boarding School, which was one of the more than 400 United States government-funded Native American boarding schools. The sculpture is named Tiwahe, which means family in Lakota. It's located in the Beverly Stabber Warne Memorial Plaza at the Remembering the Children Memorial a $2 million, 25-acre space on land tribal historic preservation officers have identified as unmarked grave sites located in west Rapid City at 3550 Canyon Lake Drive. The sculpture installation and plaza dedication was held Saturday morning. Funding for the project came from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Dakota Charitable Foundation. The site and sculpture were created to honor the survivors and victims of the government-run school, which was located on the west side of Rapid City on a 1,200-acre campus with dormitories, farming equipment, barns, root cellars and classrooms. Indian agents on reservations would withhold rations until families sent children to school; in some cases, children would be forcibly removed from families. While there, the children were forced to speak only English, had their hair cut and endured abuse and disease. The school was open from 1889 to 1935. Several children are still buried in unmarked graves in former school lands, and not all deaths are accounted for. Remembering the Children Memorial partnered with local artist Dale Lamphere to create the statue. Although Lamphere is the artist, the effort was collaborative. "We also made sure the voices of our Lakota elders, spiritual leaders, boarding school survivors and their families remained central to the final design," said Amy Sazue, executive director of Remembering the Children. "...Their contributions were essential, and you can see those influences throughout the sculpture and the memorial, including the literal imprints of children's hands on the sculpture itself." Lamphere said, "It's been a real wonderful process, and quite an emotional one for me." Behind the statue is a wall honoring the children whose bodies have been found. Some have names, and some are unidentified. The wall was the backdrop for children from the Oceti Sakowin Academy, who sang a prayer song during the ceremonies on Saturday. "When I look at the sculpture, what I see is people protecting children," said Wizipan Little Elk Garriott, president of NDN Collective. The memorial site is a way to acknowledge the past and look into the future, especially for people who had family attend boarding schools in the not-too-distant past. "For those of us who have had relatives at the Rapid City Indian Boarding School, my grandfather was here for a couple years, this is a pretty meaningful day," said Dave Emory, board chair of Remembering the Children. The dedication also served as a time to appreciate everyone who put work into the memorial site, including Beverly Bev Stabber Warne, the plaza's namesake. Warne died in 2024 at the age of 85. She was a pillar of the Indigenous Rapid City community and a member of the Remembering the Children board. "One of my uncles, years ago, told me that we really have to focus on the miracle of the now, and there's nothing we can do to change the past, but there's everything we can do to influence the future," said Donald Warne, Bev's son. "And where the past meets the future is right now, so we each have that opportunity to make a difference for future generations, and I think that's what my mom would have wanted to see." In addition to the sculpture and plaza, the site also features trails lined with rocks bearing the names of children who died at the school and the site will continue to develop. Derek Santos, Oglala Lakota, an artist who worked as an apprentice on Tiwahe with Lamphere, also created a statue of his own alongside. Santos told media on Saturday he is making the finishing touches on the piece, a bison. It will be installed at the memorial site as well. Sazue said the plan is to install other statues at the memorial site as time goes on and potentially build a healing center. Is the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles on the move, or does the state agency plan instead to renovate its headquarters in Richmond for the first time since its construction in 1979 and rent out available space to other state agencies? The agency received permission in the revised state budget to spend $16 million that it raises in fees to renovate its headquarters on West Broad Street to consolidate its operations and lease unused space to other state agencies to generate revenue. DMV already received permission in the new two-year budget last year to spend $14.8 million for specific renovations to the building, but its not clear how much of that work has been done as the agency explores its options. Were looking at all possible options to put the money to the best use for the taxpayers we serve, Assistant Commissioner Pam Goheen said on Friday. We havent looked at other locations, but its prudent to do due diligence, Goheen said. Members of the General Assemblys money committees arent sure what the plan is at DMV. Exploring all options means what? asked Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, who chairs the Senate Finance subcommittee on capital outlay and transportation. DMVs plans are one piece of a changing landscape in the Virginia seat of government in Richmond, with more than a dozen state agencies moving out of the ailing James Monroe Building, a 29-story landmark on the citys skyline that the state has not yet decided whether to mothball, sell or simply demolish. The General Assembly and Gov. Glenn Youngkin have agreed on construction of a new state office building at the current Virginia Department of Transportation Annex building on East Broad Street, while putting a former office site at East Main and North 7th Street on the market. Parts of the transportation department are moving to the vacated Owens & Minor headquarters in Mechanicsville. Construction of a new building for the Virginia Supreme Court and Court of Appeals is about to begin south of Capitol Square. The Division of Consolidated Laboratories plans to build a new facility in Hanover County, where the Department of Forensic Science already is building a new laboratory and offices. And now, the state is looking at potential options for moving its vehicle fleet management facility from its home of 40 years on West Leigh Street, directly behind the DMV headquarters at 2300 West Broad St., which also houses the agencys main customer service center. The state entertained what it called an unsolicited offer by a nonprofit organization to develop workforce housing on the 8.5-acre fleet management property, but the deal fell through. Id like to understand what the plan is, McPike said, referring to both the DMV headquarters and fleet management facility. DMV told the Department of Planning and Budget last year that it needed permission to spend an additional $16 million, on top of the $14.8 million included in last years budget, to renovate the building for the first time in 46 years. It said its main motivation is to make a modern, more efficient and attractive workspace to attract talented new employees, especially recent graduates with IT degrees, as it focuses on digital delivery of business. None of the money comes from general tax revenues. Competing for talent An updated environment is critical to being able to attract and retain top talent, Goheen said Friday. When were competing for talent with CarMax and Capital One, with modern facilities, its tough, she said. Statewide, DMV has 1,949 employees, including 702 at its headquarters in Richmond. Annual employee turnover is 11%, down from 21%. The DMV already is spending $9 million a year of its money to boost pay for 60% of its employees under a plan it began last August to restructure pay to reduce turnover and job vacancies by making state jobs more competitive with the private market. Now, it wants to make the work environment more inviting, too. A well-designed office will improve recruitment, reduce turnover, and improve employee satisfaction, DMV said in its budget request. The renovations also open an opportunity to generate revenue by consolidating DMV operations within the building and leasing the vacated space to other state agencies. The agency hired an engineering firm to conduct a space study last year, but has not released the results publicly. My question is still, what are the recommendations? McPike asked. DMVs budget request estimated that the agency could generate up to $16 million in new revenue a year through consolidation and leasing. The General Assembly kept the money that Youngkin proposed in the revised budget, which takes effect on July 1, but it added a requirement that DMV not charge above the state rental rate for leasing space to state agencies. Initially, the state planned to move the Department of Veterans Services to the DMV building, but the agency told the Department of General Services, the states property management arm, that the space is not available, DGS spokesperson Jackie Lipford said last week. Moving from Monroe However, other state agencies already are moving out of the Monroe Building, which the state completed in 1981 but now would require more to renovate and maintain than either Youngkin or the legislature thinks its worth. For example, the Office of the State Inspector General moved on Tuesday to Reids Row, newly renovated historic row houses next to Capitol Square on Governor Street. The Department of General Services plans to move its Office of Information Systems and Services to the Washington Building on Capitol Square, where the department is based. The Department of Human Resource Management and the Department of Accounts plan to move to Main Street Centre on East Main Street. The Department of Treasury will move to the Workers Compensation Commission building on East Franklin Street, the former home of Media General Corp. The Capitol Square Healthcare Clinic will move into the Madison Building. The state plans to lease commercial space to house employees of the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, the Department of Veterans Services, the Department of Health Pharmacy, the Auditor of Public Accounts, the Department of Education and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. The governors office plans to use the VDOT Annex as temporary swing space while its offices in the Patrick Henry Building are renovated under a plan also included in the revised budget. The Department of General Services asked for $16 million to renovate the governors offices on the third floor and install security measures there, while sprucing up five other floors of the building. Youngkin, who took office in early 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic, had wanted to take advantage of a glut of commercial space in downtown Richmond and the surrounding region to relocate state agencies displaced from the Monroe Building. He unilaterally canceled a state office building that the assembly had ordered built at the site of the former Virginia Employment Commission headquarters at 703 E. Main St., now a vacant lot that has reportedly attracted attention for a high-rise mixed-use project. The Democratic-controlled legislature strongly dissented, but reached an agreement with the Republican governor this year, after the Department of General Services completed a detailed study last fall that showed the VDOT Annex site as the best option for a new state office building. They have not yet decided on what to do with the Monroe Building, which would cost an estimated $55 million to demolish. The disposition of the Monroe Building will be decided at a later date through the legislative and budget process, after the relocation of all tenants, said Lipford at the Department of General Services. The prestigious Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology a Northern Virginia magnet school not to be confused with Richmonds TJ has become yet another Trump administration battleground in its war on diversity, equity and inclusion. At issue is an admissions process, adopted by the Fairfax County School Board in 2020, that a parents group argued was biased against Asian applicants. A lower court agreed, but the Richmond-based U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that ruling in May 2023. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the matter. If you believed that settled the issue, you would be wrong. Trumps Education Department, following a prod from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, has opened an investigation of the TJ enrollment policy, which was enacted during our nations brief racial reckoning following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. The Northern Virginia TJ draws from the city of Falls Church and the counties of Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William, but the majority of its students live in Fairfax County. The Fairfax School Board, in resolving to design a race-neutral policy, replaced an existing enrollment process for TJ that included a $100 application fee. The new policy dropped the application fee and standardized tests in favor of a holistic review that evaluated students based on their grade point average (a 3.5 minimum), a portrait sheet describing the applicants skills, a problem-solving essay and experience factors such as including students who are economically disadvantaged, English language learners, or special education students. Under the new policy, each middle school within Thomas Jeffersons participating school divisions would be allocated a number of seats in the incoming freshman class equal to 1.5% of that schools eighth-grade student population. Asian enrollment at Thomas Jefferson was about 70% prior to the current policy. School district figures for the 2023-24 school year list the schools Asian population at 63%, compared to about 19% for white students, 7% for Hispanic students and 5% for Black students. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals noted in its ruling that TJs class of 2025 included markedly more low-income students, English-language learners, and girls than had prior classes at TJ. Notably, for the first time in more than a decade, all 28 middle schools in Fairfax County sent students to TJ in 2021. By contrast, in 2020, eight of the Countys middle schools had received zero offers of admission to TJ. We have long believed that the new admissions process is both constitutional and in the best interest of all of our students, Fairfax School Board Chair Karl Frisch said in a February 2024 statement to The Washington Post. It guarantees that all qualified students from all neighborhoods in Fairfax County have a fair shot at attending this exceptional high school. The outcome of a more diverse and equitable enrollment should be welcome at what, after all, is a taxpayer-supported public school. But for some, this result is far more troubling than an application fee that created potentially disqualifying hardship, a negligible Hispanic population, and a Black enrollment so tiny fewer than 10 students that it was deemed too small for reporting. Miyares investigation concluded that Thomas Jefferson discriminates against Asian American students and that Fairfax County Public Schools is in violation of the Virginia Human Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This is yet another sad example of how the Civil Rights Act built on the blood, sweat, tears and bodies of African Americans and our allies is now being weaponized against us. That some Asian Americans would be willing proxies in this aspect of the MAGA playbook is especially sad, given how they, among others, have been major beneficiaries of that Black-led movement. The act outlawed discrimination based on national origin. Social justice activist Scot Nakagawa noted that debt in a 2013 article, Three things Asian Americans Owe to the Civil Rights Movement. Nakagawa cited the end to bans on interracial marriage, a result of the 1967 Supreme Court ruling in Loving v. Virginia. In 2010, 36% of Asian women and 28% of Asians overall were most likely to marry outside their race. Among the civil rights groups supporting the Lovings in their case was the Japanese American Citizens League. Asian Americans also benefitted from the protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination against people belonging to language minority groups. And the Immigration and Nationality Act signed into law by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson, who realized the contradiction between his landmark domestic civil rights legislation and racist U.S. immigration policy ended the historical immigration bans against Latin Americans, Asians and Africans. In 1965, 84% of Americans were non-Hispanic white; today, its 58%. America was less than 1% Asian in 1965; its 7% Asian today. Nearly 1 out of 5 people in the U.S. are Hispanic. Despite this history, the relationship between Black and Asian Americans is fraught as the two groups have been pitted against each other, notably in the lawsuit Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, in which the conservative majority of the Supreme Court ruled as unconstitutional the consideration of race in college admissions. That majority cited race-based affirmative action as a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment yet another case in which something designed to protect and uplift Americas new Black citizens after emancipation is now being used against us. Revealingly, that suit was brought not by an Asian, but by conservative activist Edward Blum. And its resulting benefits for Asian admissions have been decidedly mixed. But at Harvard and apparently, Thomas Jefferson even relatively scant African American and Hispanic representation is too much for the naysayers. A concurrent subtext for this Thomas Jefferson probe, ostensibly on behalf of Asians, is the Trump administrations stated intent to aggressively revoke the visas of Chinese students studying at U.S. colleges and universities. That tracks with its attempt to block and remove international students from Harvard, and sends a mixed message about its regard for Asians beyond their utility as a model minority stalking horse. The MAGA movements attempt to dismantle the Civil Rights Movement does not reflect an abiding concern for the welfare of Asian Americans. The Thomas Jefferson school admissions issue has been fully litigated. This probe isnt about racial justice. Its about stirring the pot. Mexico votes its first ever Poder Judicial election of the Judiciary Mexico City, Mexico Millions are heading to the polls Sunday to vote in the countrys first popular election of the Judiciary. Its in your hands, in your decision, who will be part of the new Judiciary. An honest Judiciary, close to the people, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Saturday calling on Mexicans to vote. President Claudia Sheinbaum On June 1, Mexicans across the country will participate in the first popular election of the Judiciary in which judges, magistrates and ministers of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) will be democratically elected. Its in your hands, in your decision, who will form part of the new Judiciary. An honest Judiciary, close to the people, elected not by the President or the legislators, but by the people of Mexico. This is the great transformation our country is undergoing, she said. Sheinbaum pointed out that contrary to those who wish to maintain the regime of corruption and privileges within the judiciary with the transformation the country is currently undergoing, Mexicans are the ones who will decide who will administer justice in the country. Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama Therefore, it is false to want a Supreme Court of Justice under the leadership of a political party or under the Presidents leadership, she added. If that had been the case, a reform of the Judiciary like the one in 1999, in which the Federal Executive branch decided who would be ministers, would have been implemented. However, what is now desired is for the people of Mexico to decide. In Quintana Roo, dignitaries including municipal mayors and Governor Mara Lezama have already participated in the countrys first Poder Judicial vote. Residents concerned over toxic smoke while firefighters battle dump blaze Chetumal, Q.R. More than a dozen firefighters were at an open dump site in Chetumal early Saturday afternoon. Thick smoke could be seen from kilometers away as garbage burned out of control. The fire was reported around mid-day by nearby residents who also expressed their concern about the toxic smoke. Eye and nose irritants were the most reported issue to local authorities, reported Chetumal Civil Protection. The fire was attended to by personnel from the Chetumal Fire Department, as well as units from the Navy, Promocasa, and Civil Protection who spent several hours at the site. Officials have not provided a cause for the fire that burned the entire afternoon and into the evening. Sargassum battleground: Riviera Maya beaches pristine despite heavy season Riviera Maya, Q.R. A cleanup crew spent their Saturday waist deep in water collecting tons of sargassum. The crew were clearing the seaweed from the public beach areas off the coast of Mahahual in Costa Maya. My heartfelt thanks for the combined efforts and commitment of everyone who joined in another day of beach cleanups and sargassum collection in our beautiful community of Mahahual, said Mayor Yensunni Martinez Hernandez regarding the Saturday beach clean. Crews clean Mahahual beaches May 30. It was the second mass sargassum cleanup in Mahahual during the month of May where nearly 100 tons was removed. I am grateful for the invaluable support () because together we make a great team, and only together can we continue the transformation of Mahahual and all of Othon P. Blanco, she said. Boaters and swimmers enjoy sargassum free water at Playa Norte in Isla Mujeres May 31. At the start of the weekend, Marina crews were also out removing sargassum from the sea. Specially designed sargassum vessels were developed by Mexicos Navy several years ago that have increased in numbers. Those vessels are deployed along the coast during sargassum season. The Navy collects trapped sargassum off the coast of Puerto Morelos May 31. On Saturday, Marina personnel were seen sweeping the floating seaweed from the sea as it gathered on the opposite side of a barrier. The vessel was deployed off the coast of Puerto Morelos May 31 to gather the collected sargassum that was unable to reach shore. Central Playa del Carmen May 30. After a mass arrival of sargassum along the coast of Playa del Carmen, crews spent days removing the washed up seaweed. More than 100 people lined the beaches where the sargassum was forked into wheelbarrows then into waiting dump trucks. Central Playa del Carmen May 30. While the citys beaches took a hit, it was only a matter of days before the Riviera Maya sand was visible again. On May 20, the coast of Playa del Carmen was hit hard by a mass arrival of sargassum. Samantha Alvarez, head of PDC Sustainable Environment said a team of 101 people worked daily to clear the beaches. Cancun beaches photographed May 25 show a minimal amount of sargassum. The work was carried out in two shifts from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., she said. Personnel working to clear the water and sand reported moving more than 200 tons a day. To clear the beaches, Alvarez said seven backhoes were used for the expedited collection of accumulated sargassum. Isla Holbox May 31 remains free of seaweed. Due to their strategic location, other beaches such as Isla Mujeres and Holbox are rarely effected by the sargassum. Each year, only major storms push displaced seaweed onto their shores. So far this season, both beaches have remained clear and free of the seaweed that has hit other coastal areas hard. Tulum May 29. The southern regions of Quintana Roo have seen the most seaweed this year. While the far south in Xcalak and Mahahual in Costa Maya have seen repeated mass landfalls, beaches further north have not. The beaches of Tulum have experienced a moderate arrival so far this season. Tulum May 29. This year, forecasters have predicted a heavy sargassum season for the Atlantic. The National Hurricane Centre (NOAA) says countries in the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt are affected most by the masses of floating seaweed each year with April and May being the most heavy. The affected countries include Mexico, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Brazil and Trinidad & Tobago. The sargassum also affects the east coast of Florida including the Florida Keys. At McLeod Health, we have a team approach to diagnosing and treating cancer. Physicians representing various specialties, nurses, research staff, navigators, radiation therapists, pharmacists and social workers all collaborate in recommending treatment plans for our cancer patients, especially in challenging cases. For nearly 50 years, McLeod has been accredited by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Commission on Cancer accredited programs demonstrate excellence in various key elements which are crucial to the treatment of a complex group of diseases. This includes offering state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment facilities, cancer conference boards, a tumor registry and quality improvement programs. In addition to comprehensive clinical programs, we provide urgently needed educational and support services for families coping with this challenging illness. We also play a critical role in offering the greatest source of hope for all cancer patients and people at risk of this disease: research. The McLeod Centers for Cancer Treatment and Research serve as a focal point for the next generation of cancer care from the inland to the coast, providing patients and their families with the highly sensitive, sophisticated and personal care they expect and deserve. As local people caring for local people, our cancer services in Florence and Horry counties offer soothing spaces with the patients comfort in mind, expanded access to preventative medicine, individualized treatment focusing on each patients diagnosis, care and recovery, as well as the latest technology. The physicians of McLeod Oncology and Hematology Associates in Florence and Horry counties care for patients diagnosed with cancer and blood diseases. These ten board certified oncology and hematology physicians include: myself, Dr. Michael Pavy, Dr. Jamie Smith, Dr. Sreenivas Rao, Dr. Ravneet Bajwa, Dr. Viji Motilal Nehru, Dr. Arrvind Raghunath, Dr. Swarna Nalluru, Dr. Donny Huynh and Dr. Kerolos Rizk. On April 30, 2025, we were pleased to announce the expansion of our nationally accredited Cancer Program with the opening of the McLeod Center for Cancer Treatment and Research on the campus of McLeod Health Seacoast. This new Cancer Center is a continuation of professionalism, expertise and commitment established nearly five decades ago at our McLeod Cancer Center in Florence. By bringing radiation therapy and infusion therapy together under one roof, McLeod further demonstrates its patient-centered mission. The new Cancer Center provides not only immediate access to advanced cancer care technology including a Stereotactic Radiosurgery Unit and Digital PET/CT Scanner, but also access to genetic counseling and clinical research trials. For nearly 60 years, McLeod has provided excellence in radiation therapy including Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) to cancer patients in Florence County and the surrounding region. Accredited by the American College of Radiology-Radiation Oncology Practice Accreditation, McLeod has also achieved international recognition as a Novalis Certified Radiosurgery Center the first Cancer Center in South Carolina to hold this designation. The investment in a TrueBeam linear accelerator and the addition of radiation oncology in the new Cancer Center on the coast allows us to expand and evolve to meet the radiation needs of patients in Horry County. This accelerator enables our teams to perform SRS and SBRT two advanced forms of treatment that deliver precisely targeted radiation with sub-millimeter accuracy which improves outcomes while decreasing side effects. At McLeod Health, we continue to fulfill our mission by providing the highest level of cancer treatment to patients close to home where they can remain surrounded by their support system of family and friends. The investment in the provision of cancer services accommodates the health care demands of this growing region in our state. It also demonstrates a very visible example of McLeods commitment to meeting the health care needs of residents in Florence and Horry counties and the surrounding communities. A beacon of hope and healing for the communities we serve, the McLeod Centers for Cancer Treatment and Research are designed with the patient as the focus, offering the highest quality individualized care with convenient access for all. Each team member with the McLeod Cancer Centers makes it their purpose to involve patients and their families in the treatment plan, and to navigate them on this journey to be by their side when they are most vulnerable. We are pleased to offer patients and families, both present and future generations, with Cancer Centers of hope, caring and survival, and the guiding touch of medical teams ready to take on this challenge with them. Dr. Rajesh Bajaj is Co-Medical Director of the McLeod Center for Cancer Treatment and Research. Board certified in Oncology/ Hematology and Internal Medicine, Dr. Bajaj practices at McLeod Oncology and Hematology Associates in Florence, a department of McLeod Regional Medical Center. He received his medical degree from All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India. After achieving his medical degree, Dr. Bajaj completed a Post Doctoral Fellowship in the Department of Physiology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. During his residency in Internal Medicine at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, Dr. Bajaj served as Chief Resident. He completed his residency in Oncology/Hematology at New York Medical College in Bronx, New York. Dr. Bajaj also completed a fellowship in Oncology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, in Bronx, New York. Dr. Bajaj has been practicing in Florence since 1996. COLUMBIA Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, often mentioned among Democrats as a potential presidential candidate, has been saying for months that he isnt running for the White House in 2028. That hasnt stopped persistent talk about his future political plans, especially when he continues to make appearances outside Maryland that raise his national profile. On Friday, Moore traveled to speak at the Blue Palmetto Dinner in the early presidential primary state of South Carolina, where he told a ballroom of Democrats that its time for their shared party to take swift action to improve outcomes in areas like job creation and education outcomes, rather than slow and more deliberate moves. Im here on a mission, Moore told a packed room of party donors, activists, candidates and elected officials. This is the moment for us to say together in one voice: gone are the days when the Democrats are the party of no and slow. we must be the party of yes and now.we must be the party of action, and that action must come now. Moores remarks served as a way to introduce himself to the voters who will play a pivotal role in the partys next nominee. While it will be months until the 2028 presidential nominating calendar is set, South Carolina led off Democrats 2024 calendar, and party chair Christale Spain has said that she will renew the argument to keep the states No. 1 position in the next cycle. The trip to South Carolina included meetings with business prospects. Earlier Friday, he toured Scout Motors electric SUV production facility in Blythewood, just north of Columbia. In a social media post, Moore characterized that trip as fact-finding that would help him keep bringing opportunities and business like yours to Maryland, so that we can continue building and diversifying our economy. Moore has been intentional about face time with South Carolina Democrats before. Last summer, he was one of several potential presidential hopefuls to address the states delegation on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. On Friday, drawing several standing ovations, some of Moores most impassioned remarks came as he levied criticism at President Donald Trump, who he said is, albeit rashly, quick to take action. Donald Trump doesnt need a study to use the Constitution like its a suggestion box, he said. Donald Trump doesnt need a white paper to start arbitrary trade wars that will raise the cost on virtually everything in our lives. Anybody who is talking about 2028 doesnt understand the urgency of 2025, Moore added. When asked directly about 2028, though, the governor is clear. Im not running, Moore told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday. He also said, when asked, that he isnt trying to get his name in the conversation for a potential vice presidential candidacy, either. And people should get very used to me going all over the country bringing business back to Maryland, because thats exactly what I plan on doing as long as Im the governor of the state, Moore said after a dedication in Annapolis for a memorial to former Rep. Parren Mitchell, the states first Black congressman. In the third year of his first term, Moore plans to run for reelection next year in heavily Democratic Maryland. He says being the states governor during a challenging time has his full attention. That includes working to navigate the difficulties of dramatic federal downsizing under the Trump administration, which poses an outsize economic impact on Maryland. The state is home to a large number of federal workers toiling in the shadow of the nations capital about 256,000 Marylanders received a federal W-2 in 2021, representing about 8% of taxpayers, according to an analysis by the states comptroller. Earlier this month, Maryland lost its triple-A bond rating from the Moodys economic rating agency. State officials had cited the rating for more than 50 years as a sign of strong fiscal stewardship that enabled the state to pay the lowest rates when it sells bonds to pay for infrastructure. Two other rating agencies, Standard & Poors and Fitch, have recently affirmed the states triple-A bond rating. Moore and other leading Democrats in the state blamed the Trump administrations downsizing for the Moodys downgrade. The governor just had the most challenging legislative session of his tenure. Facing a $3.3 billion budget deficit, he worked with the legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, to reach a balanced budget that included about $2 billion in spending cuts throughout state government and about $1.6 billion in new revenues through tax and fee increases. Most of the tax increases were imposed on high-income residents, including two new higher tax brackets for people who make more than $500,000 and a new 2% tax on capital gains for people with income over $350,000. The governor has said most Marylanders wont see a tax increase, and some will receive a modest tax cut. Still, Maryland Republicans have been pouncing on the tax increases an issue sure to be raised often by the GOPs next nominee for governor. Moore, 46, is the states first Black governor, and the only Black governor currently serving. He is the former CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation, an anti-poverty nonprofit. He also is a Rhodes scholar and a combat veteran who served in Afghanistan. The buzz around Moore has persisted since the bestselling author won Marylands governorship in his first bid for public office in a landslide in 2022, after prevailing in a crowded Democratic primary that included former national party chairman and former U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez. LE MARS, Iowa -- The time has come, Chief David Schipper says, for the citizens of Le Mars to show their fire department a little love. The fire department is working to get a bond measure before Le Mars voters this fall that would finance a new $12-15 million firehouse. Up until now, Schipper says, the department has been making do with a pair of fire halls that don't meet its needs -- one, the very old main firehouse, where firefighters spend nights in closets converted to sleeping quarters, and the other, a newer station that's insufficient for the ever-growing demands placed on the department. "Hopefully the public will support us," Schipper said. "You know, we take care of them 24-7. And now we need a little help." But in view of the approval just last fall of a $49.97 million school bond, Le Mars Mayor Rob Bixenman said he's uncertain of the public's appetite for another bond issue -- much as both city officials and the community want to support the department. "I'm not sure," the mayor said. "The concerns that I've heard is, the timing of it. We just passed a large school bond issue last year. But I don't think anyone really questions the need per se, as much as just burdening our taxpayers with an additional tax." The proposed, 25,000- or 26,000-square-foot firehouse would replace the department's current No. 2 fire station, which sits on part of the old Westmar College campus on 12th Street SE. To keep the taxpayer burden as low as possible, proponents say they want to incorporate donations in paying for it. In late 2022, the city purchased a roughly 2.2-acre corner lot on 12th Street SW, a major thoroughfare, for $350,000, with the intention that the department would someday build a new firehouse there. The site is, in every respect, perfectly suited to the department's needs, Schipper said. The No. 2 fire station was built 20 years ago, Schipper said, and there's been some confusion in the community about why the department would need to replace a relatively new building. "It looks nice, everybody thinks it's new," Schipper said. But it, like the old downtown firehouse, is largely landlocked and has little space for expansion. The proposed firehouse is more than twice the square footage of the No. 2 fire station. Because the current No. 2 fire station does not have any sort of living quarters, Schipper said, it is not a proper "firehouse." (The "house" distinction, he says, is reserved for buildings that have some form of living quarters.) The new firehouse would have all that the growing department needs -- bedrooms, kitchen, offices, truck bays, exercise room, space for training and meetings. It would become the firehouse, Schipper said, where crews spend their nights, while the current, main firehouse downtown would be downgraded to fire station. "We're out of room," Schipper said. The 11-person department is growing its ranks -- a 12th crew member will be added in July, plus 30 or 32 on-call volunteers. The number of calls keeps increasing, primarily the ceaseless drumbeat of medical emergencies. They're at nearly 2,000 calls a year, give or take, the overwhelming majority being medical. "Now, if our community continues to grow as it's projected, and is, growing, it's going to become even more of a need in the future. But we're trying to keep up with the size community we are now," Schipper said. "We run three ambulances now, where we used to run two; call totals keep going up and up and up, so I can see in the future that this is going to become more of a serious issue than what it is. But it's enough now that we've got to do something." The city, Bixenman says, has set a goal of doubling its population by 2045. Ironically, the much, much older downtown firehouse building (which was not designed to be a fire hall; it was retrofitted within the last 15 years or so) would remain in use even if the new firehouse were built, largely because Le Mars is bisected by railroad tracks; firetrucks or ambulances waiting for a train to finish crossing an intersection could spell disaster. Thus the city has two fire halls, one for each side of the tracks. The new firehouse would cover the east side, as the No. 2 fire hall does now, and the old firehouse would go on providing coverage for things west of the tracks. "With the locations of these two stations, we'd be about two-and-a-half miles from everywhere in the city," Schipper said. How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Stoya and Rich here. Its anonymous! Dear How to Do It, I have been with my girlfriend Sandra for six months. We met not long after I moved to the small town where I now live. The thing is, the people around town have been all too eager to tell me about how Sandra apparently got around in her teens. I could not care less about thispeople fuck, and have been since the beginning of time. As far as Im concerned, its these people that have the problem, not her. Sandra has been extraordinarily relieved that her past activities dont matter to me. I have requested a transfer from my job so we can get out of this podunk shithole ASAP. Do you have any advice for dealing with the rude quips from the local yokels until then? Living in a Time Warp Dear Living in a Time Warp, If you really dont care about these opinions, stay committed to that attitude. Let them talk. Either ignore them or tell them that you dont care. Know that theyre wrong and instead of worrying yourself about the principle of the way theyre treating you and your girlfriend, focus on the practice that will complicate your lives the least. You could even offer solidarity: Im slutty, too or, I know, isnt she amazing? This may put the target on you for mockery as well, but again, who cares what these people think? You could also take the drag-queen route and read them right back. Try clap-backs along the lines of: Wow, you must really have nothing going on in your life that youre concerned about my girlfriends teenage sex life, or Youre a little overly concerned with a teens sex life, dont you think?, or Jealous, much? Of course, this would serve to escalate the situation while dragging you down to their level. Because this could cause further complications and on the principle that it would actively bring more ugliness into the world, Id tread lightly but you could do it. Many people wont let things go beyond words and you will soon never see these people again so shutting them up aggressively might feel good and not be very complicated at all, after all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get advicesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear How to Do It, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to How to Do It following up) Submit Dear How to Do It, I have an embarrassing penis problem. I am 66 now. I have always been a growerthat is, I add a lot of length and girth when I get hard. As I have agedand now moved to a hot climatemy ball sack has just grown larger. I thought it was a myth, but apparently not. Now when I sit the wrong way, or exercise the wrong way, my penis pretty much disappears into the ball sack. And it feels terrible. I end up adjusting myself all the time. I can move my penis to one side and my ball sack to the other, but if I move around more it hurts. Ive tried several types of underwear: pouches, boxer briefs, and regular boxers. But nothing helps for long. Anything that holds my genital area ends up smushing (technical term) my penis. Can your experts think of anything to fix this? Cock rings work, but I cant wear them all the time. So So Embarrassed Dear So So Embarrassed, Advertisement I dont know that this is an issue you can home-remedy your way out of. You seem to be describing a condition known as buried penis. There are some non-invasive treatments for it like weight loss and steroid creams for those who experience buried penis as a result of tight skin around the penis, but for some, surgery may be the only effective treatment option. Sometimes this surgery can come in the form of a tummy tuck or suction lipectomy, which removes fat from around the genital region. There is also the possibility of removing scrotal tissue when that is the culprit of buried penis, as it is in your case. Its unclear whats causing your discomfort, but thats not uncommon with buried penis and sometimes is the result of lichen sclerosus, a condition that can result in thin, patchy, and/or discolored skin that is typically treated with ointment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I ran your letter by my go-to urologist source, Dr. Charles Welliver, director of mens health at Albany Medical College. In an email, he told me that it seems a little too convenient to blame this on just the weather, and indeed buried penis is typically caused by weight gain or some sort of intrascrotal process like a hydrocele making the scrotum grow bigger and envelop the penis. The doctors recommendation? See a doctor. Granted, this may seem daunting given your embarrassment, but doctors see issues like this all the time. Its worth sucking it up to ameliorate your discomfort and, yes, potential embarrassment moving forward. If telling one person could save you years of grief, that seems like a no-brainer trade off. Ask Us Your Questions About the Workplace! The columnists behind our new advice column, Good Job, want to help you navigate your social dynamics at work. Does your colleague constantly bug you after hours? Has an ill-advised work romance gone awry? Ask us your question here! Advertisement Dear How to Do It, My wife and I have been married for more than 20 years. We love each other and are extremely happy together. Recently, she went through some health and work issues, and our sex life waned, but now that both are resolved, its picked back up again. Advertisement Advertisement Weve had many conversations over the years about our shared belief in ethical nonmonogamy and giving it a try. Theyve escalated lately. About a decade ago, with my permission, she slept with a longtime acquaintance. Until recently, that was it. In the past few months, it became apparent a mutual friend was interested in her, and with our spark back, I encouraged her to go for it if she wanted. She did, and she loved the experience. Im happy for her! Shes now encouraging me to try it, too. Shes particularly excited about it because shes the only sexual partner Ive ever had (I grew up in a strict household, and in a religion that instilled a lot of shame, and I was a shy, unconfident, late bloomer). She keeps telling me: I dont want to be the only person you ever have sex with! Great, right? Advertisement Advertisement The problem is, while Im eager to try it, I have no idea where to start. Because she loves me and is attracted to me, she doesnt realize there is a big opportunity gap between us. She is beautiful, outgoing, witty, charming, and easily attracts people. As Ive aged, Ive gained weight and lost hair. She regularly is thought to be 15 years younger, while I definitely look my age. Plus, Im just naturally more shy and reserved. She tells me often that Im a kind, thoughtful person and that Im good in bed, but I do not exude (sexual) energy like she does, and do not have acquaintances coming up to me asking if were open and can we sleep together. Advertisement I know this is going to require work on my part to get out of my comfort zone and put myself out there. But it seems likely to me that if I do this, its probably going to start with someone I dont know yet (which shes OK with). So, Im wondering if you can suggest some apps or websites (or just give me any useful insight) on how to meet some like-minded people? Weve discussed, down the road, perhaps trying threesomes or partner-swapping, but for now, Im just trying to figure out how to get my body count to two. Need Directions to Open House Dear Need Directions to Open House, Advertisement Some of what youre worried about is easy enough to work on. If you arent exercising regularly, thats a great place to start. It can help with your mental as well as physical health and affect your body composition. Working out may also give you the kind of glow that many find attractive as it silently telegraphs health. In addition to the gains, you may find your confidence lifted, which can also attract people. Advertisement I think thats key here: You need a boost of that kind of self-esteem. It can be learned via a fake-it-till-you-make-it approach. Even if you dont feel confident, carry yourself like you are and you may start to be naturally, once you feel the effects of this disposition. Confidence begets confidence. Also, youre a guy, which means you have a bit more wiggle room in terms of looking your age and still being considered attractive. Thats male privilege, and while beauty standards are changing for men, things like crows feet and thinning hair are not held against mens appearance to the extent that they are womens. Its not fair, but its the way things are at the moment. If nothing else, tuck that in your back pocket and use it so as not to be hard on yourself. The other side of the gender norms is that men are still largely expected to be the pursuers of sex. Thats changing, too, but it could explain a bit as to why your wife is being hit on when you are not. Sure, she may be hot, but in your letter, I see you repeatedly talking down to yourself. Realism is important and self-awareness is a rare commodity, but negative self-talk can get in the way of you trying to move forward on your ENM path here. Im just trying to dismantle some of the blockades you have set up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Feeld is the go-to app for ethical non-monogamy. If you have kinks, consider Fetlife (though youre likely to have luck on Feeld, as well, given the amount of kinksters on it). Tinder has a meat-market reputation, so that may work for you, and sites like OKCupid and match.com have been around for so long that they cover ENM bases as well. Advertisement You could also try threesomes or partner-swapping as opposed to finding new partners on your own. Your wife is more experienced, and you claim shes hotter, so you might have better luck looking for extra partners together. Group sex isnt for everyone, and there are plenty of ENM couples that play separately, but unless you have good reasons for doing it that way (beyond the tit-for-tat reason that shes already experienced it solo and so should you), I recommend cruising together. On apps like Feeld, you can link profiles with your partner so that the interested can check both of you out to see what theyre getting. You may also consider swingers clubs/groups or sex clubs. These spaces can be overwhelming, sure, but they can also allow you to feel out vibes and kind of get in the ENM headspace. You dont have to have sex when you goyou can just hang out and watch. That might be the easiest way for you to dip your toe in. Rich More Advice From Slate I dont have a problem with porn, but Im realizing I have a problem with the way my husband watches it. Last week, I asked him to play some music from his phone by pairing it with the TV, and a porn video sprang up. I immediately lurched to cover our 8-year-olds eyes, but the incident stuck with me. I think hes watching way more porn than I know, and probably lying to me about it. What should I do? Recipe for Disaster is Slates column about the things recipes get wrongand how to fix them. If youve noticed a recipe annoyance, absurdity, or outright lie, file your complaint here and we will investigate! Trying to correctly portion pasta for those youre feeding is like trying to mathematically solve love. There is no right answer. A 4-ounce (quarter-pound) serving to one person will feel like a woefully insufficient 2 ounces to a voracious eater. Some guides recommend one-third pound (precooked) per person for a main course, a volume that may make the carb-conscious pass out. But theres one thing about pasta cooking that I think most of us out here in the home-kitchen trenches can agree on: Recipes that call for only 10 to 12 ouncesmany of them, as any home cook can attestinstead of the whole 16-ounce box seem designed to drive us crazy. The 12-ounce-pasta problem is indeed one of the internets great food gripes, and to add insult to injury, recipe writers are keenly aware of their sins. Megan Ginsberg, over at Americas Test Kitchen, wrote dismissively about the situation a few years ago: I have come to learn that it is infuriating to some people when recipes dont call for an entire 1-pound box of dried pasta. They get seriously bent out of shape about it. Are you one of those people? If so, I have to ask, what is so wrong about having partial boxes of pasta hanging around? Advertisement Well, heres the issue: These boxes arent just partially empty; theyre almost fully empty. Ten- and 12-ounce recipes leave an annoying remnant of noodles in the box. Its a pain-in-the-ass amount of pastaenough to awkwardly rattle around the now unsealed package, barely enough to make a meal. Whats more, if said opened box is not closed properly, sometimes those stiff strands or shapes spill out in tight cabinets, creating a mess and bringing curses down upon the haughty recipe writer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats going on here? Why cant recipe developers just do the right thing and craft their dishes to the obviously correct scale (surely they could just increase the sauce)? What could possibly be driving this absurd affectation, when we know that all but the most rule-bound cooks are going to dump that whole box anyway? Advertisement Ive got plenty of pasta experience under my loosened belt, and some recipe-writing experience tooand Ive got a theory. Usually, when I write pasta recipes, I instruct people to use the full pound. Whether its orecchiette with mini meatballs or mac and cheese, I find that using the whole package is simply optimal for everyone, myself included. Empty the box, recycle the box, wave to the neighbors, move on with your life. However, I admit I have made exceptions to my 1-pound rule. Last year, I wrote about my quest to make campsite linguine and clams, and for this unusual venture, I used roughly 10 ounces of linguine. Why? Because its damn near impossible to fit an entire pound of pasta into a 12-inch saute pan. Do it, and the linguine, clams, and white wine sauce will splash and spill and slosh everywhere. Moreover, the pan itself becomes too heavy and full to flick and toss. Its one of the most well-known tenets in cooking: Dont overcrowd the pan. Pasta needs room to cook. And, not for nothingthe photo always looks much better in a pan than in a big pot. Which got me thinking: Could it be that recipe writers are reducing pasta portions just for the money shot?! Advertisement Advertisement Kristina Razon, formerly of Serious Eats and now deputy food editor at the Kitchn, bravely confirmed my suspicions. For photo purposes, shooting pasta in a Dutch oven often isnt the prettiest, she told me. Skillets are where its at most of the time. A pan cant handle a pound of pasta, and yet pasta just pops in a pan. When its sunken deep into the confines of enameled cast iron (a vessel I recommend for my orecchiette and mini meatballs) or other large pot, well, not so much. And in the cutthroat world of food social media, recipe photos need to look not just good but incredible. People eat with their eyes, and that applies doubly when theyre choosing recipes to make from a vast online catalog that can often feel overwhelming. Advertisement But Ben Mims, recently a recipe writer for the Los Angeles Times who is now at Americas Test Kitchen, offers a different explanation. In his recipe for caramelized lemon pasta with mushrooms and broccoli, he confesses that he doesnt love pasta (the hell?), citing that the proportion of carbs to good-for-you ingredients is too high. His recipe calls for a shocking 8 ounces of pasta, leaving half in the box for another baby recipe? This kind of willpower and foresight is completely foreign to me. Mims really just goes for straight-up half a box. Honestly, I kind of respect the chutzpah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this point, we need to talk about leftovers. Use 1 pound of pasta for a recipe for two, and youre likely left with some that needs to be refrigerateda method I fear most chefs and recipe developers consider to be gauche. Even though it congeals and loses most of its delicate texture in the fridge, leftover pasta is a reality for most of us regular folks at home. And those professional pasta photographswhich are often staged to look as if youre smack-dab in the middle of a sexy dinner partyimply that nobody refrigerates leftover pasta. Thats why most recipes are actually built to eliminate any leftovers whatsoever. I understand where theyre coming from, but I feel compelled to point out that most home cooks want leftovers, and, in any case, not all pasta dishes are created equal. Advertisement Take carbonara: intimate, luxurious, delicate yet finicky. You absolutely under no circumstances want leftover carbonara. This carbonara recipe in Bon Appetit, by Carla Lalli Music, calls for 8 ounces of rigatoni, noting that the dish serves four as an appetizer or two as a generous main course. Legally, I worry that a pound of pasta carbonara could be considered a murder weapon. Therefore, most carbonara recipes call for 12 ounces or less, and for good reason. Advertisement Advertisement But a traditional bolognese? Brother, nothings better than meat sauce that has had time to sit in the fridge. When the flavors rest and congeal and marinate with one another, then get reheated in a microwave or in a pan with some pasta water, magic happens. Reheated meat sauce isnt only acceptable; Id say its preferred. Whats more, you should have no problem functionally reheating some aglio e olio and adding a fried egg for breakfast. As I live and write this paragraph, Ive got some cavatappi sitting in my fridge, a chilled mess of olive oil, garlic, lemon, anchovy, Chinese black vinegar, and bits of broccoli rabe. Two mornings in a row, Ive reheated a small bowl and finished with an olive-oil fried egg on top, and two mornings in a row, Ive lived a glorious, problem-free life. Leftover pasta in the morning rocks. Advertisement But back to the matter at hand, because we live in a world where pasta recipes refuse to indulge us. That pesky torn-up box with 4 ounces of spaghetti is our reality, and it aint much. Still, there are things you can do with it: Its an adequate late-night snack (with just butter, salt, and a scatter of Parm) or a means of beefing (starching?) up a soup or stew, the type of thing that makes a healthy dent in your appetite after some drinks. Four ounces is a solo-cooking adventure, so approach it like some needed self-care. Your special little near-empty box of pasta for bubble baths. Advertisement Advertisement Another solution is pasta mista. You might not know this, but cooking various pasta shapes together is actually pretty Italian. The concept allegedly originated in Naples as a way for people to reduce food waste. Short pasta shapes go together quite well. Mixing garganelli, penne, rigatoni, and cavatappi isnt that strange at all, and ultimately doesnt alter the experience too much. (This concept, however, doesnt work all that well with long pasta: Mixing bucatini and linguine together would be an unmitigated nightmare, and due to the different widths working against each other, I reckon you wouldnt be able to twirl the pasta properly around your fork.) Advertisement Advertisement Here I am, trying to make compromises, when the people have spoken loud and clear: We want to use the whole pound! And guess what? Youre being heard, at least in some quarters. Back in 2019, on the website for Christopher Kimballs Milk Street, a reader, Patrick W., said what we were all thinking when he sent in this simple question: I love your recipes! However, I do not understand why all your pasta recipes include only 12 ounces of pasta. Almost all pasta in the U.S. comes in a 1lb. container (16 ounces). This is wasteful (and honestly, it doesnt really change the experience ALL THAT MUCH if you use all 16 ounces in your recipes). Wouldnt it be simpler to just formulate the recipes for a pound of pasta? Thanks! Advertisement Then, this response from Lynn Clark, a cook and recipe writer for Milk Street: Advertisement Hi PatrickWe used to call for 12 ounces of pasta because we were trying to abide by certain portion-size recommendations that call for 3 ounces of pasta for a single serving (so 3 oz. x 4 servings = 12 oz.). That being said, we are constantly reading and evaluating customer feedback, and, therefore, we will now be calling for 1 lb. of pasta in our pasta recipes. Thanks for being a fan! Will you look at that? The system works. As it turns out, if enough people band together and cry out for change, sometimes a difference can be made. (Consider this your sign to get involved in local government.) But the truth is, in most cases youre at the whims of writersand a lot of them are gonna short you on the pasta. They might, like Mims, prefer a healthful approach. Maybe theyre looking for that perfect, food-styled pasta shot. Maybe they dont believe in leftovers, or maybe its just ridiculous to make a whole pound of rigatoni carbonara, because who the hell eats a pound of rigatoni carbonara and lives to tell about it? There are a lot of clever ways to spin those near-empty boxes haunting our pantries, but they all ignore the simple truth: God created pasta in 1-pound packages, and were just out here trying to respect her divine design. So, please, recipe-makers, quit holding backlet go, let God, and toss that final handful of deliciousness into the pot. On a day when the weather in Pennsylvania more resembled the last day of March than the last day of May, the Always B Miki gelding Dublin Dasher continued his winning ways with a 1:52.2 victory over sloppy going in the $23,288 feature for developing male pacers on Saturday, May 31 at Pocono Downs. Favoured Dublin Dasher sat in the pocket behind Boston Rocks (Jason Bartlett), the second choice, as that one put up splits of :27.4, :56.1, and 1:24.1, with first-over Beach Bum Parley (George Napolitano, Jr.) up to get into the fray at the last-named station. In the stretch those two were joined by Dublin Dasher in the Pocono Pike, and the Dasher had the most late kick to win by two lengths, with Beach Bum Harley winning a photo for second. Hunter Oakes trains the winner of three of six this year and 10 of 25 lifetime for Alan Johnston and H O Racing Inc. Dublin Dasher was driven by Tyler Buter, Poconos leading driver and someone who will be sorry to see May end. Buter won 51 races here during the month, including at least one every day of the 16 cards in which he competed at the mountain oval. Trotters were featured in two $21,918 events for horses a level below the feature performers. The Fix Is In, an International Moni gelding who was two-for-three this year including a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes win, was still dismissed at 39-1 by the wagerers, and indeed he was seventh much of the way. But trainer-driver Charlie Norris rallied him from way back to win by a head over Lefties Righties in 1:54.3 for owners Carrie Norris and Max J. Hempt. In the other spotlight trot, Team Wiest finished 1-2, as 41-year-old trainer Justin Wiest and Hey Therbartender caught favoured Attis Rock, trained by Justins grandfather Don, whos 94 years young, in 1:57.4 over the off going. The victorious altered son of Bar Hopping is owned by Paul Britcher Jr. and Debra Jo Britcher. Braxten Boyd punched and George Napolitano Jr. counterpunched en route to both drivers winning four times in the first eleven races Boyd would win a race, and three times Napolitano won the next race; in the other, it took George two races to catch back up to Braxten. Then came the 12th and last race, the $22,603 fast-class pace. Favoured Maxim Hanover took the two-hole behind Combustion (Napolitano), who would not cede the lead to the challenging Hazeville (Boyd). Combustion maintained the lead into the stretch, but looked ripe for the plucking by Maxim Hanover; instead, Combustion, a $616,957-winning son of Captaintreacherous trained by Doug Dilloian Jr. for David Linker, Brian Loman, and Robert Venable, maintained a nose advantage in a 1:50.3 mile to give the days honours to Napolitano. The Saturday card started an excellent week of Pocono racing in which seven of the top 10 money-winning trainers in North America are participants, including the top five Ron Burke, Per Engblom, Jeff Cullipher, Cory Stratton, and Travis Alexander are joined by Scott Di Domenico and Joe Bongiorno. There will be a Sunday card at 6 p.m., and then racing on Monday and Tuesday beginning at 1 p.m. Free Pocono program pages are or will be available at phha.org. (PHHA / Pocono) Lyons Surfing ($6.50) caught a winning wave in deep stretch in Buffalo Raceway's $21,918 Open Pace on Saturday afternoon, May 31 and beat Melanion N by a neck in 1:55.1 over the 'good' track. Arriving from Pocono Downs, Lyons Surfing was assigned the outside seven post for his Buffalo debut. With a mild leave attempt off the starting gate, Lyons Surfing and driver Jim Morrill Jr. were able to tuck into the fourth position as Egomania (Joseph Chindano Jr.) set the fractions of :27.4, :57 and 1:25.1. In the drive to the wire, Melanion N (Drew Monti) was first-over while Lyons Surfing had to tip three-wide in pursuit of Egomania. It appeared Melanion N had the upper hand in mid-stretch as Egomania tired, but Lyons Surfing got one final burst nearing the finish line to capture the victory by a neck over Melanion N, with Egomania three-quarters of a length back in third. Trained by Gareth Dowse and owned by P T Stable of Brick, New Jersey, Lyons Surfing (Stay Hungry-Surfside Sexy) earned his seventh victory in 15 attempts this year and lifted his seasonal earnings to $90,811. The five-year-old gelding's 17th career win put his lifetime bankroll over the $400,000 mark. Brett MacDonald showed the way on the driving side of the ledger with three wins while Monti, Morrill Jr. and Kyle Swift each doubled. Candace Brandstatter-Hall and Chris Petrelli both had two victories on the training side. Racing will return on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m., with a 14-race card. The New York Sire Stakes will arrive for the first time in 2025 with a $119,700 USD event for the three-year-old colt and gelding pacers. There will also be a pair of $20,000 USD Excelsior Series events. (With files from Buffalo Raceway) A week out from competing in the Elitloppet at Solvalla Racecourse in Stockholm, Sweden, Canadian trotting star Logan Park is en route back home. Trainer Rob Fellows told Trot Insider that Logan Park is doing well and after resting at Bernie Noren's farm near Travad, Sweden, he began his journey home on Friday. Logan Park travelled two days with overnight rest to Frankfurt, Germany to be followed by a direct flight to Toronto today and quarantine at a farm. "There were opportunities to stay and race but our commitments to a fall schedule here would have been put in jeopardy so home hes coming," said Fellows. While Logan Park finished eighth in the first trial and did not advance to the final, which was won by French trotter Go On Boy, Fellows said it was an experience everyone should be lucky enough to have. The Rockwood, Ont. horseman noted the media coverage and fanfare surrounding harness racing and Sweden's premier trotting race was one of the highlights of his Elitloppet experience. "There were many highlights but the scope of this event to their country wont be forgotten," said Fellows. "We were stabled four hours from Stockholm and in every restaurant, convenience store and gas station you went in there were posters advertising the race. National news stories on TV and print were daily leading up to the race. Compared to here, we are only a few weeks away from our first feature race, the North America Cup, and southern Campbellville wont even realize the race is happening." More than 16,400 people were in attendance on Elitloppet day to watch the world's top trotters at Solvalla. One of Sweden's biggest sporting events, the Elitloppet was the pinnacle of an elite racing weekend with visitors topping 33,000 from Friday through Sunday. "On behalf of Logan Park, our owners and staff, everyone who sent well wishes, they were all appreciated," added Fellows. "Thank you again." (Standardbred Canada; photo of Logan Park in Sweden before the Elitloppet) Seth MacFarlane "definitely gets nervous" before a performance. Seth MacFarlane 'definitely gets nervous' before a performance The 51-year-old star is best known as the creator of the long-running animation series 'Family Guy' but has also released eight studio albums during his career and admitted that he has previously had to turn to alcohol to cope with stage fright. Speaking on 'CBS Sunday Mornings', when asked if he sees himself an introvert, he said: "Oh hell, yeah! I don't even wanna be here! No, I'm just kidding! "I think I had, like, four Scotches before I walked out on stage at the Oscars. I do get...I definitely get nervous." After graduating with a degree in animation from Rhode Island School of Design, Seth was all set to study a graudate programme in musical theatre but was then suddenly recruited to work on the carton series 'Johnny Bravo' 'Cow and Chicken' and 'Dexter's Laboratory' for Hana-Barbera so jumped at the chance, but admitted there was a his signature creation may never have come to fruition at all. He said: "My sister at the time was going to the Boston Conservatory of Music for musical theatre. She has a beautiful singing voice. I had gotten it into my head that I was going to go to grad school for musical theatre as well, so I applied and got in and was all set to go for their grad programme, but then I got this offer from Hanna-Barbera to come do an animated short for a series they were doing so I just had to take it and I moved out to California. "There was an incident there where I could have diverged into a completely different career and never even thought about something called 'Family Guy'." Seth also voices the roles of Peter, Brian and Stewie Griffin on 'Family Guy' and admitted that after more than 25 years on air, he has now begun to "analyse" the near-the-knuckle comedy in the programme in a way he hasn't done so before. He said: "When I started the show, my attitude was 'It doesn't matter, none of it matters. Let's do it...' and now that I'm older, I look back at the shows that we've done and think it's a little more complicated than that. "Comedy and jokes do have an impact. I have to figure out a way to maintain what the show is, and maintain this thing that people love but at the same time recognise that I am analysing it now in a different way than I did when I was younger." As he tracked the growing measles outbreak in Texas, watching with dread as it crossed state lines, Bob Rauner knew there was no time to waste. Fearful the once common and life-threatening virus would eventually reach Nebraska, the physician and Lincoln Public Schools board president began publicly sounding the alarm. We have similar holes, just like Texas does, Rauner said during an April school board meeting. Its likely a matter of time before measles spreads to Nebraska. He had reason to be concerned. On May 27, Nebraska confirmed its first measles case since 2017. Public health officials said the Sheridan County child hadnt yet received the full series of shots because of their age. In addition, the child is immunocompromised, which can lead to breakthrough infections. While announcing the case, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services noted that the best way to protect against measles is through immunization. But Nebraskas childhood vaccination rates are sliding downward even as the threat of measles emerges, according to a new Flatwater Free Press analysis of school data. Driving the decline is an exemption enshrined in state law: religious freedom. Data indicates religious exemptions the only nonmedical exemption to school vaccine requirements allowed under state law have gained popularity in the state. That includes Lancaster County, home to Lincoln, where the percentage of children receiving an exemption roughly doubled in the past five years. Statewide, parents are opting out of routine vaccines, like the ones targeting measles, chickenpox and pertussis, with increasing regularity. According to a survey conducted by the state at the beginning of the school year, only 11 of Nebraskas 19 health districts had enough kindergartners whod had the MMR vaccine to prevent an outbreak. The trend is not unique to Nebraska, though experts say the state has one of the more lax laws surrounding exemptions for religious reasons. In interviews and social media posts, families who claim the exemptions say their opposition to vaccines stems from deeply held beliefs. But public health officials warn that an increasingly unvaccinated population could bring dire consequences at a time when state and federal funding cuts threaten to hamstring local vaccination efforts. I think the biggest misconception is this is a personal choice, Rauner said. Its a personal choice and a public choice, because when you choose not to vaccinate against some diseases, you are putting other people at risk. A growing trend Allie Bush is a strong believer in religious exemptions for childhood vaccinations. An outspoken vaccine opponent and founder of Nebraskans Against Government Overreach, Bush sees the exemption as a tool to push back against a state mandate she vehemently opposes. The sincerely held belief that I have is that any pharmaceutical thats intended to outdo or enhance Gods design wasnt in his plan for us and isnt necessary, Bush said. Her family relies on home remedies, homeopathic treatments and things that werent chemically altered in some lab, she added. Bush frequently posts on social media about her concerns regarding vaccines. She was among the most vocal opponents of COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates in Nebraska. She cites the pandemic as one explanation for the rise in parents choosing to claim an exemption. Most people thought that all vaccines are always required for public school, she said, and (exemptions) are not majorly advertised by the schools. Experts say that after 2020, when vaccine disinformation swelled online and in communities across the country, more and more families across Nebraska began reconsidering vaccinations. COVID, I think, has provided an opportunity for parents and guardians to really ask a lot more questions as far as the vaccines that their children are getting, especially those required for school, said Kerry Kernen, director of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department. Of Nebraskas 19 local health districts, Lincoln-Lancaster has seen one of the most steady climbs in religious exemptions. In the 2020-21 school year, 1.8% of kindergartners across the county received a religious exemption for one or more vaccines. By 2024-25, that number had climbed to 4%. The impact is especially pronounced when it comes to measles protection. This year, only 89% of kids entering kindergarten in Lancaster County had both doses of the MMR vaccine, down from 94.4% in the 2020-21 school year. Thats well below the 95% that health officials say is necessary to prevent an outbreak. Spurred by the data, Rauner said Lincoln Public Schools proactively sent out letters to parents explaining what would happen three weeks of missed in-person learning if their unvaccinated child was exposed. Every LPS school is now at or above the 95% vaccinated threshold for measles, Rauner said, a feat he credits in part to the letters. Little oversight Ostensibly, families claiming religious exemptions in Nebraska have to be just that religious. The reality is more complicated. To qualify for a religious exemption in Nebraska, a family must sign an affidavit before a notary swearing that immunization either: Conflicts with the tenets and practices of a recognized religious denomination, of which the student is a member; or Conflicts with the students personal and sincerely followed religious beliefs. Oversight of these exemptions ends when the ink dries. Theres no legal process to verify a religious exemption, nor is there a requirement to name the students religion. Its open ended, and thats why its really hard to police, said Dorit Reiss, a professor of law at UC Law San Francisco. How do you disprove something like that? Nebraskas not alone in allowing these exemptions. Forty-three states and Washington, D.C., allow parents to opt their children out of vaccine requirements for religious reasons. Thirteen of those also allow exemptions for personal or philosophical reasons. But many of those states require more than Nebraska law does. New Mexico requires parents to provide written affirmation of their religious objections. Nevada requires parents to sign their initials next to statements affirming they understand the risk of contracting and transmitting diseases. Wyoming, which has a similar exemption form to Nebraska, includes a list of symptoms and effects of each disease a given vaccine prevents. Parents opting out of the MMR vaccine, for example, are counseled that symptoms and effects of measles include pneumonia, seizures, brain damage and death. Few organized religions outright object to vaccination. While individual Catholics may have concerns about vaccines that use cell lines from an aborted fetus, the church has issued guidance that it is morally acceptable to receive those vaccines if theres no other option. In early April, Gov. Jim Pillen and State Epidemiologist Dr. Sydney Stein added their voices to the chorus encouraging childhood vaccination. This one is a no-brainer. This vaccine works, and it protects our kids, Pillen said during a press conference. But vaccination efforts could grow even more challenging thanks to funding cuts at the federal and state levels. Health districts are in line to lose millions in state support over the next two years under a budget bill signed by Pillen earlier this month. Meanwhile, measles cases continue to rise nationally. As of May 23, theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,046 cases in the U.S. Of those, 96% were unvaccinated. Three people have died. Rauner said its incumbent on officials at every level to encourage vaccination efforts, and ensure that one case doesnt become many. When rubber hits the road, he said, you dont want babies dying. Texas A&M Universitys RELLIS campus has seen transformational change since the first academic building opened there in 2019. More is on the way. Kelly Templin, RELLISs executive director, told the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents about how more change is coming during Fridays workshop and provided an update on several different projects going on at the campus. RELLIS will be home to the Texas Semiconductor Institute as well as the location where four companies will create small modular nuclear reactors. The semiconductor institute will be on the west side of the campus. Templin said the biggest challenge RELLIS has faced with the four nuclear companies is that each one has different utility needs and different land impacts. There is a lot of innovative technology that has come to the forefront here. Its a very exciting frontier to be on now, Templin said of small modular nuclear reactors. I think its going to be the future, not just for the state of Texas but I think the West is going to power themselves this way. All four companies have very interesting cutting-edge models, and I tell students your kids are probably going to see [small modular nuclear reactors] as a common thing. Templin provided regents with an update on the purchase of 867 acres of land adjacent to RELLIS along Goodson Bend Road. That purchase is nearing its closure which will open up more land south of Goodson Bend Road, but most importantly provide the campus with access to a large acreage of land for more projects. You want to guide development logically, Templin told The Eagle after the workshop. You want to spend your money wisely and hopefully spend it one time. We spend the peoples money and we need to spend it wisely. I just wanted to assure the board that we are on top of these utility issues and we are planning wisely and spending money wisely. Also along Goodson Bend Road where Avenue D runs into it, there will be another entrance to the campus that Templin hopes will help alleviate traffic with the other two gates, currently Gus Grissom Road to Texas 21 and Fifth Street to Texas 47. Templin shared with regents information on infrastructure going into the campus such as new power lines and water lines. What I wanted to share with the regents at this time is all of the background work with regard to infrastructure required to support, not just the campus but the work were doing around RELLIS to support the flagship, Templin said. We work closely with [Bryan Texas Utilities] because we get our electrical power from BTU and we work the city of Bryan on water. We have to closely coordinate with our partners because theres no sense coming up with a solution that is just good for 2,000 or 3,000 acres if we can put our efforts to better use to come up with a regional solution that works for Bryan, Brazos County, etc. Utility lines at RELLIS will mostly remain above ground except for an area to the south of the old runways which will have the wires below the ground so that RELLIS can continue to operate as an airport if the need ever arises. For now, that area of the land is used for drone testing but as Templin told the board its good to keep options open. Templin also told regents about the new Animal Reproductive Biotechnology Center that opened May 6 on the south end of campus. The Rosenthal Meat Science and Technology Center currently on the Texas A&M main campus will move out to RELLIS where it will be located near the biotechnology center. Thats a function of the need to keep up with facilities for meat science, but also because of the growth of that we have room to accommodate here and its easier for us to accommodate it, Templin said. Templin also provided regents with an update on the construction of the hypersonic wind tunnel as well as future plans for the TEEX training complex. After the meeting, Templin spoke with The Eagle on the day-to-day business of being RELLIS director. There is rarely a slow day on campus and as more ventures make their way there it will continue to pick up. Its a fun challenge. I tell everybody the best and worst thing about the job is you never know what you are going to face at the beginning of each and every week, Templin said. Theres never a chance to be bored which is probably the greatest advantage of the job. Templin told the regents during his presentation that RELLIS is ahead of schedule on its masterplan and that there are still areas for growth. After the workshop, Templin credited the A&M System with making RELLIS a place that companies want to come to and that he enjoys the challenge of finding a place for those companies on campus. Its always a challenge, of course, but as I was saying to Dr. [Joe] Elabd these are problems we want to have, Templin said. We want people knocking on our door, or beating on our door [at RELLIS] because of what the Texas A&M System can bring to the table. Southern Vietnam province Ba Ria-Vung Tau okays 53 projects By Thai Ha Sun, June 1, 2025 | 8:00 am GMT+7 Ba Ria-Vung Tau authorities on Friday granted in-principle approvals or investment registration certificates for 53 projects, including a green light for a $400 million investment capital hike of the $5.4 billion Long Son Petrochemicals Complex. The Investment Conference 2025: Choosing Ba Ria-Vung Tau held in Ba Ria-Vung Tai province, southern Vietnam, May 30, 2025. Photo courtesy of the organizers. Of the 53 projects, 26 are foreign-invested projects worth a total of nearly $1.02 billion and 27 domestic ones worth VND71,063 billion ($2.73 billion). The handovers took place at the Investment Conference 2025: Choosing Ba Ria-Vung Tau organized by the provincial People's Committee. Thammasak Sethaudom, president and CEO of Thailand's Siam Cement Group (SCG) - the investor of Long Son Petrochemicals Complex, previously stated that SCG is considering re-operating its billion-dollar complex in the context that the world price of petrochemical products - types its complex produces - has hit rock bottom. In October 2024, SCG said the Long Son complex temporarily halted operations to manage overall business costs, with plans to reassess operations when conditions are more favorable. At the conference, Trelleborg Vietnam Co., Ltd., which specializes in advanced polymer products, received a certificate for an additional investment capital of $16.9 million at its factory in Phu My 3 Specialized Industrial Park. Colorful Nylon Fiber Co., Ltd. in Dat Do 1 Industrial Park got an investment registration certificate for its $120 million project. Pro-Tech Industrial Co., Ltd., under China's Pro-Tech Industrial, was granted an investment registration certificate for its 18 million high-end sanitary appliances factory project in Phu My 3 Specialized Industrial Park. The FDI projects also include the $20 million QuickPack Household and Hygiene Vietnam Co., Ltd. factory in Chau Duc Industrial Park; and the $25 million Aventon electric bicycle factory; the $25 million Haoda thermos cup factory; and the $27 million Neway Valve Vietnam Co., Ltd. plant, all in Dat Do 1 Industrial Park. Meanwhile, Coretronic Technology Co., Ltd. in Phu My 3 Specialized Industrial Park was allowed to make an extra $60 million investment. Among the group of 27 domestic projects, Sun Group received an investment registration certificate for its 3/2 Street urban area project in Vung Tau worth VND34,995 billion ($1.43 billion). Sun Group started construction of this giant project on May 16, which is poised to become one of the largest integrated urban complexes ever undertaken in the province. Santosa Development and Investment JSC was approved to invest in the Dai An ecological urban area project in Long Dat district, with a total investment of VND4,072 billion ($156.49 million). IDICO Investment Construction Oil and Natural Gas JSC was handed over an investment registration certificate for its VND1,988 billion ($76.4 million) My Xuan B1-Conac industrial park expansion project in Phu My town. Vietnam Agriculture Tourism Trading JSC received in-principle approval for its Poseidon 5-star tourist apartment and hotel project in Vung Tau, with an investment hike of VND1,997 billion ($76.74 million). Green World JSC got an investment registration certificate to adjust its Odyssey 5-star tourist apartment and hotel project in Vung Tau with extra VND2,476 billion ($95.15 million). These two projects belong to domestic company Five Star Group which is headquartereed in Long An province. Long Son Company Limited received in-principle approval to invest in the Long Son My Xuan general port project in Phu My, at the cost of VND2,385 billion ($91.66 million). In the first five months of 2025, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province okayed 73 projects which are either newly-registered projects or those with capital expansion to the tune of about $4 billion. Of the 73, 37 are FDI projects with a total sum of newly registered capital or increased capital of about $1.25 billion and 36 domestic projects (VND71,500 billion or about $2.75 billion). Twenty people were arrested and three officers were injured in Bolivia Thursday after supporters of former president Evo Morales, who has been barred from running for office again, clashed with law enforcement, police said. Demonstrators have been pushing for the indigenous leader to be allowed to participate in August elections, urging electoral authorities in La Paz to act despite a court ruling barring him from taking part and the fact that the May 19 registration deadline has passed. Jason Sudeikis has paid tribute to his late uncle George Wendt. Jason Sudeikis has paid tribute to his late uncle George Wendt The 49-year-old actor is the nephew of late 'Cheers' star George - who died in May at the age of 76 - and recalled that his uncle was something of a "hero" to him who taught him how to really "care" about his craft. Speaking as part of a panel at the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend in Kansas City on Saturday (31.05.25), he explained: "With regard to my uncle George, I mean, theres that old saying of like, Dont meet your heroes,' usually 'cause 'they let you down,' I assume, is the back half of that statement. But hes not one of those people. "Hes as fun and kind and as warm as any character he played on television or in films. "He was an incredible influence to me, both as someone that plays the trail, being from the Midwest and teaching me that acting was a career you could actually have, if you really care about it." The 'Ted Lasso' star also praised the late actor for the way he "stayed connected" to his family and his roots in Chicago despite his Hollywood success. He said: "He also always kept connected to his family, to his roots, both in Chicago, of course, where he's from, but then also the time he spent here [at Rockhurst University]. "And to a bar called Mike's a whole bunch, where I think he logged maybe 18 credit hours. "But it was all in preparation of a job that we all know him for, Cheers. All time well spent. But yeah, we miss him greatly, and I love him dearly." Best known for his role as beer-swilling Norm Peterson on the hit NBC bar sitcom Cheers, George had spoken candidly about the impact of the show on his life. He said in a past interview: I was lucky to be part of something that became such a beloved part of peoples lives. Born in 1948, George a household name throughout the run of Cheers, which was on air for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. Despite a rocky start with low ratings that nearly saw the show cancelled after its first season, the sitcom grew to become a defining sitcom of its era, spending eight of its remaining 10 seasons in the top 10 shows and peaking as the most-watched programme in its ninth season. The series received 117 Emmy nominations, winning 28 awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series four times. George was nominated for six consecutive Emmys for his portrayal of Norm, appearing in every episode until the series ended in May 1993. For close to three decades, the Foundation for Heritage Preservation and Legacy Creation has been dedicated to preserving Indigenous heritage, promoting eco-cultural education, and fostering sustainable community development focusing on areas including environment and wildlife, education, community support, and animal care and rescue. However, the Foundation is facing its biggest challenge, as it needs consistent funding to support its programmes. Added to that, further setbacks emerged when the Foundations co-founder, Aleeyah Amanda Ali, was stricken with health issues. TOBAGO has lost one of its most gifted daughters. That is the sentiment shared by many as tributes poured in following the passing of 2007 Digicel Rising Stars champion and vocalist Kay Alleyne-Meloney, who died after a battle with breast cancer. The Bon Accord-born artiste, who was in her 40s, and known for her versatility and passion, passed away at 2 a.m. yesterday, a close friend confirmed to the Express. Her musical talent spanned several genres, including gospel, jazz and R&B. Ana de Armas loves her 'Ballerina' character. Ana de Armas stars in the new spin-off movie The 37-year-old actress plays Eve Macarro, a ballerina who trains as an assassin, in the 'John Wick' spin-off movie, and Ana has revealed that she jumped at the chance to join the film franchise. Speaking to HeyUGuys, Ana explained: "As a fan of the 'John Wick' franchise, and everything Keanu Reeves and [director] Chad Stahelski had done, I was like ... I have a great foundation there. And I think our movie is just so very organic and in a really good place for us to carry on with this world. And I love the character. "So, I was just like ... tick, tick, tick. This makes sense." Despite this, Ana had to get herself in tip-top shape for such a physically demanding role. The actress actually spent "months and months" preparing for the project. The Hollywood star shared: "Everything was so challenging. And the training especially. "Stepping into the training period was kind of like ... it was not like I was underestimating what I was going to have to do, but it took me a moment to realise the discipline that it requires to take on something like this. "It was just months and months of training. Different kinds of training, too. It was like weapons to combat to some martial arts to ... just even learning the basics." Meanwhile, Ana previously admitted that becoming a movie star seemed like a distant dream during her childhood. The brunette beauty - who grew up in Cuba, before moving to Spain and then the US - told The Sun on Sunday newspaper: "I had there, in front of my eyes, people who were not working or who didnt have money. "On television I would see nothing more than old re-runs of soap operas or things that were of poor quality." Ana first dreamed of becoming a well-known actress at the age of 12. However, it required a lot of courage and ambition for her to achieve her dream. She explained: "I dont really remember a specific day that I said, Im going to be an actress. "In my home, we never had videos, DVDs or VHS. We used to watch movies at my neighbours home. If I saw a scene played by a woman or a man that I really liked, I would run to the mirror and repeat it. "Then I would come back home and do the movie for my brother because he didnt see it. "I couldnt dream of anything else outside Cuba. You grow up thinking that its good enough, its all you need, which in some way is true. "You can dream big in Cuba but very few people can go outside and have the balls to make it happen." In 2007, the red party won the election with approximately 300,000 votes whilst the yellow party had 195,000 and the third party got 148,000. In 2010 the yellow party won back the election with 317,000 votes with the red party at 287,000, a difference of approximately 30,000. The third party took 102,000. In 2015 the red party won back the election with 378,000 and the yellow 290,000, a much larger difference of 88,000. In 2020 the red party won again with 322,000 and the yellow with 310,000, a much smaller difference being 12,000, lower than even the 2010 difference. In 2025, the yellow party won with 335,000 against the red party being 224,000, an approximate difference of 111,000, the largest margin over the past 20 years. Eiza Gonzalez was "like a sponge" on the set of 'Fountain of Youth'. Eiza Gonzalez loved working with Guy Richie The 35-year-old actress stars alongside the likes of John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, and Domhnall Gleeson in the Guy Ritchie-directed adventure film, and Eiza has revealed that she relished working with the acclaimed filmmaker. The Hollywood star - who previously worked with Guy on 'The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare' - told Collider: "For me, you're always learning from another person - and especially someone as deep and as well-rounded as Guy Richie. "You think you know him and you're like, 'Wow, there are so many layers to you.' Not only as an individual but also as a director. And so I was just so grateful that I got the chance to be in this movie and I'm always sort of coming to set as if it's the first time I've ever worked with this person." Eiza actually feels grateful to play a part in 'Fountain of Youth'. The actress also appreciated being part of the film's star-studded cast. She shared: "I always want to take advantage of the moment I'm on a set, because it's not a given, and want to absorb it like a sponge. And so I did. "I had the most incredible cast to work with. I would go to set to watch them sometimes ... it's fun, you know? These movies are a gift and you have to sort of really enjoy them in the process of it all." Meanwhile, Eiza previously confessed to feeling "distraught" after being overlooked for the role of Catwoman in 'The Batman'. The actress was one of the candidates for the iconic role in the 2022 film, but Zoe Kravitz ultimately landed the coveted part in the Matt Reeves-directed movie. Eiza told ComicBook.com: "I was so excited when I was like, camera tested for 'The Batman'. And that whole process was shocking and I couldn't believe it because I was especially such a huge fan of Catwoman. And in that moment, I was like, you know, distraught that I didn't get it. "But then I watched it and I was like, wow, I just like, loved it. I loved her. I loved the role. I loved Zoe in it. "I just was so obsessed with what Matt had created and now I'm just like, it's just nice to see people for the right role getting cast in the right role and I just like to watch it as an audience member." Eiza would still love to land a role in a Marvel or a DC movie. But, she added: "I don't see it happening. "I mean, it's like my opportunity has been there and it's not happened for me. So I think it's just not in the cards for Eiza Gonzalez, which is OK. I'm ... I'm OK with it." The city can be held liable for the public nuisance caused by a homeless camp in a Tucson neighborhood on the north side, the Arizona Court of Appeals has ruled. Bradford v. City of Tucson The ongoing legal case stems from a 2023 lawsuit against the city filed by residents of Hedrick Acres, near East Fort Lowell Road and North Campbell Avenue, who claimed the citys inaction in dealing with a homeless camp in Navajo Wash created a nuisance. The ruling overturns a lower court decision that said the city had taken reasonable steps to abate the nuisance caused by camping in the Navajo Wash, and affirmed the trial court's decision that two of the three plaintiffs had adequate standing to sue the city. In a ruling authored by Presiding Judge Michael Kelly, the appeals court acknowledged the citys efforts through its protocols for enforcement against encampments, but disagreed with the trial courts conclusion that it is not liable for the nuisance conditions in Navajo Wash. The City need not consent to the nuisance conditions themselves in order to be liable for a public nuisance on its land, the ruling says. Because city officials knew of camps in the wash and that it was an ongoing problem, Tucson could be held liable, and the plaintiffs can seek injunctive relief, the court says. I think it was the right decision, said Adrian Wurr, a resident of the neighborhood and one of the people who sued. And more importantly, as a neighborhood, were just looking forward to being able to move on with our lives and having a little more clarity about whats going to happen in Navajo Wash. Hopefully the city will abate the nuisance. For us, the Navajo Wash is a pocket park that we established. We built it, and we have a lot of pride of ownership, because its our only park, its our only open space. So it really hurt when we couldnt use it, Wurr said. We want to be able to use the space as a public space. So thats what I hope for in the future. Thats mostly why we undertook this lawsuit. An attorney for the city could not be immediately reached Friday for comment. Repeatedly last week, migrants in Tucsons immigration court said the key words that likely kept them out of handcuffs. Me opongo, they said I oppose in Spanish. They were opposing government motions to dismiss their immigration cases. Across the country, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have been using a tricky tactic, in an apparent effort to increase deportations to meet Trump administration goals. ICE attorneys have been asking judges to dismiss peoples immigration cases, and if they do, ICE agents waiting at the courthouse immediately arrest those migrants. The disappearance of their existing cases makes them vulnerable to fast deportation. Top Trump aides Stephen Miller and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are demanding 3,000 deportations per day, according to a Wednesday report in Axios. Thats a ton. So agents have started shooting fish in a barrel. Rather than going after the gang members and criminals Trump highlighted to justify his crackdown, they are arresting migrants at the courthouses where they go to stay in good stead with the government. This tactic has been especially visible in Phoenix, where ICE agents, often masked and in plain clothes, began arresting people at court May 20. Last week, they changed tactics, the Arizona Republic reported, and pursued people after they left the courthouse, where they would be out of public view, avoiding protests. Its a cruel way to deal with human beings, many of whom came to the United States fleeing danger and playing by our rules in force at the time. Were making them go to court to plead for asylum or another form of legalization, then arresting them for doing what we asked. It boxes people into a no-win dilemma: Follow the rules and risk arrest at court, or break the rules and risk arrest somewhere else. I met a Colombian couple at Tucsons immigration court Friday who had heard of the courthouse arrests but nevertheless showed up for their appointment. Most people are afraid of being deported, Claudia Velez told me in Spanish before going into the courtroom. Its scary, but we have to face our problems. Different priorities from our administration now Tucson immigration attorney Mo Goldman was representing a Mexican family Wednesday when an ICE attorney asked that their cases be dismissed, he said. The family had used the CBP One app that the Biden administration required for people seeking asylum in the United States. They had followed all the proper procedures, and their case was referred to the immigration court, Goldman said. When the ICE attorney asked for a dismissal, the judge, Gilda Terrazas, asked on what basis the case should be dismissed. The attorney said circumstances of the case have changed one of the seven reasons potentially allowed for such a dismissal. The judge asked what the changed circumstances were, Goldman recounted. The attorney didnt have a good reason other than saying we have different priorities from our administration now. Judge Terrazas denied the request, Goldman said. (I checked in with Terrazas after Velezs familys hearing at the court Friday, but she told me court rules prohibited her from talking about the case or confirming these details.) After the hearing, Goldman said, he saw one man he suspects was a plainclothes ICE officer in the corridor of the courts and another downstairs in the lobby of the federal building, 300 W. Congress. My assumption is if the case had been dismissed, they would have been arrested, he said. But this time, Goldman was there to contest the dismissal, and Terrazas had the backbone to question the governments reasoning. Displays of bullying and cowardice Thats impressive in part because immigration courts arent in the independent judicial branch. They are administrative venues run by the Justice Departments Executive Office of Immigration Review. The judges ultimately report to the U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and President Trump. You can imagine those two trying to fire a judge who stands in the way of their deportation agenda. So it takes some courage to block or delay these dismissals. And that courage stands in stark contrast to the cowardliness of the ICE attorneys and agents. The bloodless legalism of trying to dismiss cases in order to bureaucratically trap migrants who have followed the rules is one ugly thing. More brutally bad is the appearance of gangs of masked men in Phoenix and other courts, grabbing people who are trying to follow the rules in order to make their agencys deportation goals. Watching videos and reading stories of some of these arrests is a punch in the gut. One Cuban man in Miami threatened to kill himself and tried to choke himself with his handcuffs after his immigration case was dismissed in Miami. He said he had been a political prisoner in Cuba and would be killed if sent back. In San Antonio on Thursday, a sobbing husband and wife were separated after a court hearing and case dismissal, the wife arrested, and a teen suffering an apparent panic attack as she was arrested, too. These are grotesque displays of bullying and cowardice. Its no wonder many of the agents wear masks imagine if their mothers saw them. But it would be more respectable if they quit rather than run roughshod over weak people to make the daily numbers. There are plenty of law-enforcement jobs available. Everyone said me opongo There likely would have been arrests Thursday at Tucson immigration court except for activists who have been working to protect those going to court. Alba Jaramillo, of the Coalicion de Derechos Humanos, told me via text that she did a know your rights training for some of those who had appointments this week, letting them know about the need to oppose dismissal of their cases. Volunteers from the Coalicion and Tucson Samaritans, among other groups, have been in court and outside the building to offer help. Immigration attorney Doralina Luna, who was in court Thursday, told me lawyers like her are under restrictions about giving legal assistance, but these volunteers are freer to help. Yesterday (on Thursday), I was holding my breath, because I didnt know what people would say, Luna said. Every single person opposed dismissal. ICE agents were holed up in a nearby room, she said. But they couldnt make any arrests, because everyone said me opongo. When Mark Turney was looking to sell his family-owned Tulsa manufacturing business, he found the perfect fit in a buyer who will allow his company to expand. Turney turned to Andrew Popa, a business broker and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisor, and president of Transworld Business Advisors Tulsa, who in turn listed the business on BizBuySell, a go-to website for people wanting to buy or sell a business or franchising opportunity. Turneys not alone. BizBuySell is seeing a lot more attention from both sellers and buyers of American small businesses in this economy. Two contributing factors have become clear: A quarter of small business owners are 65 and older, which is creating what BizBuySell marketing director Adam Debussy calls the silver tsunami of sellers. Plus the generation of people in their 30s and 40s, the largest ever, are realizing that buying a business is a much less risky proposition than starting a new one. The majority 75% surveyed by BizBuySell are primarily seeking stable, recession-resistant businesses to purchase. Corporate refugees, those wanting to quit their jobs with big businesses, are entering the market in droves. When surveyed, most are seeking financial independence, more control over their careers and better work-life balance. Forty-four percent want an escape from corporate politics. In the first quarter of 2025, 2,368 businesses were sold in the country, representing a total value of $2 billion, a 9% increase in value from the same period a year prior, according to the most recent BizBuySell Insight Report. The price, cash flow and revenue of businesses sold were all higher this year than at the same time last year. In the first quarter of the year, the median sale price of a business reached $349,000, a 4% year-over-year increase, while median cash flow grew by 6% to $160,000 and median revenue increased by 3% to $700,000. Sales of manufacturing businesses grew by 3% in the first quarter with median sale prices increasing by 54% to more than $1 million as President Donald Trump emphasized bringing back manufacturing to this country. For Turney, his buyer was nearly 1,300 miles away, in Sarasota, Florida. Tony Lyons, general manager of Genesys Industries, saw the BizBuySell listing. With the help of Popa, discussions for the sale began on Feb. 21 and closed on May 19. Its a great, great match, Lyons said. Andrew did a fantastic job because youve got to have a great M&A (mergers and acquisitions) specialist. The three and others met with the Tulsa World at Turneys company, TC Machine and Manufacturing renamed TCMMa Genesys company. Turney will stay on as general manager of the Tulsa facility. TCMM has nine employees at its production facility, tucked away in an industrial area in midtown. Genesys has about 65 employees, and now six locations in the U.S. with its acquisition of the Tulsa company. Both companies specialize in machining hundreds of different kinds of metal and plastic parts for the aerospace and other industries. They include everything from refining the plastic molds on the back of airline seats that hold up tray tables and video screens, to metal brackets, and pencil-like metal parts with holes in the middle and threading on the outside. Its high-tech stuff and precision machinery, some of which requires parameters smaller than a human hair measured in microns. We were really looking for an opportunity to keep the business and grow the business, so Genesys is going to give us the opportunity to do that, including resources and cash flow, Turney said. Businesses for sale for tens of thousands or millions Bob House is president of BizBuySell, a website founded in 1996. It is a part of CoStar Group, a global leader in commercial real estate information and analytics. Our inventory comes from business brokers, commercial brokers and owners who list directly on our platform, House said in an interview with the Tulsa World. We also work with franchisers who are trying to grow their systems. At BizBuySell, there are companies for sale ranging from tens of thousands to tens of millions of dollars and a huge range of categories, House added. Theres a lot of volume on the low end, he said. Theres some that are selling just the business and not the property. Many of the listings on BizBuySell are advertised confidentially because, he said, a lot of owners want to keep it quiet. They dont want their employees to quit, House said. And it could hurt the business value if it gets out that its being sold. The tariff effect on deals Debussy, the marketing director for BizBuySell, said at the onset of 2025 there was a lot of excitement with a Republican administration coming into play. Folks thought it was going to be a very pro-business environment, he said. Then the president announced a series of tariffs in hopes of sparking the American economy. Debussy said some deals are taking a little bit longer to close. The uncertainty has buyers and sellers asking questions like how long will the tariffs last and is the purchase price right under such conditions. But the deals keep getting done on the site. Sometimes it can take a year, two years to find the right buyer, House said. Owners want to make sure their employees are taken care of, their customers are taken care of. The fit of the next owner is really important. Sometimes more important than maximum price. That was true for the sale of Tulsas TC Machine and Manufacturing. Turney and family members started the company about six years ago, about a year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. We climbed out of the COVID, Turney said. We had some buyers look before, but it was really tough. Lyons said being able to have Turney stay on as the new general manager of the business is one of the best parts of this deal. Report: Denham Hitchcock, Amelia Brace sign to 10 News Serious names join 10's equally serious news project. That was fast. Investigative reporter Denham Hitchcock has reportedly signed with 10s new investigative unit having returned to Seven in only February. The Australian reports he will host 10s new program under executive producer Daniel Sutton, although thats yet to be confirmed. Hitchock returned to 7News Spotlight after a 2 year break, to find a new EP, a new team, new reporters, a fresh energy, an abundance of stories, and some genuine excitement about the year ahead. He presented his first 2025 report for Spotlight only a week ago, filing on the women lured into the crime of smuggling drugs across international borders. He will reportedly join Sevens former foreign correspondent Amelia Brace, and Seven News Sydney reporter Bill Hogan on the secretive new project. According to the newspaper both Hitchcock and Brace begin at Pyrmont today (Hogan still has three more weeks at Seven). Alex Cullen and Ashlee Mullan have also been rumoured as under consideration. Running a stand-alone investigative unit does not come cheap, but Paramount Global has reportedly tipped $20m into the project. Update: Mumbrella reports news boss Martin White announced to Tens news staff that he had made the first hires for the team, with Denham Hitchcock and Amelia Brace defecting from Seven to develop ideas for 10 News with senior journalist Dan Sutton, who works in the Sydney newsroom. Were looking at some ideas, were coming up with a few things, and were developing a few things, White says, declining to go into more detail. Were still working a lot of stuff out. Sam Pang returns as 2025 Logies host 65th Logie Awards will be held in Sydney on Sunday August 3rd. Sam Pang will return to host the TV Week Logie Awards for the third year in a row. Held at The Star Sydney it will screen Live on Seven on Sunday 3 August. I am very excited to return for another Logies and would like to thank Seven for asking me back, said Pang. Its been an honour to host the last two years and Im looking forward to again celebrating the talented people and amazing shows that combine to make the Australian television industry something everyone can be proud of. Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Howard, said: The Logies are part of the fabric of Australian TV and the industrys night of nights. We are proud to once again partner with TV Week and The Star Sydney to present all of the glamour, excitement and fun of the red carpet and the 65th TV Week Logie Awards. Last year, the Logies proved their enduring appeal, reaching 3.5 million people and drawing a total TV audience of 1.44 million, up on 2023 and the biggest Logies audience since 2016. It is fantastic that the brilliant Sam Pang is steering the ship again in 2025. We look forward to unifying Australias TV industry and recognising another year of excellence with our exclusive awards broadcast. Nominations will be announced in Sydney on Monday 16 June. The TV Week Logie Awards are supported by Destination NSW. Screenworks: New Kids on the Block participants 11 emerging regional screen practitioners will be supported in attending the Regional to Global 2025 event at Lennox Head. 11 emerging regional screen practitioners will be supported by Screenworks, in partnership with Screen Queensland, Screen NSW, and Screen Canberra, to attend Regional to Global 2025 event at Lennox Head. The New Kids on the Block program is designed to address the anxiety of being a New Kid at any event and provides in-person support for all successful applicants. The range of support includes introduction to other participants prior to and during the screen forum, a dedicated Screenworks staff member to answer questions and facilitate introductions to key delegates, a walk through of the venue and a guided read through of the program as well as early access to roundtable discussions, ongoing support through-out the screen forum and financial support for travel and accommodation. Screenworks CEO Lisa OMeara said: Congratulations to our 2025 New Kids On the Block participants. The volume and calibre of applications made it difficult for the assessors to choose the participants, so we know we have a great cohort coming through. I look forward to seeing the magic that happens when we bring them all together at this years Regional to Global. Recipients include six filmmakers from New South Wales Tabatha Muzik (Hunter Valley), Lauren Paris (Northern Rivers), Declan Booth (Northern Rivers), Grace Bowman (Armidale), Elkie Chadwick (Corrimal), Courtney Watts (Rutherford). Three applicants from Queensland were selected Caden Pearson (Redlynch), Kimberley Greaves (Bayview Heights), and Andre Scholz (Edge Hill), and two from the ACT Ruth Pieloor (Scullin) and Cooper Williams (Canberra). Regional to Global is Screenworks premium event providing opportunities for participants to connect with key screen industry decision makers and other filmmakers. This three day annual event offers opportunities for attendees to pitch their talents and projects as well as seek collaborations and build industry connections that could advance their careers. Guest speakers include some of Australias trailblazing screen producers as well as respected commissioners and agency representatives, award winning writers and directors. There will be interactive panel sessions, inclusive forum discussions, workshops, roundtable talks (bookings open midday, 3 June), one-on-one meetings and lots of pitching and networking opportunities. Set in the beautiful beachside town of Lennox Head, NSW, which is only 15 minutes drive from world-famous Byron Bay, it will be a relaxed and picturesque setting to come together with screen industry professionals. 18-20 June Lennox Head Cultural Centre Lennox Head, NSW Walking with Dinosaurs: June 3 Unearthing the bones of predator and prey so close together enabled BBC to reveal the latest science of these iconic species and tell their extraordinary stories. Walking with Dinosaurs returns to screens 25 years after the BBC first had audiences captivated by the mix of science and computer graphics. Across the six episodes we will meet a range of spectacular dinosaur species in an array of prehistoric landscapes. These include a Spinosaurus the largest carnivorous dinosaur ever to walk the earth roaming the rivers of ancient Morocco; a youthful Triceratops battling a ravenous T. rex in North America; and a lonely giant Lusotitan risking it all for a love in Portugal. The cast of dinosaur characters have been brought to life using cutting edge CGI techniques provided by VFX house Lola Post Production. Walking With Dinosaurs is narrated by double Olivier and Tony award-winning actor Bertie Carvel (The Crown, Doctor Foster). Episode 1: The Orphan In Laramidia, a lush, subtropical landscape 66 million years ago, we meet Clover, an orphaned baby Triceratops. Alone and vulnerable without a herd for protection, shes stalked by the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex. Today, palaeontologists in Montana are uncovering her fossils, allowing us to imagine Clovers life and the dangers she faced. Through stunning VFX we recreate her dangerous encounters and bring her fight for survival vividly to life. Using her speed and small size, Clover manages to escape from a close encounter with a giant pterosaur with a 5-metre wingspan. A pterosaur, however, is no match for T. rexs 1.5-meter-long jaws capable of swallowing a young Triceratops whole. Clover then comes across a fully-grown Triceratops shed met earlier on in her travels. With horns over a metre long and a protective bony frill almost 2 metres wide, T. rex might have met his match. At the dig site, palaeontologist Eric Lund thinks Triceratops frill was rich with blood vessels which might have colourful patterns to intimidate rivals. In a climactic show-down, T. rex and Triceratops face off. Both creatures end up injured but, for T. rex, there is still an easier meal close by: Clover. Can the little Triceratops escape the killing jaws of the apex predator? Helen Thomas, Executive Producer, said: The story of Clover is so fascinating because, like the whole series, it is based on the real finds from a unique dig site. In the case of Clover, finding the bones of a very young Triceratops is rare in itself as so many ended up as lunch for the many predators roaming north America in the late Cretaceous. But Clovers story was something even more special close to her dig site the team found remains of the most infamous predator of them all T. rex. Unearthing the bones of predator and prey so close together enabled us to reveal the latest science of these iconic species and tell their extraordinary stories. 8pm Tuesday on ABC. Mark Hamill doesn't intend to return to 'Star Wars'. Mark Hamill doesn't plan to return as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars The 73-year-old star first played the role of Luke Skywalker in the original movie 'A New Hope' back in 1977 but has no wish to return as the protagonist as he would prefer franchise bosses to focus on the "future" with different characters at the heart of the stories. In an interview with ComicBook.com, Mark said: "I am so grateful to George (Lucas) for letting me be a part of that back in the day, the humble days when George called 'Star Wars' the most expensive low-budget movie ever made. "We never expected it to become a permanent franchise and a part of pop culture like that. But my deal is, I had my time. I'm appreciative of that, but I think they should focus on the future and all the new characters." Mark's last significant appearance was as a force ghost in the 2019 sequel trilogy flick 'The Rise of Skywalker' and he joked that it was impossible for him to return after the ghostly truth about his alter ego was revealed in the 2017 picture 'The Last Jedi'. He said: "(I) disappeared in ('The Last Jedi'), I left my robes behind. And there's no way I'm gonna appear as a naked force ghost." Hamill confessed last year that he felt the "heart was gone" from 'Star Wars' following the tragic passing of his co-star Carrie Fisher, who portrayed Princess Leia, at the age of 60 from a sudden a cardiac arrest in 2016. Recalling the moment he learnt of Carrie's death, he said: "My wife (Marilou York) came into the bedroom - she gets up earlier than I do - I was still asleep. She had tears rolling down her face saying that Carrie had "It forever altered how I reacted to Star Wars in general. The heart was gone. I dont talk about it because I dont like reliving it." Mark also paid tribute to Carrie for bringing an "effortless feminism" to the sci-fi franchise by standing strong against the villainous Darth Vader and taking command of both Luke and Han Solo (Harrison Ford). He said: "I thought that it was effortless feminism to have the Princess be far from a shrinking violet. "She was tough, she was telling Darth Vader off to his face - she was not intimidated by Darth Vader in the slightest. "'I thought I recognised your foul stench I mean, wow! Pretty mouthy, huh? "And when we rescued her, she made chumps out of Luke and Han: You call this a rescue? Gimme that gun! "And she made us look like two stooges. I thought, Thats effortless feminism, because its not apologetic, its just showing a woman is as [capable] as any man." Chinese delegation visits Tajikistan for international conference on Glacier's Preservation Beijing/Dushanbe, June 1 (UNI) A Chinese delegation visited Tajikistan from Friday to Saturday and attended the High-Level International Conference on Glaciers' Preservation. The delegation was headed by Shen Yueyue, vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairperson of the Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), who met Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, held talks with Faizali Idizoda, speaker of the lower house of the parliament, and attended the unveiling ceremony of the Health Express China-Tajikstan Blindness Prevention Center. Conveying Chinese President Xi Jinping's greetings to Rahmon, Shen said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Tajikistan in the new era has maintained good momentum for growth. BUENOS AIRES The ArgentinaVietnam Business Forum (FINAV) was held in Manfredi city, Cordoba province, central Argentina on May 30, drawing a wide range of local officials, representatives of institutions, research bodies and businesses from across the South American country. The event marked the first time such a forum has taken place in Manfredi, and forms part of an important initiative aimed at strengthening trade, investment and cultural exchanges between the two nations. Addressing the forum, which attracted significant interest from local business circles, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, young entrepreneurs and potential investors, Trade Counsellor and head of the Viet Nam Trade Office in Argentina Ngo Manh Khoi highlighted Viet Nams position as one of the most dynamic economies in the world. With a population of over 100 million, Viet Nam has recorded a GDP of more than US$476 billion, and international trade turnover exceeding $786 billion. He noted that Viet Nam has signed 17 free trade agreements with over 60 countries and territories, making it a regional and global trade hub. Regarding bilateral ties, he said that trade between Viet Nam and Argentina has continued to grow and is approaching the $5 billion mark. Argentina is currently one of the leading suppliers of agricultural products to Viet Nam, particularly corn and animal feed ingredients. In return, Viet Nam exports high-value-added goods to Argentina, including mobile phones, electronic components, footwear and textiles, Khoi said. He underlined that despite the geographical distance, the two sides share many similarities and potential to serve as regional gateways for trade and investment. He added that the ongoing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Viet Nam and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), of which Argentina is a member, present significant opportunities to expand bilateral trade. He called on business communities in both countries to actively engage in promotional events such as fairs, forums and trade seminars. The official noted that Viet Nam is set to host several major events in 2025, including the Vietnam International Sourcing Expo (June), FoodExpo (November) and the VietnamLatin America Trade Forum (late 2025), all of which offer valuable platforms for Argentine enterprises to access the ASEAN market. The FINAV not only opened the door to concrete cooperation between Vietnamese and Argentine firms but also served as a strategic bridge for sustainable and mutually beneficial development between the two nations. VNS A NANG The a Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2025, themed Legacy of Culture, started with performances from reigning champion Finland and the host team a Nang on Saturday. The hosts started a 20-minute performance of 5,000 fireworks set to rock and pop music, including songs Bonjour Vietnam, Titanium and Top of the Rock, with a theme introducing Viet Nam on the threshold of a 'New Era on the Rise'. Meanwhile, defending champions JoHo Pyro Professional Fireworks AB of Finland marked their return to a Nang with high-altitude fireworks set to rock performances of Diamond Eyes, Liar and Heroes Are Calling, lighting up the sky over the Han River with the beauty of their 'Nordic Lights' theme. This year's festival also marks the first time augmented reality (AR) technology was used, displaying iconic cultural symbols of a Nang in an expansive AR environment. a Nang City Mayor Le Trung Chinh said the successful festival will help reach the ambitious target of building the city as Asia's leading destination for events and festivals. The festival is one of the largest and longest firework performance celebrations in the world, with six nights of spectacular displays from May 31 to July 12. Team Viet Nam 2 will meet Poland for the second night of the festival on June 7. VNS Sculptor Nguyen Quoc Thang, a native of the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh, joined the revolutionary activities when he was 14, and became a member of the Liberation Art Chamber (under the South Viet Nam Liberation Front), which was established in 1962. He was sent to study at the Ha Noi Fine Arts College (currently Viet Nam Fine Arts University) in 1973-1974. After 1975, Thang worked at the Fine Arts Office of the Department of Culture and Information. He was appointed deputy director of the HCM City Fine Arts Museum from 1998 to 2009. Viet Nam News reporter Phuong Mai talks with Thang about his days at the Liberation Art Chamber, revolutionary art, and how revolutionary art influences the development of HCM Citys art scene. What do you remember most about the time on the battlefield as a member of the Liberation Art Office? I worked at the Liberation Art Chamber when I was only 14 years old. My job was engraving woodblocks for printing publicity posters, news articles and even songs. Although we faced a shortage of materials and many other challenges, there was a huge collection of works done on the battlefields. And the chamber played a very important role in sending information and calls to action for the victory of the revolution, namely liberation of the South. In 1967 I also worked as a printer at the Tran Phu Printing House in the liberation zone. I printed documents and sketches by painters Quach Phong, Huynh Phuong ong, Thai Ha, Trang Phuong, and Co Tan Long Chau, which were later sent to battlefields and southern provinces to strengthen peoples trust in the liberation war. At that time, I was not yet a sculptor or a painter. However, most members of the chamber were young people. They were artists-cum-soldiers. For example, during the US Operation Junction City in Lo Go Xa Mat in 1967, we were forced to hold guns on the battlefield and shoot down an enemy plane. It is a specific characteristic of being an artist-soldier on the frontline. How has revolutionary art influenced HCM Citys art scene over the past 50 years? About the impact of revolutionary art, specifically the Liberation Art Chamber, on the development of the citys fine arts, most of the chambers members came from Sai Gon (currently HCM City), who joined the revolutionary movement. The chamber also received an additional number of artists coming from the North in support of the southern battlefield. After national liberation, many artists-soldiers returned from the frontline and worked as employees at public offices and institutions such as the citys Fine Arts University, the Fine Arts Association, and the Fine Arts Museum, where I worked for most of my life. As a result, the citys fine arts sector was strongly influenced by revolutionary art and artists. As we see, to create artworks that highlight the topic of the Revolutionary War, artists must have a strong foundation and life experience. Why do we talk a lot about the topic of revolutionary art? Because if an artist, a sculptor and a painter lack life experience, travel less, leave reality behind and only borrow talent, their talent will fade, and they will just have a few outstanding artworks. In general, an artist must have rich life experience. If they want experience, they must take more field trips. What should young people do to improve their skills and work together to develop the citys fine arts? The fine arts sector now has many problems and concerns. Many art movements have appeared from modernism and surrealism to graphics and installation. However, I think the most important thing is that our artists should focus on serving the public. We create works with the aim of not only improving skills but also elevating the aesthetic sense and knowledge of our audiences of various generations. Therefore, its necessary to have life experiences to create quality artworks. The artists should learn more about real life, not borrowing from our imagination. Its clear that imagination will run out one day. If we have experience, we will have inspiration for new artworks, and our skills will improve quickly. If not, its very difficult. What should the citys fine arts sector do to promote international integration and exchange, and provide opportunities for the public to view artworks by international artists? We are now living in a peaceful country, so the artists have chances to explore new thoughts and create new works to integrate with the world. Recently, the citys artists have proactively sought new things in creativity. One important thing is cultural exchange. Today, hosting an exchange is easily done. Many international painters and sculptors have come to Viet Nam to participate in art symposiums hosted by the city or other provinces, giving domestic and foreign artists a better understanding of aesthetics, the language of art, and shaping it. Everything becomes closer, and there is no distance like in wartime. It is obvious that in wartime, the artists acknowledged what happened on the battlefield and captured those moments in a lively way. VNS SINGAPORE Viet Nam's Minister of National Defence, General Phan Van Giang held a bilateral meeting with United States Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on Saturday in Singapore, on the sidelines of the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Minister Giang affirmed that Viet Nam always regards the US as one of its important partners and expressed a desire for the two countries to continue enhancing cooperation on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, respect for international law, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institutions, thereby contributing to the maintenance of security, peace, stability, and development in the region and the world. He emphasised that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is ready to effectively implement the defence-security component of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. He also expressed hope that the US and Viet Nam would actively negotiate to soon reach a mutually beneficial tariff policy. Minister Giang noted that bilateral defence cooperation has been implemented in accordance with the directions from high-level leaders and based on signed documents and agreements, achieving practical results in various areas such as delegation exchanges, dialogues and consultations, war legacy remediation, training, and United Nations peacekeeping. He expressed a wish for the two countries' defence chiefs to closely coordinate in organising meaningful cooperation activities to mark the 30th anniversary of the normalisation of Viet NamUS relations (19952025) this year. On this occasion, Minister Giang extended an invitation to Secretary Pete Hegseth to pay an official visit to Viet Nam at the earliest possible time. For his part, Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed his pleasure at meeting Minister Phan Van Giang. He affirmed that the administration of US President Donald Trump attaches great importance to and highly values its cooperative relationship with Viet Nam, especially in war legacy issues. He expressed hope for further vigorous promotion of USViet Nam relations in the time ahead, especially in bilateral defence cooperation and war legacy remediation. The US Secretary also applauded Viet Nam's military modernisation efforts, which demonstrates Viet Nam's commitment to regional security and a free and open Indo-Pacific. VNS Sian Gibson doesn't "feel famous". Sian Gibson doesn't feel like a famous person The 48-year-old comedy actress rose to prominence after starring as Kayleigh Kitson in the BBC sitcom 'Car Share' alongside Peter Kay but insists that she hasn't changed since playing the role that earned her a BAFTA TV Award. Speaking to The Observer newspaper, Sian said: "I don't feel famous at all. I can still pretty much go unnoticed on the street - it's surprising how different I look when I haven't brushed my hair, because all my character have lots of slap and hair extensions." 'The Power of Parker' star added: "But 'Car Share' changed my life completely, for the better. I'll always be grateful it for that. It's given me more belief in myself. It's given me a job that I love. And I now have the luxury of writing my own series and getting it made, which without 'Car Share', would never have happened." Sian was working in a call centre before landing the part in 'Car Share' and even returned to the job on a part-time basis once filming was compete as she wasn't convinced that the programme would be a success when it first aired in 2015. She recalled: "After we had finished filming, I went back to the call centre part-time. "I thought the show was alright but I didn't think it was going to take off in the way that it did. Which is stupid, because Peter Kay was in it and so of course everyone was going to watch it." Sian has co-written the BBC comedy 'The Power of Parker' and had lots of fun incorporating music and references relating the show's early 1990s setting. The star said: "I love the 90s. The soundtrack was really important to us, and I spent hours down YouTube rabbit holes watching Milli Vanilli videos. "It's such a brilliant era, and it's awfully depressing to know it was 30 years ago. In 1992, when series two is set, I was doing my A-levels, listening to Pearl Jam and thinking the world was my oyster. But when women like my mum were middle-aged in the 1990s, it was bubble perms and BHS elasticated trousers." SINGAPORE Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang led the ministrys high-ranking delegation to attend the 22nd edition of the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore from May 30 to June 1. The Vietnamese delegation attended plenary sessions and held numerous bilateral meetings with defence leaders from various countries to further promote defence cooperation between Viet Nam and its partners. During the second plenary session, titled 'Ensuring stability in a competitive world', General Giang emphasised that maintaining stability in a competitive world is essential for building a peaceful, stable, cooperative and developing globe for the common benefit of all nations and peoples. He highlighted several key issues including adherence to the United Nations Charter and International Law. Countries should respect the independence, sovereignty and legitimate interests of all nations, regardless of their size. This principle should be regarded as a foundation in addressing international disputes, he said. To maintain international peace and security and to foster friendly relations among nations, the United Nations Charter outlines fundamental principles, including the peaceful resolution of international disputes and the renunciation of the threat or use of force in international relations, he noted. General Giang stated that these are also the core principles of Viet Nams independent and self-reliant foreign policy and its "Four Nos national defence policy. Regarding the East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea) issue, Viet Nam remains consistent and steadfast in resolving all disputes through peaceful means, in strict adherence to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he said. He added that Viet Nam is committed to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and looks forward to the early conclusion of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct. These efforts aim to help preserve peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, he said. The minister also urged building strategic trust and political confidence. Countries should be open, candid, sincere and transparent in sharing defence policies, according to the General. He encouraged sharing viewpoints and enhancing dialogues to address issues in a constructive manner. Viet Nam consistently pursues a foreign policy of actively participating in and supporting international mechanisms and being a responsible member, with the aim of maintaining stability and fostering cooperation, he said. At the regional level, Viet Nam continues to play an active and responsible role within ASEAN. Viet Nam hopes that countries will support efforts to strengthen ASEANs centrality, enhance its capacity for autonomy and resilience, and contribute meaningfully to peace, security and prosperity in the region and the world, the General stated. He noted that countries must foster international cooperation in addressing non-traditional security threats. While traditional security challenges have yet to be fully addressed and in some areas are growing even more complex, non-traditional security challenges such as natural disasters, pandemics, climate change, water security, food security, terrorism, drug-related crime and human trafficking have emerged with increasing complexity and unpredictability. Cooperation in addressing non-traditional security issues will have a positive impact on efforts to tackle traditional security challenges, he said. On the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, General Giang held bilateral meetings with Dr Bastian Giegerich, Director-General and Chief Executive of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, as well as defence leaders from Singapore, New Zealand and the US to discuss enhancing defence cooperation and addressing mutual interests. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Sunday attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ha Noi CMC Creative Space (CCS Ha Noi), a US$300 million technology complex hailed as a key part of Viet Nams push for innovation and digital transformation. The project, led by private firm CMC Technology & Solution, located on an 11,000sq.m site in Ha Noi, will feature 23 floors above ground and three basements, with a total floor space exceeding 90,000sq.m. Following the success of CMCs first creative space in HCM City - CCS Tan Thuan, this second facility will serve as an open artificial intelligence centre, dubbed C.OpenAI. It aims to house a comprehensive tech ecosystem, including a state-of-the-art data centre, research and development labs, training facilities, and a startup incubation zone, employing over 5,000 engineers. At the heart of the complex is the CMC Data Centre, designed to deploy cutting-edge technologies in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, big data, and next-generation networks. The C.OpenAI ecosystem will also integrate 25 core technologies developed by CMC. In his address, PM Chinh praised the project as a testament to the private sectors role in advancing Viet Nams technological ambitions, aligning with the Partys policy of making breakthroughs in sci-tech, innovation, and digital transformation. With Viet Nam targeting at least 8 per cent economic growth in 2025 and double-digit expansion thereafter, he called for national unity to drive prosperity, safeguard its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. He urged CMC to lead in sci-tech, innovation and digital transformation, inspiring other businesses, educational establishments, and research centres, particularly young people, to contribute to Viet Nams rapid and sustainable development. He expressed his hope that CMC would grow into a major multinational corporation integrated into global value chains while prioritising social welfare and equitable access to technology, especially for remote and vulnerable communities. The Government will always accompany companies, including CMC, and request ministries, agencies, and Ha Noi authorities to further support them by promptly removing any obstacles to their growth, he concluded. VNS archives 29 Jun - 6 Jul (2) 22 Jun - 29 Jun (4) 15 Jun - 22 Jun (1) 8 Jun - 15 Jun (3) 1 Jun - 8 Jun (4) 25 May - 1 Jun (5) 18 May - 25 May (2) 11 May - 18 May (3) 4 May - 11 May (2) 27 Apr - 4 May (5) 20 Apr - 27 Apr (1) 13 Apr - 20 Apr (2) 30 Mar - 6 Apr (5) 23 Mar - 30 Mar (2) 9 Mar - 16 Mar (1) 2 Mar - 9 Mar (2) 16 Feb - 23 Feb (3) 9 Feb - 16 Feb (1) 2 Feb - 9 Feb (3) 26 Jan - 2 Feb (2) 12 Jan - 19 Jan (1) 5 Jan - 12 Jan (1) 22 Dec - 29 Dec (1) 15 Dec - 22 Dec (2) 8 Dec - 15 Dec (1) 24 Nov - 1 Dec (1) 17 Nov - 24 Nov (4) 10 Nov - 17 Nov (2) 3 Nov - 10 Nov (1) 27 Oct - 3 Nov (4) 20 Oct - 27 Oct (4) 13 Oct - 20 Oct (1) 6 Oct - 13 Oct (1) 29 Sep - 6 Oct (1) 22 Sep - 29 Sep (1) 15 Sep - 22 Sep (1) 18 Aug - 25 Aug (5) 4 Aug - 11 Aug (2) 21 Jul - 28 Jul (6) 7 Jul - 14 Jul (3) 30 Jun - 7 Jul (2) 23 Jun - 30 Jun (5) 16 Jun - 23 Jun (2) 9 Jun - 16 Jun (3) 2 Jun - 9 Jun (2) 26 May - 2 Jun (3) 19 May - 26 May (2) 12 May - 19 May (3) 5 May - 12 May (3) 28 Apr - 5 May (1) 14 Apr - 21 Apr (1) 7 Apr - 14 Apr (3) 17 Mar - 24 Mar (1) 10 Mar - 17 Mar (1) 3 Mar - 10 Mar (1) 11 Feb - 18 Feb (2) 4 Feb - 11 Feb (1) 21 Jan - 28 Jan (1) 14 Jan - 21 Jan (1) 7 Jan - 14 Jan (3) 10 Dec - 17 Dec (1) 26 Nov - 3 Dec (1) 29 Oct - 5 Nov (1) 3 Sep - 10 Sep (1) 27 Aug - 3 Sep (2) 6 Aug - 13 Aug (1) 30 Jul - 6 Aug (6) 9 Jul - 16 Jul (1) 2 Jul - 9 Jul (6) 18 Jun - 25 Jun (4) 4 Jun - 11 Jun (5) 21 May - 28 May (4) 14 May - 21 May (1) 7 May - 14 May (4) 23 Apr - 30 Apr (2) 26 Mar - 2 Apr (1) 19 Mar - 26 Mar (1) 19 Feb - 26 Feb (3) 12 Feb - 19 Feb (1) 22 Jan - 29 Jan (2) 15 Jan - 22 Jan (1) 25 Dec - 1 Jan (2) 20 Nov - 27 Nov (1) 11 Sep - 18 Sep (1) 14 Aug - 21 Aug (3) 7 Aug - 14 Aug (3) 17 Jul - 24 Jul (3) 10 Jul - 17 Jul (3) 19 Jun - 26 Jun (2) 12 Jun - 19 Jun (4) 22 May - 29 May (1) 15 May - 22 May (5) 1 May - 8 May (2) 17 Apr - 24 Apr (3) 27 Feb - 6 Mar (3) 13 Feb - 20 Feb (1) 30 Jan - 6 Feb (3) 2 Jan - 9 Jan (4) 26 Dec - 2 Jan (1) 5 Dec - 12 Dec (3) 28 Nov - 5 Dec (2) 14 Nov - 21 Nov (1) 7 Nov - 14 Nov (1) 10 Oct - 17 Oct (1) 22 Aug - 29 Aug (3) 15 Aug - 22 Aug (1) 8 Aug - 15 Aug (3) 1 Aug - 8 Aug (1) 25 Jul - 1 Aug (3) 18 Jul - 25 Jul (1) 11 Jul - 18 Jul (1) 27 Jun - 4 Jul (4) 20 Jun - 27 Jun (3) 13 Jun - 20 Jun (1) 30 May - 6 Jun (2) 23 May - 30 May (4) 2 May - 9 May (3) 25 Apr - 2 May (4) 4 Apr - 11 Apr (2) 28 Mar - 4 Apr (4) 28 Feb - 7 Mar (1) 7 Feb - 14 Feb (2) 10 Jan - 17 Jan (2) 27 Dec - 3 Jan (2) 13 Dec - 20 Dec (3) 6 Dec - 13 Dec (1) 29 Nov - 6 Dec (1) 15 Nov - 22 Nov (6) 8 Nov - 15 Nov (1) 25 Oct - 1 Nov (1) 18 Oct - 25 Oct (3) 4 Oct - 11 Oct (1) 27 Sep - 4 Oct (1) 20 Sep - 27 Sep (2) 13 Sep - 20 Sep (4) 6 Sep - 13 Sep (3) 30 Aug - 6 Sep (1) 23 Aug - 30 Aug (1) 16 Aug - 23 Aug (4) 9 Aug - 16 Aug (1) 2 Aug - 9 Aug (3) 26 Jul - 2 Aug (4) 19 Jul - 26 Jul (5) 12 Jul - 19 Jul (2) 5 Jul - 12 Jul (7) 28 Jun - 5 Jul (2) 21 Jun - 28 Jun (7) 14 Jun - 21 Jun (4) 7 Jun - 14 Jun (4) 31 May - 7 Jun (3) 24 May - 31 May (2) 17 May - 24 May (1) 10 May - 17 May (1) 19 Apr - 26 Apr (1) 12 Apr - 19 Apr (1) 15 Mar - 22 Mar (1) 8 Mar - 15 Mar (3) 1 Mar - 8 Mar (2) 23 Feb - 1 Mar (2) 9 Feb - 16 Feb (3) 26 Jan - 2 Feb (1) 19 Jan - 26 Jan (2) 12 Jan - 19 Jan (2) 5 Jan - 12 Jan (1) 29 Dec - 5 Jan (1) 8 Dec - 15 Dec (1) 24 Nov - 1 Dec (2) 17 Nov - 24 Nov (1) 27 Oct - 3 Nov (1) 6 Oct - 13 Oct (1) 1 Sep - 8 Sep (2) 25 Aug - 1 Sep (4) 18 Aug - 25 Aug (1) 11 Aug - 18 Aug (2) 4 Aug - 11 Aug (8) 28 Jul - 4 Aug (5) 14 Jul - 21 Jul (3) 7 Jul - 14 Jul (3) 30 Jun - 7 Jul (4) 23 Jun - 30 Jun (2) 16 Jun - 23 Jun (4) 9 Jun - 16 Jun (1) 2 Jun - 9 Jun (5) 26 May - 2 Jun (1) 19 May - 26 May (6) 12 May - 19 May (1) 21 Apr - 28 Apr (3) 14 Apr - 21 Apr (1) 31 Mar - 7 Apr (3) 24 Mar - 31 Mar (6) 17 Mar - 24 Mar (5) 10 Mar - 17 Mar (1) 3 Mar - 10 Mar (3) 24 Feb - 3 Mar (2) 17 Feb - 24 Feb (5) 10 Feb - 17 Feb (3) 3 Feb - 10 Feb (2) 20 Jan - 27 Jan (3) 13 Jan - 20 Jan (1) 23 Dec - 30 Dec (3) 2 Dec - 9 Dec (1) 25 Nov - 2 Dec (2) 18 Nov - 25 Nov (2) 11 Nov - 18 Nov (2) 4 Nov - 11 Nov (1) 21 Oct - 28 Oct (4) 14 Oct - 21 Oct (5) 7 Oct - 14 Oct (2) 30 Sep - 7 Oct (1) 23 Sep - 30 Sep (1) 9 Sep - 16 Sep (4) 2 Sep - 9 Sep (1) 19 Aug - 26 Aug (1) 12 Aug - 19 Aug (4) 5 Aug - 12 Aug (6) 29 Jul - 5 Aug (2) 22 Jul - 29 Jul (1) 15 Jul - 22 Jul (3) 8 Jul - 15 Jul (4) 1 Jul - 8 Jul (1) 24 Jun - 1 Jul (1) 17 Jun - 24 Jun (3) 10 Jun - 17 Jun (5) 3 Jun - 10 Jun (3) 27 May - 3 Jun (5) 20 May - 27 May (6) 13 May - 20 May (6) 6 May - 13 May (1) 29 Apr - 6 May (5) 22 Apr - 29 Apr (4) 15 Apr - 22 Apr (6) 8 Apr - 15 Apr (4) 1 Apr - 8 Apr (4) 25 Mar - 1 Apr (3) 18 Mar - 25 Mar (3) 11 Mar - 18 Mar (3) 4 Mar - 11 Mar (4) 25 Feb - 4 Mar (3) 18 Feb - 25 Feb (1) 11 Feb - 18 Feb (4) 4 Feb - 11 Feb (5) 28 Jan - 4 Feb (6) 21 Jan - 28 Jan (1) 14 Jan - 21 Jan (4) 7 Jan - 14 Jan (2) 31 Dec - 7 Jan (7) 24 Dec - 31 Dec (2) 17 Dec - 24 Dec (3) 10 Dec - 17 Dec (1) 3 Dec - 10 Dec (4) 26 Nov - 3 Dec (3) 19 Nov - 26 Nov (2) 12 Nov - 19 Nov (1) 5 Nov - 12 Nov (4) 22 Oct - 29 Oct (3) 15 Oct - 22 Oct (4) 8 Oct - 15 Oct (4) 1 Oct - 8 Oct (1) 10 Sep - 17 Sep (2) 3 Sep - 10 Sep (2) 27 Aug - 3 Sep (1) 20 Aug - 27 Aug (6) 6 Aug - 13 Aug (4) 30 Jul - 6 Aug (1) 23 Jul - 30 Jul (5) 16 Jul - 23 Jul (3) 9 Jul - 16 Jul (5) 25 Jun - 2 Jul (5) 18 Jun - 25 Jun (2) 11 Jun - 18 Jun (6) 4 Jun - 11 Jun (1) 28 May - 4 Jun (5) 21 May - 28 May (2) 14 May - 21 May (4) 7 May - 14 May (4) 30 Apr - 7 May (4) 23 Apr - 30 Apr (3) 16 Apr - 23 Apr (3) 9 Apr - 16 Apr (1) 2 Apr - 9 Apr (3) 26 Mar - 2 Apr (2) 19 Mar - 26 Mar (3) 12 Mar - 19 Mar (3) 5 Mar - 12 Mar (2) 26 Feb - 5 Mar (3) 19 Feb - 26 Feb (2) 12 Feb - 19 Feb (2) 5 Feb - 12 Feb (6) 29 Jan - 5 Feb (5) 22 Jan - 29 Jan (1) 15 Jan - 22 Jan (8) 8 Jan - 15 Jan (7) 1 Jan - 8 Jan (4) 25 Dec - 1 Jan (3) 11 Dec - 18 Dec (3) 13 Nov - 20 Nov (4) 6 Nov - 13 Nov (2) 30 Oct - 6 Nov (1) 23 Oct - 30 Oct (1) 16 Oct - 23 Oct (1) 9 Oct - 16 Oct (1) 2 Oct - 9 Oct (2) 25 Sep - 2 Oct (1) 18 Sep - 25 Sep (4) 11 Sep - 18 Sep (2) 4 Sep - 11 Sep (1) 28 Aug - 4 Sep (4) 21 Aug - 28 Aug (1) 14 Aug - 21 Aug (2) 7 Aug - 14 Aug (4) 31 Jul - 7 Aug (6) 24 Jul - 31 Jul (3) 17 Jul - 24 Jul (6) 10 Jul - 17 Jul (3) 3 Jul - 10 Jul (6) 26 Jun - 3 Jul (3) 19 Jun - 26 Jun (4) 5 Jun - 12 Jun (5) 29 May - 5 Jun (1) 22 May - 29 May (1) 15 May - 22 May (1) 8 May - 15 May (5) 1 May - 8 May (5) 24 Apr - 1 May (1) 17 Apr - 24 Apr (2) 10 Apr - 17 Apr (3) 3 Apr - 10 Apr (2) 20 Mar - 27 Mar (2) 13 Mar - 20 Mar (4) 6 Mar - 13 Mar (1) 28 Feb - 6 Mar (2) 21 Feb - 28 Feb (1) 14 Feb - 21 Feb (1) 7 Feb - 14 Feb (3) 24 Jan - 31 Jan (2) 17 Jan - 24 Jan (3) 10 Jan - 17 Jan (2) 3 Jan - 10 Jan (1) 27 Dec - 3 Jan (1) 20 Dec - 27 Dec (1) 13 Dec - 20 Dec (3) 6 Dec - 13 Dec (2) 29 Nov - 6 Dec (2) 22 Nov - 29 Nov (2) 15 Nov - 22 Nov (1) 8 Nov - 15 Nov (5) 1 Nov - 8 Nov (2) 25 Oct - 1 Nov (2) 18 Oct - 25 Oct (1) 11 Oct - 18 Oct (4) 4 Oct - 11 Oct (1) 27 Sep - 4 Oct (3) 20 Sep - 27 Sep (2) 13 Sep - 20 Sep (1) 6 Sep - 13 Sep (3) 30 Aug - 6 Sep (5) 23 Aug - 30 Aug (6) 16 Aug - 23 Aug (1) 9 Aug - 16 Aug (1) 2 Aug - 9 Aug (3) 26 Jul - 2 Aug (2) 19 Jul - 26 Jul (1) 12 Jul - 19 Jul (5) 5 Jul - 12 Jul (6) 28 Jun - 5 Jul (4) 21 Jun - 28 Jun (7) 14 Jun - 21 Jun (5) 7 Jun - 14 Jun (2) 31 May - 7 Jun (5) 24 May - 31 May (3) 17 May - 24 May (5) 10 May - 17 May (3) 3 May - 10 May (1) 26 Apr - 3 May (1) 19 Apr - 26 Apr (5) 12 Apr - 19 Apr (5) 5 Apr - 12 Apr (2) 29 Mar - 5 Apr (1) 22 Mar - 29 Mar (5) 15 Mar - 22 Mar (9) 8 Mar - 15 Mar (6) 1 Mar - 8 Mar (10) 22 Feb - 1 Mar (5) 15 Feb - 22 Feb (5) 1 Feb - 8 Feb (2) 25 Jan - 1 Feb (1) 18 Jan - 25 Jan (4) 11 Jan - 18 Jan (1) 4 Jan - 11 Jan (3) 28 Dec - 4 Jan (3) 21 Dec - 28 Dec (3) 14 Dec - 21 Dec (4) 7 Dec - 14 Dec (2) 30 Nov - 7 Dec (3) 23 Nov - 30 Nov (3) 9 Nov - 16 Nov (3) 2 Nov - 9 Nov (5) 26 Oct - 2 Nov (3) 19 Oct - 26 Oct (8) 12 Oct - 19 Oct (6) 5 Oct - 12 Oct (3) 28 Sep - 5 Oct (5) 21 Sep - 28 Sep (4) 14 Sep - 21 Sep (1) 7 Sep - 14 Sep (4) 31 Aug - 7 Sep (1) 24 Aug - 31 Aug (2) 17 Aug - 24 Aug (2) 10 Aug - 17 Aug (7) 3 Aug - 10 Aug (3) 27 Jul - 3 Aug (3) 20 Jul - 27 Jul (3) 13 Jul - 20 Jul (4) 6 Jul - 13 Jul (1) 29 Jun - 6 Jul (5) 22 Jun - 29 Jun (2) 15 Jun - 22 Jun (4) 8 Jun - 15 Jun (2) 1 Jun - 8 Jun (2) 25 May - 1 Jun (8) 18 May - 25 May (4) 11 May - 18 May (1) 4 May - 11 May (3) 27 Apr - 4 May (4) 20 Apr - 27 Apr (2) 13 Apr - 20 Apr (6) 6 Apr - 13 Apr (2) 23 Mar - 30 Mar (4) 16 Mar - 23 Mar (2) 9 Mar - 16 Mar (2) 2 Mar - 9 Mar (2) 23 Feb - 2 Mar (2) 16 Feb - 23 Feb (1) 9 Feb - 16 Feb (6) 2 Feb - 9 Feb (1) 26 Jan - 2 Feb (2) 19 Jan - 26 Jan (1) 12 Jan - 19 Jan (1) 29 Dec - 5 Jan (1) 22 Dec - 29 Dec (2) 8 Dec - 15 Dec (2) 1 Dec - 8 Dec (1) 24 Nov - 1 Dec (4) 17 Nov - 24 Nov (4) 10 Nov - 17 Nov (1) 3 Nov - 10 Nov (4) 20 Oct - 27 Oct (2) 13 Oct - 20 Oct (4) 29 Sep - 6 Oct (1) 22 Sep - 29 Sep (2) 15 Sep - 22 Sep (3) 8 Sep - 15 Sep (1) 1 Sep - 8 Sep (6) 25 Aug - 1 Sep (7) 18 Aug - 25 Aug (9) 11 Aug - 18 Aug (6) 4 Aug - 11 Aug (4) 28 Jul - 4 Aug (3) 21 Jul - 28 Jul (8) 14 Jul - 21 Jul (4) 7 Jul - 14 Jul (5) 30 Jun - 7 Jul (8) 23 Jun - 30 Jun (8) 16 Jun - 23 Jun (4) 9 Jun - 16 Jun (7) 2 Jun - 9 Jun (7) 26 May - 2 Jun (8) 19 May - 26 May (7) 12 May - 19 May (5) 5 May - 12 May (5) 28 Apr - 5 May (11) 21 Apr - 28 Apr (6) 14 Apr - 21 Apr (5) 7 Apr - 14 Apr (6) 31 Mar - 7 Apr (7) 24 Mar - 31 Mar (4) 17 Mar - 24 Mar (4) 3 Mar - 10 Mar (6) 24 Feb - 3 Mar (3) 17 Feb - 24 Feb (3) 10 Feb - 17 Feb (5) 3 Feb - 10 Feb (3) 27 Jan - 3 Feb (6) 20 Jan - 27 Jan (1) 13 Jan - 20 Jan (6) 6 Jan - 13 Jan (2) 30 Dec - 6 Jan (2) 23 Dec - 30 Dec (1) 16 Dec - 23 Dec (3) 9 Dec - 16 Dec (2) 2 Dec - 9 Dec (1) 25 Nov - 2 Dec (1) 18 Nov - 25 Nov (3) 11 Nov - 18 Nov (5) 4 Nov - 11 Nov (2) 28 Oct - 4 Nov (6) 21 Oct - 28 Oct (9) 14 Oct - 21 Oct (9) 30 Sep - 7 Oct (4) 23 Sep - 30 Sep (2) 16 Sep - 23 Sep (2) 9 Sep - 16 Sep (6) 2 Sep - 9 Sep (3) 26 Aug - 2 Sep (3) 19 Aug - 26 Aug (3) 12 Aug - 19 Aug (7) 5 Aug - 12 Aug (4) 29 Jul - 5 Aug (8) 22 Jul - 29 Jul (7) 15 Jul - 22 Jul (7) 8 Jul - 15 Jul (7) 1 Jul - 8 Jul (7) 24 Jun - 1 Jul (9) 17 Jun - 24 Jun (10) 10 Jun - 17 Jun (7) 3 Jun - 10 Jun (10) 27 May - 3 Jun (6) 20 May - 27 May (8) 13 May - 20 May (8) 6 May - 13 May (11) 29 Apr - 6 May (6) 22 Apr - 29 Apr (8) 15 Apr - 22 Apr (5) 8 Apr - 15 Apr (11) 1 Apr - 8 Apr (5) 25 Mar - 1 Apr (9) 18 Mar - 25 Mar (9) 11 Mar - 18 Mar (8) 4 Mar - 11 Mar (8) 19 Feb - 26 Feb (7) 12 Feb - 19 Feb (7) 5 Feb - 12 Feb (5) 29 Jan - 5 Feb (7) 22 Jan - 29 Jan (4) 15 Jan - 22 Jan (2) 8 Jan - 15 Jan (5) 1 Jan - 8 Jan (5) 25 Dec - 1 Jan (6) 18 Dec - 25 Dec (4) 11 Dec - 18 Dec (5) 4 Dec - 11 Dec (7) 27 Nov - 4 Dec (7) 20 Nov - 27 Nov (7) 13 Nov - 20 Nov (3) 6 Nov - 13 Nov (4) 30 Oct - 6 Nov (5) 23 Oct - 30 Oct (9) 16 Oct - 23 Oct (3) 9 Oct - 16 Oct (8) 2 Oct - 9 Oct (5) 25 Sep - 2 Oct (11) 18 Sep - 25 Sep (4) 11 Sep - 18 Sep (6) 4 Sep - 11 Sep (6) 28 Aug - 4 Sep (7) 21 Aug - 28 Aug (3) 14 Aug - 21 Aug (9) 7 Aug - 14 Aug (4) 31 Jul - 7 Aug (8) 24 Jul - 31 Jul (11) 17 Jul - 24 Jul (8) 10 Jul - 17 Jul (9) 3 Jul - 10 Jul (11) 26 Jun - 3 Jul (9) 19 Jun - 26 Jun (9) 12 Jun - 19 Jun (7) 5 Jun - 12 Jun (9) 29 May - 5 Jun (5) 22 May - 29 May (8) 15 May - 22 May (9) 8 May - 15 May (4) 1 May - 8 May (6) 24 Apr - 1 May (6) 17 Apr - 24 Apr (10) 10 Apr - 17 Apr (8) 3 Apr - 10 Apr (8) 27 Mar - 3 Apr (8) 20 Mar - 27 Mar (8) 13 Mar - 20 Mar (12) 6 Mar - 13 Mar (7) 27 Feb - 6 Mar (7) 20 Feb - 27 Feb (11) 13 Feb - 20 Feb (7) 6 Feb - 13 Feb (5) 30 Jan - 6 Feb (8) 23 Jan - 30 Jan (10) 16 Jan - 23 Jan (10) 9 Jan - 16 Jan (9) 2 Jan - 9 Jan (11) 26 Dec - 2 Jan (6) 19 Dec - 26 Dec (7) 12 Dec - 19 Dec (6) 5 Dec - 12 Dec (7) 28 Nov - 5 Dec (5) 21 Nov - 28 Nov (4) 14 Nov - 21 Nov (7) 7 Nov - 14 Nov (6) 31 Oct - 7 Nov (6) 24 Oct - 31 Oct (5) 17 Oct - 24 Oct (5) 10 Oct - 17 Oct (7) 3 Oct - 10 Oct (2) 26 Sep - 3 Oct (4) 19 Sep - 26 Sep (6) 12 Sep - 19 Sep (7) 5 Sep - 12 Sep (10) 29 Aug - 5 Sep (8) 22 Aug - 29 Aug (5) 15 Aug - 22 Aug (6) 8 Aug - 15 Aug (6) 1 Aug - 8 Aug (4) 25 Jul - 1 Aug (13) 18 Jul - 25 Jul (9) 11 Jul - 18 Jul (9) 4 Jul - 11 Jul (8) 27 Jun - 4 Jul (9) 20 Jun - 27 Jun (11) 13 Jun - 20 Jun (11) 6 Jun - 13 Jun (11) 30 May - 6 Jun (9) 23 May - 30 May (23) 16 May - 23 May (12) 9 May - 16 May (12) 2 May - 9 May (10) 25 Apr - 2 May (7) 18 Apr - 25 Apr (9) 11 Apr - 18 Apr (10) 4 Apr - 11 Apr (11) 28 Mar - 4 Apr (9) 21 Mar - 28 Mar (6) 14 Mar - 21 Mar (9) 7 Mar - 14 Mar (2) 28 Feb - 7 Mar (9) 21 Feb - 28 Feb (7) 14 Feb - 21 Feb (9) 7 Feb - 14 Feb (9) 31 Jan - 7 Feb (6) 24 Jan - 31 Jan (14) 17 Jan - 24 Jan (9) 10 Jan - 17 Jan (11) 3 Jan - 10 Jan (10) 27 Dec - 3 Jan (10) 20 Dec - 27 Dec (8) 13 Dec - 20 Dec (6) 6 Dec - 13 Dec (9) 29 Nov - 6 Dec (13) 22 Nov - 29 Nov (10) 15 Nov - 22 Nov (14) 8 Nov - 15 Nov (11) 1 Nov - 8 Nov (16) 25 Oct - 1 Nov (13) 18 Oct - 25 Oct (12) 11 Oct - 18 Oct (9) 4 Oct - 11 Oct (11) 27 Sep - 4 Oct (14) 20 Sep - 27 Sep (19) 13 Sep - 20 Sep (13) 6 Sep - 13 Sep (12) 30 Aug - 6 Sep (15) 23 Aug - 30 Aug (15) 16 Aug - 23 Aug (16) 9 Aug - 16 Aug (14) 2 Aug - 9 Aug (15) 26 Jul - 2 Aug (20) 19 Jul - 26 Jul (10) 12 Jul - 19 Jul (13) 5 Jul - 12 Jul (21) 28 Jun - 5 Jul (15) 21 Jun - 28 Jun (20) 14 Jun - 21 Jun (10) 7 Jun - 14 Jun (13) 31 May - 7 Jun (13) 24 May - 31 May (13) 17 May - 24 May (15) 10 May - 17 May (16) 3 May - 10 May (11) 26 Apr - 3 May (21) 19 Apr - 26 Apr (17) 12 Apr - 19 Apr (20) 5 Apr - 12 Apr (16) 29 Mar - 5 Apr (19) 22 Mar - 29 Mar (17) 15 Mar - 22 Mar (23) 8 Mar - 15 Mar (22) 1 Mar - 8 Mar (21) 22 Feb - 1 Mar (22) 15 Feb - 22 Feb (25) 8 Feb - 15 Feb (25) 1 Feb - 8 Feb (21) 25 Jan - 1 Feb (23) 18 Jan - 25 Jan (19) 11 Jan - 18 Jan (35) 4 Jan - 11 Jan (23) 28 Dec - 4 Jan (27) 21 Dec - 28 Dec (28) 14 Dec - 21 Dec (23) 7 Dec - 14 Dec (22) 30 Nov - 7 Dec (19) 23 Nov - 30 Nov (22) 16 Nov - 23 Nov (19) 9 Nov - 16 Nov (15) 2 Nov - 9 Nov (17) 26 Oct - 2 Nov (10) 19 Oct - 26 Oct (12) 12 Oct - 19 Oct (13) 5 Oct - 12 Oct (19) 28 Sep - 5 Oct (14) 21 Sep - 28 Sep (17) 14 Sep - 21 Sep (19) 7 Sep - 14 Sep (22) 31 Aug - 7 Sep (15) 24 Aug - 31 Aug (14) 17 Aug - 24 Aug (9) 10 Aug - 17 Aug (5) Rare bat-eared foxes arrive at Chester Zoo for the first time in 30 years! Two rare bat-eared foxes have arrived at Chester Zoo the first of their kind to be seen at the zoo in more than 30 years. Sisters, Maasai and Malindi, have been welcomed by the zoos conservationists after travelling more than 500 miles from a zoo in Paris, France. First images show the pair exploring their home at Chester, located in the zoos new Heart of Africa habitat the largest zoo development ever undertaken in the UK, spanning more than 22.5 acres in size. The species, which can live up to 30 years, is named after its distinctive oversized ears and is endemic to the open savannahs and arid grasslands of eastern and southern Africa. Their large ears help to regulate their body temperature and enhance their incredible hearing them allowing them to detect insects moving underground. In the wild, bat-eared foxes face increasing threats, largely due to habitat loss caused by agriculture, human encroachment and hunting. David White, Team Manager at Chester Zoo, said: Its incredibly exciting to welcome bat-eared foxes back to Chester Zoo after a 30-year hiatus and theyre a wonderful addition to our new Heart of Africa habitat. Theyre a truly unique and fascinating species with some amazing adaptations. Their enormous ears arent just for show they act like satellite dishes and help the foxes detect the tiniest of movements coming from insects beneath the ground, allowing them to detect prey with pinpoint accuracy. Theyre so sensitive that they can even hear termites chewing underground. Zoo experts say that, in future, they plan to introduce one of sisters to a male fox and go on to play a vital role in the conservation breeding programme that is working to safeguard the species. Both Maasai and Malindi are settling in well so far, spending much of their time exploring their expansive home and getting to know their new housemates a family of 12 Cape porcupines, added David. These two species would often come across one another in the wild, so weve recreated this right here at Chester. In time, we hope to introduce one of the two sisters to a male fox, with the hope that we can contribute to the European conservation breeding programme helping to ensure theres a healthy, genetically diverse back-up population in human care. Like many species found in the Arican savannah, bat-eared foxes are under threat as their habitat becomes more fragmented as a result of human activity. Thats why our teams are on the ground in several national parks across Kenya and Uganda safeguarding some of the continents rarest species like northern giraffe, giant pangolins, mountain bongo and Eastern black rhino. By protecting these species and their habitats were also helping many of Africas little known species like bat-eared foxes, that share the same habitats, to go on to thrive once again. The zoo has long been at the forefront of protecting African wildlife, from supporting the safe translocation of northern giraffes to protected national parks in Uganda, to developing cutting-edge AI trail cameras to protect giant pangolins from illegal trafficking. Its teams pioneering endocrinology science is helping to increase eastern black rhino populations in Kenya and it supports initiatives like the Maasai Olympics, a sporting event where the culture of hunting lions has been replaced with sport, seeing lion numbers grow tenfold since 2012. Cross party criticism as UK Government does not cover Welsh NIC funding gap with significantly short funding A 70m black hole has been created by UK Government in devolved Welsh public sector finances. In a statement, Finance Minister Mark Drakeford said, The UK Government has provided 185m in funding to Wales following its decision to increase employer NICs in the autumn UK Budget. However, this falls significantly short of the 257m devolved public sector employers in Wales need to meet the increased NICs costs they face. This shortfall, of more than 70m, is a result of the UK Government decision that Wales should receive a Barnett consequential of the additional costs to devolved public sector employers in England, rather than the actual costs. The 185m will be passed on in full to devolved public sector employers in Wales. I will also provide an additional 36m from the Wales Reserve. This creates a total package of 220 million to support our public services, including further education, with increased NICs costs. The Minister added, The Welsh Government faces significant financial challenges and drawing down 36m from our limited reserves reduces our ability to respond to other emerging pressures throughout the year. However, we have concluded that providing additional support for essential public services is necessary to minimise the impact on Welsh citizens who rely on these services. Setting the rate of employer NICs is a reserved matter and the responsibility of the UK Government. We will continue to press the UK Government for full funding of the costs associated with the NICs increase. Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Finance, Heledd Fychan MS hit out at both the Welsh and UK Labour Governments for allowing Wales to be short-changed to the tune of 70 million as a result of the increase in National Insurance Contributions adding, The fact that we are being short changed to the tune of 70m due to the UK Governments National Insurance Contributions hike is just the latest example of Labour failing Wales. Meanwhile, the Labour Welsh Government who promised we would be led to the land of milk and honey with two Labour administrations are being nothing more than bystanders to unfairness. When he should be beating a path to the Chancellors door, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance Mark Drakeford has instead raided the Welsh reserves without a hint of criticism of his London counterparts. Whilst the unfair Barnett Formula remains in place, Wales will never be fairly funded. Labour have done absolutely nothing to redress this historical injustice, providing further proof that only a Plaid Cymru Government will demand action by Westminster and ensure that the UK Prime Minister whether Labour or Tory cannot ignore Waless voice. The Welsh Conservatives have also criticised both the UK and Welsh Labour Governments, commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Sam Rowlands MS, said: Before the general election Labour promised that two governments working at either side of the M4 would deliver for Wales. Instead, we see a party at war with itself, with a Welsh Labour Government seemingly powerless to influence their UK counterparts. If Labour hadnt squandered hundreds of millions of pounds on vanity projects and inefficiencies, this funding gap would not pose such a substantial challenge. They must also explain how they will address other financial pressures later in the year after depleting reserves to plug this shortfall. This situation lays bare the UK Labour Governments disregard for Wales and Welsh Labours ongoing failure to competently manage its own budget. Officials from counties and cities across the country were shocked to discover they had been included on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS') list of "sanctuary jurisdictions," a classing that could threaten their federal funding. Several local officials across the country, including those in Huntington Beach, Calif.; Montour County, Pa.; and Duffield, Va., expressed frustration over being included on the DHS' dynamic list of more than 500 "sanctuary jurisdictions." Some districts, including Kit Carson County, Colo., which has a population of less than 7,000 people, have even passed resolutions declaring they are not a sanctuary city. "It was a complete and total surprise to everyone in the county when we got put on that list," Julie Kraye, a county commissioner in Hooker County, Neb., which has a population of 700 people, most of whom voted for Trump in 2024, told The New York Times. "We just don't have the infrastructure for the housing or what these people would need," she added. The list "is actively reviewed, will be regularly updated and can be changed at any time," a Homeland Security official told the Times, but some county officials said they have asked the Trump administration to remove them from the list to no avail. "This has been going on for close to a decade," Trevor Finn, a county commissioner in Montour County, Penn. told the Times. "We've tried everybody to get us off this list," he said, including reaching out to Pennsylvania's senators. Officials suggested several misunderstandings may explain why these cities were included on the list, including confusion with unrelated "sanctuary" declarations, such as those opposing gun control or abortion, which have nothing to do with immigration. Others pointed to outdated or irrelevant data, noting that a decade-old list from a conservative think tank may have been used to compile the current one. Some small counties said they lacked the infrastructure, like jails, to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which could have made them appear uncooperative on paper. In some cases, officials recalled receiving vague federal questionnaires years earlier and suspect their responses were misinterpreted. Without a clear federal definition of "sanctuary jurisdiction," many believe the list was carelessly assembled and riddled with errors. Originally published on Latin Times Welsh Ambulance Service staff recognised at prestigious House of Lords event Two Welsh Ambulance Service colleagues have been recognised at a prestigious House of Lords event to celebrate women. Kat Cobley (pictured on the right), the Trusts Head of Inclusion and Engagement, and Hayley Jones Dunne (pictured on the left), Organisation Development Manager for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, were among a select group of guests at the third annual Women Mastering Change event in London. The event was hosted by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and curated by Bernie Davies, founder of Mastering Diversity CIC. It brought together leaders from across sectors to share their stories and practical insights for navigating change as women. It was the first time the Welsh Ambulance Service had been represented at the event, which was also designed to discuss strategies for embedding diversity. Kat, who is based in Swansea, said: We were delighted to be invited to the House of Lords for a truly inspiring discussion on Women Mastering Change. It was an incredible opportunity to connect with leaders from across various sectors and share insights on fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated. The Welsh Ambulance Service will also be attending Mastering Diversity CICs annual conference in September, where it will host the Diversity in Health zone, one of eight zones focused on a key area of equality, diversity and inclusion. It comes as the Trust has become a member of Race Equality Matters, a UK-wide initiative dedicated to achieving race equality in the workplace. Hayley, who is based in Cardiff, said: Were excited to host the Diversity in Health Zone at this years Mastering Diversity conference, to hear patient experiences as well as to share insights into the organisation. Joining Race Equality Matters also marks a proactive step to address challenges and demonstrate the Trusts dedication to meaningful change, creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered. To read the Trusts Strategic Equality Plan 2024-2028, visit: Strategic Equality Plan 2024-2028 Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust The Reno Battle Born VFW Post 9211 spent time Saturday paying tribute to local veterans at the 2025 Spring Music Festival & Fundraiser. The festival, held from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the VFW next to the Moana Aquatic Center in Reno, featured a barbecue, car show, trading card swap and live music. White Water, the host band for the event, has been organizing and playing shows for the Reno VFW since 2019, bringing together local bands and musicians to help improve the lives of local veterans and their families. Organizers say that all money raised from the event stays in northern Nevada to help veterans, as well as helping the veterans of Reno Battle Born Post 9211 fulfill their mission of improving the community. A scene unfolded Sunday afternoon after the Washoe County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) was in a standoff with someone barricaded inside a house. In a release from WCSO, the initial call came in around 11:30 a.m. that 32-year-old Stephan Sallaz was seen at a known location on Dorchester Drive in Sparks. Sallaz had a warrant out for his arrest, and it was reported that he had cut off his ankle monitor. Officials made a visit to the house and saw Sallaz run inside, so they called in patrol and set up a perimeter around the house. Due to the severity of Sallaz' charges, deputies evacuated the surrounding houses. The WCSO SWAT Team, WCSO Hostage Negotiations Team, the WCSO Drone Team and the Regional Consolidated Bomb Squad were called to the scene just before 1:00 p.m. Once a search warrant was issued for the house, crews moved inside and were able to locate Sallaz in a crawl space and take him into custody. He was booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility on a felony warrant, which includes charges of resisting a public officer with a deadly weapon. No injuries were reported, and officials say there is no ongoing threat to the community. WCSO says this remains an active investigation. By Silvia Foster-Frau, The Washington Post (c) 2025 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - After years of living in a makeshift hut at a refugee camp in the woods of Bangladesh, Shom Mehraz boarded an airplane for the first time in her life and flew across the world to this city in August. She and her family had endured the unthinkable in Myanmar. Military officers kidnapped and raped young women in their village. Neighbors were rounded up and shot to death before their very eyes in what has been internationally recognized as a genocide. They told the officials who spent over two years vetting them as refugees about how their home had been burned to the ground. Thousands of miles away in South Africa, Errol Langton had also experienced violence firsthand. Decades earlier, he said, he had been stabbed 15 times by a Black intruder in his home. He believes the crime is part of a pattern of attacks on Afrikaners like himself, though there is no evidence of a broader campaign of targeted violence against White farmers. The road to becoming refugees took both families to Birmingham, Alabama. But that is where the two families similarities end. When President Donald Trump took office, he suspended the U.S. refugee program, preventing many people facing persecution from entering the United States. But in February, his administration offered refugee status to Afrikaners for the first time. Langton immediately logged onto his computer and submitted his application to the U.S. Embassy. He arrived here three months later. Now, both are being resettled by Inspiritus, a refugee resettlement nonprofit that has helped thousands of people rebuild their lives in the South. The president paused or reduced funding for agencies assisting refugees in the U.S. after taking office. As a result, Inspiritus has cut more than 50 percent of its refugee-serving staff. It has also had to scale back programs that help refugees with urgent medical needs. Inspiritus is using what remains of its funds to help both refugees who arrived before Trumps inauguration and the South African family that landed in Alabama in May. For Mehrazs family, those cuts have added to their struggles. Nobody in the family speaks fluent English. They dont understand the bills arriving in the mail and are finding it hard to afford groceries. They are largely relying on a volunteer group associated with their mosque to conduct basic tasks like getting their children enrolled in school. Langton and his family speak fluent English and are hoping to establish a farm in the U.S. like the one they had in South Africa. The father of four children said he has been working with the Inspiritus staff to secure housing and employment. His familys arrival as part of the first group of Afrikaners admitted into the country as refugees has added to criticism of Trumps immigration policies. Many in the world of refugee resettlement are questioning why the president would block thousands of largely non-White immigrants fleeing situations of war and mass killings from trying to enter the U.S. while allowing in Afrikaners. In a dramatic Oval Office meeting last month between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Trump reiterated baseless claims that White Afrikaners have been victims of a genocide, despite a recent South African court ruling that said White genocide in the country was clearly imagined and not real. Ramaphosa and several South African officials there acknowledged that violence was a concern, but they pushed back on the idea that it could be drawn along racial lines. Mehraz and Langton do not know each other. Mehraz said through an interpreter that her family was simply happy to be in the U.S. And Langton said he was glad Trump was shining a spotlight on the challenges for people like him. But the contrast between the two is not lost among those trying to help in Birmingham. These programs are made for people who are running away, hiding in bathrooms so they dont get raped, living under gunfire, living with flies and fleas for months and years trying to fend for themselves, said Hazem Abouhouli, a volunteer assisting refugee families in Birmingham. Theres a big difference. From Bangladesh to Birmingham Myanmars armed forces began escalating their attacks on Mehrazs village in 2017, in what the government called clearance operations - a mass slaughter of the Rohingya people in reaction to attacks by rebel groups. In the nation also known as Burma, military officers massacred at least 10,000 people of the Muslim minority, burned down more than 300 villages and raped scores of women. Mehraz worried for her husband and seven children. The family shuttled their teenage daughter from one relatives home to another in hopes that the officers wouldnt know where to find her. She and other young women in the community tried to make their skin look darker by rubbing coal across their bodies. They knew the soldiers tended to target girls who were lighter skinned. Mehrazs husband is disabled, but they tried to make ends meet by growing their own food and raising chickens and goats. No one in the family has a formal education. She said they often fished in a nearby canal to help feed the children. The violence in their community was so rampant, they said, that one day they arrived and found the water red with blood. Not long after, Mehraz and her family decided to leave, joining an exodus of nearly 1 million Rohingya people fleeing to Bangladesh. After more than a week of walking, they arrived at a forest that today houses the largest international refugee camp in the world. They settled in Unchiprang, or Camp 22, which holds more than 24,000 refugees as of April. For four years, they survived off what they could find in the woods and handouts from aid groups. Then, in early 2021, an international human rights organization began vetting them for resettlement as refugees in another country. The family spent hours recounting their trauma, they said. Over the next two years, they attended at least five meetings at which officials checked their stories, took their fingerprints and made sure they were up-to-date on vaccines. In 2023, they finally received good news: The U.S. would take them in. I was so happy, said Mehraz, whose interpreter, Jillur Rahim, is a volunteer for the Refugee Support Team, an informal group of volunteers in Birmingham. The only thing she had heard about the U.S., she said, was that its a big country. Their refugee camp has a higher population density than some of the most densely populated cities in the world. Anywhere with space sounded like heaven. A year later, the family boarded a plane to the U.S. At that point theyd been at the refugee camp for seven years and spent much of it in the refugee application process. For reasons unknown to them or the volunteers who help them, they were assigned to resettle in Birmingham. A Black apartheid Langton grew up on a farm in South Africa. When he was around 17, he said, robbers attacked his familys shop near their home. He wasnt there at the time, but he said one of the men hit his mother with a pistol. The assailants rounded up his relatives and employees and stole their belongings. Years later, when Langton was in his mid-20s, a man broke into his home and stabbed him 15 times. Langton said the man was on top of him and jabbed him near his collarbone. He managed to push him off. He never learned the motive, he said, but he believes the incident to be part of a pattern. Apartheid was a terrible, despicable thing. I was never involved, I never partook, said Langton, now 48. But the same thing is happening now. Its still apartheid - its Black apartheid. He cautioned that he doesnt believe all White or Black South Africans are to blame for the problems of the past or what he is trying to draw attention to now. Black people and other racial minorities were segregated, not allowed to vote and denied other basic rights during the nearly five decades of apartheid in South Africa. Langton emphasized that it was White people who voted to end apartheid in a referendum. But, he said, nobody wants to tell that story. He pointed to current initiatives like Black Economic Empowerment that are aimed at addressing historic inequities as proof of what he described as a modern apartheid. The policy offers funding and resources for Black business owners that he said puts White people like himself at a disadvantage. Experts and studies on wealth and power distribution in South Africa do not support the idea that Afrikaners are at a disadvantage. In 2017, a government audit found that White South Africans owned nearly three-quarters of the countrys land, while making up only seven percent of the population. A 2023 study found that the typical Black households have 5 percent of the wealth of White households. South Africa does not release crime statistics based on race, which makes it difficult to identify killings of White farmers. Official police data shows 12 people were slain on farms between October and December 2024 - a period during which 6,953 people were killed in the country. South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, the data shows, and has been plagued by violent crime for decades. In the Oval Office meeting, John Steenhuisen, the minister of agriculture in South Africa, who Ramaphosa pointed out is White, said there are problems that South Africa needs to address when it comes to the safety of farmers. He described it as a rural safety problem. Jonathan Jansen, a professor of education at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, said those attacks are not driven by race. Theyre being attacked because of their isolation, he said. Farms are in rural areas - theyre fairly isolated from the main highways, the main cities - and so robbers see this as a place where they can rip off people. Langton, who grew Swiss chard, mustard leaf and other greens, was also involved with local government. He kept close tabs on the news and applied for refugee status the same day the email address for Afrikaners application submissions became public. In the application, he recounted the violence he says he experienced. Langton said the process involved three hours-long interviews. He applied on Feb. 12 and arrived at Dulles International Airport outside of D.C. - exactly three months later. Langton, his wife and four children, including his eldest daughters husband and children, were greeted by journalists and Trump administration officials. Several of the Afrikaners, some holding small children, stood together waving American flags. When you have quality seeds, you can put them in foreign soil and they will blossom, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said. They will bloom. And we are excited to welcome you here to our country, where we think you will bloom. Happy that Im here Recently, Mehraz got a letter in the mail and didnt know what it was. She took it to the Birmingham Islamic Society, which has become a focal point of support for the family. It was a phone bill. Inspiritus had handled those payments, and the family cannot read or write in their language - much less in English. Immediate concerns like these are all they have time to dwell on. Mehrazs daughter, Ramida Begum, now a mother with three children, said she has fewer nightmares about the horrors of Myanmar and Bangladesh and more about the mounting bills her family cannot pay. I worry about what will happen in the future, Begum said. The International Organization for Migration arranged for their travel to the U.S., but the flights were not free. Collectively, they said they owe around $14,000 for their transportation to Alabama. The extended family of 13 lives in apartments in Hoover, a Birmingham suburb thats minutes away from the Islamic society where they go to pray. Their apartment has no paintings or decoration, just two large couches, a table and a TV that still has packaging tape on it - all donated. For refugees such as Mehraz and her family who were already in the U.S. when Trump became president, there are longer wait times for services, fewer people to help and less dollars to distribute where the need is greatest, said John Moeller, chief executive of Inspiritus. We are in a season of austerity, so were spreading the peanut butter just a little bit thinner to make sure we help everybody, he said. Thats where the Islamic society and Refugee Support Team step in. We get increased calls from people because Inspiritus used to have a hired, paid person who takes care of renewing food stamps, Medicaid, makes appointments and now they dont have that support, said Abouhouli, a member of the refugee team who came to the U.S. with a student visa and is now a U.S. citizen. Rahim, the other volunteer, recalled a recent night when the family called him at 2 a.m. The children were sick and the family had made it to the emergency room, but they needed an interpreter. Rahim stayed on the phone for over an hour helping them communicate with the doctors. They used to just need him for moments like that - emergencies. But not since Trumps funding freeze and reduction of refugee programs. Now they need the support everywhere, he said. After months of searching, Begums husband finally got a job in construction, and he and his boss communicate through body language. Some of the extended familys nine young children are old enough to be in school and have learned to count up to 100 and say a few English phrases. Mehraz was not aware of the Afrikaners who had come to the U.S. When Rahim explained the politics and news around it to her, she said simply: I dont know what to make of it, Im just happy that Im here. While the Islamic community members and volunteers work overtime to fill the gaps for the refugees, Langton described coordinating with a caseworker who is trying to help him find a job. He wants to be a farmer, he said, like he was in South Africa. He said that landing in the middle of Alabama has been disorienting. When asked whether he thinks the refugee program should be restored, Langton said he felt it wasnt for him to say. Like the Mehraz family, he said he was just grateful to be in Birmingham. And without being selfish, he added, I kind of need to, you know, put my oxygen mask on first. Razzan Nakhlawi contributed to this report. Huntsville Hospital dismissed the "F" grade it received from Leapfrog as "not accurate." Kayode Crown Huntsville Hospital on Sunday pushed back against a scorecard that graded the facility as an F on patient safety and medical errors, claiming the Leapfrog survey was not accurate. The Leapfrog survey is not an accurate measure of patient safety at Huntsville Hospital, the facility said in a statement posted to its website. The hospital did not complete this voluntary 353-page survey, yet Leapfrog chose to publish a rating with incomplete information, the statement continued. This process is unfair to the thousands of dedicated clinicians working around the clock to care for the community and respond to emergencies anytime they are called. Twice a year, The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit, releases grades on nearly 3,000 general acute-care hospitals nationwide. The overall grade is based on scores across 32 categories, with possible grades of A, B, C, D, or F. Huntsville Hospital scored Cs in 2022 and 2023 and Ds in 2024. The latest scorecard only focused on preventing medical errors and patient harm. Using Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services records for July 2021 to June 2023, the spring 2025 report shows that, compared to other hospitals, Huntsville Hospital has a higher death rate among patients with serious post-surgical complications, like pneumonia, heart attack, or loss of kidney and liver function. In the best-performing hospitals, 85 out of 1,000 patients who suffer such complications die. The number rose to 222 for Huntsville Hospital, close to the worst-performing hospitals 236. The Leapfrog Group states that skilled hospital teams can treat serious complications, which, if mismanaged, could result in a patients death. On a positive note, the hospital scored the highest possible in preventing incidents of a surgeon accidentally leaving an object inside a patients body. There were no such cases in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services July 2021 to June 2023 record. And according to its website, Huntsville Hospital is the top facility in north Alabama and No. 2 in Alabama per the 2024-25 U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings. It boasted 10 high-performing conditions and surgery procedures. The facility boasted the worldwide recognition it received in its statement. Forbes considers HH one of the best employers in Alabama and Newsweek named HH one of Americas Greatest Workplaces for Women. HHs cardiac surgery programs was recognized by Healthgrades as one of Americas 50 best programs seven years in a row. HH is a certified stroke center and accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Blue Cross and Blue Shield recognizes HH for distinction in cardiac care, spine surgery, bariatric surgery, and maternity care," the statement went on to say. Every employee and physician in the HH Health System completes mandatory training in patient safety and high reliability. HH excels in most quality ratings and scores poorly in a Leapfrog survey that it does not complete. For its assessment, The Leap Frog Group uses surveys submitted by hospitals, data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other sources. But Huntsville Hospital did not submit a survey for the safety grading, which likely worsens its score in some categories. Because of that, it received the lowest scores in four categories: computerized medication orders by doctors (which prevents errors), safe medication administration, hand-washing, and whether specialty-trained doctors care for ICU patients. The absence of the survey information also meant no scores in three categories: staff working together to prevent errors, effective leadership to prevent mistakes, and nursing and bedside care for patients. The least tern is a small-but-mighty shorebird that nests along the Gulf Coast in Alabama. It's featured as part of the Beautiful Birds of Alabama, a series highlighting some of the unique birds in the state. (Photo courtesy Alabama Audubon) Alabama Audubon Memorial Day marked the unofficial start of summer and peak season for Alabamas beaches. An estimated 8 million people will visit Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in coastal Alabama this year, not to mention Dauphin Island. If youre one of those visitors this summer, you may see the least tern, a spunky seabird, nesting in the sand nearby. I could just sit and watch them for hours, said Cortney Weatherby, a biologist with Alabama Audubon who works on the coast. They are kind of busy bodies, like theyre always doing something. Theyre not a boring bird, thats for sure. The least tern breeds along the Gulf Coast in the spring and summer. As the smallest bird in the tern family, its about the size of a robin, with longer wings. But dont be fooled by their size or beauty: least terns are feisty. If you get near their nests, theyll attack, swooping down and pooping on you, said Lianne Koczur, science and conservation director with Alabama Audubon, the local chapter of the national birder group. So its best to admire them from a distance. Youve got to kind of respect that they have such a strong parental instinct to protect their young, Weatherby said. Males will present fish to females as part of a mating ritual, and they dig nests in the sand by sitting on their bellies and kicking their legs behind them. Their personalities are mimicked in their appearance: adults are white and gray, with a black cap that lines their eyes and makes them look angry, Koczur said. I think thats the big defining feature, that black head coming down, kind of a mask over the eyes, Koczur said. They do look fierce and they are pretty fierce for a small bird. Still, least terns are more tolerant of humans and other disturbances than other shorebirds: there are about 500-1,000 pairs that nest in Alabama, Koczur said, and some of them breed on beaches like Alabama Point in Orange Beach, where humans like to hang out. Other tern species and shorebirds wont nest near humans. When scientists with Alabama Audubon discover least tern nests on the beach, they put up a sign to warn beachgoers to stay away. Theyll also put up chick shelters, little plywood structures that provide shade to baby least terns. While least terns are not considered endangered a population of inland terns was removed from the endangered species list in 2021 the least terns that breed in Alabama have a hard time successfully nesting and growing their young, for a variety of reasons, Koczur said. Least tern nests are almost invisible on the beach. That makes them vulnerable to disturbances, like dogs or people running through them. Predators, like foxes and other birds, eat their eggs as well. The terns are colonial nesters, meaning they nest in large groups. As a result, large storms and high tides can wash out entire colonies of terns, Koczur said. And development of the shoreline destroys the habitat the birds use to nest. Least terns primarily eat fish. They hover over the sea and dive for fish when they see one. However, they need land to rest, unlike other seabirds, so they stay close to the shore. Starting as early as July, least terns will begin migrating south for the winter, settling in coastal habitats in the Caribbean, Central America and the northern coast of South America. Theyll return to the Gulf Coast starting in March, according to the Audubon Society. Alabama Audubon monitors the least tern, as well as the 12 other bird species that nest on the beaches in the state. These birds are vulnerable to many threats, both from predators and human activity, Weatherby said. Its important to pay attention to those threats before their population declines too much. You look at all the threats that are facing these birds and theyre telling us a story of a changing coastline, Weatherby said. And I think its really important that we listen before it is too late, before we develop so much and we love our coast to death and then its no longer the place that we fell in love with. This story is part of Beautiful Birds of Alabama, a series exploring some of the states unique birds. In this combination of photos, President Joe Biden speaks on Aug. 10, 2023, in Salt Lake City, left, and former President Donald Trump speaks on July 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo) AP President Donald Trump amplified a wild conspiracy to his 10 million Truth Social followers that claims Joe Biden was executed in 2020 and replaced by clones. There is no #JoeBiden - executed in 2020. #Biden clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see. >#Democrats dont know the difference," the user llijh, which has just 94 followers on Truth Social, posted to the platform. The president picked up on the post and disseminated it to his more than 9.8 million Truth Social followers: Several conspiracy theories surrounding Bidens presidency have sprouted on social media, including an eight-hour Facebook video that claimed Biden wasnt making a media appearance and instead was computer generated. Other theories claim Biden was killed and replaced with artificial intelligence. Late last month, Trump suggested that Biden wasnt running the White House. He claimed the presidents advisors, whom he referred to as treasonous thugs, hijacked the presidency and were behind Bidens policies. Trump critics claimed his Truth Social post is further evidence hes unfit for office. Trump is absolutely out of his mind. Hes clearly unstable and unwell. This is very concerning, tweeted liberal social media influencer Harry Sisson. Trump has jumped the shark and just posted that Biden was executed and cloned in 2020, said former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann, referencing the amendment that paves the way for the presidents cabinet to remove him from office. The 25th Amendment would seem to be mandatory, he said. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is disturbed. Not by the presence of a convicted child sex offender or a known MS-13 gang member hiding in her state, but by the fact that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) dared to arrest them without first seeking her blessingor the Vineyard Preservation Societys. Last week, ICE and federal partners conducted operations in Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard, apprehending nearly 40 illegal aliens, including several with serious criminal records. ICE described it as a strong stand for prioritizing public safety. Her Excellency the Gahvnah, however, called it very disturbing. So why was she upset? Not for the victims of child predators. Not for communities terrorized by MS-13. Instead, she cranked up the outrage machinenot for the victims of violent crime, but for the reputational trauma of elite zip codes being touched by the consequences of their own policiesand, of course, for the gall of federal agents arresting dangerous criminals in the first place. Judging from Governor Healeys reactionand the trolls over at Blue Skyyoud think these arrests happened at a Vineyard Vines photo shoot, with families being snatched by the shock troops of a proto-fascist state. And yessome of these folks really do believe this Cape Codswallop. Of course, whats truly disturbing is a sitting governor attacking federal law enforcement for enforcing federal lawparticularly when the targets are criminals with known threats to public safety. Healeys real complaint isnt about process, mind you. Its about politics. And here is where the priorities of the Beacon Hill Brahmins come into viewespecially those who summer on the Cape and the Vineyard, where moral posturing is easier when the consequences live somewhere else. But first, lets revisit the Constitution for a momentsince someone in Boston forgot to. Article I, Section 8, Clause 4 empowers Congress To establish a uniform Rule of Naturalizationand by extension, immigration law. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), codified at 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq., governs removability, detention, and federal enforcement priorities. Article II vests executive power in the Presidentnot in the governors of individual states. These laws are not subject to veto by statehouses or rewritten by governors clutching donor listseven for Nantucket. Now, from time to time, some have taken issue with this time-tested formulaJohn C. Calhoun and George Wallace tip their hats, Gubnahbut the formula remains true. So theres that. Even more decisively, the Supremacy ClauseArticle VI, Clause 2states that the Laws of the United States... shall be the supreme Law of the Land. Governors dont get a sneak preview of federal operations, especially when theyve already made clear theyre more likely to obstruct than assist. Federal agents dont owe courtesies to officials who confuse press statements with policy and are deeply opposed to the policies to begin with. In Arizona v. United States (2012), Justice Kennedywriting for a majority that included Sotomayor and Breyerwas unequivocal: The Government of the United States has broad, undoubted power over the subject of immigration and the status of aliens. That means statesand cities, and yes, even the Vineyardmay not obstruct or second-guess that authority. It may come as a surprise to the Gahvnah, but the feds dont consult with hostile governors before enforcing federal law. Nor should they. Federal law is not a group therapy sessionand state-level resistance doesnt earn you a ride-along, no matter how loudly the provincials squawk. But Healey has made hysterics, obstruction, and sprinting toward the nearest TV crew an Olympic sport. She complained that local police chiefs have zero information, a claim swiftly refuted by ICE. The agency confirmed that local law enforcement was notified in advance. And Tricia McLaughlin, the current Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security under President Trump, made it plain: Before the Governor criticizes our brave law enforcement, she should get her facts straightapparently, she is the one with zero information. Healeys outrage seems a little off. Or, as my grandfather used to say, Im not saying shes lyingbut she is handling the truth recklessly. Speaking of the truth, lets be honest. Had these arrests taken place in Springfield or Fall Riverduring, say, the administration of President Autopenthe governor wouldnt have said a word. But touch the tony islands of Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard during a Republican administrationand suddenly ICE is a menace to democracy. Despite the performative outrage and wrinkled brows, this is squarely about resistance to immigration enforcementfull stopespecially under a Republican president. The indignation isnt rooted in process. If it were, someone in the media might askpoint blankwhat due process illegal aliens were afforded under the Clinton, Obama, or Biden administrations? Or better yet, ask what due process exists for changing federal immigration law? Thats right: there is a process. Its called legislation. But thats not what this is about. Its 100% ideological. To this crowd, the real offense isnt who was arrestedor even where. Its that the law was enforced at all, without genuflecting to their moral posturing or partisan narrative. ICE isnt the problemand its a travesty that Democrat apparatchiks have seen fit to demonize and dehumanize sworn federal law enforcement officers for doing their jobs. The problem is that political elites fundamentally reject the legitimacy of immigration enforcement when the wrong party carries it out. The return of a Republican president has reactivated the resistance playbook: undermine, delay, discredit. Arrests? Suddenly, disturbing. Deportations? A threat to families. Cooperation? Optional at best, obstructionist at worst. Call it what you like, but this isnt state oversight or a call for cooperation. Its sabotagepolitely served with scones and a side of sanctimony. Remember 2022? When Governor Ron DeSantis flew just 50 migrants to Marthas Vineyard, the island declared a humanitarian crisis, activated the National Guard, and shipped the arrivals off towhat do you knowa federal military base within 48 hours. Hows that for irony? Youd think they had landed a battalion in a 12-meter yacht. The spectacle exposed the central hypocrisy of liberal sanctimony: open borders for thee, but not for me. Not in my backyard, you hoi polloi! Now, less than three years later, federal agents carry out a lawful operation and remove convicted felonsand the governors concern isnt that criminals were roaming free in her state, but that their removal upset the delicate sensibilities of the brunch crowd. Oh dearcan you pass the crumpets? What were seeing is a fundamental inversion of dutyand, lets face it, a hostile governor trying to fan outrage because she doesnt like the result of the last presidential election. The elected leader of a state casts federal law enforcement as the invader and portrays criminal aliens as the victims. Its not reality. Its her truthand its clearly false. The Constitutionand public safetymust not become collateral damage in a narrative war that prioritizes ideological defiance over lawful governance. Otherwise, the very underpinnings of the Republic are compromised. But maybe thats the point. After all, this comes from the same party that spent last year lecturing Americans about the rule of law and branding itself the self-styled guardian of democracy. Have you no shame, Madam Gahvnah? Charlton Allen is an attorney and former chief executive officer and chief judicial officer of the North Carolina Industrial Commission. He is founder of the Madison Center for Law & Liberty, Inc., editor of The American Salient, and host of the Modern Federalist podcast. X: @CharltonAllenNC Image: Public domain. At the foot of Mount Sinai -- where Moses is believed to have heard the voice of God -- stands one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world. For nearly 1,500 years, the monks of St. Catherines Monastery have kept watch over sacred ground, stewarding the faith through centuries of empire, conquest, and modern upheaval. Their presence is a living testimony, not just to history, but to holiness. Now, that sacred presence is under threat. On May 28, 2025, an Egyptian court ruled to transfer ownership of St. Catherines Monastery and its assets to the state. Though the government claims the ruling preserves the monasterys religious status, those who know the region -- and the track record of governments that feign protection while eroding autonomy -- understand the danger. The Greek Orthodox Church and Greek government have sounded the alarm, warning that this move could lead to the eviction of the monastic community and the quiet conversion of the site into a museum. The monks may not be forcibly removed today, but the legal groundwork has been laid. The state now holds the keys. This is not just a land dispute. This is a battle over spiritual sovereignty. Founded in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian I, St. Catherines is one of the longest continually operating Christian institutions on earth. Its libraries contain ancient texts, including the Codex Sinaiticus -- one of the earliest known biblical manuscripts. The monasterys very existence links us to the early Church, to a time when the faith was forged through fire and perseverance. To reduce this holy sanctuary to a state-owned tourist site is not just a desecration -- its a form of erasure. And yet, much of the world is silent. There will be no emergency UN session. No celebrity social media campaigns. No global media outcry. The assault on Christianity, especially in the Middle East and Africa, is too often met with a shrug. When churches are burned in Nigeria, when believers are slaughtered in the Congo, when Christian refugees are ignored in Syria -- governments yawn. Now, when a court hands over Mount Sinai to a secular state, were told not to worry. Its just paperwork. But its not just paperwork. Its precedent. If they can take Sinai, whats left thats off limits? The land where Moses stood barefoot is not just a historic site -- it is holy ground. And while Egypts government assures the public that the monasterys status will be preserved, anyone familiar with authoritarian overreach knows this pattern well: first control, then containment, then repurposing. Weve seen this before. Sacred spaces quietly absorbed by state institutions. Crosses replaced with plaques. Faith reframed as folklore. Erased, not by fire or force, but by legal fiction. The Church must not be silent here. Nor should our leaders. Egypt claims to be a friend to the West. True friends do not lay claim to our sacred inheritance under the guise of stewardship. True partners do not hide behind legal rulings while gutting the living core of faith. Thankfully, we now have a president who leads differently. President Trump has been unwavering in his commitment to protect religious freedom at home and abroad. While there has not yet been an official statement regarding St. Catherines Monastery, this is precisely the kind of moment that calls for the strength and clarity his administration has promised. With the recent formation of the Religious Liberty Commission, the administration now has the opportunity to respond boldly -- to defend Christian heritage and stand against legal erasure masked as protection. We need that clarity now. We need that strength now. St. Catherines is more than stone. More than scrolls. It is a heartbeat of the Church. Its walls have heard prayers for 1,500 years. Its monks have endured empires and protected the flame. They are not tourists. They are guardians. The question now is whether we will keep watch with them -- or whether we will, once again, let the Christian faith be quietly swept aside. Wendy Kinney is a Christian, legal strategist, attorney, and entrepreneur committed to free speech, financial freedom, and the Constitution. As Founder & CEO of Revere Payments, she protects businesses from financial censorship, ensuring American enterprises remain free. She speaks truth to power with conviction, standing firm in faith, justice, and the unwavering belief that freedom must always be defended. Her work is rooted in light, guided by principle, and fearless in the fight for truth. Image: Adrien Egron 100 years ago today, the United States Supreme Court unanimously decided the case of Pierce v. Society of Sisters, a landmark blow in favor of parental rights. The Courts bold words deserve to be recalled today: The child is not the mere creature of the state; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations (268 US 535). Pierce arose because, amidst post-World War I anti-Catholic activism, Oregon adopted by referendum a law that required all children in the state to attend public schools only. A parent who enrolled his child in a Catholic school would commit a misdemeanor by failing to comply with Oregons compulsory school attendance law. An order of nuns operating a parochial school brought suit, and the Supreme Court struck down Oregons rule, insisting the state had no right to homogenize education because parents have the right to determine how their child is brought up. That last statement has been recognized for eons as a self-evident truth. British and American common law treated it as a basic legal principle. In that sense, Pierce simply reaffirmed our legal tradition. Lets not fail to see how far some people want to deviate from it. The Supreme Court will decide this month the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor. The case comes from Montgomery County, a large school district that borders Washington, D.C. Montgomery County adopted a sex education curriculum including components for preschoolers through fifth grade. That curriculum treats the gender ideology agenda as completely normal and to be taught to children who still probably have not been exposed to addition. To top it off, despite Maryland law to the contrary, Montgomery County refused to allow parents to opt out of the curriculum. Outraged parents sued and the case was argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in April. Can one imagine the Pierce Court -- a unanimous Court -- having concluded that parents could decide their child need not attend a public school but if he does go, parents have no say about exposing him to drag queens and leather boys? Pierce affirms a basic principle that, until not that long ago, was uncontroverted in American law and is fundamental both to natural law and Catholic social thought: parents are the primary educators of a child. Nobody is ordinarily more invested in or loves that child more. Nobody knows that child better. Nobody has more direct or immediate rights and responsibilities vis-a-vis that child. Because parents have a responsibility to educate a child, the community supports their primary task through schools. But that role is supportive and subsidiarity: it cannot be one where the support undermines the right of a parent to raise and educate their child. The parent-child relationship precedes the state. There were parents and children before there were governments. That means that, except in clearly derelict or egregious circumstances, the government cannot usurp parental rights. Well, Montgomery County is trying. Its why we also need to watch language. Talk -- especially educational talk -- about partnerships with parents is misleading if the partners are thought to be on equal footing. A child is not somebody to whom various partners make pitches for his attention or approval. A child is a child because, by definition, he stands in a unique and unrepeatable relationship to a parent that he has to no one and nothing else. And a child, as a minor, is the responsibility of a parent, not an adult-in-miniature to whom interested parties sell their agendas in the marketplace of ideas. That, too, is a consequence of the loss of the idea of childhood innocence and vulnerability. We see this abridgement of parental rights growing. Schools that push sex education curricula contrary to the values of parents are one example: the idea that sex is purely biology with values perspectives freely attached is already an ideological commitment, not a fact. The effort to shield parents from even being aware of how a child is identified in school -- by name, pronoun, and/or sex -- is another egregious example. The idea that the state has some right to push its ideology (often masquerading under the term values) on children in the face of parental objections is another. Thats not education. Its indoctrination. 100 years after Pierce, we are seeing the renaissance of a vibrant parents rights movement. More and more parents are also saying Pierce needs to be carried forward: it should not be just a question of being able to opt out of the public school but being able to choose whatever educational environment a parent determines is the best one in which a given child will thrive. After all, education dollars are for educating, and the subject of education is a child, not a school. We teach kids, not schools. Schools are just venues where education happens. So, why are public schools given a monopoly on educational money? Most people dont follow carefully what goes on in schools, especially if they dont have children in schools. COVID and on-line learning pulled back the curtain to expose what is going on in schools, and lots of parents did not like what they saw. The proliferation of educational choice programs is the response. The growth of the educational choice movement is closely related to parental rights. The Heritage Foundation in Washington has just launched a Parents Rights Initiative as a one-point clearinghouse for information in this area. You might want to bookmark it. A century has passed since the Supreme Court clearly declared kids are not creatures of the state. Neither are parents domestic terrorists for protecting their rights or for standing up to school boards intent on abridging those rights. Todays civil rights movement is about recapturing rights that dont depend on the state to exist. Image: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Leftists love riots. And in San Diego, city officials are doing their best imitation of Portland or Minneapolis in encouraging the most damaging of riots over ICE raids against illegal immigrants. The result is this: After the @ICEgov raid, chaos erupts in South Park, San Diego rioters unleash fury, hurling bottles and launching violent attacks on ICE agents as the neighborhood descends into mayhem. I'm pretty sure this won't be the last of this pic.twitter.com/GyAvPAkHyk Viral News NYC (@ViralNewsNYC) May 31, 2025 ICE in full tactical gear raid San Diego restaurantsthrow flashbang grenades into crowd. Agents stormed the building and "They handcuffed everybody. The first ten minutes, they dont give any explanation." Customers surrounded the agentscalling them fascists pic.twitter.com/VRUjQVz8pZ Sol Konstrukt (@solkonstrukt) May 31, 2025 This is how its done! FRIDAY: South Park, San Diego, neighbors werent having it. When ICE rolled up on an Italian restaurant in unmarked cars and started grabbing workers, the community hit the streets. (Sound up) pic.twitter.com/HYMnoiD5Z2 Christopher Webb (@cwebbonline) May 31, 2025 Yesterday, ICE raided an Italian restaurant in a neighborhood in San Diego that I used to live in. They set off smoke grenades to disperse the crowd filming them and blocking their vehicles. This is going to radicalize people. pic.twitter.com/mXVkpYJIzk Daniel (@daniel_doesnt) May 31, 2025 Most of these tweets are from leftists, but they give the flavor. Worse still, city officials are egging them on: What happened last night in #SouthPark undermined trust and made us less safe. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/7Mqt8KlRrG San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (@MayorToddGloria) May 31, 2025 My statement on last nights ICE raid in South Park: pic.twitter.com/WNHlh7zvhh Paloma Aguirre (she/her/ella) (@paloma4D1) May 31, 2025 San Diego Democrat City Councilman @SeanEloRivera is having a meltdown on Instagramdropping the N-word, saying F Donald Trump, calling ICE state-sponsored terrorism, criminals, jackbooted thugsand labeling fellow Americans fascist. Not a great Saturday for Sean. pic.twitter.com/TMkwlpLFrn Amy Reichert (@amyforsandiego) June 1, 2025 Update: My original post about California Democrat City Councilman @SeanEloRivera calling @ICEgov terrorists has reached the White House. pic.twitter.com/vUjwYHC3T6 Amy Reichert (@amyforsandiego) May 31, 2025 San Diego politicians are out there defending illegal immigrant criminals over the safety of American familiesand even calling ICE agents terrorists. Thats one of the most ridiculous things Ive ever seen. The vast majority of Americans believe these criminals should be Supervisor Jim Desmond (@jim_desmond) May 31, 2025 The only thing these agents were doing was enforcing U.S. immigration law, which up until recently, Democrats supported. The flash bangs and smoke grenades had to come out after the group attempted to stop lawmen by force. Raids on churches, as Aguirre claims? Never happened. Now they're yelling 'fascist,' 'terrorist' and other dreck at what are clearly lawful operations, revealing a pretty significant disconnect with reality. What's more, it's not a matter of 'cruelty' or the manner of enforcement, as some claim: ICE was forced into this kind of enforcement because San Diego is a major sanctuary city, meaning, local law enforcers are not permitted to help federal law enforcement pinpoint criminal lawbreakers for apprehension. That necessitates the fishing-trawler-style of enforcement raids seen here, supposedly on just busboys, because it's the only tool the lawmen have left. BREAKING: ICE RAID in San Diego Around 5:30 PM, 7 @ICEgov & @HSISanDiego vehicles descended on Buona Forchetta and Enoteca Buona Forchetta restaurants in South Park. Roughly 50 people were taken out of the restaurant per @UnivisionSD. Update: a crowd from the neighborhood Amy Reichert (@amyforsandiego) May 31, 2025 They could have done it the easy way, and cooperated with the lawmen. Instead, they chose the hard way, then followed up with riots, with the more cynical among them wanting it that way, the better to get the cameras out there. And a few days ago, they were actually warned. It's the same dynamic that made Portland and Minneapolis hellholes, driving away law-abiding residents, investment, and business, leaving a lot of boarded-up (or burned out) shops as a result. Meanwhile, it seems there's always more to the enforcement story than the media and the activists let on -- and it tends to get out. The press accounts called the apprehended in San Diego "bus boys" but rather incuriously didn't ask whether these people had criminal pasts or ongoing criminal activity on the side, as has been the case of "Maryland Man" Kilmar Abrego-Garcia, who seemed to have a lot of gang activity and wife-beating under his belt, the typical doings of a "Maryland dad," as they marketed him to the public. The same model seems to be on display here. I can't tell if this is the same raid on the restaurant or not, but this is what the lawmen are looking for: Watch our special agents confiscate a knife from a violent Venezuelan alien resisting arrest. This arrest was part of an operation that resulted in eight arrests including one TdA member with help from federal partners in San Diego May 29. Our officers and agents often pic.twitter.com/mHYCdvxVWR U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) May 31, 2025 So amid all the 'bus boy' drivel regarding this raid, I have a funny feeling the public isn't going to buy it. There's no excuse for politicians egging on thuggery against lawmen just doing their jobs. In light of the results in Portland and beyond, it's going to lead to more violence and eventually going to come back to bite them. Image: ICE, via Flickr // public domain Someone I grew up with is a pothead, and all his friends are potheads, so Ive seen firsthand how destructive it is. Ive seen how it destroys ambition, discipline, intelligence, and moral fiber. Its a vile drug, and a new study reveals that, no matter how you ingest it (eating versus smoking), it also destroys the body. That being the case, we must ask why Democrats are so determined to see it legalized across America. You dont need to take my anecdotal claims to know just how bad marijuana is for the people who use it. There are endless studies making the same point: Theres also still debate about whether marijuana is a gateway drug to harder drugs, just as the squares in the 1960s warned. When I look at my friend and my friends friends, Id say that the anecdotal evidence would say that this one is a yes. And just in case that list of horribles wasnt long enough, theres now evidence that those who thought they could avoid marijuanas cardiovascular effects by using edibles instead of inhaling are out of luck. The risk is still there, no matter how you take in your pot: Though many Americans believe daily marijuana use is safer than tobacco, a new study suggests it could increase your risk for some serious cardiovascular issues. Worse yet, gummies, teas and tinctures appear to offer no advantage over lighting up when it comes to one critical factor for your heart health. The study from researchers at the University of California, San Francisco involved 55 outwardly healthy Bay Area residents who regularly smoked marijuana or consumed THC edibles. None of the participants used nicotine, and all of them consumed cannabis at least three times a week for a year or more. Smokers averaged 10 years of chronic use; edible users, five. Researchers found blood vessel function in regular cannabis users was about half that of nonusers putting them on par with tobacco smokers. I would argue that marijuana is much worse than tobacco. While tobacco damages your body, marijuana damages your mind and spirit. And that, I think, is why Democrats are relentlessly pushing to have it legalized. Karl Marx famously said that religion is the opium of the people, by which he meant that it operated to keep the abused masses pacified. With religion dying in the West, theres a new opiate, which is actually...an opiate. When you get a culture hooked on pot, you achieve all sorts of leftist goals. People, especially young men who should be on the front line of creativity, motivation, and ambition, become passive when hooked on the stuff. They no longer want to marry, have children, defend their country, achieve in their jobs, or anything else. Pot and video games, along with free food and basic medical care, will keep them passive as you wipe out borders, mutilate their children, and destroy their economy. Add in pots deleterious effects on fertility, which placates the maddened climatistas who view humans as Mother Earths parasites, and youve got a winner. Currently, 24 states have legalized marijuana (which is still illegal under federal law), while multiple other states have decriminalized it. My home state is still technically holding the line, but you wouldnt know it judging by its open use, especially (and very tragically) among the local black community. Moreover, as you may recall, in December 2023, the unidentified President AutoPen pardoned thousands of people who had federal convictions for marijuana use and possession. Trumps federal government should tell the various states that, to the extent marijuana is illegal at the federal level, the supremacy clause overrides local laws. (This is the same principle that says that cities and states cannot have sanctuary laws that override Americas immigration laws.) Theres no reason the American people should allow various leftist jurisdictions to destroy generations of Americans. More than that, though, we need to reeducate young people. Pot is not harmless. It makes them stupid, lazy, sterile, and very, very sick. And we should have them ask themselves the same question I asked: If the powers that be know all of this, why are they so desperate to get young people hooked on the stuff? Image created using AI. On Saturday, May 31, The Washington Post published an interview conducted by Elizabeth Dwoskin, entitled A rocket scientist wrestles with backlash over her Blue Origin flight, and subtitled Former NASA aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe always dreamed of going to space. She never imagined realizing that dream would let loose a barrage of online hate. It begins: In early April, I was looking at a beautiful Elle magazine spread featuring the six women who were set to crew the all-female Blue Origin flight into space. There was Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Gayle King and then my jaw dropped. There was my friend Aisha Bowe, surrounded by celebrities. Bowe and I have known each other for nearly a decade. Shes a former NASA aerospace engineer and an entrepreneur. I always knew it was her dream to go to space. Ms. Doskin figured her friend was slammed with all the publicity, so she waited a bit to text her. When she finally did, she asked her if she was still basking in the glow, then writes she was stunned by her response. Ms. Bowe, a deeply impressive woman who happens to be black, had been the recipient of a gusher of left-wing hatred. Why? Because Blue Origin is a Jeff Bezos project, and Jeff Bezos had recently been in Trumps orbit (pardon the pun). [H]er flight became a flash point for a torrent of anger from the political left and from communities of color directed at billionaires associated with the Trump administration. That includes Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, who owns Blue Origin, and who sat in a crowd of tech moguls at the inauguration after making a large donation through Amazon. Disgraceful. Not just because its appalling all on its own, but because Ms. Bowe should be held up as an example of black achievement, not black sellout. Heck, she should be held up as an example period. She grew up in modest circumstances and earned the money to take the flight all on her own. Not only did she earn it on her own, but she also set out to do it in a way others could model, paying it forward. Like I said earlier: a deeply impressive woman! So here we have this incredibly smart, accomplished, decent human being, who achieved a life dream, to fly in space, and she gets a torrent of hate...from the tolerance people. What a shame. We joke that things arent rocket science, yet here we have an actual rocket scientist doing something truly amazing, not only with this flight, but with her entire life, which began reading science fiction novels and dreaming big dreams. It wasnt until I was in community college that I actually decided that space might be a possibility. And it wasnt because I thought it was a probability, it was me defying the odds. I think that sometimes dreams can be a radical form of protest. And my dream was that I wanted to overcome the circumstances that I was in. I decided that the only thing I could control were my dreams. And my dream was that I would go to space. Ill let Ms. Bowe have the last word. Incredible grace here when asked about her reaction to all the invective: I welcome the conversation and I think its important to discuss whats happening in the country today. The question that I would ask is, do we opt out because the system is flawed or do we do the work to change it for the better from the inside? Ive never had the luxury of being in an ideal situation. Im one of very few women who work in aerospace, who work in tech. I work in defense. And what Ive always thought would be best is for me to be an example of what it is that I hope to see. Ive never had the luxury of waiting for perfection. Image from the US Embassy in South Africa. CC BY 2.0. M. Walter is a pseudonym. Christian churches have been under attack in recent years. Many have burned or been vandalized. Many more, particularly in Europe, have closed due to lack of attendance, which is itself due to secularization on the one hand and demographic change on the other. Some have been converted into mosques. And some Christian churches appear to have been taken over by those who disdain Christianity. Germanys Paderborn Cathedral of Westphalia may be one of those, if a recent performance it hosted is any guide. The cathedral, long one of Germanys most prominent and sacred, hosted a show during which three shirtless male dancers swung, threw, and walked raw, headless chicken carcasses stuffed into diapers around the chancel as if they were little children. That is bizarre and disturbing enough in and of itself, but they did this while singing Meat is Meat (a play on the Austrian pop song Live is Life). The show was part of a commemoration of the 1,250th anniversary of the Westphalia region, and was attended by Germanys president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, other German officials, and Archbishop Udo Markus Bentz. Many folks consider the performance to be a mockery of the Eucharist, the Body of Christ and a desecration of the sacred cathedral. One such person is Maria Wirth, a Hindu herself, who subsequently stated that Christianity is under attack, and maybe undermined from the top. Wirth took to X to write, It was not a misjudgment as claimed. It was in all likelihood deliberate desecration. The debasement of humanity is in full swing. Who is behind it? What is the purpose? Can it be stopped and turned around? The jury is out on that question, Maria. What is not in doubt is that this performance was an attempt at utterly desecrating the sanctity of life, of Christianity, and of God Himself. Live is life morphed to meat is meat? I can't imagine anything more disgusting. Dead, decapitated chickens, bloody steaks, newborn infants in diapers or swaddling clothes theyre all the same, right? Just meat? The only further comment necessary is this one: God help us. Please. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License Some stupid reporter asked Trump if he would consider pardoning Diddy, and all Trump said was that he would look at the facts and that he doesnt care if people like him or not. Why did someone ask the question? So they could get headlines like this. I saw it at the WaPo and USA Today also. Can anyone imagine if Trump said Diddy is guilty? They would have then said Trump is trying to interfere in the judicial system. Why dont people posing as journalists wait for the whole trial to end and the jury to decide before they ask the stupid question? The media should stick to their job and report facts instead of trying to create stories. Look at how long they spent trying to tell juries in N.Y. that Trump was guilty of fraud before the trial took place. Hint: There was no fraud. There were no losses. There were no victims. All they had was a biased A.G., a biased judge, and biased media working very hard to convince the public that Trump was guilty. They succeeded, even though there clearly was no crime. It is also pathetic that Lifetime and many media outlets report on the Idaho murders in the way they do before the trial. How the heck can anyone get a fair jury when the media spend so much time trying to influence the public? Image via Pixnio. Staring at a fern in my apartment, a wild thought strikes me: this plant might be pulling off quantum tricks to soak up sunlight. Quantum physics -- the bizarre world of particles dancing as waves and entangled across space -- isnt just for labs or sci-fi flicks. Its the hidden pulse of life on Earth and our guide to finding life among the stars. With rules like superposition (particles existing in multiple states) and entanglement (spooky links defying distance), quantum mechanics shapes everything from chloroplasts to cosmic chemistry. How does this subatomic weirdness drive life here and fuel our search for aliens? Lets dive into the quantum threads weaving life on Earth and beyond. Im no physicist, but the idea that life relies on quantum mechanics is mind-boggling. Quantum biology, a field gaining momentum, shows how subatomic effects drive living systems. Take photosynthesis: plants dont just capture sunlight; they harness quantum coherence. Excitons, or energy packets, explore all possible paths simultaneously to find the most efficient route to reaction centers, as Graham Engels 2007 study, which was published in Science, revealed. This occurs because plants suppress decoherence, where quantum states collapse due to environmental noise, keeping energy transfers nearly perfect, a feat governed by the Schrodinger equations wave mechanics. Enzymes, the bodys chemical catalysts, perform another quantum feat: tunneling. Particles like protons slip through energy barriers without needing to climb over them, as Alan Aspuru-Guziks work suggests, accelerating reactions millions of times. Picture a ball passing through a hill instead of over it It's natures cheat code for metabolism. Even more astonishing, birds like robins may navigate using quantum effects. Cryptochrome proteins in their eyes create entangled electron pairs, which are sensitive to Earths magnetic field through spin dynamics, serving as a quantum compass for migration. These discoveries demonstrate that life on Earth isnt merely chemical its quantum, refined over billions of years of evolution. Now, lets swing to the cosmos. Ive always wondered if aliens exist, and quantum physics is our best bet for answers. In star-forming clouds, molecules like amino acids -- lifes building blocks -- form via quantum tunneling. Astrochemist Eric Herbst has shown that particles bypass energy barriers in cold, sparse environments, following the Schrodinger equations probabilistic rules. Its like the universe is brewing lifes ingredients with quantum magic. When hunting for alien worlds, quantum tech shines. Spectroscopy, rooted in quantum transitions of molecules, lets us read a planets atmospheric fingerprint. The James Webb Space Telescope, for instance, detects gases like oxygen at 760 nm, a potential biosignature, as Sara Seagers research highlights. Could life on Mars or Europa use quantum tricks like Earths extremophiles? In harsh Earth environments, microbes exploit quantum effects to survive; alien life might do the same in high-radiation or icy conditions. Meanwhile, quantum computers boost the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) by processing vast radio signal datasets with algorithms like Grovers, speeding up our hunt for an alien signal. Quantum physics is our cosmic detective, linking lifes origins to its potential elsewhere. Heres where I get geeked out: Quantum technologies are like a bridge from my fern to distant planets. Quantum sensors, exploiting superposition and entanglement, detect tiny signals with insane precision -- gravitational waves on Earth or chemical traces on exoplanets. Imagine a sensor mapping Europas icy crust for signs of life. Quantum communication, using entangled particles, could enable secure, near-instant data transfer for Mars missions, sidestepping classical delays. Its like texting across the galaxy with quantum encryption. These tools hint at a universal quantum playbook for life. Whether its a leaf in my kitchen or a microbe on a distant moon, the same subatomic rules apply, tying Earths ecosystems to the cosmos in ways were just starting to grasp. Im still wrapping my mind around this, but quantum physics is lifes unsung hero. On Earth, coherence powers photosynthesis, tunneling drives enzymes, and entanglement guides birds. In space, it shapes lifes building blocks and fuels our search for biosignatures with tools like spectroscopy. From my fern to a potential Martian microbe, quantum mechanics, governed by principles like the Schrodinger equation, is the thread weaving lifes tapestry. Researchers like Sara Seager are pushing quantum tech to uncover lifes cosmic reach, and its thrilling to think where this science will take us. Next time you water a plant or gaze at the stars, consider: the tiniest particles might hold the biggest clues about our place in the universe. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License Stand Your Ground (SYG) laws came to the public consciousness during the Trayvon Martin case. George Zimmerman, a Florida Neighborhood Watch Captain, was charged with murder in the death of Martin, a 17-year-old drug user, criminal and thug wannabe. Zimmerman, a Hispanic whose background included black relatives, didnt fit the narrative, so the media branded him a white Hispanic. Zimmerman was exoneratedit was as clear a case of lawful self-defense as one can imagine--which made Martin a holy social justice martyr, a forerunner of Saint George Floyd. Graphic: X Screenshot Neither the prosecution nor the defense raised SYG during the trial, but leftists and the media did, and thereafter another narrative was born: SYG laws allow racist whitesor white Hispanicsto murder blacks without consequences. Riding its coattails was another narrative claiming police officers murder scores of black men every year. Building on these false narratives, Democrats have unsuccessfully tried to ban or repeal existing SYG laws. As one might expect, the latest attempt is in California. This time Assemblyman Rick Chavez Zburcare to guess his political party?is taking a slightly different approach. He wants to change the definition of justifiable homicide to make self-defense difficult if not impossible. Opponents quickly seized on the proposals language which would make killing someone illegal if a person uses more force than necessary to defend themselves or chooses not to disengage or deescalate a violent situation when they can calling it a criminal-first bill. This would obliterate the stand your ground doctrine, but California Democrats arent quite ready, at least not overtly and publicly, to obliterate the Castle Doctrine (CD). All SYG laws do is establish that someone lawfully present when attacked can stay where they are and use whatever force is reasonably necessary to defend themselves. They dont have to run away or try to talk down someone trying to kill them. The law of self defense remains unchanged. One cant respond to an insult with a gunshot, and SYG laws are entirely race neutral. Castle Doctrine laws do essentially the same, though theyre specific to ones home. If attacked in the home, they presume the attacker is not there for good purposes, and the homeowner does not have to abandon his home and family to criminals. Castle doctrine laws in many states also establish a presumption of innocence for the homeowner and may even provide immunity from lawsuits by the attacker or their heirs. Sane people wonder why anyone can think it should be otherwise for SYG or CD victims? Then theres California where anti-liberty/gun cracktivists are trying to distract voters: This bill simply updates state law to make clear that if a person can safely walk away from a conflict, they must do so instead of escalating to using deadly force, said Nick Suplina, Everytowns [for Gun Safety] senior vice president for law and policy, in a statement to Playbook. It doesnt change the long-standing Castle Doctrine, which provides extra self-defense protections in a persons home. Suplina is misleading the public. There is nothing about any SYG law that prevents or discourages anyone from fleeing a deadly force attack if it can be safely done. Suplina also ignores reality. An attack can escalate from threats to deadly force in a heartbeat. Zburs law essentially says its inherently unreasonable not to run away, even if it costs a victim their life. Determinations of what was reasonable at the time are made in California often by Soros prosecutors who are as anti-liberty/gun as they are pro-criminal. Bizarrely, Zbur is invoking Kyle Rittenhouse: Graphic: Twitter screenshot The assemblymember tried to clarify things on social media, saying the bill is aimed at people like Kyle Rittenhouse, who fatally shot two people during a Wisconsin protest in 2020 and was acquitted of all charges in the incident, turning him into something of a far-right hero. But that only drew more vitriol from Rittenhouse and his supporters, extracting a promise from him to testify against Zburs bill. Graphic: X Screenshot Kyle Rittenhouse was also as clear cut a case of lawful self-defense as one can find. Serially attacked by violent, rioting leftists, including one wielding a handgun, Rittenhouse showed remarkable restraint in engaging only his attackers while surrounded by hostile crowds who continually pursued him. My home blog Rittenhouse archive is here. Gail Heriot of the US Commission on Civil Rights has produced a paper on how SYG laws are commonly misconstrued and how their opponents purposely mislead the public. Some sources indicate as many as 27 states currently have SYG laws, though I suspect the actual number is somewhat higher as various laws that have the same effect dont specifically say SYG. As one might imagine, those states that dont are blue states. Californianssurprise!--continue to flee the state in record numbers. On a different subject, if you are not already a subscriber, you may not know that weve implemented something new: A weekly newsletter with unique content from our editors for subscribers only. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription. Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor. Thinking about 2028 already? Didnt we just finish an election, and the new president is still moving in? Well, someone is looking ahead to 2028, and he is the governor of Minnesota. Lets check the story: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will seek to energize activists at Democratic state conventions in South Carolina and California on Saturday, as the partys 2024 vice presidential nominee works to keep up the high national profile he gained when Kamala Harris selected him as her running mate. Walz, a former schoolteacher who went to Congress and then became his states governor, will keynote the South Carolina gathering in Columbia, traditionally a showcase for national-level Democrats and White House hopefuls. Another leader who often appears on those lists, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, spoke Friday night at the partys fundraising dinner. South Carolina held the first Democratic presidential primary of the 2024 campaign, and the party hopes for a repeat as first in line in 2028. But the national party organizations havent settled their 2028 calendars yet, and party officials in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada are also vying to go first. From the classroom to the governors office, Tim Walz leads with compassion and common sense, the South Carolina party posted on social media earlier this month when it announced his appearance. Hes proof that you can govern with both heart and backbone, and hes bringing that message to South Carolina. Walz in 2028? I still remember seeing this guy on a morning show named Jimmy Carter in 1975 promoting his presidential candidacy. What seemed like a joke became reality in 1976. So strange things can happen. In Governor Walzs case, I dont see a lot of things going for him unless the party wants to double down on woke and what failed for V.P. Harris. Im not even sure that most Democrats were that impressed with his performance in 2024. He came across as a bit of a lunatic, and I cant see a lot of men voting for him. So let him go to South Carolina and test the water. My guess is that the governor wont find a big yearning for him or his policies. The governor had his moment, and we may see him down the road in an American Express commercial if they still do that stuff in the future. PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos. Image: Tim Walz. Credit: Lorie Shaull via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. The 50th anniversary of the publication of Seamus Heaneys collection North, which saw the poet directly address the Northern Ireland Troubles for the first time, is to be marked. A three-day conference at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queens University Belfast will bring together experts from around the world to discuss the significance of the Nobel laureate poets landmark work. The event, in partnership with Trinity College Dublin, takes place from June 5-7 and will also mark the first anniversary of the Belfast venue. Poet Paul Muldoon will be among those taking part in the event at the Seamus Heaney Centre (Liam McBurney/PA) Heaney, who died in 2013, was one of the worlds best known modern poets. Pulitzer prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon and Professor Edna Longley will be among authors, academics and poets discussing the significance of North 50 years on. There will also be a family friendly traditional music session and a screening of the documentary Heaney in Limboland, made for TV in 1970 and featuring Heaneys views on the rapidly deteriorating political situation in Northern Ireland. Upon publication in 1975, the American poet Robert Lowell said North represented a new kind of political poetry by the best Irish poet since WB Yeats and the anthology went on to win awards including the Duff Cooper Memorial Prize and the WH Smith Memorial Prize. Heaney himself admitted the collection took a hammering from other quarters, closer to home, for its representation of violence and gender politics. Many academics consider it to be a key moment in the evolution of Heaney from a significant Irish poet to a poet of international standing, culminating in his winning of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1995. Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre, Professor Glenn Patterson said: Whichever way you come at it, in admiration, in awe or in search of an argument, there is no understanding poetry from these islands in the past half century, without North. There are not many books, of any kind, that merit an at 50 conference, but North seems only to grow in significance with every year that passes, and with every year that passes to attract new readers, and new critical thinking. The poets daughter Catherine Heaney, said: We are proud and honoured that the 50th anniversary of North is being marked with this conference, alongside Fabers reissue of the volume in its original jacket. The publication was such a seminal moment in my fathers life and career and it is testament to its staying power that, five decades on, it continues to resonate with readers and inspire scholarly debate. Dr Stephen ONeill from Trinity College Dublin said: Written under the strain of what Seamus Heaney called a very high pressure, North was a landmark in his writing career. It was and is also a landmark in criticism, as a subject for many of the leading critics of Irish literature then and now. Organised to coincide with Fabers anniversary republication of the volume, the conference is a chance to reflect upon the impact of Heaneys fourth collection and reassess its reception. All events will take place at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queens. Attendance is free but registration is required. The family of Denis Donaldson suffered retraumatisation during Gerry Adams defamation case against the BBC, their lawyer has said. Solicitor Enda McGarrity said the family had to sit through the high-profile five-week case at Dublin High Court when their own efforts to pursue legal remedies have been stonewalled at every turn. Mr Adams was awarded 100,000 euros (84,000) by a jury over a 2016 BBC programme which alleged he had sanctioned the murder of Mr Donaldson, a former Sinn Fein member who had been exposed as a British agent. Mr Adams had described the allegation as a grievous smear. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006. Enda McGarrity said the Gerry Adams libel case against the BBC had been extremely difficult for the Donaldson family (Liam McBurney/PA) In 2009, the dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing and a Garda investigation into the matter remains ongoing. Mr McGarrity told the RTE This Week programme the Donaldson family had been initially ambivalent as to the outcome of the case. He said: The case was seen as a sideshow in that the family was aware it wasnt the type of case which would assist them in their long and tortuous search for answers and accountability. But of course as the trial played out it became difficult to ignore and retraumatising in many ways. The family had to listen along as private and sensitive information was tossed around with little regard to the Donaldson family. Probably the most galling part for the family is that theyve had to sit through five weeks of hearings in a case which concerned the murder of their loved one Denis Donaldson, and yet when theyve tried to pursue their own legal remedies, theyve been stonewalled at every turn. The process has been an extremely difficult one for the family. Now that the libel case has concluded, Mr McGarrity said focus should turn to seeking answers for the Donaldson family. He said: It has been a tortuous 19-year search for justice and the family acknowledge this case was ostensibly about Gerry Adams reputation, not about uncovering the circumstances surrounding the murder of Denis Donaldson. However, what this case does do is shine a light on the wider, and clearly more important issue of the circumstances around Denis Donaldsons murder. The fact that the family have never had anything resembling an effective investigation into this murder highlights an uncomfortable truth for authorities on both sides of the border, particularly where legacy cases are concerned. Mr McGarrity said the Donaldson family had been ambivalent about the outcome of the Adams libel trial (Brian Lawless/PA) The lawyer said the current Garda investigation was limited to who carried out the murder, not the wider circumstances. He said: When we look to mechanisms which could explore those you have things like coroners inquests, one of the practical difficulties is that the inquest has been adjourned 27 times, quite an unprecedented delay. It begs the question, how is justice to be delivered to the Donaldson family if the Garda investigation is only looking at a limited aspect of the murder and the coroners inquest wont begin until that process finishes. That has led the family to call for a commission of investigation to properly investigate these issues. Mr McGarrity said there was a unique cross-border element to the death of Mr Donaldson. He added: Who was behind it and who pulled the trigger isnt the only question. The circumstances leading up to that, how Denis Donaldson came to be exposed, how his location came to be known in Donegal, there are lots of ancillary questions. All of which I think the family are aware we may not get full unvarnished answers to every aspect, but at this point they havent even got close to the truth and they deserve answers and accountability. He said the Donaldson family would now be seeking a meeting with Irish Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan. This family are 19 years down the line and they are no further forward. There needs to be a discussion and we would certainly welcome prompt engagement with the minister. Steve Richardson, cellar door manager at Lyme Bay. The winery also sells entry level wines to Aldi. Photograph: Jim Wileman/The Guardian They began by producing drinks more usually associated with the rolling hills of southern England hearty ciders, warming tipples made from hedgerow fruits and good old-fashioned mead. But Lyme Bay Winery in Devon is celebrating a bit of history having become the first English producer to win prestigious international trophies for both red and white wine in the same year. Its Martins Lane Estate chardonnay 2020 and Lyme Bay Winery pinot noir 2021 won the English white trophy and English red trophy respectively at the 2025 International Wine Challenge (IWC). We knew we had produced some really good wine that had aged beautifully, the winerys operations manager Wolfgang Sieg-Hogg said. We thought wed be there or thereabouts but to take both prizes is wonderful. Its a labour of love the entire team has worked tirelessly to get here. Its a huge moment for us and for English still wine. English wine producers are the new boys on the world stage but were definitely on the up. The IWC judges were certainly gushing. Of the chardonnay, they said: Burgundy eat your heart out! Spry, toasty oak with ripe peach, melon, and apples. Wholesome fresh dry flavours of wet stones, citrus zest and a long, lingering finish. Harmonious and expressive. They described the pinot noir as having beautiful aromatics of autumn leaves, ripe cherries, dried herbs, and iodine, adding: The palate reveals ripe strawberry and cranberry, with appealing spicy details. A complex, textured finish completes this elegant wine. Founded 32 years ago, and now employing 30 people, the winery is on a winding lane just outside the town of Axminster in East Devon (next to a vehicle reclamation yard and artisan coffee factory). It still sells cider, hedgerow wine and mead but its decision to branch out into fine wines has proven a good one. Rather than relying on its own vineyard, the grapes for its wine are sourced from all over southern England. The winning chardonnay was made with grapes from the Martins Lane vineyard in the Crouch valley, Essex, and benefitted from the long, hot summer of 2020. Grapes for the pinot noir were from Martins Lane and four other Essex vineyards. The summer of 2021 was cool but a late warm spell in October allowed an extended hang time, ripening the grapes nicely. Sieg-Hogg said the ethos was not to be tied to one vineyard but to source the best grapes from the best. We dont go for quantity but for quality, he said. It means when the grapes ripen there is a race to harvest them and drive them across the country to Devon, where they are crushed and pressed and the magic, as Sieg-Hogg called it, of turning the juice into wine in gleaming tanks and oak barrels begins. You dont get much sleep at that time, he added. Once the butt of jokes, the English wine industry has begun to silence the cynics, with sparking wines such as those produced in the Camel valley in Cornwall leading the way. The climate crisis has created excellent conditions for growing grapes, not just in the south of England but, increasingly, farther north and west in the UK. Extreme heat threatens to harm some more traditional wine regions, such as those in Spain, Italy and southern California. The Lyme Bay trophy-winning wine is not cheap the chardonnay is 35 and the pinot noir is 29.99. Buy there are only a few thousand bottles of them and they will soon go. There are cheaper entry level wines on offer and the winery sells to Aldi. Its about increasing the popularity of English wine, making it more accessible to more people, said Steve Richardson, the manager of the winerys cellar door shop. The visitor book at the shop shows that visitors from Australia, North America and continental Europe come here seeking out the Devon wines. The Scandinavians love our wines, said Richardson. The Australians come with very open minds; the French dont like to admit how good it is. Johannesburg, South Africa (PANA) - Amnesty International has welcomed the decision of the United Nations Security Councils decision to renew the arms embargo on South Sudan for another year Illustration: Elia Barbieri/The Guardian Charles Darwin suggested that humans learned to speak by mimicking birdsong: our ancestors first words may have been a kind of interspecies exchange. Perhaps it wont be long before we join the conversation once again. The race to translate what animals are saying is heating up, with riches as well as a place in history at stake. The Jeremy Coller Foundation has promised $10m to whichever researchers can crack the code. This is a race fuelled by generative AI; large language models can sort through millions of recorded animal vocalisations to find their hidden grammars. Most projects focus on cetaceans because, like us, they learn through vocal imitation and, also like us, they communicate via complex arrangements of sound that appear to have structure and hierarchy. Sperm whales communicate in codas rapid sequences of clicks, each as brief as 1,000th of a second. Project Ceti (the Cetacean Translation Initiative) is using AI to analyse codas in order to reveal the mysteries of sperm whale speech. There is evidence the animals take turns, use specific clicks to refer to one another, and even have distinct dialects. Ceti has already isolated a click that may be a form of punctuation, and they hope to speak whaleish as soon as 2026. The linguistic barrier between species is already looking porous. Last month, Google released DolphinGemma, an AI program to translate dolphins, trained on 40 years of data. In 2013, scientists using an AI algorithm to sort dolphin communication identified a new click in the animals interactions with one another, which they recognised as a sound they had previously trained the pod to associate with sargassum seaweed the first recorded instance of a word passing from one species into anothers native vocabulary. Humpback whale songs are incredible vocal performances, sometimes lasting up to 24 hours The prospect of speaking dolphin or whale is irresistible. And it seems that they are just as enthusiastic. In November last year, scientists in Alaska recorded an acoustic conversation with a humpback whale called Twain, in which they exchanged a call-and-response form known as whup/throp with the animal over a 20-minute period. In Florida, a dolphin named Zeus was found to have learned to mimic the vowel sounds, A, E, O, and U. But in the excitement we should not ignore the fact that other species are already bearing eloquent witness to our impact on the natural world. A living planet is a loud one. Healthy coral reefs pop and crackle with life. But soundscapes can decay just as ecosystems can. Degraded reefs are hushed deserts. Since the 1960s, shipping and mining have raised background noise in the oceans by about three decibels a decade. Humpback whale song occupies the same low-frequency bandwidth as deep-sea dredging and drilling for the rare earths that are vital for electronic devices. Ironically, mining the minerals we need to communicate cancels out whales voices. Humpback whale songs are incredible vocal performances, sometimes lasting up to 24 hours. Song is apt: they seem to include rhymed phrases, and their compositions travel the oceans with them, evolving as they go in a process called song revolutions, where a new cycle replaces the old. (Imagine if Nina Simone or the Beatles had erased their back catalogue with every new release.) Theyre crucial to migration and breeding seasons. But in todays louder soundscape, whale song is crowded out of its habitual bandwidth and even driven to silence from up to 1.2 km away from commercial ships, humpback whales will cease singing rather than compete with the noise. In interspecies translation, sound only takes us so far. Animals communicate via an array of visual, chemical, thermal and mechanical cues, inhabiting worlds of perception very different to ours. Can we really understand what sound means to echolocating animals, for whom sound waves can be translated visually? The German ecologist Jakob von Uexkull called these impenetrable worlds umwelten. To truly translate animal language, we would need to step into that animals umwelt and then, what of us would be imprinted on her, or her on us? If a lion could talk, writes Stephen Budiansky, revising Wittgensteins famous aphorism in Philosophical Investigations, we probably could understand him. He just would not be a lion any more. We should ask, then, how speaking with other beings might change us. Talking to another species might be very like talking to alien life. Its no coincidence that Ceti echoes Nasas Seti Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute. In fact, a Seti team recorded the whup/throp exchange, on the basis that learning to speak with whales may help us if we ever meet intelligent extraterrestrials. In Denis Villeneuves movie Arrival, whale-like aliens communicate via a script in which the distinction between past, present and future times collapses. For Louise, the linguist who translates the script, learning Heptapod lifts her mind out of linear time and into a reality in which her own past and future are equally available. The film mentions Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorfs theory of linguistic determinism the idea that our experience of reality is encoded in language to explain this. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis was dismissed in the mid-20th century, but linguists have since argued that there may be some truth to it. Pormpuraaw speakers in northern Australia refer to time moving from east to west, rather than forwards or backwards as in English, making time indivisible from the relationship between their body and the land. Whale songs are born from an experience of time that is radically different to ours. Humpbacks can project their voices over miles of open water; their songs span the widest oceans. Imagine the swell of oceanic feeling on which such sounds are borne. Speaking whale would expand our sense of space and time into a planetary song. I imagine wed think very differently about polluting the ocean soundscape so carelessly. Where it counts, we are perfectly able to understand what nature has to say; the problem is, we choose not to. As incredible as it would be to have a conversation with another species, we ought to listen better to what they are already telling us. David Farrier is the author of Natures Genius: Evolutions Lessons for a Changing Planet (Canongate). Further reading Why Animals Talk by Arik Kershenbaum (Viking, 10.99) Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein (Wiley-Blackwell, 24.95) An Immense World by Ed Yong (Vintage, 12.99) If Iran were to further enrich the uranium it currently has to 90 per cent purity, they would have enough to produce 10 nuclear bombs - Iranian President Office/Shutterstock Iran has warned the UK and other European powers it would retaliate if they exploit a UN report alleging that Tehran has failed to declare important details about its nuclear programme. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran had omitted details about nuclear material and nuclear-related activities across three locations in the country. The nuclear watchdog added that Iran had increased production of highly enriched uranium to up to 60 per cent uranium needs to be enriched to 90 per cent for atomic weapons. In December, the UK, France, Germany and the US reportedly planned on submitting a draft resolution to the 35 members of the IAEAs board at its meeting on June 9. The three European powers threatened to reimpose sanctions on Iran if the country did not de-escalate its nuclear programme to create the political environment conducive to meaningful progress and a negotiated solution. Iran has warned Rafael Grossi, the IAEA chief, it will respond if European powers use the report to advance their political objectives - Jon Gambrell/Associated Press Abbas Araghchi, Irans foreign minister, said he had told Rafael Grossi, the IAEA chief, that Tehran would respond to any inappropriate action by the European parties in light of the report, and warned them not to exploit it to advance their political objectives. According to the report, Irans total amount of enriched uranium now exceeds 45 times the limit authorised by a landmark agreement between world powers in 2015. While Iran is only allowed to produce up to 300 kilograms (661.4lbs) of enriched uranium, they are estimated to have 9,247.6kg (20,387.5lbs). It added that Iran did not declare nuclear material and nuclear-related activities at three undeclared locations in Iran, specifically, Lavizan-Shian, Varamin and Turquzabad. It said: These three locations, and other possible related locations, were part of an undeclared structured nuclear programme carried out by Iran until the early 2000s ... some activities used undeclared nuclear material. The report said that Iran now possesses 408.6 kg (900.8lbs) enriched uranium up to 60 per cent purity and that Tehran has repeatedly either not answered or not provided technically credible answers to the agencys questions, and has sanitised locations as listed in this report, which has impeded agency verification activities. Iran did not declare nuclear material and nuclear-related activities in three locations - DigitalGlobe Iran is now the only non-nuclear-weapon state to produce such material, which was a cause of serious concern , the report said. According to the IAEA, if Iran were to further enrich the uranium it currently has to 90 per cent purity, they would have enough to produce 10 nuclear bombs. Donald Trump, the US president, has repeatedly threatened to bomb Irans nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails to resolve a decades-long dispute over Tehrans nuclear programme. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said Washington had sent a detailed and acceptable proposal to Iran and it was in their best interest to accept it. Keir Starmer and defence secretary John Healey meet British soldiers at Salisbury Plain Britain must urgently restore tactical nuclear weapons to its defence arsenal. That thought understandably fills many minds with horror but the logic of strategy means that these weapons would in fact make us safer. If the enemy possesses a devastating capability that we do not he is far more likely to use it on us. And Putin, not to mention China, has vast and growing stockpiles of tactical nuclear weapons while we have none. Now it seems the Government may be thinking about tackling this vulnerability in the defence review due to be unveiled this week. After the Cold War ended Britain dropped tactical nuclear weapons from its inventory. Before that, faced by the conventional superiority of the Warsaw Pact, these bombs had been intended to halt Soviet armoured thrusts into Western Europe if our ground and air forces couldnt hold them back. They are relatively low yield, including in radiation, and are intended to obliterate major military targets such as troop concentrations, massed tank formations and airbases, rather than laying waste to entire cities and creating wide area nuclear fall-out. With highly inadequate European conventional forces now confronted by a violent menace, shown only too clearly by the war in Ukraine, we are again back in a situation where Nato nations are faced with the choice of resorting to tactical nuclear weapons or losing everything to Russian advances. Of course our strategic nuclear forces are intended to deter enemy aggression, but their credibility in a situation short of nuclear Armageddon now lies exposed. Is Putin likely to think that our response to his tactical nuclear strikes would be to go to ultimate escalation with a nuclear attack against Moscow or St Petersburg? And if not, what? The Americans have tactical nukes deployed in Europe but they can withdraw them at any time. And with so much at stake, can we any longer rely absolutely on the US nuclear umbrella to defend us and our Nato allies? Hopefully yes, but optimism is a fools strategy. Britain would achieve greater certainty by generating a tactical nuclear force that could deter attack against our Nato allies and if necessary react decisively to a Russian assault. The cost would be huge but the countries we protect must also share the burden. That leads on to Ukraine. It is not a Nato member but there is no reason we should not have a bilateral agreement to provide nuclear cover to them as well. There is a lot of talk about Western security guarantees when this war is over but so far zero realistic proposals. Even Keir Starmers plan to send in peace-keeping forces quickly dissolved into some sort of capability building somewhere far away from the front lines, guaranteeing nothing at all. Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons under the Budapest Memorandum in 1994. Many now believe abandoning a capability that could have deterred Putins invasion was a fatal error. A British deterrent shield could provide the security guarantee that everyone knows is necessary. A much less desirable alternative, but one that should be considered, would be for Britain to help Ukraine renew its battlefield nuclear armoury. That would go against the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. But surely its time to re-think that anyway as the supposed rules based order lies in tatters. It only binds democracies, not dictatorships like Iran, North Korea, Russia and China. That is fine for taking the moral high ground but extracts a heavy blood price when only one side obliges itself to fight with both hands tied behind its back. Tactical nuclear weapons however would be no deterrent at all if there was any doubt about the political will to use them. That is certainly in question with our past and present leaders. But if in the event of disaster they can muster the courage, then possession of these weapons would at least provide them with an option other than capitulation. Right-wing opposition candidate Karol Nawrocki narrowly won Polands second round presidential election, official results showed, dealing a huge blow to prime minister Donald Tusks reform agenda. Nawrocki won Sundays election with 50.89% of votes, the electoral commission said early on Monday on its website, ahead of his rival, Rafal Trzaskowski, the liberal Warsaw mayor and an ally of Tusk, with 49.11%. Nawrockis candidacy was backed by the right-populist Law and Justice (PiS) party, which ruled Poland until Tusks victory in parliamentary elections in late 2023. Given the presidents veto power, Nawrockis victory will make it difficult for the government to pass any big reforms before the 2027 parliamentary election. default Nawrockis win was a dramatic reversal of projections, after an exit poll, published as voting concluded, appeared to show Trzaskowski would edge the contest with a 0.6% advantage. That prompted Trzaskowski to declare victory on stage at his campaign headquarters. Weve won! he announced to whoops and cheers from the crowd. This is truly a special moment in Polands history. I am convinced that it will allow us to move forward and focus on the future, he said. In a speech at his own campaign headquarters, Nawrocki did not concede, saying he remained confident he would win when all the votes were counted. We will win and save Poland, he said. We must win tonight. During a bitterly fought and often bad-tempered campaign in recent weeks, the two men have offered very different visions of Poland, and the result of the race will have enormous implications for the countrys political future, given the presidents ability to veto government legislation. Trzaskowski, the pro-European, progressive mayor of Warsaw, supports the liberalisation of abortion laws and the introduction of civil partnerships for LGBT couples. Nawrocki, a historian and former amateur boxer, has firmly rejected these moves and would probably veto any moves to implement them. The runoff came after neither candidate achieved more than 50% of votes in a crowded first-round vote two weeks ago. Nawrocki will replace the outgoing president, PiS ally Andrzej Duda, who will step down in August after completing two terms. Tusks time as prime minister has been marked by difficulties bringing his broad coalition into line, made harder by having an ideologically opposed president in office. While the presidential role is largely ceremonial, it does have some influence over foreign and defence policy, as well as the critical power to veto new legislation. This can only be overturned with a 60% majority in parliament, which Tusks government does not have. Nawrockis win will likely prolong the deadlock. Tusk knows the stakes and that if Nawrocki wins, hes got a lame-duck administration for the next couple of years. And it will be worse than with Duda as Nawrocki will come in fresh, with a new mandate from what effectively turned into a referendum on the government, Prof Aleks Szczerbiak, who teaches east and central European politics at the University of Sussex, said. A Nawrocki victory will also reinvigorate PiS, the party which ruled Poland for eight years and clashed with Brussels overrule of law and other issues. A senior PiS lawmaker and former education minister, Przemysaw Czarnek, suggested in a television interview on Sunday night that PiS could try to pick off members of Tusks broad coalition, with the aim of creating a new right-wing coalition in parliament. Nawrocki, a historian and former museum director, has been the head of the Institute of National Remembrance, a state research body often accused of peddling a politicised version of history, since 2021. During the campaign, a number of scandals about his alleged past conduct were aired in the media. Trzaskowski, the Oxford-educated mayor of Warsaw since 2018, who previously held ministerial posts and served in the European parliament, has sought to project himself as a safe pair of hands to work with the government on implementing progressive reforms. However, he has had to defend himself against suggestions he is out of touch and elitist, and against allegations over foreign funding for online advertising promoting his candidacy. In the final days of the campaign, both candidates sought to court voters of candidates knocked out in the first round and mobilise their supporters. This election could be decided by single votes, Nawrocki told a rally of supporters last week. Trzaskowski also said every vote would be crucial. Encourage everyone, so that as many Poles as possible vote in the presidential election, he told a rally on Friday. A high turnout in the parliamentary vote in 2023, especially among younger urban Poles, was seen as crucial to securing victory for Tusks coalition. Gerry Adams claim that his libel case against the BBC was about putting manners on the broadcaster has been described as chilling by a senior union figure. Seamus Dooley, the Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), also said the high profile case showed the need for reform of Irelands defamation laws, saying the public would never know why the jury made its decision. Former Sinn Fein leader Mr Adams took the BBC to court over a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, which he said defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement. A jury at the High Court in Dublin awarded him 100,000 euro (84,000) when it found in his favour on Friday, after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. Seamus Dooley from the NUJ said the verdict would make journalists pause for reflection (Liam McBurney/PA) It also found the BBCs actions were not in good faith and the corporation had not acted in a fair and reasonable way. Mr Adams legal team said the verdict of the jury was a full vindication for their client while the BBC said it was disappointed with the outcome. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent over 20 years. Mr Dooley told RTEs This Week programme that it was a verdict which would make journalists pause for reflection. He said: The first thing we should say is Gerry Adams was entitled to take his case. But it does have profound implications for the practise of journalism and I think it has implications both in terms of defamation law but also for me in terms of journalism in Northern Ireland and the relationship between Sinn Fein and journalists in Northern Ireland. Speaking outside court on Friday, Mr Adams said taking the case was about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation. He added: The British Broadcasting Corporation upholds the ethos of the British state in Ireland, and in my view its out of sync in many, many fronts with the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Dooley said: I found that a chilling comment actually. He referred to putting manners on the BBC, to me that means putting them back in their box. The reality is that Spotlight has, for over 40 years, done some of the most amazing investigative journalism. Representatives from the BBC speak outside Dublin High Court on Friday (Brian Lawless/PA) Margaret Thatcher tried to ban Spotlight because of their coverage of Gibraltar Three, they exposed Kincora at the heart of the British establishment, recently they did work on Stakeknife, and in fact the Sinn Fein mayor of Derry led the campaign to save BBC Radio Foyle news service. I found the attitude quite chilling but also unfair and unreasonable in the circumstances. Mr Dooley said that Mr Adams was a figure of huge significance to journalists, historians and academics and had influenced the shape of history of Northern Ireland. He added: On that basis, any journalist has a right, any academic, to question and probe. He said the case underpinned the need for a review of defamation laws in Ireland. He said: First of all we need to look at the defence of honest opinion and how you square that circle in the context of journalists right to protect sources, it is a real difficulty. For many years the NUJ was in favour of retaining juries. I have now reached the conclusion in defamation cases that juries are not appropriate. One of the reasons is we will never know why the jury reached this decision. If, as in Northern Ireland, had Mr Adams taken his case in Northern Ireland, the case is heard before judges, you have the benefit of a written judgment, you have the benefit of a detailed explanation of the reason why a verdict is given. That provides an insight and a guide. Here we dont know. Denis Donaldson (centre) was shot dead in 2006 in Co Donegal (Paul Faith/PA) Mr Dooley also pointed out that proceedings in the case had been running since 2016. Former Sinn Fein member Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent over 20 years. In the Spotlight programme broadcast in September 2016, an anonymous source given the pseudonym Martin claimed the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and that Mr Adams gave the final say. In 2009, the dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing and a Garda investigation into the matter remains ongoing. Mr Adams had described the allegation as a grievous smear. Migrants wait on the beach for a dinghy on May 31, 2025 in Gravelines, France The purpose of a system is what it does is a very useful concept in systems thinking, especially in politics. It helps you see past the spin and lies and get at the revealed preference of what a politician wants. So whilst Keir Starmer may say he wants to smash the gangs which enable large numbers of young men from alien cultures to arrive on British shores, the evidence is to the contrary. Yesterday saw nearly the largest ever number crossing. Close to 1,200 people came across the Channel, a number so high the Coastguard was forced to rely on fishing boats to help a yacht and kayaks in difficulty, as Border Force vessels and lifeboats were overloaded rescuing these migrants. The total number of arrivals this year has broken new records up more than 30 per cent on the same point last year. This quite demonstrably smashes the illusion that Starmer was ever serious about smashing the gangs. The purpose of a system is what it does. So either Starmer and his team are completely incompetent, and their plan is not working, or they are not disclosing to the British public their true intentions, and are ultimately happy with the status quo. Neither option is acceptable, given the increasing danger to our safety and security. There are now over twice as many boat people who have arrived on our shores since 2018 (at least over 150,000) as there are UK regular forces in the British army (74,400 as of April). Three Iranian men were charged last month with spying offences, after arriving in the UK by irregular means including small boats and a lorry. How many extremists, or those who wish the UK harm, might be sitting in migrant hotels, plotting against innocent Brits? This is even more infuriating if you listen to Dominic Cummings, whose recent blog on the issue highlights how farcical a situation this is. Cummings says that after detailed conversations he had in Number 10 with the Royal Navy and special forces, smashing the gangs and stopping the boats would be trivially easy. The block? Government lawyers and civil servants, prioritising the ECHR and radical interpretations of laws, including Tony Blairs Human Rights Act. There is a chance, Cummings says, that the Prime Minister would even be arrested for ordering the armed forces to actually sort this out. The Civil Service, the international lawyers, and now clearly Keir Starmer, have all prioritised the ECHR and the rights of those coming to Britain illegally, over the safety of our citizens. This isnt a bug. It is a feature of a rancid system operating as it is intended to. Starmer cannot smash the gangs. In the first three months of this year, just five people were convicted for piloting migrant boats. The only way to stop the boats is to stop demand with an effective deterrent. Its an awkward truth for Labour, but also a simple one. The purpose of a system is what it does. And the purpose of the British state is to allow unlimited numbers of illegals in, and make the British pay for it, both in cash and, potentially, with our lives. James Price is senior fellow at the Adam Smith Institute Witnesses say Palestinians headed to Israeli-guarded buffer zones around the Rafah and Netzarim distribution stations were fired on - Anadolu via Getty Images/Hani Alshaer Israel has denied accusations that its forces shot and killed dozens of civilians waiting to receive aid in southern Gaza on Sunday. More than 30 Palestinians were killed and nearly 200 injured near an aid distribution site, which is run by a private US company, in Rafa, according to local health officials. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) confirmed a mass casualty influx at its field hospital, with women and children among 179 brought in with injuries including gunshot and shrapnel wounds. Of those patients, 21 were declared dead upon arrival. All patients said they had been trying to reach an aid distribution site, the ICRC said. It was the highest number of weapon-wounded in a single incident since the establishment of the field hospital over a year ago. A statement from the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) also confirmed a mass casualty incident. Patients told MSF they were shot from all sides by drones, helicopters, boats, tanks and Israeli soldiers on the ground, MSF said in a statement. Claire Manera, MSF emergency coordinator, said the incident showed the system of aid delivery was dehumanising, dangerous and severely ineffective. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that findings from an initial inquiry indicated that its soldiers did not fire at civilians while they were near or within the aid site. On Sunday evening, the IDF released what it said was drone footage showing a masked gunman firing at civilians. However, Israeli officials did not link the clip to the shooting in Rafah, nor did they specify when it was taken. The footage could not be indepently verified. Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the US company running aid distribution sites in Rafah and Netzarim, said that it had distributed aid without incident and released footage from security cameras at the site in a bid to counter claims the IDF had opened fire. The videos, which do not have time stamps or sound, showed thousands of people streaming into the aid distribution centre unharmed. An injured Palestinian man in Gazas Nasser Hospital on Sunday - Abdallah F.s. Alattar/Anadolu via Getty Images Hamas has previously called on civilians not to collect aid from the new sites, amid fear the aid centres are also being used to screen Palestinians and collect facial recognition data. The terror group announced last week that it had executed four people accused of looting aid. On Sunday morning, medics and witnesses said that Palestinian crowds headed to Israeli-guarded buffer zones around the Rafah and Netzarim distribution stations were fired on by tanks or drones. One Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that troops fired warning shots at several suspects advancing toward them a kilometre from the site. Displaced Palestinian women and children plead for food in Khan Yunis, Gaza, on Friday - Abed Rahim Khati/Anadolu via Getty Images Hazem Abu Shamala, a 43-year-old lawyer and father-of-three, told The Telegraph he had walked for two and half hours to the aid site but was forced to flee empty-handed after gunfire broke out. He said there appeared to be far too many people for the amount of aid available and that initial rounds of indirect fire gave way to direct fire. The shooting was directed at the road where people were direct fire and it came from several directions, mainly quadcopters. The Americans were using tear gas. Many were killed. Mr Shamala said that he tried to help others but like them I was also trying to escape the bullets. I felt helpless. He added: The injured were transported and carried to the nearest Red Cross medical point but it was very difficult to transport them. I ask the world to provide us with aid in an organised and respectful manner and for us to receive it in a humane manner, as was the case before. On Saturday, the World Food Programme said 77 trucks with humanitarian aid were stopped along the way, with food taken mainly by hungry people trying to feed their families. The GHF, registered in Switzerland, was established with Israeli backing to find a way to distribute aid that could not be taken by Hamas. Israel says it is essential to prevent the terror group from hoarding or reselling the aid. Meanwhile, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, the IDFs chief of staff, ordered that more aid sites be established and that a ground operation by troops be expanded in unspecified parts of northern and southern Gaza. The GHF said that more than 4.7 million meals had been distributed to Palestinians over the past week, including 887,000 on Sunday morning. Palestinians transport humanitarian aid bags delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed organisation approved by Israel, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip - Abdel Kareem Hana A spokesman for Israels Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories said on Saturday that 579 trucks carrying humanitarian aid including flour, food, medical equipment, and pharmaceutical drugs had entered Gaza over the past week. However, the UN accused Israel of failing to provide safe routes for them in order to pick up and distribute aid. We and our partners could collect just over 200 of them, limited by insecurity and restricted access, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general. If were not able to pick up those goods, I can tell you one thing, it is not for lack of trying. Danny Danon, Israels ambassador to the UN, said his country had provided safe routes for the distribution and that more than 400 aid trucks were waiting to be picked up by the UN on the Gaza side of the border. But the UN did not show up. Put your ego aside, pick up the aid and do your job, he said. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks during a visit to BAE Systems in Govan, Glasgow, to launch the strategic defence review. (PA/Alamy) (Andy Buchanan, PA Images) The UK must be at "war-fighting readiness", the prime minister has warned as he launched the government's strategic defence review. Sir Keir Starmer on Monday said the UK faces a "new era" of instability on defence and security, which the review would respond to. However, questions remain over his plans to increase defence spending. Launching the review in the shadow of Type 26 frigates being built in BAE Systems shipyard in Govan, Glasgow, the prime minister said he was 100% confident the plans in the new strategic defence review including extra attack submarines, 15bn on nuclear warheads and thousands of new long-range weapons could be delivered on current funding plans. The government will increase defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product from April 2027 with an ambition but no firm commitment to increase it to 3% during the next parliament. Ministers have also accepted all 62 recommendations in the review, which includes a raft of new defence spending, with 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines at its core. Defence secretary John Healey said ahead of its publication: "Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression." The government has also pledged 1.5bn to set up at least six munitions factories and buy up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons. Here is what we know about the strategic defence review and what the government says it will spend. Sir Keir Starmer is to announce that the UK will build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines as part of its response to the strategic defence review. (Getty) (WPA Pool via Getty Images) What is the strategic defence review? The strategic defence review (SDR) was commissioned by the Labour government shortly after taking office in July 2024. The government said the review would "consider the threats Britain faces, the capabilities needed to meet them, the state of UK armed forces and the resources available". The review has been led by former defence secretary Lord Robertson, who conducted the Labour partys last major defence review in 1998 and served as secretary general of Nato from 1999 to 2003. Healey previously described the review as the first of its kind in the UK because it is externally led rather than carried out by government. The government has accepted all of its 62 recommendations. What does the defence review recommend? The government has accepted all 62 recommendations in the strategic defence review, which will see: Up to 12 attack submarines built for the Royal Navy as part of the Australia-UK-US Aukus. The procurement of up to 7,000 long-range weapons built in the UK. The opening of at least six new munitions factories. Setting up a new cyber command and investing 1bn in digital capabilities More than 1.5bn of additional funding to repair and renew armed forces housing. What has the government committed to do? Ahead of the publication of the review on Monday afternoon, the government announced that the UK will build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines and invest 15bn in its warhead programme, backing its commitments to maintain the continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrence. Building the new submarines, which is part of the Aukus partnership with the US and Australia, will support 30,000 highly skilled jobs into the 2030s as well as 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles across the next 10 years, the Ministry of Defence said. From the late 2030s, the fleet of up to 12 SSN-Aukus conventionally armed, nuclear-powered Dreadnought submarines will replace seven Astute-class attack submarines the UK is due to start operating. Watch: UK to build up to 12 new attack submarines and invest 15bn in warheads The government also pledged 1.5bn to set up at least six factories, and said it will support the procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons. More than 1.5bn in extra funding is also set to go to military homes for urgent repairs such as fixing boilers and roofs, and other issues, including tackling damp. The government has also committed to setting up a new cyber command and investing 1bn in digital capabilities. There are also plans to increase cadet numbers by 30% with new opportunities for young people to get into the armed forces, defence minister Alistair Cairns wrote in The Mirror. What does the government say about it? Starmer said "three fundamental changes would be made to the UKs defence as he launched the review in Govan. "First, we are moving to war-fighting readiness as the central purpose of our armed forces," the PM said. "When we are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, the most effective way to deter them is to be ready, and frankly, to show them that were ready to deliver peace through strength." The second change is that the government will adopt a "Nato-first" stance towards defence so that everything it does adds to the strength of the alliance. Starmer added: "Third, we will innovate and accelerate innovation at a wartime pace, so we can meet the threats of today and of tomorrow, as the fastest innovator in Nato." But when pressed on how the country would pay for it, Starmer was more vague. Sir Keir Starmer launches the strategic defence review at BAE Systems in Govan, Glasgow. (PA/Alamy) (Andy Buchanan, PA Images) When asked about when the UK would reach its target of 3% of GDP spent on defence, Starmer told the BBC was "not going down that road" of a precise funding commitment until he had a plan behind it. He added: "We had a commitment for 2.5% by the end of this parliament. We pulled that right forward to 2027. "We showed that when we say theres a new era of the defence and security of our country, is our first priority as it is that we meant it. We take the same approach to 3%. "But Im not going to indulge in the fantasy politics of simply plucking dates from the air until Im absolutely clear that I can sit here in an interview with you and tell you exactly how thats going to work, because I take the defence and security of our country extremely seriously." What do other parties say about the defence review? While opposition parties welcomed increased spending, they also questioned whether the government can keep its promises after the defence secretary could not confirm the Treasury had guaranteed funding to bring it up to 3% of GDP by 2034. Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge suggested his opposite number Healey had been hung out to dry by Rachel Reeves over the 3% target. All of Labours strategic defence review promises will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show there will actually be enough money to pay for them, he added. Lib Dem defence spokesperson Helen Maguire said the timeline for the commitment suggests a worrying lack of urgency from the government. She also said: Unless Labour commits to holding cross-party talks on how to reach 3% much more rapidly than the mid-2030s, this announcement risks becoming a damp squib. Read more John Healey views a storm shadow missile on an assembly line in Stevenage. Labour has announced plans to build six new munitions factories. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Labours push towards increased militarisation, with Keir Starmer already having slashed the aid budget in favour of defence spending, may not be a policy greeted enthusiastically by many of the partys core supporters. But the government wants to win support for the change in thinking by arguing that investment in defence helps create skilled jobs, particularly outside London, such as at shipyards in Barrow, Devonport, Glasgow and Rosyth. This military Keynesianism was emphasised on Sunday morning when ministers announced plans to build six new munitions factories, which would in time create 1,000 jobs and support a further 800, the Ministry of Defence said. Related: Defence review to say UK must be ready to fight a war in Europe or Atlantic John Healey, the defence secretary, argued that by diverting funds from overseas development aid, money would go into reinforcing the British industrial base, more jobs in every part of the UK an argument almost certainly made with Reform UK at the forefront of the polls at the back of his mind. Fiona Hill, one of the three independent members of the governments strategic defence review team, has long been focused on the impact of post-industrial decline on the economics and politics of Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. It reflects her personal experience. Hill grew up in County Durham, but moved to forge a successful career as a national security analyst in the US, mindful of her fathers advice about where she had grown up: There is nothing for you here. Russias invasion of Ukraine and Britains support to help Kyiv defend itself have pushed the UK to seek to revive forms of manufacturing that the long period of peace after the cold war had made obsolete. Last year, an agreement with Germany paved the way for a revival of artillery barrel manufacturing at a site in Telford, a decade after it had been abandoned. And ahead of Mondays strategic defence review, the government again focused on a long-term industrial commitment, this time to eventually build a fleet of Aukus nuclear powered attack submarines, starting in the late 2030s. Assembled in Barrow, the effort would support 30,000 jobs, the MoD said. Such a longer-term focus may also help conceal the relative shortage of money in the short term for defence. The current commitment to lift defence spending to 2.5% of GDP in 2027 may easily be swallowed up in funding existing commitments and overspends. Fresh spending on armaments is of course hardly neutral it depends entirely on what the weapons are intended to be used for. And while there may be strong public support for Ukraine, in other cases the export of arms can be controversial. In May, it emerged that the UK had supplied $169m worth of arms to Israel between October and December last year, despite announcing a partial ban on exports in September amid concerns they could be used in breach of international law as part of the ongoing offensive against Gaza. Related: Growing geopolitical uncertainty casts shadow over UK defence review Critics argue that while state spending will always stimulate the economy and create jobs, defence spending may not be the most efficient way to do that. A study by Greenpeace looking at the economies of Germany, Italy and Spain concluded that investing in healthcare, education or green technologies creates more jobs and growth than investing in defence. A more honest position, said Sam Perlo-Freeman of Campaign Against Arms Trade, would be to separate security arguments from economic arguments and seek to justify military investment only the basis of the threat perceived. But it is not one that politicians are likely to make when it is possible to point to new factories being built and new jobs created as a result of defence spending. Davey cartoon of Putin statue being knocked by a Ukraine tank Sunday, June 1, may go down as one of the most significant days of this war. It may be a sign that the pendulum is at last swinging in Ukraines favour. The Russian Air Force has apparently just suffered a terrible blow, with up to 40 fighter jets, including long range nuclear bombers, destroyed thousands of miles from Ukraine. In what could be a sequential attack, the Russian rail network near the Ukraine border has been decimated by several strikes, and even Russian bases in the Arctic have been hit. This would have been considered unthinkable a few months ago, including by Putin no doubt. It is seemingly now apparent that restrictions of the use of Western weapons by Ukraine are being lifted. This brings into range anything within 500kms of Ukraine including Moscow. The Ukrainian military has also confirmed they had developed a drone with a range of over 3,000kms. Indeed, we may have seen both these capabilities in action today, and even the great Russian propaganda and disinformation machine will struggle to portray this as anything but a disaster for Putin and the Russian forces. Where is all the air defence protecting these airfields and trains? Perhaps protecting Putins palaces, or given away to North Korea in return for ammunition? The timing of these attacks is significant: discontent is mounting in Russia amongst the rank and file. As Putin drives their economy and way of life into the deck, rumblings of rebellion will be even harder to stifle. This is not one way traffic and Russia also launched a massive drone attack over the weekend, almost exclusively hitting civilian targets. Putin seems to believe if you kill enough people they will acquiesce and give up, but his instincts and his tactics could soon bite him back hard, very hard. Now that much of Russia is now in range of Kyiv attacks, be it drones, missiles or the frighteningly efficient assassins of Ukraines secret service the SBU, how will the Kremlin respond? This bold action also lays bare the inadequacies of the UK military. Could Britain execute such ingenious and effective attacks, after 20 years of funding cuts and neglect from successive governments, such that the only way we can ensure the security of our Islands in future is through the re-introduction of tactical nuclear weapons? Putin has exploited our lack of conventional deterrence for too long, but he respects strength, and nothing shows strength in this context more than nuclear capability. The level, range and intensity of these attacks shows that after three years of repelling Russian attacks, Ukraine is now returning the compliment. As the UK Strategic Defence Review is unveiled, let us hope it reveals that we are now learning from the Ukrainian experience and developing capabilities for tomorrows battlefield and capabilities which will deter tyrants like Putin, rather than just kit that looks good on the parade ground. Port Sudan, Sudan (PANA) - The United Nations on Sunday denounced attacks on hospitals and food and humanitarian relief warehouses in a number of areas in the country Karol Nawrocki, a nationalist former boxer, has narrowly won Polands presidential election delivering a major blow to the countrys pro-EU government. The 42-year-old Right-wing historian, an admirer of Donald Trump, the US president, took 50.89 per cent of votes in Sundays run-off, the national election commission said. His 53-year-old rival Rafal Trzaskowski, Warsaws pro-EU mayor and an ally of the countrys centrist government, won 49.11 per cent after a polarising campaign. Mr Nawrockis win is a blow to the government of Donald Tusk, the prime minister and a former European Council president who came to power in 2023, as well as those in Brussels who had hoped that Mr Trzaskowski would fully align Poland with the EU. Instead, Mr Nawrocki is expected to block the governments progressive agenda for abortion and LGBTQ rights and could revive tensions with Brussels over rule of law issues. His win will also undermine strong ties with neighbouring Ukraine, as Mr Nawrocki is critical of Kyivs EU and Nato accession plans and wants to cut benefits for Ukrainian refugees. The White House, meanwhile, will be celebrating a victory for European conservatives inspired by Mr Trump. Mr Nawrocki secured Mr Trumps backing with a visit to Washington during his campaign, with the US president reportedly telling him: You will win. Kristi Noem, the US secretary of homeland security, also endorsed Mr Nawrocki when she attended a conservative conference in Poland last week, saying: He needs to be the next president. Polish presidents have some influence over foreign and defence policy but, most importantly, they wield veto power over legislation. This can only be overturned by a three-fifths majority in parliament, which Mr Tusks government does not have. Reforms planned by Mr Tusk, such as introducing civil partnerships for same-sex couples and easing Polands near-total ban on abortion, have been held up by a deadlock with Andrzej Duda, the current president. This is now expected to continue. Mr Duda, who had endorsed Mr Nawrocki, thanked Poles for carrying out your civic duty and for the turnout, which was 71.63 per cent. Congratulations to the winner! the outgoing conservative president wrote on X. Jacek Sasin, a PiS lawmaker, wrote on X: The referendum on the dismissal of the Tusk government has been won. Many supporters of Mr Nawrocki have said they want stricter curbs on immigration and advocate conservative social values and more sovereignty for the Catholic country within the European Union. In contrast, Mr Trzaskowskis supporters tend to back greater integration within the EU and an acceleration of social reforms. Rafal Trzaskowski, the liberal mayor of Warsaw, initially appeared to take the lead - Omar Marques/Getty Despite an initial exit poll showing no decisive winner, both men had declared victory early. Mr Trzaskowski told his supporters that we won by a whisker, while Mr Nawrocki posted on X: Thank you all! We will triumph. The centrist had been expected to prevail though by less than one percentage point until a second exit poll suddenly put Mr Nawrocki ahead. His lead held into Monday. His victory will embolden the PiS party, which ruled Poland between 2015 and 2023. Some analysts have predicted it could lead to fresh parliamentary elections if political deadlock with the government persists. Both candidates had agreed on the need to spend heavily on defence, as Mr Trump is demanding from Europe, and to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russias invasion. But while Mr Trzaskowski sees Ukraines future membership of Nato as essential for Polands security, Mr Nawrocki said recently that if he were president he would not ratify it because of the danger of the alliance being drawn into war with Russia. The race has also drawn the attention of the Polish diaspora, who are allowed to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections and overwhelmingly favoured Mr Trzaskowski, with the exception of Poles in the US and Canada who leaned toward Mr Nawrocki. Sundays run-off vote in Poland came just two weeks after Nicusor Dan, Romanias centrist Bucharest mayor, dealt a blow to hard-Right and nationalist forces in central Europe by winning that countrys presidential contest. Congratulations poured in from other nationalist and Eurosceptic politicians in the region. George Simion, the defeated hard-Right candidate in Romanias election, wrote on X that Poland WON, while Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, hailed a fantastic victory. Karol Nawrocki edged out Rafal Trzaskowski with 50.89 per cent of the vote to his rivals 49.11 per cent - Sean Gallup/Getty Images The result could lend momentum to Andrej Babis, the Czech Republics Eurosceptic opposition leader and former prime minister, who leads opinion polls ahead of an October election. Mr Babis offered warm congratulations on X. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said she was convinced the EU could continue its very good cooperation with Poland. The EU took the previous PiS government to court over its judicial reforms, saying they undermined the rule of law and democratic standards. Krzysztof Izdebski, the policy director at the Batory Foundation, said the result meant Trump will have more to say in Polish politics. Mr Nawrockis campaign was overshadowed at times by controversies over the circumstances in which he bought an apartment from an elderly man and his football hooligan past. The former amateur boxer also strongly denied media reports in the last days of the campaign that he had procured sex workers while working as a security guard at a hotel. His opposition to Ukraines Nato membership also brought heavy criticism from Kyiv officials. Mr Nawrocki used his last campaign hours on Friday to leave flowers at a monument to Poles killed by Ukrainian nationalists during World War II. It was a genocide against the Polish people, he said. Poland is an EU and Nato member and a fast-growing economy of 38 million people with a leading role in international diplomacy surrounding Ukraine. It is also a key supply route for Western arms and aid going into Ukraine. The findings have raised fresh questions about Lord Hermers judgment - Carl Court/Getty Images Lord Hermer declined to review unduly lenient sentences given to a rapist, a paedophile and a terrorist fundraiser despite signing off on the prosecution of Lucy Connolly. The three criminals all received softer sentences than Connolly, who was imprisoned for 31 months for a tweet about last years Southport attacks. But The Telegraph can reveal that, when asked to look again at their cases, the Attorney Generals office opted not to refer the decisions to the Court of Appeal for review. The findings have raised fresh questions about Lord Hermers judgment after it emerged that he personally approved Connollys prosecution despite having the constitutional power to prevent it. He did not have any say over her sentence. It also comes just days after he was forced to apologise over comparing calls for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights to the rise of Nazism. In England and Wales, members of the public can ask the Attorney General to re-examine a sentence handed down by a Crown Court if they believe it to be unduly lenient. He may then refer the decision to the Court of Appeal, which can keep the sentence the same, increase it or issue guidance for future cases. Lord Hermers office decided not to use this power to review the sentences of a rapist, a paedophile and a terrorist fundraiser, despite each receiving less jail time than Connolly. Lucy Connolly was sentenced to 31 months in prison after pleading guilty to stirring up racial hatred - Northamptonshire Police/PA Wire The criminals whose cases were not referred, according to data published by the Government, included Ben Churcher, from Wiltshire, who was given 28 months in prison in January for raping a woman in her home. A decision was also made not to review the case of Jamie Daniels, from Droitwich, who was spared jail after pleading guilty to attempting to incite a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity. Daniels was given 21 months in prison, suspended for two years, in April. On another occasion, the Attorney Generals office opted not to review the sentence given to Farhad Mohammad, from Essex, who sent money to his nephew in Syria knowing it was to fund his terrorist activity. Mohammad also avoided prison time, getting a three-year community order in October last year. In other instances, Lord Hermers department decided not to send cases for review when the offenders received shorter sentences than Connolly for crimes such as sexual assault, stalking, attempted grievous bodily harm, causing death by dangerous driving and making an indecent image of a child. Decisions given as not referred In all these cases, the decision was given as not referred. This means the sentences were deemed by the Attorney Generals office not to meet the unduly lenient threshold set by the Court of Appeal. For a punishment to pass that test, it must fall outside the range of sentences which the judge, applying his mind to all the relevant factors, could reasonably consider appropriate. To make that determination, it is understood that Lord Hermers department would have looked at the Sentencing Councils guidelines for each type of crime in its own right, rather than making comparisons with other sorts of offences. An unduly lenient sentence would have to arise from an error of principle on the judges behalf, for which there is a high bar, and not merely a disagreement over their approach. He should resign or be fired Richard Tice, the deputy Reform UK leader, claimed the findings suggested Lord Hermer considered a nasty offensive tweet to be a more serious offence than rape, paedophilia or terrorism. This was because the Attorney Generals office made the decision not to refer those cases to the Court of Appeal after Connolly had been jailed for 31 months, meaning he was supposedly aware of her sentence when he failed to challenge the others. Connolly was jailed on Oct 17 last year, while the first of the three offenders not to have their cases reviewed was sentenced six days later, on Oct 23. Lord Hermer appears to think rape, paedophilia and terrorism are less serious offences than a nasty offensive tweet that was deleted after four hours, said Mr Tice. This would make him simply unfit to be Attorney General, and he should resign or be fired. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, said: This is justice, Two-Tier Keir style. Starmers Attorney General was content for Lucy Connolly to receive a tougher sentence for a nasty tweet than a vile rapist or paedophile. That defies common sense. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: Lord Hermer is clearly not suitable to serve as Attorney General. From acting as a cheerleader for the Chagos Islands giveaway to smearing his political opponents as Nazis, he has shown appalling judgment. If Starmer had even an ounce of principle, he would have already sacked Hermer. But we all know he wont lay a finger on his old friend, donor, and legal lodestar. A source close to the Attorney General said: The Law Officers are not involved in sentencing decisions, which are a matter for the independent courts. Nor do they have any role in setting the sentencing guidelines for particular offences. To suggest otherwise is completely inaccurate. Each unduly lenient sentence case is assessed against the specific guidelines for that offence, case law and in many cases advice will be sought from a senior specialist barrister. The Court of Appeal has set out what constitutes undue leniency, and this is a high bar. The Law Officers have referred a large number of cases to the Court of Appeal, many of which have resulted in increased sentences, including of rapists and child sex offenders. While Connollys sentence was decided independently from the Attorney Generals office, his involvement in the controversial case sparked fresh calls for him to be sacked. On Saturday night, Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, said: Starmer should sack Hermer, or admit hes not really in charge. It speaks volumes that our Attorney General is content to keep people like Lucy Connolly behind bars for a tweet as violent criminals are released early. The Labour peer has been involved in a number of other controversies, including his involvement in the deal to hand over the Chagos Islands and previous work as a human rights lawyer representing Gerry Adams. A spokesman for the Attorney Generals office said: Decisions to prosecute are, rightly, made independently of Government by the Crown Prosecution Service. Decisions relating to conviction, sentencing and sentencing length are made entirely independently of Government by juries and judges. Manchester United have reached an agreement with Wolves to sign Matheus Cunha. The Brazil forward has been in Manchester over the weekend to put the finishing touches to his move to Old Trafford, which is subject to a visa and registration. The 26 year-old, who has won 13 senior caps for Brazil, scored 18 goals in all competitions last season. Our first signing of the summer has been agreed #MUFC Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 1, 2025 United had sought to negotiate with Wolves over the terms of Cunhas deal but last week met his 62.5million release clause and were given permission to start a medical. It is believed the former Atletico Madrid forward has agreed a five-year deal. A club statement read: Manchester United has reached agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers for the signing of Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian forwards signing is subject to visa and registration. Everyone at Manchester United looks forward to welcoming Matheus to Old Trafford. Wolves said the deal was a club-record fee received as they thanked Cunha for his contributions in old gold in a statement confirming his departure. Matheus Cunha is joining Manchester United (Nick Potts/PA) Cunha had been a key target for the Red Devils as head coach Ruben Amorim looks to reshape the team on the back of the clubs worst season in 51 years. The forward turned 26 on Tuesday, the same day that United were granted permission by Wolves to finalise a deal. He is now on his way to Brazil ahead of Fridays World Cup qualifier with Ecuador, which will be Carlo Ancelottis first game in charge. Brentfords Bryan Mbeumo and Ipswich striker Liam Delap are among other players of interest to United, but business has been made harder by the fact they failed to qualify for the Champions League, worth an estimated 100million. Meanwhile, former Manchester United midfielder David Beckham has criticised some of the clubs players for disrespecting supporters following reports some players swore at fans on the post-season tour of Asia. David Beckham criticised some current Manchester United players (Toby Melville/PA) Beckham did not name any players or mention any specifics of the conduct in question as he compared the current team to the one he played for under Sir Alex Ferguson. Im talking about sometimes the way players are acting, Beckham said during Beckham and Friends Live, an alternative live broadcast of the Champions League final on Paramount + You have to represent the badge and thats what its about and Ive seen a lot of things where players are not acting in the right manner. We were a part of a team that was so well-mannered. We understood what it meant to play for Manchester United. We understood what the badge meant. Wherever we travelled, whether it was in Europe, whether it was in Asia, you respected the fans. You respect the fans, you respect the fact that theyre turning up, paying money and wanting you to sign and take pictures. I dont see that. Im not saying its all of the players. Im saying its one or two that are disrespecting that and I dont like that. Footage shared on social media appeared to show winger Amad Diallo raising his middle finger to fans outside the teams hotel in Kuala Lumpur. In a post on his X account Amad explained it was in response to insults about his mother. I have respect for people but not for the one who insults my mom, he wrote. I shouldnt have reacted like that but I dont regret what I did. Astute class submarines will be replaced from the late 2030s under the new programme - PAUL ELLIS/AFP/AFP via Getty Images Britain will build a fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines to face down Russian aggression. Sir Keir Starmer has committed the Government to building a submarine every 18 months in the most significant defence announcement since the Cold War. The 12 new SSN-AUKUS vessels will replace seven Astute class submarines from the late 2030s. Alongside four new Dreadnought submarines, replacing the old Vanguard class, this will take the total number of British submarines to 16. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, has vowed that the Strategic Defence Review, to be published on Monday, will give the British military more power in the face of hostile states such as Russia and China. The Government has also outlined, for the first time, the full scale of its 15 billion investment plans into the sovereign warhead programme for Dreadnought. 1003 Astute v Virginia class submarines and Astute replacement Mr Healey said: Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression. With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad while delivering on our Plan for Change with 30,000 highly skilled jobs across the country. The historic investment comes at a time of heightened tensions at sea. Since the war in Ukraine began, Moscow has increased its surveillance and sabotage of underwater critical national infrastructure including internet connections, energy pipelines and military cables, all of which are key to the West. In 15 months, at least 11 internet cables have been deliberately damaged in the Baltic Sea, partly because anchors have been dragged across the seabed by ships. At the start of this year, Mr Healey confirmed in Parliament that a Russian spy ship had been tracked in the English Channel by a Royal Navy warship, weeks after it was caught loitering over critical undersea infrastructure in British waters. It came after a Royal Navy submarine surfaced close to Yantar, a Russian vessel, in November last year to warn that it had been monitoring it. Last month, HMS Tyne, a British warship, was forced to track a Russian submarine in the Channel as part of a Nato mission to shadow Russian vessels. Two weeks earlier, HMS St Albans and HMS Mersey separately shadowed Russian vessels through the channel. Credit: Royal Navy Troop numbers Troop numbers will not increase for at least four years, Mr Healey has admitted, saying he did not expect the number of people in the Army to rise until the next Parliament. It comes despite speculation that Labour could look to reverse the Army troop cuts made under the previous Tory government. Asked on the BBCs Sunday Morning With Laura Kuenssberg when the depleted Army would reach its target of 73,000 people in the full-time force, Mr Healey said there had been 15 years of a recruitment and retention crisis in our forces, of which the last government set and missed targets every year in every service for those 14 years. The Army is still suffering from more people leaving than signing up. Last May, the number of personnel fell below 73,000 for the first time. Under Ben Wallace, the former defence secretary, it was announced that the Army was to be reduced to 72,500 personnel by 2025, scrapping the 82,000 target set in 2015. Troop numbers have been cut by around 27,500 since 2010. When Labour was last in office, the Army had more than 100,000 soldiers. Education On Friday, The Telegraph revealed that children will be taught the value of the British military in school. As an increasing number of young people grow up without any links to the military, it has been recommended that pupils are educated on the importance of the Armed Forces so the military can forge closer links with younger generations. While plans are still being mapped out, it could be that reservists travel around schools up and down the country to do show and tells about working in the Army, Navy or Air Force. The lessons will be designed to help school children learn about career opportunities within defence, amid a retention and recruitment crisis that has plagued all three forces. Cyber A total of 1 billion will be spent on artificial intelligence kill webs and a hacking attack team to face down the Russians online. Last week, Mr Healey declared that the keyboard has become a weapon of war as he announced a new Cyber and Electromagnetic Command that will conduct the offensive operations. The war in Ukraine has proven that fighting today is as much about being well-connected online as it is about traditional soldiering, and that successfully operating online will be key to winning future wars. Industry Six new bomb factories will be built across the UK to ensure that Britain is on a war footing. That will see 1.5 billion spent on upping Britains production of artillery shells and explosives, while a further 7,000 long-range weapons, including drones, will be bought. Sir Keir and Mr Healey talk with naval officers on HMS Prince Of Wales - Richard Pohle/Times Media Ltd Britains stockpiles have been depleted since it began donating weapons to Ukraine after Russias invasion. Mr Healey said that the war in Ukraine had shown a military is only as strong as the industry that stands behind them. Drone warfare Drones and AI have changed the face of warfare, as shown in Ukraine. A focus on stealth drones and space-based sensors that can provide future surveillance will be a key feature of the review, as the military looks to cover more ground with less personnel and money. A 20-40-40 model will be created, where 20 per cent of the force is composed of heavy-crewed traditional kit, 40 per cent of cheaper single-use weapons such as drones and then 40 per cent of reusable items, which are more costly but can be entirely unmanned. Kamikaze drones will swarm above tanks and aircraft to provide extra cover that is lethal and cost-effective. Home Guard A new Second World War-style Home Guard will be created to protect key infrastructure such as power plants and airports. The review will say that power plants, airports and telecoms hubs are defended by thousands of volunteers. The unit will be modelled on the Home Guard of the 1940s, which was formed of men too old or young to serve in the military. John Miller is a permanent resident of the US but was born in the UK - TikTok A British father accused of spying for the Chinese Communist Party plotted to kidnap and kneecap a critic of Xi Jinping, according to an indictment. John Miller, a businessman who owns a 1.5 million home in Tunbridge Wells that is flanked by two Chinese Terracotta warriors, is alleged to have tried to smuggle missiles and drones into China. The 63-year-old, whose wife is a churchwarden in Kent, was described by neighbours as funny, nice and perfectly normal. However, he is accused of attempting to traffic sensitive American military technology to China, including missiles, air defence radar and drones. It is also alleged that he referred to Mr Xi, the Chinese president, as the boss in intercepted phone calls. Court documents in the US state that Mr Miller wanted to have a Los Angeles artist who was a critic of Mr Xi f---ed up. He allegedly said his Chinese handlers were bang up for launching an attack on him with bullets instead of baseball bats. Mr Miller is alleged to have referred to Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, as the boss - Alexandr Kryazhev/Anadolu via Getty Images In April, Mr Miller was arrested along with Cui Guanghai, a 43-year-old Chinese national, on the orders of the FBI in Serbia, where he is awaiting extradition to the US. The pair were charged after approaching two individuals who, unbeknown to them, were working for the FBI. Mr Miller is a permanent resident of the US but was born in the UK. He has held roles in at least five UK companies, including a firm that appeared to facilitate English language teaching jobs in China but is now dissolved. On Sunday, neighbours described the Millers as a perfect family, and told of their surprise at his arrest. One said: He was a nice guy. Over and above that I didnt know what he did for work. He was funny, nice and perfectly normal. He wasnt cagey... I am astounded. Its awful for him, and if he has done it hes a bloody idiot, but its innocent until proven guilty. Its slightly surreal. A kind man and good neighbour At the Parish Church of King Charles the Martyr, where Mr Millers wife Bea is a warden, Rev Laurence Powell said: It is shocking to hear this about John. He is a very kind man and a good neighbour. I feel so sorry for Beatrice. She must be going through hell right now. Mr Miller is accused of employing a wide range of tactics over two and a half years to harass, intimidate, stalk and threaten the Xi critic in LA. According to a 27-page indictment at the US District Court for the Central District of California, Mr Miller told a confidential FBI source that the real f---ing pay... the real payday is going to be putting the siding up on that guy and there will be extra cash to play with when that happens. One neighbour described Mr Miller as funny, nice and perfectly normal - TikTok A special agent said siding meant an assault and that there had been an earlier conversation where Mr Miller had discussed possibly kidnapping the victim. They want it bang bang and gone, Miller is quoted as saying in a recorded phone call. No talking to, no nothing to, like a mugging or something. Take his f---ing watch. Take his phone. He is then asked if he cares if he preferred bullets versus baseball bat, before replying: Um, not necessarily. But I think youd get paid more for bullets. And the guys I spoke to said thats way f---ing easier. Apparently, theyre not so much baseball bat, or like an ice pick is the best way of doing it. On the knees and ankles. Doesnt necessarily have to be bullets. Have him f---ed up and have his picture taken. F---ed up. But the guys Ive spoken to, the easiest thing is just bam bam bang bang and just walk away. But listen it doesnt have to be that... knees and ankles. Chinese Christmas wish list Another phone call appears to show Mr Miller had arranged a payment with a minimum of $100,000 for the source to carry out the assault, and, when questioned if there was a problem from the female handler Mr Guanghai was reporting to, he replied: Oh no no no no. Shes second in command. And her boss is bang up for it. Theres another guy who needs to approve it. But theyre all bang up for it. As long as its reasonable. The numbers we talked about Im pretty sure its 100 per cent. The documents show that the pair also enlisted undercover agents to stop the victim from protesting against Mr Xis appearance at a summit and installed tracking devices on the victims car, and paid the undercover agents to slash their tyres. They also devised a complex plan to destroy a set of statues created by the artist which depicted Mr Xi and his wife bare-chested, kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs. Initially, Mr Miller had allegedly wanted to steal the statues and remove the heads as evidence but later decided to pay the undercover FBI agents to smash up them up. The artist had previously displayed the statues of Xi Jinping and his wife on billboards in Times Square In 2025, Mr Miller paid the agents $36,500 (27,100) to convince the victim to desist from showcasing the new statues at an upcoming protest. He also allegedly tried to purchase millions of pounds worth of military equipment on behalf of the Chinese military as part of a Christmas wish list. He is quoted as saying his buyers were interested in the Western stuff including armour plates for tanks that the Yanks have. He reportedly tried to buy a 37,000 Stinger portable missile launcher, two military drones valued at 148,000, a 668,000 AGM-88E anti-radiation missile system and a 1.5 million air-defence radar system. Mr Miller also allegedly tried to procure a cryptographic device, which is used for secure communication of classified and sensitive information. At one point, the Briton allegedly suggested that the device be smuggled from the US to China by hiding it inside a food blender or a motor starter, having shipped it first via DHL or FedEx to Hong Kong. Big boss Several times in Mr Millers conversations, he is said to have mentioned a boss or at times a big boss that seems to be the one giving orders. According to the special FBI agent who submitted the affidavit, Mr Millers use of the phrase boss refer[s] to President Xi and demonstrates [Millers] awareness that he was acting at the direction and control of the [Chinese] government. Todd Blanche, the US deputy attorney general, said: This is a blatant assault on both our national security and our democratic values. This Justice Department will not tolerate foreign repression on US soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defence systems. We will act decisively to expose and dismantle these threats wherever they emerge. If convicted, Mr Miller could also face the maximum penalties of five years in prison for conspiracy, five years in prison for interstate stalking, and 10 years in prison for smuggling. Billie Piper emerges from the regeneration process as the replacement Doctor - BBC/Bad Wolf/James Pardon/PA Billie Piper Ncuti Gatwas apparent replacement once rejected the idea that Doctor Who should ever be played by a woman. The actress, who was unveiled as the BBC shows titular character in the series finale on Saturday night, had previously called it a mans role. Russell T Davies, the Doctor Who showrunner, first pitched the idea of a woman taking on the lead role in 2005, when the sci-fi show was revived. Gatwas Time Lord regenerates during the finale of the latest Doctor Who series - BBC/Bad Wolf/PA But Piper was originally opposed to the move, telling Hello! magazine in 2009: I dont think the Doctor should be a woman. Forgive me, I know its not a feminist thing to say, but its like saying, Lets make James Bond a woman. Its a mans role. She later appeared to have a change of heart, giving an interview to the BBC in 2017 in which she said she felt it was time to cast a woman in the role. Piper told the broadcaster: I think it would be great [to have a female Doctor] given the spirit of the world at the moment. I think it would be timely. Billie Piper played Rose Tyler to David Tennants Doctor - BBC/Adrian Rogers The 42-year-old first appeared in the series as the companion to the ninth Doctor in 2005, playing Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Ecclestons Time Lord, and then again to the 10th Doctor, played by David Tennant. On Saturday, she appeared in the show to replace Gatwa, who leaves Doctor Who after two seasons, arriving on screen with the words Oh, hello!. Piper said: Its no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there, so to be given the opportunity to step back on that Tardis one more time was just something I couldnt refuse, but who, how, why and when, youll just have to wait and see. Shortly after the finale aired, the actress shared a post on Instagram holding a rose with the caption that read: A rose is a rose is a rose !!! Since Piper left the Whoniverse, she starred in the ITV series Secret Diary of a Call Girl, and portrayed the Newsnight producer Sam McAlister in Netflixs Scoop, which told the behind-the-scenes story of Emily Maitliss interview with the Duke of York. Credit: BBC Studios; Bad Wolf; Disney+ Gatwas time on the show came to an end on Saturday following speculation that he had been axed after he pulled out of hosting Eurovision and the sci-fi series being dogged by accusations of wokeness. Rumours were rife that he had dropped out amid controversy over Israels participation in the contest, but there was no confirmation that was the case. Born in Rwanda before moving to Scotland, Gatwa said: You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it. This journey has been one that I will never forget, and a role that will be part of me forever. There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe. The finale also saw Jodie Whittaker, the 13th Doctor, make a guest appearance as Gatwas Doctor appeared to be travelling through alternate universes. The credit at the end of the programme said: Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor. Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor. And introducing Billie Piper. Whittaker, the first woman to play the Time Lord, announced in July 2021 that she would depart after three series of the sci-fi show. Gerry Adams said the case was about putting manners on the BBC - PAUL FAITH/AFP/via Getty Images Gerry Adams has been criticised for chilling comments made following his legal victory against the BBC. The corporation was ordered to pay the former Sinn Fein leader 100,000 (84,000) by the High Court in Dublin after a jury ruled that it had libelled him. A 2016 episode of the BBCs Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, alleged that Adams sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson, a Sinn Fein official who was unmasked as a British spy. The jury also found the BBCs actions were not in good faith and it had not acted in a fair and reasonable way. Adamss legal team said the verdict was full vindication for their client, while the BBC warned that the implications were profound. Seamus Dooley, the Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), said it would make journalists pause for reflection. He told RTEs This Week programme: The first thing we should say is Gerry Adams was entitled to take his case. But it does have profound implications for the practice of journalism and I think it has implications both in terms of defamation law but also for me in terms of journalism in Northern Ireland and the relationship between Sinn Fein and journalists in Northern Ireland. Unfair and unreasonable remarks Speaking outside court on Friday, Adams said the case was about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation. He added that the BBC upholds the ethos of the British state in Ireland, and in my view, its out of sync in many, many fronts with the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Dooley said: I found that a chilling comment actually. He referred to putting manners on the BBC, to me that means putting them back in their box. The reality is that Spotlight has, for over 40 years, done some of the most amazing investigative journalism. Margaret Thatcher tried to ban Spotlight because of their coverage of [the] Gibraltar Three, they exposed Kincora at the heart of the British establishment, recently they did work on Stakeknife, and in fact the Sinn Fein mayor of Derry led the campaign to save BBC Radio Foyle news service. I found the attitude quite chilling but also unfair and unreasonable in the circumstances. BBC director Adam Smyth (centre) and journalist Jennifer OLeary (right) speak to the media following the verdict - Charles McQuillan/Getty Images Mr Dooley said Adams was a figure of huge significance to journalists, historians and academics, and had influenced the shape of history of Northern Ireland. He added: On that basis, any journalist has a right, any academic, to question and probe. Mr Dooley said the case underpinned the need for a review of defamation laws in Ireland. He added: First of all we need to look at the defence of honest opinion and how you square that circle in the context of journalists right to protect sources, it is a real difficulty. For many years the NUJ was in favour of retaining juries. I have now reached the conclusion in defamation cases that juries are not appropriate. One of the reasons is we will never know why the jury reached this decision. If, as in Northern Ireland, had Adams taken his case in Northern Ireland, the case is heard before judges, you have the benefit of a written judgment, you have the benefit of a detailed explanation of the reason why a verdict is given. That provides an insight and a guide. Here, we dont know. Mr Dooley also pointed out that proceedings in the case had been running since 2016. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent over 20 years. In the Spotlight programme, broadcast in September 2016, an anonymous source, given the pseudonym Martin, claimed the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and that Adams gave the final say. In 2009, the dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing and a Garda investigation into the matter remains ongoing. Adams had described the allegation as a grievous smear. Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom Contrary to her combative image, Tzipi Hotovely, Israels ambassador to the UK, is softly spoken and seems slightly anxious. The night before this interview, she appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored, where the host shouted at her about the body count in Gaza. The embassy is wary of a rematch. So I put her at ease by calling Piers historys greatest monster, causing her to laugh and relax. The problem with coverage of Gaza is that emotions run so high, every discussion ends up feeling like an interrogation and the Israelis push back with force. What outsiders often forget is that beneath the rhetorical fireworks lies a deep pain. Speaking at her embassy, flanked by UK and Israeli flags, with a bust of Golda Meir (the fourth prime minister of Israel) watching in the corner, Hotovely tells me everyone in Israel is traumatised by the events of Oct 7 2023. On that date, Hamas which controls Gaza invaded southern Israel, murdering and kidnapping more than a thousand people. We, as Israelis, have been through terror attacks in our coffee shops, on our buses, on our streets, but never in the past did we feel like our houses were not safe. This is their new vulnerability: the feeling that you cannot protect your own children. But foreign governments even allies like Britain are concerned about the safety of Palestinian children too: used as human shields by Hamas, and some killed in Israeli airstrikes. How do you fight a terror group that rejects all the accepted rules of war? October 7 was a watershed moment Hotovely, 46, wears regal purple and leans forward as she speaks, injecting urgency into the conversation. Her parents, Gabriel and Roziko, migrated to Israel from the former USSR and raised Tzipi in Rehovot, an attractive city south of Tel Aviv. Conservative and religious, she studied and practised law before gaining attention as a pundit. In 2009, she was elected to the Knesset its youngest deputy at the time as a member of Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party, and went on to serve as minister for transport, science, foreign affairs and settlements. She lives with her husband, Or Alon, and their three daughters. When she was appointed ambassador to London in 2020, some British Jews objected, labelling Hotovely too controversial for such a sensitive role. But perhaps that was the idea. Many states are shifting their diplomatic style from emollience to advocacy. Since October 7th, Hotovely has become a formidable presence in the media and on campuses , vigorously defending her government against accusations she often describes as a blood libel against Jews as well as Israelis. I begin by asking the mood of her citizens 19 months on from the Hamas pogrom. I think that October 7th was a watershed moment all across Israel. No one can say in Israel that hes the same person after. She sometimes finds less sympathy among people around the world some governments still live in the mentality of October 6th but Israelis have been shown that if you have a jihadi, Islamist terrorist group that wants to destroy you on your doorstep, at the end of the day, itll end up in a massacre. Think of it as living next-door to the Third Reich. Just this morning, we heard about [] a 15-day-old baby who died in a terror attack: Israeli Ravid Haim, born by emergency C-section after his mother, Tzeela Fez, was shot and killed. Around 58 hostages remain in Hamass hands. To recover them, the Israeli army has launched Operation Gideons Chariots aiming to seize control of the Gaza Strip, push the population south and cripple the enemys military. Israeli military vehicles near the Israel-Gaza border last week - Ammar Awad/REUTERS The aims of the war are very clear to Israel, explains Hotovely, Hamas shouldnt exist as a political leadership and with military power after we finish. Hamas doesnt care about human life [] doesnt care about their own peoples life. Hence it has embedded its fighters in a network of tunnels six floors down [] bigger than the London Tube, and deliberately located beneath civilian areas. They wanted to make sure Israel will be blamed when civilians are killed during Israeli attacks. We dont call it collateral damage. We really care about human life. We dont want anyone whos innocent to get killed. Thats why we make sure that all Palestinians can move to a safe zone. But the UK Government has condemned the civilian impact of Gideons Chariots. Israel imposed a blockade on humanitarian aid and commercial supplies on March 2 now lifted that Foreign Secretary David Lammy called morally unjustifiable, wholly disproportionate and counterproductive; he cancelled talks on a trade deal and summoned Hotovely to the ministry to explain her governments actions. Lammy, she says, was wrong: Israels policy from the beginning of the war was to deliver aid to Gaza. Some 25,000 trucks of aid got into Gaza. This is not a starvation programme, this is actually a flooding Gaza with aid programme [] The reason why it had to stop was because it was being looted only to feed the terrorists or to sell the aid that people were supposed to get for free. I ask whether this is an example of Israel alienating its friends with such brutal logic. Hamas steals food thats bad; anyone would want to stop it. But if Israel cuts off food altogether, isnt the outcome even worse for innocent civilians? If there is lack of food, Hotovely replies, I can understand your argument, but the Israelis calculated that there was enough aid already within the Gaza Strip to pause deliveries while they build a new mechanism for distribution, not overseen by the UN. This would be the American-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, now operating in Gaza accused of being partisan and insufficient, and there have been riots at its deliveries. That was just the first day, she corrects, its been improving and I keep on monitoring it as ambassador. A clash of civilisations What about Labours other charge that Gideons Chariots has driven up the death toll? I cite the case of Dr Alaa al-Najjar, a Palestinian doctor whose home was hit in an Israeli strike, killing nine of her 10 children. How does that make you feel? Ill tell you how it makes me feel. It makes me feel how tragic the situation is that Hamas built this infrastructure that is hurting his own children. I have a lot of sympathy to human life. As a Jew, as an Israeli, we value life very much. Unfortunately, our enemies dont [] I think its a clash of civilisations [...] I find that Western people find it very hard to believe that on the other side, there are people who are using their own children as human shields, but they do. Dr al-Najjar wasnt using her own children as a shield though, was she? No, I didnt say that, but I said Hamas built all its terrible infrastructure within the population, in the schools, in the hospitals... Are we doing our best to make sure that population civilians will be out of harm? Yes, we are. We give them messaging before we strike Now, think about it. Do you think the UK would have continued living next to a terror organisation that is a threat to your children in Kent? Or in London or in Liverpool? I dont think so. I point out that it isnt just non-Israelis who are turning against the war. Ehud Olmert, a former prime minister of Israel, and formerly member of Likud, is now at odds with Netanyhu, writing that the conflict is one of devastation, indiscriminate, limitless, cruel, and criminal killing of civilians. He has concluded that his country is committing war crimes. What does Hotovely say to him? It is a lie. Yes, it is. It is a pure lie. The Israeli Defence Forces work with all the mechanisms of our international law experts and the country is fighting with one hand tied behind our back because it always defers to lawyers. Olmert is completely doing a political statement to hurt the government Its coming from very political reasons, not to do with whats happening on the ground. Ehud Olmert, a former prime minister of Israel, is now at odds with Netanyhu, and says his country is committing war crimes - Ariel Schalit/AP So why are the families of hostages and even a former hostage protesting against Netanyahu? At a demonstration this week, Keith Siegel, who was once held prisoner by Hamas, declared: Our families have become the victims of cheap politics at the hands of the prime minister. Instead of ending the war and bringing everyone home, his allies prefer to occupy the Gaza Strip than to save the hostages. Hotovely says: I have sympathy to every hostage family for being so worried about their loved ones, I cannot put myself in their shoes. At the same time, I must say, they need to remember Israel said yes to any framework offered by the Americans for a ceasefire: This is the leverage on Hamas, the military pressure together with the American diplomatic pressure, and if Hamas is saying no and saying no again and again to hostage release what else can we do? We can just carry on with the pressure. Following our interview, it was reported on Friday that Hamas appears to have rejected a ceasefire deal orchestrated by the Americans and accepted by the Israelis. Recognition of Palestinian state a reward for terrorism Lammys condemnation of the embargo was, says Hotovely, the wrong timing because it was issued the same day the [Netanyahus] cabinet made the decision to let aid in; plus the wrong message because, Im sure you heard the head of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, saying: when Hamas is praising you as Hamas praised the UK then you need to check whether your politics is the right policy. We are expecting the international community, including the UK Government, to be very vocal about the fact that Hamas is holding our hostages and it must release them. Britain and Israel are fighting mutual threats. I know how much the UK is concerned about Irans influence in the region, and you need to remember that this war Israel has been fighting is a proxy war with Iran [] Weve seen how most of the weapons being found are produced in Iran, how Iran was training the terrorists. As for a French-Saudi initiative, scheduled for mid-June, to discuss the recognition of Palestine as an independent state: This is probably the worst timing ever to go this path [...] this is a pure word for terrorism and sends the wrong message to the region [...] What did October 7th prove? First of all, unfortunately what weve seen is big support among Palestinians towards the massacre. One poll, she claims, found 86 per cent of West Bank residents sympathised with the pogrom. Gaza previously voted for Hamas, so recognition basically means Hamas and would be a reward for terrorism. I ask if this means the concept of a two-state solution is off the table and she replies in the affirmative. It was rejected by the Palestinians again and again. Israelis had hope [in it] in the 1990s and were willing to compromise, but [] every time there was some type of negotiation, there was more terrorism [] So Israelis are no longer willing to jeopardise their security any longer. This is a critical point one that many Britons dont grasp. Governments like Labour talk about the two-state solution as if it were genuinely on the table, but the two sides gave up on it years ago. In that case, what does the Israeli government see as the future of the Palestinian community? They must be re-educated. Its a good lesson to learn from the Second World War, when Germany and Japan were beaten: fascism didnt end in one day, there was a whole process of denazification, a whole process of rebuilding the institutions to a democratic country. The Palestinians, when they were offered to have democratic elections in January 2006 they ended up with having an even worse dictatorship that doesnt believe in any human rights. She implies that if fresh elections were held again in Gaza, wed see Hamas victorious again, so she says we need to build the path not just for peace as a formal peace but a real peace, people to people, like the one we have with the Gulf countries via the Abrahamic Accords, as negotiated by Donald Trump. We never deny the rights of us to live next to our neighbours they deny our rights Surely there must be some give and take between communities, I suggest? In that case, the Israelis must cease building settlements in the West Bank 22 of which have just been recognised by Netanyahu. There is a myth about settlements I never understood, says Hotovely, because when Israel [dismantled its] settlements in Gaza when it physically withdrew the strip in 2005 we didnt see anything that has improved in the Palestinian attitude. When Palestinians are asked what is the main problem, she tells me, they never say the settlements but instead demand the right of return, which means bringing people from all around the Arab world to move into small Israel. I suggest that, on the contrary, they are protesting against Israelis settling on land that even Israel officially recognises as Palestinian and Hotovely disagrees. Definitely not. I think that its clear for Israelis when were speaking about Judea and Samaria [better known as the West Bank], and were speaking about Jerusalem, were speaking about the Golan Heights, were speaking about the Jewish historic land. In conservative Israeli rhetoric, the term Judea and Samaria implies that the West Bank is Israeli as bequeathed by the Bible. Were talking about some places that Jewish people have been connected to for thousands of years, says Hotovely. Yes, I reply, and Palestinians have been connected to them for a very long time, too. Were not denying that. Thats whats nice about our attitude, she says, we never deny the rights of us to live next to our neighbours they deny our rights. We turn to the subject of anti-Semitism on May 21, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, staffers at the Israeli embassy in Washington DC, were shot and murdered outside a Jewish museum. The killer cried free Palestine. Can Hotovely see a line between anti-Israeli protest and a rising level of threat against Jews across the world? People attend a vigil in Lafayette Square near the White House in Washington in honour of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, who were shot and murdered outside a Jewish museum - Kevin Dietsch/Getty We had very difficult days right in the embassy here. I gave a talk to our embassy staff and we wanted them to feel very open with us about their concerns. She is grateful for the protection of the British authorities but doesnt feel anti-Semitism is under control [ ] Lets speak about how the propaganda in the streets of London, New York and Berlin can influence a terrorist that is taking a weapon and killing two young, beautiful people [] This is the kind of madness were dealing with, something totally irrational, and I think its been fuelled by anti-Semitism and the fact that some of those marches that are calling for horrific things against Jews are allowed in Western main cities. I bring up Gary Lineker, who infamously shared an anti-Semitic image of a rat a genuine error, he insisted, for which he subsequently apologised and wonder, to quote a friend, if were seeing the revival of an oblivious anti-Semitism: old tropes being used in ignorance of the offence they cause. The winner of Eurovision, for example, has suggested that Israel be banned from next years show in Vienna without a shadow of irony or historical awareness. I agree, but I think that its not the majority of the people in this country. I think the minority is vocal. And I think when the majority keeps silent about bad things, this is when we get to hear the radicals, raising their voice. Many Western countries that used to feel safe dont feel safe anymore Anti-Jewish hate is dangerous to this country, just like its dangerous to America and Australia and many other Western countries that used to feel very safe and they dont feel safe anymore. Hotovely cites the success of Israel at Eurovision top in popular vote, pushed into second by the juries as a possible expression of sympathy for October 7. I dont feel like were isolated, but I do feel like people forget your own countrys history Britains fight against Hitler, what we endured and what we had to do to win. I was invited to a very beautiful event in Westminster Abbey, celebrating your VE Day, and I was moved by all the historic moments that you remember and cherish from your heroism. But then Im asking myself why, when Israel stands in fighting a very different version of a very radical ideology, why [the British elite] dont understand its exactly the time to have patience and resilience to wait for Israel to really conclude the job, until this terror organisation will be defeated and not to urge Israel all the time to end the war, even if the consequences are to let Hamas control the Gaza Strip. Watch the full Tzipi Hotovely interview on The Daily T podcast. You can also listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts A view of the Cofrentes nuclear station in Valencia, Spain. Photograph: Kai Forsterling/EPA When millions of people across the Iberian peninsula were left without power last month the political fallout ignited debate over Europes renewable energy agenda, and fuelled the rising interest in nuclear power. Europes largest power blackout in decades, still largely unexplained, has raised questions about whether renewable energy can be relied on to provide a stable source of clean energy. It has also fuelled a renewed interest in the global nuclear power renaissance already under way. Despite long-held environmental concerns about nuclear power generation, political leaders across the globe are increasingly looking to lift restrictions on nuclear reactors or invest billions in new projects to keep pace with the fast-rising demand for low-carbon energy, which is expected to accelerate as AI datacentres grow. In Spain, the blackout has intensified an ongoing debate over the governments plans to phase out the countrys remaining seven nuclear reactors by 2035. Support for the low-carbon energy source has re-emerged hand-in-hand with criticism of renewable energy, and its potential role in the outage. Spains power grid relied on renewable energy for about 70% of its power at the time of the blackout, which experts believe may have made it more difficult for the energy system operator to keep the grids frequency stable. The suggestion was vehemently denied by Spains prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, in the countrys parliament. Just hours after the blackout he said: There was no problem caused by an excess of renewable energy. Those who link this incident to the lack of nuclear energy are either lying or revealing their ignorance. But even before the Iberian peninsula was plunged into chaos, critics of the governments anti-nuclear stance had raised their concerns. A few weeks before the blackout, the chair of the renewable energy company Iberdrola, which owns a small stake in the countrys nuclear fleet, warned Spain against plans to shut all seven of its nuclear power plants by 2035. Ignacio Galan predicted that Spain could see its electricity prices jump by a quarter and get a less reliable system if Madrid followed the example of Germany, which began to close its nuclear reactors following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 and completed the phase-out in 2023. Days later Sama Bilbao y Leon, director-general of the World Nuclear Association, told a conference in Madrid that she was concerned about Spains economic future without nuclear energy because its economic progress would rely on abundant, clean, and affordable energy, available every day, all year round. In Germany the hardline stance against nuclear power is already softening. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who came to power in February, has criticised the previous government for shutting Germanys last three nuclear power stations in the midst of Europes energy cost crisis and promised to explore whether it is possible to resurrect the plants. Merz is not expected to back a return to new conventional nuclear power projects in Germany but he has vowed to invest in new technologies: such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and nuclear fusion. The Swiss government has also said it will lift the countrys ban on the construction of new nuclear power projects, which has been in place since 1 January 2018, to pursue SMR projects. The tide against nuclear power is turning in countries beyond Europe too. Later this summer Taiwan is expected to vote on whether to restart a nuclear reactor which shut just last week amid concerns on the island about the rising electricity demand of some of the worlds biggest chipmakers which are based there, and about energy security in the event of a military blockade by China. The concerns about a looming surge in power demand driven by tech giants and the desire for secure, homegrown low-carbon energy sources are common in countries across the globe. This trend is key to the renewed interest in nuclear power. In the US, the notorious Three Mile Island site in Pennsylvania will restart for the first time in five years after its owners struck a 20-year deal to power Microsofts energy-hungry AI datacentres. Tech companies including Amazon, Meta and Apple are all expected to consume vast amounts of energy to power the boom in AI, and nuclear has emerged as an increasingly popular option given its steady stream of 24/7 power generation. US President Donald Trump, who has taken aim at the Biden administrations support for renewable energy, this month unveiled a series of executive orders aimed at delivering 10 large nuclear reactors by 2030, and quadrupling the countrys nuclear energy capacity by 2050. The move was welcomed by nuclear proponents as a step towards helping to lower emissions in the US while supporting Big Tech. Several big tech companies looking for low carbon, round-the-clock energy signed contracts for new nuclear capacity in the last year, and there could be more such deals ahead, predicted the US investment bank Goldman Sachs earlier this year. The proliferation of AI data centers has boosted investor confidence in future growth in electricity demand at the same time as big tech companies are looking for low-carbon reliable energy. This is leading to the de-mothballing of recently retired nuclear generators, as well as consideration for new larger-scale reactors, it added. The growing demand for electricity may have piqued the interest of global government in nuclear power, but it is the breakthrough in new nuclear technologies which promises a new dawn for the industry. Whereas full-scale nuclear projects are notorious for spiralling budgets and delays, SMRs promise quicker, cheaper construction because the component parts can be built in a factory and assembled on site. But the technology has not been proven commercially. Last year Google became the first company to ink an agreement to purchase nuclear energy from small modular reactors (SMRs), which are being developed by Kairos Power in the US. Small modular reactors are also being pursued by the US, South Korea, China, Russia, and Canada. The latter approved the construction of the first mini-nuclear reactor in the West earlier this month which is expected to begin operating by 2029. In the UK, Keir Starmer unveiled plans for a historic expansion in nuclear power across England and Wales shortly after calling for tech companies to work alongside the government to build small modular reactors (SMRs) to power energy intensive AI datacentres across Britain. He said that he anticipated smaller reactors could begin operating in 2032 and become commonplace across Britain. The nuclear industrys detractors have played down the potential for SMRs to prove a gamechanger for nuclear energy. Dr Doug Parr, the chief scientist and a director at Greenpeace UK, said the Labour government had swallowed nuclear industry spin whole, which is courageous or stupid given that not a single one has been built, and with the nuclear industrys record of being over time and over budget unmatched by any other sector. He added: As for the unsolved problem of nuclear waste management, government dont see the need to mention it at all. Nuclear power has seen false dawns before, but the industry believes the next decade could hold the key to its renaissance. This article was amended on 1 June 2025 to remove a reference to Australias new coalition government, which was included in error. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, says he has to reduce the numbers leaving the Army before increasing its size - Getty Images/Yui Mok Troop numbers will not increase for at least four years, the Defence Secretary has admitted. Ahead of Mondays publication of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), John Healey said he did not expect the number of people in the Army to rise until the next parliament. It comes despite speculation that Labour could look to reverse the British Army troop cuts made under the previous Tory government. Asked on the BBCs Sunday Morning With Laura Kuenssberg when the depleted Army would reach its target of 73,000 people in the force, Mr Healey said there had been 15 years of a recruitment and retention crisis in our forces, of which the last government set and missed targets every year in every service for those 14 years. Weve narrowed the gap, but weve still got more people leaving than joining, he said. The first job is to reverse that trend and then I want to see in the next parliament our ability to start to increase the number of our full-time forces. However, pushed on why this target could not be achieved sooner Mr Healey said: My first task as Defence Secretary is to reverse that long run decline, that deep set crisis in recruitment, deep set crisis in retention. Mr Healey told the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg that there are more people leaving than joining the Army - Reuters/Jeff Overs In May last year the number of Army personnel fell below 73,000 for the first time since the Napoleonic era. Under Ben Wallace, the former defence secretary, it was announced that the Army was to be reduced to 72,500 personnel by 2025, scrapping the 82,000 target which had been set in 2015. Troop numbers have been cut by around 27,500 since 2010. When Labour was last in office, the Army had more than 100,000 soldiers. Mr Healey also sidestepped questions about whether he had any guarantee from the Treasury that funding would be committed to boost defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2034. Asked what he would tell Nato allies at an upcoming summit after calls for members to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence, he said: The heart of this is not just how much the nations spend, but how we spend it. And you will see just as much concentration on what are the capabilities that Nato together needs in order to deter adversaries in the future. We have to be prepared The Defence Secretary said that Mondays SDR would send a message to Moscow. He said: This is a message to Moscow as well. This is Britain standing behind, making our Armed Forces stronger but making our industrial base stronger, and this is part of our readiness to fight, if required. Mr Healey revealed Russia is attacking the UK daily in cyberspace. Asked if he expected a form of real-world attack by Russia on the UK in the coming years, he said: We have to be prepared. Nato has to be prepared. We see Putin in Ukraine trying to redraw international boundaries by force... its part of the growing Russian aggression. Mr Healey added that is why Nato and the UK are stepping up our ability to deter as well as to defend in the future. The world is more uncertain. The tensions are greater but we prepare for war in order to secure the peace. If youre strong enough to defeat an enemy you deter them from attacking in the first place. Earlier this week Mr Healey announced the British military is to spend more than 1 billion on artificial intelligence and a hacking-attack team. He also vowed to fix the dire state of military homes as part of a 7 billion accommodation reboot to attract more people to join the military. The parents of a seven-year-old boy were arrested and charged with manslaughter and neglect after their son was fatally hit by a vehicle on Tuesday evening trying to cross the street. Authorities reported on May 29, 2025, that police officials filed criminal charges against the couple. The suspects were identified as 30-year-old Jessica Ivey and 31-year-old Samuele Jenkins. The charges are felony involuntary manslaughter, felony child neglect, and misdemeanor child neglect. Couple Charged With Manslaughter and Neglect Gastonia police said that an investigation into the case found that the accident involved the seven-year-old boy and his 10-year-old brother. The two children were both unsupervised when they tried to cross the street before being struck by traffic. Authorities argued that these tragic incidents are where adults should be held accountable for their responsibilities in ensuring that their kids are in a safe environment. At the time of the crash, Gastonia police responded on May 27, shortly before 6:00 p.m., to West Hudson Boulevard, according to WBTV. When officers arrived at the scene of a vehicle crash involving a pedestrian, they found the seven-year-old boy struck by an SUV whose driver was a 76-year-old woman. Police noted that the victim was with his 10-year-old brother as they tried to cross the street but not on the crosswalk. Gastonia police added that officers quickly transported the seven-year-old boy to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. They later transferred him to Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte where he was pronounced dead at around 10:00 p.m., WCNC reported. Tragic Death of Seven-Year-Old Boy The seven-year-old victim was identified as Legend Jenkins, who is a second-grader at H.H. Beam Elementary School. In a previous interview, his mother said that at the time of the incident, she was shopping at Food Lion and she allowed her two sons to walk from the grocery store to their home, which was relatively close. That was the first time that the mother let her two children cross that street all by themselves without adult supervision. Police added that they found no evidence that the driver of the car involved in the accident was speeding or did any wrongdoing. A memorial marks the spot where the seven-year-old boy was struck by the vehicle. His parents shared a picture of their son following his untimely demise. It also seemed like the child and his brother were talking to their father on the phone when the accident happened, as per Yahoo News. Inmates at El Buen Pastor womens prison in Bogota, listen to a justice minister explain a change to the law allowing some to complete their sentence with community service. Photograph: Carlos Ortega/EPA-EFE The baby calls out, reaching towards a metal detector security gate. Mama, mama, she says. A prison officer waves her through. Its visiting time at El Buen Pastor prison, Colombias largest detention centre for women. Behind the black door, half a dozen women wait anxiously. Dressed in her best clothes, the mother folds herself around the child. Inside, the prison is crumbling. Black mould creeps up the walls; broken windows have been replaced with plastic sheets. Inmates say five to six people share cells built for two. It is terrible here, says inmate Daniela Martinez. The conditions are horrible. Once you enter, you lose hope. Colombias female prison population has increased more than fivefold since 1991, largely driven by drug laws that disproportionately punish women. More than a third are imprisoned for drug-related crimes; many are minor players in the trafficking chain. The nation which produces most of the worlds cocaine has long been plagued by the drug trade, which has fuelled organised crime and conflict and continues to flourish. Now Colombias president, Gustavo Petro, is attempting a new approach pivoting from punishment to rehabilitation. Colombia has been the best student of the global drug regime, and done pretty much everything we were told to do for decades, says Laura Gil, Colombias ambassador-at-large for global drug policy. Yet today, we have record production, record consumption and record narco trafficking. We need to put people at the forefront instead of prisons at the forefront, she adds. A key reform is the Public Utility law, introduced in March 2023, to allow incarcerated women who are heads of their household and serving sentences under eight years to complete community service instead. It is granted primarily to women convicted of drug trafficking. At El Buen Pastor prison, Colombias minister of justice Angela Maria Buitrago Ruiz says a significant portion of female inmates are poor and from rural areas where they are vulnerable to the cartels. Many of the women here have suffered from marginality. Although in many cases they have trafficked drugs, in many cases they also did not know what they were smuggling, she says. We need to change the system. We need to protect women. Inmate Martinez was sentenced to five years and four months after 10 kilos of marijuana was found in her home. I was tricked. I was asked to keep hold of it for someone, and then two hours later the police came, she says. I was a mule. People think and say that prison is where people are rehabilitated and educated, but it is all lies Patricia Cortes, prisoner Patricia Cortes, 23, is one of those who released under the scheme. She was freed on 17 September 2024, 11 months after she was first incarcerated for conspiracy to commit a crime, drug trafficking, manufacturing, or possession of narcotics. Cortes says that she had been photographed alongside her mother, who had started selling narcotics to escape poverty. Her motivation was our household needs: she had eight children, five of whom were minors, and my father had left, she says. She needed the money. Cortes says women bear the brunt of Colombias drug crisis, with many coerced. In the prison chapel, the justice minister plays a video of an inmate leaving El Buen Pastor under the scheme. Please help us and give us women who are heads of household a second chance, she says; the inmates watching cheer in response. People think and say that prison is where people are rehabilitated and educated, but it is all lies. In prison, everything is denied, says Cortes, who gave birth to her son in jail. Many people leave prison worse than when they entered. Only 143 women have been released so far 99 of whom were charged with drug offences despite the availability of more than 2,600 community service spaces. The justice ministry blames conservative judges for stalling progress, while civil society leaders say the definition of marginality has caused difficulties in court. Related: Biased laws and poverty driving huge rise in female prisoners report We dont have high hopes for being released, says Martinez. We are more useful outside than inside; here all we do is waste time. But we have seen how many of the requests have been denied. Beyond the Public Utility law, Petro launched a 10-year drug policy in October that proposes to change the narrative around psychoactive substances, prioritise rural development, reduce coca crops, and help small farmers transition to the legal economy. In March, the Colombian government also led a historic resolution at the UN commission on narcotic drugs to suggest reforms for the existing 60-year-old system. Civil society leaders have criticised Petros 10-year plan as lacking strategy. It also comes amid a deteriorating security situation that has left tens of thousands displaced, and prevents access to key coca cultivation sites. Local people, too, wonder if the policies go far enough. In a Bogota neighbourhood long scarred by the drug trade, people say the root of the issue is poor education. There are no opportunities for children to get an education here, says Monica Urbina, 39. They turn to drugs at 13, thinking it will give them a solution to their problem. Then they join the gangs. A lot of young people from our neighbourhoods are in jail or dead. The government needs to fix the schools first. Martinez, who is applying for release under the Public Utility law, agrees that more action is needed. Drugs affect everything in this country families, economy, work, social life, she says. The government needs to work harder to break the chain. When Yvette McGaffin visited her brothers workplace at McLaren headquarters in Woking several years ago, seeing the sleek design of a Formula 1 car up close sparked a reimagining of how she viewed the 100-year-old movement technique in pilates. Founded in 2018 by McGaffin, a New Zealand native, and her husband Neal, Reform RX set out to create a world-first pilates reformer entwined with "functionality, connectivity and instructor talent". A world away from the traditional reformer of exposed springs, pulleys and a wooden frame, the Belfast-based company pioneered technology for the first time. It allows data to be tracked during workouts and gives real time biometric feedback to consumers. Read More: How Carolines Circuits became a midlife fitness empire Known for its controlled movements based on resistance from bands and springs, reformer pilates is an intense form of pilates that uses a specialised piece of equipment, the reformer, to enhance strength, flexibility, and core stability. A functional movement specialist and pilates expert over the last 20 years, McGaffin founded her own boutique Reform Studios in 2015, where she had trained Game of Thrones producer Bernadette Caulfield for several years before dawn. Spotting a gap in the luxury home-fitness market, she then took the F1 concept to Austin Owens, who runs Hertfordshire-based Grove Design. Owens, who along with Caulfield has since invested in the company, brought the design brief to life with a "smart spine" on the reformer where we house the magic, says McGaffin which can track the power movement of the sliding carriage to a thousandth of a second. The founders brought their design brief of an F1 car concept to reality with creation of the RX reformer. (Play Creative) We have reinvented not only the technological side, but physically we had a concept F1 car design with what could only be called a torture chamber of a traditional pilates reformer, says McGaffin. It looks a little scary, to say the least, and so it was about how do we make this look like this [the F1 brief]. Weve made it more beautiful and more aesthetically pleasing so we can very much lower the barrier of entry. Read More: 'Why we set up a sustainable mobile operator to save people money' Last year, Reform RX secured 3.8m ($5.1m) in funding and was recently purchased for an undisclosed sum by iFIT Inc, a US-based connected fitness equipment specialist, as the McGaffins look towards further global expansion. The acquisition is the culmination of a creative career for McGaffin, who studied performing arts in Sydney, moved to London when she was 21 and undertook a dance career in both commercial and contemporary dance before honing her current craft in studios across the globe. Reform RX was founded by pilates expert Yvette McGaffin and husband Neal in 2018. It's really been a labour of love, she says, to not only come into the next generation with tech, but also creating something that was more durable, more sustainable, in the class studio environments and coming into health clubs, hotels and homes. Reform RX has partnered with hotel chains including Hilton (HLT), Waldorf Astoria and Mandarin Oriental (MDO.L), and has studio partners in 13 countries. Meanwhile the industry has seen significant growth in recent years and, says McGaffin, is the most searched fitness trend due to its links with wellness and longevity. Read More: Meet the company that finds 'must-haves' to make everyday life easier There have been logistical start-up challenges, not least post-COVID when Reform RX sold out of its first 500 unit order and had every supply chain component ready to go into manufacturing before a global chip shortage took hold. You might think with a pilates equipment company that doesn't matter, but when you're the first tech inspired next generation company, it very much does. And we had a six-month wait on the chip that we needed. The product has a combination of functionality, connectivity and instructor talent. (Play Creative) Nevertheless, the company generated $1m (740,000) in revenue within two weeks of launch and sold out of its initial product line in the first quarter of 2023. Its products cost from 7,350 and count Sir Ian McKellen and unnamed Hollywood A-listers among customers. When you're on a reformer, the good, bad and the ugly in our lives fall away, says McGaffin. It becomes this completely immersive experience where you're connected with your mind and to your body, and you even enter into your parasympathetic nervous system, which is such a wonderful thing, almost like a sense of meditation, but in a mindful movement way. Read more: Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Zolile Mbali moved from South Africa in 1981 to live in the UK, where initially he became a vicar in County Durham. Photograph: none My friend the Rev Zolile Mbali, who has died aged 84, was an Anglican priest in the UK and in his native South Africa, from which he was forced to move in the early 1970s. Zoli was born in Johannesburg to a Xhosa father and a Sotho mother, Elizabeth (nee Makhoatle), a teacher. After his birth his mother took him to live on the family farm beyond Matatiele in the remote Drakensburg foothills of Transkei. He lived there until he was 10, combining herding with learning in isiXhosa and Sesotho. Sent to further his education in Afrikaans, he stayed with a clergyman uncle near Johannesburg, whose curate at the time was Desmond Tutu. As a teenager Zolis formal education was interrupted by the need to support his family, and while working in harsh conditions on a railway tunnel, he contracted typhoid. In hospital he decided to study for the Anglican priesthood, attending St Bedes theological college in Mthatha and then Fort Hare University. Zoli moved to the UK in 1969 on a World Council of Churches scholarship to Oxford on Tutus recommendation, studying theology at Queens College, Oxford. There he met a British woman, Charlotte Lebon, a postgraduate student at St Hughs College. Returning to South Africa in 1971, he was ordained in the Natal diocese and undertook parish work before becoming the first black chaplain at Grahamstowns white theological college in the Eastern Cape. The couple became engaged, but the apartheid ban on mixed relationships prevented Charlotte from joining Zoli, so in 1973 she moved to Gaborone in Botswana to be nearer to him. A year later he joined her in Botswana after being warned that the South African police were after him. Less than a month later he and Charlotte were married, in 1975. In Gaborone Zoli combined a post at Botswana Theological Extension Programme with ministry among refugees and rural communities. South Africa having refused to renew his passport, Zoli then became a refugee himself. With cross-border military raids putting the family at risk, he and Charlotte decided to return to the UK in 1981, by which time they had three daughters, Thandiwe, Ma-Jali and Mandisa. On his arrival Zoli was appointed vicar of All Saints church in Preston-on-Tees in County Durham, before moving to parish ministry in Leicestershire in 1984, serving first as curate in the Leicester suburb of Knighton and then as vicar to four rural village churches known as the Langtons near Market Harborough. His excoriating book, The Churches and Racism: A Black South African Perspective, published in 1987, was based on a PhD he had recently completed at the University of Leeds. From 1988 to 1992 Zoli worked as a pioneering diocesan community relations officer in Leicester, and he was made a canon of Leicester Cathedral in 1990. Once apartheid fell, he and his family went back to South Africa in 1993, settling in Durban, where Charlotte joined the staff of Natal University while Zoli ministered to parishioners stigmatised by HIV/Aids and Anglican students at the university. A gentle and courageous man with a great gift for storytelling, he retired from the ministry in 2003 and would later survive a serious criminal assault and several bouts of ill-health. In 2017 his daughters persuaded him to retire to the UK with Charlotte to be nearer their grandchildren. Suffering from dementia, he spent his last days in St Anselms nursing home in Walmer, Kent. He is survived by Charlotte, their daughters and five grandchildren. Credit: Via Reuters Ukraine launched an audacious drone strike against Russias prized strategic nuclear bombers in an operation kept secret from Donald Trump. Swarms of attack drones emerged from parked trucks to target airfields in the coordinated assault on four bases deep behind enemy lines. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, hailed the brilliant attack, which he said will undoubtedly be in history books. We are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war, he said as officials from both sides of the conflict were due to meet for ceasefire talks in Istanbul. Operation Spiders Web was carried out by Ukraines security service and overseen by Mr Zelensky, but officials last night insisted that the White House was not warned in advance. Mr Trump has been urging Ukraine and Russia to end the war in Ukraine, but his peace plan has been rejected by Putin. A second round of direct talks was due to begin on Monday morning in Istanbul, but hopes of a breakthrough were dashed by heavy attacks from both militaries on Sunday. The SBU said that as many as 40 warplanes - worth $7 billion and amounting to 34 per cent of Russias strategic cruise missile carriers - had been destroyed in the clandestine drone operation. If the figures are confirmed, the attack would represent a sweeping blow to Russias ability to bomb Ukraine safely from distance and a dent to its nuclear strike capabilities. The Ukrainian attack involved smuggling drones into shipping containers with remote-controlled retractable roofs to strike Russian aircraft as far away as the Arctic. Credit: Telegram / russianocontext Moscow had been forced to relocate the bulk of its expensive bomber fleet thousands of miles from the frontline in a now-failed attempt to get them out of range of Ukraine. Mr Zelensky boasted that Ukraine had set up a secret base for the operation next door to a Russian spy headquarters, and claimed all operatives returned safely to Ukraine. Russian commentators close to the military called the strikes a black day for Russian long-range aviation and Russias Pearl Harbor moment. Seeking to downplay the damage, Russias defence ministry later confirmed that several of its military aircraft caught fire in the Murmansk and Irkutsk regions, adding there were no casualties. Credit: Telegram / babr_mash The planes targeted are some of Russias most treasured military assets: the long-range nuclear-capable Tupolev Tu-95 Bear, the Tu-160 Blackjack, the largest combat aircraft in the world, and the supersonic Tu-22M3 Backfire all planes regularly used to strike Ukraine. If you ever wanted to see Russias irreplaceable strategic number fleet destroyed, we got you covered, Ukrainian officials wrote as the attacks were unfolding. Seven people died and scores were injured when a passenger train travelling to Moscow was derailed by a collapsed bridge in Bryansk, north of Kyiv - X Earlier in the day, a wave of bombings - presumably from Ukrainian sabotage teams - also targeted Russian railways, derailing trains and killing at least seven passengers, in what Moscow called acts of terrorism. The attacks came after Russia carried out its largest drone strike on Ukraine since the war began on Saturday night. It also fired a missile at a training base, killing soldiers and forcing a senior Ukrainian army commander to resign. Credit: X A man used a makeshift flamethrower to set people on fire in a terror attack at a pro-Israel demonstration in Colorado on Sunday. The FBI and local police are investigating after at least eight people, aged between 67 and 88, were injured in the attack at the busy Pearl Street Mall area about 1.30pm local time (7.30pm GMT). Rabbi Israel Wilhelm, the Chabad director at the University of Colorado, told reporters that one of the victims is understood to be an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. We are aware of and fully investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, FBI director Kash Patel said. The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Egyptian national Mohamed Sabry Soliman, was arrested at the scene after using a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to set demonstrators on fire. Police officers were seen pinning the suspect to the ground before arresting him. He was taken to hospital. The shirtless man was seen shouting with clear spray bottles in his hands The FBI said it was investigating the attack as terrorism, while the White House said on Sunday that the suspect was living in the country illegally and was granted a work permit by Joe Bidens administration. A terror attack was committed in Boulder, Colorado by an illegal alien, Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff for policy, said. He was granted a tourist visa by the Biden administration, and then he illegally overstayed that visa. In response, the Biden administration gave him a work permit. But Steve Redfearn, Boulders police chief, refused to call the incident a terror attack. We are not calling it a terror attack at this point, Mr Redfearn said. It is way too early. It would be irresponsible for me to speculate right now on motive and other things. Attack suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman pictured in a mugshot after his arrest in Boulder - Boulder Police Department/REUTERS Demonstrators with the volunteer group Run For Their Lives, consisting of Jewish community members, had gathered in the mall to call for the release of Israeli hostages who remain in Gaza. Mr Redfearn said police were investigating whether the demonstrators were targeted. It was unclear whether they were among the injured victims. There was a group of pro-Israel people that were there in a peaceful demonstration, I wouldnt even call it a protest. I believe that [the demonstration] happens frequently down here, he said. We are looking and actively interviewing victims and witnesses to determine whether that group was targeted or others. Credit: X via @MissNUndrground FBI special agent in charge of the Denver Field Office, Mark Michalek, said the victims were taken to hospitals, many of whom suffered from burns. As a result of these preliminary facts, it is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism, he said. Video of the aftermath of the attack showed Mr Soliman, wearing sunglasses and holding clear spray bottles, pacing as a fire on the grass burned in front of him. He shouted end Zionists, Palestine is free, and they are killers towards several people as they tended to a person lying on the ground. At one point, he was confronted by onlookers, including one who said: He is spraying alcohol... he is making Molotov cocktails. Other videos showed victims lying motionless on the ground as bystanders rushed to douse them with water. An Israeli flag to a street light near the scene of an attack that injured multiple people, in Boulder, Colorado - REUTERS/Mark Makela Brooke Coffman, a 19-year-old student at the University of Colorado, said she saw four women lying or sitting on the ground with burns on their legs. She said one woman appeared to have been badly burned on most of her body and had been wrapped in a flag by someone. Everybody [was] yelling, get water, get water, she said. Mr Redfearn said officers raced to the scene after receiving reports that people had been set on fire. The initial callers indicated that there was a man with a weapon and that people were being set on fire, he said. When we arrived, we encountered multiple victims who were injured with injuries consistent with burns and other injuries. We're evacuating the 1200, 1300 and 1400 blocks of Pearl Street between Walnut and Pine while we continue to investigate this active incident. PLEASE AVOID THIS AREA pic.twitter.com/8a2wtZjz5h Boulder Police Dept. (@boulderpolice) June 1, 2025 The popular pedestrian mall is known for attracting tourists and college students. People were told to evacuate the area due to the active incident. Mr Polis said in a statement that he was closely monitoring the situation, adding that hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable. I am closely monitoring the situation in Boulder, and my thoughts go out to the people who have been injured and impacted by this heinous act of terror. Hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable, he wrote on X. While details emerge, the state works with local and federal law enforcement to support this investigation. More information will be provided as it becomes available. Law enforcement officials investigate after an attack on pro-Israeli supporters - AP Photo/David Zalubowski The Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish activist group, said on X that it was aware of reports of an attack at todays Boulder Run for Their Lives event. The group said the event was a weekly meeting of Jewish community members to run/walk in support of the hostages who were seized during Hamass unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, sparking the war in Gaza. Israels ambassador to the United Nations in New York, Danny Danon, condemned the attack. Terrorism against Jews does not stop at the Gaza border it is already burning the streets of America, he said in a statement. Today, in Boulder, Colorado, Jewish people marched with a moral and humane demand: to return the hostages. In response, the Jewish protesters were brutally attacked, with an attacker throwing Molotov cocktails at them, he said. Make no mistake this is not a political protest, this is terrorism. Officers patrol the cordoned off area following the attack on pro-Israeli protestors - AP Photo/David Zalubowski The attack comes a week after two Israeli embassy staff were shot dead as they left a reception for diplomats near Washingtons Jewish museum. Elias Rodriguez, 30, was arrested after allegedly shooting Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, who were soon to be engaged. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He was also charged with murder of foreign officials, causing death with a firearm, and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence. HMS Vigilant, one of the UKs four nuclear submarines at Faslane. The SNP has refused to fund a hi-tech welding capacity in Scotland - James Glossop/AFP via Getty Those sad souls who cling to the belief that the SNP is a serious political party will no doubt rush to its aid as it maintains its demented approach to defending Scotland. As the UK Government prepares to unveil its policy for the defence of Britain, the Scottish Nationalists registered their total disapproval by rejecting a request for 2.5 million to establish a hi-tech welding capacity in Scotland where vital equipment could be manufactured by Rolls-Royce for Britains submarine fleet. The SNP attitude is a straightforward cop-out in that it believes the country it wishes to make independent from the United Kingdom will require someone to defend Scotland in an increasingly dangerous world. But for goodness sake, dont ask John Swinneys SNP Government to do it; they dont want to get their hands dirty in that nasty defence business. In a supposedly high-minded statement, but actually a Looney Tunes dissertation, one of his ministers proudly boasted that it couldnt possibly get involved in defending Scotland because it had principles to maintain. And the principle of those principles, she said, was that the SNP Government refused to stump up for anything that smacks of defence. First Minister John Swinney and his SNP Government are neglecting their duties over British defence - Jane Barlow/PA Or as Marie Gougeon, the partys rural affairs minister, put it, We dont support the use of public finance for the manufacture of munitions and neither do we support that for nuclear weapons. This policy total abrogation of responsibility would be a better description of the above load of nonsense was uttered, one must presume in all seriousness, on the eve of the Government publishing and presenting its new defence policy for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. That is for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and oh yes, I nearly forgot Scotland. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, expressed his astonishment at the refusal and he said he wasnt aware that this refusal to defend themselves was part of the SNP holy writ and simply added that it struck him as student union politics. He insisted that if the Scottish Government wouldnt stump up the required cash, the UK would provide it, adding: This is a massive industrial opportunity for Scotland, to provide good, skilled jobs for working-class kids. Its outrageous the SNP is blocking a key grant to establish a specialist welding centre in Glasgow. An anti-nuclear demonstration at Faslane. Scottish dissent over defence matters is shortsighted - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty I cant be the only one who wishes that this ridiculous SNP behaviour would count against their candidate in Thursdays by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, but then again Nat loyalists consistently support all manner of rubbish from their masters. And, after all, the world may well be an increasingly dangerous place but then the late Alex Salmond had once confessed a sneaking regard for Vladimir Putin and only stopped broadcasting for his Moscow radio station when the Russians invaded Ukraine. In addition, unless Im mistaken, the Nats once voted that an independent Scotland would join Nato, which in case theyd forgotten is a nuclear alliance. But then what does the truth matter when Ms Gougeon is parading her partys principles? The Prime Minister will announce that Britain will build a fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines to face down Russian aggression - Finnbarr Webster/AFP via Getty Images Sir Keir Starmers flagship defence strategy was in disarray on Sunday night after a minister backtracked on his pledge to boost spending to three per cent of GDP. Last week, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, had said he had no doubt that the Government would meet the target by 2034. But asked to repeat the pledge on Sunday, he declined to do so, saying it was only an ambition. But writing for The Telegraph, the authors of the report confirmed that their recommendations for the Strategic Defence Review, published on Monday, were costed on the certainty of a three per cent spending boost. Lord Robertson, Dr Fiona Hill and General Sir Richard Barrons said: The Governments important decision to raise Defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027/28 and, vitally, to three per cent in the next Parliament made an enormous difference. The decision established the affordability of our recommendations across a 10-year programme. The confusion comes ahead of the Spending Review later this month, which has seen Government departments jostling for funding from Rachel Reeves. The Conservatives claimed on Sunday night that Mr Healey had been forced to backtrack under pressure from the Treasury. The apparent about-turn raises questions over whether ministers have the funds to pay for the flagship defence strategy. It comes as the Prime Minister is set to announce Britain will build a fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines and that the Government will commit to building a submarine every 18 months. Mr Healey vowed that the Strategic Defence Review would give the British military more power in the face of hostile states such as Russia and China. The Government previously set out its ambition to reach three per cent in the next Parliament after meeting its pledge to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027. In an interview with The Times last week, Mr Healey said there was no doubt that the Government would be spending three per cent in the next Parliament. But on Sunday he said that he had no doubt we will hit that ambition of three per cent. 3105 Increase in defence spending looming over Reeves A Ministry of Defence spokesman said there had been no change in policy, and the Treasury agreed that three per cent was an ambition when the economic conditions were right. A defence source said: Weve put billions more into defence and since February our ambition has been that we will hit three per cent in the next Parliament the biggest uplift in defence spending since the Cold War. That hasnt changed. James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, claimed Mr Healey had been forced into an about-turn by the Treasury. He said: All of Labours Strategic Defence Review promises will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show there will actually be enough money to pay for them. Whereas, far from guaranteeing the funding, John Healey has been hung out to dry by Rachel Reeves. As recently as Thursday, Healey promised that defence spending would definitely hit three per cent, but today hes completely backtracked. These submarines are not due to enter service till the late 2030s, so how can we have any confidence Labour will actually deliver them when they cant even sustain a policy on defence spending for more than 48 hours? Helen Maguire, the Liberal Democrat defence spokeswoman, said: This must come with a concrete commitment and detail on full funding. Labours mere ambition rather than commitment to reach three per cent of GDP on defence leaves serious questions about whether the money for these projects will actually be forthcoming. The 2034 timeline suggests a worrying lack of urgency from the Government. Unless Labour commits to holding cross-party talks on how to reach three per cent much more rapidly than the mid-2030s, this announcement risks becoming a damp squib. 1003 Astute v Virginia class submarines and Astute replacement The announcement comes as the Government unveils the externally-led Strategic Defence Review, which is expected to recommend that the Armed Forces move to war-fighting readiness to deter the growing threats Britain faces. The report makes 62 recommendations, including significant investment into the UK sovereign warhead programme this Parliament while maintaining the existing stockpile, which the Government is expected to accept in full on Monday. Lord Robertson, Dr Hill and Gen Sir Richard warned that the UK has no choice but to become Nato-first in the post-Cold War era. Saying that the new world poses a potentially existential risk to the UK, they added: This period of unprecedented instability demands enhanced collective security with allies, especially Nato, to sustain deterrence that prevents opponents from considering inflicting harm. The US plays a different role in European security, but a modernised Nato-first approach is the only effective, affordable option for the UK. On Sunday, Gen Carsten Breuer, Germanys chief of defence, told the BBC that members of Nato needed to prepare for a possible attack from Russia within the next four years. Earlier this week, Mr Healey announced that the military was to spend more than 1 billion on artificial intelligence and a hacking-attack team. He also vowed to fix the dire state of military homes as part of a 7 billion accommodation reboot to attract more people to join the military. It has also been reported that a new Second World War-style Home Guard could protect Britains key infrastructure from foreign threats and terror attacks. Speaking at the launch of the review on Monday, Sir Keir is expected to say: From the supply lines to the front lines, this Government is foursquare behind the men and women upholding our nations freedom and security. National security is the foundation of my Plan for Change, and this plan will ensure Britain is secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering a defence dividend of well-paid jobs up and down the country. This Strategic Defence Review will ensure the UK rises to the challenge and our Armed Forces have the equipment they need that keeps us safe at home while driving greater opportunity for our engineers, shipbuilders and technicians of the future. Keir Starmer Shortly after the general election, The Daily T the podcast I present with colleague Camilla Tominey held a live event for Telegraph readers at our headquarters in central London. It was a very jolly affair, with prosecco on hand as Camilla, Gordon Rayner, our Associate Editor, and I discussed the state of politics and answered questions. The biggest worry in the audience was that Starmer was simply Tony Blair in disguise, and was being run by Labours most successful Prime Minister in history via his think tank, the Tony Blair Institute. This was nonsense, I suggested. Blair was far too Right-wing for Starmer. Chatting afterwards, a number of attendees came up to me to make a point about what being Prime Minister of the country meant to them. We have to give him a chance, one Conservative voter said. He won, its good to end the chaos, and he is the leader now. As long as he is sensible, we will see how it goes. This is a very British view of politics and one I wholeheartedly support. The office of Prime Minister is one to be respected, politicians need time to affect change and following the psychodramas of Boris Johnson and the rest a period of calm would be very much welcomed. I wonder how that Conservative voter is feeling now. After a reasonable opening day speech about governing for everyone, Starmer has induced nausea. Freebie gifts revealed that it was still one rule for them. With no discussion or preparation, the Winter Fuel Allowance was scrapped for all but the lowest paid pensioners. A 22 billion black hole appeared to come as a shock to the Chancellor despite every sensible analyst saying before the election that the public finances were shot. The Budget raised taxes after Labour promises that it would not. I need to fix the foundations, Rachel Reeves told voters as the polls started slipping. Starmer agreed. Growth was everything and tough Labour would not be indulging in any U-turns. Even that gargantuan and ever-increasing benefits bill would be tackled. Being controversial can have a point in politics as long as you stick to the course. Starmer has done the opposite, the lead character in a political tragedy about a man who wanted to be king but did not know why. The PM has confused noise from opponents, backbenchers and pressure groups with the very different purpose of running the country. The result has been strategic chaos a disaster for anyone residing in Number 10. Where once he was positive about the effects of immigration, now he is talking about an island of strangers. Where the cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance were an absolute necessity now they will be at least partially reversed (although when and by how much will be a political running sore for months to come). The two child benefit cap is likely to be lifted. The UK will be in and not in the European Union. I speak to many senior Labour figures every week. They pinpoint the disastrous local elections as the moment Starmer buckled afresh, casting around in desperation for anything that might shift momentum. A caucus of Red Wall Labour MPs, led by Jo White, demanded changes, particularly to disability benefit cuts. We will not budge, Downing Street insisted, exactly as they had done over the Winter Fuel Allowance. Few believe that position will hold. Negative briefings are starting to swirl around Morgan McSweeney, Starmers chief of staff. Enemies point out, and there are many, that the hard choices approach has given way too easily to Ill U-turn if you want me to. Policies that MPs expended a lot of energy defending are now being abandoned, the quickest way to lose faith on the back benches. Nearly 200 Labour councillors lost their jobs in the May elections, a rich seam of angry activists who blame the man at the top. Starmer and Sweeney go back, to the dark days of the Hartlepool by-election loss in 2021 when Labour was trounced by the Conservatives. Starmer considered quitting and outsourced much of his political thinking to McSweeney, who picked him up and dusted him off. The Corbyn-lite approach that had won the PM the Labour leadership was jettisoned and sensible Starmer took its place, the dry technocrat who would focus on what works. Labour MPs of the modernising tendency fear Corbyn-lite is creeping back. Adrift in a sea of collapsing personal ratings, Starmer is trying his own form of back to basics the basics of all will have jam Left wing economics. We have no idea who is driving the bus, said one well placed Labour figure on the chopping and changing at the centre. It is not about jam today or jam tomorrow. With no growth there is no jam. Reeves is in an increasingly precarious position. She marched into the gunfire with a degree of political bravery, insisting that her decisions had to be taken to re-energise the economy. My Treasury sources insist there are glimmers of hope that the strategy is working. The first three months of the year saw growth above estimates. Business confidence has started to pick up. In the spending review on June 11, the Chancellor will announce billions of pounds in capital investment in transport hubs, energy, schools, hospitals and research and development. These are the right policies. The PM is striding in the opposite direction, creating a tension between Number 10 and Number 11 that never augurs well for good government. When Labour published its manifesto in 2024, the only person beyond Starmer himself to appear regularly in the glossy photographs was Reeves. Now it would be Angela Rayner, who is noisily demanding more tax rises. Like grief, governments travel through five phases. Euphoria, honeymoon, stability, degeneration, failure. Starmer has managed to leap-frog the first three and has entered degeneration well before the first anniversary of a victory which gave him a 171 seat majority. Even his allies look on baffled, failing to understand that government is difficult, that you cannot gyrate between policy positions and expect appalling poll numbers to improve. Leading requires courage, vision and an ability to communicate. Consistency is the prosaic truth that the Prime Minister has failed to grasp. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar with Sir Keir Starmer - PA Disillusionment with Sir Keir Starmers administration has helped push support for Scottish independence to a record high, a new poll has suggested. The survey found that support for separation from the UK is at 54 per cent when undecided voters are excluded, according to pollster Norstat. It found that fewer than one in five Scots plan to vote Labour in next years Holyrood election, following a calamitous decline in support for the party during Sir Keirs first 11 months as Prime Minister. Labour routed the SNP in last years general election, winning 37 of Scotlands 57 seats, but a series of controversial decisions, including the removal of the winter fuel payment, has led to a remarkable reversal of fortunes. The poll also found that support for independence would rise to 58 per cent if Nigel Farage were to become prime minister, giving the nationalists a 16-point lead over the Unionists. This would put John Swinney within touching distance of the support he has said would be required to force Westminster to allow another independence referendum. The Scottish First Minister said he would make the issue of Scottish separation central to the SNPs Holyrood election campaign over the year leading up to the contest. He has argued that the Government would have to drop its block on holding an independence vote if support reached similar levels to those achieved ahead of the 1997 referendum on devolution. This saw 74 per cent of Scots voting in favour of creating a Holyrood parliament and 63 per cent for it to have tax powers. Mr Swinney has said he wanted to open a debate about independence as Scots were feeling disaffected and alienated with Sir Keirs performance in government and the rise of Reform UK. The poll was published ahead of a Scottish Parliament by-election this Thursday, which is being viewed as a bellwether for next years Holyrood contest. Mr Swinney has claimed the contest in Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse is a straight fight between the SNP and Reform after Labours campaign collapsed. The poll, commissioned by The Sunday Times, found support for the SNP in both Holyroods constituency and regional votes had fallen by two points to 33 per cent and 28 per cent respectively. Labours support rose slightly to 19 per cent and 18 per cent respectively. However, Reform support has increased four points to 18 per cent in the constituency vote and three points to 16 per cent in the regional list. Mr Farages party remained ahead of the Scottish Tories, who dropped to only 13 per cent in the constituency vote and remained at 15 per cent in the regions. SNP leader John Swinney campaigning ahead of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on Thursday Prof Sir John Curtice, the eminent psephologist, projected the results would mean the SNP winning 54 seats, with Labour dropping to 20 seats and Reform gaining its first 18 seats in the Scottish Parliament. Meanwhile, the Tories would drop from being the second biggest party to the fourth, with just 17 MSPs, followed by the Lib Dems on 11 and the Greens on nine. The poll also gave Mr Swinney a minus seven net approval rating the difference between the percentages of people who think he is doing a good and a bad job. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwars rating was -25, Mr Farages -26, Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlays -32, Sir Keirs -39 and Kemi Badenochs -44. Sir John said the results showed that Mr Farage was not as toxic in the eyes of Scots as many of his rivals believe. He added: John Swinney is in pole position to remain Scotlands First Minister after next years Holyrood election, but his party is still struggling to recover from its sharp reversal of fortune last year. Key to the SNPs lead is the rise of Reform. Nigel Farages party is now breathing down Labours neck in the race for second place at Holyrood. Keith Brown, SNP deputy leader, said his party has momentum and Labour had lost the by-election. Dame Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labours deputy leader, said: This week the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse will get a chance to call time on SNP failure and choose a new direction with Scottish Labour. Its clear the SNP does not deserve to win this by-election and only Scottish Labour can beat them. A group of people thought to be migrants onboard a small boat leaving the beach at Gravelines, France At church on Sunday, we were asked to pray for refugees. I admit that, for the first time, I hesitated. Over the weekend, we have watched helplessly as hundreds of illegal migrants crossed the Channel with impunity. Even John Healey, the Defence Secretary, found these scenes pretty shocking. The monthly Universal Credit bill for households with at least one immigrant is now almost 1 billion. Our streets are disfigured by imported crime and conflict. It isnt easy to be a Good Samaritan when you feel that your country is no longer your beloved home, but a fairly insalubrious hotel. Indeed, the anger engendered by what I call border anxiety puts at risk everything that fills us with patriotic pride our ancient laws and liberties, our tolerance and sense of fair play and, yes, our kindness to strangers. Successive governments have been elected to control migration, but have proceeded to do the opposite. Simultaneously, we have dismantled or denigrated our own culture, our values and our traditions. The result is that we cannot integrate those who are already here, because we are losing the sense of what it means to be British. Unless we believe in ourselves, all we have is anarchy in public and parallel societies in private. The rage provoked by feelings of betrayal over uncontrolled migration is shattering the British political system, which the rest of the world used to envy and imitate. Yet it is fatal to our civility to give in to that rage: Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad. Instead of the fabled stability of our two-party parliamentary democracy, we seem now to be succumbing to a Continental-style chaos of four, five or more factions. A forest fire of fury has annihilated the old parties in France, Italy and other European nations. Why should Britain be immune? Fissiparous parties held together only by hostility are, ironically, prey to foreign powers. In Poland, the presidential election was overshadowed by the fact that the nationalist Law and Justice candidate, Karol Nawrocki, went to the Oval Office mid-campaign to pay homage to Donald Trump. Her masters voice, the US Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem, flew to Warsaw to insist that Karol needs to be the next president of Poland, while denouncing his liberal rival, Rafal Trzaskowski, as a train wreck of a leader. Trumps emissaries had already intervened in the German election earlier this year: both Elon Musk and J D Vance endorsed Alice Weidel, leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. When the German authorities accused the nationalist AfD of extremism, Washington protested again in the name of free speech. Meanwhile, the AfD has made no secret of its pro-Putin sympathies and the feeling is mutual, especially since the new conservative chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has emerged as a staunch ally of Ukraine. We dont want to see British politics dominated by the White House or the Kremlin. Nor do we want every other urgent issue from defence to the deficit to be subordinated indefinitely to migration. We need to reach a new consensus on how to deter or deal with illegal migrants as soon as possible. Undesirables who come here to commit crimes or exploit our generosity must be deported. Likewise, legal migration must be curtailed, citizenship earned and rules strictly enforced. Above all, we must rediscover the world we have lost: in which our history is not a tale told by ideological idiots, but the stirring narrative of a nation of pioneers, entrepreneurs and saviours. We worry about immigrants, but forget about the half a million emigrants we lose a year, many of them young families despairing of a society that has lost its own plot. Three of my four grandchildren are growing up in Poland, a land that has endured an incomparably harsher past than our own, but which celebrates its culture and inculcates old-fashioned good manners. No wonder it is predicted that the Poles will overtaken Japan in GDP per capita next year and will one day surpass Germany and the UK too. Given the polarisation of British opinion on immigration ever since the 1960s, achieving a robust consensus may seem a remote prospect. Yet it is actually well within our grasp. As I wrote here recently, Denmark has done exactly that with its Social Democrat-led coalition under the formidable Mette Frederiksen. She has demonstrated beyond doubt that banishing border anxiety, while restoring confidence in cultural identity and the nation state, do not need to be demonised as a far-Right crusade. Ms Frederiksen is indubitably a woman of the centre-Left, but she is first and foremost a Danish patriot. There are many grounds for doubting that Sir Keir Starmer is about to follow Ms Frederiksens example, but one of the strongest is the electoral calculus. Labours elites are wedded to the notion that their voters, who include millions of migrants and their descendants, would desert them if they adopted the Danish model. They are not entirely wrong many Labour MPs do face threats from Lib Dems, Greens and especially Islamists but this is a test of the Prime Ministers statesmanship. Ms Frederiksens predecessor, Helle Thorning-Schmidt (the wife of Stephen Kinnock MP), failed that test and lost. She is a historical footnote, while Ms Frederiksen is widely emulated. Equally, Reform UK is guilty of throwing out the baby with the bathwater. We must beware of belittling the huge contribution that those from overseas have made to this country. It is no accident that the last two Conservative leaders have had migrant backgrounds. There are many like them who are intensely proud of this country and have no time for those who claim asylum but are really gaming the system. It was Rishi Sunak, not Sir Keir, whose measures, passed before he left office, have halved the net migration numbers. Hence Kemi Badenoch is the politician who most deserves to be trusted to achieve a new settlement on migration. Her formula is the right one: to end the automatic path to British citizenship and introduce a legally binding cap on annual immigration. If any leader can lay the spectre of border anxiety to rest, its Kemi. The Texas House approved $8.5 billion in funding for public schools across the state, sending the bill to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk for signage into law. The final passage of House Bill 2 comes after years of stagnant funding for education establishments in the state. The fund would give schools more money to use for salaries of teachers and other staff, educator preparation, special education, safety requirements, and early childhood learning. Texas' $8.5 Billion Public School Funding The development comes on the heels of extensive negotiations between House and Senate lawmakers about how the bill's final version would look like. The Texas governor said he already plans to sign the bill once it reaches his desk. Abbott's statement about the bill is in contrast to two years ago when he and the Legislature decided to withhold billions of funding from public schools. This was after they had a failed attempt to create a private school voucher program, according to the Texas Tribune. On the other hand, lawmakers this year committed to approving vouchers and new public school funding at the same time. In a 122-13 vote, the state Legislature finalized the education finance package, nearly a month after vouchers officially became law. The money given by the new bill would allow school districts to start addressing some of their longstanding challenges. These include issues like budget deficits, insufficient salaries for employees, and rising operational costs. About half of the $8.5 billion fund will go to raising the salaries of the majority of teachers and non-administrative staff. Republican lawmakers say that the package represents the largest single increase in public school funding in the history of the state, CBS News reported. Addressing Yearslong Issues Another $500 million will be used by school districts to raise the salaries of entry-level teachers and other non-administrative staff. The bill also includes language talking about a significant overhaul of the state's special education programs. It aims to improve services and support for students who have disabilities. Before the package was passed on Thursday, Rep. James Talarico asked about the bill. He highlighted that public schools have been in a dire situation that is a result of stagnant funding since 2019. He worked to have Republican Rep. Brad Buckley, the sponsor of the bill, answer why the GOP-led Legislature did not pass major school funding between then and now. Buckley's reply focused on the new bill's investments in the basic costs of running schools and giving teachers the salaries they deserve, as per CBS Austin. France has failed to deliver on its promise to change its laws so that police officers can stop migrant boats in shallow waters - Gareth Fuller/PA Wire Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to suspend Britains fishing deal with the EU until France stops migrant Channel crossings. On Monday, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, will challenge the Government in the Commons to halt the controversial fishing deal until France makes good on its pledge to intervene and stop small boats at sea. France has committed to changing its laws so that police officers can stop the boats in shallow waters. They have previously refused to do so and instead shepherded migrants to the middle of the Channel, where they have been rescued by Border Force and RNLI boats. But France has so far failed to deliver on its promise despite the UK putting up 480 million over three years to fund extra officers and surveillance equipment on the beaches to stop migrants. On Saturday, French officers were seen standing on the beach taking pictures as a record 1,194 migrants set off and crossed the Channel to be rescued and brought ashore by British vessels. France stopped just 184 migrants from leaving on Saturday less than 15 per cent of the total 1,378 who attempted the crossing. Local media reported that two gendarmes were injured while trying to stop a migrant boat from setting sail from Audinghen, near the Trou du Nez. The two gendarmes were stoned by the migrants, said Marc Sarpaux, the towns mayor. Credit: PA The 1,194 people who landed on British shores on Saturday brought the total so far this year to 14,811 the highest ever recorded in the first five months of a year and up 42 per cent on this time last year. So far this year, France has intercepted just 38 per cent of migrants down from 45 per cent last year, 46.9 per cent in 2023 and 42.4 per cent in 2022. Time for Government to get serious Mr Philp told The Telegraph: The French are completely failing to stop these illegal immigrants, despite receiving hundreds of millions of pounds from the UK taxpayer to do so. They are also failing to intercept any boats at sea and return them as the Belgians do. Its time for the Government here to get serious about this. The 12-year fishing deal the UK Government recently proposed with the EU, which is itself outrageous, should be immediately suspended until the French actually stop all these illegal immigrants, including using interceptions at sea. And if they wont, the fishing deal should be cancelled. Ill be putting this to Yvette Cooper [the Home Secretary] in Parliament on Monday. This Government is so weak they surrendered our fishing rights to the French for 12 years while at the same time the French stand by and watch tens of thousands of illegal immigrants flood into the UK. Its time for this madness to end. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, said the French were taking Britain for fools. He has previously proposed drafting in the marines to pick up migrants and return them to the French beaches. He told The Telegraph: Since 2015 we have pledged and given the best part of 800 million to the French. Yesterday, their officers watched like tourists as over 1,000 young men made the illegal crossing to England. We are being taken for fools. We paid them to stop the boats. They only make a half-hearted effort to do so. UK pushing France to deliver on its pledge On Sunday, John Healey, the Defence Secretary, said the UK was pushing France to deliver on its pledge to start intercepting the small boats at sea, as he admitted that Britain had lost control of its borders. Speaking on Sky News, he called Saturdays scenes pretty shocking and blamed France for allowing smugglers to scoop up migrants like a taxi service. I think yesterday tells us a really big problem, which is, youve got French police unable to intervene and intercept the boats when theyre in shallow waters, he said. That means we saw it. We saw the smugglers launching elsewhere and coming around like a taxi to pick them up. Truth is, Britains lost control of its borders over the last five years, and the last government last year left an asylum system in chaos and record levels of immigration. Mr Healey said France had agreed to change the rules so police could intercept boats in the water as well as on shore, but had not yet put that into effect. Theyre not doing it, but for the first time for years, weve got the level of co-operation needed, he said. Weve got the agreement that they will change the way they work, and our concentration now is to push them to get that into operation so they can intercept these smugglers and stop these people in the boats, not just on the shore. Videos on TikTok showed migrants packed onto small dinghies smiling while making the dangerous crossing. The crossings come less than three weeks after the Prime Minister published the Governments plans to reduce net migration and toughen the requirements for migrants to work, live and study in the UK. They also come ahead of a critical by-election in Scotland on Thursday, at which Reform UK is seeking to repeat its success from the local elections in England. Defence Secretary John Healey visits RAF Akrotiri The danger with any defence review is that it ends up fighting the last war or failing to anticipate the next threat. We are about to have the third in 10 years, which suggests the long-term planning that supposedly underpinned the previous reviews has been found wanting. The current review has been undertaken by, among others, Lord Robertson who as Labour defence secretary under Tony Blair oversaw an earlier iteration completed in 1998. It created the Joint Reaction Force and most controversially commissioned two new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers seen at the time as a sop to Scottish shipyards and Labours MPs north of the Border. One of those carriers, HMS Prince of Wales, together with accompanying strike group, is on an eight-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific at a time when tensions with China are growing. The US defense secretary Pete Hegseth has somewhat alarmingly suggested that a possible assault on Taiwan is imminent. This has been denied in Beijing but the military build up is ominous and is causing concern in the region. Australias defence minister has called on China to explain why it needs to have such an extraordinary military build-up. His counterpart in the Philippines has called China absolutely irresponsible and reckless in its actions. In the face of this development, the 6 billion investment in carriers able to project UK power as part of a wider coalition designed to stop Chinese expansionism does not seem such a poor investment after all. It has taken close to 30 years for the threat to materialise in the way it has, which is precisely what a strategic review is supposed to do look to the long term. The latest takes place against the backdrop of Russias invasion of Ukraine, something that was considered highly unlikely as recently as the 2015 review, even though by then Crimea had been annexed by Moscow. Anticipating the threats to national, regional and global security is difficult but they have not really changed that much in the past three decades. The biggest upheaval is in the willingness of the US to continue bankrolling the rest of the democratic world, which it is no longer prepared to do. The new reality is that much more money needs to be spent on defence than the 2.5 per cent of GDP promised by the Government. Unless we see a financial commitment commensurate to the threat this latest review risks foundering before it takes off. Ukraine has launched a large-scale drone attack against Russian military bombers in Siberia, striking more than 40 warplanes thousands of miles from its own territory, a security official has said, after it smuggled the drones to the perimeter of the airfields hidden in the roofs of wooden sheds. On the eve of peace talks, the drone attack on four separate airfields was part of a sharp ramping up of the three-year war, with Russia launching waves of drones at Ukraine, while Moscow said sabotage was to blame for two train derailments that left seven people dead. Video from several military airfields across Russia showed destroyed aircraft and planes engulfed in flames, though the full extent of the damage remained unclear. Among the more than 40 aircraft reportedly hit were Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic bombers, which Russia uses to fire long-range missiles at Ukrainian cities. Ukraines SBU domestic intelligence agency said it had hit Russian military planes worth a combined $7bn (5.2bn) in the wave of drone strikes. If the extent of the damage is confirmed, the attack would mark Ukraines most damaging drone strike of the war to date, amid an escalation in cross-border incursions before a new round of direct negotiations in Istanbul on Monday. A Ukrainian official provided video footage to media reportedly showing the strikes, in which Reuters said several large aircraft that appeared to be Tu-95 bombers were on fire. The Tu-95 was originally developed to carry nuclear bombs and now launches cruise missiles. Several Russian and Ukrainian media outlets reported that Ukraine carried out the operation by launching drones from lorries parked near military airfields deep inside Russia. Ukrainian officials told the media that the operation codename Spiderweb had been in preparation for more than 18 months. The drones were first smuggled into Russia and later concealed under the roofs of small wooden sheds which were loaded on to trucks and driven to the perimeter of the airbases. The roof panels of the sheds were lifted off by a remotely activated mechanism, allowing the drones to fly out and begin their attack, the official said. Media reports said Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had personally overseen the sophisticated operation. On Sunday evening he thanked everyone involved, adding: We had been preparing the operation for more than a year and a half. Planning, organisation, all the details were perfectly prepared. I can say for sure that this is a completely unique operation. He said that the office of Ukraines operation in Russia had been located right next to the FSB office in one of (Russias) regions. In total, 117 drones were used in the operation. And a corresponding number of drone operators were working, he said. Thirty-four per cent of the strategic cruise missile carriers at the airfields were hit. Our people were operating in different Russian regions in three time zones. And our people were withdrawn from the territory of Russia on the eve of the operation, and now they are safe those who helped us. Photographs from Ukrainian security officials showed dozens of short-range quadcopter drones piled up in an industrial facility. Other images showed the wooden sheds with their metal roofing panels removed, and the drones sitting in the cavities between roof beams. A separate video posted on Russian Telegram channels appeared to show matching sheds on the back of a truck with the roof panels lying on the ground and at least two drones rising out of the top of the sheds and flying off. Mash, a Telegram channel with links to Russias security services, published footage that appeared to show men in Siberias Irkutsk region climbing on to one of the lorries in an attempt to prevent drones from launching. In one clip, filmed at the burning airbase in Olenegorsk in the Murmansk region, a Russian service person is heard saying: Its fucked here, as several bombers burn in the background. Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, Ukraine has been chronically outgunned by Russia in terms of military firepower. But it has developed a nimble and sizeable fleet of attack drones used to strike Russias army and energy infrastructure. The Belaya airbase targeted on Sunday in Irkutsk oblast is more than 2,500 miles (4,000km) from Ukraine. The Russian defence ministry confirmed that several of its military aircraft caught fire in the attack in the regions of Murmansk and Irkutsk. It added that there were no casualties and that several participants had been arrested. In March, Ukraine said it had developed a new drone with a range of 3,000km, without providing further details. Earlier on Sunday, Russian investigators said they believed explosions had caused two bridges in the border regions of Kursk and Bryansk to collapse overnight, derailing trains and killing at least seven people and injuring dozens. No one has claimed responsibility. Russian investigators were investigating the bridge blasts as acts of terrorism, according to state media. The Kremlin said the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, had been briefed throughout the night. Separately, tracks on the Unecha-Zhecha section of railway in Russias Bryansk region were damaged without casualties, the national operator, Russian Railways, said. Russia has been hit by dozens of sabotage attacks since Moscow launched its offensive against Ukraine in 2022, many targeting its vast railway network. Kyiv says railways are targeted because they transport troops and weaponry. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian air force said Russia had launched 472 drones overnight, the highest nightly total of the war so far, as well as seven missiles. Ukraines army said at least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed and more than 60 were injured in a Russian missile strike on an army training unit. Ukraine had previously refused to commit to attending a new round of direct talks in Turkey but on Sunday Zelenskyy said a delegation led by his defence minister, Rustem Umerov, would be in Istanbul. I have also defined our position before the Monday meeting in Istanbul, which includes priorities to reach a complete and unconditional ceasefire and the return of prisoners and abducted children, Zelenskyy said on social media. Related: Ukraine war briefing: New air assault on Kyiv The US president, Donald Trump, has put pressure on both sides to end the war and threatened to walk away if they do not, potentially leaving Kyiv entirely dependent on European aid. Reuters reported Ukrainian negotiators in Istanbul would present a proposed plan for reaching a lasting peace settlement, with the current frontline as the starting point for negotiations about territory. Citing a copy of the document laying out the Ukrainian position, it said there would be no future restrictions on Ukraines military strength, no international recognition of Russian sovereignty over parts of Ukraine taken by Moscows forces, and reparations for Ukraine. Last year, Putin set out his opening terms for an immediate end to the war, demanding Ukraine drop its Nato membership ambitions and withdraw all of its troops from all four Ukrainian regions claimed and mostly controlled by Russia. With Reuters and Agence France-Presse Credit: Social Media In an undisclosed location near the front line, Vanya, a Ukrainian soldier, traverses through a field covered in the traces of a deadly Russian weapon. Its not unexploded ordnance or landmines beneath his boots, however, but an endless stream of razor-thin fibre-optic cables, glistening in the sun while spooled out across the landscape. These are the lifelines of Russias most effective weapon fibre-optic guided FPV (first-person view) drones. Once an obscure experiment, these drones have become one of the defining weapons of the battlefield in recent months, impervious to jamming and able to strike targets far behind enemy lines with chilling precision. X/@GrandpaRoy2 Whats more, while Ukraine first pioneered drone warfare, its Russia that appears to have mastered this next phase. Our advantage in drones, which we have held since 2023, has been surpassed by the Russians, a senior non-commissioned officer with Ukraines 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, call sign Jackie, told The Telegraph. We did all the work of innovating drones as a weapon, but we did not scale this weapon fast enough on an industrial level for it to have a meaningful strategic effect. We were too slow. Pivot in drone warfare The dominance of fibre-optic drones marks a pivot in drone warfare. In 2024, Ukrainian and Russian production of traditional, radio-controlled FPV drones surged. But these drones relied on radio frequencies, meaning they increasingly fell prey to electronic warfare (EW) jamming. In fact, by the end of last year, up to 75 per cent of drones fired by Russia and Ukraine were being knocked out by jamming, according to military expert Pavlo Narozhny. Enter the fibre-optic drone a wired throwback to Cold War-era anti-tank missiles like the US-made TOW (Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided), but refashioned for modern aerial warfare. The drones themselves appear unremarkable quadcopters rigged with explosive payloads except for a large, cylindrical spool mounted underneath, feeding out a strand of fibre-optic cable as they fly. This physical tether between pilot and drone makes them impossible to knock out using jamming. A Ukrainian decoy designed to trick Russias drones The tactical implications are vast. Fibre-optic drones can fly into hangars, bunkers, dense urban terrain or tree cover with no loss of signal. Their camera feed is clearer. They dont emit detectable signals, meaning typical radio frequency detectors cant pick them up. And they dont expose the operators location. Theyre really great when you need to fly into some kind of building, like a large shed or hangar, to have a look inside if there is something there with the ability to strike it straight away, Oleksandr Skhid, an FPV drone team commander in Ukraines Achilles Strike Drone Regiment, told the Kyiv Independent. The same goes for other types of cover, and flying in forested areas. Technology isnt new The drones can typically travel up to 25km, comparable to the range of the most commonly used radio controlled FPVs, with a prototype developed by Ukraines 414th Strike UAV Battalion reaching up to 41km. The technology itself isnt new. In fact, Russia began deploying these makeshift drones after Ukraine launched its daring incursion into Kursk last August. But what makes the Russian deployment of these drones so dangerous is the recent increase in scale. Ukrainian fighters control an FPV drone during a combat mission in Zaporizhzhia. Last year the production of traditional FPV drones surged - NurPhoto/Getty Once seen as clunky and niche, they are now being mass-produced and have been deployed along key front lines. You can barely walk through the fields after fibre optic drones have flown through, Pasha, a senior instructor at Kyivs Dragon Sky UAV training centre, told the Telegraph. Russias ruthless deployment of the drones was on full display during the recent intensive push to drive Ukrainian forces out of Kursk in an effort led by Russias elite Rubicon drone unit. Footage captured in March showed a Ukrainian vehicle packed with soldiers hurtling along the R200 road, which linked Ukraine to the town of Sudzha, its last remaining stronghold inside the Russian border region. Credit: Telegram/@Brigada83 It was hunted down and destroyed by a Russian fibre-optic drone, which was lying in wait on the side of the road. Within weeks, that same road was littered with the carcasses of vehicles destroyed in a similar fashion. The drones have also been responsible for the destruction of Ukrainian armoured vehicles and key weapons often deep behind the front line in locations radio-controlled drones would struggle to reach because of jamming and radio horizon. In Chasiv Yar, for example, the Rubicon unit destroyed one of Ukraines precious US-made Himars using a fibre-optic drone 10km behind the front line. They have pushed the safe zone to 10-15 km away from the front line, have made logistics and troop rotation more complicated and forced us to double down on digging deep down and disguising the locations and bunkers, a spokesperson for the Khartia Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard said. Theyre a game changer, agreed Uncle Sasha, a front-line FPV instructor and officer in Ukraines National Police Aviation Division. Everyone is trying to find countermeasures to fibre-optic drones we dont have them, and neither do the Russians. Credit: Russian Ministry of Defence / 'Rubicon' drone unit No silver bullet Despite their battlefield success, fibre-optic drones are no silver bullet. Theyre expensive just one fibre spool can cost $700 (520), enough to buy two conventional drones and their range is limited by the cable length. They are also heavier, and therefore often slower. To achieve the same speeds as a radio-controlled drone, a heavier fibre-optic drone must expend more battery power, limiting its range. As a result, most pilots flying fibre drones typically fly them at much slower speeds. They also have much lower manoeuvrability, due to the trailing cable, which must be precisely spooled to avoid tangles, and a strong wind can upend a stationary drone hunting its prey mid-mission. Fibre optic drones are very, very, very slow, explained Mr Narozhy, whose Reactive Post NGO provides spare parts to the Ukrainian military. At the start of the flight, the weight is well-centred, but by the end, its often off-balance. A soldier holds an optic fiber reportedly from an FPV drone in front of a damaged building on a street in Kostyantynivka - GENYA SAVILOV/GETTY There are signs that both sides are developing countermeasures, however rudimentary. In one case, a group of Ukrainian soldiers saw a Russian drone fly past them, recalled Pasha. They realised it was a Russian drone so just went out and snapped the cable. Ukraine is also experimenting with drone-catching fishing nets, wooden decoys, and even placing soldiers with shotguns near artillery systems, a solution so manpower-intensive it is near impossible to sustain. High-tech radar systems that can detect fibre-optic drones up to 20km away do exist but cost over a million euros each. Ukraine cannot afford to put this on every artillery station, Mr Narozhy said. Such systems also produce emissions that are easily detected by Russian radar detectors. Credit: Telegram/@Brigada83 Ironically, Ukraine may have had the head start. Fibre-optic drones were reportedly first conceived by Ukrainian engineers but shelved early on due to the effectiveness of cheaper, more agile FPV drones, and the absence of effective Russian jamming. Now, at least on the fibre optic front, Kyiv is playing catch-up. While Ukrainian drone teams and innovators have achieved great success at the tactical level, we have failed to leverage our tactical advantage into strategic success, said Jackie of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. The window of time we held this tactical advantage has now closed. Its possible we will achieve another level of technological innovation during this war, he added. But its not important that it works. Its important that we can scale it up so fast that the enemy cannot react to it. For Russia, the Rubicon-led development of fibre-optic drones is part of the Kremlins wider push to gain the upper hand in the battle for drone supremacy. Following the successful Kursk counter-offensive, Rubucions drone pilots now operate in at least seven specialist detachments across eastern Ukraine, carrying out complex, decentralised missions. FPV drones are controlled via a fibre optic connection, making them resistant to electronic warfare The Russian defence ministry has also established its own version of Ukraines unmanned systems forces to boost the use of all types of drones by Russias armed forces, with Andrei Belousov, the Russian defence minister, announcing the creation of a new military unit planned to be completed by July 1 this year. It is also worth noting that Ukrainian drones, both radio-controlled and fibre-optic, still retain their brutal effectiveness. With Russia currently on the offensive, Ukrainian drone pilots have an easier time striking infantry and armoured vehicles, while Ukraines own elite drone teams regularly strike Russian logistics vehicles, air defence systems, and artillery pieces deep behind the front line. Warning for the West In any case, the implications, as with many new developments in the war, extend beyond Ukraine. Western militaries, reliant on jamming and electronic warfare to counter drones, would be completely and totally vulnerable to fibre optic FPV drones, one Ukrainian source warned. All current counter-measures used by Western militaries, such as electronic warfare systems, are useless against such drones, and they have no experience operating in an environment where FPVs saturate the battlefield. In the meantime, Ukraine is racing to find an effective countermeasure that extends beyond using wooden decoys and shooting drones down with shotguns. This is a technological arms race and Russia, even if temporarily, has the lead. We were laughing at them before, said Pasha. But now its not funny. Still, hope persists. This is a big problem for us, said Uncle Sasha. But its a problem for the Russians too, and I think we will solve it. We will find a solution to protect us from this technology. For the citizens of Russias far-flung regions, filming it all on their phones, it scarcely seemed believable. Life in the villages of deepest Siberia or Russias Arctic north felt a world away from the front lines of their countrys war with Ukraine. Yet suddenly, as they went about the Sunday business, the war unmistakably and dramatically arrived at their doorsteps. From the roof panels of nondescript container lorries parked in quiet rural lay-bys, drone after buzzing drone rose nonchalantly into the sky before hurling itself at nearby airbases housing some of Russias most prized military assets. A few hardy onlookers scrambled onto the lorries, vainly trying to stop the tiny drones from completing their kamikaze missions. Most stood gaping as explosions echoed across the tundra. Five airfields came under attack on Sunday as Ukraine launched Operation Spiders Web, the most daring mission it has mounted on Russian soil in more than three years of war. Its target: Russias strategic bomber fleet, long considered beyond Kyivs reach. As plumes of smoke rose over the Olenya and Belaya bases and footage emerged of 75-million supersonic jets reduced to fireballs by drones costing only a few thousand pounds, the scale of the Kremlins miscalculation became clear. According to Ukrainian officials, as many as 40 of Russias most expensive and sophisticated bombers perhaps a third of Russias entire strategic bomber fleet were eliminated in the space of a few hours. The attacks came at a critical juncture, just hours before Russian and Ukrainian delegates were due to meet again in Istanbul. With Donald Trumps peace initiative already teetering flimsily, the talks have taken on a new complexion. Credit: Telegram / russianocontext Though the timing was most likely calculated to send a message, Ukrainian officials say planning on the operation began 18 months earlier. The final stage began a few weeks ago, when dozens of first-person view drones were smuggled into Russia under the supervision of Ukraines domestic intelligence agency, the SBU. Russias bombers had always been the target but adjustments were required after Moscow moved much of its strategic air fleet deeper inland to shield it from strikes. The drones were hidden in modified containers fitted inside commercial hauliers whose roof panels retracted at the push of a remote-control button. By all accounts, the drivers had no idea what cargo they were carrying. Residents near the Olenya base in Russias far north one of the targets described watching as a panicked driver ran in circles as drones launched, one after another, from the back of his lorry. The drones concealed inside shipping containers He later told police that he had been instructed to park his vehicle in a lay-by near the town of Olenegorsk where somebody would meet him. Not all of the lorries made it to their destinations, with videos showing at least two self-destructing en route. It was not the first time trucks had been used in the war. In 2020, a lorry carrying explosives was remotely detonated during an attack on the Kerch Bridge connecting Crimea to the Russian mainland. But this was rather more sophisticated. Reports suggest the drones had been trained using artificial intelligence to strike aircraft at their weakest points. The attack came so swiftly no Russian airman is believed to have reached the relative safety of the skies. Just weeks earlier, Russia had relocated many of its strategic bombers to bases deeper inside its territory. Olenya, located within the Arctic Circle, is more than 1,000 miles from the Ukrainian border; Belaya, in Siberia, 2,500 miles. Until Sunday Ukraine had never struck more than 1,000 miles inside Russia. A Russian man enters one of Ukraines drone trucks, and moments later a self-destruction mechanism ignites and the vehicle explodes The aircraft based at Olenya and Belaya were among the jewels of the Russian Air Force: the Tu-95 Bear, a long-range bomber capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads; the Tu-160 Blackjack, the largest combat aircraft in the world, and the Tu-22M3 Backfire, a supersonic workhorse. The Russians had not counted on Ukraines Mossad-like ingenuity or its desperation to retaliate against the bombers that had rained destruction on its cities. Operation Spiders Web did not rely on long-range drones or missiles, but on small, hand-held FPV drones relatively simple devices that have proved devastating on the battlefield. Ukrainian drone uses AI to pick the weakest spot of a Russian strategic bomber and then destroys it Russian military bloggers were quick to liken it to the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941. An exaggeration, certainly yet in terms of chutzpah, scope and possibly damage, the operation marked an unprecedented moment in the war. Ukraines security services had set a new bar of skill in conducting large-scale combat operations on enemy territory, Iryna Vereshchuk, deputy head of Ukraines presidential office, wrote on Telegram. This is not a knockout, but a very serious knockdown for the enemy. The Ukrainian claim of 40 destroyed aircraft awaits independent verification, yet whatever the finally tally, Ukraine has inflicted a humiliating blow on Russia and sent a powerful signal to its Western allies. 0206 Ukrainian attacks on Russian air bases In the days leading up to the strike, Ukraines cities had endured some of the most intense Russian bombardment of the war. Dozens had died, children among them. The Kremlin has shown no sign of relenting and is likely to take its vengeance in the coming days. As his envoys prepared for a second round of negotiations in Istanbul, Vladimir Putin seemed determined to project military dominance. Confident of victory, he ignored requests Kyivs requests to share his peace terms in advance. But hours before the talks began, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian leader, delivered a pointed message of his own. There had been coordinated attacks on Russian airfields before. On August 13 last year, Ukraine targeted four airbases in Kursk, Voronezh and Nizhny Novgorod. But all were within a few hundred miles of the Ukrainian border. Operation Spiders Web was conceived on a much grander scale. The night before the strike, Ukraine endured perhaps the heaviest aerial support of a bloody week. Kyiv reported that 472 drones and seven ballistic and cruise missiles had struck targets across the country. Twelve Ukrainian soldiers died in a separate attack on a training base on Sunday. But revenge would follow. Early that day, two transport bridges in the Russian regions of Bryansk and Kursk were blown up as trains passed, killing seven people. Russians officials blamed Ukraine. Yet those attacks were just a prelude. The main attack came hours later, with far greater effect. Among the planes destroyed, Ukrainian intelligence said, was an A-50 Mainstay, a 230 million Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft. The A-50 is essentially a flying radar and command post, critical to coordinating fighter jets and air defences. Russia only has a handful left. They are considered irreplaceable. Vasyl Malyuk, head of Ukraines security service, looking at a map showing a Russian military aircraft base - Getty Images According to Ukrainian intelligence officials, all those knowingly involved in the operation returned safely their mission accomplished in the most astonishing way. This was no Pearl Harbour. The Japanese attack killed 2,403 Americans and destroyed or damaged 347 US aircraft and 15 warships. A better comparison might be the 1942 SAS raid on the Sidi Haneish airfield in Egypt, when British commandos destroyed or damaged 40 Luftwaffe aircraft using machine-gun-mounted jeeps. It was not a turning point in the Desert War but it boosted morale, disrupted Axis logistics, and helped forge the legend of the SAS. Operation Spiders Web might have a similar impact. Ukraine will now approach the Istanbul talks with renewed confidence. Hours after news of the attack broke, Mr Zelensky confirmed his delegation would attend, naming Rustem Umerov, his defence minister, as its head. Mr Umerovs presumed involvement in the operation will no doubt discomfit the Russians seated across from him. Ukraines ability to to strike so deeply and with such apparent ease is clearly an embarrassment. It exposed vulnerabilities at what should have been among Russias best-protected military installations. Smoke rises following a drone attack on a military unit in the Sredny settlement - Governor of Irkutsk Region/Reuters The damage was not just symbolic. Russias long-range strike capabilities have been degraded. A significant financial cost has been incurred. It is possible that Ukraine has inflicted material damage of more than 1 billion. Even in a country where public dissent is not tolerated, such a debacle may well provoke recriminations within the armed forces and Russias influential military bloggers. Granted, Russia still has dozens of strategic bombers. But they may now have to be moved even farther east. Even then, the nagging suspicion will remain that nowhere in Russia is truly safe. That fear will be felt acutely in the the civilian populations of Siberia and Russias far north regions that, until now, seemed far removed from the conflict. The war has arrived at their doorstep. Donald Trump doesnt like to read, NBC was told. The White House said that was laughable reporting - Doug Mills/New York Times/Bloomberg The White Houses intelligence chief is said to be considering turning Donald Trumps routine briefings into a Fox News-style broadcast, with animations of exploding bombs, to make it easier for him to follow. Tulsi Gabbard is looking to revamp the presidents daily brief so it mirrors a television broadcast because he doesnt read, NBC News reported, having spoken to five people with direct knowledge of the discussion. One idea includes hiring a Fox News producer to produce a briefing that could include maps and animations of exploding bombs. Currently, the presidents daily brief is a digital document that includes written text as well as graphics and images. Mr Trump has read the daily brief 14 times since his inauguration, or on average less than once a week less than his predecessors. The problem with Trump is that he doesnt read, one source told NBC. Hes on broadcast all the time. Donald Trump speaks after Tulsi Gabbard is sworn in as director of national intelligence in the Oval Office - Andrew Harnik/Getty Ms Gabbard believes that cadence and a distrust of intelligence officials, which stretches back to his first term, may reflect his preference for consuming information in a different form, the sources said. They also said that even if the presentation of the presidents daily brief changes, the information included would not. Asked for comment, Olivia Coleman, the press secretary of the director of national intelligence, said in a statement: This so-called reporting is laughable, absurd and flat-out false. In true fake news fashion, NBC is publishing yet another anonymously sourced false story. The presidents daily brief was tailored for Mr Trump in his first term to include less text and more pictures. Ms Gabbard is said to have discussed more changes, including entertaining some unconventional ideas, as part of reforming the briefing. Davis Ingle, a White House spokesman, said: President Trump has assembled a world-class intelligence team, who he is constantly communicating with and receiving real time updates on all pressing national security issues. Ensuring the safety and security of the American people is President Trumps number one priority. Betye Saar (left) and Altadena, California. Composite: Bethany Mollenkof for the Guardian/Getty Images On the walls of the gallery, Keni Arts Daviss watercolors show Altadena before and after the fires. There is a local hardware store, a beloved diner, the quirky local Bunny Museum, which held tens of thousands of rabbit-related items. Then, in gentle strokes of paint, there is the wreckage of each place: rubble, charred beams, burnt-out cars. Davis labels each of these images BFA, beauty from ashes. Those post-fire ruins are gone now, too: Altadena, a historic Black community in Los Angeles that lost nearly 10,000 structures, including more than 6,000 homes, in Januarys Eaton fire, is slowly being prepared for rebuilding. Now all the rubble is gone, and its just flattened out, said Dominique Clayton, the curator of Ode to Dena: Black Artistic Legacies of Altadena, a long-running exhibit at the California African American Museum. Im so glad he painted the before and after. Now those buildings have been demolished. Ode to Dena aims to capture the rich creative legacy of Altadena, a community that for decades nourished Black artists, performers, writers and activists, from Eldridge Cleaver and Sidney Poitier to Octavia Butler. The small town, nestled in the hills to the north of Los Angeles, offered Black families an early chance at home ownership in a region long defined by racial segregation and redlining. When neighborhoods that had offered Black families a chance to build generational wealth were reduced to ash in Januarys historic wildfires, it was a trauma that resonated far beyond the city. Locals immediately feared that the gentrification of Altadena would be accelerated by the destruction, and that the pre-fire community would be pushed out and longtime Black residents scattered, while the town was rebuilt for wealthier newcomers. But Altadenas close-knit community immediately rallied to prevent this double destruction, drawing on a wide range of allies and supporters. While Donald Trump chose not to visit fire survivors in Altadena, limiting his presidential tour to the destruction in the wealthier Pacific Palisades, organizations such as the NAACP and BET Media raised funds, and multiple arts institutions, including Frieze LA, stepped up to document the effects of the fires and highlight the work of artists who had lost their homes and studios. Related: Altadena is not for sale: LA residents fear being forced out by wildfire rebuild The California African American Museum exhibit, which runs through October, is part of this broader effort. The show highlights not only the prominent Black visual artists with connections to Altadena, but also the deep connections among them. Several of the artists have multiple generations of their family in the show, including textile, performance and portraiture artist Kenturah Davis, whose fathers watercolors and mother Mildred Peggy Daviss quilt work are both included. The oldest artist on display, the assemblage artist and printmaker Betye Saar, is 98 years old. The youngest, Kenturah Daviss son Micah Zuri, is two years old. While many of the artists in the show, including Charles White, Kenturah Davis, Martine Syms, American Artist, and Saar and her daughter Alison Saar, are already well-known in the art world, others are just beginning to enter the industry, or have little connection to traditional galleries and museums. When she was assembling the show, Clayton said, every single one of the artists that I talked to, would talk about three or four other people that Id never even heard of. Thats how closely connected that they are, and how concerned and familial they are. In the African American community, even in our loss, were looking out for each other, she added. Altadena resident Capt James Stovall V, for instance, is a brand-new emerging artist, Clayton said, whom Kenturah Davis met at an artists residency in New Haven, Connecticut. Before she worked on the exhibit, Clayton had not been familiar with the work of La Monte Westmoreland, an older Altadena artist and longtime friend of artists John Outterbridge, the former director of the Watts Tower Art Center, and White, a nationally prominent African American artist. Now I see his work, Im obsessed with it, and I see how much its inspired by the work of his peers, she said. They were all close friends and spent so much time together. Another artist on display, Liz Crimzon, is a graphic designer at Nasas Jet Propulsion Lab. Hiking in the Angeles national forest was a crucial part of daily life for many residents: Januarys wildfire started in Eaton Canyon, which had a popular hiking trail. Crimzons nature photographs documented details of that landscape, which was also destroyed by the fire. Clayton said it was crucial to her that the Altadena exhibit include Black artists who were not yet famous or commercially successful. The Eaton fire didnt only affect the most celebrated artists it affected everybody, she said. More established artists were likely to have the means and resources to start over. A lot of other artists dont have gallery representation. They dont have families with extra room to store all of their stuff. Those are the people I worry about. When she was putting the exhibit together in early spring, Clayton said, many of the Altadena artists whose homes were standing after the fires were still living elsewhere. In the immediate aftermath of the devastation, gas lines and water lines had been shut off in parts of the community. A lot of artists were staying in other places. Now, six months after the blaze, more people have returned to their homes, or to the land where their homes once stood, and are assessing how to continue. How safe the post-burn areas are is an unresolved question. Everyone is concerned about the air quality, the soil, the water, Clayton said. But Altadenas creative community has also seen new growth after the fires: artists like Westmoreland have held solo shows of their remaining work, Clayton said. Old connections have also been strengthened. Betye Saar, now a prominent artist, had designed album covers for the jazz musician Bennie Maupin in the 1970s. Maupin, who lost his home and instruments in the Altadena fire, reunited with Saar at the exhibitions first weekend, and they had a little jazz concert, Clayton said. Maupin started playing a flute he had been gifted after the fire, and Betye kicked her walker to the side and started dancing Fifty-something years later, to be in front of the same album, dancing and playing it was like no time had passed. Culture, especially minority culture, is at risk for erasure and loss, Clayton said. We have to double down with cultural preservation. A demoralised Lewis Hamilton described his latest Ferrari horror show at Sundays Spanish Grand Prix as one of the worst races he has ever experienced. Hamilton was ordered by Ferrari to move aside for team-mate Charles Leclerc on lap 10 and was then passed by Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg in the closing laps. Hamilton finished seventh but moved up one place to sixth in the final classification following Max Verstappens sanction. After all that drama let's take a look at our top in Spain! #F1 #SpanishGP pic.twitter.com/Ces37N1VtF Formula 1 (@F1) June 1, 2025 Leclerc took the chequered flag in third to land his third podium of the season, but Hamilton is yet to take a top-three finish in nine Ferrari starts. He is 23 points behind Leclerc, and 115 adrift of championship leader Oscar Piastri. I have no idea why it was so bad, said 40-year-old Hamilton. That was the worst race I have experienced, balance-wise. Lewis Hamilton greeted England skipper Harry Kane before the race in Barcelona (Phil Duncan/PA) Quizzed as to whether he could take any positives from Sundays performance, the seven-time world champion replied: Zero. And then asked where he goes from here, Hamilton answered: Home. Hamilton had been able to take confidence from out-qualifying Leclerc for just the second time this campaign, and appeared in good spirits prior to Sundays race when he embraced England captain Harry Kane and Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka in the moments before the lights went out. He then moved ahead of former Mercedes team-mate George Russell at the opening bend to take fourth. But Hamiltons afternoon soon unravelled when he failed to match Leclercs speed, and he was told by race engineer Riccardo Adami to trade places with his team-mate. It is the second time this season that Hamilton has been ordered out of Leclercs way in a race. Hamilton won the sprint round in China in March, but his record in the main events so far for Ferrari reads 10th, disqualified, seventh, fifth, seventh, eighth, fourth, fifth and sixth. Hamilton added: The team did a great job and that is all I can say. I didnt have any speed at the end. Workers assemble aircraft fuselages in a large factory, with rows of partially completed planes lined up and people actively working on different sections. The scene is busy and industrial. The early 20th century was the golden age of American factory work a time when steel mills, textile plants, and assembly lines roared to life across cities like Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Chicago. Inside, machines clanged and sputtered as millions of workers clocked in each day in search of steady wages and a shot at the new American dream. As the countrys manufacturing sector grew, these factories churned out everything from automobiles and airplanes to household goods at breakneck speed. But behind the booming production and soaring profits lay a much tougher reality: Grueling hours, hazardous conditions, and even child labor. These 19 photographs capture both the promise and the price of Americas manufacturing heyday. 1. Photographer Lewis Hine Captures a Young Girl in a Textile Factory During the Early 20th Century Successful_Craft3076 2. In an Era Before Labor Laws, Children Like These Worked Long Hours in Dangerous Conditions Successful_Craft3076 3. In the Shadowy Depths of Mines, Boys and Mules Worked Side-by-Side to Keep the Coal Moving Successful_Craft3076 4. Another Reminder That Americas Industrial Rise Came at a Steep Human Cost Successful_Craft3076 5. Colorized Image of Child Laborers Working in a Glass and Bottle Factory in Indiana, 1908 UserDeleted 6. American Workers Standing Next to Machinery, Circa 1905 Keystone View Company/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images 7. Workers, Including a 15-Year-Old Boy, Pictured at the Pittman Handle Factory in Texas, 1913 Shorpy.com 8. Assembly Workers Putting In Hours at an Airplane Factory in Alexandria, Virginia, 1918 Shorpy.com 9. Machinery Used for Processing Lumber at a Factory in Pittsburgh, Circa 1910 Shorpy.com 10. Workers at a Fountain Pen Factory in Fort Madison, Iowa, 1935 Shorpy.com 11. A Factory Town Housing Workers for the Homestead Steel Works, Carnegie Steel Co., in Pennsylvania, 1910 Shorpy.com 12. Workers Pictured on an Assembly Line Inside the Ford Motor Company Factory at Highland Park, Michigan, Circa 1913 Hulton Archive/Getty Images 13. A Woman Works at a Radio Factory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Circa 1928 Shorpy.com 14. A Man Pushes a Crate While Working at a Stove Factory in Chelsea, Michigan, 1901 Shorpy.com 15. A Boy Works on Crafting Melon Baskets at a Melon Factory in Evansville, Indiana, 1908 Shorpy.com 16. Margaret Ciampa, 14-Years-Old, Finishing Flowers at the Boston Floral Supply Co., Factory, 1917 Shorpy.com 17. Men Work on Assembling Parts at a Factory in Dayton, Ohio, 1902 Shorpy.com 18. Workers Take a Break to Pose for a Picture at an Unidentified Shoe Factory in Brooklyn, New York, 1920 Shorpy.com 19. Another Young Boy Puts in a Shift at a Textile Factory, Early 20th Century Successful_Craft3076 Curious about other interesting historical content? Be sure to read 10 Photos That Capture the American Workplace in the 1970s. You might also like 15 Vintage Photos Discovered at Yard Sales and Thrift Stores and 13 Collecting Hobbies That Could Be a Smart Investment. The post 19 Photos From the Golden Age of Factory Work appeared first on Wealth Gang. Courtesy of Nazma Begum Clockwise from top: Jeju Island, in Korea; Positano, Italy; Lake Walansee, Switzerland For Travel + Leisures column Traveling As, were talking to travelers about what its like to explore the world through their unique perspectives. We chatted with Nazma Begum, who documents her adventures traveling with her husband and toddler on YouTube as HanaExplores, about what its like to see the world while wearing a hijab. Heres her story For the last 10 years, Ive been a hijabi, wearing what people call a scarf or hijab. I do it for religious reasons as I was born into Islamic faith as a Muslim. It has become part of my daily routine. Nobody forced me to do thisits something I understood going in. Wearing a hijab is a big commitment, so you shouldnt look down on someone if they don't. Some of my family members do, some dont. I made the decision during the month of Ramadan, when we dont eat or drink from sunrise to sunset. Its a holy time that acts like a reset for Muslims around the world. That year, I thought, I cover up for prayers, so why cant I do it all the time? Im quite comfortable wearing a hijab now. There are many different styles, even silk and other fancy materials. I enjoy styling it as well. Growing up, my parents didnt have the mentality of traveling much. I was born in Bangladesh, and my parents migrated to Singapore when I was about 6 years old. Wed take road trips to Malaysia and visit our hometown in Bangladesh. Whether it was cultural or them being protective, my family wasnt open to having a girl travel by herself or with her friends. But as soon as I graduated from university, I got married and my husband and I started traveling. Courtesy of Nazma Begum Moraine Lake is known for its natural beauty. Our first big trip was to South Koreawe wanted to experience snow. Unfortunately, we didnt see any, but I fell in love with traveling. I also love outdoor activities, like hiking and camping. You're going to get sweaty when you're hiking in a hijab, but it's doable. Once you reach the top and the wind is blowing, it feels amazing. I have a 2-year-old daughter now and I took her on her first flight to Singapore from Vancouver, where my husband and I moved in 2019, when she was just 7 weeks old. We have one-year maternity leave here in Canada, so I used that to the fullest. She was surprisingly good on the flight and impressed me. I was breastfeeding and somehow just knew how to soothe her when she was crying. When she was about 4 months old, we went to Japan in the fall to see the colors. It was beautiful. We visited Kyoto, Osaka, and the Japanese Alps. My daughter is not going to remember a thing, but I'm going to remember all of this. Another of my favorite places is Hawaii. I try to go every year. I cant swim, but I love to hang out by the beach. I also like snorkeling, and in Hawaii, the fishes come right up to the beach, so you dont have to go deep. But I make sure I'm still covered while enjoying myself. I wear what's called a burkiniit's like leggings and a long suit made of swimsuit material, and it covers your hair. If I need to change and there's no washroom, I have this pop-up tent where I can go in and change. My family and I are used to these challenges. My husband and I try and pack in a lot when traveling. We go from sunrise to sunset, and were adventurous. Its changed a bit with my daughter, but I enjoy traveling with her. Last year, we went to Oahu, and this year, we went to the Big Island, which is great for kids, especially toddlers. They love to play in the sand, then they get tired and its nap time, so they sleep in the car. When they wake up, they're at another beach. Weve had so many adventures. In the Italian Dolomites, my in-laws joined us and we rented a boat on a lake. The weather was so calm, but when we were in the middle of the lake, it changed and got so rockywe had to be rescued. Courtesy of Nazma Begum This was our second Island (Big Island), and Hawaii just hit differently. The warm weather, the food, the unique beaches, tropical fishes and corals. We loved chasing sunsets there. I think my daughter actually remembers these adventures. She says she remembers when Grandpa and Baba rowed the boat. She also remembers playing at the beach in the sand. I know a lot of parents don't want to travel after they have kids. Trust me, changing a diaper in a different location is better. You don't have to think about daily mundane tasks like laundry, changing sheets, and cooking. Plus, there's a better view. When we were in a small Italian town, it felt like everybody was looking at me. I dont think they were being rude; maybe they just hadnt seen a tourist with a hijab. I do attract a lot of attention. I know its difficult for some people who get stares and comments like, Go back to where you came from. Luckily, I havent really been in any unpleasant situations. I've had some issues at the border going into the U.S. from Canada, which can be a little unpleasant. Maybe its because of my Singaporean passport. It has been easier in places like Italy and Switzerland, where they have so many tourists from all over and see a lot of different people with different clothing. But in smaller places, like Jeju Island in South Korea, they stare because theyre curious. There are pleasant experiences, too. One time, I was in Vietnam and because of the hijab, they immediately knew I was Muslim, and said, Salaam, the Muslim greeting. Also, anytime I see any hijabis, we always smile at each other and give that silent greeting. Courtesy of Nazma Begum From left: Having the chance to don the traditional clothes of Vietnam was a lot of fun and the accompanying sunset made it all the better; Finding halal certified food in Japan was quite challenging, especially in remote parts like the northern alps region, but when we did find some, we enjoyed the local cuisine and really loved Japanese food. The other challenge of travel is that it can be difficult to find halal food. Pork is not halal, and chicken, lamb, or beef need to be slaughtered in the Islamic manner. We also dont consume any alcohol, so we have to check the ingredients. For instance, in Japan, sometimes the sushi rice has sake in it. We use an app to see if food is halal. We always try to do our research beforehand, but it can be difficult with itineraries. For example, you might be traveling south, but the halal place is in the north. You don't want to miss out on places just because you need to eat. That said, there are more places recognizing the fact that we, Muslim people, need to eat halal food. I can also always choose vegetarian pasta or tofu bowls. Theres always a way. Traveling doesnt need to stop. The idea of seeing so many different places makes me want to travel as much as I can. I want to show my daughter that traveling is easy and flexible, if you work your way around the challenges. Shes already adapted so much in two years. I go camping, boating, and snorkeling with her. There are moments shes scared, but I tell her, Im right beside you. Theres nothing to be afraid of. Im not going to force her to wear a hijab. It will be good if she wears it. I'd like to show her it's not going to stop you from doing anything that's safe and good for you, like seeing the world. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure The remains of a family who went missing during a 2024 vacation have been found inside a sunken boat in Alaska that capsized during the victims' trip. The report was released by the Alaska Dive, Search, Rescue, and Recovery Team. The Central Texas family was reported missing after the boat they were traveling on capsized off the coast of Homer, Alaska, in August 2024. Texas Family's Remains Found in Sunken Boat The parents were identified as David and Mary Maynard, who were with their two young sons during the trip. The incident happened roughly 16 miles west of Homer, Alaska. Authorities said there were a total of eight people on the boat and that a Good Samaritan vessel was able to rescue four of them. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted an active search and rescue for the family of four in August 2024 but it was suspended after there were no sightings. The team then tried to use sonar equipment to determine the location of the capsized boat but the initial search was not fruitful, according to Fox7Austin. The Wildlife Troopers then decided to enter the parents and their two sons, 11-year-old Colton Maynard and eight-year-old Brantley Maynard as missing persons. Support Vessels of Alaska, Vision Subsea, and Benthic Geoscience Inc. contacted the Alaska Wildlife Troopers in April 2025. They offered to provide access to their tools so that the Wildlife Troopers could continue their search for the missing boat and the Maynard family in Kachemak Bay. The group was able to locate the vessel in early May in 180 feet of water. They used a remotely operated vehicle to confirm that the vessel they found was actually the missing boat that had the Maynard family. Volunteers and the Alaska Wildlife Troopers then conducted dive operations on Tuesday and Wednesday to recover three sets of human remains, ABC News reported. Search for the Fourth Set of Human Remains The human remains were then transported to the Alaska State Medical Examiner's Office for positive identification and autopsy. The volunteer search teams were still looking for a fourth set of human remains of the other family member. Christi Wells, who gave out a statement on behalf of Mary Maynard's parents at the time of the first search attempts, said that the family enjoyed spending time together with friends and other family members. The mother was a traveling nurse and the father was the one who stayed at home and took care of the children and their lawn care business. A friend of the family, Cassandra Martin, said that she was devastated when she first learned about the news, as per CBS News. Youve likely heard your grandparents (rightly) complain that theyd never give up their favorite kitchen tools because they just dont make them like they used to. And honestly? I get it. My grandmothers baby pink stand mixer is still going strong after more than 50 years and could double as a TV prop. Its also reliably whipping cream every Thanksgiving. It got me wondering: what other old-school baking tools are worth scouting at garage sales and estate auctions? The kind of timeless equipment that still beats out newer versions sitting in my pantry today? I asked five Southern chefs and recipe developers to share their go-to vintage toolsand their picks might just inspire your next kitchen upgrade. The Runaway Favorite: Flour Sifter Whether youre baking our classic coconut cake or whipping up silky gravy, the hand-held sifter is the unsung hero of a busy Southern kitchen. With one hand, you can easily sift dry ingredients into wet, while keeping the other free to stir, hold the bowl, or tackle whatever else the recipe demands. Like most timeless tools, its a multitasker: breaking up clumps in flour or sugar and aerating the ingredients, leading to lighter, fluffier baked goods. I love the small hand-held sifters like my grandmother used, where you squeeze the handle and it sifts the flour into the bowl. - Anne Bryn, cookbook author in Nashville, Tennessee My step-grandma introduced me to a hand-held sifter when I was 13. Those old-school sifters require a firm grip and a bit of coordination, but once you get the hang of it, they work fast and efficiently. Whether Im making biscuits, gravy, or cakes like her Hummingbird or Texan carrot cake, I still use one. I sift flour, pastry ingredients, even roux and sauce basesits a must-have in my kitchen. - Timothy Loayza, private chef, Nashville, Tennessee My father was a professional chef, and my mother was a professional baker. I started "helping" her in the kitchen at a very young age (as she did with her mother). When my mother and grandmother baked their delicious cakes, pies, and tarts they always used a hand-held sifter. So, of course, that's what I learned to use. Now that I have my own culinary business, I still use a handheld sifter for all of my baking needs (for family, for recipe development, and during the virtual baking classes I host). -Angela-Michelle, private chef, Dallas, Texas Related: How and When You Need to Sift Flour The Modern Meets Classic: A Scale Beloved for its accuracy and consistency, weighing ingredients with a scale, whether a classic balance scale or a modern digital one, was once the only way to measure in the kitchen. (That is, until Fannie Farmer helped popularize volume measurements like cups and tablespoons!) Switching from cups and spoons to weighing ingredients might take a little adjustment, but its well worth the effort. Scales offer precision that measuring cups can't match, especially for baking, where exact amounts make a big difference. My favorite old-school baking tool is a balance scale . They are extremely durable and will last a long time, unlike digital options. Additionally, I feel like they help you visualize specific weights better, making you faster at scaling out dough in the long run! -Kevin Scollo, Owner and Baker, Independent Baking Co., Athens, Georgia If you find an old-fashioned balance scale at an antique mall, grab itbut I recommend getting a digital one too. Once you get used to digital accuracy, you can better understand how to use the manual version by matching weights like grams, pounds, or kilograms. Over time, try practicing with the old-school scale so you have a reliable backup in case the power goes out. Just make sure the strings, center piece, and rivets are stable and secure. If you can, pick up two old scales or buy a new one online. -Timothy Loayza, private chef, Nashville, Tennessee The Unexpected Hero: An Angel Food Cake Pan For anyone who has a classic family recipe (for us, its my grandmothers cranberry jelly mold) that was ruined once you switched cookware, Sheri Castle has the explanationand the old-school tool to fix it. Many vintage recipes were developed using lightweight materials and work differently than the heavier bakeware thats more common today. Swapping to a modern pan can sometimes mean the difference between success and a batter overflow. I adore a traditional, lightweight, light-colored metal tube pan, what some might call an angel food cake pan. It's the key to success with many classic cake recipes. I've had countless vexed bakers ask me what could possibly have gone wrong with a beloved family recipe. Most often, the culprit was that they "upgraded" to a fancier baking pan, such as a Bundt or an intricate Nordicware pan or something with a nonstick finish. None of those work well, if at all, with recipes originally developed to bake in lightweight aluminum. Plus, the capacity of newer pans is often less, which sends cake batter spilling all over the bottom of the oven. -Sheri Castle, recipe developer, cooking teacher, host of The Key Ingredient, Chapel Hill, North Carolina Get The Recipe Read the original article on Southern Living Emergency service workers at the scene of a bridge collapse in Russia's Bryansk region on Sunday. - Reuters Two bridges have collapsed in Russias western regions bordering Ukraine, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens, authorities said. It was not clear on Sunday morning whether the two incidents which both involved trains in neighboring Bryansk and Kursk were related, or what exactly caused the separate collapses. At least seven people were killed in Bryansk when a road bridge gave way onto a passenger train late Saturday, with railway authorities citing illegal interference. The bridge came down in the regions Vygonichi district, about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the Ukrainian border, crushing the moving train and injuring at least 66 people, including three children, Russian authorities reported. Bryansks regional governor Alexander Bogomaz blamed the collapse in his region on an explosion, saying the bridge had been blown up, according to state media. Bogomaz said on Telegram that 44 people had been hospitalized, with three in serious condition, including a child. The train was carrying 388 passengers. Among those killed in the incident was the trains engineer, Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti reported. The train was traveling from the town of Klimov to the capital, Moscow, when it was hit by the debris from the bridge and derailed, according to RIA. Images of the wreckage from the Moscow interregional transport prosecutors office show fallen earth, debris and concrete on top of what appears to be the passenger train, and derailed carriages as emergency services attend the scene. Moscow Railway said the collapse was caused by illegal interference in transport operations, without providing further details. Medics wait for the arrival of wounded passengers after a bridge collapsed onto a train in Russia's Bryansk region, in this picture released Sunday. - AP Passengers were evacuated from the wreckage and were taken to a temporary accommodation center at a nearby station, according to TASS. Railway workers later discovered damage to another section of railway track also in Bryansk region, Bogomaz said, adding that there were no casualties. In another incident overnight into Sunday, a bridge collapsed in Russias Kursk region which also borders Ukraine as a freight train was passing over it, injuring one of the drivers, according to the acting governor of the region. Part of the train collapsed onto a highway that was under the bridge, acting governor Alexander Khinshtein said on Telegram. The incident caused the train to catch fire and emergency service personnel worked to extinguish the blaze, he added. Putin received updates about the two incidents throughout the night from the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Russias emergencies ministry, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Sunday, according to state media. State media also reported that the Russian leader had discussed the incidents on the phone with Bogomaz and the head of Russian Railways, Oleg Belozerov. A damaged freight train is seen following a railway bridge collapse in the Kursk region of Russia. - Acting Governor of Kursk Region/Reuters In a third incident on Saturday night, a Russian military freight train was blown up near the occupied city of Melitopol in Ukraines Zaporizhzhia region, according to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine. As a result of the explosion, the train with fuel tanks and freight cars derailed on the railway track, the intelligence service said. The freight train was moving towards Russian-occupied Crimea via a key logistical artery often used by Russian forces, the authority added. Since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv has responded to Russian aggression by launching attacks using drones, artillery and troops into the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions. Pro-Ukrainian agents and sympathizers inside Russia have also carried out acts of sabotage against Russian targets. In 2023, a fire that ripped through a train as it traveled along a strategic rail tunnel in eastern Russia was attributed to the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), according to a Ukrainian defense source. Early Sunday, Russias Investigative Committee described both incidents as being caused by explosions and labeled them terrorist acts, state media reported. Subsequent statements from the committee removed those references, saying only that investigators were working at the scene of the incidents to establish all the circumstances of what happened. Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraines Center for Countering Disinformation, part of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, dismissed Russias earlier claim, saying: Once again, there is a temptation to portray us as a terrorist country in order to avoid dialogue. It seems that the Kremlin is preparing the ground for the collapse of the negotiations with a smear attack on Ukraine in the international media, he said. On Sunday, Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv would send a delegation to the second round of planned peace talks with Russia in Istanbul on Monday. The Ukrainian leader went on to list his countrys requirements in a post on X, which he said includes a full and unconditional ceasefire, the release of prisoners and the return of abducted children. Zelensky also said that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov would once more lead the Ukraine delegation. This story has been updated with additional developments. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, is doubling down on his concerns about a bill that would make sweeping changes to taxes, Medicaid, food stamps and more after it was passed last month in the Republican-led House at the urging of President Donald Trump. The more-than-1,000-page bill narrowly cleared the lower chamber on May 22. Now, it faces an uncertain future in the Senate, where some conservatives have raised concerns about the legislation's cost. "It's completely unsustainable," Johnson said in an interview on Fox's "Sunday Morning Futures." The bill is expected to add somewhere around $3 trillion to the deficit over the next 10 years and swell the federal government's debt. Still, the legislation would enact Trump's major campaign promises like eliminating taxes on workers' tips and overtime. It's likely to be one of the most significant pieces of legislation that will be passed during his second term in the Oval Office. Bartiromo on June 1 pressed Johnson on whether he was prepared to "blow up President Trump's agenda." "I want to see him succeed," Johnson said in response. "But again, my loyalty is to the American people, to my kids and grandkids. We cannot continue to mortgage their future." U.S. Sen Ron Johnson, R-Wis., speaks to the press after making remarks at the Milwaukee Press Club newsmaker luncheon on Wednesday May 28, 2025, at the Newsroom Pub in Milwaukee. Johnson has repeatedly called for the federal government to return to pre-pandemic levels of spending and said he was disappointed the House bill didn't go further in reducing the government's debt. Asked what the solution is, Johnson told Fox, "DOGE showed us how to do it. Contract by contract, line by line." U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk attend a press conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 30, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard Trump's billionaire former adviser Elon Musk recently ended his tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency. While the department has played a major role cutting into the federal bureaucracy, a longtime priority for the president, it hasn't come up with the bulk of the $2 trillion savings Musk had promised to deliver while on the campaign trail. Musk said in a May 27 interview with CBS he was "disappointed" by the Trump-led tax bill. I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both. My personal opinion, Musk said. Johnson's comments to Fox echo what he said a week earlier in an interview with CNN. The Wisconsin senator told anchor Jake Tapper he believed there were enough Senate Republicans who opposed the bill to hold up any potential vote. "I think we have enough to stop the process until the president gets serious about the spending reduction and reducing the deficit," Johnson said May 25. Contributing: Riley Beggin This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: GOP senator bashes Trump tax bill: 'Completely unsustainable' A male suspect was taken into custody on Sunday after multiple people were set on fire during an event calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza at a pedestrian mall in Boulder, Colorado, authorities said, in what the FBI earlier described as a "targeted terror attack." The suspect, identified by authorities as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, yelled "Free Palestine" during the attack, Mark Michalek, special agent in charge at the FBIs Denver field office, said during a Sunday night news conference. There were eight victims in the attack, ages 52 to 88, who were all transported to local hospitals. The victims suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious, and Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said at least two of them were airlifted to a hospital in the Denver area. Sunday's attack falls on the Jewish holiday of Shavuot and comes over a week after the slaying of two Israeli Embassy aides outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C. The attack occurred at a "regularly scheduled, weekly peaceful event," according to Michalek. He said witnesses reported seeing the suspect use a makeshift flamethrower and throw an incendiary device into the crowd. Earlier on Sunday, Boulder dispatch received several calls to the county courthouse on Pearl Street at around 1:26 p.m. local time, Redfearn said at an afternoon news conference. Initial reports indicated that there was a man with a weapon, and people were being set on fire at the scene. Responding officers encountered multiple victims who were injured with wounds consistent with burns and other injuries, Redfearn added. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement that the attack appeared to be a "hate crime given the group that was targeted." Weiser said the group meets weekly at the Pearl Street Mall in downtown Boulder to "call for the release of the hostages in Gaza." "Hate has no place in Colorado," Weiser added. "We all have the right to peaceably assemble and the freedom to speak our views. But these violent acts which are becoming more frequent, brazen and closer to home must stop and those who commit these horrific acts must be fully held to account." President Donald Trump has been briefed on the attack in Boulder, a senior White House official told USA TODAY. Michalek: FBI investigating the scene in Boulder Michalek said the FBI is processing the crime scene and the subject vehicle as well as interviewing key witnesses. "As a result of these preliminary facts, it is clear that this is a targeted act of violence and the FBI is investigating this as an act of terrorism," Michalek said. "Sadly, attacks like this are becoming too common across the country. This is an example of how perpetrators of violence continue to threaten communities across our nation." Several blocks remained closed off in downtown Boulder surrounding the county courthouse, according to Redfearn. Multiple teams, including canine, bomb squad, and hazmat, were in the area, Redfearn said. Authorities were still working on clearing the area for devices. Videos appear to show hectic moments following the attack Videos posted on social media appear to show the chaotic scene after a man attacked a group of people with a Molotov cocktail. In one video, a shirtless man in dark sunglasses believed to be the suspect holds two glass containers filled with a clear liquid and paces back and forth on a patch of grass, shouting at people nearby. Off to the side, bystanders appear to provide first aid to a person lying on the ground. The Anti-Defamation League, an organization that works to fight antisemitism and bias, said the 53-second video was shot after the attack. Read more here. 'My friends were burning and hurt' Aaron Brooks, of Boulder, was riding his bike when he heard someone yelling for a doctor and saw a friend running from the courthouse. Brooks said he often participates in the march, so he headed toward the courthouse to see what was going on. The attack had just happened, he said. "I saw smoke coming from the ground, blood on the ground, smoke coming from a person," Brooks said. "It looked like somebody was burning, and people were throwing water on her." Brooks said he also saw a shirtless man who was shouting and holding two bottles filled with liquid. He saw another man yelling and assumed they were together, although he later learned the second man was trying to stop the suspect. "I yelled at him, 'What are you doing? Why did you do this?'" Brooks said. "My friends were burning and hurt, and I got emotional." University of Denver buildings vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti Hours before the attack in Boulder, 18 to 20 buildings on the University of Denver campus were vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti. The vandalism took place either late Friday or early Saturday, said Adam Rovner, director of the universitys Center for Judaic Studies. Rovner said the graffiti was spread among buildings across the campus, including dormitories. It was not immediately clear whether the graffiti was tied to the attack in Boulder, which is about half an hour northwest of Denver. "In the wake of the murders in DC at the Jewish Museum and in the wake of this horrific attack on a peaceful vigil in Boulder, this kind of thing is what globalizing the Intifada means," Rovner said. "It means attacks on innocent people." It's 'the definition of antisemitism': People react to Israeli embassy shooting Boulder Jewish Community Center: 'We are saddened and heartbroken' In a statement on social media, the Boulder Jewish Community Center said it was in touch with law enforcement about the Jewish community in the city and noted that safety is its "highest priority." We are saddened and heartbroken to learn that an incendiary device was thrown at walkers at the Run for Their Lives walk on Pearl Street as they were raising awareness for the hostages still held in Gaza, the Boulder Jewish Community Center said. Run for Their Lives is an organization that facilitates global running or walking events calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza, according to the organizations website. The website states that local communities meet once a week for a 1-kilometer walk or run while wearing matching t-shirts and carrying flags of the countries where the hostages are from. The events are shared on social media by local organizers. "The term 'Run' is symbolic, emphasizing that the hostages cannot run for their lives," according to the website. "We run or walk on their behalf, because they cantand to act before its too late." ADL: Suspect appeared to say victims are 'killers' An organization that works to fight antisemitism and bias said in a statement that it has reviewed videos of the suspect believed to have thrown the Molotov cocktails. "We believe he can be heard saying, 'How many children have you killed?' 'We need to end Zionists,'" the ADL said. The organization said the man also gestured toward what appeared to be victims of the attack and proclaimed: "They are killers." 'There was a lot of people out a very beautiful day' At 2:08 p.m. local time, the Boulder Police Department said in a post on X that they responded to a report of several victims near the Boulder mall, about 30 miles northwest of Denver. Pearl Street is a four-block pedestrian mall that stretches from 11th Street to 15th Street. Multiple businesses and restaurants, as well as the Boulder County Courthouse, are located in the area. About an hour later, the police department said it was evacuating several blocks around the area between Walnut and Pine streets as they continued "to investigate this active incident." "There was a lot of people out a very beautiful day," Redfearn said, adding that there was a group of people that were conducting a peaceful demonstration in support of Israeli hostages. The police chief said he believed the demonstration occurred frequently in the area. Redfearn called the incident "unacceptable," noting that it was too early for police to speculate on a motive. Police gather, after an attack that injured multiple people, in Boulder, Colorado on June 1, 2025. Incident comes amid heightened tensions across the U.S. Dan Bongino, the FBI's deputy director, said on X that the agency's leadership team was on the ground in Boulder and would soon have an update on the attack. "This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts," Bongino said. "We will speak clearly on these incidents when the facts warrant it." Civil rights and advocacy groups have reported a surge in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. According to Israeli tallies, the attack killed about 1,200 people, and 251 Israelis were taken hostage into Gaza. Israels subsequent military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians and has destroyed much of the enclave, said Gaza health officials. The attack also occurred after two Israeli embassy employees were fatally shot in Washington, D.C., on May 21. The victims were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the suspect opened fire, killing Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. The suspect shouted, "Free, free Palestine" while in custody, authorities said. Israeli embassies immediately increased security measures following the incident, USA TODAY previously reported. Just days after the shooting, federal authorities announced that a dual U.S. and German citizen was arrested in New York for allegedly attempting to firebomb a branch office of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel. Fatal DC shooting: Shooting victim Sarah Milgrim remembered as 'a light' who fought antisemitism Gov. Polis: 'Heinous and targeted act on the Jewish community' Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement on social media that the state was working with local and federal law enforcement to support the investigation. The governor condemned the attack and called for the suspect to be prosecuted to the "fullest extent of the law." "My thoughts go out to the people who have been injured by this heinous and targeted act on the Jewish community. Boulder is strong," Polis said. "We have overcome tragedies together and will get through this together as a community." "As the Jewish community reels from the recent antisemitic murders in Washington, D.C., it is unfathomable that the community is facing another antisemitic attack here in Boulder on the eve of the holiday of Shavuot," the governor added. "Several individuals were brutally attacked while peacefully drawing attention to the plight of hostages who have been held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza for 604 days." The Anti-Defamation League said it was monitoring the situation as we approach the holiday of Shavuot. "We are aware of reports of an attack at today's Boulder Run for Their Lives event - a weekly meeting of Jewish community members to run/walk in support of the hostages kidnapped on 10/7," the organization said on X. According to Jewishcolorado, a Denver-based non-profit that is part of the Jewish Federations of North America, the Run for Their Lives walk is a repeating event in downtown Boulder. "We have been walking in Boulder, CO since Thanksgiving 2023 to show solidarity for the plight of the hostages still being held in Gaza," according to the organizations website. "We will continue to walk until all hostages are released." (This story was updated to add new information.) Contributing: Christopher Cann, Joey Garrison and Charles Ventura, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colorado attack: 8 injured in attack on Israeli hostages event A dose of Covid-19 vaccine from a vaccination clinic in the Kansas City area. (Tammy Ljungblad / Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) Moderna announced this weekend that the Food and Drug Administration approved its lower-dose Covid-19 vaccine for adults 65 and older, as well as people ages 12 to 64 with at least one medical condition that increases their risk for severe Covid. The approval, which is limited to individuals who have previously received a Covid vaccine, was granted by the FDA on Friday. Moderna said in a Saturday press release that the new vaccine should be available in the U.S. in time for the 2025-26 respiratory virus season, which starts in the fall. Moderna is also updating its original vaccine to target the LP.8.1 variant this fall. The company submitted an application in May for the FDA to approve the updated formula. The newly approved vaccine, mNEXSPIKE, contains one-fifth of of Modernas original Covid vaccine dose, Spikevax. It is intended as an alternative for individuals who prefer a lower-dose option, not as a replacement for existing Covid vaccines. But young, healthy adults wont be eligible to receive it, despite their inclusion in Modernas clinical trial. The FDA imposed similar limitations on Novavaxs Covid vaccine when it approved the shot last month. But Friday marks the first time the FDA has greenlit a vaccine since the Trump administrations call for tighter restrictions on vaccine eligibility and approvals. The FDA said last month that it would limit its approval of updated Covid shots moving forward to older adults and younger people with underlying medical conditions. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also announced last week that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would no longer recommend Covid vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women. The CDC website appears to soften that recommendation, suggesting that parents can speak with a doctor about vaccinating children 6 months and older. The Trump administration has also said new Covid vaccines must undergo clinical trials with an inert placebo meaning some participants would receive the new vaccine while others would receive an inactive substance like saline, to compare results. Many new vaccines are tested against older, approved versions, a method considered to be more ethical since using an inert placebo would mean withholding the benefit of a vaccine from study participants. Modernas new vaccine was tested this way, using whats known as an active comparator. In a trial of around 11,400 participants ages 12 and up, the new vaccine generated higher antibody levels than the companys original Covid shot, according to Moderna. The company also said the new vaccine had fewer local reactions, which typically include redness or swelling at the injection site. Systemic reactions, which may include fever, headaches or chills, were comparable between the shots. The main side effects of mNEXSPIKE were injection site pain, fatigue, headache and muscle pain, Moderna said in its press release. After taking a second mortgage and maxing out credit cards, Brian Murphy has turned ReliaQuest from near failure into a $3.4 billion enterprise exploring an IPO. (Courtesy of ReliaQuest) Gen Xer Brian Murphy built ReliaQuest into a billion-dollar firm off the heels of credit card debt, a state education, and DIY programming skills. Now his company is now valued at $3.4 billion and headed down an IPO pathway. The secret? Recognizing failure is inevitable, he tells Fortune. Brian Murphy couldnt have started his company at a worse time. It was late 2007, and Murphy had just quit his cushy corporate accounting job with big plans to build out his own information technology firm called ReliaQuest. But the financial crisis had other ideas. In a 40-day period, nearly all of his business disappeared into thin air, leaving him and his eight employees scratching their heads on how to stretch one single government sub-sub-contract focused on cybersecurity of overseas satellite terminals into a sustainable business. And despite turmoil for nine years, he didnt throw in the towelhe doubled down on his belief that a growing digital age would cause a cyber explosion. At some point, youre far enough away from shore. Youve already burned the lifeboats that you know swimming back isnt really possible, so lets just keep moving forward, Murphy tells Fortune. Along the way, Murphy was forced to take out a second mortgage on his house, max out his credit cards, and eliminate his own salary. But over a decade and a half since its founding, the company is now a leader in B2B cybersecurity operations with its flagship GreyMatter software. ReliaQuest has over 1,200 employees across three continents, with top clients including multiple billion-dollar companies like Southwest Airlines, Circle K, and Tractor Supply Co. Earlier this year, a funding round valued ReliaQuest at $3.4 billion. It just shows you, sometimes luck is undefeated, Murphy tells Fortune. And while the 48-year-old may call it luck, others may call it hard work. The next stop? An IPO. Lessons learned from bag boy to chief executive Like many people growing up in Florida, Murphy was first exposed to the world of business bagging groceries and pushing carts at his local Publix Supermarket (interestingly, Murphys brother is now the CEO of Publix). The lessons he learned as a teenager are just as relevant today. It taught me the customer, he says. And that idea that you dont point the customer to the ketchup aisle, you walk them over there, and you show them the five or six different kinds. But Murphys sights were not always set on the tech industry. In fact, he studied accounting and finance at Florida State University before starting what he imagined would be a long career as an auditor. It wasnt until he was drawn into tech consulting and learned to program that he recognized the industrys potential. Now, as a founder and CEO, the biggest challenge to overcome is accepting that failure is inevitable and pleasing everyone can be an impossible task. It doesnt matter how good you are or how much you work, or how diligent you are on the grind. Youre always failing someone, Murphy says. Its the most out-of-balance journeyever. For aspiring Gen Z entrepreneurs, he offers two pieces of advice: show up willing to work hard, and dont shy away from voicing your opinion. Youre not always going to be right, but if you say nothing, youre always going to be wrong, Murphy says. As you get older, you learn that sometimes the best thing to do is shut up, but when youre young, you want to stand up and talk as much as you can to get that experience. A once-in-a-generation entrepreneur One of the things that sets ReliaQuest apart from its competitors in the cybersecurity space is that the company is based in Tampa, Florida, not in Silicon Valley. According to Paul Shoukry, CEO of Raymond James Financial (a fellow Tampa-based company), ReliaQuests emphasis on staying well-grounded in its community is whats helped find success. In fact, he goes so far to say that Murphy is a once in a generation-type entrepreneur. Hes got a drive that is very hard to match in terms of his dedication to the business and to his people, and the intensity around which he built the business, Shoukry, who also is a member of ReliaQuests board, tells Fortune. Hes just very real, and tells you like it is, he adds. Whenever you ask him a question, hes never going to beat it around the bush. Hes never going to give you a polished answer. For better, for worse, hes just a really authentic person. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com hairstylist-murder A Florida hairstylist was stabbed to death inside a luxury apartment parking garage by a knife-wielding brute who boasted to cops that he killed someone and walked away. Hailey Hosford had stepped out of a rental car at the Retreat at Sawgrass Village in Sunrise, Fla., when she spotted an armed Jackson Sagesse begin to approach her just after 1:30 a.m. on May 28. Hosford, 27, attempted to escape by jumping back into the rear passenger side of the car, but the 280-pound thug allegedly ripped open the door, according to an arrest affidavit viewed by The Post. Hailey Hosford was fatally stabbed in a parking garage in Sunrise, Florida on May 28, 2025. Hailey Hosford/Facebook A physical altercation broke out between Hosford and Sagesse and the suspect was captured on security camera making a repeated stabbing motion into the vehicle, police said. Sagesse got out of the car and was confronted by Hosfords male friend, who had returned from picking up some items from his apartment. The two men got into a violent confrontation before Sagesse stabbed the man, who was not identified, in the throat. The wounded victim managed to escape from the maniac and called the police. Sagesse allegedly returned to the car and attempted to leave in the vehicle, but failed to move it. He was seen searching the area for evidence before leaving the garage. Jackson Sagesse was charged with premeditated murder and attempted first-degree murder. Broward County Sheriff's Office Hosford owned her own beauty salon in Fort Lauderdale and was a teacher and ambassador for a yoga and retreat company. Hailey Hosford/Facebook Police found Hosford, who was unresponsive, inside the car. She had suffered multiple stab wounds to her neck and throat and was pronounced dead at 2:01 a.m. Hosfords friend suffered a puncture wound to the throat. Hosford owned her own beauty salon in Fort Lauderdale and was a teacher and ambassador for a yoga and retreat company. She was remembered as a force to be reckoned with. I know she was a fighter; I believe she fought, and I believe she was scared, Hosfords friend Aubrey Rosebrock told WSVN. The double stabbing took place just after 1:30 a.m. on May 28, 2025, at the Retreat at Sawgrass Village in Sunrise, Florida. WPLG Local 10/YouTube Police pronounced Hosford dead inside the parking garage at 2:01 a.m. WPLG Local 10/YouTube Rosebrock recalled the last message his best friend ever sent him. Her very last message to me was, I just wanted to tell you that the sun is shining, the sky is blue, the water is turquoise, and that I love you much, and that you mean the world to me, and that was the very last thing she said, he told the outlet. Shes not a Jane Doe, and I want the world to know what her name is and who she was. Theres evil, and theres good, and we lost the good. The good lost. Workers at the Retreat recognized Sagesse from the surveillance video and pointed police to his home at the complex he shared with his mother. Sagesse was taken into custody by police wearing the same clothing as the suspect on the video, police said. Hosford had suffered multiple stab wounds to her neck and throat. Hailey Hosford/Facebook She was remembered as a force to be reckoned with. Hailey Hosford/Facebook Detectives discovered blood smeared on the apartments rear door and two missing knives from the knife block in the kitchen, matching the description of the suspected murder weapon. After his arrest, Sagesse admitted to the brutal stabbings. I just killed someone and walked away, he told police after his Miranda rights were read, the affidavit states. Hosford penned a heartfelt message to her best friend shortly before her death. Hailey Hosford/Facebook Sagesse, who gave inconsistent answers, claimed he was on his way to the gym when he noticed the car in the parking garage with its lights on. He said he attempted to call 911 about the vehicle but didnt have his phone, so he returned to his apartment and allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife he used as personal protection. Sagesse said he was murdering for self-defense but failed to give an exact threat. Police charged him with premeditated murder and attempted first-degree murder. He is being held without Bond at the Broward County Jail. CAIRO (Reuters) -Hamas said on Saturday it had responded to a ceasefire proposal presented by U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to mediators and included a demand for an end to the war, which had previously been a red line for Israel. The Palestinian group said in a statement that under the deal, it will release ten living hostages and 18 bodies in return for Israel's release of a number of Palestinian prisoners, comments in line with Witkoff's proposal. The Hamas statement added: "This proposal aims to achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and ensure the flow of aid to our people and our families in the Gaza Strip." It said its response came "after conducting a round of national consultations". The statement did not mention that it was seeking any changes in the proposal, but a Palestinian official familiar with the talks told Reuters that Hamas sought some amendments while its response was positive. The Israeli Prime Minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Israeli media reported earlier this week that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the families of hostages held in Gaza that Israel had accepted the deal presented by Witkoff. The prime minister's office declined to comment at the time. Deep differences between Hamas and Israel have stymied previous attempts to restore a ceasefire that broke down in March. Israel has insisted that Hamas disarm completely, be dismantled as a military and governing force and return all 58 hostages still held in Gaza before it will agree to end the war. Hamas has rejected the demand to give up its weapons and says Israel must pull its troops out of Gaza and commit to ending the war. Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas attack in its south on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 Israelis taken hostage into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. The subsequent Israeli military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, Gaza health officials say, and has left the enclave in ruins. (Reporting by Nidal Al-Mughrabi and Menna Alaa El-Din; editing by Philippa Fletcher) May 28, 2025; Paris, FR; Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates winning her match against Emma Raducanu of Great Britain on day four at Roland Garros Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images (Susan Mullane-Imagn Images) Four-time champion Iga Swiatek survived a scare by rallying to a 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over 12th-seeded Elena Rybakina on Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals of the French Open in Paris. The win was the 25th in a row at Roland Garros for the Poland native, tying Monica Seles for the second-longest Parisian winning streak in the Open Era. It was far from easy for Swiatek, who totaled 27 unforced errors over the first eight games of the match -- losing six of them. "The first set, I felt like I was playing against Jannik Sinner," Swiatek said, the defending champion, said. "I just kept fighting." Swiatek rebounded, however, and dispatched Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, in two hours, 30 minutes to set up a quarterfinal match against 13th-seeded Elina Svitolina. The Ukrainian saved three match points and recorded a 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1 win over fourth-seeded Jasmine Paolini of Italy in two hours, 24 minutes. Svitolina dropped the first set and fell behind 5-3 in the second before turning it around. She won seven of the next eight games to change the momentum and ultimately advance to her 13th Grand Slam quarterfinal. "It was, I think, 5-4 or 5-3 at that time when I was two match points down. Of course, it was not usual maybe for her, but also, it's such a pressure moment that sometimes can happen for both of us," Svitolina said of Paolini. "Yeah, I'm very happy I could save another match point on the tiebreak, because tiebreak was very close, and a few points just decided the whole second set." In another match on Sunday, eighth-seeded Qinwen Zheng of China advanced to the French Open quarterfinals for the first time following a 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-3 win over Liudmila Samsonova of Russia. Zheng joined 2011 French Open champion Li Na as the lone Chinese players in the Open Era to reach the women's quarterfinals by turning back Samsonova in two hours, 47 minutes. Zheng relied on her serve, with five of her 10 aces coming in the third set. She will face top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the quarterfinals. Sabalenka defeated 16th-seeded Amanda Anisimova 7-5, 6-3 and has not dropped a set in this tournament. Sabalenka hit 29 winners on the day, including 11 aces. Anisimova didn't go down easily, however. Down 5-2 and serving to stay in the match, Anisimova fought off six break points to hold serve. She faced two more match points, saving one, as Sabalenka served for the win. --Field Level Media Dana Chandler has spent decades maintaining her innocence against allegations she was responsible for the 2002 murders of her ex-husband, Mike Sisco, and his girlfriend, Karen Harkness. WATCH NOW: "My Mother's Murder Trials": Part 1 | Part 2 In 2025, Chandler took on her own defense, representing herself in the third trial the state brought against her for the murders. DANA CHANDLER (in court, closing): My liberty, my freedom is hanging in the balance. Hailey Seel is Dana Chandler and Mike Sisco's daughter. She and other Sisco and Harkness family members have spent decades grieving, searching for answers and for justice. "I want to understand what happened and why. And and and actually know the truth of what happened," she tells "48 Hours" contributor Jim Axelrod. "48 Hours" first started covering the murders in 2008 and spoke with individuals involved several times over the years. THE MURDERS OF MIKE SISCO AND KAREN HARKNESS Hailey Seel: It's hard to swallow and it's hard to believe. It's insane. (crying) For Hailey, it all started on July 7, 2002. She learned her father and Harkness had been killed in Harkness' Topeka, Kansas, home. Hailey Seel: I immediately just saw a bunch of tape around the house and police. And my grandma's sitting in there and she just told me that they had been shot. Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness, seen in a still from the casino security camera, the night before their murders. / Credit: Shawnee County District Attorney's Office The night before the murders, Sisco and Harkness enjoyed an evening at a casino about an hour outside of Topeka. Surveillance footage shows them leaving about 1:30 a.m. They then stopped to get coffee the last time video captured Harkness alive. Harold Worswick (2008): They were extremely happy, you could just see that. Harkness' father, Harold Worswick. Harold Worswick: Everything they did was for each other. The day after Sisco and Harkness' night out, a family get-together had been planned at Harkness' house. Relatives thought the couple might be announcing they were engaged. Harold Worswick: And I rang the doorbell and knocked on the glass and couldn't raise anybody. I thought, "This is strange." Worswick, who has since died, recalled that he entered Harkness' home that afternoon through an open sliding door, didn't see any sign of Karen or Mike Sisco, so he headed downstairs to the bedroom. Harold Worswick: Just as I got to the foot of the stairs, I could see Karen. And I said, "Oh, Christ." I knew she was dead. And then I found Mike on the outside of the bed. Worswick would then call 911. HAROLD WORSWICK (to 911): I just located my daughter and she's downstairs and she's dead Det. Richard Volle: I got a radio call just after two o'clock on July 7th, 2002. Richard Volle, now retired, was the Topeka Police Department's lead detective on the case. Det. Richard Volle: It was a report of two dead bodies in a basement. Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness, both divorced, had been dating for four years at the time of their murders. / Credit: Cathy Boots Five bullets had struck Harkness, 53, including in her back and buttocks. Sisco, 47, suffered between five and seven gunshot wounds. The couple had been in bed. The rest of the house appeared undisturbed. Investigators found more than $1,000 in cash, a Rolex watch and other jewelry left behind. Robbery was quickly ruled out. To understand who might want Harkness and Sisco dead, police turned to their families for information. Det. Richard Volle: What we're left with is an emotional killing. It's an emotional execution. Sisco, a salesperson for a welding company, and Harkness, who worked in the hospitality industry, were both previously married and now divorced. The well-liked couple had been dating about four years. At the time of her death, Karen Harkness, center, was the divorced mother of two adult children, Chad Harkness, and Erin Sutton. / Credit: Worswick family Harkness' children, Chad and Erin, were in their 20s at the time of the murders. Chad Harkness: It was a surprise to everybody that this would happen to somebody like her. Erin Sutton: My mom was an amazing woman. She, she didn't have enemies. And I remember telling her on several occasions that if I could be half the mom that she was to me, then I would be the best mom in the world. Sisco had custody of his two children, Hailey, then, 17, and Dustin, 15. Dustin Sisco: My dad was really my life growing up He was really my hero. Hailey's relationship with her dad was more complicated. Hailey Seel: I wasn't happy with my dad. I wasn't happy with my mom. I wasn't happy at my school. By Hailey's own admission, she was a difficult teen. Hailey Seel: My dad gave me an ultimatum: "Either you follow my rules or you move out." She chose to live with her then-boyfriend, Chris. Hailey Seel: And I moved in with Chris and then my dad was killed. That defiance made Hailey and Chris of interest to police. They were polygraphed and questioned. DET. VOLLE: I'm just curious, is everything all right with your dad and everything? HAILEY SEEL: Uh, yeah. We weren't really getting along for a little while. Authorities said their alibis checked out. As did the alibis of Harkness' daughter, Erin, and her husband, Jeff Sutton. Harkness' son Chad was also questioned. Chad Harkness: I was hooked up to a polygraph machine and asked if I had murdered my mother or in any way participated in the murder of my mother. Police concluded none of them were involved. But family members thought they knew who was responsible: Mike Sisco's ex-wife, Dana Chandler. Cathy Boots: She just she never fit in. Dana Chandler and Mike Sisco were married for 15 years and went through a drawn out and bitter divorce. / Credit: Sisco family Cathy Boots, Mike Sisco's sister, watched Chandler and Sisco's relationship deteriorate. After 15 years of marriage, the couple went through a bitter divorce, finalized in 1998. Sisco's relatives say Chandler had a drinking problem and she sporadically stalked Sisco during and after the divorce, with frequent calls and bizarre visits. Cathy Boots: The kids were upstairs in their room. And we heard a noise and there she was in the middle of the night jumping on a trampoline in the backyard of Mike's home. Mark Boots is Mike Sisco's brother-in-law. Mark Boots: I think she became obsessed with the fact that Mike was moving on with his life. And then when Karen entered the picture, that's when things really started, I think, escalating. Family members say Dana Chandler's surprise appearances became so frequent that Mike Sisco started keeping a record of them in his day planner. / Credit: Sisco family Mike Sisco kept track of some of the incidents from 1998 in a day planner, writing: JULY 28: Dana stalking neighborhood at 8:30, caught her she left. ... NOVEMBER 12: Dana came in house while I was at Karens from 7:00 to 11:00 went thrus stuff Mark Boots: She was willing to travel great distances to show up back in his life. According to the Boots, the last time Chandler showed up at Mike Sisco's home was in the spring of 2002, several months before the murders. Cathy Boots said Mike told her Chandler went there to talk about moving back in. Cathy Boots: She said, "The kids are getting older. They're having different issues with themselves now. They need both parents. I think I should move back in and we should parent together." Mark Boots: All this harassment and stalking had come to the point that Mike told me that he and Karen now feared for their lives. Mark Boots says Mike Sisco made that clear to him on a fishing trip, nine days before the murders. Mark Boots: He turned to me and said, "Mark, you're gonna wake up and find me dead. And I want you to know who did it, Dana Chandler." But Chandler lived eight hours away in Denver and there was no sign that she had been in Harkness' house in Topeka the night of the murders. WHO WANTED THE COUPLE DEAD? Det. Richard Volle: The victims were doing absolutely nothing and may not have seen it coming at all. Investigators were trying to determine who would gun down Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness as they lay in bed. Detective Richard Volle called Sisco's ex-wife, Dana Chandler, to inform her of Mike's murder. DET. RICHARD VOLLE (phone call to Chandler): Your husband was found shot to death today, this afternoon. Your ex-husband, I'm sorry Can you tell me when the last time was that you talked to him? Chandler, Volle says, did not ask many questions and did not seem concerned. Chandler would later say she was very upset on that call. But only Volle's side of their conversation was recorded, due to a technical error, he said, on his part. The next evening, Chandler called the Topeka Police Department, leaving a message on a different officer's voicemail: DANA CHANDLER (phone call to police): Hi, my name is Dana Chandler and I got a very disturbing phone call last night. Someone had said that my ex-husband had been killed, and I'm just calling to to see if that's true or not Dana Chandler became the main suspect in the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. / Credit: Sisco family Chandler would later explain her call was simply seeking confirmation. Given the personal nature of the murders, no signs of a burglary, and those stories about a messy divorce and stalking, Chandler became the main suspect. Volle decided to talk with Chandler in person, recording this audio, four days after the murders: DET. RICHARD VOLLE ( interview audio 2002): Tell me about what happened on the 6th. DANA CHANDLER: I got up, I had my morning coffee. But again, there was an issue with the recording. In most of the rest of the conversation, Chandler is difficult to hear. Volle recounted what he said she told him. Det. Richard Volle: She said she'd been at home, Saturday morning, that's July 6th and then made a couple of errand stops. Chandler said she bought cigarettes, snacks, and a car cigarette lighter at several stores around Denver and then got gas. But Volle says she failed to mention one purchase he saw on a credit card receipt. Det. Richard Volle: She'd bought two five-gallon gas cans, as well. Volle wondered why she didn't tell him and why she would even need gas cans, unless she had been planning a trip, perhaps to Kansas, and didn't want to stop for gas along the way. According to Volle, Chandler had also said, after running those errands, she went home to her Denver apartment. Det. Richard Volle: Didn't have any visitors. No contact with anybody. And the next day got up and went for a drive in the mountains at ten o'clock in the morning. But Volle couldn't verify that Chandler was in her apartment the night of the murders, nor that she took a drive in the mountains the next day. Volle said the area Chandler described driving through would have meant she'd have to pass Rocky Mountain National Park surveillance cameras. Those cameras were checked. Volle said there was no sign of her car. Det. Richard Volle: The particular person that I had view that tape looked at every frame slowly. She was never there. Investigators also reviewed Chandler's cellphone records. They said that while she tended to use her cellphone frequently, she, oddly, had no activity around the time of the murders. Det. Richard Volle: What we found was there was a 27-hour window where her phone wasn't used. Still, there was no DNA, no fingerprints, or other forensic evidence to tie Chandler to the killings. The gun used in the murders hadn't been found, though investigators learned the bullets were from an Israeli weapons manufacturer. And Chandler would go on to say she didn't even own a gun. But family members remained convinced that Chandler was responsible for the murders. They say they pushed to have a meeting with then-DA Robert Hecht. Tim Sisco is Mike Sisco's brother. Tim Sisco: I specifically went into this meeting wanting to know if he would pursue a circumstantial case. And the answer was, "Without that murder weapon, we don't have enough hard evidence to move this forward." The Sisco and Harkness families grew increasingly frustrated and decided to take action looking for more information about Chandler's possible involvement in the murders. Cathy Boots: I put her picture up everywhere. "Have you seen this person?" Several months after the murders, having more questions than answers, Mike Sisco's sister Cathy Boots said she and their mom Carol Sisco went searching for clues, even lifting up manhole covers and looking in rest stop bathrooms for the gun used in the murders. Cathy Boots: We thought, you know, maybe she threw the gun somewhere. So I would stand on a toilet and try and push a tile up. They found nothing, but Hailey Seel, Chandler, and Mike Sisco's daughter, was also working the case. Hailey Seel: I felt the need to do something. I didn't wanna just sit back with my hands tied and helpless. In 2005, three years after the murders, Hailey began secretly recording conversations with her mother, trying to learn what happened to her dad and Harkness. HAILEY SEEL (recorded phone call): I think that the only way I can really move on with a relationship with you is if we can get it, you know, if you can just tell me yourself that you did it. DANA CHANDLER: Well, number one, I didn't do it and number one I, number two, I don't know what happened Hailey. One thing Hailey asked about was why her mother had no cellphone activity for 27 hours around the time of the murders. HAILEY SEEL (recorded phone call): Why did it have no calls and was at home the whole time? You knew it could be traced. DANA CHANDLER: I was in the mountains; I didn't have a signal. Chandler insisted she had nothing to do with the murders, but did say she had violent thoughts about Mike Sisco. DANA CHANDLER (recorded conversation): I said I could kill him. You ever think about killing him? HAILEY SEEL No, but DANA CHANDLER: I did. HAILEY SEEL: But DANA CHANDLER: Honestly, I can say I did. The official investigation, though, seemed stalled, so authorities asked Vernon Geberth, a homicide and forensic consultant and former New York City Police Department detective, to review case files. In 2007, nearly five years after the murders, he issued a report concluding " Dana Chandler is the one and only person who had the motive, means and opportunity to commit these murders." It was Geberth who brought the case to the attention of "48 Hours." In 2009, "48 Hours" aired its first report on the murders and tried to talk with Chandler. HAROLD DOW | "48 Hours" correspondent: Did you know anything about the death of Michael and Karen? DANA CHANDLER: I have no idea what happened to Mike and Karen. "48 Hours" ended the episode asking viewers to contact police if they had any information. Again, the case seemed to be going nowhere. But two years later, a new DA, Chad Taylor, decided he was willing to take a chance with the evidence they had. He chose to move the case forward and arrest Chandler. With "48 Hours" cameras rolling, law enforcement, zeroed in on Chandler in Oklahoma, where she was staying at the time. Taylor didn't just help plan the arrest, but went on it, with a gun at the ready. And on July 24, 2011, Chandler was in custody, charged with the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. WHERE WAS DANA CHANDLER THE NIGHT OF THE MURDERS? Hailey Seel I'd hit a point where I didn't know if justice would ever be served. For Hailey Seel who was convinced her mother killed her father, Dana Chandler's arrest was nearly a decade in the making. Hailey Seel It was such a feeling that I I it was unbelievable. She was determined to get justice as she prepared to face Dana Chandler in court. Hailey Seel: I've made it this far. I can do anything. In March 2012, Chandler went on trial. Jacqie Spradling, then-chief deputy DA, began by referring to those conversations Hailey Seel had taped years earlier with her mother. JACQIE SPRADLING (in court): "I could kill him. I thought about killing him." These are the words of this defendant about her ex-husband Mike Sisco. In her opening statement, Spradling suggested a possible motive for murder. JACQIE SPRADLING (in court) Two days before the homicides, the defendant called Mike. Mike at this time told the defendant, in that five-minute phone call, that he and Karen were going to be married. But there is no recording of that call. MARK BENNETT (in court) It's easy to make allegations. It's difficult to prove those allegations. And in his opening, defense attorney Mark Bennett argued the case against Chandler was all speculation. MARK BENNETT (in court): There is no evidence that places Dana Chandler in or near the Harkness residence on July 6th or 7th, 2002. But to authorities, there was the question about exactly where Chandler was during that time. Volle says she told him she was home Saturday, the night of the murders and then drove through the mountains the next day. But Chandler's business acquaintance Jeff Bailey, testified Chandler told him something different that she slept in her car in the mountains the Saturday night of the murders. JEFF BAILEY (in court): She told me that the story she was giving me was the truth. And the story that she'd given to the law enforcements was not the truth. And prosecutors told the jury Chandler did not use her cellphone for 27 hours the weekend of the murders. Remember, Hailey Seel accused her mother of trying to avoid being tracked. Volle found another instance when Chandler didn't use her phone a month before the murders. DET. RICHARD VOLLE (in court): There were no calls registered. There were some calls came to the phone, but none were picked up. And prosecutors say that's important, because during that time a month before the murders was Chandler's dry run for the killings. They called her friend Ann Carrender to the stand. Carrender says Dana told her she had driven to Topeka. ANN CARRENDER (in court): She had gone to Mike's house through the window. Um, nobody was home. JACQIE SPRADLING: What else did she tell you? ANN CARRENDER: That she had gone and sat outside Karen's house. Karen Harkness and Mike Sisco / Credit: Sisco family Spradling says Chandler was obsessed with Mike Sisco and presented evidence that in the six months leading up to the murders, she called Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness more than 600 times. The defense argued Chandler was calling to talk to her kids, but Hailey Seel remembered her mother's calls differently. JACQIE SPRADLING (in court): What was the thing that she talked to you the most about? HAILEY SEEL: She talked about my dad a lot. And I I re I really feel like she was was really just obsessed with him. An FBI analyst testified Chandler often called late at night, and frequently made repeated calls in a short time period, including a month before the murders. ALICE CASEY (in court): On June 3rd, she made 17 calls in 18 minutes. Dana Chandler listens as her daughter testifies against her at 2012 trial. / Credit: CBS News Both of Chandler's children testified for the prosecution, saying that their mother also had a history of stalking their father. DUSTIN SISCO (in court): She took me and my sister with her to go spy on my dad. And so we were in the car and she told us, you know, we're just going to be her little helpers. HAILEY SEEL (in court): She asked if I would go go up to the house with her. And we did. And she was looking in all the windows. And she told me to look in the windows. And JACQIE SPRADLING: Did you? HAILEY SISCO: I did. JACQIE SPRADLING: What was it that she was looking at in there? HAILEY SEEL: I think that she was was thinking there was a lady in there with my dad. Hailey also testified about those recordings she made talking with her mother. During one of them, Chandler, who attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, gave an explanation as to why she bought those gas cans. DANA CHANDLER (audio recording): I ran into a girl that had run out of gas at an AA meeting and so I went and got gas for her. She asked me for money and we don't give people money at AA Prosecutor Spradling told the jury that she believed Chandler used those two five-gallon gas cans to have enough gas so she would not have to stop and potentially be seen near the crime scene. But Chandler's attorney argued there was no proof she was ever in Topeka during the time of the murders. MARK BENNETT (in court): Did you or any other members of the Topeka Police Department ever find an eyewitness that put the defendant, Dana Chandler, in Topeka, Kansas on either July 6 or July 7, 2002? DET. RICHARD VOLLE: No. The closest law enforcement was able to come was at a gas station in WaKeeney, Kansas, nearly halfway between Denver and Topeka. Clerk Patty Williams wasn't sure, but she thought she might have seen Chandler the night of the murders. Jacqie Spradling: Patty was shown a picture of the defendant Patty indicated that she was 70% sure that that was the woman who had been there. But by the time Chandler went on trial, Patty Williams had died. A different worker from the gas station testified about seeing a black car that looked similar to the one Chandler drove that day. But she said it might have had license plates from Virginia. When it was the defense's turn, Bennett pointed out there was no proof Chandler was ever there. MARK BENNETT (in court): Wasn't any receipt from WaKeeney, was there? DET. RICHARD VOLLE: No. And Bennett questioned whether Volle investigated other suspects, like two men with criminal records who had stolen checks from Mike Sisco and cashed one after the murders. MARK BENNETT (in court): That didn't make 'em a suspect? DET. RICHARD VOLLE: No, because the check wasn't taken from Karen Harkness' house where the murders occurred. The check was actually taken from Mike Sisco's house where the murders did not occur. And one of the men was in jail when the murders occurred. In closing arguments, Bennett reiterated there was no forensic evidence linking Chandler to the crime. MARK BENNETT (in court): All this time, they've been trying to put her in Kansas when this happened. And for nine-and-a-half years, they've come up dry. Spradling reminded the jury of Chandler's stalking behavior and tried to make sure they knew just how scared Mike Sisco was of Chandler. She said Mike Sisco had gotten a protection from abuse order against Chandler. JACQIE SPRADLING (in court): So, he got a court order saying she has to stay away. The protection from abuse order did not stop the defendant, though. After two weeks of testimony, it took the jury 83 minutes to reach a verdict: guilty of first-degree murder. Hailey Seel: I feel better in the sense that my dad's killer is paying for their actions I don't feel better that my mom is capable of killing my dad. When it was time for sentencing, Hailey Seel asked that her mom receive the maximum sentence. HAILEY SEEL (in court:) We each have a deep scar on our souls from what this monster has done. But Chandler would also get a chance to speak. DANA CHANDLER (in court): But most importantly, I deny that I murdered Mike or Karen. I am innocent. I did not murder Mike or Karen. Chandler was sentenced to life in prison. But soon that verdict would be called into question. DANA CHANDLER'S CONVICTION REVERSED Hailey Seel: A lot of my mind has been focused on her getting away with killing my Dad, and just drags me down. For years, Hailey Seel's thoughts were consumed with proving her mother killed her father, Mike Sisco, and Karen Harkness. With Dana Chandler in prison, Hailey was relieved she could concentrate on other things. But her relief was tinged with pain. Hailey Seel: I wanna focus on my future and what I want to do with my life. I wanna be everything my mom wasn't. (cries) But Hailey's focus would turn again to the case. Chandler almost immediately began filing motions as she worked to appeal her conviction. She and her attorneys cited, among other things, the actions of prosecutor Jacqie Spradling. In particular, statements Spradling made at trial about that protection from abuse order. JACQIE SPRADLING (in court): Mike got a protection from abuse, a court order. He applied and said, "Hey, judge, please order this woman to stay away from me." And the judge agreed. Stacey Schlimmer: And that is just a blatant misstatement. Stacey Schlimmer, one of Chandler's appeal attorneys, was never able to find a protection from abuse order. Stacey Schlimmer: I went through the whole case. I went and looked for every possible order I could find. And there wasn't one that she was referring to. In 2018, Schlimmer argued that Spradling's actions constituted prosecutorial misconduct. STACEY SCHLIMMER (arguing before Kansas Supreme Court): I I think that Ms. Chandler never had an opportunity at a fair trial from the get-go. Schlimmer contended the case against Chandler should be thrown out. The court agreed. Stacey Schlimmer: The Kansas Supreme Court held that it's so bad that we're going to go ahead and overturn her conviction. Other issues about statements Spradling made at trial also came up, including describing a route Chandler took between Kansas and Denver when there was no evidence that she drove that way. JACQIE SPRADLING (in court): She drove directly up to Nebraska. And after she gets on Nebraska she turns around and goes home. Stacey Schlimmer: They just kinda hypothesized, "Well, she must have went up and went over from Nebraska." There was no evidence of that at all. Schlimmer also contended the state did not have enough evidence to prove Dana Chandler's guilt. Stacey Schlimmer: We argued insufficiency of evidence as an issue for appeal Jim Axelrod: Meaning you don't think prosecutors had enough to make a legitimate case? Stacey Schlimmer: Jurors didn't have enough evidence before them if you took out all the evidence that should've never been presented or told to them incorrectly. The Kansas Supreme Court described Spradling's actions as, "intolerable acts of deception." And she was disbarred. "48 Hours" reached out to Spradling, but did not receive a response. Stacey Schlimmer: When a case gets reversed, like a case like this, we essentially have an innocent woman who's been convicted of crime because of the prosecutor. Or we have a family that has now a reversed conviction that has to go through the system again. Jim Axelrod: Either way, there's an injustice. Stacey Schlimmer: Right. So that conduct is gonna affect someone. The Kansas Supreme Court did decide, though, there was sufficient evidence to retry Chandler if the district attorney chose to. Hailey Seel: When I found out that the Kansas Supreme Court overturned the verdict it was very shocking. What does this mean? Will the DA's office retry her? Jim Axelrod: Were you angry with the prosecutor who was cited for misconduct? Hailey Seel: I've never been angry with her. I think it was an innocent mistake. Chad Harkness, Karen Harkness' son, takes a different view of Spradling's actions. Chad Harkness: Had Jacqie not made those comments, we wouldn't be sitting here today. This this would be over. Now all these years later, we're still having to, you know, live through this again. And it it's just it's not right. It's not fair. The decision whether to retry Chandler was now in the hands of Shawnee County's new DA, Mike Kagay. Mike Kagay: We analyzed every aspect of the case. And ultimately, we came to the conclusion that we believed justice demanded that we move forward, and we pursue another trial. Pursuing that would take years. Chandler remained incarcerated. She, and her defense lawyers, argued she should be set free, and fought against having another trial. Jim Axelrod: What were those years like? Hailey Seel: Unbelievable. For Hailey, the delays seemed endless. Chandler and her lawyers filed nearly 400 motions, including ones requesting a change of judge, to retain an investigator, for her bond to be reduced, and to disqualify the Shawnee County District Attorney's Office. And through it all, she fired several of her lawyers. Hailey Seel: She went through seven lawyers in that time, uh, between representing herself. There were also dozens of hearings, including one where Hailey was called to testify and Chandler did the questioning. Hailey Seel: She took me on the stand for at least 45 minutes and she directly questioned me. Jim Axelrod: What was that like? Hailey Seel: It was the most awful thing I've ever I mean, the the suspect in the killing of my dad is now having the power to question me on the stand and talk to me. Jim Axelrod: Not just the suspect in the killing of your dad, your own mother. Hailey Seel: Yeah, yeah. I mean, It it it was awful. But Hailey was willing to take whatever steps necessary to ensure her mother would stand trial again for the murders. Hailey Seel: If she could bring out something to prove where she was, to say she didn't do it, prove she didn't do it that's not just for me, that's for her and her own freedom. But she can't, and she hasn't. WOULD DANA CHANDLER BE RETRIED? Mike Kagay: Two innocent people were murdered in our community. That demands justice. Although Dana Chandler's conviction had been overturned, prosecutors were determined to retry her for the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. By 2021, the organization, Miracle of Innocence, got involved, advocating for Chandler. Darryl Burton: Dana Chandler was someone who, we believed in her innocence. When we looked at the case, the facts was just nothing connected this lady to the crime. Darryl Burton is the co-founder of Miracle of Innocence. He's someone who was wrongfully imprisoned and had his murder conviction reversed. He says, before sending someone to prison, the case needs to be more convincing than the one made against Chandler. Darryl Burton: There's no evidence no fingerprints, no DNA, no confession, no weapon, no witnesses, nothing. When it comes to, you know, these kinds of crimes of murder, you just got to have more than that. Chandler and her attorneys also raised other issues as they tried to get the case dismissed. Some allegations related to the 2009 "48 Hours" broadcast. Chandler falsely accused law enforcement of forming "a partnership with '48 Hours' to film an episode aimed at convincing the public that Ms. Chandler murdered Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness." Jim Axelrod: What do you make of the idea that, if "48 Hours" had not reported, starting in 2009, on this case, that Dana Chandler would never have been arrested or tried? Stacey Schlimmer: I don't think it was "48 Hours" (laughs). 2009 is a lot different than when they arrested her. They arrested her three or four years three years later. I think the family was what kept it going. They believe that Ms. Chandler did this. It was the new prosecutor, and it was the family probably saying, "Hey, we need justice done in this." But Stacey Schlimmer, Chandler's former appeal attorney, does take issue with the handling of the 2011 arrest and the show of force. Jim Axelrod: You've seen Dana Chandler's arrest many times. Stacey Schlimmer: Right. Jim Axelrod: And it bothers you. Stacey Schlimmer: It bothers me a lot. "48 Hours," as well as The Topeka Capital-Journal, were given advance notice of the arrest by the office of then-DA Chad Taylor. Jim Axelrod: Are you bothered by law enforcement or are you bothered by the fact that there were cameras there? Stacey Schlimmer: I'm bothered by the prosecutor. I'm bothered by the district attorney showing up at an arrest and having that arrest filmed. Jim Axelrod: So they wanted video of law enforcement with their guns out? Stacey Schlimmer: I think they wanted then the public to see that. That to me was it seemed like such a production for a case. that prosecutor should never have done that. Ultimately, the various arguments Dana Chandler's team made to dismiss the case were unsuccessful. Chandler's new trial was scheduled for the summer of 2022. Before the trial began, "48 Hours" again tried to speak with Chandler. She said she would only agree to an interview if CBS paid her million-dollar bond. We declined. Chad Harkness: Never thought we'd be sitting here again and getting ready to start a a retrial on this it's just mind blowing. Chad Harkness, Karen Harkness' son, was relieved the DA's office decided to retry Chandler, but was concerned about going through this yet another time. Chad Harkness: Just us kids having to relive this again and It just it makes me sick. Hailey, too, was not looking forward to another trial. But said testifying again could give her some control of the situation. Hailey Seel: If I can realize my power. And it gives me courage to go forward because I know the truth The truth is that she murdered them. The passage of time has left Hailey with so much loss loss she holds her mother responsible for. And, as a mom herself, having married her high school boyfriend Chris Seel, Hailey's feelings are even more complicated. Jim Axelrod: When you think of your mom, do you think mother, or do you think Dana? Hailey Seel: I think Dana, yeah. She's Dana to me. Actually, mom is is a an ucky word to me, to the point where I don't even like my kids to call me mom. I don't like mom. Mom is a a very hurtful person (cries). No matter the name, Dana Chandler is someone her daughter will have to face again in court and someone who will eventually tell her side of the story. DANA CHANDLER (in court): Let's start by stating my name. My name is Dana Chandler. I as everyone know, have been accused of double homicide and I am innocent. DANA CHANDLER RETRIED FOR DOUBLE MURDER In the summer of 2022, Dana Chandler was on trial for the second time for the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. As in her first trial, the defense focused on all that was lacking in the case against Chandler. TOM BATH (in court): There is no evidence that she was in the Harkness residence, no evidence she was in Topeka. There's no evidence she was in the state of Kansas. Defense attorney Tom Bath insisted Chandler was in Colorado at the time of the murders, more than 500 miles away, and faulted investigators for zeroing in on her. TOM BATH (in court): Everything they looked at, everything they examined excluded Dana. The lack of physical evidence was acknowledged by Shawnee County Deputy District Attorney Charles Kitt. CHARLES KITT (in court): Science is not going to solve this case. This case is not based on DNA. Instead, the state focused on evidence such as Chandler's hatred of her ex-husband and his girlfriend. CHARLES KITT (in court): This case is based on jealousy, rage and obsession. Prosecutors presented evidence they say showed that obsessionincluding records of more than 600 phone calls Chandler made to Harkness and Sisco in the six months before the murders. And they introduced witnesses who said Harkness and Sisco told them some of those calls were menacing. Kim Warrender was Harkness' coworker. KIM WARRENDER (in court): She said she had been up all-night receiving phone calls from Dana. CHARLES KITT: She told you she was afraid? KIM WARRENDER: Very afraid. Erin Sutton also testified that her mother, Karen Harkness, was scared of Chandler. She spoke about messages she said she heard that Chandler left on her mother's phone. ERIN SUTTON (in court): She would call my mom horrible names. CHARLES KITT: And, like, what kind of names would she call her? ERIN SUTTON: She would call her a whore. In addition to testimony about calls Chandler made, there was also attention paid to when there was no call activity on her phone specifically during 27 hours the weekend of the murders. Authorities believed Chandler's phone was turned off so it could not be traced as she traveled to Kansas. But the defense suggested it could have just been spotty cellphone service in Colorado. Prosecutors told the jury about a purchase Chandler made the day before the murders but failed to mention to investigators. Kitt asked Richard Volle, the lead detective on the case, about the purchase. CHARLES KITT (in court): Can you tell us what that is? Dana Chandler's Auto Zone receipt showing the purchase of two five-gallon gas cans. / Credit: Shawnee County District Attorney's Office DET. RICHARD VOLLE (holding the receipt): This is an Auto Zone receipt It shows the purch first two purchases were five dollar or five-gallon gas cans. Authorities wondered why Chandler didn't tell them about the gas cans, and why she would need gas cans unless she was planning a trip perhaps to Kansas and did not want to stop for gas along the way. And there was the issue of Chandler's alibi according to Detective Volle, a changing, unconfirmable one. One witness testified that Chandler said she was in the mountains in Colorado at the time of the murders, but Volle testified Chandler told him she was at home in her Denver apartment. DET. RICHARD VOLLE (in court): She said she'd stayed at her house, had no guests or phone calls and then she turned in about 9'o clock. A friend of Chandler's testified about something authorities thought might have been a dry run for the murders. She said about a month before the killings, Chandler called and told her about a trip she made to Sisco's and Harkness's homes . ANN HAMMER (in court): She told me that she knew nobody was in the house and that she went into Mike's home through the window. After that, she did go to, um, his girlfriend's house and sat outside her house, waiting for them to come home. But they didn't show up CHARLES KITT: Did she tell you what she did when she got into Mike's house? ANN HAMMER: She wanted to see what it looked like on the inside. But Chandler's attorney questioned the reliability of her testimony, pointing out she may have gotten some dates wrong regarding calls with Chandler. ANN HAMMER (in court): It must not have been a Monday. TOM BATH: But 20 years ago, you said it was a Monday. Right? ANN HAMMER: Sure. Testimony about Chandler's behavior also came from Cathy Boots, Mike Sisco's sister. She described an incident several years before the murders, that she said she witnessed while staying at Mike's house. CATHY BOOTS (in court): We went to bed that night and I woke up in the early morning hours to a noise out in the backyard. And we had left the back porch lights on. And I looked out through the blinds and Dana was jumping on the trampoline out back. And Mike Sisco's brother-in-law, Mark Boots, recounted a disturbing conversation he said he had with Mike nine days before the murders. MARK BOOTS (in court): Mike told me that the patterns of harassment had increased and that he feared for he and Karen's lives. Mike Sisco and Dana Chandler's daughter, Hailey Seel, was going to be in the uncomfortable position of testifying against her mother. A DAUGHTER'S SECRET RECORDINGS PLAYED IN COURT Hailey Seel: I was absolutely still nervous and scared. Being up there, it causes conflict. As Hailey Seel reflected back on testifying against her mother, Dana Chandler, she recalled the stress she was under. As a prosecution witness, Seel was asked to describe some of her mother's behaviorbehavior Seel said she found obsessive. CHARLES KITT (in court): Was there a time where you were asked to spy on your dad? HAILEY SEEL: Yeah. Seel recounted an incident, after her parents split up, when she said, Chandler drove her and her brother to Sisco's home, and they all sat in the car to watch the house. HAILEY SEEL (in court): She said, "Come on. We need to watch your dad. And you can be my little helpers." She had me go with her to the house after so long. And um, and she wanted to look in the windows. CHARLES KITT: Did she look in the windows? HAILEY SEEL: Yeah. We both looked in the windows. And she said, "Did you see that? Did you see that?" And I said, "No. I didn't see anything." Hailey Seel and her mother Dana Chandler. / Credit: Sisco family It was episodes like that which led Seel, early on, to think her mother could be responsible for the murders. Hailey Seel: I always suspected she had something to do with it because of the history of her harassment, stalking, hatred, talking bad about them to us all the time. Seel testified about some of the ways her mother expressed that dislike of her father like the demeaning ways Chandler referred to him in emails and online chats including ones where Chandler referred to Sisco as "it" sent when Seel was 14 years old. CHARLES KITT (in court, pointing at email): And does she call him manipulative and deceiving? HAILEY SEEL: Yes. CHARLES KITT: And then calls him a rapist. HAILEY SEEL: Yeah. CHARLES KITT And just a couple of lines down, "I hate his guts." HAILEY SEEL: Yeah. CHARLES KITT: Are those things your mother typed to you? HAILEY SEEL: Yes. HAILEY SEEL (recording to Dana Chandler): Nobody can say that they that you were in Colorado that weekend? Also played in court, were those conservations Hailey secretly recorded with her mom as she tried to learn more about Chandler's possible involvement in the murders. Jim Axelrod: In all the conversations you had with her over the days, weeks, months, even years after this happened, she never told you something that made you think, well, at least my mom didn't do it? Hailey Seel: No. Every time I talked to her, I felt more and more confident that she definitely had something to do with it. And perhaps most telling to Hailey was a conversation, played in court, where Chandler said she had thought about killing Mike Sisco. DANA CHANDLER (recording): . you ever think about killing him? HAILEY SEEL: No, but DANA CHANDLER: I did. In one of those discussions, Hailey asked her mother about why she bought those two gas cans which authorities thought could have been used to help drive roundtrip from Denver to Topeka without stopping in Kansas for fuel. Chandler, who'd been a problem drinker, explained she bought them for someone elsea woman she met at AA. DANA CHANDLER (recording, played in court): She asked me for money and we don't give people money at AA. I said, "I'll go buy you some gas " The prosecutor asked Hailey if she was able to learn anything more about that woman from Chandler. CHARLES KITT (in court): She wouldn't tell you who that person was? HAILEY SEEL: No. She didn't. But Chandler's defense team argued those recorded conversations proved nothing about the murders. And regarding the two gas cans, it maintained that the 10 extra gallons the cans could hold would not have been enough for Chandler to drive roundtrip from Denver to Topeka without still needing to stop for fuel. The defense accused authorities of tunnel vision including not looking more thoroughly at other suspects. And her lawyers said Chandler never owned a .9mm gun the type of weapon used in the murders, which was never found. What was found, were unusual bullets made in Israel. AMY COODY (in court): Israel Military Industries, that's the manufacturer. Chandler's attorney questioned a firearms examiner who had worked for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation about those bullets. TOM BATH (in court): Is that a bullet, ammunition you typically see? AMY COODY: Actually, we had not seen that before. And so it was a little bit unusual to us. The prosecution, though, explained there were places one could buy those bullets. CHARLES KITT (in court): Could that ammo have been brought into Kansas and sold at a gun show? AMY COODY: Yes, sir. CHARLES KITT: Could have been exchanged by individuals? AMY COODY: Yes, sir. There were other parts of the investigation that the defense argued supported its case. There was forensic work it said eliminated Chandler. Unidentified fingerprints found at the house did not match Chandler. None of Chandler's DNA was found at the murder scene, nor were any fibers found from her clothing, or any of her hair. KAREN THIESSEN (in court): I did not find any hairs that were consistent with the sample coming from Ms. Chandler. TOM BATH (in court): In 20 years, the state had no evidence, no evidence whatsoever that placed Dana Chandler in Karen Harkness' home, in the city of Topeka, or in the state of Kansas. After three weeks of testimony, that lack of physical evidence would be the defense's theme in its closing argument. TOM BATH (in court): Each and every time they tested something, it excluded Dana. CHARLES KITT (in court): From the beginning, I told you this case is about obsession, jealousy, rage. The state focused on Chandler's behavior her calls, emails, and her own family's testimony against her. CHARLES KITT (in court): The defendant clearly hated Karen and Mike, words from her own mouth and her own fingers typing those messages. TOM BATH (in court): A lot of evidence about Dana's bad behavior. That's true. That's not evidence. They have not proven this case beyond a reasonable doubt. On Aug. 25, 2022, the case went to the jury, and Hailey was waiting for a verdict. Hailey Seel: I've really tried to trust the process cause I knew I didn't have any control over it. So it was gonna be what it was gonna be. But the wait to find out what that verdict would be was a long one. JURORS DEADLOCK IN DANA CHANDLER'S SECOND MURDER TRIAL The case in the second trial of Dana Chandler for the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness went to the jury on Aug. 25, 2022. That day came and went, as did several more. Hailey Seel: After about four days ... I started to get nervous and think, wow, this actually could not come back in a guilty verdict and I started to think of that possibility. And so I prayed and I just trusted that, if she did get away with this that life would have to go on, right? After six days of deliberating, Chandler would learn her fate. JUDGE CHERYL RIOS (in court): I understand that the jury is unable to reach a unanimous verdict at this time, is that correct? FOREPERSON: That's correct. The jury informed the judge they were deadlocked. There were seven votes to convict and five to acquit. Ben Alford: We did what we could with what we had. Ben Alford and Carrie Kimes were two members of the jury who voted to find Chandler not guilty. Carrie Kimes: I never saw actual evidence that Dana Chandler was ever in the Harkness home. I can't send somebody to spend the rest of their life in prison if you can't even prove she left Colorado that weekend. Ben Alford: Everything that was tested for DNA proved inconclusive. And that's pretty remarkable. But for juror Randy Edwards, the state's depiction of Chandler's behavior was persuasive evidence. Randy Edwards: She was beyond upset. She was obsessed. He also found those conversations Seel recorded with her mother to be convincing and voted to convict. Randy Edwards: When I was able to comprehend that Dana said that she had thought of killing Mike, that was probably the the piece that pushed me beyond any question of reasonable doubt anymore. Mike Kagay: There was a split verdict, but the majority of the jury was in favor of a conviction and that was meaningful. DA Mike Kagay decided to retry Dana Chandler. Her lawyers convinced the court to reduce her bond, which allowed her to be released with supervision as she awaited the next trial. JUDGE CHERYL RIOS (in court): The court is going to direct that she have GPS monitoring. After spending more than a decade incarcerated, Chandler celebrated her freedom with Darryl Burton and Miracle of Innocence. Darryl Burton: Anybody who's getting outta prison after you've been in prison for any length of time, it is, it's a joyous occasion. You're happy that someone's been released and, you know, also feel like, well, maybe it's a good chance that, you know, we can, you know, mount a defense, and get her totally acquitted. As a condition of her release, Chandler was not allowed to contact her children. Still, Hailey worried about her safety. She is married to Chris Seel, her high school boyfriend, and is a mother of three. Hailey Seel: I'm scared to death that she's going to hurt me, or she's going to affect my kids in some way. Hailey's fear only grew when Chandler made a post to her Facebook page. Chandler complained about her treatment at trial, calling it a kangaroo court. And in the background, she showed images of Hailey's children. Hailey says Chandler somehow learned which church she attended and downloaded a livestream of a service to create the photos. Hailey Seel: It was chilling and it was disturbing. I feel like it was a direct message to me. Jim Axelrod: And what was the message? Hailey Seel: Intimidation. I don't care about your boundaries. Her belief that her mother committed the murders remains unwavering, and she says, disturbing. Hailey Seel: She's my mom but if you're my mom, why would you do that to my dad? For your kids' sake, maybe that would be a reason not to do it. Being a mother now, I have a new perspective. It becomes even more unreal now. Also unreal to Hailey thoughts of a third trial. Jim Axelrod: What are your expectations for yet again another trial Hailey Seel: This time, I am not as confident. For trial number three, jurors would be from Pottawatomie County, Kansas. The defense requested a change of venue, and the judge agreed, citing excessive media coverage. It would take place in Westmoreland, a smaller, more rural area, 60 miles away from the last setting in Topeka. CHARLES KITT (in court): July 7th, 2002 was going to be a good day. Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness had been in a relationship for a few years. The trial got underway with opening statements on Feb. 7, 2025. CHARLES KITT (in court): One name just kept coming up, Dana Chandler. Charles Kitt was back retrying the case, joined by prosecutor Dan Dunbar. Judge Cheryl Rios again presided. And in a last-minute change, on the morning of opening statements, Chandler dismissed her defense attorneys. And Chandler decided the best person to represent her was herself. DANA CHANDLER (In court): I am innocent. I did not kill Mike and Karen. DANA CHANDLER REPRESENTS HERSELF AT THIRD MURDER TRIAL DANA CHANDLER (in court): I think this case is a character assassination. In February 2025, Dana Chandler was on trial for the third time for the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. But this time, she was representing herself. Mike Kagay: She was exercising her constitutional right. It was an unknown. It was certainly unexpected. One thing that was the same as in the previous trials: Hailey Seel testifying. Hailey was asked again by the prosecution about her mother's inappropriate behavior. DAN DUNBAR (in court): What sort of things would she say about Karen? HAILEY SEEL: She called her a homewrecker. Um, a slut, very bad names. Prosecutors were also interested in an incident when Chandler drove Hailey and her brother to drop them off at Harkness' house. HAILEY SEEL (in court): We waited there for a really long time in the car And then my dad and Karen got there, and my mom got out and yelled at them and just was very angry with my dad. DAN DUNBAR: Hailey, I don't have any further questions, thank you. When it was time to be cross-examined, Hailey knew it would now be her mother doing the questioning. Nt sd Dana " Hello Ms. Seel." Hailey Seel: I really went up there with like my game face on, you know. I I knew it was war. I knew it wasn't going to be a a nice, a cordial, a thoughtful you're the victim, this was your dad and I'm so sorry place that she'd be coming from. Chandler challenged Hailey about her description of that drop-off at Harkness' home. Chandler said it was Hailey's father, Mike Sisco, who was behaving badly, not her. Hailey Seel being questioned at trial by the defendant her mother Dana Chandler, who was representing herself. / Credit: Pool DANA CHANDLER (in court): When your dad and Karen drove up, your dad stormed over to the car. HAILEY SEEL: Oh, no. No, he did not. DANA CHANDLER: And he started banging on the window. HAILEY SEEL: Wha? No. No, he did not. I was inside that car and my dad absolutely did not bang on the windows. DANA CHANDLER: And I didn't get out I never got out of the car. HAILEY SEEL: You were the first one out of the car. Hailey Seel: I was just in disbelief because I knew she just made that up because it never happened, and he never did that. But I didn't get concerned. I just said "no, you know. I'm glad you asked so I can straighten this out. That never happened." And then it comes down to who's believable. And I wasn't worried about that. As another way to seemingly explain some of her past behaviors, Chandler brought up that she used to have a drinking problem. DANA CHANDLER (in court): And I did tell you that I was I realized that I had a problem with alcohol. HAILEY SEEL: You did tell me you had a problem with alcohol. Something Chandler said she stopped by 1999, three years before the murders. DANA CHANDLER (in court): I told you I was going to three AA meetings a day, trying to get well. True? HAILEY SEEL: I knew you were trying to get well, yes. The state questioned though, if becoming sober changed Chandler's behavior. DAN DUNBAR (in court): When she came back clean and sober, did that change how she treated you? HAILEY SEEL: No. DAN DUNBAR: Did it did it change how she talked about your dad? HAILEY SEEL: No. DAN DUNBAR: Did it change how she talked about Karen? HAILEY SEEL: No. Chandler not only thought she was the best person to represent herself, but when it was time to put on her defense, she decided she would be her own main witness. DANA CHANDLER (in court): I feel like that I need to kind of tell my story to kind of put things in perspective. She testified over seven days, speaking for about 20 hours. DANA CHANDLER (in court): You have not seen evidence that I was in Topeka, Kansas, on July 7th, 2002. Darryl Burton: There was times when she would take so long to try to get her point across. Dana Chandler's supporter, Darryl Burton, was concerned when she put herself on the stand. Darry Burton: Sometimes it seemed as though she was just rambling, you know, and that was just unfortunate. She may have known probably knew where she was trying to go, but she'd get lost. She again addressed issues such as her drinking and inappropriate conversations with Hailey. DANA CHANDLER (in court): I was writing emails, drinking to blackout. I'd get up the next morning and not even aware of those emails. I had a serious problem. And horrible things I said about Karen spreading her legs. I mean, seriously, Hailey was 14 years old. (cries) I'm just so ashamed and embarrassed about that and I hated that Hailey that I put Hailey through that. And Chandler, in her own testimony, addressed again that incident when she waited outside Karen Harkness' house to drop off Hailey and Dustin with the couple. She said it was done out of necessity. DANA CHANDLER (in court): I yelled through the window, I could not afford to feed Hailey and Dustin. And that I needed to leave them with him. Chandler contrasted those times to when she stopped drinking, showing videos of her spending time outdoors with Hailey and Dustin. DANA CHANDLER (in court): This video was taken about 9 months into my recovery. Chandler also disputed making frequent harassing calls to Harkness and Sisco, saying when she called, there was a reason. Dana Chandler, center, with her children Hailey and Dustin. / Credit: Sisco family DANA CHANDLER: I was calling to speak with my children, Hailey, and Dustin. As to her having disagreements with Karen Harkness, she testified there were none. DANA CHANDLER: I never, ever, had any confrontations with Karen Harkness, at all. Chandler also pointed out what she said was sloppiness in the police investigation. When Chandler questioned lead detective Richard Volle, she asked about whether police were too focused on her and should have been looking more thoroughly at other possible suspects. DANA CHANDLER (In court, questioning Volle): Did you or did you not receive any leads for other suspects besides me? DET. RICHARD VOLLE: Uh, early on in the investigation, there were several other people that were looked at as possible leads. So it's a matter of checking people off, to dismissing people that couldn't have done it. Uh, when we can't dismiss them, we keep focusing on them, like we did with you. Chandler, though, said there was an area she felt law enforcement thoroughly investigated whether she bought a .9 mm gun, like the one used in the murders and they came up empty handed. DANA CHANDLER (in court): I've never owned, purchased, or possessed a .9mm firearm. And throughout her defense, Chandler was adamant that at the time of the murders, she was in Colorado, and no one could place her in Harkness' house, or even in Kansas. It seemed like a simple question Chandler was asking Detective Volle. DANA CHANDLER (in court, questioning Volle): Did you ever develop any information that I was in Topeka, Kansas, on July 6th or 7th of 2002? In answering that question, Volle said there was a woman named Patty Williams who may have spotted Chandler in the state of Kansas around the time of the murders. DANA CHANDLER (in court, questioning Volle): What do you know about Patty? DET. RICHARD VOLLE: She was a clerk at a convenience store in WaKeeney, Kansas. The gas station/convenience store in WaKeeney, where Williams worked, was nearly halfway between Denver and Topeka. It had been visited by an investigator, searching for locations where someone may have spotted Chandler around the time of the murders. There, the investigator showed Williams the photo of Chandler seen below. The photo of Dana Chandler shown to convenience store clerk Patty Williams in WaKeeney, Kansas. / Credit: Shawnee County District Court DET. RICHARD VOLLE (in court): She was seven out of 10 that it was you. According to Volle, the clerk was 70% sure she had seen Dana Chandler and described some distinguishing features. DET. RICHARD VOLLE (in court): She had, or said that she had gray near the hairline Chandler though, told the jury, she did not have gray hair back then. By the time of the trials, Williams had died and could not be questioned again. Chandler also expressed concern that the investigator only showed a single photo of her initially, instead of an array of photos, including different peoplesomething Volle did do when he went to the gas station about two weeks later. DET. RICHARD VOLLE (in court): We later later went out with a what we call a six-pack photo, it's uh six photographs of people that looked very similar and amongst those photos was Ms. Chandler. Volle said Williams immediately picked out Chandler, and again was 70 percent sure she saw her there. But Volle acknowledged using an array initially would have been better. There was still, for law enforcement, the issue regarding Dana Chandler's alibi. Remember, Volle said Chandler told him she was home in her Denver apartment the night of the murders. But she told others, including an acquaintance, Jeff Bailey, she slept in her car in the Colorado mountains that night. DANA CHANDLER (in court): I was confused Chandler told the jury she had been confused when she spoke with Volle, but Prosecutor Kitt was not accepting that explanation. CHARLES KITT (in court): So what you told Detective Volle is not consistent with what you told Jeff Bailey, is it? DANA CHANDLER: Uh, as far as my trip to CHARLES KITT: Ms. Chandler, it's not consistent DANA CHANDLER: Oh, that part. OK. Yeah. I would agree with that. Um, I would that's true Once again, those secret recordings Hailey made with her mother were played in court: DANA CHANDLER: you ever think about killin' him? HAILEY SEEL: No, but DANA CHANDLER: I did. This time, Kitt questioned Chandler herself about its authenticity. CHARLES KITT (in court): Was that your voice saying, "Did you ever think about killing him?" "I did"? DANA CHANDLER: It sounds like it yes. When it was time for the final witness, Chandler decided it should be Dana Chandler. She knew the jury heard witnesses testify about her parenting and past behavior. Chandler explained if she was a less than an attentive mother, it was because of her drinking and a lack of money, not a lack of love. DANA CHANDLER (in court): I absolutely did want to have a relationship with my children. You know I think the financial, substance abuse combination, um it just wasn't feasible. So, that's all I have, thank you. Oh, cross. CHARLES KITT (in court): Ms. Chandler, during this time that you couldn't afford to feed your children, you were buying booze, correct? DANA CHANDLER: I was. CHARLES KITT: Buying enough alcohol to get blackout drunk? DANA CHANDLER: I was. CHARLES KITT: OK, thank you. I have no further questions. And with that, after 18 days of testimony, Kitt and Chandler presented their closing arguments. CHARLES KITT (in court): Why are Mike and Karen dead? And the evidence shows one simple answer, control. Hailey Seel: I think Kitt nailed it when he said it was about control. The state described Chandler losing control of Mike Sisco, as he planned his future with Karen Harkness, and the rage that followed. CHARLES KITT (in court): And that's what led to the defendant traveling to Topeka, Kansas, on July 6th and murdering them on July 7th. Kitt spoke about Chandler's depiction of events not lining up with the testimony of others. CHARLES KITT (in court): It's the defendant versus everyone. You can believe the defendant's testimony, or you can believe everybody else that you heard from in this case. In Chandler's closing, she used a scale to make her point that prosecutors, whom she called her accusers, did not have enough evidence to tip it in their favor. DANA CHANDLER (in court): The, uh, accusers must, uh, tip the scale. Here. I'm innocent. (pointing to scale) Dana Chandler during closing statements in her third trial for the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. / Credit: Pool DANA CHANDLER (in court): I had my infirmities, and I have my shortcomings, but I do stand here before you all today and proclaim that I am an innocent woman. She acknowledged the life she led was not perfect but said that doesn't make her a murderer. DANA CHANDLER (in court): The state has woefully failed to meet its burden, to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that I killed Mike Sisco or Karen Harkness. THE VERDICT About four hours later, the jury delivered its verdict: guilty of the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness. After hearing the verdict, Chandler turned away. And while it was the verdict Seel hoped for, the end result is nothing she ever wanted. Hailey Seel: It is so much worse that my mom is the one behind these murders because we lost my dad and Karen, but then through all this, now we've lost our mom. I really wish it was someone else. Darryl Burton: I don't believe that they have proved this case beyond a reasonable doubt. Chandler's supporter, Darryl Burton, remains undeterred. He still believes she is innocent. Darryl Burton: The evidence just doesn't, you know, prove that she's guilty of anything Chandler is filing motions for an appeal. "48 Hours" reached out to Chandler again for this episode, but did not receive a response. Mike Kagay: I am very confident in this verdict. District Attorney Mike Kagay is certain the jury convicted the right person. Mike Kagay: I have every confidence in my prosecutors and how they handled this case. Hailey Seel: The focus of this case has gone almost completely to Dana Chandler and that the victims has really been lost which is really sad. Karen Harkness and Mike Sisco with his children Hailey and Dustin. / Credit: Sisco family More than 20 years have passed since Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness were murdered -and Hailey wants to make sure the lives lost are not forgotten. Hailey Seel: I was trying to tell my daughter about who my dad is. (cries) and I said he was a really fun, supportive, encouraging guy who believed in me and my brother. And Karen was so kind, so accepting. I miss them a lot. On June 3, 2025, Dana Chandler was sentenced to life in prison. Produced by Ruth Chenetz and Dena Goldstein. Chelsea Narvaez and Hannah Vair are the field producers. Mead Stone is the producer editor. Atticus Brady, Marcus Balsam, George Baluzy, Wini Dini, Gary Winter and Grayce Arlotta-Berner are the editors. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer, Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. Sneak peek: Where is Jermain Charlo? Baldwin grills McMahon on unallocated funds for students, schools, approved by Congress Hegseth orders Navy to rename USNS Harvey Milk, Jeffries calls it "a complete and total disgrace" Blog Archive: Jul 2025 (35) Jun 2025 (150) May 2025 (155) Apr 2025 (9) Mar 2025 (149) Feb 2025 (139) Jan 2025 (155) Dec 2024 (144) Nov 2024 (143) Oct 2024 (155) Sep 2024 (149) Aug 2024 (155) Jul 2024 (155) Jun 2024 (150) May 2024 (153) Apr 2024 (149) Mar 2024 (155) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (155) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) At least seven people were killed and 30 hospitalized after illegal interference caused a bridge to collapse and a train to derail in Russias Bryansk region that borders Ukraine, Russian authorities said early on June 1. The trains locomotive and several cars derailed due to the collapse of a span structure of the road bridge as a result of an illegal interference in the operation of transport, Russian Railways said on the Telegram messaging app. Two children were among those hospitalized, one of them in serious condition, Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of the Bryansk region, said on Telegram. Among those killed was the locomotive driver, Russias state news agencies reported, citing medics. More: 'Very disappointed': Trump continues to criticize Putin's war tactics during negotiations Russias ministry of emergency situations said on Telegram that its main efforts were aimed at finding and rescuing victims, and that some 180 personnel were involved in the operation. Russias Baza Telegram channel, which often publishes information from sources in the security services and law enforcement, reported, without providing evidence, that according to preliminary information, the bridge was blown up. In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via a videoconference at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 30, 2025. Reuters could not independently verify the Baza report. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Since the start of the war that Russia launched more than three years ago, there have been continued cross-border shelling, drone strikes, and covert raids from Ukraine into the Bryansk, Kursk and Belgorod regions that border Ukraine. The train was going from the town of Klimovo to Moscow, Russian Railways said. It collided with the collapsed bridge in the area of a federal highway in the Vygonichskyi district of the Bryansk region, Bogomaz said. The district lies some 62 miles from the border with Ukraine. More: US and Russia clash over intensifying Ukraine war U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Moscow and Kyiv to work together on a deal to end the war, and Russia has proposed a second round of face-to-face talks with Ukrainian officials next week in Istanbul. Ukraine is yet to commit to attending the talks on Monday, saying it first needed to see Russian proposals, while a leading U.S. senator warned Moscow it would be "hit hard" by new U.S. sanctions. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Daniel Wallis) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seven killed, 30 hurt after bridge collapse causes train derailment Michael Nguyen/NurPhoto via AP People browse the candy selection inside a HARIBO store in Munich, Germany, on April 11, 2025. The interior features branded displays and the iconic Goldbear, offering a wide range of sweets to visitors. NEED TO KNOW Haribos Happy Cola F!ZZ gummies have been recalled after cannabis was allegedly found in samples that left several people sick The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) issued a warning that consumers in the country should avoid buying the 1,000-gram pack of the product The treats, the organization said, "can lead to health complaints, such as dizziness, when consumed" Haribos Happy Cola F!ZZ gummies have been recalled after cannabis was allegedly found in samples that left several people sick. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) issued a warning on Thursday, May 29, that consumers in the country should avoid buying the 1,000-gram pack of the product. A photo shared by the NVWA shows the soda bottle-shaped gummies in a clear, sealed package with a blue banner on the top and bottom. Haribos iconic bears can be seen on the product packaging. Haribo A photo of the contaminated bags. 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. In a statement, NVWA spokesperson Saida Ahyad told local outlet Deutsche Welle, "The police reported this to the NVWA after several people, both children and adults, became ill after eating the cola bottles. The agency also told Dutch broadcaster Hart van Nederland that "samples were taken from the affected bags and cannabis was found in them." The NVWA added to the outlet that they immediately contacted Haribo," and the company "issued a safety warning." In a post on its website, the NVWA wrote, "There are bags in circulation with sweets that can lead to health complaints, such as dizziness, when consumed." According to the NVWA, any gummies with a product code of L341-4002307906 and a best-before date of January 2026 have been recalled as a precaution. Customers who bought the product are encouraged to contact Haribo for a refund instead of returning them to where the gummies were purchased. How many bags total that may have be affected by the contamination is still unknown, and the NVWA has not yet shared how the contamination may have occurred. Haribo, a company spokesperson told the BBC, is currently working with police to "establish the facts around the contamination. AP Photo/Richard Drew A shopper looks at Haribo candies from Germany, at Economy Candy on New York's Lower East Side, Friday, April 4, 2025. According to Haribo, Happy Cola F!ZZ gummies packaged with other production codes are safe to eat, as are all other products under the company. Haribo added that the recall also only extends to Haribos Happy Cola F!ZZ gummies in the Netherlands, with no other regions affected. A representative for Haribo did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Saturday, May 31. Read the original article on People Patricia Krenwinkel (centre) with two other members of the Manson Family, Susan Atkins (L) and Leslie Van Houten, seen walking to court for their trial in 1970 - George Brich A Manson cult murderer who killed the actress Sharon Tate and smeared blood on the walls of her home has been recommended for parole, sparking anger from the actresss family. Patricia Krenwinkel, 77, the longest-serving female inmate in California, is one of two remaining so-called Manson Family members still in prison. In 1971, she was convicted of the murders of seven people, including the actress Sharon Tate, during a two-night rampage that shocked America in 1969. Krenwinkel was sentenced to death, but her sentence was reduced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after California abolished the death penalty in 1972. Krenwinkel in 2020 Incarcerated at the California Institution for Women for 54 years, Krenwinkel did not speak at the four-hour hearing on Friday. Tates family members, meanwhile, argued she should stay in prison. For years, this woman laughed about the murders in court and showed absolutely no remorse at all, wrote Debra Tate, the younger sister of Sharon Tate, in an online petition on Friday. Society cannot allow this serial killer, who committed such horrible, gruesome, random killings, back out. It is the 16th time that Krenwinkel has appeared before a parole board, and the second time she was recommended. The first was in 2022, but the decision was overruled by Gavin Newsom, Californias governor. Mr Newsom wrote at the time that Krenwinkel still poses an unreasonable danger to society if paroled at this time. Charles Manson did not personally kill the seven victims, but he was found guilty of ordering their murders and died in prison in 2017 - AP Photo/File The governor could reject the parole boards decision once again or send it back for further review. At her parole hearing, Ms. Krenwinkel accepted responsibility for her direct crimes, yet she continued to shift disproportionate blame to Mr. Manson for decisions and conduct within her control, Mr Newsom wrote. Tate, the 26-year-old wife of filmmaker Roman Polanski, was one of seven victims of the grisly killings by the Manson cult on the nights of August 9 and 10, 1969. Eight months pregnant, Tate was stabbed and shot to death at her Beverly Hills home with four friends, including coffee heiress Abigail Folger, hair stylist Thomas Jay Sebring, Wojciech Frykowski and Steven Earl Parent. Mr Polanski was in Europe at the time. Krenwinkel testified to chasing Folger with a knife and stabbing her 28 times. She later admitted at trial that her hand throbbed from stabbing her so many times. Sharon Tate was 26 years old and eight months pregnant when she was murdered - Silver Screen Collection The following night, Krenwinkel and other Manson followers stabbed to death grocery store executive Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary in their homes. Both homes had smears of blood on the walls, and Krenwinkel had used blood to write death to pigs. Manson did not personally kill any of the seven victims, but he was found guilty of ordering their murders as part of a delusional plot to ignite a race war, which he believed had been presaged in the Beatles song Helter Skelter. Krenwinkel, who was 23 at the time, along with Manson, then 36, and three others of his so-called family of misfits and hippie types, were convicted of all the murders. At Krenwinkels 14 other parole denials, the board cited the brutality of the murders. Krenwickel daubed death to pigs in blood on the walls of Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemarys home One of his followers, Susan Atkins, died in prison in 2009. Charles Tex Watson, 79, remains in jail. Leslie Van Houten was released from prison on parole in 2023 after spending 53 years behind bars. She received a life sentence for helping Mansons followers carry out the August 1969 killings of Leno LaBianca, a grocer in Los Angeles, and his wife, Rosemary. Van Houten, 75, described holding Rosemary down with a pillowcase over her head as others stabbed her. Then, ordered by another Manson follower to do something, Van Houten said, she picked up a knife and stabbed the woman around 16 times. Governor Newsom had rejected her parole recommendation. But she successfully appealed the decision to a US Court of Appeal, which reversed Mr Newsoms rejection. Leslie Van Houten was released on parole in 2023 - Stan Lim She spent about a year at a halfway house, learning the basic skills of modern life after more than half a century behind bars. At the time, her lawyer Nancy Tetreault said: She has to learn to use the internet. She has to learn to buy things without cash. Its a very different world than when she went in. A popular former high school cheerleader, Van Houten saw her life spiral out of control at 14 following her parents divorce. She began using drugs and became pregnant, but said her mother forced her to abort the foetus and bury it in the familys backyard. Van Houten met Manson at an old movie ranch on the outskirts of Los Angeles, where he had established his so-called family of followers. He died in prison in 2017 of natural causes at age 83 after nearly half a century behind bars. 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. Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday will reopen a closed runway that has contributed to weeks of delays and chaos at the travel hub. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will lead a news conference from the airport Monday to mark the runways reopening. Runway 4L-22R which is 11,000 feet long has been undergoing planned rehabilitation after showing significant signs of wear and has now been deemed safe and up to the Federal Aviation Administrations standards, according to a release from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Newark Airport. It had last been rehabilitated in 2014, and runways are typically updated about every 10 years, the statement said. According to the release, the $121 million project began in early March and was set to be finished on June 15. The project included milling and paving the runway surface, updating lighting, improving airfield signs with LED lighting, installing new underground electrical infrastructure, and implementing drainage improvements. Before it was fully shut down on April 15, the runway was closed on nights and weekends to accommodate the construction schedule. To ensure the runway is fully revamped by the end of the year, the Port Authority said it will continue to close on weeknights and again on weekends at the end of the year. However, Mondays reopening will allow regular runway operations to resume, the statement said. During runway 4L-22Rs planned future closures, two other runways at the airport will remain fully operational. As we approach the busy summer travel season, this key milestone puts us on a path to further reducing congestion, enhancing safety, and ensuring a seamless travel experience, Duffy said in the Port Authority statement. With the runway completed, well continue our work to harden the telecoms infrastructure and improving the staffing pipeline for the airspace. The planned runway construction was not the only reason passengers flying in and out of Newark have faced delays and cancelations this spring. Air traffic controllers serving the airport have experienced a number of communications blackouts while directing planes in the area in recent months due to equipment failures, prompting the FAA on May 20 to reduce the number of flights to and from Newark until the planned runway construction was complete. Our goal is to relieve the substantial inconvenience to the traveling public from excessive flight delays due to construction, staffing challenges, and recent equipment issues, which magnify as they spread through the National Airspace System, acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said at the time of the announcement. By Liz Lee and Shi Bu BEIJING (Reuters) -China has protested to the United States against "vilifying" remarks made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the foreign ministry said on Sunday, while accusing it of deliberately ignoring calls for peace from regional nations. China has objected to Hegseth calling it a threat in the Indo-Pacific, the ministry added, describing his comments at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday as "deplorable". "Hegseth deliberately ignored the call for peace and development by countries in the region and instead touted the Cold War mentality for bloc confrontation, vilified China with defamatory allegations, and falsely called China a 'threat'," the ministry said on its website. "The United States has deployed offensive weaponry in the South China Sea and kept stoking flames and creating tensions in the Asia-Pacific, which are turning the region into a powder keg," it added in the statement. China's defence ministry also weighed in, saying the U.S. is "accustomed to using" the forum to "stoke disputes, sow discord and seek selfish interests". "China's armed forces will work with other countries in the region to oppose hegemonism harming the Asia-Pacific region," ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said in a statement posted on the ministry's WeChat account. Hegseth had urged allies in the Indo-Pacific region, including key security partner Australia, to spend more on defence after warning of the "real and potentially imminent" threat from China. Asked about the call to boost defence spending, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government had pledged an extra A$10 billion ($6 billion) to defence. "What we'll do is we'll determine our defence policy," he told reporters on Sunday, a transcript of his remarks showed. As part of Washington's longstanding defence ties with the Philippines, the U.S. military this year deployed Typhon launchers that can fire missiles to hit targets in both China and Russia from the island of Luzon. China and the Philippines contest sovereignty over some islands and atolls in the South China Sea, with growing maritime run-ins between their coast guards as both vie to patrol the waters. China's delegation at the forum said "external intervention" was the biggest risk for stability in the South China Sea, saying the country had shown "goodwill and restraint" through talks on the issue. "Some foreign powers have sent warplanes and warships to the South China Sea for so-called 'freedom of navigation,'" the state-backed Global Times newspaper cited Senior Colonel Zhang Chi from the PLA National Defence University as saying. Such actions infringed China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, he added. The United States, Australia, Japan and the Philippines have conducted joint maritime operations in the busy waterway. China claims nearly all the South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal ruled Beijing's expansive claim had no basis in international law, however. China's foreign ministry also told the United States not to "play with fire" on the question of Taiwan. Any attempt by China to conquer Taiwan "would result in devastating consequences", Hegseth said in his speech to Asia's premier forum for defence leaders, military officials and diplomats. China has vowed to "reunify" with the separately governed island, by force if necessary. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future. ($1=1.5550 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Liz Lee and Bu Shi; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) By Anton Bridge TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is considering visiting Washington to meet President Donald Trump before a mid-month summit of the Group of Seven nations as he seeks a trade deal, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday. Japanese officials see signs of progress on easing Trump's tariffs after repeated visits by top tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa, and say the U.S. side has shown strong interest in Japan's proposals, the Yomiuri said, citing Japanese government officials it did not name. Economy Minister Akazawa will return to Washington for more talks later this week, after which a decision will be made on a U.S. trip by Ishiba, the newspaper said. The White House and the Japanese Prime Minister's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside business hours. Speaking to reporters upon returning on Sunday from his fourth round of negotiations, Akazawa said talks are progressing towards an agreement but that the form of negotiations before the G7 summit was yet to be decided. Japan, a major U.S. ally, faces what Trump calls a reciprocal tariff of 24% from next month unless it can negotiate a bilateral deal. Tokyo is also scrambling to find ways to get Washington to exempt its automakers, Japan's biggest industry, from 25% tariffs on automobiles. Trump said on Friday he planned to double the tariffs on all imported steel and aluminium to 50%. Akazawa declined to comment on those tariffs on Sunday. He said Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent did not mention them during the most recent negotiations. Some Japanese government officials hope an agreement can be announced in time for President Trump's birthday on June 14, the Yomiuri said. Akazawa said on Friday the two sides had "agreed to accelerate the talks and hold another round ahead of the G7 summit", to be held from June 15 to 17 in Canada. But he said there would be no deal without U.S. concessions on tariffs, including on autos. Ishiba has said bilateral negotiations were progressing on trade expansion, non-tariff measures and economic security, while Tokyo has mentioned possible increases in its purchases of U.S. military equipment and energy, as well as cooperation on shipbuilding and repairing U.S. warships in Japan. (Reporting by Anton Bridge in Tokyo; Additional reporting by Alexandra Ulmer in Washington; Editing by William Mallard) Editors note: This story contains reporting and images that some readers may find disturbing. SANTA TERESA, NM Human bones, white against the orange sand, are hard to miss and harder to forget. Once a month, retiree Abbey Carpenter leads volunteers through a field of dunes near the border, searching for the remains of migrants. She has located 27 sites in southern New Mexico in under two years, artifacts of a wave of migration that has ebbed to a trickle. But the bones femur, rib, jaw take her breath away each time. In them, Carpenter, who taught English as a Second Language, sees the journeys made by her former students migrants who live and work in the United States and learned English in her classroom. Men in construction. Women in service industries. When she first joined the desert searches, she said, "I just felt like I was walking in their footprints. I could see them: their backpacks, their shoes, their clothes." President Donald Trump's border crackdown has helped push illegal crossings to record lows over the past four months. With triple-digit summer temperatures looming here, there are growing hopes that the decline in migration could bring relief from the horrific death toll of the past two years in Border Patrol's El Paso Sector. Last year, border agents found the bodies of 176 migrants in the 264-mile sector stretching from West Texas across New Mexico. They discovered 149 remains the year before. The toll represented a shocking increase from the 20 deaths recorded in 2019. Abbey Carpenter, of Battalion Search and Rescue, communicates with volunteers over a radio during a search in Santa Teresa, New Mexico on May 17, 2025. The sector has become a focal point. That's, in part, because of the rise in deaths and, in part, because local Border Patrol leaders shared the sector statistics during two deadly years, when the Biden administration failed to provide broader numbers despite a congressional mandate. U.S. Customs and Border Protection didn't respond to a USA TODAY request for the missing data for fiscal years 2023 and 2024. Along the length of the U.S.-Mexico border, migrant deaths climbed five years running through fiscal 2022, the last period for which data is publicly available. Deaths rose to 895 from 281 over that time, according to CBP. The numbers include human remains found by Border Patrol and other federal, state, local and tribal agencies. The climbing death toll prompted CBP to create the "Missing Migrant Program" in 2017, under the first Trump administration. The goal was "to help rescue migrants in distress and reduce migrant deaths along the Southwest border," according to a Government Accountability Office report. The program also helped facilitate the identification and return of migrant remains to their families. Under the new Trump administration, the effort has been renamed the "Missing Alien Program." The vast majority of migrant remains in the El Paso Sector have been found in a single county, New Mexico's Dona Ana, in an area painfully close to life-saving assistance: main roads, a cluster of factories, and residential neighborhoods. Looking north from the border fence, the desert appears flat, with the bare Franklin Mountains in the distance to the northeast. New Mexico's two-lane Highway 9 parallels the border about 3 miles to the north. The proximity to the urban footprint is, in part, what made this region such a heavily trafficked crossing point. But within minutes of hiking into the desert, creosote bushes and mesquite pull the sand into disorienting mounds that can, without warning, block the view in every direction. Should a tired migrant collapse in their scant shade, the sand can run as hot as 150 degrees in the summer. "We were wondering why these individuals, or these bodies, were found very close to the border," Border Patrol Agent Claudio Herrera, a sector spokesman, told USA TODAY. "The saddest thing," he said, is that migrants who survived told us "they'd been in a stash house for weeks without proper food and without water. So by the time they made the illegal entry, they were already dehydrated." An 'open graveyard' New Mexico's Office of the Medical Investigator is tasked with investigating reports of unattended deaths, including those in the desert near the border. In 2023, the agency officially began tracking remains that could belong to a "probable migrant." Last year, the agency positively identified 75% of migrant remains recovered in southern New Mexico, or 112 individuals, according to data provided to USA TODAY. Carpenter and her partner, Marine veteran James Holeman, organize the desert searches through a nonprofit, Battalion Search and Rescue. James Holeman founded Battalion Search and Rescue in Arizona in 2020. He expanded his search to include the desert of New Mexico, where he estimates that they've found 67 sites with human remains between the two states in 18 months. On a Saturday in May, as temperatures climbed toward 90 degrees, nine volunteers met Carpenter and Holeman at a Love's truck stop. They donned fluorescent orange-and-yellow shade hats. They readied their radios and turned on a cell phone GPS-tracking app, for safety and to map the terrain they covered. "It is a straight-up open graveyard," Holeman said of the 10-by-20-mile section of border they've been covering little by little since late 2023. Mary Mackay, a local school teacher, volunteered with Carpenter for the first time that day. "Emotionally, it was more than I expected," she later told USA TODAY. "You feel like you would be prepared to see a body, but then you actually see it and you realize that's a real person with an entire backstory and family and wishes and dreams. And it all just ended there alone in the desert." A GPS-tracking app allows Battalion Search and Rescue volunteers to track the terrain they have covered. The Battalion's search for remains of migrants in New Mexico follows the footsteps of other volunteer teams working in deadly stretches of Arizona and California. Search volunteers typically try to comb through areas that Border Patrol or local law enforcement might otherwise miss. The volunteers don't touch the bones, said Carpenter, also a former college administrator. They mark the sites with brightly colored tape tied to the brush. They record the precise location and alert local law enforcement in hopes that officials will come to collect the bones that remain. Sometimes they do; too often they don't, Carpenter said. Animals or wind sometimes scatter the remains before volunteers or officials can reach them. Still, she said, each one matters in the quest to identify a missing migrant. A chipped bone could hold a clue. "It takes some time and effort to work wider circles around the site to identify everything," Carpenter said. "But that's important. Which family member wouldn't want all of their family's remains recovered?" Lauren Villagran can be reached at lvillagran@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Volunteers search the desert for migrant remains Gaston County Sheriff's Office (2) Jessica Ivey; Samuele Jenkins NEED TO KNOW Two parents in North Carolina are facing multiple charges after their 7-year-old son was hit by an SUV while he was crossing a street unsupervised and later died from his injuries The boy was with his brother, 10, when they were allegedly trying to cross a portion of the road without a crosswalk Jessica Ivey, 30, and Samuele Jenkins, 31, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter, felony child neglect and misdemeanor child neglect Two North Carolina parents are facing multiple charges after their 7-year-old son was hit and killed by an SUV as he crossed a street unsupervised. Jessica Ivey, 30, and Samuele Jenkins, 31, were charged with involuntary manslaughter, felony child neglect and misdemeanor child neglect on Thursday, May 29, according to Gaston County Sheriffs Office public records. They are both being held on a $1.5 million bond. Gastonia Police said they responded to reports of a vehicular crash involving a pedestrian on West Hudson Boulevard just before 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday, May 27, per WBTV. Getty Police tape (stock image) Upon arriving, they found that the 7-year-old child had been attempting to cross the street in an area of the road without a crosswalk when he was hit by an SUV driven by a 76-year-old woman. The boy was with his 10-year-old brother at the time. Police further told the outlet that the child was transported to a local hospital and was then transferred to Levine Childrens Hospital in Charlotte, where he later died around 10 p.m. Authorities told WBTV that adults must be held accountable in these types of incidents and should ensure their children are in a safe environment. Getty Police car (stock image) 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. The driver of the SUV has not been charged at this time, per WCNC. The initial court date for both Ivey and Jenkins was scheduled for Friday, May 30, per public records. PEOPLE reached out to the Gaston Police Department as well as the Gaston County Sheriffs Office on Saturday, May 31, but did not receive an immediate response. Read the original article on People Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Connecticut, hit back at a Republican colleague who went viral after telling a town hall audience member that "we all are going to die" in response to concerns over Medicaid cuts. "I think everybody in that audience knows that they're going to die," Murphy told CNN's Dana Bash. "They would just rather die in old age at 85 or 90, instead of dying at 40." The comment come after Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, addressed federal cuts to Medicaid which Republicans have proposed as part of President Donald Trump's sweeping tax bill during a town hall in Parkersburg, Iowa, on May 30. As she was speaking, someone shouted from the audience, "people will die!" Ernst then told the auditorium, "People are not well, we all are going to die. For heavens sakes, folks." Medicaid, the program that provides health insurance to more than 71 million low-income Americans, would undergo big changes under the bill that passed in the House last month. That includes new work requirements for some adults beginning in December 2026, more frequent eligibility checks and disincentives for states to cover unauthorized migrant children, among other provisions. Collectively, the Medicaid proposal would save at least $625 billion and cause 7.6 million Americans to lose their health insurance over the next 10 years, according to initial estimates by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Sen. Joni Ernst speaks during a town hall at Aplington-Parkersburg High School on May 30, 2025, in Parkersburg. Still, Ernst shared a sarcastic apology video after facing criticism from Democrats over her response to the town hall attendees' concerns. "Hello everyone," she said in a video posted to social media. "I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall. "I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that yes, we are all going to perish from this Earth," she said. "So, I apologize. And Im really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well." Republicans have said the proposed changes to Medicaid protect the program for those who need it and that their legislation is curbing waste and fraud. Democrats, like Murphy, argue the fallout will be felt by Americans across the country. May 14, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; Sen. Chris Murphy, D-CT, listens as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, testifies in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in Washington, D.C., on May 15, 2025.. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY via Imagn Images "When rural hospitals close because of this bill, when drug treatment clinics close in Iowa and rural America because of this bill, more people will die at a younger age," Murphy alleged in the interview on June 1. Though Republicans control the Senate, the legislation isn't expected to sail through the upper chamber. Several Senate Republicans, including Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Rand Paul of Kentucky, say the bill comes with too high a price tag. "This is our moment," Johnson told CNN's Jake Tapper in May. "We have witnessed an unprecedented level of increased spending. ... This is our only chance to reset that to a reasonable pre-pandemic level." House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and other champions of the legislation say the bill is an investment in America's economy. But it's expected to add around $3.3 trillion to the nation's deficit over the next 10 years and swell the federal government's debt. Contributing: Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register; Riley Beggin, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dem Chris Muphy hits Republican Joni Ernst town hall Medicaid comment A woman prepares to cast her vote during the presidential election runoff in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) WARSAW, Poland (AP) Exit polls in Polands presidential runoff Sunday showed the two candidates in a statistical tie with the race still too close to call in the deeply divided nation. The results could set the course for the nations political future and its relations with the European Union. A first exit poll showed liberal Warsaw mayor Rafa Trzaskowski with a slight lead over conservative historian Karol Nawrocki, but two hours later an updated late poll showed Nawrocki winning 50.7%, more than Trzaskowski with 49.3% The polls have a margin of error and it was still not clear who the winner was. Claims of victory amid uncertainty Though the final result was still unclear with the two locked in a near dead heat, both men claimed to have won in meetings with their supporters in Warsaw. We won," Trzaskowski told his supporters to chants of Rafa, Rafa. This is truly a special moment in Polands history. I am convinced that it will allow us to move forward and focus on the future," Trzaskowski said. I will be your president. Nawrocki, speaking to his supporters at a separate event in Warsaw, said he believed he was on track to win. We will win and save Poland, he said. We must win tonight." The final results were expected Monday. A divided country The decisive presidential runoff pitted Trzaskowski, a liberal pro-EU politician, against Nawrocki, a conservative historian backed by the right-wing Law and Justice party and aligned with U.S. conservatives, including President Donald Trump. The fact that it was so close underlined how deep the social divisions have become in Poland. The outcome will determine whether Poland takes a more nationalist path or pivots more decisively toward liberal democratic norms. With conservative President Andrzej Duda completing his second and final term, the new president will have significant influence over whether Prime Minister Donald Tusks centrist government can fulfill its agenda, given the presidential power to veto laws. We will not allow Donald Tusks grip on power to be completed, Nawrocki said. The runoff follows a tightly contested first round of voting on May 18, in which Trzaskowski won just over 31% and Nawrocki nearly 30%, eliminating 11 other candidates. Katarzyna Malek, a 29-year-old voter in Warsaw, cast her ballot in the first round for a left-wing candidate but went for Trzaskowski on Sunday, viewing him as more competent and more likely to pursue stronger ties with foreign partners and lower social tensions. I hope there will be less division, that maybe there will be more dialogue, she said. The campaign has highlighted stark ideological divides. Trzaskowski, 53, has promised to restore judicial independence, ease abortion restrictions and promote constructive ties with European partners. Nawrocki, 42, has positioned himself as a defender of traditional Polish values and skeptical of the EU. Allegations against Nawrocki Nawrockis candidacy has been clouded by allegations of past connections to criminal figures and participation in a violent street battle. He denies the criminal links but acknowledges having taken part in noble fights. The revelations have not appeared to dent his support among right-wing voters, many of whom see the allegations as politically motivated. We managed to unite the entire patriotic camp in Poland, the entire camp of people who want a normal Poland, want a Poland without illegal migrants, a safe Poland. We managed to unite all those who want social, community security, Nawrocki said. It was an apparent reference to those who supported far-right candidates in the first round and who supported him on Sunday. Some of those voting for Nawrocki in Warsaw dismissed the allegations against him, saying he shouldn't be punished for his past and that Trzaskowski has also made mistakes as mayor. Wadysawa Wasowska, an 82-year-old former history teacher, recalled instilling patriotism in her students during the communist era, when Poland was under Moscows influence. Im a right-wing conservative. I love God, the church and the homeland, she said, explaining that Nawrocki for her is the only patriotic choice now, and accusing Trzaskowski of serving foreign interests. Hes controlled by Germany, she said. I want a sovereign, independent, democratic Poland and a Catholic one." International echoes Amid rising security fears over Russias war in neighboring Ukraine, both candidates support aid to Kyiv, though Nawrocki opposes NATO membership for Ukraine, while Trzaskowski supports it in the future. Nawrocki's campaign has echoed themes popular on the American right, including an emphasis on traditional values. His supporters feel that Trzaskowski, with his pro-EU views, would hand over control of key Polish affairs to larger European powers like France and Germany. Many European centrists rooted for Trzaskowski, seeing in him someone who would defend democratic values under pressure from authoritarian forces across the globe. WASHINGTON The Senate will start moving on a bill imposing more sanctions on the Kremlin following talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said. I would expect next week that the Senate will start moving the sanctions bill, Graham, an ally of President Trump but also a firm backer of Ukraines war efforts, said Friday, according to The Kyiv Independent. There are House members that are ready to move in the House, and youll see congressional action, he added. President Trump said that the next two-week period will be outcome-determined. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said Friday the upper chamber will start moving on a bill imposing more sanctions on the Kremlin following talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The bipartisan meeting with Ukraines leader included Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who like Graham supports the legislation applying a 500% tariff on Russian oil, gas, uranium and other products. Neither sits on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee where the bill, which has racked up at least 80 co-sponsors, is currently under consideration. At least 82 senators are prepared to vote for it if it heads to the Senate floor, Graham told the outlet. Ive never been more optimistic than I am today, he added, when asked whether Trump would sign it. Russia faces a stark choice: peace or crippling sanctions, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said in a Senate floor speech on May 20. President Trump has spoken forcefully of swift, severe consequences if Russia fails to honor a ceasefire. On June 2, delegations from Russia and Ukraine had been expected to meet for talks in Istanbul but Graham said he doesnt have any hope at all that Russia is interested in peace given drone strikes in Ukraine that killed more than a dozen civilians on May 25. President Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky clashed in the Oval Office last month after Ukraines leader protested that the US wasnt providing it with enough security guarantees to ward off Russia. AFP via Getty Images It was the largest aerial bombardment in the war to date, with 355 drones and nine cruise missiles being unleashed. Trump who promised to end the war on day one of his second presidential term slammed Putin as absolutely crazy following the strikes, but stopped short of announcing tougher sanctions on the regime despite having threatened them earlier this month. Russia is playing a game at the expense of the world, not just the United States, Graham said, noting how oil from Moscow is prolonging the war by being sold to China and India. Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated that curtailing NATO expansion from the West, relaxing sanctions and official recognition of Ukraines neutral status are redlines for him in peace talks. Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated that curtailing NATO expansion from the West, relaxing sanctions and official recognition of Ukraines neutral status are redlines for him in the discussions. AP The Kremlin was not targeted with 10% baseline global tariffs as part of Trumps Liberation Day announcement in April, though the White House indicated previous sanctions made it irrelevant. European leaders have already slapped sanctions on Russia over Putins refusal to accept a US-backed cease-fire deal. Its clear to almost anyone Putin is not remotely interested in anything that would lead to peace, Graham added. So theres a card game going on this summer. The first cards are going to be played by the United States Senate and the House. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) backs stricter sanctions, and Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) also suggested last week that the US should also send more lethal weapons to Ukraine. If Ukraine falls, it will always be known in the history books that it happened with Trump doing little to help Ukraine defend themselves with the means we have available, Bacon said. A voter casts a ballot for the presidential election on June 3, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. - Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images After half a year of political turmoil, uncertainty and division, South Koreans voted Tuesday for a new president to succeed Yoon Suk Yeol, the disgraced former leader who plunged the democratic nation into chaos by declaring martial law in December. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is projected to win, according to a joint exit poll published by Korean broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS on Tuesday night. The exit poll projects that Lee, of the liberal Democratic Party, will win in a landslide with 51.7% of the vote. His main rival, Kim Moon-soo of the ruling conservative People Power Party, is projected to win 39.3% of the vote. Official results have yet to be announced. This election feels particularly significant; the country, a US ally and Asian economic and cultural powerhouse, has floundered for months with a revolving door of interim leaders while navigating Yoons impeachment trial and a multipronged investigation into the fateful night of his short-lived power grab. All the while, South Koreas economy has suffered, with US President Donald Trumps trade war and a potential global recession looming in the background. Two men are each promising to help the country recover if elected a lawyer turned politician dogged by legal cases who survived an assassination attempt, and a former anti-establishment activist turned conservative minister. The country is suffering and the emotions are so hard that I came out early in the morning with the hope that we could achieve an overwhelming victory to ease this even a little bit, said voter Jung Han-byeol at a polling station in the capital Seoul. Another voter, Kim Dong-wan, said this election felt particularly important. My heart has been heavy since December, he said. Rather than for politics, I really wanted to vote for this country. Heres what you need to know. Who are the main candidates? Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the Democratic Party, speaks while campaigning in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) - Lee Jin-man/AP The frontrunner is Lee Jae-myung, 60, of the liberal opposition Democratic Party. A former underage factory worker from a poor family, Lee became a human rights lawyer before entering politics. He is a former mayor and governor, and most recently served as a lawmaker after narrowly losing to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election. He survived an assassination attempt in January 2024 when a man stabbed him in the neck during a public event. He again made headlines on December 3, 2024 the night Yoon declared martial law and sent troops to parliament. Lee was among the lawmakers who rushed to the legislature and pushed past soldiers to hold an emergency vote to lift martial law. He live streamed himself jumping over a fence to enter the building, in a viral video viewed tens of millions of times. On the campaign trail, Lee promised political and economic reforms, including more controls on a presidents ability to declare martial law, and revising the constitution to allow two four-year presidential terms instead of the current single five-year term. South Korea's former President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a speech to declare martial law in Seoul on December 3, 2024. - The Presidential Office/Reuters Soldiers try to enter the legislature in Seoul after the martial law decree on December 4, 2024. - Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images He has emphasized easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula while holding on to the longtime goal of denuclearizing North Korea; he also supports boosting small businesses and growing the AI industry. But Lee has also been dogged by legal cases, including several ongoing trials for alleged bribery and charges related to a property development scandal. Separately, he was convicted of violating election law in another ongoing case that has been sent to an appeals court. Lee denies all the charges against him. Speaking to CNN in December, he claimed he had been indicted on various charges without any evidence or basis, and that the allegations are politically motivated. Lees main rival is Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party (PPP). The People Power Party's presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo at an election campaign event in Goyang, South Korea, on May 21, 2025. - Lee Jin-man/AP When Yoon left the party in May, he urged supporters to back Kim a 73-year-old former labor minister, who had been a prominent labor activist at university, even being expelled and imprisoned for his protests. He eventually joined a conservative party, and stepped into the nomination after several rounds of party infighting. The PPP initially selected Kim as its candidate; then dropped him, eyeing former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo instead. The party finally chose Kim after he filed legal challenges. But the PPP remains deeply divided and its candidate trailed Lee in pre-election polling. In a statement after his nomination, Kim vowed to seek unity and build a big tent coalition to take on Lee, according to Reuters. Kim has also promised to reform the countrys politics, judiciary and election management systems to rebuild public trust. His campaign emphasized making South Korea business-friendly through tax cuts and eased restrictions, and by promoting new technologies and nuclear energy. Several third-party and independent candidates are also running for the presidency. They include Lee Jun-seok, a former PPP leader who founded his own conservative New Reform Party last year. What are the issues on the table? At the forefront of voters minds is the countrys flailing economy and rising cost of living. Youth unemployment has surged and consumption has declined, with the economy unexpectedly contracting in the first quarter of this year. Part of that is due to Trumps trade war which has hit South Koreas export-reliant economy hard. South Koreas exports to the US fell sharply in the first few weeks of April after US tariffs kicked in, and the nations largest airline has warned the downturn could cost it up to $100 million a year. Though officials from both nations have met for tariff talks, the political turmoil at home is likely slowing progress and hampering a possible trade deal until a new South Korean president is elected. Thats why both main candidates have focused on the economy, promising to stabilize the cost of goods and improve opportunities in housing, education and jobs. A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Seoul during the presidential election on June 3, 2025. - Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images But theres a host of other problems the next president will have to tackle, too such as the countrys rapidly aging society and plummeting birth rates, which represent an urgent demographic crisis also seen in other countries in the region like Japan and China. Among the common complaints of young couples and singles are the high cost of childcare, gender inequality and discrimination against working parents. Then there are regional tensions. Theres the ever-present threat from North Korea, which has rapidly modernized its armed forces, developing new weapons and testing intercontinental ballistic missiles that can reach almost anywhere in the United States. Experts have warned in recent years that the country may also be preparing to resume nuclear tests, which it paused in 2018. Across the Yellow Sea lies China, which South Korea has a strong trade relationship with but historically fraught diplomatic relations. South Korea also maintains a close security alliance with the US, and hosts nearly 30,000 American troops in the country. In recent years, South Korea, Japan and the US have drawn closer together, working to counter Chinese influence in the strategically important Asia-Pacific region. What happened to Yoon? Former President Yoon Suk Yeol (center) arrives at the Seoul Central District Court for a criminal hearing in Seoul, South Korea, on May 19, 2025. - Chris Jung/NurPhoto/Shutterstock Yoon was removed from office in April following months of legal wrangling, after parliament voted to impeach him late last year. It was a remarkable fall from grace for the former prosecutor turned politician, who rose to prominence for his role in the impeachment of another president only to eventually meet the same fate. Soon after, Yoon moved out from the presidential residency and into an apartment in the capital Seoul. But his legal battles are ongoing; he faces charges including insurrection, an offense punishable by life imprisonment or death (though South Korea has not executed anyone in decades). Yoon denies all charges against him. CNNs Yoonjung Seo and Gawon Bae contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Jacquelyn Martin/AP/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool/AFP/Getty Images Every president thinks they can change the world and Donald Trump has an even greater sense of personal omnipotence than his recent predecessors. But its not working out too well for the 47th president. Trump might intimidate tech titans to toe the line and use government power to try to bend institutions like Harvard University and judges, but some world leaders are harder to bully. He keeps being ignored and humiliated by Russian President Vladimir Putin who is defying the US effort to end the war in Ukraine. Russian media is now portraying Trump as the tough talker who always blinks and never imposes consequences. The president also thought that he could shape China to his will by facing down leader Xi Jinping in a trade war. But he misunderstood Chinese politics. The one thing an authoritarian in Beijing can never do is bow down to a US president. US officials say now theyre frustrated that China hasnt followed through on commitments meant to deescalate the trade conflict. As with China, Trump backed down in his tariff war with the European Union. Then Financial Times commentator Robert Armstrong enraged the president by coining the term TACO trade Trump Always Chickens Out. Everyone thought that Trump would be on the same page as Benjamin Netanyahu. After all, in his first term he offered the Israeli prime minister pretty much everything he wanted. But now that hes trying to broker peace in the Middle East, Trump is finding that prolonging the Gaza conflict is existential for Netanyahus political career, much like Ukraine for Putin. And Trumps ambition for an Iranian nuclear deal is frustrating Israeli plans to use a moment of strategic weakness for the Islamic Republic to try to take out its reactors militarily. Powerful leaders are pursuing their own versions of the national interest that exist in a parallel reality and on different historical and actual timelines to shorter, more transactional, aspirations of American presidents. Most arent susceptible to personal appeals with no payback. And after Trumps attempts to humiliate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office, the lure of the White House is waning. Trump spent months on the campaign trail last year boasting that his very good relationship with Putin or Xi would magically solve deep geopolitical and economic problems between global powers that might be unsolvable. Hes far from the first US leader to suffer from such delusions. President George W. Bush famously looked into the Kremlin tyrants eyes and got a sense of his soul. President Barack Obama disdained Russia as a decaying regional power and once dismissed Putin as the bored kid in the back of the classroom. That didnt work out so well when the bored kid annexed Crimea. More broadly, the 21st century presidents have all acted as though theyre men of destiny. Bush came to office determined not to act as the global policeman. But the September 11 attacks in 2001 made him exactly that. He started wars in Afghanistan and Iraq which the US won, then lost the peace. And his failed second term goal to democratize the Arab world never went anywhere. Obama tried to make amends for the global war on terror and travelled to Egypt to tell Muslims it was time for a new beginning. His early presidency pulsated with a sense that his charisma and unique background would in itself be a global elixir. Joe Biden traveled the globe telling everyone that America is back after ejecting Trump from the White House. But four years later, partly due to his own disastrous decision to run for a second term, America or at least the internationalist post-World War II version was gone again. And Trump was back. Trumps America First populism relies on the premise that the US has been ripped off for decades, never mind that its alliances and shaping of global capitalism made it the most powerful nation in the planets history. Now playing at being a strongman who everyone must obey, he is busily squandering this legacy and shattering US soft power ie. the power to persuade with his belligerence. The first four months of the Trump presidency, with its tariff threats, warnings of US territorial expansion in Canada and Greenland and evisceration of global humanitarian aid programs show that the rest of the world gets a say in what happens too. So far, leaders in China, Russia, Israel, Europe and Canada appear to have calculated that Trump is not as powerful as he thinks he is, that theres no price for defying him or that their own internal politics make resistance mandatory. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Two Scottish men with links to a Glasgow-based criminal gang have been shot dead at a bar in Spain. BBC Scotland understands they are Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan, who was previously acquitted of a notorious gangland murder. They both died when a masked gunman opened fire at Monaghans Bar in Fuengirola in Andalusia on Saturday evening. Local media reported the attack took place just after 23:00 when a car pulled up outside the crowded bar. The gunman then fled in the same vehicle. Ross Monaghan was previously linked to the high-profile killing of one of Glasgow's most feared gangland figures Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll. Carroll, an enforcer for the Daniel crime family, was shot 13 times as he sat in a car outside a supermarket in Robroyston, Glasgow, in 2010. Monaghan was accused of the murder and of disposing of evidence after the killing, but was later acquitted due to a lack of evidence. He was himself shot in the shoulder as he dropped off his daughter at a primary school in Glasgow in 2017. He is reported to have moved to Spain at around this time. Eddie Lyons Jnr had also previously been shot and wounded in an attack in 2006, believed to have been carried out by Carroll. Video circulating on social media showed police at the scene of the attack [BBC] Police Scotland said it was unable to comment on a possible link to a recent gangland feud in Scotland and has directed inquiries to the Spanish authorities. Rivalries between the Lyons and the Daniel crime families, resulting in numerous violent attacks, have been ongoing for more than 20 years. BBC journalist Guy Hedgecoe, however, said there had been a number of other shootings in the Costa del Sol area in recent weeks, several of which are believed to be connected with drug crime. Monaghans is located on the seafront and is a popular bar with tourists and expats. The bar had been screening the UEFA Champions League final on the evening of the attack. The Foreign Office said it had not been approached for any consular assistance but that its staff stood ready to assist any British nationals if required. Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images Solo travelers could be paying more for their plane tickets. Key Points A new industry report indicates that U.S. airlines may be charging more for individually booked tickets. In one example, a solo ticket was priced at $422 per person, but dropped to $266 per person when the same route was booked for two people. In order to save on your next flight, experts recommend clearing your browser history and setting up price alerts on your desired routes. While traveling alone can be enticing and relaxing, new data reveals it might also be more expensive. U.S. airlines are allegedly charging single passengers higher fares than couples or families, according to a new report from the booking site Thrifty Traveler. The travel data team recently compared the price of a single-ticket purchase versus that of two or more tickets. In multiple instances, the single-ticket purchase was more expensive per passenger. In one example, the report showed how a United Airlines flight from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA) cost $269 for a one-way ticket for a person traveling alone. But when the same route was booked for two people, the price dropped to $181 per person. The team also noted that a single fare on an American Airlines flight that was priced at $422 dropped to $266 per person when multiple tickets were booked. It's just another way for airlines to continue 'segmenting' their customers, charging business travelers paying with a corporate card more while offering a better deal to families on the exact same flight," Thrifty Traveler executive editor Kyle Potter said in the article. The report also notes that the phenomenon doesnt appear to be a widespread occurrence, and may be a limited-time test, or may only appear on select routes. After the report was released, dozens of flyers and aviation enthusiasts confirmed the findings independently. Jeff Rossen, a consumer correspondent and the host of the Rossen Reports, shared his experience of seeing higher fares for single tickets on social media. I picked a random round-trip flight, and the first one I picked, boom a giant $240.93 price difference, Rossen told Travel + Leisure. Same flights. Same cabin. He also said booking websites may use other clues to potentially generate higher fares and prices for certain customers. Airlines can track your search history and apply different prices based on it, Rossen said. So, clear your cache and cookies before logging into the airline. Better yet, search in incognito mode to avoid price hikes targeting you. At the time of publication, neither American Airlines nor United Airlines provided a comment to T+L. In the meantime, if you're traveling alone, experts recommend setting up price alerts to save some cash. Alternatively, you could consider flying into other nearby (often smaller) airfields that may be less expensive. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure Leila Register / NBC News; Getty Images Christopher Praino signed a waiver relinquishing his disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs after he was ordered to active duty in fall 2019. In a letter, the VA confirmed it would terminate his roughly $965 monthly payments because, by law, he could not receive both VA benefits and active-duty pay at the same time. But the agency did not fully halt the payments. Instead, it sent various monthly amounts over the next three years, ranging from $0 to over $2,000, Prainos records show. The VA never stopped, he said, after response after response, call after call, walk-in after walk-in. In 2023, despite Prainos repeated efforts to rectify the inconsistent installments that should have ended years ago, the VA informed him in a letter that he owed nearly $68,000. That year, the government began automatically clawing some of the money out of his military paychecks, which he uses to support five children and his wife, leaving him in dire financial straits. No words can tell you the emotional, mental and physical heartache I have every day dealing with this, he said. Its eating away at me. In a recent congressional oversight hearing focused on why the VA regularly overpays veterans and then asks for the money back, agency officials partially blamed veterans for the exorbitant errors, telling lawmakers that some veterans have been failing to report eligibility changes that would have lowered their monthly disability compensation or pension payments. But Praino and two other veterans told NBC News they did notify the VA in a timely manner. Yet, records show the agency continued overpaying them for months, sometimes years, before asking for the money back. Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Praino owes nearly $68,000 in VA overpayments. (Courtesy Christopher Praino) The long-delayed adjustments, which can cause veterans to incur life-changing debts, may indicate another operational shortfall at the VA weeks after officials testified that the agency doles out about $1 billion in overpayments each year due to administrative errors and other factors. The VA overpaid about $5.1 billion in disability compensation and pension payments from fiscal year 2021 to fiscal year 2024, according to Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. The issue is recurring and getting worse, Luttrell told NBC News, even as the Trump administration has cut billions of dollars in grants and slashed thousands of federal jobs in an attempt to trim what it sees as waste and inefficiency in federal spending. Its not the veterans fault, Luttrell said. Its the system that is failing. In a statement, VA press secretary Peter Kasperowicz said the agency, under new leadership, is working hard to fix longstanding problems, such as billions of dollars per year in overpayments. Luttrell said the overpayment issue is complex, largely stemming from tiers of human error and an outdated computer system that he said does not adequately allow information to be shared between local and national VA offices. You have to get the software to talk to each other. You have to get the veterans to communicate. You have to get the actors inside the VA to move accordingly, and then you have to make sure the system is lined out as it needs to be, he said. That is such a complex problem set to solve. The processes are broken In 2015, after his divorce was finalized, veteran Brent Aber said he went to his local VAs office in Akron, Ohio, to remove his ex-wife as a dependent. I thought, OK, all is done, he said. Aber said it felt like he was officially closing a difficult chapter in his life. But eight years later, another nightmare emerged when the national VAs Debt Management Center sent him a letter, notifying him that he had to pay back more than $17,700. Brent Aber, 50, lost both of his legs in a training accident. (Courtesy Brent Aber) Aber, who served in both the Navy and Army for a dozen years, said he called the VA to find out how he accrued this debt. He said he was told that different VA computer systems do not communicate with one another, meaning the dependent removal may have never been registered nationally, and his monthly payments had not decreased as they should have. Kasperowicz, the VA spokesperson, disputed claims made by Aber and Luttrell about the computer systems, saying the VA has had a centralized claims system since 2013 that ensures updated information is reflected for each veteran. Upon follow-up, Luttrell could not be reached for comment on the VAs dispute. Kasperowicz did not offer an explanation as to what happened in Abers case and said the VA has no record of his dependent change request from 2015. Aber said he spent more than a year fighting the recoupment and claimed financial hardship. But in May, the VA began withholding nearly $500 from his monthly compensation payments until the debt is cleared. To make up for the loss, Aber, who lost both of his legs in a training accident and is now mostly bedridden, said he stopped using a house cleaning service and is mostly eating cheaper, microwavable food. I provided all the paperwork at the time of the divorce, but that didnt seem to matter, he said. The 50-year-old said the VAs recoupment hurts more as he fights for medical care. He said he has been struggling with severe pain and swelling since he underwent revision surgery on his limbs about two years ago with the hopes of getting fitted again for prosthetics. While Aber said his primary care doctor referred him to an orthopedic surgeon with expertise in double amputations, he said the VA denied the referral. Kasperowicz said the "entirety of the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System orthopedic section" and other health care providers have evaluated Aber and "all have agreed that there are no additional surgical options that would provide him pain relief or improved function." "The medical consensus is to continue amputee clinic, physical therapy, pain management and behavioral health treatments to address the complexity of his condition," Kasperowicz said. Aber said the double battle he has been waging against the VA has left him feeling frustrated and betrayed. I feel like Ive been completely done wrong, he said. Aber with his late dog Brutus last year. (Courtesy Brent Aber) In Bonaire, Georgia, veteran John Mullens reported a dependent change in February after his 18-year-old son became eligible for a separate VA educational benefit that provides monthly payments to cover the cost of school. By law, veterans cannot receive both benefits at the same time, which Mullens knew from his own research. NBC News reviewed records from his VA portal, showing he filed a request to remove a dependent on Feb. 18. The claim was assigned to a reviewer on Feb. 19, the portal shows. And there were no other updates until May when Mullens received a letter from the VA, alerting him to the duplicate payments, which the VA said resulted in about $340 in overpayments each month. They did nothing with the information and continued to overpay me, Mullens, 55, said. The processes are broken. Kasperowicz said it currently takes an average of about 21 days for the VA to remove a dependent and an average of about 91 days to add one. Of the nearly $1.4 billion overpaid in fiscal year 2021, Kasperowicz said about $913 million was related to dependent changes. The VA does not track data showing how many veterans in overpayment cases actually did report changes on time, Kasperowicz said. The overpayments sometimes span many years. In 2023, the VA temporarily suspended the collection of pension debts for thousands of low-income wartime veterans and their survivors after the agency identified an issue with its income verification that led to overpayments between 2011 and 2022. On May 14, Luttrell and other members of the House subcommittee pressed VA officials to explain how the agency planned to fix the problem. Nina Tann, executive director of the VAs compensation service, testified that the agency, which serves about 9.1 million people, has a heightened risk of making improper payments due to the large number of beneficiaries and the high-dollar amounts it doles out. Tann said the agency has taken steps to prevent, detect and correct the issue, including being better about notifying veterans that they need to report changes. Tann also said the VA fixed an administrative error in January that had been causing duplicate payments for about 15,000 veterans with dependents in fiscal year 2024. The agency did not force those veterans to repay the money, she said. Kasperowicz said the VA does not seek to recoup overpayments when administrative errors, including issues related to the VAs online filing platform, are to blame. But Praino, who owes almost $68,000 after re-enlisting, said it has been challenging to prove the VA made an administrative error. They will not admit any mistake, said Praino, 42, an Army sergeant first class, who has been serving in the National Guard full time since 2019. The VA did not immediately comment on Prainos case. The VA transferred Prainos debt to the Treasury Department, which notified Praino in a December 2023 letter that it is required to withhold up to 15% of his federal wages. The Treasury Department began automatically garnishing about $800 from his monthly paychecks in 2023, according to documents provided by Praino. Praino, who is based in Georgia, now takes home about $3,800 a month, which he said barely covers the rent. With car payments, student loans and other expenses and bills, Praino said he has been racking up his credit card with essential purchases like food for his family. Praino said he has post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and traumatic brain injury after first serving in the Navy from 2001 to 2003 and then in the Army. When you add a financial crisis to the mix, and youre continuing to serve, which is always a high-stress environment 24/7, my emotional state, my mental state, it is a wreck, he said. Las Vegas is an unforgettable time, but a little planning (and common sense) goes a long way. KIRAYONAK YULIYA/Shutterstock I went to Las Vegas with friends and learned a few lessons the hard way. I wish I were more specific when ordering water and that I'd avoided the many slot machines. Free bottle service is tempting, but it can be a slippery slope to spending a lot of money. Many members of my friend group dispersed around the US after college so our annual girls' trips have become more of a lifeline than a luxury. We've been on many, and a highlight was our long weekend in Las Vegas a few years ago. Between glitzy nightclubs, casinos, and pool parties that feel like something out of a movie, Sin City was an endless source of fun. However, looking back, we made some mistakes on our Las Vegas girls' trip that could've been avoided. Here are five things I wish I'd known before I went and what I'd do differently next time. Ordering water without specifying which kind you want can be an expensive mistake. I would've been happy with tap water at some bars and clubs. Polina MB/Shutterstock When you're partying in the middle of the desert, water is a must. However, if you forget to specify which kind, you could be in for a rude awakening when the bill arrives. At one club, we ordered water and were given an ice bucket holding four small Fiji bottles. Later, we realized we were charged $80 for them. We weren't just paying a premium for what was in the bottle we were paying for the luxury of drinking inside one of the city's hottest clubs. Next time, I'll make sure the servers know I have zero qualms about drinking free water from the tap, and no fancy bucket is required. Free bottle service can be a slippery slope to spending a lot of money. We ended up spending a lot on drinks at "free" events. The Image Party/Shutterstock Many Vegas club promoters look for any way to get more girls in the door, so it's not uncommon to be swayed by the promise of complimentary bottle service. However, I learned the hard way that this doesn't mean you're in for a free night out. Between cover fees, two rounds of shots, and one fancy water bucket, my friends and I left one "free" pool party with a $500 tab. It's easy to make less-than-stellar decisions when you're caught up in the excitement, like ordering brightly-colored shooters instead of simply swigging from the bottle that was already on your table. Hindsight's 20/20, and I'll try to be more aware of my spending next time. Slot machines are almost everywhere and tough to resist. We saw slot machines in casinos and the nearby airport. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu Slot machines are synonymous with Sin City, and the flashing lights and sounds will do everything to pull you in from the moment you step off the plane at Harry Reid International Airport. Yes, the airport has slot machines. Unlike many others, I resisted. However, throughout our trip, those noisy machines were waiting around every turn, constantly telling me I was just one spin away from getting lucky. The thrill of the lever pull got the best of me, and before long, I had dropped half a month's rent on slots. Take it from me just because your hotel has a casino on the first floor, that doesn't mean you have to empty your pockets. If you plan on gambling, set a firm spending limit before you get to Vegas and stick to it. I wish I'd eaten more meals off the Strip. The Vegas Strip is world-famous for its over-the-top glamour, so naturally, affordability isn't really part of the equation. aldo_dz/Getty Images Although many of the celebrity-chef restaurants on the Strip have great food and Instagram-worthy decor, they can get expensive. I loved the ultra-hip vibes at STK and Hakkasan, but I wish we'd thought to save money by dining off the Strip for at least a few meals. We could've savored authentic dishes without sky-high price tags or even super-long wait times. Next time, I'll ask locals for their favorite affordable picks. Pay attention to your surroundings, especially in the desert. Don't get too swept up in the moment. Hayley Hutson We went on a group ATV ride in the nearby desert, which was awesome. However, veering off the course and getting lost wasn't. Somewhere between snapping selfies and racing each other, my friends and I wound up separating from our group. I don't know about you, but Death Valley is not a place I want to be stranded in. After a frantic search and a terrifying moment when one friend flipped her ATV, we learned a valuable lesson. No matter how much fun you're having, safety comes first. Next time, I'll enjoy myself while still keeping my wits about me. Read the original article on Business Insider Pastoral workers who carry out their ministry in prisons met recently in Bangkok for their national meeting. Prisoners are among the most marginalized groups in society. For Bishop Wuthilert Haelom of Chiang Rai, the prison ministry is not just a social service it is a living expression of Gods mercy. Bangkok (AsiaNews) The Conference on Prison Ministry in Thailand recently brought together representatives from various dioceses across the country, united by a shared mission of extending compassion, hope, and spiritual support to those behind bars. This significant gathering highlighted the collaborative spirit and unwavering dedication of the Catholic Church in Thailand to serve one of societys most marginalized communities prisoners. Organized by the Prison Ministry, the event was held in partnership with the National Catholic Commission on Migration (NCCM), Aid to the Church in Need, and Missio. It served as a dynamic platform for diocesan prison ministry teams to exchange experiences, share strategies, and address challenges, all while deepening collaboration and spiritual encouragement. Among the #participants were staff members from the St. #Martin Foundations Evangelization and Community Development program, who attended alongside Fr. Joseph Briones, director of the Foundation. Their presence underscored the Foundations deep commitment to prison ministry and its mission to bring light and dignity to the incarcerated. In his opening remarks, Bishop Joseph Wuthilert Haelom of Chiang Rai, a passionate advocate for prison ministry, emphasized the profound Christian calling to care for those often forgotten by society. The prison ministry is not just a social service it is a living expression of Gods mercy. When we visit those in prison, we meet Christ in His most wounded and abandoned form. The Church must be present where pain and isolation exist, to remind every person of their dignity as children of God. His heartfelt message set the spiritual tone for the entire conference, anchoring the participants in the Gospel message, particularly Jesuss words in Matthew (25:36): I was in prison and you visited me. Participants comprising priests, religious, and lay volunteers actively involved in prison outreach took part in workshops, testimonies, and liturgical celebrations as well as visited Bang Kwang Central Prison, a large penitentiary located in Nonthaburi. These activities reinforced the Church's commitment to integral human development, restorative justice, and the inherent dignity of every person, regardless of circumstances. The conference also emphasized the Churchs role in advocating for improved prison conditions, offering pastoral care, supporting reintegration efforts, and extending compassion to the families of inmates. Stories of transformation and redemption shared during the event highlighted the powerful impact of consistent spiritual accompaniment and human solidarity. ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE. Champion local news. Join our community of readers who value daily beat reporting and in-depth stories alike. Your membership allows us to continue the legacy of local, independent journalism in the Roaring Fork Valley. With your support, we can remain a free and accessible source of news for everyone, always without paywalls or corporate influence. Together, we can ensure that vital local stories are told. 1 June 2025 15:25 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more By reactivating agricultural lands in Ballca and Xanyurdu, two villages in the once-occupied district of Khojaly, Azerbaijan, is not merely sowing seeds in the groundit is planting the roots of community, dignity, and long-term national renewal. With online applications for land usage now open through the Electronic Agricultural Information System (EKTIS), the initiative marks another chapter in the countrys broader vision of revitalizing the territories that were restored to Azerbaijani control after decades of conflict. What stands out about this program is its meticulous design: from streamlined application procedures to modern irrigation requirements, from prioritizing actual residents to ensuring transparency through digital registration. This is not merely a bureaucratic exercise. It is a testament to the careful thought being placed into ensuring that return is not only possible, but also productive. The minimum land size for leasingfive hectaresand the emphasis on prepared, irrigated soil make it clear that this is about more than symbolic gestures. These plots are primed for cultivation, and the list of permitted crops includes both staple grains and high-value produce like grapes, tomatoes, and tree fruits. This variety reflects not only climatic suitability, but also a strategic intention: to enable both household sustenance and commercial scale farming. Theres something profoundly hopeful in the sight of rural land becoming an engine of transformation. One might say agriculture is being used as a soft power tool in service of post-conflict restoration. Yet it is more than that. These initiatives are about giving families a reason to stay, roots to grow, and future generations a story to inherit. The process is not only open to official residents but also acknowledges practical realities: actual place of residence verified through the Ministry of Internal Affairs' e-polis system becomes the key criterion. It is a subtle but significant detailit ensures that those truly invested in the land, not just those with historical ties, get to take part in its revival. Moreover, the phased timelinefrom application acceptance to field orientation and trainingspeaks to an awareness that successful agriculture is not only about land access, but about knowledge, infrastructure, and preparation. One-year leases for annual crops and five-year terms for perennial crops allow for experimentation, adaptation, and ultimately, growth. The return to the land in Ballca and Xanyurdu echoes a broader national transformation. The first steps in this process began in Agal village, and the expanding momentum suggests this is just the beginning. It is the clearest demonstration yet that Azerbaijans post-conflict strategy is not limited to bricks and mortar, but includes soil, water, and seed as foundational pillars. Where there was once absence, there is now potential. And where there was once silence, one can begin to imagine the buzz of tractors, the hum of irrigation pumps, the quiet toil of farmers, and the rhythms of a life that is lived with purpose and continuity. Restoring rural life after war is never only about rebuildingits about reimagining. And in the ordered rows of crops that will soon fill these fields, we may just glimpse a future that is, finally, self-sustaining. 1 June 2025 10:00 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani student wins a medal at the Asia-Pacific Informatics Olympiad. The 19th Asia-Pacific Informatics Olympiad (APIO 2025) was held online on May 1718. Aykhan Damirli, an 11th-grade student at the Lyceum named after Academician Zarifa Aliyeva, won a bronze medal in this prestigious international competition. Held annually since 2007, the APIO is one of the most renowned programming contests in the Asia-Pacific region. This years event brought together nearly 900 students from 42 countries. Over the course of five hours, contestants tackled complex algorithmic problems, demonstrating their programming knowledge and problem-solving skills. It is worth mentioning that Azercell Telecom LLC has been actively implementing numerous projects aimed at increasing digital literacy and supporting young talents in the field of informatics in Azerbaijan as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy. Among these initiatives, Azercells collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Education and the Institute of Education holds a special place. For nearly a decade, Azercell has been providing consistent support to school students preparing for international subject Olympiads. Thanks to these development programs, students from both the capital and the regions of the country have won a total of 91 medals in programming competitions, successfully representing Azerbaijan on the international stage. 1 June 2025 17:29 (UTC+04:00) A vibrant cultural event brought the rich traditions of Azerbaijani dance to life in Aberdeen, Scotland, where the BA Cultural Centre hosted a workshop titled Discover Azerbaijani Dance. According to Azernews, the free seminar offered participants an immersive experience into the rhythmic beauty and expressive artistry of Azerbaijans national dances. Each dance was accompanied by a presentation of its historical and cultural significance, offering a comprehensive insight into the traditions behind the movements. Held under the guidance of Billura Bernard and Dr. Helen Lynch from the University of Aberdeen, the event gathered local dance enthusiasts for a dynamic and educational celebration of Azerbaijani heritage. The seminar was part of a broader series of events marking Azerbaijans Independence Day on May 28. Attendees learned iconic dances such as Uzun Dara and Yalli, gaining firsthand experience of the countrys ancient dance traditions. The workshop emphasized the collective spirit, expressive hand gestures, and energetic movements that define Azerbaijani dance. Dr. Helen Lynch, a lecturer in creative writing and early modern literature at the University of Aberdeen, also shared her experience in intercultural collaboration. Renowned for organizing Balkan dance seminars featuring styles from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Romania, and Turkiye, Dr. Lynch brought a wealth of cross-cultural knowledge to the event. Together with Bernard, she conveyed the unique rhythms and stories embedded in Azerbaijani dance, fostering cultural exchange and mutual understanding through movement and storytelling. 1 June 2025 11:05 (UTC+04:00) A delegation from the Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azercosmos) has held high-level meetings with leading satellite companies in Hefei and Shanghai during an official visit to the Peoples Republic of China. The program included technical inspections, live demonstrations, and strategic workshops aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in the space technology sector, Azernews reports, citing Azercosmos. During the visit, on-site quality assessments were conducted at the Hefei-based Rhosoon factory. As a result, an agreement was reached on the joint production of RS-series user terminals, specifically designed for Azercosmos Azconnexus brand. This partnership will support the deployment of new COTM (Connectivity on the Move) services. The Azerbaijani team also explored advanced IoT and broadband communication models, reviewed roadmaps for satellite constellation development, and outlined the terms of cooperation to accelerate the implementation of satellite-based IoT and broadband solutions both within Azerbaijan and beyond its borders. 1 June 2025 13:15 (UTC+04:00) Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Fuad Muradov, has met with members of the Azerbaijani community in Belgium, Azernews reports, citing Committee. The meeting was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It began with the national anthem of Azerbaijan and a moment of silence in honor of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity. In his speech, Chairman Muradov emphasized that the purposeful and successful diaspora policy pursued under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev is clearly reflected in the activities of Azerbaijani communities abroad. He noted that Azerbaijanis living overseas have become significantly more active in the aftermath of the countrys historic victory, particularly in areas such as information campaigns, diplomatic outreach, and lobbying efforts. Participants were briefed on systematically implemented projects aimed at strengthening unity among Azerbaijanis worldwide. Azerbaijans Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, Vagif Sadigov, praised the meeting, expressing appreciation for the communitys growing contributions to diaspora activities. Representatives of several diaspora organizationsincluding the Fireland Azerbaijani Union, the Belgian Azerbaijani Federation (BAF), the MADANI Cultural, Sports, Intellectual Solidarity and Opportunities Platform, Radio Octo, the BUTAM Azerbaijani Cultural Association, and the Heritage-Azerbaijan Belgian Student Associationshared updates on their work and presented new proposals. They emphasized the importance of modern platforms in fostering a stronger, more effective, and united diaspora, and welcomed the continuation of such meetings. Questions from attendees were addressed during the event. As part of the program, Ayhan Demirci, Chairman of the Belgium-Azerbaijan Friendship Society, was awarded the Medal for Service in Diaspora Activities by the Republic of Azerbaijan. The event also included the appointment of a new coordinator for Belgium under the Netherlands-Belgium Azerbaijani Coordination Council. The artistic segment of the gathering featured traditional Azerbaijani music and dance performances by children and youth, receiving enthusiastic applause from the audience. 1 June 2025 19:36 (UTC+04:00) Iran has strongly rejected the latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its nuclear program, calling it "baseless" and "a pretext for political maneuvering" against the country, Azernews reports, citing Yeni Safak. The Iranian Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran described the findings of the UN nuclear watchdog's report as a repetition of unfounded allegations. According to the IAEA report sent to member states, Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% purity has increased by nearly 50%, reaching 408.6 kilograms, an amount, the agency notes, could be sufficient for nine nuclear weapons if enriched further. In a separate confidential report circulated among member states and cited by multiple media outlets, the IAEA claimed that Iran had engaged in undeclared nuclear activities at three sites long under investigation, involving nuclear material that had not previously been disclosed to the UN agency. These findings could prompt the US, UK, France, and Germany to push for the IAEA Board of Governors to formally declare Iran in non-compliance with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) for the first time in nearly two decades. Both reports issued by the IAEA on Saturday expressed "serious concern" over the enrichment levels, noting that Iran remains the only non-nuclear-weapon state engaged in such high-grade enrichment. The Iranian statement, however, noted that despite ongoing cooperation with the agency under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, the reports focus on marginal and extraneous issues beyond the IAEA's assigned mandate, which are irrelevant and outside the scope of the safeguards. "The Islamic Republic of Iran expresses regret over the publication of the report, which has been prepared under political pressure and motivations, and strongly objects to its contents," the statement said. It further warned that Iran would take appropriate measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests should certain countriesimplicitly referring to the US and Europeansmisuse the current report during the IAEA Board of Governors meeting. The consequences and responsibility for such actions will rest with those countries, the statement added, a message analysts interpret as a possible indication that Iran may raise its enrichment levels beyond the current 60% purity threshold. The release of the IAEA reports comes amid ongoing indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the US, mediated by Oman. Five rounds of negotiations have been held so far in Muscat and Rome, but no significant progress has been reported, as enrichment remains a major sticking point between the two sides. While the US has called for the dismantling of Iran's enrichment program, Tehran maintains that its nuclear activities are peaceful and that enrichment will continue. 1 June 2025 17:00 (UTC+04:00) On June 1, the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology hosted a meeting with a delegation of clergy from Turkiyes Kars and Igdr provinces and from various regions of Georgia where Azerbaijani communities reside, Azernews reports, citing the State Committee on Work with Religious Organizations. The Committee informed that Deputy Chairman Gunduz Ismaylov noted that, by Presidential Decree issued last year, amendments were made to the Charter of the Foundation for Promotion of Moral Values concerning Azerbaijanis living abroad. He emphasized that this decision is of great importance for supporting the activities that ensure freedom of religious belief among the diaspora and for further strengthening our spiritual bonds with compatriots. He also provided information on the religious education model developed in Azerbaijan. Rector of the Institute Agil Shirinov stated that the primary goal of the institution is to train specialists who can approach religion scientifically, remain loyal to the Azerbaijani state, and understand the realities of the modern world. He explained that the Institute offers courses on religion not only from a theological perspective but also through psychological, sociological, philosophical, and historical lenses. He added that education is provided free of charge and that students receive support for clothing, meals, and dormitory expenses. Executive Director of the Foundation for Promotion of Moral Values Vusal Goyushov highlighted the significance of reciprocal visits and meetings. He remarked that this years joint iftar dinners organized with our diaspora from Turkiye and Georgia during Ramadan exemplify solidarity and that such events play a vital role in preserving our national and religious values. Director of the Baku Theological College Mehman Ismaylov underscored the colleges foundational role in ensuring continuity of religious education for the Theological Institute. Members of the delegation praised the religious and spiritual harmony in Azerbaijan and the educational opportunities provided, emphasizing the importance of continuing joint projects in the future. The visiting clergy noted that the trip is significant for reinforcing national unity and solidarity. Following the meeting, the guests toured the educational institutions under the State Committee on Work with Religious Organizations to review the facilities and services available to students. 1 June 2025 18:33 (UTC+04:00) Ukraine has signed a licensing agreement to use NATO's non-commercial Command and Reporting Center (CRC) System Interface software, which will allow its and the alliance's aircraft to coordinate operations within a unified digital system, Deputy Defense Minister Kateryna Chernohorenko announced on Friday.The CSI software is a key component of NATO's Link-16 data exchange protocol, also known as the alliance's "military Wi-Fi," and will aid in the coordination and control of Western-supplied aircraft such as the F-16 and Mirage 2000, as well as integrated air and missile defense systems such as the Patriot, Azernews reports, citing Yeni Safak. Chernohorenko said these capabilities are provided to Ukraine as part of international military assistance. The implementation of this system ensures full interoperability with NATO partners. We are not just dreaming of joint operations we are making them a reality, Chernohorenko said in a statement on Facebook. NATO has yet to issue a public statement on the development. She applauded the Government Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and the Air Force, as well as NATO partners, for their efforts to facilitate the agreement. The CSI software is already in use by most NATO member states, and its deployment marks a major step in aligning Ukraine's digital battle management capabilities with those of the alliance. 1 June 2025 19:05 (UTC+04:00) Full digital access to all news for 1 year Full digital access to all news for 6 months Full digital access to all news for 3 months Full digital access to all news for 1 month Find the plan that suits you best. South Korea's exports dropped 1.3 percent from a year earlier in May, snapping a three-month winning streak, as outbound shipments to the United States sharply went down amid the U.S. President Donald Trump administration's sweeping tariff policies, government data showed Sunday, Azernews reports, citing Yonhap. Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention. Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis. By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more. Subscribe You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper Thank you! 1 June 2025 21:15 (UTC+04:00) Senior defense officials of South Korea, Japan and Australia held trilateral talks Sunday to discuss the regional security situation and ways to strengthen their cooperation, the South's defense ministry said, Azernews reports, citing Yonhap. Deputy defense minister for policy Cho Chang-rae and his Japanese and Australian counterparts; Taro Yamato, director general for defense policy and Hugh Jeffrey, deputy secretary of strategy, policy and industry, met on the sidelines of the of the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual defense forum held in Singapore. Last year, the three countries held their first-ever meeting of defense ministers on the occasion of the security forum held in the city-state. This year, Cho attended the gathering instead of acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho who skipped it ahead of the June 3 presidential election. In addition to the trilateral meeting, Cho held a series of bilateral meetings with senior defense officials from Canada, Japan, the Philippines, Poland and Singapore, to discuss defense and arms industry cooperation, according to the ministry. Cho and Yamato, the Japanese defense official, reaffirmed the importance of their bilateral and trilateral security cooperation with the United States, in the face of North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats and deepening military cooperation with Russia. In talks with Polish deputy defense minister Pawel Zalewski on Saturday, both sides touted their arms industry cooperation involving exports of the K9 self-propelled howitzer and agree to closely cooperate on expanding their defense exchange and cooperation, the ministry said. 1 June 2025 22:43 (UTC+04:00) A group of Armenian-origin individuals has been arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly embezzling a large sum of money from U.S. government relief programs, Azernews reports, citing the US based sources. U.S. federal officials have detained 14 people accused of stealing more than $30 million in COVID-19 relief funds and small business loans. Government representatives emphasized that one of the arrested individuals will be deported, while the others were apprehended by federal authorities in Los Angeles, according to Fox news. 2 June 2025 00:46 (UTC+04:00) A bold Ukrainian drone offensive targeting several Russian airbases has exposed significant vulnerabilities in President Vladimir Putins security apparatus and is likely to provoke a severe retaliation from the Kremlin. According to Ukrainian intelligence sources, the coordinated strike damaged or destroyed over 40 Russian military aircraft. The operation, described by some pro-Kremlin commentators as Russias Pearl Harbor, drew parallels to the infamous 1941 Japanese attack on the U.S. that led to America's entry into World War II. Russian officials have labeled the attack a terrorist act, while Ukrainian sources revealed that the drones, concealed in mobile sheds and deployed from trucks deep inside Russian territory, demonstrate the creative and technological adaptability of Ukraines war effort, according to a SkyNews report. The mission, codenamed Spiders Web, reportedly took 18 months to prepare. Its success underscores Ukraine's ability to strike at the heart of Russian military infrastructure despite being the weaker power on paper. In Moscow, outrage is growing. Military blogger Roman Alekhin called for a response as harsh or harsher than Americas retaliation after Pearl Harbor. With tensions soaring, some observers are already speculating that President Putin may again resort to nuclear threats. UPDATES: Good to Great Chances of Aurora Sat and Sun in Washington, Oregon Into South Coast Update 06/01/25 at 1:55 a.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Portland, Oregon) - UPDATE: SEE LATEST INFORMATION FOR SUNDAY NIGHT Aurora Borealis Tonight: Timing, Display Strength for Oregon, Washington, Coastal Regions - Through 2 a.m. likely best, but some lights possible through dawn June 1 - 2 WPC has now issued: "G4 (Severe) geomagnetic storm watch is now in effect for 1 and 2 June." Timing for mid latitude remains about the same - greatest impact Sunday night through early Monday morning. See other updates at the Aurora Borealis section of Oregon Coast Weather A major geomagnetic storm is headed for Earth and the chances for seeing the Aurora Borealis / northern lights is quite good throughout Oregon, but absolutely stellar for Washington. This rather strong storm is not far behind the biggies of 2024 but it doesn't mean that's guaranteed. (Above: Aurora in Bandon courtesy Manuela Durson - Manuela Durson Fine Arts) We're looking at a Kp index of 4 tonight and close to Kp 7 on Sunday overnight, which could seriously crank the dial. In fact, the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Denver, Colorado said this one could be at least photographable if not visible down through the south Oregon coast and beyond. Aurora may be seen as low as Alabama and northern California, SWPC said. Timing as always is a bit hard to pin down, but the brightest showing should be early evening hours of Sunday night into the morning hours of Monday through dawn. Start looking after the sun has completely faded from the sky, likely close to 10 p.m. Tonight, it will show up rather dimly if it does at all but will be great for those with cameras that are geared up for astrophotography. Heceta Head near Florence and the lighthouse with aurora behind - Jacklyn Larsen Photography. The G4 (Severe) geomagnetic storm watch is now in effect for 1 and 2 June, the SWPC said. A powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted from the Sun the evening of 30 May. Confidence in an Earth-directed component is good, but the CME arrival timing is more uncertain due to the current state of the solar wind. It could arrive as early as late morning EDT, to as late as Sunday evening EDT of 1 June. The center of the bulk CME material is anticipated to be just north of Earth, however, Earth will still likely undergo passage of much of the CME material. Arrival will likely lead to immediate geomagnetic disturbances with the potential for G4. Conditions will likely intensify as CME progression continues and G4 levels remain possible on Monday, 2 June. Geomagnetic storm levels will likely begin subsiding by Tuesday, 3 June, with G1-G2 (Minor-Moderate) still possible. According to the SWPC, the strongest points of the geomagnetic storm end a bit before 9 p.m. on Sunday night with a Kp Index of 7.67 a G4 storm. The really prominent aurora events in 2024 were a tad higher than this or at that Kp level. It stays high at Kp 7 to 6.3 through the early morning hours of Monday, June 2. Tonight, the Kp Index makes it to 4, which is only a G1 storm but likely strong enough to snap good photos. A glance at weather around Oregon and Washington shows largely good prospects tonight but waning in some areas tomorrow night. Portland, Salem and other inland cities of northwest Oregon are showing fairly clear skies tonight and Sunday night. The north Oregon coast such as Manzanita and Seaside will see partly cloudy skies both nights. The southern Oregon coast from Reedsport down through Brookings - stays remarkably clear at night for both tonight and Sunday. Also very worth catching now: Bright and Active Arietids Meteors May Hit Pre-Dawn Hours of Oregon, Washington, Coastline Skies - Look to east hour before sunrise and you may catch a show However, the farther north you go into the Washington coast, it's showing more clouds on both nights, so Westport and Long Beach may have a difficult time. In southern and eastern Oregon, the forecast says super clear nights from Medford up through at least Eugene and the John Day area. For much of inland Washington State, conditions look fairly to very clear over the next couple of nights for Seattle, Olympia and Yakima. Washington is well within the boundary of higher solar storm numbers so it's going to get quite a display (if everything happens as predicted). The Arietids showers are happening right now near dawn as well - along with more satellites visible than usual. This occurs every spring / early summer because of the tilt of the Earth, lighting up satellites more brightly. You may see some that for a time are as bright as regular aircraft. Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff caught just that along with two major meteor streaks on Friday near dawn. Oregon Coast Hotels for this event - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW OREGON COAST HOTEL REVIEWS (hit refresh to see different reviews) Lincoln City's Coho Oceanfront Lodge Continues Pushing Boundaries on Oregon C... Plenty of perks - a kind of upscale without all of that price tag. Lincoln City lodging, hotel reviews, Gleneden Beach Nye Beach's Waves Hotel Keeps Making Waves: an Oregon Coast Classic Less expensive than many, an innovative Newport boutique hotel. Newport lodging reviews Summer's Surprise Rate Drops in July On Oregon Coast Include Lincoln City Bea... 20 percent some vacation rentals in the heat of July's highest rates. Lincoln City lodging specials, Lincoln City hotel reviews From Oregon Coast Swank to Sweet Beach Abode: Lincoln City Rental with Oceanf... Moonbreaker sits right on the surf with a private stairway down. Lincoln City lodging reviews More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles) Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Regarding the recent Israel /Iran Conflict (the "12 Day War"), culminating in the United States Air Force employing seven B2 Bombers to complete a 33 hour flight, dropping 14 fifteen ton bunker busting bombs on three Iranian nuclear facilities buried deep under mountain rock, which destroyed Iran's nuclear ambitions against Israel and the United States: Should President Trump have unilaterally made the decision to make such a bold decision to conduct this operation, without first running this prospective operation before the US Congress for their approval? 12.5% No, The War Powers Act prohibitions, which requires NO presidential military action without congressional approval.87.5% Yes, the President has Article 2 Constitutional authority to take unilateral military action to protect the American People, providing he does not break congressional codes, which he did not.0% Don't care, never have. A well known businessman has been remembered as a devoted father and grandfather and a friend to all following his sudden death. Dr Geoff Hayhurst (66), a renowned osteopath and co-founder of Paradox Omega Oils, passed away suddenly at his home on May 22. Founded in 2007 with his wife Michele, the company distributes Omega3 supplements globally, including in Singapore and Dubai. A leading expert in his field, Dr Hayhurst was the technical director of the supplement firm. A funeral notice described the businessman as a devoted grandfather and friend to all. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of a dearly loved husband, cherished brother, devoted father and grandfather, and friend to all, it read. Husband of Michele, much-loved twin brother of Gordon and brother to Jean. An adored father to James, Victoria, Harriet and William. Grandfather to Maisie, Bridget, Mason, Frankie, Ava, Lottie and Penelope. A member of the Belfast Old Instonians Association group said they were saddened to hear of his death. Tremendously saddened to hear of the passing of Geoff Hayhurst (RBAI 1970-77), they wrote on social media. Geoff was Head of Dill House and a member of the 1st XV before matriculating to Manchester University to study Dentistry. He went on to establish Paradox Omega Oils. An active RBAI Parent Governor between 2005 13, many will remember Geoff for promoting rowing, including establishing the annual race with MCB for the Innicarra Wood. Our thoughts are with Michelle, children James (RBAI 1999-06), Victoria, Harriet and William (RBAI 2003-10) and the wider family at this time. Well-wishers also took to social media to share their condolences for the family. So sorry to hear this news, a lovely man. Deepest love and sympathies to Michelle and the family, one person wrote online. So sorry to hear this, our deepest sympathies to his family, wrote another. "We met Geoff through our love of rowing and supporting our boys. We had the pleasure of hearing Geoff speak at the annual rowing dinner, he was inspiring. Another said: I am so sorry to hear this news Mr Hayhurst was an excellent parent Governor and it was an absolute pleasure teaching his children. So sad. More very sad news its not been a good moths for our 1977 year. RIP Geoff, said a former classmate. His funeral took place Roselawn Crematorium on May 30. A ban on single-use vapes in Northern Ireland has come into effect. The ban also came into force across England, Scotland and Wales on Saturday. It is estimated that as many as five million single-use vapes are thrown in bins or littered every week across the UK, rather than being recycled. The new restriction aims to reduce the number of vapes going into landfill or discarded as litter, where they can release harmful substances into the environment and endanger wildlife. It is also intended to stop valuable resources such as cobalt, copper and lithium being used in single-use devices. Minister Andrew Muir (Liam McBurney/PA) Agricultural, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir said he hopes the ban will improve the environment as well as the publics health. Single-use vape waste can have a significant negative impact on our environment and biodiversity, and I welcome this ban which will benefit our environment as well as our general health and well-being, he said. My department as well as counterparts in the UK Government, Scotland and Wales have worked together to introduce this ban concurrently, to provide a consistent approach across the UK for businesses as well as customers. If you do use vapes, I would encourage you to now make it a habit not to discard the devices and dispose of any broken or expired vapes responsibly by taking them to your local shop. The minister urged retailers to be aware of their legal responsibility to dispose of any old stock, adding they should offer a waste vape bin in-store for customers to recycle any remaining disposable units. Businesses were given six months to prepare for the change by selling any existing stock of single-use vapes. Daera said retailers must be able to demonstrate during any inspection that an average user can reuse a device by refilling and recharging. McCollum (left) and Melissa Reid following their arrest in Peru Michaella McCollum has offered her sympathy to two English women caught in drugs stings abroad. The arrests of Bella May Culley (18), in Georgia, and 21-year-old Charlotte May Lee, in Sri Lanka, have made global headlines in recent weeks. Their predicaments echo the situation McCollum, from Dungannon, found herself in after she and her friend Melissa Reid were arrested in Peru after being caught with more than 12kg of cocaine. McCollum (left) and Melissa Reid following their arrest in Peru With Culley and Lee facing lengthy jail terms, McCollum said: I couldnt help but feel bad for them. They are 19 and 21. Whatever they have done, its so young to be caught up in something like this. I know what they are going to go through, and their families. Its the worst thing anybody can have to face. Culley, from Teesside, is charged with trying to smuggle 14kg of cannabis into Georgia. Lee, from Coulsdon in south London, faces charges in Sri Lanka relating to 46kg of the synthetic drug kush, a dangerous and potent cocktail of cannabis, fentanyl, tramadol and formaldehyde. The cases are not related. When she appeared in court in Georgia, Culley said she was pregnant. Charlotte May Lee Mum-of-two McCollum, who claims most female drug traffickers are victims, told MailOnline: As a mum, I cant even begin to imagine what it would be like to give birth in that sort of place and to potentially have the child taken from you and put into care. That adds a whole new, terrifying dimension. Its just incredibly sad. Its easy to look at girls like this and think How could you be so stupid? but I look back at myself and think exactly that. I dont know the circumstances in detail here, but I do know that of all the women I came across who had been involved in drug smuggling, only about 10 per cent were doing it as a business. They knew the risks and accepted them. The vast majority were the victims of some sort of coercion, usually by men. Prisons all over the world are full of women who have been caught up in something like this. The men at the top rarely get caught. The men who pulled all the strings in my case were never held to account. Bella May Culley McCollum and co-defendant Melissa Reid were sentenced to six years and eight months in Perus notorious Ancon 2 prison in 2013, before being released in 2016. Recalling her time in the jail and offering hope to Lee and Culley, McCollum said: I remember how Id lay all the rice out to see which grains I could eat and which were maggots. Michaella McCollum (Photo by Presseye) In Profile: Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams Back home, it was reported that Id gone on hunger strike, but I hadnt. You become so used to it, and I suppose there is a level of guilt and shame that you feel its acceptable, even though it isnt. I could not do 20 years in a prison like that. Thats what those girls are facing. I would tell them to never let their current circumstances define their future. It may seem hopeless at times, but there is always a way forward. Dont let go of the fact that life can be rebuilt. Jay was placed into an induced coma five weeks ago The family of a popular Belfast barber have said he is making huge improvements after being discharged from hospital, five weeks after being placed into an induced coma. On 20 April, Jay Millar better known as Jay the Barber - suffered a seizure whilst driving. After pulling over to the side of the road and attempting to seek help he fell and hit his head. He was then admitted to hospital to an Intensive Care Unit where he was put into a medically induced coma for three weeks after suffering a bleed to the brain. He has since been discharged from hospital. Jay went viral on TikTok in 2023 after offering haircuts to those experiencing homelessness. Posting on Facebook on Sunday the family said: Fast forward 5 weeks, Jay has been discharged from hospital and is making huge improvements. He is still not back at work and won't be for some time. There are good days and bad days, days of extreme pain and struggle. "But it's important to look at how much progress has been made in these 5 weeks. Back then we could only pray he was in the situation he is now. You may see some archive footage being shared across social media and stories of Jay, this is from months ago, he's not back to that stage yet but he can't wait to be! We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The amount of support Jay and the family have received is incredible and we just wanted to thank everyone. We also wanted to thank all of the nurses, doctors and staff in general in RVH ICU and Neurology ward. They are incredible people who are doing God's work. They saved Jays life and helped give Orla hope. Also a huge thank you to Brian Madden and Teen Challenge N. Ireland who couldn't do enough for the family and were praying every single day. Before long we'll see Jay at the barbers chair, back on the streets doing what he loves best and he can't wait to catch up with all his clients. So this Sunday, if you're struggling mentally with where you are - just remember how far you've come. We share this photo to put it into context where Jay was and where he is now. Miracles DO happen! Jay the Barber: From tragedy to triumph over addiction In April, shortly after the incident, a fundraiser was set up to support Jays family. Those organising the fundraiser described him as a man who has never stopped giving nor asked for anything in return. Jay is well known to the community in Belfast and beyond for all of the work he has done with the homeless, in hospitals, with those in care, children's homes and hospices, they said. He is a man who has never stopped giving and has never asked for anything in return. Barber Jason (Jay) Millar of Jay's Barber Club (Photo by Kevin Scott) In Profile: Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams Now we ask for the community to give back, to help out his family in their hour of need. With two businesses and a family to support, Jay will have a severely reduced income whilst he is in hospital and in recovery, meanwhile his family will still have personal and business bills to cover. We hope that whatever is raised can go some way to relieving a bit of that worry from his family. Over 13,000 has been raised since the fundraiser was set up. Party leaders have joined to together in paying tribute to the pre-eminent public servant of his time and of his generation, the late former head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service and NI Victims Commissioner, Sir Kenneth Bloomfield. Sir Kenneth died at the age of 94 on Saturday. He has been hailed by well-wishers as a renowned humanitarian who had empathy with the families of the Disappeared. Sir Kenneth joined the civil service in 1952 and would rise through the ranks to head the organisation in 1984. After standing down in 1991,he would later become the BBCs National Governor for Northern Ireland. In 1997, he would be tasked by the then Secretary of State, Mo Mowlam, to take on the role of NI Victims Commissioner. While at their home in Crawfordsburn in 1988, while he was still the head of the Civil Service, he and his wife would become targets of an IRA bomb attack outside their home. Neither of them were injured in the Co Down blast. I was sorry to learn of the passing of Sir Kenneth Bloomfield. He gave many years of service to Northern Ireland and did so with thoughtfulness and dedication, said the DUP leader, Gavin Robinson. His calm approach, even when targeted by the IRA, earned respect across the board, and his contribution to public life will not be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and all who knew him at this sad time. Also sharing her condolences was the Alliance Party leader, Naomi Long. Sir Kenneth had a distinguished career in public service over many years and in many roles, said the Justice Minister. He and his wife were personally targeted in the Troubles, when their home was attacked by an IRA bomb, but he did not allow it to deter him from his enduring commitment to public service. In the decades since his formal retirement, he continued that commitment, offering his skills and experience in the service of the community, most particularly in his work as Victims' Commissioner in the early days of the Assembly, a role which he notably described as being a painful privilege. I know that he kept in touch with political developments and was especially supportive of efforts to ensure the devolved administration was put on a firm and stable footing. On behalf of myself and Alliance, I would wish to extend our deepest sympathies to Lady Elizabeth and the family circle on their very personal loss." A spokesperson from the WAVE Trauma Centre said they were saddened at the news of his missing, but none more so than the families of the Disappeared. "As the first Victims Commissioner and UK Commissioner on the ICLVR), Sir Ken was a warm and thoughtful support for the families who have suffered so much. Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains ( "On his first day as Victims Commissioner, Sir Ken shared a BBC studio with Margaret McKinney, mother of Brian who had disappeared along with John McClory in 1978. "His resolve to help the families of the Disappeared was anchored in that early meeting in November 1997. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Lady Elizabeth, who was always by his side at the annual Palm Sunday mass and with his children and the family circle. "May Sir Ken rest in eternal peace. Speaking to BBC NI, another former head of the Civil Service Sir Nigel Hamilton also expressed his well-wishes. "I will remember him as the most important, and the pre-eminent public servant of his time and of his generation. "From the 1960s up to 1991, he was a leader, he was the public servant extraordinaire." The joint UK and Irish Commissioners, Rosalie Flanagan and Tim Dalton, of the ICLVR, said they were deeply saddened to hear of the former Civil Service heads passing. He brought to the ICLVR not only his vast experience as a highly distinguished public servant but crucially an innate humanitarian instinct and empathy with the families of the Disappeared, they said. The work of the ICLVR in seeing the recovery of 13 of the 17 Disappeared is one of the success stories of the peace process and Sir Kens contribution to that as a founding Commissioner was huge. We extend our condolences to Lady Bloomfield and the Bloomfield family. The Lord Lieutenant of Belfast, Dame Fionnuala Jay-OBoyle, added: "HM Lord Lieutenant of has learnt with sadness of the death of Sir Kenneth Bloomfield KCB, distinguished public servant and former head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. "Ken brought dignity, gravitas and humility to public life. Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and 11 other activists have set sail for Gaza on a ship aimed at breaking Israels siege of the devastated territory, organisers said. The sailing boat Madleen operated by activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition departed from the Sicilian port of Catania in southern Italy. It will try to reach the shores of the Gaza Strip in an effort to bring in some aid and raise international awareness of the ongoing humanitarian crisis, the activists said at a press conference on Sunday, ahead of their departure. We are doing this because, no matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying, Ms Thunberg said, bursting into tears during her speech. Because the moment we stop trying is when we lose our humanity. And no matter how dangerous this mission is, its not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the live-streamed genocide. Israel, which was founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust, has adamantly rejected genocide allegations against it as an antisemitic blood libel. In mid-May, Israel slightly eased its blockade of Gaza after nearly three months, allowing a limited amount of humanitarian aid into the territory. Experts have warned that Gaza is at risk of famine if more aid is not brought in. UN agencies and major aid groups say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order, and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gazas roughly two million Palestinians. Among those joining the crew of the Madleen are Game Of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham and Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament who is of Palestinian descent. She has been barred from entering Israel due to her active opposition to the Israeli assault on Gaza. Greta Thunberg is among those sailing to Gaza (Salvatore Cavalli/AP) The activists expect to take seven days to get to their destination, if they are not stopped. Ms Thunberg, who became an internationally famous climate activist after organising massive protests in her native Sweden, had been due to board a previous Freedom Flotilla ship last month. That attempt to reach Gaza by sea, in early May, failed after another of the groups vessels, the Conscience, was attacked by two alleged drones while sailing in international waters off the coast of Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship, in the latest confrontation over efforts to send assistance to the Palestinian territory devastated by nearly 19 months of war. The Israeli government says the blockade is an attempt to pressure Hamas to release hostages it took during the attack on October 7 2023 that triggered the conflict. Hamas-led militants assaulted southern Israel that day, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 58 hostages, 23 of whom are believed to be alive. In response, Israel launched an offensive that has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. Israels bombardment and ground operations have destroyed vast areas of the territory and left most of its population homeless. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday embarked on a visit to Brazil to participate in the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum where he is scheduled to prese ... Two fans died and a police officer is in a coma after mass nationwide celebrations for Paris Saint-Germains historic Champions League victory, European footballs biggest prize, French authorities said on Sunday. A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death in the city of Dax during a PSG street party after Saturday nights final in Munich, the national police service said. A man was killed in Paris when his scooter was hit by a car during PSG celebrations, the interior ministers office said. The circumstances of both are being investigated. A police officer was hit accidentally by fireworks in Coutance in north-west France and placed in an artificial coma because of grave eye injuries, the national police service said. Hundreds of people were arrested in the celebrations, which were largely peaceful but degenerated into violence in some areas. Supporters celebrate a PSG goal outside a cafe in Paris (Aurelien Morissard/AP) The team are expected to return to a big parade on the Champs-Elysees on Sunday, after clinching their first Champions League title with a 5-0 win over Inter Milan. At the top of the Champs-Elysees avenue, a water cannon was used to protect the Place de lEtoile, near the landmark Arc de Triomphe. Police said a large crowd not watching the match tried to push through a barrier to make contact with police. By 2am Sunday, 294 arrests had been made, including 30 people who broke into a shoe shop on the Champs-Elysees. Two cars were set alight close to Parc des Princes, police added. Fireworks explode in Paris (Aurelien Morissard/AP) At the Place de la Bastille, there were joyous scenes as fans climbed on to the base of the column, singing, dancing and letting off flares, while those around joined in. At one point, motorbikes loudly revved their engines and the crowd cheered as they did laps around the column. There were no police nearby and, by 1am, the atmosphere was upbeat with no tensions and plenty of singing. Security had been tightened in anticipation of potential post-match violence and 5,400 police officers were deployed on the Champs-Elysees, other key parts of Paris, and its nearby suburbs. Paris police chief Laurent Nunez blamed the scattered trouble on thousands of people who came to commit acts of violence instead of watching the match. Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, even as Russia pounded Ukraine with a missile strike that killed 12 soldiers and the biggest drone assault of the three-year war. In a statement on Telegram, Mr Zelensky said that defence minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation. We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people, Mr Zelensky said. Ukrainian officials had previously called on the Kremlin to provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the war before the meeting takes place. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Moscow had said it would share its memorandum during the talks. Russia launched the biggest number of drones on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion three years ago, Ukraines air force said on Sunday. The air force said 472 drones were launched over Ukraine. Russian forces also launched seven missiles alongside the barrage of drones, said Yuriy Ignat, head of communications for the Ukrainian air force. Earlier on Sunday, Ukraines army said at least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed and more than 60 were injured in a Russian missile strike on an army training unit. Meanwhile, Kyiv destroyed more than 40 military aircraft in a drone attack deep in Russia, a Ukrainian security official said. The official said the attack took more than a year and a half to execute and was personally supervised by Mr Zelensky. The operation saw drones transported in containers carried by trucks deep into Russian territory, he said. The drones reportedly hit 41 bombers stationed at several airfields, including the Belaya air base in the Russian region of Irkutsk, more than 2,500 miles from Ukraine. It is the first time that a Ukrainian drone has been seen in the region, local governor Igor Kobzev said. Gerry Adams will likely avoid a potential civil case by the daughter of IRA murder victim Jean McConville following his libel victory over the BBC at the High Court Dublin. Helen McKendry told Sunday Life the staggering sums involved in the case up to 4.2 million in costs and damages has made her reconsider trying to sue the former Sinn Fein leader. Donegal dissident held in Scottish prison could yet face charges Although claimed by the Real IRA and an arrest warrant issued for a dissident suspect, few in republican circles believe the group murdered Denis Donaldson on its own. They took responsibility for the killing three years after he was shot dead in April 2006 at a cottage in Donegal. The attack came five months after Donaldson (55) outed himself as an MI5 spy at the heart of Sinn Fein. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are one of Hollywoods most beloved couples. After 30 years of marriage, their love is rock solid. The two are not only committed to each, but also committed to God. Their belief in the power of prayer is a testament to their unwavering faith. In the video below, Hanks and Wilson talk about God and the power of prayer. Wilson shares how she prays every day and how important praying is. She prays individually. She also prays with her husband and her children. Prayer is a foundation in her familys life. God is a part of my life, Wilson said. Every single day I prayed to God for I dont know how many years that he would bring me somebody that I loved, that loved me in the same way and he brought me Tom. I believe in that. God is mysterious, but God works every day. God is mysterious, but God works every day, Hanks said. Hanks and Wilson are both strong people of faith. Hanks joined the Greek Orthodox Church when he married Wilson in 1988. The church is really where Hanks faith matured. The couple has relied on their faith, even during trauma and hardship. In 2015, Wilson was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy, and their son Chet Hanks was also battling substance abuse. During this trying period, Hanks was also trying to control his type-2 diabetes and its side effects, in addition to also being hit with a lawsuit as a result of his sons actions. In spite of all they were going through, the couple leaned on pray and faith to provide them the strength and hope that saw them through. While their faith has been put to the test, they still trusted that God would see them through their darkest valley, and He did. Despite Hollywoods endless splits, their marriage has stood the test of time in Hollywood and a lot of this has to do with their faith in God. As Christians, we know that there is power in prayer and with God all things are possible. Prayer is a powerful tool for communicating with our Heavenly Father. It is an opportunity to become one with the Creator and Giver of all things. Another incredible thing about prayer is that it helps us to find strength for today and hope for our future. We should actively pray and trust in its power to change our circumstances for good. Your faith life directly correlates to the quality of your prayer life. Prayer has the power to change not only the people and things around you. Prayer also has the power to change you from the inside out. When youre in need of strength, remember that God is the number one healer and can guide you in endless ways. If your heart and life are centered on God, His Word and His Holy Spirit, you can rest assured that He will direct your path. Many of us are facing impossible situations where we need a breakthrough in our lives. Yet, most of us sit and wait for God to make it happen, and then we wonder why it is that we dont experience breakthrough as often or as fast as wed like. What we need to know is that breakthrough is not something we sit around and wait for. Breakthrough is God waiting on us to respond in obedience to what He has already commanded and already promised. Breakthrough happens when we pray vehemently and trust Gods outcome. Breakthrough happens when we say that we are going to trust that God is going to supernaturally do what is impossible. God does the breakthrough, but Hes waiting for us to take that first step of faith. We have to believe in Gods goodness, that God has already willed the breakthrough for our life. Prayer is a force that touches eternal powers and sets them in motion. It is so powerful that Satan wants to keep you from it because it interferes with his power, disturbs his plans and destroys his kingdom. That means that prayer is a powerful weapon and a dangerous one that can be used against the forces of evil that we face daily. Whatever you might be going through today, whatever circumstances youre facing, trust that you can turn to God in prayer. Instead of stressing about your next decision, ask God to lead you and guide you. There is nothing you can pray about that is too big or small for God. Ask God for the wisdom and discernment to teach you how He wants you to pray and for what He wants you to pray for. God has the power to equip you with strength as you face your biggest challenges. You just have to trust Him. Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council. PITTSFIELD The proposed battery storage facility on Williams Street has been shot down. Following strong pushback from residents and concerns over environmental safety, the proposal to build a battery energy storage system behind the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank was unanimously denied by the Conservation Commission on Wednesday evening. Overall, this project is not safe, said City Councilor Kathleen Amuso, referencing the fires similar facilities have experienced. It is a wetland area. It is a residential commercial area, and if something happens there, we are all going to be affected. Boston-based renewable energy company BlueWave had proposed constructing the facility, which was intended to store traditional and renewable energy for later use, on a 3-acre commercially-zoned lot behind Williams Plaza at 734 Williams St. The site, owned by Alfred A. Barbalunga, is bordered by residential neighborhoods on Stonehedge Road and Alfred Drive, and work was proposed within the bordering vegetated wetland buffer zone. Jesse ODonnell, a project manager at the engineering firm Weston & Sampson, revised the site plan after a company wetland scientist and the citys conservation agent, Rob Van Der Kar, identified an additional wetland on the property. To avoid impacting the newly identified area, the proposed facility was shifted 15 to 20 feet west. However, the discovery of this additional wetland prompted more concerns for residents, over 300 of whom had already signed a petition opposing the facility. Two meetings ago there wasn't even a wetland there. And now, all of a sudden, there [is], said Kristin Smith, a Brookside Drive resident. Hows that to say, in five more years, the wetlands are not going to expand even closer to those pads and everything else Things move and change. Commissioners also pointed out that the plan was missing key details, like proper spill containment and erosion control. Jonathan Lothrop said the proposed 1-foot gravel beds wouldnt be enough of a containment process and ultimately failed to address broader public safety concerns. There have been, unfortunately, incidents with this kind of technology on planes and cars and all kinds of different things, Lothrop said, referencing the risk of battery fires and explosions. I realize this is an emerging technology but I do feel as a citizen, as a member of Conservation Commission, we should be asking you guys to provide some kind of containment if there is a leak [or an] explosion or technology fails for some reason. The proposed sites close proximity to protected wetlands also raised concerns for councilors and residents, especially in the event of a malfunction. I dont understand how, if theres a fire, that would not impact the wetlands and surrounding area, said resident Maria Salatino. Amuso also noted fires that had started in California from battery energy storage systems reignited, which, besides the risks associated with the fire, could emit harmful gases into the air. I know the company has said, Well, we haven't had any fires yet. There's going to be one, and we just hope it's not in Pittsfield, Amuso said. This isn't appropriate for Pittsfield, in a residential area I think it's important to keep the people of Pittsfield safe." Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter NORTH ADAMS Thanks to a group of local youth, free menstrual products are available at the North Adams Public Library. Members of a teen art club at the library, and Holly Dix, the librarian who runs it, have worked for months to bring about two now-installed period product vending machines, which dispense pads and tampons for free. As Dix puts it, access to this health care is "a human right." In addition to the vending machines, set up in two bathrooms at the library, are take-home period care kits, which include 10 tampons and 10 pads, an informational piece of paper, and a piece of chocolate for a pick-me-up. Part of the project is an effort to raise awareness, and negate the stigma around discussing menstruation, particularly for young girls. A lot of girls are starting their periods very young now, were talking girls in third or fourth grade starting them, Dix said. You can imagine how scary that can be, especially if they dont even know what it is. The vending machines, take-home bags and soon-to-come posters are a way to open up the conversation for young people. I have a daughter turning 13 next month, and we were talking about a scenario at school, Dix said. She didnt even want to approach her friends to ask them for help because they havent talked about it. Dixs daughter, Rillie Burns, who turns 13 in a few weeks, said as much. Every time I need something, we dont have it, Burns said. Its really cool to me that we can have this at the library, because we need it. Burns said her friends are excited about the idea. At her school in Bennington, Vt., she has to go to the nurse or office to see if products are available. Burns was encouraged when she and Dix went to Mass MoCA and found period care products in its bathroom for free. Dix notes that occasionally, bathrooms have machines that dispense products for 25 cents, or nothing at all. Shes been on board since Day 1, she and I put the machines up together, Dix said of her daughter. She was embarrassed just a few months ago, now she doesnt care that I put her picture on Facebook standing next to a machine. Its opened her eyes so much. Dix had been thinking about trying this idea for some time, and when she took action, she was pleased to find the librarys trustees supportive. The assistance of period.org, an organization that seeks to address period poverty, or the limited or inadequate access to menstrual products or menstrual health education, was essential, as it donated 1,000 tampons and 1,000 pads each. The library has brought in vending machines from Aunt Flow, costing about $350 each, and an order of 500 pads and 500 tampons each from the company that cost about $1,000. Dix is confident the library will be willing to replace the supply once it runs out. And shes hopeful the project goes well so the trustees can be convinced to install more machines in its third-floor bathrooms next year. In 2024, Axios reported that schools and jails in Massachusetts have begun to expand access to menstrual products. Legislation known as the I AM Bill, which hasnt yet been passed by the Massachusetts legislature, would make all period products free in schools, shelters and jails. That push has been led by three eighth-grade students. On June 18, the library's Youth Services Department is inviting kids aged 11-18 to come to the library at 6 p.m. to help assemble period care kits and make menstrual awareness posters. It comes almost three weeks after World Menstruation Day, which was May 28. Dix hopes more organizations will follow the library's lead and that libraries and schools in the area that dont have them will get machines. GREAT BARRINGTON A new community group is encouraging voters to say yes to building a new Monument Mountain Regional High School in November. Citizens for the Next Monument has started its social media push on Instagram and Facebook, with YES Monument slogans and photos of new architectural renderings of a finished school. While the groups website is online, it is still being built out with more information about the project, said Ellen Lahr, co-chair of the group. The website is ready, however, for people to sign up for email updates. The project would demolish the nearly 60-year-old Monument and replace it with a three-story building on the same property. Berkshire Hills Regional School District officials have tried for more than a decade to renovate or rebuild the deteriorating building. Voters worried about tax hikes twice shot down plans to replace it. The school has continued to fall into disrepair and is now dated both for academic and vocational studies. A new school building would allow the district to expand vocational programs. While final costs wont be available until August, the estimated total cost of the project is $154.5 million lower than what was anticipated last fall. State reimbursements and incentives bring the cost down to an estimated $93.5 million for the district's three towns Great Barrington, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge according to the most recent update at the projects website, monumentbuildingproject.org. The Massachusetts School Building Authority will provide roughly $59.3 million in aid, and provide $1.6 million of incentives for efficient building systems and design. The use of ground-source heat pumps might shave off another $5 million from the bill, according to Superintendent Peter Dillon. Residents have to agree to all this on Nov. 4, when all three towns will take ballot votes as one district. A majority vote is needed to approve the project. While the citizens group is advocating for the project, the districts Building Committee is still providing information. Previously, members of the committee have explained that not rebuilding the school is also expensive. Ongoing repairs are not covered by the state. On June 16, the committee will hold a public information session about the project and a tour of the high school. Lahr said the Building Committee cannot campaign for a particular outcome of the vote because it is part of the school district. It can only provide information. Thats where the new citizens group has stepped in. Lahr said that many in the community dont even know about the project. Were just getting going, Lahr said, and were going to be starting to do some outreach and education. The group will also be addressing the financial questions and will be focusing on the individual tax impact rather than the scary total project cost. Its a costly project, Lahr said, but thats one of the reasons the state is giving us [around] $60 million. June 1, 2025: A year ago Pakistan banned the Zainebiyoun Brigade and designated this Iran-backed group a terrorist organization. Also known as the Pakistan Hezbollah, most of its members are Pakistani Shia. Pakistan fears that these Iran-supported militants will eventually turn on the Pakistan government. There are already two other Iran-backed Shia terrorist groups in Pakistan, and these were banned as well. These groups recruit Pakistani Shia men, arm and radicalize them to fight for Iran throughout the region. Pakistan feared that some of these militants would eventually return home and become domestic terrorists seeking to topple the government and establish a religious dictatorship, or simply chaos. That never happened, at least not on a large enough scale to be a problem. Then the situation changed. Earlier this year Iran and Pakistan agreed to cooperate on economic, diplomatic and military matters. Each country has different definitions of these items. While both nations border Afghanistan, Iran has far fewer problems with the Afghans. Iran recently agreed to upgrade their relations with the new IEA or Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan government. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is more radical religiously and imposes a strict version of Islamic Sharia law on Afghans. This has led to cutoffs of foreign aid and most nations refusing to establish diplomatic relations. Iran is trying to peacefully reestablish good relations with the IEA. Afghanistan and Iran have some border and water rights disputes. Iran wants Afghan refugees in Iran to return home and the IEA is willing to help with that in return for better diplomatic and trade relationships as well as a serious and final effort to agree on their mutual 900 kilometers border. Pakistan has more serious problems with Afghanistan, with Pakistan accusing the Islamic Emirate Afghanistan of tolerating TTP Islamic terrorists that make attacks into Pakistan. The TTP is a Pakistani version of the Afghan Taliban. The IEA denies supporting the TTP and admits that its security forces are not numerous enough to eliminate the TTP while also maintaining order in the rest of Afghanistan. Iran and Pakistan share a common 900-kilometer border that ends at the Arabian Sea. Pakistan accuses Iran of not doing enough to eliminate Pakistani Baluchi separatists from maintaining bases in Iran. While these Balochi bases have been tolerated, or simply ignored for years, the Iran-Pakistan talks have resulted in Iranian attacks on the Baluchi groups on the Iranian side of the border. In the past Baluchi separatists have made trouble in Iran as well. Now Iran and Pakistan agree to coordinate efforts to reduce or eliminate Baluchi separatists on both sides of the border. Both Iran and Pakistan have serious internal problems. Iran has been subject to economic sanctions for decades. The Iranian economy is a mess, despite oil income. The sanctions mean Iran must smuggle out its oil exports and get less money for it than other oil exporting nations. Worse, the sanctions have blocked the import of equipment and services needed to keep the oil and natural gas fields operational. Currently those problems are shutting down more and more Iranian oil wells and natural gas pumping operations. This has reached the point where there is no natural gas for over a dozen power plants that burn natural gas. This means less electricity and less fuel to keep Iranians warm in the cold weather months. Another mutual concern is Islamic terrorism. Twenty nations account for over 95 percent of terrorism activity in the world. Of these twenty, which include Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Yemen, Iran, Uganda, Libya, Egypt, Nigeria, Palestinian Territories, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Colombia, Algeria, Thailand, Philippines, Russia, Sudan, Iran, Burundi, India, Nigeria and Israel, all but the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Colombia and Burundi involve Islamic terrorism. In terms of terrorism fatalities, the top four nations are Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia which account for about 70 percent of the world total. All of this was the result of Islamic radicalism, often directed at other Moslems, and not just non-Moslems or infidels. This has been the case for decades, and the Moslem world does not like to dwell on this situation. Many Moslem leaders admit that there is a lot of Islamic terrorism but insist that its all the fault of Infidels who are making war on Islam, so some Moslems feel compelled to fight back. The catch-phrase Moslem leaders like to repeat is that Islam is the religion of peace. It is not, and the historical record makes that very clear. The Islamic scriptures incorporated in the Koran explicitly call for violence against Infidels who refuse to accept Islam. For Iranians this is a problem because Iranians are Shia Moslems while most Moslems are Sunni. Normally Sunni and Shia get along, but these differences can be exploited by government or religious leaders and often are when such strife is needed. Nigel Farage has been accused of racism and hatred by John Swinney in the last weekend of campaigning before polls open in the Hamilton by-election. The Scottish first minster hit out at the Reform UK leader, claiming he was a real threat ahead of voting in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on Thursday. Advertisement Criticism has been levelled at Mr Farages party after a Facebook ad claimed Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar was prioritising Pakistani people over Scots and included a section of a speech in which he encouraged more people from south Asian backgrounds to enter politics. Nigel Farage (Ben Whitley/PA) Addressing activists including a number of MSPs, former MPs and candidates for the 2026 Holyrood election in Hamilton on Saturday, Mr Swinney contrasted Reform UK with former minister Christina McKelvie, whose death prompted the by-election. This is a by-election that none of us wanted to be fighting, because it meant that wed lost somebody we loved, Christina McKelvie, who was an individual that represented generosity, tolerance and inclusion, he said. That was how she went about her work in this constituency and in Parliament, and thats the antithesis of whats been brought into this by-election campaign by the politics of Nigel Farage, whos brought racism and hatred right into the heart of this community, and it is repugnant. Advertisement We are going to stand up to it in every way we can. In response to journalists, the first minister said he was not concerned about defamation claims stemming from his allegations of racism against Mr Farage. When the by-election was called, it was widely seen as a two-horse race between the SNPs Katy Loudon and Labours Davy Russell, but recent weeks have seen a surge in fortune for Mr Farages party. Speaking to the PA news agency after his speech, the first minister said it is very clear that Labour is out of this contest and it is now between the SNP and Farage. Advertisement I want to make sure that Farages politics dont get any hold in Scotland, they are damaging, he said. In his speech, the first minister repeatedly referenced Mr Farage, but when asked if he was increasing the chance of Reform gaining a foothold by paying the partys leader so much attention, Mr Swinney said: Ive just got to make sure that people in this constituency are aware of the threat that Farage poses in this election. If Farage gets in here, then you know the agenda of NHS privatisation is what will follow, the agenda of undermining the Scottish Parliament will follow, because thats what he believes in. Elsewhere in Hamilton on Saturday, Reform UKs candidate Ross Lambie gathered activists ahead of a canvassing session, including some bussed into the constituency from the north of England. Advertisement Speaking to journalists, Mr Lambie was asked why the parties believed to be the frontrunners at the beginning of the campaign were spending so much time on Reform. Theyre doing their canvassing and theyre getting the same results as we are, thats why, he said. He added: We are super proud that were not being pigeon-holed with any particular voter and were not being boxed into certain aspects of the community. Were getting votes from across the area. Advertisement If you were to chat to these volunteers, youll find some of them were SNP voters in the past, many of them were Labour voters, Conservative voters. So thats the thing were most proud of, that were breaking down those old barriers in Scottish politics. Anas Sarwar (Andrew Milligan/PA) Mr Sarwar said Labour is still in the race for the seat in Thursdays vote. Its between ourselves and the SNP, every single vote is going to count, he told PA on Saturday. Thats why, if you want to beat the SNP, if you want a local champion, if you want to start that pathway to a new direction, the best way of doing that is to vote for one of your own vote for Davy Russell. The Labour leader also accused the first minister of talking up Reform for a very, very long time, an assertion Mr Swinney rejects, while saying he would call out Nigel Farages poison. Hundreds of migrants are thought to have crossed the English Channel in small boats on Saturday. At least six boats left France in the first attempted crossings to reach the UK in a week. Advertisement French police officers watched as migrants, including children, boarded at a beach in Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk, in the morning. Authorities were then pictured escorting the boats. France has agreed to change its rules so police can prevent people in the water from getting on to boats, but this has not yet come into effect, UK home secretary Yvette Cooper has said in recent weeks. She has been urging the French to make the changes so their maritime forces can intervene in shallow waters as soon as possible, it is understood. Advertisement A British Home Office source said: We have developed strong co-operation with the French and it is important that they have agreed to disrupt these boats once theyre in the water and not just on the shore. This vital step now needs to be operationalised to protect border security and save lives. Yvette Cooper (James Manning/PA) The coastguard reportedly issued an appeal for fishing boats to assist a yacht and kayaks in trouble in the Channel as it responded to small boats. Co-ordinating multiple simultaneous incidents is not unusual, the coastguard said, stressing that at no time was public safety compromised. Advertisement In line with standard procedure, coastguard operations centres may contact vessels in the vicinity of an incident, including fishing boats, to provide assistance if they are best placed to help, regardless of other ongoing operations. This is routine practice and does not indicate an absence of search and rescue assets. The highest number of arrivals recorded on a single day so far this year was 825 on May 21st. This year is on course to set a record for Channel crossings, with more than 13,000 people having arrived so far, up 30 per cent on this point last year, according to analysis of the data by the PA news agency. Advertisement Sir Keir Starmers government has pledged to crack down on small boat crossings including with measures targeting smuggling gangs. A Home Office spokesperson said: We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die as long as they pay, and we will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice. That is why this Government has put together a serious plan to take down these networks at every stage. Advertisement French authorities escort a small boat leaving the beach at Gravelines (Gareth Fuller/PA) Through international intelligence sharing under our Border Security Command, enhanced enforcement operations in northern France and tougher legislation in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, we are strengthening international partnerships and boosting our ability to identify, disrupt and dismantle criminal gangs whilst strengthening the security of our borders. The UK home secretary previously said gangs have been taking advantage of a higher number of calm weather days to make the journey. UK temperatures hit 26C on Saturday, wrapping up the sunniest spring on record. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said boats were flooding the channel, with Border Force stretched beyond breaking point, and even fishing vessels drafted in because our maritime rescue services are overwhelmed. A nation reduced to chaos on the high seas while Keir Starmer hides behind platitudes and process. Labour has completely lost control of our borders. Their pledge to smash gangs in tatters. They scrapped the Rwanda deterrent before it even began and now the boats wont stop coming. So far, this is already the worst year on record. Labour have failed on every front, and Britain is paying the price. This is a day of shame for Labour. Sir Keir Starmer has pledged a wave of new investments to turn the British armed forces into a formidable, integrated fighting machine as part of the UK governments defence review. The UK prime minister said he would invest in a military that is more integrated, more ready, more lethal than ever. Advertisement As part of the review, due to be published on Monday, the UK government has pledged 1.5 billion (1.7 billion) to set up at least six factories, and will support the procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons. The move is in response to the reviews call for an always on munitions production capacity that could be scaled up quickly. The new funding will see UK munitions spend hit 6 billion (7.2 billion) during this Parliament and support around 1,800 jobs throughout the country. Mr Starmer called the review a radical blueprint that would drive forward investments in shipbuilding, drone technology and cyber defences. Advertisement Director of mechanical engineering Matt Beamont shows Defence Secretary John Healey a storm shadow missile (Dan Kitwood/PA) Preparing for the threats of tomorrow means bringing together every capability we have, from drones, to artillery, to human instinct and intelligence, into one formidable, integrated fighting machine, he wrote in The Sun. To achieve this, we are announcing a wave of new investments in our Armed Forces across land, air and sea. He said Labour would end the disgraceful hollowing out of the armed forces. We will invest in a fighting force that is more integrated, more ready, more lethal than ever putting Britain back where it belongs as a leader in defence and a leader in Nato. Advertisement We will provide better kit for our warriors when they are fighting abroad so that they can use the full range of conventional and technological capabilities. UK defence secretary John Healey said the British government would embrace the recommendations in the review and make defence an engine for economic growth. It will urge the the UK Ministry of Defence to lay the industrial foundations to boost weapons stockpiles to meet the demand of high-tempo warfare. More than 1.5 billion in extra funding will go to military homes in response to the review. Advertisement The cash will be spent on urgent repairs such as fixing boilers and roofs, and other issues including tackling damp. Our forces make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe and to serve this country and yet for years, weve forced their families to live in substandard homes, Mr Healey said on a visit to military accommodation in Cambridgeshire. The Conservatives criticised the investment in munitions factories as too slow. Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the UK chancellor has used the strategic defence review to put an effective freeze on new orders for military kit. Advertisement Its a bit rich of Labour to talk about always on munitions production when procurement has been largely switched off for the past year, he said. He added: Of course, we welcome investment in new munitions factories, but we dont know when they will be ready, only that these orders should have been placed months ago. Ultimately, we need to see greater ambition for the pace and scale of rearmament our armed forces require, given the threats we face and the need to replace inventory gifted to Ukraine. That means 3 per cent of GDP by the end of this parliament, and Labour properly prioritising defence spending instead of seeking to outspend Reform on welfare. Two Scottish men have died following a shooting in southern Spain, reports suggest. The BBC has reported that a gunman opened fire outside Monaghans Bar in Fuengirola, Malaga on Saturday night. Advertisement A local government official told the broadcaster it is believed the two men are Scottish. The UK Foreign Office said it had not been contacted for consular assistance in relation to the incident but would offer assistance if asked. Ireland Two people shot dead at Irish bar in Costa del sol Read More A local newspaper said the attack took place at around 11pm, when a car pulled up outside the bar and masked man got out, before opening fire on the two as they stood outside the venue. The gunman then fled in the car, the report continued, with both men dying at the scene. Advertisement A popular Irish-themed bar with locals, Monaghans was playing the Champions League final on Saturday evening, shortly before the incident. Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, even as Russia pounded Ukraine with a missile strike that killed 12 soldiers and the biggest drone assault of the three-year war. In a statement on Telegram, Mr Zelensky said that defence minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian delegation. Advertisement We are doing everything to protect our independence, our state and our people, Mr Zelensky said. Ukrainian officials had previously called on the Kremlin to provide a promised memorandum setting out its position on ending the war before the meeting takes place. I heard reports from the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the General Staff, our intelligence agencies, and the Security Service of Ukraine. Our defense, our active actions, and our diplomacy. We are doing everything to protect our independence, pic.twitter.com/MAz2stbUUR Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) June 1, 2025 Moscow had said it would share its memorandum during the talks. Russia launched the biggest number of drones on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion three years ago, Ukraines air force said on Sunday. Advertisement The air force said 472 drones were launched over Ukraine. Russian forces also launched seven missiles alongside the barrage of drones, said Yuriy Ignat, head of communications for the Ukrainian air force. Earlier on Sunday, Ukraines army said at least 12 Ukrainian service members were killed and more than 60 were injured in a Russian missile strike on an army training unit. Meanwhile, Kyiv destroyed more than 40 military aircraft in a drone attack deep in Russia, a Ukrainian security official said. Advertisement The official said the attack took more than a year and a half to execute and was personally supervised by Mr Zelensky. The operation saw drones transported in containers carried by trucks deep into Russian territory, he said. The drones reportedly hit 41 bombers stationed at several airfields, including the Belaya air base in the Russian region of Irkutsk, more than 2,500 miles from Ukraine. It is the first time that a Ukrainian drone has been seen in the region, local governor Igor Kobzev said. June 1, 2025: Obtaining weapons has always been a difficult task for Islamic terrorists, outlaws and rebel groups. Now a solution can be found on the internet where inexpensive 3D printers can be purchased and used to manufacture the components needed for 9mm pistols and a 9mm rifle called Uruatu. At first using 3D printers to manufacture these crude pistols was a time-consuming process but the technology quickly improved. Now you can buy a 3D printer for a few hundred dollars and create more of these weapons quickly. Obtaining ammunition is still a problem but it wont be long before 3D printers take care of that as well. The U.S. Navy is using 3D parts printers to quickly fabricate metal replacement parts for many of the systems on the ships, including aircraft, weapons and vehicles. There are already 3D printers for plastic parts but 3D printers for metal components have been around for a while and there are computer specification files for enough aluminum parts to make this 3D printer worth having on board. The navy 3D printer can handle aluminum components up to 25cm by 25cm in size. In the last century warships have had limited capability to fabricate metal parts and even less space to store spare parts. Most of the parts are common hardware items that require no manufacturer's license to duplicate. This 3D printer tech got a lot of publicity in the last few years when it became known how SpaceX rapidly developed more effective, cheaper rockets and satellite launchers so quickly using 3D printers. SpaceX inspired European countries, which had already developed some of the tech that SpaceX used to build their novel rockets and Space Launch Vehicles/SLVs. One of these techs was 3D printing of metal components for rocket engines and other major components of SLVs that are needed in small quantities. Use of traditional manufacturing methods like forging, machining and stamping metal are expensive and time consuming and very expensive for small quantities. Change has been coming since the 1980s, when the concept of 3D printing tech arrived. Soon it was realized that eventually this tech would evolve to the point where it could handle metal components and complex objects could be built with a 3D device. For manufacturers, this would be a major revolution for anyone needing small numbers of complex systems or developing prototypes for testing and further refinement. Spacecraft developers and manufacturers were among the first to make very visible use of these new tech. The first decade of the 21st Century saw the appearance of more effective 3D printers that could handle metal parts of different sizes and complexity. It was only a matter of time before the military adopted this new generation of 3D printer technology. Other Western nations have followed suit for ships at sea as well as peacekeeping operations in remote areas. For example, in 2019 France joined a growing number of armed forces and adopted the use of 3D printers for its counterterrorism operation in Africa. This force contains 4,500 soldiers, special operations troops and aircraft crews that have been in the Sahel since 2014 to combat Islamic terrorists. The headquarters of the task force is in landlocked Chad and about half the troops are in landlocked Mali to the west. A shortage of rivers and roads means it is time consuming and expensive to get supplies in, even if you expedite the process by putting them aboard military transport aircraft that regularly fly between the Sahel bases and France. The French Task Force received two 3D printers at its Chad base, and they were soon in regular use to quickly supply needed parts. Otherwise, a lot of equipment would be sidelined for days or weeks waiting for the part to arrive from France or a foreign manufacturer. The U.S. Army pioneered this approach back in 2003 with the establishment of a Mobile Parts Hospital/MPH and in 2013 MPH added 3D printers. By 2016 Special Operations Command/SOCOM noted that users, including some SOCOM personnel, were designing their own new parts and using MPHs to build them for immediate testing. A growing percentage of those new component designs worked, and many became part of the factory-made systems. Most SOCOM MPH detachments consisted of just a laptop and a 3-D printer for non-metal parts. The 3D printer for metal parts was bulker and a lot more expensive and initially fewer of them were out in the field back then. Meanwhile, other nations were adopting these technologies. The Royal Navy had adopted the 3D printing concept for its warships in 2015, as had the U.S. Navy and American marines. Meanwhile, this 3D printer approach had been adopted by many companies that provided field support for expensive and complex equipment. It was easy and inexpensive to supply field support teams with a 3D printer that could quickly produce thousands of plastic and metal parts for aircraft, ships, generators, electronics, vehicles and so on. It took the American army a decade to develop and deploy second and third generations of MPH. The 2013 version was called Expeditionary Lab or Ex Lab, was more compact and relied more on 3-D printers and operators trained to help users come up with designs for components that dont yet exist. It was often the case that troops discovered the need for a new component or improved replacement part for their equipment. In the past, this request often had to go back to the original factory for development and manufacturing. But with the software and equipment available now, as well as satellite data links to factories, it is possible to get this work done quickly in the combat zone. Thus, the new name for what is essentially MPH 3.0. MPH was developed when the army realized that the easiest and quickest way to get the many rarely requested, but vital, replacement parts to the troops was to manufacture the parts in the combat zone. After September 11, 2001, this led to the construction of a portable parts fabrication system that fits into a standard 8x8x20 foot shipping container. The original version used two containers, but smaller equipment and more powerful computers eventually made it possible to use one container. By 2010, there were four MPH systems in service, two of them in Afghanistan. Over the next few years then two more were built, for under $2 million each. In the first decade of use, MPHs manufactured over 150,000 parts on the spot saving lots of time, shipping expenses, and aggravation for troops needing the item. This saved days, or weeks, that it would take to obtain the part from the manufacturer. The MPH part is usually a lot cheaper because of the air freight and manufacturer markups to pay for maintaining the part in inventory. MPH 2.0 had a 3-D part builder, which uses metal dust and a laser to build a part. SOCOM built its own, more ambitious, version of MPH in 2009. This was the Mobile Technology Complex or MTC that could fix more complex and exotic gear, which SOCOM has a lot of. MTC could modify their special gear or even create something new. SOCOM sent most of their MTCs to Afghanistan to see how effective they would be at improving the readiness of equipment, and the usefulness of being able to modify existing equipment gear and build new items on the spot. The MTC was modified, with some new gear, version of MPH 2.0. This led to Ex Labs. The key to making this work originally was the availability of computer-controlled machine tools, which can take a block of the proper metal and machine it into the desired part. Computer-controlled machine tools have been around for decades, but the big breakthrough was the development of CAD software for PCs in the 1980s, which made the process of designing, and then fabricating, a part much faster. The computer-controlled machine tools can use the CAD file to automatically create the part. The MPH has a high-speed satellite data link, which enables it to obtain the CAD file for a part. Many CAD files are already stored in the MPH. Often, the MPH staff figures out a way to improve a part, based on the broken parts they see and what the troops tell them. The computer-controlled machine tools were eventually complemented, and now often replaced by 3D printers that can make all manner of metal parts. Aircraft and SpaceX spaceship manufacturers used this equipment on a large scale to build prototypes or items, like satellite launchers and transport vehicles to bring supplies, and people to the International Space Station. The metal 3D printers now come in a wide range of sizes and capabilities. Some never leave the factory but the more portable ones are now common in field service offices and with the military. All these instant parts builder operations tended to be staffed and open 24/7. The demand for critical parts happened round the clock in a combat zone and it was often a matter of life or death to get the part as quickly as possible. This has eliminated many of the spare parts crises where large quantities of equipment in a combat zone would be unavailable because a few parts were found to wear out more quickly than anticipated in combat. When that sort of thing happens now the MPH can get parts to the troops quickly while the factory is alerted to produce more and air freight them to the combat zone as soon as they can. Meanwhile, military use of this technology led to the concept of building entire systems on-demand with the 3D printers. Either that or extensive modifications for existing equipment. One application involved 3D printed UAVs that cost about $1,000 but use commercial components like batteries, electric motors, cameras and wireless comms. The airframe is 3D printed on-demand at battalion and brigade level. The troops would still have a similar Raven UAV, with its longer duration, better sensors and encrypted comms. But for most combat zone needs the 3D UAVs built back at battalion or brigade headquarters as needed would get the job done. These weigh less than a kilogram and have 20 minutes endurance and range of about three kilometers. For most combat situations that is sufficient. A smartphone or tablet can be used as a controller. The 3D printers required are small and use plastic material that can also be used to create replacement parts on-demand for damaged UAVs as well as a long list of parts for other equipment in the battalion. A 3D Printer would not be added to battalion or brigade equipment just for making UAVs, but for supplying a long list of plastic replacement parts instantly. In a combat zone, there is simply more demand for modifications to existing equipment that are a matter of life or death, or at least less anxiety. 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 Australians went to the polls and voted Anthony Albanese back as prime minister, they also voted for something that will outlive the next election: the power industrys guaranteed switch from coal to renewable energy. What they didnt vote for were state-owned nuclear reactors, forced delays of coal-fired power station closures and a slew of other Coalition promises widely viewed as threats to the countrys era-defining challenge of cutting harmful emissions while keeping electricity supply and prices steady. Although times remain testing in the energy sector, a feeling of relief is clear. The nuclear conversation is dead and buried for the foreseeable future, said an executive at one of Australias biggest power suppliers, who asked not to be named. Even as the Nationals keep arguing for a nuclear future, any genuine suggestion that atomic facilities could still be built in time to replace retiring coal plants after the next election rolls around was now downright ridiculous, said another, adding that renewable energy was on track to surpass 60 per cent of the grid by 2028. Thats great for the energy sector it simplifies the path forward, they said. Peter Dutton was a strong advocate of nuclear energy. Credit: Monique Westermann Make no mistake, a seismic shift across the grid has been well under way for years now. Australias coal-fired power stations the backbone of the system for half a century have been breaking down often and closing down earlier, with most remaining plants slated to shut within a decade. At the same time, power station owners including AGL, Origin Energy and EnergyAustralia are joining a rush of other investors in piling billions of dollars into large-scale renewables and batteries to expand the share of their power that comes from the sun, wind and water. The federal government has an ambitious target for renewable energy to make up 82 per cent of the grid by 2030. There wont be a renewable energy industry in 2030; it will just be the energy industry. Andrew Richards, Energy Users Association of Australia Advertisement Moving to a system dominated by less-predictable renewables will not be easy. It will take much greater preparation to match supply and demand and require the multibillion-dollar pipeline of private investment in the transition to continue. But ousted opposition leader Peter Dutton, before losing the May 3 federal election and his own seat, hatched a plan to change the course dramatically. A grid powered mainly by renewables would never be able to keep the lights on, Dutton insisted. Instead, he declared, a Coalition government would tear up Australias legislated 2030 emissions-reduction commitments, cut short the rollout of renewables, force the extensions of coal-fired generators beyond their owners retirement plans and eventually replace them with seven nuclear-powered generators, built at the taxpayers expense, sometime before 2050. For Australians who wanted to see urgent action to tackle climate change and investors at the forefront of the shift to cleaner power the campaign to dump near-term climate targets in favour of nuclear energy came at the worst possible time. Some likened it to a near-death experience for the momentum of the shift to a cleaner, modern energy system that would have wiped out investor confidence and killed off billions of dollars of future renewable projects. When you reflect on the significance of energy in the campaign, its reasonable to say this was a fork in the road, said Kane Thornton, outgoing chief executive of the Clean Energy Council. Loading The Coalition was convinced it was onto a winner. The government had been on the nose in the polls, cost-of-living stresses were everywhere, and Australians were more worried about the size of their electricity bills than where their electrons were coming from. Dutton argued for months that nuclear plants would be the best way to keep prices down, even though almost no one agreed with him. Advertisement Im very happy for the election to be a referendum on energy on nuclear, he said. In the end, the idea proved too toxic for voters. It delivered big swings against Duttons candidates in electorates chosen to host reactors, while support for Labor grew in many of the places selected to develop massive offshore wind farms, which the Coalition had planned to scrap. The decisive election result locks in the governments ambitious push for an electricity grid almost entirely powered by renewables, said Leonard Quong, the head of Australian research at BloombergNEF. The Labor Partys landslide victory is a win for climate, clean energy and the countrys decarbonisation trajectory, he said. Loading The Albanese governments plan to transform the grid as more coal-fired plants exit is backed up by modelling from the Australian Energy Market Operator. It includes accelerating the build-out of renewables, backed up by thousands of kilometres of extra power lines, storage assets such as batteries and pumped hydroelectric dams to stash clean energy for when its not sunny or windy, and an essential fleet of gas-fired power stations on standby. Over the coming decade, the governments flagship renewable energy policy, known as the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), is expected to underwrite the financing of enough new wind and solar farms to double Australias renewable energy generation capacity, according to BloombergNEF, plus a seven-fold increase in storage. Advertisement As things stand, Australia is on track to fall shy of its target for renewables to supply 82 per cent of the grid by 2030. But even if it does, a massive increase is still inevitable. The renewables build-out hit record speed last year, said global consultancy Rystad Energy, putting renewable sources on course to surge from 40 per cent to 65 per cent of the grid by the end of the decade. The governments ambitious targets were driving significant change, said Andrew Richards of the Energy Users Association of Australia, representing major manufacturers. There wont be a renewable energy industry in 2030 it will just be the energy industry, he said. Still, there are some who work in the energy sector who think the door should not be closed on nuclear power permanently. Although any major role for nuclear is not seen as a viable option for the 2030s or even 2040s (CSIRO calculates the first reactor would take at least 16 years to build), EnergyAustralia chief Mark Collette thinks the technology is at least worth considering as part of a much-longer-horizon energy mix for instance, when the next generation of large-scale wind farms retires in 20 to 25 years. There are also questions about whether there will be enough renewable energy, supported by gas, to meet ballooning demand in the 2050s and beyond, especially if the rise of electrification, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and energy-hungry data centres overshoots current forecasts. The gap left by coal will be filled by renewables, but what if weve got demand [forecasts] wrong? said Matt Rennie, co-chief executive of energy consultancy Rennie Advisory. Advertisement This is where the long-term future for nuclear energy becomes interesting it makes sense to have the conversation. For now, sidelining the nuclear debate will empower the sector to double down on the investment boom into wind, solar and storage projects to get ready for a fast-approaching future without coal, energy companies say. Loading There are also hopes that it will recast the focus on big challenges that still stand in the way of a smooth transition. These include the soaring cost of building high-voltage power lines needed to connect far-flung renewable energy zones to major cities, resistance among communities asked to host new energy infrastructure, and an impending domestic shortfall of natural gas that will be needed to power a renewed fleet of gas-fired turbines. Shannon Hyde, local boss of French energy giant Engie, said policy certainty was good for business and investment confidence as the company sought to progress plans for more large-scale renewable generation and storage projects in Australia. But local challenges remain, he said. We know the energy transition will depend on a partnered approach with ambitious and purposeful governments. Advertisement Valerie Mahaffey, a character actor with a knack for playing eccentric women who sometimes revealed themselves to be sinister in television shows such as Desperate Housewives, Northern Exposure and Devious Maids, died Friday in Los Angeles. She was 71. The cause was cancer, her husband, actor Joseph Kell, said in a statement. I have lost the love of my life. Actor Valerie Mahaffey has passed away, age 71. Credit: Getty Images Mahaffey had worked steadily over the past five decades, starting on the NBC daytime soap opera The Doctors, for which she received a Daytime Emmy nomination for best supporting actress in 1980. Most recently, she appeared in the movie The 8th Day, a crime thriller released in March. She was also known for her guest-starring roles on well-known TV series such as Seinfeld and Greys Anatomy. She won an Emmy for best supporting actress in 1992 for her work as Eve, a hypochondriac, on the 1990s CBS series Northern Exposure, a drama set in Alaska. She was best known for playing seemingly friendly women who become villainous characters in dramas such as Desperate Housewives, where she appeared in nine episodes. Netflix has finally revealed the release date for the long-awaited final season of its hit Stranger Things. The eight-episode fifth season has been split into three parts, with the first four episodes released on November 27, three episodes released on Boxing Day and the final episode released on January 1. David Harbour as Jim Hopper and Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven in season five of Stranger Things. Credit: Created by the Duffer Brothers, the series has been a monster hit for the streamer ever since it debuted in 2016. Set in the 1980s in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, it initially followed the disappearance of 12-year-old Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) into the alternate dimension of the Upside Down and the appearance of a young girl named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), who has psychokinetic powers. The main cast is set to return, including Winona Ryder, who plays Wills mother, Joyce Byers, and David Harbour, who plays police chief Jim Hopper. Terminators Linda Hamilton is the only big-name addition to the fifth series, playing an undisclosed role. For years, Stephanie Boulet was told she would never recover from anorexia nervosa. Enduring hospital admissions and residential care through her adolescence and 20s, the treatment which assumed she was motivated by a desire to be thin didnt work. It is not fair that I was in that state for as long as I was, repeatedly reaching out for care and being called treatment resistant and [my condition] severe and enduring, Boulet said. Stephanie Boulet has lived experience of anorexia nervosa and is leading efforts to investigate personalised treatments for eating disorders. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Evidence-based treatments for adults with eating disorders do not work for roughly half of patients, and there is no standalone evidence-based treatment for anorexia or other specific disorders, meaning clinicians rely on guesswork to find ways to help. But a promising new US trial has found that a personalised treatment approach targeting unique combinations of symptoms for each patient led to a greater decline in symptoms compared to the current gold-standard treatment, enhanced cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-E). Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned Donald Trumps latest tariff salvo on Australian metals, describing it as reckless as the opposition urged Albanese to confront the US president about the trade strikes during a coming meeting. On Saturday, Trump said he would double tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to 50 per cent, days after the Court of International Trade found Trump had overstepped his authority to enact a baseline 10 per cent blanket tariff on all types of goods. US President Donald Trump speaks at US Steel Corporations Mon Valley Works-Irvin plant on Friday in Pennsylvania. Credit: AP The steel and aluminium tariffs were underpinned by a different set of laws to the 10 per cent across-the-board tariff, meaning Australia must secure an exemption to get out of it. The US eliminated tariffs on British steel and aluminium in a deal with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in May, creating a precedent for Australia to strike a similar agreement when Albanese and Trump meet for the first time this month. They are expected to meet either on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada or during a trip to the US. With the recount in the Victorian seat of Goldstein reconfirming the outcome, its time to look at what the electorate can teach the Liberals about the way forward. There are two important themes: one is about how to best serve a community. The other is how to stick with good policy. After losing Goldstein in 2022, Liberal Tim Wilson looked into historical precedents for regaining the seat. There were none. So in January 2023, he decided to create a precedent. He started with a hypothetical victory, reverse-engineering what the campaign to get there would have to do. Liberal Tim Wilson has claimed victory in the marginal seat of Goldstein, which he held before losing it to teal Zoe Daniel in 2022. Credit: Paul Jeffers What I realised very quickly, after I did everything in sequential order, was that I had just unintentionally mapped out the campaign that had removed me, he says. And that, if he was going to win the seat back from teal Zoe Daniel, he had to start right away. By his reckoning, hed beaten her by Christmas 2024. Baragwanath found concerns around the hiring spree were legitimate, and came to an agreement with the museum that its internal policies be changed as a result of the complaints. While no disciplinary action was taken against staff, the ombudsman was satisfied that similar conduct was unlikely to be repeated after the policies were brought into line with public sector guidelines. In correspondence seen by The Age, Baragwanath wrote that Museums Victoria had, as a result of reports to her office, revised its recruitment and employment policy, and recruitment and selection procedure, to include steps to address conflicts in recruitment, conflict-mitigation strategies and record conflicts in a central register. The museum in its response to the ombudsman, also obtained by The Age, agreed that, in hiring casuals for urgent staffing needs, some candidates had close associations with existing Museums Victoria staff, and disclosed this to the chief operating officer before the appointments were finalised. The museum also admitted that its rapid response hiring had risks ... and should have been managed by offering fixed-term roles. Future hiring, the museum told the ombudsman, would be done differently. In other correspondence seen by The Age, a senior investigator for the ombudsman noted the museum had agreed to review recruitment policies to ensure they align with the Victorian Public Sector Commissions employment principles and standards, especially with regard to conflicts of interest. The investigator also said museum staff involved in hiring must now undergo mandatory recruitment training, and that the museum had engaged an external agency to conduct a cultural review. Some museum workers, though, say one change Museums Victoria has made since the ombudsmans investigation a conflict-of-interest policy introduced this month is more lenient on public servants within the institution than the policy that had preceded it. The new policy specifically notes that in some [conflict-of-interest] instances, no action will be taken. Asked if the hiring practices during the Titanic exhibition met public sector standards, a Museums Victoria spokeswoman declined to comment on individual staff but said the institution is committed to the highest standards of integrity and had full confidence in our people. She did not directly respond to questions about whether the talent bank remained in use, saying only that the system was consistent with public service policies, and that its wider processes were in line with Victorian Public Sector Employment principles and standards. An email from Royal, obtained by The Age, urged staff to refer friends, family and volunteers to the talent bank with an eye to future recruitment and suggested staff then refer their contacts directly to a specific museum email address. But a subsequent email exchange provided to The Age shows an applicant inquiring, to the specific email address circulated by management, about a visitor engagement officer position during the Titanic exhibition. The museums People and Culture division responds to the applicant that our job opportunities are listed on the Museums Victoria website, with no reference to a talent bank. Ultimately, the ombudsman halted its scrutiny of Museums Victoria after deciding it had taken sufficient action to prevent further investigative action by our office. The Museums Victoria spokeswoman declined to comment on specific hiring decisions during the Titanic show, but confirmed that additional visitor engagement staff were employed after the exhibition had opened to ensure a positive visitor experience. She said the institution could not comment on confidential or personal information, or ombudsman investigations. The claims have come to light as the museum shrinks its visitor engagement officer workforce a move that has enraged these staff, prompting a public protest this month, in front of the museum on the VIP opening night of a Lego Star Wars exhibition. Museum visitor engagement officers, supporters and Community and Public Sector Union officials at a protest at the VIP event to help launch the Lego Star Wars exhibit, outside the Melbourne Museum in Carlton last month. The museums proposed restructure would see many visitor engagement officer roles made redundant and tasks such as overseeing gallery spaces and assisting visitors taken over by security guards. The changes would affect staff at Melbourne Museum, the Immigration Museum and Scienceworks. Loading Theyre killing off their greatest asset in cutting visitor engagement services, said Karen Batt, state secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union, which represents museum staff. No great museum the world over would do this. Theres another motive at play here. Batt argued the plan would diminish the visitor experience by displacing museum-employed staff and pave the way for an expanded role for MSS Security, the private contractor already providing security across the museums three sites. A Museums Victoria spokeswoman said consultation with staff about the changes was ongoing. Cant find your dream home? In Melbournes well-heeled inner east, one option is to buy out your neighbours and build it. The Verrocchi family, of Chemist Warehouse fame, have bought six adjacent houses in Toorak for a combined $22.83 million and secured a planning permit to build a new residence. Theyre not alone as families with the means look to create homes that suit their needs rather than buying someone elses vision. Matthew and Nicole Verrocchi are set to demolish the existing mix of town residences and apartments to build their dream home. Matthews father is Mario, Chemist Warehouse co-founder, and Matthew is part of the empire as well as managing director of Bondi Perfume Co. The library is tucked away in a quiet corner of Veronas historic centre, along the Adige River. You enter a hushed hall, the air still and cool, thick with the scent of aged parchment and stone. Light filters gently through the windows, catching the edges of weathered shelves and mosaic-tiled floor. This is no ordinary library this is a place where the modern world fades into silence and the ancient past speaks in whispers. Fiorenza is a former merchant banker and chartered accountant from Queensland. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone But behind the beauty and reverence lies a more precarious truth. When Fasani, known to all as Don Bruno, was handed the responsibility of running the Capitolare in 2010, there was no ceremony, no support, no resources. They just gave me the keys, he says. And wished me good luck! A journalist and Catholic priest, Fasani suddenly found himself in charge of an institution that had outlived empires with nothing but his resolve to keep it alive. My only assets were goodwill and my perseverance, he says. Despite Veronas wealth and cultural prominence, Fasanis appeals for help went unanswered. I had knocked on all the doors, he says. It doesnt give them [potential donors] visibility because its not known, so theyre not interested. But spend time with Don Bruno, and hell draw you in too. Hes as passionate about whats tucked away in the vaults and archives as he is about whats on display. Age is not its only marvel. Today, the library has about 95,000 volumes, including more than 1200 ancient manuscripts, 270 incunabula (early printed books) and 11,000 parchments making it a treasure trove for global scholarship. Verona in northern Italy. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto Behind thick glass theres the Codex Veronensis, a 5th-century palimpsest that preserves the Institutes of Gaius the sole surviving classical Roman legal text of its kind. Nearby, richly dyed purple parchment glows faintly beneath the lights, its script rendered in silver ink, while the sacred names of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are illuminated in pure gold. Kings took their oath on this book. It now sits in a drawer. In another cabinet, the binding of a 500-year-old Carolingian gospel is fraying, its pages thick and soft with age. There are marginalia scrawled by anonymous monks who once worked by candlelight. You dont know where to look first. A shelf lined with 9th-century commentaries, still intact. A case of Renaissance humanist manuscripts, one page translucent with wear. A forgotten globe, dull with dust, reveals a map of Australia etched decades before Cooks voyage. Fasani shows an example from I Corali della Biblioteca Capitolare, a collection of 17 large illuminated choir books created for the Verona Cathedral. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone These are not just old things. They are fragments of civilisation, preserved in skin and ink. And the silence here isnt empty its full. The Capitolare has survived a great deal. In 1944, as US bombs rained down on Verona, a German scholar risked his life to help then-director Monsignor Turini smuggle 52 crates of priceless manuscripts to a hidden parish in the hills. The collection was narrowly saved and much of the building flattened. It was rebuilt, but since it has risked slipping quietly into irrelevance lost not to fire or flood, but to indifference. The financial reality remains daunting. In many ways Don Bruno is still in the same situation as when he was handed the keys, Fiorenza says. But she adds it now has access regional and national funds for works and restorations as well as the ever-increasing income support from the flow of national and international visitors and students. The plan is to ensure they can maximise and develop the full potential of the library to become an international cultural hub for scholars and visitors, she says. A handful of donors have stepped in. The Bauli Group, who brought Veronas panettone and pandoro to the world, contributed significantly to establish the librarys foundation. Cartiere Saci a European leader in the production of recycled packaging paper and where Fiorenzas husband, Cusumano Giannicola, sits on the board also opened its coffers. Several banks have made large contributions. A centuries-old Torah scroll and Jewish scriptures at the library. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone These funds have allowed vital restoration works to begin and previously closed rooms to be opened to the public. But the need far exceeds the available funds. Francesco Bongarra, the director of the Italian Cultural Institute in London, says the librarys situation also embodies Italys unique challenge. There is no doubt that the Capitolare is a treasure, he says, but we dont have enough resources to keep all this fantastic stuff up and running and preserved. Bongarra says the sheer volume of irreplaceable artefacts scattered across Italy, from churches to countless other libraries, means that many equally important collections are getting lost and not preserved properly. We are at the stage where Italy itself should be treated as a museum but no state can fund it; it will take the rest of us to, he says. A critical issue for the library lies in the very walls: Roman stone foundations damaged by centuries of humidity. Fixing them could cost 600,000 ($1.1 million). But as Fiorenza explains: You cant go to someone and say, Give me 600,000 to just, you know, to fix up the Roman wall. There needs to be a return on the brand. Thats the biggest challenge that were facing now. Fiorenza is now leveraging her extensive global network, connecting the Capitolare with influential figures and institutions. Fasani this month embarked on a packed tour of New York, including meetings with the head of medieval and renaissance studies at Seton Hall University, the Italian Institute of Culture, and discussions about twinning Verona with a New Jersey namesake. Architectural plans have already been drawn up to develop the librarys upper floors into a full visitor experience including a cafe, bookstore and restaurant. That is the ultimate vision of what Don Bruno has drawn together, Fiorenza says. I just have to find him the money. Technology, she believes, will be key. The technologies that we have today, can make it come alive, she says. The goal is to bring it from the history to today. Fiorenza has become an unlikely figure in this rarefied world of Latin texts and spectral scans a woman with no background in manuscript preservation who now speaks fluently about humidity levels and spectral imaging. One of her favourite discoveries came not from a vault, but from a dusty corner: two forgotten 18th-century globes one terrestrial, one celestial crafted by German mathematician, astronomer and cartographer Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr and astronomer and engraver Johann Georg Puschner. A terrestrial globe, dated 1728, a full 50 years before Captain Cooks geographic exploration, offers a unique view of Terra Australis. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone Oh my thats a map of Australia, she said when she spotted it. There it was, a sketch continent with no east coast to be seen, charted decades before Cooks landing in 1770 a detail unnoticed for generations. The globes, set to undergo restoration, have become symbolic of the librarys broader journey: overlooked, undervalued, and now gently being brought back to life. Its taken over my life, Fiorenza admits with a laugh. But, you know, how can it not? Once you see it. Entre accusations contre la Chine, divisions au G7 et restructuration massive du departement dEtat, ladministration Trump multiplie les annonces fracassantes, a appris cameroun24. Trump accuse la Chine davoir viole un accord commercial Dans un message poste sur Truth Social, le president americain Donald Trump a lance une nouvelle charge contre Pekin, affirmant que la Chine avait totalement viole un accord commercial conclu avec les Etats-Unis. Sans preciser les details de laccord ni les manquements reproches, Trump a laisse planer le doute sur une possible escalade des tensions economiques entre les deux puissances. Cette declaration intervient alors que des negociations bilaterales avaient abouti, en mai dernier, a une reduction mutuelle des droits de douane. Une treve fragile, visiblement remise en question par ces accusations. G7 : Un sommet sous le signe des divisions Les prochains jours sannoncent tendus pour le G7, qui se reunira du 15 au 17 juin au Canada. Selon le Nikkei, les dirigeants pourraient renoncer a un communique final commun pour masquer les profondes divergences entre Donald Trump et ses homologues. A la place, sept declarations distinctes seraient publiees, evitant soigneusement les sujets epineux comme le commerce international ou les relations avec la Russie. Un scenario qui rappelle les sommets de 2018 et 2019, marques par lisolement diplomatique de Trump. Elon Musk reste un conseiller cle de Trump Malgre son depart du departement de lEfficacite gouvernementale (Doge), Elon Musk continuera de jouer un role influent aupres de ladministration Trump. Le vice-president James David Vance a salue son travail, estimant que lentrepreneur avait identifie plus de 170 milliards de dollars de depenses inutiles. Elon restera un conseiller important , a-t-il affirme, balayant les rumeurs dune rupture. Une position strategique pour Musk, qui conserve ainsi son influence tout en se recentrant sur ses entreprises. Le departement dEtat dans le viseur : 3.400 postes supprimes Dans le cadre dune vaste reorganisation, le departement dEtat americain prevoit de supprimer 3.448 postes dici le 1er juillet. Pres de la moitie de ses services seront fusionnes ou purement et simplement supprimes, notamment ceux consacres aux droits de lhomme, juges trop ideologiques . Marco Rubio, secretaire dEtat, defend cette reforme comme necessaire pour rendre lappareil diplomatique plus agile dans un contexte de competition mondiale accrue. Chine : Une IA capable de detecter les ogives nucleaires Enfin, une avancee technologique majeure vient de Chine : des chercheurs ont mis au point un systeme dIA capable de differencier une veritable ogive nucleaire dune maquette, sans divulguer ses secrets de conception. Une innovation qui pourrait jouer un role cle dans les futurs traites de desarmement, mais qui souleve aussi des craintes quant a la militarisation de lintelligence artificielle. Donald Trump, Chine, accord commercial, G7 2025, Elon Musk, departement dEtat, reforme administrative, intelligence artificielle, ogives nucleaires, tensions diplomatiques, economie mondiale. Trade Deal Violations, G7 Tensions, and Shock Reforms: The U.S. Under Trump in Turmoil Between accusations against China, G7 divisions, and a massive State Department overhaul, the Trump administration makes explosive moves. Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Deal In a post on Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump launched a new attack on Beijing, claiming China had "totally violated" a trade deal with the U.S. Without specifying the agreement or the alleged breaches, Trump hinted at a potential escalation in economic tensions between the two superpowers. This statement comes after bilateral negotiations in May led to mutual tariff reductionsa fragile truce now seemingly in jeopardy. G7 Summit: A Meeting Marred by Divisions The upcoming G7 summit in Canada (June 15-17) promises to be tense. According to Nikkei, leaders may abandon a joint final statement to hide deep disagreements between Trump and his counterparts. Instead, seven separate declarations will likely be issued, avoiding contentious topics like global trade or relations with Russiaa scenario reminiscent of the 2018 and 2019 summits, where Trump faced diplomatic isolation. Elon Musk Remains a Key Trump Advisor Despite leaving the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), Elon Musk will continue to play an influential role in Trumps administration. Vice President James David Vance praised Musks work, crediting him with identifying $170 billion in wasteful spending. "Elon will remain an important advisor," Vance stated, dismissing rumors of a fallout. A strategic position for Musk, allowing him to maintain influence while refocusing on his companies. State Department Shakeup: 3,400 Jobs Cut As part of a major restructuring, the U.S. State Department plans to eliminate 3,448 positions by July 1. Nearly half of its offices will be merged or abolished, including those focused on human rights, deemed "too ideological." Secretary of State Marco Rubio defends the reform as necessary to make diplomacy "more agile" in an era of heightened global competition. China Develops AI System to Detect Nuclear Warheads In a technological breakthrough, Chinese researchers have created an AI system capable of distinguishing real nuclear warheads from decoyswithout revealing design secrets. An innovation that could shape future disarmament talks but also raises concerns about AI militarization. Donald Trump, China, trade deal, G7 2025, Elon Musk, State Department, government reform, artificial intelligence, nuclear warheads, diplomatic tensions, global economy. Mouahna Divine By Jonathan McCambridge, PA The family of Denis Donaldson suffered retraumatisation during Gerry Adams defamation case against the BBC, their lawyer has said. Solicitor Enda McGarrity said the family had to sit through the high-profile five-week case at Dublin High Court when their own efforts to pursue legal remedies have been stonewalled at every turn. Mr Adams was awarded 100,000 by a jury over a 2016 BBC programme which alleged he had sanctioned the murder of Mr Donaldson, a former Sinn Fein member who had been exposed as a British agent. Mr Adams had described the allegation as a grievous smear. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006. Enda McGarrity said the Gerry Adams libel case against the BBC had been extremely difficult for the Donaldson family Photo: Liam McBurney/PA. In 2009, the dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing and a Garda investigation into the matter remains ongoing. Mr McGarrity told the RTE This Week programme the Donaldson family had been initially ambivalent as to the outcome of the case. He said: The case was seen as a sideshow in that the family was aware it wasnt the type of case which would assist them in their long and tortuous search for answers and accountability. But of course as the trial played out it became difficult to ignore and retraumatising in many ways. The family had to listen along as private and sensitive information was tossed around with little regard to the Donaldson family. Probably the most galling part for the family is that theyve had to sit through five weeks of hearings in a case which concerned the murder of their loved one Denis Donaldson, and yet when theyve tried to pursue their own legal remedies, theyve been stonewalled at every turn. The process has been an extremely difficult one for the family. Now that the libel case has concluded, Mr McGarrity said focus should turn to seeking answers for the Donaldson family. He said: It has been a tortuous 19-year search for justice and the family acknowledge this case was ostensibly about Gerry Adams reputation, not about uncovering the circumstances surrounding the murder of Denis Donaldson. However, what this case does do is shine a light on the wider, and clearly more important issue of the circumstances around Denis Donaldsons murder. The fact that the family have never had anything resembling an effective investigation into this murder highlights an uncomfortable truth for authorities on both sides of the border, particularly where legacy cases are concerned. Mr McGarrity said the Donaldson family had been ambivalent about the outcome of the Adams libel trial. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. The lawyer said the current Garda investigation was limited to who carried out the murder, not the wider circumstances. He said: When we look to mechanisms which could explore those you have things like coroners inquests, one of the practical difficulties is that the inquest has been adjourned 27 times, quite an unprecedented delay. It begs the question, how is justice to be delivered to the Donaldson family if the Garda investigation is only looking at a limited aspect of the murder and the coroners inquest wont begin until that process finishes. That has led the family to call for a commission of investigation to properly investigate these issues. Mr McGarrity said there was a unique cross-border element to the death of Mr Donaldson. He added: Who was behind it and who pulled the trigger isnt the only question. The circumstances leading up to that, how Denis Donaldson came to be exposed, how his location came to be known in Donegal, there are lots of ancillary questions. All of which I think the family are aware we may not get full unvarnished answers to every aspect, but at this point they havent even got close to the truth and they deserve answers and accountability. He said the Donaldson family would now be seeking a meeting with Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan. This family are 19 years down the line and they are no further forward. There needs to be a discussion and we would certainly welcome prompt engagement with the minister. Sarah Slater A man has died and a girl was injured following a shooting incident in a supermarket in Carlow town. The incident unfolded at 6.15pm when it appears a man fired a number of shots towards the roof of the busy Tesco supermarket at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre. Shoppers and staff ran for cover when two rounds of shots rang out. It is understood that the man, then ran outside of the building and shot himself dead. Gardai have said a white Irish adult male is deceased at the scene. A girl was also injured and it remains unclear if he sustained gunshot or other injuries as people fled from the scene. The girl has been taken to St Lukes General Hospital for treatment. It is understood that security personnel and shoppers called the emergency services as the drama unfolded from their mobile phones. In panicked scenes, gardai and emergency services rushed to the scene as members of the public spilled out from the centre. A local man who witnessed the shooting unfold and who did not want to be named said: All we could hear were popping sounds and loud shouts but I couldnt make out what was being said. It was terrifying. "The man was fatally injured during the incident, his gunshot wounds appear self-inflicted. Men in a nearby barbershop also heard two loud continuous bangs and looked startled from their premises located in the centre. The non-national said: We could see a person shooting and got out of the way as quickly as we could. An onlooker outside the supermarket added: I think the gardai shot him down but now it appears the man shot himself. The public were warned by gardai and the Armed Response Unit to stay away from the scene with them bringing the situation under control at 7.30pm. The shopping centre was evacuated and gardai sealed off the scene overnight. They are currently carrying out a wider security check of the area. The Army Bomb Disposal Team has also been called in as a precaution as gardai became concerned about the possibility that the man may have been carrying an explosive device. The body of the man remains at the scene but will not be removed until the area has been declared safe. Local Fine Gael councillor Fergal Browne said his thoughts are with anyone who may have witnessed the unfolding events and that it was shocking to hear reports of a shooting in Carlow town over the Bank Holiday weekend. Gardai said that they have no further concern for public safety. They have urged people not to share recorded footage of the incident on social media but to provide it to the gardai at Carlow Garda Station. They have also appealed to witnesses or anyone with information to contact them. Anyone with information is asked to contact Carlow Garda Station at 059-9136620 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111. Gardai added: No additional information is available at this time. Minister for Justice Jim OCallaghan has expressed his solidarity with those impacted by a serious incident in Carlow. This was a really shocking incident. My thoughts are with everyone affected by the shooting and the community and families impacted including those working at the scene. I would appeal to anyone who has any information to speak to the Gardai and help with their investigations in any way that they can. This is something we never want or expect to happen in our communities. Gun violence is very rare in Ireland, and I am determined that will remain the case. The area in Carlow is safe. We must now allow An Garda Siochana to investigate this incident fully. Speaking on the incident, Tanaiste Simon Harris said: "I am deeply shocked and saddened at the shooting incident in Carlow this evening. "My thoughts are with the families affected and the local community in Carlow after what was a very serious and traumatic incident. "I urge anyone who has information to speak to the Gardai." A planned audit of Children's Health Ireland (CHI) and public attitudes about the housing crisis are among the stories that feature on Sunday's front pages. A full audit of the governance and practices of Childrens Health Ireland has been ordered by Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, The Sunday Times reports. The Sunday Independent leads with a poll that found the majority of respondents feel the housing crisis is getting worse. The poll also found Coalition partners Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are the most popular in the country on 21 per cent, with Sinn Fein falling two points to 20 per cent. DAA and Aer Lingus have criticised a 'nonsense' Fingal night-time flights case, the Business Post reports. Our front page today. Pick up a copy in stores or subscribe at https://t.co/LyVcHklEWC for these stories plus: DAA and Aer Lingus slam Fingal over night flights court action An exclusive interview with Maurice Regan Diageo looks to rewrite history pic.twitter.com/wNRHNA9XKF Business Post (@businessposthq) June 1, 2025 A suspect in the Michael Gaine murder investigation was criticised for 'untrustworthy testimony' in a divorce case, the Sunday World reports. Gerry Adams will likely avoid a potential civil case by the daughter of IRA murder victim Jean McConville following his libel victory over the BBC at the High Court Dublin, the Sunday Life reports. The Sunday Times' style section includes an interview with actress Sydney Sweeney. A range of stories feature on Sunday's UK front pages. A plan will see British fighter jets carrying nuclear bombs, The Sunday Times reports. THE SUNDAY TIMES: British fighter jets to carry nuclear bombs #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/pjYCqaOzbI Alfie Tobutt (@AlfieTobutt) May 31, 2025 The Sunday Mirror leads with a story on a '762 million Tory PPE failure'. The Sunday Express leads with a story on a Conservative MP who has called for prison officers to be armed due to 'Islamist attacks'. SUNDAY EXPRESS: 'Arm jail staff to stop Islamist attacks' #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/XlPUcgvvtj Alfie Tobutt (@AlfieTobutt) May 31, 2025 The Sunday Telegraph leads with claims that UK prime minister Keir Starmer has 'lost control' of borders as hundreds of migrants crossed the English Channel. THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: PM has 'lost control' of borders #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/2rHniQUCTD Alfie Tobutt (@AlfieTobutt) May 31, 2025 The Mail on Sunday leads with a story on a British citizen who was arrested on suspicion of spying for China in an FBI sting. THE MAIL ON SUNDAY: British dad 'spying for China' seized in FBI sting #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/mggHOvRKba Alfie Tobutt (@AlfieTobutt) May 31, 2025 The Observer leads with Elon Musk's departure from the Trump adminisration, and his black eye which he said was the result of a punch from his five-year-old son X. THE OBSERVER: Musk leaves Washington with a black eye #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/8w7Xi4UF2v Alfie Tobutt (@AlfieTobutt) May 31, 2025 The Daily Star Sunday leads with a story on neigbours rowing over cutting the grass early on Sunday mornings. DAILY STAR SUNDAY: Pains in the grass #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/duRYS69X5D Alfie Tobutt (@AlfieTobutt) May 31, 2025 As Elon Musk departs the Trump adminisration, The New York Times leads with a story on his alleged drug use and erratic behaviour on the campaign trail. Sign up to get our news digest delivered directly to your inbox twice a week. While Hungary is the country of focus at this years Annecy animation festival, its Canada thats stealing the spotlight in both the short and feature competitions. The Canucks boast three feature films in this years lineup, alongside five Official Short entries (six if you count resident Canadian Theodore Ushevs latest French production) and two more in the Perspectives strand. In the face of relentless and frankly misguided bullying from our southern neighbours, Canadian animation continues to shine with power, originality, and sheer diversity. But enough patriotism: lets get to the shorts you shouldnt miss. This years Official Short Competition, OffLimits, and Perspectives programs showcase 62 films five fewer than in 2024 underscoring an annoying trend toward longer formats. Youll find a mix of veterans (Priit and Olga Parn, Thomas Renoldner) alongside a host of fresh voices, all rendered in an eclectic array of techniques, from stopmotion and motion capture to handdrawn and hybrid styles. Below are ten standout shorts that slice through the Hollywood haze engulfing Annecys corporate amusementpark landscape and, mercifully, cant be hit with Trumpera tariffs yet. Il burattino e la balena, Roberto Catani, Italy Roberto Catani, whose previous films include the awardwinning La Sagra and La Funabola, unveils a handdrawn allegory in Il Burattino e la Balena. We witness Pinocchios first breaths: the crack of wood, a tentative toetap, then the instant a simple cap transforms his playful prance into something more ominous. Ascending a tight staircase, he encounters a line of people moving with unsettling precision, as if carved from the same timber. Catanis stark visuals blur the line between puppet and person, asking whether free will survives when strings, literal or not, pull every step. Bread Will Walk, Alex Boya, Canada In a world ravaged by famine, The Mill unveils its socalled Miracle Loaf, bread that not only fills your belly but transforms anyone who eats it into a living, breathing loaf. When a young boy becomes one of these cursed creations, his sister plunges into the citys labyrinthine alleys, pursued by a ravenous mob hungry for fresh bread. Blending Hansel and Gretels eerie charm with the dystopian bite of Black Mirror, Bread Will Walk unfolds as a relentless, handdrawn fresco in motion. Every frame pulses with raw energy, its surreal morphs and twitchy character animation exposing a world twisted by corporate propaganda and mass desperation. Chronicity, Aleta Rajic, Bosnia and Herzegovina Chronicity opens with a woman casually swatting a fly, then whisks us into a dance through Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. We glimpse street vendors, flirting couples, and nosy onlookers, all caught in a delicate choreography of chance encounters. Each small diversion a barking dog, a pickpockets deft hand, a stray cat in the gutter sets off a domino effect of almost comical mishaps. In its final moments, these interwoven threads converge on Gavrilo Princip, mere seconds before he shoots Archduke Franz Ferdinand and ignites a global conflagration. Chronicity is at once humorous, disorienting, and taut with suspense, subtly suggesting how the course of existence hinges on the smallest of decisions, and how, with one tiny change, the course of the world might have veered entirely differently. Kuchu: A Childhood Place, Alessio Del Pozo, Peru Kuchu confronts upheaval through a universally resonant comingofage lens. The film follows Oscar, a young boy torn between the innocence of his games and the harsh demands of survival as conflict engulfs his hometown. Drawing on two defining crises the 1980s ruraltourban migration triggered by terrorist violence and the pandemicdriven exodus from the city Del Pozo intertwines personal memory with collective trauma. Through Oscars eyes, fiery, explosive colors mirror societal fragmentation, while intimate moments probe identity, masculinity, and belonging. By fusing individual and communal experiences, past and present, Kuchu becomes a vivid meditation on how childhood and memory endure amid turmoil. The Girl Who Cried Pearls, Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski, Canada The longawaited return from the Oscarnominated team behind Madame Tutli Putli, this stopmotion short immerses you in miniature worlds, from the faded grandeur of a Parisian villa to the cramped intimacy of a 1910 Montreal tenement. On his 80th birthday, a wealthy grandfather catches his granddaughter stealing a rare pearl, and in telling its origin, recalls a childhood encounter with a girl whose tears transformed into jewels. Lush textures, lifelike puppets, and smooth camera moves draw you into a modern fable, while a haunting score by Patrick Watson underscores themes of greed, loss and the unexpected magic found in small wonders. Snake Soup, Zack Demirtshyan, Armenia A soldier sips shitty, machine-brewed coffee at a roadside rest stop. Nearby, other troops linger while a father and daughter feed coins into a claw machine whose metal arm eerily resembles a missile dropping from a drone. Soon, the men pile into the back of a truck and roll toward the front. A hazy, dark palette and glitchy soundscape amplify the tension, foreshadowing the darkness to come. As they drive, the soldier drifts into memory: a stray cat slinking down a deserted street, the liberating feel of an open road, a peaceful afternoon fishing by a riverbank. Past and present collide until a sudden blast rips through time, fusing warm recollection with sheer panic. War steals the moments that make us human. The Pool or Death of a Goldfish, Daria Kopiec, Poland A series of surreal tableaux unfolds: a woman swims serenely, only to sink inexplicably to the pools bottom, tethered by a single thread. Abruptly, were thrust into a grotesque banquet a woman served on a plate and devoured by a man and another woman. The next cut reveals a fullterm fetus in utero, then returns us to the same figure as a young girl, her wideeyed gaze echoing innocence, emptiness, confusion, and a dash of dread. Evoking the ephemeral dreamscapes of Andrei Tarkovsky, The Pool employs stopmotion puppets with hollow, expressionless faces to reflect the protagonists unprocessed grief, suffocation, and emotional entrapment. The startling transitions capture the bewilderment of adulthood, where childhood memories haunt every moment yet defy comprehension. Kopiecs cryptic short is a dark exploration of loss and the chasm between past and present and between mother and daughter. By the Way, Mahboobeh Kalaee, Ali Fotoohi, Iran Set entirely inside a single apartment, bulbobsessed Majid recalls the day electricity first lit his childhood home and how it sparked his lifelong fascination. Soon, his sole dream is to fashion a fairyland of bulbs. This lighthearted, mixedmedia reminiscence, borrowing the intimate setting and techniques of Kalaees earlier film The Fourth Wall, effortlessly shifts from personal and familial anecdotes to a broader cultural history, tracing both individual memories and Irans own evolution through the changing glow of electric light. Dollhouse Elephant, Jenny Jokela, Finland Following her striking short Sweet Like Lemons (2023), which dissected a fractured relationship, Jokela returns with a visual delight painted in acrylic on paper. Accompanied by a richly layered choral soundtrack, its harmonies underscoring how a single voice out of tune can shatter unity, the film probes the tension between communal bonds and individual ambition. Fluid brushstrokes warp and shift in time with the choirs crescendos, mirroring the ebb and flow of social cohesion. Through these vivid, painterly sequences, Dollhouse Elephant leaves us pondering whether we can ever truly unite for the collective good in a world increasingly driven by personal priorities. Shadows, Rand Beiruty, France/Jordan Amid the bustle of an airport terminal, 15yearold Ahlam watches travelers with quiet awe, until a stray deer brushes past her, triggering a flood of memories. We shift between her whispered anxieties and the judgmental glances of passersby as she recalls being married at 13 to an abusive, mentally unstable husband, giving birth at 14, and having her child taken away soon after. Now, fleeing Baghdad, Ahlam makes her way to the departure gate while the shadows of her past cling close. Dont be fooled by the films lush, painterly backdrops: Shadows is a visceral journey into a reality most of us cannot imagine. Based on interviews with Ahlam, its expressive visuals and shifting perspectives bring her story and memories powerfully to life, leaving us to wonder: while physical escape may be possible, can she ever truly flee the pain of her past? Senior defense officials of South Korea, Japan and Australia held trilateral talks Sunday to discuss the regional security situation and ways to strengthen their cooperation, the South's defense ministry said, Azernews reports, citing Yonhap. Deputy defense minister for policy Cho Chang-rae and his Japanese and Australian counterparts; Taro Yamato, director general for defense policy and Hugh Jeffrey, deputy secretary of strategy, policy and industry, met on the sidelines of the of the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual defense forum held in Singapore. Last year, the three countries held their first-ever meeting of defense ministers on the occasion of the security forum held in the city-state. This year, Cho attended the gathering instead of acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho who skipped it ahead of the June 3 presidential election. In addition to the trilateral meeting, Cho held a series of bilateral meetings with senior defense officials from Canada, Japan, the Philippines, Poland and Singapore, to discuss defense and arms industry cooperation, according to the ministry. Cho and Yamato, the Japanese defense official, reaffirmed the importance of their bilateral and trilateral security cooperation with the United States, in the face of North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats and deepening military cooperation with Russia. In talks with Polish deputy defense minister Pawel Zalewski on Saturday, both sides touted their arms industry cooperation involving exports of the K9 self-propelled howitzer and agree to closely cooperate on expanding their defense exchange and cooperation, the ministry said. The annual Honeybee Festival took place Saturday in downtown LaFayette, Ga., known as the Queen City of the Highlands. The Walker County Sheriffs Office said it was hard to find a parking place within a mile of the the historic square. The sheriffs office said theres no way of determining an exact head count but, because of the beautiful weather, the total number of people attending could exceed 50,000. Georgia State Rep. Mike Cameron was on hand to visit with guests when the festival opened at 8 oclock. The District 1 lawmaker said, I look forward to this time each year, its one of the top festivals in Georgia; guests come from all over to enjoy the fun." Officials said, Honeybees must be preserved and thats the purpose of this event. Free demonstrations and lectures took place throughout the day. Former Chattanooga City Court Judge Russell Bean and his family have been coming to the Honeybee Festival since it started in 2007. Judge Bean said, My mother, (Eloise Nash Bean) and her family have deep roots in LaFayette. My grandfather, T.J. Nash, operated a newsstand on the downtown square for many years. My family now gathers each year under a large shade tree near the historic Marsh House; some of us stay until the festival is over. We visit with each other and see so many friends of the Nash Family. The daylong festival was free to the public and included local musicians and hundreds of vendors including all types of food, unique arts and crafters. 7/3/2025 We are devoted to something much larger than our own self-interest, something eternal, not temporal a willingness to sacrifice all in defense of Liberty, for ourselves and our posterity. ... more Bee Organized LLC, a professional home and life organizing company headquartered in Overland Park, Ks., celebrates the one year anniversary of its 28th franchise; the first in Tennessee. Launched in Chattanooga in June 2024, this milestone marks the continued expansion of Bee Organizeds mission to simplify lives across the country and will be supporting the greater Chattanooga area, as well as north Georgia. Growth in the organizing industry and the companys constant ability to think outside the box has positioned Bee Organized for continued success, said officials. They were recognized by Franchise Business Review as a 2025 Top Franchise for Women, and their work has been featured in People Magazine, Us Weekly, and Bravo.com. With the organizing industry experiencing growth, Bee Organized has carved out a position as one of the largest professional organizing companies in the United States with 42 franchises and growing. Founded in 2015 by Kristen Christian and Lisa Foley, Bee Organized is a women-led company built on the core values of simplifying lives with integrity and care. Our goal is to help people get organized so they can be more present in their daily lives, says Ms. Foley. As Bee Organized continues to grow, the core values remain compassionate, confidential and judgment-free services. Our goal is helping people get organized so they can be more present, says Ms. Foley. As the wife of a retired military officer, mother of five, and a certified professional organizer, Ashley Goertemiller has experience organizing homes, businesses and non-profits around the country. She approaches each project head on, with energy and a unique vision. Whether organizing, managing a move, or helping with life transitions, providing sustainable and functional solutions for my clients brings incredible delight and satisfaction, says Mrs. Goertemiller. She also conducts seminars and workshops with a focus on seven profiles, created by the Bee Organized co-founders, characterizing the ways people commune with their belongings. Embracing the vibrant seasons and friendly community, Mrs. Goertemiller is grateful to be back permanently. Being born here and returning for college, Chattanooga holds a special place in my heart. Im excited to reconnect with the community I consider home. When Im not organizing or enjoying time with family, youll likely find me hosting a gathering, listening to the sounds of nature on my back porch, or reading in the hammock while sipping a Dr. Pepper. She invites everyone to follow her journey as she shares organizing tips, inspiration, and content designed to simplify and elevate spacesand lives. Follow Bee Organized Chattanooga at beeorganized.com/chattanooga and on social media. The sentencing of former state representative Robin Smith has been delayed once again as her attorney says she will provide additional help to the government against co-defendants Glen Casada and Cade Cothren. Mr. Smith faces up to 20 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to one count of honest services wire fraud in 2022. She was the chief witness against former House Speaker Casada and his top aide, Cothren, in the recent federal trial in Nashville. Ms. Smith, of Hixson, testified three days and was available for a fourth. Casada and Cothren were found guilty by a jury of bribery and kickback charges. Sentencing for Casada, 64, and Cothren, 38, will be Sept. 12. The sentencing for Ms. Smith, 61, will be Oct. 24 at 9 a.m. It initially was to be June 9. Authorities said in November 2019 that Cothren set up a firm called Phoenix Consulting that was said to be headed by Matthew Phoenix, which in fact was a fictitious name and the actual operator of the firm was Cothren. The firm was set up to get payments from a program in which legislators could use up to $3,000 each per year for mailings to constituents. Ms. Smith at one time headed the state Republican Party as well as the Hamilton County Republican Party. She ran for the Third District U.S. House seat long held by Zach Wamp in 2010. The race was won by Chuck Fleischmann, who still holds the seat. Former Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church photo by John Shearer Former Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church photo by John Shearer Proposed Tunnel Boulevard hospital site photo by John Shearer Proposed Tunnel Boulevard hospital site photo by John Shearer Proposed Tunnel Boulevard hospital site photo by John Shearer Proposed Tunnel Boulevard hospital site photo by John Shearer Previous Next My wife, Laura, is a retired United Methodist pastor, and a few weeks back I was with her and the local retired ministers at their monthly fellowship gathering at Park Place Restaurant in Fort Oglethorpe. District Supt. the Rev. Mickey Rainwater was there, and someone asked him to share about Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church at 6314 East Brainerd Road near Lee Highway selling its building and planning its next step as a currently smaller congregation. He did and mentioned that the church was now meeting in part of Brainerd United Methodist Church. He might not have known I write some stories for the media, but I quickly thought that might make an interesting story for the larger Chattanooga community. That is in part because the aesthetically pleasing church had been a visible Chattanooga landmark since the mid-20th century. A few weeks later, I emailed the Holston Conference district office a couple of times saying I thought it might make an interesting story. I did not hear back and decided to try and reach someone by phone, as is probably the more recommended reporting tactic. I was making plans to do that when I saw in the Times Free Press this week a story by Andrew Schwartz on those very plans, and that the Wesley Memorial church building was now occupied by Cornerstone Apostolic Church under Pastor Raymond Sloan. In other words, I got scooped. And to add insult to injury, I saw that it was the most popular story on the Times Free Press website for a day or at least a few hours. Although I write mostly feature stories or columns as just a freelance contributor these days, I should have still known better than to sit too long on a story of public interest. But I had previously gone to the Chattanooga Public Library and gathered through old news clippings some historical information on the old Wesley Memorial Church and not in any other recent media story, so I will at least share that. The churchs founding had evidently been in 1942, when the Methodist Church leadership under District Supt. W.F. Blackard decided the East Brainerd area needed a Methodist church. Interested families began meeting in a farmhouse at the site beginning on Easter Sunday 1944 under Dr. W.M. Morrell, who came out of retirement to lead the church. The current church sanctuary was dedicated with its first service on Feb. 6, 1949, under the direction of the Rev. Earl G. Hunt Jr. It was said at the time to be the first colonial-style Methodist Church in the entire Holston Conference, although I could not find the architect through some brief research. Its two educational wings were added in 1954 and 1956. The church over the years was also led by two future bishops, a unique accomplishment for a mid-sized or somewhat small United Methodist church. Rev. Hunt went on to become president of Emory and Henry College and a bishop serving the Charlotte, N.C., area for 12 years. His accomplishments in the latter position included appointing the first-ever black district superintendent in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the church. As an older man, he came back to preach at Wesley Memorials 50th anniversary in 1994. The co-pastors at the time of that happening were the husband and wife team of the Revs. Rusty and Dindy Taylor. Dindy Taylor would go on to be elected as a bishop in 2004 and later serve as the first woman bishop of Holston Conference. I also saw that another minister in recent decades was the late Rev. Cabel Trent, whom I became acquainted with when Laura served at the large Church Street United Methodist in downtown Knoxville. He was a visitation minister by then who was semi-retired, but he was always extremely attentive to any church member in need, usually putting that ahead of his own personal needs. He also had his own sense of humor. The current pastor of Wesley Memorial is the Rev. Joshua Felton. Best wishes to both churches as they move forward in their new locations. And speaking of the Times Free Press, I understand that Mike Pare has retired after more than 40 years as a local reporter, most recently as a business-related writer. He and I and former state legislature reporter Mike Finn were all hired within a few weeks of each other at the old Chattanooga News-Free Press in the summer of 1984. Both Mikes were natural reporters, while I was more of a feature writer who found myself also having to occasionally cover a hard news story by assignment. I remember that Mike Pare, despite his seemingly quiet demeanor, hustled to find stories to report on almost immediately after arriving from a Rome, Ga., paper. And he never stopped after that. He and Dave Flessner, who formerly worked at the Times before joining the merged Times Free Press and retiring a year or so ago to become a correspondent, were both hustling reporters with an obvious competitive bent. Mike Pare also while at the old Free Press met and married his wife, Cindy Wooten Pare from North Carolina, after his former wife had unfortunately died. Mike and Dave documented changes in Chattanooga over recent decades like no others other than maybe former colleague John Vass and chattanooga.com publisher John Wilson. Local historians of the future will no doubt appreciate their work. Best wishes to Mike, who newspaper readers might not realize pronounces his last name like Perry. I had also noticed that the Times Free Press has hired Daniel Dassow as a new business reporter. He went to Chattanooga Christian School and was profiled in Chattanoogan.com in 2023 for being named a prestigious graduating Torchbearer at the University of Tennessee for his student newspaper editing work. The person writing the story on him was I! Another person in the news was longtime CPA firm and business advising official Joe Decosimo, who turned 100 last week. Congratulations to him for his seemingly honorable life of accomplishment and service. Back when I was at the Free Press, I would occasionally receive a nice letter or maybe even an early morning call from him thanking me for a story and sharing his connection to the topic. I once wrote about former University of Georgia dean of students William Tate and his connection to McCallie School as a former teacher, and he wrote me a kind note, saying Dean Tate had been helpful to him when he went to Georgia. I think I also chronicled his memories of the Mountain City Club when I helped them write a history, and he was helpful to me then as well. I just remember thinking how organized and conscientious he must have been to have written me a personal letter amid his busy schedule in those pre-email days. I had also in a recent story written briefly about the passing of Christian author and Precept ministries leader Kay Arthur at age 91. Like many historians, I wanted to know not just that her ministry had begun as a Bible study for teenagers in April 1969 at her and husband Jacks Sims Drive home in Red Bank, but what the exact address was. I went to the library this week and learned the home was at 198 Sims Drive. At the time, Jack was an associate pastor under the Rev. John Lanham at Calvary Bible Church by Mountain Creek and Morrison Springs roads. He also worked as the station manager with WKES radio station for the Keswick company. The Bible studies were evidently quite popular and soon branched into additional regular studies for high school and college students also at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Benson on the UTC campus, at 6127 Airways Blvd., and in Dunlap. In 1970, the Arthurs along with Carl Vaughn and Donna Jolley announced that more than 30 acres at 7324 Noah Reid Road in East Brainerd were being purchased, and the plans were to make it a facility for young people as part of its Reach Out ministry program. The facility was to be a wholesome place for teens to come for fun, recreation and relaxation. Christian teaching programs were also to be part of the offerings at the facility, and Mrs. Arthur said a Christian high school at the site was not out of the long-term possibility. The first two newspaper stories about the Arthurs ministry were evidently written by David Cooper, the brother of Clint Cooper, who writes the Chattanooga Free Press editorial page editorials for the Times Free Press. The ministry grew into Precept ministries at the site, and the land was put on the market in January 2024 after officials said they no longer needed an on-site campus for conferences and camps. It sits north of Shallowford Road and just west of Standifer Gap Road. I have never been there but would like to see it sometime. I did recently visit another place of even more undeveloped acreage in Chattanooga. With all the breaking news about the state being interested in 162 acres off Tunnel Boulevard in Eastdale for the Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute, I wanted to better visualize where it is. So, as I was coming back to my Northgate area home Friday afternoon after being in East Ridge and North Georgia, I drove by it. To get there, you can either turn north off Wilcox Boulevard (away from Brainerd Road), and it is on your right about two miles away. It is also accessible from Lightfoot Mill Road along South Chickamauga Creek a much shorter distance away on the other end. It is across the street from New United Missionary Baptist Church at 2629 Tunnel Blvd. Since it is closed to the public apparently, I just drove by it and took a couple of pictures. It looked like there was a small field on or adjacent to the property, and it seemed like nice and mostly unspoiled acreage. My big question, and one in which I could probably answer with a little digging, is who historically over the last few decades owned this land? Records apparently say Ashish Chaudhari owns the land now, but I wonder who owned it in the 20th century. American mental hospitals have for more than a century sometimes provided pastoral settings to aid in the treatment programs, with the former grounds of what is now Lakeshore Park in Knoxville one example. Whether this is the right place for a mental hospital in terms of all the residential development around it is to be debated as well. Some with a bent toward wanting more parkland in Chattanooga would also love to see it become like a Greenway Farm of Eastdale. Or maybe at least part of the 162 acres could be a city park instead of it all being completely fenced off for a hospital, some might hope. It is not too far from the Sterchi Farm trailhead of the South Chickamauga Creek Greenway. Regardless of what happens, local news reporters will be waiting to get the big scoop when the plans for this hidden gem of greenspace become official. There will also likely be no sitting on that story, either! * * * Jcshearer2@comcast.net Tastries Bakery owner Cathy Miller, who faces punishment for refusing to make a cake for a same-sex wedding. | Photo Credit: Becket (https://becketfund.org) The California Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal in a case involving Cathy Miller, a Christian baker who faced punishment for refusing to make a cake for a same-sex wedding. The courts decision, issued Wednesday in the case of California Department of Civil Rights v. Tastries, allows a lower court ruling against Miller to stand. Becket, the law firm representing Miller, expressed disapproval of the decision, stating, As the United States Supreme Court has made clear twice already, creative professionals like Cathy Miller shouldnt have to choose between following their faith and practicing their art, in a statement released Thursday. California should have dropped its campaign against Cathy years ago and let her design in peace. We plan to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court to defend Cathys right to make custom creations that are consistent with her faith. Miller, who operates under the name Cathys Creations, refused to make the wedding cake due to her religious objections to same-sex marriage. The California Civil Rights Department filed a complaint against her in 2017, alleging she violated the states Unruh Civil Rights Act. In 2018, Kern County Superior Court Judge David Lampe ruled in favor of Miller, rejecting a request for a preliminary injunction. Later, in October 2022, Kern County Judge Eric Bradshaw ruled that the department failed to prove that Miller had engaged in discrimination. However, in February, the Court of Appeal of the State of California, Fifth Appellate District ruled against Miller, stating she had engaged in intentional discrimination by refusing to sell a pre-designed white cake to the couple. The case echoes a similar 2018 Supreme Court decision, which sided with Colorado baker Jack Phillips, emphasizing that the use of artistic abilities to make a wedding cake carries a significant First Amendment speech component and implicates his deep and sincere religious beliefs. The Supreme Court also ruled that Colorado couldn't force a Christian web designer to create websites celebrating same-sex marriage in 2023. Vadym Novynskyi (on the right), a Russian-born billionaire businessman, speaks with host Tucker Carlson on his show on May 23, 2025. | Screenshot: YouTube/ Tucker Carlson Show A former Ukrainian parliamentarian is urging the U.S. Congress to ensure that its financial aid to Ukraine does not facilitate the persecution of Christians. In an interview on The Tucker Carlson Show on May 23, Vadym Novynskyi, a Russian-born billionaire businessman, accused the Ukrainian government, led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, of persecuting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The UOC, which has historical ties to the Moscow Patriarchate, severed those ties in May 2022 in opposition to Russias invasion of Ukraine. It is distinct from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which was recognized as independent by most global Orthodox leaders in 2019. Novynskyi described the situation, saying, Unfortunately, our government, led by Zelensky, has opened up a campaign of persecution and oppression against the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the largest church in Ukraine, the largest denomination of Christians in Ukraine. According to Novynskyi, the UOC had 12,000 parishes and 7 million believers before the war. He claimed, as many as 97% of Ukrainians voted for Zelensky as the president of peace, yet he is doing this to our church. He's persecuting and oppressing our church. A former member of the Ukrainian Parliament, he has been a Ukrainian citizen since 2012 and has received several honors from the UOC, including the Order of the Holy Sepulchre and the Order of the UOC The Nativity of Christ in 2019. Novynskyi also pointed to what he sees as escalating persecution of Christians over the past decade, citing a law passed last year by the Ukrainian Parliament that bans churches and religious groups connected to Moscow. He stated, Our archbishops are subjected to persecution. There are completely false criminal cases opened up against them. Our parishioners [are] beaten, our church is taken away, so Satanism is flourishing in Ukraine. He provided specific examples of persecution against church leaders, including house arrests of metropolitans, and challenged U.S. lawmakers, saying, It would be good if the money that comes in, if we dont spend it to support those who are seizing our churches, the only canonical in Ukraine, the largest denomination, the thousand-year-old church that is Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In January, Ukrainian prosecutors charged Novynskyi with high treason and incitement to religious hatred for promoting Russian narratives since Russias 2014 annexation of Crimea. With an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion in 2023, he remains one of Ukraines wealthiest men. The U.S. State Department and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom have issued warnings that Russia systematically persecutes many Christian churches, except for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate. In December 2022, Russian occupation authorities officially banned the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the territories they occupy, along with Caritas Ukraine and the Knights of Columbus. Home News ISIS claims first attack on new Syrian govt, claims to kill 7 members of apostate regime The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for its first attack targeting Syria's transitional government, saying it killed or injured seven members of what it described as the "apostate Syrian regime." The terror group, also known as ISIS or ISIL, claimed it carried out two attacks on a military road in the desert region of Talul al Safa in the southern province of Suwayda on May 22 and May 28. In one attack, on May 22, a blast in the desert region killed or wounded seven Syrian soldiers, IS said in a statement, according to The Associated Press. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Militants also ambushed a reconnaissance unit from the Free Syrian Army that was monitoring IS, leaving one killed and three injured, a military source told CNN, adding that the terrain in the area is often exploited for cover by IS because of its rugged terrain. SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors Islamic extremist activity online, said IS posted two separate statements claiming responsibility for the incidents, claiming that bombs planted by IS fighters killed and wounded members of the Syrian military and allied militias. IS has maintained cells in southern Syria despite having been largely absent from the area for two years, according to the Institute for the Study of War, based in Washington, D.C. The terror group previously maintained control of large territories in Syria and Iraq but was territorially defeated by U.S.-backed forces in 2017. Since then, it has operated as an underground insurgency, particularly in Syria's central desert and eastern provinces. The attacks are the first directly claimed by IS since the installation of Syria's transitional government under former jihadist Ahmed al-Sharaa in December. The new government emerged after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, and it has faced criticism for failing to restore order in key parts of the country, including Suwayda. The United States and other Western governments have urged the new Syrian administration to prevent the resurgence of extremist groups. However, efforts to assert control in certain areas have faltered. Before these attacks, IS had only targeted the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces since December, reports BBC jihadist specialist Mina Al-Lami. "IS attributed these [recent] attacks to its so-called Houran sub-branch in Syria, which had not claimed any attacks since 2023," Al-Lami posted on social media. Suwayda, primarily populated by the Druze minority, remains unstable due to ongoing sectarian clashes. Over 100 were killed in violent confrontations between local militants and pro-government forces in the province during late April and early May. Hundreds died in clashes that erupted in early March along Syria's Mediterranean coast, in Latakia and Tartous. The Syrian government has not officially acknowledged any IS attacks in Suwayda. It did, however, report two raids against IS operatives in the Damascus area last week. The attacks come amid deepening instability across Syria. Syrians continue to face a deteriorating security situation, with frequent kidnappings, thefts and reprisals in both urban and rural areas. A recent report from a Syrian Christian, whose name was withheld for security reasons, described the new government's focus as being more on "whitewashing its brutal history" than addressing domestic insecurity, according to Christian Daily International. The report noted a worsening humanitarian situation, including electricity cuts down to as little as two hours per day in some areas and water shortages. Infrastructure remained crumbling, and the country's healthcare system was under strain due to staffing cuts reportedly based on ethnic and religious identity. Before leaving office in January, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that U.S. troops should stay in Syria to prevent IS from regaining a foothold and feared that pulling out prematurely could allow the terror group to grow back into a significant threat to global security. Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has begun pulling troops out of Syria. The U.S. also shuttered small operating bases in Syria's northeast, reducing troop levels to about 1,400 from 2,000, senior officials told The New York Times in April, adding that a reassessment will be done after two months. A source said that commanders have urged the administration to keep at least 500 troops in Syria. Last December, the Department of Defense announced that there were 2,000 U.S. troops deployed in Syria, which is more than double the 900 that had been reported in the past. Pentagon officials said in April that the U.S. would consolidate its forces and reduce the troop total to under 1,000 in Syria in the coming months. "Recognizing the success the United States has had against ISIS, including its 2019 territorial defeat under President Trump, today the Secretary of Defense directed the consolidation of U.S. forces in Syria under Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve to select locations in Syria," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement. "This consolidation reflects the significant steps we have made toward degrading ISIS' appeal and operational capability regionally and globally." Home News Despite frustrations, few pastors leave pulpit annually: study Though record levels of pastors, including more than half in mainline Protestant churches, seriously considered leaving full-time ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic, only about 1% of them have been leaving ministry work annually in the last decade, a new Lifeway Research study finds. The survey, conducted from April 1 to May 8, was sponsored by Houston's First Baptist Church and Richard Dockins, an occupational medicine physician concerned about pastoral attrition. The data for the study was gathered from surveys of some 1,516 pastors serving in Evangelical or black Protestant churches. Researchers found that the share of pastors who left their positions for reasons other than death or retirement remained steady at just over 1%. In 2015, only 1.3% of pastors left their jobs for reasons other than death or retirement. In 2021, that share increased slightly to 1.5%; in 2025, it fell to 1.2%. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "The rate of pastors departing the pastorate is steady and quite low given the demands of the role," Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, said in a statement. "Many of those leaving the pastorate feel they are moving at God's direction to another role of ministry. However, it's easy for those outside and those inside the church to fixate on those who leave because of conflict, burnout or moral failure. Speculation always overstates these cases, yet these are the outcomes churches can seek to prevent." More than half of the pastors in the study, 58%, said they started their current roles within the last decade, while 15% have served in their pulpit for at least 25 years. Some 52% of survey respondents also indicated that they were serving in their first pastoral role, while the remaining 48% served at a previous church. For pastors who left their jobs in the past decade, 7% were said to have taken on a different ministry role, and 3% were reported as working in a non-ministry role. Another 2% pursued non-ministry-related roles. About a quarter are pastoring another church. Pastors offered a variety of reasons for why their predecessors left the ministry including change in calling (37%), conflict in a church (23%) and burnout (22%). Some 12% cited family issues. Other reasons given for why predecessors walked away from ministry were poor church fit, 17%; illness, 5%; and personal finances, 3%. "Today's pastors don't always know all the reasons their predecessors left their church, but the number of pastors describing the previous pastor at their church leaving because of burnout has doubled over the last 10 years (22% v. 10%)," McConnell explained. An October 2021 Barna survey showed that nearly four out of 10 pastors (38%) said they were "seriously considering" leaving full-time ministry, a significant increase from the 29% of pastors who reported feeling this way several months earlier in January 2021. As the world was still reeling from the pandemic in 2022, some Christian denominations, such as the progressive, LGBT-affirming Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, reported that they were already in the throes of a succession crisis with a national shortage of "at least 600" pastors. When the data was broken down further into mainline and non-mainline pastors, it revealed that 51% of mainline pastors were "seriously considering" leaving full-time ministry. Additionally, 34% of non-mainline pastors reported feeling this way about their jobs. Joe Jensen, Barna's vice president of church engagement, told The Christian Post at the time about pastor burnout. "2021 is the highest we've seen it, which is why as a company, quite frankly, we are alarmed and we are concerned about the overall well-being of pastors. We're concerned with how this is impacting the overall health of the Church," he added. "I really believe that [at] the heart of every healthy church is a healthy pastor. So this is definitely, almost four out of 10 pastors in America seriously considering quitting full-time ministry in the last year ... cause for concern." Home News Mark Driscoll draws ire of pro-life leader for rebuking stay-at-home dads as unbiblical The outspoken senior pastor of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, Mark Driscoll, has drawn the ire of pro-life activist and Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins for calling Christian stay-at-home dads "worse than a non-Christian." In a strong rebuke on X Sunday night, Driscoll invoked 1 Timothy 5:8, declaring: "A Christian man who doesn't work is worse than a non-Christian. This includes you, stay-at-home dads." According to 1 Timothy 5:8, "Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe It's a message Driscoll has been preaching throughout his ministry for years, including on Mother's Day when he announced to his social media followers that: "If you're a voluntary stay at home dad forcing mom to leave the kids to make the income, God thinks you're worse than an unbeliever (and he's sending them to hell, so)." On Tuesday afternoon, Hawkins, who has overseen the growth of the activist organization to over 1,400 school and university campuses since 2006, vehemently disagreed with Driscoll and insisted he owes her husband an apology. "@PastorMark owes my husband an apology for this post. My husband was a schoolteacher for 10 yrs, and we decided that, with two of our children having cystic fibrosis, he would stay at home to care for & teach our children while I continue to lead Students for Life to fight to end Planned Parenthood & the violence of abortion. He is 100% a Christian and the best example of a male role model I know," she said on X before further criticizing hypocritical pastors and conservative commentators. "I'm 100% done with the 'manly' advice some pastors and other conservative commentators want to give men and women about what the role of men 'really should be.' Most of these men have cheated on their wives or have found to be in some other public sin. It's sickening," she argued while calling Driscoll's comment a "cheap shot" and asking if he doesn't consider taking care of his children "work." Researchers estimate that there are approximately 2.1 million stay-at-home dads in America, who make up about 20% of the stay-at-home parent population, according to data from the Pew Research Center. The share of fathers who stay at home with their children for any reason has almost doubled since 1989, the data shows. In 2021, some 79% of stay-at-home moms reported that they took care of the home or family. About 9% of them said they stayed home because they were ill or disabled, while smaller shares said they didn't work because they were retired, students, or simply unable to find work. Some 23% of stay-at-home dads reported in 2021 that they stayed home to care for the home or family, while 13% said they are home because they can't find employment. Since 1989, the share of stay-at-home fathers who say they do so to care for the family has quadrupled. Another 34% of fathers said they were not working due to illness or disability, 13% said they were retired and 8% said they were students. Stay-at-home dads were less likely than working fathers to have completed at least a bachelor's degree. Some 40% of them lived in poverty compared with just 5% of working fathers. They also tended to be older than working fathers. In a 2008 video clip from his time at the now-defunct Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington, which he co-founded, Driscoll and his wife, Grace, explained their convictions about how 1 Timothy 5:8 should be applied in families. "We're built as women to be home with our kids, and the Titus 2 women, we're supposed to be loving our husband and children, busy at home, homeward focused, pure, kind, self-controlled so that we don't malign the word of God," Grace Driscoll said. Driscoll argued that secular culture perverted the message of what man's role in the home should be. "You live in an absolutely perverted, corrupted, stupid, culture. It's a culture of hook-up, shack-up, break-up. It's a culture in which men act like Peter Pan and they're boys way too long," he said. "If you cannot provide for your family, you are not a man," he continued before noting some circumstances in which men might not be able to honor the Bible. "Maybe you get injured, you get sick, you get cancer, totally understood we're not legalists. But if you're an able-bodied man, your job is to provide for the needs of your family," he said. Driscoll argued that a man taking on the role of providing for his family might mean living a simpler life to honor God, but suggested it was better than giving in to the world's value system. Christian apologetics ministry Got Questions doesn't see 1 Timothy 5:8 as a biblical mandate against stay-at-home dads. "The bottom line is this: a man who dodges his natural duty to provide for his family or who lacks the foresight to take care of them is living contrary to his religion. This has nothing to do with whether or not he is a stay-at-home dad," the ministry noted. "Generally speaking, if one spouse is going to work while the other spouse stays at home, it is better for the husband to be the primary financial provider and the wife to be the primary homemaker, but in no sense is that a biblical mandate." INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Independence High School student Jack Ottaviano was honored at this years Dazzle awards with the 2025 Spirit of the Dazzle Award. The 10th year of the awards, which recognize the best of Northeast Ohio school theatrical performances, was held last month at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. Jacks was the first-ever win for Independence High School. The school was already celebrating its successful theater program with several nominations at the awards ceremony. A school statement said: Congratulations to Brooke Coldsnow, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Elsa Schraeder in The Sound of Music, placing her among the regions top high school performers. Behind the scenes, Carmen Chen was chosen for Technical Apprentice, one of just a few students chosen to gain hands-on experience in production management and execution with professional mentors. Additionally, Robert Kalman was chosen for a Student Reporter all season, offering him a unique opportunity to document and share the Dazzle Awards experience from a students perspective and learn from industry professionals. Jacks award marked his contribution to the awards shows production, presented by Pat and John Chapman. The statement said, The honor recognizes a performer who radiates camaraderie, passion and an infectiously positive attitude throughout the week of rehearsals. Selected by the Dazzle Awards Creative Team, Jacks spirit didnt just shine on stage -- it lit up the entire Playhouse Square. Jack Ottaviano, Avery Vilcheck and Brooke Coldsnow performed live in high-energy production numbers that included a pre-taped performance outside on Euclid Avenue beneath the iconic Playhouse Square chandelier, the statement continued. In just one week, these students dedicated over 40 hours to rehearsals, learning choreography, music and staging alongside students from across Northeast Ohio. This years Dazzle Awards were choreographed by Connor Gallagher, a Broadway choreographer known for Beetlejuice, who guided the students for the week with a taste of professional theater. Read more from the Parma Sun Post. Mayfield Heights City Council President Diane Snider, following an April 28 meeting, sought to quickly have an ordinance regulating short-term rentals in place. Such an ordinance was given council approval on May 28. Jeff Piorkowski MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- After more than a year, and changes in plans brought on by lawsuits, final plans have been approved for a 5,000-square-foot building to be constructed at 5901 Mayfield Road, in what is now a parking lot just east of a former CVS/Pharmacy building. In October, 2023, after learning that CVS would be leaving the building, the propertys owner, the Landes Group, of Dallas, announced plans to build a Popeyes drive-thru restaurant in the parking lot it owns next to the former CVS. Chelsea Perkins drove from Virginia to Cleveland and killed a man in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park four years after she accused him of rape. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio Chelsea Perkins was scrolling through Facebook when she saw a suggestion to befriend the man she accused of raping her years ago. The U.S. Coast Guard veteran turned adult film actress messaged a friend in February 2021, who had also seen the mans Facebook profile pop up. The two messaged about how much they despised Matthew Dunmire, whom Perkins accused of raping her in 2017. A 16-year-old male was shot in Willowick on Saturday night and transported to UH with non life threatening injuries. (Getty Images/Kali9) WILLOWICK, Ohio -- A teen was shot in Willowick on Saturday night and police are asking the public for information. Willowick police responded to a single gunshot reported around 10:20 p.m. in the area of Willowick Drive between East 326th Street and East 330th Street, according to authorities. Officers were on foot when they were approached by the 16-year-old male victim, who had a gunshot wound to his chest. Police and fire personnel provided treatment at the scene before the teen was transported to University Hospitals main campus. The victims injuries were described as non-life threatening, and he was released from the hospital on Sunday, police said. As of Sunday, investigators said they had not identified any suspects in the shooting. They are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. This story was written with the assistance of AI. Shane Bieber, who underwent Tommy John surgery in April of 2024, threw his first rehab game Saturday in Arizona. AP CLEVELAND, Ohio On Saturday, Shane Bieber took his first tangible step toward rejoining the Guardians this season. Bieber threw 2 1/3 innings in an Arizona Complex League game against Texas. He struck out five, while allowing one hit. The USPS has revealed the top states that reported the most dog bites to mail carriers in 2024. California is at the top of the list with 701 reported incidents. The state outpaced Texas (438) and Ohio (350). Jakub Porzycki/Getty Images California is known for its sunshine and surf, but it also holds a title that is less appealing: The state with the most dog attacks on postal workers in 2024, according to the U.S. Postal Service. California reported 701 dog-related incidents last year, and Texas came in second with 438, the USPS said. The Golden States large population and sprawling urban areas are likely to contribute to the high numbers, USPS said. Cities like Los Angeles (77 incidents) and San Diego (35) were among the top 10 nationally. The other top states include Ohio (350), Illinois (344), all of which saw hundreds of incidents involving aggressive or unrestrained dogs, USPS said. To combat the growing problem, the USPS is launching its annual National Dog Bite Awareness Campaign from Monday, June 2 to Monday, June 9. This years themeDont let your dog bite the hand that serves youaims to educate pet owners on how to prevent dog attacks during mail delivery. The campaign encourages customers to secure their dogs before the mail arrives and to avoid opening the door when a carrier is present. The Postal Service also recommends signing up for Informed Delivery, a free service that alerts customers when mail is on the way, giving them time to take precautions. The 340B Drug Discount Program, originally intended to help vulnerable patients, has become a multibillion-dollar profit engine for hospital systems and pharmacies with little accountability and Ohio lawmakers risk making it even worse by ignoring calls for reform and transparency, writes Christina Smith. Getty Images COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The biggest and most important federal program youve likely never heard of has an obscure name the 340B Drug Discount Program. Its huge, growing rapidly, and deeply flawed in its implementation. Unfortunately, the state legislature may make it even less transparent and accountable in Ohio. The 340B Program allows large tax-exempt hospital systems to buy drugs at a steeply discounted price but bill insurers including employer-sponsored insurance plans and taxpayer-funded payers at a much higher price, sometimes as much as seven times what they paid. The big hospitals keep the difference as profit. Theres no requirement for the hospital systems to share any of the discounts directly with patients, so, they dont. In fact, most patients arent even aware they are being treated at a 340B hospital or will be classified as a 340B patient. So, that raises the question as to where the money goes. Some 340B funds have been used for building projects and executive salaries. Its hard to know how much goes to medical uses and how much pads overhead or outright waste because entities in the program dont have to report that information. Of course, big hospital systems love a program that gives them huge taxpayer-backed profit margins on prescription drugs and requires no transparency or serious limits on how they use the money. Theyve gotten very creative in expanding the program. Hospital systems extend their opportunity to profit from 340B by entering into agreements with contract pharmacies, generally owned by large pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) or national chain pharmacies. In 2009, there were less than 800 contract pharmacies. That is when PBMs, pharmacies, hospital executives and consultants figured out what a gold mine the 340B program could be. By 2023, there were more than 33,000 contract pharmacies. Although 340B was intended to benefit low-income patients, research shows that contract pharmacies are located disproportionately in wealthier neighborhoods. For example, 23 percent of the 340B contract pharmacies for The Ohio State University Hospital are outside Ohio, with the furthest being in Hawaii, more than 4,000 miles away. Overall, only 12 percent of in-state 340B contract pharmacy locations in Ohio are in ZIP codes with an average household income below the state median. In 2023, the 340B program reached $66 billion in discounts, making it the second-largest federal drug program. The lack of accountability in the 340B program is drawing attention from the Trump administration. In April, the President signed an Executive Order that included provisions to increase transparency and reduce waste in 340B. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently pointed to the rapid growth in the program, saying, The patients themselves seldom get the benefits. However, Ohio legislators are moving in a different direction from the President. State lawmakers are considering legislation that locks in a broken system with no requirements for data reporting. Legislators should consider the large and quantifiable cost of 340B to Ohio employers, workers, and government insurance programs. IQVIA, a leading health research company, found that 340B is costing Ohio employers and workers $275 million annually due to lost drug rebates. The 340B Program was created to help vulnerable patients. It has instead driven waste in the healthcare system, failing to focus on the needy and driving billions in profits for large tax-exempt hospitals, PBMs and pharmacy chains. Rather than locking in the programs flaws, legislators should follow the Trump administrations lead and focus on improving transparency and data reporting in 340B. Ohio lawmakers can and must take a stand against a deeply flawed federal program. Christina Smith is the Director of the Taxpayer Protection Alliances Consumer Center. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. 33 and counting Countries rush to join Chinas IOMed A total of 33 countries have signed on-site the China sponsored Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) and more are in line Monday June 2, 2025 0:02 AM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies Hong Kong: A total of 33 countries have signed on-site the China sponsored Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) and more are in line. The opening ceremony of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) which China hopes will rival the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as the worlds leading conflict resolution body was held in Hong Kong Friday May 30, 2025. The signing ceremony was presided over by Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi in Hong Kong. Around 400 high-level representatives from 85 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, as well as from nearly 20 international organizations, attended the ceremony, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. But what caught the eyes was the presence of a representative of the United Nations at the inaugural. Initiated jointly by 19 countries including China, the IOMed is an international public good on the rule of law contributed by developing countries. It will provide mediation services for inter-state disputes, disputes between a State and a national of another State, and international commercial disputes submitted by mutual consent. Leveraging the unique advantages of mediation as a more flexible, cost-effective, convenient and well-implemented means, it offers a new option to all countries for party-owned and efficient resolution of international disputes, the new forum said in its introduction on its website. The scope of cases handled by the body would include disputes between countries, between a country and nationals of another country, and between private international entities, as explained in a video screened at the signing ceremony. The ICJ the principal judicial organ of the UN, also known as the World Court in The Hague is currently the top body for solving legal disputes between member states in accordance with international law. It also provides advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by UN bodies. List of IOMeD Members Beijing plans for the newly formed International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) to cement Hong Kongs presence as a top global mediation hub, as it hopes to reinforce its waning international credentials, according to Al Jazeera. The exact number of members has not been officially published. However, from different media reports it turns out the signing countries included Indonesia, Pakistan, Algeria, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Nicaragua, Belarus, Cuba, Cambodia, Laos, Papua New Guinea, Venezuela and Serbia. The next in line to sign are Nepal and Bangladesh. Representatives from 20 international bodies including the UN were also expected to participate in the Chinese initiative. The IOMed headquarters will be located at the site of the former Wan Chai Police Station, once renovation of the Grade 2 historic building is completed. Im happy to say that it could open its doors as early as the end of this year, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), John Lee said while addressing the opening ceremony. We look forward not only to welcoming its new occupants, but also to supporting them in building new bridges for a more connected, peaceful and prosperous future through mediation, he added. [Images: Chinese Foreign Ministry] Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. After FS Misri, Trolls Now Target CDS Anil Chauhan The online trolling and hate campaign in India is unending, and the latest target of the trolls is Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces General Anil Chauhan Sunday June 1, 2025 3:47 PM , ummid.com News Network [Anil Chauhan talking to Bloomberg TV while attending the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday May 31, 2025.] The online trolling and hate campaign in India is unending, and the latest target of the trolls is Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces General Anil Chauhan. The "crime" of CDS Anil Chauhan is he admitted that India incurred military losses, more specifically Indian fighter jets were downed by Pakistain, during Operation Sindoor launched to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack. CDS Bloomberg Interview Talking to Bloomberg in Singapore, CDS Anil Chauhan also talked about tactical mistakes committed by the Indian Army on the first day of its airstrikes in Pakistan. He, however, said the army learnt from the mistakes, made course correction and bounced back after two days. CDS Anil Chouhan also said the ceasefire reached between India and Pakistan on May 10 was strategic and finalized since India had achieved all its targets of Operation Sindoor , in a way contradicting PM Modi who repeatedly said Pakistan was begging for mercy. In his interview with Bloomberg, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) also slammed the fake narratives aired by the Indian media. About 15% of the operational time during Operation Sindoor was spent countering fake narratives and disinformation, he said. Pakistan had claimed it shot down 6 Indian fighter jets including Rafale Jets. Senior BJP Leader and former Union Minister Subramanian Swamy said the number of Indian fighter jets shot down by Pakistan is 5. The Narendra Modi government, however, has so far not officially confirmed the losses India has incurred during its 4-day war with Pakistan in May. The government has also not directly refuted U.S. President Donald Trump, who repeatedly claimed, it was he who forced India and Pakistan to end the war . Trolls Demand Removal of CDS CDS Anil Chauhans statement is seen as the first official confirmation about the Indian fighter jets shot down by the Pakistani Army. And, the right-wing trolls are up in arms against him with some, accusing him of indiscipline, demands his removal from the post. "My issue isnt that it was done, rather how it was done. There was a way to do it & this was not it. The CDS and the High Commissioner to Singapore jumped the gun. This wasnt their decision to make. Consequences need to follow this kind of indiscipline (sic)", Abhijit Iyer-Mitra wrote using X handle @Iyervval. Some trolls are questioning the English language and oratory skills of the CDS. im sorry but CDS anil chauhan just ruined it all by his limited fluency. He is clearly not articulate and should NOT have given an international interview when he struggles with effective communication, and you know every word will be dissected and twisted to shape narratives (sic), another social media user who uses X hand @ppalzee wrote. Prof. Madan M. Sharma who uses X @mmsharma102 wrote: The CDS of India Gen. Chauhan should not have given interviews to media, especially a foreign one! He did not show maturity that is required of him. My feeling from the beginning itself was that he should not be the CDS! The trolls had earlier also targeted Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his daughter. Their fault? Vikram Misri was tasked to brief the media about the ceasefire reached between India and Pakistan on May 10, 2025. Before Vikram Misri , the trolls had run hate campaign against Himanshi Narwal the wife of Indian Navy Officer killed in Pahalgam. Himanshi was trolled and subjected to vicious hate campaign after she asked people not to target Muslims or Kashmiris in the name of Pahalgam attack. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. The White House has seemingly pulled the nomination of NASA administrator Jared Isaacman and said that President Donald Trump would soon name a replacement. The White House did not explain the move in a statement, but White House spokesperson Liz Huston said "it's essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump's America First agenda." Trump in December said he was nominating Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur who has never been in federal government, as NASA administrator. Isaacman has been to space twice, on commercial missions that he funded himself. "The Administrator of NASA will help lead humanity into space and execute President Trump's bold mission of planting the American flag on the planet Mars," Huston said in a statement. "It's essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump's America First agenda and a replacement will be announced directly by President Trump soon," she said. The news outlet Semafor first reported Saturday that the White House was expected to pull Isaacman's nomination. The move comes as the nomination vote for Isaacman could have been very near. A cloture motion on his nomination, which ends debate, is eligible for a vote on Monday, according to a the Congressional calendar. Artist Lauren Bon, shown at the Los Angeles River. Bon and her non-profit art and research hub, Metabolic Studio, spent more than a decade on a project called "Bending the River." The initiative draws water from the L.A. River in downtown L.A., cleans it and uses it to irrigate Los Angeles State Historic Park. Allen J. Schaben | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images Politics, science and the law aren't the only fields with the ability to influence climate change policy when it comes to making direct interventions, art shouldn't be underestimated, industry insiders say. The arts have an "essential" role to play in shaping environmental governance, according to the organization overseeing the arts program at the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), which starts on June 9, in Nice, France. According to Markus Reymann, co-director of contemporary art and advocacy foundation TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, art and culture can "rekindle relationships" with the environment and those who inhabit it. At UNOC, TBA21 will oversee about 20 activities, including exhibitions, workshops and panel discussions, to raise awareness of and engagement with the ocean around the topics of regenerative practices and sustainability. The initiatives "assert the vital role of culture and arts in high-level political decision-making," according to an emailed statement. The exhibition "Becoming Ocean: a social conversation about the Ocean," is part of UNOC and features work from more than 20 artists, "exploring the main challenges facing the Ocean," according to TBA21's website. "[Art] can nurture and foster [the] care and the agency that we've now externalized to experts the scientists are going to take care of this, politicians will take care of this and so we [feel we] have nothing to do but consume and make money to be able to consume. And I think art can break that open," Reymann told CNBC in a video call. Artist Maja Petric's "Specimens of Time: Spectrum" comprises luminous "sculptures" that show natural environments. Petric said she felt an "urgency" to preserve the memory of such landscapes. Courtesy of the artist & HOFA It's a theme that artist Maja Petric relates to. Her light installations, or "sculptures," aim to evoke what people feel when they experience pristine nature, she told CNBC by video call. When asked whether her work can influence climate policy, she said in an email: "As an artist, I don't speak in metrics or policy. But there is evidence: it's in every person who lingers with the piece, sometimes for minutes, sometimes for hours." In May, Petric won an innovation prize for her work "Specimens of Time, Hoh Rain Forest, 2025," as part of the Digital Art Awards put on by gallery The House of Fine Art and auction house Phillips. The sculpture appears in the form of a glass cube, which glows with light that changes color based on live temperature data taken from the Hoh Rain Forest in near Seattle, Washington State. "The idea is: what if none of those landscapes exist in the future, but how will we think of them?" Petric said of her work. From Turner landscapes to Constable skyscapes It's not only contemporary art that explores human influence on the natural world. "Historically, perhaps the greatest contribution artists have made in the context of environmental risk is to remind wider society of what might be lost. From Turner landscapes and Constable skyscapes to Richard Long's walks in the wilds, artists remind us of the preeminence of the natural world," Godfrey Worsdale, director of the Henry Moore Foundation, said in an email to CNBC. Works like John Constable's "Cloud Study" remind people of the importance of the natural world, according to Godfrey Worsdale, director of the Henry Moore Foundation. "Cloud Study," is pictured here at a sale at the London auction house Sotheby's on June 22, 2022. Michael Bowles | Getty Images Worsdale also noted the German artist Joseph Beuys' "7000 Oaks" project, for which the artist and his team planted 7,000 oak trees, one of which stands outside the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds, England. "It is growing steadily as the modern-day city swirls around it. But as we know, the oak grows slowly and the world is changing ever more quickly," Worsdale said. Art can be a way of making the climate crisis "easier to comprehend and act upon," according to Lula Rappoport, community coordinator at Gallery Climate Coalition. "The greatest obstacle to meaningful policy is how abstract and immense climate change can feel," Rappoport told CNBC by email. "Art can bridge this gap by helping us understand challenging concepts and imagining alternative futures," she said. Rappoport cited Ice Watch London, a 2018 project that saw artist Olafur Eliasson bring 24 large ice blocks from an iceberg in Greenland to London, as an example of "how art can literally bring distant concepts close to home." For artist Ahmet Ogut, art has a "power and agency" that he said doesn't need to wait to be recognized by politicians or scientists. "Art doesn't need permission, it works in parallel systems, activating new imaginaries, forming temporary communities, and offering tools of resistance," he said in an email to CNBC. Ogut pointed to artist Lauren Bon's "Bending the River," a large-scale project that has diverted water from the Los Angeles River to irrigate public land as an artwork that has intervened "directly in ecological infrastructure," and created "a form of civic reparation." "Beuys Acorns" is an installation by art duo Ackroyd & Harvey made up of 52 trees grown from acorns collected from German artist Joseph Beuys 1982 artwork, "7000 Oaks." The work is seen here at the Bloomberg Arcade in London. Jeff Spicer | Getty Images U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Newark Liberty International Airport. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images Some European companies are growing wary about sending their employees to the U.S. It comes amid volatile policymaking by the Trump administration, more stringent immigration checks, and an uptick in reports of detentions and deportations. Some businesses CNBC spoke to, in areas including engineering and accounting, stressed that their work trips to the U.S. continued unabated. But others, usually in more politically sensitive fields, flagged employee welfare concerns. Their responses ranged from issuing new travel guidance such as advising workers to bring wiped electronic devices or entering the U.S. via Canada to encouraging attendance at U.S. events or conferences online where possible. Business travel is a significant revenue source for the U.S. economy. According to a report published by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) last year, total spend in the sector generated a total $421 billion and $119 billion in tax revenue in 2022, the most recent year in which full data was available. That came from an estimated 429.9 million business trips supporting 6 million jobs. Business travel is also a key revenue-maker for the aviation industry, generating between 50% and 75% of profit for airlines in many cases. In a survey of 900 global travel buyers conducted by GBTA in April, 29% said they expected a decline in business travel volume at their companies in 2025 as a result of U.S. policy across both travel and tariffs. The survey also found a decline in overall optimism in the sector. Any chilling effect would also come with international tourism expected to be dented this year, costing $12.5 billion in spending, due to negative perceptions of trade and immigration policy. Rising anxiety over U.S. travel Border control and foreign visas have been highly charged issues since President Donald Trump took office in January, with reports of tourists being held in detention centres for long periods. The White House pledged in January that all foreigners seeking to enter the U.S. would be "vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible." watch now Relations between the U.S. administration and the academic community have also soured, following moves to pause international student visa issuance and "aggressively revoke" visas for Chinese students, as well as the detention of some foreign students on apparently political grounds. "We're hearing some international travellers have expressed unease about visiting the U.S. due to increased visa scrutiny, social media monitoring, and incidents of detention or deportation despite valid documents," said Prashray Kala, a partner at management consultancy Everest Group. "Those with a visible online footprint are more cautious, especially with the 'Catch and Revoke' policy enhancing surveillance," Kala said. Announced April 30, this policy means that anyone with a U.S. visa will lose their immigration status after one strike for any violation of U.S. law, regardless of severity. One European fund manager who frequently travels to the U.S. for business said he was concerned immigration authorities at airports could hinder his travel plans due to a change in political attitude, rather than policy. "Business travel on an ESTA [visa] is no longer what it used to be", the fund manager said. 'These are things I think about when I travel to China' The head of an international non-government organization with headquarters in London told CNBC that they had devised a new travel protocol for the U.S. The policy goes beyond their usual requirements for information about an employee's movements and contact details, into issues around physical and information security. The NGO produces investigative reports into topics spanning climate change, corporate malpractice and corruption. Employees CNBC spoke to for this story requested anonymity to be able to discuss internal workplace matters. "On one level for us as an organization, that shouldn't really require us to break into a sweat, we do that for lots of places that our staff travel to," the NGO chief executive said. "But from a personal perspective, this is very illuminating in a not very pleasant way because these are the sorts of things I think about when I travel to, say, China or Azerbaijan, autocratic regimes. The idea that we would have to apply that approach to travel to the U.S. is something which would never have occurred to me until just a few months ago." Examples include taking "burner" phones or computers only used for the trip, and preparing employees for scenarios in which they are aggressively questioned about their travel intentions or things they have published online, they said. Separately, an academic researcher at a university in Switzerland told CNBC that they had been provided with guidance to ideally travel into the U.S. via Canada where possible, or to attend conferences virtually to avoid any visa complications. They noted that some of their colleagues were still making trips to the U.S. without incident, but others had been questioned at the border for longer, and some had decided not to attend summer academic conferences stateside. Visiting programs to U.S. universities have been particularly affected and even put on hold, they added. watch now Law enforcement officials dress in protective gear to investigate after an attack on the Peark Street Mall on Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado. A man who shouted "free Palestine" and used a "makeshift flamethrower" on demonstrators marching in support of Israeli hostages held by Hamas is potentially facing two counts of first-degree murder, Colorado authorities said early Monday, despite no confirmed deaths at this time from the attack. The Boulder County Sheriff's Office said on its daily booking sheet early that Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, of El Paso County, Colorado, could be charged with two counts of first-degree murder one with "extreme indifference" and one listed as "deliberation with intent nonfamily gun." Soliman also faces being charged with one count of attempted murder, one count of first-degree assault, one count of causing serious injury to an at-risk adult or someone over 70 and one count of using explosives or incendiary devices. He was booked in at three minutes to midnight, and his bail has been set at $10 million. Soliman is set to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. ET), according to online police records. Eight people were hospitalized with burns and other injuries from the attack, authorities have said. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Soliman was in the country illegally and labeled the incident a "terror attack." "He was granted a tourist visa by the Biden Administration and then he illegally overstayed that visa," Miller said in a post on X. "In response, the Biden Administration gave him a work permit." Miller ended his post by saying: "Suicidal migration must be fully reversed." An Israeli flag stands in a bed of flowers as caution tape blocks off a deserted Pearl Street on the scene of an attack on demonstrators calling for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, in Boulder, Colorado, on June 1, 2025. Eli Imadali | Afp | Getty Images Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, whose mother was born in a concentration camp and whose grandparents survived the Holocaust, said the attack appeared to be "a hate crime given the group that was targeted." Weiser said his office was ready to support local prosecutors when the time comes to file any possible charges. FBI Director Kash Patel said in a Sunday night statement on X that the bureau was already investigating a "targeted terror attack." A Boulder Police spokesperson said Sunday night that four men and four women were injured, between 52 and 88 years old. They were at or near a weekly demonstration to support awareness of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas militants, officials said. Soliman was taken into custody at the scene, Mark Michalek, special agent in charge of the FBI's Denver office, said at a news conference Sunday evening. The assault was being investigated as an act of terrorism, he said. The group Run for Their Lives Boulder has been holding the demonstrations fairly regularly, sometimes weekly, following the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct.7, 2023, the group has said. More than 250 hostages were taken during the attack. Following multiple waves of releases and several deaths, 23 are believed to still be alive. Redfearn described what dispatchers were told about Sunday's attack in front of the historic Boulder County Courthouse at 1:26 p.m.: "There was a man with a weapon and ... people were being set on fire." Law enforcement officials are on scene to investigate an attack on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colorado on June 1, 2025. Helen H. Richardson/medianews Group/the Denver Post Via Getty Images | Denver Post | Getty Images Two senior law enforcement officials stressed that the investigation is in its early stages. They said Soliman is an Egyptian national who seemingly acted alone. They said he has no previous significant contact with law enforcement. An initial review of Soliman's possible social media accounts has not answered questions about a motive or point to any particular ideology, the two senior law enforcement officials said. The officials said they are looking into eyewitness reports saying the attacker dressed as a landscaper or otherwise donned workmen's clothing to blend in before the attack. Redfearn said Soliman suffered minor injuries that required hospitalization upon arrest. He added that it's too early to say whether the group supporting the release of hostages was specifically targeted. "It's way too early to speculate motive," he said. Run for Their Lives said in a media kit that it "started for the sole reason of advocating for the release of the hostages. ... We set our principles very specifically to be a safe, quiet, peaceful, inclusive of all religions, non-political global initiative." Group members in Boulder did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Brooke Coffman was walking down Pearl Street on her lunch break Sunday when she saw a commotion near the courthouse. Worried someone was "getting beat up," she approached the area. Then, "I saw this big fire go up," Coffman told NBC affiliate KUSA of Denver. Coffman said she called 911 as she rushed toward the fiery scene. She said she saw two women "rolling around a little bit" in their underwear after having stripped out of their burning clothes with "really bad burns all up on their legs." Another woman nearby, also with burns on her legs, was screaming. Coffman could barely make out the face of one of the women, she said, choking up, adding the woman's hair was burned off. "It just wasn't a good scene," Coffman said. Others nearby rushed to the scene with jugs of water, dousing the victims, Coffman said. She said that she saw at least seven people down, mostly older women, but that she heard there were more victims, including children. More from NBC News: 1 dead, 11 wounded in shooting at North Carolina party 'Boardwalk Empire' actor Devin Harjes dies at 41 Canadian wildfire smoke triggers alerts in Midwest, Plains She said she saw a shirtless man, presumably the suspect, screaming while he waved a glass bottle that contained a liquid. Law enforcement officers detain a suspect, after an attack that injured multiple people, in Boulder, Colorado, U.S. June 1, 2025, in this picture obtained from social media. X/@opusobscurax | X/@opusobscurax Via Reuters U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to the media after the House narrowly passed a bill forwarding President Donald Trump's agenda at the U.S. Capitol on May 22, 2025 in Washington, DC. The bill also adds new rules and paperwork requirements for those Medicaid recipients and increases eligibility checks and address verifications. "You're telling me that you're going to require the able-bodied, these young men, for example, OK, to only work or volunteer in their community for 20 hours a week. And that's too cumbersome for them?" Johnson told "Meet the Press" moderator Kristen Welker. "I'm not buying it. The American people are not buying it." Johnson told NBC News' "Meet the Press" that the bill imposes "commonsense" work requirements for some Medicaid recipients and added that he's "not buying" the argument that the work requirements, which would require able-bodied Medicaid recipients to work, participate in job training programs or volunteer for 80 hours a month, are too "cumbersome." Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Sunday defended cuts to Medicaid in the budget bill House Republicans passed last month, saying that "4.8 million people will not lose their Medicaid unless they choose to do so." Johnson argued that the work requirements "should have been put in a long time ago." "The people who are complaining that these people are going to lose their coverage because they can't fulfill the paperwork, this is minor enforcement of this policy, and it follows common sense," Johnson added. Johnson's comments come as Republicans have faced pushback in town halls for the cuts to Medicaid in the "One Big Beautiful Bill" package that passed along party lines in the House last month. Reps. Mike Flood, R-Neb., and Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, were booed when they mentioned their support for the package at events in their districts. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, also faced pushback after she defended the proposed cuts, telling attendees at a town hall on Friday that "we all are going to die." The move has also faced criticism from some Senate Republicans. Last month, before the House passed its bill, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., wrote in a New York Times op-ed that a "wing of the party wants Republicans to build our big, beautiful bill around slashing health insurance for the working poor. But that argument is both morally wrong and politically suicidal." In an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., also expressed disdain for the Medicaid provision when he was asked to respond to Hawley's assertion that it would not play well politically for Republicans. "I think it was a bad strategy," Paul said, adding later, "They should have been satisfied by just doing the tax part of this and not getting involved into the debt part of it." Democrats and other opponents of the bill have seized on a number of provisions that include hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid, a federal program that provides health care for low-income Americans. Democrats, including Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., who appeared on the program after Johnson, have argued that Medicaid recipients who get tripped up by the reporting requirements that are set to be imposed alongside the new work requirements will lead to the loss of health care coverage for millions. "This is what this legislation does, that they're trying to do. They're going to throw poor people away," Warnock told Welker. Warnock referenced a study that his office conducted in his home state of Georgia that he said "shows that this work reporting requirement because that's what we're talking about, not work requirements, work reporting requirement is very good at kicking people off of their health care." "It's not good at incentivizing work at all," he added. The bill now heads to the Senate, where Johnson said he was confident it would advance and make it to President Donald Trump's desk by July 4. "We're going to get this done. The sooner the better," Johnson said Sunday, adding later: "We're going to get it to the president's desk, and he's going to have a we're all going to have a glorious celebration on Independence Day, by July 4, when he gets this signed into law." In this article FANG Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT The Home Depot logo is displayed outside a store on March 10, 2025 in San Diego, California. Kevin Carter | Getty Images Earnings of major U.S. companies and the uncertainty around tariffs continued to impact investor sentiment this week. While the stock market remains volatile, investors seeking consistent returns could add some attractive dividend stocks to their portfolios. In this regard, stock picks of top Wall Street analysts can be helpful, as the recommendations of these experts are based on in-depth analysis of a company's financials and ability to pay dividends. Here are three dividend-paying stocks, highlighted by Wall Street's top pros, as tracked by TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance. Home Depot This week's first dividend pick is Home Depot (HD). The home improvement retailer reported mixed results for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 but reaffirmed its full-year guidance. The company expressed its intention to maintain its prices and not increase them in response to tariffs. Home Depot declared a dividend of $2.30 per share for the first quarter of 2025, payable on June 18, 2025. At an annualized dividend of $9.20 per share, HD stock offers a dividend yield of 2.5%. Following the Q1 FY25 results, Evercore analyst Greg Melich reiterated a buy rating on HD stock with a price target of $400. The analyst thinks that the risk/reward profile of Home Depot stock is one of the best in Evercore's coverage. Melich contends that while Home Depot's headline results appear ordinary, he believes that a notable inflection has begun. The analyst highlighted certain positives in Home Depot's Q1 performance, including stabilizing traffic, improving shrink (inventory lost due to theft or other reasons) rates, and acceleration in online sales growth to 8% after staying lower than 5% since Q3 FY22. "HD remains a benchmark retailer, investing in technology, multichannel and stores, even while current demand remains low," concluded Melich. He continues to believe that once the macro environment improves, Home Depot could be the "next great Consumer/Retail breakout multiple stock" like Costco in 2023 and Walmart in 2024. Melich ranks No. 607 among more than 9,500 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 68% of the time, delivering an average return of 12%. See Home Depot Ownership Structure on TipRanks. Diamondback Energy Next on this week's list is Diamondback Energy (FANG), an independent oil and gas company that is focused on onshore reserves, mainly in the Permian Basin in West Texas. FANG delivered better-than-expected first-quarter results. However, given the ongoing commodity price volatility, Diamondback reduced its full-year activity to maximize free cash flow generation. Meanwhile, the company returned $864 million to shareholders in Q1 2025 through stock repurchases and a base dividend of $1.00 per share. FANG's Q1 2025 capital return represented roughly 55% of adjusted free cash flow. Based on the base and variable dividends paid over the past 12 months, FANG stock offers a dividend yield of nearly 3.9%. In a recent research note, RBC Capital analyst Scott Hanold reaffirmed a buy rating on FANG stock with a price target of $180. Hanold noted that while the company lowered its 2025 capital budget by $400 million or 10% to $3.4 - $3.8 billion, the production outlook was cut by only 1%. The analyst stated that Diamondback's move to reduce its capital spending plan increased his free cash flow estimate by 7% over the next 18 months. Hanold thinks that the company's decision will not weigh on its operational momentum or the ability to efficiently return to its 500 Mb/d productive capacity. Commenting on FANG's free cash flow priorities, Hanold noted that the company is tracking ahead of its 50% minimum shareholder return target, thanks to stock buybacks amid the pullback in shares, mainly during early April. He expects the company to use the remaining free cash flow to pay down the $1.5 billion term loan related to its Double Eagle-IV acquisition in the Midland Basin, which was announced in February. Overall, Hanold's bullish thesis on FANG stock remains intact, and he believes that "FANG has one of the lowest cost structures in the basin and a corporate cash flow break-even (including dividend) that is among the best in the industry." Hanold ranks No. 17 among more than 9,500 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 67% of the time, delivering an average return of 29.1%. See Diamondback Energy Insider Trading Activity on TipRanks. ConocoPhillips US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on May 30, 2025. Trump's advisers insist, however, that the tariffs will stay in place in the face of the legal challenges or the administration will find new ways to implement them . The looming legal fight, which could ultimately wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court, injects uncertainty into Trump's tariff plan, which has upended the global economy in the weeks since his initial April 2 announcement of so-called reciprocal tariffs. A federal appeals court later granted the Trump administration's request to temporarily pause the ruling, giving the White House some breathing room, but officials now stare down a potentially arduous legal battle. "Rest assured, tariffs are not going away," Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on "Fox News Sunday," days after a federal court ruled that Trump overstepped his authority when he imposed the sweeping duties. President Donald Trump's top economic advisers maintained confidence on Sunday that the "tariffs are not going away," as a key tenet of Trump's policy agenda hangs in legal limbo . National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Sunday that he is "very confident" that the judges on the nation's top court would back Trump's tariffs. "We are very confident that the judges will uphold this law. And so I think that's Plan A. And we're very, very confident that Plan A is all we're ever going to need," he said on ABC News' "This Week." But he added that if the tariffs are blocked, "we'll have other alternatives that we can pursue as well to make sure that we make America trade fair again," without giving specifics on what that route would look like. "There's all these laws that your listeners don't want to listen to that are alternative ways to pursue what we're doing," he said. The U.S. Court of International Trade on Wednesday blocked Trump's tariffs, ruling that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which Trump invoked to impose the tariffs, does not authorize a president to levy universal duties on imports. To justify the tariffs, Trump said that the "large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits" constituted a national emergency. The Trump administration swiftly appealed the ruling, and a federal appeals court granted their request for a temporary stay. It's not clear how the nation's highest court would eventually rule on Trump's tariffs, but it is not a given that the conservative-majority Supreme Court would automatically side with the president, POLITICO reports. The White House has argued that a court ruling overturning Trump's tariffs would undermine his negotiating leverage with other nations. "A ruling that narrows IEEPA would have ripple effects across every domain in which economic instruments are used for strategic effect," Lutnick said during a deposition last month. Trump said Sunday: "If the Courts somehow rule against" the U.S. on tariffs, it would "allow other Countries to hold our Nation hostage with their anti-American Tariffs that they would use against us." "This would mean the Economic ruination of the United States of America!" he wrote on Truth Social. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett gives a TV interview outside of the White House in Washington, U.S., May 9, 2025. National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett suggested on Sunday that President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping could have a conversation about trade as soon as this week. Hassett said, however, that a specific date for a conversation between the two leaders has not been set. "President Trump, we expect, is going to have a wonderful conversation about the trade negotiations this week with President Xi, that's our expectation," Hassett said on ABC News' "This Week." He followed up by saying that he's not sure if it's been scheduled for a specific date, "but it has been discussed that the two of them will talk about the Geneva agreement, which we're all very favorably inclined towards." The "expectation is that both sides have expressed a willingness to talk," he added. "I'd like to also add that people are talking every day," Hassett said, noting that U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer's team is talking with their Chinese counterparts "every day trying to move the ball forward on this matter." A discussion between Trump and Xi would mark a major step in negotiations between the two nations, weeks after leaders of both countries met in Switzerland and reached a 90-day trade deal. Smoke rises above the area following what local authorities called a drone attack on a military unit in the Sredny settlement, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in the Usolsky district of the Irkutsk region, Russia, in this still image from a video published June 1, 2025. A Ukrainian drone attack has destroyed more than 40 Russian planes deep in Russia's territory, Ukraine's Security Service said on Sunday, while Moscow pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones just hours before a new round of direct peace talks in Istanbul. A military official, who spoke with the Associated Press on condition of anonymity to disclose operational details, said the far-reaching attack took more than a year and a half to execute and was personally supervised by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In his evening address, Zelenskyy said that 117 drones had been used in the operation. He claimed the operation had been headquartered out of an office next to the local FSB headquarters. The FSB is the Russian intelligence and security service. The military source said it was an "extremely complex" operation, involving the smuggling of first-person view, or FPV, drones to Russia, where they were then placed in mobile wooden houses. "Later, drones were hidden under the roofs of these houses while already placed on trucks. At the right moment, the roofs of the houses were remotely opened, and the drones flew to hit Russian bombers," the source said. Social media footage shared by Russian media appeared to show the drones rising from inside containers while other panels lay discarded on the road. One clip appeared to show men climbing onto a truck in an attempt to halt the drones. Britain's BP appears to be attracting a number of possible buyers for its Castrol lubricants business as the struggling oil giant seeks to fend off a prospective takeover . Energy companies including India's Reliance Industries and Saudi Arabia's oil behemoth Aramco , as well as private equity firms Apollo Global Management and Lone Star Funds, have all been touted as suitors for BP's Castrol unit, according to Bloomberg , citing people familiar with the matter. It's thought the sale of Castrol could fetch between $8 billion to $10 billion. BP, which launched a strategic review of its Castrol unit in late February, declined to comment on the speculation. The reports come as BP remains firmly in the spotlight as a prime takeover target. The London-listed oil company recently sought to restore investor confidence by launching a fundamental strategic reset. BP's new direction included a green strategy U-turn and the divestment of $20 billion of assets by the end of 2027. Analysts described BP's Castrol unit as one of the "crown jewels" of its portfolio, noting that reports of interested buyers should be viewed positively as the firm's management look to deliver on the new strategy. Read more Oil giant BP is seen as a prime takeover target. Is a blockbuster mega-merger in the cards? BP to slash renewable spending and double down on fossil fuels BP profit falls sharply but CEO says oil major 'off to a great start' in strategy reset Maurizio Carulli, energy and materials analyst at wealth manager Quilter Cheviot, told CNBC that it remains unclear whether the divestment of Castrol would stave off a potential takeover, however. He cited three considerations an industrial buyer might look at. Firstly, Carulli said the level of BP's debt would decrease with the sale of its high-performance lubricants business, potentially making the firm more attractive to a prospective buyer. Ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty could also make it difficult for BP to sell Castrol at an attractive valuation, he added. This could subsequently have a negative effect on BP's valuation, making it a cheaper proposition for any possible suitor. Thirdly, Carulli cited the level of cost and revenues that another energy firm could extract from the purchase, adding that the sale of Castrol is unlikely to substantially affect BP given that it is a small part of its overall business. 'Point of maximum weakness' BP, which reported weaker-than-expected first-quarter profit, has faced renewed pressure from activist investors in recent months. In late April, for instance, U.S. hedge fund Elliott Management went public with a stake of more than 5% in the company. Elliott was first reported to have assumed a position in BP back in February, driving a share price rally amid expectations that its involvement could pressure the firm to shift gears back toward its oil and gas businesses. BP CEO Murray Auchincloss told CNBC's " Squawk Box Europe " on April 29 that the company was "off to a great start" in delivering on its strategic reset. He cited the firm's "highest upstream operating efficiency in history" and six recent oil and gas exploration discoveries. Lydia Rainforth, head of European energy, equity research at Barclays, said BP's future appears to be "really bright" if the company can get through the next six months. "The sum of the parts is, I think, much greater than where the current share price is, but if I think about when that point of maximum weakness is for BP, it is over the next six months," Rainforth told CNBC's Steve Sedgwick on May 22. "As I get towards the end of the year, hopefully we will see some divestments taking down debt. Things like, they've talked about selling their lubricants business that could raise $12 to $15 billion," she added. On the right track? Shares of BP, which have underperformed industry peers, are more than 20% lower over the last 12 months. The ongoing weakness has stoked speculation of a prospective tie-up with domestic rival Shell . U.S. oil giants Exxon Mobil and Chevron have also been touted as possible suitors. Shell has declined to comment on the speculation, while spokespersons for Exxon Mobil and Chevron have not previously responded to a request for comment. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said shareholders are looking for BP to provide evidence that it can generate more cash to ensure net debt doesn't keep rising and buybacks and dividends can continue at current levels at the very least. Plans for $3 billion to $4 billion in asset sales and lower capital investment in 2025 are clearly part of BP's push to bring down net debt to between $14 billion and $18 billion by the end of 2027, Mould said. "Delivery here, perhaps via a successful disposal of Castrol, would help convince shareholders that BP is on the right track," Mould told CNBC via email. "But too many more quarters of weak cash flow and lower share buybacks may not help management's cause and lead to further engagement by the usually indefatigable Elliott." Welcome Guest! You are here: Home After Manara Robots, Smart Medical Capsules Greet Hajj Pilgrims After the introduction of Manara robots, the Saudi Government has come out with smart medical capsules for Hajj pilgrims Sunday June 1, 2025 9:11 PM , Aneequa Sabahat Faizee Madinah al Munawwarah: After the introduction of Manara robots, the Saudi Government has come out with smart medical capsules for Hajj pilgrims. Installed by Madinah Health Cluster at many busy areas of The Prophets City, the smart medical capsules are aimed at enhancing healthcare services for pilgrims during the Hajj season. These capsules offer multilingual medical care efficiently in key locations around the Prophets Mosque. One capsule is stationed adjacent to Al-Salam Endowment Hospital, and the other is close to Al-Haram Hospital. Features Designed to provide prompt field medical care with minimal waiting times, each capsule includes self-examination features, vital sign monitoring, and initial AI-assisted diagnostics. Patients can communicate remotely with doctors, and the capsules are integrated into the health system to transmit medical data. In emergencies, patients are automatically referred to the nearest medical facility. The user-friendly interface supports multiple languages, ensuring easy access to services for pilgrims from different backgrounds. The Madinah cluster noted that the initiative is expected to reduce the pressure on nearby medical facilities, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of medical decision-making through real-time data analytics. This initiative is part of broader efforts to support the Kingdoms goal to offer top-notch health services to pilgrims. The Kingdom had earlier introduced AI-powered Manara robots in the Grand Mosque in Makkah offering real-time religious guidance in 11 languages. Supporting 11 languages, including Arabic, English, Urdu, Bengali, and Malay, the robot serves a wide array of the global Muslim community. Virtual Healthcare Monitoring In a related development, King Abdullah Medical City (KAMC) in Makkah, a key part of the Makkah Health Cluster, has launched an advanced remote health monitoring service using smartwatches to support pilgrims, particularly those treated through the Seha Virtual Hospital, enhancing digital healthcare and ensuring continuous supervision of the pilgrims' well-being. The KAMC is currently monitoring a pilgrim from Bangladesh who underwent urgent and successful surgery at its Cardiac Center following a severe heart attack. The specialized medical team now continues to track his condition remotely through vital indicators transmitted by a smartwatch, allowing him to complete his Hajj rituals with his group. The innovative technology utilizes an advanced smartwatch designed to resemble a traditional one, ensuring patient privacy and comfort without drawing unwanted attention or causing feelings of isolation. This approach provides significant psychological reassurance, complementing critical medical care. [Aneequa Sabahat Faizee is Staff Writer at ummid.com. With inputs from Saudi Press Agency.) Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Country Amount US $5.45 billion Netherlands $4.62 billion UAE $3.12 billion Japan $2.47 billion Cyprus $1.2 billion UK $0.795 billion Germany $0.469 billion Cayman Islands $0.371 billion Singapore continued to be India's largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) for the last seven years, as the country received the highest inflows of about $15 billion in 2024-25.The overseas inflow grew 13% to $50 billion in the last fiscal.The total FDI, which includes equity inflows, reinvested earnings and other capital, grew by 14 % to $81.04 billion during the last financial year. It is the highest in the last three years.FDI from Singapore in 2024-25 increased to $14.94 billion from $11.77 billion in 2023-24, according to the latest government data.Singapore accounted for around 19% of total inflows in 202425.Since 2018-19, Singapore has been the largest source of such investments in India. In 2017-18, India attracted the maximum FDI from Mauritius.In the last fiscal, the country received $8.34 billion in foreign inflows from Mauritius.During 2024-25, Mauritius was followed by the US, the Netherlands, the UAE, Japan, Cyprus, the UK, Germany, and Cayman Islands.According to experts, Singapore's position as a global financial hub, combined with strong bilateral ties and its role as a gateway for global private equity and venture capital, makes it a natural conduit for investments into India.Rumki Majumdar, Economist, Deloitte India, said despite turmoil in the capital markets and uncertainties around trade, India has managed to attract huge investments, which are stable and long-term."Given that Asia is the second largest region to receive foreign capital inflows, a large part of the funds come from Singapore. There are quite a few reasons for that. One, being a low-tax jurisdiction and with a robust legal framework, Singapore is considered the strategic financial gateway to Asia," she said.Double Tax Avoidance Agreement between the two nations helps all Singapore-based organisations to invest in India and reduce the total tax burden on income earned from India, Majumdar added.Lokesh Shah, Partner, IndusLaw, said the India-Singapore tax treaty was one of the major drivers of FDI."Singapore's continued dominance in India FDI now relies more on genuine business and regulatory advantages, Singapore's sophisticated financial market, its status as a regional hub, and political and economic stability," Shah said.Rudra Kumar Pandey, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, said that while Singapore will continue to be a significant and active investor in India, the landscape is gradually evolving."Singapore's rising FDI into India is anchored in its role as a global financial hub, home to a large number of international private equity and venture capital funds," Pandey said.These investors see India as a high-growth destination, particularly in sectors like financial services, banking, insurance, business process outsourcing, logistics, computer software and hardware, trading, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals and use Singapore as a key base to manage and deploy capital across Asia, he added.Foreign investments are crucial for India to overhaul its infrastructure like ports, airports and highways to push growth.FDI also helps improve the country's balance of payments situation and strengthen the rupee's value against other global currencies, especially the US dollar. The long, miserable saga of the Labour Party's war on good state education stretches back through many decades of 'progressive' experiments and plain neglect. It is tempting to think that their parallel hostility to private schools is partly motivated by the proof fee-charging schools provide, that good schooling is still possible. If they could tax them out of existence and drive them abroad, it would be easier to pretend that publicly funded education is satisfactory. Well, of course it is for some children. The Labour elite know this very well, as they take elaborate steps to avoid the sorts of schooling most children have to endure, hiring private tutors, moving into costly catchment areas of exceptional academies, or developing a convenient enthusiasm for religion. Catholic schools, schools in pleasant rural areas, schools in well-off suburbs and above all schools whose pupils generally have the support of strong, stable families do reasonably well, even despite the crazy, ever-changing policies visited on them by Leftist ideologues. But the worst losers from all this experimentation have been the white working class, who have suffered from the death of traditional industry, the general decline of stable married families, the absence of fathers and the resulting break-up of family and kinship in urban areas. This is typical of Left-wing policies in modern Britain. The ideas most warmly embraced by the north London Leftist elite are also the ideas that do the most damage to the voters who have for decades kept Labour in power. For a long time there really was not much those traditional voters could do about this gap between promise and fulfilment. Labour are panicking as many voters desert their ancestral party - things are changing thanks to the rapid growth of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party The long, miserable saga of the Labour Party 's war on good state education stretches back through many decades (file image) Mr Farage is so keen to appeal to Labour defectors that he is becoming quite Left-wing in his late middle age Now, thanks to the rapid growth of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party, there is. In fact, Mr Farage is so keen to appeal to Labour defectors that he is becoming quite Left-wing in his late middle age. Whether this is sincere or not, we have yet to discover. But it is certainly working. Labour voters are deserting their ancestral party. And the Labour high command are panicking. The latest to do so is Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. She has led the charge against private schools, using punitive taxes to drive poorer families into the state sector. Now Ms Phillipson is moving in on Mr Farage's left flank, complaining that white working-class children are being betrayed and left behind. She is quite right to say this. New data shows that such children are doing acceptably well only in a tiny 21 of the 3,400 secondary schools in England. She promises an inquiry into this shocking failure, which may even report while she is still in office. But what will it tell us that we do not already know? The poorer your area, the worse your school is likely to be. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (pictured) has led the charge against private schools Ms Phillipson's actions haven't been much help so far. Shadow Schools Minister Neil O'Brien accuses her of cutting support for able pupils in mathematics, physics, Latin and computing. The grim truth is that, despite its claimed preoccupation with education, Labour has never had much of a plan for helping the children of the poor. Its obsession with encouraging mass migration and 'rubbing the Right's nose in diversity' meant it tended to view the white working class not as friends but as bigots, for it was among such citizens that the tougher consequences of such immigration were most keenly felt. New Labour's shiny New Britain never arrived in the grim housing estates, blasted by unemployment and anti-social behaviour, where good education is still a dream. Keir Starmer is unveiling his Strategic Defence Review with great fanfare. Headed by former Nato chief George Robertson, it has been billed as a root and branch review of our military policy, pointing the way to a new era for defence. How pitiful then that the announcement is overshadowed by the Defence Secretary quibbling over how much the Government is willing to spend. Last week, John Healey declared there was no doubt the UK would hit its target of spending 3 per cent of GDP (from the current 2.3 per cent) on defence by 2034, promising a certain decade of rising defence spending. Yet the commitment seems less than cast iron, as Healey yesterday retreated to the language of aims and ambitions when referring to the target. If he doesnt know how much hes spending on the eve of the Strategic Defence Review then what confidence can we have in any of his and Starmers promises? It betrays a disarray at the heart of the department, for the Secretary of States main job is to get the money right. That aside, some of the Reviews proposals already in the public domain are welcome in particular, the revelation that the Government will build six new munitions factories, given that our defence industrial capacity has been depleted for decades. Supplying arms to Ukraine since 2022 has severely diminished our stocks. Expanding home-grown munitions manufacturing will allow us to replenish our stores and reduce our reliance on the Americans and Germans. And the jobs it will create, including hundreds of highly skilled roles, can only be a good thing. Sir Keir Starmer with Defence Secretary John Healey, who is expected to set a long-term target for increasing the size of the Army The Governments decision to build up to 12 attack submarines as part of the Aukus programme run by Australia, the UK and US will also create thousands of jobs. Questions remain, though, on just how many of these subs will come under the Royal Navys command or go to the Royal Australian Navy. Any expansion of our conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet must also be matched by investment in recruiting and retraining personnel, as the service struggles to man its fleet as it is. Navys command or go to the Royal Australian Navy. Any expansion of our conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet must also be matched by investment in recruiting and retraining personnel, as the service struggles to man its fleet as it is. It would also appear that the Government is finally taking seriously the possibility of the UK coming under ballistic missile attack, with the review promising to introduce new defensive shields. While an Israel-style Iron Dome system to intercept long-range aerial attacks sounds enticing, it would be prohibitively expensive to envelop the whole of the British Isles. But we do need much more than the nothing we have today namely, missile defences over key targets like government buildings, airfields and manufacturing hubs. However, the announcement of 7,000 new British-built missiles is worrying if that number also includes attack drones, as Healey has indicated. If actual missiles turn out to be a small proportion of this total, such a move will hardly jangle nerves in Moscow or Beijing. The Russians launch hundreds of drones and missiles at Ukraine most nights and the Chinese have over 10,000 missiles ready to fire. And when it comes to drones, what type are we investing in? The Houthi rebels in Yemen have made light work of taking out the USs 22 million MQ-9 Reaper drones, downing six of them since March. We need to expand and diversify our stocks, training soldiers to operate lightweight, cheap drones, in particular, which have proved so nimble and deadly above the steppes of Ukraine. So while there is much to welcome in this review, there is also much more to be done. Elsewhere, reports emerged yesterday that the Government is in highly sensitive talks to buy F35A jets, which can carry nuclear bombs. This would broaden our nuclear deterrent beyond our four Vanguard-class submarines but would also tie us to yet more US technology. The jet can use only the B61-12 bomb stocks of which are controlled by the Pentagon. Reports emerged yesterday that the Government is in highly sensitive talks to buy F35A jets, which can carry nuclear bombs Nor would the jet, which needs a longer runway to take off, be compatible with the Royal Navys two aircraft carriers so the decks of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will remain embarrassingly bare. And we are still shamefully unable to train our own pilots. The current Hawk T2 training aircraft is so unreliable that the RAF is sending new pilots overseas to earn their wings. A replacement must be announced. On the ground, our armoured personnel carriers lack anti-tank systems, making them little more than battlefield taxis. The troops they carry will also be horribly exposed on any future frontline because they have virtually no air cover, due to so few aircraft, pilots and drones. The latest hi-tech kit is always welcome but its useless without the personnel to put it to use in action. One thing the Ukraine war has taught us is that troop numbers are important and we desperately need more recruits in every branch of the Armed Forces. Today, Healey is expected to set a long-term target for increasing the size of the Army, but I suspect that increase will largely come from a mooted Home Guard force, which will be established to protect domestic infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants. If the review does not commit us to expand the Army to at least 100,000 full-time soldiers (up from 73,000), we will remain incapable of prosecuting a land offensive in eastern Europe were Russia to invade a Nato ally, at a time when the US is retreating from the theatre. It is painfully clear, given the current budgetary restraints, that the developments the Defence Secretary announces today are unlikely to get the UK anywhere close to being war ready. by Gary Borjesson And these two [the rational and spirited] will be set over the desiring partwhich is surely most of the soul in each and by nature the most insatiable for moneyand theyll watch over it for fear of itsnot minding its own business, but attempting to enslave and rule what is not appropriately ruled by its class, thereby subverting everyones entire life. Platos Republic 442a I want to share my vision for a tool that helps inform, direct, and scale consumer power. It would be a customized AI thats free to use and accessible via an app on smartphones. At a time when many of us are casting about for ways to resist the corruption and authoritarianism taking hold in the US and elsewhere, such a tool has enormous potential to help advance the common good. Im surprised it doesnt already exist. Why focus on consumer power? Because politics in the US has largely been captured by monied interestsforeign powers, billionaires, corporations and their wealthy shareholders. Until big money is out of politics (and the media), to change the countrys social and political priorities we will need to encourage corporations and the wealthy to change theirs. As Socrates observed in the Republic, these money makers operate in society like the appetitive part operates in our souls. This part seeks acquisition and gain; it wants all the cake, and wants to eat it too. If unregulated, this part (perfectly personified by Donald Trump) acts selfishly and tyrannically, grasping for more, bigger, better, greater everythingand subverting the common good in the process. The solution, as Socrates saw, is not to punish or vilify this part, but to restrain and govern it, as we do children. For the more spirited (socially minded) and rational parts of ourselves and society recognize the justice and goodness of sharing the cake. Thus the AI I envision will have a benevolent mindset baked into its operating constraints. But before seeing how this might work, lets consider how powerful aggregated consumer spending can be. Scaling Consumer Power I recently canceled our Amazon Prime membership. I was inspired by seeing how one prominent money-maker, Jeff Bezos, folded like the laundry (as a clerk at the local hardware store put it) when Trump called him out for planning to let customers see what tariffs add to the price of items. Bezos had already forced the Washington Post to adopt his editorial policy, because he owns it. His policy served his interests, bending the knee to his lkely master, Donald Trump. One person canceling Amazon Prime is a drop in that bucket of power wed need in order to bring the monied interests to heel. But if as many people as voted against Trump (75,017,613)) in 2024 canceled their Prime subscriptions (at $139/year), Bezos would feel it, to the tune of $10,427,448,207. Thats a 10.5 billion dollar loss in one year. (The current number of Americans with Prime memberships is over 180 million.) Such leverage could be used to incentivize big players in gas and oil, chemical, transportation, defense, banking, crypto, retailing, pharmaceutical, health care, telecommunications, and tech sectors. How the AI App Would Work Imagine an app that provides a simple speech or text interface. The AI would be an ultra-knowledgeable maven offering real-time guidance on where best to spend your money. For example, at one intersection in our town there are three gas stations. Like the significant majority of Americans (67%), we favor transitioning to renewable energy but still own one gas-powered vehicle. The AI could answer the question Ive been too lazy to research: Which of these three companies is doing the most to transition to renewable energy? Or, if you valued encouraging fair labor conditions more, you might ask the AI, Which of these companies offers employees the best working conditions and compensation? possibly getting a different recommendation. Later, you can return to the advice and follow links, inspecting what data the AI drew on to reach its conclusion, educating yourself and confirming reasons to trust the AI. You might learn that one company has made significant investments in solar, while another has spent their money lobbying against legislation that would support transitioning to renewable energy. More generally, the AI could help you learn what online platforms to use, where to do your shopping and banking, what car to buy and airlines to fly, and so on. The AIs transparency concerning data sources, how it weights them, what trade-offs it makes between competing values (and why), will be essential to establishing the trust necessary for mass adoption. Until now we havent had the computational power for gathering information, analyzing data, and disseminating actionable real-time results to the majority of people in the country, or the planet. But we do now. Just about anyone with a smart phone (roughly 60-70% of the global population) could have access to this tool. Im sharing the broad contours of this idea, hoping to inspire others who have the practical competence to build it. There are devilish details to sort out, but, as Socrates warned, we shouldnt let the ideal be the enemy of the good. In this spirit, I imagine the AI starting as simple and limited, and evolving over time. Thats what intelligent systems do. In the beginning, perhaps only a few critical sectors fall within its scope of competence. Among my candidates for the most urgent are the energy, technology, and media sectors. The capability of the AI will increase rapidly, assuming that we can sort out the devilish detail of persuading the monied interests to allow the AI to develop using the infrastructure they currently own. For example, Bezoss Amazon Web Services owns 31% of the global cloud infrastructure. Tunings and Constraints First of all, the AI would be tuned for collaboration and cooperation. It will recognize but not engage in competitive, Machiavellian, zero-sum games. (Dont worry, plenty of AIs will be tuned to that frequency.) This privileging of nonzero-sum strategies is a crucial differentiating feature from tools like boycottswhich have their place but which perpetuate the zero-sum, us-and-them tribal mindset that is so destructive of the common good. AI can plausibly integrate this cooperative mindset. For example, like Socrates, or like a good therapist for that matter, the AI would offer reframes and results that minimize divisiveness and maximize collaboration. If I asked it how best to hurt a company like Amazon that I viewed as a bad actor, it would respond by asking what positive value and common good I seek by trying to punish Amazon. Depending on my answer, it would recommend where to take my business. This AI would thus encourage users like me to shift to the nonzero-sum mindsetto think in terms of empowering good actors. Instead of not supporting Amazon, it would tell me which booksellers, streaming services, music stores, and other businesses are more aligned with the common good. Often, making the switch will mean being in an economic position to tolerate a little more inconvenience and expense. Second, the AI would be proofed against being co-opted by political parties, partisans, or monied interests. Everyone can use the tool, and organizations can encourage their supporters to use it, but no one should be able to game it. AI has more ability to resist corruption than other attempts to aggregate consumer power because it has a mind of its own. This sounds scary, but is the source of its potential trustworthiness. An AIs process would be more transparent and harder to co-opt than a government agency, think tank, or nonprofit. It is resistant to social pressure, financial incentives, or changes in personnel. It has no motive not to offer the best counsel based on its core operating principles. It will not be tempted, as nonprofits are, to change their advice because a corporation makes a large donation in the hope of greenwashing its reputationwithout changing its behavior. The AI will deliver results based on actual corporate behavior and its impact, not on donations, advertising dollars, or other smokescreens. Third, the AI would offer advice based on the most accurate information available. It would draw from verified data sources, including scientific research, government statistics, corporate financial disclosures, third-party audits, and independent watchdog reports. Using the best, most vetted sources is crucial if users are to trust the AIs advice. Here again, the devil is in the details of finding, supporting, and protecting good data sources, especially since monied interests exert disproportionate control over these. The republicans under Trump, with the support of corporate actors like Musk, are doing enormous damage by attacking institutions and spreading disinformation; this strategy includes preventing the collection of data, as the republicans have done with NOAA, among other agencies. As bad as this is, AIs excel at recognizing basic errors of fact and reason, not to mention Machiavellian attempts to manipulate both. Finally, this AI would be built and maintained by a small well-funded group of individuals who subscribe to a few core principles. (A money-maker like Bill Gates who professes interest in the common good could fund this project in perpetuity without diminishing his net worth$115 billionby even 1%.) Here are a few core principles the majority of citizens acknowledge as common goods: Cooperation. Democracy. The rule of law. Free and fair elections. Individual rights. Sustainable energy. Clean air and water. Evidence-based reasoning. It may seem there is disagreement about these, but thats largely because they have been warped and weaponized by monied interests that own politicians and use media platforms to propagandize citizens, on the left and right. In the Venn diagram of life, there is substantial overlap between my good and yours. If we can govern the monied interests, the common good will become more evident. The technology exists. The consumer power exists. Whats needed now are the builderstechnologists, philanthropists, and institutions willing to create a tool that could help rebalance power between citizens and corporations. Following the Platonic insight, let the rational and socially spirited parts of our society step up and govern the appetitive part that is running amok in the world. *** Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now. Sisters Freddie and Truus Oversteegen blew up bridges and railway tracks with dynamite, smuggled Jewish children out of concentration camps and executed as many Nazis as they could, using a firearm hidden in the basket of their bike. They were only teenagers at the outbreak of World War II, but they soon used their harmless appearance to gain the trust of the officers before luring them to their deaths. Now, their stories are back in the spotlight after being shared on Instagram, with fans calling for their heroic acts against the face of evil to be made into movies, bemoaning the 'seven million Spider-Man or Batman reboots' viewers get instead. Freddie and Truus joined the Dutch resistance at the ages of 14 and 16, respectively, after witnessing horrifying violence by the Nazis, who invaded their home nation, The Netherlands, in 1940. Truus, born on 29 August 1923, in Schoten, had been protecting Jewish children, dissidents and homosexuals in safe houses across Haarlem, near Amsterdam, during the Second World War. But aged 16 she saw a baby battered to death in front of its family by a Nazi - and following the terrifying moment, she and her younger sister Freddie turned to killing all the soldiers they could. Truus recalled in Sophie Poldermans' Seducing and Killing Nazis: Hannie, Truus And Freddie: Dutch Resistance Heroines Of World War II: 'He grabbed the baby and hit it against the wall. 'The father and sister had to watch. They were obviously hysterical. The child was dead,' the resistance fighter said, according to the New York Post. Sisters Freddie and Truus Oversteegen (pictured) blew up bridges and railway tracks with dynamite, smuggled Jewish children out of concentration camps and executed as many Nazis as they could, using a firearm hidden in the basket of their bike Truus claimed she aimed her gun at him and fired, adding she did not regret slaying the 'cancerous tumours in our society'. Alongside her sister Freddie, born in Haarlem, near Amsterdam on September 6, 1925, and raised by their communist mother, and their law student friend Hannie Schaft, the trio became played a clandestine role in the resistance. The team had a routine: first approach the Nazi men in bars, and, having successfully seduced them, ask if they wanted to 'go for a stroll' in the forest, where, as Freddie herself put it, they would be 'liquidated'. 'We had to do it,' she told one interviewer. 'It was a necessary evil, killing those who betrayed the good people.' When asked how many people she had killed or helped kill, she demurred: 'One should not ask a soldier any of that.' Freddie acted as a courier for the resistance to begin with but was soon drafted into seducing Nazis with bright-red lipstick and pretending to be drunk alongside her sister and a 20-year-old Hannie. The law student, who had red hair and crystal-white teeth, through herself into the role by learning German and perfecting casual conversations with the soldiers. After luring them into the woods, she or a male companion would quickly shoot the unassuming officer. Author Ms Poldermans explained: 'They were killers, but they also tried hard to remain human. They tried to shoot their targets from the back so that they didn't know they were going to die.' They were only teenagers at the outbreak of World War II, but they soon used their harmless appearance to gain the trust of the officers before luring them to their deaths. Pictured, with their brother Robbie Freddie and Truus (pictured) joined the Dutch resistance at the ages of 14 and 16, respectively, after witnessing horrifying violence by the Nazis, who invaded their home nation, The Netherlands, in 1940. Freddie (pictured) survived the war and later married Jan Dekker, with whom she had three children The sisters have never revealed how many people they killed and despite Ms Poldermans being friends with them for 20 years, it does not feature in her book. But Truus did confess to breaking down in tears or fainting after killing someone, adding 'I wasn't born to kill.' Freddie - who died on September 5, 2018, one day before her 93rd birthday - was the last surviving member of the Netherlands' most famous female resistance cell, who dedicated their lives to fighting Nazi occupiers and Dutch 'traitors'. The female members of the Dutch resistance are often overlooked, and it was and still is often thought of as a man's effort. However, this kind of thinking proved to be a fatal mistake to many Nazi men, who did not recognise the threat posed by the Oversteegen sisters as they rode their bikes around Haarlem, scouting out targets or acting as lookouts for other executions. Both Oversteegen sisters survived the war. Truus found work as an artist, and was inspired to write a memoir and based on her experiences in the resistance. She died in 2016. Freddie told Vice that she coped with the traumas of the war 'by getting married and having babies.' She married Jan Dekker and their three children survive her, as do her four grandchildren. Truus (left) and Freddie (right) Oversteegan and their law student friend Hannie Schaft played a clandestine role in the resistance Hannie, who had red hair and crystal-white teeth, through herself into the role by learning German and perfecting casual conversations with the soldiers (pictured in the Netherlands) Freddie and Truus Oversteegen at the hospital in Haarlem where they first met Hannie Schaft However, speaking after his mother's death in 2018, Freddie's son Remi Dekker told the Observer: 'If you ask me, the war only ended two weeks ago. 'In her mind it was still going on, and on, and on. It didnt stop, even until the last day... She shot a few people, and these were the real, real bad guys. But she hated it, and she hated herself for doing it.' In the years leading up to her death, Freddie suffered from several heart attacks at the nursing home in Driehuis where she lived - about five miles outside Haarlem. The Oversteegen siblings' friend Hannie Schaft, a onetime law student with fiery red hair, was captured and executed by the Nazis just weeks before they surrendered. 'Hannie was her soulmate friend. Freddie could never understand why the Nazis killed her just before the end of the war. She always took red roses to her grave,' revealed Manon Hoornstra, after the youngest Oversteegen sister shared many of her war time memories with the documentary maker. In Hannie's honour, Truus founded the National Hannie Schaft Foundation in 1996. Freddie served as a board member. 'Schaft became the national icon of female resistance,' said Jeroen Pliester, the foundation's chairman. Her story was taught to Dutch children and retold in a 1981 Dutch film, 'The Girl With the Red Hair'. For the sisters, their work with the resistance wasn't something they would ever regret, but it left its emotional scars. Both sisters eventually received the Dutch Mobilization War Cross in 2014 (pictured), before a street was named after each of them They both dealt with 'post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), enduring severe nightmares, screaming and fighting in their sleep,' revealed human rights activist Ms Poldermans to Time magazine in 2019. The author added: 'These women never saw themselves as heroines. They were extremely dedicated and believed they had no other option but to join the resistance. They never regretted what they did during the war.' 'It was tragic and very difficult and we cried about it afterwards,' Truus said, about the feeling of having killed somebody. 'We did not feel it suited us - it never suits anybody, unless they are real criminals. One loses everything. It poisons the beautiful things in life.' Their mother gave Truus and Freddie only one rule, 'always stay human', the sisters once recalled. The Dutch newspaper IJmuider Courant, reported that Freddie once told an interviewer: 'I've shot a gun myself and I've seen them fall. And what is inside us at such a moment? You want to help them get up.' During the later years of her life, Freddie strived for more acknowledgment of her role, and both sisters eventually received the Dutch Mobilization War Cross in 2014, before a street was named after each of them. 'So many years after doing their work in the shadows, they were glad for the public recognition,' Ms Poldermans told the publication. 'They wanted their stories to be known - to teach people that, as Truus put it, even when the work is hard, you must always remain human.' Queen Mary of Denmark is renowned for her classic and timeless style. But, a recent discovery about one of the royal's go-to items reveals that Mary also follows the fashion philosophy: When you find something that works, stick with it. Since the Tasmanian-born royal made the evolution from ordinary Aussie girl to regal fashion icon, her personal style has been praised as elegant, polished and versatile. It's this last attribute in particular that was most evident when a fashion blog recently highlighted one of the Queen's beloved and repeatedly worn fashion items. The 53-year-old has worn the Jesper Hvring wrap blouse many times throughout the years. A recent post shared by royal fashion blog UFO No More confirms the Danish monarch has been pictured in not one, not two, but eight different colours of the exact same blouse. She is already a huge fan of the Danish designer, having Jesper Hvring worn pieces at various state occasions. But it seems that Jesper's effortless wrap blouse, which features soft, flowing material and long, puffy sleeves, is a special favourite given that Mary has worn the top in a multitude of colours at least 15 times publicly over the past nine years. When Queen Mary of Denmark recently accompanied King Frederik X at the Business Europe Council of Presidents dinner in May 2025, fashion-watchers spotted her re-wearing the beloved black Jesper Hvring wrap blouse Queen Mary of Denmark's love of the Jesper Hvring wrap blouse was ignited by this blue version, seen at Copenhagen Fashion Week in 2018 (left) and again in 2021 (right) while attending a meeting with the President of the European Court of Human Rights The first sighting of the blouse was in 2016 when Mary hosted a Christmas reception for her foundation at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. Mary made her Jesper Hvring wrap blouse debut by wearing it in a blue tone, worn together with a pair of burgundy Prada trousers. The blue billowing blouse continued to crop up in Mary's outfit rotation over the following five years, including during an appearance at Copenhagen Fashion Week in 2018 and then again a few years later at a 2021 meeting with the President of the European Court of Human Rights. Soon after wearing the blouse for the first time, the royal subsequently acquired the exact same top in several other colours. The Queen was next seen wearing a burgundy version of the exact same top in 2017. It was clearly a fast favourite, with Mary repeatedly wearing the deep maroon top throughout that year, including during a 2017 visit to Japan. More recently, Mary dipped back into her wardrobe and re-worked the blouse with a matching burgundy floral printed skirt, which she wore to the 2024 Global Fashion Summit. Style watchers have noted the Danish queen has worn eight different colours of the top in the last nine years, including this striking red version worn to the opening of the Paris Olympics The flowing Jesper Hvring wrap blouse comes in a range of colourful options. Mary has worn the burgundy version on numerous occasions, including at the 2024 Global Fashion Summit (left). She wore the purple version last year during a visit to Aalborg University (right) The following year, Mary invested in a more muted version of the beloved blouse by adding a white version to her collection. She first wore the white blouse in December 2018 at a Christmas concert - and the classic shirt continues to take pride of place in Mary's wardrobe, with the royal wearing it again recently in January 2025 when she joined King Frederik for a stage premiere at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen. In 2023, the Queen added another classic version of the blouse into her collection this time sporting it in black. She wore it for the first time when she went to the Milan Design Fashion Week in 2023, and she was also seen last August wearing it appropriately to a funeral. The top's most recent outing was only weeks ago when Mary cleverly paired the black blouse with a vibrant Erdem floral print skirt. The delightful contrast stood out among a sea of suits as Mary joined her husband King Frederik at a BusinessEurope Council of Presidents dinner. In the past two years alone, it appears Mary has acquired at least three more colourful versions of the wrap blouse. First, there was the purple top worn to Aalborg University's 50th Anniversary in April 2024. Queen Mary was pictured wearing a fuchsia version of the blouse during a 2024 visit to Brazil Queen Mary has showcased the versatility of the wrap blouse by styling it in different ways to suit a variety of royal occasions. She wears it here at Milan Design Week in 2023 Then, she was seen wearing a red version last July at an opening ceremony event at the Paris Olympic Games. A couple of months later, in October 2024, she busted out a beautiful fuchsia version during a visit to Brazil. An Instagram fan page dedicated to the Danish queen recently shared a post noting Mary's fondness for the wrap blouse. Side-by-side images of Mary wearing four different coloured versions of the top all styled in completely different ways showcased its versatility. One fan remarked the blouse was 'mathematically perfect for every outfit... it's incredible'. Since she became royalty, Queen Mary has made sustainable fashion part of her style ethos - evidenced by her decision to invest in quality fashion pieces and re-wear them on multiple occasions, just as she has done with this blouse. Queen Mary appears to own eight different coloured versions of the Jesper Hvring wrap blouse, including blue (left) and fuchsia (right) Queen Mary appears to own eight different coloured versions of the Jesper Hvring wrap blouse, including black (left) and perennial favourite burgundy (right) In recent years, royal style pundits have noted an increase in Mary's preference for re-wearing key pieces from her wardrobe many of which are decades old. Meanwhile, Mary and the Danish royals clearly have a special rapport with Hvring, who has been entrusted with styling them on numerous special occasions. Just last month, Hvring designed Princess Isabella's lavish dress for her big 18th birthday gala celebration at the Royal Theatre. The designer previously said in an interview that he believes the key to Mary's style is that she's 'always modern, but is not a slave to fashion'. 'She is always dressed for the occasion and dressed in what suits her best,' he previously told 9honey. Some similar locally available versions of the black wrap blouse include the Forecast Janae Crossover Blouse in Black, $79.90, and the Ally Black Satin Wrap Shirt, $29.99 Similar locally available coloured versions of the wrap blouse include the Sacha Drake Satin Faux Wrap in Black Cherry, $299 (left) and Modelle Drape Wrap Blouse in Blush, $44.99 (right) Fashionistas hoping to get their hands on the Jesper Hvring wrap blouse will be disappointed to learn that it is not available for purchase. The designer does have numerous other alternative ready-to-wear shirts in his current collection, with prices starting from DKK1,900 (AUD$446). Aussie fashion lovers can get their hands on similar wrap blouses at local outlets. Some black options include the Forecast Janae Crossver Blouse retailing for $79.99, and the Ally Black Satin Wrap Shirt, priced at $29.99. Boutique brand Sacha Drake also has a Satin Faux Wrap top, priced at $299, which comes in two different colours: black and black cherry. Modelle also stocks two colourful takes on the style, with their Drape Wrap Blouses priced at $44.99 and available in blush and baby blue. As the internet's resident 'girl's girl' promoting the value of 'self-love' and receiving the 'princess treatment' from men, The Wizard Liz had already gained millions of loyal followers on social media. But this week, Liz, real name is Lize Dzjabrailova, who originally hails from Antwerp in Belgium, has shockingly found herself in the limelight after revealing she was cheated on by her husband Landon Nickerson. Releasing a statement on Instagram, Liz, 26, then dropped a further bombshell - telling the world that she's currently four months' pregnant with their child. What's followed has been an onslaught of outrage, with devastated fans declaring that it proves you 'can never fully trust a man'. 'The story of The Wizard Liz made me dislike men even more and realize that I truly need to rely on myself,' one person said. 'I have to study hard, and even if I fail, I need to keep trying again so I can find a job and never have to depend on a man's money.' Another noted that Landon, who is from Dallas, Texas, and a self-proclaimed 'nerd', had looked like the 'most loyal man on Earth' - with only one post on Instagram (his engagement to Liz), sending her 750 flowers at a time and making a whole book about how much he loves her. Writing on social media this week, Liz said: 'A man will spend almost 1mil on you, insist being around you 24/7, move in with you be sooo lovely all day and still cheat on snap and call your relationship fake. RELEASEEEEEE ME.' Posting on his Instagram stories, Nickerson admitted he had made a huge mistake, but said that all he did amounted to 'a few minutes of texting.' The internet is in uproar The Wizard Liz claimed that her husband Landon Nickerson had cheated on her (pictured together) The YouTuber, 26, is seen as the ultimate girl's girl with her manifestation videos and advice According to Liz, on a recent trip Landon, 26, had made a Snapchat account and reached out to another girl, saying his relationship was 'fake'. The girl in question happened to be a long-time follower of Liz's content and had messaged a friend to tell her what had happened. Liz said: 'How you going to spend close to a million on me, REFUSE to be more than a week without me and refuse to do long distance until we get our visa stuff done because you want to be attached to my hip, make me get rid of my apartment, move with you all over the world staying in Airbnbs whilst we wait for the visa process... 'Cuddle to sleep together four days ago, message me on the plane how much you miss me and so excited to build our family. To then the day you land, decide to cheat on Snapchat????????? 'The girl was a long time follower of my content and she told you no multiple times. Can't even cheat cause she didn't want you, oh lord.' Revealing that she's going to sell her $100,000 engagement ring and donate the money to single mothers, she added: 'Meanwhile my cats are with him in Dallas, all my stuff is there in our apartment and oh I'm four months' pregnant. 'He says he's incredibly sorry but honestly I feel like I didn't know him at all. I feel stupid for ignoring the signs and dreams I had that I even told him about and he told me I was crazy (listen to your intuition, women). 'Men want to lead the world but can't even control their lust, It's weak. A man that can't control his lust will never be able to lead. The pair announced their engagement last autumn with a series of posts on Instagram hearkening their upcoming nuptials. Nickerson said at the time: 'Ive never been happier, thank you God' YouTuber Wizard Liz has dumped Landon Nickerson after learning he was cheating on her while she's expecting their child Liz has shared several furious posts to her Instagram stories after Landon cheated on her via Snapchat She has also edited her Instagram captions after revealing he'd called their relationship 'fake' 'I'm absolutely heartbroken and shocked. I will always have the last laugh tho. He lost everything and I gained everything. Thank God.' The furious reaction on social media has hardly been surprising as YouTuber Liz - whose videos included the likes of 'why everyone is always obsessed with me', 'how to manifest a new life' and 'becoming selfish is the best thing I ever did' - made it seem like Landon had struck gold. On her channel, she has previously shared tutorials on 'how to receive princess treatment', telling her followers: 'I heard you don't know how to get spoiled by man'. In other videos, she encouraged people to 'manifest their dream life' and 'create a new version of yourself'. Elsewhere, she reiterated that 'being a queen is your birthright'. In a recent Q&A video about their marriage, Landon and Liz revealed they had first met four years ago after he sent her a message on Instagram. At the time however, they were both pursuing other relationships - though Landon admitted he would 'get excited' whenever she would message him. 'I immediately thought, oh my gosh, there's something so special about this person,' Landon reflected, while Liz said she thought he looked 'cute and nerdy'. Three years later, they met again purely by 'chance' in an airport, when Liz was flying to Santorini with her friend. Just five days ago, Liz posted a Q&A video to her YouTube account with Landon She revealed that Landon had even written her a whole book about why he loves her for her birthday The couple had even posted their gender reveal, with Liz cutting into the cake to discover a blue slice - signalling a baby boy After bumping into Landon, she invited him to join them on the trip, saying they were 'inseparable' from then on. Liz said: 'We couldn't stop talking about marriage, we couldn't stop talking about starting a family, which is crazy because I've never been the person to want to start a family. 'There was something within him that made my inner child feel so safe.' What followed was a whirlwind romance, with Landon sending so many flowers to her apartment - 750 of them - that security refused to let them up just one month into dating. Seven months ago, Liz took to her YouTube account with the shock announcement that she and Landon were engaged, and in recent months, has begun to refer to him as her 'husband'. 'This is not clickbait, it's very real,' she said, showing off the sparkling ring now on her finger. It appears she was in the process of moving from her home in Dubai to be with Landon in his hometown of Dallas. But she was keen to make sure that the relationship didn't appear picture-perfect, priding herself on appearing 'authentic' to her followers. The couple first met several years ago via Instagram and reconnected when they bumped into each other in an airport Liz now says she's going to sell her engagement ring and donate the money to single mothers The court of public opinion appeared to sway heavily in Liz's favor on sites such as X, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok in the wake of the revelation In their recent Q&A video, Landon said 'I don't think any relationship is 100 per cent perfect, I think a lot of YouTubers will just come on and they'll make it look like everything is rainbows and butterflies. At the end of the day you get into relationships to grow.' When asked if they ever argue, Landon said: 'We definitely butt heads over things we should be talking through.' Liz meanwhile pointed out that Landon has 'mood swings'. Even before the cheating allegations came to light, she was keen to reinforce that women should remain financially independent from their partners. She advised, in words that now seem very prophetic: 'People can fall in love with other people, all these things can happen. 'So make sure that you always have yourself no matter what. I always say your partner should add to your life but it shouldn't be your whole life.' Someone said, "what would you do if your husband left you?" The young influencer has talked about having back-to-back jobs from the age of 13, including waitressing, working in a factory and even cleaning toilets. 'I would just continue with my life. I still have my own life I have my own finances,' she said. On her channel, she has previously shared tutorials on 'how to receive princess treatment', telling her followers: 'I heard you don't know how to get spoiled by man' 'I don't need to be here, I want to be here and that's the most important thing, especially for a woman. Make sure you and your children are safe in a financial aspect. Love will not buy you an aspect.' The court of public opinion has appeared to sway heavily in Liz's favor on sites such as X, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok in the wake of the revelation. One X user said: 'Wizard Liz 'choosing herself over her dream of a husband and family after being cheated on, is something that I truly admire.' A user noted that Liz 'got cheated on and here's a reminder for all the women, you do you. 'Never sacrifice your life for anyone, don't make a relationship your whole world. Focus on yourself, earn money, stay happy. Loyalty is rare these days. Be strong and learn to be happy on your own.' Another explained Liz's appeal in the content creation world. 'For people who dont know: The Wizard Liz is a self-development content creator known for her empowering and motivational videos on platforms,' the user said. 'Her content primarily focuses on Self-love and confidence ,Mental health and healing, Feminine energy.' One X user said of her decision to sell her ring: 'The wizard liz selling her engagement ring instead of throwing it at his face is such a goated move btw.' Liz has now edited her Instagram captions on any posts featuring Landon. On one video reading 'you fall in love with a pair of eyes then become blind to all others', she has now added: 'I was too blind'. Both Wizard Liz and Landon have sizeable followings on YouTube: She has 8 million, while he has 2.99 million. She said she was astounded to learn about his infidelity - 'He made a whole book about how much he loves me,' she noted - as they had recently taken a romantic trip to London. The pair announced their engagement last autumn with a series of posts on Instagram hearkening their upcoming nuptials. Landon said at the time: 'Ive never been happier, thank you God.' Nickerson in an Instagram Stories post admitted he had made a huge mistake, but said that all he did amounted to 'a few minutes of texting.' Liz vowed that with the money she made from selling the ring, she would donate it to a cause helping single moms. She also took to Instagram on Wednesday to make clear details being tossed around in online discussions. 'I want to clarify something I have been send and lies being spread: Landon was ABSOLUTELY SINGLE when he met me,' Liz said. 'We were both not in a relationship. Liz said: 'I don't know how people even came to that conclusion or who made that up but I would definitely not be dating him if he wasn't single to begin with.' She added, 'When we first met over Instagram 4 years ago we talked for a couple days and I got into a relationship AFTER and so did he. 'Stop this false narrative that's just even more harmful people love to make up shit weird af.' This is the heartwarming moment a King's Guard horse rewarded a delighted little girl with a 'kiss' on the forehead after she made a sweet gesture. Footage taken in central London showed the young girl and her mother slowly approach the King's Guard and his horse outside St James' Palace for a picture. The sweet the clip, which racked up over 2.5 million views, was shared on the @royalguards_england21 TikTok account. The girl was seen putting cash into the guard's boot before the horse 'kissed' the top of her head. The horses can be notoriously unpredictable and there are signs clearly stating: 'Beware, horses may kick or bite'. An additional warning to tourists requests that people do not touch the animals. The soldier however appeared to make an exception for the young girl as he ushered his horse to move forward for her. While some people believe that placing money in a King's Guard boot is a gesture to bring good luck, this is not a universally recognised or official practice. This is the heartwarming moment a King's Guard horse rewarded a delighted little girl with a 'kiss' on the forehead after she made a sweet gesture Additionally, some view such actions as disrespectful to the guards as they go about their duties, undermining their authority and professionalism, but others claimed the money collected is often donated to military charities. Taking to the comments many questioned why the young girl put money into the guards boot. One person wrote: 'Why do people give the guard money? Just asking.' To which someone replied: 'It goes to charity, its an old tradition.' Another said: 'I didnt know they could take cash, very cool!' Someone else questioned: 'Now you need to give a tip if you want to take a picture close to the horse without it biting you.' A fourth added: 'Is putting cash in the boot a common thing? Never seen that before.' Meanwhile other gushed over the 'respectful' way the family approached the guard and his horse. The girl was seen putting cash into the guard's boot before the horse 'kissed' the top of her head The sweet the clip, which racked up over 2.5 million views, was shared on the @royalguards_england21 TikTok account Taking to the comments many questioned why the little girl put money into the guards boot Meanwhile other gushed over the 'respectful' way the family approached the guard and his horse One person said: 'Horses know the genuine ones ... Great gesture by the family and the horse appreciated it.' Another added: 'This is how it should be done ask first then show complete respect. Well done young lady.' Someone else added: 'Horses understand the body language and the respect people have! they truly can feel people's emotions and presence!' However it doesn't always go so pleasantly for tourists, as recently two naive visitors were in for a shock reaction from a King's Guard after they attempted to grab the reins of his horse while posing for a photograph. In the first incident, a bearded man wearing a blue waterproof jacket, smiled as he approached the disciplined military animal at Horse Guards Parade in London. But just seconds after touching the leather straps of the reins, the usually silent King's Guard sitting on the horse suddenly screamed out: 'Go away!' A tense look between the two men then followed, with the man - who looked visibly shocked at the outburst - recovering himself to stand back in position and smile for a quick photograph. With the picture taken, the man's smile quickly dropped and he looked back again at the ceremonially-dressed soldier before walking away. One of two tourists caught on camera grabbing at the reins of a King's Guard horse before discovering the consequences In a second incident, a female tourist wearing a grey jumper and trousers attempted the same feat and grabbed at the reigns of the animal while posing for a photograph. This prompts the King's Guard to scream out at the entitled tourist: 'Don't hold the reins!' But after the tourist failed to react to his words, he motioned to the horse to step forward, causing the woman to recoil in fright. Determined still to get her photo, she stood close to the horse but looked tense as the image was taken. This latest episode at the popular tourist destination follows a string of incidents where sightseers have got to close for comfort with the regal animals. The horses - which have signs next to them saying 'Beware, horses may kick or bite. Don't touch the reins. Thank you.' - have been known to bite unfamiliar people when they get too close to them. Earlier this month, a Spanish tourist was scolded by the King's Guard after she repeatedly flapped her umbrella to agitate his horse. The young woman clad in a raincoat was seen turning to laugh with her friends after quickly opening and closing the umbrella in front the animal. After provoking the animal, the King's Guard sitting on the horse then calls the emergency bell several times while trying to calm his horse. He repeatedly strokes the animal and pats their back while he waits for two other guards to appear on foot. The soldier then alerts them of the reckless tourist and after a few moments of identification, the guard walks over to the woman. He then calmly tells her 'we'd appreciate it if you don't flap that in the horses faces'. The sheepish tourist was then told her flapping 'can spark a reaction out of the horses and they're just doing their job'. 'They're nice to look at but please be respectful, they are doing a job,' the guard added. Sydney Sweeney, who was last year derided by a prominent female Hollywood producer for both her looks and her acting abilities, appears to have taken a subtle swipe at her detractor. The Anyone But You actress, 27, was publicly mocked by Carol Baum, whose films include Father of the Bride and Dead Ringers, on a New York stage in April 2024. Baum was in conversation with New York Times film critic Janet Maslin when she said the Euphoria star was 'not pretty' and 'can't act', while also labelling Sweeney's 2023 romcom 'unwatchable'. She later made a dramatic U-turn, however, saying that is isn't her style to be 'c**ping on an actor like that in public'. A spokesperson for Sweeney responded swiftly at the time, branding Baum 'shameful' for choosing to 'attack another woman', while the star's fans said it was an example of 'internal misogyny'. And, in an interview with The Times yesterday - published just over a year on from the debacle - Sweeney said: 'It's the women who give me the hardest time.' Sweeney neither named Baum nor referred directly to the shocking episode - but the comment nevertheless returned attention to Baum's very personal attack. The actress, who founded the production company Fifty-Fifty Films in 2020, suggested that people tend to assume she's less involved than she is. Sydney Sweeney (pictured at the Met Gala in May) was last year publicly mocked by Hollywood film producer Carol Baum Baum said Sweeney was 'not pretty' and 'can't act', while labelling her 2023 film Anyone But You 'unwatchable' Sweeney told The Times: 'I have to be like, I want to be in the room, I want to sit in every single meeting and want to be involved in every decision, I want to be taken seriously as a producer.' She explained that she had learnt to be 'very direct' and 'very blunt' before adding: 'To be honest, actually, I always find that it's the women who give me the hardest time.' Last April, in the aftermath of Baum's criticisms, a representative for Sweeney told MailOnline: 'How sad that a woman in the position to share her expertise and experience chooses instead to attack another woman. 'If that's what she's learned in her decades in the industry and feels is appropriate to teach to her students, that's shameful. 'To unjustly disparage a fellow female producer speaks volumes about Ms Baum's character.' Baum was speaking with Maslin before an audience of fans when she made the comments following a screening of her 1988 film Dead Ringers starring Jeremy Irons. 'She's not pretty, she can't act,' said Baum, who later admitted that she had been inundated with hate mail from Sweeney's fans. 'There's an actress who everybody loves now Sydney Sweeney. I don't get Sydney Sweeney.' Carol Baum (pictured), whose films include Father of the Bride and Dead Ringers, later made a dramatic U-turn on the comments Addressing her romcom Anything But You, in which she stars alongside Glen Powell, Baum continued: 'I was watching on the plane Sydney Sweeney's movie because I wanted to watch it. 'I wanted to know who she is and why everybody's talking about her. I watched this unwatchable movie sorry to people who love this movie [this] romantic comedy where they hate each other.' Referencing the producing class she teaches at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Baum added: 'I said to my class, 'Explain this girl to me. She's not pretty, she can't act. Why is she so hot?'' 'Nobody had an answer but then the question was asked, 'Well if you could get your movie made because she was in it, would you do it?' 'I said, "well that's a really good question...that's a very hard question to answer because we all want to get the movie made and who walks away from a green light? Nobody I know. Your job is to get the movie made.' In yesterday's wide-ranging interview with The Times, Sweeney belatedly clarified the status of her relationship with fellow producer Jonathan Davino. The actress, who was seen without her engagement ring in February, came clean about the breakup when asked if she was planning a wedding. 'No,' was the answer. She answered 'yes,' when asked if she was single, adding: 'Im learning a lot about myself, spending more time with my friends. And Im loving it.' Sydney Sweeney, 27, kept her answers short and sweet as she broke her silence on her breakup with former fiance Jonathan Davino; Pictured in Los Angeles in April She and Davino, 41, had been together since 2018 and got engaged in 2022. He was a producer on her successful romcom, Anyone But You, co-starring Glen Powell. She and the 36-year-old Texan had such chemistry in the film that many wondered if they were a couple at the time - especially since they decided to lean into the spark while promoting the movie. 'Glenn and I adore each other, so I think we were so happy for the reception of the film,' she said, seeming to shut down any idea of a love connection. 'When you spend so much time with someone, you become close and you talk to each other about anything. 'So work, life, family, friends, hes just there for me. Im there for him.' For now, Sweeney is happy to share snuggles and go on outdoor activities with her dogs Sully Bear and Tank, work on restoring vintage cars, and create a real estate empire. She already owns multi-million dollar homes in Los Angeles, South Florida and the Pacific Northwest. 'Im obsessed with [property website] Zillow,' she explained. The couple began dating in 2018 and got engaged in 2022, but broke up earlier this year. Sweeney, 27, answered 'yes' when The Times asked if she was single; Pictured in Los Angeles in October 2018 'Im learning a lot about myself, spending more time with my friends. And Im loving it,' she told the outlet; Pictured with stylist Gigi Vittoria For now, the Euphoria star is content to share snuggles and outdoor activities with her dogs; Sully Bear, seen here, and Tank 'Right now Im looking at New York, looking at Montana. Maine. Rhode Island. Texas, Italy, London everywhere.' As she promotes Echo Valley, a mother-daughter drama co-starring Oscar winner Julianne Moore, the actress recognized a need to step away from working so much. 'I have to prove myself as a young woman, as an actor, as a businessperson all of it,' she told the outlet. Regarding slowing down, The Handmaid's Tale actress said, 'I hear it more from my family than myself [they say] "Sydney, youre going to burn out. Sydney, you need to slow down. Sydney, you need to take a break".' Echo Valley debuts on Apple TV+ on June 13. The King was on his way to St Mary Magdalene Church for the Sunday service King Charles was seen smiling and waving at royal fans this morning as he made his way to church in Sandringham. The monarch, 76, was being driven to St Mary Magdalene Church for the Sunday morning service when he made the warm gesture. Pictured in the backseat of a blue vehicle, Charles, who is often accompanied at church by Queen Camilla, 77, appeared to be attending the service alone today. The King looked typically smart in a suit and tie as he waved and beamed at those gathered nearby. The royal couple last week visited Ottawa, Canada, where Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer in February of last year, addressed the country's parliament. In the speech, delivered from a throne made of wood from a Windsor oak, the King declared the nation 'strong and free'. Charles, who was introduced to Parliament as The King of Canada, spoke of his 'deep pride and pleasure' at witnessing 'Canadians coming together in a renewed sense of national pride, unity, and hope'. Charles's appearance this morning comes after The Mail on Sunday reported that Prince Harry, 40, sought advice from Princess Diana's brother about changing his family name to Spencer. King Charles smiled and waved at royal fans as he arrived at church in Sandringham this morning King Charles, 76, appeared to be attending this morning's service alone Sources said the Duke of Sussex actively explored ways to assume his mother's surname a move that would have involved ditching Mountbatten-Windsor, used by his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. It is understood he discussed the issue with Earl Spencer whose family seat is Althorp in Northamptonshire during a rare visit to Britain, but was told that the legal hurdles were insurmountable. 'They had a very amicable conversation and Spencer advised him against taking such a step,' said a friend of Harry. Nevertheless, the fact that he consulted the Earl over the issue a proposal that would dismay his brother and father is a vivid expression of the toxic rift with his family. Mountbatten-Windsor is the surname available to descendants of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. It combines the Royal Family's name of Windsor and the Duke of Edinburgh's adopted surname. On their birth certificates, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's children are Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor and Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor. Royal author Tom Bower has claimed that 'Meghan decided her real object in life was to be Diana'. If the name change had succeeded, Meghan's daughter, who is believed to have met the King only once, would have become Lilibet Diana Spencer, a more fulsome tribute to Harry's late mother. It is understood Prince Harry (right) discussed changing his family name with Earl Spencer (left) A young Prince Harry with his mother Princess Diana during a visit to Majorca in 1987 Althorp House - the Spencer family seat in Northamptonshire The move would be particularly hurtful to King Charles, who cherishes the Mountbatten name just as his father did. A mentor to Prince Philip, the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma was also a strong influence on his great-nephew, the future King Charles. Philip adopted the Mountbatten name when he became a naturalised British subject and renounced his Greek and Danish royal title in 1947. The Queen and Philip decided in 1960 that they would like their own direct descendants to be known as Mountbatten-Windsor. According to the Government, you do not have to follow a legal process to start using a new name, but it suggests on its official website using a 'deed poll' to apply for or to change official documents such as a passport or driving licence. Names and titles are a highly sensitive subject for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They were given their Sussex titles by Queen Elizabeth on the day of their wedding in 2018. Meghan recently insisted her surname is Sussex, correcting a guest on her Netflix cookery and lifestyle programme. In episode two of With Love, Meghan, which was released in March, the 43-year-old former actress was joined by comedienne Mindy Kaling. Meghan told her: 'It's so funny you keep saying 'Meghan Markle' you know I'm Sussex now.' Princess Diana enjoys a ride with her youngest son Harry at Thorpe Park in 1992 Comedienne Mindy Kaling (right) in the second episode of With Love, Meghan on Netflix As Ms Kaling looked confused, the duchess, who has visited the county of Sussex only once, continued: 'You have kids and you go, 'No, I share my name with my children'. 'I didn't know how meaningful it would be to me but it just means so much to go 'This is OUR family name. Our little family name.' ' The Sussexes used the title princess for their daughter, Lilibet, for the first time after her christening in California was announced in 2023. A spokesman for the couple said: 'The children's titles have been a birthright since their grandfather became monarch. This matter has been settled for some time in alignment with Buckingham Palace.' The children were subsequently officially named as prince and princess on the Royal Family's official website. Archie, now aged six, and Lilibet, who turns four on Wednesday, were named as the Prince and Princess of Sussex on the line of succession page of the official Royal Family website. They are sixth and seventh in line to the throne. Previously they were listed as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor and Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor. The rules governing the titles of royal children were set out by George V Queen Elizabeth's grandfather in 1917. Archie and Lilibet were not prince and princess at birth, because they were not grandchildren of the monarch, but they gained the right to these titles when King Charles acceded to the throne. Prince Harry holds his mother's hand at Clarence House on the Queen Mother's 92nd birthday in 1992 Meghan and Harry's son was born in 2019 and christened as Archie Mountbatten-Windsor During an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Meghan suggested that Archie had been denied his birthright of the title 'prince' by the Palace During the Sussexes' explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, Meghan suggested to the American chat-show host that Archie had been denied his birthright of the title 'prince' by the Palace and that the decision went against protocol. She spoke of her shock at being told he would not get police protection because he did not have a title, and suggested that the decision was taken because of his mixed race. 'It's not their right to take away,' Meghan said. Asked by Ms Winfrey, 'Do you think it's because of his race?', the duchess replied: 'In those months when I was pregnant, all around this same time, so we [had] the conversation of he won't be given security, he's not going to be given a title. And, also, concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he's born.' At the time the claims caused shock and bewilderment at Buckingham Palace, with the late Queen subsequently publishing a statement including the memorable phrase, 'some recollections may vary'. A mother who lives in the epicenter of the Texas measles outbreak has revealed how her son's infection left her fearing he could suffer permanent brain damage. Alex, from Lubbock, near Gaines County, revealed her baby erupted in the hallmark red and splotchy measles rash and developed a dangerously high fever after he was exposed at daycare to the virus the most infectious in the world. At eight months old, he was too young to have received the measles vaccine which is normally administered for the first time at 12 months old but there is a high proportion of unvaccinated people in the area, which is experiencing a record-high case count. Earlier this month, the US officially reported 1,000 measles cases in 2025 marking only the second time case counts have crossed this threshold since the disease was declared eradicated in 2000. And officials are warning if the disease continues to spread unabated, the US could lose its measles elimination status. Alex said her son was exposed to measles on April 3, after another parent sent their child to daycare despite having another child at home who was infected with the virus. She said: 'If you're not going to vaccinate, at the very least, don't send your sick kids to daycare. My baby now has measles.' Alex said she posted her son's illness online to warn others over the dangers of the measles She was alerted to the infection by the daycare, and immediately isolated her baby thinking for the first few days that they were in the clear. Then, on April 10, the little boy developed a mild fever, became sluggish and had congestion and a cough. After she took him to see a doctor on April 13, she was told they could see small, white spots on the inside of his cheeks a sign of a measles infection. The next day an angry, red rash erupted, which spread down from his hairline to his face before eventually overtaking his whole body. The worried mother-of-two posted videos of her son's rash online, where her baby appeared tearful, listless and completely covered in the rash. Alex was extremely concerned her son's infection could turn fatal or leave him with lasting side effects. She said on her TikTok: 'Apart from brain swelling, Im mostly concerned about secondary pneumonia.' Measles can cause brain inflammation, also known as encephalitis. It is a serious side effect of the virus and can cause permanent brain damage. The CDC reports it occurs in about one in 1,000 cases. Additionally, pneumonia can lead to septic shock, respiratory failure and even kidney and lung damage. Your browser does not support iframes. Measles is the most infectious disease in the world, with an infected person able to pass the disease to nine out of 10 people exposed who are unvaccinated. It is particularly dangerous to young children, with the CDC saying one in 20 unvaccinated children who are infected develop pneumonia while one in 1,000 suffer from encephalitis swelling of the brain that can cause permanent damage. One to three in every 1,000 unvaccinated children who are infected die from the disease. Many people commenting on Alex's videos were quick to say the disease did not appear to be a mild illness, with some even saying it motivated them to get their children vaccinated. Your browser does not support iframes. One wrote: 'My mother told me measles wasn't that bad when I told her I won't travel with my baby because of the outbreak. I sent her this and she changed her mind. My heart hurts for your baby.' A second said: 'I'm so sorry your little angel is going through this. My son got his six months shots today, and I elected to get the MMR early because of your video.' Texas is in the grips of America's biggest measles outbreak in two decades mostly among young children. Two young and unvaccinated girls, ages six and eight, have died as a result of the outbreak. Measles is the most infectious disease in the world, with an infected person able to pass the disease to nine out of 10 people exposed who are unvaccinated After two days of the rash, Alex posted it was beginning to calm down saying she felt they were now over the worst of the virus. Her son was not hospitalized for the disease, but was treated at home to help reduce the symptoms. In another video, she detailed what she gave to her son to help with the infection. She gave him Tylenol and Motrin for the fever and budesonide, a prescription drug used to reduce inflammation. He also received antibiotics to head-off any secondary infections, because measles weakens the immune system raising the risk of other illnesses. The mother only let her baby sleep lying down on her chest throughout the illness, and kept using cool baths and washcloths to try to lower his temperature. She also gave him the probiotic Ther-Biotic Baby for his gut, and cod liver oil - an unproven remedy touted by Robert F Kennedy Jr - to boost his levels of Vitamin A and D. Her baby had mostly recovered by April 17, with his rash having disappeared. Alex showed him crawling and smiling again. The mother said she posted her son's illness online to warn others over measles, with doctors being quick to comment saying this was the first modern case recorded publicly that they had seen. Alex has another child who has been vaccinated against measles, and she said she was not pro- or anti-vaccine, but felt it was important for everyone to work together to stop the disease from spreading. Women have alleged that the contraceptive jab, which has been linked to brain tumours, left them suffering debilitating side effects that, in some cases, 'ruined' their lives. Posting on social media, a number of patients have said the injection triggered heart palpitations, anxiety, weight gain and extreme mood swings, with many wishing they never took it. The jab, administered to some 5 million women in the UK, is given every three months and stops reproduction by preventing eggs from being released by a womans ovaries. But its safety has recently been called into question after studies found the injection, known by the brand name Dep-Provera, raised the risk of brain tumours five-fold. Researchers found those who had the jab were far more likely to develop a meningioma, a type of brain tumour that is non-cancerous but can kill by compressing the brain and nerves if it grows too big. Last October, UK watchdog the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority called for the injection's manufacturer Pfizer to include a warning about the risk in patient information leaflets. Pfizer, the drug firm behind the jab, also wrote to NHS doctors urging them to stop women from using Depo-Provera immediately if they were diagnosed with a meningioma. On Wednesday, it came to light that some 200 UK women who feared the jab was to blame for their meningioma are now considering legal action. About 400 US women have launched a class action against Pfizer and other generic makers of Depo-Provera. Now, women have taken to social media to complain of a range of health problems they believe were caused by the jab. In one TikTok video a women named Emily Rose said the shot 'completely ruined' her life. In the caption of the video, she wrote that she wouldn't recommend it unless you're 'prepared to do your research'. She claimed to have suffered heart palpitations, anxiety, loss of appetite, and described feeling like 'a complete stranger' to herself. Others echoed her experiences in the comments section. One mother said getting the contraceptive jab was 'literally the worst mistake' she has ever made, while another told of 'skyrocketing anxiety', 'headaches from hell' and visual disturbances. 'I regret it so much,' she added. Calyssa three months off of the contraceptive jab (left) and Calyssa three months one and a half years off of of the jab and one month after giving birth In another TikTok video, a women named Calyssa described 'life-ruining' withdrawal symptoms when she stopped having the jab. Specifically, she claimed it was responsible for extreme weight gaincausing her to gain more fat than she did during pregnancy. In the caption to the video she said: 'The Depo-Provera birth control I can say ruined my life and body. 'Getting off of it made conceiving take longer and my body had withdrawal effects where the weight gain went up before it went down. 'Plus, I was always moody and rageful with it. It gave me rage.' Elsewhere, in a Reddit post shared late last year, a 24 year-old woman with no prior health issues shared her suspicions that two seizures she suffered may have been linked to the jab. The woman claimed she had an initial seizure in June 2024 while driving 'out of nowhere', which landed her in the back of an ambulance. Depo-Provera is injected in the arm or buttocks every three months. An estimated 2 to 3million prescriptions for the birth-control drug are filled every year in the US While she remarkably sustained no injuries, her car was 'totaled'. The hospital carried out tests which all came back clear, but one week later she claimed that she suffered another seizure. 'My body was hot, heavy & tingly, and then my boyfriend said I went lifeless in my eyes and started to seize,' she wrote. The only common theme she claimed she noticed was that she had received her Depo jab a week before each seizure. Sherry Brown, of Louisiana in the US, is one of the women who believe the contraceptive jab left them with a life-altering brain tumour. She told MailOnline that she started taking Depo-Provera in 2001, when she was drawn to the jab for its convenience compared to the pills she took before. Sherry Brown, of Louisiana, was diagnosed with two meningiomas nearly two decades after she stopped taking Depo-Provera. If her treatments are unsuccessful, she will need brain surgery However, she stopped taking the injection in 2003 due to weight gain, staying off other birth control until undergoing a hysterectomy in 2004 when she was 27. Brown thought nothing of her time on Depo-Provera until she randomly passed out in 2019 and hit her head. Doctors discovered a meningioma in her brain, though they decided not to start any treatments due to its small size. Two years later, in 2021, Brown lost her sense of smell. She also suffered regular memory lapses, taking several minutes to remember routines she had spent years perfecting. Scans revealed a second meningioma. Though the newer tumour was too small for doctors to risk removing, her primary growth had grown to about 1.5 inches, roughly the size of a silver dollar coin. Earlier this year, at age 47, Brown underwent a gamma knife procedure, which uses radiation to stop tumour growth without making any incisions. She will have scans later this year to see if the procedure stopped the primary meningioma from growing. If it is unsuccessful, she will likely have to have brain surgery to remove either one or both tumours. 'It's a constant fear and thought in the back of my mind: Are the tumors going to grow? Is either one of them going to grow?' Brown said. Pfizer has been approached for comment. The disposable vape ban imposed today could backfire, putting hundreds of thousands at risk of dementia, heart disease and organ failure, a new study has suggested. According to research involving 750 UK adults, 42 per cent of vapers will consider returning to lethal smoking if all vapes are banned. Over a quarter of participants also admitted that they have no plans to change their vaping habits, even in light of the disposables ban. As of today, 1 June 2025, shops and businesses can no longer sell disposable vapes, in a bid to stop young people engaging in the harmful habit. Breaching the ban could result in a number of penalties across the UK, including a minimum fine of 200 for businesses that sell disposable vapes in England. Repeat offenders will face up to two years in prison. Trading Standards will also be able to seize any single-use vapes they find. But, research commissioned by Vape Shop suggests the move risks undermining the Government's progress towards a smoke-free Britain. An estimated 5million single use vapes are thrown away every week in the UK. Roughly one in ten adults are estimated to be hooked on vaping, as smoking rates fall Your browser does not support iframes. The new poll revealed that 44 per cent of vapers said they originally started vaping to quit smoking. Of the 750 vapers surveyed, 27 per cent admitted that they plan to continue vaping, despite the upcoming ban, with 52 per cent already using refillable and chargeable vapes. Chris Price, E-Commerce Manager at Vape Shop said: 'These findings show a real risk that following the disposable ban, we may see thousands pushed back to smokingthe very habit vaping helped them quit. 'With the 2030 smoke-free ambition, it's important that policy decisions don't undermine progress made over the last decade,' he added. The poll comes as a modelling study conducted by the Future Health Research Centre found that while the ban could see up to 378,000 people give up vaping, smoking rates could sky-rocket. The model scenario indicated that between 90,000 and 200,000 more people could pick up smoking following the ban. Richard Sloggett, the reports author and a former government advisor, said: The Government has committed welcome and strong action to reduce smoking and tackle youth vaping. Despite the ban, almost 27 per cent of people said they are not planning on reducing how often they vape, despite expressing concerns about the rising cost of vaping post-ban However these findings show that urgent work is needed to ensure that efforts to reduce youth vaping do not have the unintended consequence of increasing the numbers smoking particularly amongst younger people. The ban also feels like being a missed opportunity, with hundreds of thousands of people soon to be looking for alternatives to disposable vapes but over half saying they will simply switch to another product. With the ban looming, the Government now needs to get on the front foot, commit to a national mass media anti-smoking campaign and set out more clearly how it will use its forthcoming regulatory powers through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to help ensure that those using disposable vapes do not turn to smoking instead. According to Cancer Research UK, vaping is far less harmful than smoking. This is because, according to the NHS, vaping exposes users to fewer toxins and at lower levels than smoking cigarettes. Smoking has been linked to at least 16 different types of cancer as well as various heart and lung diseases, infertility and a host of other complication, killing over 8million people every year. Analysis by the cancer charity found that on average, nearly 160 cancer cases attributed to smoking were diagnosed every day in 2023. However, research presented by Manchester Metropolitan University earlier this year challenged this, suggesting vapes could pose a similar health threat. Your browser does not support iframes. Researchers say this is because vapes allow people to inhale nicotine as a vapourproduced by heating a liquid typically containing a mixture of harmful chemicals and flavourings. Experts are concerned this high nicotine content increases heart rate and blood pressure, as it does in smokers, making blood vessels constrict and damage artery walls. In the Manchester study, researchers tracked volunteers, aged 27 on average, all of whom had a similar level of fitness. They were given regular stress tests to measure the elasticity of their blood vessels and the speed of blood flow to their brains. Both smokers and vapers achieved a flat reading, signaling they had damaged artery walls that can no longer dilatean almost certain sign of future serious cardiovascular problems, the researchers concluded. Further tests proved that the blood flow in smokers and vapers is similarly impaired, making them at risk of developing cognitive dysfunction, including dementia. Last year, MailOnline also discovered the number of adverse side effects linked to vaping reported to UK regulators has now eclipsed 1,000, with five of them fatal. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 8million people die from tobacco use every year. Breast cancer patients could soon be thrown a lifeline thanks to a 'next generation' drug that can destroy tumours months before they even grow. The daily pill, known as camizestrant, stops cancer cells from developing, dramatically slowing the spread of the disease and delaying the need for gruelling chemotherapy. Around seven in ten breast cancer patients in the UK have a type of the disease known as HR positive HER-2 negative breast cancerthe most common form. Of these, around 40 per cent, totalling roughly 10-15,000 UK women every year, can develop an aggressive genetic mutation that stops treatment from killing the cancer. But the 'transformational' trial found patients given the drug camizestrant saw their risk of the cancer progressing slashed by more than half. It was also the first worldwide study that showed blood tests can pick up early warning signs that the cancer is likely to return. Doctors used the test to spot changes in the cancer's DNAwhen they found signs of the harmful mutation, patients were given camizestrant. Currently, these monitoring blood tests are only performed after treatment is given, and look for signs of cancer DNA in the blood, which indicates the disease is spreading. The daily pill, known as camizestrant, disrupts cancer cells from developing further, slowing the spread of the disease and delaying the need for gruelling chemotherapy Symptoms of breast cancer to look out for include lumps and swellings, dimpling of the skin, changes in colour, discharge and a rash or crusting around the nipple Experts presenting the findings today at the American Society for Clinical Oncology conference (ASCO) in Chicago, hailed it a 'pivotal moment in breast cancer care' and 'truly fundamental shift in how we approach cancer'. The drug is already being fast-tracked for use in the US and has been sent for approval in the UK. Professor Nicholas Turner, an expert in molecular oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, who co-led the major trial, said: 'This is a pivotal moment in breast cancer care. 'This is a potential new strategy for treating developing drug resistance before it causes the cancer to progress.' In the trial, 3,325 patients with HR positive, HER-2 negative advanced breast cancer from 23 countries were screened for the aggressive mutationknown as ESR1 using a blood test every eight to 12 weeks. Of these, 315 women who tested positive for the mutation were split into two groups. One group was given a combination of camizestrant and another medicine known to attack this type of cancer. The other group was given the traditional medicine as well as a hormone therapy. Researchers found those on the camizestrant combination slashed their risk of death or the cancer progressing by 56 per cent. The drug also kept the cancer at bay for 16 months on average compared to 9.2 months on standard treatment. Presenting the findings at ASCO, Susan Galbraith, executive vice president of oncology at AstraZeneca said the drug had now been given 'breakthrough therapy designation' by the Food and Drugs Administration in the US, helping to speed up regulatory review Checking your breasts should be part of your monthly routine so you notice any unusual changes. Simply rub and feel from top to bottom, in semi-circles and in a circular motion around your breast tissue to identify any abnormalities Just one per cent of patients stopped taking the drug over side effects. Presenting the findings at ASCO, Susan Galbraith, executive vice president of oncology at AstraZeneca, the firm behind the drug, said the company is having 'ongoing discussions' with UK drugs chiefs to fast-track the medicine's approval. Meanwhile, Dr Catherine Elliott, director of research at Cancer Research UK, said: 'This study is a clear example of how blood tests are starting to transform cancer treatment. 'By tracking tiny traces of tumour DNA in the blood, researchers were able to spot early signs of treatment resistance and switch therapies before cancer had a chance to grow. 'This approach could become an important part of how we personalise care for people with advanced breast cancer.' by Derek Neal I first started reading Jon Fosses Septology in a bookstore. I read the first page and found myself unable to stop, like a person running on a treadmill at high speed. Finally I jumped off and caught my breath. Fosses book, which is a collection of seven novels published as a single volume, is one sentence long. I knew this when I picked it up, but it wasnt as I expected. I had envisioned something like Proust or Henry James, a sentence with thousands and thousands of subordinate clauses, each one nested in the one before it, creating a sort of dizzying vortex that challenges the reader to keep track of things, but when examined closely, is found to be grammatically perfect. Fosse isnt like that. The sentence is, if we want to be pedantic about it, one long comma splice. It could easily be split up into thousands of sentences simply by replacing the commas with periods. What this means is the book is not difficult to readits actually rather easy, and once you get warmed up, just like on a long run, you settle into the pace and rhythm of the words, and you begin to move at a steady speed, your breathing and reading equilibrated. So this is how the words work, but what do they say? After reading the first two books in the collection, which together are called The Other Name, the best way I can explain it is by quoting a passage from the book itself: and thats how it also is with all the paintings by other people that mean anything to me, its like its not the painter who sees, its something else seeing through the painter, and its like this something is trapped in the picture and speaks silently from it, and it might be one single brushstroke that makes the picture able to speak like that, and its impossible to understand, I think, and, I think, its the same with the writing I like to read, what matters isnt what it literally says about this or that, its something else, something that silently speaks in and behind the lines and sentences (italics mine) The narrator who is talking, an elderly painter named Asle who lives in rural Norway, spends much of the book like this, thinking about his paintings and trying to explain what they mean. He is unable to explain their meaning, however, because language and painting are two different things, and something gets lost in translation. What he says about writing takes things even further, suggesting that words dont mean what we say they meanwhat matters isnt what it literally says about this or that, its something else, something that silently speaks in and behinds the lines and sentences. I would like to suggest that this is the true subject of Fosses book (or at least the first two that Ive read), the idea that words do not mean what we say they mean, but something else, something behind the words. Fosses challenge, of course, is to express this idea through language. How do we say one thing with words that mean something else? He begins by calling our attention to the inability of language to fully represent reality. In the first few pages, while Asle is describing his paintings, he makes constant reference to a group of people only referred to as they, who are presumably art critics. most of the paintings are approximately square, as they put it, I think, but sometimes I also paint long narrow ones and the one with the two lines crossing is noticeably oblong, as they put it, but I dont want to put this one into the show because I dont like it much and then I take another look at the picture with the two lines crossing, both in impasto as they put it, and the paint has run a little and where the lines cross the colours have turned such a strange colour, a beautiful colour, with no name, they usually dont have names because obviously there cant be names for all the countless colours in the world (italics mine) Language cannot capture reality, which is itself a concept created by language, nor can it fully explain art, yet we continue to try, to put into words, as Fosse writes, the invisible in the visible. Asles refusal to accept the critics characterization of his painting, qualifying each description with an as they put it, so we know that he doesnt agree, or saying that there are some things with no name, foregrounds the inadequacy of language to capture life. Septology is a spiritual text, a book that takes for granted that a material view of the world is insufficient and that to reflect the totality of existence the spiritual is of utmost importance. But again, how to do this? While reading, I remembered a famous line from the Tao Te Ching: the Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao. This seems to be Asles view on painting and writing, which is not to say that Asle is a Taoist; in fact, hes a Catholic, and his religion is a constant presence in the text. He prays frequently, and these prayers, shockingly, are reprinted in the text in Latin. Heres an example: Im so tired, so tired, and I think even so I need to say a Pater Noster before I go to sleep and so I make the sign of the cross and then I take the cross between my thumb and index finger and hold it tight and I say to myself Pater noster Qui es in caelis and I pause after those words and already Im starting to drift off into the fog of sleep and I say Sanctificeture nomen tuum Adveniat regnm tuum and I think yes Hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdom come Asles prayer switches from Latin to English (perhaps I should say the vernacular, as it will change depending on the translation), which lets the reader know that this is the Lords Prayer, allowing us to understand the first lines Asle says in Latin (Our Father, who art in heaven). Some readers, of course, will recognize the prayer instantly, even without the change in language, but some readers wont. And some readers will think back to their own memories of saying this prayer, while again, others might be unfamiliar with the prayer and not know it by heart. Still others might know the prayer only in Latin, and while they will have said it many, many times, they might not understand the literal meaning of the words because they will have never thought to translate them, and the prayer will not mean what the words mean, but it will mean something else, something that speaks silently behind the lines and sentences, like a ritual, a chant, an incantation. In the novel, the Lords Prayer is often a gateway to memory. Asle begins to pray, and then he begins to remember, and without any indication that this is a memory, a new story emerges, a story about another Asle, usually Asle as a child. These stories are told in the third person, whereas Asles present day narration is in the first person, but in truth, we cant confidently say that these are Asles childhood memories. There is, in the novel, another Asle in the present day, a painter, just like our narrator, who has long, white hair in a ponytail, just like our narrator, but this other Asle has given himself to drink, has stopped painting, has let his life fall apart, whereas our Asle, who used to drink, has stopped drinking, just like hes stopped smoking, and he paints constantly, and he sells his paintings in town, and he makes a decent living. So is the child Asle a memory of our narrator, or a memory of this other Asle, or a third Asle altogether? We dont know, but it doesnt matter. This is a spiritual text, not a literal one, and as such, we are forced to say that this other Asle is both different from the narrator Asle and the same; the child Asle is both the narrator Asle and not the narrator Asle. In this way, the novel that The Other Name reminds me of is Ishiguros The Unconsoled, which also eschewed logic and reason in its plot in an attempt to articulate something more profound about human experience. In that novel, Ishiguro seemed to realize that there are no requirements for a novel, no reason that it must adhere to certain conventions about reality, no reason that a character cannot go to sleep in one place and wake up in another, or, indeed, go to sleep as a human and wake up as an insecta novel creates its own rules, its own reality, and in doing so, need only adhere to its own internal logic. While reading The Other Name and reading about Asles Catholicism, one is also reminded of The Bible, and the two parts I think of are Genesis, when God creates the world, and the beginning of the gospel of John: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The gospel tells us that the Word comes first, perhaps even before God, and that the Word is God. Does the Word create God? Does language create meaning? In Genesis, while it says that In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, it then tells us that God creates through speech: And God said, Let there be light, and there was light; And God said, Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear. And it was so. This is the counter to the understanding of language discussed earlierif language cannot capture truth, if the Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao, we also must grant that language itself creates and structures our reality. This is the dilemma that Septology seems intent on exploring. A narrative thread running through The Other Name (the first two books), and that I imagine will continue in the next five books, is Asles painting with the two lines crossing. At first, Asle doesnt like this painting and thinks it is unfinished, but slowly his understanding of the painting changes. His friend, Asleik, is the instigator of this change. Asleik is not a painter, is uneducated, has hardly ever left their small town, but has an uncanny eye for art and understands Asles paintings in a way few other people do. Their friendship is difficult to describe because it is unspoken and to certain readers, may not seem like a friendship at all, but this is because the words they use to communicate do not mean what they literally mean. Asle and Asleik understood each other in a way beyond language because they are two men from a certain time and place; they take care of each other and drive each other crazy, which allows for moments of hilarity and wonderful one liners. They repeat utter banalities that, through repetition, become meaningful. Asle frequently remarks how hes heard Asleik say the same thing over and over, because neither Asleik nor I ever have that much new to say to each other and thats why we always talk about the same things, because you have to say something. Repetition creates time; time creates meaning. On the first page of Septology, Asle says, about the picture with the two lines crossing, Im thinking this isnt a picture but suddenly the picture is the way its supposed to be, its done, before saying that I have to put this picture away with the other ones Im working on but am not done with. It seems the picture is both done and not done. Some 80 pages later Asle says that this isnt a picture yet, its just a picture Ive started on, and then notes after another 80 pages says that its stiff, its deadit doesnt have the light in it but its a St Andrews Cross, Asleik says, and hes right, and then he says it again, St Andrews Cross, he says and he puts a heavy stress on the words like hes proud of knowing them, proud that he, Asleik, knows a term like that. Asle still doesnt think its a good painting, but quickly his view starts to change, saying, Ill put aside that picture with the two lines, the St Andrews Cross, as Asleik says, yes the picture should be called St Andrews Cross, and then noting that hell paint the title on the painting and a big A, his signature, which is what he does when he finishes a painting. So, the painting is done. Nearly 100 pages later, Asle looks at the painting in the dark to see if there is light shining from it, which is his test of whether a painting is good or not. Now this painting seems so goodthe black darkness is shining from the picture, from almost the whole picture, the black darkness is shining, yes, Ive hardly ever seen the black darkness shine like that from any other picturethat he decides he cant sell it; he paints the title (St Andrews Cross) and his signature on the painting; its done. I trace the development of Asles understanding of this painting because it seems to me that when Asleik calls it a St Andrews Cross, this initiates a change in Asles understanding of the painting, or at least it pushes him toward considering it in a new way. Asleik doesnt just say this once, but repeats it, again and again, which seems to further solidify the possibility that the painting might be done, and also leads Asle to examine it in the darkness to see if it has the qualities of a good painting. Would Asle have looked for the shining darkness had Asleik not led him to see the painting in a new way? Would Asle have continued to add to the painting? In naming the painting, does Asleik create a new sort of meaning in the painting, or does he uncover the meaning already there? Said another way, does language create the world, or does it reveal the world? And what lies beyond language, and how can a novel attempt to show this through prose? Septology, so far, is exploring these questions, and here Im reminded again of Knausgaard, who said that a novel is a search into something, which I think also describes Septology in that its Fosses attempt to search into something that silently speaks in and behind the lines and sentences. *** Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now. Electric Spark: The Enigma Of Muriel Spark by Frances Wilson (Bloomsbury 25, 432pp) Electric Spark is available now from the Mail Bookshop In the summer of 1953, Muriel Spark not yet the famous novelist behind The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie was en route from London to the Edinburgh Festival, rattling with amphetamines. She was reviewing a new play by T.S. Eliot, who praised the ensuing article as one of the two or three most intelligent reviews he read. But a year later, Spark was gripped by drug-induced psychosis, believing that Eliot was sending her cryptic messages, disguising himself as her window cleaner and stealing her food. Prescribed Largactil, she quickly recovered, yet an interest in code-cracking and deceit would always colour her imagination. In the dreary world of post-war British fiction, still a boys club fixated on realism, be it Kingsley Amiss campus satire Lucky Jim or the kitchen-sink drama of Alan Sillitoes Saturday Night And Sunday Morning, Sparks sleek brand of experimental struck like lightning. Her 1957 debut The Comforters portrays a woman who hears in her head the text of the very book were reading. Her 1961 smash hit The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie tells us right away that the maverick teacher of the title (played on screen by Maggie Smith) will be betrayed by her pupils. The first line of 1970s The Drivers Seat, Sparks own favourite of her 22 novels, introduces us to a woman in search of her future murderer two decades before Martin Amis cemented enfant terrible status with the same idea in London Fields. Enigmatic yet crisp and concise, crackling with twists, each of Sparks 22 novels was written in one go without her needing to revise them or so she told a BBC interviewer later in life. Frances Wilson casts an admiring yet sceptical eye over that and other claims in this new biography, exploring the mind behind the books. Trailblazer: The first line of 1970s The Drivers Seat introduces us to a woman in search of her future murderer two decades before Martin Amis cemented enfant terrible status with the same idea in London Fields Born Muriel Camberg to a Jewish factory worker and Presbyterian mother in 1918, the author worked as a secretary before leaving Edinburgh for Southern Rhodesia. She had married Sydney Spark, a troubled teacher she met at a dance at 19. He had found a post there after his worrying antics, such as firing a starting pistol in the classroom, had deterred employers at home. Seven years later, Spark walked out on Africa and her husband as well as their young son, Robin. At a job centre in London she was recruited for undercover work with the Foreign Office, where she helped flood Nazi Germany with propaganda from a clandestine HQ in Bedfordshire. Wilson speculates that it wasnt Sparks first rodeo she might have been a spy in Bulawayo, identifying enemy aliens among settlers. An abiding interest in secret communication tipped her into madness once she embarked on literary life in London, where she encountered strife from the start. Appointed editor of the magazine Poetry Review in the 1940s, she championed edgier poets such as Eliot and W.H. Auden. I started publishing modern poems rather than Christmas card-type poems, she said in an interview in 2000. But she rubbed long-time contributors the wrong way. They would do anything to get published. Those that werent queer wanted to sleep with me. They thought they were poets and there should be free love or something. When Spark entered a story competition in The Observer as one might enter for a crossword puzzle, she said she won first prize. On moving to London, Sparks was recruited as a spy by the Foreign Office at a Job Centre It poured oil on the jealousy of her on-off lover Derek Stanford, a jobbing writer and sometime collaborator who betrayed her by selling her letters and writing rumour-filled books about her. Spark was a magnet for mediocrities, says Wilson, describing alarming encounters in her rackety Grub Street life. Where an earlier biographer referred to Sparks failed seduction by the forgotten experimental novelist Rayner Heppenstall a BBC producer who was pals with George Orwell Wilson instead calls it attempted rape. By the Sixties, Spark was a superstar, London in the rear-view mirror. In Manhattan she was given an office with a view of Times Square by the editor of The New Yorker. In 1966 she upped sticks again, to Italy. In Rome she lived in a Renaissance-era apartment so grand she couldnt see the ceiling; in Tuscany, she settled down with Penelope Jardine, an art student she met while getting her hair done. With Jardine as her gatekeeper and companion, peace broke out at least until Spark received a proposal from biographer Martin Stannard. Spark had praised his biography of Evelyn Waugh in a review for this paper in 1992. When Stannard sent her a card to say thanks, she replied that she wished she herself would have a biographer as good. Stannard seized the moment and put himself forward, though not without trepidation: how would an academic with the dress sense of Norman Wisdom (as he put it) measure up to a woman so chic? Miss Jean: Maggie Smith starred in the 1969 film adaptation of Spark's hit novel, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie The ensuing years were an ordeal for both parties. Spark had sought redress for the tittle-tattle peddled in the books that her former lover Derek Stanford had written about her. But that wish led her to thwart the very biographer she appointed, controlling his work through lengthening bouts of failing health. One of Sparks friends recalls sitting with her at her kitchen table as she read aloud scornfully from Stannards 1,200-page manuscript, which had been submitted for her approval as per their agreement. Every detail was questioned: her mental breakdown was, she said, actually a physical breakdown which inspired a form of dyslexia. The book, rewritten four times, was eventually published after Spark died in 2006 essentially in its original form, Stannard tells Wilson. Wilsons own biography avoids a cradle-to-grave approach, opting for a dynamic and dizzying weave of early struggles and future success. She reports that in 1961 a magazine polled leading novelists about whether they wanted to make a political, moral, spiritual or intellectual impact (Certainly not, said 007 author Ian Fleming). Spark replied: In all four fields I would like more readers to see things as I do. Wilson calls her the most singular figure on the 20th-century literary landscape. Hard not to agree. Blueprints by Marcus Du Sautoy (Fourth Estate 22, 304pp) Blueprints is available now from the Mail Bookshop The pairing of art and mathematics, as Marcus Du Sautoy writes on the first page of his absorbing new book, would seem for many synonymous with chalk and cheese. A contradiction in terms. Maths inhabits a realm of cold logic; the arts, one of emotional expression. Yet Du Sautoy will have none of this. Maths has its own aesthetic. He quotes approvingly the mathematician G.H. Hardy, who once wrote that, Beauty is the first test: there is no permanent place in this world for ugly mathematics. Recent research has shown that, when mathematicians encounter maths they consider beautiful, a part of their brain lights up. Its the same part activated in non-mathematicians looking at art or listening to music that they appreciate. Du Sautoy contends that the fundamental structures underpinning artistic creativity are mathematical. He calls them blueprints. Artists may not always know it but they are secret mathematicians. The strong connections between music and maths have frequently been acknowledged. Two of the greatest classical composers were obsessed by numbers. According to Du Sautoy, Mozarts opera The Magic Flute is dripping with maths. The repeated use of groups of three in the story is only the most obvious of many numerical patterns the composer employed. J.S. Bach had his own obsession with the number 14 and wove it everywhere into his music. However, it is not just music that is shaped by mathematics. So too are other arts. In architecture, the villas designed in the 16th century by Andrea Palladio have been described as frozen music. They could equally be called frozen mathematics, since they make ingenious use of geometric theory. In the 20th century, the tower block known as LUnite dHabitation, designed by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, has measurements based on a sequence of numbers he devised. Each number in the sequence is the sum of the two previous numbers. This is familiar to mathematicians, who know it as the Fibonacci sequence. Mozarts opera The Magic Flute is dripping with maths Du Sautoy finds his blueprints wherever he looks in creative endeavour. In the visual arts, he notes that the abstract works of Jackson Pollock were examples of an important mathematical structure only identified properly in the 20th century. Pollock was painting fractals, a word describing a geometric pattern that arbitrarily repeats it was not coined until two decades after the artists death. Recently, a group of supposed Pollock canvases were shown to be fakes because they were not fractals. In literature, Du Sautoy explores the hidden games Shakespeare played with numbers. Blueprints is not always an easy read for non-mathematicians. But its a constantly surprising one in its determination to show us that works of art we love are often pieces of mathematics in disguise. There are many reasons why people buy classic cars. Nostalgia is one, as drivers source older motors they drove or family members owned in the past - or vehicles they pined over as youngsters but couldn't afford at the time. Then there's the investment opportunity involved, with some models soaring in value as numbers dwindle and collectors scramble to get their hands on surviving examples. And some simply want to continue using cars from yesteryear that are more engaging to drive and far easier to repair than tech-laden modern vehicles in showrooms today. However, one of the less common justifications for acquiring an old motor is that it is widely considered the 'worst car in history'. But that's what Allan Symes, 50, did five years ago when he took ownership of a Yugo 45 - a comically cheap small car from the 1980s that was made in the former Yugoslavia and earned the unwanted moniker. With the infamous Eastern Bloc name set to make a return as part of a Yugo Automobile relaunch before the end of the decade, Allan tells us if the original is as bad as everyone believes... 'It's not the worst car in history!' Allan Symes, 50, pictured in his 1988 Zastava Yugo 45 - one of just two examples that survive today in the UK With the Yugo brand set to make a dramatic comeback, Allan gives his verdict to This is Money on the former Yugoslavian manufacturer's return to the market Allan, 50, from just outside York, is the proud keeper of a 1988 Zastava Yugo 45. Available in the UK from 1981 for around 3,000, the Yugoslavian motor significantly undercut rivals of the era, like the Austin Mini Metro, Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Nova. Zastava sold around 3,000 units per annum in Britain in the initial years, with tens of thousands snapped up at the tempting budget price. But few survive today. Do you have a funny Yugo tale? We want to hear from you... If you - or a family member or friend - previously owned a Yugo, we want to hear your stories. Email rob.hull@thisismoney.co.uk. Include your name, age, when you owned the car and any tales you have about living with a Yugo. And please attach any images of your Yugo if you have them. In fact, Allan believes his car is one of just two examples remaining after 'they all rotted away' over the last four decades. However, Yugos might not be a rare sight on our roads for too much longer... Earlier this year, German entrepreneur Dr. Aleksandar Bjelic confirmed he had not only bought the rights to the Yugo name but has his foot firmly on the throttle to bring it back to life before the end of the decade. The first car in the reborn Yugo Automobile line-up will be a compact three-door hatchback called Siaj - a modern-day representation of the Yugo 45 that promises to retain its budget-friendly ethos. And another five Yugos are in the pipeline, including a two-seat roadster and an SUV, Bjelic exclusively confirmed to This is Money. Earlier this year, German entrepreneur Dr. Aleksandar Bjelic confirmed he had not only bought the rights to the Yugo name but has his foot firmly on the throttle to bring it back to our roads. Last month, he gave an exclusive interview to This is Money about the company's plans Bjelic says the first 'new' Yugo will be this Siaj - a three-door hatchback that's the modern-day successor to the original 45. It will cost under 20,000 (17,000) Allan welcomed the news, telling us he thinks it is a 'brilliant idea' for Yugo to return, despite its infamous reputation from the 1980s 'It would be great if the name does return - I think its a brilliant idea,' Allan told us, as he referenced other car makers bringing back former names in recent years. 'Look at what Renault has done recently with the 5. Even when they've turned it electric it's been a huge success. 'The new Yugo could do the same. It looks really quirky and will be totally different to the cars on the market at the moment.' But can it really succeed with the original's 'worst car in history' reputation hanging over it like a dark cloud? Allan believes so. 'I think the people who made fun of it back in the day will understand what Yugos are all about these days. 'If it retains the same characteristics as the original, I think more drivers will appreciate it as a cheapish form of motoring though it all depends on how well built it is.' He tells us that his Yugo attracts plenty of attention from the driving public whenever he uses it - which is sparingly. 'I can turn up to a petrol station in mine and pull up alongside a Ferrari or a Lamborghini and everyone wants to ask about the Yugo. 'You just dont see them anymore, but everyone remembers them and wants to tell you their tales about friends or family who had one.' Available in the UK from 1981 for around 3,000, the Yugo significantly undercut rivals of the era, like the Austin Mini Metro, Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Nova 'Mine is a sea of caramel inside. The interior looks like a Caramac bar! Its all one colour inside. Its glorious but in an awful way,' Allan explains The Yugo was simplicity personified, with a basic cabin and four-speed gearbox. Allan's is likely one of the best examples remaining, not just in the UK but worldwide Allan, who works in the motor trade, has fastidiously cherished his Yugo, which he says he's fallen in love with since buying it from a friend a few years ago We asked Allan if the original Yugo deserves to carry the dismal reputation given to it. 'If you would have asked me this in the 1980s I would have probably agreed, but I wouldnt say it's the worst car in history now that I have one and appreciate it for exactly what it is. 'They really were basic transport with no frills. Maybe people expected too much from them. 'I love mine, partly because its so clunky and poorly built,' Allan tells us. 'Mine is a sea of caramel inside. The interior looks like a Caramac bar! Its all one colour inside. Its glorious but in an awful way. 'It has a factory-fitted bodykit, but its literally just riveted onto the bottom of the bumper. It flaps around like crazy at speed - that's how badly made they were. 'Fortunately, it's been stored inside all its life. Had it lived outside or been used a lot on salty roads, I doubt it would still be here. They all rotted away.' Allan tells us that he can pull up to a petrol station next to a Ferrari and more people will flock to the Yugo to tell him their stories about the car from the past The Yugo 45 arrived in the UK in 1981 as a rebodied Fiat 127 with a simple box shape penned by famed styling house ItalDesign and a crude cabin. Under the bonnet was a choice of three Fiat petrol engines, all modest capacities from 903cc to 1,301cc. It even sold a 'convertible' variant with a power roof While Allan says tens of thousands Yugos sold in Britain in the 1980s rotted away, but his has always been stored inside and covered very low mileage, making it one of the best survivors there is So, what's it like to drive? 'Its slow,' he chuckles. 'It can do 70 but it only has a four-speed gearbox, so it would be a push. 'Its comfortable at 60mph but you wouldnt want to do much faster and you certainly wouldnt want to hit anything!' The Yugo 45 arrived in the UK in 1981 as a rebodied Fiat 127 with a simple box shape penned by famed styling house ItalDesign and a crude cabin. Under the bonnet was a choice of three Fiat petrol engines, all modest capacities from 903cc to 1,301cc. It even sold a 'convertible' variant with a power roof. And it was seriously cheap. By the time UK imports ceased in 1991 due to the outbreak of the Yugoslav civil war, dealers were desperately offloading them at a remarkably low price of just 2,795 - that's the equivalent of just 8,600 today. The Yugo was also sold in the US, with 142,000 registered on the other side of the Atlantic between 1985 and 1992. Costing just $4,000, it was instantly renowned for being poorly engineered, ugly, and rudimentary. It rapidly became the butt of every automotive joke, as detailed in Jason Vuic's 2010 book The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History, which explains: 'Six months after its American introduction in 1985, the Yugo had become a punch line; within a year, it was a staple of late-night comedy.' For the first 25 years of its life, registration 'F94 GFJ' was owned by a lady called Christine. She covered a mere 8,000 miles in the little motor and always garaged the car When Christine became too ill to drive, she donated the Yugo to a local museum, where it remained for two years. Pictured: the Yugo on display at Stondon Transport Museum in Henlow, Bedfordshire Allan says he is still in regular contact with Christine, who without fail sends a Christmas card to her former motor, which she calls 'Ruby' Allan's Yugo 45 parked alongside a Yugo Sana - the model that followed it, which was based on the Fiat Uno Allan, who buys and sells cars into the trade, is a keen motor collector. But he likes vehicles with a difference - which explains the Yugo's place in his garage. 'I like older cars but particularly those that werent particularly loved back in the day. I have a collection of old random things.' And random they are. 'Ive got a Skoda Estelle, a couple of Metros, two Rover 75s, Talbot Alpine, Peugeot 106, Vauxhall Cavalier, Citroen BX. In total, I have about 25 cars and its a real mix,' he tells us as he struggles to recall the mass of motors he has locked away. 'The Yugo is one of my favourites. It only needs basic maintenance; if something goes wrong, I can fix myself. And, touch wood, since Ive had it, the cars been really reliable.' Allan says his Yugo has been incredibly reliable since he's owned it - though admits he's only driven it around 700 miles 'They really were basic transport with no frills. Maybe people expected too much from them. 'I love mine, partly because its so clunky and poorly built,' Allan told us The basic instrument cluster shows the Yugo's mere 8,000-mile history By the time UK Yugo imports ceased in 1991 due to the outbreak of the Yugoslav civil war, dealers were desperately offloading them at a remarkably low price of just 2,795 - that's the equivalent of just 8,600 today The Yugo was also sold in the US, with 142,000 registered on the other side of the Atlantic between 1985 and 1992. Costing just $4,000, it was instantly renowned for being poorly engineered, ugly, and rudimentary Did you - or a family member - own a Yugo in the eighties or nineties? We want to hear your stories about the much-maligned motor... Allan tells us that his Yugo was first owned by a lady called Christine for 25 years, who bought it new to replace her Mini that was written off outside her home in 1988. 'I'm still in regular contact with Christine who likes to checks up on the car,' he says. 'Every year, she sends me a Christmas card for the Yugo. She calls it Ruby.' When Christine decided to give up driving due to ill health in 2013, she donated her Yugo to Stondon Transport Museum in Henlow, Bedfordshire, free of charge with a mere 8,000 miles on the clock. It was displayed for two years before the museum closed in 2015 and one of Allan's friends - and another car collector - snapped it up for 3,500. When they moved overseas In 2020, Allan added 'F94 GFJ' to his collection and has cherished it ever since. 'Ive put about 700 to 800 miles on it in the last five years,' he says. 'It's one of those cars you quickly fall in love with.' If you - or a family member or friend - previously owned a Yugo, we want to hear from you. Email rob.hull@thisismoney.co.uk with your name, age, when you owned the car and any tales you have about it. And please attach any images of your Yugo if you have them. The return of NatWest, the bank formerly known as RBS, to the private sector, has more symbolic than practical significance. The sale of the final remnant will not have much impact in the real world of customers, staff and the banking industry more widely. Even so, the final exit of the long-suffering British taxpayer after 17 years and at a hefty 10billion loss is a good moment for reflection. Paul Thwaite, the current chief executive, was a relatively junior figure 17 years ago, when the bank came close to going under and taking the entire UK financial system with it. Along with other executives of his generation who began their careers back then, his mindset has been formed by that traumatic experience. Banks, and bankers, are different beasts now. The light touch regulation of the pre-crisis era has been replaced by rules that arguably are too restrictive. There is little trace of the arrogance of former RBS boss Fred Goodwin, Adam Applegarth at Northern Rock and their Wall Street counterparts in the bank CEOs of today. Talking tough: Donald Trump's spells in the White House are one of the consequences of the 2008 financial crisis They are considerably more boring in a good way. The political backdrop is also very different now, though sadly, not necessarily in such a good way. One can trace a line directly from the crisis to the rise of populist leaders on the Left and Right. Disaffection, mistrust and contempt for institutions have become an ingrained feature of the political landscape and this has culminated in the re-election of Donald Trump. In the years running up to 2008, the belief was that capitalism had triumphed over communism with the fall of the Iron and the Bamboo curtains. Globalisation the free flow of money, trade and people seemed to be lifting millions of people out of abject poverty. Some communities, including in the rust belt of the US where Trump has won over voters, were being left behind. Cheap credit, including sub-prime mortgages, appeared to be papering over a lot of those cracks. The events of 2008 damaged confidence in experts of all sorts, in elected officials, regulators and institutions. One can draw a line from the debt disasters that hit European nations, including Greece, Spain, Italy and Ireland, to the Brexit referendum. Back in the day, US presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama were at least trying to stabilise the situation rather than throwing petrol on the flames. In the UK, Gordon Brown, a man who may well be judged far more kindly by history than he was at the time, hosted the G20 summit in London in 2009. Many view this gathering, where world leaders pledged to improve financial regulation and to make more than $1trillion available to support the global economy, as a turning point. Central banks flooded economies with emergency cash through Quantitative Easing to keep the system afloat a necessary measure at the time, though it went on far too long. Wall Street titan Jamie Dimon, then as now the chief executive of JP Morgan, provided a cool head and calm leadership. Dimon, still a towering figure, has been warning Trump about his tariff plans and confrontational foreign agenda. Unfortunately, Trump looks more likely to be the cause of the next crisis than its solution. At the time of the crisis, there were fears the global financial system would implode. That apocalyptic scenario was avoided, but we are still living with the consequences of 2008. Trump is one of them. I live in Australia (and am a tax resident here) and I own a leasehold flat in Suffolk that I use when visiting the UK. I no longer wish to own the property due to the doubling of the council tax on unoccupied properties. Also, the water is muddied with regard to possible liability for UK inheritance tax. There is no inheritance tax here in Australia. I would like to gift it to my two adult children since I don't need the funds here and they will eventually inherit the property anyway. If I transfer title to them, do they have to pay stamp duty, and if so, at what rate? It is on sale at present for 330,000 Due to the government's war on landlords and buy to let (neither of which applies to me since it is not let out), it will probably not sell at that price. If stamp duty is levied on the gift, would it be possible to agree a notional sale price of 250,000 in order to fall into the lowest tax bracket, or can it even be exempt from stamp duty since there will be no money changing hands? They will then become second home owners, so does the transaction incur additional stamp duty? P.A, via email This reader wants to gift their flat in Suffolk to their two adult children SCROLL DOWN TO ASK YOUR FINANCIAL PLANNING QUESTION Harvey Dorset, of This is Money, replies: For many Britons living abroad, its nice to continue to have a base to come back to when you visit. This would be especially the case for you, as your trips from Australia are likely to be for longer periods given the distance between the two countries. Unfortunately, tax changes that came into effect last month in Suffolk mean that you are now required to pay twice the standard council tax rate on your property, as it is only 'occupied periodically.' East Suffolk Council states: 'At a Full Council meeting held in February 2024 it was approved that from 1 April 2025 a 100 per cent Second Home Premium charge will be applied to properties that are furnished and do not have anyone living in them as their main home. This means that 200 per cent Council Tax is payable.' Understandably, you have decided it is not worth you keeping the property under the current ownership circumstances. Instead, you want to give the flat to your children, which would pass on some wealth and help with potential inheritance tax liabilities. As you say, there is no inheritance tax in Australia but there is in the UK, meaning your situation is harder to work out. Meanwhile, as discussed below, there are other taxes that you may need to watch out for. This is Money spoke to two financial advisers to find out what you need to do in order to pass your flat to your children while keeping tax to a minimum. David Denton warns that the reader's children may face the additional homes surcharge in the future David Denton, head of technical at Quilter Cheviot, replies: First, from an inheritance tax point of view, your instincts are right to consider future exposure. While Australia abolished inheritance tax in the late 1970s, UK IHT still applies to most UK-based assets including property regardless of the tax residency or domicile of the owner. So, although you're an Australian tax resident, your UK flat remains within the scope of UK IHT. That said, with the nil-rate band currently set at 325,000 and your flat valued at around 330,000, the potential liability could be relatively minor, although the nil rate band is frozen until at least 5 April 2030. Now to the more immediate question of gifting the property to your children. Provided there is no outstanding mortgage on the flat, a transfer of ownership as a genuine gift would not trigger Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on the part of your children. SDLT is only payable if there is 'consideration' for example, if the recipient assumes liability for a mortgage, or pays for the property. However, even if the transfer is exempt from SDLT because there is no consideration, your children may still face the 3 per cent additional homes surcharge in the future. This wouldn't apply at the point of receiving the gifted flat, but if they later went on to buy another UK property without selling the Suffolk flat, the new home would count as an 'additional property' and attract the higher SDLT rate. Lastly, you also need to consider capital gains tax (CGT). As a non-resident, you remain liable for UK CGT on the disposal of UK property, even when gifting it. The gain would be calculated as the difference between the property's market value at the point of transfer and its value when you acquired it. Certain costs associated with the transaction may be deducted, and it's likely that the annual exempt amount of 3,000 would be available, whilst depending on the level of gain, the tax rate could be up to 24 per cent. Where people often come unstuck is trying to manipulate the value of the property for tax purposes. HMRC normally expects that any transfer whether by sale or gift is assessed based on open market value. That means a professional valuation may be required. Artificially lowering the price could lead to tax complications and potentially penalties. In short, your children won't pay SDLT upon receiving a gift without a mortgage, but there are still IHT and CGT considerations. It's worth seeking tailored advice and a professional valuation to ensure all angles are covered properly. Oliver Loughead says the reader should check if they qualify as a long-term tax resident of the UK Check your inheritance tax position carefully Oliver Loughead, wealth manager at RBC Brewin Dolphin, replies: Transferring ownership of UK property to children is a significant decision that carries various legal, financial, and tax implications, particularly for individuals who are not resident in the United Kingdom. Regarding inheritance tax (IHT) treatment of the property, for a non-UK resident, IHT will normally be due on UK assets only (subject to new long-term UK residency rules) that exceed the available nil rate band (NRB), which is currently 325,000 per person. If you have a spouse or civil partner, it might be possible to make use of both of your available NRBs, so 650,000. Under UK law, a gift of property is typically treated as a potentially exempt transfer (PET). This means that if the donor survives for seven years following the date of the gift, the value of the gift may fall outside the scope of IHT. However, if the donor dies within that period, the value of the gift may still be brought into account for IHT purposes. In such cases, taper relief may apply, potentially reducing the amount of tax due depending on the time elapsed between the gift and the donor's death. If you have previously lived in the UK, you should check if you qualify as a long-term UK resident, as your worldwide assets may fall into scope for UK IHT. You are deemed a long-term UK tax resident if you have been resident for either the previous 10 consecutive years or a total of 10 years or more within the previous 20 years. Regarding concerns around stamp duty land tax, SDLT generally does not apply to gifts of property unless the recipient assumes a mortgage on the property. In cases where the transfer involves taking over an existing mortgage, SDLT may be charged based on the value of the outstanding loan. Therefore, the structure of the gift - especially whether the property is encumbered - must be carefully evaluated. Capital gains tax (CGT) should also be considered. Since April 2015, non-residents have been liable for CGT on disposals of UK residential property. A gift of property is treated as if the donor has disposed of it at market value, even if no money changes hands. This means that any increase in the property's value from its acquisition (or from April 2015 if it was owned before that date) to the date of the gift may be subject to CGT. Non-resident individuals must report and pay any CGT due within 60 days of completing the gift. The legal process for transferring UK property to children is complex. A UK-based solicitor should be instructed to handle the conveyancing and ensure all necessary documentation is completed, including a deed of gift or transfer deed. An often-overlooked aspect of gifting property is the potential loss of control. Once the property is legally transferred, the donor no longer holds rights over it unless specific conditions are attached, such as transferring it through a trust. Establishing a trust can be a useful mechanism to maintain some level of influence over the property while still achieving estate planning objectives. However, trusts introduce their own tax implications and legal complexity, so professional advice is essential before proceeding. In conclusion, while gifting UK property to children can be a valuable tool for estate planning and wealth distribution, non-UK residents must carefully assess the legal and tax consequences. Thorough planning, supported by expert advice from UK solicitors and cross-border tax professionals, is essential to ensure that such a transfer achieves the desired outcome without triggering unintended liabilities. One Saturday just before Christmas 2007, there was a knock at the Edinburgh home of the late Alistair Darling, who was then Chancellor of the Exchequer in Gordon Brown's Labour Government. On the doorstep, proffering a gift-wrapped panettone, was Fred Goodwin, the boss of Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), who lived nearby. This was no social call: Goodwin had come to beg for help to keep his bank afloat. His visit was Darling's first foreboding of the catastrophe that would engulf RBS a few months later, culminating in a 45billion taxpayer bailout. A much-mourned Darling died in 2023. A disgraced Goodwin lives a quiet life on a 600,000-a-year pension from the bank he almost destroyed. Neither man could have imagined on that December day that it would take 17 long, strife-ridden years before that bank would finally emerge from state ownership. It is a milestone moment and an opportune one to reflect on the mistakes of the past as well as prospects for the future. As Sir Howard Davies, who was chairman of NatWest for nearly ten years from 2015 on, says of Friday's sale: 'It won't make a huge amount of difference in itself. It is in a territory somewhere between practical and symbolic.' The symbolism is potent. The story of RBS is one of arrogance, hubris, and powerful men believing they are above the rules. These are perils that plague us just as much today as they did in 2008. Paul Thwaite, the current chief executive, was a young, relatively junior banker at RBS in 2008. He said of the bailout: 'I didn't know Fred, but it did shape my mindset. 'The enormity of the role banks play in economies and the lives of customers hit home. 'I wanted to be part of a team to put things right and to repay a debt of gratitude to taxpayers for the bailout. We are very grateful for the taxpayer stepping in.' Fred Goodwin, former boss of Royal Bank of Scotland, begged Alistair Darling - Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2008 - for help to keep his bank afloat The NatWest of 2025 bears mercifully little resemblance to the RBS of the crisis era, when it had been turned into a vehicle for the overweening ambition of Goodwin, known as Fred 'The Shred' for his ruthless approach. Today's bank is smaller and safer, with a balance sheet of just 708 billion compared with 2.2 trillion back then. It made a 6.2billion profit in 2024, a happy contrast with 2008, when there was 40.7billion of red ink. The bank is even back on the takeover trail, having recently made an 11billion approach for the retail banking arm of Santander UK, though this has been rebuffed for being too low. At this final reckoning, British taxpayers have lost more than 10billion through the bailout money that could have paid for schools and hospitals and will now never be recovered. Entrepreneurs lost businesses through the rapacious behaviour of the bank's Global Restructuring Group (GRG) unit, which was supposed to help troubled firms but stripped their assets instead. Ross McEwan, chief executive from 2013 to 2019, says: 'There was always concern as to whether the Government would get its money back but the priority was to stabilise the UK financial system. If RBS had tipped over it would have been a catastrophe. We were within hours of running out of cash at ATMs.' The toll it took on shareholders, particularly private investors and employees who were induced to put their money into a disastrous capital raising in 2008, was, he says, heartbreaking. 'I was running a forum for retail bank staff and I saw a woman quietly walking away so I stopped her. She said to me she had put money into that capital raising. 'She said: 'Ross, you don't understand how much money my family lost it was money going into our retirement and our grandchildren's education.' The roots of the bank's downfall lay further back in 2000 in the 21billion takeover of NatWest by RBS. It was a David and Goliath affair, as the Scottish bank was much smaller than its prey. The hostile bid masterminded by a young Goodwin and his mentor Sir George Mathewson, chief executive of RBS and later chairman was one of the first I covered as a neophyte City journalist. Their success in the NatWest deal took many by surprise, including the big-name commentators of the day, who were backing a rival offer from Bank of Scotland. After covering the deal day-in, day-out, speaking to shareholders and getting to know Goodwin and Mathewson better, it did not surprise me. The first few years after the bid were heady. Goodwin took over from Mathewson as chief executive. A car enthusiast, he hobnobbed with his hero, the racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart. He gained entry into Royal circles and was knighted in 2004, only to be stripped of the honour after the bank imploded. In his new-found pomp, he built a lavish new HQ at Gogarburn outside Edinburgh, complete with seafood kitchens serving his favourite dish of scallops. He flew around in the bank's private jet. Appetite whetted by NatWest, he went on a deal-making spree. As McEwan says: 'Remember, this was at one point the largest bank on Planet Earth. It had a balance sheet of 2.2trillion pounds. It was in 54 countries. 'I wouldn't just blame it on Fred. There was a board, there were investors that signed off on every deal. Had they all gone tonto? Yes, they had got to a point where they just didn't think they could lose.' The scale of the expansion had started to rattle shareholders and City analysts. But when Barclays launched a bid for Dutch bank ABN Amro, Goodwin could not resist muscling in. I remember a lunch with him in his office in 2007, when I was Business Editor of the Observer. We discussed the bid: he seemed unperturbed by the storm clouds gathering. I left, feeling bemused. The 71billion (60 billion) deal, done in 2007 as a consortium with Santander and Fortis, was the precursor to disaster. When the global financial crisis struck in autumn 2008, shares in RBS, which was exposed to the American subprime mortgage market, lost 87 per cent of their value. To avert a collapse, the Government provided a multi-billion pound bailout, taking a significant stake in the bank. Goodwin was ousted, to be replaced by Stephen Hester, a respected banker who is now chairman of EasyJet. RBS's Gogarburn complex outside of Edinburgh. In 2008, the bank was the largest in the world Hester ran the bank for five years from 2008 to 2013 and stabilised its finances. Under McEwan, the bank's structure was streamlined. That included selling off non-core businesses and returning it to its roots serving UK personal and corporate customers. The bank also reached a multi-billion pound settlement with the US authorities for selling the toxic sub-prime mortgage bonds in the run-up to the crisis. According to Davies, the US settlement and Covid were the main reasons it took so long for the Government to sell out. He says: 'I took over in 2015 and assumed that well before the end of my term the bank would be completely in the private sector.' McEwan's successor, Dame Alison Rose, told me she was convinced the bank would fully free itself from Government ownership while she was in charge. She would probably have been right, had it not been for a few unguarded remarks she made over dinner to a journalist concerning the 'de-banking' of Reform leader Nigel Farage that led to her defenestration. She was replaced by Thwaite, under a new chairman, the industrialist Rick Haythornthwaite. The pair are looking to grow the business, mainly under the bank's own steam, though they are also back in the deals game. Thwaite recently bought Sainsbury's Bank and a 2.5billion mortgage portfolio from Metro Bank. 'Rick and I are ambitious for the bank, but we have learnt the lessons around financial discipline' he says of deal-making. 'Now we have a simple, low-risk business model and much safer regulation.' 'There's no complacency. I am very grateful to the British taxpayer. Returning to private ownership is a new chapter for the bank.' It is all but certain that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will slash the amount that we can put in cash Isas. She has repeatedly refused to deny that she will and industry sources suggest the most likely limit will be 4,000 of our total 20,000 tax-free allowance the rest to be used only for investing. But details hiding in official savings figures that have until now been overlooked make me fear that far more Isa restrictions are on the cards. Here's why. Reeves has stated two motivations for meddling with Isas. The first is helping people to get a better return on their savings. Her theory is that if she restricts the amount we can save tax-free in cash we will invest instead (whether this strategy will work is debatable: it is more likely that we will just divert our cash into ordinary savings accounts). The second motivation is the one underlying all of Reeves's decisions: to help drive economic growth. This ambition will not be fulfilled simply by restricting cash Isa limits. Even if it leads to a wave of cash flooding into financial markets, only a small pool of it will go into UK companies. New investors are likely to put money into popular stocks such as Nvidia, Meta and Apple rather than favouring the UK. The UK makes up only 4 per cent of the global stock market, so an investor opting for a well-diversified portfolio would be unlikely to put much into this country. Reeves has stated two motivations for meddling with Isas: helping people to get a better return on their savings; and to help drive economic growth That's why, if Reeves wants to achieve her aims, she will have to force us to invest in assets that would boost UK growth. She may insist that a portion of stocks and shares Isas must be directed at UK companies. She made a similar demand of pension funds last week and sources tell me this is being discussed for Isas as well. It wouldn't be the first time such an idea was mooted the previous government considered something similar when it tried to launch a British Isa that savers could use to invest in UK companies. The next clue that Reeves will force or incentivise savers to invest part of their Isa allowance in the UK is in the Premium Bond figures. Premium Bonds hold so much of our cash that if encouraging us to invest more was her sole priority, she'd be slashing the amount we can put in them too. From a saver's point of view, Premium Bonds offer an even poorer return than cash Isas. At least in an Isa you earn interest. With Premium Bonds you're simply holding out for a prize. There are millions more holders of Premium Bonds than cash Isas around 24 million versus just 14 million and we hold a stonking 127.7 billion of cash in them. As many as 1.2 million savers hold the maximum permitted amount of 50,000 in Premium Bonds. No doubt plenty of that cash could be earning a better return if invested instead. If her priority was to get better returns for savers, she would slash that maximum. But, of course, she won't. Not just because it would be unpopular that has not stopped her in the past. But because, unlike cash Isas, money saved in Premium Bonds does help drive economic growth. Premium Bonds are one of the products sold by NS&I to bring in billions for the Government for it to spend. It is a form of government borrowing but one that doesn't appear on the books like other types of debt. Her willingness to overlook poor returns for savers in Premium Bonds shows where her priorities lie: economic growth first, savers' wealth second. The third clue lies in the official Isa figures from HMRC. They reveal that restricting the amount we can save in cash to encourage us to invest more will not work. Until 2015, Isa allowances were restricted just as Reeves is currently planning. You could only put a proportion of your Isa allowance in cash the rest had to go in stocks and shares. Before 2015, for every 10 going into a cash Isa, 4.10 went into a stocks and shares Isa. After 2015, for every 10 going into cash, 5.90 went into stocks and shares If Reeves is right that savers need to have their cash Isa allowance curbed to get them to invest, you would expect that savers might have flocked to cash as soon as the rules were abolished in 2015. But they did not. In fact, when they were permitted to save as much of their allowance in cash as they liked, they chose to invest more. Before 2015, for every 10 going into a cash Isa, 4.10 went into a stocks and shares Isa. After 2015, for every 10 going into cash, 5.90 went into stocks and shares, analysis by investment platform XTB shows. The proportion going into stocks and shares has ballooned we hold 431 billion in stocks and shares Isas, compared with 294 billion in cash Isas. So the Chancellor can't use the excuse that she needs to restrict cash Isas to get savers to buy more stocks and shares they are already investing more. But that won't matter to her. The real motivation is to drive growth and in this plan cash savers are merely a pawn. So what comes next? I fear the freedom to save and invest within our Isa however we choose is about to be clobbered on all fronts. Savers need to prepare for a regression back to 1999, before the Isa was even launched. Back then, savers were reliant on Personal Equity Plans. These were the predecessor of the Isa and offered tax-free investing but required you to put a proportion of your allowance into UK companies. That is where we're heading back where we started, with our freedoms restricted, as if nothing had been learned. Leading MPs have accused Cadbury owner Mondelez of being 'too busy counting its profits' to respond to criticism over selling its chocolate in Russia. More than 70 MPs and peers accused the firm of 'funding Russia's war machine' by continuing to trade in the country. The group has called on Mondelez boss Dirk Van de Put to pull the company out of Russia. Alex Sobel, chairman of the UK's All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ukraine, said failing to respond to MPs was a sign of 'disrespect' to Parliament. Counting its profits: More than 70 MPs and peers have accused Cadbury owner of 'funding Russia's war machine' by continuing to trade in the country He added: 'Mondelez must exit Russia now or face the consequences of funding the Kremlin's war machine.' Tory MP Sir John Whittingdale, who sits on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said the firm was 'too busy' counting its profits in Russia to respond to MPs. A Mondelez spokesman said it had 'scaled down' its activities in the country. An alleged Aussie fraudster posing as a friend to the rich and famous is accused of emptying the wallets of socialite millionaires in one of America's most refined cities. Timothy Alford, the brother of Sydney socialite Hollie Nasser, left quite an impact on high society in the charming 'Old South' city of Charleston, South Carolina. After an 18-month whirlwind of women, flashing the cash, big wheel deals that never quite made it, and passing around photos of himself with a man who he claimed was Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, Alford left town without even paying the dog groomer. It is only now - after news of a $50million embezzlement investigation by the FBI into Alford, and his connection with the hit Paramount+ drama Fake - that Charleston authorities have been forced to do its own investigation into his time in the city. One man-about-town who Alford befriended told Daily Mail Australia that the alleged con man's behaviour became 'more and more bizarre, and then one day he was gone'. Charleston's experience with the elusive Alford only came to light after an investigative series by Nine Newspapers revealed late last year that the FBI has launched an investigation into fraud allegations against him. The accusations span two countries and involve alleged scams against US multi-millionaires and the ex-wife of a French president. Charleston realtor Matthew Brockbank contacted Daily Mail Australia following an article about Alford's real life connection with the show, Fake. Alleged fraudster Tim Alford (right) passed around photos to his new mates in Charleston of himself with celebrities such as rocker Tommy Lee (left) Alford (left) pictured with who he claimed was billionaire Amazon boss Jeff Bezos (right), but who may just be a much poorer lookalike Alford, the brother of Sydney socialite Hollie Nasser, tried to impress high society in Charleston, South Carolina In Fake, the love rat character played by Australian actor David Wenham who preys upon Asher Keddie's character, alludes to how he had allegedly been scammed himself. That alleged scammer was none other than Alford, the big brother of Hollie Nasser. Alford's alleged $6million scam on the romance con man Sean Lander (played in the show by Wenham) escalated to a creepy online threat toward Alford's family. It was just another tangled tale for a family that has repeatedly been at the centre of scandal and intrigue in recent years. But now more information has come to light regarding Alford's alleged exploits in Charleston, a city renowned for its historic charm, luxury hotels, culture and pre-Civil War architecture. Mr Brockbank said that Alford arrived in Charleston in 2020 and left suddenly in 2021. While Alford was awash with cash at first - 'always insisting he would pay and it was always cash' - by the end of his 18 months in the city he had grown 'p***ed off, stressed, angry and asking people to pay'. 'He was always flashing money, like a successful businessman and wannabe high roller. There were always women around,' Mr Brockbank said. 'He showed photos of himself with (Amazon boss) Jeff Bezos and (Motley Crue drummer) Tommy Lee to brag and was always talking about wheeling and dealing in Los Angeles and New York. Realtor Matthew Brockbank (left) has some bizarre stories about Alford's time in Charleston, where the Australian was always asking to buy expensive property but never quite coming through with the money Tim Alford is the brother of Hollie Nasser (above) who in 2021 became a central part of Sydney's biggest love scandal when she ran off with her best friend's husband 'He would always pay cash and refuse to let anyone else pay, and then left town owing debts. I had a buddy who lost a bunch of money. With me, all he did was waste a s***load of my time.' On several occasions, Alford asked the real estate agent to set up property deals which never came to fruition. One time he said 'Matthew I'm going to relocate to South Carolina, can you find me land up to $50million for polo ponies, that has a polo field'. But when Mr Brockbank tried to nail Alford down on the financials, the deal - like all his others - did not come together. 'About four times I said "I need to see proof and talk to the financial adviser", but no. I said whatever, he took me to dinner, and I dont hold a grudge, but it's an insane ego boost pretending to buy places. 'And then, suddenly he disappeared.' Mr Brockbank said one of the more bizarre schemes was Alford's alleged bid to buy all the antiques from a private club which had gone bust in Charleston. Mr Brockbank's mother, an antiques expert, spent days going through the wares and putting together 'a really good deal'. Tim Alford (above) allegedly left debts after flashing his cash in Charleston, South Carolina before mysteriously disappearing Charleston's foremost dog groomer, Carrie Montgomery, who runs canine barber shop The Dog Wash, discovered that Alford's assistant was paying for her service on the Aussie's golden retriever and called him out 'I said I needed to get the money first ... and he said "I'll get it to you later". He kept on saying "I'll have the money in two days to you".' The money never eventuated, the deal fell through, and the antiques were sold at auction. Then there was the unpaid dog groomer. 'This was even more bizarre. Alford had a beautiful golden retriever and one of his assistants, a young girl, would take it to Carrie, the dog groomer.' Carrie Montgomery operates one of Charleston's most stylish grooming business called The Dog Wash, in the city's historical downtown area. 'The assistant would always pay with her (personal) credit card to Carrie and when she found out the assistant wasn't being paid back, she told the girl "you're not paying me any more". 'Tim absolutely lost his mind at this and then said "it's ridiculous how much you charge" and paid her nothing. 'Next thing he came to me ... and said "we're going to open a dog grooming business". 'Tim told me he would be the investor and that would show Carrie he could run a dog grooming business. He left town right after that.' Mr Brockbank at first believed Alford may have gone to Dubai, but later learnt via his direct Instagram messages that Alford was in South America. 'Hell ... owing money in countries like Colombia and Dubai, they'll straight up chop his head off,' he said. A British woman has revealed how her health improved after she moved from the UK to Dubai saying life at home was 'making her sick'. Ela Reeves, 25, from Essex, was struggling with a series of health conditions prior to the move, including chronic fatigue, sore joints and acne. With her body 'crying out for change', she decided to try life in sunnier climes and jetted off to Dubai for a new life in January. Working remotely there for her job at a luxury travel company, Ela says her quality of life improved immediately and now feeling healthier than ever, she's not surprised that so many Brits are making the same move, tempted by tax-free salaries, better weather and more job opportunities. More than 240,000 UK expats are estimated to be living in Dubai, with many attracted to the city by the 5,000 British companies operating in the UAE, with famous faces including Amir Khan, Ant Middleton and Kate and Rio Ferdinand among their numbers. There has been a 420 per cent rise in the five years to 2024 in enquiries from UK nationals wanting to relocate to the country, according to John Mason International Movers with a 45 per cent surge in the 12 months to last March alone. 'Leaving the UK has been the best decision I've ever made for my health,' Ela said. 'The UK was quite literally making me sick. 'I thought that I had all of these autoimmune diseases because I was constantly tired and fatigued, I was constantly getting ill and I constantly had anxiety. Ela Reeves, 25, said that her life in the UK felt like a waste but everything has changed since she made the move to Dubai Working remotely in Dubai for her job at a luxury travel company, Ela says her quality of life improved immediately and she feels healthier than ever Ela Reeves, 25, from Essex, was struggling with a series of health conditions prior to the move, including chronic fatigue, sore joints and acne (pictured) when she lived in the UK Ela pictured prior to her move to Dubai said that she was constantly tired even though she lived a healthy lifestyle 'I just didn't feel my best self despite being somebody who is always health conscious, always eating the right things, going to the gym, and getting eight hours of sleep. 'It was so draining to the point that I was focusing on my health so much and wasn't really getting the results that I should have been. 'I was like 'What the hell is wrong with me?' Prior to moving to Dubai, Ela says she had 'severe' acne, struggling with bloating due to high cortisol levels, and says the lifestyle and weather in the UK limited her. Since leaving, she has noticed a huge difference in her health and has lost weight. Ela said: 'I'm [now] doing 20,000 steps a day, and my skin is the softest and clearest it's ever been. 'I have so much energy I never thought I would have this amount of energy. 'Despite getting eight hours of sleep and trying to stay off of my phone before I go to bed and stuff, I just always felt drained and tired. Ela said that she has so much more energy since moving to Dubai Even if she doesn't get enough sleep, Ela said that she still wakes up feeling energised in Dubai Ela said that she's constantly outside getting fresh air and sunlight and feels much healthier as a result Enjoying the high life in Duabi - Ela said that outdoorsy lifestyle really suits her and gives her more energy 'I just kind of gave up on that for a bit and thought that was just me as a person but not here. 'I can work till late at night, I can get up early in the morning and I feel fresh. 'Even if I get less sleep now, I've still got the energy because I'm constantly outside getting fresh air and sunlight.' Ela describes the UK as 'such a depressing place to live' and said: 'Because it is so miserable, it is affecting your health and your body in so many ways.' She cites the weather as a 'huge factor', saying she now walks a lot more, and spends her afternoons at the beach and sitting in the sun. Ela said: 'I'm not wasting hours indoors anymore watching TV. 'There's always something to do here, and that shift alone has made me feel more energised and productive. 'Life feels full again, not wasted. Ela (pictured in Dubai) said that bad weather in the UK meant she was indoors all the time and felt like she was wasting her life Since quitting the UK, Ela has noticed a huge difference in her wellbeing and her skin is now clear from acne 'In the UK, the days felt so repetitive, scrolling on my phone and watching TV. 'And with WhatsApp, FaceTime, and social media, I don't miss my family as much as I thought I would. 'I've actually loved the experience of moving abroad solo and have made so many friends here. 'My family has also come to visit, and thankfully we all have the flexibility to travel and see each other when we want to.' Ela has visited home to sort out visa issues and says her health issues have immediately resurfaced as a result. She said: 'I'm back in the UK temporarily and already my acne has flared up again, and I'm feeling constantly fatigued. 'It honestly just confirms what I suspected: being in the UK really does impact my health. 'In my opinion, the UK isn't a happy place anymore. 'So many people are struggling with their health, finances, and, let's be honest, the weather. Ela said that she was all stuck behind a screen and indoors when she was living in the UK (pictured) Enjoying her new lifestyle, Ela said she hasn't felt lonely because it's so easy to keep in touch with friends and family 'There are incredible opportunities for young people abroad go and find them!' On the flipside, some expats have claimed that life in Dubai is not all it's cracked up to be, and have returned to the UK, citing fears over job insecurity, and claiming they're exhausted by the work-life balance and bored by the 'soulless' culture. However, brand Kelly Lundberg, who has lived in Dubai for 22 years after falling in love with the city when she started working as an air hostess for Emirates, says that those who can't hack life in the UAE are approaching it the wrong way. After moving to Dubai, she launched a personal styling business, working with celebrities and royalty and has collaborated with the world's biggest brands, from Chanel to HSBC, but insists that there's more to the emirate than just being a 'glitzy playground'. 'Having grown up in Edinburgh, and lived in Dubai for 22 years, Ive been lucky enough to experience the best of both worlds,' she told MailOnline. 'So I can say with absolute certainty that those who see Dubai as little more than a glitzy sun-drenched playground for the ultra-rich arent looking hard enough at what this beautiful emirate has to offer. 'And as for the influencers announcing their departure, calling the city "soulless", while bemoaning how they thought theyd be better off, Id beg to differ. Perhaps they didnt look beyond the brunches and the Burj. 'For those who are open-minded, Dubai offers opportunities that are hard to match anywhere else in the world right now. And Im not alone in this thinking. It's not just Australia that could be affected. Research shows anomalies appearing all around the world. This year's winter in Australia may be impacted by a natural disaster that occurred three years ago. Source: Getty/Japan Meteorology Agency via AP A major natural disaster that occurred three years ago could be impacting Australias climate this winter, and may continue to do so for a number of years. Scientists say they are surprised by the results in their study, which showed the effects may be felt around the world for up to a decade. On January 15, 2022, an underwater volcano off the Pacific nation of Tonga exploded, releasing 1,000 times more energy than the Hiroshima bomb. It was one of the most powerful volcanic eruptions in recent history, and sent up to 150 million tonnes of water vapour into the stratosphere. A study into the long-term impacts of that water vapour injection found it may temporarily alter local climates, including cooler winters in Australia, warmer winters and spring in North America, drier summers over northern Eurasia, and more rain over Chinas east coast. The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption was felt all over the world in 2022, and its impact on the climate may continue to be felt for up to a decade. Source: NASA Earth Observatory Lead author and senior lecturer of the Climate Change Research Centre at UNSW, Martin Jucker, told Yahoo News it was "really unusual" for volcanoes to leave such a long-lasting impact. ADVERTISEMENT "Volcanoes are generally known to impact the global climate, but that's usually a cooling due to all the smoke and for a few years. It's usually more like two to three years, not eight years." He also said the research was complex, as a multitude of things can impact the weather and worsen or placate their findings. One very important thing about our study is that we look into the future, and there's no way to know how the global mean temperature or sea surface temperature, El Nino, El Nina, and all of these things, how they would look in the future. So we didn't include any of those effects. I only included the volcano and nothing else, Jucker said. So what can we expect to see? In Australia, the study found anomalies in surface temperature that could see winters get up to 1C cooler. Those in Western Australia may also see slightly lower temperatures in summer and autumn. Australias surface temperature anomalies were described in the study as the most persistent, with significant cooling from year 1 to 8. ADVERTISEMENT The research also picked up slightly more rain than usual in WA, and wet anomalies over northern Australia. The surface temperature anomalies in Australia (shown in blue) get stronger in years three and four after the eruption. Source: Martin Jucker, Long-Term Climate Impacts of Large Stratospheric Water Vapor Perturbations Interestingly, the anomalies peak at years three and four after the eruption, which would be this year and next year. The three-year lag is because of the composition of the stratosphere, Jucker said. There are no weather systems, there's no clouds, no rain, or anything, and everything moves much more slowly. This water vapour was put into the stratosphere very locally, just above the volcano. So it needed time for this water to distribute itself across the entire globe and that takes a few years," he said. Volcano could impact average temps over four-year period The changes can be difficult to perceive, Jucker said, and may not even be noticeable until looked at as an average over the next four years or so. ADVERTISEMENT I still hope we do [see the changes] because I just find it exciting. I'm waiting to see if we can confirm it from a scientific point of view. We find this effect only if we average over a long time. So four years, from now to 2029, we average, and then we see this effect. Even after year three, we don't even see these effects if we just look down one individual year, for instance. The huge blast sent two shock waves around the world and sparked a tsunami, which killed four people and injured many more. Source: Maxar via Getty Images While the study found weather anomalies around the world, the cooling in Australia and warming over North America dont have an overall impact on global temperature as they cancel out. "Now, what we did find is these regional impacts which would be starting about now, so three years after. And so they globally, they sum up to zero, but locally, there's a cooling," Jucker said. "Theres a cooling that we expect in winter over Australia over this time period, but there's a warming in North America in their winter, for instance. So all of these things cancel out, but regionally they're there." ADVERTISEMENT He added that, like all scientific studies, it's important to remember that his findings are not definitive. "So even when I say, we expect colder winters over Australia, it's really the probability of it being colder is higher. But it could be warmer, and that's fine. That would still be within our results. It's just that the probability of it being colder is higher," he said. One prediction that has so far proven correct in Jucker's study is that the volcano's eruption would contribute to a hole in the ozone layer. The large hole appeared from August to December in 2023, which is what his simulations picked up almost two years in advance. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Three hundred thousand spectators descend on the French city of Le Mans every year for the opening day of the world-famous endurance race. The region, today, owes much to the noise and fervour of the competition, bringing nearly 100 million euros to the local economy annually. But just 15 miles to the north, the way of life is slower, still cloaked in its Medieval history and visibly untouched by the busy communes on its frontiers. The sparse streets of Marolles-les-Braults are studded occasionally with a house or a heritage site. Churches and castles nearby paint a rich picture of France's rocky history with England. But the village of 2,000 today is content with quiet inside its tiny borders, surrounded in all directions by sprawling fields of gold and green. Still, an unsettling truth looms over the village. The population is ageing, and the number of empty properties has swollen in recent years. Pressed to respond to this existential challenge, authorities are trialing radical ideas to encourage change. Taking note of similar trials across Europe, a new scheme - introduced only in November - will see first-time buyer couples aged under 40 paid a 5,000 bonus (4,195) to move to the hamlet, with an extra 1,000 (839) per child under 15. Views of the quaint French village where homes sell for an average of around 110,000 Small shops line the streets of Marolles-les-Braults in France There is a real sense of pride around the carefully conserved way of life in Marolles-les-Braults. Publicly, the mayor boasts of how 'fortunate' they are 'to have two churches'. Illustrating the rate of change, he says the area has taken on 'a new dimension' since a decision to cultivate more flowers. People are clearly important. A polished website for the commune has been updated to list all of the small businesses offering services to locals, many of them family-owned. There are separate pages dedicated to markets and funfairs taking place throughout the year, and a place to report anything lost and found. Decisions are made on a small scale, and the village rarely makes national headlines. But a page has nonetheless been cultivated to keep a record of the village's history and changes on a local level. The demographic crisis is not immediately apparent. In 1982, the earliest published record, there were 1,840 people living in the village. In 2022, there were 2,135. Change has been steady. But, in keeping with trends across Europe, there is a felt concern that the population cannot continue to age at the current rate without replacement. Your browser does not support iframes. Just 15 miles from the village of 2,000, hundreds of thousands of people flock annually to Le Mans for the annual 24 Heures du Mans competition (pictured 2023) - set to return next month The response is still very much in its early stages. It has been only six months since the authorities voted on a plan to welcome in younger people with a cash incentive. A welcome page for new residents - a nice thought - so far only reads: 'Welcome to the new residents of Marolles-les-Braults and Disse-sous-Ballon. We invite you to come and introduce yourself at the Marolles-les-Braults Town Hall.' And an initial annual budget of just 30,000 has been set aside for the scheme. The preconditions for the bonuses makes clear the priorities of the administration. To qualify for the 5,000 grant, couples must be first-time buyers aged under 40 purchasing a home in the area. An extra 1,000 per child under 15 is available for those fitting the criteria. The offer is quite significant in an area where homes usually cost between 130,000 (108,000) and 170,000 (142,000), per SeLoger. AirBnb shows rental homes from as little as 51 a night. The Connexion, an English-language outlet in France, says that the scheme aims to 'rejuvenate the village' by 'bringing in a younger population to increase its dynamism and prevent homes from remaining empty for too long and decaying'. So far, they wrote in the middle of May, three young couples have moved to the area. Marolles-les-Braults is not the first to try such a scheme. Italy this year unveiled plans to offer families as much as 23,000 to move to the idyllic regions of Sardinia and Calabria, but there is a catch. There is a felt concern that the population cannot continue to age at the current rate without replacement Slide me Not much has changed in the village over the decades, illustrated by historic photographs Residents considering a move must go to one of nine small villages in the regions with populations of 2,000 or fewer. These are not the more touristic areas but sleepy villages. Italy recognises the wider pattern of an exodus of young natives moving to larger cities or overseas for work, and looks to bring people in before making its smaller population centres more desirable to stay in. France also has a precedent of encouraging residents with cash incentives, though unlike Italy the fees are significantly smaller, organised by the regions rather than the state. In 2019, the 42 municipalities in Aisne, northern France, banded together with a scheme to encourage buyers to relocate with 5,000 grants. It was hoped the scheme would breathe new life into a sparsely populated area and help rejuvenate the region's old buildings, unoccupied and falling into disrepair. 'We have carried out a study that has led us to the conclusion that many of these houses have been empty for a long time,' Pierre-Jean Verzelen, president of the community of communes for Pays de la Serre told Le Parisien at the time. At the time, a 115sqm home in the region could be expected to set buyers back just 35,000 (29,000). Today, the average price per square metre in the London region is 7,000. It was unclear how well the scheme had worked. MailOnline was unable to reach the local administration for comment. Small shops are carefully painted and nestled into well-preserved residential buildings The scheme aims to 'rejuvenate the village' by 'bringing in a younger population to increase its dynamism and prevent homes from remaining empty for too long and decaying' In Brignon, a village in the south of France, authorities experimented with selling off land at just 1 per square metre to young couples in an effort to rebuild its population. The population in 2017 was much smaller than that of Marolles-les-Braults, hovering around 600. But by 2024, Brignon was able to report a net population increase of 30 - a not insignificant rise of around five per cent. The Connexion reported in January that the increase was enough to keep open a local school and justify plans to build a new day nursery. With its bold new policy, Marolles-les-Braults will hope to echo some of that success. The village is only a stone's throw from the city of Le Mans, but carries a much slower pace of life. Recognising this to be an asset as much as a curse the commune will hope its carefully conserved offer is enough to woo new friends and neighbours from afar. Sitting under the shaded porch of a Southern home, your eye may wander and catch a blue colored ceiling above your head - a staple across the South - and people are just finding out why. The hues of the Southern porch ceiling originated in the 1800s in an attempt to ward off and confuse spirits. 'Haint Blue' was first used in Charleston and is associated with the Gullah Geechee people, descendants of enslaved Africans in parts of Georgia and South Carolina. The color was believed to repel haints, or ghosts and spirits, by tricking them into believing the ceiling was water or sky. Porches in the South continue on with the tradition - but now to keep a different kind of pest at bay. Many southerners claim the light blue colors also repel insects. One viral TikTok had a creator contemplating painting her porch blue to keep bees and spiders away. Another creator, Raguel, responded and said: 'Sometimes us Southerners know a thing or two.' 'Haint Blue' was first used in Charleston and is associated with the Gullah Geechee people, descendants of enslaved Africans in parts of Georgia and South Carolina. The color was believed to repel haints, or ghosts and spirits, by tricking them into believing the ceiling was water or sky Porches in the South continue on with the tradition - but now to keep a different kind of pest at bay. Many Southerners claim the light blue colors also repel insects He showed off his porch with the ceiling painted a light blue, and said that both his front and back porch had the color painted on with no issues with spider webs, wasps or 'anything like that'. Users who commented on the video chimed in with their own experiences, with one who said: 'As a pest control technician I tell my customers about this all the time. It isn't full proof but it does help a lot.' 'Painting it blue really does help. It's not an end all solution but it's a drastic improvement,' another wrote. 'We have done the same front and back porch learned it from Louisiana and I'm in Florida. Works well,' one said. Just as the belief that spirits would become confused by the color emulating that of water or the sky, a similar belief is held when it comes to bugs. Ellen O'Neill, the director of strategic design intelligence at Benjamin Moore, told Today: 'If an insect perceives that a ceiling is really the sky, it instinctively wouldn't nest there. 'It depends how deep you want to go into the brain of an insect... but it's not unlike how ladybugs will land on a white house. It's a visual trick.' Dr Michael Reiskind, entomology professor at North Carolina State University, told Good Housekeeping, however, that it is probably more likely that it serves as a less attractive color than a repellent. Just as the belief that spirits would become confused by the color emulating that of water or the sky, a similar belief is held when it comes to bugs Sue Wadden of Sherwin-Williams said: 'People paint the porch ceiling blue because the color seems to emulate the natural sky and makes daylight hours feels as though they last just a little longer' Dr Michael Reiskind, entomology professor at North Carolina State University, said that it is probably more likely that it serves as a less attractive color than a repellent 'I doubt any colors are very repellant to insects, except in very specific situations. What is more common is that there are colors that are attractive to particular insects, including some shades of blue for flies, but color repellency is not well-supported,' Reiskind said. 'Most studies that people interpret as showing color repellence are actually only relative, such that colors are not necessarily 'repellant' just not as attractive as other alternatives.' Reiskind went on to say that visual repellence to a specific color is 'likely quite rare', but that an insect may prefer certain colors for resource needs. While the paint colors repellent effects on insects is not proven, many adopt the tradition simply due to its cultural significance, aesthetic or sense of nostalgia. Sue Wadden of Sherwin-Williams told Real Simple: 'People paint the porch ceiling blue because the color seems to emulate the natural sky and makes daylight hours feels as though they last just a little longer.' But the superstitious tradition has been passed down through generations, making it a comfort to many today. 'No one would think twice about painting their porch blue, because their grandmother's and their parents' [porches] were blue,' O'Neill said. 'It's permeated into porch design.' A Minnesota suburbs' solution to the housing crisis backfired and sparked an almighty debate among residents who are up in arms over one neighbor's plan to build a tiny home on his land. The Blaine City Council decided to allow residents to build 'accessory dwelling units' (ADUs) on their properties in an attempt to allow for more affordable housing. Now, four years later, homeowner Alex Pepin became the first to apply for planning permission to build one. But in doing so, Pepin sparked uproar within the community and the council began to completely reconsider their solution. 'Everybody is upset,' said resident David Hime, Star Tribune reported. 'The neighborhood is up in arms over this.' Pepin runs a nonprofit for the homeless and his plans for his ADU would be with hopes to rent it out to a family in need. 'There's no encampments in the north metro or anything like that, but there is, you know, homelessness is an issue,' Pepin told CBS News. 'It would be families coming out of homelessness, so they would have gone through a program first.' Homeowner Alex Pepin became the first to apply for planning permission to build a tiny home on his land. In doing so Pepin sparked uproar within the community and the council began to completely reconsider their solution Pepin's plan was to build the unit, within the city's restrictions, and most likely rent it out to a single-mother with children following a criminal screening and recent drug testing. Pictured above Pepin's property and surrounding land Pepin's proposal - meeting city requirements- included a two-bedroom, 616 square foot home, with a maximum of four occupants His goals were to help families eventually find permanent housing solutions, working alongside nonprofits. His application was approved, before the council then revoked the permissions following backlash within the community. 'Their ruling was based on the concerns from other people that were not necessarily grounded in fact or anything,' Pepin told the outlet. 'It was disappointing for us. We're just trying to do an allowable activity in the city. This is an allowable means to get affordable housing for people who need help in our community,' Pepin told the Tribune. Hime furthered in April that their area was for 'private homes' and hadn't been designed for 'low income housing,' CBS News reported. 'This will destroy the enjoyment of our backyard,' he added, and cited worries of traffic, and the safety of their neighborhood as well as home values in the area. Blaine Mayor Tim Sanders, however, also argued that the ADU movement was not intended for low incoming housing but instead for family or starter homes. 'The intent was for families to have an option for housing, whether it be for parents or in-laws, or kids trying to get their start,' Sanders told the Tribune. Many residents cited safety concerns in their appeals to the council in hopes of shutting down Pepin's plans 'This proposal would just decrease the property value of everyone else who lives on the Park... I know to some it may not be a big deal since we are not as big as the new developments in town, but it is important to us,' said one concerned resident Pepin said, while he understood the concerns of those within the community who opposed his plans, he believed they had misinterpreted who he would be renting the unit out to 'It was not intended to be a revenue generator for the homeowner to rent out the space to a second family more or less living in someone else's backyard.' Resident Gregory Nelson wrote to the council in April stating: 'This is zoned single family housing... It would be a horrible eye-sore. Plus they want to put a driveway next to the exiting house to drive into the back yard... No one wants cars driving alongside their house into the backyard...' 'This proposal would just decrease the property value of everyone else who lives on the Park... I know to some it may not be a big deal since we are not as big as the new developments in town, but it is important to us.' Jeff and Rhonda Brekkestran wrote in to voice their concerns, and cited property values dropping, the view from their backyard, estrangement between neighbors, as well as security and privacy concerns. Reggie Meyer wrote: 'While I think they are trying to do the right thing, this is not the right place for something like this. These properties are right off a park where children are constantly running around and I don't think having homeless people and recovering addicts in the park is a good thing for families in the neighborhood.' Meyer also pleaded to the council to 'please consider all the families and children at this park while making a decision'. But Pepin said, while he understood the concerns of those within the community who opposed his plans, he believed they had misinterpreted who he would be renting the unit out to. His plan was to build the unit, within the city's restrictions, and most likely rent it out to a single-mother with children following a criminal screening and recent drug testing. Blaine Mayor Tim Sanders (pictured), however, also argued that the ADU movement was not intended for low incoming housing but instead for family or starter homes Pepin has already submitted a proposal for a unit he intends to use for his family, but has yet to decide if he will contend the decision to deny his unit for a homeless family considering it was within city requirements Pepin's proposal - meeting city requirements- included a two-bedroom, 616 square foot home, with a maximum of four occupants. Pepin hoped that living on the same property as his family would also help provide a support system for the renter, which homeless people often lack. 'We try to live out our Christian lives by caring for people who need support,' he told the Tribune. 'And we know that people coming out of homelessness need time and stability.' Pepin added that he felt 'bad' that the code was being revised following his proposal, but asked how big of a problem it was truly going to be considering he was the first and only application since the policy's approval. He has already submitted a proposal for a unit he intends to use for his family, but has yet to decide if he will contend the decision to deny his unit for a homeless family considering it was within city requirements. Council member Chris Ford said: 'I know it's a highly emotional, charged thing. I do feel for you, the neighbors that don't want this. But right now, it's policy.' Fishermen say their livelihoods are under threat from a woke rule that allows invading hordes of octopus to eat their entire catch - just a week after they were sold out by Keir Starmers new EU fishing deal. Conservation rules have meant fishermen in Plymouth, Devon, have to leave small escape gaps in their pots to let undersized lobster and crab to go free. But unseasonably warm waters have seen thousands of Octopus Vulgaris - a highly efficient predator - head north from the Mediterranean. They eat all types of shellfish but their favourite meal is crab which has proved devastating for Claire Tapper, owner of family-run Cracking Crab. She told MailOnline: It has been bad, really bad. The worst Ive ever seen it. Weve not seen any crab in two months and were thinking of packing it all in. We run two boats which used to bring in 14 60kg bins full of crab every day, now were lucky if its a couple of bins a week. The boats havent gone out today, its not worth it. The octopus invasion off the Devon coast has proved devastating for Claire Tapper, owner of family-run Cracking Crab in Plymouth Octopus sneak into the crab cages of fishermen in Plymouth and feast on their catch Conservation rules have meant fishermen in Plymouth, Devon, have to leave small escape gaps in their pots to let undersized lobster and crab to go free (pictured, the hole) Once inside the pots the octopus devour all the crab then escape through the exit hole - by comparison Cornish fishermen dont have to leave an exit and can keep and sell the cephalopods which are a popular meal in mainland Europe. Last week, following mounting pressure, the Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (D&S IFCA) clarified that Devon fishermen can close the entrance if they are fishing for octopus which can currently squeeze back out once theyve eaten the crab. But Ms Tapper who has run the business with her husband and children for eight years and supplies local restaurants said the damage may have already been done with predatory octopus killing off juvenile crabs, potentially damaging the industry for years. If they have eaten the juveniles, thats it because where do the new stocks come from? she added. Its just another kick in the teeth after the new EU fishing deal last week. Its sad to see because this used to be a thriving industry in Plymouth but in a few years this area could all be flats. Ms Tapper says they have not seen a catch of crabs in two months, which is having a devastating impact on her business Crab shells are left behind after being devoured by an octopus in fishermen's cages A Plymouth fisherman who didnt want to be named said: We are down about 80% on crab because of the octopus which is thousands of pounds every month' Another Plymouth fisherman who didnt want to be named said: We are down about 80% on crab because of the octopus which is thousands of pounds every month. In Plymouth we have to have an escape hatch but Cornwall doesnt. We dont see a lot of the octopus but you can tell they have been because there is no crab left. Fishermen contacted Plymouth City Council's leader, Tudor Evans, urging him to save the citys vital fishing industry. He said the rule was now doing more harm than good as fishermen in other areas were able to retain and sell the octopus they catch, adding but here, our pots are being raided and left empty and our fishers are left with nothing. Plymouth fisherman Brian Tapper said: 'The octopuses are ruining us. They're coming in the side hatch it's like McDonald's for them. They are just sitting in there until they're full. They'll go through 50 pots eating lobsters, crabs and even scallops. By the time we come along, there's nothing left. Barry Young, of Brixham Trawler Agents, said the octopuses were 'decimating the crab fishery' off the Devonshire coast (pictured, an octopus in a crab cage) Pictured: The escape gap Devonshire fishermen have been forced to include on their cages Pot escape hatches are mandatory under a by-law imposed by the Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (D&SIFCA). It will consider next month whether permit rules can be eased Barry Young, of Brixham Trawler Agents, said the octopuses were 'decimating the crab fishery', although boats targeting them were enjoying a bonanza, with more than 27,000kg of the cephalopods landed at Brixham on a single morning last week. Pot escape hatches are mandatory under a by-law imposed by the Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (D&SIFCA). It will consider next month whether permit rules can be eased. In a statement, the authority said it was aware of 'significant difficulties being experienced by the fishing industry in respect of predation by octopus'. It added: 'Fishers are reporting that the entry and exit to pots may be through escape gaps fitted in pots. D&SIFCA is aware that this is having an impact on fishers' catches of shellfish and their livelihoods.' Last Monday Labour PM Keir Starmer paraded a UK-EU reset deal which included new arrangements over trade, defence and travel. But fishermen were outraged at a 12-year extension to a post-Brexit agreement that allows boats from EU countries to fish in British waters. Fishermen accused Starmer of selling them out in order to boost trade and defence ties. Just over 200 years ago, William Blake wrote of England's 'great and pleasant land' in the poem that would later be set to music as the hymn Jerusalem. Fast forward to the 21st century and the green and pleasant land, and its people, are in danger of becoming parched. This week ministers admitted that the country could run out of drinking water within 10 years as they unveiled plans to fast-track the building of two new reservoirs. Astonishingly, they will be the first new man-made bodies of water created for human consumption in more than three decades. There are fears that, without action, demand for drinking water could outstrip supply by the mid-2030s due to rapid population growth, crumbling assets, Nimby opposition and a warming climate. And that population growth is set to be fuelled by immigration. The UK population is projected to reach 72.5 million by mid-2032, up 4.9 million from 67.6 million in mid-2022, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The jump of 4.9 million is projected to be driven almost entirely by net migration, with natural change the difference between births and deaths projected to be around zero due to the aging population. Beyond 2032, the population is projected to continue to grow and pass 75 million in 2041. Writing for Mail Online today, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: 'Water doesnt lie. Its a basic test of whether a country can support the people in it, and Britain is failing that test because Labour refuses to confront reality. 'The only serious solution is to tackle immigration head-on. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. On Thursday The Environment Agency (EA) said Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, and Cumbria and Lancashire, moved from 'prolonged dry weather' to 'drought' status. 'We cannot keep adding the pressure and pretending the system will hold. We cannot build our way out of a problem we refuse to name. Until we slash migration numbers, the shortages will only get worse.' Last week, official figures showed net migration to the UK had halved to 431,000 last year compared with 860,000 across January to December 2023. This was after reaching a record high of 906,000 in the 12 months to June 2023. But although net migration is predicted to continue to fall in the years to come, the home-grown population is predicted to also shrink, as deaths outweigh births. It means that while the rate of population growth may slow, it is expected to inexorably climb. While politicians have long claimed immigration will have an impact on services such as housing, schools and the NHS, where everyone will get their drinking water has remained largely out of the spotlight until now. In England this year, the North West and North East both saw their driest start to a calendar year since 1929, while the country as a whole endured its driest February to April period since 1956. On Thursday The Environment Agency (EA) said Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, and Cumbria and Lancashire, moved from 'prolonged dry weather' to 'drought' status. Water companies in England have committed to bringing new reservoirs online, in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Suffolk, Kent, East Sussex and the West Midlands, with the potential to supply 670 million litres of extra water per day. But they are not expected to be ready until 2050. The Fen Reservoir project between Chatteris and March in Cambridgeshire is set to supply 87 million litres a day to 250,000 homes, and to be completed in 2036. The scene in Sneedhams Green in Matson, Gloucester, after a water main pipe burst earlier this month. Last year a report by the Environment Agency found that almost a fifth (19 per cent) of water supplies are lost by water companies before reaching customers' taps. In England this year, the North West and North East both saw their driest start to a calendar year since 1929, while the country as a whole endured its driest February to April period since 1956. The Lincolnshire reservoir south of Sleaford would provide up to 166 million litres a day for up to 500,000 homes, operational by 2040. It is the latter two that ministers have now designated as 'nationally significant', taking planning responsibility out of the hands of local politicians in order to streamline and fast-track them. Speaking to Times Radio Environment Minister Emma Hardy said: 'We've been in an infrastructure crisis because we haven't built the reservoirs that we need. 'In fact we built no reservoirs for the past 30 years. If we don't take action we are going to be running out of the drinking water that we need by the mid-2030s. 'This is why the Government's taking unprecedented action to make these reservoir projects... into projects that are nationally significant projects. 'This means the planning process is taken away from the local authority. The power is put into the hands of the Secretary of State... to make sure that we deliver them. 'It means that we can unlock tens of thousands of new homes and we can make sure that everybody has the drinking water that they desperately need.' A lack of water supplies is also holding back the construction of thousands of homes in parts of the country such as Cambridge, officials have warned. Labour has a target of building 1.5 million new homes by 2029. England could run out of drinking water within the next 10 years without building new reservoirs, water minister Emma Hardy has warned But demands from migrant-fueled population growth is not the only problem. Last year a report by the Environment Agency found that almost a fifth (19 per cent) of water supplies are lost by water companies before reaching customers' taps. This figure was down 10 percentage points since 2018 but the agency said By 2050, in order to support a growing population, the economy, food production and protect the environment, an extra five billion litres of water will be needed every day. Andy Brown, its water regulation manager, said: 'Drought is a naturally occurring phenomenon. As we see more impacts from climate change heavier rainfall and drier summers will become more frequent. This poses an enormous challenge over the next few decades. Prof Hayley Fowler, professor of climate change impacts at the University of Newcastle, said the dry and drought conditions the UK was experiencing were consistent with what was expected from climate models, especially in the summer months. 'With global warming we expect more prolonged and intense droughts and heatwaves punctuated by more intense rainfall, possibly causing flash floods. 'In recent years, we have experienced more of these atmospheric blocks, causing record heat and persistent drought,' she said. 'We are a northern European nation not short of rain ... this should be a wake-up call for the government, says Chris Philp This week, ministers admitted that parts of Britain could run out of drinking water within a decade. Let that sink in. We are a northern European nation not short of rain. We are certainly not an arid and sandy desert land. Yet apparently we cant guarantee water will come out of the tap. This should be a wake-up call for the government. And we know what drives demand for water: people do. So it is very relevant that for decades the British people have demanded, and politicians have promised, dramatically lower immigration. But for decades, successive governments, including the last one, have failed to deliver that. That failure has undermined faith and trust in democracy itself. It is now time to actually deliver what the public want. Under new leadership, the Conservative Party has recently brought forward a number of serious, credible and detailed plans to tackle immigration - all of which Labour voted against in Parliament in the past few weeks. We know what drives demand for water: people do. So it is very relevant that for decades the British people have demanded, and politicians have promised, dramatically lower immigration. While homes go unbuilt, schools burst at the seams, and A&Es overflow, Labours answer is to import more people and deny theres even a problem. The Home Secretary admitted Labours plans will only bring down net migration by microscopic 50,000 a year - nowhere near enough of a reduction. It is no surprise the Labour Government is failing to take action Starmer once absurdly claimed immigration puts no strain on public services. Tell that to the families in waiting for a doctors appointment, to the councillors facing impossible housing targets, or to the water companies now forced to warn that we may not have enough to go round. The governments target of building 300,000 homes per year would only cover net migration at 170,000 per year. Instead, Labours housebuilding target could result in five out of seven new homes going to migrants. What about the British people who want to get on the housing ladder? Naturally, more people means more demand for water. Every person who arrives needs showers, sinks, sanitation. The more pressure we put on the network, the faster it fails, and the harder it becomes to plan or build for the future. And Labours solution has not been to tackle the influx but rather to crush any local objections and build two giant reservoirs for 10 and 15 years time. When the Conservatives recently brought forward a plan to slash immigration Labour torpedoed it using their huge Parliamentary majority. We put forward measures to implement automatic deportations of foreign criminals and illegal migrants; to end the human rights madness that stops us controlling our borders; and to create a binding annual cap on migration which is much, much lower than the numbers we have seen in recent years. Water doesnt lie. Its a basic test of whether a country can support the people in it, and Britain is failing that test because Labour refuses to confront reality. The only serious solution is to tackle immigration head-on. We cannot keep adding the pressure and pretending the system will hold. We cannot build our way out of a problem we refuse to name. Until we slash migration numbers, the shortages will only get worse. The daughter of a long-serving Arizona Democrat who passed while in office told the Daily Mail exactly why she is running for her late father's seat: to advance his legacy and create her own. Adelita Grijalva, the daughter of Raul Grijalva, a 22-year veteran of the House of Representatives who passed in March due to lung cancer while serving his 11th consecutive term, announced within weeks of the tragedy she will run for the recently vacated seat. Former Rep. Grijalva was diagnosed with cancer in April 2024, and despite his illness, he ran and won reelection in November. 'My Dad will never be replaced,' the younger Grijalva told the Daily Mail in a phone interview Thursday. 'He really was a champion for so many issues having to do with people that are marginalized and unheard so and feel like they don't have a voice.' One of the most consistently liberal members of the House, Grijalva had served as the chairman of the House Progressive Caucus and the House Natural Resources Committee. Representing a huge swatch of the U.S.-Mexico border, he advocated for migrants and loudly railed against Trump's immigration agenda; his daughter told the Daily Mail she will do much of the same. 'We'll continue that movement of standing up for those who don't feel like anyone else is standing up for them,' she said, adding she had nothing positive to say about the Trump administration's immigration agenda. Her father, Grijalva told the Daily Mail, was in public office for 50 years, and she is the first to admit she is 'literally' following in his 'exact' footsteps. Adelita Grijalva spoke to the Daily Mail about her bid to fill her late father's seat in the House of Representatives Late Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., served in Congress for 22 years before passing in March The candidate for Arizona's 7th Congressional district, an area around Tucson, the state's second biggest city, has already held two jobs that were formerly occupied by her father. Like her dad, Grijalva served on the Tucson Unified School District and recently resigned her seat on the Pima County Board of Supervisors to run for his now-vacant congressional seat. If she wins the special election to fill her father's position in the House of Representatives, that would mark the third job she has taken that her Dad held at one point or another. The mother-of-three is seen as a frontrunner in the race to take her late father's now-vacant House seat. After witnessing her father lead her community for decades until his death while still serving in office, Grijalva told the Daily Mail that she is against term limits. 'It's not about age,' she said, adding 'I think that the people are the ones that should make that decision, not an arbitrary number about age.' The candidate also said that before her father's death, he was still active and able to meet constituents' needs. However, the late congressman missed nearly all of the House votes in 2025 before his death, amounting to about 96 percent of all votes, per the Clerk of the House of Representative's office. Grijalva was the second most absent member of the 118th Congress, which ran from 2023 to the beginning of 2025. He missed over 450 votes, totaling nearly 40 percent of all the votes held in that timespan. He attributed many absences to his battle with cancer From 2023 to the beginning of 2025, late lawmaker missed roughly 40 percent of all votes, according to Govtrack. If elected, the Democrat vowed to pick up her father's mantle and stand up to President Donald Trump's agenda. 'The biggest issue right now is protecting our democracy and making sure that we keep to the established processes,' she said. 'Right now, Trump is just deciding wholesale to sign an executive order and waving away the rights of so many communities.' She also swore to be 'an unapologetic progressive voice in Congress,' saying she will fight to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid from Republican reforms. Similar to the case of the Grijalva's, it is not entirely uncommon in Congress for members to run for seats held previously by a relative. Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, for example, filled a seat previously held by his older brother for over a decade. The late Rep, Donald Payne Jr., D-N.J., who died while serving in office last year, similarly was elected to the seat held by his father. There have also been husband and wife combos like the late Rep. John Dingell Jr., D-Mich., and his spouse Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich. After serving in office for a staggering 60 years from 1955 - 2015, the record for longest-serving member of Congress in history, John's wife Debbie took the reins and still serves the Michigan area represented by her late husband. The younger Grijalva says she would bring a new perspective to Congress. 'Two percent of women in Congress identify as Latina, and less are Mexican-American,' she told the Daily Mail. 'Of the women in Congress, seven percent have minor children, so I would be representing a huge contingency of our nation.' And like any proud mother, she touted to the Daily Mail how her daughter just recently graduated high school and will soon be attending college at the University of Arizona. The special election for Arizona's 7th Congressional district will take place on September 23, 2025. It was raining the afternoon that Jessica Richardson found her mother, Cheryl Williams Frady, dead in the basement of her Georgia home in 2008 - a single gunshot wound to the head ending a life just hours away from a highly anticipated escape. The mother and daughter had planned to spend the day shopping, gathering last-minute essentials for a cruise to the Bahamas they were set to embark on the following morning. But neither would ever make it to the ship. And for the last 17 years, Williams Fradys sudden and shocking death has left her family adrift, stranded in a swell of suspicion and grief as the question of who killed their mom and why remains unanswered. Jessica told the Daily Mail she constantly grapples with the fear that whoever pulled the trigger may still be lurking in the not-too-distant shadows. Its scary to me, as her daughter, because I believe it was someone close to her, and maybe this is just an irrational fear, but are they going to come after us? said Jessica. This person is still out there somewhere; they may be walking around my neighborhood, and we know what theyre capable of.' For the first time since discovering her mothers body, however, she believes the truth of what happened may finally be about to surface, with a suspect now firmly in investigators' sights. For so long I told myself we would never get closure but in the last year weve had some really positive interactions with police, and finally I feel like its possible to solve this case - that we have a glimmer of hope. Cheryl Williams Frady was 44 when she was shot dead at home in Dawsonville, Georgia, on April 5, 2008 Williams Frady, seen with her daughter Jessica in 2008, died from a gunshot wound to the head Williams Frady was 44 when she was found shot dead in the basement of the home she shared with her mother and stepfather in Dawson County, Georgia, on April 5, 2008. The former Budweiser bottle girl had recently separated from her second husband on amicable terms, had welcomed her first grandchild into the world, and appeared to be relishing a new lease of life, her other daughter, Emily Wright, said. Neither Jessica nor Emily, both then 23 and 21, was aware of any conflicts ongoing in their mothers life that were troubling her or giving her any cause to be fearful. Williams Frady worked at the local Michaels arts and crafts store and loved her job. She had recently started online dating, but didn't have a serious boyfriend. Very little about the investigation into Williams Fradys death is known by her daughters. For years, Jessica and Emily said they were left in the dark about their moms case. Questions they had would routinely go unanswered by the Dawson County Sheriffs Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and sometimes their calls were outright ignored. Much of what they knew of their moms horrifying fate came from Jessicas own observations and memories from when she discovered Williams Frady dead. How she spent her final hours of life, and when she took her final breaths, is still largely unknown. Williams Frady once worked as a Budweiser bottle girl. At the time of her death, she was working in a local Michaels arts and crafts store Her daughters Jessica Richardson (left) and Emily Wright (right) say they're more hopeful than ever that their mom's killer will be brought to justice - but still there's a long way to go Jessica last spoke to her mom the evening before she found her lifeless body. That night, Williams Frady had been out for dinner with her ex-husband and their 11-year-old son to hand over custody of the boy ahead of her vacation. According to police, her last known contact came at 1.30am in the form of a phone call. The identity of the caller and the nature of that call has never been disclosed to her family, Jessica and Emily said. The following afternoon, at around 4pm, Jessica drove over to her grandmothers home, where Williams Frady was living in an apartment in the basement, to pick her up and go shopping. As she arrived at the home, her grandmother, having just gotten off work, pulled into the driveway and followed her inside. Jessica called out to her mom, but there was no response. She and her grandmother walked down the stairs to her moms floor, knocked on the door, and entered after their calls were once again met with silence. The moment she stepped inside, she crossed a threshold from which she could never return. From that moment onwards, her life would forever be divided into two parts: before she opened the door and after. I saw my mom lying there still, recounted Jessica. I didnt know that shed been shot. I saw blood, but your brain doesnt go there. The next thing I remember doing is calling 911 and running to my neighbor's house, because they were a nurse and I thought theyd be able to help. Jessica and Emily remember their mother has a bright, bubbly presence who was kind and nurturing. They were just 23 and 21, respectively, when she was killed The fatal shooting happened in the baseman of Williams Frady's mother's home where she'd been staying after a recent divorce What happened next exists in Jessicas mind only as fragments - brief, seemingly disconnected snapshots. She remembers noticing yellow police tape being hung outside of her grandmothers home. She recounts being told by a faceless, distant voice that her mom had been shot, and the flashing sirens of an arriving ambulance. While the frenzy erupted, Jessica sat motionless, hugging her knees in the rain, trying to make sense of what was happening and what shed just seen. It was then that Emily arrived, and a disassociated Jessica was left to deliver the devastating news. I remember her walking up the driveway and being like, whats going on? Jessica recalled. And I told her, Mom is dead. Someone killed her. The world went black for Emily when she heard her older sister mutter those fateful words. I remember feeling like I was floating around, said Emily. I was going around asking everyone if they were okay, and people were looking back at me strangely, asking if I was okay. The months that followed yielded little in the way of answers for Williams Fradys family and they claim police did little to question those closest to their mom. Williams Frady's daughters have no idea why someone would wish to harm their mom - but they have a good idea of who they think is responsible Sixteen years passed without any word in the case, but dialogue was finally opened between investigators and the family last year Jessica said she was only spoken to for 30 minutes in the immediate aftermath of finding her moms body and was never contacted again. Emily, meanwhile, was never interviewed by police. Their father, and Williams Fradys first husband, was only interviewed for 10 minutes after he contacted Dawson County cops off his own back to offer what he knew about his ex-partner more than a month later, the sisters claim. We know our father wasnt involved, but in any normal investigation, the ex-husband would be one of the first people police reach out to, said Emily. That made us suspicious that the case was either not being handled properly or wasnt being investigated at all. The only information shared with the family by the Dawson County was that they didnt believe there was a wider threat to the local community. An agonizing 16 years would pass without any breaks. In place of answers, Jessica and Emily were left with only an abundance of theories to attempt to explain what happened to their mom. Both of the siblings are aligned in their belief their moms killer was someone close to her. Jessica said she spotted no signs of forced entry at her grandmothers home, and none of the furniture or her belongings appeared out of place. I dont think its feasible someone broke into our moms home and murdered her, because its so rare for random violence like that to happen, particularly in such a small town, said Emily. I agree, concurred Jessica. It had to be someone who was familiar with where she was, where she was in the house, and where she was going to be at the time she was killed. Williams Frady's children are aligned in their belief their moms killer was someone close to her The case was reignited with a welcome shock in 2024, when, on the 16th anniversary of her death, the GBI posted a call-to-action on Facebook, asking for the public to submit any tips they may have in the Williams Frady murder. The post came as a surprise to Jessica and Emily, who immediately reached out to GBI. They said many in the local community had been completely unaware of their moms murder until the GBIs post. While they welcomed the renewed attention, the sisters couldnt help but lament that it had come too little, too late, wondering how many vital tips or key witnesses may have been lost to time. Still, the GBIs post helped open a channel of communication between investigators and the sisters for the very first time. They offered investigators a list of people to speak with and an abundance of rumors and tips theyd heard over the years. Those individuals have since spoken to the police, and Jessica and Emily have been interviewed in depth, giving them hope that the case is finally moving in a positive direction. Perhaps the most promising indication of all came when the GBI confirmed to the siblings that they have a suspect in their sights, they claim. The GBI declined to comment on whether they have a suspect in the case but said the case remains active and ongoing Her lifeless body was found by her eldest daughter, hours after Williams Frady's last known sign of life Declining to divulge too much information, Emily told the Daily Mail that the suspect in question, true to her and Jessicas hunch, was very close to their mother and is still alive. Theres a suspect and we werent aware this person was being considered until last year, said Emily. We were told this person has been on the polices radar since the very beginning, so why hasnt an arrest been made? Thats what I want to know. A lot of mistakes have been made in this investigation, but we are hoping that now theyre finally going to get it right. The GBI declined to confirm theyve identified a suspect in the Williams Frady murder when approached by the Daily Mail with an extensive list of questions. However, GBI confirmed the case has never been closed and is still being actively investigated. Agents have conducted interviews as we pursue leads in the case. As with all cases in which the GBI is requested to assist, we remain dedicated to solving the case and bringing closure to the family and community, a spokesperson said. We urge anyone with information related to this case to come forward. As their wait for answers continues, the sisters say they occassionally find themselves fantasizing about the moment an arrest is made. 'Someone out there thinks they got away with something, but I want them to know their day is coming,' said Emily. We dont have any intentions of stopping until they're caught. Anyone with information on the death of Williams Frady should contact the GBIs tip line at 1 (800) 597-8577. For the family's Facebook page, click here. President Donald Trump's top trade negotiator shared that the U.S. may be close to finalizing tariff deals with several major partners in coming weeks. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC that an imminent deal could be struck with the E.U. after Trump threatened increasing the 'nasty' union's rate to 50 percent earlier this month. Greer also shared that he has been in nearly constant contact with India's top trade representative, claiming to have calls with them 'every day.' In addition, the trade rep. revealed that he plans on forwarding negotiations with Malaysia and Vietnam at the upcoming Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) meeting next week. He also said he will be talking to E.U. representatives at the gathering. Though not all news has been positive; China, Greer said, has 'violated' a trade agreement made with the U.S. in Geneva earlier this month - echoing a major complaint highlighted by Trump the same day. A handshake agreement between the world's two largest economies came earlier this month and was widely seen as a way to tamper tensions between the pair. China was hit with a tariff rate in excess of 145 percent earlier this year before the agreement, but the rate then came down to around 30 percent. President Donald Trump holds a poster board up showcasing tariff rates for U.S. trade partners in April U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC on Friday that the U.S. is making progress on several trade deals with countries in Asia. Though he also added that negotiations with China have stalled as the country has 'violated' an agreement made earlier this month Greer, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, China's Vice Premier He Lifeng and China's international trade representative Li Chenggang prior to a meeting to discuss trade relations and tariffs, in Geneva, on May 10, 2025. A trade deal between the U.S. and China slashing most tariffs came into effect on May 14, 2025, a temporary ceasefire in a brutal trade war that has roiled global markets and international supply chains Trump said he expects to talk to Chinese President Xi Jinping during an Oval Office press conference with DOGE leader Elon Musk on Friday. 'I'm sure that I'll speak to President Xi and hopefully we'll work that out, but its a violation of the agreement,' he said. The president said he is sure they will talk as the countries remain at odds over trade. Earlier in the day the 78-year-old commander in chief sent off a salvo on Truth Social lambasting China for violating the Geneva deal. 'Two weeks ago China was in grave economic danger! The very high tariffs I set made it virtually impossible for China to trade into the United States marketplace which is, by far, number one in the world,' his post began. 'We went, in effect, cold turkey with China, and it was devastating for them. Many factories closed and there was, to put it mildly, 'civil unrest,'' it continued. 'The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, has totally violated its agreement with us.' The agreement made between Greer, Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent and some top Chinese officials in Geneva in May stipulated that the two countries would unwind tariffs and trade restrictions on certain critical minerals. Greer accused China of slow-walking that process during his interview Friday. Trump said during a press conference on Friday that he will speak with the Chinese president about the 'violated' trade agreement. 'The Chinese are slow-rolling their compliance, which is completely unacceptable and it has to be addressed,' he stated. Soon after, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in D.C., Liu Pengyu, hit back at the claims. 'Recently, China has repeatedly raised concerns with the US regarding its abuse of export control measures in the semiconductor sector and other related practices,' they said in a statement. 'China once again urges the US to immediately correct its erroneous actions, cease discriminatory restrictions against China and jointly uphold the consensus reached at the high-level talks in Geneva.' The spokesperson's complaint comes after a Reuters report that the U.S. ordered some companies to stop shipping goods to China without certain licensing. Products ranging from semiconductors, chemicals, software and aviation equipment are among the restricted items, sources shared. Flavored beverages at a factory in India. The country faces a 27 percent reciprocal tariff rate this summer if a deal is not reached with the U.S. The president announced a 90 day pause on some tariffs earlier this year, with many steep rates coming back into effect this summer if U.S. trade partners do not sign deals. Vietnam was hit especially hard by the White House's 'Liberation Day' tariff announcement in April. On a massive board showcasing the rates to be imposed held aloft by Trump on stage, Vietnam was slapped with one of the highest tariffs at 46 percent. Malaysia, meanwhile, was hit with a 24 percent rate under Trump's reciprocal tariff plan while India faces a 27 percent rate. Earlier this week, Trump was dealt a devastating blow, albeit a temporary one. A three-judge panel at the U.S. New York-based Court of International Trade ruled that parts of the president's tariff regime was unlawful. The ruling argued that Trump had wrongfully invoked an emergency law to justify the levies. Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 13, 2025 Erupting with frustration, some in the White House vented that the move was akin to a 'judicial coup' against the president's executive authority. The pause was short-lived, though, after an appeals court issued a stay on the panel's ruling that have allowed the tariffs to remain. The appeals court demanded to hear from the Trump administration and the litigating parties, Democratic-led states and a group of small businesses. The case remains ongoing, though the White House has multiple tools at its disposal to implement tariffs in other ways if the court rules against it. The mother of a missing girl who ran away to meet an alleged pedophile has shared her devastation after discovering what her daughter told them before she vanished. Alisa Petrov, 15, has been missing since April 21 when she disappeared without a trace after being dropped off at school in Utah. Hours later, her frantic parents Olga and Nikolai Petrov discovered their daughter had a terrifying double life when her secret iPad was found hidden in her dresser. The teenager dug the long-forgotten device out of a dusty old box and was chatting to three accused pedophiles, all now behind bars. Olga told the Daily Mail that Alisa gave no indication that anything was wrong in her home life and 'never said anything that she wasn't happy with us'. 'We didn't do anything wrong to her that would give her an idea that she may need to run away,' she said. But messages on Discord and Snapchat between Alisa and Samuel Teancum Mitchell, 41, revealed deep animosity she apparently felt for her parents. 'Within their chat, the juvenile mentions suicide and that she hates her parents,' police wrote in a probable cause affidavit for Mitchell's arrest. 'Mitchell advised he had met a girl online who was mad at her parents and had started cutting herself.' Olga can't understand why she told him she 'hates her parents'. Alisa Petrov, 15, disappeared after she was dropped off at her school in American Fork, Utah, on April 21 and hasn't been seen since that day Samuel Teancum Mitchell, 41, an accused pedophile arrested for allegedly sexually exploiting Alisa online before she disappeared Alisa also requested multiple times for Mitchell to 'kidnap her' and eight days before she ran away sent him locations of where she would be, the affidavit alleged. 'Mitchell described that the juvenile was excited about running away and asked if she could run away with him. Mitchell advised that he thought it was a fantasy thing, and said 'oh yeah, it'd be kind of fun',' police alleged. The pair allegedly tried to arrange a meeting, Alisa asking: 'like r we [for real] meeting?? like please confirm please before tonight confirm if we r meeting pls bring condoms'. Mitchell replied saying he was sick and couldn't meet and Alisa instead ran away to meet another of the three men in Las Vegas. Olga said she was shocked to read messages where her daughter talked about suicide and self-harm, as she never showed any signs. 'I really don't have a reason for her being depressed. She had most of the stuff she ever wanted,' she said. 'Alisa didn't do any chores at home, we had multiple vacations throughout the year, she had good branded clothing. 'She kept it to herself, but I mean from our perspective we believe we did everything we could as parents at that fragile age.' Olga said the only point of friction was that Alisa wanted unrestricted freedom online without her parents snooping on her phone. Alisa as a young girl with her parents Olga and Nikolai Petrov, who say they did all they could to keep their daughter safe Mitchell allegedly planned to meet Alisa in person but then called it off saying he was sick Alisa, who told Mitchell she wanted to be a vlogger, was hungry for fame on TikTok and wanted to attract a following using provocative dances, her mother said. 'She wanted to really become very popular online on TikTok but by pictures or videos that were not appropriate for her age,' Olga said. 'Of course they would give her more views, but for the wrong reason.' Olga said she and her husband, Nikolai, were vigilant in protecting their daughter and educated her about the dangers of talking to strangers online. 'We regularly check her phone and there was nothing suspicious. Everything seemed to be normal, just classmates, neighbors,' she said. 'We never thought she could be talking to strangers in this way... but she was sneaky and we didn't know. I wish we figured this out sooner and could help her.' The affidavit for Mitchell's arrest recalled how he 'advised the girl had sent him pictures of her legs being bloody and her making hearts and stuff on them'. Olga said the blood wasn't from Alisa harming herself, but from a small scrape on her leg she picked at to get enough blood for a viral TikTok trend. 'It looks like it's like a mess, like massive bleeding... she said those pictures are really cool, very popular, and stuff like that,' she explained. Mitchell comes from a very large Mormon family originally from North Carolina, and moved to Utah as a child along with his 11 brothers and sisters The affidavit detailed shocking sexual conversations between Alisa and Mitchell, including the teen asking him 'would u wrap me up in a towel like a burrito'. 'Then I'll eat you like a taco,' Mitchell allegedly replied, with the conversation taking a dark turn after that. Police alleged they also discussed 'couples twister' and 'sex monopoly' games. Mitchell claimed Alisa used different aliases and never told him her real name, and that they never shared inappropriate images. Police found no child porn of Alisa on his phone, but 'based upon how the chat reads it appears that messages have been deleted'. 'Mitchell made comments such as 'aww so pretty baby girl'. The juvenile wrote to Mitchell 'mmmm baby I sent u a cute picture on snap mmm',' police alleged. Police also allegedly found disturbing conversations with two other girls, one confirmed to be 15 and another who appeared to be about 12, and nude photos and videos of both of them. Mitchell was arrested late on Wednesday night and thrown in the Salt Lake County Jail charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Alisa allegedly Mitchell to 'kidnap her' from a family ski trip (pictured on that trip) the weekend before she went missing Alisa skipped school and got on a train to Provo, Utah, then tried to go to Las Vegas to meet one of the alleged pedophiles. He planned to fly her to his home in Miami via Los Angeles Alisa dug a long-forgotten old iPad out of a dusty box and was chatting to three accused pedophiles, all now behind bars The accused pedophile comes from a very large Mormon family originally from North Carolina, and moved to Utah as a child along with his 11 brothers and sisters. One of his brothers, Abe Mitchell, took his own life on February 24 last year and Mitchell started a fundraiser that collected $8,000 for his funeral costs. After Mitchell turned down seeing Alisa due to being unwell, he told police she 'mentioned that she met an FBI agent in Florida and had an interest in that guy', the affidavit alleged. That man is believed to be Matthew Nicholas Menard, 35, a tech sales executive, not an FBI agent, who allegedly spent months grooming Alisa for sex. Just two days before she disappeared, Alisa messaged Mitchell at 12.34am 'IM RUNNING AWAY, please don't contact me'. This was allegedly because Alisa had switched her plan to meeting Menard when he was on a business trip to Las Vegas, before flying to Los Angeles and then his home in Miami. Police detailed in affidavits the disturbing messages between Alisa and Menard dating back to January 17. '[Menard] over the course of several months, corresponded with [the teen] for the purpose of soliciting sex, sodomy, and child sex abuse material from the minor,' the affidavit continued. '[He] discussed in graphic detail his intent to sexually abuse the child. [He] encouraged and engaged with [the teen] all from the state of Florida, where all his substantial ties to the community and resources are.' Matthew Nicholas Menard, 35, from Miami was charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and criminal solicitation Beneath Menard's clean-cut, designer stubbled face was allegedly a depraved desire Menard was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and three counts of criminal solicitation on May 20, and surrendered to police on Wednesday night. Another man Alisa was allegedly talking to, William Taylor Glines, 37, from Texas City, Texas, was arrested on May 8 and remains in custody. Glines was charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, attempted aggravated exploitation of a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and criminal solicitation. He was also charged by police in Texas with possessing more than 50 child sexual abuse images or videos. He is yet to enter a plea. The probable cause affidavit detailed disturbing conversations between Glines and Alisa, including how he allegedly convinced he to send nude photos and videos. On April 21, Alisa was dropped off at her school, Canyon Grove Academy, in American Fork, about 32 miles south of Salt Lake City. But instead of going to class, she bought supplies at a nearby gas station and convinced a man there to drive her to the local train station. Alisa got off the train in Provo, about 14 miles south of American Fork, and asked multiple people there to help her get a bus ticket to Las Vegas. Alisa returned from a family trip to Alta Ski Resort in Utah only hours before she disappeared. Some of the photos her parents released were taken on the same ski trip William Taylor Glines, 37, from Texas City, Texas, allegedly had graphic sexual conversations with Alisa before she ran away She was spotted on surveillance footage making a purchase at a local gas station before boarding a UTA train. However, because Alisa never met any of the men, police are no closer to finding her as no one knows where she went or how much danger she is in. Olga said her daughter had about $1,000 saved from pocket money and birthday gifts that she didn't spend after she turned 15 on April 16, just five days before running away. 'Somebody else is either helping her and we don't know who or where... I'm not suspecting the worst,' she said. 'That means she's with somebody else and we don't know if it's a good person or a bad person.' Alisa was very trusting of people and liked to strike up conversations with others in the park while hiking or on family holidays. 'She was always trying to meet people to talk to people, like I mean she was just trusting, and we cautioned her about it all the time to at least to be careful,' her mother said. 'That's just how she is... and they took advantage of her.' Olga (pictured with a young Alisa) said the iPad was so well hidden that she and her husband missed it when they searched their house for clues after she didn't come home Petrov's desperate family are offering a $20,000 reward for anyone with information on her whereabouts Petrov's desperate family is offering a $20,000 reward for anyone with information on her whereabouts. They set up a website with a desperate appeal to the teen, insisting she wouldn't be in trouble if she returned. 'Alisa, if you can see this, please know that we love you, we will always love you. We miss you. All of your friends and our friends are very worried too,' her parents wrote. Police have classified the teen as an endangered runaway. She is described as standing about 5-foot-3 and weighing about 122 pounds. Surveillance footage from the gas station showed her wearing a white shirt with darker lettering on the front. More than two weeks after she vanished on the way to the airport, the family of missing teen Pheobe Bishop are no closer to knowing what happened to her. Her disappearance has rocked the tiny community of Gin Gin, near Bundaberg, central Queensland, with dark secrets revealed, family rifts aired in public and bizarre twists and turns. But while the soap opera of revelations and allegations has unfolded, the fate of Pheobe remains an increasingly ominous mystery. Thursday May 15 It began when Pheobe failed to check in for her flight from Bundaberg via Brisbane to Perth, where she was planning to meet her boyfriend. She was being driven there by her housemates, Tanika Bromley, 33, and James Wood, 34, in Tanika's 14-year-old silver Hyundai ix35 SUV. She had been living with them at their ramshackle home after recently moving out of her mother's family farmhouse just outside of town. Pheobe used her phone for the last time during the trip in a call to her boyfriend at 8.30am, who later told a friend he was unable to hear anything before the call cut out. He later revealed how he waited for hours at Perth Airport for her to arrive, but flight after flight touched down without her. The mystery began on Thursday May 15, when Pheobe Bishop (pictured) failed to check in for an 8.30am flight from Bundaberg to Perth Pheobe's mum Kylie Johnson (right) made her first public appeal for help finding the teen on May 16 Friday May 16 When she failed to appear in Perth, the alert was raised and on Friday, Pheobe was declared a missing person. Mother Kylie Johnson made her first public appeal for help in the search and work began on sending out hundreds of flyers around town. Her worried mum insisted that the teen's disappearance was out of character. Bromley and Wood told police they dropped her off with her luggage at the airport. Pheobe was described as carrying luggage and wearing a green tank top and grey tracksuit pants. Saturday May 17 Housemate James Wood told a friend he had been printing flyers and admitted 'cops basically asked me if I did her in or hurt her at all...cause I was one of the last people to see her alive.' Wood is divorced and only moved to Gin Gin from Emerald, 500km west in Queensland's Central Highlands, around six months ago after the end of his marriage. Bromley is a mother of two and Gin Gin local with family believed to be in the Canberra area. The couple are said to have moved in together earlier this year. Police questioned both over Pheobe and released them without any charges in connection with her disappearance. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that Wood or Bromley were involved in Pheobe's disappearance. Wood also took to social media offering his 5m tinnie fishing boat as a reward for any information about Pheobe's whereabouts. Wood (pictured) told a friend he had been printing flyers and police had asked him 'if I did her in or hurt her at all' Monday May 20 Police searched Airport Drive but couldn't find any of Pheobe's belongings. They also failed to locate any CCTV of Pheobe at Bundaberg Airport. A nearby resident supplied CCTV footage of the Hyundai allegedly on Samuels Rd, just west of the airport, around 10.30am, two hours after Pheobe was due at the airport at 8.30am. Tuesday May 21 Reports emerge that Pheobe may have had an argument while being given a lift to the airport and was 'kicked out' of the car. Wednesday May 22 Detectives sealed off Bromley and Wood's rented Gin Gin property, and officers in forensics gear could be seen poring over the house, just off the main road in the centre of town. They were also seen combing areas around Samuels Rd, including a search beyond the perimeter of a local dump. Bromley's Hyundai was also seized by police, with forensic experts examining it at a facility in Bundaberg. Pheobe's last posts to social media before her disappearance also came to light, including an eerie March post to TikTok where she described having a conversation with her younger self. She said she did not 'see nor talk' to her mother any more 'but it's better like this'. This publication also revealed that Bromley (pictured) was on bail and facing unrelated charges for possessing a sawn-off shotgun and a flick knife in public A stomach-churning stench surrounded the Gin Gin home (pictured) Pheobe also wrote that she had been 'in and out' of home for years, but 'this time we're not going back'. The first reports of dead dogs found at the property emerge. Thursday May 22 Daily Mail Australia identified that Wood and Bromley were the couple Pheobe had been living with at the Gin Gin house. The couple's neighbour, Shari Loughland, said Pheobe had only been living there 'for a few weeks, up to a month or two'. Living next door to the couple had become 'horrible' because it was cluttered with rubbish and there had been noise from parties and a howling dog, Ms Loughland said. A stomach-churning stench surrounded the home and Ms Loughland said the remains of up to 11 dead dogs had been found at the property during police inquiries. Daily Mail Australia also revealed Bromley was on bail and facing unrelated charges for possessing a sawn-off shotgun and a flick knife in public. She had been charged back on February 24 after police allegedly discovered the weapons on her on the Capricorn Highway in Emerald, Queensland. Friday May 23 Pheobe's despairing mum made an impassioned plea for the teen to get in touch. 'As each day goes by, it gets harder to breathe. I feel numb, not knowing where you are or if you're okay,' Ms Johnson said. The police search has now expanded into new rural areas for any trace of the teenager, and called in divers to search local waterways. Detective Acting Inspector Ryan Thompson confirmed that officers are focusing on various locations for any signs that could lead to Pheobe's whereabouts. 'We are searching for any evidence or information that could help us find Pheobe,' Detective Thompson said. Saturday May 24 Police and SES volunteers began conducting a land, water and aerial search of the Good Night Scrub National Park, 40 minutes south of Gin Gin. Pheobe's final posts to social media before she disappeared were revealed and suggested the teen had fallen out with her mother, and would not return home. Ms Johnson addressed her daughter directly in a post on Facebook, which also featured a child's drawing of a rainbow and the words 'thinking of you'. 'Phee Phee we won't stop looking for you 'til your home. I urge everyone in Gin Gin to keep their porch lights on tonight and guide our girl home,' she wrote. On Saturday May 24 police and SES volunteers began conducting a land, water and aerial search of the Good Night Scrub National Park Bromley visited the local police station as part of her bail conditions, trying to hide her face and shunning questions from reporters Sunday May 25 The seach for Pheobe took a dark twist as detectives brought in cadaver dogs in their search of the scrubland park. A former friend revealed she had cut off all contact with one of Pheobe's housemates in recent months over his behaviour. Monday May 26 Detectives said they had recovered items potentially linked to their investigation - but they also believed some evidence may have been moved from the park before they arrived. Police also revealed Bromley had been charged with further unrelated weapons offences, after they allegedly found a shortened firearm, replica handguns and ammunition during their search of the Hyundai. The 33-year-old had been arrested at Milbank the day before and spent a night in jail before she appeared in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Monday. During the appearance, Magistrate John McInnes told Bromley she appeared to have an 'unhealthy interest in in short firearms'. But he added that she was a victim of domestic violence and 'I suspect you might not be the prime mover here'. Bromley was granted bail with strict conditions, including that she not see Wood, and that she check in at the Gin Gin police station three days a week. Bromley's vehicle has been spotted with what appeared to be deliberately altered number plates from 414-EW3 to 474-BW8 Tuesday May 27 Bromley's Hyundai was released by police and was spotted in Bundaberg, sporting a makeshift fake rego plate and the Hyundai logo altered to look like a Toyota symbol. Using tape, white paint and a permanent marker, the numbers of the car's Queensland registration 414-EW3 had been tweaked to be a fake NSW plate 474 BW8. Wednesday May 28 Police suspended their search of Good Night Scrub National park, but said their probe was ongoing and they remained focused on the greater Gin Gin area. Bromley also visited the local police station as part of her bail conditions, trying to hide her face and shunning questions from reporters. That night, police confirmed that Wood had also been charged with unrelated weapons offences over the guns allegedly found in the Hyundai when they searched it. Thursday May 29 Daily Mail Australia witnessed Wood being confronted by an irate local as he slept in the driver's seat of his car under a tree in a local park. Daily Mail Australia witnessed Wood being confronted by an irate local as he slept in the driver's seat of his car under a tree in a local park Wood (pictured) appeared to have been living out of the Hyundai since police released it to him Wood appeared to have been living in the Hyundai since police released it to him. 'He's here, he's hiding here,' the local yelled, prodding the 34-year-old with a beach umbrella before he sped away. His bizarre public appearance came as Pheobe had been missing for two weeks, and a bitter rift erupted among members of the teen's family. Pheobe's mother Kylie and her sister Kaylea hit back at her aunt who went on TV to share disturbing texts from the missing teen, and blasted her claims about the youngster's upbringing. Caz Johnson - sister of Pheobe's mum Kylie Johnson - made her allegations about the 17-year-old's tumultuous family life on Network Ten's The Project on Wednesday night. Her aunt revealed Pheobe sent text messages out of the blue on April 26 to say her mother had told her to 'get out', but didn't want to talk about the matter as it was 'a long story'. 'I'm flying the f*** out of here to see my boyfriend,' she wrote, in texts shown on Ten. 'If it goes to plan I'm not coming back. I can't do s*** anymore. I need to get out of this hell hole.' Pheobe's mother reacted immediately on social media after The Project segment aired, saying her sister knew 'nothing' about her daughter Daily Mail Australia revealed that Bromley was once good mates with Pheobe's mum Kylie and even worked for her NDIS support company Caz claimed Pheobe had an unsettled childhood, regularly changing schools and having to deal with new stepdads coming in and out of her life. But Pheobe's mother reacted immediately on social media after The Project segment aired, saying her sister knew 'nothing' about her daughter. Saturday May 31 Daily Mail Australia revealed that Bromley was once good mates with Pheobe's mum Kylie and even worked for her NDIS support company. Friends said the pair fell out, with Ms Johnson making Bromley redundant from her role at Smileys Support Coordination last year. On the unrelated weapons charges, Wood is due to appear in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on June 13, while Bromley is due to appear on June 23. Pheobe's grief-stricken mother admitted the 'worst case-scenario could have happened' in a harrowing video released by Queensland Police. She begged the public to share any information about her disappearance with police as Kylie Johnson's voice wavered in front of the camera. 'This investigation will not be over for me until we find Pheobe,' she said. 'The search for Pheobe goes on. I still hold hope that Pheobe will come home but I have to consider the possibility that she also won't. 'If the worst-case scenario has happened, I at least need to know where she's resting. I need to know where Pheobe is. 'My daughter wouldn't just disappear. Someone knows something. 'As a mum, I'm asking you to come forward with your information. 'Please speak to police if you have any information, big or small. You can report information to police anonymously, via PoliceLink or CrimeStoppers.' Sunday June 1 Pheobe's mum posted statement online furiously hitting back after her public plea for help to find her daughter was ripped apart by trolls. 'People wanted a statement, they got one yet still question me as a mother,' her post read. 'I'm sorry that I'm currently an emotional wreck, trying to protect our other children from the media and the trolls, trying to continue to breathe while your world shatters around you! 'If anyone would like to be in this position please step in and show me how to do this. 'Show me what a perfect parent looks like? Show me how to navigate this? Show me how to deal with the unknown and the uncertainty? 'Show me how to use perfect language and emotion in a situation that NO parent ever wants to be in?' Monday June 2 Disturbing details of a grotesque fund in the bush are revealed as searchers looking for Pheobe discover a mutilated mannequin dumped in the area where she is being hunted. Wednesday June 4 Police confirm they had suspended the physical search for Pheobe. Hours later they swoop to arrest James Wood and take him in for questioning. Minutes earlier he had exclusively revealed to Daily Mail Australia his account of Pheobe's last known movements before she vanished without trace, and the reason for all the dead dogs found at his home. Thursday June 5 James Wood is released without charge. The search for Pheobe goes on. The city of Shusha is hosting an international childrens creativity festival titled Shusha A Cultural Jewel of Turkic Unity, bringing together schoolchildren from Turkic-speaking countries, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan. Nearly 300 students from Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Hungary are participating in the event. The young participants are showcasing the musical and dance traditions of their respective countries, celebrating the shared cultural heritage and diversity of the Turkic world. Many move into the mining industry in search of riches, but one Aussie has revealed what it's really like to work and live in Port Hedland. Georgia and David moved to the Pilbara region three years ago and haven't looked back. Source: Georgia.Celeste There are few Aussies who haven't considered picking up one of the many highly-paid jobs in Australia's booming mining industry at least once or twice in their lives. Mining workers are among the highest paid in the country, with even entry-level roles starting at over $90,000 per year. While many who opt into the industry do so on a fly-in and fly-out (FIFO) basis, there is a smaller group of Aussies moving into the regional centres to live with free accommodation offered as a perk by many mining companies. One such couple is Georgia and David, who told Yahoo News they packed up their lives on the Gold Coast three years ago. They made a life for themselves in Port Hedland, a town so remote that the nearest major city is a whopping 17-hour drive away. But what's it actually like to live there? Georgia and David are making the most of living in remote Australia. Source: Georgia.celeste Aussie couple reveal what life is really like in a mining town Georgia revealed to Yahoo News there is incredible wealth to be made in the area, but those who come should "be warned" about the tough living conditions. ADVERTISEMENT "It's a hard place to live," she explained, but added "the money you can make in Hedland if you have the right attitude and work ethic is unbelievable." The town is known for its major industrial port, a major hub for the mining industry, which handles millions of tonnes of iron ore and salt annually. The desert climate is particularly harsh, reaching temperatures in the 40s, and even the 50s in the summer. "It is a completely different part of the world," she said. "This summer just gone was horrific, it was awful," she said. The dust, which is so bad in parts of the town, the state government announced a $200 million, industry-funded voluntary buyback of more than 400 homes, was the biggest adjustment for Georgia. "I am a clean person, and I hate stuff on my feet. I had to mop the floors every two days. That was such a culture shock," she said. "Now I'm just covered in dust every day." Supermarket struggle in outback Australia Getting fresh produce is also difficult, with empty shelves commonplace due to either lack of supply or chronic staff shortages. ADVERTISEMENT "Whenever the shelves are stocked with fresh berries, they're gone in seconds," she said. "A lot of the time, the shelves are pretty bare." She's not just talking about recent weather events that prevented trucks from making their way into town, explaining its a common occurrence. What's more, prices are higher than in major cities. Some regional communities are paying more than double for necessities compared to prices available across Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and IGA supermarkets in the capitals. It's something the Australian government has promised to do something about by locking the price of essential grocery items in remote communities to city prices. What's more, unlike many parts of Australia where bread is baked fresh, the household staple is stored in the freezer in Port Hedland. "I remember asking where the bread is when I first moved, and the worker said it's in the freezer section," she laughed. Georgia's advice for anyone looking to live in a mining town Georgia said she would recommend her rural life to anyone who is considering a move and struggling financially. ADVERTISEMENT "I don't know anywhere else in Australia that offers you a higher salary but also gives you free housing," she said, adding it's all about "taking it and running with it". "Id say do it but be warned," she sad. "The heat in summer time is disgustingly hot. The flies are really bad, the mosquitos are horrific. "What people say about having golden handcuffs is true," she said. Georgia said she witnesses many who come to the town get trapped after getting into debt buying expensive boats, cars and caravans with their large incomes. Incredible perks of remote life Despite some of the harder elements of living rurally, Georgia explained the incredible scenery just moments away and the lifelong friendships make the long working hours, empty grocery stores and hot weather worthwhile. ADVERTISEMENT "Youre right on the water and thats such a beautiful place to be," she said adding that "being able to make friends who are in the same situation as you" has been invaluable. "Everyone is suffering together, and the people really make Port Hedland," she said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Aydan Nix has been integrating into the life of her long-lost sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid and the 23-year-old fashion school graduate even gave a subtle and touching nod to her family when she graduated from college earlier this month. While graduating from the Parsons School of Design in Manhattan on May 16, Nix wore a black and white keffiyeh scarf, an homage to her father's Palestinian heritage. The Daily Mail captured Nix at the ceremony, proudly posing for photos and celebrating with her friends at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. She made the fashion statement two weeks before the Daily Mail exclusively revealed that Nix's biological dad is Mohamed Hadid. The multi-millionaire real estate developer had a brief relationship with her mother, Terri Hatfield Dull in 2000. It's not the first time that Mohamed's daughters have been spotted wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional Middle Eastern headscarf that has become a symbol of Palestinian pride and resilience. In 2024, Bella wore a keffiyeh inspired dress to honor her homeland and to protest against the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict. Aydan Nix, revealed by the Daily Mail to be Gigi and Bella Hadid's half-sister, wore a black and white keffiyeh scarf to her graduation from the Parsons School of Design earlier this month The sisters have publicly voiced concerns on social media about the conditions on the Gaza strip, and donated a million dollars to support Palestinian families affected by the conflict. Outside of the Middle East and North Africa, the keffiyeh has gained popularity among pro-Palestinian activists; it is widely considered to be a symbol of solidarity with Palestine in their fight against Israel. Nix realized that she was part of the Hadid clan when she took a DNA test after the death of the man who had raised her as her dad. She then learned that her biological father was Mohamed. For the past two years, Nix has grown more intimate with her famous family while remaining close to her mom. While she has often been photographed with her famous sisters, it wasn't publicly revealed that they were blood relatives until last week. 'We first connected in late 2023, and from that moment on, weve embraced Aydan with open arms,' Bella and Gigi Hadid told the Daily Mail on Thursday. 'Shes spent time with all of us, including our dad, and weve cherished this unexpected and beautiful addition to our family. Nix made the fashion statement two weeks before the Daily Mail exclusively revealed that her biological dad is Mohamed Hadid The graduate was seen looking at her phone and posing for photos as she prepared to walk on stage in Brooklyn Nix strikes a pose for her friends as she waits in line before going into the ceremony Aydan Nix and Bella Hadid posted pictures on Instagram in August 2024, before it was public knowledge that they were half sisters Nix studied Fine and Studio Arts at the Parsons School of Design in Manhattan Mohamed Hadid (with Gigi, left, and Bella, right) says on his social media profiles that he has five children - but Aydan makes six Aydan has not publicly commented on her new family but has been in 'constant contact' with them since the news broke 'As siblings, weve had many open and loving conversations with Aydan included about how to support and protect her. 'Aydan and her family value their privacy, and we fully respect that. We kindly ask others to do the same and honor her wish and right to her anonymity as she continues her life as a young woman in New York.' Nix's newfound family has placed her into a complex Hollywood genealogy web. Bella and Gigi's mother, Real Housewives alum Yolanda Hadid, was married to composer David Foster from 2011 to 2017. Foster, 75, was previously married to Linda Thompson, who has two famous sons Brody Jenner and Brandon Jenner with ex Caitlyn Jenner. But a family source tells the Daily Mail that Nix is uninterested in the family complexity, and merely wants to have a relationship with her father and siblings. 'She is happy to have an additional family,' says a relative, 'and she has her original family who is there for her. 'She knows she is loved very, very much.' At the height of his power, Alexander the Great wept because there were no more worlds left to conquer. Elon Musk, the richest man of our age, may have been blubbing for a different reason last week, as yet another of his unfathomable ambitions came crashing to earth. On its ninth test flight, his SpaceX Starship enterprise, which has been designed to make humans an interplanetary species, went up with barely a hitch. Then, on re-entry into Earths atmosphere, the 400ft machine lost contact with the control room, span out of control and blew up. Musk, wearing his favoured OCCUPY MARS T-shirt for the big occasion, tried to put a positive spin on Starships third mid-flight immolation in a row. He called the crash-test a big improvement and posted triumphant videos of the spacecraft thrusting majestically towards the heavens. But it was a major setback and everyone knew it. As the ships debris splashed down in the Indian ocean, Musk cancelled a celebratory speech he was meant to give to his SpaceX employees. Hed promised Donald Trump that astronauts would plant the American flag on the Red Planet before the President leaves office in 2028. Now that target seems hopelessly optimistic. Musk must have been hoping that his mission to Mars would have provided a much-needed escape because here, on this planet, things seem to be going from bad to worse for him. On Wednesday Musk, 53, finally confirmed what everyone in Washington knew: his scheduled time as head of the White Houses Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE) is over. He thanked Trump for giving him the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. Publicly, at least, Trump and Musk have sought to remain on the best of terms. On Friday the President held a special farewell press conference to mark Elons departure. This will be his last day but not really because he will, always, be helping all the way, he said. Elon is terrific! Elon Musk holds a chainsaw reading 'long live freedom, damn it!' at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February Trump then gave Musk a special golden key to the White House and reiterated that hes not really leaving. Musk, who curiously had a black eye (the result, he said, of playfighting with X, his four-year-old son), thanked and praised Trump in return. But warm words cant cover up the fact that relations have soured between Musk and Team Trump, if not the big Donald himself. Yet in a major TV interview to be shown this weekend, Musk has risked a major rupture with the Commander-in-Chief by criticising Trumps Big Beautiful Tax bill, which is working its way through Congress. I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, Musk said. I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I dont know if it can be both. That has not gone down well in Trumpworld. That bill is Trumps pride and joy, says a source close to the administration. And he really will not have appreciated cold water being poured on it. The official line is still that Musk has only ever been a temporary special government employee and his formal role was always going to end after three months. Talk to insiders, however, and the picture becomes clear: DOGE has backfired and Team Trump is increasingly hostile to Musk. Musk's relationship with Donald Trump is believed to have soured since the billionaire joined the president's administration. Pictured, Trump appears to be pointing at Musk in the White House in March As far as Im concerned hes just another ungrateful immigrant, one source says of the South African-born tycoon. A more sympathetic source adds: Its the first time hes come up against the DC blob and Im not sure he had any idea how to deal with it. Musk seems bruised by his experience. Looking morose, he told a conference in Qatar two weeks ago that he would be cutting back his campaign spending. If I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I will do it, he said. I do not currently see a reason. Last Monday, a Musk fan on X expressed his disgust at the Republican party for not supporting Musks work at DOGE. Did my best, replied dejected Musk. His political career seems to have imitated the flightpath of the last Starship. After a spectacular start, he soon found himself burning up in the poisonous atmospheres of Washington, DC. Or, as one insider puts it: Elon came to Washington to drain the swamp. But the swamp has drained him. Worst of all, Musks adventure with Trump appears to have greatly harmed his business empire. His biggest company, the electric car maker Tesla, is facing a host of problems. Last week, ahead of the multi-nationals big robotaxi launch, Musks brother Kimbal, along with one of his senior associates, sold almost $200 million in Tesla stocks a big red flag for investors. How things have changed. In January, as he celebrated Trumps second inauguration in Washington, Musk looked unstoppable. He was the Presidents First buddy, the biggest billionaire in the Trump jungle. He was the man who had bet some $300 million in donations, his reputation and arguably his whole career on defeating the Democratic party in the 2024 election and hed won. Musk dances around the stage as Trump speaks at a campaign rally last year With the Presidents full blessing, Musk and his merry band of DOGEsters a group of mostly twentysomething data geeks happily set about exposing and removing government waste and fraud His decision in October 2022 to spend $44 billion buying the social media platform Twitter, which he turned into X, was widely hailed as a decisive moment in American political history. Hed turned a powerfully censorious anti-Trump platform into the most potent pro-free speech website on the planet. From the November 2024 presidential election until the turn of the year, hed been a near constant presence at Mar-a-Lago, Trumps Winter White House in Florida. He was heavily involved in Trumps decision-making and cabinet selections. Insiders called him the de facto President. The real President doesnt take too kindly to that kind of talk, says one DC insider. At the time, however, Trump seemed too smitten with Musk to care about all the chatter over two planet-sized egos clashing. In his speeches, Trump never missed a chance to call Musk a genius. On his first day back in office, the President duly issued the executive order to create DOGE, giving Musk the awesome responsibility of tackling Americas $36 trillion national debt. A few weeks later, Musk appeared on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland, wearing a gothic-style MAGA cap and wielding a chainsaw, a symbol of his mission to slay the federal leviathan. If you spend any time among some of the Elon people, it feels more like a cult than a proper business. You have to be a bit mad to work for someone like Elon. Whats happening in the Musk empire is that people are learning that the emperor has no clothes With the Presidents full blessing, Musk and his merry band of DOGEsters a group of mostly twentysomething data geeks happily set about exposing and removing government waste and fraud. They briefly shut down the US Agency for International Development, which oversees the governments aid efforts. Even more controversially, they froze Medicaid health insurance payments and laid off thousands of federal employees. As a newfangled executive department, though, DOGE never really had any true constitutional authority. Without majority support in Congress, almost all its actions can be legally reversed. They found the waste, says a Washington source. Dealing with it is a whole separate issue. The DOGE guys signalled to the public that they had the power to do stuff they never had the power to do. They were high on their supply, says another insider with links to the intelligence community. We owe Trump a debt because by bringing in Elon and his DOGE people front and centre in the way that he did, he exposed them for the bunch of charlatans they are. If you spend any time among some of the Elon people, it feels more like a cult than a proper business. You have to be a bit mad to work for someone like Elon. Whats happening in the Musk empire is that people are learning that the emperor has no clothes. Trump may have been enamoured with Musks move-fast-and-break-things approach, but members of his cabinet quickly became fed up with Musks haughty attitude to their affairs. He insulted Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, by accusing him, in front of Trump, of not cutting back on his staff and clashed with Transport Secretary Sean Duffy for not firing enough air traffic controllers. But the real splits with Trumps inner circle began to show after April 2, Liberation Day, when Trump sent the global economy reeling as he imposed sweeping tariffs on most of the world. Musk, a free-marketeer by instinct, disapproved of Trumps agenda, not least because it threatened to further harm his Tesla business which was suffering from an at times violent sabotage campaign. On X, Musk posted a video of Milton Friedman, the famous economist, explaining how the marvels of international trade come together to produce a pencil. He also called Peter Navarro, the architect of Trumps trade policy, a moron. A few days later, he accused Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary, a moderate in the internal White House debate over tariffs, of being an agent for George Soros, the Left-Liberal billionaire and global bogeyman of the Trumpist Right. Musks relations with the White House have never been the same since. Some voices in Washington suggest Musk, under so much strain on so many fronts, may have suffered some kind of breakdown. A person close to the Trump administration who interacted with Elon over 2024 and this year says his cognition seemed to decay and suggests there is little distinction between how he presents in real life and his life on X. His ownership of X has turned out to be just one more massive business headache. He still has the power to change the global conversation just by tapping on his phone. But latest reports suggest user engagement on X is flatlining and subscription revenues are nowhere near as high as shareholders wanted. Musk would hardly be the first person driven mad by social media. But hes a highly intelligent and hyperactive man with a terrifying number of responsibilities and a very complicated love life. Hes had 14 children with four women. He has struggled with depression and told CNN last year that he uses the powerful drug ketamine to stabilise his mood. A report in The New York Times on Friday suggests he has been taking a daily cocktail of drugs, including the prescribed stimulant Adderall, plus mind-altering substances such as ecstasy and magic mushrooms. In the Oval Office on Friday, Musk sarcastically criticised The New York Times, saying that it had a history of printing lies, but he hasnt yet rebutted its new allegations. Hes becoming a lot more nasty, says an insider. Hes yelling more at people. He used to be a much more charming figure. Musk is also reportedly furious at Trumps courting of his friend-turned-nemesis in the tech world, Sam Altman. Musk helped co-found OpenAI, the worlds leading artificial intelligence company, with Altman in 2015 but the two fell out spectacularly. Musk accuses Altman of perfidy and deceit of Shakespearean proportions and is suing him. Musk, earing a 'Gulf of America' hat, listens as Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting in April According to the Wall Street Journal last week, Musk attempted to derail a deal, brokered by the US government, for Altmans OpenAI to build one of the worlds largest data centres in Abu Dhabi. Musk lobbied for his company, xAI, to be part of the plan, to no avail. Altman and Musk travelled with Trump to the Middle East last month, but it was Altman who appears to have secured the biggest Arab AI contract. It is thought Trump tried to give Musk some solace during a press conference in the Oval Office last month by publicly berating South African President Cyril Ramaphosa about persecution of white farmers in Musks homeland. Here too, however, behind the political theatrics, lies another tangled geopolitical business web. Musks satellite internet service Starlink has been denied a licence to operate in South Africa, partly due to race-based ownership laws and also because the African National Congress, the ruling party, would rather let China control its digital infrastructure. Its far too soon to write off Elon Musk and his many billion-dollar interests. Throughout his career, hes triumphed over adversity. Time and again, his companies have proved too innovative to be written off. The real story is not one of Musks empire collapsing, says a less hostile Trumpworld source. Its one of strategic retreat. But these are dark days for the prince of MAGA. Criminals ordered to repay the profits of their crimes still owe the authorities 5 million, with critics branding the failure to recoup the cash an insult to victims. Data from the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) shows there are currently 89 so-called confiscation orders in arrears, worth a total of 5,065,459. The orders require criminals to pay back money they have gained via illegal activities under proceeds of crime laws. But a number of crooks continue to owe large sums of cash, despite the court orders being handed out more than a decade ago. Shockingly, there were two confiscation orders with outstanding payments due of more than 500,000, while several others are also for six figure sums. The largest amount owed is 560,881 in relation to late brothel madam Margaret Paterson, who pimped out women in Edinburgh for 10 years. She was sentenced to five years imprisonment in 2013 after being convicted of brothel-keeping as well as money laundering and living on the earnings of prostitution. She was ordered to pay 1 million but died in 2019 before coughing up the bulk of the cash leaving prosecutors to try to recover the rest of the money from her estate. Late brothel madam Margaret Paterson pimped out women in Edinburgh for 10 years Paterson used the profits from the prostitution racket she ran on designer goods Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: These shocking figures are proof crime pays under the soft-touch SNP. Its clear our proceeds of crime laws are simply not fit for purpose, with wealthy criminals having nothing to fear. Complacent SNP ministers are failing to address the scale of organised crime in Scotland and must give our police, prosecutors and courts the resources they need to do their jobs and recover this money. He added: Hard-working Scots will be appalled that this money is not being repaid by offenders, especially at a time when Nationalist ministers are cutting services and hiking taxes. The fact criminals are allowed to get away with this is another insult to victims of crime, who always seem to be an afterthought in the SNPs justice system. Among the ten highest-value orders, half were imposed before 2016, with one of them dating back to 2012. According to figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives via freedom of information laws, no repayments had been made on six of the top ten highest sums, while others only had a small portion of the order paid back. Funds recovered through confiscation orders are used to help improve local communities. Since 2008, 130 million has been invested in community initiatives. An SCTS spokesman said: A confiscation order may take some time to recover in full. The period within which financial penalties should be paid is a matter for the judiciary. A Scottish Government spokesman said: Payment of the order is supervised by the court. Where payment is not made, further action to recover the balance can be taken by the courts. What better way for the Mayor of London to launch a drugs debate than to pose for pictures framed by a forest of cannabis plants? So thought Sadiq Khan's aides when he announced a 'commission' to look at decriminalising the drug in Britain. It was decided that a taxpayer-funded 'fact-finding' mission to the United States was needed to discover how Los Angeles had fared since recreational marijuana became legal in California four years earlier. Thus Sir Sadiq found himself facing the cameras in May 2022 in the laid-back surrounds of a cannabis factory in LA's downtown district. He declared that 'hearing from those who cultivate and grow this plant has been fascinating'. Naturally, his bouncy enthusiasm for a change in the law back home found favour in liberal quarters. Gary Lineker, for one, felt compelled to offer the world his opinion. Others warned the mayor, who oversees Britain's biggest police force, that his time would be better spent tackling drug and knife crime in the capital. Indeed, it is perhaps worth noting that just a month before Sir Sadiq flew to the US, marijuana-addicted Joshua Jacques slaughtered three generations of a family in a psychotic frenzy not three miles from the mayor's office. Sir Sadiq found himself facing the cameras in May 2022 in the laid-back surrounds of a cannabis factory in LA's downtown district Some warned the mayor, who oversees Britain's biggest police force, that his time would be better spent tackling drug and knife crime in the capital (Stock image) Before Sir Sadiq flew to the US, marijuana-addicted Joshua Jacques (pictured) slaughtered three generations of a family in a psychotic frenzy not three miles from the mayor's office It was a case, observed a judge, that offered a salutary lesson about the dangers of cannabis. Three years on, the London Drugs Commission's work is now done. Unsurprisingly, last week the mayor backed its recommendation to decriminalise the possession of small amounts of cannabis. Although Sir Sadiq has no powers to lift the marijuana ban in London, he urged ministers to consider the proposals, saying they were 'compelling' and 'evidence based'. Try telling that, though, to the family of gifted violinist Laura Bower-McKnight, 22, who, on the cusp of a promising career, killed herself at her family home in Lincolnshire. Or the wife of IT consultant Lee Pomeroy, stabbed 18 times in front of his 14-year-old son on a day trip to London. Or the husband of Kara Alexander, 47, who drowned her sons aged two and five in the bath then tucked them up in bed for him to find them. Or the family what's left of it of Samantha Drummonds, 27, who, along with her mother, grandmother and grandmother's partner, was stabbed to death by Jacques, her boyfriend, in Bermondsey, south-east London. Samantha Drummonds, 27, who, along with her mother, grandmother and grandmother's partner, was stabbed to death by Jacques, her boyfriend, in Bermondsey, south-east London Police found the bodies of Ms Drummonds, her mother, Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, 45, grandmother Dolet Hill, 64, and Hill's partner, Denton Burke, 58. Pictured are Dolet Hill and Denton Burke Beyond violence and tragedy, the one common factor binding these and countless other seemingly disparate acts is cannabis. Not that any of this is a surprise to police, lawyers and judges. In courts across the land the part played by cannabis in violent deeds is spelled out all too clearly and frequently. Time and again those working in the criminal justice system hear the same warning: That heavy use can lead to serious psychosis especially as nearly all cannabis on Britain's streets is now said to be super-strength skunk. The drug's increasing potency has significantly increased the risk of psychosis and other harms. Outside the house on the well-kept estate where Jacques, 29, began his knife attack, a fresh spray of flowers in memory of his victims hangs from a lamppost. 'Nobody round here will forget what happened,' said a family friend yesterday. 'Legalising weed might prove popular with a lot of people in London, and we all get why the mayor thinks it makes him look cool, but it was skunk that killed Sam and her family.' Jacques, it transpired at this trial, had smoked cannabis since the age of 12 and had doubled his consumption of the stronger skunk variety in the week before the killings. Police officers and floral tributes were seen outside the property in Bermondsey where three generations of the same family died Parts of the London skyline are seen in the background as police and forensic officers investigate in Bermondsey last April Police found the bodies of Ms Drummonds, her mother, Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, 45, grandmother Dolet Hill, 64, and Hill's partner, Denton Burke, 58, after they were alerted to a disturbance by a neighbour. Officers discovered Mr Burke's body at the foot of the stairs and the three women 'heaped together' in the kitchen. Mr Justice Bryan, the judge at Jacques's trial, said: 'It is a salutary lesson to all those who peddle the myth that cannabis is not a dangerous drug. It is, and its deleterious effect on mental health and its potential to cause psychosis is well established.' Jacques received four life sentences and must serve a minimum of 46 years. Sir Robin Murray, a professor of psychiatric research at King's College London, warned: 'People need to know that cannabis, particularly modern cannabis, is a risky drug to take every day. 'We are now in the middle of an epidemic of psychosis caused by heavy use of high-potency cannabis as a consequence, our rates of schizophrenia are now three times higher than they were 50 years ago.' In normal cannabis resin, the average concentration of the main psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has risen dramatically in recent years. By contrast, the proportion of antipsychotic cannabidiol (CBD), which helps to mitigate the drug's psychoactive effects, has decreased dramatically. Kara Alexander, 47, drowned her sons aged two and five in the bath then tucked them up in bed for him to find them The commission set up by Sir Sadiq and chaired by former justice secretary Lord Falconer of Thoroton, who is an ally of Sir Keir Starmer, recommended that possession of cannabis be dealt with under the Psychoactive Substances Act rather than the Misuse of Drugs Act, as it is at the moment. It would remain a criminal act to import, manufacture and distribute cannabis, but it would not be a criminal act to possess small quantities for personal use. Carol McKnight, the mother of Laura Bower-McKnight, told The Mail on Sunday that the recommendation was 'irresponsible', adding that a change in the law would lead to even more cannabis-induced deaths. Talented and vivacious, Laura had studied at the prestigious Royal Welsh College of Music and seemed destined for a glittering career. But she killed herself after a single joint of strong cannabis triggered a psychotic episode and left her a depressed recluse. She was found hanged at her family's home in North Hykeham, Lincolnshire, in 2012. Mrs McKnight said: 'People think nothing of cannabis nowadays. A lot of people try it. Talented and vivacious, Laura (pictured) had studied at the prestigious Royal Welsh College of Music and seemed destined for a glittering career 'I think young people assume it is completely harmless. But it can destroy your mind.' She recalled what happened when Laura, who had previously smoked normal cannabis, tried a joint of skunk. Mrs McKnight said: 'It tipped her into psychosis. It was no longer the real Laura, the always-on-the-go, lovely young woman, the musician, the passionate writer, the artist,' She added: 'Mr Khan has a lack of knowledge about the drug and the impact it can have on people, especially young ones. It killed my daughter.' Referring to Sir Sadiq's endorsement of decriminalisation last week, she said: 'When I read online what he said it made me angry, and I feel he is being irresponsible. 'He is an influential man and people listen to him. Mr Khan should think very carefully before he makes public comments like this. 'He has upset and angered many families who have lost loved ones to the drug. 'My life has life fallen apart since Laura's death.' Sir Sadiq's words have indeed, as she says, caused widespread dismay among families who have lost loved ones in cases in which cannabis has played a key role. Examples abound. Darren Pencille, 36 (left) and victim Lee Pomeroy, 51, talking in a carriage on a London-bound train at Guildford, Surrey Lee Pomeroy was killed on a train in January 2019 on the eve of his 52nd birthday while making his way to London for a day out with his 14-year-old son. An argument broke out after cannabis-addicted gang member Darren Pencille, 36, jostled past them in the aisle. Pencille called his girlfriend and said: 'I'm going to kill this man.' He then pulled a blade from his pocket and stabbed Mr Pomeroy 18 times, including a fatal wound in his neck. An associate of Pencille said: 'He smoked weed constantly and was a complete psycho.' He had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2003 but refused to take any medication, treating himself instead by smoking super-strong cannabis every day. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, the judge at his trial, said: 'You were someone who did not take your medication and you did take cannabis, which sometimes made you more paranoid than usual.' Earlier this year a court heard that like Pencille, Kara Alexander, 47, was high on super-strength cannabis in December 2022 when she drowned her two young sons in the bath at their home in Dagenham, east London. She then tucked the boys up in their bunk beds for their father to find them. Sentencing her to life imprisonment, Mr Justice Bennathan said the case should serve as a warning that super-strength cannabis can 'plunge people into a mental-health crisis in which they may harm themselves or others'. He told Alexander that on the day 'you had been smoking skunk, you had been doing so for weeks before, probably longer. The judge added: 'You drowned them both. I cannot reach any conclusion other than by your state at that time you intended to kill them.' What then of the Californian experiment so warmly embraced by Sir Sadiq when he set up his drugs commission? The advocacy group Smart Approaches to Marijuana released data showing how California, Alaska, Colorado and Oregon saw violent crime rates jump by as much as 29 per cent after cannabis was legalised. The coastguard were too busy dealing with migrant rescues yesterday morning to assist a yacht and kayak who believed they were in trouble in the English Channel. Border Force, RNLI and several French vessels scrambled with the coastguard at around 5am on Saturday to deal with reports of 15 small boats attempting to reach UK shores. At least seven of the dinghies left the coast of Gravelines - which lies between Calais and Dunkirk - where a group of men, women and children were seen boarding a dinghy at a beach. And while maritime resources were being designated to stop these small boats, a yacht on the Channel had issued an alert to say that it begun taking on water. HM Coastguard told The Times it had been 'responding to small boats activity in the Channel' but added that 'the co-ordination of multiple, simultaneous incidents is not unusual, and at no time was public safety compromised'. The coastguard added that they were also satisfied the yacht and kayakers did not need assistance. A Home Office spokesperson also told the newspaper they want to 'end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security' and that the government had a 'serious plan' to do so. Before the migrants began heading towards Britain, French police were seen watching on as they piled onto the beaches with one officer even appearing to take pictures on his phone. Boats were this morning seen crossing the Channel with many setting off in the early hours A group of men and women, which included multiple small children, was seen boarding a dinghy at a beach in Gravelines, which lies between Calais and Dunkirk French police stood back and watched as entire families packed themselves into an overcrowded small boat heading across the Channel to the UK this morning After the boat was loaded, French authorities were then pictured escorting a small boat from aboard their own. There have not been any arrivals of asylum seekers crossing the Channel in small boats for a week, the latest Home Office figures show. But new data did reveal that France is intercepting fewer potential migrants than at any time since the phenomenon began, despite a 480 million deal with the UK's neighbour to help stop crossings. Around 38 percent of people attempting to make the dangerous crossing have been intercepted so far this year, some 8,347 compared to 13,167 who have arrived in the UK. This is compared to authorities preventing 45 percent of crossings last year and 46 percent in 2023. It is in spite of a 480 million, three-year deal with the French, secured by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in March 2023, to double the number of officers patrolling beaches from 400 to 800. The deal also involved setting up a joint command centre and a detention centre. The fall is believed to be due to a change in tactics by the heartless people smuggling gangs taking advantage of young families' desperation. A French coastguard boat is seen monitoring a boat packed with people on Saturday morning in the sea off the coast of France A man carries a young child to a small boat off the coast of France in a bid to reach the UK by crossing the Channel Police officers in France were accused of standing and watching without intervening, with one even spotted appearing to take photographs on his phone Instead of loads boats right next to the shore, smugglers instead now inflate the boat and get it out to sea before people wade towards it, often reaching up to the chest or neck in water before they are pulled on board. This prevents police making arrests on the shoreline and means Britain is instead relying on the French Coastguard to conduct rescues and returning people to France after these instead. In a possible sign of hope for the government an ongoing series of legal challenges has the potential to stem the flow of migrants through Europe, while France recently changed its laws to allow police officers to use their own boats and intercept crossings in shallow waters. But 2025 is on course to set a record for Channel crossings, with more than 13,000 people having arrived so far, up 30 percent on the number recorded at this point last year, according to the latest data. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to crack down on small boat crossings including with measures targeting smuggling gangs. The Home Secretary has previously said gangs have been taking advantage of a higher number of calm weather days to make crossings. The new crossings come just weeks after the Prime Minister announced plans for 'return hubs' to send migrants back to the country they came to the UK from more easily. The Prime Minister is eyeing up deals with Balkan countries, and some in Africa, to house failed asylum seekers. The Home Secretary has previously said gangs have been taking advantage of a higher number of calm weather days to make crossings People hoping to reach the UK to claim asylum wade into the Channel to catch a dinghy piloted by several men A young boy and his family prepare to board a boat in a bid to reach the UK from France A couple are seen placing their phones into waterproof bags ahead of entering the water to board a small dinghy Labour is looking to strike deals with the likes of Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Sir Keir had hoped Albania would join the scheme but was left embarrassed earlier this month when he travelled there, only to be publicly rebuffed by PM Edi Rama. Speaking in Albania earlier this month, Sir Keir said: 'What now we want to do and are having discussions of, talks of, is return hubs which is where someone has been through the system in the UK, they need to be returned and we have to make sure they're returned effectively and we'll do that, if we can, through return hubs. 'So that's what the talks are about. I would say in this area no single measure is going to be the measure that is, if you like, a silver bullet. 'By putting it all together - arrests, seizures, agreements with other countries, returning people who shouldn't be here, and return hubs, if we can through these talks to add to our armoury, will allow us to bear down on this vile trade and to make sure that we stop those people crossing the Channel.' Downing Street said the plans were 'entirely different' to the last government's flagship Rwanda deportation scheme. The new plan will involve sending paying to send potentially thousands of failed asylum seekers to the Balkans, rather than holding them in the UK until they can be removed. In some cases, those involved will be from countries like Afghanistan which are deemed too dangerous to return people to. A young boy appears nervous as he is held on a small boat transporting refugees and migrants to the UK Criminal gangs are increasingly overloading boats with up to 100 people as they make money from individuals' desperation A group of people thought to be migrants walk towards the sea to board a small boat leaving the beach at Gravelines, France Sir Keir was criticised by some earlier this month after delivering a speech in which he pledged to crack down on immigration and said the UK was at risk of becoming an 'island of strangers'. But liberals said his words had echoes of Enoch Powell's 'Rivers of Blood' speech in 1968, which was accused of stoking years of racism and division in the UK. Speaking on May 12, Sir Keir said he would give Brits what they had 'asked for time and time again' and 'significantly' reduce eye-watering immigration that has been inflicting 'incalculable damage'. The Home Office estimates the government's package will bring down annual inflows by around 100,000. This figure reached a record of nearly one million under the Tories. In a pivotal moment, he also rejected the Treasury orthodoxy that high immigration drives growth - pointing out the economy has stagnated in recent years. Under the blueprint, skills thresholds will be hiked and rules on fluency in English toughened. People thought to be migrants scramble onboard a small boat in a bid to reach the UK The remains of a small boat on the beach in Gravelines, France, following an unsuccessful attempt by people thought to be migrants to reach the UK A young boy cries as he is carried into the sea to a small boat hoping to reach the UK Migrants will also be required to wait 10 years for citizenship rather than the current five, and face deportation for even lower-level crimes. Graduate visas will be reduced to 18 months, and a new levy introduced on income that universities generate from international students. Requirements that sponsoring institutions must meet in order to recruit international students are also being tightened. Official figures showed net long-term inflows into the UK were 431,000 in the year to December, compared with 860,000 across 2023. Numbers had dropped to 739,000 in the year to last June - just before the election - with the peak remaining 906,000 in the 12 months to June 2023. British fighter jets will soon carry nuclear weapons as part of biggest defence expansion since the Cold War. Sir Keir Starmer is looking to purchase several fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons. The sensitive talks include Defence Secretary John Healey and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin who are looking to buy US fighter jets capable of launching gravity bombs with lower power than conventional nuclear weapons. The decision is backed by the prime minister and talks with the Pentagon are under way according to The Times. The news comes as Sir Keir is readying himself to launch a strategic defence review on Monday from a dockyard. He is expected to expand the UK's nuclear deterrence and its contribution to NATO but will not commit to specific capabilities. Mr Healey has insisted the Government will reach its target of hiking defence spending to three per cent GDP by 2034. It comes after the Government previously set out a goal to reach the target during the next Parliament, after meeting its promise of increasing spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by April 2027. Sir Keir Starmer is looking to purchase several fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons The sensitive talks include Defence Secretary John Healey, the defence secretary, and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin who are looking to buy US fighter jets (Pictured: a B-1B Lancer) The hope is that the weapons would be capable of launching gravity bombs with lower power than conventional nuclear weapons (pictured: Two F-16's from the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona) However the Defence Secretary has promised a 'certain decade of rising defence spending', according to The Times, and said there was 'no doubt' the UK would meet its target. Mr Healey told the newspaper: 'It allows us to plan for the long term. It allows us to deal with the pressures.' The Government is looking at the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK armed forces as part of its strategic defence review (SDR). It will explore 'deliverable and affordable' solutions 'within the resources available to defence within the trajectory of 2.5 per cent'. Earlier this year, Sir Keir announced the targets, where he said 'increasing the resilience' of Britain was 'vital' 'in an ever more dangerous world.' 'In an ever more dangerous world, increasing the resilience of our country so we can protect the British people, resist future shocks and bolster British interests, is vital,' he said The new defence money will be found by reducing UK overseas aid from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of GNI (gross national income), according to the Government. This move was one , which prompted then-international development minister Anneliese Dodds to resign. The Defence Secretary John Healey (pictured) has promised a 'certain decade of rising defence spending'and said there was 'no doubt' the UK would meet its target A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'This Government has announced the largest sustained increase to defence spending since the end of the Cold War (pictured: F-15 Eagle Fighter Jets) Earlier this year, Sir Keir announced the targets, where he said 'increasing the resilience' of Britain was 'vital' 'in an ever more dangerous world.' (pictured: A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber) 'You have maintained that you want to continue support for Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine; for vaccination; for climate; and for rules-based systems,' she told the Prime Minister. 'Yet it will be impossible to maintain these priorities given the depth of the cut.' NATO heads of government are set to meet in The Hague, in the Netherlands, next month. Addressing the alliance's parliamentary assembly in Dayton, USA this month, NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte said he assumed The Hague would agree 'on a high defence spend target' of 5 per cent. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'This Government has announced the largest sustained increase to defence spending since the end of the Cold War - 2.5 per cent by 2027 and 3 per cent in the next parliament when fiscal and economic conditions allow, including an extra 5 billion this financial year. 'The SDR will rightly set the vision for how that uplift will be spent, including new capabilities to put us at the leading edge of innovation in Nato, investment in our people and making defence an engine for growth across the UK - making Britain more secure at home and strong abroad.' An illegal migrant previously convicted of fraud and imprisoned cannot be deported because she has lived in Britain for too long, an immigration court has heard. Joyce Baidoo, 57, has been in the UK without permission since 2000 and was ordered to leave by the Home Office in 2007 after being jailed for 10 months for using false identify documents, according to The Telegraph. But Ms Baidoo has reportedly fought her case to remain in Britain by putting forward the argument that she would struggle to 'reintegrate' back into her home country of Ghana. A judge at an Immigration and Asylum court is believed to have agreed with Ms Baidoo's reasoning and said that the argument was 'very compelling'. The newspaper say the judge also agreed that Ms Baidoo's 'long absence' away from Ghana would lead to 'significant obstacles' upon her re-entry. Despite the Home Office reportedly launching an appeal against the decision, Ms Baidoo won both the first tier and upper tribunal cases. The upper tribunal heard Ms Baidoo believed leaving the UK would have 'a detrimental effect on her mental health'. 'She also said that there would be significant obstacles to her reintegration into Ghanaian culture because of her long absence, the lack of family support and the lack of employment opportunities she would have there. Joyce Baidoo has been in the UK without permission since 2000 and was ordered to leave by the Home Office in 2007 after being jailed for using false identify documents (Stock Image) Despite the Home Office reportedly launching an appeal against the decision, Ms Baidoo won both the first tier and upper tribunal cases (Stock Image) The upper tribunal heard Ms Baidoo believed leaving the UK would have 'a detrimental effect on her mental health' (Stock Image) 'She claimed that she would be left destitute, resulting in unjustifiably harsh consequences for her.' First tier tribunal Judge Jeffrey Cameron said earlier this year: 'The evidence before me does indicate that Ms Baidoo on return to Ghana would not have any family support given that her husband has died, and she has no contact with her children. 'Given her age and mental health problems it is unlikely that she would be able to within a reasonable period of time obtain employment and although she may be entitled to some support from the Government by voluntarily agreeing to removal, this would be short-term.' The Home Office allegedly said the tribunal 'failed to provide adequate reasons'. Upper tribunal Judge Richard Manuell said: 'It was not "speculative" of the judge to conclude that Ms Baidoo would be destitute. 'He looked at various factors, including the absence of support and the period of absence, and reached conclusions that were properly reasoned and open to him. 'The judge gave cogent reasons for reaching his conclusions. Proportionality and reasonableness had been fully covered. The onwards appeal should be dismissed. There was no material error of law.' Former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann has moved interstate to become a full-time live-in nanny. Lehrmann, 29, has reportedly found his 'happy sanctuary' living with a close family friend and watching their two children, outside of NSW. The children, aged under 10, call Lehrmann 'the Manny' and 'Uncle Bruce'. It's understood Lehrmann took the unpaid role in exchange for a space in the family's home following two criminal court cases and a defamation trial defeat which left his reputation, and finances, in tatters. Lehrmann, who relies on Centrelink benefits, was hired by the family 18 months ago. A photo showed Lehrmann smiling directly at the camera while sitting next to one of the children at a cinema. Lehrmann was dressed in a light, blue collared shirt with a cap and sunglasses resting on his head, while the child held a Village Cinemas popcorn bucket. His lawyer Zali Burrows told the Daily Telegraph the job has been a haven for his client. Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) is working as a full-time live-in nanny for a family outside of NSW 'Bruce relishes the trusted role he has in the children's lives and the family really adores him,' she said. 'It's been a safe, happy sanctuary, away from the mental and financial turmoil.' In August 2021, Lehrmann was identified as the Liberal Party staffer accused of raping Brittany Higgins inside Parliament House in 2019. Ms Higgins had shared her alleged sexual assault with Channel 10 journalist Lisa Wilkinson in an interview aired on The Project. Lehrmann has always denied the allegations. Lehrmann faced the ACT Supreme Court in late 2022 but the case was dropped after a juror brought outside research into the deliberation room. A second trial was also aborted, citing concerns for Ms Higgins' mental health. In 2023, Lehrmann launched legal proceedings against Wilkinson and Channel 10, claiming he'd been defamed by The Project episode. Lehrmann (pictured) has been accused of raping two women - Brittany Higgins inside Parliament House in 2019 and a woman in Queensland in 2021 The ruling in that lawsuit left Lehrmann in ruin with Justice Michael Lee finding that, on the balance of probabilities, he raped Ms Higgins. He has appealed the ruling with the case to go before the Federal Court of Australia in August. Lehrmann is also fighting allegations he raped a woman in Queensland in 2021. The woman alleged Lehrmann assaulted her twice on the morning of October 10 of that year after they met in a strip club the previous night in Toowoomba, 150km west of Brisbane. She claimed she and Lehrmann ingested cocaine during the night out and had consensual sex at a house in east Toowoomba about 4am. The woman alleged she was woken about 10am by Lehrmann sexually assaulting her. Lehrmann's former defence barrister Andrew Hoare previously said at a committal hearing that the alleged victim was too intoxicated to remember giving consent and Lehrmann could have mistakenly believed he had consent for further sex acts. The case is set to return to court on June 20. The update on Lehrmann's career comes after Ms Higgins celebrated her first Mother's Day in early May with her partner David Sharaz The update on Lehrmann's career comes after Ms Higgins celebrated her first Mother's Day in early May with her partner David Sharaz. Ms Higgins shared on Instagram sweet photographs of herself with her ten-week-old son Freddie, and of her own mother Kelly nursing her sleeping grandson on her shoulder. Ms Higgins also posted a throwback photo of herself as a baby in her mother's arms just over 30 years ago, and wrote a tribute to her mum. 'Its my first Mothers Day as a parent and the past two months has just reaffirmed how lucky I have been to walk through life with such an amazing mum by my side,' she wrote. 'I have a newfound appreciation for her strength, selflessness and the love shes always had on tap to pour into me when required. Thank-you for always showing me the way I love you lots!' In a joking postscript, Ms Higgins added: 'P.S. its only slightly devastating that you are far and away Freddies favourite person. David and I will try not to take it personally x.' The couple had publicly revealed the name of their baby in a heartwarming message on Easter Sunday. 'The best kind of Easter egg we've ever received,' Mr Sharaz captioned a series of family photos. 'Baby Frederick Leon Sharaz's first Easter.' The boy's middle name may be a tribute to Ms Higgins' personal lawyer, Leon Zwier. NSW has brought in a new licensing scheme Anthony Albanese faces a huge call to ban cigarettes from supermarkets in the latest move to clamp down on smoking. Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke is calling on the government to bring in new legislation as he branded supermarkets 'irresponsible' for selling cigarettes. 'We need everyone from government to big corporations to put the lung health of Australians ahead of profits from a product that kills 66 Australians daily,' he told news.com.au. 'Previous news reports have highlighted Coles estimates their cigarette sales each year is enough to kill more than 1,600 Australians and cause tobacco-related medical costs of more than $300 million a year.' It follows a new licensing scheme which is set to take effect across New South Wales from July 1. Aussies may soon no longer be able to buy cigarettes during their weekly grocery shops across the country as restrictions on smoking increase. The new scheme requires all tobacco retailers and wholesalers to have a license to sell tobacco and non-tobacco smoking products in the state. In NSW, only pharmacies are licensed to sell any type of vaping good, regardless of its nicotine content. The government is facing calls to ban supermarkets from selling cigarettes (stock) Coles said it 'recognises the need to provide a choice' to smokers who wish to purchase cigarettes 'legally' (stock) It's illegal for any other retailers to sell vaping products. Lung Foundation Australia has urged the federal government to follow suit and introduce legislation that would cover the entire country. 'The federal government can support broader efforts by investigating the health and economic impacts of a generational phase out of tobacco products,' Lung Foundation Australia said. Former smoker Sarah Waters has also called on cigarettes to be banned from supermarkets. She said that although it isn't easy to quit, putting restrictions in place to make it harder to buy cigarettes would make a 'big difference'. Prince Charles Hospital thoracic physician Henry Marshall suggested nicotine is as addictive as heroin as he joined the campaign to ban cigarettes from supermarkets. He said smokers who want to give up are being impeded by how easily accessible cigarettes are. Shoppers could soon face having to go elsewhere to purchase cigarettes (stock) Professor Marshall said the difference between nicotine and heroin is, 'you can't buy heroin with your weekly shopping'. Coles said in a statement they complied with all laws and saw the need to maintain a legal route for smokers to buy cigarettes. 'Coles complies with all Commonwealth, State and Territory laws aimed at minimising the negative health effects of tobacco use, however we recognise the need to provide choice to those customers who wish to purchase these products legally,' a spokesperson told NewsWire. The latest government data shows smoking rates have fallen from 20 per cent of the population in 2001, to eight per cent. Taxes from tobacco have fallen dramatically with the federal government receiving $16.3bn in revenue five years ago, to $7.4bn this year. Daily Mail Australia contacted Coles and Woolworths for comment. The family of a woman who was killed by a man she met on a dating app claim tougher bail and AVO laws might have meant their daughter would still be alive today. Jacky Finlay-Jones and her family refuses to say the name of the man who murdered her only daughter, Dannielle, at her friend's home in Cranebrook, western Sydney, on December 18, 2022. The 31-year-old had been on just three dates with Ashley Gaddie, 33, when he brutally assaulted her before fleeing to the Blue Mountains, where he was found on a cliff two days later. Although Dannielle didn't know it at the time, Gaddie was the subject of five AVOs taken out on him by five different women and was on bail for a domestic violence offence when he killed her. Dannielle met Gaddie on the Bumble app. He only had to give his first name before having access to thousands of women, despite his history of gendered violence. Ms Finlay-Jones and her son, Blake, on Sunday said they have struggled to move forward in life when domestic violence is still such a prevalent issue in Australia. 'As much as we have hoped and prayed that we were the last person this would ever happen to, that things would change, there has been over 100 deaths last year, the numbers are going up and it's just devastating,' Ms Finlay-Jones told news.com.au. 'Danni would still be here if there had been stricter bail laws for repeat offenders and tougher rules around AVOs. In her case the man, we don't use his name, had five AVOs taken out on him by five different women.' Dannielle Finlay-Jones (pictured) was murdered at her friend's home in Cranebrook on December 18, 2022 Ashley Gaddie (pictured) killed Dannielle on bail for an unrelated domestic violence offence Dannielle's brother was due to meet Gaddie just days after her murder (pictured, the home where Dannielle was killed) Blake, who was due to meet Gaddie over Christmas lunch, said the killer's existing AVOs would have been a 'red flag' for the family, had they known about them. Worsening the family's situation was the death of Gaddie, who was found unresponsive in his prison cell in April 2024. His death meant Dannielle's murder would never be heard in court and Gaddie 'will always to the outside world be known as the accused'. Now, the Finlay-Jones family has to wait through a backlog of cases before the coroner can reach Dannielle's. 'We understand a small wait, but it has already been one year since the accused took his own life; one year our lives are still in a holding pattern; one year (wasted to introduce) any recommendations that may have helped other domestic violence victims' Ms Finlay-Jones said 'The wait is just horrible, it is almost like they have forgotten the victim's family and friends.' The frustrated mother said it was unfair for her family, and other victims', to be forced to live in 'limbo' while domestic violence continues to rule headlines. 'These men have a pattern; they are charming, the love bombing, then the controlling, and then the escalation,' Blake said. Jacky Finaly-Jones (pictured) believes the only way her family will get closure will be with a coronial inquest into her daughter's death Dannielle's brother Blake (pictured together) said Gaddie's five existing AVOs were 'red flags', but they didn't know about them 'It's almost like a hate crime, like a woman's hate crime and there he is on the end of an app. Swipe the wrong type of situation, a murder waiting to happen.' Ms Finlay-Jones believes the only way her family will get closure will be with a coronial inquest with recommendations on how to prevent further deaths. NSW Local Courts confirmed no dates have been set for a coronial inquest into Dannielle's or Gaddie's deaths. Attorney-General Michael Daly said 'the NSW Government is working to strengthen the coronial system'. 'Funding worth $18million for the Bondi Junction inquest has allowed an additional magistrate to be appointed. This ensures other inquests and inquiries can continue to progress,' he said. 'We have also made it harder for accused serious domestic violence offenders to get bail and ensured those who are bailed are electronically monitored by Corrective Services.' Gaddie and Dannielle went to a pub at Marsden Park for their third date. Dannielle introduced Gaddie as her new partner to her friends at the social event. They then spent the night at the home of Danielle's friend. Police said one of the residents was woken at 3am by what they described as 'loud violent sex' between the pair. At 2.30pm the next day, friends of Dannielle realised it was strange they hadn't heard from the new couple since the previous night. One of her friends found Dannielle's lifeless body, lying on her back on the bedroom floor and she had suffered major head injuries. Gaddie fled the property by cutting a hole in the fly screen of the window but was caught by police three days later, in the NSW Blue Mountains. Friends later revealed Dannielle thought she had done the right thing by arranging a date with Gaddie in a public place and bringing him back to her friend's home. Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, has revealed the hilarious piece of parenting advice that Queen Elizabeth II once shared with her. In an exclusive extract from her memoir A Different Kind of Power as seen in The Guardian, the politician, 44, remembered being seven months pregnant when she met the monarch at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London in April 2018. The 44-year-old, who had been elected as New Zealand's Prime Minister the previous year, attended the Queen's Dinner on the first night of the meeting. She wore a mustard yellow gown to the formal occasion which had been specially made by New Zealand designer Juliette Hogan to accommodate her growing bump. As a nod to her country, the politician paired the dress with a traditional Maori cloak woven from flax and covered with feathers layered on top. Writing in her memoir, which will be published on June 3, Ms Ardern recalled walking through the halls of Buckingham Palace with her husband Clarke Gayford. The monarch, who was 91 at the time, then greeted the couple in the Blue Drawing Room. Ms Ardern was one of four leaders who had been offered a 20-minute private meeting with the monarch. 'She had, of course, raised children in the public eye,' Ms Ardern wrote in her memoir, 'so in our private meeting I asked if she had any advice. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern walks through Buckingham Palace with her husband Clarke Gayford on April 19, 2018. She was seven months pregnant at the time During her meeting with Queen Elizabeth II, the politician, 44, asked for advice on how to raise children in the public eye 'You just get on with it, she said simply. She sounded so matter of fact, just as my grandma Margaret might have. 'I squeezed the package I was holding, a gift for the queen. It was a framed image of her during a royal tour to New Zealand in 1953, her head back in a full relaxed laugh. You just get on with it. Of course you do.' Just two months later, Ms Ardern would become only the second elected head of government to give birth while in office. She gave birth to her daughter Neve Te Aroha in June 21, 2018, retuning to work as Prime Minister in early autumn. The only other elected leader to give birth in office was Benazir Bhutto. Although she was unelected, Ms Ardern looked up to Queen Elizabeth as she gave birth to Prince Andrew and Prince Edward after she took to the throne. Reflecting on her meeting with the late Queen on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme ahead of her funeral, Ms Ardern said: 'One of the things on my mind alongside being a new prime minister was being a prime minister and a mum. 'And when you think about leaders who have been in that position, there were so few to look to. Ms Ardern gave birth to her daughter Neve Te Aroha in June 21, 2018. She would become only the second elected head of government to give birth while in office Queen Elizabeth II gave birth to Prince Andrew (left) and Prince Edward (bottom) after taking to the throne Ms Ardern addresses a press conference after news of the Queen's passing in September 2022 Ms Ardern reflects on her meeting with the late Queen on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme ahead of her funeral Ms Ardern and her husband arrive at Westminster Abbey for the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022 'So I said to her, "How did you manage?", and I remember she just said, "Well, you just get on with it". And that was actually probably the best and most factual advice I could have.' Ms Ardern attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 with her husband by her side. Having previously lived in London, the New Zealand politician said she was not surprised by the magnitude of the public's response to the Queen's death. 'I've seen what London looks like day-to-day, and what it feels like day-to-day, the hustle and bustle,' she told Laura Kuenssberg. 'And to see it just stand still, but do so so poetically, is a very moving thing to witness. The Queen was here for her people, and now her people are there for her.' Ms Ardern was made a dame by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on October 16, 2024 for her services to politics. A Different Kind of Power: A Memoir by Jacinda Ardern will be published globally on June 3, 2025. Imagine Dragons is facing major backlash after frontman Dan Reynolds triumphantly waved a Palestinian flag on stage during a recent concert in Milan. The American rock band - known for hits like 'Radioactive' and 'Demons' - was performing at the I-Days Festival when Reynolds held the flag aloft and draped it over his shoulders before kissing it before tossing it into the crowd. Another clip shared online shows Reynolds waving the flag to the lyrics of hit song 'Radioactive.' 'I raise my flags.. don my clothes.. It's a revolution I suppose,' the song blared as he hoists the Palestinian flag and other into the air. The moment quickly went viral, sparking immediate outrage and igniting a storm of condemnation on social media. 'Disgusting and shameful,' wrote one user on X, formerly Twitter. 'It looks like the band "Imagine Dragons" supports terrorism,' said ACT for America Chairman Brigitte Gabriel. 'Imagine Dragons ends their concert by waving their solidarity with TERRORISTS. They're calling for "gay rights" and "free Palestine."' another user wrote. 'Essentially, they just called for the deaths of all gay people - and their music career.' Many accused the band of politicizing a music event and showing bias in the ongoing and deeply contentious Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Imagine Dragons is facing backlash after frontman Dan Reynolds (pictured) waved a Palestinian flag on stage during a recent concert in Milan The American rock band sparked immediate outrage online after footage from their I-Days Festival performance showed Reynolds holding the flag aloft, draping it over his shoulders and kissing it before tossing it back into the crowd 'Disgusting. Why can't performers just stick to performing?' one person asked. 'Politics and music have no place together,' another commented. 'Musicians should stick to their music. Mixing politics with music is unnecessary,' wrote another user on X. Critics also pointed to the band's past controversies. In 2023, Imagine Dragons faced criticism for performing in Israel and Azerbaijan, in August 2023, before the October 7 Hamas terror attacks. Reynolds later defended the band's decisions, saying he didn't want to punish fans for the actions of governments. 'I don't believe in depriving our fans who want to see us play because of the acts of their leaders and their governments. I think that's a really slippery slope,' Reynolds told Rolling Stone in July 2024. 'I think the second you start to do that, there's corrupt leaders and warmongers all over the world, and where do you draw the line?' Now, critics argue the Milan gesture contradicts that stance. Critics also pointed to the band's past controversies. In 2023, Imagine Dragons (pictured) faced criticism for performing in Israel and Azerbaijan, in August 2023, before the October 7 Hamas terror attacks Still, not all the response was negative, pro-Palestinian advocates and many international fans praised the act as a show of solidarity amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza 'He said he doesn't play politics with fans -but that flag is politics,' one commenter posted. Others demanded an apology, with some threatening to boycott future concerts or delete the band's music. 'I deleted their entire library today. Even some collabs with other artists,' one user wrote. 'This will hopefully lead to a serious fan base cut,' commented another. Still, not all the response was negative, pro-Palestinian advocates and many international fans praised the act as a show of solidarity amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Imagine Dragons was 'applauded worldwide' for the gesture, with some calling it 'one of the bravest acts by a mainstream artist,' the Daily Times reported. As of now, neither Reynolds nor the band has issued a formal statement on the controversy 'You just gained a lifelong fan,' one supporter commented. Another added, 'They stood up for human rights when others stayed silent.' Bassist Ben McKee also used the stage to promote LGBTQ+ causes, playing a guitar painted with the transgender pride flag and a heart in the style of the gay pride flag on its back, video showed. As of now, neither Reynolds nor the band has issued a formal statement on the controversy. Harvey Weinstein is facing allegations of sexual assault by a woman who also claimed to be a victim of disgraced music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs. Crystal McKinney has filed separate lawsuits against both men in a New York federal court, accusing them of sexually assaulting her as she tried to break into the industry in 2003. McKinney filed a suit against Weinstein on Friday, alleging he raped her and a friend in a Manhattan hotel room during a business meeting arranged to discuss her career. She claimed a modeling company executive set up a meeting between she and Weinstein at a nightclub, but that when she arrived with her roommate, who was also looking to become a star, the movie exec said it was too noisy and invited them to his hotel room. The trio traveled back to his room at the Ritz-Carlton. McKinney alleges Weinstein encouraged both girls to get drunk on Dom Perignon and vodka cocktails and then forced them to have sex with each other, before raping them. According to the lawsuit seen by PEOPLE, Weinstein grabbed her breasts and tore at her tank top' - at which point McKinney attempted to flee to the bathroom. He allegedly 'barged' into the bathroom where McKinney and her friend were cowering and 'demanded the women strip and take a bath with him.' McKinney said she 'complied with his request', as did her friend, because they felt 'backed into a corner and feared that he would retaliate against them if they refused his sexual advances.' Crystal McKinney has filed separate lawsuits against both men in a New York federal court, accusing them of sexually assaulting her as she tried to break into the industry in 2003. Sean ' Diddy ' Combs is facing allegations of sexual assault by a model who also claimed to be a victim of disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein McKinney filed a suit against Weinstein on Friday, alleging he raped her and a friend in a Manhattan hotel room during a business meeting arranged to discuss her career Weinstein is currently being retried in New York on multiple sex assault charges. He denies any and all wrongdoing, but recently admitted in a jailhouse interview he did 'make a pass' at accuser Gwyneth Paltrow. Responding to McKinney's allegations, an attorney representing Weinstein Imran H. Ansari told TMZ: 'Harvey Weinstein categorically denies the outlandish and fantastical claims made against him by Crystal McKinney in her complaint. 'Made late in time and suspiciously on the heels of her complaint against Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Mr. Weinstein is ready to refute and defend against the salacious claims, that are believed to have been made with an opportunistic motive.' Back in 2024, McKinney sued Diddy, accusing him of pressuring her to consume marijuana and alcohol then perform oral sex on him in the bathroom of his recording studio. She alleged the pair met in 2003 when she was a 22-year-old old up-and-coming model, after an unnamed fashion designer introduced them. She said that designer dressed and styled her 'to ensure Combs found her attractive', before taking her to Cipriani Downtown - a restaurant in New York. There, she claimed Diddy made sexually suggestive remarks at her before inviting her back to his recording studio with several other male companions. She accused Diddy of handing her a joint which she believed was laced with other drugs and 'pressuring her to imbibe more alcohol and marijuana by telling her that she was acting too uptight.' The disgraced music mogul is currently on trial accused of sex trafficking and racketeering. He denies all charges Weinstein is currently being retried in New York on multiple sex assault charges. He denies any and all wrongdoing Diddy's ex girlfriend Cassie Ventura (pictured together) took the stand during his sex trafficking trial After the alleged assault, McKinney said she lost consciousness, and woke up in a cab. Following the alleged incident, McKinney claimed Diddy made sure she was '"blackballed" in the industry and utilized his significant influence to impede [her] career growth.' According to the 2024 suit, McKinney ultimately attempted to take her own life. Diddy asked a court to toss out the suit at the time because be believed the statute of limitations for her complaint had expired. The disgraced music mogul is currently on trial accused of sex trafficking and racketeering. He denies all charges. Kid Cudi and Cassie Ventura are among the celebrities called to testify about their experiences with Diddy. They've both described a violent and controlling man who wielded his power and influence in terrifying ways. A Republican senator has responded to critics after telling a town hall that 'we're all going to die' after being challenged about Medicaid. Iowa's Joni Ernst, known for her unwavering loyalty to President Donald Trump, issued the deadpan response during a town hall on Friday in the town of Butler. Constituents had pleaded with the senator to reconsider proposed cuts to Medicaid, warning that 'people will die.' 'People are not - well, we're all going to die,' Ernst's responded dismissively. But on Saturday, Ernst emerged with an apology of sorts - though it was far from contrite. Standing before a row of weathered headstones in a local cemetery, Ernst addressed the camera in a video statement dripping with sarcasm and evangelical fervor. 'Hello everyone,' she began. 'I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall.' She recounted how a 'distraught' woman had screamed from the back of the auditorium: 'People are going to die!' 'I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that, yes, we are all going to perish from this earth,' Ernst said with a thin smile. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, the Republican firebrand known for her blunt talk and unwavering loyalty to President Donald Trump, has responded after her stunning remark during a town hall on Friday in the town of Butler, Iowa A town hall erupted into a shouting match this morning when Republican Senator Joni Ernst issued a harsh remark in defense of Medicaid spending cuts Ernst is a Trump loyalist and regularly speaks in defense of the president. She is pictured alongside him in September 2024 'So I apologize. And I'm really, really glad that I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well.' Pivoting seamlessly, Ernst then turned the moment into a sermon. 'For those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life,' she declared, her voice lifting, 'I encourage you to embrace my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.' The setting, a graveyard, the final resting place of countless Iowans, was not lost on viewers for slammed the senator for being callous. 'If you missed it, shes walking through a cemetery and smugly laughing about killing Americans,' wrote one viewer. 'Using Jesus name to make fun of the needy is evil,' said another. 'Shes evil. And Im saying this as a conservative,' tweeted a third. 'A woman yells 'People are going to die' at Joni Ernst's town hall. Her response? Sarcasm about the Tooth Fairy and a plug for Jesus. This isn't leadership. Disgusting!' raged a fourth. Viewing to Ernst's video were far from impressed with her message Ernst was taken to task by the Iowa Democratic Party who saw through the veneer of her apology Ernst was answering questions about the House budget reconciliation package when a constituent in Butler, Iowa shouted 'people will die' because of the proposed cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Ernst responded by asserting that 'we're all going to die', prompting gasps and boos from the crowd Ernst's flippant response was headline news in Iowa's paper of record In Iowa, more than one in five of the sates residents are on Medicaid. Pictured, protestors earlier this month are seen rallying to save Medicaid and prevent cuts Iowans are concerned that the Trump administration will make severe cuts to Medicaid Almost 700,000 Iowans are on Medicaid benefits of which many are desperate to protect Her 'non-apology' came after Friday evening's clip of the exchange at the town hall went viral with critics accusing Ernst of trivializing the real consequences of the Republican-backed 'One Big Beautiful Bill'. The sweeping legislative package includes nearly $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid. The bill, passed by the House by the slimmest of margins and now awaiting action in the Senate, demands that able-bodied adults without dependents complete 80 hours of work, education, or community engagement per month to maintain Medicaid eligibility. Verification would be required twice a year, and immigrants living illegally in the US would also be purged from the program. In Iowa, more than one in five residents are on Medicaid, but the measure, celebrated by the GOP as fiscal responsibility and decried by Democrats as cruelty, will not take effect until 2029, after Trump leaves office. Embedded in the 1,000-page bill are $5 trillion in tax cuts, partially funded by rolling back the Biden-era clean energy tax credits. Opponents warn the cuts will leave millions without healthcare or food assistance. Following Trump's re-election Ernst went down to Mar-a-Lago to have dinner with the president and Elon Musk Trump appeared to be fond of Ernst. The pair have been pictured regularly across the years. Pictured here in June 2024 The 'Big Beautiful Bill' is intended to be an encompassing piece of legislation to allow President Donald Trump to move forward with much of his agenda, with policies ranging from tax cuts to immigration. Trump is pictured alongside Ernst in August 2016 Ernst herself has refused to walk back her support of the bill, doubling down on her defense during the now-infamous town hall. She is pictured alongside Trump in June 2017 Video of Ernst's comment started making the rounds among Democratic elected officials and candidates. Ernst is up for reelection in 2026. 'This morning, Joni Ernst said the quiet part out loud,' said Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, in a statement. He added that Republicans do not care 'about whether their own constituents live or die as long as the richest few get richer.' The Congressional Budget Office estimates 8.6 million fewer Americans would have health insurance under the plan, and 3 million fewer would receive SNAP benefits monthly. Republicans argue the bill will rein in waste and fraud while spurring economic growth. 'There's only two certainties in life: death and taxes,' a spokesperson for Ernst told the Daily Mail. 'And she's working to ease the burden of both by fighting to keep more of Iowans' hard-earned tax dollars in their own pockets and ensuring their benefits are protected from waste, fraud, and abuse.' Ernst herself has refused to walk back her support of the bill, doubling down on her defense during the now-infamous town hall. 'Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, we will protect,' she insisted. 'Medicaid is extremely important here in the State of Iowa.' Prison wardens must be armed with Tasers, stun grenades and 'baton rounds' that fire rubber bullets to protect themselves against violent criminals, Conservative MPs have said. Armouries should also be built in high-security jails, holding lethal weapons as a last resort against violent prisoners, according to proposals to get tough in jails after a spate of attacks. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick also wants solitary confinement introduced for gang leaders who are radicalising other inmates to tackle Islamist threats in British jails. Violent prisoners should also have no access to kitchens and appliances, he said. It comes after a series of attacks in prisons, including Southport killer Axel Rudakubana, who allegedly injured a prison officer with boiling water from a kettle. The calls follow a Tory-backed review by former prison governor Ian Acheson. Mr Jenrick said: 'Islamist gangs and violent prisoners in our jails are out of control. It's a national security emergency but the government is dithering. 'If they don't act soon, there is a very real risk a prison officer is kidnapped or murdered in the line of duty, or that a terrorist attack is directed from inside prison.' It comes after a series of attacks in prisons, including Southport killer Axel Rudakubana, who allegedly injured a prison officer with boiling water from a kettle Hashem Abedi, the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, in Belmarsh Prison also recently attacked a prison officer Robert Jenrick said there is a 'very real risk a prison officer is kidnapped or murdered in the line of duty' He added: 'We have to stop pussy-footing around Islamist extremists and violent offenders in jails. 'That means arming specialist prison officer teams with Tasers and stun grenades, as well as giving them access to lethal weapons in exceptional circumstances.' Mr Acheson said: 'The threat to officer safety is now intolerable and must be met decisively by the Government.' A Ministry of Justice source said: 'The last Government added just 500 cells to our prison estate and left our jails in total crisis. 'In 14 years, they closed 1,600 cells in the high-security estate, staff assaults soared and experienced officers left in droves. Now the arsonists are pretending to be firefighters. 'We are building new prisons, with 2,400 new cells opened since we took office. 'And we take a zero-tolerance approach to violence and extremism inside.' Attorney General Lord Hermer came under fire from senior Labour politicians last night who accused him of doing Reforms work by ignoring voters concerns over immigration. He faced criticism for comparing calls to pull the UK out of international courts to the early days of Nazi Germany. Last night, Labour MP and ex-minister Graham Stringer openly accused Lord Hermer of aiding the rise of Nigel Farages Reform UK. Mr Stringer told The Mail on Sunday: Hes convincing Labour voters [that the party] does not understand their legitimate concerns about immigration. 'It is not far-Right and Nazi to raise genuine concerns about the scale of immigration and the cost of housing migrants. Hes doing Reforms work for them. And Labour peer Lord Glasman, founder of the influential Blue Labour movement, added that the Attorney Generals remarks made him unfit for government office. In a speech last week, Lord Hermer invoked 1930s Germany to criticise Tory and Reform MPs who have called for the UK to quit institutions such as the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)to better deal with illegal migration. He said: This is not a new song. The claim that international law is fine as far as it goes, but can be put aside when conditions change, is a claim made in the early 1930s by realist jurists in Germany most notably Carl Schmitt, whose central thesis was that state power is all that counts, not law. Lord Hermer came under fire after he compared calls to pull the UK out of international courts to the early days of Nazi Germany There are also fears Mr Hermer is aiding the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK and doing their work 'for them' There are fears Lord Hermer's ignoring voters' immigration concerns is doing Reform's work. Pictured: A French coastguard boat is seen monitoring a boat packed with people Schmitt was a leading Nazi ideologist who backed Hitlers moves to override the German constitution and rule by decree in 1933. Lord Hermer apologised for his clumsy choice of words and his Nazi Germany reference, but stuck by the theme of his speech defending international law which underpins our security. However, his words sparked anger across the political divide, with even Labour Cabinet ministers understood to be livid at his reference. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, whose own policy is to disengage from the ECHR, called on Sir Keir Starmer, a long-term friend of Lord Hermer, to dismiss him for his embarrassing, dangerous remarks and repeated criticisms of the Attorney General over the surrender of the strategically important Chagos Islands. And Mr Stringer added: Lord Hermer should never have been appointed in the first place. Its his ridiculous advice that has led us to spend 30 billion to keep a military base we already had. Last night, No 10 said that the Attorney General still had the PMs full confidence. Locals have hit back at a century-old church over plans to install a new set of bells, claiming it will be too noisy despite already living next to a loud pub. St Augustine's Church in Balmain, in Sydney's Inner West, has come up against a flurry of complaints from residents who fear the bells will result in a 'loss of sleep'. The application includes increasing the number of church bells that ring out during Sunday masses and religious events such as weddings and funerals. However, Balmain residents have lodged concerns over the noise impact the church's plans could have on the local area. The 119-year-old Catholic church has applied to increase the number of bells inside it's 38-metre tall bell tower from one to a set of eight. Bell-ringing would take place between 8.30am and 9pm for up to 20 minutes at a time for a maximum of five sessions a day, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. The plans submitted by the church to Inner West Council claim the new bells would 'preserve the acoustic tradition' of bell-ringing. St Augustine's also noted in its plans that the new bells will remind local residents to cherish community spirit in 'an era of increasing digitalisation and detachment'. Parish priest Father Peter Smith (pictured) has shut down critics of the proposal to install a new set of church bells Inner West residents have lodged several complaints over the plans (stock) But the plans have been met with objections from neighbours who claim the new set of bells could result in 'unacceptable noise' disturbances. In submissions to the council, some residents have claimed sleeping babies, living in homes as close as 20 metres away from the church, could be disturbed by the bells. Parish priest Father Peter Smith has shut down critics of the proposal and shared his disbelief at some of the complaints. 'The church is 100 metres from a noisy pub that goes all night, so for people to say the bells will wake babies or will keep people awake at night is a bit of a stretch,' he said. He argued the existing bell in the church has rung for more than 100 years and residents who moved into the area would have been aware of the bell tower. 'Places like Balmain are noisy places and I think that's part of the charm of living here,' he added. However, residents' concerns have been echoed by the council during the early feedback stage of the application. St Augustine's Church (pictured) in Balmain wants to increase its church bells from one to a set of eight Inner West Council has also raised concerns over potential noise disturbances and how this could impact the local area. Praxis Acoustics, which carried out noise modelling on behalf of the church, slammed the councils early feedback and claimed it was using noise restrictions that wouldn't typically apply to the area surrounding the church. The church bells were funded through donations from The Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers, which plans to use the new bells for training. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Inner West Council for comment. A pro-MAGA reporter who criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's treatment of the press at the Pentagon lost her job after speaking out. Gabrielle Cuccia is a proud 'MAGA girl' who has long been outspoken about her adoration of President Trump. But while working as the chief Pentagon correspondent at pro-Trump television channel One America News, Cuccia published a tell-all article to her personal Substack channel about the pitfalls of Hegseth's leadership. 'If you want the best case study for the death of the MAGA movement look no further than the Department of Defense,' she wrote. 'People sleep on the Pentagon. They dont realize whats been simmering at the bottom for weeks, months, sometimes even years.' Cuccia had expressed concerns Hegseth was blocking media access in the wake of his Signal scandal, in which a journalist was unintentionally added to a group chat with Hegseth where he openly shared sensitive details about an impending strike on Houthi targets in Yemen. From that moment onwards, Cuccia said Hegseth shut down crucial communication points between the press and his staff in an effort to 'reduce the opportunity for in-person inadvertent or unauthorized disclosures.' 'Think of every time you hear a journalist reference a source as Defense Official or something abstract a lot of times, its coming from these guys,' she revealed about the Pentagon press office. 'And they are always there to provide additional context, field questions, and relay the reality of ops in an unclassified manner.' Gabrielle Cuccia is a proud 'MAGA girl' who has long been outspoken about her adoration of President Trump But while working as the chief Pentagon correspondent at pro-Trump television channel One America News, Cuccia published a tell-all article to her personal Substack channel about the pitfalls of Pete Hegseth's (pictured with his wife) leadership Her article was published on Monday. By Thursday, her boss had asked her to hand in her Pentagon access badge, and on Friday she was fired, she told CNN. Cuccia criticized Hegseth for his lack of transparency, noting he had failed to deliver press conferences and alleged his team would deliberately hide details of his schedule until it was too late for media representatives to attend. 'Over at the White House, the Administration understands the freedom of the press, and keeps the door open anyway,' she said. 'They would certainly not field questions *before* said press briefing.' Cuccia alleged that during one press briefing, staff for Hegseth reached out to her to find out what question she would ask if she were called upon at a conference. She told them, thinking they simply 'wanted to be prepared for their very first press briefing to answer questions with as much info in response as possible. Unfortunately that was not the case.' 'This article isnt to serve as a tearing down of the SecDef,' she wrote. 'This is me wanting to keep MAGA alive. 'Despite my loyalty to this movement, we are killing ourselves.' Cuccia said the power of the MAGA movement was sparked in 2015, when 'America came alive' on the back of a 'shared realization we weren't going to blindly accept our government as Bible anymore.' Cuccia alleged that during one press briefing, staff for Hegseth reached out to her to find out what question she would ask if she were called upon at a conference Cuccia said the power of the MAGA movement came back in 2015, when 'America came alive' on the back of a 'shared realization we weren't going to blindly accept our government as Bible anymore' Cuccia had expressed concerns Hegseth was blocking the media from reasonable access in the wake of his Signal scandal, in which a journalist was unintentionally added to a group chat where Hegseth openly shared sensitive details about an impending strike on Houthi targets in Yemen Since then, she said there has been a pointed shift away from the core values of the movement. 'Somewhere along the way, we as a collective decided if anyone ever questioned a policy or person within the MAGA movement that they werent MAGA enough. 'I will always be MAGA, but consider this a love letter to what we have lost, what we must regain, and my final plea to Love Your Country, Not Your Government.' Cuccia broke her public silence over her axing on Saturday, writing on Instagram: 'I was once told that a former peer feared I was too MAGA for the job. 'I guess I was. I guess I am.' DailyMail.com has contacted both Cuccia and her former employer for comment. Prior to joining OAN, Cuccia served in the White House under Trump from 2017 to 2018. Aussies have ripped into former Opposition leader Peter Dutton after footage emerged of him catching a commercial flight weeks after his election loss on May 3. A passenger shared a video to TikTok on Friday of Dutton on board a Virgin flight. The short clip showed Dutton briefly spotting the camera while he put his luggage in the overhead locker. 'Peter Dutton literally went from almost being Prime Minister of Australia to flying commercial,' the caption read. 'Peter Dutton in the only seat he could get.' Several social media users were quick to slam Dutton with the footage being viewed almost 1million times. 'This is brilliant,' one wrote. 'Look says it all,' a second added. Another said: 'So satisfying.' 'I would definitely put my seat back or push my knees into the seat in front. continuously. back and forth..... in and out!!!' a fourth chimed in. Others applauded Dutton for flying commercial and reducing his environmental impact. 'If he flew private you would hate him for that as well,' one wrote. 'Good on him! He can obviously afford first class but is humble,' another said. 'Good on him for flying commercial, unlike Greens leader Adam brandt who used millions of taxpayer money to fly private jets,' another wrote. 'In fairness he is no longer a public figure or elected member of parliament so he can probably have some privacy now,' another said. The video comes just days after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Brisbane's Nova FM radio station he had 'an okay relationship, a professional relationship, if you like' with Dutton. Peter Dutton (pictured) was seen loading his luggage in the overhead locker before spotting the camera 'It's really tough for him and his family as well,' Albanese added. 'I'm not sure what he will do, but I'm sure he'll be successful in other arenas as well.' Dutton suffered the ultimate indignity on election night when he not only led a failed campaign but was ousted from his own seat of Dickson in Brisbane's outer-northern suburbs - which he had held since 2001 - by Labor's Ali France. In a reflection of the respect the two men held for one another - even if they traded barbs on the campaign trail - Dutton gave a gracious concession speech in which he revealed he had phoned Albanese to tell him how proud his late mother would have been of his victory. The Prime Minister said politics was an 'honourable profession' but acknowledged it came with huge downsides. 'You expose yourself publicly, particularly with social media,' he told the radio station. 'Don't read the comments out there, folks. It can be really brutal, and you've got to be resilient.' Dutton had yet to commit to what he will do next, but vowed not to be a commentator sniping from the sidelines. Dutton's former mansion on Millionaire's Row on Palm Beach on the Gold Coast which sold for $6million in 2021 Dutton is pictured with his wife Kirilly 'The best model I've seen is where leaders, former, make a graceful exit from politics and maintain their graceful silence, so that'll be my model,' he said recently. Dutton reportedly made $30million of property transactions over 35 years. He purchased his first home at 19, before going on to buy and sell 26 pieces of real estate, according to an analysis of property and corporate records, parliamentary registers and real estate data carried out by the Sydney Morning Herald. Dutton turned a healthy profit from his various real estate investments, with property purchases totalling $12million and sales of $18.8million. The properties include luxury city apartments, childcare centres, a shopping plaza, a beachfront mansion and a farm. At his peak he owned five properties at the same time across Queensland, in addition to a flat in the ACT. A 9-year-old girl and her father were found dead inside a parked car at a Georgia park and investigators are looking into whether the father pulled the trigger. Emily Grace Mayo, 9, and her father, James Lee Mayo, 37, were discovered dead by police inside a parked car at Brooklet City Park after a concerned citizen called to report an 'unresponsive child locked in a vehicle,' according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Officers with the Brooklet Police Department responded to the scene around 7 am on Tuesday where they discovered 'a child dead in the backseat with an apparent gunshot wound.' Police then found James, with the release saying that 'a man was found dead in the front seat from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. A handgun was found on his lap.' An investigation into the deaths is now underway and autopsies are being performed on the bodies of both father and daughter, according to the release. Authorities would not say if the same gun or bullets were used to kill both father and daughter. Preliminary evidence points to a murder-suicide, according to reports. No motive has been released. 'I keep thinking this is not real. This is not real life. This does not happen to people we know, especially not my own family. Not my Emily,' the 9-year-old girl's aunt, Amber Healy wrote on Facebook. Emily Grace Mayo (pictured), 9, and her father, James Lee Mayo, 37, were discovered dead by police inside a parked car at Brooklet City Park after a concerned citizen called to report an 'unresponsive child locked in a vehicle' According to the release, Brooklet Police Department officers responded to the scene around 7 am where they discovered 'a child dead in the backseat with an apparent gunshot wound.' Pictured: Nine-year-old Emily Grace Mayo 'Emily was 9 and so full of life. To know her was to love her. She always had a smile , a hug, a laugh,' the heartbreaking post continued. 'If she met you, she loved you. It was instant. That all encompassing love.' Healy has since organized a GoFundMe aimed at raising money for her burial and funeral services. She also asked that people 'keep us all in your prayers as we navigate through this nightmare we cannot wake up from,' saying that Emily's mom is devastated to have to bury her little girl. 'No parent should have to make these decisions,' Healy wrote. The GoFundMe has raised over $30,000 as of Saturday evening. The devastating father-daughter death comes just months after a California father fatally shot his adorable nine-year-old autistic son in front of the boy's grandfather's house in a horrifying act of violence. Police then found James, with the release saying that 'a man was found dead in the front seat from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. A handgun was found on his lap.' Pictured: Brooklet City Park in Brooklet, Georgia 'I keep thinking this is not real. This is not real life. This does not happen to people we know, especially not my own family. Not my Emily,' the 9-year-old girl's aunt, Amber Healy wrote on Facebook. 'Emily was 9 and so full of life. To know her was to love her. She always had a smile , a hug, a laugh. She never met a stranger. If she met you, she loved you. It was instant. That all encompassing love,' Healy's heartbreaking Facebook post continued. Nicholas Jones, 32, the boy's biological father, was arrested on December 1 for murder and child abuse in the grisly death of his own child, Princeton Nicholas Jones, who had been named after his killer dad. The boy was gunned down in the front yard of his grandparent's house, located at S. Haskins Avenue and Alondra Boulevard in Compton, south of downtown Los Angeles, around 7:30 pm on November 30, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. After the shooting, police were looking for a suspect. The boy's family pleaded with the public in helping to find the shooter. On Sunday, December 1, police identified Princeton's father as the shooter, though a motive is still unknown and is under investigation. The boy's distraught aunt Shamica Frasier told Fox LA the she has 'no idea' why this happened and was visibly shocked. Princeton Nicholas Jones, 9, was fatally shot by his father Nicholas Jones on Saturday night 'I don't know. I have no idea. I don't know. He was a loving, warm kid. very respectful, just heartwarming kid,' Frasier said. Jones was later arrested and booked at the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Station. Family members were left heartbroken calling the tragedy 'a senseless act' and want answers. 'I don't know. I have no idea. I don't know. He was a loving, warm kid. very respectful, just heartwarming kid,' Frasier said. A California police officer was killed and another was severely injured on Saturday night following a standoff with a barricaded suspect. A suspect opened fire with a rifle, according to local reports, hitting two cops who returned fire in Baldwin Park, Los Angeles County, around 7.20pm. One suspect has been taken into custody, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. There are reports that a second suspect may have been involved, but Baldwin Park police have not confirmed that detail. A video from witnesses showed at least two SWAT vehicles and many patrol cars surrounding a home with officers pointing firearms at an unseen suspect. Air units were also seen circling the neighborhood, according to KTLA. The injured officers were transported to a nearby hospital in serious condition, one by air and another by ground, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. However, one of the unnamed officers was later pronounced dead, according to the LA Times. The condition of the other wounded officer is unknown. A California police officer was killed and another was severely injured on Saturday night following a standoff with a barricaded suspect. Pictured: Worried residents gather at the scene as local authorities establish a strong presence A suspect opened fire with a rifle, according to local reports, hitting two cops who returned fire in Baldwin Park, Los Angeles County, around 7.20pm, prompting a significant police response One officer was airlifted (pictured) and the other was transported by vehicle, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department The Baldwin Park Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies, has cordoned off the area, however, there is no longer an active threat, according to Citizen.com. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department was also on scene to assist with the investigation, according to CBS News. Additional details surrounding the circumstances of the incident remain unclear as authorities continue their investigation. This is a developing story. President Donald Trump shared a bizarre theory on social media Saturday night that suggested Joe Biden died in 2020 and has since been replaced by a 'clone.' The Truth Social post, which has since gone viral, stated bluntly that the former president of the United States had somehow been dead for years while still in office. 'There is no #JoeBiden - executed in 2020. #Biden clones doubles & robotic engineered soulless mindless entities are what you see,' wrote the user named llijh. '#Democrats dont know the difference.' Trump did not add any of his own commentary to the post, but simply amplifying the wild conspiracy created confusion. Almost immediately, social media erupted, with supporters and critics alike grappling with the surreal suggestion. 'We all knew something was completely off,' one commenter wrote. 'Although Trump has said repeatedly that Joe Biden was shot.' Others reveled in the uncanny nature of the moment: 'Wow! President Trump just re-truthed this post,' exclaimed one astonished user. Another chimed in: 'I cannot believe President Trump just reTRUTHED this.' The president's replies section rapidly devolved into a torrent of wild speculation about what surprises may be ahead. 'Well you just went there! Go you! The truth is coming! Buckle up!' one supporter cheered. A video shared online suggested that Biden was a robot and did not blink President Donald Trump re-truthed a bizarre and conspiratorial post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday night suggesting that Joe Biden died in 2020 and has since been replaced by a 'clone' The Truth Social is the latest barb against former President Joe Biden Trump himself did not add any commentary to the post, but the act of re-truthing it spoke volumes 'Thank you, do you know how long I've been saying this? Trump was still our President in his first term and I knew Joe Biden was gone during his run for president. They installed The Biden...an actor (blue eyes & brown eyes),' wrote another, referring to fringe theories that claim noticeable changes in Biden's eye color are evidence of a body double. Others mocked the madness. 'Just like all MAGAts, you're all into conspiracy theories. Do you think the earth is flat as well? Just wondering,' one user wrote sarcastically. 'We knew this but now it's confirmed by the Commander in Chief! Wow!!! NCSWICnothing! Trust the Plan!' added a QAnon sympathizer, referencing the popular but baseless 'Nothing Can Stop What Is Coming' slogan. Trump's casual amplification served to underscore the surreal and conspiratorial environment that defines the MAGA movement. This isn't the first time Trump has danced with conspiracy theories. Throughout his first term as president Trump continued to given oxygen to baseless theories: suggesting Ted Cruz's father was involved in the JFK assassination, refusing to fully distance himself from QAnon, and promoting claims of massive voter fraud during the 2020 election without evidence. Almost immediately, social media erupted, with supporters and critics alike grappling with the surreal moment Gaffes made by Joe Biden during his presidency became something of a focus for the Trump team Trump was the most prominent promoter of the so-called 'birther' conspiracy, falsely claiming that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States. For years, Trump demanded Obama's birth certificate and continued to suggest it was fraudulent even after Obama released the official long-form document. It wasn't until 2016, under mounting political pressure, that Trump finally admitted Obama was born in the US - without apology or acknowledgment of the damage the false claims had caused. But suggesting the idea that a former president of the United States was a 'clone' pushes the envelope even further. The statement appeared more like the plot of a sci-fi movie than a concept worthy of the attention of a head of state. That book, Original Sin, paints a harrowing portrait of a presidency in decline, propped up by aides and family members desperate to cling to power Last month, Biden's cancer announcement revived questions about the extent of his health issues during his tenure, with Trump saying Biden should have been more transparent with the public. Biden's office said he had been diagnosed with 'aggressive' prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. It placed renewed focus on the health of the 82-year-old with the publication of a book that details widespread concerns about Biden's mental acuity among aides and Democratic insiders as he pursued reelection in 2024. The new book, 'Original Sin,' by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson put a spotlight on Biden's mental acuity in his final months in office. Excerpts from the book have prompted new questions about whether critical information was withheld from the American public about Biden's ability to serve in the White House. Questions over the former president's age, health and fitness for office ultimately led him to ditch his reelection campaign Biden's closest aides have dismissed those concerns, saying Biden was fully capable of making important decisions. Biden has appeared on television to rebut accusations that his mental capacity had diminished during his 2021-2025 term. Biden, the oldest person ever to serve as president, was forced to drop his reelection bid last July after a stumbling debate performance against Trump eroded his support among fellow Democrats. Biden's vice president, Kamala Harris, launched a bid of her own but lost to Trump in the November 2024 election. The mum of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop has furiously hit back after her public plea for help to find her daughter was ripped apart by trolls. Kylie Johnson begged the public to come forward with information in a video appeal shared by Queensland Police on Saturday, more than two weeks after Pheobe was last seen leaving a home in Gin Gin, Bundaberg, on the morning of May 15. Pheobe shared the rundown property with housemates James Wood and Tanika Bromley who have since been charged with unrelated weapons offences. No charges have been laid over Pheobe's disappearance and Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Bromley and Wood were involved in her disappearance. 'This investigation will not be over for me until we find Pheobe,' Ms Johnson said during the two-minute clip. 'I still hold hope that Pheobe will come home but I have to consider the possibility that she also won't. 'If the worst-case scenario has happened, I at least need to know where she's resting. I need to know where Pheobe is.' Trolls criticised the grieving mother's statement with many accusing her of not being genuine. As a result, she shared a furious post on Facebook. Pheobe Bishop's mum Kylie Johnson has furiously hit out at trolls as the search for her missing daughter continues Ms Johnson gave a statement in partnership with Queensland Police to urge the public to come forward with any information 'People wanted a statement, they got one yet still question me as a mother,' her post read. 'I'm sorry that I'm currently an emotional wreck, trying to protect our other children from the media and the trolls, trying to continue to breathe while your world shatters around you! 'If anyone would like to be in this position please step in and show me how to do this. 'Show me what a perfect parent looks like? Show me how to navigate this? Show me how to deal with the unknown and the uncertainty? 'Show me how to use perfect language and emotion in a situation that NO parent ever wants to be in?' In the video appeal, Ms Johnson thanked the police and the community for their ongoing support over the last fortnight. She described her daughter as a 'beautiful, loving, kind person' and desperately urged anyone with any information to come forward. Ms Johnson told critics she was an 'emotional wreck' and her main focus was doing everything she could to bring her daughter home Pheobe's mother admitted she fears her daughter may not be alive This isn't the first time Ms Johnson has taken to social media to address the awful backlash she's received from some members of the public. On Tuesday, the teen's mother shared an emotional message to Facebook in which she said she was 'finding it hard to get out of bed'. 'To find the strength to put one foot in front of the other and know what to do, what to think or what to say,' she continued. 'People have judgements, accusations and continue (to) say untruths. 'I'm not going to correct you or be investing what little strength I have to be correcting these statements or people. We as a family are just trying to go through the motions of waiting for Phee to come home.' The post was quickly inundated with messages of support with friends and followers of the case urging Ms Johnson to ignore the trolls. Pheobe's housemates have told detectives they drove her to Bundaberg Airport on May 15 for an 8.30am flight to Brisbane and then on to Perth, where she planned to meet up with her boyfriend. No CCTV of her at the airport has been found. Police launched a search for the teenager in a nearby bushland area, scouring it for several days with cadaver dogs - but on Wednesday, cops confirmed they had suspended the search. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has taken a defiant stand against America's push to increase the nation's defence budget. Albanese was questioned about comments made by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urging for Australia to ramp up its military spending, at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore on Friday. Hegseth met with Defence Minister Richard Marles on the sidelines of the meeting and warned China's rapid military growth posed a potentially imminent threat to the Indo-Pacific region. The Trump administration has pushed for Australia to increase its defence budget to three per cent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Labor's existing policy promises just 2.33 per cent of the GDP by 2033. Albanese hit back at the request made by one of Australia's top allies while in Hobart on Sunday to open the Bridgewater Bridge. 'What we'll do is we'll determine our defence policy, and we've invested just across the forward [estimates], an additional $10 billion in defence. What we'll do is continue to provide for investing in our capability but also investing in our relationships in the region,' he said. 'Our position with regard to Taiwan is very clear, has been for a long period of time, which is a bipartisan position to support the status quo.' US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (left) met with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles and discussed Australia increasing its military budget Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured in Hobart on Sunday) has shut down calls for the defence budget to be increased to three per cent of the GDP The prime minister's response is in line with his previous position, but at odds with his deputy Marles, who revealed two days earlier that Australia would be 'very willing' to discuss a higher budget. 'I wouldn't put a number on it, the need to increase defence spending is something that he definitely raised,' Marles told the ABC's Afternoon Briefing program on Friday following his meeting with Hegseth. 'You have seen the Americans in the way in which they have engaged with all of their friends and allies asking them to do more and we can completely understand why America would do that. 'What I made clear is that this is a conversation that we are very willing to have, and it is one that we are having, having already made very significant steps in the past.' However, Albanese doesn't appear to be 'willing' to discuss an increased defence budget with his comments on Sunday echoing his response to a report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). That report warned Australia could be left with a 'brittle and hollowed defence force' without increased funding. 'Well, that's what they do, isn't it, ASPI? I mean, seriously, they need to have a look at themselves and the way they conduct themselves in debates,' Mr Albanese told the ABC following the report's release. 'We've had a defence strategic review. We've got considerable additional investment going into defence, $10billion.' Calls by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth for Australia to ramp up its military spending have sparked mixed reaction. The prime minister's answer is in line with his previous position, but at odds with Marles (pictured) who said Australian leaders would be 'very willing' to discuss a higher budget Meanwhile, Hegseth's speech in Singapore only angered the Asian powerhouse with a Chinese official accusing him of having 'smeared and attacked China'. The official also accused America of being the 'biggest factor undermining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region'. 'The United States has deployed offensive weapons in the South China Sea, fanned the flames and created tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, turning the Asia-Pacific region into a "powder keg", causing deep concern among regional countries,' China's foreign ministry said in a statement. The ministry added the US should 'not play with fire' by taking a stand on the Taiwan issue - referring to China claiming Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, as its own. The comment was a direct response to Hegseth's warning any attempt by China to conquer Taiwan 'would result in devastating consequences'. Hegseth used his time on the Singaporean stage to state the US would not begin a conflict with but if deterrence failed, it was prepared to 'fight and win decisively'. 'There's no reason to sugar-coat it. The threat China poses is real, and it could be imminent,' Hegseth said. Marles backed the speech on Sunday, denying accusations Hegseth's comments were not hostile in nature. 'We have worked with the US and other countries in the region over a long period of time to uphold the global rules to see that the way in which countries engage with each other is not based on a question of might and power, but rather on the basis of law and rules,' Marles said on Sunday. Albanese first face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump is likely to play out at the G7 Summit in Canada later this month. Keir Starmer warned that Britain must be ready for war today as he unveiled a new weapons drive. As the government prepares to launch its defence review tomorrow, the PM has pledged action to make UK forces 'more lethal than ever'. He pointed to war in Europe and 'new nuclear' threats, saying that Russia is working with 'cronies' in Iran and North Korea. However, there was no mention of China - despite the US raising concerns about hostile intentions towards Taiwan. And Defence Secretary John Healey has made an humiliating backtrack after stating that spending 'will' hit 3 per cent of GDP in the next Parliament. In a round of interviews, Mr Healey admitted that the figure is only an 'ambition', sparking questions about whether the plans are realistic. As part of the blueprint the Government is committing 1.5billion to set up at least six munitions factories, and will support the procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons. In other elements of the plans: British fighter jets could soon carry nuclear weapons for the first time; Mr Healey said he does not expect to increase the number of people in the armed forces until the next Parliament; Army units based in Estonia will be equipped with hundreds of fearsome HX-2 kamikaze drones; More than 1.5billion in extra funding will go to military homes in response to the review. Keir Starmer warned that Britain must be ready for war today as he unveiled a new weapons drive Ministers unveiled plans to build six munitions factories in the UK and produce 7,000 long-range weapons, including attack drones and precision missiles The munitions move is in response to the review's call for an 'always on' production capacity that could be scaled up quickly. The new funding will see UK munitions spend hit 6billion during this Parliament and support around 1,800 jobs throughout the country. Sir Keir called the review a 'radical blueprint' that would drive forward investments in shipbuilding, drone technology and cyber defences. The threats we face are no secret. War in Europe. New nuclear risk,' the premier wrote in the Sun on Sunday. 'The Kremlin is working hand in hand with its cronies in Iran and North Korea. We face daily cyber attacks. 'The Royal Navy has chased off Russian spy ships loitering in our waters. 'The RAF has scrambled to intercept Russian planes that menace our skies.' Sir Keir said the government would 'bring together every capability we have, from drones, to artillery, to human instinct and intelligence, into one formidable, integrated fighting machine.' 'To achieve this, we are announcing a wave of new investments in our Armed Forces across land, air and sea.' He said Labour would end the 'disgraceful hollowing out' of the armed forces. 'We will invest in a fighting force that is more integrated, more ready, more lethal than ever putting Britain back where it belongs as a leader in defence and a leader in Nato. 'We will provide better kit for our warriors when they are fighting abroad so that they can use the full range of conventional and technological capabilities.' However, there are fears recommendations could be 'unaffordable' after an apparent row over whether and when a target of spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence will be reached. Defence Secretary John Healey said it was time for Britain to 'move to warfighting readiness to deter our adversaries' and that the measures he is announcing are a 'message to Moscow'. Writing in The Mail on Sunday, Mr Healey said the promised 7,000 UK-built weapons - such as attack drones and precision missiles - are aimed at 'deterring adversaries like Russia'. Mr Healey said current plans for defence spending will be enough to deliver the 'vision' of transforming the armed forces that was set out in the strategic defence review (SDR). He said plans to reach 2.5 per cent of GDP spending on defence by 2027 and 3 per cent in the next parliament were 'enough to deliver the SDR's vision that sets out tomorrow, and that vision is a transformation of Britain's armed forces.' He reiterated that there was 'no doubt' the Government would reach 3 per cent in the next parliament - although he stressed that is still 'an ambition' rather than Labour policy. Details of when six new munitions factories will be in production 'will follow', he said. Asked when Russian leader Vladimir Putin should be frightened, he said: 'The message to Putin is we take our defence seriously. We're stepping up our deterrence.' The new weapons will include drones that can fly across borders and launch an attack on Russia from Britain's base in Estonia, government sources said. There will also be long-range missiles such as Storm Shadows, and potentially hypersonic missiles that travel faster than the speed of sound. The review will urge the the Ministry of Defence to lay the industrial foundations to boost weapons stockpiles to meet the demand of 'high-tempo' warfare. The accommodation cash will be spent on urgent repairs such as fixing boilers and roofs, and other issues including tackling damp. Mr Healey is shown a storm shadow missile on an assembly line at the MBDA factory in Stevenage Mr Healey reiterated that there was 'no doubt' the Government would reach spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence in the next parliament - although he stressed that is still 'an ambition' rather than Labour policy The government has warned of the threat from Vladimir Putin However, the Conservatives criticised the investment in munitions factories as too slow. Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the Chancellor has used the strategic defence review to put an 'effective freeze' on new orders for military kit. 'It's a bit rich of Labour to talk about 'always on' munitions production when procurement has been largely switched off for the past year,' he said. He added: 'Of course, we welcome investment in new munitions factories, but we don't know when they will be ready, only that these orders should have been placed months ago. 'Ultimately, we need to see greater ambition for the pace and scale of rearmament our armed forces require, given the threats we face and the need to replace inventory gifted to Ukraine. 'That means 3 per cent of GDP by the end of this parliament, and Labour properly prioritising defence spending instead of seeking to outspend Reform on welfare.' A retired policeman who was wrongly arrested over a social media post warning of a rise in anti-Semitism has won 20,000 in compensation. Julian Foulkes, from Gillingham, was detained at his home by six officers from Kent Police - the very same force he had given ten years of his life to - after he questioned a supporter of pro-Palestine demonstrations on X in November 2023. In the context of a rise in protests at the start of the Israel-Hamas war - and reports of an anti-Semitic mob storming a Russian airport - Mr Foulkes tweeted an activist: 'One step away from storming Heathrow looking for Jewish arrivals' Mr Foulkes was later handcuffed on his own doorstep by uniformed officers equipped with batons and pepper spray. Officers searched his home and made comments on his 'very Brexity' book collection, before detaining the 71-year-old for eight hours. This month, Kent Police confirmed the caution was a mistake and had been removed from Mr Foulkes's record. In a letter sent to Mr Foulkes' solicitors, the force has now repeated an apology from the chief constable Tim Smith for the 'distress caused by the actions of his officers'. It also confirmed Kent Police would agree to an out-of-court settlement after Mr Foulkes launched a legal challenge for wrongful arrest and detention. Julian Foulkes (pictured), from Gillingham, was detained at his home by six officers from Kent Police - the very same force he had given ten years of his life to - after he questioned a supporter of pro-Palestine demonstrations on X in November 2023 Mr Foulkes was later handcuffed on his own doorstep by uniformed officers equipped with batons and pepper spray The letter, sent by a lawyer for the force, read: 'I am instructed to accept the offer of early resolution without recourse to litigation by payment of compensation in the sum of 20,000 plus your client's reasonable legal fees in full and final settlement of all prospective claims arising from his arrest on Nov 2, 2023.' Mr Foulkes told The Telegraph that although he was 'naturally pleased' that Kent Police had apologised, it was 'never about money'. 'For me, it was a simple matter of right and wrong and I now need to see that the full investigation I have been promised takes place and necessary actions are taken to prevent any recurrence,' he said. Previously, Mr Foulkes spoke to MailOnline to reveal he had accepted an offer from the Free Speech Union to fund a lawsuit against Kent Police for wrongful arrest and detention. He said: 'This is absolutely an Orwellian-style thought crime. It's absolutely ridiculous because I sent a tweet which was reasonable in the circumstances and it was a tweet based on events I'd read about just the previous day and in the previous week. 'It was taken out of context and I really can't go through all the failings of Kent police - as much as I'd like to - but it's been quite astonishing to me especially as I served with them for 10 years.' Bodycam footage of Mr Foulkes' arrest in November 2023, shows officers describing the 71-year-old's books and literature scattered around his home as 'very Brexity things' This month, Kent Police confirmed the caution was a mistake and had been removed from Mr Foulkes's record Kent Police misinterpreted his tweet as being anti-Jewish but has since removed the caution from Mr Foulkes' record as well as his biometric data that was stored in police files. Mr Foulkes said previously: 'I sat on it for nine months or so wondering what to do - whether to go public but decided it was best to speak out. 'Career-wise it's not going to hurt me. At my age, I've got no plans to work again so that's not something that affects me. 'In practical terms the worst thing was the injustice and that's the thing I wanted to tackle because there's right and wrong - and I knew they were wrong. 'I got the right result in getting the caution overturned and it's not something Kent Police - indeed any police force do very often.' Several were rushed to hospital Dozens of Aussie weight loss drug injection patients have complained of symptoms consistent with drug-induced hepatitis, sparking a warning from experts to get regular GP check-ups. Patients on GLP-1 agonists Wegovy and Ozempic reported flu-like symptoms, fatigue, abdominal cramps and vomiting, thought to be related to liver injury. The most severe cases were rushed to hospital after experiencing symptoms associated with inflammation of the liver. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has received three separate reports of hepatitis or liver injury associated with semaglutide medicine use marketed as Ozempic and Wegovy. Two patients were on Ozempic while the other was using Wegovy. Patients on Mounjaro have also expressed concerns online. 'Any of you on Mounjaro have had to stop taking it due to it affecting your liver? Im currently in hospital with medication induced hepatitis and theyre positive its from the Mounjaro,' one woman wrote. Another commented: 'Wegovy badly affected my liver and I had to stop, fortunately I didn't end up in hospital'. Aussies on weight loss injections have reported liver-related injuries after taking up the medication (stock image) Semaglutide, sold as Ozempic and Wegovy, is used to address weight loss and type-2 diabetes The woman said she would have to stop her course of Mounjaro after switching from Wegovy after blood tests revealed that her liver function has been slightly abnormal. Experts have noted that, while rare, some patients had issues metabolising GLP-1 agonists. The issue could cause the development of hepatoxicity, a direct drug toxicity from the medicines. Medical experts urged patients on weight loss injections to have regular check-ups to avert permanent liver damage. Royal Australian College of GPs' Gary Deed added that patients should always monitor symptoms when starting a new course of drugs. 'Many doses have been administered in clinical trials and there doesn't appear to be anything common, but any drug has issues to the metabolism in the kidney or liver, some more than others, for instance paracetamol,' he told the Daily Telegraph. 'Just be aware of signs and symptoms on the liver, one of the issues of using GLP-1 agonists is nausea and hepatoxicity can be hidden in that. 'Worldwide, these events are rare, but these case reports are just emerging and cannot be ignored and should be researched these symptoms are a good wake-up call.' Many celebrities have openly talked about trying drug injections like Ozempic to assist with weight loss, including Aussie actress Rebel Wilson (above) Those using semaglutide injections should monitor any potential side-effects and regularly visit their GP for check-ups and weigh-ins. The TGA received their first hepatitis report associated with semaglutide in September 2022. No official reports so far have been associated with Mounjaro. Ozempic was first approved for use in Australia in August 2019. Wegovy was approved in September 2022 followed by Mounjaro three months later. Some patients on weight loss injections Wegovy (pictured) and Ozempic reported flu-like symptoms, fatigue, abdominal cramps and vomiting The TGA advised patients who suspects they are suffering an adverse effect of any weight loss injection to contact a health professional. The governing body encourages patients to report all suspected adverse events. Semaglutide works by emulating a hormone called GLP-1 which helps regulate insulin, appetite and digestions among other roles. Tesco is set to close some Express stores an hour earlier after the supermarket giant was hit by a 235million rise in staff costs by Rachel Reeves' tax raid. The chain is trialling shorter opening hours at the Express stores, it is understood, closing some at 10pm rather than the usual 11pm. Meanwhile, Tesco is also anticipated to have less staff running those stores during their opening hours, The Telegraph first reported. The changes were created to 'make things simpler for our colleagues and to ensure that we are running these shops in the most efficient way', a spokesman said - adding that the trial will take place in a number of stores. It comes after Tesco's chief executive Ken Murphy revealed the supermarket giant was doing its best to offset a burst of extra costs following Reeves' tax raid, which took effect from April this year. After the raid was announced, Tesco said it was facing a serious rise in its staffing bill, including a 235million increase in National Insurance contributions. Tesco is set to close its Express stores an hour earlier after the supermarket giant was hit by a 235million rise in staff costs by Rachel Reeves' tax raid It comes after Tesco's chief executive Ken Murphy (pictured) revealed the supermarket giant was trying to offset a burst of extra costs following the Reeves' tax raid, which took effect from April Under the changes, employers fork out a tax equivalent to 15 per cent of their workers' pay packets, an increase from 13.8 per cent previously. Tesco is dealing with affected staff and considering individual circumstances and whether they need to transfer to another store, it is understood. A Tesco spokesperson said: 'Our Express format is a strong and growing business, providing great value and convenience for customers on their doorstep. 'In a small number of stores, we are trialling some tweaks to our operational routines to make things simpler for our colleagues and to ensure that we are running these shops in the most efficient way. 'These changes aren't visible to our customers, who will continue to receive the same great service they expect, and there are no changes to the range of products we sell.' In April, Tesco warned its profits would drop by as much as 14per cent this year as it gets ready to invest 400million in price cuts. Support for Scottish independence has hit a record high amid disillusionment with Keir Starmer and Reform's surge. A Norstat poll found 54 per cent backed the separatist cause north of the border, the joint highest ever detected by the firm. The eight-point lead - excluding don't knows - swelled to 16 points if people were asked to imagine Nigel Farage was PM. The survey for the Sunday Times comes just days before the Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse by-election, where some fear Labour could be third behind the SNP and Reform. Sir Keir has been facing a disastrous crash in his popularity since his victory in the general election last year. Opinium research suggests his personal ratings have hit a new low of minus 37 over the past fornight. In contrast, Mr Farage's outfit has enjoyed a meteoric rise, opening up a clear advantage as the Tories and Labour fade. Support for independence has largely stagnated since Scots rejected the idea in a by 55 per cent to 45 per cent in the 2014 referendum - although there was a brief spike during Covid. Your browser does not support iframes. Support for Scottish independence has hit a record high amid disillusionment with Keir Starmer (pictured) and Reform's surge The eight-point lead - excluding don't knows - swelled to 16 points if people were asked to imagine Nigel Farage (pictured) was PM But the prospect of Mr Farage as PM could revive the campaign, with 58 per cent of Scots suggesting they would vote Yes in that scenario. Despite the broader sentiment, support for the SNP has fallen back slightly since the last poll in February. A third of Scots said they planned to vote for the separatists in the constituency vote next year, with 28 per cent saying the same about the regional list. However, polling guru Sir John Curtice said that the SNP look set to remain comfortably the largest party due to the unionist vote fracturing. John Swinney could command 54 seats while Labour would have 20 and Reform would secure a stunning 18 - more than the 17 projected for the Tories. A narrow unionist majority at Holyrood could act as a block on a second independence referendum. When the Hamilton by-election was called, it was widely seen as a two-horse race between the SNP's Katy Loudon and Labour's Davy Russell, but recent weeks have seen a surge in fortune for Reform. Mr Swinney said yesterday it is 'very clear' that Labour is 'out of this contest' and it is now 'between the SNP and Farage'. 'I want to make sure that Farage's politics don't get any hold in Scotland, they are damaging,' he said. John Swinney said yesterday it is 'very clear' that Labour is 'out of' the Hamilton by-election and it is now 'between the SNP and Farage' Labour's leader in Scotland is Anas Sarwar, pictured at Holyrood Mark Diffley, of pollsters Diffley Partnership, said: 'The SNP and wider nationalist movement will be encouraged by the poll's findings of 54 per cent support for independence. 'But what will concern the pro-union parties the most is the finding that the prospect of Nigel Farage as PM would push support for independence close to the symbolically important 60 per cent. 'The rise of Reform is not only hitting Labour and the Tories at the ballot box but represents an increasing threat to the Union.' Almost 1,200 migrants have crossed the Channel to the UK in a single day - as one of Sir Keir Starmer's ministers said control of Britain's borders had been lost. The Prime Minister faced criticism over what was called a 'day of shame' as a surge in dinghy crossings overwhelmed French and UK border patrol vessels. The latest Home Office figures show that 1,194 migrants arrived in 18 boats, bringing the provisional annual total so far to 14,811. This is 42 per cent higher than the 10,448 at the same point last year and 95 per cent up from the same point in 2023, 7,610, according to PA news agency analysis. It is still lower than the highest daily total of 1,305 arrivals since data began in 2018, which was recorded on September 3, 2022. But the total of arrivals for the year, 14,811, is the highest ever recorded for the first five months of a year since data was first recorded on Channel crossings in 2018. It has also surpassed the highest total recorded for the first six months of the year, which was previously 13,489 on June 30 last year - and n 2024 the number of arrivals did not reach more than 14,000 until July 9, reaching 14,058. At Gravelines in northern France, more than half a dozen French police officers simply stood by yesterday morning and watched as migrants waded into the sea and scrambled on to an inflatable boat. French authorities said they rescued 184 people. A group of people thought to be migrants are seen here aboard a small boat leaving the beach at Gravelines, France, yesterday in an attempt to reach the UK by crossing the Channel The latest figures have seen increased criticism for PM Sir Keir Starmer, seen here chairing a round table during the International Border Security Summit in London on March 31 this year A group of people believed to be migrants are seen being led through the Border Force compound in Dover, Kent, following a number of small boat crossings in the Channel yesterday TikTok videos have been shared showing Channel crossings on Saturday People thought to be asylum seekers arriving in the UK are pictured being driven away from the Border Force base in Dover in Kent on Saturday, as a new numbers hit a daily high for 2025 And today one of Sir Keir's senior cabinet ministers admitted the scenes were 'pretty shocking' as he said the UK had 'lost control of its borders over the last five years'. Defence Secretary John Healey this morning told Sky News that the latest crossings revealed a 'really big problem' - but insisted there was pressure being put on France for better co-operation and crackdowns ahead. Britain had agreed a deal in 2023 to pay France 480million over three years to stop the crossings, including 175million in the current financial year more than 480,000 per day. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp branded the latest Channel scenes 'a disgrace but sadly entirely expected' and 'a day of shame for the Labour Government'. He added: 'It's a shameful failure by the French to discharge their duties to stop illegal migration. The French are failing to stop these crossings by illegal immigrants. 'Over a thousand illegal immigrants in a single day, boats flooding the Channel, Border Force stretched beyond breaking point, and even fishing vessels drafted in because our maritime rescue services are overwhelmed.' And Richard Tice MP, deputy leader of Reform UK, said: 'It looks like we pay hundreds of millions to give French police officers photography lessons because they are certainly not providing any security. Frankly, the Government should be suing the French for our money back.' At least 18 migrant boats were seen leaving the French coast yesterday, carrying more than 1,000 people - exceeding the previous daily record for 2025 of 825, set earlier last month. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Footage has been shared on TikTok of a small boat making its way towards the UK on Saturday Groups gathered in the early hours of yesterday morning to make the perilous journey across the Channel - with new estimates suggested almost 1,2000 attempted to reach the UK Sir Keir Starmer's Defence Secretary John Healey said Britain had 'lost control' of borders Life vests used by people thought to be migrants at the Border Force compound in Dover, Kent,are seen here after a series of new small boat crossings on Saturday Mr Healey today told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News: 'Pretty shocking, those scenes yesterday. The truth is, Britain's lost control of its borders over the last five years. 'The last government last year left an asylum system in chaos and record levels of immigration. 'But I think that yesterday tells us a really big problem which is that you've got French police unable to intervene to intervene and intercept the boats when they are in shallow water. 'We saw the smugglers launching elsewhere and coming round like a taxi to pick them up.' Mr Healey insisted there was 'new co-operation' with the French suggesting their officials would intervene in the water. When asked whether he was 'hacked off' with France for not doing so now, Mr Healey said: 'They are not doing it, but we've got the agreement that they will change the way they work. 'Our concentration now is to push them to get that into operation so they can intercept these smugglers and stop these people in the boats, not just on the shore.' Reacting to the huge crossing numbers, the Conservatives' former Home Secretary James Cleverly today said: 'The arrogance of Starmer, Cooper and the rest. Your browser does not support iframes. People thought to be migrants arriving from France were taken by bus from the Dover base Labour's handling of migrant crossings has been criticised by James Cleverly (pictured) A group of people including women and young children are seen waiting to try and catch a boat to the UK on Saturday at Gravelines in France Your browser does not support iframes. 'They thought border control would be easy for the oh-so-clever progressive Labour government. They thought they could achieve more by doing less. Their hubris is now plain to see. 'I warned Yvette Cooper that scrapping the Rwanda agreement would send the wrong message to people smugglers. She ignored me. 'I said the Border Security Command duplicated the work of the Small Boats Operation Command and therefore wasnt adding value. She ignored me. 'Scrapping so many elements of the Illegal Migration Act and fast-tracking asylum acceptances would attract more illegal migration. 'She ignored me. And now we see the worst small boat arrival figures ever.' And Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted on X, formerly Twitter: 'As I warned earlier, huge numbers of young males have crossed the Channel today.... well over 1,000. Our country is in peril.' British and French rescue services were yesterday forced to deploy 11 vessels and two aircraft. And at one point the coastguard even issued an appeal for fishing boats to assist a yacht and kayaks in trouble because all lifeboats and Border Force vessels were too busy rescuing migrants. Your browser does not support iframes. The Conservatives' Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described Saturday's Channel scenes as 'a disgrace but sadly entirely expected' The remains of a small boat on the beach in Gravelines, France, following an unsuccessful attempt by people thought to be migrants to reach the UK People hoping to reach the UK to claim asylum wade into the Channel to catch a dinghy piloted by several men Your browser does not support iframes. Yesterday's arrivals were the highest since September 29 2022, when 1,131 migrants arrived on 23 boats, according to Home Office figures. The record number of arrivals is 1,305, set on September 3, 2022. Two patrol aircraft, four of the five Border Force vessels and seven French vessels, including a warship and two lifeboats, were deployed yesterday morning as a string of inflatable dinghies carrying hundreds of migrants were launched from multiple beaches. The skipper of the fishing vessel that was in the Channel for ten hours yesterday told the MoS: 'The Border Force were completely overwhelmed and they've been using the RNLI lifeboats from Dungeness and Dover all day. 'An English pleasure boat said it was taking on water and required assistance but by the time the coastguard finally had a lifeboat to spare, the boat had fixed the hole itself and was making its way back to the harbour.' He said the French authorities used their vessels to escort inflatable boats packed with migrants into English waters. A source even claimed a cross-Channel ferry had to alter its route to avoid two separate migrant boats, saying: 'There really seems to be absolutely no deterrent.' Since Labour took office in July last year, 36,859 people have been detected crossing the Channel on 667 small boats. Six boats were seen crossing the Channel on Saturday morning, with many setting off in the early hours of the morning A man carries a young child to a small boat off the coast of France in a bid to reach the UK by crossing the Channel French police stood back and watched as entire families packed themselves into an overcrowded small boat heading across the Channel to the UK this morning In a major speech in Germany last year, Sir Keir talked of a 'new spirit of cooperation' with Europe, saying: 'We cannot smash the smuggling gangs who perpetrate this vile trade without the help of our partners.' But it emerged last week that just 38 per cent of those trying to cross have been intercepted by French officials so far this year down from 45 per cent last year and 46 per cent in 2023. The UK's 480million deal with is helping pay for a new detention centre in France, new surveillance drones, a joint Anglo-French command centre and the doubling of officers patrolling beaches from 400 to 800. A Home Office spokesperson pointed to measures to share intelligence internationally, enhance enforcement operations in northern France and introduce tougher rules in its immigration legislation. They said: 'We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. 'The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay and we will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice. 'That is why this Government has put together a serious plan to take down these networks at every stage.' Seven people have been killed and dozens more injured after two bridges collapsed just hours apart in different Russian regions bordering Ukraine. In the most devastating incident, a bridge came crashing down onto railway tracks in the Bryansk region, directly in the path of a moving passenger train. The collision sent carriages careening off the rails, leaving a trail of mangle metal and shattered concrete. Just hours later a second bridge collapsed in the Kursk region. The train's driver and six others lost their lives in the Bryansk tragedy, and at least 69 more people were rushed to hospital with injuries, some reportedly critical. Local authorities blamed 'illegal interference'. The horror unfolded as the train, en route from Moscow to Klimov, was making its way through the troubled region. Passengers were evacuated and guided to a meeting point at a nearby station, Moscow Railway said, adding: 'They will be able to continue their journey on a specially formed reserve train' travelling from Bryansk to Moscow. A damaged bridge after the crash of a freight train in Russia's Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, on June 1, 2025 Seven people were killed and dozens injured after bridges in two separate Russian regions bordering Ukraine collapsed overnight, officials said Sunday Russian law enforcement officers working at the site of a rail bridge collapse in the Kursk region Specialists of emergency services gather near a destroyed train carriage at the scene, after a road bridge collapsed onto railway tracks due to an explosion in the Bryansk region, Russia, June 1, 2025 Dramatic footage shared online shows the twisted wreckage, with carriages torn open and panicked survivors clambering through debris. One video, filmed from inside a passing car, captures the chilling moment a vehicle narrowly avoids the collapsing structure, just seconds from disaster. Alexander Bogomaz, the acting governor of Bryansk, has claimed the bridge was 'blown up', suggesting a targeted attack. Officials have not yet confirmed who was behind the blast, but Andrei Klishas, a senior figure in Russia's Federation Council, wasted no time in accusing Kyiv. He claimed the incident proved Ukraine had 'long lost the attributes of a state and has turned into a terrorist enclave'. Ukraine has yet to comment. In a separate incident, another bridge buckled under the weight of a freight train in the Zheleznogorsk district, in Russia's neighbouring Kursk region. One train driver was injured, but authorities say the full extent of the damage is still being assessed. Acting governor Alexander Khinshtein said the train caught fire and a driver suffered injuries to his legs. Khinshtein wrote on Telegram: 'The cause of the bridge collapse will be established. All emergency services are working on the scene. I am keeping the situation under control.' It is unclear whether the two collapses in the neighbouring regions are related but Moscow's interregional transport prosecutor's office said an investigation had been launched. Both Bryansk and Kursk border Ukraine and have seen repeated attacks since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion over three years ago. Cross-border shelling, drone strikes, and covert operations have turned these regions into dangerous flashpoints in the ongoing war. Emergency crews have remained at the scene in Bryansk, working against the clock to extract survivors from the wreckage. An evacuation train is seen at the scene, after a road bridge collapsed onto railway tracks derailing an approaching passenger train in the Bryansk region, Russia, June 1, 2025 Acting governor Alexander Khinshtein said the train caught fire and a driver suffered injuries to his legs Russian rescuers working at the site after a bridge collapsed on a passenger train in the Vygonichsky district, Bryansk region, Russia, June 1, 2025 It comes as the strategic defence review is a 'message to Moscow', Defence Secretary John Healey has said. 'This is a message to Moscow as well. This is Britain standing behind, making our armed forces stronger but making our industrial base stronger, and this is part of our readiness to fight, if required,' he told the BBC's Sunday Morning With Laura Kuenssberg programme. He said Russia is 'attacking the UK daily' in cyberspace. Asked if he expected a form of real-world attack by Russia on the UK in the coming years, he said: 'We have to be prepared. Nato has to be prepared. We see Putin in Ukraine trying to redraw international boundaries by force... it's part of the growing Russian aggression.' He added that is why Nato and the UK are 'stepping up our ability to deter as well as to defend in the future'. 'The world is more uncertain. The tensions are greater but we prepare for war in order to secure the peace. If you're strong enough to defeat an enemy you deter them from attacking in the first place,' Mr Healey said. Alarming footage has emerged of a watch house officer making disturbing comments to an Indigenous teen, which have sparked outrage. A formal investigation continues into the early morning exchange that took place at an ACT watch house following the Indigenous boy's arrest in June 2024. In the footage played during an ACT Supreme Court hearing earlier this year, an officer who was off-camera, asked the teen: 'Are you thinking of necking yourself?'. When the boy replied 'no', the officer was heard muttering: 'You wouldn't have the guts to do it anyway.' The watch house CCTV also showed several officers standing behind the teen none of whom made the offensive comments who appeared to smirk during the exchange. The same sergeant later asked the teen, who was living in foster care, if he had any parents. 'Nah,' the teen replied. 'No parents? You just magically appeared on the face of the Earth?' the sergeant said condescendingly. CCTV captured the moment a watch house officer asked an Indigenous teen if he would 'neck himself' Other vision showed the teen arrested by police before being grilled in the watch house The court was also played a series of other clips from the vision, including the moment the teen was later tasered and pinned down in a watch house cell. The judge referred the vision to the territory's Chief Police Officer Scott Lee, the Canberra Times reported. Indigenous leader Jordan Hindmarsh-Keevil recently took to social media to express his outrage about the incident. 'I hate making videos about negative things, but this is f***ing very important because I bet you didn't hear about it,' he said in a video posted to social media. 'Although this video might make you angry, I do not mean to divide anyone. All I want from this is for people who believe that Australia is not a racist country those people say so because it doesn't say it legally anywhere.' Mr Hindmarsh-Keevil claimed the 'treatment is not a one-off', saying 'this happens all the time'. 'This officer looked at a 17-year-old boy and he said 'are you thinking about necking yourself?' 'Two of the other coppers who were standing next to this man started smirking and smiling. And this officer had already mocked this kid for not having parents because he was in foster care,' he claimed. Indigenous leader Jordan Hindmarsh-Keevil recently took to social media to express outrage about the incident 'I am angry at the police that did this, but I'm angry that this type of hatred towards other people exists.' The ACT's Chief Police Officer, Scott Lee described the officer's actions in the footage as said the officer's actions as 'are unacceptable and will not be tolerated'. 'I hold everyone in ACT Policing to high standards of professionalism and integrity, as do our officers, and this is in line with community expectations,' Mr Lee said. 'The comments of the officer during a Watch House intake in 2024 are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. 'It falls well below the standards expected of our officers and was dealt with swiftly after the incident occurred with the matter currently being investigated by AFP Professional Standards.' He added that the investigation into the incident is ongoing. Daily Mail Australia has contacted ACT Policing for further comment. Venessa Turnbull-Roberts, Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children said the incident was 'abhorrent misconduct'. Another clip from the vision showed the Indigenous boy pinned to the ground by officers in a watch house cell 'In the context of the horrifying and ongoing epidemic of Aboriginal deaths in custody in this jurisdiction and across Australia, this comment can be seen as a deliberate incitement to an Aboriginal child to end his life,' she claimed. 'What is even more horrific is the young person is a survivor of forcible removal the police interrogation used against this young person by police is shameful.' Suicide rates have been on the incline over the past decade to 2023, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) mortality report. Between 2019 and 2023, suicide was the leading cause of death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, according to that same report. It equates to nearly a quarter of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children's deaths. For confidential 24-7 support in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. A divebombing buzzard has been terrorising villagers for months and has even caused a primary school to ban pupils from going outside during break time. Children at Dame Tipping Primary School in Havering-atte-Bower have been forced to stay inside since Easter through fear of injury by the bird of prey, believed to be part of a mating pair. But, as buzzards are protected, the school says 'nothing which can be done' beyond the outdoor ban. Headteacher Stella McCarthy said the 'difficult decision' was made after the birds became 'highly present' in the playground. She said: 'As a school, safeguarding and protecting children is of paramount importance.' The school rule comes after several incidents in the Greater London village, located to the north of Romford - with one woman claiming she was 'dive-bombed' by the buzzard while walking in the park in March. Nikki Dix, 37, said she was 'dead shocked' when the bird attacked her from behind and left scratches on her head. She said: 'I was scared, I was taken back by it. The divebombing buzzard has been nicknamed 'Brenda' by schoolchildren Warning notice placed in the woodland in Havering-atte-Bower warning people against the bird Footage shows the moment a buzzard flies down from the roof of a nearby house, appearing to aim for Louise Whittle's head 'He was giving me an evil eye so then I carried on my journey for quite a while just swinging my bag above my head because I was just like 'hopefully this will deter him from coming to get me, because if he does try again to get me maybe he won't be so nice'. 'Nothing like that normally gets me so I'm a little bit on high alert at the moment, that's why I've stayed away from that area as well.' The school has decided to use the situation as a learning experience for pupils, who have created posters promoting the protection of birds - and have even named the buzzard 'Brenda'. One parent, Louise Whittle, who herself narrowly missed being injured by the buzzard, said the school has handled the issue 'brilliantly'. Footage shows the moment a buzzard flies down from the roof of a nearby house, appearing to aim for the mum's head. She said: 'It's absolutely bonkers that there is a buzzard attacking people. 'But the school have been absolutely fantastic in prioritising the children's safety and finding other alternatives for getting out. 'If anything, it's been a great learning experience for the children - they have learnt all about buzzards that they otherwise wouldn't have done.' The area behind Dame Tipping Primary School where residents have been attacked by the bird The Havering Country Park where the bird has been said to swoop down and attack local residents. One parent, Louise Whittle, who herself narrowly missed being injured by the buzzard, said the school has handled the issue 'brilliantly' Louise said: 'It's absolutely bonkers that there is a buzzard attacking people' However, Louise added that she is still concerned that 'the birds are being prioritised over the children' and said she is 'hopeful that they fly away so everyone can get back to normal'. Headteacher Ms McCarthy added: 'Luckily, as part of LIFE Education Trust, we have had excellent support enabling us to use the trust mini bus to regularly visit The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls where our children have engaged in outdoor learning activities, PE lessons and visited the school's farm. 'We have also introduced additional indoor breaks with lots of engaging activities including traditional board games, cup stacking competitions and puzzles.' The school has been liaising with Havering Council and various bird organisations to find solutions to the issue. The council said its health and safety team has provided the school's trust with 'detailed advice' on legal deterrents and the hiring of a falconry expert. A Havering Council spokesperson said: 'The RSPCA has advised that the buzzard may be protecting its nest or chicks, which lines up with the information we have received. 'Buzzards are protected under UK law, therefore our intervention options are very limited, and we have advised that warning signs would be the easiest solution at this time. 'We completely understand how difficult and worrying this situation is for the school and local residents and we regret that there is not a quick or straightforward solution.' Hamas has said it is willing to release 10 living Israeli hostages and hand over the bodies of 18 others in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but only if key amendments are made to a US-backed ceasefire plan that Israel has already accepted. In a dramatic development, the terror group submitted its counterproposal to a framework drawn up by Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East. While the response stopped short of outright rejection, it has been widely condemned as a stalling tactic amid mounting international pressure. Witkoff slammed the Hamas reply as 'totally unacceptable', warning the group was dragging out negotiations and putting lives at risk. 'Hamas should accept the framework proposal we put forward as the basis for proximity talks, which we can begin immediately this coming week. 'That is the only way we can close a 60-day ceasefire deal in the coming days.' Under the current US proposal, details of which remain largely confidential, the plan includes a 60-day pause in hostilities, the release of 28 Israeli hostages both living and deceased in the first week, the release of 1,236 Palestinian prisoners and 180 bodies, and a surge of humanitarian aid delivered via the UN and partner agencies. Fifty-eight Israeli hostages remain and Israel believes 35 of them are dead. In a dramatic development, the terror group submitted its counterproposal to a framework drawn up by Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump 's special envoy to the Middle East (pictured left) Palestinians inspect the rubble following Israeli strikes on the al-Qattaa family home in al-Tuffah neighbourhood in Gaza City on May 31, 2025 Smoke rises after an Israeli attack hit a house of Palestinian family near al Ahly Hospital in Gaza City, Gaza on May 31, 2025 But Hamas, which the UK, US, and EU classify as a terrorist organisation, is digging in. It continues to demand a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and guaranteed access to humanitarian aid - conditions not included in the deal currently on the table. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Hamas was still refusing to accept the updated Witkoff outline. 'While Israel has agreed to the updated Witkoff outline for the release of our hostages, Hamas continues to adhere to its refusal,' it said. Israeli officials maintain they are open to a temporary truce, but insist on the right to resume military operations if necessary. Defence Minister Israel Katz delivered a blunt ultimatum: 'The Hamas murderers will now be forced to choose: accept the terms of the 'Witkoff Deal' for the release of the hostages - or be annihilated'. Caught between unrelenting Israeli military pressure and the desperation of 2.2million civilians in Gaza, Hamas finds itself in its most difficult position since the conflict began. The group lacks the firepower to resist a fresh ground offensive and faces growing pressure from mediators to accept a deal far less favourable than those it previously rejected. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim accused the US of favouritism, saying Israel's input had been treated as final while Palestinian concerns were sidelined. Israel on May 30 said the Palestinian Hamas movement must accept a hostage deal in Gaza or 'be annihilated', as US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire agreement was 'very close' Destroyed buildings in the northern sector of the besieged Palestinian territory on May 29, 2025 Smoke billows following Israeli strikes on al-Tuffah neighbourhood in Gaza City on May 31, 2025 The White House said on May 29 that Israel had 'signed off on' a new Gaza ceasefire proposal submitted to the Palestinian Hamas movement, which confirmed it was studying the deal He told the BBC the group had last week come to an agreement with him on a proposal 'which he deemed acceptable for negotiation' - but that the Israeli response 'disagreed with all the provisions we had agreed upon'. 'Why, each time, is the Israeli response considered the only response for negotiation?' he said. 'This violates the integrity and fairness of mediation and constitutes a complete bias towards the other side.' But the humanitarian toll continues to rise. On Saturday, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said 60 people were killed and 284 wounded in Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours. Independent verification remains difficult, especially in the war-ravaged north. The current war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a brutal cross-border assault, killing around 1,200 Israelis and taking 251 hostages. Israel's military response has since killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run health authorities. A chilling new wave of ultra-nationalist fiction is sweeping through Russia, and it is aimed straight at the country's teenagers and young men. Dubbed 'Z literature', the action-packed novels are being branded the Kremlin's latest weapon in a growing propaganda war as they lure vulnerable young readers into enlistment and glorify death on the battlefield. From mainstream bookshops to school libraries, these novels are saturating Russian youth culture with one central message - fight, die, and serve. Named after the 'Z' symbol splashed across tanks and billboards to promote the invasion of Ukraine, these books present a dystopian world where Russia stands alone - noble, embattled, and surrounded by Nazi enemies. Heroes are not just brave soldiers, but martyrs, laying down their lives for glory, brotherhood, and Vladimir Putin's vision of resurgent Russia. 'What the state is trying to do to create a culture in which everyday life is militarised,' Dr Colin Alexander, senior lecturer in political communications at Nottingham Trent University, told The Telegraph. 'It is normalising the idea that to be a good citizen, a good patriot, a good man, you go and fight in the war, because Russia is surrounded by enemies.' With dramatic cover art depicting storming soldiers, tanks ablaze, and Russian flags flying high, these novels would seem straight from a Soviet propaganda playbook, but they are packaged for a modern and digital generation. Russian soldiers, who were involved in the country's military campaign in Ukraine, march in columns during a parade on Victory Day, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2025 A campaign billboard on a bus stop in Russia encouraging people to sign up to the army White Z on the Front Armour by Mikhail Mikheev (left), Crimean Cauldron by Nikolai Marchuk (right) Colonel Nobody by Alexei Sukonkin (left), PMC Chersonesus by Andrei Belyanin (right) One such novel, Colonel Nobody by Alexei Sukonkin, follows a down-and-out young man who finds purpose and redemption by joining the Wagner mercenary group after prison. He discovers camaraderie in battle and ultimately sacrifices his life for 'the cause'. The message appears clear - if you're lost or disenfranchised, war will make you whole. 'There is often a sense of brotherhood, that you can turn into a good citizen, a good patriot, a strong man, a man who can provide for his family, a man who defends the country and the community,' said Dr Garner, an expert on totalitarian media. And the reach is vast. These books are discussed on state TV, handed out in schools, and even shared online by the late Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin before his death in 2023. Another standout title, White Z on the Front Armour by Mikhail Mikheev, reads like a spy thriller where a brutal Russian agent posing a liberal journalist cuts a bloody path through Ukraine. He travels across the country, killing evil characters and delivering one-liners including: 'You wanted Crimea, pigface?' In Crimean Cauldron by Nikolai Marchuk, the action reaches surreal heights as a lone Russian commando defeats an army of Nazis in Crimea before capturing the Capitol Building in Washington DC. And in PMC Chersonesus, a bizarre blend of mythology and military fiction by Andrei Belyanin, a trio of Russian heroes styled on Greek gods travel back in time to retrieve artefacts stolen from Crimea - including Scythian gold, a direct reference to real-life cultural treasures awarded to Ukraine by Dutch courts. The villains are zombie Nazis. 'The underlying narrative is always that Russia as a state, as a country, has been wrong in the past, and through these heroes, we can rectify Russia's greatness and its destiny,' said Jaroslava Barbieri, a doctoral researcher into Russian foreign policy and post-Soviet affairs at the University of Birmingham. Participants in a joining ceremony for the Pioneer Organisation carry a replica of the Victory Banner and the flag of the Pioneer Organization at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, 18 May 2025 Military vehicles and soldiers parade through Red Square as part of the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War at Red Square in Moscow, Russia on May 9, 2025 This sinister genre is just one cog in a much larger system - patriotic education programmes, youth military clubs, and pro-war content flooding social media. Experts warn this ecosystem is shaping a generation primed for conflict, not peace. 'Five years from now, these readers will be soldiers. The Kremlin isn't trying to appease aggression its cultivating it,' Barbieri said. And the consequences could be far-reaching. According to Dr Garner, this militarised mindset could make any future efforts to liberalise Russia all but impossible. A group of travellers have provoked outrage after they razed a field on greenbelt land without planning permission and turned it into a gravel car park - in just 72 hours. Diggers and excavators moved onto the plot, in the village of Burtonwood, near Warrington, Cheshire, and started the unauthorised work over the Bank Holiday weekend last month. They covered half the field in hardcore and also erected a 10ft-high wooden fence around the boundary. It is understood the travellers bought the six-acre site legitimately and the sale went through on Friday May 23. Work began just hours later, at 6pm that evening, and villagers reported excavators and tipper trucks working through the night to remove soil and replace it with concrete, completing the job in less than three days. Before and after aerial photographs show the extent of the destruction and more than a dozen caravans and other vehicles have since moved onto the site. Although a retrospective planning application has now been submitted to Warrington Borough Council, local councillor Stuart Mann confirmed an investigation had been launched following complaints from local residents, who say the land is green belt and should be for agricultural use only. Mr Mann said he had received 'hundreds' of emails and more than 50 people turned up at his surgery to express concerns about the development. He confirmed planners had issued an enforcement notice to the travellers but admitted the issue could take weeks to resolve. Slide me Before and after: Diggers worked through the night to transform the field in Burtonwood village, near Warrington, Cheshire, into a concrete caravan park in less than three days Councillor Stuart Mann, who represents Burtonwood on Warrington Borough Council Cheshire police and Scottish Power, who supply electricity to the area and investigate unauthorised attempts to tap into the mains supply, have also been informed, he said. 'I have met with the chief executive of Warrington Borough Council and the MP for Warrington North to raise our ongoing concerns regarding the development on Farmers Lane,' he said. 'I have received, from borough council planning and enforcement teams, that a retrospective planning application has been received, but that it is yet to be validated. 'Any such application has to be determined on its relative merits. This will take a number of weeks.' Nigel Catlow, vice chairman, of Burtonwood and Westbrook Parish Council, described it as a 'very serious and fast-moving issue.' In a letter to the council, he said: 'The landowners appear to be in serious breach, making the most of the Bank Holiday and the council being on a long weekend. 'This is of great concern to many residents and council taxpayers in Burtonwood and the wider area of Warrington West.' Locals took to social media to express their concerns, with one saying: 'The transformation is shocking.' Another, Jacqui Worrall, wrote: 'Breach!?.. it's a s****** concrete jungle!!!!' While Ray Houghton added: 'Blame the person who sold the land to them in the first place. The people doing this have no respect for the laws.' Mr Mann said it was 'important for it to be known the people who have done this own the land.' 'Concerns have been raised and the council needs to ensure that necessary checks and balances have been put in place,' he added. A spokesman for Warrington Borough Council confirmed that it had 'established a priority enforcement case' over the situation in Burtonwood. 'We have received a report about a potential breach of planning on land off Farmers Lane in Burtonwood and are currently investigating the issue.' Cheshire Police have been approached for a comment. Former President Joe Biden got lost in his own closet at the White House, a Secret Service whistleblower claimed to MAGA Senator Josh Hawley. The Missouri Republican shared the intel with Fox News host Sean Hannity Friday, adding to the ongoing speculation that Biden's administration worked to cover-up his declining mental state. 'He [the Secret Service member] told me that Biden used to get lost in his closet in the mornings at the White House,' Hawley explained, adding that his source was assigned to Biden while he was the president. 'I mean, the guy literally stumbling around in the White House residence couldn't find his way out of his own closet. The president of the United States. I mean, this is outrageous. We were lied to.' Hawley said the alarming claims were made to him while he was investigating the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump during his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. He went on to criticize the ongoing scandal that the Biden administration worked to cover-up his cognitive decline, specifically with the use of an autopen - a device that automatically replicates a person's signature. 'We need to find out who actually signed off, so to speak, on all those autopen signatures and all of those pardons and all of those clemencies,' Hawley said, adding that it amounts to 'one of the worst constitutional crises of our country's history.' DailyMail.com contacted Biden's team for comment. Former President Joe Biden (pictured October 2023) got lost in his own closet at the White House , a Secret Service whistleblower revealed to MAGA Senator Josh Hawley 'He [Secret Service member] told me that Biden used to get lost in his closet in the mornings at the White House,' Hawley explained, adding that his source was assigned to Biden while he was the president The senator's comments come just after Biden announced he was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer, and amid the mounting backlash of CNN anchor Jake Tapper's new book that claims to blow the lid off of the White House campaign that hid Biden's health decline from the American people. His office revealed his frightening diagnosis on May 18, adding that it is an 'aggressive form' of prostate cancer. The cancer has metastasized and spread to his bones, a statement on the 82-year-old's diagnosis revealed. The announcement came just one week after reports revealed that a 'small nodule' was found on Biden's prostate that needed 'further evaluation.' Just as his health battle was revealed, Tapper's new book, 'Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again,' co-authored with Axios' Alex Thompson, hit the shelves. Early reviews of the book, which was released May 20, were quickly overshadowed by allegations that Tapper himself was part of the cover up and is now seemingly trying to rewrite history. People have gone on to label Tapper a fraud and 'phony' over his self-righteous rants about the former president's health cover-up, claiming that his role as an anchor at a left-leaning network helped conceal the alleged secret. 'He was and still is down for the cause. We are not fooled or amused,' a user wrote. Biden is seen being helped after he fell during the graduation ceremony at the United States Air Force Academy in June 2023 'No retractions, no apologies, and no consequences for those who pushed a false narrative for years,' another stated. Someone else commented: 'Bullsh**, he's lying. He knew all along that it was bullsh** and still carried the democrat party's water.' While facing a slew of backlash for his new book, Tapper recently sat down with Thompson on Stephen A. Smith's show Wednesday to address the heat he's been facing. Smith specifically asked the pair what they think about people calling the book a 'money grab,' leading Tapper to say that 'very few people write books to make money.' 'No, our only agenda was to find out what happened. Our only agenda was to write this book,' Tapper replied. 'In terms of the left it's a money grab, I mean that's not the case. It's not - this is, I don't want to get into where my money comes from. You know, CNN is my main job and that's where my main source of income, by far... Very few people write books to make money,' he babbled on. 'You write a book because you want to say something. You want to have a legacy, you want to uncover something, you have a message you want to get out there,' Tapper stated, adding 'I don't think people write books about Joe Biden to make money' as Thompson smiled. 'That's a good point,' Smith chimed in. The claims come on the heels of mounting speculation over CNN anchor Jake Tapper's new book that claims to blow the lid off of the White House campaign that hid Biden's health decline from the American people On Tuesday, President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law Laura Trump revealed that Tapper called her to apologize for a condescending on-air dispute in 2020 where he dismissed her concerns about Biden's mental acuity. Laure revealed the phone call on Fox but said his apology was 'a little too late' -conveniently taking place just weeks before the publication of his tell-all book about the very topic. One of the most prominent examples of this was back in October 2020, when Lara pointed to a speech of Biden's and said: 'What we see on stage is a very clear cognitive decline.' Tapper immediately interjected, savaging her with a haughty response that she had 'absolutely no standing to diagnose somebody's cognitive decline' and accusing her of instead 'mocking his stutter.' While Tapper has publicly apologized for his response and admitted a sense of 'humility' over being proven wrong, Lara has now revealed he reached out to her privately two months ago. 'Jake Tapper called me about two months ago and he said "I have this book coming out,"' she told Fox News host Laura Ingraham. Tapper told her 'I know everybody is saying I should apologize to you. I plan, when the book comes out, to go on TV and say you were right and I was wrong.' While she appreciated the acknowledgment and that Tapper has since stuck to his word by apologizing publicly, she noted that 'it feels a little bit too late to me.' On Friday, Biden told reporters he and his family are optimistic about his diagnosis and that he was taking pills as part of his treatment On Friday, Biden hit back at Tapper's book revelations after a female reporter asked about his mental capabilities. 'You can see that I was mentally incompetent and I can't walk and I can beat the hell out of both of them,' he joked to a female reporter, leaning down to speak to her after speaking at a service in honor of Memorial Day. The former president down played revelations from the new book and chatter from Democrats that he should have never run for re-election, saying: 'Why didn't they run against me then? I could have beaten them.' 'I don't have any regrets,' he added. The remarks were the first ones Biden made since his cancer diagnosis. His voice sounded hoarse as he spoke to reporters at Veterans Park in Wilmington, Del. He attends the ceremony to honor veterans every year. He and his family are optimistic about his diagnosis, Biden said, adding he was taking pills as part of his treatment. The expectation is we're going to be able to beat this, he said. 'Its not in any organ.... my bones are strong. I feel good.' After lying hidden beneath the depths of Lake Michigan for over a century, a historic gold pocket watch - lost in a deadly shipwreck - has finally made it home to the United Kingdom. In the dead of night in 1860, the steamship Lady Elgin collided with another vessel, plunging into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan and dragging 300 souls to a watery grave in what remains the deadliest shipwreck in Great Lakes history, BBC reported. Then, in 1992, while exploring the wreckage off the Illinois shore, divers made a remarkable discovery - nestled among the remains lay a gold pocket watch, still attached to its chain and fob. But this was no ordinary chain - engraved with the initials 'H.I.,' it once belonged to Herbert Ingram, a prominent British journalist and politician. Now, 165 years after the tragic sinking, the piece of history has returned to Boston, Lincolnshire - near Ingram's hometown - where it will take its rightful place on display at the Boston Guildhall museum. 'Returning this watch is the right thing to do,' Holland-based historian and author Valerie van Heest told Fox 17 News. 'This is reminding people that shipwrecks affected people, affected families, and this shows that 165 years later, we care,' she added. 'People care about the individuals lost.' After lying hidden beneath the depths of Lake Michigan for over a century, a historic gold pocket watch - lost in a deadly shipwreck - has finally made it home to the United Kingdom (pictured) In the dead of night in 1860, the steamship Lady Elgin collided with another vessel, plunging into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan and dragging 300 souls to a watery grave in what remains the deadliest shipwreck in Great Lakes history (pictured: illustrated wreck) It was no ordinary chain - engraved with the initials 'H.I.,' it once belonged to Herbert Ingram, a prominent British journalist and politician who perished in the wreck alongside his son (pictured: illustrated photo of Ingram) Now, 165 years after the tragic sinking, the piece of history has returned to Boston, Lincolnshire - near Ingram's hometown - where it will take its rightful place on display at the Boston Guildhall museum (pictured) On the night of September 8, 1860, Lady Elgin was making her return voyage to Milwaukee from Chicago, carrying a group of mostly Irish passengers, when a violent storm swept across the lake. In the darkness, the Lady Elgin was struck by the Augusta - an unlit and overloaded schooner - sending hundreds to their deaths in just minutes. Among the lives lost in the wreck were Ingram and his son, whose bodies were later recovered and returned to Britain for burial. Ingram was a prominent public figure - instrumental in bringing fresh water, gas and railway connections to the community, as reported by the BBC. 'He was a member of parliament,' van Heest told Fox 17. 'He was also the founder of the London Illustrated News, which was the first time a newspaper printed images in the paper,' she added. 'So he was really the founder of pictorial journalism.' All that remained of that fateful night were fragments of the Lady Elgin, scattered across nearly a mile of the lakebed - silent echoes of tragedy that van Heest's team began documenting back in 1992. On the night of September 8, 1860, Lady Elgin was making her return voyage to Milwaukee, carrying a group of mostly Irish passengers, when a violent storm swept across the lake -resulting in an unlit schooner colliding with the ship (pictured: illustrated wreck) Among the lives lost in the wreck were Ingram and his son, whose bodies were later recovered and returned to Britain for burial (pictured: Lake Michigan) Ingram (pictured) was a prominent public figure - instrumental in bringing fresh water, gas and railway connections to the community and the founder of the London Illustrated News, which was the first time a newspaper printed images in the paper Holland-based historian and author Valerie van Heest's team was exploring the wreckage (pictured) in 1992, but the location was leaked - resulting in other divers exploring the remains and ultimately finding the gold watch But her team wasn't the only group drawn to the century-old wreckage, as other divers were also exploring the site. 'The location had leaked, and a trio of divers I have just recently learned, came upon a pocket watch,' van Heest told Fox News. 'A gold pocket watch, an extraordinary discovery.' Remarkably, the long-lost artifact was found in relatively good condition, with experts attributing its preservation to the lake's cold, low-oxygen depths, which helped prevent significant corrosion over the years, People reported. However, for more than 30 years, the divers guarded the discovery of the 16-carat pocket watch in complete secrecy, keeping its existence hidden from the world. Eventually, the divers cleaned the watch and reached out to van Heest. Through her research, she found that Ingram's descendants were still alive in England, and that the museum in his hometown was preparing an exhibit about his legacy, as reported by Fox. 'I very quickly came to the realization it doesn't belong in America,' van Heest told the BBC. Remarkably, the long-lost artifact (pictured) was found in relatively good condition, with experts attributing its preservation to the lake's cold, low-oxygen depths, which helped prevent significant corrosion over the years However, for more than 30 years, the divers guarded the discovery of the 16-carat pocket watch in complete secrecy - until they contacted van Heest (pictured) about the watch, which she purchased and donated to the town Through her research, she found that Ingram's descendants were still alive in England, and that the museum in his hometown was preparing an exhibit about his legacy (pictured: Ingram statue) In a statement about van Heest's offering, the museum's arts and heritage manager, Luke Skeritt, said: 'This find is truly a once-in-a-lifetime discovery' (pictured: van Heest and Boston mayor Councilor Barrie Pierpoint) 'It belongs in Boston where Herbert Ingram was from, where a statue of him still stands,' she added. She then got in contact with the Boston Guildhall museum and personally acquired the watch, determined to donate it as a gift to the town. 'So many people lost their lives within minutes of hitting the water,' van Heest told Fox 17. 'They didn't have any personal artifacts, and here I was offering not only an artifact, but Herbert Ingram's personal watch,' she added. 'It was an extraordinary, serendipitous occurrence.' In a statement about van Heest's offering, the museum's arts and heritage manager, Luke Skeritt, said: 'This find is truly a once-in-a-lifetime discovery'. 'The sort of thing you read about in textbooks and not something you expect to read in an email on a mid-week working day.' Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has encouraged a crowd of Democratic activists to 'bully the s*** out of' Donald Trump in a profanity-filled speech over the weekend. The 2024 vice presidential candidate slammed the President and told the crowd to bully Trump, bestowing him the nickname the 'cruel man,' as liberals 'need to be meaner.' The 61-year-old politician delivered the inflammatory remarks as keynote speaker at the South Carolina Democratic Party state convention in Columbia on Saturday. Walz branded Trump a 'wannabe dictator' and 'existential threat' to democracy and he urged his fellow Democrats to abandon their usual approach and get tough with Trump. '"Oh, the Governors being mean," well, maybe its time for us to be a little meaner, maybe its time for us to be a little more fierce,' Walz said. 'We have to ferociously push back on this,' he continued. The former schoolteacher used his educational background to justify his aggressive stance. He explained that while children who bully deserve patience and understanding, adults require a different approach. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has encouraged a crowd of Democratic activists to 'bully the s*** out of' Donald Trump in a profanity-filled speech over the weekend 'And again, I'll speak to my teacher colleagues in here,' he said. 'The thing that bothers a teacher more than anything is to watch a bully, he continued. 'And when it's a child you talk to him and you tell him why bullying is wrong. 'But when it's an adult like Donald Trump, you bully the s*** out of him back.' 'You push back, you make sure they know it's not there. 'Because at heart, this is a weak, cruel man that takes it out and punches down on people.' The Minnesota Democrat went further - calling the President as a fundamental threat to American democracy. 'Donald Trump is the existential threat that we knew was coming,' Walz said while calling him a 'wannabe dictator.' The Minnesota Democrat went further - calling the President as a fundamental threat to American democracy 'What they don't want to do is stand toe-to-toe and punch back with someone who's calling him out for what they do who's being there.' 'Damnit, we should be able to have some fun and be joyful,' Walz said. 'We've got the guts, and we need to have it to push back on the bullies and the greed.' In March, the American people laughed off the idea of failed Vice Presidential candidate taking over the Oval Office after he suggested he might run for president in 2028. The 60-year-old Minnesota governor did not rule out the idea of taking on Republicans in the next presidential election when pressed by the New Yorker. 'Look I never had an ambition to be President or Vice President. I was honored to be asked,' he said. 'If I feel like I can serve, I will. And if nationally, people are like, "Dude we tried you and look how that worked out," I'm good with that.' An Australian influencer has detailed her 'traumatising' and exhausting flight ordeal while travelling on her own with her baby girl for the first time. Em Davies, 30, arrived at the Qantas bag drop counter at Brisbane Airport where staff told her that it was four minute beyond the cut-off so she and nine-month-old Isla Sue would not be able to board their flight home to Perth. Desperate to get home, she asked staff if she could still fly on the original booking and have her luggage go on the next flight. Davies' request was declined and was told that she and her baby would have to take the next flight, leaving them facing a four-hour wait. 'As a first time mum travelling alone for the first time on her own, I am a little bit traumatised,' she explained to her 147,500 followers on TikTok. 'The fact that like I was four minutes late to check in my bags while travelling alone with a baby and they still couldn't let us on the flight?' The ordeal only got worse after they finally boarded the plane for the five-and-a-half hour flight. Davies was walking down the aisle trying to soothe her unsettled baby during the flight when Isla Sue started 'projectile spewing and choking'. Em Davies (pictured with Isla Sue) was stranded in an airport for four hours while travelling on her own with her nine-month-old baby for the first time The new mother said that she was left to try pacify her child on the long flight after hours of waiting 'I grab her out of the carrier and I'm doing back blows on her in middle of the plane,' Davies said. 'And the flight attendant literally says 'sorry love you're gonna have to get out of the way, I need to clean the spew. 'Thankfully other passengers on the plane helped me. 'I've actually never experienced anything like that and it was so traumatic.' She said she was late to the airport due to traffic. Davies hopes the ordeal will be a learning experience for herself and other mothers travelling with babies. 'Highly recommend allowing an extra three hours for unexpected delays (you never know when there'll be a highway incident),' she captioned the video. 'Just a little story-time and tip for any fellow mums travelling with a baby.' The Perth influencer hopes the nightmare ordeal was a one-off bad experience with Qantas (stock image) Davies stressed that she did not want to blame Qantas. 'Qantas have always been so accommodating, I think I just had a bad run,' Davies said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Qantas for comment. The Qantas bag drop for checked-in luggage closes 30 minutes prior to domestic flights. Passengers are recommended to arrive at the airport one hour prior to domestic departures. Viewers agreed that travelling with children was a challenge and shared their own parenting stories while flying. 'Oh Em this is so beyond scary and stressful. Im so, so sorry. Hope youre both ok,' one wrote. Another added: 'I get the worst anxiety going anywhere with my babies without my partner. This literally sounds like my worst nightmare.' A third shared: 'My seven-month-old projectile vomited all over me 30 mins into our flight Perth to Brisbane in December. She also rarely vomited, and I had no change of clothes for myself.' 'What a stressful time for and bub. Ive heard babies can spew from their ear pressure in the air,' another said. Em Davies (pictured with her family) recalled how little Isla Sue projectile vomited and began choking during the long haul flight Several flight attendants who saw the video said they would have handled the situation differently. 'I am a serial babysitter on my flights and majority of us love taking bubs for a walk through the cabin to give the parents a break so youll always be in good hands with us. Im so sorry for your terrible experience!' one wrote. Another added: 'I always prioritise the mother and babies well-being. Im your body double, you need a minute, they need a minute, Im all yours Basically feel like an in-flight babysitter sometimes and it is honestly my favourite part of the job. Im so sorry you had this awful experience.' Davies married her long-time partner Joel Gambin in February, six months after welcoming Isla Sue. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Steve Letarte, and Adam Alexander. (Edit by Liam McGuire.) Sunday nights Cracker Barrel 400 (7:15 p.m. ET estimated green flag) from Nashville Superspeedway marks the second of five Cup Series races this year carried exclusively by Amazon on their Prime Video service. The streamers debut at the Coca Cola 600 last week drew high praise from many fans, and that included for the primary booth of play-by-play voice Adam Alexander and analysts Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte. Ahead of that, Alexander spoke to media on a conference call and said he was thrilled to be paired with those voices. We obviously know that theres no better analysts than the guys that Ill be working with. When it comes to NASCAR on Prime, Dale has tremendous passion and history in the sport, and Steve is someone who obviously understands strategy and the history side as well. For me, I think my job stays the same: just be a setup guy for two analysts that obviously know it inside and out, and well be able to relay the message to the fans of whats happening on track. Its notable to hear Alexander talk about how his job remains the same even in this new territory (which will include calling races with this booth for both Prime Video and TNT). Hes worked in an incredible array of motorsports broadcasting roles over the years, from PA announcing to radio play-by-play to TV play-by-play, pit reporting, show hosting, and more. But he said he approaches each new role the same way, with a focus on creating great conversations with his on-air partners. I wouldnt say the approach is any different. The one thing that Ive learned over the years is the best way to present the product is in a conversational way. The time that Dale and Steve and I have been able to spend together in rehearsals, and not even when we have a headset on, just the time that we spend together in a meeting or just creating ideas or at lunch or dinner, we just talk racing, and we try to take that same philosophy to the booth. And thats what Ive always done. Alexander said his varied experience over the decades has been quite helpful there, exposing him to analysts that approach racing in different ways. Over the years, I think Ive grown in that area just because Ive worked with so many different analysts. And some of those analysts in recent years are ones that werent part of our regular group, and so they werent in the meetings and maybe they didnt have all the details that I had as far as preparation. And so the easiest thing to do was for me to just facilitate the conversation and set them up and let them be the experts that they are. There can be a challenge in working with anyone new on air for the first time, but Alexander said his past interactions with Letarte and Earnhardt in other roles made this a smooth transition. We have hit it off great. One benefit for me is is having worked with both Dale and Steve as competitors, so those relationships were there. Even though we havent worked together, we all have tremendous experience working in the business and doing a live TV broadcast. I think each of us have a feel for what we want it to be. And I would say that our ideas and thought process for a successful broadcast are very much aligned, and that we pick up where the other leaves off. And he said their experience with each other helped them come together more quickly than hes seen in other cases. Its been very interesting to get together, how quickly we picked it up, Alexander said. It doesnt always work that way. But theres a ton of mutual respect in the booth amongst the three of us, and the time that weve spent together in our rehearsals. That respect factor is huge when you go to put on a successful broadcast. So I feel like that were in a really good place and have a great foundation. That view certainly was echoed by many fans in the positive response to last weeks broadcast. Well see if the booth continues to grow together on air, and how it continues to be received. Well also see how the ratings go for Prime Video this week; last week saw them down 16 percent versus last years Fox numbers (certainly within good expectations for a shift from broadcast TV to a paid streaming service, especially when a six-year decrease in viewer median age is factored in). Maybe the ratings grow as fans get used to where to find this, or maybe they drop off now that this is no longer a novelty. But the main booth (and the telecast overall) has received high praise thus far, and Alexanders discussion of the chemistry they built even before their first broadcast may illuminate part of the reason why. Ukraine has launched one of its most audacious attacks of the war using a 'swarm' of kamikaze drones unleashed from the backs of trucks to devastate two of Russia's most major airfields. Dubbed 'Operation Spiderweb', the co-ordinated strikes have left Vladimir Putin humiliated and his prized warplanes in smouldering ruins, though Moscow has claimed to have 'repelled' all the attacks. Two remote military airfields, Olenya in the Arctic Murmansk region and Belaya in eastern Siberia, were rocked by massive explosions overnight, with dramatic footage showing fires raging for hours. The bases, located thousands of miles from Ukraine, are key to Russia's nuclear strike capability and were considered untouchable. Yet Ukraine appears to have struck them with deadly precision, using first-person-view (FPV) drones launched from unmarked vans parked near the airfields. Ukraine's security service, the SBU, confirmed the nation was behind the attack and claimed to have hit $7billion (5.2billion) worth of military equipment. It also claimed to have destroyed '34% of strategic cruise missile carriers at the main airfields of the Russian Federation', and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has described the attack as one for the 'history books.' Both military sites are thousands of miles from Ukraine but were 'under drone attack', with dozens of Moscow's nuclear capable warplanes evidently destroyed. Two major Russian airfields for Vladimir Putin 's nuclear strike warplanes - one in the Arctic, the other in Siberia - were reported ablaze today following 'explosions' Russian war-channels immediately began calling for Putin to respond by using nuclear weapons Ukraine's SBU secret service was reportedly conducting a large-scale special operation to destroy Russian bombers Olenya airbase is home to Russia's ageing fleet of Tu-95 'Bear' bombers - used both for conventional missile strikes and capable of launching nuclear weapons against the West. Several of the aircraft were reportedly left exposed in the open, despite repeated Ukrainian attacks on similar facilities. Ablaze, too, was Belaya nuclear airbase in eastern Siberia's Irkutsk region - some 2,900 miles from Ukraine. More alarmingly, the strikes have triggered frenzied calls within Russia's military circles for a nuclear response. 'Disabling strategic aircraft gives Russia the right to use nuclear weapons,' declared pro-Kremlin war analyst Vladislav Pozdnyakov. 'Let me remind you.' Russia's nuclear doctrine allows for a nuclear response in the event of an attack on 'critical government or military infrastructure'. In particular, 'an enemy attack that disrupts the operation of nuclear forces, threatening Russia's ability to respond' could lead to Putin ordering an atomic strike. Zelensky said on social media that the operation had 'an absolutely brilliant result', adding that it was one 'achieved solely by Ukraine.' He said in a post: 'One year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective execution. 'Our most long-range operation. Our people involved in preparing the operation were withdrawn from Russian territory in time.' 'Of course, not everything can be revealed at this moment, but these are Ukrainian actions that will undoubtedly be in history books,' he adds. 'Ukraine is defending itself, and rightly so we are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war. Russia started this war, Russia must end it. Glory to Ukraine!' The Ukrainian media claimed more than 40 Putin aircraft had been hit, including Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and A-50 strategic bombers. The damage to the enemy was alleged to exceed 1.5billion. A driver of a truck filled with drones that attacked Olenegorsk in Murmansk 'may not have known about the cargo', said a report. According to Baza media, the driver has been detained. 'A truck stopped at a gas station at the entrance to the city drones started flying out of the back of the truck and then attacked various objects,' said a report. A similar account was heard from Siberia but there are no official comments yet. Ukraine's Pravda Gerashchenko Telegram channel said: 'A special operation 'Web' is being conducted to demilitarise Russia. 'The [SBU] report the destruction of Russian bomber aircraft behind enemy lines. 'In particular, the destruction of more than 40 aircraft, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3.' The audacious strike was described as 'Russia's Pearl Harbour' and the 'blackest day in aviation' for the country by pro-Putin Telegram channels. Russia's ministry of defence said in a Telegram post that Ukraine had carried out a 'terrorist attack' in the regions of Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur. It claimed that all of the attacks were 'repelled', adding: 'As a result of the launch of FPV drones from the territory located in the immediate vicinity of airfields, several pieces of aviation equipment caught fire.' Worryingly, Ukraine did not notify the United States in advance of drone attacks carried out on Russian air bases, a Ukrainian government official told Reuters on Sunday. Ukraine's domestic intelligence agency, the SBU, said it was responsible for the attacks on four bases and a security official said a total of 41 Russian warplanes were hit. Kremlin cheerleaders immediately heaped blame on the West, and called for revenge strikes, including on Britain. Pundit Sergei Mardan: 'The drones that attacked the Irkutsk region were launched from a truck. 'Similarly, drones that flew out of a truck attacked objects in the Murmansk region. Russian TU-95 Bear strategic bombers at the Olenya airbase on the Kola Peninsula being destroyed by Ukrainian drones thousands of miles away from the front line Kremlin cheerleaders immediately heaped blame on the West, and called for revenge strikes, including on Britain 'It's even interesting why no one in London, Berlin or at least in Tallinn is afraid that a swarm of drones will suddenly fly out of a truck parked in the area of a military facility.' The strike comes ahead of peace talks tomorrow due in Istanbul. Today, Zelensky set out Ukraine's positions for the Istanbul talks, which include a complete and unconditional ceasefire, the release of prisoners and the return of kidnapped children. So far, Putin has rejected many of these demands, including the call for an unconditional ceasefire, and has repeatedly made several demands that Ukraine has outright refused. Ukraine has said that Russia's refusal to share its own terms ahead of the talks is a strategy to delay negotiations, which officials say shows Russia is not interested in a ceasefire. Rybar war channel in Russia said: 'The attack was carried out by FPV drones that were launched from vans that arrived at the facilities. 'Control was conducted through repeaters installed there via satellite communications. 'As we have previously said, the Tu-95 and Tu-22 strategic aircraft have long been taken out of production, and there is nothing to restore them. 'Accordingly, these losses cannot be recovered. 'This is without understatement a very serious damage to the strategic component, caused both by serious miscalculations in the work of intelligence services, and negligent attitude to aircraft, which even after all the attacks stood in the open field without shelter.' Unconfirmed reports indicated further strikes at Russia's nuclear submarine base Severomorsk in the Arctic, headquarters of the Northern Fleet. Footage appeared to show black smoke at the scene on the Kola Peninsula following explosions at the secret base. It was unclear what had been hit. Some reports said the footage showed Olenegorsk elsewhere in Murmansk region. An astonishing video also showed how drones rose out of the back of a nondescript truck in Irkutsk region as attacks were launched on Putin's strategic sites. Ukraine evidently used drones from the back of trucks costing as little as 150 to 400. They destroyed Putin's fabled Tu-95MS bombers costing up to 70 million. Russian Belaya Air Base in Irkutsk region, Siberia, was ablaze today after a suspected drone strike linked to Ukraine 'This is the Russian Pearl Harbour. We hope that the response will be the same as the US response to the attack on their Pearl Harbour, or even harsher,' said pro-war pundit Roman Alekhin. Nuclear submarines carrying strategic missile weapons are based here at the high-security outpost. The helplessness of Putin's vast security forces was striking. DshRG Rusich channel raged: 'Another disgrace Let's see who will be held responsible for this: the FSB, the traffic police (which released the trucks for money), the bloggers who criticise this?' Despite the attack, Russian negotiators were reported to have flown to Istanbul for talks scheduled tomorrow. Reported said all 4 Tu-95MS aircraft located at the Olenya airfield were destroyed. More than 95 strategic bombers and about 20 other military aircraft were under attack. The strikes were 'carried out by FPV drones, which were manually controlled by UAV operators', said reports. Two Majors military channel said: 'This is a direct undermining of the nuclear strategic balance of power. 'This is a reduction in the nuclear security of our country. 'And Kyiv is counting on an 'asymmetrical response' of a non-nuclear nature. 'We have been responding asymmetrically for four years now, the enemy has long studied us.' The channel called for a stronger response and 'so that there is no one to howl in Kyiv'. Unconfirmed reports said the driver of one of the 'drone trucks' had been strangled after he was detained. Last month, a criminal lawyer from the Perry Barr district of Birmingham was charged with money laundering offences following a National Crime Agency investigation. Akhmed Yakoob is not due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court until the middle of this month but on Wednesday he came out fighting. In a video posted on TikTok, where he has 212,000 followers, he railed against his arrest by counter-terrorism police, claiming that he was the victim of 'a politically motivated attack' prompted by his 'political rise and vocal stances on Gaza'. He added: 'This is about silencing me, not justice.' Until October 7, 2023, Yakoob was better known online for crowing about his collection of supercars. The Birmingham-based solicitor 'Not a magician but a legal tactician' would pose in front of, say, a Rolls-Royce or a Lamborghini, while wearing vulgar jewellery and boasting about his wealth. But following the October 7 massacre of 1,200 Israelis by Hamas terrorists the biggest mass killing of Jews since the Holocaust the tenor of his posts changed. Suddenly, the 37-year-old Muslim, whose father came to Britain from Pakistan in the 1970s, had a new obsession: the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza. With a Pakistani flag blowing in the breeze behind him, David Patrikarakos wanders along Coventry Road in Small Heath, an inner-city ward which according to the 2021 census is 85.9 per cent Muslim, the highest percentage in Birmingham And a month after October 7, Yakoob announced he would run for West Midlands mayor as an 'independent'. On the face of it, his campaign was doomed to fail. After all, Yakoob had no political experience and no army of canvassers to go door-to-door promoting his cause. But that would be to reckon without the curious character of politics in Birmingham, Britain's second largest city and one of its most segregated. The 2021 census revealed that more than 50 per cent of the population was composed of ethnic minorities and, more importantly, 30 per cent described themselves as Muslim. The story of how the so-called 'TikTok lawyer' became a serious political contender virtually overnight offers an instructive insight not just into how Gaza is infecting British politics but also the issues that are increasingly dividing the population of Birmingham. Akhmed Yakoob, a 37-year-old Muslim, whose father came to Britain from Pakistan in the 1970s, became a serious political contender virtually overnight. This gives insight into not just into how Gaza is infecting British politics but also the issues that are increasingly dividing the population of Birmingham I visited the city last month to investigate the growing influence of sectarian issues and Islamist entryism on British politics. My first stop was Small Heath, an inner-city ward which according to the 2021 census is 85.9 per cent Muslim, the highest percentage in Birmingham. Women swathed in black burqas glide silently along the pavement. Men in flowing robes and skull caps gather to talk outside shops and restaurants. Palestinian and Pakistani flags fly from lamp posts and shop fronts. To my left is Beauty Queen Cosmetics which has a line of Arabic script above its pink-lettered shop sign. It's the Quranic verse known as the Basmala: 'In the name of Allah the most merciful and most beneficent.' To my right, a clothes shop advertising itself as 'Amsons: Your Islamic Lifestyle' stands right by branches of betting chains Coral and Paddy Power, which offer a service forbidden unequivocally by Islam. Small Heath is a changing Britain in microcosm. In the early 20th century, when the area was an industrial and manufacturing hub, Irish immigrants filled its clusters of terraced houses. Then, the Birmingham Small Arms Company was a prominent local employer. But the business collapsed in 1973 and, within a decade, swathes of housing here lay derelict. Cheap property prices combined with the metropolitan appeal of Birmingham brought in another large wave of migration, this time of South Asian Muslims. By 1991, according to research by Oxford University, 60 per cent of people in Small Heath were from an ethnic minority background. It is in this context that Akhmed Yakoob has thrived. At first, more moderate members of Birmingham's Muslim community considered his pitch for power absurd. 'I dismissed it as clownish behaviour,' says Nadeem Afzal, a family support worker for Birmingham's child services, who I meet over breakfast in the Middle Eastern Damascena Cafe in central Birmingham. 'But people from the community started paying attention. 'Over time, his videos used Gaza more explicitly to push his candidacy. There was almost nothing in his literature about Birmingham or the West Midlands and if there was occasionally, it was as an afterthought. So I started posting on Facebook about how this guy's sectarian politics were dangerous.' In the end, Yakoob running on an unashamedly pro-Palestine ticket came third in the May 2, 2024 mayoral election with almost 70,000 votes. Emboldened by this strong showing, he vowed to do the same in the general election two months later. David outside the Shia-Husaynia Mosque, its white dome rising behind black wrought iron gates. Another local mosque was the subject of an expose by Channel 4's Dispatches that claimed one preacher said women were 'deficient' and another argued that girls should be 'hit' if they refused to wear a hijab In Birmingham, David came face to face with the poisonous effects of sectarian politics, but he also met proud British Muslims such as Nadeem Afzal, who are models of integration and tolerance, determined to speak out 'I knew then that the election would be the mother of all s**t fights,' says Nadeem. Yakoob ran against the sitting Labour MP Shabana Mahmood in the Birmingham Ladywood constituency and things soon got nasty. 'Yakoob's people accused her and Labour of covering up for genocide,' recalls Nadeem. 'It was targeted harassment and hate.' Yakoob didn't win. But he came a close second with 33.2 per cent of the vote. And the 'independents' had success elsewhere. In the run up to the 2024 general election, Ayoub Khan, a Liberal Democrat, resigned from his party (though he remains a councillor), in protest at being ordered to undertake anti-Semitism training after questioning the extent of crimes committed by Hamas on October 7. He ran as an 'independent' for the seat of Birmingham Perry Barr, co-ordinating his campaign with Yakoob in the neighbouring Ladywood constituency. 'A vote for us is a vote for Gaza,' proved to be a winning slogan for Khan: he defeated the incumbent Labour MP by 507 votes. Nadeem Afzal despairs. Not least when a group of politicians, including Tahir Ali, the MP for Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley, wrote a letter to the prime minister of Pakistan urging him to build an airport in faraway Kashmir. 'Now the perception is growing that Birmingham's MPs are more interested in airports in Pakistan than infrastructure at home,' says Nadeem. But what about Birmingham? What about services, budgets? Instead, it's 'Why haven't you said anything about Kashmir or Gaza?' 'I have no doubt that, based on sectarian voting patterns, next year's local elections will be a bloodbath for Labour. And if independents flood the councils, nothing will get done because all they care about is Gaza. And in the end, none of this makes any difference to Gaza anyway.' A proud Muslim and a proud Brummie, he is clearly distressed at the influence of sectarian politics on his beloved city. A stroll down Small Heath's main drag, Coventry Road, shows just how varied the city's Muslim population is and this is key to its politics. A few doors along from Amsons is Viva Palestina, which specialises in Palestine-themed products Birmingham City Council records that 17.4 per cent of people in Small Heath are Bangladeshi, 50.8 per cent Pakistani, 1.4 per cent Indian, and just 5.9 per cent White. And many are clearly not well integrated: 36.3 per cent of residents do not have English as their main language, while 15.9 per cent cannot speak English or speak it poorly. These tumultuous demographic changes are imprinted onto the fabric of the city. Just off Coventry Road is the Shia-Husaynia Mosque, its white dome rising behind black wrought iron gates. To the west, up Green Lanes, is a Salafi Mosque that was once the subject of an expose by Channel 4's Dispatches that claimed one preacher said women were 'deficient' and another argued that girls should be 'hit' if they refused to wear a hijab. Around me are Somalian money exchanges, Bangladeshi banks, Lebanese restaurants and Pakistani supermarkets. I pay a visit to Amsons, which sells everything from mugs with 'Thank You, Allah' written on them and traditional South Asian robes to an endless array of accoutrements, often in the colours of the Palestinian flag. In the children's book section the titles on offer include 'Allah Knows All About Me' and 'The Prophet Mohammad's Stories for Children.' A few doors along is Viva Palestina, which specialises in Palestine-themed products. Zamir, a local of Pakistani origin, is talking to the young Somalian teenager who is manning the shop. 'Trying to keep him out of the clutches of the Wahhabis [a strict Sunni Muslim sect],' he says jokingly. Ayoub Khan ran as an 'independent' for the seat of Birmingham Perry Barr. 'A vote for us is a vote for Gaza,' proved to be a winning slogan for Khan: he defeated the incumbent Labour MP by 507 votes Khalid Mahmood, the Labour MP who lost his Perry Barr seat to Ayoub Khan last year. He says that the mixed nature of Britain's Muslim communities was key to Khan's victory, and to the success of three other Muslim independent candidates who won seats across the country on pro-Gaza tickets Outside a smiling man approaches us. It's friend of Zamir's, Dr Majeed, a local GP. As we try to cross the road, weaving between honking and screeching cars, he says: 'This is how they drive in India. My wife won't drive in Birmingham because she says she had enough of it there.' Small Heath illustrates not only how our Muslim population is growing but, as the website UK Election Analysis observes, Muslim Britons are most likely to live in concentrated urban areas. It means that these communities are an increasingly important electoral force because, under the UK's first-past-the-post system, they constitute powerful blocs, as Labour is finding to its cost. Until relatively recently, the party could rely on Muslim communities for their support. According to the Labour Muslim Network, there were before the recent council elections over 500 Muslim councillors in the UK, of whom over 75 per cent were affiliated to Labour. In the 2019 general election, over 80 per cent of Muslims voted Labour. But things are changing. And it's not domestic but foreign politics that is moving the dial. In the 2024 election, in seats where more than 10 per cent of the population identified as Muslim, Labour's vote share decreased by 11 points on average a shift attributed to Labour's perceived inaction on Gaza. In 21 seats where more than 30 per cent of the population was Muslim, Labour's vote share dropped by 29 points. One man who has seen this phenomenon at close quarters, of course, is Khalid Mahmood, the Labour MP who lost his Perry Barr seat to 'independent' Ayoub Khan last year. He tells me that the mixed nature of Britain's Muslim communities was key to Khan's victory, and to the success of three other Muslim independent candidates who won seats across the country on pro-Gaza tickets. 'In the four seats we lost, it's noticeable that all of them had a reasonable proportion of Gujarati Muslims from India and Pakistan,' says Mahmood. 'The Gujarati Muslims are very much aligned with The Muslim Vote and the Muslim Council of Britain [MCB].' The Muslim Vote is a pressure group whose mission, according to its website, is to put 'Muslim issues at the forefront We [Britain's Muslim community] are a powerful, united force of 4 million acting in unison.' Mahmood continues: 'The Muslim Vote is very much an Islamist organisation. I've been one of their key targets [since they were founded about a year ago]. Since 9/11, I've stood against Islamists and all their efforts to infiltrate Labour politics, which they've done quite successfully through MCB and MEND [Muslim Engagement and Development].' MEND is another organisation determined to make its mark on British politics. It presents itself as campaigning for the interests of British Muslims but has been linked to and even shared staff with groups as notorious as Cage, which advocated for Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who went on to lead al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Despicably, Cage's research director announced on television in 2015 that Isis butcher 'Jihadi John' was a 'beautiful young man'. A counter-extremism expert later explains to me why the type of entryism into British politics seen in Birmingham is so dangerous. 'People think it's just single-issue politics about Palestine and Gaza but it's more pernicious,' they tell me. 'Gaza is wrapped up in a broader Islamist and separatist agenda. Note how support for Gaza is not based on human rights but Muslim loyalty to Palestine. 'While the Gaza images are appalling, the genocide in Sudan is closer to home for the many Somalians, Sudanese and Yemenis here. Yet it animates people less. 'There is little focus on the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar, where over 700,000 Muslims have fled persecution, or on reports of up to three million plus Uighurs in camps in Xinjiang in China. This is because Palestine is the cause celebre of the Muslim Brotherhood and Islamist entryism.' In Birmingham, I came face to face with the poisonous effects of sectarian politics. But I also met proud British Muslims like Nadeem Afzal, who are models of integration and tolerance, determined to speak out because they are principled and brave. It is for the sake of their communities, as well as British society generally, that the boil of sectarian politics and Islamist entryism must be lanced. It is pernicious, and also despised by many Muslim Britons, who despair at its deleterious effect on their communities and on public life. We must help them to confront it and emerge victorious because, believe me, the cost of defeat will be too great to bear, for all of us. An invasive species of mussels has found its way to Wyoming, but seafood enthusiasts are being warned to steer clear or risk dangerous consequences. More than 500,000 zebra mussels were discovered on a boat lift by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and, following swift and aggressive action to eradicate them, officials have warned Americans to avoid consuming them. In early May, aquatic invasive species specialists worked with the WGFD Casper office to rid more than half a million of the mussels off of a boat that had been at the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area in South Dakota, Cowboy State Daily reported. Specialist's scalded and killed the mussels with hot water and took every effort to ensure no zebra mussel DNA survived. The distinct looking mussel, with tan stripes, more closely biologically resembles that of a clam, but their functions remain similar. Zebra mussels are filter feeders, according to the National Park Service, and siphon particles of plankton from the water. Yet, their fast reproduction rates and insatiable appetite can cause harm to waters and its native species if infestation is not prevented. Zebra mussels of a large population can quickly eradicate almost all floating particles from a body of water, robbing food from species that feed on plankton and exposing prey in the clearer waters. More than 500,000 zebra mussels were discovered on a boat lift by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and, following swift and aggressive action to eradicate them, officials have warned Americans to avoid consuming them Cheyenne chef Petrina Peart said: 'Zebra mussels can be cooked and consumed, but I don't think it'll be worth the potential digestive issues that may follow' Once an infestation occurs, there is little to be done, therefore officials focus heavily on preventative action to avoid infested waters. Cheyenne chef Petrina Peart told Cowboy State Daily: 'Zebra mussels can be cooked and consumed, but I don't think it'll be worth the potential digestive issues that may follow.' Their constant water filtration typically leads to their harboring a lot of harmful bacteria, which is true for all mussels. 'Freshwater mussels consume plankton and with it any toxins that are present in the water. They make for great water filtration but may not make for a great Amuse Bouche.' When cooking mussels, wine is often used to help kill off any harmful bacteria that may be present. 'Mussels have to be harvested from clean and uncontaminated waters and cooked thoroughly,' Peart said. 'Lots of butter, lemon and fresh herbs couldn't hurt, but there could still be potentially harmful bacteria. Wine is used in mussel recipes to help kill bacteria. It also happens to be delicious.' Some invasive mussel species infestations were solved through consumption, such as the green iguana species. 'Freshwater mussels consume plankton and with it any toxins that are present in the water. They make for great water filtration but may not make for a great Amuse Bouche,' Peart said In early May, aquatic invasive species specialists worked with the WGFD Casper office to rid more than half a million of the mussels off of a boat that had been at the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area in South Dakota 'The green iguana is an invasive species in the Cayman Islands,' Peart told the outlet. 'They have created dishes and cuisine around the efforts to eradicate destructive invasive iguana species by turning them into something mainstream.' And while the solution worked well, zebra mussels are also much smaller than green iguanas. The largest zebra mussel only reaches around two inches long at most. Peart can see how 'from a problem solving standpoint,' turning to consuming zebra mussels could help eradicate them, but doesn't necessarily think that means it's a good idea. 'I won't lie - I skipped the iguana soup while in the Cayman Islands, and I'll probably skip the zebra mussels too,' she said, with no plans to add them to her menu. Chaotic scenes unfolded in lower Manhattan as federal agents stormed Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler's office and handcuffed a female staffer in dramatic video footage. The 77-year-old longtime congressman erupted in fury after Department of Homeland Security officers burst into his office Wednesday before accusing his staff of 'harboring rioters' in scenes captured on video. 'President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security are sowing chaos in our communities, using intimidating tactics against both citizens and non-citizens in a reckless and dangerous manner,' Nadler said in statement to Politico. 'If this can happen in a Member of Congress's office, it can happen to anyone - and it is happening.' The video footage, obtained by Gothamist, shows the moment agents restrained a weeping aide while a woman in the video says 'No she did not - that's not what happened.' Another employee can be seen desperately demanding a warrant while asking the cop to back up. The female staffer was seen blocking a second officer from entering private areas of the congressional office, which is located in the same Varick Street building as the federal immigration court. Chaotic scenes unfolded in lower Manhattan as federal agents stormed Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler's office and handcuffed a female staffer in dramatic video footage The female staffer can be seen blocking a second officer from entering private areas of the congressional office, which is located in the same Varick Street building as the federal immigration court 'I'm a federal officer, we're here checking on something,' the male agent tells the employee standing in his way in the video. 'We have the right to check,' he said. 'You are harboring rioters in the office. In the background another officer can be heard yelling 'stop resisting.' The heated confrontation continued until the staffer allowed the officers access to the back office. Nadler branded the incident 'deeply troubling' and accused federal agents of violating clear legal protocols in their aggressive approach. But Department of Homeland Security officials have insisted their Federal Protective Service officers were conducting a legitimate security check. They claimed they received reports that protesters were hiding inside the congressional office. 'Based on earlier incidents in a nearby facility, FPS officers were concerned about the safety of the federal employees in the office and went to the location to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those present,' Homeland Security officials told the New York Post. The video footage, obtained by Gothamist , shows the moment agents restrained a weeping aide while a woman in the video says 'No she did not - that's not what happened' The 77-year-old longtime congressman erupted in fury after Department of Homeland Security officers burst into his office Wednesday before accusing his staff of 'harboring rioters' in scenes captured on video Officials also claimed the detained woman was 'verbally confrontational and physically blocked access to the office' even after officers identified themselves and explained their presence. 'The officers then detained the individual in the hallway for the purpose of completing the security check,' DHS said. A Florida hairstylist was stabbed to death with a steak knife by a 280-pound assailant during a violent attack inside the parking garage of a luxury apartment complex. Hailey Hosford, 27, had just stepped out of a rental car at the Retreat at Sawgrass Village in Sunrise on Wednesday when a man reportedly charged the vehicle, ripped open the door, and fatally stabbed her - also injuring her male friend in the process, as reported by The New York Post. The suspect, 21-year-old Jackson Julian Sagesse, was subsequently arrested and booked into Broward County Jail on charges of murder and attempted murder. 'I just killed someone and walked away,' he bragged to cops after his Miranda rights were read, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Post. Just after 1.30am on Wednesday, Hosford and an unidentified male friend arrived at the parking garage at 3000 Northwest 130th avenue in a rented black Mercedes, WPLG News reported. The 27-year-old Ford Lauderdale-based hairstylist remained in the car for a few minutes while her friend briefly went inside, planning to continue their drive shortly after. 'He was going in there to grab some stuff, and then he was gonna take her home,' Aubrey Rosebrock, Hosford's friend, told WSVN News. As she waited for her friend's return, surveillance footage from inside the garage allegedly captured Sagesse approaching the vehicle, holding a metal object that was 'reflecting light' in his hand. Hailey Hosford (pictured), a 27-year-old Florida-based hairstylist, was stabbed to death with a steak knife by a 280-pound assailant during a violent attack inside the parking garage of a luxury apartment complex early Wednesday morning Hosford had just stepped out of a rental car in the parking garage of the Retreat at Sawgrass Village in Sunrise (pictured) when a man reportedly charged the vehicle, ripped open the door, and fatally stabbed her The suspect, 21-year-old Jackson Julian Sagesse (pictured), was subsequently arrested and booked into Broward County jail on charges of murder and attempted murder Unaware of the danger, Hosford began to step out of the car - only to suddenly realize that Sagesse was approaching the driver's side. In a panic, she allegedly tried to climb back into the car to shield herself from what is being described as a random attack, according to an arrest report obtained by WSVN. 'She noticed he was charging her, and he forced himself into the car before she had time to shut the door,' Rosebrock told the outlet. Within seconds, a violent struggle erupted between the two, and police said security footage captured the suspect making repeated stabbing motions into the vehicle, The Post reported. Hosford's friend returned from the apartment just moments later and confronted Sagesse, who then got out of the car. The two men quickly became entangled in a violent confrontation, resulting in the 21-year-old suspect reportedly stabbing the man in his throat. Miraculously, the wounded friend survived the unprovoked attack and managed to escape, quickly calling police for help as soon as he was able. Sagesse then allegedly returned to the vehicle and tried to flee the scene in the rental car, but was unable to get it moving, according to The Post. Just after 1.30am on Wednesday, Hosford (pictured) and an unidentified male friend arrived at the parking garage at 3000 Northwest 130th avenue in a rented black Mercedes Hosford remained in the car for a few minutes while her friend briefly went inside the apartment, but as she waited for her friend's return, footage from inside the garage allegedly captured Sagesse approaching the vehicle with a metal object that was 'reflecting light' in his hand In a panic, Hosford (pictured) allegedly tried to climb back into the car to shield herself, but was unable to shut the door. Security footage afterwards captured the suspect making repeated stabbing motions into the vehicle Security footage also captured the suspect searching the area - seemingly looking for any evidence left behind - before eventually leaving the garage. Before police arrived, a resident of the complex reported seeing 'someone dead' lying on the ground in the parking garage, NBC Miami reported. When officers arrived shortly afterward, they found Hosford unresponsive inside the car, suffering from multiple stab wounds to her neck and throat, according to The Post. Tragically, she was pronounced dead at 2.01am. Her friend was taken to the hospital for treatment. 'I know she was a fighter - I believe she fought, and I believe she was scared,' Rosebrock told WSVN. 'She was a force to be reckoned with, she really was,' he added. Employees of the apartment building identified Sagesse from the security footage and provided police with the unit number of the home he shared with his mother at the complex, as reported by The Post. When authorities arrived at his home, Sagesse was found still wearing the same clothes seen in the security footage. Hosford's friend returned from the apartment just moments later and confronted Sagesse, who then got out of the car and stabbed him in the throat - though miraculously, the friend survived the violent attack and called 911 When officers arrived shortly afterward, they found Hosford unresponsive inside the car, suffering from multiple stab wounds to her neck and throat. She was pronounced dead at 2.01am Employees of the apartment building identified Sagesse from the security footage and provided police with the unit number of the home he shared with his mother at the complex Inside the home, detectives found smeared blood on the back door and discovered that two kitchen knives - matching the description of the murder weapon - were missing. He was arrested by police and, as his Miranda rights were read, allegedly boasted about 'just walking away' after killing someone. Though Sagesse's statements to police were reportedly inconsistent, he claimed that he was on his way to the gym when he noticed the Mercedes rental in the garage with its lights still on. He allegedly told law enforcement that he tried to call 911 about the suspicious vehicle but didn't have his phone, so he instead returned to the apartment, grabbed a knife and said he intended to use it for 'personal protection', The Post reported. In other words, Sagesse claimed that he was 'murdering for self-defense', but failed to specify any clear threat that justified his actions. He was charged with premeditated murder and attempted first-degree murder, and was booked into the Broward County Jail, where he remains held without bail. Rosebruck recalled the final words his best friend spoke to him before she was senselessly taken from this world at the hands of a stranger, according to WSVN. In the heartbreaking message, Hosford wrote: 'I just wanted to tell you that the sun is shining, the sky is blue, the water is turquoise, and that I love you much, and that you mean the world to me', as reported by the outlet. Inside the suspect's home (pictured), detectives found smeared blood on the back door and discovered that two kitchen knives - matching the description of the murder weapon - were missing Sagesse was arrested by police and, as his Miranda rights were read, allegedly boasted about 'just walking away' after killing someone The suspect was arrested at the complex (pictured) and charged with premeditated murder and attempted first-degree murder. He was booked into the Broward County Jail, where he remains held without bail 'She's not a Jane Doe, and I want the world to know what her name is and who she was,' Rosebruck said. 'There's evil, and there's good, and we lost the good,' he added. 'The good lost.' Rosebruck said that when funeral arrangements are made, friends will be coming from all around the world to pay their respects. Family members described Hosford as an expert stylist and an entrepreneur. The 27-year-old businesswoman was the owner of a beauty salon in Fort Lauderdale and also served as a teacher and ambassador for a yoga and retreat company, The Post reported. 'Our family is destroyed. This is beyond horrific,' Rich Ehmke, Hosford's stepfather, said in a statement, as reported by NBC Miami. 'We wish this upon no family to deal with something like this,' he added. 'It's really incomprehensible based on all the facts and the situation is senseless.' 'Our prayers are with our family and we're looking above to Hailey and it's beyond devastation and sadness.' A horrifying map shows exactly where wafts of thick smoke and toxic chemicals will hit the US from the ongoing wildfires in Canada. Several large active wildfires have been burning from British Columbia to Saskatchewan and Manitoba over the last week, releasing plumes of toxic smoke toward America. More than 25,000 residents from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have been evacuated due to the out-of-control blazes and heavy plumes of smoke. Multiple states, including those in the Midwest, Northeast, near the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions, have advised residents of air quality alerts and health advisories caused by the smoke. The states expected to be impacted the most include Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, meteorologists have warned. Air quality alerts have been issued as toxic smoke made landfall there. Parts of the Dakotas, Illinois, Ohio and other states are all experiencing moderate and unhealthy air quality levels as of Saturday morning, according to AirNow.gov. The billowing smoke started to make its way toward the east coast later in the day, the map, created by Firesmoke.ca, revealed. Wildfire smoke is responsible for thousands of deaths globally each year - as the intense pollution can negatively trigger people's respiratory systems. As a result of the dire consequences of wildfires, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency advised residents to reduce outdoor physical activity, keep windows closed and avoid contributing to air pollution by limiting outdoor burning and vehicle use. A horrifying map shows exactly where wafts of thick smoke and toxic chemicals will hit the US from the ongoing wildfires in Canada Several large active wildfires have been burning from British Columbia to Saskatchewan and Manitoba over the last week, releasing plumes of toxic smoke toward America The National Weather service urged Americans in the affected states to 'keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning.' A change in pattern late Monday into Tuesday is expected to turn winds out of the south in the Central US just before a cold front moves in from the west, according to The Weather Channel. Because of this, the smoky skies and poor air quality issues should temporarily alleviate, pushing out of the US and back to Canada. While officials have urged Americans to stay prepared, they noted the current situation is less hazardous than in 2023, when Canadian wildfires turned skies across the Northeast a hazy orange. AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said: 'Most of the time, the smoke will be high-flying and dim the sun, leading to vivid sunrises and sunsets and causing a hazy appearance to the sky overhead. 'However, there will be episodes where the smoke can reach the lower levels of the atmosphere and affect visibility and air quality. 'That could be a safety concern for travel in extreme cases and pose health problems for some individuals with respiratory issues.' Minnesota is set to feel the brunt of the smoke. The state's Arrowhead region had the poorest air quality in the nation on Friday morning and Saturday could be worse. More than 25,000 residents from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have been evacuated due to the out of control blazes. (Pictured: A wildfire in Manitoba Thursday) AccuWeather also warned that smoke is most likely to become thick enough to be noticeable in major cities such as Fargo, North Dakota Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota. Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisconsin Chicago and possibly as far south and east as Detroit and Indianapolis are also at risk. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) said pollutants from the smoke are expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups in the state from Friday into Saturday morning. 'There is a possibility that hourly levels could reach the Unhealthy range for a short period of time,' EGLE added. Meteorologists also warned that ozone problems could hit the north-central region next week due to a combination of high temperatures and lingering wildfire smoke. Ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant that can cause various health problems, damage materials and contribute to climate change. More than 160 wildfires across Canada have burned more than 1.6 million acres, prompting mass evacuations. A state of emergency has been issued for Manitoba lasting 30 days, but could be extended as needed, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, said. He added: 'This is the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most people's living memory. A man is seen taking his dogs for a walk under dark clouds of smoke in British Columbia Friday 'The military is being called for help here because of the sheer scale of the 17,000 folks that we move relatively quickly.' So far this year, Manitoba has had 102 fires, which officials say is 'well above' the province's average of 77 by this time. Separately, wildfires in Alberta province have prompted a temporary shutdown of some oil and gas production and forced residents of at least one small town to evacuate. That region was affected on Wednesday by wildfires spanning 11.2 square miles near Chipewyan Lake, a small community in the northern part of the province approximately 81 miles west of the oil sands hub of Fort McMurray. Canada experienced its worst wildfire season on record in 2023, when more than 45 million acres were lost. Huge swaths of the US , from the north east to the Great Lakes, were blanked in smog for several days as a result. Two teens in Arizona were mysteriously found dead from gunshot wounds in a remote national forest, leaving authorities on the hunt for answers. Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, and Evan Clark, 17, were found shot dead in the Tonto National Forest less than a week into their summer vacation on May 27. 'At this time, the circumstances surrounding their deaths are being treated as suspicious' Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Sg.t Joaquin Enriquez said, Fox 10 reported. The sheriff's office furthered that a 'comprehensive' and 'meticulous' investigation would be conducted to 'ensure justice for the victims and their loved ones.' Friends of the pair created a memorial near Mount Ord where they would watch the sunset together, the outlet reported. A colleague of Clark's, Iara Rosales, told Fox 10: 'You just cherish all the memories and the laughs. 'His life was cut very short, and so was Pandora's. They were very young, and it was just so sudden and a tragedy that you wouldn't even imagine.' Kjoslrud's mother, Simone, wrote on Facebook that her 'heart is shattered in a million pieces.' Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, (pictured) and Evan Clark, 17, were found shot dead in the Tonto National Forest less than a week into their summer vacation on May 27 Evan Clark's (pictured right) mother, Sandra Malibu Sweeney (pictured left), said: 'Evan Clark was my only child and my beloved son,' she wrote. 'This last week Evan was taken from me, and my level of grief feels insurmountable' 'At this time, the circumstances surrounding their deaths are being treated as suspicious' Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Sg.t Joaquin Enriquez said 'Rest in peace my beautiful girl,' she added. A GoFundMe for Kjoslrud said: '[Pandora] had a vivacious personality with an infectious smile that brought joy to so many. 'She was a beautiful human being and a bright light in this world who loved every single person she met and had a unique ability to make every person feel special.' Clark's mother, Sandra Malibu Sweeney, shared a heartbreaking tribute to her son on another GoFundMe. 'Evan Clark was my only child and my beloved son,' she wrote. 'This last week Evan was taken from me, and my level of grief feels insurmountable.' Sweeney said she is 'at a complete loss to imagine a life without him.' '[Evan] was funny, bright, kind and entrepreneurial. He was an old soul who was sensitive and loving. Evan wrote me letters, the last of which he gave me on Mother's Day that was so touching it made me both laugh and cry. 'He was special. He deserved a long life.' A GoFundMe for Kjoslrud said: '[Pandora] had a vivacious personality with an infectious smile that brought joy to so many' Sweeney said she is 'at a complete loss to imagine a life without him.' '[Evan] was funny, bright, kind and entrepreneurial. He was an old soul who was sensitive and loving,' she said Kjoslrud and Clark were friends and both attended Arcadia High School in Phoenix. The school's principal, Dr. Janelle Danskey, said in a letter to the school community: 'It is with great sadness that I share heartbreaking news that two of our students have tragically passed away. 'Naturally, this death within our community impacts many of our staff, students and families.' The tragic murders have rocked the local community, as one told Fox 10: 'If there's something going on in the area - I'm here with a child - I'd like to know if we're safe.' 'Obviously respecting the people's families and not get into those personal details, but I would want to know how we can all be safe,' another said. A man and his daughter were targeted with racial slurs and had rocks thrown at them during an unprovoked attack while enjoying a fishing trip on a Massachusetts lake. To celebrate Memorial Day Weekend, Sheron Brown, a Black father, took his 10-year-old daughter, Azaylia, to Shady Point Beach in Lunenburg for a joyful father-daughter fishing trip, as reported by Mass Live News. But the outing quickly turned dark when a white man on the shore made it clear he wanted them gone, hurling racial slurs and launching rocks near their boat. The man, identified as 66-year-old David McPartlan, was later arrested and charged with four counts of assault. 'Never in 1,000 years would you expect to be out doing what you love with the person you love, my daughter, and someone aggressive and yelling out things that are just awful and atrocious,' Brown told NBC Boston. Last weekend, Sheron and Azaylia grabbed a large pepperoni pizza from Athens Pizza - her favorite - and made the 10-mile drive to the nature-filled campground for a fun, near-summer day out on the water. 'My daughter simply wanted to eat pizza and catch a fish with her dad on Memorial Day,' Sheron wrote in a post shared to Facebook. Planning to float, fish and enjoy their meal, the pair headed to Lake Shirley to launch their boat after finding Whalom Pond too crowded for their outing. To celebrate Memorial Day Weekend, Sheron Brown, a Black father, took his 10-year-old daughter, Azaylia, to Shady Point Beach in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, for a joyful father-daughter fishing trip (pictured: Sheron and Azaylia) The father-daughter outing quickly turned dark when a white man on the shore, later identified as 66-year-old David McPartlan (pictured), made it clear he wanted them gone - hurling racial slurs and launching rocks near their boat Sheron, a competitive fisherman who has spent countless hours on his custom fishing boat over the past 13 years, said this is the first time he had ever encountered anything like this on the water - despite the fact that most Lake Shirley residents are white (pictured: Shady Point Beach) Together, they chose to fish in a different part of the lake than usual, thoughtfully staying clear of other boaters enjoying the holiday weekend. However, their peaceful afternoon was shattered when Azaylia faced racism for the first time - a man on shore hurled rocks at their family while shouting racial slurs, an incident Sheron captured on video. In the footage, a shirtless white man, identified as McPartlan, is seen standing on his property with his dogs, facing the water where the father-daughter duo were fishing. 'His first words were, 'Don't fish here next to my dock, go somewhere else. Why are you here?'' Sheron told NBC. The situation quickly escalated as McPartlan grew increasingly aggressive, shouting and swearing at Sheron and 10-year-old Azaylia with rising intensity. When Sheron tried to ask him to calm down in front of his child, McPartlan responded: 'You guys think you own the lake', the father recalled in an interview with Mass Live. Seconds later, McPartlan hurled a large rock that splashed into the water just feet away from their boat. In disbelief, Sheron asked: 'Did you just throw a rock at me?' Last weekend, Sheron and Azaylia (pictured) grabbed a large pepperoni pizza from Athens Pizza - her favorite - and made the 10-mile drive to the nature-filled campground for a fun, near-summer day out on the water Together, they chose to fish in a different part of the lake than usual, thoughtfully staying clear of other boaters enjoying the holiday weekend - but they were targeted by McPartlan shortly after heading out on the water (pictured: Shady Point Beach) In a shocking moment captured on video, McPartlan (pictured) is heard saying, 'Oh yeah, I'm throwing rocks at you, *****', using a racial slur directed at Black individuals Then, in a shocking moment captured on video, McPartlan is heard saying, 'Oh yeah, I'm throwing rocks at you, *****,' using a racial slur directed at Black individuals. 'It seemed like he was trying to establish some kind of invisible boundary where I can't fish towards his dock, even though that was not my intention anyway,' Sheron told NBC. 'There was at least 65 feet between us, which is a considerable distance,' he added. As McPartlan fell silent for a moment, 10-year-old Azaylia - who was sitting quietly on the boat, listening - asked her father what they had done wrong, according to Mass Live. 'We didn't do anything wrong,' Sheron responded, as reported by the outlet. 'This guy is being mean.' When McPartlan began repeating the slurs, Sheron then told him he had no choice but to call 911 - especially after what his young daughter had just been forced to witness. 'I told him, "Hey, I'm gonna record this if you're not gonna stop," the father told NBC. According to Sheron, the video ended just moments before McPartlan picked up a large stick. As McPartlan fell silent for a moment, 10-year-old Azaylia (pictured) - who was sitting quietly on the boat, listening - asked her father what they had done wrong When McPartlan began repeating the slurs, Sheron then told him he had no choice but to call 911 - especially after what his young daughter had just been forced to witness (pictured: Sheron's custom fishing boat) When police arrived to McPartland's property, he told them, 'I slipped a word out that maybe I shouldn't have but I was pissed' (pictured: Sheron and Azaylia) The altercation finally came to an end after nearly 20 minutes, when Lunenburg police, responding to Sheron's call, informed him they were struggling to locate him on the open water, Mass Live reported. When police arrived to McPartland's property, he told them, 'I slipped a word out that maybe I shouldn't have but I was pissed,' according to a police report obtained by NBC. When police asked what the word was, he responded: 'I'm not going to admit it'. He also allegedly admitted to throwing rocks around the boat. Sheron, a competitive fisherman who has spent countless hours on his custom fishing boat over the past 13 years, said this is the first time he had ever encountered anything like this on the water - despite the fact that most Lake Shirley residents are white, Mass Live reported. Now, he wonders how this experience will emotionally impact his daughter in the years to come. 'I don't want my daughter to have a bad light of white males, or lake residents. I want her to treat people all the same,' Sheron told Mass Live. However, 'racism does exist,' he emphasized. 'My daughter witnessed it, where someone calls her father that word... I'm forced to explain things to her when I may not be ready. I'm forced to explain something to her, under duress, after I choke back how I feel, what I may want to do,' he added. When police asked McPartlan what the word he used was, he responded: 'I'm not going to admit it'. He also allegedly admitted to throwing rocks around the boat (pictured: Azaylia) Now, Sheron wonders how this experience will emotionally impact his daughter in the years to come, as he doesn't want her to 'have a bad light of white males, or lake residents. I want her to treat people all the same' (pictured: Sheron and Azaylia) McPartlan, of Ayer, was charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of assault to intimidate for the Memorial Day assault, and is expected in court on June 16 (pictured: Sheron) 'I'm not prepared. How do you prepare for that situation?' McPartlan, of Ayer, was charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of assault to intimidate. He is due in Fitchburg District Court on June 16, as reported by NBC News. It was not immediately clear whether he had retained an attorney to respond to the charges. McPartlan did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com for comment. 'Ignorance is not bliss. I firmly believe it's a choice,' Sheron wrote to Facebook. 'Its still upsetting that we had to deal with this unfortunate incident. Ugh!' Three patients were killed and many people were injured, two of them critically, in a fire that broke out overnight at a hospital in the German city of Hamburg, authorities said on Sunday. Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the hospital, the Marienkrankenhaus, shortly after midnight. It broke out in a room in the geriatric ward, on the ground floor of the building, and spread to the facade of the floor above. Smoke spread across the building's four floors. Firefighters reportedly found several people crying for help from windows, and managed to rescue some using ladders. The fire department said three adult patients were killed and more than 50 people injured, the German news agency dpa reported. Of those, two were in a life-threatening condition, 16 had serious injuries and 36 were slightly hurt. A section of the hospital had to be evacuated. Injured patients were treated either at the hospital itself or in nearby clinics. Firefighters with breathing apparatus and a ladder truck work at the Marienkrankenhaus hospital in Hamburg's Hohenfelde district of Hamburg, Germany Sunday, June 1, 2025 Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at the hospital, the Marienkrankenhaus, shortly after midnight Firefighters reportedly found several people crying for help from windows The fire was extinguished within about 20 minutes. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire. It comes after a plane crashed into a house in western Germany, killing two people including the pilot, according to local police. The tragedy happened after the aircraft struck the terrace of a residential building in the town of Korschenbroich on Saturday. The plane crashed at around 12.30 pm (10.30 GMT) and caused the house to catch fire, police said. Dramatic images show firefighters hosing down the smoldering building after the flames were extinguished. The mangled remains of the aircraft could be seen lying on the ground beside a huge hole in the wall. Officers reportedly told German news agency dpa that one of the two people killed was the 71-year-old pilot. The pilot was from Dusseldorf and appeared to have been sitting alone in the aircraft, they added. The fire was extinguished within about 20 minutes. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire The fire department said three adult patients were killed and more than 50 people injured It is unknown whether the other person had been a passenger on the plane or had been on the ground. Firefighters responded in numbers with the local control center saying that around 50 personnel had been deployed. They managed to put out the flames quickly. The cause of the crash has yet to be established. A gunman opened fire at a small-town high school party, leaving one dead and 11 others injured in North Carolina. Authorities were called to a home near Hickory - about 60 miles outside of Charlotte - around 12.45am Sunday over reports of multiple people shot. One of the twelve victims died, while another is in critical condition, according to the Catawba County Sheriffs Office. The others remain hospitalized. No arrests have been made and police have not released information on potential suspects. It is also unclear what sparked the fatal shooting and exactly how many shots were fired. A teen who was at the party described a chaotic scene after bullets started flying. 'As soon as I heard the shots everybody started scattering off, ducking our heads, running off toward our cars toward safety,' the teenager, who chose to remain anonymous, told WSOC. 'And I called my friend and he said call 911 I need help.' A gunman opened fire at a small-town high school party, leaving one dead and 11 others injured early Sunday morning Investigators said there were as many as 100 people attending the party and most of them were from local high schools Investigators said there were as many as 100 people attending the party and most of them were from local high schools, the outlet reported. The shooting is currently under investigation by the Catawba County Sheriff's Office, special agents with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Hickory Police Department. The sheriff's office has asked the public to come forward with any information related to the incident. During a press conference, Major Aaron Turk with the Catawba County Sheriff's Office said the street where it happened is usually quiet. A local resident told WBTV that the event was a 'pool party' that night and that the 'shooting occurred mostly outside and appeared to be random.' During a press conference Sunday afternoon, Turk said a noise complaint call was made to the police regarding that same house earlier in the night, but they have yet to find a link between that and the shooting. DailyMail.com contacted the Catawba County Sheriffs Office for more information. This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow. A British pensioner has been arrested in Chile after a Mexican gang allegedly promised him 3.7million to smuggle a suitcase of crystal meth. The 79-year-old was held after leaving a flight from the Mexican resort of Cancun at Santiago Airport. He was booked on a flight to Sydney in Australia the following day after spending a night at a hotel in the Chilean capital. The unnamed pensioner was remanded in custody following a court appearance after a judge approved a prosecution request to send him to prison pending probable charges and trial. Police say the drugs he was caught with would have been worth around 200,000 on the streets of the south American country. He was intercepted after his luggage was put through an airport scanner. The British traveller was asked to open his suitcase in front of police after they detected a 'suspicious' substance and cops discovered a secret compartment where 5kg of the drugs had been packed. Airport police chief Sergio Paredes said it was the first time the arrested man had entered Chile. The drugs arrest is the latest in a series of similar recent apprehensions around the world involving British nationals, although most have been far younger than the man held in Chile. A British pensioner has been arrested in Chile after a Mexican gang allegedly promised him 3.7million to smuggle a suitcase of crystal meth The 79-year-old was held after leaving a flight from the Mexican resort of Cancun at Santiago Airport Officer Paredes said: 'This person came from Mexico and when he was arrested and taken to the anti-narcotics squad's airport offices, he said that the suitcase had been received by some Mexican nationals at Cancun airport. 'He was due to spend a night in a hotel in the centre of Santiago before boarding a flight to Sydney, Australia.' Mr Paredes said police were still investigating whether the drugs were due to remain in Chile or be taken to Australia. He told local press: 'Prosecutors are looking into this and trying to establish whether the drug was for internal consumption or was due to be transported by this British national to Australia.' Chilean customs officers released pictures of the drugs they had confiscated, saying: 'Customs officials intercepted a foreign citizen with more than five kilos of methamphetamines hidden in a secret compartment in his luggage at Santiago Airport. 'He was stopped after his luggage was scanned and has been remanded in custody.' Yesterday it emerged a British couple aged 33 and 34 had been held at Valencia airport after police discovered 33 kilos of cannabis in their luggage. The pair claimed they were tourists coming from Thailand after they were intercepted as they got off a flight from France. Bella May Culley, 18, was holidaying in Thailand but was arrested 4,000 miles away on drug offences in Georgia, allegedly carrying 14kg of cannabis into the ex-Soviet nation And recently 21-year-old Charlotte Lee May, from Coulsdon, south London, was arrested in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo after police discovered 46kg of 'Kush' - a synthetic strain of cannabis - in her suitcase A 23-year-old British woman in Ghana was arrested last week after being accused of attempting to bring up to 18kg of cannabis into the UK on a May 18 British Airways flight to Gatwick. Bella May Culley, 18, sparked a massive international search operation in early May after she was reported missing while she was believed to be holidaying in Thailand. However, it was later revealed that the teen, from Billingham, County Durham, had been arrested 4,000 miles away on drug offences in Georgia, allegedly carrying 14kg of cannabis into the ex-Soviet nation. And recently 21-year-old Charlotte Lee May, from Coulsdon, south London, was arrested in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo after police discovered 46kg of 'Kush' - a synthetic strain of cannabis - in her suitcase. The former flight attendant, facing up to 25 years in prison if convicted, is claiming she had 'no idea' about the drugs worth up to 1.2 million and insisting they must have been planted in her luggage without her knowledge. Scots racing driver Susie Wolff has said she hopes her new Netflix series will pave the way for a woman to compete in Formula 1 for the first time in 50 years. The Oban-born professional teamed up with Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoons production company to make F1: The Academy - a behind the scenes documentary on females trying to make the starting grid. She is the managing director of F1 Academy - a women-only racing league designed to develop and promote female talent in motorsport. The 42-year-old, who is married to Mercedes Formula 1 team boss Toto Wolff, was a development driver for Williams and drove for the team during practice sessions at F1 races before retiring in 2015. She wants the series, which has just launched on Netflix, to encourage more women to take up the sport and end the five decade wait for a female F1 driver. The mother-of-one said: The series is showing that the sport is no longer just a mans world because without Formula One, Formula One Academy wouldnt exist. We want to attract a new audience. We want to attract that next generation, the parents of the next generation, to challenge the idea that women cant be racing drivers, that its an industry thats not really built for women. And I think by sharing these incredible human stories of these young drivers and their journeys, the challenges they faced, it really brings to life the fact that regardless of gender, theres an opportunity in the sport. Of course, I want to see a woman on the grid, and I think that will be inevitable when we get the building blocks in place that we know we have to do for long-term success and without a doubt, that will be a proud moment when we see a woman take to the grid. Susie Wolff with husband Toto and son Jack at the UK premiere of her Netflix show last week Scots racing driver Susie Wolff wants to see more women in Formula 1 You know, theres only two spots in the grid per team, and its very, very tough to get to Formula One, so weve got to make sure that we put the right steps in place that a woman has that chance in hopefully the not-too-distant future. The docuseries is produced by Oscar-winning Ms Witherspoons Hello Sunshine company and is hoping to replicate the success of Drive To Survive, the Netflix series which follows each F1 season. Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Ms Wolff added: I feel very privileged that I got to work with the Hello Sunshine team and the Netflix team. Obviously the Netflix team, they made Drive to Survive, they know what it takes to make a great docuseries. Hello Sunshine was versed in bringing womens stories to life. So it really was for me the perfect partnership, and it was a real privilege to be a part of that group because I think weve created something that I hope will challenge peoples perception and bring these human stories to life. Even if we can have a smaller amount of success that Drive to Survive did, it will really shift the momentum of F1 Academy. Lella Lombardis appearance at the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix was the last time a woman competed in an F1 race. The late Italian is only woman to score points in a race, scoring half a point at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix. Germany's defence chief has starkly warned that NATO should be prepared for a possible attack by Russia in the next four years. General Carsten Breuer said Russia poses a 'very serious threat' to the Western defence bloc, the likes of which he has never seen in his 40-year military career.' The warning comes amid one of Ukraine's most audacious attacks, in which it used a swarm of kamikaze drones unleashed from the backs of trucks to devastate $7billion worth of equipment at two of Russia's most critical airfields. Ukraine's security service, the SBU, claimed to have destroyed '34% of strategic cruise missile carriers at the main airfields of the Russian Federation'. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as one for the 'history books', revealing it took 18 months to plan the top-secret mission dubbed 'Operation Spiderweb'. He added that 117 drones were used - each with their own pilot - and that the headquarters of the operation were 'right next to the FSB', Russia's security service. Breuer pointed to the massive increase in Vladimir Putin's armoury and ammunitions stock, including a massive output of 1,500 main battle tanks every year as well as the four million rounds of 152mm artillery munition produced in 2024 alone. He said that not all of these additional military equipment was going to Ukraine, which signalled a possible building up of capabilities that could be used against the NATO bloc, adding that Baltic states were at a particularly high risk of being attacked. 'There's an intent and there's a build up of the stocks' for a possible future attack on Nato's Baltic state members,' he told the BBC. Russian TU-95 Bear strategic bombers at the Olenya airbase on the Kola Peninsula being destroyed by Ukrainian drones thousands of miles away from the front line Vladimir Putin's (pictured) planes were destroyed in the attack Ukrainian choppers seen over Russian territory Ukraine's SBU was in charge of the major operation 'This is what the analysts are assessing - in 2029. So we have to be ready by 2029... If you ask me now, is this a guarantee that's not earlier than 2029? I would say no, it's not. So we must be able to fight tonight,' he said. Breuer said that the Suwalki Gap, a region that borders Lithuania, Poland, Russia and Belarus, was particularly vulnerable to Russian military activity. 'The Baltic States are really exposed to the Russians, right? And once you are there, you really feel this... in the talks we are having over there,' he said. The Estonians, he said, had given the analogy of being close to a wildfire where they 'feel the heat, see the flames and smell the smoke', while in Germany 'you probably see a little bit of smoke over the horizon and not more'. Earlier this week, David Petraeus, a respected former US general and CIA chief, claimed Lithuania would be most at risk to an attack from Russia. He said Russia could launch an incursion into that Baltic state to test Western resolve or as a precursor to a wider offensive. Breuer urged fellow NATO nations to build up their militaries again, following a long period of demilitarisation across dozens of nations. 'What we have to do now is really to lean in and to tell everybody, hey, ramp up... get more into it because we need it. We need it to be able to defend ourselves and therefore also to build up deterrence', he said. But with NATO apparently falling apart, amid a surge of distrust between each of its member states, Breuer was quick to allay fears that NATO wouldn't be cohesive enough to fight Russia. He pointed to Finland and Sweden's ascension into the bloc: 'I've never seen such a unity like it is now' among nations and military leaders. 'All of them understand the threat that is at the moment approaching Nato, all understand that we have to develop a direction of deterrence, into the direction of collective defence. This is clear to everyone. The urgency is seen.' NATO members Hungary and Slovakia have, since Russia invaded Ukraine, have developed closer relations with Putin, in many instances using their powers in groups like the EU and NATO to push the dictator's agenda. Russian Belaya Air Base in Irkutsk region, Siberia, was ablaze today after a suspected drone strike linked to Ukraine Russian TU-95 Bear strategic bombers at the Olenya airbase on the Kola Peninsula being destroyed by Ukrainian drones thousands of miles away from the front line And US president Donald Trump, who commands the largest military in the bloc, has consistently sided with Putin on military matters, especially when it comes to NATO. Just yesterday his envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, declared that Russia's historic feud with NATO were 'fair.' Asked by ABC News about a Reuters report that Russia wanted a written pledge over NATO not enlarging eastwards to include Ukraine and other former Soviet republics, Kellogg said: 'It's a fair concern.' 'We've said that to us, Ukraine coming into NATO is not on the table, and we're not the only country that says that'. Shortly before Breuer's comments, Ukraine launched one of its most audacious attacks of the war using a 'swarm' of kamikaze drones unleashed from the backs of trucks to devastate two of Russia's most major airfields. Dubbed 'Operation Spiderweb', the co-ordinated strikes have left Vladimir Putin humiliated and his prized warplanes in smouldering ruins, though Moscow has claimed to have 'repelled' all the attacks. Malyuk's agency was in charge of the major operation Zelensky claimed that this attack was one for the 'history books' Zelensky said on social media that the operation had 'an absolutely brilliant result', adding that it was one 'achieved solely by Ukraine.' He said in a post: 'One year, six months, and nine days from the start of planning to effective execution. 'Our most long-range operation. Our people involved in preparing the operation were withdrawn from Russian territory in time.' 'Of course, not everything can be revealed at this moment, but these are Ukrainian actions that will undoubtedly be in history books,' he adds. 'Ukraine is defending itself, and rightly so we are doing everything to make Russia feel the need to end this war. Russia started this war, Russia must end it. Glory to Ukraine!' He added that 117 drones were used, each with their own individual pilot. He added: 'The most interesting thing - and we can already say this publicly - is that the "office" of our operation on Russian territory was located right next to the FSB of Russia in one of their regions.' Two remote military airfields, Olenya in the Arctic Murmansk region and Belaya in eastern Siberia, were rocked by massive explosions overnight, with dramatic footage showing fires raging for hours. The bases, located thousands of miles from Ukraine, are key to Russia's nuclear strike capability and were considered untouchable. Yet Ukraine appears to have struck them with deadly precision, using first-person-view (FPV) drones launched from unmarked vans parked near the airfields. Both are thousands of miles from Ukraine but were 'under drone attack', with dozens of Moscow's nuclear capable warplanes evidently destroyed. Aftermath of the Russian attack on Kherson, Ukraine on June 1, 2025 The Russian army launched a combined strike on the Dniprovskyi district of Kherson, Ukraine Olenya airbase is home to Russia's ageing fleet of Tu-95 'Bear' bombers - used both for conventional missile strikes and capable of launching nuclear weapons against the West. Several of the aircraft were reportedly left exposed in the open, despite repeated Ukrainian attacks on similar facilities. Ablaze, too, was Belaya nuclear airbase in eastern Siberia's Irkutsk region - some 2,900 miles from Ukraine. More alarmingly, the strikes have triggered frenzied calls within Russia's military circles for a nuclear response. 'Disabling strategic aircraft gives Russia the right to use nuclear weapons,' declared pro-Kremlin war analyst Vladislav Pozdnyakov. 'Let me remind you.' Russia's nuclear doctrine allows for a nuclear response in the event of an attack on 'critical government or military infrastructure'. In particular, 'an enemy attack that disrupts the operation of nuclear forces, threatening Russia's ability to respond' could lead to Putin ordering an atomic strike. Ukraine's SBU secret service was reportedly conducting a large-scale special operation to destroy Russian bombers. This video grab from a handout footage released by Russia's emergency ministry on June 1, 2025 shows specialists working at the scene after a road bridge collapsed onto a railway line late on May 31, 2025 Zelensky was seen congratulating the Head of the Security Service Vasyl Malyuk The Ukrainian media claimed more than 40 Putin aircraft had been hit, including Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and A-50 strategic bombers. The damage to the enemy was alleged to exceed 1.5billion. A driver of a truck filled with drones that attacked Olenegorsk in Murmansk 'may not have known about the cargo', said a report. According to Baza media, the driver has been detained. 'A truck stopped at a gas station at the entrance to the city drones started flying out of the back of the truck and then attacked various objects,' said a report. A similar account was heard from Siberia but there are no official comments yet. Ukraine's Pravda Gerashchenko Telegram channel said: 'A special operation 'Web' is being conducted to demilitarise Russia. 'The [SBU] report the destruction of Russian bomber aircraft behind enemy lines. ' In particular, the destruction of more than 40 aircraft, including A-50, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3.' The audacious strike was described as 'Russia's Pearl Harbour' and the 'blackest day in aviation' for the country by pro-Putin Telegram channels. Russia's ministry of defence said in a Telegram post that Ukraine had carried out a 'terrorist attack' in the regions of Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur. It claimed that all of the attacks were 'repelled', adding: 'As a result of the launch of FPV drones from the territory located in the immediate vicinity of airfields, several pieces of aviation equipment caught fire.' For most people, quitting the leadership of the Scottish Conservative party would be a source of relief, if not unbridled joy. An opportunity to focus on constituency duties, improve your work-life balance, and dislodge some of the knives stuck in your back. A chance to be less political and less combative. For Douglas Ross, things havent gone quite like that. No doubt he cherishes the extra time hes had to spend with his wife and their two boys over the past eight months. But instead of settling into snoozy, slipper-clad semi-retirement on the backbenches, Ross is like a bulldog finally off the leash. He has grown more political and more combative and is visibly frustrated with the Scottish Parliament, its tameness and mediocrity, its culture of failure and inadequacy, its rotten standards and grimy ethics. Ross spends his days brooding from the backbenches, seething at inept and dishonest ministers, and pouring scorn on their every policy and talking point. This got him into trouble at last weeks FMQs when John Swinney tried, bizarrely but predictably, to lay the blame for Scotlands energy woes at the feet of Brexit. Ross started heckling him and the First Minister struggled to keep his train of thought. At which point, the Presiding Officer stepped in. Alison Johnstone reprimanded Ross for disregarding the standing orders, the rules which govern the conduct of MSPs. Rule 7.3 says members must always conduct themselves in an orderly manner and that any who dont can be required by the Presiding Officer to remove themselves from the chamber. Douglas Ross was ejected from the Chamber for heckling at John Swinney Brooding Douglas Ross is not scared to take on 'inept and dishonest ministers' but had to pay the price for it last week Thats what Johnstone did, ordering Ross out and telling him not to return for the remainder of the day. Although this sanction is infrequently resorted to, it has been clear over the past few weeks that things were heading that way. Ross has become a thorn in the Presiding Officers side with his repeated crowing at government ministers. So much so that Johnstone speaks with a special syntax. Every sentence contains a subject, an object, and Mr Ross! Ordinarily Im a stickler for the rules, but watching Ross gather up his things and traipse out on Thursday, I confess to feeling quite a bit of sympathy for him. If MSPs are scandalised by his impatience and his raised voice, they might want to avoid any future contact with the voters. Because Rosss exasperation is mild compared to the roiling contempt the public feels for Holyrood. The parliament is largely insulated from public opinion, shielded by an Iron Dome of advisors, quangos, third-sector outfits and compliant commentators who encircle Holyrood in left-liberal received wisdom and keep out any discordant voices, especially those of the electorate. Its this self-isolation of Scotlands parliament from the people it is supposed to represent that has left so many insiders shocked by the rise of Reform. As someone who forecast that rise a year ago, I can tell you that some otherwise bright, canny political operatives thought I was mad. The remoteness of the liberal elite from the people is hardly a phenomenon limited to Scotland. The American writer Pauline Kael famously declared after the 1972 presidential election: I live in a rather special world. I only know one person who voted for Nixon. Where they are I dont know. Nixon had just won a 49-state landslide. In his post-leadership career, Douglas Ross has dedicated himself to penetrating Holyroods atmosphere of smug certainty with the concerns and views of ordinary voters. His Right to Addiction Recovery Bill is an obvious example of that. Parliament wrings its hands over the worst drugs death rate in Europe, belated pouring money into support services while at the same time pressing ahead with de facto decriminalisation. Whatever the merits of those approaches, they neglect the importance of giving people a chance to get off drugs altogether. Its an unfashionable notion but one Rosss Bill forces them to confront. Thats not the only awkward issue hes hammered the government on. He has interrogated them on the placement of trans-identifying men in womens prisons and the infiltration of gender ideology into the public sector more generally. Hes pressed the case of Sandie Peggie, the nurse who is taking NHS Fife to an employment tribunal for allowing trans-identifying men to use the womens changing room. Hes taken Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth to task over school violence and for skipping a parliamentary question on attacks against teachers to attend an SNP event in Glenrothes. He has persistently grilled ministers on their failure to keep their promise to complete dualling of the accident-blackspot A96. This is exactly what a backbench MSP ought to be doing: pursuing the government mercilessly on subjects they would rather not talk about. And so what if Ross lets his temper get the better of him sometimes? Many of these issues are emotive and it is only natural that their discussion would be impassioned. If the worst that can be said of Ross is that he fails to respect parliamentary niceties when holding the powerful to account, then I reckon hes doing just fine and, more importantly, I suspect many voters would agree. It underscores just how little scrutiny SNP ministers face that a spot of light heckling would have the delicate little flowers wilting in horror. There is an irony in the SNP making such a fuss over Rosss multiple jobs, telling him to quit one or more and focus instead on his parliamentary responsibilities. Presiding Officer Alison Johnston ordered former Scots Tory leader Douglas Ross to leave the FMQs because of his conduct After standing down as Tory leader, he has thrown himself into the number one parliamentary responsibility - holding the executive to account - and it turns out they dont like it. Now they have both Russell Findlay and his predecessor turning the screws on their hapless government. When Ross was kicked out of the chamber last Thursday, it was illustrative of the problem - well, one of the problems - with Holyrood. Mouthing off too much when trying to get answers out of the government gets you told to make yourself scarce, but rising from your seat only to pose a softball question or to regurgitate party talking points in a debate is considered the height of parliamentary decorum. There have been six Scottish Parliament elections so far. The seventh will take place next year. The calibre of MSP elected was hardly encouraging in 1999 but it has somehow gotten worse. Every devolutionist should be mortified by the gap between the Holyrood the public were sold and the Holyrood they got. The Scottish Parliament is a national embarrassment. A job creation scheme for party hacks, public sector jobsworths, and multi-lanyarded third sector nuisances. An in-gathering of the useless, the clueless, and the soulless. A clown car that can never seem to get the key in the ignition but still manages to crash into everything in sight. Douglas Ross offends them because he puts in the effort. The man has his flaws but laziness is not one of them. He does the work, tries to get answers, and puts the most powerful people in the country on the spot. Youre not supposed to do that in the Scottish Parliament. Most ideological differences at Holyrood are superficial or irrelevant to the real battle, that of political insiders against the voters. Thats why Ross doesnt fit it: he fights for the other side. The boss of Heathrow who was unaware of that a substation fire shut down one of the world's busiest airports should 'never' have had his phone on silent, according to an airline chief. A review into the fire which took place on March 20 into March 21 and disrupted more than 200,000 passenger journeys found that the airport's chief executive, Thomas Woldbye, had been called when the fire broke out but did not answer his phone. The Kelly Review concluded that Mr Woldbye's phone was muted 'without him being aware' and that he only knew of the fire at 6.45am - more than seven hours after it broke out at 11.20pm. Chief operating officer Javier Echave attempted to call his boss 'several times' during the night and raised an F24 alarm to activate emergency command response teams, but did not hear back. As detailed in the 75-page report, Mr Woldbye - who was paid more than 3million last year - said he felt 'deep regret' at not being contactable during the incident. But Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss said he would 'never' have made the same mistake when speaking today at an industry event, as first reported by The Telegraph. Mr Weiss said: 'The last time I put my phone on silent when running an airline was never. I think all of my colleagues would share that observation. This is a 24/7 job and safety and security are the number one priority.' The Virgin boss added that Heathrow should begin compensating airlines for the cost of the shutdown in the wake of the Kelly Review. A review into the fire found that the airport's chief executive, Thomas Woldbye (above) had been called when the fire broke out but did not answer his phone The review concluded that Mr Woldbye's phone was muted 'without him being aware' and that he only became aware of the fire (above) at 6.45am - more than seven hours after it broke out Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss says he would 'never' have made the same mistake as he took aim at Mr Woldbye when speaking at an industry event today Emirates Airline chief Sir Tim Clark also said he was 'shocked' by Heathrow's 'floundering' response to the fire, adding that Emirates 'never close their eyes' to such problems potentially arising. Meanwhile International Air Transport Association CEO Willie Walsh said the shutdown of Heathrow showed Britain to be 'vulnerable' under Labour leadership. A Heathrow spokesman told MailOnline: 'The Kelly review, as well as independent legal counsel assisting the panel, had access to all Heathrow decision-makers and company papers and published a well-documented and robust report containing a number of findings and recommendations. 'The review concluded that while some detailed elements of our response could be sharpened, the overall approach to prioritise safety was the right one and the right decisions were taken on the day. We have accepted all the recommendations in full.' The report was led by former Labour Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly and concluded that closing the airport was the 'correct' and 'essential' decision. Ms Kelly said the fire at the North Hyde substation had been 'unprecedented' and that waiting until March 22 to fully re-open was wise, given that safety checks needed to be carried out before full service could resume. Emirates Airline chief Sir Tim Clark (above) said he was 'shocked' by Heathrow's 'floundering' response to the fire International Air Transport Association CEO Willie Walsh (above) said the shutdown of Heathrow showed Britain to be 'vulnerable' under Labour leadership The report was led by former Labour Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly and concluded that closing the airport was the 'correct' and 'essential' decision - adding that the fire (above) was 'unprecedented' 'The evidence confirms that Heathrow made the right decisions in exceptionally difficult circumstances,' she said in a statement accompanying the report. 'Whilst the disruption was significant, alternative choices on the day would not have materially changed the outcome. 'The airport had contingency plans in place, and the report highlights that further planned investment in energy resilience will be key to reducing the impact of any similar events in the future.' The shutdown of the substation prompted questions over why Heathrow was not prepared to cope in the event of a total power loss and why it took 18 hours for power to be fully restored. But the report revealed that the power loss crippled vital safety systems and infrastructure including an airport fire station. Security staff in Terminal 2 had to use the torches on their phones to see at night because of the total loss of power. Security staff in Terminal 2 had to use the torches on their phones to see at night because of the total loss of power (Pictured: People using their torches in the Terminal 4 car park) The report revealed that the power loss crippled vital safety systems and infrastructure including an airport fire station London Fire Brigade officers also told Heathrow they would not be able to safely bring the fire under control for at least six hours. Interim findings published by the National Energy System Operator earlier this month found power was restored to a chaos-stricken Heathrow around seven hours before flights were allowed to resume. The electricity was switched back on for all four terminals - Terminal One no longer being in use - at 10.56am on March 21, almost 12 hours after the fire broke out. Heathrow said the report raises 'important questions' for National Grid - which owns the substation that caught fire - and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN), which is responsible for power distribution in the area. In all, 1,273 flights were disrupted by the near-24-hour closure with economists estimating that the fire cost the UK up to 4.8million in lost tourism alone. The review concluded the way in which the airport closure had been handled was 'correct' - despite over 1,200 flights and 200,000 passengers being affected But not a single Heathrow employee interviewed for the review disagreed with the decision to close. While the review was largely positive about the airport's response to the fire, Ms Kelly issued 28 recommendations for Heathrow to consider. They include firming up relations with SSEN - which is responsible for local power distribution - as well as ensuring emergency lighting is in place across terminals, and assessing whether to invest in additional back-up generators. There is also a recommendation to have a 'second means of contact' for key individuals, such as CEO Mr Woldbye. Heathrow Chairman Lord Deighton said after the report: 'The Kelly Review is thorough with clear recommendations which the management team will be taking forward. 'This was an unprecedented set of circumstances, but the learnings identified in the Kelly Review will make Heathrow more fit for the future.' Two 'infamous Scottish gangsters' have been shot dead in front of horrified holidaymakers in a crowded pub in Spain. A masked gunman opened fire at an Irish bar in Fuengirola, on the Costa del Sol, at around 11.30pm on Saturday before fleeing in a vehicle. The victims have been widely named as notorious gangsters Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr, prompting speculation that the assassination is linked to a gangland feud that has raged across Scotland's Central Belt since March. Spanish authorities say the first victim was shot in the chest, while the second was hit in the chest and abdomen. One man died instantly and although attempts were made to revive the other, he was also pronounced dead at the scene. Disturbing images of the incident show a man in shorts and a T-shirt lying lifeless on his back on a terrace outside the bar. Pictures also show police and paramedics surrounding a body that has been covered with a blanket as appalled tourists look on. Unsuspecting visitors to the bar, which was owned by Monaghan and calls itself a 'family friendly' venue, had gathered to watch the Champions League final before the gunman burst in. Eddie Lyons Jr (right) and Ross Monaghan (left) have been widely named as the victims after a masked gunman opened fire near the entrance door to Monaghans Fuengirola, in Andalusia, on Saturday evening The Scottish men are understood to have been gunned down near the entrance door to Monaghans Fuengirola, in Andalusia, by a masked armed assailant on Saturday evening One local told the Malaga Hoy newspaper: 'I thought they were going to kill me too. I thought I was hearing fireworks at first but then saw the noise was coming from someone firing a gun.' Another explained that he saw people running for their lives, adding: 'I looked out and saw a man pointing at something and shooting. I was in shock, I didn't know how to react.' No arrests have been made, but police have set up roadblocks in the surrounding area in a bid to catch whoever was responsible. According to Spanish newspapers, the regional authorities have mobilised a specialist violent crime unit to investigate the incident. The Foreign Office said that it had not been approached for any consular assistance but its staff were ready to assist any British nationals if required. The shootings are the latest in a series of violent crimes that have shaken the Costa del Sol in recent weeks as rival gangs operating from the popular resort seek to settle scores. Six weeks ago, a 32-year-old British man was murdered in the nearby town of Calahonda, in what police are treating as a drug-related gang shooting. Just days before, a 34-year-old Briton was hospitalised after being shot outside a nightclub in Marbella. Ross Monaghan was previously linked to the high-profile killing of one of Glasgow's most notorious gangland figures and enforcer for the Daniel crime family, Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll. He was targeted as he sat outside a supermarket in Robroyston, Glasgow, in 2010. Monaghan was accused of the murder and of disposing of evidence after the shooting but was later acquitted amid a lack of evidence. He was targeted by a shooter in 2017 when he dropped off his daughter at primary school in Glasgow. Monaghans is located on the seafront and is a popular bar with tourists and expats Lyons Jnr was shot at just days before Carroll was killed. Police Scotland refused to say whether they are supporting foreign officers on the possible Scottish organised crime element of the shooting at the seafront bar, Monaghans. A vicious gangland war has been raging between three rival groups since March. It has seen buildings firebombed and men mutilated across the Central Belt. Former Union Bears chief Ross McGill, 31, has been blamed for launching a wave of attacks in Glasgow and Edinburgh over a drug deal gone wrong. The Dubai-based gangster is said to have ordered assaults on associates of the Daniel crime family, which are believed to have been plotted with the help of Spanish-based rivals from the Lyons gang. More than 40 arrests have been made in Scotland in response to the escalating turf war, but McGill's enforcers, a group dubbed Tamo Junto, have vowed to continue their attacks regardless. On Friday, the group wrote: 'We have terrorised you since March and we will continue to do so.' They added: 'We have no rules, we have no limits. We are coming for you.' Two Miami port workers have been caught on camera stealing more than $50,000 worth of artwork before their heist unraveled due to their own careless mistakes. Angel Prudhomme, 27, and Tangela Park, 50, allegedly stole more than $50,000 worth of artwork from a Florida port. The pair were caught after they carelessly damaged half of the stolen pieces during removal, leaving behind a trail of broken artwork. Both county employees were arrested on Thursday and are now facing second-degree grand theft charges, the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office announced. Park is also facing an additional criminal mischief charge for the damage caused during the heist. 'As Sheriff of Miami-Dade County, I take individuals using their employment to steal very seriously,' Miami-Dade County Sheriff Rose Cordero-Stutz said. 'I am committed to ensuring that anyone involved in dishonest actions will be held accountable.' Two Miami port workers have been caught on camera stealing more than $50,000 worth of artwork before their heist unraveled due to their own careless mistakes. Angel Prudhomme, 27, (pictured) and Tangela Park, 50, were caught stealing more than $50,000 worth of artwork from the Florida port. The next day, footage captured Prudhomme transferring the stolen goods into Park's vehicle (Pictured: Tangela Park) The pair were caught after a tip was sent to public corruption investigators, who reviewed surveillance footage. The shocking video revealed the two workers removing artwork from Terminal G and loading it into their vehicles. Prudhomme was spotted on camera May 12 removing pieces from walls and hiding them in a stairwell, according to arrest documents. The 27-year-old was also caught stuffing valuable mosaic and marble art pieces into trash cans and bags while trying to dodge security cameras. The next day, footage captured Prudhomme transferring the stolen goods into Park's vehicle. But their plan failed when 12 of the 24 stolen pieces were so badly damaged during the theft that they had to be abandoned at the terminal. The Sea Port General Investigations unit recovered these damaged artworks. The remaining 12 pieces were found Wednesday at Prudhomme's home and vehicle. They were also damaged from poor handling. The art collection manager valued the stolen pieces at approximately $50,000, according to Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office The art collection manager valued the stolen pieces at approximately $50,000, according to Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office. Both suspects confessed to the theft and were taken to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Israel has denied an attack on civilians near a Gaza aid centre as 31 were killed and more than 170 people were injured. The Palestinians were on their way to receive food at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation hub - a new aid organisation backed by Israel and the US - according to health officials and multiple witnesses. The witnesses said Israeli tanks opened fire on crowds around 1,000 yards from the new aid site. It was the deadliest incident yet around the new aid distribution system, which has operated for less than a week. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) strongly denied the attack was against Palestinians and urged people not to believe 'rumours' and 'fake news'. Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin said in a video posted on X: 'I'm here in the city of Rafah. So far we have opened four distribution centres. 'We have already distributed over 16,000 packages of food to the people. Hamas is doing its best to stop us from doing so. It is spreading rumours and fake news. I urge you not to believe every rumour spread by Hamas. We will investigate every one of those incidents.' Israel's military said that its forces did not fire at civilians near or within the site, adding troops fired warning shots at several suspects advancing towards them a kilometre from the site. I urge you not believe every rumor spread by Hamas. IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin directly from Rafah, on the humanitarian aid situation: https://t.co/pCTmy3KFeF Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 1, 2025 Israel has denied an attack on civilians near a Gaza aid centre as 31 were killed and more than 170 people were injured The health ministry said in a statement it delivered aid 'without incident' and dismissed what it described as 'false reporting about deaths, mass injuries and chaos'. It has denied previous accounts of chaos and gunfire around its sites, which are in Israeli military zones where independent media has no access. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said its field hospital in the southern city of Rafah received 179 casualties including women and children, 21 of them declared dead upon arrival, the majority with gunshot or shrapnel wounds. 'All patients said they had been trying to reach an aid distribution site,' the ICRC said, calling it the highest number of 'weapon-wounded' people in a single incident since the hospital was set up more than a year ago. 'Aid distribution has become a death trap,' the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a statement. Multiple witnesses have said Israeli troops fired on crowds near the new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's sites. Before today, 17 people were killed while trying to reach the sites, according to Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Health Ministry's records department. The foundation says private security contractors guarding its sites have not fired on the crowds. Israel's military has acknowledged firing warning shots on previous occasions. The witnesses said Israeli tanks opened fire on crowds around 1,000 yards from the new aid site Mourners pray during the funeral of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes UN agencies and major aid groups have refused to work with the new system, saying it violates humanitarian principles. Thousands of people headed towards the distribution site in southern Gaza hours before dawn. As they approached, Israeli forces ordered them to disperse and come back later, witnesses said. When the crowds reached the Flag Roundabout, around 1km away, at around 3am, Israeli forces opened fire, the witnesses said. 'There was fire from all directions, from naval warships, from tanks and drones,' said Amr Abu Teiba, who was in the crowd. He said he saw at least 10 bodies with gunshot wounds and several other wounded people, including women. People used carts to ferry the dead and wounded to a field hospital. 'The scene was horrible,' he said. Most people were shot 'in the upper part of their bodies, including the head, neck and chest,' said Dr Marwan al-Hams, a health ministry official at Nasser Hospital, where many wounded were transferred from the Red Cross-run field hospital. He said 24 people were being treated in Nasser Hospital's intensive care unit. A colleague, surgeon Khaled al-Ser, later said 150 wounded people had arrived, along with 28 bodies. Ibrahim Abu Saoud, another witness, said the military fired from about 300 metres away. He said he saw many people with gunshot wounds, including a young man who died at the scene. 'We weren't able to help him,' he said. 'Aid distribution has become a death trap,' the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a statement A reporter arrived at the field hospital at around 6am and saw dozens of wounded, including women and children. Above, an ambulance drives through a crowd of people to the Nasser hospital in Gaza Mohammed Abu Teaima, 33, said he saw Israeli forces open fire and kill his cousin and a woman as they headed towards the distribution site. He said his cousin was shot in his chest, and his brother-in-law was among the wounded. 'They opened heavy fire directly toward us,' he said. A reporter arrived at the field hospital at around 6am and saw dozens of wounded, including women and children. The witness also saw crowds of people returning from the distribution point. Some carried boxes of aid but most appeared to be empty-handed. Gaza's Health Ministry said at least 31 people were killed and more than 170 were wounded. UN agencies and major aid groups have refused to work with the new system, saying it violates humanitarian principles because it allows Israel to control who receives aid and forces people to relocate to distribution sites, risking yet more mass displacement in the coastal territory. 'It's essentially engineered scarcity,' Jonathan Whittall, interim head in Gaza of the UN humanitarian office, said last week. The UN system has struggled to bring in aid after Israel slightly eased its nearly three-month blockade of the territory last month. The groups say Israeli restrictions, the breakdown of law and order and widespread looting make it extremely difficult to deliver aid to Gaza's roughly two million Palestinians. Experts have warned that the territory is at risk of famine if more aid is not brought in. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The latest efforts at ceasefire talks appeared to stumble on Saturday when Hamas said it had sought amendments to a US ceasefire proposal that Israel had approved, and the US envoy called that 'unacceptable'. An Oregon man visiting Yellowstone National Park struck a park employee with his Jeep during a construction-related delay, later claiming he was in a rush because he had to urinate. David Tyler Regnier, 67, of Bend, was driving near Canyon Junction last year when a traffic delay caused by road work backed up vehicles for as long as 45 minutes, according to a press release from the US Attorney's Office. Frustrated, he attempted to bypass the construction zone, but when a Yellowstone employee tried to stop him, Regnier only accelerated, striking the employee and knocking him backward. The 67-year-old argued that he suffered from a medical condition and was taken to the hospital later that day, claiming he had ultimately urinated on himself due to the extended delay, Jackson Hole News & Guide reported. However, a federal jury convicted Regnier last month of assaulting a federal employee with a dangerous weapon - namely, his vehicle, according to the official release. 'Our office will take a strong stance against the frequent acts of violence directed at public servants who are merely doing their jobs to protect the community,' Acting US Attorney Stephanie Sprecher said in a statement. On September 8, 2024, two Yellowstone National Park employees directing traffic near Canyon Junction amid road construction spotted a Jeep approaching the intersection from the wrong direction. The driver, later identified as Regnier, was attempting to bypass the backed-up traffic, ignoring warnings and road flaggers in the process. David Tyler Regnier, 67, of Oregon, was found guilty by a court of assaulting a federal employee after he struck a Yellowstone National Park employee with his Jeep during construction-related delays, later claiming he was in a rush because he had to urinate Regnier was driving near Canyon Junction (pictured) last year when a traffic delay caused by construction backed up vehicles for as long as 45 minutes - but the 67-year-old man attempted to bypass the blockages driving the opposite direction As he approached the park employees, Regnier voiced his frustration over how traffic was being managed through the construction zone, reportedly telling the flaggers he urgently needed to use a restroom. One employee sternly told Regnier he couldn't proceed and needed to back up, while the other stood in front of the Jeep, holding a stop sign like a shield, according to the press release. But instead of complying, Regnier put his foot on the gas, accelerating into the employee and physically knocking him backward - though the worker managed to leap out of the way just in time to avoid injury. The confrontation finally came to an end when park rangers intercepted Regnier at Trout Creek along Grand Loop Road, as reported by JH News & Guide. According to the court report obtained by the outlet, Regnier, who reportedly suffers from a medical condition, had already urinated in his pants by the time he was stopped by officers. Regnier was initially charged with three misdemeanors, including failure to comply with a traffic control device, according to JH News & Guide. In November 2024, just two months later, a grand jury charged Regnier with one count of assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. One employee sternly told Regnier he couldn't proceed and needed to back up, while the other stood in front of the Jeep, holding up a stop sign - but instead of complying, he accelerated into the employee and physically knocked him backward According to the court report, Regnier, who reportedly suffers from a medical condition, had already urinated in his pants by the time he was stopped by officers In this case, prosecutors argued, the weapon was Regnier's Jeep. Regnier's attorney, Ryan Wright, detailed his client's version of events, outlined in an April court filing obtained by Cowboy State Daily. He claimed that as he attempted to turn left, one of the park employees suddenly 'jumped in front of Mr. Regnier's moving Jeep, attempting to stop the Jeep with his bare hands'. The supervising flagger then reportedly told him to get back in line, but Regnier insisted he urgently needed to go to the bathroom, claiming the supervisor 'would not listen'. According to the court filing, Wright stated that the employee refused to move and continued attempting to stop Regnier's Jeep using both his body and hands. Eventually, Wright said, the park employee stepped to the side of the Jeep and struck the vehicle with his stop/slow signs as Regnier drove away. Using camera footage from the incident, Wright quoted the park employee who was struck by the Jeep - though he wasn't injured from the shove, according to Cowboy State Daily. Regnier's attorney claimed that as he attempted to turn left, one of the park employees suddenly 'jumped in front of Mr. Regnier's moving Jeep, attempting to stop the Jeep with his bare hands' Eventually, Wright said, the park employee stepped to the side of the Jeep and struck the vehicle with his stop/slow signs as Regnier drove away 'Do you think this is something that I can sue the guy for and maybe get some money?' the worker asked another person, according to the filing. 'What if I say I was too scared to flag ever again,' he added. 'Play the system. You know.' In the filing, Wright stated that Regnier had just changed his blood pressure medication about a week earlier at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to maintain his pilot's license. Wright wrote that the 67-year-old man experienced medical issues on the day of the incident, explaining how he felt unwell and had elevated blood pressure. According to the filing, law enforcement took Regnier to the hospital later that day, believing he was suffering from a heart attack. However, he was ultimately released from the hospital's care late that night. 'Mr. Regnier was very remorseful,' Wright wrote, as reported by Cowboy State Daily. On May 14, the court denied a motion to dismiss the charge against Regnier, which had argued that his urgent need to urinate - and uncertainty over whether national park flaggers were considered federal employees - justified dropping his case, as reported by JH News & Guide. On the day of the incident, Wright wrote that the 67-year-old man experienced medical issues, felt unwell and had elevated blood pressure, adding that he had just changed his medication a week earlier at the request of the FAA to maintain his pilot's license On May 21, Regnier was found guilty of the felony charge following the three-day trial, and now faces up to a $250,000 fine, $100 special assessment and 20 years in federal prison with three years of supervised release to follow Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook led the prosecution in the case, which was tried over three days before U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin. On May 21, Regnier was found guilty of the felony charge following the three-day trial in Cheyenne's US District Court, according to the US Attorney's Office press release. He now faces up to a $250,000 fine, $100 special assessment and 20 years in federal prison with three years of supervised release to follow. Sentencing has since been set for August 7. A Charles Manson follower who helped kill pregnant actress Sharon Tate could be freed from prison after being recommended parole following 55 years behind bars. Patricia Krenwinkel, 77, has been recommended for release by California authorities and may get a chance at freedom. California's longest-serving female inmate has been locked up since she was 22 for her part in the 1969 Manson family murders. Krenwinkel was sentenced to death in 1971 after being convicted on seven counts of first-degree murder, but her sentence was changed to life when the state's death penalty was ruled unconstitutional in 1972. This comes just a few years after Governor Gavin Newsom rejected a previous parole recommendation in 2022, saying she posed too great a risk to public safety. But the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said it intends to oppose her parole once again. In a statement to CBS 8, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said: 'The Parole Board commissioners will give special consideration to the elder parole factors as Ms. Krenwinkel is over 50 and has served 20 years in custody. 'But that in and of itself does not make her automatically appropriate for a grant. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office opposed parole the last time it attended a parole hearing for Ms. Krenwinkel in 2016 and 2017, where she received a five-year denial. The office intends to oppose parole again.' A Charles Manson follower who helped kill pregnant actress Sharon Tate could be freed from prison after being recommended parole following 55 years behind bars Krenwinkel met Manson when she was 19 and left everything behind to pursue a romantic relationship with him. Krenwinkel met Manson when she was 19 and left everything behind to pursue a romantic relationship with him. She was living with her older sister when she met Manson, then age 33, at a party during a time when she said she was feeling lost and alone. 'He seemed a bit bigger than life,' she testified in May 2022, and she started feeling 'that somehow his take on the world was the right, was the right one.' She said she left with him for what she thought would be a relationship with 'the new man in my life' who unlike others told her he loved her and that she was beautiful. Manson 'had answers that I wanted to hear ... that I might be loved, that I might have the kind of affection that I was looking forward to in my life,' she said. Instead, she said Manson abused her and others physically and emotionally while requiring that they trust him without question, testimony that led the parole panel to conclude that Krenwinkel was a victim of intimate partner battery at the time. Krenwinkel was convicted in the slayings of pregnant actor Sharon Tate and four other people in August 1969. Krenwinkel joined Susan Atkins and Charles 'Tex' Watson in the murder at director Roman Polanski's Benedict Canyon home. Charles Manson pictured in 1969 is escorted to his arraignment on conspiracy-murder charges in connection with the Sharon Tate murder case. He died in prison in 2017 Charles Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel (pictured in 2020) was previously denied parole 14 times for the slayings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and four other people in 1969. The next night, Krenwinkel helped kill grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary Charles Manson followers, from left: Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten, shown walking to court to appear for their roles in the 1969 cult killings of seven people, including pregnant actress Sharon Tate, in Los Angeles on August 20, 1970 The victims included Tate's unborn child, coffee heiress Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring and Steven Parent. The next night, she killed Leno LaBianca by stabbing him in the stomach with a carving fork they used at Thanksgiving. She wrote 'Death to Pigs' on the wall with his blood. She also helped kill his wife Rosemary in a double murder prosecutors say was an attempt by Manson to start a race war. In a 2016 parole hearing, she claimed Manson physically and emotionally abused her and trafficked her to others for sex. Her case will now go before California's Board of Parole Hearings and the governor for final approval in a process that could take up to five months. In 2022, Newsom blocked the parole of Krenwinkel, more than five decades after she scrawled 'Helter Skelter' on a wall using the blood of one of their victims. Krenwinkel and other followers of the cult leader terrorized the state in the late 1960s, committing crimes that Newsom said 'were among the most fear-inducing in California's history.' Charles Manson was the leader of a group of cultists who engaged in a frenzy of killing in the summer of 1969, culminating in the murder of the actress Sharon Tate and her unborn child. He died of natural causes not long after this photo was taken A two-member parole panel in May 2022 recommended that Krenwinkel be released, after she previously had been denied parole 14 times. Newsom has previously rejected parole recommendations for other followers of Manson, who died in prison in 2017. A small plane has crashed into the Long Island Sound off the coast of Connecticut as emergency crews rushed to rescue those on board. The Piper PA-32 went down on Sunday morning just ten minutes after it took off from Bridgeport-Sikorsky Airport around 10.30am. Before the plane went down, a call for assistance was made and the plane was directed to the Tweed New Haven Airport for an emergency landing, Newsday reported. 'The pilot was able to send his coordinates prior to the plane sinking,' Branford Fire Chief Thomas Mahoney said. 'The Coast Guard along with Branford Fire Department Marine 5 arrived on location, located the parties in the water [and] brought them safely aboard.' Tweed Regional Airport said the aircraft was eight miles from the airport when the pilot declared an emergency. 'HVN Tower and ground personnel immediately activated its emergency response protocols and notified relevant authorities,' Tweed said in a statement on Facebook. The aircraft crashed six miles from the airport and sunk into the water with its occupants suffering minor injuries, according to the Coast Guard. The Piper PA-32 went down on Sunday morning jus ten minutes after it took off from Bridgeport before crashing into the Long Island Sound off the coast of Connecticut Tweed New Haven Regional Airport confirmed the aircraft to be a Piper PA-32 with two occupants on board. Pictured: Stock New Haven Operations Fire Chief Danny Coughlin said first responders rescued the two people on board the aircraft six miles off the coast of New Haven New Haven Operations Fire Chief Danny Coughlin said first responders rescued the two people on board the aircraft six miles off the coast of New Haven, the Stamford Advocate reported. 'They were wet, cold, and had some cuts on the hands and face,' according to a Coast Guard spokesperson. Both occupants have been reported to be in stable condition after being transported to hospital. The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board told the Hartford Courant that information on the crash was still being gathered. 'The NTSB is aware and collecting information about the incident, but we are currently waiting on recovery efforts to make a determination on an investigation,' an NTSB spokesperson told the Courant. Tweed New Haven Airport posted on X: 'We are deeply relieved that both individuals were safely recovered and extend our sincere gratitude to all federal, state, and local responders for their swift and coordinated response.' She was found unresponsive in a high-risk jail cell A mother accused of murdering her three-year-old daughter has died in hospital after she was found unresponsive in a high-risk prison cell. Mother-of-three Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with murdering her three-year-old daughter Sophia. The little girl was found with multiple injuries in the front yard of the Moore Park Beach home, on the outskirts of Bundaberg in Queensland, on Monday afternoon. Flanigan was being held at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre awaiting a court hearing. However Queensland Corrective Services officers found her unresponsive on the floor of her cell on Friday and tried to resuscitate her. Paramedics took her to hospital in a critical condition but she died on Sunday night. Queensland Corrective Services said it will review how Flanigan died despite being assessed as high-risk and requiring close monitoring. It is understood Flanigan was placed in a specialised unit for high-risk prisoners known as the Crisis Support Unit at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre. Mother-of-three Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, 32, died in hospital on Sunday after she was found unresponsive in a high-risk prison cell Flanigan was awaiting her next court date after she allegedly stabbed her three-year-old daughter Sophia to death in the front yard of their Queensland home There are strict protective measures in place to assess and care for prisoners deemed as high-risk. Prisoners are kept in a line of sight, placed in cells specifically designed to reduce the risk of self-harm and have psychological assessments. 'The incident will be subject to an internal management review at the centre,' a Queensland Correctional Services spokesman told the Courier Mail. 'It has been referred to the QCS Critical Incident Review and Inspections Group, Professional Standards and Governance Command for an independent review. 'The incident has also been referred to the Corrective Services Investigation Unit (of the) Queensland Police Service. 'There are established processes to facilitate the reception of prisoners identified as high risk due to mental and physical health concerns. 'Several protective measures are in place to prevent prisoners from harming themselves, including comprehensive suicide risk assessment and management plans which inform where prisoners are accommodated and how they are monitored.' Flanigan had not been required to appear in person at Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday and her legal representative made no application for bail. Her case was adjourned until July 21. MMA fighter and mine worker Jai Ruane, Sophia's father, arrived home to be with his other two children, aged one and two, on Tuesday (both are pictured) An investigation has been launched into the circumstances surrounding the incident and how Flanigan was found unresponsive despite being held in a high-risk cell Emergency services rushed to Flanigan's central Queensland home at about 4.45pm on Monday following reports from concerned neighbours. It's alleged she stabbed Sophia multiple times in the front yard of the property while her two other children were inside the home. Acting Superintendent Brad Inskip said a bladed weapon was allegedly found at the scene. The two other children, aged one and two, were unharmed. They are now in the care of others. Sophia's father, MMA fighter and mine worker Jai Ruane, rushed home after police informed him of the incident. Mr Ruane described little Sophia as 'the light of his life'. 'Always smiling, always wanting to help,' he said. 'Just full of life and love. She just had a huge heart.' In 2021, Flanigan shared pictures of her growing baby bump while pregnant with Sophia Mr Ruane added the tragedy could have been prevented but the system had failed and his daughter paid the price with her life. Hundreds of locals gathered for a vigil on Sunday evening to honour Sophia. Moore Park Beach residents dressed in pink and sparkles as they lit up the foreshore with candles and glow sticks. One of Sophia's educators from Kids and Co, Libby French explained candles were used to symbolise the light the three-year-old brought into the world. Another educator from Kids and Co, Kristielle Burrage, added Sophia loved everything pink, glittery, and beautiful. Those in attendance also danced to Sophia's favourite song - Barbie Girl by Aqua. Last week it was revealed Flanigan had previously made a series of posts about her religion, writing 'God is calling his army out of hiding'. It's understood Flanigan was a member of the Alive Church in Bundaberg and would often share posts about her faith to her social media accounts. 'Faith. Family. Future. Fitness. Built for wealth. Wired for freedom. Digital Systems. Elite Strategy. No Excuses,' her account profile reads. In September last year, Flanigan shared pictures of Sophia in a pink princess dress on Instagram with the caption 'my divine babies'. In 2021, she shared pictures of her growing baby bump while pregnant with Sophia. A cabinet minister minister refused to say Lord Hermer was safe in his job yesterday after likening Right-wing British politicians to Nazis. Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to sack his Attorney General over controversial comments he made in a speech last week that were seen as directed towards the Tories and Reform UK. Asked twice yesterday whether Lord Hermers job was safe, Defence Secretary John Healey did not directly address the question. Hes a really good attorney general. He made a mistake. He apologised. We move on, Mr Healey told Trevor Phillips on Sky News. The Governments legal chief has suffered a backlash for referencing 1930s Germany as he criticised other parties for saying Britain should quit institutions such as the European Convention on Human Rights. He faced calls to quit from opposition parties for his claims that their actions are akin to those of Nazi ideologists who called for state power to trump the law. He also faced criticism from Labour MPs and Cabinet ministers. The Prime Ministers long-time friend and ally was eventually forced to apologise for his clumsy language, though he rejected how it had been portrayed. His remarks are also unhelpful for Labour, which is under pressure from Nigel Farages Reform after its sweeping gains in the local elections. A cabinet minister minister refused to say Lord Hermer (pictured) was safe in his job yesterday after likening Right-wing British politicians to Nazis Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to sack his Attorney General over controversial comments he made in a speech last week that were seen as directed towards the Tories and Reform UK Ministers are looking to legally constrain judges interpretation of international law over concerns it prevents foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers including sex offenders from deportation. Yesterday, Labour MP and ex-minister Graham Stringer accused the Attorney General of aiding the rise of Reform by ignoring voter concerns about immigration. He told The Mail on Sunday: Hes convincing Labour voters [that the party] does not understand their legitimate concerns about immigration. 'It is not far-Right and Nazi to raise genuine concerns about the scale of immigration and the cost of housing migrants. Hes doing Reforms work for them. A spokesman insisted Sir Keir has full confidence in Lord Hermer, but it comes after several controversial interventions by the legal chief. He has upset colleagues over his adherence to international agreements and low-risk approach to legal challenges and has also been accused of leading the surrender of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius under the terms of a questionable deal. Mr Stringer added: Lord Hermer should never have been appointed in the first place. Its his ridiculous advice that has led us to spend 30billion to keep a military base we already had. And Labour peer Lord Glasman, founder of the influential Blue Labour movements, added that the Attorney Generals remarks made him unfit for government office. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick and Reform deputy Richard Tice have all called for Lord Hermer to go. Sir Lindsay Hoyle splurged nearly 5,500 on private planes during a Caribbean tour, it can be revealed. The Commons Speaker used more taxpayers money to charter three planes to hop between the paradise islands of St Maarten, Montserrat, Anguilla and Antigua. It was part of a week-long jaunt which included a two-night official visit to Montserrat to meet his counterpart on the island. It also included a four-night stay in Anguilla to attend the Conference of Speakers of the UK House of Commons and Overseas Territories. In total, Sir Lindsay spent more than 100,000 of taxpayers cash sponsoring the conference. While it was reported during the 2023 trip Sir Lindsay travelled there by private plane and stayed in hotels costing up to 900 a night, it was not known that he had chartered three private planes while in the Caribbean or that he went to St Maarten and Antigua neither being on the trip docket. The Daily Mail had fought for further details of the trip that previously were not spelled out in Sir Lindsays official log, via Freedom of Information requests. The private plane from St Maarten to Montserrat cost 2,350. From Montserrat to Anguilla and then from there to Antigua cost 1,500 each for Sir Lindsay and three officials. The newly discovered flights come to a total of 5,350 of taxpayers cash. Sir Lindsay Hoyle splurged nearly 5,500 on private planes during a Caribbean tour, it can be revealed The list, obtained via Freedom of Information requests, breaks down the extravagant sums A complete bill of 101,552.60 was splurged on throwing the speakers conference so eight of Sir Lindsays counterparts and 30 delegates could attend with 47,962.43 spent on flights. He also handed the National Assembly of Anguilla a 50,000 organising grant to prepare for the conference. It comes amid growing questions about the scale of Sir Lindsays travel expenses, which have surged past 300,000 since he became Speaker in 2019. He has taken his wife on several trips along with up to four staff. On his latest jaunt to Malaysia in the middle of February, he spent more than 25,000 on business-class flights, hotels and restaurants for him and staff. John OConnell, of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Taxpayers will be livid that they have to pick up these sky-high bills for private planes. Getting government business overseas done quickly is one thing, but continuing to stump up for politicians with a taste for the good life is quite another. 'Politicians have to cut out unnecessary spending and treat taxpayers with the respect they deserve. Former Tory cabinet minister David Jones said: To spend money on three chartered aircraft flights in the Caribbean, at a time when the people of this country were suffering greatly as a consequence of the massive increase in the cost of living, is turning a tin ear to public sentiment. It shouldnt be happening. It comes amid growing questions about the scale of Sir Lindsays travel expenses, which have surged past 300,000 since he became Speaker in 2019 Its a very nice jolly in the Caribbean, but to hire private planes to cruise around is not a good look. Its just not acceptable. Referring to the fact that Sir Lindsay was a Labour MP before becoming the Commons Speaker, he added: Given how Labour are whacking up taxes at the moment, the old champagne socialist jibe has come true. I voted for Sir Lindsay Hoyle for a change from [former Commons Speaker] John Bercow, because I thought hed be a refreshing change. But I dont see much difference. The Speakers Office said one reason details of the private planes were not listed in his official travel expenses log was because some of the costs were allocated to the Clerk of the House, while some were included in the overall budget for sponsoring the conference. They said he flew via St Maarten and then chartered a private plane for the Montserrat official visit because there were no direct flights. They said he flew home via Antigua because there were no direct flights. Sunrise host Nat Barr has questioned whether it's time for Kevin Rudd to be axed from his role as US ambassador following Donald Trump's plan to further increase tariffs. Trump has announced he will raise the tariff on steel imported into the US from 25 per cent to 50 per cent from June 4. 'Should we axe Kevin Rudd from the US and move him on and would we get further with Trump?' Barr asked Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek and former deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce on Monday. The Sunrise guests clashed on Rudd's effectiveness as US ambassador. Plibersek said Rudd has been 'extraordinarily active' and developed 'excellent' relationships with both Republicans and Democrats 'You know that he's hardworking. He's got enormous capacity. He's an excellent ambassador, and at the end of the day, Australia chooses our ambassadors,' Plibersek said. 'We don't allow other countries to choose our ambassadors for us.' 'But they choose whether they want to talk to them or not and that's the problem,' Joyce hit back. Nat Barr (pictured) questioned whether Kevin should keep his position as US ambassador following Donald Trump's decision to further raise tariffs Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said Kevin Rudd (pictured) had developed 'excellent' relationships with both Republicans and Democrats Joyce accused Rudd of 'not kicking a goal' in the US because he's been unable to secure a better deal. 'I'm not saying he's a bad ambassador, but he's not suited for the United States ,' Joyce said. 'The prime minister should be adroit enough to say "Kevin you're off to London" and someone else is off to the United States.' Plibersek argued Anthony Albanese's government is working to secure access for Australian steel manufacturers to the US market. She also noted the government has recently signed a trade deal with the United Arab Emirates. Trump's latest announcement comes after his 'Liberation Day tariffs', which saw Australia hit with a 10 per cent tariff on all imports to the US as part of a global tariff regime. He announced plans to increase the tariff on steel imported into the US during a speech to workers at a U.S. Steel owned plant in West Mifflin, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. US President Donald Trump (pictured) will increase the tariff on steel imported into the United States from 25 per cent to 50 per cent Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek and former deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce clashed after Sunrise host Nat Barr asked if Kevin Rudd should be axed The increased tariffs will take effect on June 4. Trump later said on Truth Social that it will also apply to aluminium imported into the US. 'We're imposing a 25 per cent increase. We're going to bring it to 50 per cent, the tariffs on steel into America, which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States,' Trump told the crowd of workers. Trade Minister Don Farrell said the new hike was 'unjustified' and 'not the act of a friend', and Australia would continue to oppose the tariffs. 'They are an act of economic self-harm that will only hurt consumers and businesses who rely on free and fair trade. We will continue to engage and advocate strongly for the removal of the tariffs,' he said. Australia's total steel exports were worth $1.76billion in 2024, while aluminium was worth $5.7billion. Of this, $370million worth of iron and steel, and $430million worth of aluminium went to the US, according to the United Nations Comtrade database. The terrorist who attacked peaceful pro-Israel protestors with a makeshift flamethrower in Colorado on Sunday has been identified as an 'illegal alien'. Mohamed Sabry Soliman, 45, allegedly injured eight people aged between 52 and 88 - setting at least one ablaze - at a demonstration honoring the October 7 victims who are still being held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza. Boulder Police said the horror unfolded during an event organized by Run For Their Lives on Pearl Street Mall in the city's downtown just before 1.30pm local time on Sunday, the first day of a Jewish holiday called Shavuot. FBI Director Kash Patel called the incident a 'terror attack' while Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said it 'appears to be a hate crime given the group that was targeted'. Shocking footage from the scene showed several victims laying motionless on the ground beside Israel flags as witnesses rushed to pour water on their wounds. Soliman, who lives in El Paso county, Texas, appeared to taunt the victims while brandishing bottles of alcohol for the Molotov cocktails in each hand as smoke rose from the scene. Wearing only jeans and sunglasses, he yelled: 'End Zionists... they are terrorists' and 'free Palestine'. He also said: 'How many children have you killed?' according to the ADL Center on Extremism. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Soliman is an 'illegal alien' who arrived in the US on a visa issued by the Biden administration. When he illegally overstayed that visa, he was given a second chance and issued a new work permit. Mohamed Sabry Soliman (pictured), 45, attacked demonstrators as they gathered to remember the October 7 victims who are still being held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza Six people have been injured after a screaming shirtless man hurled Molotov cocktails at them during a peaceful pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado Shocking video and images from the scene showed several victims laying motionless on the ground beside Israel flags as witnesses rushed to pour water on their wounds FBI Director Kash Patel tweeted about the incident just after 5.20pm A border official told Fox News Soliman is from Egypt, and that he first arrived in the US after landing at Los Angeles International Airport on August 27, 2022, using a non-immigrant visa. He was authorized to stay until February 2, 2023, but he never left. He filed a claim with US Citizenship and Immigration Services on September 9, 2022, and he was granted a work permit to stay in the US until March 2025. Disturbing footage of Soliman's attack showed EMTs used stretchers to move people into ambulances while flames spread in patches across the ground. Another video showed what looked like a burn scar across the ground close to the city's old courthouse. Blackened burned-out bottles littered the scene. Boulder Police Chief Steve Redfearn told a press conference that victims suffered 'injuries consistent with burns, and other injuries' and that wounds ranged from 'minor' to 'potentially life-threatening'. Law enforcement told NBC just before 8pm that one person was in a critical condition. Mark Michalek, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Denver field office, told another press conference later on Sunday that witnesses said Soliman used 'a makeshift flamethrower and threw an incendiary device into the crowd'. FBI Director Kash Patel called the incident 'a targeted terror attack'. 'Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information becomes available,' Patel wrote on X. Boulder Police said they were evacuating several blocks of the typically popular pedestrian mall area. Chief Redfearn added that Soliman was taken into custody 'without incident'. Soliman, who was wearing sunglasses and jeans with no shirt when he was detained, was also taken to the hospital with 'minor injuries'. Chief Redfearn did not disclose the motivation behind the attack. 'It would be irresponsible for me to speculate on motive this early on,' he said. Boulder Police were also initially split with the FBI on whether to call the incident a terror attack, with Redfearn saying it was too early to define the incident. Soliman appeared to taunt the victims while brandishing bottles of alcohol for the Molotov cocktails in each hand as smoke rose from the scene Several people have been injured in a 'targeted terror attack' involving Molotov cocktails in Boulder, Colorado Pictured: Law enforcement officials investigate after an attack on the Pearl Street Mall Sunday, June 1, 2025, in downtown Boulder, Colorado 'My thoughts are with those injured and impacted by today's attack against a group that meets weekly on Boulder's Pearl Street Mall to call for the release of the hostages in Gaza,' Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement. 'From what we know, this attack appears to be a hate crime given the group that was targeted.' 'People may have differing views about world events and the Israeli-Hamas conflict, but violence is never the answer to settling differences,' he added. 'Hate has no place in Colorado. We all have the right to peaceably assemble and the freedom to speak our views. 'But these violent actswhich are becoming more frequent, brazen and closer to homemust stop and those who commit these horrific acts must be fully held to account.' FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino called the incident 'an act of terror and targeted violence'. 'All of the necessary assets will be dedicated to this investigation. If you have any investigative tips please contact the FBI. And if you aided or abetted this attack, we will find you. You cannot hide,' he wrote on X. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement that he was 'closely monitoring' the situation, adding that 'hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable.' Pictured: Smoke rising from the scene of the terror attack in Boulder on Sunday afternoon More images showed cops arresting a shirtless man at the scene, Pearl Street Mall in Boulder Police and the FBI said the horror unfolded at Pearl Street Mall on Sunday afternoon Demonstrators met at 1pm at Pearl Street and 8th Street in downtown Boulder to walk the length of Pearl Street Mall. The weekly event draws attention to the 58 Israeli people who have been held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza since October 7, 2023. 'This is not a protest; it is a peaceful walk to show solidarity with the hostages and their families, and a plea for their release,' Run For Their Lives said in a statement. Eyewitness Brooke Coffman said she saw 'a big fire go up' at the scene, prompting her to call 911. Coffman told NBC she saw two women 'rolling around a little bit' in their underwear after having stripped out of their burning clothes with 'really bad burns all up on their legs.' Another woman nearby screamed as she suffered with burns on her legs. Coffman said one victim had her hair completely singed off. California tourist Alex Osante was eating at an Italian restaurant off Boulders famed Pearl Street pedestrian mall when he heard a big boom and saw a woman on fire from head to toe on fire. Eyewitness Brooke Coffman said she saw 'a big fire go up' at the scene, prompting her to call 911. (Pictured: Police detaining the suspect at the scene) Six people have been injured after a screaming shirtless man hurled Molotov cocktails at them during a peaceful pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado People were screaming and yelling tripping over each other, Osante told the Daily Mail. The terrorist had a Molotov cocktail in his hand. He had two other bottles, and he threw a bottle at the group, and a lady caught on fire from head to toe. She was fully immersed in fire. And then the other few people, maybe four others, were also on fire but not as bad.' Police have asked residents to avoid the stretch of Pearl Street between Walnut and Pine as they continue to investigate. They later urged people to stop flying helicopters over the scene due to the aircraft disrupting their drone response. The Boulder attack occurred as law enforcement authorities in the US grapple with a sharp spike in antisemitic violence. It comes just over a week after a man was arrested over the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, DC on May 22. The victims were identified as German-Israeli dual national Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and his girlfriend Sarah Milgrim, 26. Lischinsky had been planning to propose to Milgrim after buying a ring. The suspect, 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez, repeatedly shouted 'Free Palestine' after shooting them dead, as police dragged him away. It comes just over a week after a man was arrested over the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, DC on May 22. The victims were identified as German-Israeli dual national Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and his girlfriend Sarah Milgrim, 26, pictured together Jewish human rights organization the Simon Wiesenthal Center said the Boulder attack came on the eve of a religious holiday. 'On the eve of Shavuot, a sacred celebration of Jewish identity and tradition, we are forced yet again to confront a horrifying reality: Being Jewish, supporting Israel, or simply gathering as a community now makes American Jews a target,' the center's CEO Jim Berk said. 'This afternoon in Boulder, Colorado, a man threw a Molotov cocktail into a peaceful solidarity walk calling for the release of 58 hostages still held by Hamas, a humanitarian cause that should unite, not divide.' He blamed the attack, as well as the murders of the Israeli embassy staffers, on 'months of anti-Israel propaganda, moral equivocation, and silence in the face of raging antisemitism'. 'The nonstop demonization of Israel and Zionism on our campuses, in our streets, and across digital platforms has created a climate where hate flourishes, and physical attackseven murderof Jews is inevitable,' Berk said. British businesses fear hackers could completely wipe them out following the devastating cyberattack on Marks & Spencer, a survey has found. Two thirds of security leaders at medium and large sized companies in the UK admit an assault on a similar scale could 'cripple' their organisation. Experts have warned the financial damage from ransom demands and clean up costs can often cost millions of pounds - enough to jeopardise some firms' futures. The poll by Absolute Security was carried out just weeks after M&S was hit over the Easter holidays, costing the retailer 300m and shaving 1bn off its market value. M&S boss Stuart Machin recently admitted the attack - caused by 'human error' - had been 'the most challenging situation we've encountered'. Security leaders further revealed staff still working from home remained a major problem, with 62% revealing remote devices were the 'biggest weakness' in their digital defences. Over half - 51 per cent - of the businesses polled had been hit by a ransomware attack in the past year, with 59 per cent citing it as their biggest concern. The consequences of such an attack are profound, with 63 per cent of the 250 security leaders polled in May revealing the financial loss from ransomware could cripple their organisation. British businesses fear hackers could completely wipe them out following the devastating cyberattack on Marks & Spencer, a survey has found The average cost of a ransomware attack on businesses is 850,000 in the UK - but this can rise exponentially for larger firms. The LockBit group demanded 65m demanded after hacking the Royal Mail in 20243. The recovery costs from a cyberattack last year on Synnovis, a pathology services provider for the NHS that led to the cancellation and delay of thousands of medical procedures, were estimated at 32m - over seven times the company's annual profits. Several UK firms have already gone bust following cyberattacks. In 2020, Peterborough-based Travelex went into administration after being hit by a cyber attack by the notorious criminal gang REvil - who demanded a 4.6m ransom - on New Year's Eve. The attack caused a month of disruption, with staff unable to use computers to keep track of trading, and impacting high-profile clients including Barclays and Asda. The company said it 'had a large part to play' in the company filing for insolvency later that year, with 1,300 employees losing their jobs. KNP Logistics - one of the UK's largest privately owned logistics groups - suffered a similar fate after a huge ransomware attack in June 2023. Three months later, it blamed the cyberattack when it was claimed bankruptcy, making 730 staff redundant. Over the past month, major UK retailers - including M&S, Co-op, and Harrods - were hit by a wave of coordinated cyberattacks attributed to a hacker group known as Scattered Spider Over the past month, major UK retailers - including M&S, Co-op, and Harrods - were hit by a wave of coordinated cyberattacks attributed to a hacker group known as Scattered Spider. The attacks primarily used so-called 'social engineering' tactics, in which criminals manipulate employees into sharing sensitive information to get them into internal IT systems. As a result,one of the biggest challenges remains the threat posed by staff working from home, with critics claiming employees refusing to come into the office often fail to install up-to-date security on their laptops for weeks or even months. The survey revealed 60 per cent of security leaders believe remote working has 'complicated' their ability to defend against cyberattacks. Jake Moore, global security advisor at cybersecurity software company ESET, said: 'It's not surprising that the majority of medium and large businesses would see their future thrown into doubt after a cyberattack. 'Ransom demands are often in the millions, but even when the ransom isn't paid, the costs associated with recovery and lost revenue can be staggering. 'In some cases, such as with M&S, the clean up operation can even cost far more than the original ransom payment forcing an unbelievably difficult decision at the time of attack.' Andy Ward, SVP at Absolute Security, said: 'Recent high-profile cyber attacks have highlighted just how vulnerable major British retailersand indeed many UK businesseshave become. Cybercriminals now have the capacity to severely disrupt, or even dismantle, organisations at scale. 'Our research reveals that many large and medium-sized UK businesses believe that a serious cyber incident could cripple their operations or threaten their very survival.' The wife of Colorado terror attack suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman turned over his iPhone to police after he attacked a group of peaceful pro-Israel protesters with a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails. Soliman, 45, has been charged with first-degree murder and assault over the fiery attack. Soliman, in his confession, said he wanted to 'kill all Zionists'. He told investigators he left messages for his family on his iPhone 14, which his wife handed over to the Colorado Springs Police Department shortly after his arrest, according to a federal affidavit. Investigators also recovered a journal from his home in which he planned out the horrific attack. Four additional victims have been identified in the Boulder attack, which Soliman planned the attack for more than a year and specifically targeted what he described as a Zionist group. President Donald Trump has vowed that Soliman will be 'prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law' - while also blaming Joe Biden's 'ridiculous open border' immigration policies for contributing to the attack. The Justice Department - which leads investigations into acts of violence driven by religious, racial or ethnic motivations - called the attack a 'needless act of violence' and charged Soliman with a federal hate crime Monday morning. A protestor who set fire to a Koran outside the Turkish consulate in London said he would not have come to Britain had he known free speech was 'under threat here'. Hamit Coskun, 50, burned Islam's holy book to highlight how Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's constitutionally secular government had become an 'Islamist regime'. Mr Coskun who is half Turkish and half Armenian, was attacked by a knifeman during his protest and has since been assaulted by extremists near his home. Police have now moved him to a secret location where he is watched by two bodyguards. After a hearing last week at Westminster Magistrates' Court he will learn today whether a judge has found him guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence and another charge of disorderly behaviour. In an exclusive interview with the Mail, the father-of-two said: 'I would never have come here if I knew this country does not have free speech. 'I would never have come if I knew criticising Islam would attract attention and risk. Radical Islamists do not exist in Turkey they exist in the UK.' Mr Coskun a secularist who fled Turkey almost three years ago to escape persecution came to Britain as an asylum seeker. Hamit Coskun, 50, burned Islam's holy book to highlight how Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's constitutionally secular government had become an 'Islamist regime' He accepts that burning the Koran was offensive. But he insists he committed the act to protest against Mr Erdogan (pictured) rather than Muslims in general His desecration of the Koran was posted instantly on social media, stirring anger across the Muslim community. As he set fire to the book, which Muslims believe is the literal word of God, and so must never be desecrated, he shouted: 'F*** Islam, Islam is a religion of terrorism.' He was charged with using 'threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress'. Last week, his defence lawyer told the court that prosecutors were 'seeking to introduce a law unknown to this land, namely blasphemy in relation to Islam'. Mr Coskun said a guilty verdict would be a victory of extremism over free speech, adding: 'It will become a limitation of freedom of expression, because they are trying to eliminate anyone who is criticising Islam. 'This proves they are trying to enforce blasphemy law in this country. This is not what a democratic country would do.' He accepts that burning the Koran was offensive. But he insists he committed the act to protest against Mr Erdogan rather than Muslims in general. The Free Speech Union and the National Secular Society have paid for Mr Coskun's legal fees and his private security. Stephen Evans, chief executive of the NSS, said last night: 'A successful prosecution would represent the effective criminalisation of damaging a Koran in public, ushering in blasphemy laws by the back door. 'The case also highlights the alarming use of public-order laws to curtail our collective right to freedom of expression and protest based on the subjective reactions of others. Establishing a right not to be offended threatens the very foundation of free expression.' When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle emerged from St George's Chapel as husband and wife, their wedding was already being touted as a picture-perfect affair. The Royal Family looked more united than ever. Prince William was best man and Prince Charles even walked Meghan down the aisle. But behind the idyllic scenes on that sunny Saturday in 2018, royal authors say tensions within the Firm had been running high for months - with claims that Harry and Meghan had been at loggerheads with royal staff throughout the preparations for the big day. Tina Brown in her bestselling book The Palace Papers even went so far as to claim that the lead-up to the wedding was a 's*** show' and said sources told her: 'Preparation for the Sussex union was all drama, all the time.' It was Harry and Meghan at the centre, and aides told Brown that they became 'fed up' with the Sussexes' constant demands. Two major flashpoints are believed to have stemmed from discussions over which tiara Meghan was to wear and bridesmaid dresses. The soon-to-be Duchess of Sussex clashed with Angela Kelly, the late Queen Elizabeth's personal advisor for her wardrobe, over her tiara, according to royal writer Tom Bower. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leave St George's Chapel as the newly minted Duke and Duchess of Sussex in May 2018 Harry and Meghan wave at well-wishers during their wedding Queen Elizabeth II at Harry and Meghan's wedding 'Meghan alighted on a tiara sparkling with emeralds. Her choice was approved by Harry. Kelly suggested that its Russian origin made it unsuitable,' Bowers wrote in his biography Revenge, which documents Harry and Meghan's fall-out with the Royal Family. Harry reportedly became angry with Kelly, leading to the prince receiving a dressing down from his grandmother. During the meeting, Harry was put 'firmly in his place' and warned by the Queen that 'Meghan cannot have whatever she wants. She gets what tiara shes given by me,' The Times reported. Meghan eventually opted to wear Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau, but this was not the end of the tiara-related drama. During wedding rehearsals, Meghan asked that the tiara be taken out of storage so her hairdresser - who had flown from New York - could work around the 2million headwear. The request was refused on the grounds that permission was needed from the Queen herself. Harry once again became angry with Kelly and reportedly told her: 'What Meghan wants, Meghan gets'. Ingrid Seward, author of My Mother And I, claimed Harry's behaviour led to yet another meeting with the Queen. Kate Middleton with a young Princess Charlotte as a bridesmaid on the wedding day Meghan smiles while wearing Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau on her wedding day Leading members of the Royal Family in St George's Chapel during the ceremony According to Seward, Lady Elizabeth Anson - Queen Elizabeth's cousin and close friend - said that that the monarch was 'dismayed by Harry's high-handed attitude before and after the wedding', which is likely in reference to the tiara fiasco. But perhaps the most notorious clash of personalities took place between Meghan and her soon-to-be sister-in-law Kate Middleton. It has been widely reported that the tense stand-off between Kate and Meghan took place after Charlotte's fitting for her bridesmaid dress. According to Bower, Kate allegedly believed that the bridesmaids should wear tights as per royal protocol. However, at Meghan's 'insistence' the tradition was dropped. Their biggest disagreement was over the length of Charlotte's hem, which Kate believed was too short for the three-year-old princess. Meghan's assistant Melissa Toubati and dress-fitter Clare Waight Keller claimed to have 'witnessed Meghan emphatically reject Kate's observation,' Bower said. The altercation caused Kate to burst into tears according to presenter and friend of Queen Camilla, Kirstie Allsopp. Reports differ about what happened next. Bower wrote that Kate went over to Meghan's quarters in Kensington Palace with a bunch of flowers and asked her not to speak rudely to her staff. Harry and Meghan share a kiss outside St George's Chapel The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in the chapel 'In Kate's version, Meghan slammed the door in her face and threw the flowers in a dustbin,' Bower wrote. After the wedding it was the now-Princess of Wales' report of the altercation that made headlines about Meghan's 'diva' behaviour. Brown wrote that the Duchess of Sussex 'demanded the Palace denounce or correct the story' and she was 'outraged' when they did not immediately deny the claim. 'The culture of the Palace press department is almost never to comment on personal matters relating to the family,' Brown added. Meghan would recall her version of events during her bombshell interview with US talk show host Oprah Winfrey in 2021. There, she claimed that the tears were in fact hers, and the flowers an apology. 'A few days before the wedding, she was upset about something pertaining - yes, the issue was correct - about flower-girl dresses, and it made me cry, and it really hurt my feelings,' Meghan said during the interview. 'What was hard to get over was being blamed for something that not only I didnt do but that happened to me.' And the people who were part of our wedding going to our comms team and saying, "I know this didnt happen". I dont have to tell them what actually happened,' she added. Tensions were inflamed further during Harry and Meghan's controversial interview with Oprah Winfrey Harry's memoir, Spare, added fuel to the fire when it was published in 2023 After the wedding, Harry and Meghan's 'mutual addiction to drama' - as Brown wrote - did not end after the couple stepped down as working royals, and they have been at loggerheads with other members of the Royal Family on numerous occasions since. Tensions were inflamed further during Harry and Meghan's controversial interview with Oprah and following the publication of his memoir Spare in 2023. Lady Elizabeth told royal biographer Katie Nicholl: 'I don't think the Queen ever truly understood Harry's decision to leave. 'Turning one's back on duty is completely alien to the Queen and she has been left very hurt by it all.' Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview only damaged the increasingly fraught relationship with the Royal Family further. While the Queen did not live to see the publication of Harry's memoir, it is likely she would not have approved of the intimate details of royal life revealed in the bestselling book. This included revelations that Harry allegedly lost his virginity to a much older woman in a field behind a pub and that he took cocaine at 17 and smoked marijuana at Eton. The Duke of Sussex also revealed his last words to the late Queen when she was on her deathbed in Balmoral in September 2022. A Royal Family portrait at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Harry claimed he whispered to his grandmother that he 'hoped she was happy' and would be reunited with her husband, the late Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April 2021. Harry also claimed in the book that he and William had pleaded with their father not to marry Camilla. 'We support you, we said. We endorse Camilla, we said. Just please don't marry her. Just be together, Pa,' Harry wrote. On top of this, he claimed that Kate and Meghan had a row over the Duchess of Sussex's comment that the Princess of Wales had 'baby brain', and he described his brother as his 'arch-nemesis'. It has been previously been claimed that Prince Harry had second-thoughts about publishing the book after he returned home following the Queen's death. But publication went ahead and it has only pushed an even greater wedge between Harry and the other royals. Though no members of the Royal Family have publicly commented on Harry's foray into writing, it's understood that behind the scenes, the reaction was one of pain. Q: If communism is good, why are the Chinese migrating to other countries? A: If Canada is good, why do Canadians migrate to the US? If the US is good, why do Americans migrate to Canada? If Europe is good, why do Europeans migrate to Canada and the US? We call this a free world where people have the freedom of migration. China is an open and free society the people can migrate to other places. This is the thesis of tearing down the Berlin Wall. If China doesnt allow its citizens to migrate to other countries, China will be condemned as authoritarian. Migration is one of the aspects of freedom. People have the freedom of migration. This is a basic human right. Only in a feudal society are people attached to land and cannot migrate. People should have the freedom to choose where he or she live. Is India bed that more Indians are migrating to other countries? Is the UK so bad that there Britain migrate to Canada? For a decade, there have been many refugees and asylum seekers crossing the Roxham Rd, trafficking from the US into Canada. None of them is Chinese. Europe had a refugee crisis, and that is the main reason for the Brexit referendum. Chinese is not a source of refugees that caused the crisis. Chinese emigrants are a normal human exchange between countries with normal diplomatic relationships. The US benefits from the brain drain of attracting Chinese talent into the US. The US is built by talents from all over the world, including from China. Recently, the talent flow has reversed direction, and many talents have migrated from the US to China. China never complains about migration, immigration, or emigration. Millions of Americans live in communities governed by a homeowners association (HOA), and the number has only increased in recent years. But many buyers don't known much about the HOA they're joining, and the boards typically like to keep it that way. An HOA could have meticulous rules about landscaping, be overbearing about house upkeep or even implement a major price hike on fees down the line. But in Florida, it seems the tables may have turned in the power dynamic between HOA boards and residents. Sellers are increasingly desperate to unload their homes in the saturated market, and buyers are using that to their advantage. Savvy purchasers have started their own investigations into the history of buildings, and are asking for detailed budget information from HOA boards before they sign a contract. Some are even demanding to see financial records stretching back years. Increasingly, panicked sellers and HOA boards are having to fold to buyers' every desire. Florida realtor Jaclyn Bild told the Daily Mail about one instance where buyers required a meeting with the HOA president before purchasing. Florida real estate agent Jaclyn Bild, pictured 'That was the craziest one,' she said. 'The demands buyers are coming up with can get insane.' HOAs are meant to oversee general maintenance of the neighborhood using a pool of money made up of dues paid by residents in the area. For example, it may remove a fallen tree on community property, upkeep shared swimming pools or make sure the neighborhood is landscaped. Some can get extremely involved in what residents do with their properties, and tyrannical HOA boards are so notorious that they've been used as plot points in TV dramas like Desperate Housewives. It is a storyline many Americans across the country can relate to: When new residents of the fictional neighborhood decided to install a bold water sculpture outside their home on idyllic Wisteria Lane, it was met with a wrath of fury from the local HOA. But when it comes to real-life living, Bild says the tide is turning in favor of prospective residents. Buyers' requests and demands have gotten out of hand, she said, but in a buyer's market, a seller will do almost anything to close the deal - even if that means begging their HOA president to open their financial books to an outside party. Bild recently sold one Miami condo that required she fulfil a very unusual request that she's seeing more and more: Before signing anything, the prospective buyer demanded a Zoom conference with the condo association president in order to ask all their burning budget questions. The buyer wanted to find out about whether there might be costly repairs coming up or an unanticipated bump in HOA fees. Bild said this was the first time she ever had a client ask for a meeting like this. In fact, she says the HOA board would likely have turned down the request, but since condo sellers and their real-estate agents are having to put in more work in order to get deals through, she managed to pull it off. 'The deal would have fallen through without that call,' she said. The buyer is now in contract for the condo. Tyrannical homeowners association boards are so notorious that they have become part of TV drama plots in shows including Desperate Housewives The Desperate Housewives plotline saw new residents install a water sculpture outside their home in the idyllic community, much to the fury of the local HOA board Buyers who follow the real estate market have grown wise to rising HOA fees and the importance of building reserves, Bild told the Daily Mail. 'Now, someone really wants to understand every line item of an HOA budget, what went up, what went down and why,' she said. 'The smart ones are asking questions and want to understand the financial profile of the building or home.' Some communities in Florida are seeing their HOA fees soar by thousands of dollars. The increases are in part to cover rising insurance costs in the state and to meet the obligations set out in new legislation following the June 2021 Surfside condo collapse in South Florida that killed 98 people. The collapse happened when faulty support columns in the tenant garage and adjoining pool deck buckled. Federal investigators said the steel-reinforced concrete columns in the doomed building were half the strength they should have been. A mad rush to repair residential buildings followed, with HOAs charging huge monthly fees to fill their empty reserves. Plus, more frequent natural disasters in the state, such as hurricanes and flooding, have driven up insurance costs and led HOAs to raise fees in anticipation of repairs and mitigation needs. One Florida town, Winter Park Woods, just a 20-minute drive from Orlando, left its residents in a state of panic after tripling its monthly dues to more than than $3,300. Lorraine Roy, a resident who has lived in the community for 30 years, had the monthly fee for her three-bedroom condo raised to $3,371.79. The Winter Park Woods Condominiums Association told residents they were hiking fees because it owes Orange County millions for code violations. A new law now requires structural inspections for condos more than 30 years old and additional money to be set aside for repairs, leading to an increase in required payments. Neighborhoods all over Florida are seeing a surge in listings, but few sales Condos on the water in Florida aren't moving as fast as they once were During the Sunshine State's pandemic housing boom, buyers would ordinarily close on a house and be handed a pile of documents, but usually not bother to find out if their costs would be changing. 'Many people weren't reading through them because there's no easy way to understand them,' said Bild. 'You buy the condo and you get a 300 page deck. No one was reading that.' But times have changed. Bild's clients are panicking that they'll land on a budget, and then be met with empty building reserves they will have to contribute to or an HOA jump they didn't see coming. 'People just want to understand,' Bild said. 'Are our reserves going go up every year? How much more? Is the building doing anything to save money?' HOA board members and presidents used to be in a position where they could refuse to speak to potential buyers, but now they don't want to face the prospect of condos and houses sitting on the market for too long. This means they are being forced to be transparent, which includes divulging how much dues have jumped over the past three to five years if asked. Bild says as a realtor, she now has to have personal connections with HOA board members in order to close deals. And it's not all about budgets. Bild said she is currently selling a condo unit that needs to be renovated, and the buyer wants to know before purchasing if they will be able to make the windows larger. 'They want to know now, instead of after buying, what the restrictions are,' she said. Trying to find the buyer an answer means chasing down HOA board members for approvals - if they don't get back to her within a week, the deal could fall through. Buyers have grown savvy about rising HOA fees and building reserves, realtor Jaclyn Bild says 'People who are smart or who are making their first purchase are asking all the right questions,' Bild added. 'All they hear in the news is negative and people want to understand what they are getting into.' Bild recently closed a sale for a young professional couple buying their first condo. 'Before closing, they wanted to understand when the next building assessments were coming and if there were enough reserves to cover any repairs and factor those into their purchase price,' she says. 'They'd rather calculate that into their cost today and not be blindsided after buying.' Clients also used to trust Bild to relay information she had gotten, as HOAs typically wouldn't agree to share information directly with someone who hasn't purchased yet. But now, prospective buyers want everything in writing. Some communities in Florida are seeing their HOA fees soar by thousands of dollars as a result of higher insurance premiums and new laws Sellers are pushing their HOA boards to be open and available for buyers, and many are lowering the price of their home to offset a future special assessment of the property. Bild is now proactive about providing prospective buyers with the building's current budget and board meeting minutes from the past year. 'We have to go above and beyond as agents,' she told the Daily Mail. 'You need to really know people on the board, know the building's history as well and need to get favors done. That's how buyers feel more comfortable.' Weight-loss drugs could be linked to osteoporosis and increased risk of bone fractures, doctors have warned. The Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) has expressed concern over research showing that up to 40 per cent of the weight people lose by using injections of GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro comes from their vital muscle and bone mass. Losing muscle can impair strength and joint stability, while reduced bone density raises the risk of osteoporosis a condition that can cause brittle bones. Approximately half a million people in the UK now take GLP-1 drugs, with clinical trials showing they can help patients lose up to 20 per cent of their body weight. However, experts said users should be made aware of potential negative effects. 'This is an emerging field of research and people need to be warned that using these drugs increases the risk of losing bone and muscle as well as fat,' Julia Thomson, a specialist nurse with the ROS, told the Sunday Express. 'Bone and muscle health is key to preventing the risk of falling and fractures which can lead to premature death or else have a devastating effect on people's ability to live independently.' She said it is 'essential' that fat jabs are prescribed appropriately after a discussion with a doctor. Women are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis, especially after menopause when a decline in oestrogen levels further accelerates bone loss. Weight-loss drugs could be linked to osteoporosis and increased risk of bone fractures, doctors have warned. Pictured: File photo Up to 40 per cent of the weight people lose by using injections of GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro comes from their vital muscle and bone mass. Pictured: File photo Approximately half a million people in the UK now take GLP-1 drugs, with clinical trials showing they can help patients lose up to 20 per cent of their body weight. Pictured: File photo Professor Carl Heneghan, director of Oxford University's Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, said: 'Any drug that reduces muscle mass and bone density is a bad idea for people who are frail and those vulnerable to fractures with osteoporosis. 'The evidence is clear these drugs carry significant risks and the longer a patient stays on them, the greater the risk.' He said the focus should be on preventing obesity, rather than 'medicating large swathes of the population as a quick fix to the obesity pandemic'. Recent analysis by the University of Liverpool found up to 40 per cent of the weight lost while using GLP-1 is muscle and bone. Dr Taher Mahmud, founder of the London Osteoporosis Clinic, said: 'It is essential that those taking GLP-1 agonists know about the importance of good nutrition and weight-bearing exercise.' Two hikers who called 911 to report one of their party had died on the trail - only for him to be found alive and oblivious - were high on magic mushrooms, it turns out. The trio had been trekking in upstate New York when they found themselves lost. Believing their friend was deceased, the distressed pair called for help and reported their location near Lake Placid. But after rescuers arrived at the trailhead they got a phone call from the 'dead' pal - very much alive, unharmed, and seemingly unaware of the unfolding chaos. Dead wrong: The hikers were celebrating Memorial Day Weekend with a hike through Cascade Mountain (pictured) in upstate New York when they called to report their pal had died on the trail 'Altered mental state': As it turned out, the two pals were high on hallucinogenic mushrooms The trio were celebrating Memorial Day Weekend with a hike through the Cascade Mountain in North Elba when the nightmare unfolded on May 24. At around 9am, Forest Ranger Praczkajlo received an emergency call from distressed hikers on Cascade Mountain, part of the Adirondack High Peaks range, according to the state's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). During the call, the two hikers reported that their friend had died while on the trail. They also told authorities they had encountered a Cascade Summit Steward earlier and admitted they were lost. 'The steward determined the hikers were in an altered mental state,' the agency said in a press release. Ranger Praczkajlo eventually reached the trailhead, where an ambulance was already waiting, and escorted the two panicked hikers back to the vehicle. Scene: On May 24, around 9am, Forest Ranger Praczkajlo received an emergency call from distressed hikers on Cascade Mountain, located near Lake Placid However, as they made their way back, a single phone call changed the entire situation - turning a straightforward rescue into something far more confusing. On the other line was the 'dead' friend - alive, unharmed and seemingly unaware of the chaos unfolding around him. According to the release, the group had allegedly eaten hallucinogenic mushrooms during their hike. The effects of the drug are highly unpredictable and heavily influenced by the user's mindset and the environment in which it's taken, as reported by Desert Hope Treatment Center. Given the unforeseeable nature of the drug, users may endure 'bad trips' - intense, distressing reactions that can be both frightening and disorienting. Intense hallucinations, anxiety, panic and fear are just a few of the possible effects during a 'bad trip', often triggered by unfamiliar or chaotic surroundings. Confusion: During the call, the friends told how they had encountered a Cascade Summit Steward earlier and admitted they were lost Thankfully reunited, all three friends were escorted back to their campsite, where they could finally find safety and calm after their odd ordeal. Bad trips leading people to behave in wild or erratic ways are not an uncommon experience with mushrooms, though the intensity can vary greatly from person to person. For some, a 'bad trip' might mean intense anxiety and a pounding heart - unpleasant but bearable - while others unfortunately end up in dangerous or painful situations. Last year, a man on vacation in Austria who took these 'magic mushrooms' entered psychosis that led him to amputate his penis and store it in a snow-filled jar. Doctors labeled the heart-stopping incident as the first case of its kind - and a harrowing reminder of the dangers of psychedelic drugs. The 37-year-old man ate four or five mushrooms before blacking out and taking an axe to his penile shaft - ultimately chopping it into several pieces. As he came to, he staggered out of the home and dragged himself down a nearby street, bleeding profusely, searching for help. In the middle of the night, around 2am, a passerby picked him up and brought him to the nearest village, and then to the closest hospital. 'Bad trip': Thankfully reunited, all three friends were escorted back to their campsite, where they could finally find safety and calm after their odd ordeal He was immediately carted to the operating room, where doctors got the bleeding under control and disinfected the myriad pieces of the mans penis in the snow and soil-filled jar. Some damaged parts had to be removed, but the head of the penis and shaft were intact. After cleaning the wound, doctors successfully reattached the penis, despite it having been without blood flow for about nine hours in total (five hours warm and four hours cold). After inserting a catheter, the surgeon reconnected the tissues of the penis using dissolvable stitches. The scrotal skin was then sewn back to the cleaned skin of the amputated part. Some of the skin on the tip of the mans newly reconstructed penis started to die about a week later - a condition called necrosis due to lack of oxygenated blood flow there - but doctors were able to treat it and reverse the damage. Despite all this, the man was still experiencing hallucinations, even trying to break out of the hospital at one point. Doctors found he had smuggled mushrooms into his hospital room, finding a handful of them in his nightstand in the urology ward. A former CIA intelligence officer has revealed why she thinks the next agent 007 should not be a woman. Since the release of No Time to Die in 2021, rumors have swirled about who will play the next James Bond, and the conversations are heating up again now that producer Barbara Broccoli and producer-writer Michael G Wilson sold the franchise to Amazon. Will 007 remain British? What race will the new iconic spy be? And could Bond be a woman? From a spy to another: Former CIA intelligence officer Christina Hillsberg (pictured) has weighed in on why the next 007 star should be played by a man Christina said: 'As a former CIA intelligence officer - and a woman - myself, people naturally assume I'm in favor of a female Bond. Imagine their surprise when they learn I'm not. 'It's no secret that espionage has long been a 'man's world' - the disparities in pay and position between men and women at the CIA were documented as early as 1953, around the same time Ian Fleming first introduced us to the suave, womanizing spy in his novel Casino Royale. 'The Bond world Fleming created largely reflected this male-centric reality, its female characters relegated to seemingly less important roles behind a typewriter or at the British spy's side as his far less capable companion. And don't get me started on their scandalous attire and sexual innuendo-filled names.' Bond world: In creator Ian Fleming's world, female characters were relegated to seemingly less important roles, wore scandalous attire and had sexual innuendo-filled names Christina went on: 'The reality at the CIA was that women donned sensible skirts with pantyhose - pants weren't permitted - and wore crisp, white gloves. 'Despite having both the skill and desire to work in clandestine operations, women served in positions that 'better suited' their abilities - think secretaries, librarians and file clerks. 'Many even began their espionage careers as unpaid 'CIA wives', providing secretarial and administrative support to field stations. It was an undoubtedly clever, yet misogynistic, strategy in which the agency leveraged male case officers' highly educated spouses for free labor.' Making history: Marti Peterson (pictured in 1976) became the first female case officer to operate in Moscow In 1975, Peterson became the first female case officer to operate in Moscow, only after turning down the CIA's initial offer to become an entry-level secretary. After months of operating freely in one of the harshest counterintelligence environments - women were largely able to go undetected as enemies didn't expect them to carry out plans - Peterson's world changed. She was accosted by nearly two dozen KGB officers who she said forced her into a van and off to Lubyanka prison for interrogation. Getting caught: After she was detained, Peterson was questioned for hours by the KGB Evidence: Peterson concealed a suicide pill in her waistband - which was eventually used by the CIA's most valuable asset in Russia Peterson didn't break under their questioning, and was released after several hours with strict orders to leave the country and never return. Her male managers accused her of failing to spot a surveillance team on her, a cardinal sin in espionage. Peterson shouldered that blame for seven years until it was revealed that the asset was compromised by double agents working for both the CIA and the Czech intelligence service. She could finally rest easy knowing she wasn't to blame for the arrest of that most important Moscow asset. It was thanks to her bravery that the asset was able to boldly choose his own fate, rather than be subjected to whatever punishment the KGB had in mind for him. Iconic: Janine Brookner became the first female chief of station in Latin America, in one of the Caribbean's most dangerous posts Christina added: Around that time, more women were conducting clandestine operations - and they were good at it. Really good. This should have come as no surprise, given that women had already operated in this capacity unofficially for decades. 'Even so, women had to fight for the best cases that traditionally went to male counterparts, and despite repeated operational successes, the mostly male managers still doubted their clandestine capabilities. 'The same stereotypes meant women were equally underestimated by the enemy - a situation we continue to take full advantage of even today, allowing us to go unnoticed in some of the most dangerous environments in the world.' Inspiration: Kathleen Pettigrew (left) served as the personal assistant to not one but three chiefs of MI6, making her far more powerful than the Miss Moneypenny character she inspired (right) Across the Atlantic, women in the UK have also been key players in the British Secret Intelligence Service, MI6. Kathleen Pettigrew, for example, served as the personal assistant to not one but three MI6 chiefs. In her book, Her Secret Service, author and historian Claire Hubbard-Hall describes the forgotten women of British Intelligence as 'the true custodians of the secret world', whose contributions largely remain shrouded in mystery, while men's are often cemented in our collective memory thanks to their self-aggrandizing memoirs. Achievements: Producer Barbara Broccoli brought balance and inclusivity to the James Bond franchise, creating multi-dimensional, capable Bond girls and even casting Judi Dench as M, the head of MI6, in 1995 It's taken every bit of the past 70-plus years to somewhat level the playing field for real women in espionage, so one might argue that it's about time for a female James Bond. The former CIA intelligence officer added: 'Certainly, women are capable - a history of successful female intelligence officers from both sides of the pond already proves that. But what if it's not a question of whether she's able to believably pull off the role but whether that's something viewers, especially women, actually want?' Broccoli didn't seem to think so. 'I'm not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that,' Broccoli told Variety in 2020. 'Perhaps she knew something the rest of us didn't - or something we just weren't ready to admit: Women don't want to be James Bond. Not because we're content as his sexy sidekick, but because we want our own spy,' Christina said. Iconic: Daniel Craig last played the legendary spy in No Time To Die (2021) Rumors: Stars tipped to be the new Bond have included Aaron Taylor-Johnson (left) and Theo James (right) Bond girl? Zendaya (left) and Sydney Sweeney (right) have both been suggested as possible leading ladies However, Christina went on: 'The success of shows like Netflix's Black Doves and Paramount's Lioness suggest a female-led spy thriller isn't just palatable for audiences - it's satisfying a hunger for something new: a unique spy character created specifically for a woman. 'And while we're at it, let's make her more capable than Bond. After all, that reflects the reality on the ground. 'The best spies are those who operate in the shadows and avoid romantic entanglements with their adversaries - the antithesis of James Bond. Spies who are unassuming and underestimated. Delivering poison right under the noses of our greatest adversaries. Spies who are, dare I say, women?' A little known rule could deny people being granted citizenship in Switzerland, it has been revealed. Moving to the country offers numerous perks, including stunning natural scenery and a strong economy with great job opportunities. However, those who try to enter may be denied if they are too 'annoying', Pubity first reported. The decision will be made based on whether or not locals feel an applicant is well integrated enough. Nancy Holten, a Dutch-born woman, was once rejected for being 'annoying' as a result of her her activism against Swiss traditions such as cowbells. Ms Holten had previously campaigned against cowbells, stating that cows wearing them were too loud and a form of animal cruelty. She also reportedly questioned piglet racing, church bells, as well as other noise or forms of animal distress. A little known rule could deny people being granted citizenship in Switzerland, it has been revealed (Stock photo) Nancy Holten, a Dutch-born woman, was once rejected for being 'annoying' as a result of her her activism against Swiss traditions such as cowbells (stock photo) Ms Holten met all legal requirements, but locals voted against her as they did not feel she was the correct fit. Her application was later approved by higher authorities, who could not find a valid reason to deny her entry. Reacting to the bizarre rule on Instagram, one user wrote: 'Swiss guy here, absolutely true.' Another said: 'Sounds like a dream to live there!' A third added: 'Imagine failing citizenship because the downstairs neighbours thought you were too loud.' This deadly island is swarming with 4,000 of the worlds most lethal snakes and is deemed so dangerous that visiting it was been banned by the Brazilian government. Ilha de Queimada Grande sits 20 miles (32 km) off the coast of Sao Paolo, and is home to the golden lancehead viper. Understandably nicknamed Snake Island, the piece of land 4.6 million square feet (430,000 square metres) in size is the only place on Earth where Bothrops insularis, also known as the golden lancehead viper, is known to inhabit. The island is devoid of almost any human visitors, expect for a few scientists who are granted permission to study the snakes each year. It is also visited on occasion by the Brazilian navy, who tend to the autonomous lighthouse that was built back in 1909 before scampering clear. The island has come to be known as Snake Island with it being claimed there is one snake for every square metre. And its also thought that poachers have been known to visit the island and claim a golden lancehead viper for their own, with their price fetching as high as 17,500 ($30,000) on the black market. The viper has been been evolving in isolation since rising sea levels cut the island off from the mainland 11,000 years ago, leaving the snakes on the island with limited sources of food. The island is believed to have become separated from the Brazilian mainland 11,000 years ago when sea levels rose Ilha de Queimada Grande sits 20 miles (32 km) off the coast of Sao Paolo, Brazil , and is home to the golden lancehead viper The golden lancehead viper (Bothrops insularis), pictured, is only found on this one island Migrating birds became the viper's main prey but the problem was, though, that most venoms take a while to act - sometimes as much as a few days. By the time the snakes venom killed the birds they would have moved elsewhere, so instead the snakes evolved an incredibly strong venom that can kill prey almost instantly. It is five times more potent than other snakes and can even melt human flesh. In humans, the bite from a golden lancehead viper carried a seven per cent chance of death. And before the island was deemed off-limits there were several stories of people succumbing to the deadly predators. One story tells of a fisherman who lost power in the engines of his boat. After drifting to the island he ventured inland, unaware of the terrors that lay in wait. When his boat was eventually discovered, he was found dead in a pool of blood covered in snake bites. Ilha de Queimada Grande roughly translates as the island of the slash-and-burn fire The island has come to be known as Snake Island with it being claimed there is one snake for every square metr The island is devoid of almost any human visitors, expect for a few scientists who are granted permission to study the snakes each year Another story is of the last lighthouse keeper to inhabit the island with his family. Rumour has it they ran in terror when snakes crawled in through their windows; their bodies were later found scattered across the island. The name of the island itself tells of its troubled history. Ilha de Queimada Grande roughly translates as the island of the slash-and-burn fire, so-called because of a failed attempt to develop a banana plantation on it. However, in the last 15 years the population of snakes on the island as reduced by as much as 15 per cent, due to a combination of vegetation removal and disease. And on the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List the snakes are currently listed as critically endangered. With thousands of snakes remaining, however, its probably still not the ideal holiday destination. Britain's Got Talent received its lowest viewership in history on Saturday night as magician Harry Moulding was crowned champion after a mammoth 14-week series. The show had switched to airing weekly on Saturday nights for its 2025 run, and finally came to an end with Harry scooping 250,000 in prize money and a spot at the Royal Variety Performance. But Harry receiving praise from viewers for his 'incredible performance,' just 4.1 million viewers tuned into the live final, one million down on last year. While this did increase to a peak of 4.8 million, this is still down on the 5.2 million viewers who watched 2024's final. These numbers do not include viewers who streamed the final on ITVX, or caught up at a later time, so the final viewership will be likely to increase. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Britain's Got Talent received its lowest viewership in history on Saturday night as magician Harry Moulding was crowned champion after a mammoth 14-week series In contrast, Doctor Who received a huge boost from its much-anticipated finale, which saw Billie Piper revealed as the next incarnation of the time traveller In contrast, Doctor Who received a huge boost from its much-anticipated finale, which saw Ncuti Gatwa bid farewell to the iconic role after just two series. According to overnight figures, the finale saw 2.2 million tune in live, making it the second most watched show of the day and second most watched episode of the series, behind the sixth episode, The Interstellar Song Contest. As he was unveiled as the BGT winner. Harry jumped up and down and screamed after hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly called his name. 'I can't believe what is going on,' he said. 'Thank you everyone so much, I genuinely feel like everyone has been behind me. This has been the most incredible journey.' He faced off against dance troupe The Blackouts in the final two, with the group remaining good spirits after his win, saying it was 'well deserved'. His routine began with a card trick where he correctly pulled out all the cards each of the judges had picked. In a pre-recorded video of himself sky-diving, he correctly predicted the cards each judge would select. The budding star received praise across the board from judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli following his act. As he was unveiled as the BGT winner. Harry jumped up and down and screamed after hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly called his name Harry has now secured a life-changing 250,000 cash prize and a coveted place on the bill of the Royal Variety Performance. The magician performed the winning magic routine which the judges described as incredible. Elsewhere during the show, fill-in judge KSI and Tom Grennan performed while the public voted for their favourite act. Meanwhile, Doctor Who fans were left stunned when it was revealed that Billie Piper would be taking over the role of the titular time traveller. The actress is well-known to longtime Who fans, having previously played The Doctor's companion Rose Tyler, and The Moment interface in the show's 50th Anniversary Special. Billie will now be the second woman to take on the role as the Time Lord after Jodie Whittaker portrayed the 13th doctor. She replaces Ncuti, who leaves Doctor Who after two seasons in the science-fiction series. The actor's time on the long-running science fiction programme came to an end as The Reality War episode brought this season to a close on Saturday. The two-part season finale saw the Doctor face the Rani in a battle to save the world after making the decision to safe the life of one little girl. As he bid farewell to companion Belinda Chandra, played by Varada Sethu, he said: 'I hope you'll see me again, but not like this.' The finale also saw Whittaker, the 13th doctor, make a guest appearance as Gatwa's Doctor appeared to be travelling through alternate universes. In a statement released by the BBC, Ncuti Gatwa said: 'You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it. Ncuti Gatwa bid farewell to Doctor Who after just two seasons, with the Sex Eduction star regenerating in Saturday's finale 'This journey has been one that I will never forget, and a role that will be part of me forever. There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe. 'The fans are truly the final character and beating heart of this show and I can't thank the Whoniverse, and the Whovians, enough for welcoming me in, and making this such a touching experience. 'I've loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved blue box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have. 'I'll truly miss it, and forever be grateful to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor.' Reacting to the news Billie said: 'It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there, so to be given the opportunity to step back on that Tardis one more time was just something I couldn't refuse.' Just when you thought you'd heard everything about the rancorous It Ends with Us dispute, Justin Baldoni's on-screen body double has broken cover to give fresh insight into the behind-the-scenes drama. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, stunt actor Thomas Canestraro - who joined the production for the final two weeks of filming in early 2024 as Baldoni's body double - revealed the apparent tension on set, divulging that Blake Lively was 'closed off' during filming. 'You could tell that the set was tense,' said Canestraro, 38. 'There was some discomfort from everybody.' Canestraro - who appeared in action-packed scenes, such as one where he was on top of Lively who threw him to the ground - struggled to pinpoint the reason for the perceived tensions on the otherwise 'professional' set, chalking it up to delays in filming due to the 2023 writers strike. But still, he couldn't shake the feeling that something had occurred between Lively, 37, and Baldoni, 41. Canestraro struggled to pinpoint the reason for the perceived tensions on the otherwise 'professional' set, saying 'there was some discomfort from everybody' while filming Stunt actor Thomas Canestraro joined the production for the final two weeks of filming in early 2024 as Baldoni's body double Lively was described as acting 'closed off' while filming It Ends With Us Little did he know, months later, Lively would file an explosive lawsuit, sparking a vicious legal battle with her co-star. In December 2024, the Gossip Girl actress lodged a complaint against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment, creating a hostile environment on set and launching a smear campaign to destroy her reputation. He retaliated with his own $400 million filing against the actress, along with her husband, Ryan Reynolds, 48, accusing them of trying to tarnish his reputation. While all parties have denied the allegations, the bitter back-and-forth legal drama is set to culminate in a trial in March 2026. All the while, Canestraro was unaware of the magnitude of the drama unfolding in the background on set, the only subtle tell being Lively's demeanor and delays in filming. Those who did have knowledge, he noted, 'did a good job of doing damage control.' Canestraro, who also worked on And Just Like That and The Expendables 3, was booked to work up to five days, but stayed on set for two weeks in Weehawken, New Jersey. 'What I did experience was filming that was taking longer than expected,' he said. It prompted questions: 'What's happening here? Why are we taking so much time to film all of this scene? Why are we not on schedule?' His experience with Lively was also markedly 'different' from the last time they worked together on a marketing campaign for her film A Simple Favor in 2018. At the time, the 'provocative' adverts called for Canestraro to pose in the buff with only a 'sock' covering his genitals as Lively stood over him. During the shoot, he recalled, he had an 'extremely easy time' working with the actress, who made sure he was provided with a bathroom after the photoshoot wrapped. When he was reunited with the actress on the set of It Ends With Us, then, he felt 'comfortable' working with Lively again - but noticed an unusual change in her behavior, saying she was 'more closed off.' He described Baldoni as 'extremely friendly' The stunt double interacted with Lively's husband Ryan Reynolds when the Deadpool actor visited his wife on the set of It Ends with Us, calling him a 'supportive husband' Canestraro's experience with Lively on set was markedly 'different' to the time they had worked together on a marketing campaign for A Simple Favor back in 2018 And, when Lively's husband Reynolds appeared on set, Canestraro didn't think twice about it. 'Originally, I came on set my first day, Ryan is on set, and I'm like, "Oh, my God. What a cool thing, it's like when I was in A Simple Favor. What a supportive husband who just came on set to cheer his wife... I just love that about them, that's a cool synergy in that couple,"' he said. It all clicked for Canestraro when the lawsuits made headlines. He added: 'And now I'm like, "Oh, was Blake already in such a bad place that Ryan just came to make sure that she was okay?"' An insider previously told the Daily Mail that the Deadpool actor had 'jumped in to help the film from disaster' and 'stick up for his wife.' 'When the whole scandal came after, it was just like, now that explains why things were taking longer. Now that explains why you could sense a discomfort,' Canestraro said. Though Canestraro played his body double, the stuntman did not keep in touch with Baldoni, who he described as 'extremely friendly,' but said he can only imagine what the actor and director is going through. 'He has a wife, he has family, he has friends, and he has people who, right now, some of them believe him, some of them have a question mark over his head, and that must not be a good place to be... It must affect him,' Canestraro said. But he isn't taking a side, hoping that the sparring co-stars will eventually resolve their feud, which he feels overshadowed the film's message about domestic abuse. 'I don't even want to be in any team,' he said. 'I hope they can find an agreement... We don't need that in the industry. At the same time, you can't discredit anybody's feeling, and anybody's experience.' Pete Tong has opened up on how his family have 'kept him grounded' throughout his successful career. The DJ and Radio 1 star, 64, has become one of the biggest names in dance music over the years, and jets across the world to perform for adoring fans. And despite keeping his family life relatively private, Pete made rare comments about his kids in an exclusive interview with MailOnline this week. Pete shares three children with his ex-wife Deborah. Their marriage broke down in 2003. Pete also has another child and two step-children with his second wife Carolina Acosta, who he married in 2006. He explained how he tried to created a 'more regular environment' for his kids growing up, and admits they are the reason he still has a successful career. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Pete Tong has opened up on how his family have 'kept him grounded' through out his successful career (pictured with daughter Becky in 2013) The DJ and Radio 1 star, 64, has become one of the biggest names in dance music over the years, and jets across the world to perform for adoring fans Speaking on how he juggles the fame with his family life, Pete shared: 'It is definitely a challenge, and you learn a lot along the way. It also keeps you really grounded as well with that responsibility and that to go home to, and I would like to think that is a big reason why I'm still doing what I'm doing. 'When I started DJing, I made a decision early on that I would only do the bits I really wanted to do and loved. 'I didn't want to be on radio seven days a week and I didn't want to be gigging seven nights a week. I wanted to pick and choose. 'So I kind of always had a day job when I first started, as DJing wasn't seen to be the be all and end all and the money wasn't the same from when I started to what it is now so that created a more regular environment around my kids.' Speaking about his kids supporting him at sets, he explained: 'When they were young they started coming to things like Cafe Mambo. And then when they were too young to legally go to clubs is when the demand was highest that they wanted to go. 'When they first could go, they were around quite a bit. They've moved on and have their own lives now and are not necessarily interested in what I'm doing. 'Now I'm like, "do you want to come?" They tend to show up for the orchestra, I don't force them.' Several of Pete's kids have followed in his footsteps, including daughter Becky who is also a DJ. Pete and his second wife Carolina Acosta, who he married in 2006, pictured Pete and Jules are celebrating a decade of their Ibiza Classics with a string of shows at London's iconic Royal Albert Hall Meanwhile, his oldest son Joe is a music producer, while his other son Matt also partly works in the music industry. Pete is currently celebrating a decade of his and Jules Buckley's Ibiza Classics with a string of shows at London's iconic Royal Albert Hall. The pair first teamed up in 2015 to perform for BBC Proms, an annual summer series bringing daily classical music to the Royal Albert Hall, but have went on to tour Europe with the orchestra. Each of the four shows will feature unique programming, including appearances from guest vocalists Becky Hill, Jacob Lusk (Gabriels), Jazzy, Clementine Douglas, and Barbara Tucker. Guest DJs Seth Troxler, Damian Lazarus, David Morales, and Paul Oakenfold will also join the show. Speaking about returning to the Royal Albert Hall after ten years, he said: 'It is surreal and inspiring to come into such a historical place doing what we are doing. 'But it isn't a nightclub, so you treat it in a different way. We are all super excited to be back.' Speaking about returning to the Royal Albert Hall after ten years, he said: 'It is surreal and inspiring to come into such a historical place doing what we are doing' Each of the four shows will feature unique programming, including appearances from guest vocalists Becky Hill (pictured), Jacob Lusk (Gabriels), Jazzy, Clementine Douglas, and Barbara Tucker And fans will be thrilled to hear that Pete has no plans to stop after ten years: 'There was a time five years ago when we said we would probably end it if we made it to ten, but now we never want to end it!' Pete Tong Ibiza Classics is at the Royal Albert Hall, London, May 29-Jun 1. The broadcaster is also due to bring his acclaimed show to six UK arenas in December 2025. Kicking off in Glasgow on December 4, the upcoming run of shows also includes stop-offs in Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. The tour will conclude with two gigs at The O2 in London on December 12 and 13. For someone whose fondness for headlines earned her the nickname 'The Publicity-Seeking Missile', it's unsurprising PR supremo Roxy Jacenko liked to choose staff who style and appearance perfectly matched her upmarket personal brand. During her years as Sydney's most in-demand lifestyle, fashion and beauty publicist, Roxy famously hired an army of 'clones' to work at her Paddington-based firm Sweaty Betty PR. All young, attractive and (mostly) blonde, her LBD-clad proteges were a source of fascination during Roxy's peak years as a tabloid fixture in the mid- to late-2010s. She was rarely pictured without her gaggle of lookalikes, several of whom have graduated from her employment to become swans of high society, such as Montarna McDonald and Bernadette Fahey. DailyMail+ spoke to PR industry insiders to find out what happened to Roxy's clones after the company closed its doors in late 2022 and its founder moved to Singapore. Some had fallings-out with the boss, while others remained close friends - and some even managed to surpass their former mentor. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. During her years as Sydney's most in-demand lifestyle, fashion and beauty publicist, Roxy famously hired an army of 'clones' to work at her Paddington-based firm Sweaty Betty PR A profile of Roxy that aired on 60 Minutes drew attention to her lookalike staff members Irene Manyk Irene Manyk flew up the ladder at Sweaty Betty, starting out as a personal assistant for the PR maven in 2011 after a mutual friend recommended her for the job. Just eight weeks later, at age 21, Irene proved herself so competent at her job that Roxy quickly promoted her to a junior account manager role at her firm. 'I watched every little thing the boss did, every move she made, and I listened to all of the discussions in the office,' Irene, now 34, told Mediaweek in 2019. Irene acted as the junior account manager for more than two years before she moved into another role and took a career break to have a baby. Upon her return, she slotted straight into a senior account manager position at Sweaty Betty, and her friendship with Roxy remained strong. All up, Irene stayed with Sweaty Better PR for about a decade, and was even behind its popular Instagram page which has been closed since the company shut its doors. No longer working for Roxy, the former publicist co-founded Base Hair Extensions with fellow entrepreneur Stephanie Romano in 2021. Irene Manyk flew up the ladder at Sweaty Betty, starting out as a personal assistant for the PR maven in 2011 after a mutual friend recommended her for the job Just eight weeks later, at age 21, Irene proved herself so competent at her job that Roxy quickly promoted her to a junior account manager role But while Irene and Roxy may no longer be professionally linked, the pair appear to still be friends and follow each other on Instagram. 'Roxy and I have known each other for a very long time,' Irene said of Roxy in 2019. 'She wants me to succeed, she wants to see me shine, and she supports me to do so.' Grace Garrick Sweaty Betty PR publicist Grace Garrick, 30, caught the attention of society scribes in 2018 when she was pictured looking after Roxy's children Pixie and Hunter, now aged 13 and 10 respectively, during a family holiday in London. Suggestions she was on secondment as the family nanny were always strongly denied, and we do not suggest she was ever formally employed in that role. Grace Garrick still works in PR, following in her former mentor's footsteps by founding her own successful company, MVMNT, in 2019. She is currently listed as its director It's unclear whether she and Roxy are still close but it seems doubtful because the two do not follow each other on social media Grace still works in PR, following in her former mentor's footsteps by founding her own successful company, MVMNT, in 2019. She is currently listed as its director. It's unclear whether she and Roxy are still close but it seems doubtful because the two do not follow each other on social media. Rachel Gilbert Eponymous fashion designer Rachel Gilbert was a bridesmaid for Roxy at her wedding to former investment banker Oliver Curtis, and would use Sweaty Betty PR for all her label's publicity needs. But rumours of a rift emerged in 2014 when Rachel, now 43, decided to take her business elsewhere. She insisted at the time her friendship with Roxy hadn't soured but she was taking her brand in another direction. Whispers of a feud grew louder five years later when gossip columnist Lucy Manly reported Rachel was the latest client to join the roster at The Audience Agency, a rival PR firm founded by Roxy's ex-assistant Montarna McDonald (more on her later). Montarna, who still runs TAA, had managed Rachel's account at Sweaty Betty back in the day, and they decided to work together again after reconnecting at the Hamilton Island race in 2018. Eponymous fashion designer Rachel Gilbert would use Sweaty Betty PR for all her label's publicity needs. But their close personal and professional relationship would not last Things soured in 2014 when Rachel decided to take her business elsewhere There was talk in the fashion circles at the time that Roxy was furious that Rachel had jumped ship to Montarna's agency, but neither confirmed the rumours. Nevertheless, Roxy and Rachel haven't been seen together since 2014. Holly Brooke Holly Brooke was another 'copycat' staffer who worked for the PR queen back in 2016. But unlike the other Sweaty Betties on this list, she was employed by Roxy's other company, the influencer agency Ministry of Talent. She was memorably pictured trying to keep up with Roxy as she went on a shopping spree during a business trip to the Gold Coast. Holly Brooke was another 'copycat' staffer who worked for the PR queen back in 2016 An English expat, she returned to the UK in 2018 and has since ditched the blonde 'clone' look She stayed at Ministry of Talent for about two years, and was promoted during that time from a talent manager to 'head of talent'. An English expat, she returned to the UK in 2018 and landed a job at Gleam Futures. Holly then jumped over to Skin Rocks by Caroline Hirons in 2020 where she spent almost five years as a commercial director. Nowadays, Holly has ditched the blonde clone look from her Sydney years and is a redhead. She is also set to launch her own 'industry-disrupting wellness brand' later this year. Holly Asser Holly Asser (left) was Roxy's right-hand woman for years and considered the 'chief clone' among her staff of doppelgangers. Their falling-out is the stuff of Sydney legend Holly Asser was Roxy's right-hand woman for years and was considered the 'chief clone' among her staff of doppelgangers. A long-time friend of her boss, she spent almost five years as a senior account director and second-in-command from 2014 to 2018. She has since become a society figure in her own right, and was even a Vogue Bride last year when she married her fiance Jake Kaiser in Queenstown. Holly, 33, has worked her way up the PR ladder since leaving Sweaty Betty, working for Future Women, Edelman and Crown Resorts. Today, she has one of the most ritzy jobs in her industry as head of public relations for Merivale, the hospitality group owned by billionaire pub baron Justin Hemmes. Holly's exit from Sweaty Betty was clouded by rumours her friendship with her employer had soured. Neither confirmed the speculation until 2020 when Holly hinted her resignation was not all sunshine and rainbows. Holly, 33, has worked her way up the PR ladder since leaving Sweaty Betty and now handles public relations for Merivale, the hospitality group owned by billionaire Justin Hemmes She spoke about her exit in an Instagram Q&A, confirming to her followers she and Roxy were no longer on speaking terms. When someone asked why she left Sweaty Betty, Holly offered a more in-depth response. 'I think in your career you always need to keep learning and when you feel like you've learned all you can in a company or role, it's probably time to move on,' she wrote. 'My departure was a little while coming and I think if you're familiar with the company you might know why my friends and I decided to move on.' Holly's reference to her friends leaving the company at about the same time aligns with the departures of Grace Garrick and Gemma Oldfield. Responding to Holly's claims at the time, Roxy told Daily Mail Australia: 'It has been three years since she was employed by me and she's still not moved on. 'Must be missing me to still be talking about it! It blows my mind how childish a person can be. She wanted a reaction and knew if she used my name she would get it, which she did.' Ouch. Gemma Oldfield Once-loyal staffer Gemma Oldfield (left) had a very public blow-up with Roxy in 2018 The Inpress PR founder, who is the niece of Lisa and David Oldfield, worked at Sweaty Betty for almost two years before she quit Once-loyal staffer Gemma Oldfield had a very public blow-up with Roxy in 2018, which saw their emails and text messages leaked to the press. The 29-year-old niece of One Nation co-founder David Oldfield and his reality TV star ex-wife Lisa, worked at Sweaty Betty for almost two years before she quit to found her own firm, Inpress PR. She was another employee who helped out Roxy on a family holiday - this time in Hawaii while her husband Oli spent a year in jail in 2016 for insider trading. But their friendship later soured, with emails leaked to The Daily Telegraph in 2018 showing Roxy had incorrectly accused Gemma of fabricating mental health problems. However, Gemma supplied a doctor's letter to Roxy stating she had, in fact, been suffering from anxiety for 'several months'. Roxy also accused Gemma, who was 22 at the time, of leaving work early to look after her cousins 'while their parents appeared on a reality show'. She was referencing Lisa and David's stint on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Gemma resigned from Sweaty Betty in late January 2018, with her final day due to be February 16. On February 20, a Sweaty Betty staffer emailed Gemma and asked her to repay slightly more than a day's wages for not working her final shifts. The firm also threatened to 'commence legal action' and said Gemma would have to pay 'all legal fees incurred'. There's an old saying in HR... just let them go. Bernadette Fahey Bernadette Fahey, 35, worked as a publicist at Sweaty Betty from 2009 to 2013 but has since surpassed Roxy's station in high society Bernadette Fahey worked as a publicist at Sweaty Betty PR from 2009 to 2013 but has arguably since eclipsed Roxys status in high society. After leaving the company, she moved to New York City where she worked at Elle Communications then PR Consulting for a total of 11 years, before moving back to Australia during Covid. Now 35, she is known as the 'Pilates queen' thanks to her buzzy North Bondi studio Body by Berner, which is popular among Sydney's eastern suburb in-crowd. She has become a fixture of society headlines since her star-studded wedding to ultra-wealthy Buildcorp COO Jordan Sukkar in November. The couple walked down the aisle at Scots College in the upmarket suburb of Bellevue Hill, with a guest list including a Who's Who of Sydney high society. Attendees including Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic, celebrity account Anthony Bell and his new wife Annika Martyn, as well as Justin Hemmes and his his partner Madeline Holtznagel, 'nude artist' Dina Broadhurst and fashion model Montana Cox. While they no longer work together, Roxy and Bernadette still follow each other on Instagram, with the businesswoman recently singing her praises of her former protege. Now 35, she is known as the 'Pilates queen' thanks to her buzzy North Bondi studio Body by Berner and recently married ultra-wealthy Buildcorp COO Jordan Sukkar (right) 'I am so proud of Bern,' Roxy, who now divides her time between Singapore and Sydney, told Daily Mail Australia earlier this week. 'She was a publicist for me at Sweaty Betty in the early days, then left and moved to NYC where she continued in the space,' she added. 'Since coming back to Australia and seeing her develop her own business, it makes me so happy to see. 'Funnily enough, I looked at an article yesterday to see her photographed picking up rubbish outside her studio and thought to myself, "She learned that from me." 'You're never bigger than the business or more important - just get it done.' Sara Huegill Sara Huegill (nee Hills), the ex-wife of world champion swimmer Geoff Huegill, has a widely reported on-again, off-again friendship with Roxy. The 40-year-old made headlines when she was sacked from Sweaty Betty PR in 2010, with her employment being abruptly terminated for alleged 'disloyal conduct'. 'Sara Hills' position was terminated by mutual agreement some weeks ago,' Roxy said in a statement at the time. 'It was, I must say, a shame as we did enjoy her company and she was a good publicist.' However, an industry insider soon came forward to claim Sara had been sacked 'immediately for disloyal conduct'. 'Only herself and a few people know what really happened,' they said. Sara Huegill (nee Hills), the ex-wife of world champion swimmer Geoff Huegill (pictured together in April 2013), has a widely reported on-again, off-again friendship with Roxy It was later revealed Sara had sent sporting compression wear and supplements to an 'unknown identity' in Rose Bay without permission from Roxy or the client, Body Science. The two women rekindled their business relationship in 2017 when Sara was rehired as a senior publicist, before parting ways with the firm less than three months later. Sara proceeded to have a rough few years. In May 2018, the socialite was accused of stealing a $2,500 pair of Bassike trousers from a Byron Bay boutique on Mother's Day. In August that year, the magistrate dropped the charge on mental health grounds. In December 2018, Geoff and Sara, who are parents to daughters Gigi, 11, and Mila, nine, announced their separation. She made headlines when she was sacked from Sweaty Betty in 2010, with her employment being abruptly terminated for alleged 'disloyal conduct' Geoff wrote on Instagram: 'It's with a heavy heart that after 13 years together, Sara and I have made the decision to amicably separate. 'We continue to remain friends as our focus will always be on providing a positive, loving and beautiful future for our girls.' In 2019, Roxy defended Sara in an interview with Daily Mail Australia, addressing her history of drug use. 'We've all done the wrong thing, we've all taken cocaine in our time,' Roxy said. Her comment was in reference to an incident in 2014 when Sara and Geoff were arrested for cocaine possession. The couple later pleaded guilty and each received six-month good behaviour bonds. 'Yeah, she did the wrong thing, but she owned it,' the PR dynamo said, adding that she 'partied a lot' herself when her husband Oliver was in jail for insider trading. 'I have a very soft spot for Sara. Obviously she has run into issues in her time, as we all have, but she was always a very good publicist,' she concluded. Montarna McDonald Montarna McDonald is another Roxy underling who surpassed their mentor in the cut-throat world of high-end public relations. Now considered the 'It girl' of Sydney's ritzy eastern enclaves, Montarna started out as an intern at Sweaty Betty in the late 2000s. She was later asked to join the team as showroom co-coordinator before progressing to become a publicist and in-house blogger for the company. It's unclear how many years Montarna, now 35, worked at the company, or why she left, but she and Roxy no longer follow each other on Instagram. Montarna McDonald is another Roxy underling who surpassed their mentor in the cut-throat world of high-end public relations Years have passed since they were last seen together. The fact Montarna poached ex-Sweaty Betty client Rachel Gilbert in 2019 might have something to do with that. Now the boss of her own firm, The Audience Agency, which she founded in 2014, Montarna makes the kind of headlines her former boss used to a decade ago. Maz Coote Malyon 'Maz' Coote had one of the longest careers at Sweaty Betty, landing a job at the company in 2008 and working her way up the ranks until her departure in 2015. She went from intern to general manager over the course of almost eight years, and was famously gifted a new Mercedes-Benz by Roxy as a reward for her hard work. Malyon 'Maz' Coote had one of the longest careers at Sweaty Betty, landing a job at the company in 2008 and working her way up the ranks until her departure in 2015 She went from intern to general manager over the course of almost eight years, and was famously gifted a new Mercedes-Benz by Roxy as a reward for her hard work Like many of Roxy's erstwhile employees, Maz left to start her own comms agency called Coote Connex, now Coote Agency Like many of Roxy's erstwhile employees, Maz left to start her own communications agency called Coote Connex, now Coote Agency. She founded her own fertility testing clinic, WHEN Fertility, with her husband Brett Barnes in January last year. Maz and Roxy appeared to maintain a working relationship after she left Sweaty Betty, and in 2016 she said she was 'devastated' to learn her old boss had breast cancer. However, it seems their friendship may have soured since then, as Roxy implied in 2019 she considered Maz to be one of her 'haters'. During a promotion for her 'Roxy Tan' product, the PR maven sent the self-tanning product to those she described as her naysayers. Maz was included among the names, alongside her own father, Sydney Morning Herald gossip columnist Andrew Hornery and The Australian journalist Will Glasgow. 'My biggest detractors are always my biggest motivators, so it was a bit of a f*** you. You don't like me so much, so you can enjoy my tan,' Roxy said at the time. I read chapter 15 to19 of the book The Good Earth. 1(A) Cp.15 Before a handful of days had passed it seemed to Wang Lung that he had never been away from his land. With five gold pieces he bought good seed from south. With five gold pieces he bought an ox from a farmer. When they reached the house they found the door torn away and their hoes and rakes were gone. Wang Lung went away to the town and he bought a good new plow and two hoes. Then Ching(his neighbor, came to see Wang Lung and said, Through the winter a band of robbers lived in your house and preyed upon the village. Wang Lung started at him awhile and then in a compassion he said, Now you have fared worse than we and what have you eaten? And the man sighed forth in a whisper, When we begged in the town and dead dog we ate. My woman died, and after she died I gave the girl to a soldier because I could not see her starve and die also. If I had a little seeds I would plant once again, but no seeds have I. Come here! cried Wang Lung and dragged him into the house. Wheat he gave him and rice seeds. Then Ching weep and Wang Lung cried out, Do you think I have forgotten that you gave me that handful of beans? Wang Lungs uncle was no longer in the village. The girls were sold. Then Wang Lung set himself to the soil. And O-Lan in the house was not idle. She mended the walls of the house, and she built again the oven. Then she went into the town with Wang Lung, they bought beds and a table a great iron cauldron and two red candles to burn before the god. When the house was itself again, and in his fields the young rice sprouted as green as Jade and more beautiful. Looking at the blue heaven above him, Wang Lung muttered, I must stick a little incense before those two in the small temple. (B) Cp.16. One night as Wang lay with his wife he felt a hard lump between her breasts. He put his hand to it. It was wrapped in a bit of rag and he tore this away. There were such a mass of jewels. He whispered to her, Wherewhere? And she whispered back softly, In the rich mans house. They fell silent. Then after a long time Wang Lung said resolutely, Treasure cannot keep. It must be sold and put into safetyinto land. I wish I could keep two for myself, she said, I could hold them in my hand sometime, she added. And he was moved by something he did not understand, and he handed them to her in silence, she found the two smooth white pearls. As for the other jewels, he decided he would go to the great house and see if there were more land to buy. To the great house now he went, the great gates were locked and Wang Lung pounded them and no one come. At last he heard slow footsteps coming, and a cracked voice whispered, Who is it? And Wang Lung perceived that it was the Old Lord himself. I came about a little money, he said hesitatingly. There is no money in the house, the Old Lord said. The robber took all that I had. No debts can be paid. No called Wang Lung, I came to pay out, not to collect debt. At this a woman thrust her face suddenly out of the gates. Come in she said briskly. and she open the gates wide to admit him. The woman was clean enough. But from her speech one could perceive she was not of the lords family, but a slave. There was not another person in the court. Now about money, said the woman sharply. But Wang Lung hesitated. No, said Wang Lung with caution. I cannot speak with a woman. Well, and why not? retorted the woman with anger. Have you not heard that there is no one here? Have you not heard how bandits swept into the house, and they beat the Old Lord and Old Mistress and everyone run. But I stayed. The Old Mistress sat dead in her chair. Wang Lung said with contempt, Seeing that you are only a slave, how can I do business with you? At that she cried out, He will do anything I tell him. How much land is there left? Wang Lung asked her unwillingly. She said quickly, He has a hundred acres to the west and to the south two hundred that he will sell. He would not talk further with her, but turned away saying, Another day He went down to the street. He went to the small tea shop and ordered tea, Wang Lung fell to musing. The great and rich family were now fallen and scattered. It comes from their leaving the land, he thought regretful, and he thought of his own two sons, he would set them to tasks in the field, where they would feel of the hoe hard in their hands. He call to the shopkeeper and said, Come and drink a bowl at my cost, and tell me the news of the town. The shopkeeper sat down and began at once, Well, the greatest news was the robbery at the House of Hwang. The man went on to tell him of it. that now none cared to lived in that house. None,the man finished, except the Old Lord, who is now wholly the creature of a slave called Cuckoo. And the land? Is it for sale? asked Wang Lung. Oh, the land! I have heard it for sale, answered the man. Then Wang Lung went out and approached again the great gates and the woman came to open to him and he said to her, Will you sell the land for gold or for jewels? and she said, I will sell it for jewels! (C) Cp. 17 Now Wang Lung has more land and he built another room and he said to his neighbor Ching, Sell me the parcel of land that you have and come into my house and help me with my land. And Ching was glad to do it. The two men planted the young rice in the flooded fields. Then when this harvest came he and Ching alone could not harvest it, and Wang Lung hired two other men as laborers. He bade his two sons sharply each morning to come into the fields with him and he set them at what labor their small hands could do. But O-lan he would not allow to work in the fields for he was no longer a poor man. Then O-lan worked in the house and made new clothes for each one and new shoes. Then she laid herself down upon her bed and gave birth again. When Wang Lung came home at evening and went into the inner room there was O-lan upon the bed with two new-born children, a boy and a girl. Wang Lung had at that time no sorrow of any kind unless that his eldest girl child neither spoke nor did things which were right for her age, but only smiled. He set himself and the gods helped him and for seven years there were harvest. He hired more laborers for his field. He set Ching to be his steward over the men and he paid him well. By the end of the fifth year Wang Lung worked little in his field himself, have Indeed to spend his whole time upon the business and marketing of his produce. He was greatly hampered by his lack of the knowledge of the meaning of characters, it was a shame to him. He saying to himself, I will take my elder son from the fields and he shall be go to school. The young boy when he heard of it came in crying, Well, and I shall not work in the field. And Wang Lung said hastily, Well, go the both of you. He send the boys to a small school near the city gate kept by an old man who had gone up for government examinations and failed. On the first day when he took them there, he carried a blue kerchief filled with fresh eggs gave to the old teacher. Wang Lung bowed before him and said, Sir, here are my two worthless sons, beat them to make them learn. But going home again alone, having left the two lads, Wang Lungs heart was fit to burst with pride. To himself he said, It would not surprise me at all the elder one should become a perfect with all this learning. The boys were given school names by the old teacher, for the elder, Nung En, and for the second, Nung Wen. (D) Cp. 18 When the seventh year came, because of excessive rains, two-fifths of Wang Lungs land was a lake as deep as a mans shoulder. But Wang Lung was not afraidHis store-rooms were yet filled full with harvests of the last two years. But since much of the land could not be planted he was more idle. He did not know what to do with himself. Wang Lung was alone and filled with restlessness. Then it was that he looked at O-lan, whose body he knows thoroughly and nothing new which he may expect from her. He saw for the first time that her feature without any sort of beauty. He cried out at her, Anyone would say you were the wife of a common fellow. She answered with a slow painful gaze and she muttered, Since those two were born together I have not been well. And he saying fretfully, Well, and I will go to the tea shop. He had money and he began to be careless of it and to think what he could do to enjoy the days of his manhood. Now there was in the town a great tea shop but newly opened, he went toward this place, and he went in. This shop was a great hall and upon the walls there were scrolls hung painted with the figures of women. And the first day he drank his tea quickly and went away. But since there were nothing for him to do on his land, so he might have continued for many days on end. Thus on this night one touched him on the shoulder. When he looked up it was the face of Cuckoo. She laughed when she saw him. Well, and Wang the farmer! she said. And he laughed and said, l have had good fortune. She said softly and insidiously, I suppose you have not looked at anything else No pretty hands, no sweet-smelling cheeks? Wang Lung said in confusion, No I have notonly tea. Then the woman laughed and pointed to the painting silken scrolls and said, Choose which one you wish to see and put the silver in my hand and I will place her before you. Wang Lung sat staring at the picture with a new interest. They had all seemed equally beautiful. He chose one most beautiful. He stared at her. She is like a flower on a quince tree, he said. He was ashamed and he rose hastily and went out and so to his home. In his body his blood run secret and hot and fast. (E) Cp.19 At the end of one long day, in the seventh month, Wang Lung stood at the door of his house. And suddenly he put on his new coat, that O-lan made, he came to the new tea shop. There every light was lit, and men drinking and talking. Wang Lung hesitated upon the threshold. There came out a woman and it was Cuckoo. And she laughed and said, If you have the silver, you may do as they do. And he brought it out full of silver. She stared at the handful of silver and said, Come and say which one you wish. And Wang Lung whispered , That little one. They were walking up the narrow straight stairway. When they reached the top, the woman cried, Now here is the first man of the night! This one is for Lotus! He sat stiffly on the bed beside her, and he saw that she was like the picture. Then she lifted that small curling hands and put it upon his shoulder. And he began to tremble, not knowing how to receive it. Then he heard a little voice like laughter said, Oh, shall we sit here the night through while you stare? And he said to her imploringly, I do not know anythingteach me! And she taught him. Then every day Wang Lung went to the tea shop. Filled with a sickened hunger, he followed slavishly, until she was willing that he should grasp her wholly. All during that hot summer Wang Lung loved thus this girl. He knew nothing of her. He had never enough of her, and he went back to his house in the dawn. The days were endless. And all the time his heart to burst because he could not be satisfied of this girl. When she laughed at the braid of his hair, and said, Now the men of the south do not have these monkey tails! he had it cut off. He would have cut off his life if the girl Lotus had commanded it, because she had every beauty which had ever come into his mind to desire in a woman. He bought sweet-smell soap, and not would he have eaten garlic. He brought also new stuffs of clothes. And he bought the first shoes such as the Old Lord had worn. And beyond this he bought a silver ring for his finger. But O-lan did not know what to make from all this, she said heavily, You makes me think of lord in the great house. Now the money. There was not only he must pay for his hours with the girl, but there was the pretty demanding of her desire. Thus the silver came out of the wall, and O-lan now said nothing, knowing well that he was living some life apart from her, and she was afraid to ask because of his anger. There came a day he said to her roughly, Where are those pearls you had? Then she said slowly, I could have them for the younger girl when she is wed. He cried out, Gave them to me. She gave it to him and when tears dropped from her eyes she did not put up her hand to wipe them away. 2) I think: (A) Wang Long bought land with the gold he robbed and the jewels O-lan stole. Coupled with several consecutive years of bumper harvests, he became rich. He hired farmers to do the labor and he himself pursued enjoyment. He thought O-lan was ugly and went to the teashop to mix with the Lotus. There is a proverb in China: Wealth and honor lead to lust; hunger and cold give rise to the desire to steal. When people become prosperous, they often have indulgent and lewd desires. When they are poor and helpless, they tend to have the idea of stealing. Wang Long is exactly such a person. Many farmers in China carried out the revolution and joined the Communist Party in order to get rid of poverty. After seizing power and having authority, they becomes corrupt and corrupt. They are also such person. A person with lofty ideals should be like what Mencius said, "Wealth and honor cannot corrupt him, poverty and lowliness cannot sway him, and might and power cannot subdue him. This is what a true man is called." (B) Land is very precious to the Chinese people. China has gone through a long period of tight food supply, food coupons are required for meals, so if a household has a plot of land, it will be used to grow food and vegetables. However, the United States uses large tracts of land to grow flowers and grass because it is not short of food. Private ownership of land will result in some land being concentrated in the hands of the rich, while some farmers have no land and are poor. However, public land ownership, such as the People's communes in China, is not conducive to mobilizing the enthusiasm of farmers. At present, China implements the land contract responsibility system, while in Taiwan, land to the tiller. (C) Women had a low status in China in the past. Because of poverty, many girls were sold by their parents and many baby girls were abandoned, It was very tragic. No longer the case now. This actor portrayed the nerdy next-door neighbor in a fictional Pennsylvania town on a groundbreaking 1990s teenage drama - and was hopelessly infatuated with the show's main star. Think you know who it is? The son of a visual artist and the younger brother of a producer, this future star was raised in a creatively driven Colorado household before eventually relocating to the Northern California area. After settling in Los Angeles, he made his professional debut at just 10 years old, landing roles in several television commercials before making his way onto the small screen. His first major performance came as a guest star on the hit 1990s sitcom Dream On, marking the beginning of his rise in the industry. From that point on, he appeared in minor guest roles on various shows and movies - including My Girl 2 - before landing the role that would cement his place in television history. In 1994, the blonde, curly-haired teenager quickly became a memorable face on a short-lived ABC series that, despite only lasting one season, earned national praise for its realistic portrayal of teenage complexity and social issues. Starring as an introspective and somewhat socially awkward teenager, his character often found himself on the outskirts of the typical teenage crowd - providing a counterbalance to the more emotional and rebellious characters. This actor portrayed the nerdy next-door neighbor in a fictional Pennsylvania town on a groundbreaking 1990s teenage drama - and was hopelessly infatuated with the show's main star He appeared in minor guest roles on various shows and movies - including My Girl 2 - before landing the role that would cement his place in television history In 1994, the blonde, curly-haired teenager quickly became a memorable face on a short-lived ABC series that, despite only lasting one season, earned national praise for its realistic portrayal of teenage complexity and social issues And of course, who could forget his fictional neighbor, with whom he seizes every opportunity to spark a conversation - all because he's hopelessly in love, even if it was sometimes tough to watch his unrequited crush. With a career now spanning over 30 years, this actor has amassed more than 60 appearances across a wide range of films and television series. Have you been able to guess who it is yet? It's Devon Gummersall! The now-46-year-old actor brought to life the brooding yet sympathetic Brian Krakow on hit 1990s drama, My So-Called Life. Since the show's cancelation, he has gone on to appear in several television projects - including AMC's Mad Men and CMT's Nashville. He got married to actress Majandra Delfino in 2007 before they ended up splitting the next year. Today, Gummersall is a self-proclaimed filmmaker, content creator, writer, actor, surfer, and traveler - according to social media - where he has shared updates from his travels over the years. If you guessed Devon Gummersall, the now-46-year-old actor who brought life to the brooding yet sympathetic Brian Krakow on hit 1990s drama, My So-Called Life, you're absolutely right! (pictured: Gummersall circled) He was known for his unrequited crush on 15-year-old Angela Chase, played by Claire Danes, as the show followed her struggles with her parents and friends throughout her teenage years (pictured: teenage Danes and Gummersall) Although short-lived, My So-Called Life is what Gummersall is most remembered for - a series that continues to resonate today for its raw, timeless portrayal of adolescence. 'Even though we were all devastated when it ended, I do think we are grateful for it being such a short-lived and kind of perfect thing that happened under glass, in a way,' Gummersall shared with Elle Magazine last year. 'It was over before it became huge, so it had a purity to it that was kind of unique and rare.' Starring Claire Danes as 15-year-old Angela Chase, an angsty high-schooler in suburban Pittsburgh, the drama followed her struggles with her parents and friends - and her obsession with the toxic Jordan Catalano, played by Jared Leto. The 19-episode, hour-long 90s drama captured the angst of teenage years while fearlessly addressing issues like homophobia, drug use, sex, homelessness and more. But one of the most crucial elements of the show was Brian's unrelenting crush on Angela, as it was never just about the romance. Instead, it centered around themes of teenage identity, vulnerability and the turbulence of growing up. His character's unreciprocated feelings for the popular high schooler showcased one of the most relatable teenage experiences - loving someone who doesn't feel the same way. Although short-lived, My So-Called Life is what Gummersall is most remembered for - a series that continues to resonate today for its raw, timeless portrayal of adolescence (pictured on right) Despite earning critical acclaim for its honest depiction of teenage life as difficult and emotionally confusing rather than fun and carefree, My So-Called Life was cancelled after just one season In the drama, his longing never felt dramatic or manipulative, but rather quiet, awkward and achingly painful - mirroring the inner lives of many viewers, despite what year it may be. Angela was instead drawn to the mysterious and emotionally unavailable Jordan, which underscored the show's theme of teenagers often chasing risks and excitement rather than safety and familiarity. Despite earning critical acclaim for its honest depiction of teenage life as difficult and emotionally confusing rather than fun and carefree, My So-Called Life was cancelled after just one season. Still, its richly drawn characters - especially Gummersall's portrayal of a quietly yearning neighbor hopelessly in love with the shows lead - cemented its legacy as a true cult classic. Andy Lee and fiancee Rebecca Harding may be on the verge of overstaying their welcome in Hawthorn as construction continues on their three-story mega-mansion. The funnyman, 43, and his partner, 35, have spent the last 18 months restoring a 150-year-old derelict home by the Yarra River in Melbourne. Ariel photos of the property taken last week show the staggering scale of the home which sits on 1,950 square metres. With huge plans to connect a modern build to the Italianate manor, and years longer to go, Daily Mail Australia can reveal the disruptive build has divided neighbours. 'It's noisy. It's been noisy... It's frustrating because it's been going for a year and we've still got a couple more years to go,' one disgruntled person said. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Andy Lee and fiancee Rebecca Harding may be on the verge of overstaying their welcome in Hawthorn as construction continues on their three-story mega-mansion The funnyman and his partner have spent the last 18 months restoring a 150-year-old derelict home by the Yarra River in Melbourne With huge plans to connect a modern build to the Italianate manor, and years longer to go, Daily Mail Australia can reveal the disruptive build has divided neighbours Though they went on to add the 'earthworks' was the noisiest portion of the build, the neighbour said nowadays it has 'actually settled down quite a bit'. 'Any building site is noisy... It's hard with parking. The parking is difficult, but any house renovation does that,' they continued. Another neighbour agreed, saying: 'There was digging every day between seven and three. That's ceased. 'At the moment it has quieted down. We've just accepted that it's happening.' Someone else took umbrage with how frequently builders were working on the site, and wondered if Andy knew how noisy the construction was. 'I will say they start at about 7.15am and finish at 5pm and it's been six days a week... It's been continuous noise,' they said. 'Now that they've started on the build, it's a lot of hammering and the builders do like their loud music. 'And of course the parking. It's wasn't considerate to the neighbours in that it was six days, not five days. I'm not sure Andy Lee is aware of the continuous noise. 'It's noisy. It's been noisy... It's frustrating because it's been going for a year and we've still got a couple more years to go,' one disgruntled person said Though they went on to add the 'earthworks' was the noisiest portion of the build, the neighbour said nowadays it has 'actually settled down quite a bit' 'Any building site is noisy... It's hard with parking. The parking is difficult, but any house renovation does that,' they continued Someone else took umbrage with how frequently builders were working on the site, and wondered if Andy knew how noisy the construction was 'I think there could have been more consideration to the neighbours... I didn't realise it was three stories.' The source went on to say the radio star and his partner invited all the neighbours over to the home before they began renovations in 2023. 'We had a meet with him at about Christmas before last. He did show all the drawings,' they said. 'We had champagne and canapes, but I don't think we were aware of the disruptions it would cause... It's certainly changed the street the last 18 months. 'It doesn't bother me too much, but I can understand everybody else's problems. I don't know how the people right next door to it can stand it.' Others said while construction has certainly been noisy and disruptive, they have grown used to the sound as there are often renovations happening on the street. 'We're going with it. It's been really noisy today. I don't know what they were doing. It changes all the time. We don't really have a complaint,' one person said. 'We know it's going to go on for years... We've had other builds go on in the street and they've taken years. We're used to that. I'm not going to complain. 'I will say they start at about 7.15am and finish at 5pm and it's been six days a week... It's been continuous noise,' they said The source went on to say the radio star and his partner invited all the neighbours over to the home before they began renovations in 2023 'We had a meet with him at about Christmas before last. He did show all the drawings,' they said Others said while construction has certainly been noisy and disruptive, they have grown used to the sound as there are often renovations happening on the street 'I can't understand why they're doing what they're doing. Why didn't they just live in the old house? Fix it up.' They added: 'The construction and the digging up of the ground, there has been big trucks... We're used to it.' Despite the constant noise and disruption to parking, other neighbours are glad someone has swooped in to fix up the old rundown home. 'It had gotten into a terrible state of disrepair before [Andy] started doing renovations. So it's actually looking better than it has looked for the last ten years,' one said. 'There were squatters there before. I think it's great that he's doing it. I wish it would be finished already. 'I think he's doing a great job. He's obviously not scrimping on costs... It's going to be better than the decrepit house that was there before. I think it's going to be beautiful.' Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Andy and Rebecca for comment. Andy and Rebecca have grand plans for their Italianate manor, with the planned renovation worth an estimated $5million having begun in 2023. 'We know it's going to go on for years... We've had other builds go on in the street and they've taken years. We're used to that. I'm not going to complain,' one person said Despite the constant noise and disruption to parking, other neighbours are glad someone has swooped in to fix up the old rundown home 'It had gotten into a terrible state of disrepair before [Andy] started doing renovations. So it's actually looking better than it has looked for the last ten years,' one said Andy and Rebecca have grand plans for their Italianate manor, with the planned renovation worth an estimated $5million having begun in 2023 The comedian has been hard at work on the derelict Melbourne mansion, called Ravenswood, he bought for $8.5million in 2021, in a Block-style rebuild. The couple won council approval for their development application back in June 2023. Plans for the site include adding a second building which will be connected by a tunnel to the original Italianate mansion, which was built around 1876. Other highlights planned for the 1,950 square metre holding include a home theatre, a gym, a swimming pool and a 'mega bedroom'. In a statement to the Herald Sun, Boroondara Council confirmed it had issued a notice of decision to grant a planning permit for the Yarra Grove address. One neighbour told the Sydney Morning Herald in December the construction cacophony had caused the couple to lose 'a lot of community goodwill'. 'The noise is just horrendous,' the disgruntled neighbour told the publication. 'Some residents just leavethey go away for a week at a time and come back on the weekend.' The publication also reported residents are angry over construction noise which had continued for 26 weeks. The noise was due to piling reinforced steel pillars and it was also reported dust from 'constant' rock breaking, had coated the solar panels on nearby houses. Tensions in the Beckham family have grown so bitter that youngest son Cruz is going out of his way to avoid estranged brother Brooklyn, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The 20-year-old musician has taken to contacting the family's favourite hangouts ahead of any visits to confirm that he won't cross paths with his sibling. He is said to have sent messages to the owners of their haunts specifically asking questions such as, 'Is Brooklyn there?', to make sure the coast was clear. And he even follows that up with a request to 'let him know' if his brother later turned up, sources say. Brooklyn, 26, does not even live in London, having set up home in Los Angeles with his heiress wife Nicola Peltz, who has been blamed for the rift in the once tight-knit family. But relations have deteriorated so much that he no longer tells parents David and Victoria when he's in town. Earlier this month the couple jetted to the UK for a photoshoot with Italian luxury fashion brand Moncler. But while the location was just two miles from the family's home in west London, they kept the visit secret even from younger sister, Harper, 13, who used to pose for pictures with Nicola on social media. From left to right: David Beckham, Cruz Beckham, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, Harper Beckham, Nicola Peltz Beckham and Mia Regan attend the Victoria Beckham AW24 show during Paris Fashion Week in 2024 Cruz (right) is going out of his way to avoid estranged brother Brooklyn, The Mail on Sunday can reveal Cruz Beckham, Nicola Peltz Beckham, Victoria Beckham and Brooklyn Peltz Beckham attend the Premiere of Lola in Los Angeles in February 2024 The Beckhams are said to have learned of Brooklyn's visit only when they spotted an Instagram post that Nicola made about the job. News that Cruz is making moves to avoid inadvertently bumping into his brother are the latest indication of the deep rift within the Beckham family. Rumours were further fuelled when Cruz appeared to reference the drama in a cryptic post on Instagram last week. He wrote: 'It takes 43 muscles in your face to frown, and 17 to smile. Be kind and tell the truth.' It is unclear what 'truth' he is referring to, but many saw it as a veiled reference to Brooklyn. The post was later deleted. It has been many months since the family spent time together, with the feud becoming public knowledge when Brooklyn failed to attend any of his father's 50th birthday celebrations a month ago. Brooklyn appeared to nail his loyalties to the mast when he posted an image on Instagram of himself and Nicola riding a motorbike, writing: 'My whole world x I will love you forever x I always choose you baby x you're the most amazing person I know xx me and you forever baby.' The Beckhams have largely remained silent in public about the rift, but they are said to fear that Brooklyn is falling increasingly under the control of Nicola, the daughter of American billionaire businessman Nelson Peltz. David Beckham on a boys trip for his birthday with his sons Romeo and Cruz Brooklyn Beckham, Cruz Beckham, Harper Beckham and David Beckham arrive at the Victoria Beckham AW24 show during Paris Fashion Week in 2024 As a source told the Mail last week: 'Brooklyn is now being referred to as "the hostage". 'Those who love him fear that he is being controlled by Nicola, and it is heartbreaking.' Tensions allegedly began in the lead-up to Brooklyn and Nicola's 3 million wedding in April 2022, with Nicola was said to have declined an offer to wear a dress designed by Victoria Beckham. Bono turned heads in New York City on Friday night as he stepped out for dinner with none other than George Clooney and his glamorous wife Amalsporting a far more mature look than fans might remember from his rock star heyday. The U2 frontman, now 65, looked worlds away from the tousled-haired, leather-clad heartthrob who rose to fame with 1983's War album and its iconic anthems Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Years Day. Back then, he was a globe-trotting sex symbol selling out stadiums with his signature all-black outfits and tinted sunglassesan edgy look that became his trademark. But while the wild touring days may be behind him, Bono hasn't lost his rock star swagger. Dressed in a sharp black suit and his ever-present shades, he confidently embraced his older, wiser vibe as he joined the Clooneys at the famed Polo Bar in Manhattan. SUBSCRIBE to our new Showbiz newsletter for all the latest on Bono, Clooney and more. Bono turned heads in New York City on Friday night as he stepped out for dinner with none other than George Clooney and his glamorous wife Amalsporting a far more mature look than fans might remember from his rock star heyday; (Bono in 1988) The U2 frontman, now 65, looked worlds away from the tousled-haired, leather-clad heartthrob who rose to fame with 1983's War album and its iconic anthems Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Years Day But while the wild touring days may be behind him, Bono hasn't lost his rock star swagger Playing third wheel to the Oscar-winning actor, 64, and the stunning human rights lawyer, 47, Bono held his ownsharing laughs and flashing that familiar grin as the trio made their exit. He may be a little more seasoned, but make no mistake: Bonos still got the cool factor that made him a legend. The Big Apple outing comes just two weeks after Bono and Amalalongside Kristen Stewart and Helena Christensenattended the premiere of Bono: Stories of Surrender at the Cannes Film Festival. The deeply personal documentary pulls back the curtain on Bono's life, exploring the family, friendships, and faith that have shaped him. It offers intimate reflections on his journey as a son, husband, father, activist, and global rock star. Bono and George Clooney go way back, famously hanging out with Rande Gerber in West Hollywood back in 2017. The NYC dinner also followed some headlines Bono recently stirred during an interview with The Project, where he addressed the long-standing rumor that his wife, Ali Hewson, and U2 bandmate The Edge were once 'an item.' Bonoborn Paul David Hewsontouched on the speculation in his film and expanded on it in the sit-down, calling it 'still a sore subject' even after all these years. 'They were the two cleverest in their year,' he recalled of Ali and The Edge, who were both a grade below him in high school. Playing third wheel to the Oscar-winning actor, 64, and the stunning human rights lawyer, 47, Bono held his ownsharing laughs and flashing that familiar grin as the trio made their exit Bono was a globe-trotting sex symbol selling out stadiums with his signature all-black outfits and tinted sunglassesan edgy look that became his trademark; (seen in 1986) The Big Apple outing comes just two weeks after Bono and Amal attended the premiere of Bono: Stories of Surrender at the Cannes Film Festival; (The Edge, Bono, Larry Mullen Jr and Adam Clayton in 1982) U2 has won 22 Grammy Awards out of 46 nominations, making them one of the most awarded rock bands in Grammy historyl (U2 in 1978) Adam Clayton, Bono, Ed Sheeran, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr on May 22, 2025 'She did seem to be taking an interest in his guitar playing and, as hard as I might practice, I just knew I couldnt touch this guy,' he added with a laugh. 'So I had to become, you know, the class clown.' Despite the rumors, Bono said Ali and The Edge are still very closeand still gossip about him. 'They say its out of concern,' he joked. Married since 1982, Bono and Ali share four children: Jordan, 36, Eve, 33, Elijah, 25, and John, 22. Sharna Burgess has shared new details about her relationship with her Beverly Hills 90210 star fiance Brian Austin Green. The Australian ballroom dancer told this week's Stellar magazine, the pair met after a mutual business manager arranged a blind date between them in 2020. Sharna admitted she didn't recognise Brian's name as she hadn't watched 90210. The following year, Sharna and Brian starred on the US version of Dancing With The Stars as a couple. 'We totally put our relationship first the whole way through, because it was always more important to us,' she explained. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Sharna Burgess has shared new details about her relationship with her Beverly Hills 90210 star fiance Brian Austin Green. Pictured Sharna and Brian with their son Zane Sharna and Brian have been together since 2020 and delight in their blended family. The American actor is a father of five. He shares Kassius, 23, with ex-wife Vanessa Marcil, 56, and Noah, 12, Bodhi, 11, and Journey, eight with Megan Fox. Brian also welcomed his son Zane with Sharna in June 2022 and the actress said their baby boy 'bonded everyone together'. 'I was always incredibly close with the kids as our relationship grew, but when Zane came along, it was like that piece locked in where they were, like, 'Oh, this is forever',' she revealed. Elsewhere in the chat, the Los Angeles-based couple teased that they have discussed having a second home in Australia. In the meantime they are enjoying extended visits - including with their children - Down Under while Sarah films Dancing With the Stars Australia. 'It's been really, really cool, especially after being away for such a long time,' Sharna said. 'We've loved the beach time. Bri and two of the kids climbed the Harbour Bridge they loved it. The photo we have in our kitchen is massive smiles and windswept hair. It's the cutest thing.' The Australian ballroom dancer told this week's Stellar magazine, the pair met after a mutual business manager arranged a blind date between them in 2020 Sharna admitted she didn't recognise Brian's name as she hadn't watched 90210. The following year, Sharna and Brian starred on the US version of Dancing With The Stars as a couple Brian proposed to Sharna on his 50th birthday in 2023. In 2021, the pair appeared on The Morning Show to celebrate their one-year anniversary together - and the interview took a cringeworthy turn when Brian admitted he still doesn't understand Australians' fascination with Vegemite. Vegemite is a thick, dark brown spread made from leftover brewers' yeast extract. It's considered a household staple in Australia, but is reviled in other parts of the world. 'Aussies are awesome, you know this,' joked Sharna after Brian praised her for being a great stepmother to his four children. He then replied: 'Vegemite makes me question that a little bit, but whatever.' Elsewhere in the interview, Brian said his partner had done a good job handling the 'responsibility' that comes with dating a man with children. Sharna, who hails from Wagga Wagga and now lives in the U.S., went Instagram official with Brian in February 2021. His acclaimed performance as a liberal cardinal in Conclave secured him an Oscar nomination but Ralph Fiennes was not the first choice for the part. Both Hollywood legend Robert de Niro and Spanish star Javier Bardem were in line to take the lead role, author Robert Harris has revealed. But negotiations with both actors representative broke down, opening the way for 62-year-old Fiennes. His casting also meant a change to his character. In Harriss original 2016 novel, the dean of the council of cardinals was an Italian called Jacopo Baldassare Lomeli. But once Fiennes was cast, he became the English Cardinal Thomas Lawrence. The author told the Hay-on-Wye literary festival: For a long time, Robert De Niro was supposed to play the Fiennes role, but that fell through, and then Javier Bardem was supposed to do it. But again a deal could not be struck, so producers turned to Fiennes, best known for playing evil Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter blockbusters and M in the Bond films. It was Fiennes and director Edward Berger who decided to change the characters nationality, Harris revealed. They came to lunch and told me they wanted to change the nationality of Cardinal Lomeli, because Ralph wanted to play an Englishman. I looked across the table and thought, Do I really want to lose Ralph Fiennes? And of course, it doesnt make any difference at all. Conclave's Ralph Fiennes was acclaimed for his appearance - but he was in reality third choice for the lead role Fiennes and director Edward Berger decided to change the characters nationality, it was also revealed Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost addresses the crowd on the main central loggia balcony of the St Peter's Basilica for the first time Harris whose other bestselling novels include Fatherland and Enigma also told the Hay audience that film producers had been circling around his novel before he had finished writing it. But after the initial clamour, the executives decided to hold back the films release which turned out to be fortuitous as it ended up in cinemas just before the real Vatican conclave to select Pope Franciss successor. Harris, 68, said: They sat on it for a year to prevent it being swamped by other films, which was a stroke of genius as it got a lot of attention. There was this rolling interest in conclaves, and I found myself peculiarly having written a primer on conclaves. Among those who watched the film this year was American Cardinal Robert Prevost, who saw it just before the conclave voted him to become Pope, subsequently taking the name Leo XIV. Conclave, which also starred Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini, was nominated for eight Academy Awards, but secured only the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for Peter Straughans script. Two Oscar voters later told trade magazine Variety that they hadnt backed Fiennes as they wrongly believed he had won the award before. They are said to have bonded over fallouts with their in-laws. And now The Mail on Sunday can reveal that Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz have hired the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs lawyer to help them with their reputation management. Last week, the couple, who have reportedly fallen out with his parents David and Victoria, instructed Jenny Afia, the British solicitor who works for Schillings law firm. The appointment came after the Duchess of Sussex and Harry met Brooklyn and Nicola at a party in Montecito, California, three weeks ago as guests of Brian Robbins, chief executive at Paramount Pictures. Ms Afias appointment has prompted much amusement, it is claimed, among the Beckhams, as Posh and Becks fell out with Harry some years ago after they were accused by the couple of leaking stories. A source familiar with the rift told the MoS: You couldnt really make it up, first Brooklyn and Nicola cosy up together and realise they have quite a lot in common, and then all of a sudden they have enlisted the help of the Sussexes long-serving lawyer. Nicola and Brooklyn are getting fed up of stories running they dont like. Nicola likes to control everything and they have taken this rather drastic action. Brooklyn Beckham and his wife Nicola Peltz have hired the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs lawyer Broklyn and Nicola are said to have bonded with Harry and Meghan over fallouts with their in-laws Lawyer Jenny Afia speaking on The Princes And The Press documentary For the Beckhams the irony isnt lost. They fell out with Meghan and Harry after they accused them of leaking stories they were furious and Brooklyn knows that. The two couples are very close indeed. The feud began in the run-up to Brooklyn and Nicolas extravagant Palm Beach wedding in April 2022. But it came to a head during Davids 50th birthday celebrations earlier this year when, despite travelling to London, Brooklyn and Nicola didnt attend a big family party at the Beckhams Cotswolds home, an idyllic trip to France or a meal at Notting Hill Michelin-starred restaurant, Core. Brooklyn, 26, also missed a boys fishing trip to the Scottish Highlands with his father and his younger brothers Romeo, 22, and Cruz, 20, as well as a pre-birthday bash at Miami restaurant Cipriani at the end of March. TV funnyman Sam Pang is heading back to host The Logie Awards in August. This will be the third time in three years that the 51-year-old comedian has taken on the anchor role for TV's Night of Nights. Sam's cheeky and irreverent comedy as host last year and in 2023 proved to be a big hit with audiences and TV's A-list as well as a major ratings winner for Seven. 'Its been an honour to host the last two years and Im looking forward to again celebrating the talented people and amazing shows that combine to make the Australian television industry something everyone can be proud of,' Sam told The Herald Sun on Sunday. 'I am very excited to return for another Logies and would like to thank Seven for asking me back.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. TV funnyman Sam Pang is heading back to host The Logie Awards in August. This will be the third time in three years that the 51-year-old comedian has taken on the anchor role This year's lucky Logie nominees will be announced on June 16. Sam is expected to unleash another take-no-prisoners monologue as host when the Logies ceremony kicks off at the Star Sydney on August 3. The beloved comedian left viewers in stitches with a cutting series of one liners when he took to the stage last year. He was widely praised for his presenting - and roasting of celebrities - for the 2023 event and he certainly did not fail to disappoint as viewers applauded his 'fearless' monologue which saw him boldly take aim at Channel Seven. Sam didn't hold back as he savagely roasted Seven for their spate of recent scandals, such as the Bruce Lehrmann-Spotlight scandal, despite the fact the Logies were airing on the network. He also hit out at Network 10 and Married At First Sight in his take-no-prisoners monologue, before making jokes at the expense of Adam Lambert and LeAnn Rimes. Sam opened his monologue by savagely taking aim at Seven, referencing their recent scandals as the crowds reacted with shocked gasps. 'Firstly, Channel 7, well, I'm just letting you all know I'm going to say whatever I want tonight,' he said as he kicked things off. Sam's cheeky and irreverent comedy as host last year and in 2023 proved to be a big hit with audiences and TV's A-list as well as a major ratings winner for Seven 'I stand before you safe in the knowledge that whatever I say, this network will defend me in court, and with their impeccable record in defamation cases over the last 12 months I reckon I'll be fine.' Amid a string of jobs being cut at Seven, Sam then joked that he wasn't getting paid by the network for his hosting gig and said they would instead be paying his rent. 'Full disclosure - I'm not getting paid by Channel Seven tonight. Instead, for the next 12 months, they're paying my rent,' he quipped. Which is handy as they'll know what address to send the Thai masseuse to.' Sam then left the crowds in stitches with his MAFS joke as he quipped: 'Reality shows continue to thrive. One of the biggest shows sees contestants thrown together, isolated and willingly eating testicles and sometimes anus. Thats right, Married At First Sight continues to go from strength to strength.' Sam's return comes after his first Logies as host scored an impressive 877,000 viewers in the TV ratings. The 2024 Logies broadcast, meanwhile, was another massive hit for Seven According to Sunday night's OzTam ratings, the awards show was the most popular program on free-to-air with a huge national reach of 3,351,000, with a national audience of 1,338,00. Rihanna's boyfriend A$AP Rocky rushed to her side amid a devastating family tragedy this weekend. The rapper, 36, appeared be downcast as he headed out to support his girlfriend and the mother of his children while she is mourning the loss of her father. The 37-year-old superstar who is currently pregnant with her and her partner's third child together is grieving the loss of her dad Ronald Fenty, who tragically died at the age of 70 on Saturday. Rocky, born Rakim Athelaston Mayers, rushed out in rainy New York City on his way to be there for his girlfriend. Rihanna's father reportedly had a brief illness and died in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 31, according to TMZ and the Fenty family's native Barbados' Starcom Network. Rihanna, who is one of the children Ronald shared with ex-wife Monica Braithwaite, has not yet publicly addressed their devastating family tragedy. Rihanna 's boyfriend A$AP Rocky rushed to her side amid a devastating family tragedy this weekend The rapper, 36, appeared be downcast as he headed out to support his girlfriend and the mother of his children while she is mourning the loss of her father; the couple seen on May 19 Rocky was dressed in black, sporting a leather jacket and sunglasses to cover his eyes. He donned long, jean shorts paired with matching socks and sneakers for a monochromatic look as he and his team headed out of his hotel. Earlier this week, Rihanna's brother Rajad Fenty was pictured on his way to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Rihanna was reportedly also in the car though she was not seen in the photos obtained by TMZ. Meanwhile, Rocky was reportedly on the other coast and trying to rush back to be by his family's side. Previously, Rihanna and her father were estranged before they eventually reconciled in recent years. In 2019, she sued her dad and claimed he capitalized on her business empire. In her filing, she alleged that his Fenty Management talent firm profited off of her Fenty Beauty line and other trademarked eponymous ventures. Rocky, born Rakim Athelaston Mayers, rushed out in rainy New York City on his way to be there for his girlfriend The 37-year-old superstar who is currently pregnant with her and her partner's third child together is grieving the loss of her dad Ronald Fenty, who tragically died at the age of 70 on Saturday Rihanna's father reportedly had a brief illness and died in Los Angeles on Saturday, May 31, according to TMZ and the Fenty family's native Barbados' Starcom Network Rihanna, who is one of the children Ronald shared with ex-wife Monica Braithwaite, has not yet publicly addressed their devastating family tragedy; pictured April 2006 Previously, Rihanna and her father were estranged before they eventually reconciled in recent years; Fenty pictured alongside daughter Rihanna and son Rajad Fenty in February 2012 Two years later, she filed to dismiss the lawsuit and had seemingly mended her relationship with him. In 2023, when Rihanna and Rocky were expecting their second child together, Fenty gushed over his daughter and shared his excitement of becoming a grandfather to another one of their babies. Fenty shared three children with his ex-wife Braithwaite including Rihanna, Rajad and Rorrey. Around the time Rihanna's career in music was taking off in 2002, her parents split up. In addition to Rihanna, Fenty is survived by his grandchildren including Rihanna and Rocky's sons RZA, two, Riot Rose, 18 months, and their baby on the way. He is also survived by his other children Rajad, Rorrey as well as Kandy, Samantha, Jamie and multiple grandchildren. Last month, Rihanna insisted her new album won't be delayed too much by her pregnancy. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, the Umbrella hitmaker was asked if the album - which has been dubbed 'R9' - will be 'put on pause even longer'. She insisted: 'No, maybe a couple of videos.' Fans have been waiting nine years for the follow-up to 2016's Anti, but Rihanna has assured them that her plans are still in place. Elizabeth Sobinoff has posted a frank health update after welcoming her second child with husband Alex Vega. The 34-year-old former Married at First Sight bride shared a video on Saturday in which she revealed that she felt as if 'her body was coming apart 'after having two children 'back-to-back'. Lizzie, who has a 18-month-old daughter, welcomed her second child, a baby boy, in April. Her postnatal health issues include a 'bad back, bad neck', anal fissures and haemorrhoids. She appeared in the Instagram video wearing a bathrobe and began the lengthy clip by telling her followers that she believed in 'loving yourself'. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Sobinoff has posted a frank health update after welcoming her new baby with husband Alex Vega 'But I am feeling as if I'm falling apart physically I tell you,' she explained and added that he neck and back were 'a mess'. She continued: 'After carrying two big babies back to back I feel as if my arse**** is a mess. I'm talking fissures and haemorrhoids.' Lizzie added she had a message for women who endured similar health issues after giving birth. 'Don't act like you don't know if you've carried big babies before,' she said. 'Don't act like you don't know. Or if its not like a thing. Um yeah.' According to the Babycenter site, anal fissures - small tears in the anal passage - in postpartum women are common. Still, Lizzie appeared to have a sense of humour about her condition. She joked on her post that the auto captions on her video had translated 'fissure' into 'fishes'. 'Loving the time with my babies but I could do without the feeling as if my body is going to fall apart,' she added. 'And yes I eat enough fibre thank you very much.' Lizzie, who has a 17-month-old daughter, welcomed a baby boy in April. She said that her postnatal health issues include a 'bad back, bad neck', anal fissures and haemorrhoids The former reality TV star is happily married to her engineer husband Alex Vega (pictured), and is mum to an 18-month-old baby girl and a newborn baby boy who was born in April Followers messaged Lizzie with words of support. 'Oh my gosh love this honesty, love how real u are!!' gushed one fan. 'Yup our bodies take a beating,' agreed another follower. 'Welcome to the haemorrhoid club! My last baby was 6 yrs ago and I've still got them!!!!!,' messaged a third user. Elsewhere in Lizzie's post she referred to another health issue she experienced later her pregnancy. In February Lizzie shared gruesome photos that showed that her right eye was swollen shut. After first believing the problem was conjunctivitis, Lizzie said she was alarmed to learn from doctors her eyelid was infected by cold sores. On Saturday, she said that was not sure that her eyelid had healed properly. 'It probably did but I feel as if there's something in there. Something grainy. I just want to rip it out,' she said in her update. Lizzie was famously fat-shamed by her first Married At First Sight groom Sam Ball on season 2019 of the show. She and Seb Guilhaus hit it off immediately during her second showing on MAFS in 2020, and stayed together after the show, before parting ways in 2021. The former reality TV star is now happily married to her engineer husband Alex. Amber Salazar is just the kind of idealist who would end up running a bookstore a lifelong reader who felt angered "to the core" as she learned of book bans around the United States. A resident of Colorado Springs, Colo., Salazar last year opened Banned Wagon Books, a pop-up store she sets up everywhere from wineries to coffee shops, featuring frequently censored works such as Maia Kobabe's "Gender Queer," Angie Thomas' "The Hate U Give" and Toni Morrison's "Beloved." "I decided that no matter what it looked like, I was going to open a bookstore so that I could contribute in some small way and stand up for intellectual freedom in the U.S.," explains Salazar, 33, who donates 5% of her profits to the American Library Association and other organizations opposing bans. "Since we were coming out of the (COVID-19) pandemic at that time, I started thinking about ways to combine my love of literature and passion for intellectual freedom with my appreciation for the small businesses in my city who weathered some difficult storms through shutdowns and supply chain concerns." She is among a wave of new and, often, younger owners who helped the independent book community dramatically expand, intensify and diversify. Purpose-driven Independent bookselling is not a field for fortune seekers: Most local stores, whether run by retirees, bookworms or those switching careers in middle age, have some sense of higher purpose. For many who opened in recent years, it's an especially critical mission. Narrative in Somerville, Mass., identifies as "proudly immigrant-woman owned & operated, with an emphasis on amplifying marginalized voices & experiences." In Chicago, Call & Response places "the voices of Black and other authors of color at the center of our work." Independent stores likely will never recover their power of 50 years ago, before the rise of Barnes & Noble superstores and the online giant Amazon.com. Still, the days of industry predictions of their demise seem well behind. In 2016, there were 1,244 members in the American Booksellers Association trade group at 1,749 locations. As of this month, the ABA has 2,863 individual members at 3,281 locations. More than 200 stores are in the process of opening. "It's incredible, this kind of energy," association CEO Allison Hill said. "I don't think any of us would have predicted this a few years ago." Still, booksellers remain vulnerable to political and economic challenges. Costs of supplies remain high and could rise because of President Donald Trump's tariffs. ABA President Cynthia Compton, who runs two stores in the Indianapolis area, says sales to schools are down because censorship laws made educators more cautious. The ABA's own website advises: "Passion and knowledge have to be combined with business acumen if your bookstore is to succeed." Not alone Salazar is part of an Instagram chat group, Bookstores Helping Bookstores, with like-minded sellers such as the owners of The Crafty Bookstore in Bloomington, Ind., "specializing in Indie books & custom bookish accessories," and the Florida-based Chapter Bound, an online store with a calling "to connect great books with great people at prices everyone can afford." "In the age of social media, people are craving genuine connection and community," Salazar said. "And books often provide a catalyst to that feeling of community." Stephen Sparks, who is 47 and since 2017 owned Point Reyes Books northwest of San Francisco, believes the pandemic gave sellers of all ages a heightened sense of their role in the community and Trump's reelection added new urgency. Sales are up 20% this year, he said, if only because "during tough times, people come to bookstores." Younger owners bring a wide range of prior experience. Salazar worked in retail management for nine years, switched to property and casualty insurance sales and, right before she launched her store, was a business process owner. Courtney Bledsoe, owner of Call & Response, was a corporate attorney before a "full career shift" and risking a substantial drop in income. The 30-year-old held no illusions that owning a store meant "pouring a cup of coffee and reading all day." She researched the book retail business as if preparing for a trial, before committing herself and launching Call & Response in May 2024. "This endeavor is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life," she says, acknowledging it could take a couple of years before she can even pay herself a salary. "We're just doing this to serve the community, doing something we love to do, providing people with great events, great reading. It's been a real joy." Jennifer Garner looked stern as she met up with her ex Ben Affleck to run errands on Saturday in Los Angeles - shortly after their daughter Violet aired out an argument she had with the actress. The Elektra star, 53 - who recently opened up about parenting struggles - was seen stepping into a sleek black SUV which was being driven by the Oscar winner, 52, during the weekend outing. Just a few weeks earlier, their eldest child - who is currently attending Yale University - went viral after penning a woke essay for school over climate change. According to the 19-year-old, both she and Garner had a disagreement amid the devastating L.A. fires in January - and left her parents taken aback since they were not aware what Violet had written, DailyMail.com exclusively reported. For the latest daytime excursion, Jennifer kept it casual wearing a long-sleeved, black shirt and placed a cap on top of her head. Jennifer Garner, 53, looked stern as she met up with her ex Ben Affleck to run errands on Saturday in Los Angeles - shortly after their daughter Violet, 19, aired out an argument she had with the actress The Elektra star was seen stepping into a sleek black SUV which was being driven by the Oscar winner during the weekend outing Affleck - who was sitting in the driver's seat with the window rolled down - sported a light blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up in the warm weather. Earlier in the day, the Gone Girl actor spent quality time with son Samuel, 13, as they picked up items from Best Buy. Ben and Jennifer - who were married from 2005 through 2018 - share Violet, Samuel and also Fin, 16. The Hollywood star additionally sported a pair of denim jeans and completed his ensemble with tan boots and black shades. Affleck and his son strolled through a crowded parking lot after shopping at the store before heading to their next destination. Earlier this month, Ben and Garner's daughter Violet wrote an essay for her university's Global Health Review which was titled A Chronically Ill Earth: COVID Organizing as a Model Climate Response in Los Angeles. The college student has been vocal about her advocacy for both climate change and public health - such as the student demanding 'mask mandates' last year during an impassioned speech. The Gen Zer detailed an argument that she had with her mom Jennifer Garner in the wake of the deadly fires that ravaged through Southern California at the beginning of the year. Just a few weeks earlier, their eldest child - who is currently attending Yale University - went viral after penning a woke essay for school over climate change; seen in 2024 in L.A. Affleck - who was sitting in the driver's seat with the window rolled down - sported a light blue shirt with the sleeves rolled up in the warm weather Earlier in the day, the Gone Girl actor spent quality time with son Samuel, 13, as they picked up items at Best Buy She had stated that while the 13 Going On 30 actress was left 'shell-shocked' over the devastation - Violet admitted that she was simply 'surprised at her surprise.' In the paper which was published on May 18, the student wrote of Garner: 'She was shell-shocked, astonished at the scale of destruction in the neighborhood where she raised myself and my siblings. 'I was surprised at her surprise: as a lifelong Angelena and climate-literate member of generation Z, my question had not been whether the Palisades would burn but when.' Violet then recalled having conversations with adults while staying at a hotel with her family to 'escape the smoke.' 'Though, I found my position to be an uncommon one: people spoke of how long rebuilding would take, how much it would cost, and how tragically odd the whole situation had been. 'The crisis was acute, a burst of bad luck. It had come from a combination of high winds and low rains.' The Yale student also wrote about how her younger brother Samuel had doubts that the fires were linked to climate change. 'Hopefully, most of us understand the climate crisis better than my little brother,' she added. She had stated that while the 13 Going On 30 actress was left 'shell-shocked' over the devastation - Violet admitted that she was simply 'surprised at her surprise'; Garner seen earlier this month in NYC The Yale student also wrote about how her younger brother Samuel had doubts that the fires were linked to climate change; Violet's sibling Samuel and dad Ben Affleck seen in February in L.A. Garner had volunteered with World Central Kitchen in the wake of the disaster to help feed firefighters and victims of the flames. During an emotional interview with MSNBC, the actress also revealed that she had lost a friend in the fires. Elsewhere in her school essay, Violet penned about society's approach when it comes to a crisis - and used COVID-19 as an example. She wrote about the government tackling the pandemic and facing the pressures to 'return to normal' by society. 'While vaccines have been extremely effective in reducing death rates, those of us who have never stopped "following the science" know that even mild COVID infections are dangerous.' Other topics Violet touched on included the effects of Long COVID and how privilege or bias can affect who receives a quick response for aid. She then followed up with an example about FEMA's differing response to the L.A. fires and the floods in North Carolina last year. At the time of the flames in January, Violet had also 'pressured' her family into wearing face masks once again due to poor air quality. A source told DailyMail.com: 'Violet Affleck has been pressuring her family to put a mask on since she has been back home because right now the air quality is unhealthy. 'The crisis was acute, a burst of bad luck. It had come from a combination of high winds and low rains,' Violet added; aerial view of Altadena on May 22 following the Eaton Fire At the time of the flames in January, Violet had also 'pressured' her family into wearing face masks once again due to poor air quality; the college student seen with Jennifer in 2022 in Washington D.C. 'She is clearly not going to give up on advocating for mask mandates. It has become a part of who she is and what she stands for.' The insider added that the college student 'is so passionate about this and she feels vindicated for her work championing masks because she does, truly, believe that her opposition to the ban is warranted. 'She is hoping the fires will serve to show people that masks can be used in times not only connected to the spread of a virus.' Last year in July, Violet had asked that 'mask bans' come to an end inside medical facilities during a speech to the governing body for Los Angeles County. She further asked the board to 'confront the long COVID crisis' and explained how she had contracted 'a post-viral condition' back in 2019. The teenager said at the time, 'I demand mask availability, air filtration and Far-UVC light in government facilitates, including jails and detention centers, and mask mandates in county medical faculties. 'You must expand the availability of high-quality free tests and treatment, and most importantly the county must oppose mask bans for any reason. They do not keep us safer.' Violet's speech garnered differing reactions - with some praising the Ivy League student while others called her 'utterly deluded.' Her father Ben also gave his eldest child a warning and told her that she needed to be 'realistic,' a source told DailyMail.com; seen in April in NYC Her father Ben also gave his eldest child a warning and told her that she needed to be 'realistic,' a source told DailyMail.com. 'While Ben and Jen will always support their daughter, Ben had a conversation with her and told her that she needs to be realistic with this because he doesn't want her to waste all of her time putting effort into something that probably won't make a difference in the long run. 'He knows how strongly she feels about this, but now that Violet is an adult, he felt that it was his duty to let her know that she is David fighting Goliath and that most people unfortunately do not feel the same way she does about this.' The insider added the Ben, 'was also concerned that Violet felt as if her parent's star power was going to be able to guarantee her the outcome that she wanted which, in this case, it is not.' Later on Saturday, Affleck was seen joining close friend Matt Damon as they attended Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event in Los Angeles The actor sported a pair of denim jeans as well as a plain black shirt and black leather jacket while pausing for snaps on the red carpet The pair were later spotted taking to the stage inside the Kia Forum where the event took place to address the live audience Later on Saturday, Affleck was seen joining close friend Matt Damon as they attended Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event in Los Angeles. The actor sported a pair of denim jeans as well as a plain black shirt and black leather jacket while pausing for snaps on the red carpet. Damon was also stylishly casual in a pair of light gray pants as well as a white button up. The pair were later spotted taking to the stage inside the Kia Forum where the event took place to address the live audience. Married At First Sight star Lauren Dunn has revealed that her ex-partner, retired AFL player Ryan Crowley, is now living just 1km from her Perth home after being released on bail following recent court proceedings. Dunn, who appeared on the 2024 season of the hit reality dating show, took to Instagram on Saturday to share her reaction after Crowley, 41, was granted bail last week. Crowley faced Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday over domestic violence-related charges stemming from an alleged incident at a property in Claremont on Tuesday. During the hearing, the court was told that the pair had a five-year on-off relationship between 2018 and 2023. Crowley, through his legal representative, denied the severity of the claims and disputed the physical allegations made against him. He was released on bail after a $20,000 surety was provided and was ordered not to leave Western Australia. As part of his bail conditions, he is prohibited from contacting Dunn. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Married At First Sight star Lauren Dunn (pictured) has revealed that her ex-partner, retired AFL player Ryan Crowley, is now living just 1km from her Perth home after being released on bail following recent court proceedings On social media, Dunn shared her reaction to the situation with her 246,000 Instagram followers. 'My ex found someone to pay his $20k bond and the WA courts released him to a residence 1km away from my home in Perth,' she wrote. 'This is a good indicator for how our justice system values the lives of women,' she added, thanking WA Police for their ongoing support. She also responded to online comments questioning her past decisions. 'Not that I owe anyone an explanation ... His newest tactic is telling me he's dying and has no one and is at the lowest point of his life' she said. 'I am not a monster and I was in a moment of weakness so I said [he could] come over to talk about it...' During Thursday's court proceedings, it was alleged that a verbal disagreement took place after Dunn invited Crowley over. The court heard that tensions escalated following the discovery of email messages on her laptop, which prosecutors claimed led to a physical altercation. Dunn, who appeared on the 2024 season of the hit reality dating show, took to Instagram on Saturday to share her reaction after Crowley, 41, was granted bail last week (both pictured) According to police allegations presented in court, Dunn called emergency services but reportedly hung up, saying the call was made in error. Prosecutors alleged that during the incident, Dunn's phone was taken, and she was prevented from leaving the home. Further allegations presented in court included claims of physical restraint and that Dunn lost consciousness during the encounter. Crowley is accused of remaining at the residence overnight and of allegedly preventing her from leaving the following morning. It was also alleged that Dunn escaped via a bathroom window and sought refuge at a nearby cafe, where she messaged a friend. Police later arrested Crowley at Perth Train Station. Crowley is expected to reappear in court on July 24. No pleas have been entered, and the matter remains before the courts. If you or someone you know is being impacted by domestic or family violence or sexual assault call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000. Contact the Men's Referral Service if you are concerned about domestic violence: 1300 766 491. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 if you are in need of assistance in a crisis. Amanda Holden set pulses racing in a plunging cowl-neck gown as she stepped out on stage for the Britain's Got Talent final. The BGT judge, 54, often steals the show with her eye-popping ensembles - and Saturday's final was no different. Amanda showed off her incredible physique in a figure-hugging white satin halterneck gown by Saint Hendrix as she walked out on stage hand-in-hand with fellow judge Alesha Dixon. But in a racy display, Amanda's dress featured a plunging cowl-neckline which saw a glimpse of a silver metal bra lining and she wore bracelets, earrings and diamond rings from The Diamond Lab. She paired the look with elegant white heels and slicked her fair locks into a neat kow bun, sporting a dramatic diamante head piece. Amanda's BGT looks have raised eyebrows and have sparked more than 1,000 Ofcom complaints over the years, but she has passionately hit back at the criticism recently. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Amanda Holden set pulses racing in a plunging cowl-neck gown as she stepped out on stage for the Britain's Got Talent final on Saturday The BGT judge, 54, often steals the show with her eye-popping ensembles - and Saturday's final was no different Amanda said she works closely with her stylist on creating each look and insisted she loves every single outfit she has worn on the show since its launch in 2007. She told Closer magazine: 'What you see on TV, I really love. 'I'm always asked about the Ofcom complaints, but every outfit on the show is checked before I leave my dressing room, so I'm never worried. 'I think people should have fun with fashion!' It is not the first time Amanda has defended her fashion choices on the talent competition after coming under fire from some viewers. In 2022, she said: 'Fashion is about taking risks. I encourage everyone to have a little fun and be a little daring. I'd be bored playing it safe.' She added that her co-star Alesha Dixon, 46, never cops criticism for her racy outfits, describing the level of complaints as 'bizarre'. The TV star's bold fashion choices on Britain's Got Talent are often a talking point among fans of the series, with Amanda repeatedly forced to hit back at criticism. Amanda showed off her incredible physique in a figure-hugging white satin halterneck gown as she walked out on stage hand-in-hand with fellow judge Alesha Dixon But in a racy display, Amanda's dress featured a plunging cowl-neckline which saw a glimpse of a silver metal bra lining (Seen with judges Simon Cowell, Alesha and Bruno Tonioli) Amanda paired her ey-catching look with elegant white heels and slicked her fair locks into a neat kow bun She also sported a dramatic diamante headpiece in her hair, which clasped around her head In one very famous moment, a daring Julien Macdonald gown she wore during the semi-final of BGT in 2017 attracted a staggering 663 Ofcom complaints. The plunging floor-length dress plunged down to the navel, with a cut-out panel that reached the small of her back - but it came under fire when furious viewers deemed it 'inappropriate'. Despite the 11,000 ensemble causing hundreds of viewers to complain to Ofcom, the media regulator decided not to investigate. Ofcom said that while it recognised the dress 'had potential to offend some viewers during what is a family show' - the outfit 'would not have exceeded most viewers' expectations'. In 2019, another of Amanda's dresses on the show sparked nine Ofcom complaints. The judge wore for a sheer dress with spiderweb detailing over the chest, but it was branded 'inappropriate' by viewers, with nine viewers complaining about the look. However, Amanda appeared to see the funny side as she took to Instagram to share a joke about a water bottle sitting on the judges panel acting as a 'nipple cover'. In one very famous moment, a daring Julien Macdonald gown she wore during the semi-final of BGT in 2017 attracted a staggering 663 Ofcom complaints In 2019, one of Amanda's risque dresses on the show sparked nine Ofcom complaints, but the TV presenter humorously brushed off the outrage During an October 2020 episode, Amanda once again wowed as she wore a plum Suzanne Neville dress with a lace corset top that flashed plenty of leg The following night, she sparked more Ofcom complaints as she strutted her stuff in a gown by Lebanese designer Saiid Kobeisy. In another controversy, the regulator said the dress received 34 complaints relating to her dress. During an October 2020 episode, Amanda once again wowed in a plum Suzanne Neville dress with a lace corset top that showed off her toned legs. Of the 896 reported complaints made to Ofcom about the episode, 136 of these were about her dress, with Amanda sharing her 'baffled' reaction to the outrage. 'Just to say this dress got a tiny 136 complaints out of the 896 we apparently got that night,' she said on Instagram at the time. 'Surely there are more terrible and important things to write about...don't you agree? I'm baffled why it's still going on.' Doctor Who fans were sent into meltdown on Saturday night, as the jaw-dropping finale saw Billie Piper unveiled as the next incarnation of the Time Lord. However, while her reveal understandably sparked a huge frenzy on social media, others have been quick to spot one key problem with her regeneration, following Ncuti Gatwa's long-speculated exit from the show. The actress is well-known to longtime Who fans, having previously played The Doctor's companion Rose Tyler, and The Moment interface in the show's 50th Anniversary Special. But in the finale's last seconds, it appeared that Ncuti's Doctor, had regenerated into Billie, with her first words being: 'Oh hello!' Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, some fans were quick to note in the episode's closing credits, Billie was not credited as 'The Doctor,' with it instead simply stating: 'Introducing Billie Piper.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Doctor Who fans were sent into meltdown on Saturday night, as the jaw-dropping finale saw Billie Piper unveiled as the next incarnation of the Time Lord While her reveal understandably sparked a huge frenzy on social media , others have been quick to spot one key problem, following Ncuti Gatwa's long-speculated exit from the show. Posts included: 'Lowkey bugging me it just said introducing Billie piper, theres definitely something else at play here 'Notice how theyre not saying Sixteenth Doctor. Notice how the credits dont even say who she is playing. Odd. 'Note that it said "Introducing Billie Piper" - and not "Introducing Billie Piper as the Doctor". Maybe no one's been appointed, and this is a red herring? 'Don't be fooled. Billie IS NOT the Doctor. Where is "and introducing Billie Piper as The Doctor". 'I haven't missed the Introducing 'Bille Piper' as the Doctor being missing in the credits. Something fishy is going on here. Let me tells ya. 'I just noticed that the regeneration energy never stopped while #BilliePiper said Oh Hello and the credits didnt have her as being introduced as The Doctor, so thats another thread to add to the left hanging list #DoctorWho 'It's very likely NOT Billie Piper as the new Doctor - remember she was only in the credits as "Introducing Billie Piper" where the other two were "The Doctor". Definite bait and switch coming up.' Billie herself then seemed to further fuel the speculation with a cryptic Instagram post, which showed herself posing with a white rose, alongside two throwback snaps of her iconic Who character Rose Tyler. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter , some fans were quick to note in the episode's closing credits, Billie was not credited as 'The Doctor' Billie herself then seemed to further fuel the speculation with a cryptic Instagram post, which showed herself posing with a white rose Her post was captioned: 'A rose is a rose is a rose!!!' Her post was captioned: 'A rose is a rose is a rose!!!' While initial reactions to the news on X were positive, other die hard fans tuning in had mixed reactions to Saturday's episode. Retired teacher Steve Hatcher, 66, of Ashbourne in Derbyshire, who runs Whoovers - a Doctor Who fan club, told the PA news agency: 'The question in the mind was, is it going to be a regeneration to a new Doctor, which it was, or is it just going to be a regeneration to black and an uncertain future? 'So I'm very relieved that they've found a new Doctor and she's a brilliant actor and I'm sure that'll be terrific, so Doctor Who continues, I would say, on the basis of that, it was a terrific episode.' James Ashway, 27, from Bristol, who helps run the Doctor Who Appreciation Society's magazine, said: 'It was an episode which threw the kitchen sink in terms of returning characters, Jodie Whittaker and obviously now Billie Piper as well as the new Doctor. 'I'm a bit speechless to be honest, there's quite a lot of stuff to take in, but I think it was an interesting episode which pivoted in the middle to tell two different stories, one wrapping up the end of that season and obviously telling Ncuti Gatwa's regeneration as well, so very enjoyable.' However, Brendan Noble, 57, of Middlesbrough, a former English teacher who runs the Sense Sphere YouTube channel said: 'I think we've just had what I would have called EastEnders in space. I am absolutely shocked, irritated, frustrated, people are contacting me now in absolute shock and horror at what's just happened. 'It's lazy writing, hodgepodge of exposition, escapism, nonsense, (Russell T Davies) was throwing every toy from the Doctor Who box at the telly, hoping that some of it would make sense in the way of entertaining you.' Billie will now be the second woman to take on the role as the Time Lord after Jodie Whittaker portrayed the 13th doctor. She replaces Ncuti, who leaves Doctor Who after two seasons in the science-fiction series. The actor's time on the long-running science fiction programme came to an end as The Reality War episode brought this season to a close on Saturday. The two-part season finale saw the Doctor face the Rani in a battle to save the world after making the decision to safe the life of one little girl. As he bid farewell to companion Belinda Chandra, played by Varada Sethu, he said: 'I hope you'll see me again, but not like this.' The finale also saw Whittaker, the 13th doctor, make a guest appearance as Gatwa's Doctor appeared to be travelling through alternate universes. In a statement released by the BBC, Ncuti Gatwa said: 'You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it. 'This journey has been one that I will never forget, and a role that will be part of me forever. There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe. 'The fans are truly the final character and beating heart of this show and I can't thank the Whoniverse, and the Whovians, enough for welcoming me in, and making this such a touching experience. 'I've loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved blue box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have. 'I'll truly miss it, and forever be grateful to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor.' Reacting to the news Billie said: 'It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there, so to be given the opportunity to step back on that Tardis one more time was just something I couldn't refuse.' Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies said: 'What a Doctor! Thank you, Ncuti! 'As his final words say, this has been an absolute joy, and the team in Cardiff and everyone who has worked on this show for the past few years, are so lucky to have been part of Ncuti's great adventure as he shoots off to stratospheric new heights.' Billie starred as Rose opposite Christopher Ecclestone's Ninth Doctor when the show was revived by Russell T Davies in 2005 (pictured in 2006) Ncuti later broke his silence after becoming the second shortest tenure as The Doctor, lasting just two seasons The BBC programme is also said to have been paused for an extended break amid criticism about recent plots involving non-binary aliens, incels and even a pregnant male extra-terrestrial. A small number of social media critics have pointed to the diversity of the cast, a drag queen villain, and introduction of transgender and non-binary characters. However, both Davies and Gatwa have strongly dismissed this criticism as from a minority, with Davies telling BBC Radio 2's 20 Secrets From 20 Years: 'Someone always brings up matters of diversity. 'And there are online warriors accusing us of diversity and wokeness and involving messages and issues. 'And I have no time for this. I don't have a second to bear (it). Because what you might call diversity, I just call an open door.' Gatwa told Attitude magazine in 2024 that the hateful comments the sci-fi show has received after casting a black man is 'fascinating, because there's so much energy they're putting into it ... I think they need to go find a hobby is one thing'. During his time, he has had companions in the form of Andor actress Varada Sethu, and former Coronation Street actress Millie Gibson, who played Gatwa's companion Ruby Sunday since the 2023 Christmas episode The Church On Ruby Road. Highlights of his two series have included a Regency-themed episode that saw him have a burgeoning romance with the character Rogue, played by Mindhunter actor Jonathan Groff, the explosive Boom episode and the arrival of the classic Time Lord villain, the Rani. They came for the selfies and stayed for the subtle shade. What was meant to be a cheerful Married At First Sight fan meet-up in Melbourne took an awkward turn when brides Natalie Parham and Jacqui Burfoot found themselves on opposite sides of a fashion-fuelled fallout. Witnesses didn't notice a scene - but behind the scenes, things got frosty fast. Daily Mail Australia can reveal Natalie, who appeared on the Nine series last year, took issue with Jacqui's choice to wear imitation fur, calling it out as 'tone deaf' given recent backlash aimed at co-star Carina Mirabile for similar styling. 'She called her out for wearing imitation fur - [and] promoting the fur trade,' a spy revealed. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Things took an awkward turn when brides Married At First Sight's Natalie Parham (left) and Jacqui Burfoot (right) found themselves on opposite sides of a fashion-fuelled fallout 'Not sure why you'd wear it after all the Carina backlash, but that's just me - I'm no fashionista.' Jacqui, who had only purchased the garment the day before, was reportedly left upset by the unexpected criticism. Natalie admitted she 'pulled a face' and later felt compelled to apologise 'in advance' to co-star Clint Rice for how she handled the situation. 'She [Jacqui] was upset since she bought it yesterday and I pulled a face,' Natalie told Daily Mail Australia. 'I already said to them I disapprove of their throw stones mentality.' Despite the awkwardness, Natalie made it clear she wasn't interested in playing nice for appearances, instead choosing to spend time with friend Lyndall Grace. 'I wanted to hang out with Lyndall and I got to do that - if I don't like someone I don't associate with them,' she added bluntly. It comes after Carina hit back at an animal activist after she was slammed for wearing a 'fur coat' to Australian Fashion Week last month. Bailey, who runs the account Warrior For Animals, shared images of the reality TV star in the ankle-length 'vintage' coat, claiming she 'defied' the event's no animal skin rule. Daily Mail Australia can reveal Natalie, who appeared on the Nine series last year, took issue with Jacqui's choice to wear imitation fur, calling it out as tone deaf given recent backlash aimed at co-star Carina Mirabile for similar styling It comes after Carina (pictured) hit back at an animal activist after she was slammed for wearing a 'fur coat' to Australian Fashion Week last month Carina later posted to her own social media page to assure followers the shaggy brown jacket she purchased in Brooklyn is actually faux fur. The debacle kicked off when Bailey shared a collage of Carina in her fur coat next to news AFW had 'banned all wildlife materials' from runways. The second time Carina mentioned wearing fur came during an interview with Daily Mail Australia when she was asked about her outfit. 'Yes this is my own 'fit. I bought this fur coat from New York in Brooklyn and I've got SKIMS on underneath and literally pantyhose stockings,' she said. Carina wore a nude SKIMS 'Ultimate Butt' bodysuit beneath the coat, opting for a look inspired by Kim Kardashian. While the bride has not directly referenced Bailey's accusations, she later shared a post to her Instagram Stories saying the coat is not real fur. 'It's not real fur FYI and my stylist uses vegan products,' she captioned an image of her look. Carina's makeup artist Angelina Jade commented beneath saying: 'She a vegan baddie.' The budding fashionista also made a statement to Chattr, reiterating she was not wearing real fur. 'It's not real fur, bought from a vintage store in New York. I wouldn't wear anything that's not ethically sourced,' she says. She went on to say it was 'worrying' to see people jump to conclusions so quickly. Carina later posted to her own social media page to assure followers the shaggy brown coat she purchased in Brooklyn is actually faux fur 'People are so quick to judge in this day and age and it's worrying and detrimental on people's lives,' 'We are not robots. If people have nothing nice to say, they shouldn't say anything at all. 'There is already enough cruelty in the world, people shouldn't add to it, but try and make it a better peaceful place.' Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Carina for further comment, as well as the Australian Fashion Council to verify any complaints made. AFW banned all wildlife-derived materials, including fur, exotic animal skins and feathers, from being used on runways this year and in the future. Vanessa Kirby is pregnant! The actress, 37, revealed that she is expecting her first child as she showed off her baby bump at The Fantastic Four photocall in Mexico on Saturday. She looked great in a stylish blue gown at the Comic Con Experience Mexico and tenderly touched her stomach. Last December it was reported she was engaged to her boyfriend Paul Rabil after two years together. The beauty, who starred as Princess Margaret in Netflix's The Crown, was allegedly set to head down the aisle with lacrosse player love, 39, after he popped the question, according to Page Six. MailOnline contacted representatives of Paul and Vanessa for comment. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Vanessa Kirby is pregnant! The actress, 37, revealed that she is expecting her first child as she showed off her baby bump at The Fantastic Four in Mexico on Saturday She looked great in a stylish blue gown and heels at a photocall and tenderly touched her stomach Last December it was reported she was engaged to her boyfriend Paul Rabil after two years together She was joined by Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach at the 2025 CCXP Mexico to promote the film. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the Fantastic Four. Produced by Marvel Studios, it is intended to be the 37th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the second reboot of the Fantastic Four film series. The film is directed by Matt Shakman and stars Pedro, Vanessa, Joseph and Ebon as the titular team. In the film, the Fantastic Four must protect their 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic world from the planet-devouring cosmic being Galactus. Vanessa and Paul first sparked dating rumours walking hand-in-hand through New York City in October 2022. However, Vanessa and Paul didn't make their romance Instagram official until November 2023. At the time, American Paul - who is the co-founder of the Premier Lacrosse League - shared a series of photographs of the couple including one of them embracing on a beach. She was joined by Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach at the 2025 CCXP Mexico to promote the film The Fantastic Four: First Steps is an upcoming American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team the Fantastic Four Produced by Marvel Studios, it is intended to be the 37th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the second reboot of the Fantastic Four film series The film is directed by Matt Shakman and stars Pedro, Vanessa, Joseph and Ebon as the titular team 'From the very minute we first met in Des Moines, around the world and back, life is far better, more purposeful and more beautiful with you,' he wrote about the film star. The couple have been spotted on several occasions together since 2022, but had kept quiet about their blossoming romance. Paul previously dated Mexican actress Eiza Gonzalez and was married to fellow sportswoman Kelly Berger, from 2014 until 2017. In April 2022, Vanessa was linked to Christopher Abbott after the pair were spotted enjoying a drink at a trendy bar in London's Soho. The pair, who met when they played a married couple in 19th Century romantic drama The World To Come in 2020, were deep in conversation at Ducksoup. An onlooker said the stars 'looked super comfortable in each other's company' as they drank wine and chatted for a couple of hours at an outside table. Vanessa previously dated Callum Turner after they starred in 2014's Queen And Country. In the film, the Fantastic Four must protect their 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic world from the planet-devouring cosmic being Galactus Pedro and Vanessa larked around at the Comic Con Experience Mexico 2025 event She showed off her changing figure in the shimmering blue dress Vanessa was allegedly set to head down the aisle with her lacrosse player love (seen together) after he popped the question, according to Page Six The couple first sparked dating rumours walking hand-in-hand through New York City in October 2022. However, Vanessa and Paul didn't make their romance Instagram official until November 2023 (pictured in October 2023 with Sophie Tabet) Vanessa previously dated Callum Turner after they starred in 2014's Queen And Country. They got together a year later but parted in 2020, blaming busy schedules for their split It was reported in December 2022 by Just Jared that Paul split with actress Eiza Gonzalez, 34, after seven months of dating (pictured together in 2021) They got together a year later but parted in 2020, blaming busy schedules for their split. The actress previously told how she preferred to keep her relationship with Callum out of the spotlight so that it didn't become 'interesting' to people. She told Marie Claire magazine: 'I keep my relationship super private. 'He is just completely wonderful and he's my best friend, so that's... I guess you can either choose to talk about it or not. If you talk about it, it becomes interesting to people, but if you don't, then it's not.' Meanwhile It was reported in December 2022 by Just Jared that Paul split with actress Eiza Gonzalez, 34, after seven months of dating. The source said: 'The split happened a few weeks ago and it wasn't ugly at all. Their work schedules just weren't aligning and it put a strain on their relationship. They're going to remain friends though!' MailOnline has previously reached out to representatives of both Vanessa and Paul for comment at the time. Paul was also married to fellow sportswoman Kelly Berger, from 2014 until 2017. Freddy Brazier reunited with his grandmother Jackiey Budden to spend a week at her home in south London, despite his dad Jeff's dramatic legal row. The influencer, 20, lost his mother Jade when he was just four years old after she died from cervical cancer in 2009, and has since been raised by his dad Jeff. Jackiey and Jeff have clashed multiple times over the years, and it was revealed last month the TV star is taking action in an attempt to legally block contact between his son and his grandmother, 'to keep him safe'. However, the Mail On Sunday can reveal that Freddy, who was restricted from seeing Jackiey by his dad after he filed court paperwork, spent last week at her home in Bermondsey, after reuniting despite his father's efforts to keep his son away. Family friends say the duo remain 'extremely close,' explaining: 'Jeff was never going to keep Freddy away from his Nanny for very long they've always had a strong bond. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Freddy Brazier reunited with his grandmother Jackiey Budden to spend a week at her home in south London, despite his dad Jeff's dramatic legal row Jackiey (pictured) and Jeff have clashed multiple times, and it was revealed last month the star is taking action to legally block contact between his son and grandmother, 'to keep him safe' 'Jeff may hate her for all sorts of reasons going back many years, but Freddy loves her very much. 'They had a great time together, playing with her dog and catching up at her flat where he has often stayed over the years. 'Whatever Jeff hoped to achieve with his legal efforts, it hasn't worked.' The pair have also been filmed smoking suspicious cigarettes together during an outing at London's Tower Bridge, in footage obtained by The Sun On Sunday. Onlookers said that Jackiey was 'acting erratically,' with her grandson in full view of tourists at the popular London landmark. The publication has also reported that Jeff now has a court date for his legal battle with Jackiey. It has sparked a vicious war of words between the pair, with furious Jackiey saying she knew nothing about his legal bid before it was leaked to a newspaper and insisting that Freddy, who is now 20, is old enough to make his own decisions. And sitting down with The Mail afterwards, she raged: 'I could ruin him if I wanted to. I just need to make sense of it all. I only found out about this court business when he told the newspapers about it he didn't even tell me himself. The Mail On Sunday can reveal that Freddy, who was restricted from seeing Jackiey, spent last week at her home, after reuniting despite his father's efforts to keep the 20-year-old away Jakcie and Freddy have also been filmed smoking suspicious cigarettes together during an outing at London's Tower Bridge, in footage obtained by The Sun On Sunday 'He's never liked Freddy being with me. He says it's because I smoke and give him drugs. Listen, Fred was fully involved when he was with his dad. I'm talking about drugs; that boy had his first bit of weed at fourteen. 'He never took a puff at my house until he was 16. I smoke with him, but he was safe with me because I knew what he was smoking; it was in my house. 'There have been issues for a few years ago Jeff has been trying to stop Freddy from seeing me, but he's 20 years old now and he has to be allowed to make his own decisions and do what he wants to do for himself. 'He used to lie to Jeff about where he was, but about a year and a half ago I asked 'Does your Dad know you're here?' and he just replied Yes,' and said he was sick of lying about it.' But this weekend Freddy returned to his grandmother's home, in a move likely to infuriate Jeff who has long disliked Jackiey's close relationship with late Big Brother star Jade's sons. Freddy and his older brother Bobby remained close to the 67-year-old after their mother's tragic death from cancer in 2009, aged just 27. The family feud was highlighted again in 2023 when Jeff insisted Jackiey should not attend the BBC Strictly Come Dancing studios where Bobby was competing. Her notable absent came after a period of estrangement, but she and Bobby later reconciled. It's understood the young EastEnders actor was heartbroken to be caught in the middle of the disagreement between his father and grandmother telling friends the feud was 'extremely hurtful'. Madeleine West welcomed her seventh child last month. The 47-year-old is adjusting to life with a newborn, telling The Sunday Project this weekend that while she is looking well on the outside, it's a different story behind the scenes. 'It's all smoke and mirrors. I'm just a smashed vase that someone has wrapped up with gaffer tape' she joked. 'Don't put flowers and water in me as it will leak straight back out.' The Neighbours actress continued: 'I'm on auto pilot. I'm deep in the delirium. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Madeleine West (pictured) welcomed her seventh child last month. The 47-year-old is adjusting to life with a newborn, telling The Sunday Project this weekend that while she is looking well on the outside, it's a different story behind the scenes 'At 3am I got up for a glass of water and decided it was time to scrub out the fish tank and bake a cake, which is what I did.' Madeleine was on the show to promote her partnership with the Federal Police, which has seen her produce It's Never Too Early, a guide book to keeping kids safe. 'This is so personal for me. It's things that I think most parents would never have considered. Asking yourself really simple but ultimately important questions, like, who will I allow to change my baby's nappy?' she explained. 'If I'm letting someone babysit, who else will have access to that child? Perfect example. If you let a good friend babysit, are they dating someone you don't know well? If he comes over to visit, they get up to answer the phone, am I comfortable with that person having unsupervised time with my child? 'If I look at babysitting, will there be other children in the house who have access to my child? If I'm looking at daycare centres, how can I find one that's government endorsed where everyone's been certified so I know my child is safe? 'Questions that when we're in the thick of early parenting, and we're exhausted, and on the cusp of delirium, it is hard to know the day of the week, let alone important decisions of how to best secure safety.' Madeleine announced the arrival of her seventh child in April, sharing a glimpse at her newborn in an Instagram post and revealing the bub was in excellent health. Alongside a truncated image of the child, she star wrote: 'Earthside at last and utterly perfect'. 'It's all smoke and mirrors. I'm just a smashed vase that someone has wrapped up with gaffer tape' she joked. 'Don't put flowers and water in me as it will leak straight back out' The Australian actress did not reveal the sex or name of her new arrival at the time. It comes after Madeleine opened up about her seventh pregnancy at the age of 47. The star already shares five daughters and one son with her ex-partner, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett. In a preview for an interview on 60 Minutes, West said she is not letting naysayers get to her and is determined to keep 'dancing to the beat of my own drum'. She said many people were shocked to learn she was pregnant with yet another child at her age, but she was also 'surprised' by the sheer amount of support she received. 'There was a lot of shock, naturally. And then, "Are you sure? You're at this point in your life. Your career is blossoming. You've got all these kids,"' West told host Tara Brown. 'But I am surprised by so many people who have reached out saying, "I've done what you're doing and I felt so alone. I felt like everyone would see me at the playground and they would think I'm grandma."' When asked if she had ever been called a 'grandma at the playground', the actress responded: 'Oh yeah, naturally. But my argument has always been I've always danced to the beat of my own drum. Madeleine announced the arrival of her seventh child in April, sharing a glimpse at her newborn in an Instagram post and revealing the bub was in excellent health 'I've always done things a little bit different. A little bit outside the norm.' West revealed the response she received from her friends after she announced her pregnancy in January. The TV starwho shares Phoenix, 19, Hendrix, 16, Xascha, 14, Xanthe, 12, and twins Xalia and Margaux, 10, with Shannon, 49 - said her pals' initial reaction to her pregnancy news was surprise. 'When I first reached out to my circle and revealed the big news, there was certainly a look. A bit of a stunned mullet, I would say,' she shared. However, she added the shocked expression was soon followed by 'wow' as her friends asked if she was going to 'keep' the baby. The controversial question also opened up a conversation about 'geriatric pregnancies' and the risks which come with them, which she expanded on in her interview with Stellar Magazine. 'I strive to not see motherhood as a limitation on my capacities,' she told the publication, but rather something that 'adds to it exponentially'. She went on to say while falling pregnant certainly wasn't something she was expecting, it was a welcome surprise nonetheless. 'I feel like this little person has come along at the best possible time when I'm so very ready,' she said. The actress continued: 'I'm on auto pilot. I'm deep in the delirium. At 3am I got up for a glass of water and decided it was time to scrub out the fish tank and bake a cake, which is what I did' The star already shares five daughters and one son with her ex-partner, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett. Pictured together in 2016 West went on to say she now has 'more time, wisdom and experience' when it comes to parenting. Reflecting on what is often coined as a 'geriatric pregnancy' she expressed her frustration with the world's lack of conversations around later pregnancy. West said it's not something 'society discusses at large' despite 'the very real fact that the rate of women having babies in their 40s is increasing'. Back in January, West announced she was pregnant with her seventh child a decade on from her most recent birth. She revealed the surprising news in an Instagram post. In the photo, she flaunted her growing baby bump in a tight-fitting tank top which was lifted to reveal her bare tummy. 'WHOOPS!' she captioned her post. 'Thought it was #perimenopause. I thought WRONG! It's not too much Christmas pudding either. I couldn't be happier.' Kris Marshall is in Australia promoting the new season of hit BBC series Beyond Paradise. And the British actor, who stars in Beyond Paradise, says a familiar face is set to crop up on the murder mystery show. Marshall, who rose to fame in the 2003 film Love Actually, says his co-star Abdul Salis, who played his best mate Tony in the comedy, will soon appear in Beyond Paradise. 'I had only seen him once in 24 years' the 52-year-old said on Sunday's episode of The Project. 'It's a beautiful thing about being an actor. You pick up where you left off. It's kind of symbiotic. I love it. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Kris Marshall (pictured) is in Australia promoting the new season of hit BBC series Beyond Paradise. And the British actor, who stars in Beyond Paradise, says a familiar face is set to crop up on the murder mystery show 'So, he came in and did a guest thing and we're all a bit older and, you know, we're not very much wiser. We're all good.' Marshall appeared to hint that Salis won't be the killer in the episode, but stopped himself before giving a little too much away. 'I don't think he's... I'm not going to give any spoilers!' he said with a laugh. Marshall also gave audiences for the mystery murder series, which streams on BritBox Down Under, a major clue on how to crack each case. He joked that viewers tend to guess who the killer is each episode before his character, bumbling Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman, manages to do so - and there is a surefire way to work out whodunnit. 'When I first started, I used this thing I called the Scooby Doo algorithm - it's always the second person they meet' he said, but conceded, 'some are more complex.' 'It taught me our audiences are better at solving the crimes than I am. That is weird. I literally have the scripts... I'm absolutely awful at it' he said. Marshall played Detective Goodman first in the hit BBC series Death in Paradise and then in its equally popular spin off Beyond Paradise , which has just returned for a third series. Marshall played Detective Goodman first in the hit BBC series Death in Paradise and then in its equally popular spin off Beyond Paradise (pictured), which has just returned for a third series Marshall, who rose to fame in the 2003 film Love Actually, says his co-star Abdul Salis, who played his best mate Tony in the comedy (pictured), will soon appear in Beyond Paradise At age 27 played the hopeless fop Colin Frissell in 2003s Love Actually, which made him pretty huge. Pictured in Love Actually with January Jones At age 27 played the hopeless fop Colin Frissell in 2003s Love Actually, which made him pretty huge. His character heads for Wisconsin, where his English accent is enough to get him into bed with January Jones, Elisha Cuthbert, Denise Richards and Shannon Elizabeth. Marshall took over solving murder mysteries on a Caribbean island in 2014 from Ben Miller, the show's first star and he proved such a ratings success they created Beyond Paradise specifically for him, in damp Devon. Yet when he first auditioned for Death in Paradise in 2013 they turned him down flat. 'I didn't even make the final four,' he says. Newly married, with a three-month-old baby and his US sitcom Traffic Light recently ended, he needed a job. Then, 'Ten days later they phoned to say, 'We've made a mistake' and that changed ten years of my life.' In an age of falling viewing figures, Death in Paradise banks more than seven million viewers an episode. Clint Eastwood just hit a major milestone, turning 95 on May 31. It's been nearly a year since the Oscar winner's partner of a decade, Christina Sandera, died of a heart attack at age 61. The Million Dollar Baby star's son Scott, 39, gave an update on his dad, saying he was 'doing good' adding that, 'he's a survivor, a trouper.' Scott added that the Gran Torino actor is not one to express deep emotions or complain. 'He was born coming out of the Great Depression, and then he was young during World War II. He saw a lot of struggle,' Scott told People. In an interview with Austrian magazine Kurier before his birthday, Clint said that at his age, he is in good physical shape and there's no need to worry about his health 'for a long time yet.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Clint Eastwood just hit a major milestone, turning 95 on May 31. Seen here February 27, 2005 after winning Best Director and Best Picture for Million Dollar Baby It's been nearly a year since the Oscar winner's partner of a decade, Christina Sandera, died of a heart attack at age 61. Seen here September 8, 2016 'There's no reason why a man can't get better with age,' Clint said in the interview published on May 30. 'And I have much more experience today. Sure, there are directors who lose their touch at a certain age, but I'm not one of them,' he adamantly said. Earlier this year, Scott was asked what he had learned about resilience from his father, he said: 'Its in our blood. You don't complain. You don't whine. You just do.' He added the star 'was born coming out of the Great Depression, and then he was young during World War II. He saw a lot of struggle. There is no room for complaining.' Scott - whose mom is Jacelyn Reeves - said he would love to work with his 'inspiration' of a father again after small parts in Gran Torino and Invictus. 'Anytime I've ever gotten a chance to work with my father it's been a great experience.' Sandera's death certificate revealed she was killed by cardiac arrhythmia, which causes the heart's rhythm to become too slow, rapid or irregular, a representative from the Monterey County Health Department confirmed. Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease was cited as an additional condition that led to her passing. In an interview with Austrian magazine Kurier before his birthday, Clint said that at his age, he is in good physical shape and there's no need to worry about his health 'for a long time yet.' Seen here January 3, 2020 The Million Dollar Baby star's son Scott, 39, gave an update on his dad, saying he was 'doing good' adding that, 'he's a survivor, a trouper.' Scott seen here on August 27, 2024 It occurs when deposits of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances accumulate in artery walls, causing blood vessels to harden and narrow, which restricts blood flow around the body. When the plaques rupture they form a blood clot that can block the flow of blood more dramatically, which can result in a heart attack or stroke. 'Christina was a lovely, caring woman,' the Dirty Harry star said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter at the time of her death. 'I will miss her very much.' A Warner Bros spokesperson told the outlet no further information would be given on Christina's death as Clint wanted to grieve privately. He and Christina had been together since 2014 after meeting while she was working as a hostess at Clint's Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. They made their red carpet debut at the 2015 Academy Awards and even though they lived a relatively private life, Christina was a regular plus-one with Clint to his red carpet events. Scott added that the Gran Torino actor is not one to express deep emotions or complain. Clint and Christina seen here February 22, 2015 'He was born coming out of the Great Depression , and then he was young during World War II . He saw a lot of struggle,' Scott told People. Clint seen here in 1968's Hang Em High She was also very close to his large family and in 2018 joined three of his eight kids, as well as his granddaughter and first wife Margaret Johnson at the premiere of his film The Muse. The Million Dollar Baby director is dad Laurie Murray, 70, Kimber Lynn Eastwood, 60, Kyle Eastwood, 56, Alison Eastwood, 52, Scott, Kathryn Eastwood, 36, and Francesca Eastwood, 30, and Morgan Eastwood, 27. He has always kept his family out of the spotlight and he has a good reason for that. 'There are other people that are involved there and they're vulnerable people,' the Oscar winner told CBS News in 2004. 'I can protect myself, but they can't.' OFSS Inter 1st Merit List 2025: Steps, Link to Check Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) is set to release soon, the OFSS Inter First Merit List 2025, also called as OFSS 1st Selection List 2025, of the students who have registered for admission in Class 11 (Intermediate) through Online Facilitation System for Students website www.ofssbihar.info Sunday June 1, 2025 3:28 PM , ummid.com News Network [Representative image] OFSS Bihar Intermediate Merit List 2025: Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) is set to release soon, the OFSS Inter First Merit List 2025, also called as OFSS 1st Selection List 2025, of the students who have registered for admission in Class 11 (Intermediate) through Online Facilitation System for Students website www.ofssbihar.info. The Bihar School Examination Board had started receiving Online Application forms for Class 11 (Intermediate) Admission 2025 through Online Facilitation System For Students (OFSS) website (www.ofssbihar.info) from April 24, 2025. The last date of application was initially fixed as May 03, 2025. It was later extended till May 20, 2025. The board is now preparing to release the first merit list and selection list along with intimation letter on its website. The board has not officially confirmed the date and time to release the merit list and selection list. The board sources, however, said the selection list preparation is in the final stages and it will be released soon. Steps to check "OFSS Inter 1st Merit List 2025" Once released, the OFSS merit list will be available on the official website ofssbihar.info. Follow the steps given below to check and download the Bihar Class 11 merit list 2025. Click here to go to the OFSS website: " ofssbihar.info ". ". In Important Official Links section click on 1st Merit List. Enter User name and ID if asked. Check your name in the list if it is in PDF. The candidates who find their names in the first Merit List should download the intimation letter from the website and proceed to confirm their admission. The cut off marks for Inter or Class 11 admission in Bihar will also be uploaded on the board's website. Candidates should also note that there will be a separate link to apply for Slide Up Process. OFSS 2nd Merit List 2025 The candidates who do not find their name in the first merit list should wait for the second merit list. After the OfSS round 1 admission deadline, the Bihar board will release second merit list based on the vacant seats. The Class 11 or Intermediate admission process in a total of 9,907 colleges in Bihar having more than 11 lakh seats is fully online and is conducted through Online Facilitation System for Students. The students who have passed the Matriculation Examination or 10th Class or equivalent examination from Bihar School Examination Board, Central Board for Secondary education (CBSE), Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) or any other State board are eligible to apply online for admission. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Call it the hunt for Huntley. No, we dont mean the Huntley generating station. The towering former power plant hasnt up and moved from its riverfront home in the Town of Tonawanda. And we know Charles R. Huntley, the pioneering business executive the station was renamed after, is buried in Forest Lawn. But theres another mystery we wanted to solve: Where is Huntleys bust? The power station for decades displayed a large bronze bust of Huntley, whose Buffalo General Electric Company built the plant more than a century ago. When owner NRG Energy shut down the station in 2016, some employees and members of the local arts community tried to save the Huntley sculpture. The Ken-Ton Bee reported on the initial efforts nine years ago, and recently revisited this article in its Out of the Past column. So, we wondered, what happened to the bust? It was a search that took us to the dawn of the electrical age in the region, through the execution of a presidential assassin and up to today. We know the sculpture no longer resides at the power station, but after that, the trail grows colder than late May in Buffalo. That worries some of those who sought to preserve the bust. Hope it wasnt scrapped, said Michael Burke, who worked at the Huntley station, in an email to The Buffalo News. Electricity pioneer Charles Russell Huntley was for many years president of the Buffalo General Electric Company, which harnessed the power of Niagara Falls to bring electricity to Buffalo. Burke, along with Chuck LaChiusa, creator of the Buffalo Architecture and History website, and Ramona Whitaker, who wrote about Huntleys Linwood Avenue mansion for a 2008 tour of homes, all have researched Huntleys legacy as a business leader and builder. His company provided much of the electricity for the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo and Huntley served on the expositions board. He also witnessed the execution of Leon Czolgosz, who was sent to the electric chair after he gunned down President William McKinley during McKinleys visit to the Pan-Am. Tonawanda pushes ahead with Huntley takeover as court fight drags on The Town Board on Monday night voted to hire a company to perform an appraisal of the Huntley property's value a key step in determining how much Tonawanda must pay NRG Energy if and when it takes control of the riverfront parcel. The town also has interviewed three developers that are interested in reviving the Huntley site, which closed eight years ago. The Buffalo General Electric Company in 1912 built the Electric Tower as its headquarters. His 1926 obituary in the Buffalo Courier-Express called the building a strikingly beautiful monument to (his) energy and constructive genius. In 1916, the company opened the coal-fired River Station power plant in the Town of Tonawanda. Ten years later, when Huntley died at 72, the company renamed the power station. The Huntley plant changed hands over the years before, in 1999, Niagara Mohawk sold the station to NRG Energy. When NRG closed the plant in 2016, Huntley was the towns largest taxpayer and Erie Countys worst polluter, records showed. The closing was a financial blow to the town, the Ken-Ton School District and the county, and Tonawanda officials have waited with increasing frustration for NRG to sell the plant to a new user. That thing was huge Nine years ago, as workers prepared to end operations at Huntley, some employees had their eye on Huntleys bust. The sculpture Huntleys head and torso resting on an ornate base had a place of honor on the wall of the plants turbine floor, as the Bee reported at the time. Burke, who had worked at the plant for nearly 20 years, said the bust was a familiar sight for him and other employees. He said he hoped a local institution would take ownership of the sculpture and preserve the piece for posterity. Burke told us plant maintenance workers took the bust down from the wall and moved it to a garage on-site. He shared a photo with The News that showed the bronze bust laying face up in a wooden box, braced in place with cardboard and two-by-fours. Burke said he reached out to the town to see if it would take the sculpture but his offer was turned down, he remembered, because of the pieces size and weight. Thats the problem. That thing was huge, he said. Its not clear who, if anyone, he spoke with at the Tonawanda-Kenmore Historical Society & Museum. Piece never arrived Burke also recalled connecting with a museum located in the former Niagara Falls High School, though he couldnt remember its name. Thats the Niagara Arts & Cultural Center, and development director Kelly Lang said she remembers when the institution was given the chance to take Huntleys bust. We said, Yes, we will take it, Lang said, And it was never brought here. Lang said the museum at the time thought the bust would fit in a planned exhibit on power generation and industry in Niagara Falls. She said a small group went out to the Huntley station to see the piece. It was a giant, really well-sculpted bust, Lang said. The NACC was also willing to take a plaque honoring Huntley, she said. An NRG official told the center that the company planned to keep the plaque but the bust would be available for pickup soon, Lang said, reading from an email she kept from that period. Lang said someone from the New York Power Authority had tried to help find a new home in Buffalo Niagara for the Huntley bust, but that official recently told The News he has no memory of this. The museum never got the bust and never went ahead with the exhibit, she said. It definitely never arrived here, Lang said. Plaque, but no bust Our last hope of keeping our sculpture search from going bust rested with NRG Energy. Company spokesman Erik Linden told us the Huntley plaque remains at the old power plant. It reads, in part, This station, as a source of electric power, utilizing the latest devices for economy and efficiency, is named by the stockholders of his companies as a memorial to his cherished memory. However, the bust is no longer at the old power station. When operations were winding down at Huntley 10 years ago, its our understanding that a member of the arts community sought the bust and attained it for museum or preservation purposes, Linden said in a statement. Pressed for further details, Linden said he was unable to be more specific. Burke said hes heard a rumor the bust ended up at the Electric Tower its not there, in fact but he fears it was melted down for scrap or sold to an antique dealer. The sculpture, and Huntley, deserved better, he said. It just had some value to it. It should go to a museum, Burke said. Its too bad. Ncuti Gatwa has shared the real reason that he left BBC's Doctor Who in Saturday night's big finale. The high-profile actor, who rose to fame in hit Netflix series Sex Education, has opened up about why he left his role as The Doctor after two series. Ncuti, 32, has been replaced by actress Billie Piper after stepping down from his role as the Time Lord. The actor appeared to blame the physical and mental demands of the show for his exit in a new video following fan speculation he was axed from the show. Ncuti explained: 'It's a role that demands a lot of you physically and emotionally and mentally. The actors playing the Doctor are only actors playing the Doctor. Unfortunately, we are mere mortals. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Ncuti Gatwa, 32, has shared the real reason that he left BBC's Doctor Who in last night's big finale He will go down in history for many reasons in the drama's 62 year history, but leaving the show so soon is one of them 'I would love to have the energy and the youth to be able to do this full time for the rest of my life, but my knees are telling me it's time.' Ncuti also wrote in a heartfelt post: 'Monsters, goblins, gods, human-eating Slugs, invisible brain altering creatures, evil barbers, conspiracy theorists you've had quite a busy two years. Well done and rest up son Thank you endlessly XV.' In his exit speech, Ncuti revealed he would never forget his time on the show as he shared his sorrow over hanging up his sonic screwdriver. He said: 'You know when you get cast, at some point, you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it. This journey has been one that I will never forget and a role that will be part of me forever. 'There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe.' His remarks follow fan speculation that Ncuti had not planned to leave the show and was axed following weeks of rumours, however the BBC firmly denied the rumours. On the social platform, they wrote: 'In October 2024, Ncuti Gatwa was on 'The Graham Norton Show' saying he was going to be filming another series of DW next year. In June 2025, he officially leaves the show and regenerates. This was never the plan. What a shame. He deserved so much better.' 'I just want to say that ncuti gatwa has been done so disrespectful this era. > just a twitter post announcement as the doctor > 14th doctor still in existence, undermining the 15th doctor > no announcement or farewell for his departure NCUTI GATWA DESERVED BETTER!' The actor appeared to blame the physical and mental demands of the show for his exit - sharing the reason in a video His remarks follow fan speculation that Ncuti had not planned to leave the show and was axed following weeks of rumours, however the BBC firmly denied the rumours She will now be the second woman to take on the role as the Time Lord after Jodie Whittaker portrayed the 13th doctor 'I'm actually sad and disappointed Ncuti Gatwa isn't the Doctor anymore. We finally got a feel for him and now he's gone. He deserved one more season, we didn't get to know his Doctor at all him and Rouge deserved an entire era together #DoctorWho.' The BBC previously denied claims that Ncuti had been axed from his role just days ahead of the finale. 'Whilst we never comment on the future of the Doctor, any suggestion that Ncuti Gatwa has been "axed" is pure fiction,' a spokesperson for the BBC said. The decision on season 3 will be made after season 2 airs and any other claims are just pure speculation. 'The deal with Disney+ was for 26 episodes and we still have an entire spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, to air.' Following Ncuti's exit, Billie Piper has replaced him as The Doctor, with the character regenerating during the BBC show's season finale. She first starred as the companion to the ninth Doctor in 2005, playing Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Eccleston's Time Lord. She will now be the second woman to take on the role as the Time Lord after Jodie Whittaker portrayed the 13th doctor. The finale also saw Jodie Whittaker, the 13th doctor, make a guest appearance as Ncuti's Doctor appeared to be travelling through alternate universes. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's troubled son Pax faced yet another set back this weekend, as the 21-year-old budding photographer had to be physically held up by his friends during a wild night of partying in Los Angeles. Following his parents' extremely messy and public divorce, and two horrific e-bike crashes in recent months, Pax headed out on Saturday to blow off some steam. But, in deeply concerning photos and video obtained by the Daily Mail, the nepo baby can be seen stumbling out of the iconic Chateau Marmont hotel, seemingly barely able to keep up right. He and his group of pals then headed to a strip club, where they partied into the wee hours of the morning. Pax, dressed in a black T-shirt, tan trousers and a cap, certainly looked worse for wear as he exited the celebrity hotspot. He could hardly walk, struggling to balance himself and stumbling along the sidewalk before his friends stepped in to help. Several of his pals physically held him up as he walked slowly with his arms around them. At at one point, he was seen nearly falling, as the worriedly group watched on. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's troubled son Pax faced another set back this weekend, as the 21-year-old had to be physically held up by his friends after a wild night of partying in Los Angeles Following his parents' divorce and two horrific e-bike crashes, Pax was spotted enjoying an evening out on Saturday... but it appeared that he may have had a little too much fun In exclusive photos obtained by DailyMail.com, the nepo baby was seen stumbling out of the Chateau Marmont Hotel before he headed to a strip club with his pals Two of Pax's pals physically held him up as he walked slowly with his arms around them At one point, he was seen nearly falling onto them as the rest of his friends worriedly watched on Jolie and Pitt (pictured in 2009) were together from 2003 to 2016. They finalized their divorce in Decemeber Nonetheless, Jolie and Pitt's son seemed in great spirits, smiling widely as he chatted with his group of friends, which included four scantily clad women and one other man. Pax even held hands with one the mystery female companions, who at one point tried to shield her face from the paparazzi. Despite being son to two of the best-known faces on the planet, Pax was forced to show his ID and was searched by security before he entered the strip club. According to an onlooker, the group stayed in the club for about 30 minutes before the ending the night at around 2:30am. The outing comes days after Pax's younger sister Shiloh, 19, was spotted getting very intimate with her gal pal and dance partner Keoni Rose. It also comes after a testing few years for the 21-year-old. In 2016, Pax's family was very publicly torn apart when it was revealed that his parents Jolie and Pitt were splitting. Pax was 12 at the time. And, in the years that followed, the actor mega-stars became locked in a nasty legal battle over the custody of their children - Maddox, 23, Zahara, 20, Shiloh, Pax, Knox, 16, and Vivienne, 16 - as well as the fate of their winery. Pax famously sided with his mother during the fallout, unleashing a shocking tirade against Pitt in 2020. Pax, dressed in a black T-shirt, tan trousers and black cap, certainly looked worse for wear as he exited the acclaimed celebrity hotspot He could hardly walk, struggling to balance himself and stumbling along the sidewalk before his friends stepped in to help Even so, famous exes Jolie and Pitt's son seemed in great spirits, smiling widely as he chatted with his group of friends, which included four scantily clad women and one other guy Pax held hands with one of his unnamed female companions at one point, who tried to shield her face from the paparazzi She donned tiny black shorts, a striped tank top, and heeled leather boots Pax has certainly not had the easiest few years. In 2016, his entire family was ripped apart when it was revealed that his parents Jolie and Pitt were splitting Pax famously sided with his mother during the extremely public fall-out, unleashing a shocking explosive tirade against Pitt in 2020 The then-teen called his dad a 'world class a**hole' and 'despicable person' who made his four youngest children 'tremble in fear' in a scathing Instagram post shared on Father's Day. After eight-years of battling it out and court, Pitt and Jolie's divorce was finally finalized in December last year. But Pax's problems weren't over. Notably, he has faced a series of shocking health scares of late as he saw himself get into not one but two terrifying e-bike crashes, just months apart. Last July, Pax was driving and electric bike in Los Angeles when he crashed into the back of a car. He was reportedly not wearing a helmet, and was rushed to hospital after suffering a head injury. It was described at the time as 'near fatal' incident that left eyewitnesses reportedly thinking he was dead. A week later, it emerged he had suffered 'complex trauma' and had a 'long road of recovery' ahead of him. Despite being related to two of the most known faces on the planet, Pax was forced to show his ID and was searched by security before he entered the strip club In addition to his parents' explosive divorce battle, Pax has also faced a series of shocking health scares in recent months as he was involved in two terrifying e-bike crashes Jolie adopted Pax from Vietnam in 2007 when he was only three years old. He's seen during the night out on Saturday At one point, one of his pals appeared to wipe a substance off his face He and one of his female friends were seen sharing an intimate moment outside of the club According to an onlooker, the group was there for about 30 minutes before the left at 2:30 in the morning Yet tragedy struck twice - and in January this year, Pax got into another accident while reportedly riding a e-bike hands-free. He smashed into a white hatch-back car in Hollywood; it is not known if Pax was physically hurt but he did not appear to be in pain as he walked around easily after the incident. Jolie adopted Pax from Vietnam in 2007 when he was three years old. Due to the country's strict rules about unmarried couples and adoption, she initially adopted Pax alone, but Pitt became his legal father soon after. Pax dabbled in acting as a kid, landing small roles in his mom's 2014 movie Maleficent and voicing a character in Kung Fu Panda 3. He was assistant director on the 2024 flick Without Blood, which Jolie directed. In a 2016 interview, the actress revealed that her son is also passionate about 'music' and 'DJing.' Jamie Oliver has opened up about the emotional toll of struggling with dyslexia when he was growing up, revealing it made him feel 'stupid'. The celebrity chef, 50, has reflected on his own experience with dyslexia in a new hour-long Channel 4 special, titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution. Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling and difficulties with processing. Ahead of his documentary's release, Jamie recalled being branded a 'stupid dunce' at school and said his learning issues left him feeling 'worthless, stupid and thick'. He told The Sunday Times: 'I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff and I'm oversharing with you because I've got to f***ing work this s**t out, I thought I'd buried it but it's hitting a nerve. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMails new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Jamie Oliver has opened up about the emotional toll of making a new TV documentary on his lifelong struggle with dyslexia, calling it the most 'viscerally painful' project of his career Jamie recalled being branded a 'stupid dunce' at school and said his learning issues left him feeling 'worthless, stupid and thick' 'I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring help,' he revealed. 'There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then.' The Essex-born chef, now a household name thanks to The Naked Chef, said the kitchen 'saved' him and gave him purpose when the classroom let him down. He added: 'I didn't tell mum, dad or the teachers. I just bottled it up inside. The kitchen saved me. I knew I had something to offer. I knew I wasn't a useless piece of s***.' The NHS says dyslexia affects up to one in ten Brits, often causing trouble with reading, writing and spelling. But many, like Jamie, excel in other areas such as problem-solving and creativity. Jamie is using his platform to call for urgent changes in schools, including early dyslexia screening and more teacher training in neurodiversity. He said: 'I've only got love for teachers, we need to appreciate them more. But they want to be trained, they want to have the tools to notice, understand and react.' His hard-hitting documentary, airing soon on Channel 4, will question whether the UK education system is doing enough to support children with dyslexia - and if not, what needs to change. Jamie has already met with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and says this campaign is even tougher than his famous fight for healthier school dinners. The hour-long Channel 4 special, Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution, will see the celebrity chef, 50, explore the condition and its impact on 1.3 million kids in the UK The Essex-born chef, now a household name thanks to The Naked Chef and Jamie's Kitchen, said the kitchen 'saved' him and gave him purpose when the classroom let him down (pictured in 2010) The upcoming documentary, explores how schools can celebrate diverse ways of thinking and redefine success in today's world (pictured on This Morning 2020) 'Not acknowledging or allowing a six, seven or eight-year-old to express their intelligence thats kind of child abuse,' he said. 'This is heavy, because neurodivergent kids are falling between the cracks. They end up resenting education, which leads to anger, frustration, poor health, crime, prison and all the horrible things you dont want to think about. He added: 'I ran from school thinking, F*** you, but I was lucky because I had the kitchen.' Tim Hancock, commissioning editor at Channel 4, said: 'There's no more effective campaigner than Jamie, and now he's turning his expertise to a subject close to his heart. 'I'm thrilled Channel 4 is following him back on the campaign trail. Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. It can affect individuals of all intelligence levels and can result in poor or inconsistent spelling and writing - along with potential struggles following directions or being organised. Ben Affleck and his childhood BFF Matt Damon reunited at Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event in Inglewood, CA last Saturday in order to present the first footage from their upcoming film The Rip. 'I trusted Matt would shave the beard before Tudum,' 52-year-old Ben wisecracked onstage The Kia Forum. 'And here we are.' 54-year-old Matt grew out the burly gray beard for his role as Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, in Christopher Nolan's big-screen adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey. Damon and Affleck then introduced the roaring crowd to their Rip castmates Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeun, and Catalina Sandino Moreno. The Artists Equity co-founders - who are 10th cousins once removed - originally met as neighbors in Cambridge, MA before co-writing their Oscar-winning screenplay for Gus Van Sant's 1997 drama Good Will Hunting. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop Ben Affleck (L) and his childhood BFF Matt Damon (R) reunited at Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event in Inglewood, CA last Saturday in order to present the first footage from their upcoming film The Rip Matt flexed his biceps in a white short-sleeve button-up and grey jeans while Ben rocked a black leather motorcycle jacket with blue jeans. Affleck and Damon portray Miami cops whose team's trust begins to fray upon discovering millions in cash in a derelict stash house in Joe Carnahan's crime drama premiering January 16 on Netflix. 'The Rip came out of a deeply personal experience that my friend went through, both as a father and as head of tactical narcotics for the Miami Dade police department,' Carnahan told Tudum last Saturday. 'It's inspired in part by his life and then, by my enduring love for those classic seventies cop thrillers that really valued the character and interpersonal relationships and became touchstones of that era films like Serpico and Prince of the City and more recently, Michael Mann's Heat.' Sasha Calle, Nestor Carbonell, Lina Esco, Scott Adkins, and Kyle Chandler will also appear in The Rip. The Boston besties co-produced Bill Condon's $30M-budget remake of West End musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, starring Ben's second ex-wife Jennifer Lopez, which hits US theaters October 10. Matt is currently on break from filming Universal Pictures $250M-budget 'mythic action epic' already scheduled to hit theaters on July 17, 2026. The Odyssey marks Damon's third time being directed by Nolan after his 2023 atomic bomb biopic Oppenheimer, and his 2014 sci-fi epic Interstellar. Principal photography officially began February 25 on the IMAX flick, and filming is also expected to take place in Italy, Greece, Morocco, Scotland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. 'I trusted Matt would shave the beard before Tudum,' 52-year-old Ben wisecracked onstage The Kia Forum. 'And here we are' 54-year-old Matt grew out the burly gray beard for his role as Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, in Christopher Nolan's big-screen adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey Damon and Affleck then introduced the roaring crowd to their Rip castmates (from L-R) Teyana Taylor, Steven Yeun, and Catalina Sandino Moreno The Artists Equity co-founders - who are 10th cousins once removed - originally met as neighbors in Cambridge, MA before co-writing their Oscar-winning screenplay for Gus Van Sant's 1997 drama Good Will Hunting (pictured) Matt flexed his biceps in a white short-sleeve button-up and grey jeans while Ben rocked a black leather motorcycle jacket with blue jeans Affleck and Damon portray Miami cops whose team's trust begins to fray upon discovering millions in cash in a derelict stash house in Joe Carnahan's crime drama premiering January 16 on Netflix Carnahan told Tudum last Saturday: 'The Rip came out of a deeply personal experience that my friend went through, both as a father and as head of tactical narcotics for the Miami Dade police department. It's inspired in part by his life' The Boston besties co-produced Bill Condon's $30M-budget remake of West End musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, starring Ben's second ex-wife Jennifer Lopez (L), which hits US theaters October 10 Matt is currently on break from filming Universal Pictures $250M-budget 'mythic action epic' already scheduled to hit theaters on July 17, 2026 Affleck has been hard at work on the LA set of his sixth feature directorial effort Animals, which will also be released via Netflix (pictured April 15) The Odyssey ensemble cast also includes Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Samantha Morton, Will Yun Lee, and Mia Goth. Meanwhile, Affleck has been hard at work on the LA set of his sixth feature directorial effort Animals, which will also be released via Netflix. The Accountant 2 action star co-wrote, produced, directed, and starred as LA Mayoral candidate Milo Bradford in the upcoming hostage thriller. Three senior reporters at Channel Seven have jumped ship to rival Network 10. Seven's award-winning former foreign correspondent Amelia Brace, 7News Sydney reporter Bill Hogan and Spotlight producer-reporter Denham Hitchcock all resigned from the network last week, The Australian's Media Diary reported. They are reportedly set to join a new investigative show set up by Channel Ten's news boss Martin White. Brace and Hitchcock exited Seven's studio in Sydney within hours of quitting and are set to start their new jobs at Ten on Monday morning while Hogan will begin with the network in three weeks' time. Ten has reportedly offered Brace a $50,000 increase on the $220,000 a year she had been getting paid. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Seven's award-winning former foreign correspondent Amelia Brace (pictured), 7News Sydney reporter Bill Hogan and Spotlight producer-reporter Denham Hitchcock all resigned from the network last week In a message to colleagues on Friday, she said: 'It feels off to not have an official 'last day' to say goodbye, but it's best for me to just fade away for now.' 'Stand up for yourselves, and each other and think of me every time you have to find a f**king case study.' Meanwhile, Hitchcock departs only three months after having returned to Seven after a couple of years off living on a catamaran with his young family. 'I'm back. It's time to wash some of the salt out - and get back to what I do best,' he said in an Instagram post. 'Back in 2019 the network asked me to start what would eventually become the Spotlight program with one producer and one cameraman - and as the limited shows proved successful - the team quickly grew and it would turn into the network's flagship program. 'I stepped away for a few years to go sailing with the family - and have returned to find a new EP, a new team, new reporters, a fresh energy, an abundance of stories, and some genuine excitement about the year ahead.' He ended the message by asking followers and fans to send 'research ideas'. Brace and Hitchcock exited Seven's studio in Sydney within hours of quitting and are set to start their new jobs at Ten on Monday morning while Hogan (pictured) will begin with the network in three weeks time Meanwhile, Hitchcock had announced his return to work at Seven in an Instagram post back in February 'But please - researched ideas - not just wild theories,' he warned, before adding: 'Keep an eye on @7newsspotlight it's going to be quite the year.' Hitchcock's short return to Seven came after he welcomed his second child in December with his wife Mari. He returned to screens in May 2023, in the true crime documentary 'Who Killed Marea?', which examines a 20-year-old cold case. Hitchcock led the Sky News investigation into the mysterious and brutal slaying of Marea Yann who was killed in her home in rural Victoria in 2003. The departures confirm industry whispers that Ten will launch a 'news magazine show' to take on the likes of Nine's 60 Minutes, Seven's Spotlight, and the ABC's Four Corners. The Australian reported last month that a 'crack team' of producers, referred to as the 'investigations unit' was being assembled to helm the new program. It was claimed that Channel Ten reporter Dan Sutton would be the show's executive producer, with potential reporters currently being screen tested. A Network Ten spokesperson confirmed the establishment of the investigation unit to Daily Mail Australia. 'Following the continued growth and success of our news brand, 10 News, we are investing in a 10 News investigative unit that will work on long-form investigative stories as part of our news offering across all our platforms,' the spokesperson said. Detroit has become one of the hardest hit cities in the fallout of America's deteriorating relationship with Canada. The Michigan metropolis on Canada's border has seen traffic from neighboring Windsor drop and suffering businesses slash jobs. Business leaders and elected officials are concerned that the White House's policies are forcing the sister cities in to an unwanted 'break up.' 'It's a border that exists, but it's not anything that culturally has ever been an issue,' Ryan Donally, chief executive of the Windsor Essex Chamber of Commerce, told the Financial Times. 'So for this trade war... to start breaking down the social fabric between Detroit and Windsor, it's even more hurtful, because quite frankly, it's not just business, it's not just a tax,' Donally explained. 'This has damaged the cultural relationship between two best friends.' One of the most critical links between Detroit and Windsor is the car industry, which is currently under a 25 percent tariff. Detroit, known as Motor City, has long been a destination for auto manufacturing and has welcomed substantial industry investment in recent years after suffering decades of decline. Detroit, known as Motor City, has long been a destination for auto manufacturing However, the industry relies on cross-border collaboration. Companies such as Stellantis and Ford build car parts in Windsor and thousands of Canadians travel over the border every day to work in plants in Detroit. Trump's car tariff has already led to layoffs in Windsor with some members of the Canadian Tooling & Machine Association cutting half their workers. Among them is Louis Jahn, owner of Jahn Engineering in Windsor, who has cut his 70-person staff by 20 percent after his orders from American carmakers disappeared due to the cost of tariffs. Jahn told the FT that like many businesses he will be forced to raise prices. 'In the end, consumers are going to pay for it,' he said. As well as the car industry, 6,000 Canadian healthcare workers cross the border every day to work in Detroit's hospitals and doctors offices. 18 percent fewer people are arriving in the US via the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel compared to the same time last year, according to the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel Corporation. While commuting remains consistent, those traveling from Canada to Detroit to visit family or friends or for leisure has dipped. Ford builds engines in Windsor, Ontario, placing it under tariff strain 18 percent fewer people are arriving in the US via the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel The Ambassador bridge links Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens said 'we feel like we're under attack by the president' Deteriorating relations also led Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens to cancel funding for an hourly bus service between the cities. It would cost the Canadian city $1.4 million a year to run, and Dilkens said Trump's rhetoric - including threatening to annex Canada into the 51st state - has made it impossible to ask for taxpayer money to fund it. 'We feel like we're under attack by the president of the United States,' he told the FT. Detroit is not the only border city that is feeling the sharp end of Trump tariffs. Buffalo and Niagara have both been hit by large downturns in Canadian visits. Further south, Palm Springs in California has been the target of a boycott by Canadian vacationers and many 'snow birds' are selling their holiday homes in Florida. Allied Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ford Motor (NYSE:F Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 12,330 shares of the auto manufacturers stock, valued at approximately $124,000. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Hager Investment Management Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ford Motor during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust purchased a new position in shares of Ford Motor during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ford Motor during the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Kentucky Trust Co acquired a new stake in shares of Ford Motor during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Spurstone Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ford Motor during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.74% of the companys stock. Get Ford Motor alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on F shares. Sanford C. Bernstein cut Ford Motor from a market perform rating to an underperform rating and dropped their target price for the company from $9.40 to $7.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Ford Motor from $9.00 to $8.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Bank of America dropped their target price on Ford Motor from $19.00 to $15.50 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Citigroup raised their target price on Ford Motor from $10.00 to $11.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 7th. Finally, Evercore ISI dropped their target price on Ford Motor from $11.00 to $10.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $10.03. Ford Motor Trading Up 1.5% F stock opened at $10.37 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.31. Ford Motor has a 12-month low of $8.44 and a 12-month high of $14.85. The stock has a market cap of $41.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.10, a PEG ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.53. The businesss 50-day moving average is $10.00 and its 200 day moving average is $10.02. Ford Motor (NYSE:F Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 5th. The auto manufacturer reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by $0.16. Ford Motor had a return on equity of 16.88% and a net margin of 3.18%. The company had revenue of $40.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $35.99 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.49 EPS. Ford Motors revenue was down 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Ford Motor will post 1.47 EPS for the current fiscal year. Ford Motor Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 12th. Ford Motors dividend payout ratio is currently 48.00%. Ford Motor Profile (Free Report) Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services a range of Ford trucks, commercial cars and vans, sport utility vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding F? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Ford Motor (NYSE:F Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Ford Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ford Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Global Investments cut its stake in shares of AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV Free Report) by 75.3% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 3,279 shares of the companys stock after selling 9,986 shares during the quarter. Summit Global Investments holdings in AbbVie were worth $687,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in ABBV. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in AbbVie by 30.4% in the 4th quarter. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 223 shares of the companys stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Steel Grove Capital Advisors LLC grew its holdings in AbbVie by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Steel Grove Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,110 shares of the companys stock worth $553,000 after buying an additional 52 shares in the last quarter. Peninsula Wealth LLC grew its holdings in AbbVie by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Peninsula Wealth LLC now owns 1,360 shares of the companys stock worth $242,000 after buying an additional 54 shares in the last quarter. Physicians Financial Services Inc. grew its holdings in AbbVie by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Physicians Financial Services Inc. now owns 12,150 shares of the companys stock worth $2,159,000 after buying an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Connecticut Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in AbbVie by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,711 shares of the companys stock worth $660,000 after buying an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. 70.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get AbbVie alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on AbbVie from $208.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Erste Group Bank raised AbbVie to a strong-buy rating in a report on Monday, March 17th. Bank of America increased their price objective on AbbVie from $200.00 to $223.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. UBS Group upped their target price on AbbVie from $181.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on AbbVie from $241.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $210.95. Insider Activity In other news, EVP Jeffrey Ryan Stewart sold 58,832 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.08, for a total value of $12,359,426.56. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 53,234 shares in the company, valued at $11,183,398.72. This represents a 52.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 0.08% of the companys stock. AbbVie Price Performance Shares of NYSE:ABBV opened at $185.53 on Friday. AbbVie Inc. has a one year low of $158.83 and a one year high of $218.66. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $185.97 and a 200-day moving average of $186.37. The company has a market capitalization of $327.72 billion, a PE ratio of 77.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.94, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.66. AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 25th. The company reported $2.46 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.40 by $0.06. AbbVie had a return on equity of 296.28% and a net margin of 7.59%. The company had revenue of $13.34 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.91 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.31 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 8.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that AbbVie Inc. will post 12.31 EPS for the current fiscal year. About AbbVie (Free Report) AbbVie Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Humira, an injection for autoimmune and intestinal Behcet's diseases, and pyoderma gangrenosum; Skyrizi to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic disease, and Crohn's disease; Rinvoq to treat rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, atopic dermatitis, axial spondyloarthropathy, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease; Imbruvica for the treatment of adult patients with blood cancers; Epkinly to treat lymphoma; Elahere to treat cancer; and Venclexta/Venclyxto to treat blood cancers. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABBV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for AbbVie Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AbbVie and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Advance Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) by 4.2% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 1,706 shares of the credit services providers stock after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the quarter. Advance Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Mastercard were worth $935,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. NewSquare Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Measured Risk Portfolios Inc. bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Mastercard during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, 10Elms LLP bought a new stake in shares of Mastercard in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Mastercard Stock Performance Shares of MA stock opened at $583.27 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a current ratio of 1.03 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $543.93 and a 200-day moving average of $539.67. Mastercard Incorporated has a one year low of $428.86 and a one year high of $588.45. The company has a market cap of $531.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.99, a P/E/G ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.06. Insider Transactions at Mastercard Mastercard ( NYSE:MA Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The credit services provider reported $3.73 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.57 by $0.16. Mastercard had a net margin of 45.71% and a return on equity of 188.47%. The business had revenue of $7.25 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.12 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $3.31 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 14.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 EPS for the current fiscal year. In other news, insider Edward Grunde Mclaughlin sold 7,132 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $534.68, for a total transaction of $3,813,337.76. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 34,524 shares in the company, valued at $18,459,292.32. The trade was a 17.12% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Michael Miebach sold 15,775 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $550.16, for a total transaction of $8,678,774.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 84,871 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $46,692,629.36. The trade was a 15.67% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 23,207 shares of company stock worth $12,664,529 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts recently issued reports on MA shares. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Mastercard from $595.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $640.00 to $660.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on Mastercard in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued an in-line rating and a $550.00 target price for the company. Tigress Financial reaffirmed a strong-buy rating on shares of Mastercard in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price target on Mastercard from $650.00 to $652.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-three have assigned a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $608.57. Read Our Latest Report on MA Mastercard Company Profile (Free Report) Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. The company offers integrated products and value-added services for account holders, merchants, financial institutions, digital partners, businesses, governments, and other organizations, such as programs that enable issuers to provide consumers with credits to defer payments; payment products and solutions that allow its customers to access funds in deposit and other accounts; prepaid programs services; and commercial credit, debit, and prepaid payment products and solutions. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Allied Investment Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 0.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 197,419 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 744 shares during the period. Wells Fargo & Company accounts for about 2.7% of Allied Investment Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 7th biggest position. Allied Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $14,173,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of WFC. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 8.9% in the first quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 53,680 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,854,000 after purchasing an additional 4,379 shares in the last quarter. Spartan Planning & Wealth Management boosted its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 9.6% in the 1st quarter. Spartan Planning & Wealth Management now owns 6,630 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $476,000 after purchasing an additional 578 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 7,887.9% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,393,083 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $243,589,000 after purchasing an additional 3,350,605 shares during the period. AdvisorNet Financial Inc grew its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 18.0% during the 1st quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 15,037 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,080,000 after buying an additional 2,293 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Howard Financial Services LTD. bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the first quarter valued at about $205,000. Institutional investors own 75.90% of the companys stock. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Piper Sandler reduced their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $77.00 to $75.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $79.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, April 7th. Barclays lowered their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $92.00 to $87.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 14th. Bank of America dropped their price objective on Wells Fargo & Company from $85.00 to $83.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 2nd. Finally, Citigroup decreased their target price on Wells Fargo & Company from $82.00 to $78.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 24th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $75.73. Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance NYSE:WFC opened at $74.62 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $242.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.87, a PEG ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.13. The business has a 50 day moving average of $70.07 and a 200 day moving average of $72.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.85. Wells Fargo & Company has a 1-year low of $50.15 and a 1-year high of $81.50. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 11th. The financial services provider reported $1.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.23 by $0.16. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 15.73% and a return on equity of 12.38%. The firm had revenue of $20.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.82 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.20 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 9th will be paid a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 9th. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is presently 28.73%. Wells Fargo & Company declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback plan on Tuesday, April 29th that authorizes the company to buyback $40.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to repurchase up to 17.2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually a sign that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued. Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile (Free Report) Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified and community-based financial services company, which engages in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth and Investment Management. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BROCTON Even a small, mostly rural village like Brocton has its hot spots. In the 1970s, one of its most popular watering holes was The Castle, an unlikely looking establishment built with stone taken from a centuries-old castle in Scotland. On a Sunday night, March 26, 1978, The Castle was crowded with locals enjoying a few drinks, listening to rock music and having some laughs with friends. Beth Ann Patterson Brown, 29, a divorcee, went to The Castle from her nearby Brocton home to join them. She called her young son from the bar around 8 p.m., telling him she loved him and wishing him a good night. Richard Fox has been charged in 2 homicides. Police think he could be a serial killer For more than a year, Richard J. Fox II has been the subject of one of the most wide-ranging cold case murder investigations in recent Western New York history, law enforcement officials and other sources close to the case told The Buffalo News. She left the bar early Monday morning, headed for home on foot. She never made it. The petite woman was the victim of a horrifying attack, State Police said. About nine hours after Brown left The Castle, two boys searching for some lost puppies found her body near a chicken coop about a mile down the road from the bar. Police said the killer or killers had piled a few old fence posts on top of her body. Her pants were down. Her face had been pummeled so brutally that she was almost unrecognizable. State Police told news reporters the next day that they were pursuing two or three solid leads, but no one was ever arrested. Detectives later revealed they had conducted more than 100 interviews and given lie detector tests to several individuals who were in The Castle that night. Police also made plaster casts from the shoes of several local men, hoping to match them to footprints found at the murder scene. But the investigation at least, in terms of arrests went nowhere. According to police, the Brown murder is one of more than 20 unsolved crimes involving Chautauqua County women who disappeared over the past 50 years. The problem of unsolved cases involving Chautauqua County women is serious enough that the sheriff here, James B. Quattrone, with federal funding obtained by Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-Pendleton, started an Unsolved Crime Unit to pursue cases that have gone cold. The ultimate objective is to honor the memory of those we have lost by ensuring that their stories are heard, their cases are pursued with diligence, Langworthy said. And 47 years after the Brown murder, investigators are taking a new look at that cold case. They are trying to determine whether Richard Fox II, an accused killer who grew up near the homicide scene, could have been involved. Fox, 62, is already charged with murdering two Buffalo women whose bodies were found in 2021 near the Chautauqua County Rails To Trails bike path in Portland, 54 miles southwest of Buffalo. Police officials told The Buffalo News that Fox is a suspected serial killer. They said he is under investigation in connection with other unsolved murders of women, including several in Chautauqua County and two in Niagara Falls. Defense lawyers deny Fox connection Born in 1963, Fox would only have been 15 years old when Brown was killed, but that hasnt stopped police from investigating him in connection with the slaying. State Police and the Sheriffs Office would not discuss the Brown case with The News, but three individuals closely familiar with the case confirmed that, in recent months, State Police from Fredonia have been questioning people about Fox and the Brown slaying. Beth Browns son, Ronald W. Brown, said an investigator called him in December and told him that police were trying to determine whether Fox could have killed his mother. With (Fox) accused of killing two other women and burying their bodies not far from where my mom was found, I think they felt they needed to check into it, Brown, 58, told The News on Friday. Brown said he has often wondered whether one serial killer Fox, or someone else is responsible for killing his mother and some of the other women who went missing in Chautauqua County. I immediately wondered about that when I heard about these two ladies from Buffalo that Fox is charged with killing, Brown said. With this new investigation, were optimistic hopeful, I guess that well finally get some answers about what happened to Beth, said Michelle Patterson, a cousin of Ronald Brown who runs a Facebook site called Who Killed Beth Ann Patterson Brown? Patterson and DJ Abram, a Marine Corps combat veteran who runs the page with her, both said they are aware of the new State Police effort. But both added that there is one factor that, in their view, makes Fox an unlikely suspect Foxs young age of 15 when Brown was sexually assaulted and murdered. Beth was my babysitter when I was a little kid. My dad was one of the owners of The Castle when she was killed. What happened to Beth has been on my mind for more than 40 years, said Abram, who is also a distant relative of Richard Fox II. But (Fox) was only 15, so he would not have been in The Castle that night. How would he have met up with Beth that night? This was a very brutal crime. Would a 15-year-old have been capable of doing something that brutal? One of Foxs two court-appointed defense attorneys said he is skeptical of efforts by police to link Fox to crimes other than the two murders that he is already accused of committing. Fox has pleaded not guilty to murdering Marquita Mull and Cassandra Watson, Buffalo women whose bodies were found buried in the Town of Portland, minutes from the home where Fox grew up. I know police agencies are trying to connect him to other crimes, but we are unaware of any other crimes they plan to charge him with, said Louis P. Violanti, who represents Fox with Paul M. Michalek Jr. We would deny any connection between him and any other unsolved crimes. That denial includes the Beth Brown murder, Violanti said. Fox is in jail, awaiting trial in the Mull and Watson murder cases. A childs worst nightmare Ron Brown said he will never be able to forget the day when he found out his mother was murdered. I was 11. I knew she had gone to The Castle, because she called me that night from the bar to wish me goodnight, Brown recalled. She was supposed to pick me up the next morning at my grandparents house to take me to a doctors appointment. She never showed up. That morning, two family friends stopped by to deliver the most painful news Brown has ever heard in his life. His mother was dead. It wasnt until that night, when I was watching the 11 oclock news, that I found out someone had murdered her, he said. That was really tough. Based on optimistic statements made by police in the days after the murder, Brown was hoping for a quick arrest. As the years passed by, with nobody charged, I gradually began to give up any hope, Brown said. I would tell myself, This just isnt going to happen. Patterson and Abram said the fact that no one in their small community was ever arrested has always puzzled them. In 1980, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the Town of Portlands population, which includes Brocton, at 4,433. This community is very small, and everybody talks to each other. Gossip travels fast. There have been all kinds of rumors about what happened to Beth over the years, Abram said. It always amazes me that no one ever came forward with the key information. I have to think that whoever committed this crime never told a single soul about it. Missing women not forgotten There is another Facebook page dedicated to the cause of remembering women who disappeared in Chautauqua County. That is WNY Missing & Unidentified Women, run by Merry Williams-Diers and other volunteers. A former criminal justice student, Williams-Diers told The News she started the page several years ago because she was frustrated by the large number of missing women in Chautauqua County and the lack of success police have had in solving the cases. Williams-Diers estimated that she spends 20 to 60 hours a week posting and following up on news reports related to missing women all over Western New York, with an emphasis on Chautauqua County. She said she spends much of her time comforting and helping the families of missing or murdered women dealing with the complexities of the criminal justice system. Victim describes Richard Fox as 'monster' who began abusing her when she was 3 Its painful for Tonia Stebbins to discuss the emotions she feels when she sees pictures of accused murderer Richard Fox II on television or in a newspaper. But she said that talking about her story may encourage other victims of sexual violence to come forward. She and her volunteers sometimes work with police to conduct searches for evidence in areas where women have last been seen alive. The News asked Williams-Diers for her view on why so many women have disappeared or been murdered in Chautauqua County over the decades. Over the years, I have found a lack of commitment and a lack of cooperation among police agencies to be a big part of the problem, she said. The Cold Case Unit that the sheriff started (in Chautauqua County) is a step in the right direction a big breath of fresh air. Among the many unsolved cases in Chautauqua County and other Southern Tier communities that remain under investigation: Judith Threlkeld, 22, who disappeared in Silver Lake on March 8, 1976. Police said the Wyoming County woman was last seen walking toward home from her local library. Kathy Wilson, 33, a mother of three from Jamestown who disappeared during her lunch break on May 18, 1988. Her skull was found in late 1989 in a wooded area in Lander, Pa. Lori Ceci Bova, 31, who disappeared after leaving a restaurant in Lakewood, Chautauqua County, on June 7, 1997. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chautauqua County Sheriffs Cold Case Unit at 716-753-4578 or unsolvedchautauqua@sheriff.us. Ronald Brown said he had a joyous reaction when he learned that volunteers had set up a Facebook page dedicated to solving his mothers murder. It meant a lot to me that people cared, Brown said. All my life, Ive wondered who did this to my mother. I still would give anything to find out. I hope they solve some of the other murder cases. All of these women, I know how their families feel. Alpha Services and Holdings S.A. (OTCMKTS:ALBKY Get Free Report) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $0.50 and traded as high as $0.80. Alpha Services and shares last traded at $0.77, with a volume of 61,236 shares traded. Alpha Services and Stock Down 1.9% The firms 50 day moving average is $0.63 and its 200-day moving average is $0.50. Get Alpha Services and alerts: Alpha Services and Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 5th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 3rd will be given a $0.0069 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 2nd. This represents a dividend yield of 0.87%. This is an increase from Alpha Services ands previous dividend of $0.01. About Alpha Services and Alpha Services and Holdings SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking and financial products and services in Greece and internationally. The company provides various deposit products, including savings, current, time deposits, and other deposit products; mortgage, consumer, corporate, and business loans, as well as leasing products, factoring services, letters of guarantee, etc.; and insurance and bancassurance products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Alpha Services and Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alpha Services and and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bond & Devick Financial Network Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report) in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund purchased 1,544 shares of the healthcare product makers stock, valued at approximately $205,000. Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in ABT. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter valued at $2,373,461,000. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 383.1% during the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,358,698 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $945,453,000 after buying an additional 6,628,310 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter worth $635,056,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 15,420.4% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 5,102,648 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $676,866,000 after buying an additional 5,069,771 shares during the period. Finally, Capital International Investors increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 67,972,953 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $7,688,160,000 after buying an additional 2,229,026 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.18% of the companys stock. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Insider Activity In other news, Director Sally E. Blount sold 2,600 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.66, for a total transaction of $337,116.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 34,058 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,415,960.28. This trade represents a 7.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 949 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $138.17, for a total value of $131,123.33. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 74,381 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,277,222.77. This represents a 1.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 95,278 shares of company stock valued at $12,745,859. 0.46% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Barclays increased their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $158.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Piper Sandler reiterated an overweight rating and set a $145.00 price objective (up previously from $133.00) on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $136.00 to $147.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $135.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $142.59. Get Our Latest Research Report on Abbott Laboratories Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance Abbott Laboratories stock opened at $133.68 on Friday. Abbott Laboratories has a 12-month low of $99.71 and a 12-month high of $141.23. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $130.46 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $125.24. The stock has a market cap of $232.58 billion, a PE ratio of 17.47, a P/E/G ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.74. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 16th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.07 by $0.02. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 20.74% and a net margin of 31.95%. The firm had revenue of $10.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.38 billion. As a group, analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 5.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Abbott Laboratories Company Profile (Free Report) Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Menieres disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Free Report) (TSE:CNR) by 46.4% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 17,615 shares of the transportation companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,585 shares during the quarter. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLCs holdings in Canadian National Railway were worth $1,717,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. grew its stake in Canadian National Railway by 233.3% during the 4th quarter. Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. now owns 25,000 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,537,000 after purchasing an additional 17,500 shares in the last quarter. Cypress Asset Management Inc. TX acquired a new position in Canadian National Railway during the 4th quarter worth $875,000. CIBC Asset Management Inc grew its stake in Canadian National Railway by 12.6% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 5,119,674 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $519,843,000 after purchasing an additional 571,967 shares in the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in Canadian National Railway by 26.5% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,646 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $167,000 after purchasing an additional 345 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Focus Partners Wealth lifted its holdings in Canadian National Railway by 6.7% during the 4th quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 10,368 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,078,000 after buying an additional 655 shares during the last quarter. 80.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Canadian National Railway Stock Up 0.0% Canadian National Railway stock opened at $104.99 on Friday. Canadian National Railway has a fifty-two week low of $91.65 and a fifty-two week high of $127.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 0.66. The company has a market capitalization of $65.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.51, a PEG ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 0.97. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $100.43 and a 200-day simple moving average of $102.19. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Canadian National Railway ( NYSE:CNI Get Free Report ) (TSE:CNR) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The transportation company reported $1.29 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.26 by $0.03. Canadian National Railway had a return on equity of 22.48% and a net margin of 26.09%. The business had revenue of $3.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.38 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.72 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts expect that Canadian National Railway will post 5.52 earnings per share for the current year. Several research analysts have recently issued reports on CNI shares. Barclays lowered their price objective on Canadian National Railway from $104.00 to $101.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on Canadian National Railway from $120.00 to $110.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. Evercore ISI lowered their price objective on Canadian National Railway from $119.00 to $114.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 2nd. Citigroup lowered their price objective on Canadian National Railway from $122.00 to $114.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Susquehanna raised Canadian National Railway from a neutral rating to a positive rating and set a $120.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Canadian National Railway presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $119.52. Read Our Latest Report on CNI Canadian National Railway Company Profile (Free Report) Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the rail, intermodal, trucking, and marine transportation and logistics business in Canada and the United States. The company provides rail services, which include equipment, custom brokerage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services, such as temperature controlled cargo, port partnerships, and logistics parks. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CNI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Free Report) (TSE:CNR). Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Christian Dior SE (OTCMKTS:CHDRY Get Free Report) passed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $150.46 and traded as low as $124.62. Christian Dior shares last traded at $124.62, with a volume of 13 shares. Christian Dior Trading Down 6.7% The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $134.66 and a 200-day simple moving average of $150.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a current ratio of 1.38 and a quick ratio of 0.64. Christian Dior Company Profile (Get Free Report) Christian Dior SE, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and retail of fashion and leather goods, wines and spirits, perfumes and cosmetics, and watches and jewelry worldwide. The company offers its fashion and leather goods under the Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Celine, Loewe, Givenchy, Kenzo, Berluti, Pucci, Loro Piana, Rimowa, and Off-White brand names; and wines and spirits under the Hennessy, Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, Krug, Chateau d'Yquem, Belvedere, Glenmorangie, Newton Vineyards, Bodega Numanthia, Chateau d'Esclans, Armand de Brignac, and Joseph Phelps brands. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Christian Dior Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Christian Dior and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Czech National Bank boosted its holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 5.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 357,126 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 20,007 shares during the quarter. Philip Morris International comprises approximately 0.5% of Czech National Banks investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Czech National Banks holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $56,687,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. NewSquare Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 53.7% during the 4th quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 206 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Philip Morris International during the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Pacifica Partners Inc. boosted its holdings in Philip Morris International by 115.0% during the 1st quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 215 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. Knuff & Co LLC purchased a new position in Philip Morris International during the 4th quarter worth $36,000. Finally, Ball & Co Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in Philip Morris International during the 4th quarter worth $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.63% of the companys stock. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Insider Activity at Philip Morris International In related news, insider Lars Dahlgren sold 3,679 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.96, for a total value of $562,739.84. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 26,828 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,103,610.88. The trade was a 12.06% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes PM has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $182.00 price objective (up from $156.00) on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Philip Morris International from $168.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. UBS Group raised shares of Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $130.00 to $170.00 in a report on Friday, April 25th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Philip Morris International from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Philip Morris International has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $169.20. View Our Latest Research Report on Philip Morris International Philip Morris International Stock Performance Shares of Philip Morris International stock opened at $180.74 on Friday. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52-week low of $98.93 and a 52-week high of $181.36. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $165.26 and its 200 day simple moving average is $145.77. The stock has a market capitalization of $281.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.08, a P/E/G ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.50. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The company reported $1.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.08. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 120.08% and a net margin of 7.89%. The business had revenue of $9.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.10 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.50 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 EPS for the current fiscal year. Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 20th were paid a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.99%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 20th. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 111.34%. About Philip Morris International (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JGP Wealth Management LLC lowered its position in Stryker Co. (NYSE:SYK Free Report) by 4.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,024 shares of the medical technology companys stock after selling 450 shares during the quarter. JGP Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Stryker were worth $3,731,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of SYK. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Stryker during the 4th quarter valued at $1,710,744,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in Stryker by 43,226.8% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,074,922 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $772,390,000 after acquiring an additional 2,070,133 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Stryker during the 4th quarter valued at $353,394,000. FMR LLC boosted its position in Stryker by 10.0% during the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 8,034,844 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $2,892,946,000 after acquiring an additional 727,850 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in Stryker by 52,520.8% during the 4th quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC now owns 596,194 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $214,660,000 after acquiring an additional 595,061 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 77.09% of the companys stock. Get Stryker alerts: Insider Activity In other news, Director Ronda E. Stryker sold 200,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $376.96, for a total transaction of $75,392,000.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 3,417,326 shares in the company, valued at $1,288,195,208.96. This trade represents a 5.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 5.20% of the companys stock. Stryker Stock Performance NYSE SYK opened at $382.86 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $368.77 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $376.14. The firm has a market capitalization of $146.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.34, a PEG ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.93. Stryker Co. has a fifty-two week low of $314.93 and a fifty-two week high of $406.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 1.32 and a current ratio of 1.95. Stryker (NYSE:SYK Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The medical technology company reported $2.84 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.73 by $0.11. Stryker had a return on equity of 23.58% and a net margin of 13.25%. The business had revenue of $5.87 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.68 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.50 EPS. The companys revenue was up 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Stryker Co. will post 13.47 earnings per share for the current year. Stryker Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.84 per share. This represents a $3.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.88%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. Strykers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.41%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several analysts have recently commented on SYK shares. Argus set a $450.00 price objective on Stryker in a report on Monday, February 3rd. JMP Securities reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Stryker in a report on Monday, May 5th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and set a $442.00 price objective on shares of Stryker in a report on Friday, March 21st. Barclays increased their price objective on Stryker from $418.00 to $443.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a buy rating and set a $455.00 price objective (up previously from $443.00) on shares of Stryker in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Stryker has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $427.30. Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on SYK Stryker Company Profile (Free Report) Stryker Corporation operates as a medical technology company. The company operates through two segments, MedSurg and Neurotechnology, and Orthopaedics and Spine. The Orthopaedics and Spine segment provides implants for use in total joint replacements, such as hip, knee and shoulder, and trauma and extremities surgeries. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SYK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Stryker Co. (NYSE:SYK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Stryker Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stryker and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (NYSE:TLK Free Report) by 31.4% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 134,970 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 32,274 shares during the period. Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLCs holdings in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk were worth $1,994,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk by 8.4% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 581,989 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $9,574,000 after buying an additional 44,907 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new position in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk in the 4th quarter valued at about $707,000. Victory Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk in the 4th quarter valued at about $544,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its stake in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 4,521,500 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $74,966,000 after buying an additional 98,552 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Haven Global Partners LLC acquired a new position in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk in the 4th quarter valued at about $3,291,000. Get Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk alerts: Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk Stock Down 0.5% Shares of TLK opened at $17.11 on Friday. Perusahaan Perseroan has a 52 week low of $13.15 and a 52 week high of $21.00. The firm has a market cap of $16.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.56. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $15.51 and its 200 day simple moving average is $15.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.14, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.70. Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk Company Profile Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk provides information and communications technology, and telecommunications network services worldwide. The company operates through mobile, consumer, enterprise, Wholesale and International Business, and Other segments. The Mobile segment offers mobile voice, SMS, value added services, and mobile broadband services. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TLK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (NYSE:TLK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mechanics Bank Trust Department cut its stake in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK Free Report) by 10.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 17,933 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 2,011 shares during the period. Mechanics Bank Trust Departments holdings in Duke Energy were worth $2,187,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 2.9% during the first quarter. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 13,508 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,648,000 after buying an additional 377 shares during the last quarter. Beese Fulmer Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 2.5% during the first quarter. Beese Fulmer Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,648 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $567,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. James J. Burns & Company LLC bought a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the first quarter worth approximately $219,000. Andrew Hill Investment Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 338.6% during the first quarter. Andrew Hill Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 37,763 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $4,606,000 after buying an additional 29,153 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 15.1% during the first quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 9,539 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,163,000 after buying an additional 1,255 shares during the last quarter. 65.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Duke Energy alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In DUK has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup boosted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $130.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Duke Energy from $123.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Guggenheim boosted their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $132.00 to $135.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $111.00 to $123.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price objective on shares of Duke Energy from $129.00 to $132.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 21st. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $125.81. Duke Energy Stock Up 1.9% Duke Energy stock opened at $117.61 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $91.41 billion, a PE ratio of 20.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.39. Duke Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $99.21 and a twelve month high of $125.27. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52. The company has a 50 day moving average of $118.76 and a 200-day moving average of $114.79. Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.59 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $8.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.70 billion. Duke Energy had a net margin of 14.90% and a return on equity of 9.50%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.44 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Duke Energy Co. will post 6.33 EPS for the current fiscal year. Duke Energy Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 16th will be issued a $1.045 dividend. This represents a $4.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.55%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 16th. Duke Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 69.32%. Duke Energy Company Profile (Free Report) Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I), and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DUK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Duke Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Duke Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MFS California Municipal Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:CCA Get Free Report)s stock price crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $12.82 and traded as high as $12.85. MFS California Municipal Fund shares last traded at $12.82, with a volume of 10,500 shares. MFS California Municipal Fund Stock Performance The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $12.82. MFS California Municipal Fund Company Profile (Get Free Report) MFS California Municipal Fund is a close ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company. The fund invests in fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in debt securities the interest on which in the opinion of issuer counsel is exempt from federal regular income tax and California personal income tax. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for MFS California Municipal Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MFS California Municipal Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SK Telecom Co., Ltd. (NYSE:SKM Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totalling 736,000 shares, a decline of 31.2% from the April 30th total of 1,070,000 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 425,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.7 days. SK Telecom Stock Performance SK Telecom stock traded down $0.27 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $20.53. 360,566 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 289,889. The firm has a market cap of $8.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.38, a PEG ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $21.30 and a 200 day moving average of $21.67. SK Telecom has a 12 month low of $19.84 and a 12 month high of $24.58. Get SK Telecom alerts: SK Telecom (NYSE:SKM Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 12th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.65 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.61 by $0.04. SK Telecom had a return on equity of 10.39% and a net margin of 7.26%. The company had revenue of $3.18 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.12 billion. As a group, research analysts anticipate that SK Telecom will post 2.27 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Investors Weigh In On SK Telecom Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Rhumbline Advisers increased its position in shares of SK Telecom by 8.6% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 94,631 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $2,012,000 after purchasing an additional 7,485 shares during the last quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of SK Telecom by 543.6% during the 1st quarter. Great Lakes Advisors LLC now owns 593,312 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $12,614,000 after purchasing an additional 501,125 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in shares of SK Telecom by 46.9% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 260,140 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $5,531,000 after purchasing an additional 83,030 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC increased its position in shares of SK Telecom by 160.7% during the 1st quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 226,848 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $4,823,000 after purchasing an additional 139,829 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of SK Telecom by 38.8% during the 1st quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 16,038 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $341,000 after acquiring an additional 4,482 shares during the last quarter. Several analysts have weighed in on SKM shares. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of SK Telecom from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Citigroup lowered shares of SK Telecom from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 6th. UBS Group started coverage on shares of SK Telecom in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. They set a buy rating for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of SK Telecom from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, March 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded SK Telecom from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, May 12th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold. View Our Latest Analysis on SK Telecom SK Telecom Company Profile (Get Free Report) SK Telecom Co, Ltd. provides wireless telecommunication services in South Korea. The company operates through three segments: Cellular Services, Fixed-Line Telecommunications Services, and Other Businesses. The Cellular Services segment offers wireless voice and data transmission, Internet of Things solutions, platform, cloud, smart factory solutions, subscription, advertising and curated shopping under T Deal brand name, and metaverse platform-based services, as well as sells wireless devices. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for SK Telecom Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SK Telecom and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The West Seneca Central School District has five elementary schools. Some of those schools have large classes of up to 28 students, where teachers have to share classroom space or hold special instruction for speech and physical therapy in the hallway. And other buildings have smaller classes of 16 or so students, with room to accommodate more. Thats why the district has spent more than two years exploring options for redistricting, or adjusting the geographic boundaries of school attendance zones to even out the school populations, said West Seneca Central School District Superintendent Lisa Krueger. The West Seneca Board of Education is set to make a final decision this month on the redistricting plans. School officials say redistricting is necessary to balance enrollment across schools and bring equity to class sizes in the district. But some parents and students have concerns about moving children to different schools away from the friends and teachers with whom they have built relationships. It is another point of pain in the district that dealt with cuts to about 50 staff positions, including teachers, last year. The reason why were considering redistricting options are to benefit our students with smaller class sizes and more appropriate instructional spaces, Krueger said. We certainly understand the emotions around a potential change and what that means for students and their social/emotional well-being and are very sensitive to wanting to support any students who may be facing a change (by) having transition supports in place to be able to make that transition smoother and easier for students. Redistricting efforts will focus mostly on the elementary schools. But there are some issues at the middle schools that also need to be addressed, Krueger said. For example, at West Middle School, there is not enough instructional space for all the classes offered. As a result, world language and health teachers keep all their supplies on a cart and move around the building during the day, Krueger said. Current high school students will not be impacted, Krueger said. Were not looking to shift any high school students from one high school to the other, Krueger said. Rather, over time, if, for example, your elementary school was changed, there is the potential that your pathway to middle school and high school would then be different. But we are not looking to make changes to high schoolers midway through their high school experience. Generally, students are placed at a school based on their address. Since more West Seneca residents live on the west side of town, those schools tend to be the ones that have the most students and are facing the overcrowding issues. Students who live east of Union Road in West Seneca typically attend either Clinton Street or Northwood elementary schools, then go on to East Middle School and East High School. Those on the west side are mostly enrolled in Winchester-Potters, Allendale or West elementary schools and move on to the West middle and high schools. However, students with disabilities who need access to a special class or program may not attend the school closest to their home, Krueger said. They have to go to the building where those services are offered. And all English language learners attend Northwood Elementary and East middle and high schools. We have some of our students with the greatest need traveling pretty far distances to attend their current assigned school, Krueger said. West Seneca Central looks at redistricting elementary schools Long bus rides and lack of classrooms in some schools are among the reasons why the West Seneca Central School District is looking at redistricting elementary schools. The redistricting process in West Seneca began in 2022, but was paused in the fall of 2023 so the School Board could select a new superintendent. After Krueger was hired last year, the process resumed. The redistricting committee, made up of West Seneca parents, teachers and other school district officials, has met monthly to explore options. The committee has held community forums and sought parent and community feedback. The process will culminate Tuesday with a presentation from the committee to the public and the School Board. The committee will lay out the redistricting options and give recommendations to the board members, who will likely vote on a final decision during the June 17 meeting. Whatever plan is selected by the board will not go into effect until the 2026-2027 school year. District officials will spend the time until then planning the logistics of moving students and staff to different buildings, changing bus routes and setting up transitional support for students and families, Krueger said. Conrad Siegel Investment Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Free Report) by 782.5% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 149,429 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 132,496 shares during the quarter. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF comprises approximately 1.7% of Conrad Siegel Investment Advisors Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest holding. Conrad Siegel Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF were worth $6,763,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 6.6% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 107,088,490 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $4,716,177,000 after buying an additional 6,672,276 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 67,813,025 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,986,486,000 after purchasing an additional 2,076,998 shares during the period. Betterment LLC grew its position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Betterment LLC now owns 59,799,391 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,633,565,000 after purchasing an additional 961,166 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 42,425,421 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,868,416,000 after purchasing an additional 503,443 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp grew its position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 64.6% in the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 41,809,891 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,841,308,000 after purchasing an additional 16,414,518 shares during the period. Get Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF alerts: Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Trading Down 1.2% NYSEARCA VWO opened at $46.98 on Friday. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $45.22 and a 200 day simple moving average of $45.17. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF has a 12-month low of $39.53 and a 12-month high of $49.57. The company has a market cap of $121.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.80 and a beta of 0.58. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Profile The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index, that measures the return of stocks issued by companies located in emerging market countries. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VWO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wallace Advisory Group LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI Free Report) by 7.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,964 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 228 shares during the quarter. Wallace Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Fiserv were worth $609,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of FI. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Fiserv by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 11,891,207 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,435,280,000 after acquiring an additional 218,833 shares during the period. FMR LLC increased its holdings in Fiserv by 22.5% during the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 11,568,895 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,376,482,000 after acquiring an additional 2,126,419 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its holdings in Fiserv by 16.2% during the 4th quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 8,030,889 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,649,705,000 after acquiring an additional 1,121,597 shares during the period. Nuveen Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in Fiserv by 5.2% during the 4th quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 6,936,554 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,424,907,000 after acquiring an additional 340,938 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new stake in Fiserv during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,406,452,000. 90.98% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Fiserv alerts: Insider Transactions at Fiserv In other news, insider Adam L. Rosman sold 2,512 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $160.68, for a total value of $403,628.16. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 53,385 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,577,901.80. This trade represents a 4.49% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Andrew Gelb sold 5,652 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.00, for a total transaction of $904,320.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 25,385 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,061,600. This represents a 18.21% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.74% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Susquehanna lowered their price objective on shares of Fiserv from $250.00 to $240.00 and set a positive rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Fiserv from $265.00 to $230.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and set a $268.00 price objective (up previously from $267.00) on shares of Fiserv in a research report on Friday, April 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Fiserv from $211.00 to $210.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 19th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic restated a sell rating and set a $150.00 price objective on shares of Fiserv in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, twenty-two have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $221.84. View Our Latest Analysis on Fiserv Fiserv Price Performance Shares of Fiserv stock opened at $162.40 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $90.04 billion, a PE ratio of 30.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.97. Fiserv, Inc. has a 12-month low of $146.25 and a 12-month high of $238.59. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $191.13 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $207.15. Fiserv (NYSE:FI Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The business services provider reported $2.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.08 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $4.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.86 billion. Fiserv had a net margin of 15.31% and a return on equity of 17.93%. The companys revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.88 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Fiserv, Inc. will post 10.23 EPS for the current year. Fiserv declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase plan on Thursday, February 20th that allows the company to buyback 60,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization allows the business services provider to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally an indication that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued. Fiserv Company Profile (Free Report) Fiserv, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides payments and financial services technology services in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. It operates through Merchant Acceptance, Financial Technology, and Payments and Network segments. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Fiserv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fiserv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wright Investors Service Inc. cut its holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 52.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 8,732 shares of the companys stock after selling 9,763 shares during the quarter. Wright Investors Service Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $1,386,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. NewSquare Capital LLC grew its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 53.7% in the 4th quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 206 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares during the period. Pacifica Partners Inc. lifted its stake in Philip Morris International by 115.0% in the 1st quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 215 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new stake in Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Knuff & Co LLC bought a new stake in Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. 78.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Philip Morris International Trading Up 1.6% PM opened at $180.74 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $281.32 billion, a PE ratio of 40.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.50. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $165.26 and its 200 day simple moving average is $145.77. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1-year low of $98.93 and a 1-year high of $181.36. Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The company reported $1.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.08. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 120.08% and a net margin of 7.89%. The company had revenue of $9.30 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.10 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.50 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 5.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 20th were given a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 20th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.99%. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is presently 111.34%. Insider Transactions at Philip Morris International In other news, insider Lars Dahlgren sold 3,679 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.96, for a total transaction of $562,739.84. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 26,828 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,103,610.88. This represents a 12.06% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In PM has been the topic of several research reports. Barclays boosted their target price on Philip Morris International from $175.00 to $205.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and issued a $182.00 target price (up previously from $156.00) on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Needham & Company LLC started coverage on Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. They set a buy rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Philip Morris International from $168.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Philip Morris International from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 18th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Philip Morris International currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $169.20. View Our Latest Analysis on Philip Morris International Philip Morris International Company Profile (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ALBANY In the five months after prison officers beat 43-year-old Robert Brooks to death in Marcy Correctional Facility in Oneida County, the states Commission on Correction, an oversight panel for New Yorks prisons and jails, convened before the public for a combined total of less than 51 minutes. Including the commissions time in executive session, which the public cannot view on the SCOC website, the seven meetings totaled three hours and three minutes. And the public portions included zero references to the Dec. 10 death of Brooks or Messiah Nantwi, 22, a man that officers fatally beat on March 1 in Mid-State Correctional Facility, located next to Marcy, or to any deaths behind bars. Nor did meetings include any mention of the statewide 22-day correction officer strike that rocked the states prison system between February and March a walkout that quickly forced Gov. Kathy Hochul to call in the National Guard to help secure the states 42 prison facilities. Instead, the focus of SCOC meetings seemed fixated on variances and building construction-related topics. With less than a month remaining in the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers are questioning the future role of the SCOC amid proposals to overhaul the states prison system. On May 20, the Senate passed a bill 40-21 to expand the SCOC from three gubernatorial-appointed members to nine members. The six additional panelists would include four members appointed by the Legislature and two by the Correctional Association of New York, a private watchdog group. The SCOC presently includes chair Allen Riley and Commissioners Yolanda Canty and Elizabeth Gaynes. Riley, a former Madison County sheriff, earned $175,911 in 2024. Canty, a former bureau chief with the New York City Department of Correction, earned $165,774. And Gaynes, a one-time Buffalo defense attorney confirmed to her post in June 2024, earned $88,541, according to public payroll records on the SeeThroughNY site. The status quo of just three commissioners and a skeleton crew lacks the capacity to fulfill the SCOCs obligations, said the bills sponsor, Sen. Julia Salazar, a Brooklyn Democrat who chairs the Senates Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction. Shock and outrage in response to the violence and death in New Yorks prisons is not enough. This is a crisis that demands meaningful action. The SCOC, founded in 1895, underwent changes following the 1971 riots at Attica prison, where 43 lives were lost, including 11 officers and employees. The oversight panel, which has power to close facilities, said on its website that it strives to provide a safe, stable and humane correctional system and ensure the delivery of essential services in the correctional setting. It said the SCOC meets monthly and as needed to discuss matters related to local and state correction facilities and police department lockups, including variances, maximum facility capacity, proposed changes in regulations, construction projects, and mortality investigations, among other matters. In December, the SCOC criticized the Erie County Holding Center over the 2022 deaths of Sean C. Riordan and William B. Henley. It asked the Erie County Legislature to review the SCOCs findings and hold an inquiry into the fitness of the county jails designated health services provider. While serving as chair of the Erie County Legislature, now-Sen. April Baskin, D-Buffalo, held such a hearing. Baskin said her experience with the SCOC was disappointing. After it informed her that inmate India Cummings death in 2016 was the result of officer negligence, she requested more information from the agency without success. Baskin said SCOCs report to the Legislature was redacted, and that commission administrators declined to participate in any formal legislative meetings. She said she offered to have a closed session in executive session to help county lawmakers understand the findings of the SCOC investigation. That, she noted, was met with no response. The COC has not been responsive, nor do they provide any clarity after reports are issued, nor are they readily accessible to help solve the matters that have been uncovered, Baskin said. That lack of transparency places elected officials and municipal administrators in a difficult position to implement the needed reforms. We are at a pivotal moment with statewide jail reform. Those very reforms will also protect the hardworking jail deputies and corrections officers as well as the individuals in custody. At a May 14 hearing, when Salazar and Assembly Member Erik Martin Dilan, D-Brooklyn, who chairs the Assemblys Corrections Committee, held a discussion on the Safety of Persons in Custody, Transparency and Accountability Within State Correctional Facilities, the SCOC had no visible presence. Both Salazar and Dilan said they wished someone from the SCOC appeared in person. Riley submitted written testimony that the commissions oversight activity is limited to investigation of deaths by a medical review board, the review and approval of construction/renovations and handling some 1,000 complaint letters from inmates and their families and friends. He said that has been the case since SCOC incurred significant personnel reductions in the mid-1990s, which reduced staff below levels needed for inspections. Riley said that following a later state comptroller report that criticized SCOC for not evaluating DOCCS facilities, the State Legislature amended the law so SCOC did not need to inspect every correctional facility in New York but follow a schedule that considers available resources, workload and staffing. Riley said the states recently enacted $254 billion budget included funding $2.5 million that will allow SCOC to annually inspect each location and have a website to receive electronically submitted complaints. Recent events, including tragic incidents, have underscored the urgent need for enhanced oversight of DOCCS facilities, Riley said. Western New Yorks Senate delegation was divided on whether expanding the SCOC was a solution. Baskin and Sean Ryan, D-Buffalo, voted yes. Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt, R-North Tonawanda and Sens. Patrick Gallivan, R-Elma; George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay; and Thomas OMara, R-Big Flats, all voted no. In a statement, Ortt said the commission has not addressed any major issues that have recently happened in our prison system. Gallivan, a former Erie County sheriff whose office ran the Erie County jail and represents a district that now includes Collins and Wende correctional facilities, said SCOC is not fulfilling its original intended role. But he said it is woefully understaffed and under-resourced. If the SCOC had its resources, he said he did not believe the state would be experiencing surging increases in prison violence (between 2020 and 2024, inmate-on-staff assaults have increased in DOCCS from 1,052 to 2,069, and inmate-on-inmate assaults rose from 1,206 to 2,980). Twenty officers have been charged with murder and manslaughter in the Brooks and Nantwi deaths. Assembly Member Patrick Chludzinski, R-Cheektowaga, said the prison system, following an extremely chaotic state for the last six months or more, needs a complete overhaul. The SCOC has proved incapable of fulfilling that responsibility, he said. The fact that the state Commission of Correction has only met for 52 minutes (publicly) throughout this turmoil and failed to address any of the crises that have been occurring speaks volumes about how ineffective it truly is. SCOCs meeting on Dec. 18, its first after the Brooks killing, was public for 7 minutes and 22 seconds. The agenda included variances for detention areas, construction and renovation and executive session, which brought the total time of the meeting to 18 minutes. None of the following six meetings through the end of April exceeded even 14 minutes of public discussion. The longest gathering if one included executive session lasted an hour and 20 minutes on March 26. But the public could only view 4 minutes and 14 seconds of it. That was the month when Nantwi was killed and in which the strike ended. The commissions most recent meeting, on May 28, lasted 1 minute and 39 seconds before the public. After the meeting, Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, D-Brooklyn, who is co-sponsoring the bill with Salazar to expand the SCOC to nine members, joined advocates with the Katal Center for Equity, Health and Justice in slamming the SCOC for its short public meeting. This watchdog is a lapdog right now, Gallagher said. This is a state agency that is currently not functioning. SCOC spokesperson Kirstan Conley said the public meetings on the commissions website represent only a fraction of the work by agency staff. The commission enters executive session during its meetings to review mortality investigations, which involve confidential medical and mental health treatment information, and correctional facility renovation and construction projects, which detail facility design and specifications, Conley said. Revealing details of facilities plans and specifications can compromise security and public safety for incarcerated individuals, staff, visitors and others. For that reason, they are not publicly disclosed or specifically described in public documents. The SCOCs 2023 annual report identified SCOC as an executive branch-level correctional oversight and technical services agency. The top of listed duties stated: Advising the governor on correctional policy. The report stated: In summary, the commission is a small, specialized criminal justice service agency supporting the statewide correctional community, working on behalf of the governor to professionalize and enhance the quality of the correctional system in New York. On May 20, when Hochul met with the editorial board of The Buffalo News, she was asked about the SCOC, its meetings and the absence of any references to fatalities or the strike. Hochul said the SCOC was more exterior than us, set up by the Legislature to be sort of a watchdog. I dont control what they do. I control what DOCCS does directly and they are under orders from me to find a path forward. Pressed that the SCOC was, in fact, an executive branch agency, Hochul said: I dont deal with them. I deal with the commissioner and (state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services) Jackie Bray and theyre the ones that Im working on policy with for reform. Matthew Janisziewski, a spokesperson for the governor said: Gov. Hochul was referring to the fact that the Executive Chamber allows SCOC to investigate without interference from the executive. To maintain the integrity of SCOC investigations, it would be inappropriate for the governor to direct them to take specific actions related to specific cases. St Johns Church of Ireland, Moneymore, will host the annual Rural Support Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving on Sunday, June 8 2025 at 2.30pm. This worshipful event is aimed at those who have lost a loved one, recently or in the past, to come together and celebrate the lives of those who are no longer with us in a safe and welcoming environment. "At this commemorative service, we will gather with friends, families, and agricultural representatives to honour individuals who not only impacted those closest to them but also shared a deep love and passion for the farming industry. This event will pay tribute to those who have passed away, acknowledging the profound sense of loss experienced by their loved ones. It is a privilege to participate in this occasion and celebrate the lives of those who are no longer with us in a heartfelt and meaningful manner," said Gyles Dawson, Director of Programmes. The Life Beyond programme, delivered by Rural Support in partnership with Embrace FARM, provides a unique combination of bereavement support, specifically tailored to the needs of the farm family. The aim of the programme is to improve the mental, social, and physical wellbeing of farm families who have experienced loss or trauma through a farm accident, as well as provide business support with the farming enterprise. At this years service the Farmers Choir will be leading the congregations unified musical sound and will be joined by local harpist Lesley Magee as well as pupils from Moneymore Primary School. Various prayers of remembrance and celebration will be carried out by representatives from the Catholic, Church of Ireland, Methodist and Baptist churches, as well as readings and addresses from several prominent figures within the agricultural industry including UFU President William Irvine and ABP Managing Director George Mullan. # At the service, those attending will also be able to participate in the Tree of Life Ceremony, as an act of remembrance and love for those who are no longer with us. READ NEXT: Minister criticises very disturbing behaviour in cardiac surgery unit There will also be a Roll of Remembrance which shall be read by Director of Programmes at Rural Support, Gyles Dawson. If you would like your loved one placed on this memorial list, please contact the Farm Support Unit at Rural Support on 028 8676 0040 or email farmsupport@ruralsupport.org.uk Kevin Doherty, CEO of Rural Support said: Our Life Beyond gathering will support those who are navigating their way through grief and will provide an opportunity for attendees to interact with others who have experienced loss, to reflect and reminisce, and to honour the contributions made to the lives, land and agricultural community by loved ones who have passed away. This event is open to everyone within the farming community who wishes to pay their respects towards a familys loved one who is no longer with us whilst remembering their gift of life together. If you would like to learn more about the Life Beyond bereavement support programme or the range of services and programmes available at Rural Support, go to the NI Farm Support hub at www.ruralsupport.org.uk or telephone their Support Line on Freephone 0800 138 1678 available Mon-Fri 9am-9pm. NSPCC Northern Ireland is thanking its dedicated volunteers this Volunteers Week. Running from 2 8 June, Volunteers Week is an annual UK-wide campaign that celebrates and recognises the contributions of volunteers to organisations and communities. Foyle-based Childline volunteer Magdalena Bartosz-Karwacka, or Magda, shared what motivated her to become a volunteer for the NSPCC-run service. Originally from Poland, 42-year-old Magda moved to Northern Ireland in 2008, and has been volunteering with Childline since 2020. Helping people in need has always been on my agenda, so volunteering for Childline was a great opportunity to see if counselling was something for me, said Magda. I feel privileged to see the world through the childrens and young peoples eyes. My role at Childline involves responding to calls or online chats with children and young people who can be in crisis or need someone to be with them in that moment and time. Talking about the process of becoming a volunteer, Magda continued: Once your application is approved you are given ample, comprehensive training which means you are equipped with the tools and skills needed to work as a counsellor. The support received during shifts is amazing. We are supervised at shifts and debriefed after, with supervisors making sure that you dont take things home with you. Listening to a child or young person about their thoughts and feelings and knowing you make a difference is what really makes it worthwhile being a volunteer. It can also be a valuable step for someone who is considering a career in counselling. During 2023/24, the NSPCC had nearly 6,500 people who volunteered for the charity throughout the UK. NSPCC Assistant Director in Northern Ireland, Bronagh Muldoon, said, Volunteers truly are the lifeblood of NSPCC Northern Ireland. They allow us to be there for children and families across Northern Ireland when they need us the most. Quite simply, we couldnt exist without the help of the dedicated people who volunteer for the NSPCC. Although we are delighted to celebrate our volunteers this week, I also want to thank every volunteer in Northern Ireland for their dedication every day of the year. READ NEXT: Derry volunteer Therese Forester calls on others to consider volunteering for Childline Foyle We always need more volunteers at NSPCC Northern Ireland. So, whether you can volunteer to lead Speak Ou, Stay Safe workshops in primary schools, help young and their families through the court system in Northern Ireland, talk to children online and over the phone in our Childline service and our Building Connections services, or even help at one of our events, we want to hear from you. No matter how much time you can give, NSPCC Northern Ireland has a volunteer role for you to play your part in preventing abuse and help us to rebuild the lives of children and their families. Talking about the positive effect volunteering has had on her, Magda continued: Volunteering for Childline takes more than just a desire to help. It changes you as a person and nourishes your personal growth. I feel that we make a difference to children and young peoples lives, and I am very proud to be a Childline Volunteer counsellor. Helping one person might not change the whole world, but it could change the world for one person! To find out more about NSPCC volunteering opportunities in Northern Ireland, visit www.nspcc.org.uk/volunteer A ban on single-use vapes in Northern Ireland has come into effect. The ban also came into force across England, Scotland and Wales on Saturday. It is estimated that as many as five million single-use vapes are thrown in bins or littered every week across the UK, rather than being recycled. The new restriction aims to reduce the number of vapes going into landfill or discarded as litter, where they can release harmful substances into the environment and endanger wildlife. It is also intended to stop valuable resources such as cobalt, copper and lithium being used in single-use devices. Agricultural, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir said he hopes the ban will improve the environment as well as the publics health. Single-use vape waste can have a significant negative impact on our environment and biodiversity, and I welcome this ban which will benefit our environment as well as our general health and well-being, he said. My department as well as counterparts in the UK Government, Scotland and Wales have worked together to introduce this ban concurrently, to provide a consistent approach across the UK for businesses as well as customers. If you do use vapes, I would encourage you to now make it a habit not to discard the devices and dispose of any broken or expired vapes responsibly by taking them to your local shop. The minister urged retailers to be aware of their legal responsibility to dispose of any old stock, adding they should offer a waste vape bin in-store for customers to recycle any remaining disposable units. Businesses were given six months to prepare for the change by selling any existing stock of single-use vapes. Daera said retailers must be able to demonstrate during any inspection that an average user can reuse a device by refilling and recharging. The chairman of the Belfast Health Trust has said he cannot give a date when the citys delayed new maternity hospital will open. Ciaran Mulgrew said options continue to be assessed to resolve issues around the discovery of bacteria in the buildings water system. It was disclosed last year that the hospitals opening would be significantly delayed after high levels of pseudomonas aeruginosa (PSA) were found. The hospital, which was already several years late and over budget, had been expected to open this year after the trust took possession of the new building last March. In April this year, trust officials told a Stormont committee that the source of the potentially deadly bacteria in the water system had still not been found. Another problem around the medical gas pipework was later identified that would cost approximately 50,000 to rectify. A Northern Ireland Audit Office report had said the hospital was originally expected to be completed by the end of 2015. Asked when the building would eventually open, Mr Mulgrew said: I cant give you a specific date when that is going to open because there is an issue with pseudomonas, which is a bacteria within the water system. We are assessing what options are available to us to resolve that. Asked if the delay in opening would be two to three years, Mr Mulgrew said: I dont think we are talking anywhere near that length of time, but this is not my area of expertise and I dont want any hostages to fortune. You are asking me to give a hostage to fortune in an area where I am not a bacteriologist. What I will say is, we are aware of the problem, we are trying to understand how the pseudomonas got there and how we can get rid of that pseudomonas. When the PA news agency attempted to ask further questions about the project, Mr Mulgrew responded: I am not a bacteriologist, to be honest. The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has faced difficulties aside from the maternity hospital delay. The citys new 10-floor childrens hospital, which is to accompany the maternity hospital at the Royal site, was originally planned to open at 2020 at a cost of 223 million. It was announced earlier this year that work would get finally under way, with the project due to be completed at the beginning of the next decade at a projected cost of 671 million. The trust leadership has also been criticised after the findings of a report on staff culture at the cardiac surgery unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) were leaked to the media. The findings of the independent external review, which were first reported by UTV, are said to have included an intolerable working environment and a pattern of consistently poor behaviour within the unit. During a meeting of the Stormont Health Committee it was stated that the report contained allegations of bullying of junior staff by more senior staff, heart surgeons working from home and the throwing of medical instruments during operations. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has said he will be holding the trusts senior management accountable for its response to the report and is finalising a series of departmental interventions. A leaked report into staff culture at the cardiac surgery unit at the Belfast Royal Victoria Hospital needs to be published to restore confidence, the chairman of Stormonts Health Committee has said. Philip McGuigan also said he was concerned about reports from unions that issues exposed in the report about the behaviour of surgeons may be replicated in other healthcare settings. The findings of the independent external review, which were first reported by UTV, are said to have included an intolerable working environment and a pattern of consistently poor behaviour within the unit. During a meeting of the Stormont Health Committee last week, it was said that the report contained allegations of bullying of junior staff by more senior staff, surgeons working from home and the throwing of medical instruments during operations. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has said the types of behaviour detailed in the report bring shame on our health service. He has said he is holding the Belfast Trusts senior management accountable for its response to the report and is finalising a series of departmental interventions. Mr McGuigan told the BBC Sunday Politics programme that the report had led to very many public trust issues. As a member of the Health Committee, we need to see the report. We are told there are recommendations and an action plan contained within the report, I think for proper scrutiny and to restore public trust, what we need to see is the report in the first instance published so we can interrogate the recommendations for restoring public trust in this issue. Mr Nesbitt has said he wants to place the report in the library of the Northern Ireland Assembly, but is currently receiving legal advice. Mr McGuigan said: People need to have confidence that when they go to a hospital or any health setting that they are being looked after properly. This report has exposed very serious failings within the cardiac surgery unit and that absolutely needs to be addressed to ensure the public have confidence moving forward. He added: Everybody here in the North has a right to have confidence in all public healthcare settings, this report has exposed very serious concerns about that particular unit and the public do need to see trust restored. I think that can only happen when we have full transparency, when we see the report, we see the recommendations, we see the action plans and we can hear from the trust themselves how they intend the put the situation right. He added: I think in the interests of transparency the first thing that needs to happen is the report needs to be published. The Sinn Fein MLA said he has not seen the report. He said: The other concerning thing that has come out is that unions are saying this isnt an isolated issue, that junior staff, that nurses have been subject to harassment and bullying in other healthcare settings and that is very concerning for us all. This behaviour would be completely inappropriate in any work environment but more so in an environment where patient safety has to be absolutely paramount. We expect staff to have patient safety uppermost in their mind but we also expect them to treat their work colleagues with respect. The only route for Northern Ireland to rejoin the European Union is through an Irish unity referendum, SDLP Stormont leader Matthew OToole has said. Mr OToole was speaking ahead of an opposition motion in the Stormont Assembly, nine years on from the 2016 Brexit referendum. The SDLP MLA will say there has been a structural shift in British politics with the rise of Nigel Farages Reform UK party. He will also tell Stormont any prospect of the UK rejoining the EU is miniscule, and a referendum under the terms set out in the Good Friday Agreement is the only route back to EU membership for Northern Ireland. Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr OToole said: The SDLP welcomes the improved co-operation between the UK and the EU following the recent summit in London, along with progress in a number of areas that begin to ease some post-Brexit frictions. We always knew Brexit would be disastrous for the whole UK economy, for Northern Ireland and relationships across these islands. Sadly, so it has proven. Northern Ireland was dragged out of Europe against its will, and our politics has suffered the consequences. He said British politics was continuing an irresistible drift towards Faragism. Mr OToole added: We have virtually no power to stop that happening. But we do have a viable pathway to a different future a European future and that is through a new Ireland. It is time all parties who claim to be pro-European and reject the Faragification of UK politics to acknowledge our only route back into Europe is via an inclusive, hopeful new Ireland. The exceptional achievements of women in business across Louth and surrounding counties were celebrated on Friday evening, 23rd May, at the Network Ireland Louth Businesswoman of the Year Awards, held at the Fairways Hotel Dundalk. The black-tie event recognised local female entrepreneurs and professionals across a range of sectors, with winners in national award categories now set to represent the Louth branch at the Network Ireland National Businesswoman of the Year Awards in September, in Killarney. The 2025 Louth Branch winners, who will be going forward to represent Louth at the National Businesswoman of the Year Awards are: Emerging Businesswoman Natasha Keenan, Border Boutique Hire Solo Businesswoman Maria Morgan, Esker Fields Skincare Established Businesswoman Joanne Lavelle, Lavelle Auctioneers & Valuers STEM Professional Joan McCann, The Code Lab Creative Professional Caroline Duffy, Caroline Duffy Designs Networker of the Year Pauline Clarke, Kookee Highly Commended recipients included: Leanne McGrath, Virtually Leanne (Emerging Businesswoman) Pauline Clarke, Kookee (Established Businesswoman) Judges Awards celebrated unique contributions and innovation: One to Watch Award Joanne Lynch, Bo By Jo Innovation Award Hazel Rossiter, Support to Rise Outstanding Contribution to Industry Award Carmel McCarthy, EMS & Associates Community Contribution Award Cathrine Chiduza, Holistic Healthcare Ireland Future Growth Award Eileen Taylor, Woofland Dog Park In a symbolic gesture of empowerment, Nicola Connolly Byrne, President of Network Ireland Louth, presented each finalist with a crown, saying: Women always fix each others crowns. She expressed heartfelt thanks to the judging panel and sponsors, especially AIB Bank, LEO Louth, Face Credit Consultancy, and Relish Cafe, whose support made the evening possible. The event was expertly hosted by Julie Burke of Jules Rules Irl, whose wit and charisma kept the evening flowing. Julie also led a special fireside chat with Linda Hanlon, retired psychotherapist turned photographer, whose exhibition and book, Empower Her, features 54 portraits capturing the essence of female empowerment in Ireland. Four Louth women are among those highlighted in the collection, which was proudly exhibited at the ceremony. Read Next: The countdown is on: Louth Contemporary Music Society festival 'Echoes' returns to Dundalk This years charity partner was Dundalk Womens Aid. CEO Ann Larkin delivered a powerful message about the organisations work, reminding the audience that one in three women in Ireland have experienced psychological, physical and/or sexual abuse from their partner. Proceeds from the event supported this vital local service. Network Ireland is a progressive, dynamic organisation supporting the professional and personal development of women. With over 1,200 members, 17 Branches, and a strong nationwide presence, the group holds regular events, workshops, and networking opportunities that promote empowerment and leadership for women in business. They are always open to new members joining, who can avail of all the supports and benefits available. It doesnt matter if someone is an established businesswoman or just starting out on their entrepreneurial journey. To join Network Ireland, go to: www.networkireland.ie and become a member. The BBC has been ordered to pay former Louth TD Gerry Adams 100,000 euros (84,000) after he won a resounding libel victory over the broadcaster. Mr Adams took the BBC to court over an episode of its Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, which he said defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement. A jury at the High Court in Dublin found in his favour on Friday after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. It also found the BBCs actions were not in good faith and the corporation had not acted in a fair and reasonable way. Mr Adams legal team said the verdict of the jury was a full vindication for their client while the BBC said it was disappointed with the outcome. Mr Donaldson was shot dead in Co Donegal in 2006, months after admitting his role as a police and MI5 agent over 20 years. In the programme broadcast in September 2016, an anonymous source given the pseudonym Martin claimed the shooting was sanctioned by the political and military leadership of the IRA and that Mr Adams gave the final say. In 2009, the dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed responsibility for the killing and a Garda investigation into the matter remains ongoing. Mr Adams said the allegation was a grievous smear while the BBC has described the legal action as a cynical attempt to launder his reputation. The high-profile republican sought damages of at least 200,000 euro (168,000) from the BBC. However, the British public service broadcaster had argued it would be a cruel joke to award the former Sinn Fein president any damages. It had argued the allegation was corroborated by five other sources and that Mr Adams had a reputation of being a member of the IRA. After six hours and 49 minutes of deliberations in total, the jury awarded the plaintiff 100,000 euro which falls within the medium range for defamation. Speaking outside court, Mr Adams said taking this case was about putting manners on the British Broadcasting Corporation. He told reporters: I know many, many journalists. I like to think that I get on well with the most of them, and I wish you well, and I would uphold your right to do your job. But the British Broadcasting Corporation upholds the ethos of the British state in Ireland, and in my view its out of sync in many, many fronts with the Good Friday Agreement. It hasnt caught on to where we are on this island as part of the process, the continuing process, of building peace and justice, and harmony, and, hopefully, in the time ahead, unity. He said there is an onus on everyone, including himself, to deal with these legacy issues. He said: Im very mindful of the Donaldson family in the course of this long trial, and indeed of the victims families who have had to watch all of this. I want to say that the Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan should meet the family of Denis Donaldson as quickly as possible, and that theres an onus on both governments and everyone else, and I include myself in this, to try and deal with these legacy issues as best that we can. His solicitor Paul Tweed said Mr Adams was very pleased with this resounding verdict, adding the award of damages speaks for itself. Johnsons Solicitors, who acted for Mr Adams, said: The outcome today has provided a full vindication for our client, Mr Adams. Speaking outside court, Adam Smyth, director of BBC Northern Ireland, said: We are disappointed by this verdict. We believe we supplied extensive evidence to the court of the careful editorial processes and journalistic diligence applied to this programme, and to the accompanying online article. Moreover, it was accepted by the court and conceded by Gerry Adams legal team that the Spotlight broadcast and publication were of the highest public interest. We didnt want to come to court but it was important that we defend our journalism and we stand by that decision. He added: Our past is difficult terrain for any jury and we thank them for their diligence and careful consideration of the issues in this case. The implications of their decision, though, are profound. As our legal team made clear, if the BBCs case cannot be won under existing Irish defamation law, it is hard to see how anyones could, and they warned how todays decision would hinder freedom of expression. Of course, a case of this importance, duration and complexity involves significant expense. In common with other media organisations, the BBC has insurance and makes financial provision for ongoing and anticipated legal claims. BBC Spotlight reporter Jennifer OLeary said she had nothing to hide, only sources to protect. Read Next: Samaritans seeking new volunteers in Louth She also thanked the BBC and its legal team for defending journalism. Ms OLeary said: Im a big believer in trying your best in life and going about your business with integrity, and I want to pay a particular tribute to our witnesses in court, senator Michael McDowell, Trevor Ringland, and in particular Ann Travers, who spoke so courageously. She said there were thousands of victims and survivors of the troubles in the UK and Ireland, adding: Those people carry the burden of their grief and trauma with incredible dignity and courage, and they are the people I am thinking of, I know my colleagues are also thinking of. I am thinking of all of them today. The BBC will have to pay costs but the amount has yet to be decided. Mr Smyth added the corporation will take some time to consider the implications of the ruling. Organisers of the Irish Life Dundalk office annual charity event, that took place last Friday have said they wish to say "thank you so much to anyone who walked, donated, or helped in anyway at our Dundalk Charity Walk Challenge", and that "with great support from all our staff we completed the challenge finishing on a total of 576km". Each year Irish Life staff elect two staff charities who will benefit from their fundraising efforts for that year, with Breast Cancer Ireland and Pieta House being this year's charities. The staff's efforts this year has seen them raise 2,015 so far, which will be doubled to 4,030, as the total amount donated is matched by Irish Life each year. Staff Charities, the fundraising committee made up of Irish Life & Canada Life Group staff that raises money on behalf of all staff, and who were behind this year's event, say that "it was a brilliant fun day here in Dundalk and we also had the Leinster Delaney and Flood Cups make an appearance on the day too." Below: Staff members taking part in the Irish Life walk on Friday morning money. Read also: Retro Cannonball coming to Louth next month It is still possible to support this year's event and make a donation, to help support Pieta House and Brest Cancer Ireland, with the staff at Irish Life saying they "greatly appreciate all donations" To make a donation to this year's charities, see the GoFundMe page here. Below: The second batch of Irish Life walkers on Friday morning. Maynooth University (MU) and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) officially launched the MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy at the Louth institute earlier today. The Regional Graduate Academy (RGA) will offer structured PhD programmes supervised by DkIT staff, with doctoral students jointly registered at both institutions and receiving their degree from Maynooth University. PhD programmes are currently approved in six disciplinary areas; Computer Science, Biology, Environmental Science, Electronic Engineering (Renewables), Applied Social Sciences and Media Studies. This event, celebrates the first major milestone in the strategic collaboration between Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) and Maynooth University (MU), following their Letter of Intent signed in June 2024. This strategic engagement between MU and DkIT is a collaborative effort to enhance higher education in the region to explore new ways to collaborate, focusing on innovative research and academic initiatives that benefit students, staff and the wider community. Supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Technological Sector Advancement Fund (TSAF), DkIT and MU are actively exploring and developing the nature, scope and scale of a strategic engagement between the two institutions. Speaking at the launch event, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless T.D. said: A clear example of regional ambition in action, it is an honour to launch the Maynooth University and Dundalk Institute of Technology Regional Graduate Academy. Delivering on DkITs strategic goal to continue provision of Level 10 education in the region, the Academy marks a new and significant phase of collaboration between two strong institutions. "This partnership is to be commended. It reflects a shared commitment to building research capacity, strengthening ties with enterprise, and supporting the development of local communities, while enhancing the national research and innovation ecosystem. Read also: Pilot health check for lung cancer being brought to high-risk people in Louth "I welcome that this initiative has been supported by my Department through the HEA and the Technological Sector Advancement Fund. It demonstrates what can be achieved when we invest in talent, partnership, and regional development. Welcoming the announcement, Professor Eeva Leinonen, President of Maynooth University (MU), said: The MUDkIT Regional Graduate Academy represents a new kind of partnership one that moves beyond institutional boundaries to create something greater than the sum of its parts. "DkIT is a natural partner for Maynooth University, with complementary strengths and a shared commitment to regional impact and research excellence. Together, we are building a collaborative model of doctoral education that is rooted in place, shaped by purpose, and driven by ambition delivering real benefits for our students, our communities, and the broader research ecosystem. Dr Diarmuid OCallaghan, President of Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) added: We are delighted to welcome our colleagues from Maynooth University to DkIT to officially launch the MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy. Our first cohort of students are already making their marks on the research landscape. "This collaboration is a wonderful opportunity for each institution to showcase its individual strengths and explore together how we can strategically develop to serve our regions. Through our shared values, unique offerings and collective commitment to regional partnership and collaboration I have high aspirations for the future opportunities it will bring for our students, enterprise and everyone in the shared region. Dr Alan Wall, CEO of the Higher Education Authority welcomed the launch of the MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy: The HEA is committed to supporting the strategic development of higher education institutions in the context of their individual missions and strategic plans, and provision was made in the Technological Sector Advancement Fund (TSAF) for institutions to explore strategic collaborations that are aligned with national and regional policies and priorities. "It very encouraging to see the progress made by DkIT and Maynooth University on the Regional Graduate Academy, and this initiative is an important milestone in the strategic engagement of these higher education institutions. The MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy is a tangible example of how collaboration can enhance Irelands higher education and research system locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. The structured programmes that will be available in Computer Science, Biology, Environmental Science, Electronic Engineering (Renewables), Applied Social Sciences, and Media Studies will advance research and innovation in these disciplines and benefit students as well as the region. In addition to the establishment of the MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy, DkIT and MU are further developing collaborations in areas of mutual strategic benefit including Research and Innovation and Student Experience collaborative initiatives. Scoping out of the potential provision of MU awards to DkIT Level 8 and 9 programmes is also being carried out. The first 16 postgraduate students in the MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy are engaged in a range of exciting projects, many of which many involve close collaboration with Industry partners. At the launch today, PhD students, Stephanie Woods, Shubhendu Madhavrao and Provia Kadusabe spoke about their research in the areas of environmental education for empowerment, the role of LINGO proteins and BK channels in tremor, and the application of Natural Language Processing (NLP) for analysing clinical notes and detecting medical errors. Presenting her research, Stephanie Woods a PhD student in the MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy said: "I began my journey at DkIT as a research assistant on the H2O Heroes environmental education programme, led by Dr. Caroline Gilleran Stephens and Dr. Suzanne Linnane at the Centre for Freshwater and Environmental Studies (CFES). "The centre was a vibrant research environment that exposed me to a range of perspectives. Through my work on H2O Heroes, I witnessed first-hand the positive impact environmental education was having on young people in Ireland. "This experience inspired me to pursue my own research into environmental education and its potential to alleviate eco-anxiety among Irish youth. I am delighted to be part of the first cohort of the MU-DkIT Regional Graduate Academy to complete my PhD project, which bridges CFES and the Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Early Years at DkIT. "Supported by my supervisors Dr Suzanne Linnane, Dr Aine McHugh, and Dr Caroline Gilleran Stephens, our goal is to empower young people to take meaningful action in response to the climate crisis." A Regional impact assessment of the effects of the strategic engagement of MU and DkIT on the shared region is currently ongoing. One of the overarching priorities of this strategic collaboration is to ensure high quality and well recognised higher education and research in the region, providing opportunities for local students, to retain graduate talent in the region, and thus supporting the local economy and community. Louth County Council has given the go ahead for an extension of duration of planning permission, granted in 2019, and again in 2020 following an appeal to An Bord Pleanala, for 51 homes in Castlebellingham, and which was subsequently approved for 18 of the homes to be replaced by 40 apartments/duplex units in 2021. O'Hanlon & Farrell Contracts Limited applied this in April to the local authority for the extension of duration of the planning permission. Peadar McCaghey was granted planning permission in 2019 for the development at the Dublin Road (R132), Castlebellingham, which comprised 51 dwellings in terraced, semi-detached and detached format and ranging in height from one-two storeys. The decision was appealed in 2019 by Verona Faulkner, with An Bord Pleanala granting planning permission with revised conditions in 2020. In 2021 Mr McCaghey was granted planning permission for the replacement of 18 of the two storey semi-detached and terraced dwellings, with 40 dwellings in apartment/ duplex form accommodated in five, three storey buildings, each consisting of four ground floor apartments and four duplex dwellings over first/second floor levels. Read also: Louth company wins coveted Euro Toques Award The 2021 application also provided for consequential alterations to the site layout plan including public and communal open spaces, bin storage, car parking and associated site development works. Bellingham Manor Limited applied to Louth County Council at the beginning of February this year, for an extension of duration for the planning permission granted to Mr McCaghey. Louth County Council made the decision to refuse the extension of duration on 20 March. Louth County Council gave the go ahead for the extension of duration on 22 May, subject to two planning conditions. I was born and raised as a Catholic . Being raised as one, I miss the Holy Week traditions, celebrations and preparations I grew up with. The modernized, social media centered culture has made us forgot the Filipino Holy Week Traditions. Instead of learning or practicing the culture, we have started to adopt the Western ways, like doing staycations or out-of-town or out-of-the-country trips. I cant blame anyone this is the only longest break from the long work year to spend alone, with family, relatives or friends. But still, once a year, to relive the Filipino culture wouldnt hurt anyone. When I was a little bit younger, I remember that Holy Week starts at Palm Sunday, the day they said Jesus came to Jerusalem and was welcomed by people waving their palm leaves or covering the ground where he will walk on with the palm leaves.. Palm Sunday is celebrated with the Priests blessing the palm leaves or Palaspas.Lately, I barely see anyone with a Palaspas on Palm Sunday, heck I hardly notice Palm Sunday passed not a door or a person I passed by had one. Following the Palm Sunday is Holy Monday where the Pabasa/ Pasyon is held. Devotees sing or chant the book of the Passion of Jesus Christ instead of reading it. It has been ages since I heard a trumpet speaker echoing in the neighborhood singing the Pabasa. Where have they gone? Although I saw on TV recently that some people from some place sings the Pabasa the modern way, to the tune of a popstar song. Whichever works, whichever catches the attention of the media? Sigh. I used to join the Pabasa with the community I grew up with. We do this by shifts, by cluster. We never stop until we finish the book that leads us to until Holy Thursday, the day when all the statues of saints are covered in black cloth. I dont know why it was done some said they do it to signify that Christianity was nowhere that time some said they do it so that people will only focus on Jesus. Some say this is because Christ has died and there was no God or religion. I still do not understand. On Holy Wednesday we also do the Visita Iglesia where devotees visits 7 different churches to pray or do the station of the cross. Or some do the Alay Lakad or Pilgrimage to a religious place or destination mostly to church. Visita Iglesia is a part of Alay Lakad. Grotto in Bulacan and the Lourdes in Antipolo was the most popular places to visit during those times. I dont know where lately? LaBoracay? Baler? Baguio? Tagaytay? LaUnion? On Good Friday is when we attend the Senakulo or the re-enactment of the Seven Last Words or Syete Palabras in church that starts at 12 noon upto 3pm the time of Jesus Christ death. On Black Saturday is the baptism of fire and water where everyone brings a jug or any container with water and candles and will be blessed by the priest. It was something to do with drought and darkness and anyone who has a blessed water will not go thirsty and those who got the candles will have light in their lives. This ceremony begins at 8PM and ends at 10PM on Saturday. That leads to the Salubong on Easter Sunday at 4AM where Jesus and Mary meets up because this is the day when Jesus came back to life. The most joyous day in Christianity! But then Easter Sunday has become too commercialized now, we dont usually do Easter Egg Hunting here in the Philippines, now we do at malls. I have witnessed all these celebrations and the past years since I became an adult I miss them all. The celebrations are small and some are just done on TV now. Today not even the television covered or mentioned Palm Sunday! I guess the Philippines is too Westernized now or maybe most turned agnostic or turned to another religion because of the Church leaders who instead of inspiring the people by being a good example they make the people bitter about the Catholic Church because of their ways. I wish there is still a chance that the Filipino Holy Week traditions will somehow make it back in the mainstream again sometime soon so as to protect and preserve the rich Philippine culture and heritage. How about you? Have you experienced these traditions before? If non-Catholic would you still want these Holy Week traditions done in the Philippines? News / Local by Staff reporter Air Zimbabwe has announced plans to sell two Boeing 777-200ER passenger aircraft it acquired from Malaysia a few years ago, as the national carrier continues to battle longstanding financial difficulties. The airline's challenges have been attributed largely to years of alleged mismanagement, corruption, and political interference.The government notice (1075 of 2025) invited reputable and eligible international bidders registered with the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) to participate in the disposal of the two planes. The sale will be conducted on an "as is" basis at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, with a deadline for submissions set for July 25, 2025, at 10:00 am.Air Zimbabwe's current fleet struggles follow an earlier initiative in June 2017, when Zimbabwe Airways was launched with the aim of revitalizing the national carrier's fleet and expanding its routes. Zimbabwe Airways leased four Boeing 777-200 aircraft from Malaysia Airlines on long-term leases as part of that effort. However, the national carrier's financial woes persisted, forcing it to consider asset sales.At independence, Air Zimbabwe inherited a well-maintained fleet of 15 aircraft, including five Boeing 720s, three Viscount 700s, and seven Hawker Siddeley HS 748s, making it one of the top regional airlines. However, decades of financial mismanagement and political meddling have eroded this once-promising status, turning the airline into a cautionary tale.The airline has struggled with a foreign debt exceeding US$30 million and has been unable to secure a foreign strategic partner despite multiple efforts. In October 2018, Air Zimbabwe was placed under reconstruction to enable debt clearance and operational turnaround, but progress has been slow and fraught with difficulties.Adding to the airline's troubles is a notorious scandal involving three MA60 aircraft purchased from China that have reportedly "vanished into thin air." In July 2019, former Auditor General Mildred Chiri confirmed there was no paper trail or documentation - no lease agreements or sale contracts - to account for the whereabouts or status of these planes, which were acquired for US$48 million between 2005 and 2006.In a further indication of its financial struggles, last year Air Zimbabwe reportedly leased out one of its two long-haul Boeing 767 aircraft to Mont Gabaon Airlines of the Democratic Republic of Congo.As Air Zimbabwe moves to offload the two Boeing 777-200ER planes, questions remain over the future viability of the national carrier, which once stood as a symbol of Zimbabwe's aviation ambitions but now grapples with survival amid mounting debts and operational challenges. For several years, a bus organised by Kerry and Cork independent TDs has been heading to the North once or twice a month, bringing patients from those counties to get cataract and hip operations in Belfast or Derry, procedures which are paid for or least partly paid for out of a cross-border healthcare fund. In Corks Victoria/South Infirmary University Hospital last year, a theatre opened to carry out cataract operations, and over 1,800 procedures were carried out there during 2024, a number which is expected to be equalled this year. HSE South West regional executive officer Andy Phillips said: I would want people needing an operation to have that as close to their home as possible, so within Cork or Kerry and at a hospital thats close to them, that provides appropriate services. He is excited about new techniques, which mean that operations can be done more quickly, allowing the patient to return home within days of a procedure. If you take hip operations, for example, now hip operations can be done with a 24-hour length of staying, with new techniques, so with enhanced recovery after surgery. I would like to see maybe seven or eight people on a hip list per day rather than two or three or four, which we might do currently. So there are new techniques, new ways of doing things, standardised ways that will mean we can treat people in less time, and I want them treated in Cork and Kerry rather than feeling they have to go elsewhere, and I want them treated in the shortest time as we can. Slaintecare commits the HSE to seeing people within 10 weeks for an outpatient appointment. I want people to be seen rapidly the helpful thing for us, of course, is the Government has invested in the surgical hub at CUH, and is investing in the elective hospital at Dr Stephens, which will increase our operating capacity enormously. And then were also looking to invest in additional theatres in the Mercy Hospital, for example. Andy Phillips, Regional Chief Executive for HSE South West, at HSE South West Health Region Headquarters, Cork Business and Technology Park, Caha House, Model Farm Rd, Picture: Eddie O'Hare So were always looking to get investment to invest in new theatres across the patch. Another route to explore is to get existing theatres to be operational more of the time, he said. We do have theatre capacity, and I want those theatres to be working at the weekends as well as during the day. I want them to be working into the evenings. And I really want people to get their operations as quickly as they possibly can, as close to home as its safe to do so. He acknowledges that a better plan is needed to reduce the numbers travelling for cataract operations. Theyre a relatively simple operation, he says. They can be done relatively quickly. When informed of a patient in her 90s who had to travel to the North for a cataract operation, he seems to wince. So thats the incentive that I have, the motivation that I have, hearing those stories that makes me want our service to do much better. So I know that Ive got a lot of work to do, and I really will work very hard, particularly on the cataract operations and the hips. Cork families should submit their school transport payments or medical card detail in advance of the June 6 deadline as late submissions might result in children losing their place on a school bus, Cork East Fianna Fail TD James OConnor has said. The Fianna Fail Transport spokesperson said that parents in areas such as Ladysbridge, Ballymacoda, Killeagh, Mogeely, Castlemartyr and Glenville across east Cork were becoming anxious about securing seats for their children on the school bus for the coming academic year. Mr OConnor described the now annual scramble for school transport as completely unacceptable. I have been in constant contact with the Department of Education to ensure there are adequate services in place this September, he said. Every child who needs access to school transport should have itespecially in rural areas where we simply do not have the luxury of public transport infrastructure. He also renewed his call for temporary pilot schemes, such as the one serving Kilcredan National School, to be made permanent from this September and said the uncertainty facing rural communities each year could be avoided with a stronger long-term commitment from the State. A school bus isnt a luxury. Its a lifeline. Parents shouldnt have to go through a bureaucratic dance every September, pleading for what should be a guaranteed service. These schemes must be made permanent to reflect the reality of life in rural Ireland, he said. Gardai on patrol in the early hours of the morning were alerted to a man crossing Shandon pedestrian bridge in Cork with a wheelie bin containing a stolen keg of beer and now the culprit has been jailed for nine months. That sentence was imposed by Judge Mary Dorgan on 53-year-old Martin Hurley, who pleaded guilty to that and other crimes. The keg of beer in the wheelie bin had been stolen from the Rising Sun premises on Cornmarket Street and Martin Hurley admitted handling this stolen property at Shandon Bridge, which spans from Kyrls Quay, near the Bridewell Garda Station, to Popes Quay. The incident was detected at 2am on August 21, 2024. Martin Hurley, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to a number of offences: That on February 2, 2024, he went into Spitjack on Washington St at around 6am and stole bottles of alcohol valued 25; that on August 7, 2024, he was aggressive and abusive to a woman at Washington St; that on August 21, 2024, he was caught handling stolen property, namely the keg of beer. And that on October 6, 2024, at Fine Wines, Blackpool, he stole alcohol valued 13. The sentence of nine months was backdated to October 2024 as he has been in custody since then. The same defendant is before Cork Circuit Criminal Court where sentencing in a burglary case against him was adjourned until November 5. Defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said in Cork District Court that the accused had been engaging in rehabilitation but relapsed and addiction difficulties ran deep. He fell into addictions early in life. Now, at 53, alcohol addiction is his main fall down. His family home was boarded up when he was in prison. So he was back on the streets. There is a huge level of co-operation from him and he admitted all of these, Mr Kelleher added. News / Local by Staff reporter A South African court last week became the stage for a dramatic and tense confrontation as Zimbabwean activist Nyokayemabhunu, also known as Wellington Masiiwa, fought extradition back to Zimbabwe. The case, which has drawn wide attention, highlights the fraught political relations spilling over national borders.Masiiwa has been held in custody in South Africa since April 13 on charges of violating immigration laws, specifically contravening Section 49(1) of the Immigration Act for being in the country without a valid visa or permit. His supporters claim the charges are a pretext in what they describe as a politically motivated extradition attempt by the Zimbabwean government.Last Thursday and Friday, Masiiwa appeared before the Randburg magistrates' court where the prosecution and defence presented spirited arguments. After hearing submissions, the magistrate postponed judgment on the bail application until June 10.However, the court proceedings themselves were overshadowed by a violent and chaotic protest outside the courtroom. Hundreds of Zimbabwean nationals, voicing strong support for Masiiwa, clashed with Interpol officers who had been present to assist with the extradition process. Protesters hurled shoes and insults, chanting anti-Zanu-PF slogans, forcing uniformed Interpol officers to retreat amid the chaos. South African police struggled to contain the crowd as tensions escalated.One protester captured on video shouted, "We know who sent them! Interpol is just a hit squad now!" This incident has sparked outrage among civic society groups and activists who accuse Interpol of colluding with the Zimbabwean regime. Critics argue that the law enforcement agency is being used as a tool to suppress dissent.South African-based Zimbabwean activist Kudzai Saruwaka condemned the handling of the case, alleging political interference by Harare. Saruwaka claimed Zimbabwe's intelligence operatives are covertly operating in Johannesburg, targeting activists and fabricating evidence to justify arrests and extraditions. "We are dealing with a regime that wants to eliminate anyone seen as a threat to the Mnangagwa family dynasty," Saruwaka said, warning that South African courts must resist becoming instruments in Zimbabwe's internal political conflicts.The Zimbabwean government's extradition request accuses Masiiwa of fraud related to a residential stand sale in 2014. During court proceedings, Zimbabwe's deputy prosecutor general Nelson Mutsonziwa assured the court that Masiiwa will not be charged with political offenses if extradited.As the political drama unfolds, all eyes are now on the June 10 hearing when the magistrate is expected to decide on Masiiwa's bail. The case has become a flashpoint, exposing the deep political rifts between activists and the Zimbabwean government, while raising concerns about the role of South African institutions in the region's contentious political landscape. The complex and consequential antitrust trial against Google and its search engine practices recently heard its closing arguments, and the tech giant is already planning to appeal. In a post made on X, Google confirmed it would file an appeal, explaining that the proposed solutions went too far and "would harm consumers." We will wait for the Courts opinion, Google wrote. And we still strongly believe the Courts original decision was wrong, and look forward to our eventual appeal. To challenge Google's dominance of the search engine market, the Department of Justice took on the tech giant by filing a lawsuit back in 2020. The monumental antitrust case has steadily evolved over the years, with the DOJ proposing remedies like Google opening up its search engine tech to licensing, prohibiting agreements with device makers like Apple and Samsung to ensure Google was the default search engine and forcing the sale of the Chrome browser and the open-source Chromium project. According to Google, the Department of Justice's proposed actions would open consumers up to "very real privacy issues," leave the government in charge of user data and help "well-funded competitors." Instead, Google offered to loosen its agreements to allow other search engines on devices and create an oversight committee to monitor the company's activities. Since then, the federal judge presiding over the case, Amit Mehta of the US District Court for the District of Columbia, ruled in August 2024 that Google had an illegal monopoly of the search engine market. The judge agreed with the DOJ that Google owning the Chrome browser gives it an unfair advantage since it could use its search engine advantage to drive more traffic and generate more revenue for the company. The end result of this antitrust trial could have serious implications for the future of AI, which is closely tied to the search engine market. According to Google, this ruling could allow other companies with AI chatbots to step in and dominate the search engine market instead. During the trial, Nick Turley, an OpenAI executive, testified that the company would be interested in buying Chrome if Google was forced to sell it. We're expecting a ton of AAA and indie game announcements during Summer Game Fest 2025, but the Southeast Asian Games Showcase will highlight the best games coming out of the region. The event will offer some exclusive reveals, new trailers and update announcements on more than 45 titles from Southeast Asian game developers. You can catch all the news through the YouTube livestream, which will start Saturday, June 7 at 3PM ET. The showcase teased some updates with Polychroma Games' Until Then, a narrative adventure game set in a fictional Filipino city, Bit Egg's Lost & Found Co., a quirky hidden object game, and kopiforge's SEDAP! A Culinary Adventure that's equal parts co-op cooking and combat. Right before the Southeast Asian Games Showcase, you'll be able to catch the Latin American Games Showcase at 2PM ET and the Women-Led Games Showcase at 1PM ET, both on June 7. For the rest of the Summer Game Fest 2025, tune into Engadget's coverage, where we'll have in-person reports on some of the biggest gaming announcements expected during the event. NASA's next mission will be to find a new agency leader, following a dramatic reversal from President Donald Trump. In a post made on Truth Social, the president withdrew his nomination of Jared Isaacman as the head of NASA. As first reported by Semafor, the pullback comes just a few days before Isaacman was due in front of the US Senate for a confirmation vote. Trump detailed in the post that he will soon announce another nominee who is more aligned with the president's mission and will "put America First in Space." Liz Huston, a White House spokesperson, said in a statement that it was "essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trumps America First agenda." According to The New York Times, unnamed sources attribute the withdrawal to Isaacman's previous donations to "prominent Democrats." Besides his role as CEO of payment processing company Shift4, Isaacman has been venturing into the world of commercial space travel. The billionaire businessman has been to space twice now, even serving as the mission commander of the Polaris Dawn mission that was operated by SpaceX and saw the first commercial spacewalk. Isaacman was known as a close ally of Elon Musk, who is the CEO of SpaceX and recently left his White House role as an adviser to the president. Once upon a time in America back when science wasnt a partisan issue and Dr. Fauci was just your favorite immunologist the United States proudly wore the crown of global scientific supremacy. It was the place where international talent converged, Nobel dreams were stitched together from the scraps of coffee-stained grant proposals, and the future was built with pipettes, lasers, and immigrant genius. But now? Now we have a president who thinks a Bunsen burner is a foreign energy source and who suspects quantum entanglement is a Deep State dating app. Welcome to Trumps America, where scientific research is optional, international students are suspect, and if your last name doesnt rhyme with Musk, you can forget about funding. From Brain Gain to Brain Drain With a Side of Xenophobia In Bangalore, India a city brimming with scientific promise and home to institutions that feed top U.S. labs something weird is happening: nobodys boarding that flight to JFK anymore. Once upon a time, a Ph.D. in molecular biology practically came with a Delta ticket to Boston Logan. Now? Austria is suddenly hot. Japan is in vogue. The U.S. is about as attractive as a wet lab rat. Why? Because, thanks to Trumps border tantrums and research budget chainsaw, even the brightest minds are saying, Screw it, Ill go to Vienna and eat strudel while curing cancer. And this isnt just about visas or hurt feelings. The Trump administration a group so scientifically literate they think CRISPR is a breakfast cereal has decided that the best way to secure Americas future is by gutting the very research that made America great in the first place. Funding? What Funding? In the past year alone, $3 billion in research grants to Harvard were terminated or paused. Not $3 million billion, with a B, as in Bye-bye, breakthroughs. Johns Hopkins, a pillar of scientific inquiry and COVID data sanity, laid off more than 2,000 people after losing $800 million in funding. Meanwhile, the National Science Foundation has been handing out new grants at a pace that makes molasses look like a speed skater. But hey, who needs medical research or quantum physics when youve got Truth Social and hydroxychloroquine? The Trump playbook is simple: If you cant spell it, dont fund it. If someone has a foreign-sounding name, deport them. If a research study doesnt end in And thats why Trump is the greatest president, cancel the grant. American Labs Are Now Ghost Towns with Microscopes Inside Americas once-buzzing research institutions, the silence is deafening. Hallways that once echoed with collaborative debates about string theory or CRISPR now sound like empty malls in rural Ohio except sadder, because theres no Orange Julius. Scientists are leaving. Students are staying away. International conferences are being canceled. Northwestern used to be thrilled when a German physicist dropped by for a keynote. Now, that same physicist is afraid to come back because German tourists are being detained at U.S. borders. Seriously. That happened. Lets pause for a moment and appreciate the insanity of that. Germany a NATO ally, birthplace of Einstein, and probably the only country left that still thinks were cool is now warning its citizens to stay the hell away from America, because we might confuse a physics professor with a terrorist. Imagine canceling a science lecture because youre worried your keynote speaker might get cavity-searched at customs. But sure, lets keep pretending this is about national security and not the fact that the average Trump appointee thinks biotechnology is an Apple Watch. Science, the Endless Frontier Now Featuring Landmines and Visa Denials In 1945, Vannevar Bush (no relation to the Texas dynasty, thank God) wrote a little postwar document called Science, the Endless Frontier. It argued radically, at the time that Americas prosperity depended on opening the doors wide to the worlds best scientific talent. Wed benefit, even if some of those bright minds eventually left. Collaboration was currency. Openness was strength. That document essentially built the scientific America we now know the one that cured polio, invented the internet, mapped the human genome, and sent Buzz Aldrin to the moon. Trump has taken that document and used it to wipe down Mar-a-Lago pool furniture. Gone is the idea that research should be shared, that discoveries transcend borders, that a grad student from Bangalore might help unlock the mysteries of cancer in a Boston lab. Now its America First, which, in science terms, translates roughly to Everyone Else, Screw Off. The Hero Is Coming Down From the Pedestal One Ph.D. student in India diplomatically anonymous, because she still hopes to get into a U.S. lab (good luck!) called it like it is: It is sad to see that the hero is coming down from the pedestal. America was the aspirational Mecca for aspiring researchers. Now its the punchline. A place where politicians know more about UFOs than epidemiology and where entire research departments get ghosted by the government because someone once retweeted Greta Thunberg. This isnt just national embarrassment. This is national amputation. Because when you pull the plug on research, the effects are global. In areas like climate science, medical innovation, and quantum computing, America has long been the cornerstone of international progress. When that cornerstone crumbles, the whole damn structure starts to wobble. The scientists who once looked to the U.S. for leadership are now scrambling to pick up the slack. France is trying. Germany is trying. Austria, apparently, is now the prom queen of global science. But the truth is, no one can truly replace what America once was and still should be to the global scientific enterprise. The Magical Ingredient, Evaporated Dirk Brockmann, a physicist who once taught at Northwestern, described Americas research culture as having a magical ingredient. That ingredient? Risk-taking. Inspiration. Collaboration. Wild ideas and weirder experiments. Basically, the exact opposite of anything endorsed by the Trump administration. It was a culture that couldnt be replicated elsewhere until now, because the original recipe has been deleted, blocked, and banned by a team of bureaucrats who think peer review is a Marxist plot. Professor Brockmann canceled his keynote in the U.S. after his own country issued a warning about travel here. Thats right. Germany now considers a science conference in Chicago a risky venture. Whats next? Needing a visa to attend TED Talks? We used to export ideas. Now we export paranoia. Can Europe or China Fill the Gap? Maybe. Sort of. In patches. Europes been trying to step up. France rolled out the red carpet for American scientists post-2016. Austria is practically building a biotech Disneyland. China, for all its authoritarian baggage, has been pouring billions into research and gleefully hiring the brainpower were scaring away. But none of them have the whole package that America once offered: funding, freedom, infrastructure, scale, talent, vision, and the wild-eyed optimism of a country that once thought science could save the world. Now were just trying to save face. The Long-Term Cost: Innovation, GDP, and Global Relevance Lets talk money, since thats the only language some people understand. Science is a moneymaker. Innovation = GDP growth. Scientific dominance = technological dominance = military dominance = you dont get bossed around by countries who use AI to hack your elections. By scaring off scientists and defunding research, were not just torching our moral authority or our academic prestige. Were torching the future. That includes future medicines, future clean energy tech, future pandemic responses, and yes future Nobel Prizes. Whats the plan? Bet everything on Elon Musks tweets and pray that ChatGPT invents a vaccine? Closing the Door on Americas Own Children Its not just foreign students. American grad students and postdocs the ones still willing to suffer through 80-hour weeks in exchange for ramen and resume lines are being shown the door, too. With grants drying up and labs going dark, many are leaving science altogether. You cant pay rent with intellectual fulfillment. And you sure as hell cant keep a research lab running on vibes. Weve spent generations building a talent pipeline from elementary school STEM programs to university fellowships only to clog it with red tape, ICE raids, and budget freezes. The message is clear: If you want to do science, do it elsewhere. Welcome to Idiocracy: Lab Edition This isnt even policy. Its performance art. The Trump administrations cuts to science arent saving money theyre wasting it. Every unfinished experiment, every canceled conference, every research team disbanded means throwing away decades of investment. Its the lab-coat version of burning books. And like any great dystopian regime, theyve got a perfectly Orwellian PR line to go with it: Were just making sure American jobs go to Americans. As if a country built on immigrant innovation suddenly needs a wall around its whiteboards. Newsflash: Innovation doesnt carry a passport. And stupidity doesnt need a visa its already here. Conclusion: Make America Think Again The real tragedy isnt that the Trump administration has turned its back on science. Its that so many people shrugged and said, Eh, maybe science is overrated. But science isnt some elite luxury. Its the reason you have GPS, clean drinking water, the internet, and not-smallpox. Its the reason your kid survived that infection and your smartphone unlocks with your face. Its the reason this blog was written and the reason itll be archived in some cloud-based server next to seventeen thousand pictures of your dog. Americas greatness real greatness, not the merch-hat kind was built in its labs, not its rallies. And the longer we keep pretending that nationalism is a substitute for Nobel-worthy collaboration, the more we become the punchline of historys cruelest joke. So heres a radical thought: instead of banning students, slashing budgets, and alienating allies, how about we remember what made us great in the first place? More brains. Fewer bans. And maybe, just maybe, a president who knows the difference between a theory and a conspiracy. Whether you plan to retire at 55 or work until 75, one part of retirement planning you can't afford to ignore is long-term care. A leading expert on long-term care planning says waiting can cost you more than just money. "People are living longer, which is wonderful," says Matt McCann, a nationally recognized Long-Term Care Insurance specialist. "But longevity comes with challenges. The risk of needing care increases with age, and too many families are unpreparedemotionally, financially, and logistically." McCann points out that many Americans dismiss the need to plan, assuming long-term care won't be part of their futurebut the reality tells a different story. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than half of adults age 65 and older will need long-term care services. But McCann says that most don't realize how costlyor how personalthat need for extended care can be until it becomes too late. "You will either need extended care or you won't. How will living a long lifeand becoming physically and mentally frailimpact you and those you love?" Why Planning Early Pays Off McCann says the earlier you plan, the more control you'll have. You'll qualify for better coverage, lower premiums, and more policy options if you're still in good health. "Most people secure Long-Term Care Insurance between ages 47 and 67," McCann explains. "That's when premiums are more affordable and your health is more likely to qualify you for coverage." Early planning also means you avoid scrambling during a crisis. You won't have to sell assets or rely on your adult children to cover the costs. Quality Care Comes at a Price The cost of care continues to climb. According to an ongoing survey of long-term care costs by LTC News, the annual median cost in the U.S. for: Home health aide : Nearly $66,000 Assisted living (base costs before surcharges): Just over $58,000, with surcharges adding $2,000 or more on top of that Private nursing home room : More than $125,000 "Without a plan, those costs adversely impact your income and assets and create a family crisis for your adult children or spouse," McCann says. "It becomes more than just a financial problemit becomes a deeply personal crisis." More Than Money: The Emotional Impact on Your Spouse and Children While money matters, the emotional and physical burden on the family can be even greater. "Without a plan, caregiving often falls to a spouse or adult child who never planned to become a full-time caregiver," McCann says. "That changes relationships. It strains families. It's not fair to them." Spouses may be physically unable to provide care because of their age or their own health issues. Adult children often live far away, work full time, or are raising families of their own. McCann says the stress, guilt, and exhaustion can damage family dynamics for years. Long-Term Care Insurance changes that. It pays for quality, professional care at home or in a facility of your choice. It allows your loved ones to supervise your care , not provide it. It helps preserve your family's emotional well-being and roles . "It's not just about protecting your money," McCann says. "It's about protecting your relationships. You get care, and your family gets to be just thatyour family." Calculate Your Retirement SavingsThen Factor in Long-Term Care Before finalizing your retirement strategy, McCann says to consider this: How would long-term care costs impact your lifestyle and legacy? You might have enough saved for daily living, travel, and hobbiesbut even one year in a nursing home or multiple years of home care could wipe out your plan. Use the LTC News Cost of Care Calculator to project what long-term care could cost in the future where you live based on your zip code. Then ask: Would I need to sell investments or assets to pay for care? Could I afford care and still protect my spouse's lifestyle? What would be left for my children or grandchildren? Who would step in if I didn't have professional care? "You've worked a lifetime to build your future," McCann says. "Long-Term Care Insurance helps you keep it intact. It fills the gap so you don't have to choose between your care and your legacy." What Long-Term Care Insurance Offers A solid Long-Term Care Insurance policy provides: Tax-free benefits to pay for home care assisted living, or nursing home services Access to quality care in the setting you prefer Care coordination and support services Asset protection that preserves your retirement savings Peace of mind for you and your loved ones "It's not just insuranceLTC Insurance is a plan for a better future," McCann says. Contrary to common belief, coverage is often very affordableespecially if you buy it in your 40s or 50s. Many plans cost about the same as a monthly cell phone bill. How Much Does Long-Term Care Insurance Cost at My Age? Early Retirement? Even More Reason to Prepare If your goal is for early retirement, planning becomes even more urgent. McCann notes that you'll need to stretch your retirement assets for a much more extended periodand long-term care is not covered by health insurance or Medicare. Those future long-term care costs can quickly drain your assets, reducing your retirement income and lifestyle. Long-Term Care Insurance helps fill that gap with guaranteed tax-free benefits to pay for the quality extended care you deserve without creating a family crisis and burden. Some policieslike hybrid long-term care plans that combine life insurance or annuitiesoffer flexible funding options, cash value, or death benefits if extended care isn't needed. "For early retirees, long-term care planning is not optionalit's essential," McCann says. "Long-Term Care Insurance protects your lifestyle now and ensures your care options later." Don't Wait for a Health Crisis "Planning for long-term care isn't about fearit's about freedom," McCann says. "Freedom to choose your care. Freedom from burdening your family. Freedom to protect what you've built." Starting now means better coverage, more flexibility, and less stress down the road. Your Next Steps Bottom line: Whether you're retiring at 55 or 75, long-term care planning should start today. You can't prevent agingbut you can prepare for it. Get Professional Planning Help Now Matt McCann, CLTC, is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, representing top-rated insurance companies. Through an innovative, no-pressure process, McCann allows clients to consult by phone while viewing his computer screen ensuring a simple, convenient, and transparent experience. You can get free and accurate quotes from all the top companies plus professional recommendations by visiting Free and Accurate LTC Insurance Quotes. Media Availability Matt McCann is available for radio, TV, and podcast interviews. He also speaks to groups and organizations worldwide about aging, caregiving, health, and long-term care issues. Contact Matt McCann for interview opportunities or speaking engagements. Sunday, June 1, 2025 Something struck me as odd a few weeks ago when I was going through immigration at the airport in Accra, Ghanas capital city. I spoke Twi (the major Ghanaian dialect) with the passport control officer who inspected my travel documents. I knew right away that he was from one of the countrys minority tribes because my Twi was more fluent than his. Our skins were equally dark. Nothing could have suggested to him therefore that I was a non-Ghanaian. And yet, when I handed him my passport, he asked whether I had a visa to enter Ghana. I did. He leafed through the passport and found the page with the visa. After satisfying himself that I was properly authorized, he allowed me to proceed to customs control. I was born and raised in Ghana. The majority of my siblings and their families still live there. Some of them occupy the family house in the small village of Boadua where we grew up. But I became a naturalized U.S. citizen nearly three decades ago, which is why I was traveling with my American passport that revealed my foreign identity to the immigration officer. Because of the close family ties that I still have to Ghana, I have made numerous visits to the country over the last three decades. Each time I have traveled there, I have had to apply for a visa, and as many times as I have gone through the process, I should be used to it by now. But it always feels quite strange having to obtain authorization to enter the country that I grew up in and Im still very much a part of. Every modern state has requirements that foreign nationals must meet before they can enter its sovereign territory. If I were ever detected trying to enter Ghana illegally, I would, without a doubt, be detained and later deported back to America. That would look and feel extremely weird, but the rules are the rules. America may be a nation of immigrants, but it is a sovereign state nonetheless, and should be entitled, like any other, to enforce its laws of entry. Quite unfortunately, during the last decade or so, there have been some people on the extreme left of the Democratic Party who have called for de-criminalization of the U.S. southern border. Of the hundreds of thousands of migrants who have come to the border in that period, some were fleeing from various kinds of persecution in their home countries. Many of those people had legitimate asylum claims. However, the overwhelming majority of the rest were people from South America, Africa, Asia and other poorer parts of the world who were seeking better economic opportunities. By insisting on keeping the borders open for everyone, those well-meaning liberals have instead caused them to be shut completely. The result is that there are migrants whose lives will be in great peril in their countries of origin but are being sent back there anyway. Because I grew up in extreme poverty in Ghana, I always see myself in the Africans, and others, who make those perilous journeys to our southern border. I have a great deal of sympathy for them. If I were in their shoes, I would almost certainly make the same attempt. But that does not negate the fact that the unregulated entry of hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world places a huge burden on the residents of this country, particularly those in the border states. African immigrants like me who spent their early years in villages and small towns on the continent but now live in places like the U.S. and Western Europe should be quite familiar with this feeling. The poverty that I escaped in Boadua when I left as a young man to study abroad still exists, and is as crushing as ever. Whenever I return to the village nowadays, there is an endless line of people who come to see me for financial assistance. They include extended family members, childhood friends, and others who I have no prior relationships with. Everyone assumes that my pockets are full of dollars. I try to help as many of them as I can since I fully appreciate the situation they are in. But I always know that there is a limit to what I can do. I therefore use my judgment to channel my meager resources to those who have the most critical needs. Liberals frequently argue that America has a continent-size landmass and hence the space to absorb a lot more people than we seem willing to let in. They also say that our enormous wealth should allow us to admit and provide shelter and comfort to more of those desperate people who are fleeing from economic and other forms of hardship. Those are noble sentiments. But they are unrealistic. Those views demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the immigration problem. Given the chance, nearly everyone everywhere in the underdeveloped world would come to America. That is the reality. Admitting the thousands in each of the many caravans that approached the border in the last few years wouldnt end the story. Instead, it would signal that the gates are open, and that would encourage many more thousands to come. The entire system would be overwhelmed in short order. To me, the call for America to keep its borders open and absorb the constant stream of people trying to cross is akin to someone attempting to drain the Pacific Ocean into the basin of Lake Michigan. That is physically impossible. It may be a Great Lake, but its basin has nowhere near the capacity required to hold all that water from a giant ocean like the Pacific. For the same reason, America has to make choices similar to the ones that I am forced to make when I am in my village in Ghana. Having said all of that, a heavy dose of realism is required on the part of those on the extreme right of the Republican Party who demand that we deport everyone in the country who came here illegally. It is practically impossible to remove all of the eleven million or so undocumented immigrants, many of whom have lived and worked in America for long periods of time. Most of them have children, young and adult, who are American citizens. And the truth is, that kind of mass deportation would also be extremely unwise. Many of our important industries, such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality, couldnt function without the crucial labor that these hardworking immigrants have supplied for decades. The economic damage to our nation from such a mass expulsion would be incalculable. Right-wing Republicans must also show a bit more compassion toward immigrants who are here for more than economic reasons. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court granted permission to the Trump administration to revoke the temporary legal status of over 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Most of those people, who are now subject to deportation, had been allowed to remain in the U.S. legally for two years by the Biden administration due to the extreme violence and widespread political oppression in their home countries. It is quite likely that the majority of them are currently holding jobs and contributing to our economy. Can any of us say in good conscience that we are so overburdened by their presence that we have to deport, for instance, the Haitians, to the Hobbesian nightmare that their country is now? Ultimately, the most durable solution to the immigration problem is for the rich world to find effective ways to help promote socio-economic development in poorer nations. By cutting foreign aid, we are doing the exact opposite. It will never be possible for us here in America to insulate ourselves from the instability that mass poverty elsewhere generates. If people are desperate enough, they will find ways to scale even the most impregnable of barriers. Just as the Democratic left shouldnt try to defy the laws of physics, people on the Republican right have to know that they cannot disobey the laws of nature either. Professionals working on electricity infrastructure projects now have a new gold standard to follow, as leading industry bodies unveil a landmark Code of Practice for land rights. The move is aimed at improving standards in securing land rights for electricity infrastructure, with a focus on ensuring that all parties affected by infrastructure projects - such as farmers - are treated fairly. The Code of Practice has received formal backing from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV). Electricity infrastructure development often requires access to or rights over agricultural and other rural land. Such actions can impact landowners, tenants, and rural businesses, and the new guidance aims to ensure these interests are properly recognised and represented throughout the process. Energy Minister Michael Shanks endorsed the code, highlighting its role in facilitating Britains transition to clean energy. We want landowners hosting vital electricity network infrastructure to be partners in this," Mr Shanks said. "Thats why we are endorsing the Code of Practice which sets out best practice advice for those who install or operate electricity infrastructure and those who host it. Led by the CAAV, the code has been developed in collaboration with a working group comprising electricity licence holders, landowner representatives, and professional membership organisations. It is intended to guide surveyors and advisers in delivering vital energy infrastructure while maintaining trust and professionalism in their dealings with landowners. Rebecca Collins of the CAAV, who chaired the working group behind the guidance, said poor practice can lead to delay, cost and confrontation. She said: We have worked hard to prepare this guidance to support all professionals, whether in delivering projects or advising landowners. "The more that the issues are handled properly and professionally by all, each recognising the interests of the other, the more this important work can proceed effectively." News / Local by Staff reporter Observers have criticized Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa for speaking with a "forked tongue" following his recent remarks alleging that the late former President Robert Mugabe was removed from power because he sought to establish a family dynasty.Mugabe was ousted in a military coup in November 2017 and succeeded by his former ally Emmerson Mnangagwa. At the time, the then 93-year-old leader faced accusations of surrounding himself with alleged criminals and attempting to consolidate power within his family.Speaking at a press conference last Tuesday, Mutsvangwa claimed that Mugabe "had turned his house and his household into a courthouse of intrigue against the constitution of Zimbabwe... turning it into a family dynasty, that's the antithesis of the revolution."He added that any president who "goes haywire" risks being removed, implicitly justifying Mugabe's removal.However, political observers argue that Mutsvangwa's statements now hang over Mnangagwa himself like a sword of Damocles and suggest his comments may be a veiled attack on the current leader.Political analyst Reuben Mbofana dismissed claims of a Mugabe dynasty, stating, "There was not a point at all whereby Mugabe anointed [former first lady] Grace Mugabe to be his successor. It was just an assumption that he was going to." Mbofana further noted that before the coup, Mugabe was rumored to have favored former Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi as successor, not his family.Mbofana also challenged the notion of a Mugabe family dynasty, saying, "What dynasty? Mugabe's children were nowhere near power. They were busy just getting drunk and buying expensive whiskeys in South Africa and Zimbabwe."In stark contrast, Mbofana argued that Mnangagwa has actively involved his family in governance. "His son David is a deputy finance minister, his nephew Tongai is a deputy minister of tourism and hospitality, and his wife Auxillia is now in the politburo. Another son, Sean, is a major in the military," he said, describing Mnangagwa's administration as a "tribesmen, or clansman government" dominated by relatives from his rural hometown.Former University of Zimbabwe lecturer Eldred Masunungure also criticized Mutsvangwa's comments, saying they were "distorted to drive a political agenda." Masunungure added that there is no substantial or qualitative difference between Mnangagwa and Mugabe when it comes to dynastic tendencies.Political analyst Jealousy Mawarire went further, accusing Mnangagwa of the very abuses Mutsvangwa attributes to Mugabe. "Mutsvangwa was not really worried about the dynasty or state capture; he was worried about what he was benefiting from," Mawarire said."Mugabe did not have his children in cabinet or running state departments. Under Mnangagwa, everything around the presidency is controlled by his children and wife, making it a worse situation."While Mutsvangwa describes Mnangagwa as a constitutionalist, Mawarire argued otherwise, claiming the president has violated both the national constitution and the Zanu-PF party constitution.Mnangagwa's rule, now in its eighth year, has been plagued by allegations of state capture, cronyism, and nepotism. The 82-year-old leader has indicated his intention to step down in 2028, when his current term expires, despite calls within his party to extend his tenure to 2030.As the debate over political dynasties intensifies, Mutsvangwa's accusations against Mugabe appear to have opened a contentious dialogue about the very nature of power and succession within Zimbabwe's ruling elite. Japan and Cambodia recently agreed to further work toward maintaining and strengthening an international order based on the rule of law and a multilateral free trade system, and announced the Cambodia-Japan Economic Co-Creation Package, according to a joint statement issued by the two countries. During the bilateral summit meeting on May 30, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and his Japanese counterpart Ishiba Shigeru stressed on the importance of expanding and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides, Cambodian media outlets reported. Japan and Cambodia have agreed to further work toward maintaining and strengthening a global order based on the rule of law and a multilateral free trade system, and announced the 'Cambodia-Japan Economic Co-Creation Package'. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing cooperation towards maintenance and development of the Sihanoukville Port as a regional port and logistics hub. Related to the co-creation of economic and social values, the two Prime Ministers welcomed the progress in concrete cooperation, including the Co-creation for common agenda initiative in the digital field, since the launch of the Three New Cooperation Approaches in A joint initiative launched in July last year focuses on social infrastructure development in digital field and maritime connectivity, apart from other areas. Both sides agreed to further promote cooperation, such as improving the business environment in Cambodia, including through Japans contribution to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, supporting Japanese companies, forming public-private partnership projects and advancing telecommunications networks for industrial enhancement and supply chain resilience. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing cooperation towards maintenance and development of the Sihanoukville Port as a regional port and logistics hub. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) EQS Newswire / 01/06/2025 / 10:00 UTC+8 Hong Kong - June 01, 2025 - ( SeaPRwire ) - SeaPRwire , a leading Public Relations Communication Platform, has unveiled its latest innovation: the News Data Mining Platform. Developed in collaboration with Asia Presswire ( https:/asiapresswire.com ), this cutting-edge system utilizes advanced data mining techniques to extract valuable news leads and trends from vast amounts of data. The platform is designed to help journalists and media professionals enhance their in-depth reporting, making news releases more insightful and impactful. The News Data Mining Platform works by analyzing large datasets to identify emerging trends, patterns, and relevant news topics that may not be immediately obvious. It assists journalists by providing them with crucial insights that can lead to compelling stories, driving more detailed and relevant coverage. This tool is designed to support not only the media industry but also businesses and organizations looking to improve the quality of their press releases and media outreach. "By introducing the News Data Mining Platform, we are equipping journalists and media professionals with the tools they need to uncover deeper insights and generate more meaningful news stories," said Max Jackson, Information Director at SeaPRwire. "The ability to access actionable data that highlights key trends and untapped topics is essential for creating relevant and impactful press releases that truly resonate with target audiences." The platform works by processing vast amounts of data, including online articles, social media posts, and other public information, to identify emerging news trends and stories. It then presents the most relevant data to journalists and PR professionals, allowing them to craft more timely and newsworthy press releases. This process not only improves the quality of news coverage but also ensures that the content aligns with current market trends and audience interests. The News Data Mining Platform has the potential to revolutionize the way news is gathered and reported. By providing real-time data insights, the platform allows users to stay ahead of the curve, identifying key trends before they become mainstream news. This proactive approach to news distribution is a game-changer for businesses looking to ensure that their press releases are relevant, timely, and aligned with market interests. SeaPRwire's collaboration with Asia Presswire ensures that the platform is supported by cutting-edge data mining technologies, which enhance the accuracy and efficiency of news extraction. The system's integration into SeaPRwire's existing suite of communication tools gives users a powerful resource for improving their media outreach and strengthening their brand presence. "Data-driven insights are becoming increasingly important in today's fast-paced media landscape, and our News Data Mining Platform gives clients the edge they need to stay ahead," added Jackson. "By combining data mining with our extensive media distribution network, we are empowering our clients to not only create more impactful press releases but also improve their overall communication strategies." With the introduction of the News Data Mining Platform, SeaPRwire continues to solidify its position as a leader in the field of earned media communications management. The platform is now available to clients, offering them a valuable tool for enhancing the relevance, timeliness, and impact of their press releases, ultimately boosting their ability to connect with media and audiences on a deeper level. About Asia Presswire Asia Presswire ( https:/asiapresswire.com ) is a press release distribution service that provides tailored solutions for public relations firms, agencies, organizations, and corporations worldwide. They specialize in delivering customized press release distribution, including direct-to-editor email delivery to targeted media editors at newspapers, magazines, and broadcast outlets. Their extensive network spans 172 countries, connecting with over 230,000 media outlets and 3.6 million self-media platforms. Supporting over 46 languages, including English, Chinese, French, German, and Japanese, Asia Presswire ensures effective communication across diverse linguistic regions. Their services are designed to enhance brands' online visibility and reputation, enabling effective connection with target audiences. About SeaPRwire SeaPRwire is a leading earned media communications management platform in Asia, designed to empower PR and communications professionals. Its Branding-Insight Program streamlines communication management by connecting clients with a network of over 80,000 journalists, editors, magazines, and online media outlets, along with 300 million followers of key opinion leaders (KOLs). Leveraging AI-driven technology, SeaPRwire enables users to identify relevant media and KOLs, personalize pitches, and measure the impact of their communications efforts. Operating across regions including Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, SeaPRwire enhances brand awareness and educates audiences effectively. Media Contact Brand: SeaPRwire Contact: Media team Email: cs@seaprwire.com Website: https://seaprwire.com 01/06/2025 Dissemination of a Financial Press Release, transmitted by EQS News. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media archive at www.todayir.com A respected Virginia-based entrepreneur and community leader, has launched two $1,000 scholarship and grant opportunities for college-bound students: one for aspiring criminal justice majors and another for first- or second-year students with entrepreneurial aspirations. Applications are open now through May 15, 2026. Arlington County, Virginia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 31, 2025) - The Robert Stewart Scholarship Fund is proud to announce two new financial aid opportunities for students across the United States: the Robert Stewart Jr. Scholarship for Criminal Justice Students and the Robert Stewart Jr. Grant for First- and Second-Year Students. Each award offers a one-time $1,000 grant to support students in achieving their academic and professional goals. Robert Stewart Jr., Virginia Entrepreneur, Launches Scholarship and Grant Programs to Support College Students Nationwide To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/254106_098714be942e2a5d_002full.jpg Applications are now open, with deadlines set for May 1, 2026, and winners to be announced on May 15, 2026. Full eligibility details and application forms are available at robertsstewartjrscholarship.com and robertstewartjrgrant.com. With over 25 years of entrepreneurial success and a deep-rooted passion for education, Robert Stewart Jr. created these programs to provide meaningful support to students with big dreams and strong leadership potential. Both the scholarship and the grant reflect Stewart's belief that education is a cornerstone of equity, empowerment, and long-term community impact. "I believe every student-no matter their background-deserves a fair chance to succeed through education," said Stewart. "These programs are about investing in leadership, service, and potential." Scholarship Eligibility - Criminal Justice Focus Applicants for the Robert Stewart Jr. Scholarship for Criminal Justice Students must: Be a graduating high school senior attending a U.S. college or university. Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. Demonstrate leadership in school and community. Submit a 500-1000-word essay explaining what inspires them to pursue a career in criminal justice. Provide two letters of recommendation. More information and the application form can be found at robertsstewartjrscholarship.com. Grant Eligibility - Business-Focused Essay The Robert Stewart Jr. Grant is open to first- or second-year college students who submit a compelling 500-1000-word essay answering: If you could start a business, what would it be and why? Additional requirements: Provide two letters of recommendation. Submit all materials by May 1, 2026. Students can apply at robertstewartjrgrant.com. These initiatives complement Stewart's broader efforts to promote educational advancement, as outlined on his official site robertsstewartjr.com, where visitors can learn more about his mission, achievements, and social impact. About Robert Stewart Jr Scholarship Fund The Robert Stewart Jr. Scholarship Fund is dedicated to empowering the next generation of students by reducing the financial barriers to higher education. This annual scholarship reflects Robert Stewart Jr.'s commitment to leadership, education, and community service. As a successful entrepreneur and advocate for youth development, Robert established the fund to support students who demonstrate academic promise, civic responsibility, and a passion for creating positive change. SOURCE: Robert Stewart Jr., Virginia Scholarship Initiative To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/254106 SOURCE: Plentisoft Duane Boise MMJ CEO opined "Now all eyes turn to DEA Administrator-nominee Terrance Cole. Thus far, his public marijuana statements have been evasive, his confirmation answers noncommittal, and his track record steeped in anti-cannabis fearmongering. However, as the DEA boss, he needs to stop the clown show in comparing cannabis to methamphetamine with no clinical basis and distributing memes claiming cannabis lowers sperm count by 50%, despite contradictory evidence". WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / June 1, 2025 / The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has once again embarrassed itself, this time by promoting the ludicrous claim that marijuana may cause more psychosis than methamphetamine. This sensationalist garbage-circulated through their "Just Think Twice" campaign-was framed with all the seriousness of a peer-reviewed journal, yet backed by none of the clinical evidence. Let's be clear: this is not science. This is propaganda. And it's especially dangerous coming from the very agency actively obstructing legitimate, federally regulated research into the medical use of cannabis. At the center of the absurdity is a cherry-picked quote from Oregon psychiatrist David Rettew, claiming that marijuana "raises the risk of psychotic disorders more than other drugs, even methamphetamines." There's no clinical study cited, no peer-reviewed data, no rigorous comparative analysis just an offhand opinion that the DEA spun into a headline to keep cannabis in the shadows. Meanwhile, MMJ BioPharma Cultivation-one of the only companies in the country following federal law to the letter-is still barred from growing cannabis for FDA-authorized clinical trials. Let that sink in. The DEA refuses to let a federally compliant company conduct gold-standard scientific research, while simultaneously pushing psychobabble memes about marijuana and infertility, emojis that "mean drugs," and "natural highs" like pet stores and Instagram followers. This is not a public health agency-it's a clown car with a badge. MMJ BioPharma: The Victim of Bureaucratic Sabotage MMJ BioPharma Cultivation has: Two FDA-authorized INDs for treating Huntington's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Orphan Drug Designation for its proprietary cannabinoid formulation. A secure, DEA-inspected Schedule I analytical lab. A state-of-the-art cultivation facility built to DEA specifications. And yet, the DEA has refused for seven years to issue a Schedule I bulk manufacturing registration. Why? Not because of safety concerns. Not because of noncompliance. But because-unlike Curaleaf, Cookies, and other recreational giants-MMJ isn't playing the political lobbying game or hiding behind state loopholes. MMJ is doing it the right way, and that seems to be precisely the problem. While cartels and corporate exporters freely move THC products overseas through "strategic partnerships" and shadowy legal gymnastics, MMJ is being crushed under the weight of federal inaction. The DEA has even subjected them to a constitutionally defective administrative hearing-overseen by an ALJ whose very authority the DOJ has now disavowed. DEA: Champion of Pseudoscience and Policy Hypocrisy Let's talk about the DEA's latest intellectual triumphs: Comparing cannabis to methamphetamine with no clinical basis. Telling teens to skip weed and chase Instagram fame instead. Distributing memes claiming cannabis lowers sperm count by 50%, despite contradictory evidence. Encouraging students to flood Instagram with "Anti-420" videos, weaponizing youth ignorance as public policy. Meanwhile, the DEA continues to ignore the 2023 HHS recommendation to reschedule cannabis, based on real, peer-reviewed, FDA-analyzed scientific data. You cannot claim to care about psychosis while blocking the very clinical trials designed to test safety, efficacy, and neurological effects. That's not science. That's obstruction. Terrance Cole's Choice: Lead or Rubber Stamp the Marijuana Rot Now all eyes turn to DEA Administrator-nominee Terrance Cole. Thus far, his public statements have been evasive, his confirmation answers noncommittal, and his track record steeped in anti-cannabis fearmongering. If Cole refuses to address the unconstitutional DEA tribunals, if he refuses to approve MMJ's license after seven years of federal compliance, if he continues parroting outdated "gateway drug" nonsense-then the agency's credibility, already on life support, will collapse entirely. End the Madness. Let Science Lead. The DEA's current posture is untenable. It is promoting misinformation, blocking research, and enabling a regulatory regime that favors corporate exports and illicit markets while punishing pharmaceutical innovators. MMJ BioPharma has done everything right. The DEA has done everything wrong. It's time to stop the clown show, shut down the pseudoscience, and issue the damn license. MMJ is represented by attorney Megan Sheehan. CONTACT: Madison Hisey MHisey@mmjih.com 203-231-8583 SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/deas-war-on-marijuana-science-how-bureaucratic-clowns-are-blocking-cl-1033504 Hack-proof end-to-end cybersecurity solution combines Capzul and GECCO technologies for secure edge computing. VICTORIA, BC / ACCESS Newswire / June 1, 2025 / Green Edge Computing Corp (GECCO) and Capzul Technologies today announced a strategic partnership whereby Capzul Technologies can now deliver their hack-proof end-to-end cybersecurity solution Capzul Connect and Capzul Front End on the GECCO EdgePodTM Edge Computing Appliance. Capzul Technologies enjoys a strong market position in the challenging cybersecurity space pioneering a strategy that eliminates the external attack surface, thereby forging networks that are invulnerable to cybercriminal intrusions within your network ecosystem. Adding the GECCO EdgePod to the Capzul portfolio is a strategic step to offer enhanced computational capabilities in support of hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, advanced automation, and other applications that demand impervious connectivity. The GECCO EdgePod is a miniaturized data center, and delivers a physically secure multi-server computing platform designed to operate in adverse environmental conditions that are common at the edge, where computer rooms, telecom closets, or air-conditioned enclosures are not available. Offering a much smaller physical and environmental footprint compared to conventional IT systems, the EdgePod supports intense computing for agentic AI inferencing, AR/VR, digital twin, enterprise productivity & operational applications, hardware agnostic control algorithms, and many other advanced systems. "Making all your computing appliances resilient to cybersecurity threats is of paramount concern as the need for edge computing accelerates," said Guy Paterson, COO of Capzul Technologies. "The GECCO EdgePod is a physically secure, scalable and rugged platform that is an ideal fit for our system. The unique approach taken by GECCO makes them a key technology partner for us." The need to deliver secure edge computing has never been greater, as the volume of data created, stored and processed on the edge (outside conventional data centers) continues to grow at unprecedented rates. "We are thrilled to welcome Capzul Technologies to the EdgePod ecosystem, as the demand has never been greater for advanced computing outside of conventional data centres," according to Rudi Carolsfeld, CoFounder and Chief Revenue Officer of GECCO. "There is an urgent need to eliminate exposure to cyber threats so that data sovereignty, data privacy, and data integrity can be assured. Our partnership with Capzul Technologies leads the industry offering the highest levels of trusted security for advanced data processing in infrastructure, industrial, telecom, healthcare and many other fields." Capzul Technologies and GECCO will be demonstrating their solution at InfoSecurity Europe, 3-5 June 2025 in London UK. The Capzul Challenge carries a prize of 25,000 if any attendee can hack into the state-of-the-art, no-external-attack-zone server. Visit https://www.infosecurityeurope.com/en-gb/whats-on.html Contact: 1-855-EDGEPOD (1-855-334-3763) Contact@G3CCO.com Rudi Carolsfeld About Green Edge Computing Corp. Motivated to reduce the impact of cloud computing, GECCO offers a lower footprint alternative to the size, weight, power and cooling demands of conventional IT systems. The GECCO EdgePods and EdgeCards reduce power and cooling needs by over 75% and eliminate up to 90% of e-waste. GECCO offers lower total cost of ownership, improved business resilience, and a path to better edge computing while addressing the need to protect our global environment. Visit www.g3cco.com About Capzul Technologies Capzul Technologies is reinventing the security infrastructure that is deployed to prevent cyberattacks. Our security from within precludes the possibility of exploiting vulnerabilities by virtually eliminating the attack surface. Capzul Technologies empowers a network to be self-securing by helping enterprises meet their core security goals, protect against threat actors, and ensure the integrity of their business. Visit www.capzul.net SOURCE: Green Edge Computing Corp View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/green-edge-computing-corp-gecco-and-capzul-technologies-launch-e-1032748 Artisan Bakery, a new bakery platform backed by HC Private Investments, officially launches this week in New Orleans at the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) show. CHICAGO, IL / ACCESS Newswire / June 1, 2025 / Artisan Bakery, a new bakery platform backed by HC Private Investments, officially launches this week in New Orleans at the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) show. Formed to bring together innovative bakery and dessert brands under one roof, Artisan begins its journey with the acquisition of two standout companies: Snackwerks, a flexible contract manufacturer known for R&D agility, and Specialty Bakers, a 125-year-old legacy name in in-store bakery favorites like ladyfingers and cake rolls. Artisan Bakery At the helm of Artisan is newly appointed CEO Kirk Trofholz, a seasoned executive with more than three decades of experience scaling iconic food brands. A former CEO of Nielsen-Massey, President of Dawn Foods and President of Barilla North America, Trofholz brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial drive and enterprise leadership. "Artisan Bakery is built on a simple but powerful idea: great brands deserve great support," said Trofholz. "We're bringing together companies with differentiated capabilities and helping them reach new heights through innovation, resources, and a comcollaborative network." The new platform blends the strengths of heritage and invention - merging large-scale capability with the entrepreneurial spirit of each brand. As the Artisan family grows, the company will focus on delivering innovative, great-tasting baked goods across all dayparts, while continuing to elevate the capabilities and reach of its portfolio. To learn more, visit the Specialty Bakers at booth #3065 at IDDBA or visit Artisan-Bakeries.com SOURCE: Artisan Bakery View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/food-and-beverage-products/introducing-artisan-bakery-a-new-family-of-innovative-baking-brands-laun-1033919 CHICAGO and AUCKLAND, New Zealand, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Merieux NutriSciences, a global leader in food safety, quality, and sustainability, and AsureQuality, New Zealand's premier food assurance provider, are pleased to announce the official launch of their joint venture, Merieux NutriSciences AQ (MNAQ). The formation of MNAQ follows the successful completion of Merieux NutriSciences' acquisition of Bureau Veritas' worldwide food testing activities, including its stake in the BVAQ joint ventures in Southeast Asia and Australia. With the transaction having officially closed in Southeast Asia in January 2025 and now finalized in Australia as of May 31st 2025, MNAQ is fully established and poised to become a leading provider of food testing, assurance, and sustainability solutions in both regions. Kim Ballinger, CEO of AsureQuality, highlighted the strategic significance of the partnership: "We are excited to officially launch MNAQ, reinforcing our commitment to delivering trusted food assurance services to the industry in Australia and Southeast Asia. This partnership with Merieux NutriSciences strengthens our ability to support New Zealand exporters in key global markets and drive innovation in food safety and quality." Nicolas Cartier, CEO of Merieux NutriSciences, echoed this enthusiasm: "The completion of this joint venture marks an important milestone in our global growth strategy and purpose. By combining our scientific expertise and deep industry knowledge, and leveraging a team of over 700 talented employees, MNAQ is uniquely positioned to serve our customers across the food value chain with high-value, science-based solutions. Together with our partners at AsureQuality, we are proud to contribute to safer, more sustainable food systems across Southeast Asia and Australia, and beyond." As MNAQ moves forward, it will focus on delivering innovative, science-driven solutions to support food industry players in the region. With a strong foundation built on technical excellence and a shared commitment to food integrity and customer-centricity, the joint venture aims to set new benchmarks for food assurance in Southeast Asia and Australia. About Merieux NutriSciences: Merieux NutriSciences leverages over 50 years of scientific and entrepreneurial expertise to answer food industry needs. Today's global challenges transform the way food is produced, marketed and consumed, which is why we know our clients need more than reliable analytical results; they need practical and innovative solutions that will contribute to make food systems safer, healthier and more sustainable. Present worldwide, we have more than 140 accredited laboratories and a team of over 10,000 talented employees. We strongly believe that together, we can create solutions to offer our planet: BETTER FOOD. BETTER HEALTH. BETTER WORLD. www.merieuxnutrisciences.com About AsureQuality: AsureQuality is a New Zealand government-owned entity providing integrated, end-to-end food assurance and services to the food and primary production sectors. With a scientific and agricultural heritage spanning 150 years, AsureQuality has built a trusted reputation for delivering expert services and value across the entire food supply chain. www.asurequality.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2700209/Joint_Venture.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2700208/MNAQ_Logo.jpg Media contacts: MERIEUX NUTRISCIENCES media@mxns.com ASUREQUALITY marketing@asurequality.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/merieux-nutrisciences-and-asurequality-announce-the-official-launch-of-merieux-nutrisciences-aq-mnaq-joint-venture-302469685.html News / Local by Staff reporter Nelson Chamisa, founding leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) and a prominent opposition figure who stepped away from active politics last year amid claims that his party had been hijacked by Zanu-PF, is back in the political arena, actively pushing back against President Emmerson Mnangagwa's contentious government policies.The 47-year-old opposition veteran, who had appeared to take a step back from frontline politics - focusing instead on sharing Bible verses and motivational content on his widely followed social media platforms - has now resumed a confrontational stance against the Mnangagwa administration.Though Chamisa has yet to reveal whether he plans to establish a new political party, insiders close to him told The Standard that his recent messaging is highly strategic. Concerns had emerged within his camp that his earlier avoidance of sensitive political issues was allowing narratives suggesting he had been compromised by Mnangagwa's regime to gain traction.Last week, Chamisa publicly opposed a controversial new law mandating that motorists purchase radio licenses before renewing their vehicle licenses. Speaking out on X (formerly Twitter), where he commands 1.3 million followers, the former Information Communication Technology minister condemned the law as "too draconian, anti-citizens and outright heartless.""Citizens are being pauperised left, right and centre," Chamisa wrote."Why does the citizenry of this country deserve so uncaring and heartless a leadership? What are people supposed to do with all this cruel taxation? Why must I pay for a service I don't use? Why should I pay for partisan propaganda, where I am attacked in person and demonised from dawn to dusk? Do we have a parliament in Zimbabwe? Which other country does this to her citizens? Is this not naked provocation? Is Zimbabwe not a crime scene?"Chamisa also criticized the government's recently unveiled media policy, which opponents say is designed to stifle dissent. He dismissed it as a "hollow gesture by the Zanu-PF administration," writing:"Let's be clear: the real crisis in Zimbabwe's media sector is not a lack of policy, but the continued criminalisation of journalism. No amount of lipstick will beautify a frog. Instead of opening space for investment and innovation, this policy tightens the administration's grip on the media.True reform would have meant breaking the monopoly, not entrenching it; promoting local investment, not stifling it.A real media policy would empower journalists, not threaten them with deregistration under vague rules and standards' designed to muzzle dissent. It would promote self-regulation, as we see in other respected professions.It would transform ZBC and Zimpapers into genuine public service platforms, not echo chambers of outdated propaganda."A source within Chamisa's camp told The Standard that the shift in messaging signals preparations for launching a new political movement. According to the insider, grassroots structures are currently being strengthened to avoid the top-level splits that have historically fractured Zimbabwe's democratic opposition."When Chamisa went on sabbatical, he made it clear that he was not leaving politics, but rather the CCC as a vehicle for change," the source explained. "We have been focusing on building structures at the grassroots because splits in the democratic movement have typically happened at the top, while the base remained intact. We want to change that."Chamisa has controversially lost two presidential elections against Mnangagwa - in 2018 and 2023 - and has refused to accept the results, citing widespread vote rigging.Efforts to secure a comment from Chamisa on his political future proved unsuccessful at the time of reporting. When the legendary Dr Rajkumar was abducted, Kamal Haasan was among the first voices to speak out and call for his release, the statement read read more Kamal Haasan is gearing up for the release of his film Thug Life with Mani Ratnam. During the promotional events, the veteran said something that has not gone down well with many people and it invited a lot of backlash. And now a complaint has been filed against him for his controversial remark. What did the actor say? At the event, Kamal Haasan began his speech by saying, Uyire Urave Tamizhe, meaning my life and my family is Tamil language. He went on to add, Actor Shivarajkumar is my family living in another state. Thats why he is here. Thats why when I started my speech, I said my life and my family is Tamil. Your language (Kannada) was born out of Tamil. So you are included in that line. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The actor has now found support in South Indian Artistes Association who have released a statement. When the legendary Dr Rajkumar was abducted, Kamal Haasan was among the first voices to speak out and call for his release, it read. The statement added, Kamal Haasan is a legendary artist who has transcended the barriers of caste, religion, race, and language to dedicate his life to the service of art. To question his integrity is to insult decades of cultural unity and artistic excellence. Kamal Hassan invites backlash for his remark This comment garnered severe criticism from pro-Kannada groups as Praveen Shetty, the leader of Kannada Rakshana Vedike said, said Tamil is better than Kannada and Kannada only after Tamil was born. We are warning Kamal, you need business in Karnataka? And yet insulting Kannada. On June 1, 1984, the Indian Army launched Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple on orders from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The operation targeted militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was pushing for an independent Sikh-majority nation in Punjab, known as Khalistan. The first exchange of gunfire during the assault took place on this day. Also on this day in 1980, Cable News Network (CNN), the worlds first 24-hour television news channel, was launched by Ted Turner read more The first gunfire exchange in the assault on the Golden Temple occurred on June 1, 1984. Image: X/@SoniaLiberal On June 1, 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi gave the order for Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab. The aim of the mission was to remove militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Over 80 soldiers and at least hundreds of pilgrims caught in the fighting lost their lives, according to government officials. At the time, Bhindranwale was a key leader in the rising separatist Khalistan movement. The anger within parts of the Sikh community over the operation reached its peak on October 31, 1984, when Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards, who held her responsible for the attack. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Also on this day in 1974, the stop-choking method created by Cincinnati surgeon Henry J. Heimlich was published. Known as the Heimlich manoeuvre, it involves applying inward and upward pressure on the abdomen of choking individuals and has become the standard lifesaving technique. Further, in 1980, CNN (Cable News Network), the worlds first 24-hour news channel, was launched. The network began broadcasting from its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, with a lead story about the attempted assassination of civil rights leader Vernon Jordan. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers ongoing series, History Today , is your one-stop destination to explore key events. Lets take a look at the events: The launch of Operation Blue Star The Indian Army launched Operation Blue Star on June 1, 1984, following orders from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The operation took place at the Golden Temple, targeting militants led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. He was once the leader of the Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal and a key figure in the Khalistan separatist movement. He had taken refuge in the Harmandir Sahib Complex. Bhindranwale sought to create an independent Sikh-majority country in Punjab called Khalistan. On May 3, Major General RS Brar was called to Punjab and given command of the operation, which was code-named Operation Blue Star. The Golden Temple complex suffered extensive damage. AFP/File Photo The first gunfire exchange in the assault on the Golden Temple occurred on June 1, 1984. On June 2, speaking on All India Radio, Gandhi urged: dont shed blood, shed hatred, while the military surrounded the Golden Temple complex and more than 40 other gurdwaras across Punjab. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On June 3, a 36-hour curfew was imposed in Punjab. All communication and public transport were halted, electricity lines were cut, and strict media censorship was enforced. The army began the main assault on the night of June 5. The initial goal was to neutralise the high defensive positions Bhindranwales men had built inside the Golden Temple complex. The army believed the operation could not succeed if those positions remained. After midnight on June 6, a full-scale attack took place, including heavy gunfire and tank shells that destroyed the Akal Takht. The next day, Bhindranwales body was found in the basement of the damaged Akal Takht, bearing multiple bullet wounds, though the exact cause of death is unclear. The Golden Temple complex suffered extensive damage. Apart from the Akal Takht, there were bullet holes in the temple, and a valuable Sikh library, along with its books, was lost to fire. The operations impact spread beyond the immediate casualties. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The aftermath of the operation saw then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards. AFP/File Photo The deep anger felt by parts of the Sikh community over the operation reached its most tragic point on October 31, 1984, when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards, who held her responsible for the attack. Heimlich maneuver was published On this day in 1974, Cincinnati surgeon Henry J. Heimlichs stop-choking technique was published in the medical journal Emergency Medicine. The Heimlich maneuver, which involves pressing inward and upward on the abdomen of someone who is choking, became the standard way to save lives. June 1 is now observed each year as National Heimlich Maneuver Day. Wikimedia Commons Heimlich shared his early findings in an essay titled Pop Goes the Cafe Coronary, published in the June 1974 issue of the journal. The term Cafe Coronary syndrome describes a situation where a person chokes while eating in a restaurant, and onlookers mistake it for a heart attack. Before Heimlichs technique, the usual medical response was a tracheostomy, which involves inserting a large needle into the windpipe to open an airway, a procedure only doctors could perform. Heimlich tested the method on four Beagle dogs, repeating the treatment over 20 times on each. The dogs responded well, which gave Heimlich confidence that the same method would help humans with blocked airways. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Over the next fifty years, the technique saved tens of thousands of lives. June 1 is now observed each year as National Heimlich Maneuver Day. CNN was launched On June 1, 1980, CNN (Cable News Network), the worlds first 24-hour television news channel, was launched. The network began broadcasting from its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, with a lead story about the attempted assassination of civil rights leader Vernon Jordan. CNN changed the idea that news was only shown at set times during the day. CNN eventually became known for covering live events worldwide. Wikimedia Commons At the time, TV news in the US was dominated by three major networks, ABC, CBS, and NBC, each with a 30-minute nightly news broadcast. CNN was created by Robert Ted Turner, a bold and outspoken businessman nicknamed the Mouth of the South. In its early years, CNN lost money and was mocked as the Chicken Noodle Network. However, it eventually became known for covering live events worldwide as they happened, often ahead of the major networks. This Day, That Year 1926: American actress and model Marilyn Monroe was born. 1968: Helen Keller, the renowned writer and lecturer, passed away. 2001: Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal shot and killed nine members of the Nepalese royal family, including his parents, King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, before injuring himself. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 2001: World Milk Day is celebrated worldwide after the United Nations declared it in 2001 to promote the importance of milk as a global food. 2009: An Air France flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris went into freefall and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 228 people on board. Kerala remains the most affected, reporting 1,336 active cases, followed by Maharashtra with 467 and Delhi with 375, according to data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare read more Active Covid-19 cases in India have risen to 3,395, a significant increase over the past ten days . The southernmost state of Kerala remains the most affected, reporting 1,336 active cases, followed by Maharashtra with 467 and Delhi with 375, according to data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on May 31. In the last 24 hours, 685 new infections have been recorded. Four men from Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh have died due to Covid-19 complications. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In Delhi, the death involved a 71-year-old man with pneumonia, septic shock, and acute kidney injury. Delhi saw the largest daily increase, with 81 more active cases in a single day. What are health authorities saying? Despite the rise in cases, health authorities advise there is no need to panic as most patients have mild symptoms and are being treated at home. Over the past 24 hours, 265 people have been discharged. Officials from the Union health ministry are closely monitoring the situation. On May 22, India had only 257 active Covid cases. By May 26, this number had increased to 1,010 and has now surged to 3,395, more than a tenfold rise in just over a week. Kerala accounts for over a third of the countrys active cases, while Maharashtra and Delhi also have significant numbers. Other states like Gujarat (265), Karnataka (234), West Bengal (205), Tamil Nadu (185), and Uttar Pradesh (117) are also experiencing steady increases. Delhi issues advisory In response to the rising numbers, the Delhi government issued a comprehensive advisory on May 23, instructing hospitals to ensure the availability of essential medical supplies, including oxygen, medications, beds, and life-support equipment like ventilators and BiPAP machines. This advisory is part of broader measures being implemented by various state governments across India. Whats behind recent surge in Covid cases? The recent rise in cases coincides with the detection of new sub-variants of the Omicron strain, including LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8. Dr. Rajiv Behl, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), reinforced that stance, stating, We have been vigilant about the situation. Overall, we should keep watch and stay alert, but theres no reason to worry. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He explained that these sub-variants, which include LF.7, XFG, JN.1, and NB.1.8.1, are not severe. The World Health Organization has categorised these strains as Variants Under Monitoring, rather than Variants of Concern, indicating they are not currently considered a serious global threat. Although the new sub-variants may spread more easily, they have not shown an increase in severity of illness. Their rapid spread has been observed in countries like China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Australia, leading Indian authorities to adopt a cautious approach. A study by Mass General Brigham has found that hitting the snooze button on a morning alarm does more harm than good. Not only does it disrupt the important REM sleep stages, required for optimal cognitive functioning, but it also leads to poorer sleep quality and grogginess throughout the day. So, how can you fix this habit? read more A new study from researchers at Mass General Brigham, the largest hospital-based research group in the US, has found that the cherished snooze button might be doing more harm than good. AI-generated representative image Weve all been there. Monday morning, alarm blasting, and without even thinking, your hand shoots out to hit snooze. Just five more minutes, you whisper to yourself. Maybe even ten. But while those extra moments under the covers feel like sweet relief, they might actually be messing with your sleep more than helping. A new study from researchers at Mass General Brigham, the largest hospital-based research group in the US, has found that the cherished snooze button might be doing more harm than good. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Published in Scientific Reports, the study analysed over 3 million nights of sleep using data from the Sleep Cycle app. And what it found could make you rethink your morning routine. So, how common is snoozing? What does it really do to your brain and body? And is there a better way to wake up? Heres a closer look. You are not the only one If you thought you were alone in your morning snooze ritual, think again. The study led by researchers at Mass General Brigham shows that reaching for the snooze button is a habit shared by many around the world. Using data from more than 21,000 users of the Sleep Cycle app, the team discovered that nearly 56 per cent of sleep sessions involved hitting the snooze button. On average, users squeezed in about 11 extra minutes of sleep between alarms before actually getting out of bed. Many of us hit the snooze alarm in the morning with the hope of getting a little more sleep, explained Dr Rebecca Robbins, the studys lead author and a sleep expert at Brigham and Womens Hospital. But that extra sleep is usually very light and fragmented, she added. On average, people squeeze in about 11 extra minutes of sleep between alarms before actually getting out of bed. Representational Image/Pixabay The research also showed that snoozing is far more common on weekdays, particularly Monday through Friday, when rigid work schedules make early wake-ups unavoidable. On weekends, people are less likely to snooze, perhaps because theyre waking up on their own or simply allowing themselves more rest. Interestingly, those clocking fewer than five hours of sleep per night were found to be the least likely to snooze, likely because they had no choice but to get moving immediately due to responsibilities or time constraints. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Geographically, the snoozing trend was most prominent in countries like the United States, Sweden, and Germany. Meanwhile, users in Japan and Australia were least likely to delay their alarms. Why snoozing does more harm than good While those few extra minutes in bed might feel like a small morning luxury, experts warn that snoozing could be quietly sabotaging the quality of your restand your day. According to Robbins, the sleep we get after pressing snooze is typically fragmented and shallow, meaning it doesnt offer the same restorative benefits as uninterrupted sleep. Instead of feeling refreshed, many people end up groggier than before. Certainly, if youre feeling worse off (and) more tired from the snooze alarm, I would recommend going back to waking up cold turkey without it, Fiala, who also runs the CommunityHealth Chicago sleep clinic told CNN. But why does this happen? This is because the last stages of sleep before we naturally wake up are crucial. This is when our brain gets rich amounts of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, important for memory and emotional processing. According to Robbins, the sleep we get after pressing snooze is typically fragmented and shallow, meaning it doesnt offer the same restorative benefits as uninterrupted sleep. Image for Representation The hours just before waking are rich in rapid eye movement sleep. Hitting the snooze alarm will interrupt these critical stages of sleep and typically only offer you light sleep in between snooze alarms, said Robbins. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So while hitting snooze might seem harmless, its not just costing you a few extra minutes; it could be robbing you of the quality sleep your body needs to function at its best. What should you do? Tempting as it may be to sneak in those extra few minutes of sleep, experts suggest youre better off resisting the snooze button altogether. The best approach for optimising your sleep and next day performance is to set your alarm for the latest possible time, then commit to getting out of bed when your first alarm goes off, said Robbins. In short: set it and dont forget it. Another strategy is to build a consistent sleep schedule. According to Kimberly Honn, associate professor of psychology at Washington State University Spokane, maintaining regular sleep and wake times helps your body complete its sleep cycles properly, reducing that groggy, fogged-up feeling known as sleep inertia. At deep stages of sleep, electric pulses of the brain reach a highly rhythmic pattern, Honn explained to CNN. Trying to wake up during these stages cuts important brain maintenance processes short and can lead one to experience sleep inertia, which can last for several minutes or even hours. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But when your body follows a regular routine, it starts to move through sleep stages at predictable times. That way, youre more likely to wake during lighter sleep, and feel sharper and more refreshed. Having a morning routine can help with waking up early, and you will be less likely to hit the snooze button. AI-generated representative image In the perfect world, we would not be relying on an alarm clock at all, said Robbins. We would be able to fall asleep and wake up naturally and have energy throughout the day. If youre struggling to make the switch, try giving yourself something to look forward to in the morning, a warm cup of tea, your favourite breakfast, or a quick walk in the sun. Its all about building a routine that supports both your body and your motivation. And if you must tweak your schedule, do it slowly. Sleep specialist Fiala advises adjusting your bedtime by no more than 30 minutes, even on weekends. Shifting gradually, he says, is better than shocking your system. The bottom line: Better sleep starts the moment you stop snoozing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With input from agencies The National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched a major crackdown on Saturday, raiding 15 locations across eight states in a Pakistan-linked spying case. The leads were uncovered after the arrest of a CRPF jawan, who had been sharing sensitive information with a Pakistani official posing as a journalist. read more The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday carried out searches at 15 locations across eight states in connection with a Pakistan-linked espionage case, The Times of India reported. The raids were conducted at the residences of individuals suspected of working with Pakistani intelligence operatives in Delhi, Mumbai (Maharashtra), Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and West Bengal. According to reports, during the operation, the NIA seized electronic devices, sensitive financial documents, and other incriminating materials. These items are now being examined for evidence related to a spy network allegedly run by agents based in Pakistan as part of an anti-India terror plot. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The case primarily revolves around the alleged sharing of classified information by a CRPF personnel with Pakistani intelligence officers (PIOs). The jawan, Moti Ram Jat, was recently dismissed from service after it was found that he had been supplying sensitive information for 3,500 a month to a Pakistani agent who posed as a journalist. According to the NIA, the suspects targeted in Saturdays raids were linked to Pakistani agents and helped transfer money to support spying activities in India. The case was registered on 20 May 2025 after the arrest of CRPF ASI Moti Ram, who had been passing on sensitive information to Pakistani intelligence officers since 2023. In return, he received money through several channels within India for leaking classified national security details. The investigation is ongoing, with the case filed under multiple legal provisions, including Sections 61(2), 147, and 148 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said that putting Pakistan back on the FATF grey list could help reduce global terrorism. During a visit to Algeria as part of Indias outreach following the Pahalgam terror attack, Owaisi stressed that terrorism relies on ideology and fundingboth of which, are supported by Pakistan. read more AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi said that global terrorism could decline if Pakistan is once again placed on the Financial Action Task Forces (FATF) grey list. He also emphasised that terrorism relies on ideology and funding, both of which, are supported by Pakistan. In a strong statement made during his delegation visit to Algeriapart of Indias global outreach programme following the Pahalgam terror attackOwaisi said, Terrorism survives on two things ideology and money. Ideology, as you know very well, you have seen the Black Decade. Even in southern Algeria, you still face some problems. On that point, we are united Once you bring Pakistan back onto the FATF grey list, we will see a decrease in terrorism in India. Well see the killings go down. We have the 2018 experience when Algeria and other countries helped India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Emphasising Islamabads continued support for terrorism against India despite its collapsing economy, Owaisi said Pakistan is the epicentre of Takfirism and that there is no ideological difference between terror groups in Pakistan and those like Daesh and Al-Qaeda. They believe they have a religious sanction, which is completely wrong. Islam does not allow the killing of any person, and unfortunately, that is their ideology, he added. Pakistan has used its nuclear power to shield its terrorist training, funding and arming program. When I say that they have been doing this with terrorists openly, it is not just me saying it. You can look it up on the internet. Everybody knows Pakistan has done this many times in the past. This is a developing story. The idea of patriotism never seems to have appealed to the Pakistani army, which grew up from the colonial past only to become an ideologically motivated force imagining itself as the legatee of the mediaeval Arab and Turkish armies read more Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR), Pakistan, recently stated during a press briefing in Rawalpindi that Islam was not just integral to the faith of individual soldiers but part of the armys overall training. It was a lacklustre event on May 11, which, despite being delayed by four hours, failed to produce any visual evidence to back up its tall claims and was therefore dismissed as a poor attempt to emulate Indias DGMO Press Conference. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharifs claim about Islam being part of Pakistans Armys training is undoubtedly true. Late General Zia-ul-Haq, soon after he became the Chief of the Army Staff in 1976 informs Shuja Nawaz (2008) changed the motto of the army from Jinnahs Unity, Faith, and Discipline to Iman, Taqwa, Jihad fi Sabilillah (Faith, Obedience of God, and Struggle in the Path of Allah). Apart from encouraging commanders to join their troops in congregational prayers and elevating the regimental status of maulavis (though not with demur from old-type officers), he even allowed Tablighi Jamaat missionaries to preach at the Pakistani Military Academy (PMA) at Kakul, near Abbottabad in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Tablighi Jamaat preachers would deliver khutba (sermon) after Friday prayers at the PMA until 1984. In 1985, Major General Asif Nawaz prohibited their entry into the premises, stating that the place was a military academy, not a seminary (Crossed Swords: Pakistan, Its Army, and the Wars Within, P.384-385). General Zia-ul-Haq also contributed the foreword to Brigadier SK Maliks book The Quranic Concept of War (1979). It was pithy but instructive, which might explain the current scenario. JEHAD FI-SABILILLAH is not an exclusive domain of the professional soldier, nor is it restricted to the application of military force alone The professional soldier in a Muslim army, pursuing the goals of a military state, CANNOT become professional if in all his activities he does not take on the colour of Allah. The non-military citizen of a Muslim state must, likewise, be aware of the kind of soldier that his country must produce and the ONLY pattern of war that his countrys armed forces may wage. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Recent evidence about the close union, the nearly complete fusion, of the constituted authority and terror network in Pakistan might appear to be a legacy of Zia-ul-Haqs policies. The visuals that have emerged from Pakistan, in the aftermath of India undertaking Operation Sindoor, are revealing. Corpses of slain terrorists were draped in the national flag of Pakistan during their last journey, with personnel of the Pakistani army and police giving them a ceremonial gun salute. A designated terrorist, Hafiz Abdur Rauf, led the Salat-ul-Janazah (funeral prayer) flanked by senior officers of the Pakistani Army. It is an ocular proof that the boundaries between the government and terror apparatus have been somewhat blurred in Pakistan. Even the fig leaf, which previously concealed this relation, has been dropped. How to deal with such a country, at a theoretical level, should constitute a challenge for the global community. Whereas India might be the immediate victim of Pakistans terrorism, the threat has a wider canvas. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistans Army has two-fold origination a) historical and b) ideological. Historically, the Pakistan Army, like its Indian counterpart, has its origin in the colonial Indian Army (or the British Indian Army). The ranks, formations, drills/manoeuvres, uniforms, badges, lifestyle/mode of recreation, etc, are a legacy of the colonial army. While this colonial army no doubt ensured the external security of India for almost two centuries, whereby notorious foreign aggressions were relegated to history, it was in no sense a national army. Not patriotism but colonial interests at home and abroad formed the motivating factor of this army. No wonder Indian battalions participated in the battles of World Wars I & II in foreign war theatres. As now constituted, reads a pamphlet published by the All India Congress Committee, the armed forces under the Government of India are Indian in one sense only in that their cost is borne by the people of India. In everything else they are either British or, at any rate, non-national, though an overwhelming proportion of their personnel is furnished by India (Defence of India or Nationalisation of Indian Army, P.3). The author of the pamphlet was Nirad C Chaudhuri, who was literally an unknown Indian at that time, before he became an internationally known scholar. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The transfer of power to the domains of India and Pakistan led to the formation of two sovereign armed forces. In a sovereign nation, patriotism must replace colonial interests as the driving force of the army. Interestingly, the Azad Hind Fauz (Indian National Army) led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had provided a model of a patriotic national army to Indians during World War II. The INA, which shunned racial/religious divides and formed its brigades named after national leaders, had drawn participation from Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians alike in Southeast Asia. The INA was path-breaking not just in Indian but also global contexts, which taught uniformed men and women to fight and die for the nations independence. Love of the country was its motive force. It had directly or indirectly influenced the Indian Army as we know it today. Major Somnath Sharma, Indias first Param Vir Chakra awardee, who laid down his life combating invasion on Kashmir less than three months after independence of India, was decisively fighting for his countrys security and honour. Similarly, Brigadier Mohammed Usman, who died fighting Pakistani invaders at Nausera (July, 1948) and earned the nickname Nausera Ka Sher (the Tiger of Nausera), upheld the validity of patriotism over religious trapping. It is this religion-neutral patriotism that forms the motive force of the Indian Army. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The partition of India, which accompanied the independence, led to the reorganisation of the armed forces in two dominions, viz, India and Pakistan. The Indian Army and Pakistan Army, despite their shared past, grew along different lines. India chose to have an apolitical and secular armed force where the religious or linguistic identity of a soldier was his/her private affair. The military is actuated by the principle of patriotism. The Indian Army follows an honour code Naam, Namak, Nishan, ie, a) name/honour of the unit/Army/Nation, b) loyalty to the nation and c) insignia flag of ones unit/regiment/army/nation. The esprit de corps, or the spirit of comradeship and brotherhood of the brave, transcends caste, creed, religion or language. The Indian Army has had Hindu, Zoroastrian, Christian and Sikh Chiefs of Army Staff (COAS) since independence. At least once a Muslim has been at the top post of the Indian Air Force. But never have they been categorised as such. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This would be unthinkable in Pakistan, which had not seen any Hindu commissioned officer after the 1950s. Late Major CR Dutt, who later joined Bangladesh Mukti Bahini, was one such officer. Simultaneously, there is an ideological source of origin of the Pakistan Army, viz, Islam. Whereas it might be true General Zia-ul-Haq heralded the Islamisation of the Pakistan Army in particular and of the nation in general during his presidency, throughout which he continued to be the COAS, there were other compulsions to underscore Islam in the pre-1971 period. The idea of patriotism never seems to have appealed to the Pakistani army. The only observation Major General Shaukat Riza could make about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in an official publication of the Pakistan Army was, The INA was headed by Subhas Chandra Bose, a former Congress President who was a rabid Hindu Brahmin (The Pakistan Army 1947-1949, P.103). This observation was made in a chapter titled Indian National Army, though it was dealing with the Red Fort trial in particular. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose not a Brahmin, anyway was possibly the most secular nationalist. The chapter fails to explain why many Muslims, including General Shahnawaz Khan, General M Z Kiani, etc, fought in the Indian National Army alongside Hindus and Sikhs if Subhas Bose was rabid Brahmin. This is because patriotism is a virtue alien to the Pakistan army. It fights on the zeal of Islam. Its army is merely a reflection of the Pakistani state, which was founded on religious rather than racial or territorial identity. Islam was the only glue that kept its western and eastern flanks of Pakistan together between 1947 and 1971. The eastern flank (today Bangladesh) was actually more populous than the western flank with its four provinces. Pakistans army would like to imagine itself as the legatee of the Arab and Turkish armies of the mediaeval ages that carried the victorious banner of Islam through non-Islamic lands. Historically, this might be preposterous because Pakistanis, whether they were Punjabis, Sindhis, Balochs, Pathans, Hazaras or Bengalis (before 1971), were not remotely connected to the Arabs, Turks or Kurds. Their forefathers, if they had converted to Islam, converted mostly under coercion to avoid the humiliation of Jiziya, if not to escape the sword of Islam on their necks. The Muslims of Pakistan were actually themselves frontline victims of historical Islamist military aggression on India. Thus, truly speaking, the garrison state of Pakistan exists not so much on the map as much as in the minds of Pakistanis. During the 1965 War, when the Pakistan Army launched Operation GIBRALTAR on August 7, 1965, to wrest Kashmir from Indias control, the historical inspiration was obvious. It sought to recreate the valour of Tariq ibn Ziyad (670-718 AD), the commander of the Arab-Berber Muslim army, who invaded Spain from Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar. The Rock of Gibraltar is a Spanish derivative of the Arabic name Jabal-Tariq, or the mountain of Tariq. It was this conquest that brought Spain under Islams control for the ensuing seven centuries. The Gibraltar forceinforms the then COAS of Pakistan, viz General Mohammad Musa (1983)consisted of approximately 7000 Mujahidin from Azad Kashmir. Most of it was given some guerrilla training within a short time before it was launched (My Version: India-Pakistan War, 1965, P.36). General Musa admits that the operation ended in a failure. This, however, proves that there was a definite connection between the Pakistan Army and Mujahidin (terrorists) even prior to Zia-ul-Haqs era. The names of the units in Operation Gibraltar were also revealing. Shuja Nawaz informs us that the units were named after historical Muslim military heroes, viz, Tariq (bin Ziad), (Mahmud) Ghaznavi, Salahuddin, (Mohammed bin) Qasim, and Khalid (bin Waleed). Only one unit was named Nusrat (meaning Victory) in honour of the wife of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (Crossed Swords, P.206). The Pakistan Army uses a prayer, which is called Tariqs prayer in honour of the aforesaid Tariq ibn Ziyad. Its English translation, as available on the website of Pakistans Army (though not accessible from India at present), reads, These Ghazis, these devoted souls of your lordship/whom you have blessed with the zeal of your worship/their legions overcame deserts and rivers/and trample mountain to dust with fervour/they care not for the worlds pleasure/the love of the lord are their treasures/the mission and the aim of Momim is martyrdom/not the booty of war, nor crave for a kingdom. This prayer proves that Pakistans Army is not a normal national army, which, actuated by a sense of patriotism, defends the territory of a nation. It rather likes to imagine itself as the modern-day avatar of Islams mediaeval army of conquest. In its quest it could co-opt mujahidin, an honourable term in Islam for the automatic weapon-wielding terrorists. Pakistan might like to celebrate the legacy of Islamic conquests. The question is whether such things have a place in the 21st-century world. The writer is author of the book The Microphone Men: How Orators Created a Modern India (2019) and an independent researcher based in New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Trumps dramatic shift on Pakistanfrom his first term and PM Modis February 2025 visit to nowmay plausibly stem from some business deals by his son and partners involving cryptocurrency and rare earth minerals. If that is so, its a serious worry for India read more Relations between India and the United States have witnessed many ups and downs since Indias independence in 1947. In the initial more than 50 years, the relations were largely marred by suspicion and mistrust, principally because the US considered Indias stance of non-alignment as immoral and due to Indias perceived closeness to the Soviet Union. The US supply of sophisticated weaponry to Pakistan and its steadfast support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue also did not help matters. The biggest question that loomed large over the bilateral ties was, Can India trust the United States? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD All this underwent a subtle but decisive change with the visit of President Bill Clinton to India in March 2000. In the following years, bilateral relations transformed into a dynamic and vigorous partnership. Other US Presidents after Clinton, including George W Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, also worked assiduously to make the partnership resilient and strong. In India too, all prime ministers, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh and the current prime minister, Narendra Modi, have contributed sedulously to the expansion of bilateral ties. Much of the credit for the exceptional rise in bilateral ties over the last decade would go to PM Modi because of the vision and steadfast leadership he has displayed in registering a quantum jump in bilateral relations. Bipartisan support exists in both countries among the political leadership, parliamentarians, the business community and citizens for ever stronger relations between the two countries. This has made the bilateral relationship the most consequential for India in these volatile and uncertain times. Today relations between the two countries have evolved into a comprehensive global strategic partnership covering almost all areas of human endeavour, driven by shared democratic values, convergence of interests on a range of issues, and vibrant people-to-people contacts. High-level exchanges and regular dialogue between the leaders have emerged as an important element of the expanding bilateral ties. Evolution of Relations in Recent Years Addressing the Joint Session of the US Congress in June 2016, Prime Minister Modi declared that India had overcome the hesitations of history as far as bilateral relations are concerned. And there had been serious and long-standing hesitations and doubts ranging from the support by the US to Pakistan in the UN Security Council on the Kashmir issue, threats and intimidation in the Bay of Bengal resorted to by the US in 1971 during the India-Pakistan war leading to the independence of Bangladesh, stoppage of supply of nuclear fuel after Indias 1974 Peaceful Nuclear Explosion, wide-ranging sanctions against India in the aftermath of Indias nuclear tests in May, 1998, etc. Evincing confidence about the upward trajectory of bilateral ties, PM Modi in his address in 2016 declared that a new symphony is at play in the India-US bilateral relations. The Pahalgam Escalation and Operation Sindoor Reprisal This symphony received a rude jolt from the comments of US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the conflict that erupted between India and Pakistan in the wake of the Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, killing 26 innocent civilians, 25 of them Hindus, because of the religion they professed. As retribution for this heinous act by Pakistan in Pahalgam, India, in the early morning of May 7, 2025, under Operation Sindoor, destroyed 9 of its terrorist strongholds and hideouts, 5 in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and 4 in the heart of Pakistan in Punjab, including Bahwalpur, the headquarters of Masood Azhars Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Muridke, the stronghold of Hafez Sayeeds Lashkar-e-Taiba. This was followed by the demolition of 13 airfields of Pakistan in the early morning of 10th May in retaliation for the attacks on civilians, military establishments and places of worship by Pakistan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Trump Intrusion At about 5:30 PM on May 10, 2025, a message surfaced on Trumps Truth Social platform claiming that 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. Trump praised the two countries for using common sense and great intelligence. Marco Rubio followed the lead of his president by writing on X a little later the same day, Over the past 48 hours, @VP Vance and I have engaged with senior Indian and Pakistani officials, including Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shehbaz Sharif, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and National Security Advisors Ajit Doval and Asim Malik. I am pleased to announce the governments of India and Pakistan have agreed to an immediate ceasefire and to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site. He gratuitously commended Prime Ministers Modi and Sharif on their wisdom, prudence, and statesmanship in choosing the path of peace. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump didnt stop at this. He compounded his earlier error the next day by appreciating 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. Trump further said, Millions of good and innocent people could have died! Your legacy is greatly enhanced by your brave actions. 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 both of you 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On his first visit after assuming office to Saudi Arabia with the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman in the audience, Trump stated that he had successfully brokered a historic ceasefire to stop the escalating violence between India and Pakistan, and he used trade to a large extent to do it. He added, And they both have very powerful leaders, very strong leaders, good leaders, smart leaders. And it all stopped. Hopefully, itll remain that way, but it all stopped. Trump singled out Marco Rubio for leading US efforts in the India-Pakistan situation. Here is what the US president said: Millions of people could have died from that conflict that started off small and was getting bigger and bigger and bigger by the day. And I used trade to a large extent to do it. And I [Trump] said, Fellows, come on. Lets make a deal. Lets do some trading. Lets not trade nuclear missiles. Lets trade the things that you make so beautifully. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD And he said it again on May 14, in an interview with Fox News, that he brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Trump, by his uncalled-for and unsubstantiated remarks done a great disservice to the cause of India-US partnership. The first grave error he made was to jump the gun and announce the ceasefire agreement without waiting for India to announce it. This obviously stemmed from his desire to win global applause and acclaim and appear influential for the cause of peace on the international arena. Possibly he has illusions of being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which his predecessor Barack Obama had received in his first year in office. It made the matters more objectionable because there was little factual accuracy in his claims. The US contribution to the ceasefire was minimal, if any. Trumps claim went counter to the long-stated policy of India that it would not countenance any third-party mediation between India and Pakistan. In the current case also, India asserted shortly after Trumps announcement on May 10 that the ceasefire had been reached directly between India and Pakistan when the Pakistan Director General Military Operations (DGMO) called his Indian counterpart and pleaded for a ceasefire, which request was acceded to by India. In his press conference on May 13, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs categorically stated that the ceasefire was agreed to in direct talks between the senior military officers of India and Pakistan and that no third country was involved. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This became absolutely clear when PM Modi, while addressing the nation on May 12, did not make any reference to America as far as the ceasefire was concerned. In his address he laid out a new normal for dealing with terrorism from Pakistan. He said that any act of terror will be treated as an act of war and will be responded to as such. Moreover, terror and trade and terror and talks will not go together. Also, blood and water will not flow together. In a pointed rebuttal to Rubios assertion that talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site will take place, PM Modi made it very clear that the only conversation with Pakistan will be on stopping terrorism from Pakistan and on the return of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) to India. It has also been categorically stated that there will be no rethink on the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty till Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for terrorism against India. This position was reiterated by EAM S Jaishankar on May 15. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump committed several more blunders in his assertions. He equated India and Pakistan, while it is clear that Pakistan is the perpetrator of terrorism and India the victim. After the Pahalgam attack, the whole world stood with India that the victims of the barbarous massacre should be given justice and the perpetrators be punished for this outrageous crime. Trumps messages on the Truth Social platform and other statements sound all the more jarring, as during PM Modis visit to the White House on February 13, 2025, the two leaders agreed that in addition to the extradition of Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani-origin Canadian citizen and mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack, they will push back against cross-border terrorism that India faces from Pakistan and act against activities of JeM, LeT, ISIS, and Al Qaeda to prevent heinous acts like the attacks in Mumbai on 26/11 and the Abbey Gate bombing in Afghanistan on 26 August 2021. In addition, during his first term, in his first tweet of 2018, on January 1, 2018, Trump had written, The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more! It is internationally known that Pakistan is the epicentre of terror. Most terror acts around the world have a link to Pakistan, including the 9/11 attacks, the London tube bombings, including innumerable attacks in India. Neither Trump nor Rubio, in their wisdom, have referred to Pakistans long history of support for global terrorism and cross-border terrorism against India. This will further encourage the jihadi elements in Pakistans army and its spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence, to launch more acts of terrorism against India as well as globally. One of the most serious blunders committed by Trump is to suggest that he will try to negotiate the Kashmir issue between the two countries. He made this faux pas during his first term also. While speaking with the then PM Imran Khan, he wrongly claimed that PM Modi had asked him to negotiate on the issue of Kashmir between the two countries. The US State Department had quickly sprung into action then to clarify that Kashmir is a bilateral issue to be resolved through negotiations between India and Pakistan. It would be prudent for the US State Department to once again dissuade Trump from following this disastrous path. In any case India has made it amply clear that the only remaining issue on the Kashmir question is the return of illegally occupied POK by Pakistan to India. No other talks on Kashmir are necessary or will be held. Trumps offer to negotiate can only further encourage the Pakistan army, ISI and terrorist groups supported, funded, financed and trained by them to launch more terrorist attacks against India, which will invite a crippling and debilitating action against these terror groups, as well as the Pakistani military establishment. Trump has also made his ignorance about the Kashmir issue quite evident by stating that it is a 1000-year-old conflict. He needs to be given some history lessons by the State Department to inform him that the issue emerged only in 1947 when the Pakistani army, in the guise of tribesmen, attacked the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir. His tone while referring to PM Modi (and Pakistan PM Sharif) in his statements and messages was patronising, as if he was disciplining two wayward children. He also committed the mistake of equating PM Modi, the undisputed leader of the largest democracy in the world, India, with Shehbaz Sharif, an effete leader who lacks both power and authority in a country where the army has always ruled the roost. Trump also stated that he used the instrument of trade to pressurise India and Pakistan to accede to the ceasefire. This is patently untrue. In his own first message he stated that trade was not discussed, and then, in his subsequent statements and comments, he came up with the idea of increasing trade with both countries. India does not wish to be placed in a situation where it is pressurised to change its sovereign decisions related to its national interest, nor has it been the case this time. If Trump can use trade, he could also use the instrument of the supply of defence technology, defence equipment or critical and emerging technologies in the future. Certainly, national interests for India reign supreme, and Delhi will not get intimidated. Trumps dramatic shift on Pakistanfrom his first term and PM Modis February 2025 visit to nowmay plausibly stem from some business deals by his son and partners involving cryptocurrency and rare earth minerals.If such be the case, it casts a dark shadow over Trumps reliability as a geopolitical and strategic partner to India. Conclusion By making statements like this, Trump has significantly eroded the trust quotient between India and the US. He has dealt a severe blow to the high level of confidence achieved between the two countries over the last 25 years. He has done huge harm and damage to the rapidly expanding and evolving bilateral relationship which PM Modi had termed as Indispensable Partnership and a Partnership of Trust. The US will need to work hard to remove the cobwebs of doubt and misgivings to restore the relations to the earlier status of trust and confidence. In the meantime, India will have to work relentlessly and vigorously to implement the agreements on trade, promoting the application of critical and emerging technologies in areas like defence, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum, biotechnology, energy and space; counter-terrorism; Indo-Pacific and the Quad, etc, that were reached during PM Modis visit to Washington DC in February, 2025. In view of the recent trade deal with China in which China stood firm while Trump blinked, it is possible that Trumps interest in energising and invigorating the Quad might also slacken. Under such a scenario, India will have to strengthen its bilateral and multilateral partnerships in strategic, security and economic spheres with emerging and significant powers like Japan, Germany, the UK, France, Russia, West Asia, Australia and others. To realise its full potential, India will need to maintain peace, unity and harmony at home and undertake appropriate economic reforms and invest in R&D to grow at rates of 7-9 per cent and above. This will catapult India to a $10 trillion economy by 2032 or so and provide it with the requisite economic and military heft to fully safeguard its sovereignty against possible incursions from the North. It will also provide a much better standard of living than at present to its citizens. A strong and multi-faceted India-US partnership is a win-win proposition for both the countries. Both of them need to put in the necessary effort to restore the earlier trust that existed between them. The writer is executive council member, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, president, Institute of Global Studies, Distinguished Fellow, Ananta Aspen Centre, and former Ambassador of India to Kazakhstan, Sweden and Latvia. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Muhammad Yunus likes conflict because he uses it to gain power. Conflict gives him the leeway to pronounce his continuity. He will try to muddy the water to secure as much leverage as he can read more Yunus was supposed to restore normalcy and clear the clutter to initiate the election. Paradoxically, the election does not feature in his political itinerary. Image: AFP The drama of Muhammad Yunuss resignation will not end anytime soon. The octogenarians love for power is insatiable. He can go to any extent to save his skin and to hold onto power. Bangladeshi Army Chief Waker-Uz-Zamans insistence on conducting the election in the fag end of this year or early next year and his resentment over Yunuss unbridled use of power despite being an unelected chief advisor have unearthed a feud between the chief advisor and the army chief. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yunus has jihadis on his side to exercise street veto to ensure continuity. Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) reportedly secures patronage from Yunus and expands its tentacles to safeguard the political status quo. Is the resignation drama a dog-whistling? Yunus may encourage antagonism between opposing forces to underline the persistence of the shaky reality of Bangladesh. The impatient Bangladesh requires no compelling trigger to intensify the ongoing chaos. This will ensure the deferral of the electoral process and insurance for his continuity. Nine months have passed since Yunus took power under the carefully planted and measured mechanism called the students protest, overthrowing Sheikh Hasina for the alleged death of democracy. This is the most convenient phraseology the Western propaganda machinery uses to inflict regime change. Being an American Trojan horse, Yunus did not deviate from pursuing the standard Western line to seize power. Yunus was supposed to restore normalcy and clear the clutter to initiate the election. Paradoxically, the election does not feature in his political itinerary. He behaves more like an elected entity and carries out crucial decisions, signs, and nullifies deals on a whim or to satisfy his bosses. Waker-Uz-Zaman is right to remind Yunus of his duties. This will surely fall on deaf ears. Yunus will not change his colour. He will toe the line that he is told to do. He has been brought to power with a purpose. Unless he does that, his relevance will dissipate. Waker-Uz-Zamans resentments or concerns will have ripple effects. It is time to see how he exercises his weight as the Army Chief. Inarguably, he wields power and can act as a counterweight to Yunuss jihadi-led street power. The political travesty undoubtedly takes an interesting turn now. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yunus likes conflict because he uses it to gain power. Conflict gives him the leeway to pronounce his continuity. He will try to muddy the water to secure as much leverage as he can. He weaponises clutter to exercise his relevance. Deception is his survival tactic. Bangladesh has become the battleground for the shadow war between China and the US. Yunus goes to China and makes comments on Indias landlocked Northeast. He tactically deployed a slip of the tongue to deliver a message and provoke India. This, Yunus thinks, will make the Chinese happy. The Chinese never foreground emotion. They underline only their interest. On the other hand, Yunus serves the US interest because he was reportedly brought to power by the US deep state. With Yunus as a Trojan horse, the US has entered fully into Bangladesh to check the increasing Chinese interest. Rakhine Corridor The bone of contention between Yunus and Waker-Uz-Zaman is the Rakhine Corridor. The former succumbs to the US interest. The latter construes that the Rakhine corridor compromises Bangladeshi sovereignty. This critical issue puts them at loggerheads. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China has penetrated significantly into Myanmar. The latters chronic political instability has helped Beijing to push its interests. Connecting China to the Bay of Bengal through Myanmar is its core strategic objective. This will strengthen Chinas connectivity architecture and geopolitical footings in the Bay of Bengal region. It will also ease its Malacca dilemma. Rare earth deposits in coastal Myanmar also attract China. The China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) is a Chinese flagship project that includes the ambitious Yunnan-Kyaukphyu oil and gas pipeline, the Kyaukphyu port, and a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Rakhine state. To counter the growing Chinese influence, the US enters the region. There is also reportedly Russian interest in Myanmar. The Russian Su-30 fighter jets in the Junta air force increase the latters air power to carry out precise strikes at rebel strongholds. The US also pushes its interests to thwart the Chinese hegemony in the region. Since Bangladesh shares a border with the Rakhine state, the US finds the passageway to enter Myanmar. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US insists that Bangladesh should allow the aid and supplies, including military, medical, and other essentials, to the insurgents in Chin and Rakhine states for their fight against the military junta. The Arakan Army has succeeded in securing territories under its control in Rakhine province. The US emphasises supply routes to strengthen the Arakan Army. The Cox Bazar airport has also become important because of its proximity to Rakhine state. It can be used if the junta intensifies the air attacks on the insurgents. These developments disturb China and its ambitious Yunnan-Kyaukphyu connectivity. Bangladeshs economy depends largely on China. Its military equipment is imported from Beijing. Yunus finds himself between Scylla and Charybdis. He can upset neither China nor the US. He finds himself in the curious middle. China has increasingly come closer to the Junta because of the US support for the Arakan Army. The grey zone war has already begun between the US and China in Myanmar. In the great power rivalry in Myanmar, India may support the Arakan Army to safeguard its interests because of its $484 million land-and-sea Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Corridor (KMMTTC). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yunus tiptoes dangerously to secure a place in the middle. Can he really steady his shaky political career in Bangladesh? He has become increasingly unpopular in Bangladesh. His authoritarianism has crossed all conceivable limits. If the Arakan Army and other rebel outfits in Chin and Rakhine states succeed in their fight against the military junta, can there be risks to Bangladeshs sovereignty? They allude to something gravely problematic. The Arakan Army has reportedly gained control of Myanmars key border points along Bangladesh. Waker-Uz-Zaman understands the volatility of the region and the possible intensification of conflict. Bangladesh is not economically sound to wage any war, small, medium, or large. In case of hostility between Bangladesh and the Arakan Army, the situation of the former may exacerbate beyond repair. Since Yunus entered Bangladesh politics, he has messed up everything. Moreover, his political inexperience, love for power, and weird experimentations will further push Bangladesh to the brink of disaster. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Jajati K Pattnaik is an Associate Professor at the Centre for West Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Chandan K Panda is an Assistant Professor at Rajiv Gandhi University (A Central University), Itanagar. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. The Israeli military has confirmed the death of Hamas chief Mohammad Sinwar, saying he was killed in an airstrike on 13 May. The announcement comes three days after Netanyahu made a similar claim. Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader accused of planning the October 2023 attack. read more A video released by the Israeli army shows Muhammad Sinwar, brother of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, travelling in a car through a tunnel near the Erez crossing, close to the Israel-Gaza border, amid the ongoing conflict on December 17, 2023. (Photo: Reuters) The Israeli military on Saturday confirmed the death of Mohammad Sinwar, Hamas Gaza chief, stating he was killed in an airstrike on 13 May. This confirmation comes three days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a similar claim. The Israeli military and Shin Bet security agency said a 13 May strike had killed Sinwar. In a joint statement, they said the airstrike on the grounds of the European Hospital in Khan Younis also killed Muhammad Shabana, commander of Hamas Rafah Brigade, and Mahdi Quara, commander of the South Khan Younis Battalion. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The terrorists were eliminated while operating in an underground command and control centre beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, deliberately endangering the civilian population in and around the hospital, the statement said, as cited by The Times of Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu had earlier announced Sinwars death. He was targeted in an Israeli strike on a hospital in southern Gaza earlier this month. We eliminated Mohammad Deif, [Ismail] Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Sinwar, Prime Minister Netanyahu told the Knesset, adding that Israel is now making a major push towards completely defeating Hamas. Hamas has not yet confirmed the death of Mohammed Sinwar. Hamas last man standing In the last 20 months, Israel has severely weakened Hamas, targeting both its leadership and organisational structure. Mohammad Sinwar was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader and alleged mastermind behind the October 2023 attack on Israel. Military chief Mohammad Deif and political leader Ismail Haniyeh were killed in July last year, while Yahya Sinwar, believed to be the key planner of the October 2023 attacks, was shot dead in October. At the time of his death, Yahya Sinwar was Hamas most powerful and well-known leader. Unlike other top Hamas officials who moved to Qatar for safety, he stayed in Gaza and directly coordinated military operations. After his death, his brother Mohammed was unofficially chosen by Hamas fighters to take charge. Israel has come under fire from five Arab nations after it blocked a planned visit by their foreign ministers to the occupied West Bank. The ministers were scheduled to meet Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah. read more The foreign ministers of five Arab countries have condemned Israel for blocking their planned visit to the occupied West Bank this weekend. The ministers denounced Israels decision to ban the delegations visit to Ramallah [on Sunday] to meet with the president of the State of Palestine, Mahmud Abbas, the Jordanian foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday. Ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were expected to attend the meeting in the occupied West Bank, along with Turkiye. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, Israel announced late on Friday that it would not permit the meeting to take place. As Israel controls the borders and airspace of the Palestinian territory, the ministers would have required Israeli approval to enter from Jordan. An Israeli official said the Palestinian Authority which still refuses to condemn the October 7 massacre had planned to host what they described as a provocative meeting in Ramallah aimed at promoting the establishment of a Palestinian state. The ministers said in a joint statement that the decision to block the visit reflects the extent of the Israeli governments arrogance, its disregard for international law, and its continued illegitimate measures and policies that besiege the brotherly Palestinian people and their legitimate leadership. Israeli strike in aid centre An Israeli strike killed at least 26 Palestinians and injured over 100 early on Sunday at a US-backed aid distribution site, Reuters reported, citing Hamas-affiliated media. At least 10 Palestinians were killed and more than 100 others were wounded due to gunfire from Israeli vehicles towards thousands of citizens approaching a US aid site west of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP. He said the dead and injured were transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. Gaza civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told that Israeli fire near one of the centres in the southern city of Rafah on Sunday morning had killed at least 22, with more than 120 wounded, including children. read more This picture taken from the grounds of the Ahli Arab Hospital, also known as the Maamadani (Baptist) Hospital, shows a cloud of smoke erupting following Israeli bombardment on a building in the Daraj neighbourhood of Gaza City on May 31, 2025. (Source: AFP) Gaza rescuers said Israeli gunfire killed at least 22 Palestinians near a US-backed aid distribution site on Sunday, shortly after Washington rejected Hamass response to a ceasefire proposal as totally unacceptable. International critics, including some allies, have condemned Israel over the humanitarian crisis in war-ravaged Gaza, where the United Nations has warned the entire population faces famine after a more than two-month blockade on aid. Israel recently introduced a revamped aid delivery mechanism in cooperation with a newly formed US-backed organisation, bypassing the longstanding UN-led system. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The organisation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, says it has distributed hundreds of thousands of meals since operations began last week, but the rollout has been marked by chaotic scenes at the limited number of distribution centres, as well as reports of casualties from Israeli fire nearby. Gaza civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that Israeli fire near one of the centres in the southern city of Rafah on Sunday morning had killed at least 22, with more than 120 wounded, including children. AFP images from the scene showed some civilians transporting bodies on donkey carts, as others carried away boxes and bags of aid under the low, early-morning sun. The casualties were taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Bassal said. Chaos broke out Displaced Beit Lahia resident Sameh Hamuda, 33, told AFP he had walked from Gaza City and spent the night with relatives in a tent near Rafah before heading to the aid centre around 5:00 am to wait among a crowd of people. They began distributing aid, but suddenly quadcopter drones opened fire on the people, and tanks started shooting heavily. Several people were killed right in front of me, he said. I ran and survived. Death follows you as long as youre in Gaza. Abdullah Barbakh, 58, described chaos, screaming, and overcrowding at the scene. The army opened fire from drones and tanks. Chaos broke out, and the area was filled with martyrs and wounded. I dont understand why they call people to the aid centres and then open fire on them, he said. What are we supposed to do? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Asked for comment, the Israeli military said it was unaware of injuries caused by IDF (army) fire within the Humanitarian Aid distribution site. The matter is still under review. Separately, Bassal said one person was killed and many others wounded by Israeli gunfire near another aid point in central Gaza. Only limited amounts of aid have entered Gaza since Israel recently eased a more than two-month total blockade, with a spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency recently calling the territory the hungriest place on earth. The United Nations also reported looting of its trucks and warehouses last month. GHF, which employs contracted US security, said it had distributed 2.1 million meals as of Friday. The United Nations and other major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the organisation, saying it contravened basic humanitarian principles and appeared designed to cater to Israeli military objectives. GHF did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reported deaths. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Truce talks Nearly 20 months into the war, negotiations for a ceasefire and a deal to free the hostages held by militants have failed to produce a breakthrough since the last brief truce collapsed in March. Israel has since intensified its operations to destroy Hamas. The Palestinian militant group said Saturday that it had responded positively to a US-backed ceasefire proposal, but had emphasised the need for a permanent ceasefire long a sticking point for Israel. Washingtons main negotiator on Gaza, envoy Steve Witkoff, immediately criticised Hamass reply as totally unacceptable, an assessment echoed by Israel, which on Friday had warned Hamas to either accept the deal or be annihilated. Witkoff urged the group to accept the framework proposal we put forward. That is the only way we can close a 60-day ceasefire deal in the coming days in which half of the living hostages and half of those who are deceased will come home to their families and in which we can have substantive negotiations in good-faith to try to reach a permanent ceasefire, he added in a post on X. Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamass October 7, 2023 attack, 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Saturday that at least 4,117 people have been killed in the territory since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, taking the wars overall toll to 54,381, mostly civilians. Hamass attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. An investigation found that Hasina directly ordered state machinery, including her political parties and affiliated groups, to carry out operations targeting students that may have caused mass casualties read more Bangladesh has officially charged deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two senior officials over crimes against humanity during the massive student-led protests in 2024 in the form of violent crackdowns. An investigation found that Hasina directly ordered state machinery, including her political parties and affiliated groups, to carry out operations targeting students that may have caused deaths in large numbers. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said in a televised hearing on Sunday (June 1) that these killings were planned. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He also cited evidence and encrypted communications between different agencies. According to Islam, the case includes 81 individuals as witnesses. Prosecutors have also claimed that, as the head of the government, Hasina holds command responsibility for the security force operations during the unrest. The accused unleashed all law enforcement agencies and her armed party members to crush the uprising, Islam said. Upon scrutinising the evidence, we reached the conclusion that it was a coordinated, widespread and systematic attack. The explosive indictment was read out Sunday during a live broadcast of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) proceedingsa first in Bangladeshs history. Hasina stepped down as prime minister in August after a 15-year tenure and left Bangladesh for New Delhi, pressured by millions of protesters who had been demonstrating for weeks demanding her resignation. She and some of her family members are also accused of corruption. According to the UN, approximately 1,400 people lost their lives between July and August 2024, when Hasinas administration cracked down heavily on protests initially sparked by students opposing public sector job quotas. The situation rapidly deteriorated, becoming one of the deadliest periods in Bangladesh since its independence in 1971. The case represents a significant milestone for the ICT, as investigators have submitted evidence such as phone recordings, drone logs, helicopter flight data, and survivor accounts. In a related development, the court began its first trial on May 25, charging eight police officers for the deaths of six protesters on August 5the same day Hasina fled. Four of the officers are in custody, while the others are being tried in absentia. The move to increase tariffs drew swift criticism from Canadian officials and industry leaders, who said the tariffs threaten to devastate a sector already under strain from earlier trade measures read more US President Donald Trump meets with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 6, 2025. AFP Photo Canadas steel industry warned of catastrophic job losses, factory slowdowns and supply chain disruptions after US President Donald Trump announced a sharp increase in tariffs on imported steel and aluminium, raising them to 50 per cent. Trump announced the tariff hike during a rally Friday (May 30) in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, framing the decision as a way to protect American industry and touting a $15 billion partnership between Nippon Steel and US Steel. He said the tariffs would take effect Wednesday and called them a fence around domestic production. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The announcement comes less than a month after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the White House in an effort to repair strained relations. Carney had hoped to reset ties that had been damaged by previous threats from Trump to impose steep tariffs and even annex Canada. The two leaders had signalled a willingness to renegotiate the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement during Trumps first term and is scheduled for review next year. Tariff increase sparks criticism, fears The move to increase tariffs drew swift criticism from Canadian officials and industry leaders, who said the tariffs threaten to devastate a sector already under strain from earlier trade measures. Canada is the largest foreign supplier of steel and aluminium to the United States, accounting for nearly a quarter of US steel imports in 2023 and about half of aluminium imports. A 25 per cent tariff is difficult, but a 50 per cent one is catastrophic, Financial Times quoted Catherine Cobden, president of the Canadian Steel Producers Association, as saying. The steel industry in Canada is valued at 15 billion Canadian dollars (US$11 billion) and supports 23,000 direct jobs, along with another 100,000 indirect positions, according to the association. Steel tariffs at this level will create mass disruption and negative consequences across our highly integrated steel supply chains and customers on both sides of the border, Cobden said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cobden said the new tariffs essentially close the US market to Canadian producers and will have unrecoverable consequences. The Aluminium Association of Canada said it was awaiting clearer and more formal legal confirmation before offering a full response. Canadas international trade minister, Dominic LeBlanc, said the government remained resolute in defending its workers and industries. As we negotiate a new economic and security relationship with the US, Canadas new government will stand strong to get the best deal for Canadians, LeBlanc wrote Saturday (May 31) on X, formerly Twitter. Golden Dome and 51st state The latest tariff move coincided with remarks by Trump earlier in the week claiming Canada would have to pay $61 billion to participate in a proposed Golden Dome missile defence system. Trump said the cost would be waived if Canada joined the US as its 51st state. A spokesperson for Carney said the prime minister has been clear at every opportunity, including in his conversations with President Trump, that Canada is an independent, sovereign nation, and it will remain one. Canada responded to the new tariffs with its own set of retaliatory measures. Officials announced a dollar-for-dollar response targeting C$12.6 billion in US steel products, C$3 billion in aluminium, and C$14.2 billion in other goods. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Those measures, launched in March, come on top of earlier retaliatory tariffs on C$30 billion worth of US products. However, Canada eased some restrictions in April, particularly those affecting US automakers and manufacturers. Canadian ministers and provincial leaders are scheduled to meet Monday in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to discuss economic diversification and strategies to reduce reliance on US trade. This isnt trade policy, its a direct attack on Canadian industries and workers, said Marty Warren, national director of the United Steelworkers in Canada. Thousands of Canadian jobs are on the line, and communities that rely on steel and aluminium are being put at risk. Canada needs to respond immediately and decisively to defend workers. Goldy Hyder, president of the Business Council of Canada, urged caution, saying it was important not to take the bait and instead remain focused on renewing the USMCA. These moving goalposts is just a strategy to try and get Canada to give more, Hyder said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The swift operation allegedly targeted a Hamas command-and-control centre situated beneath a hospital in Gazas Khan Yunis on May 13 read more A Palestinian youth inspects the destruction inside Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. (Source: AFP) The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) on May 13 carried out a precision surgical airstrike, dropping over 50 bombs within 30 seconds. The swift operation allegedly targeted a Hamas command-and-control centre situated beneath a hospital in Gazas Khan Yunis. The IDF has now released a 3D illustration, projecting how the strikes were launched to target the command centre without damaging the civilian infrastructure above. The IDF said senior Hamas commander Muhammad Sinwar and operative Muhammad Shabana were also killed in the precision strikes. Israeli forces say the centre was used by Hamas to direct terrorist operations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The terrorists were eliminated while operating in an underground command and control centre under the European Hospital in Khan Younis, deliberately endangering the civilian population in and around the hospital, a joint statement by the IDF and Shin Bet security agency read, according to The Times of Israel. Prior to and during the strike, measures were taken to minimise the risk of civilian harm, the IDF added. The Health Ministry, operated by Hamas, reported 16 fatalities and over 70 injuries resulting from the Israeli strike. Major blow to Hamas leadership The attack was among the most significant assassinations of Hamas leadership since the war started on October 7, 2023. Muhammad Sinwar, the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, now slain top leader of Hamas in Gaza, was a crucial figure in the groups military planning. The IDF stated that the precision strike disrupted Hamass command structure and demonstrated the effectiveness of Israeli intelligence and air capabilities. The IDF released a video illustrating the strike days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Israeli parliament, announcing Sinwars elimination and naming other Hamas officials killed over the past 20 months, including Yahya Sinwar. Following the IDFs announcement, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a warning to remaining Hamas leaders. Now it is official: The murderer Muhammad Sinwar has been eliminated and he was sent to meet his brother at the gates of hell, Katz said. Izz al-Din Haddad in Gaza and Khalil al-Hayya abroad, and all their partners in crime, you are next in line. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD For the first time in the countrys history, Bangladeshs tribunal has agreed to broadcast the formal hearing of the case against ex-PM Sheikh Hasina live on state television. read more For the first time in Bangladeshs history, the countrys International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has decided to broadcast all proceedings against Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on live television. In a run-up to the highly publicised hearing, the Bangladeshi ICT has issued multiple arrest warrants against the deposed Prime Minister and other members of her Awami League, including ex-military generals and a former police chief. They will be tried in court for their alleged role in forced disappearances, Prothom Alo reported. On June 1, formal charges against Hasina will be filed in the tribunal, the chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Tajul Islam, told reporters. We are determined to move forward with the judicial process," Islam was quoted as saying by Prothom Alo. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, ICT prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim confirmed the live broadcast of the proceedings. He noted that, subject to the tribunals permission, the court proceedings will be broadcast live on Bangladesh Television (BTV) at 9:30 am (local time) on Sunday. Bangladesh tries its former PM While speaking to reporters, Islam referred to Sheikh Hasina as the nucleus of enforced disappearances" and the Ayna Ghar" (secret detention centre), Prothom Alo reported. He stated that the judicial process against the former PM and her aides is moving ahead at full speed. However, the completion of the investigation will take some time. The ICT chief prosecutor mentioned that ICT has broadly identified the structure of the crimes and those responsible, while it is currently working on ensuring the arrests of those involved in the disappearances. It is pertinent to note that the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has intensified its crackdown against Hasina, who was ousted after student-led protests toppled her 15-year-long reign in August 2024. Hasinas Awami League Party is already banned in the country, while several of its leaders have been imprisoned. Last month, the ICT issued a show-cause notice to Sheikh Hasina and her aide in a contempt of court case. The tribunal alleged that Hasina had interfered in the judicial process and issued threats to the tribunal. With inputs from agencies. At the United Nations Glaciers Summit, India said that it was Pakistan that violated the Indus Waters Treaty by supporting and fostering cross-border terrorism, rejecting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharifs accusations read more People take a boat ride in the waters of Indus River near the Lansdowne Bridge in Sukkur, in the southern Sindh province. Pakistan's move to challenge the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is unlikely to bear any positive results for Islamabad. AFP At the United Nations Glaciers Meet, the Indian delegation dismissed accusations hurled by Pakistan that it is violating the Indus Waters Treaty . According to PTI, New Delhi instead argued that Pakistans continued support for cross-border terrorism is affecting the proper implementation of the water-sharing agreement, signed in 1960. On Friday, Indias case was presented by Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh at the plenary session of the first United Nations conference on glaciers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. During his address, Singh emphasised how Pakistan is violating the treaty by promoting and fostering terrorism . STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD We are appalled at the attempt by Pakistan to misuse the forum and to bring in unwarranted references to issues which do not fall within the purview of the forum. We strongly condemned such an attempt, he said. Singh noted that it is an undeniable fact that there have been fundamental changes in circumstances since the Indus Waters Treaty was signed. Hence, there is a need for the reassessment of the treatys obligations. Pakistan should not be blaming India: Singh The Indian minister mentioned that the treatys preamble states it was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship and that honouring the treaty in good faith is essential. However, the unrelenting cross-border terrorism from Pakistan interferes with the ability to exploit the treaty as per its provisions, he argued. Pakistan, which itself violates the treaty, should desist from blaming the breach of the treaty on India, the Pakistani minister furthered. It is pertinent to note that his remarks from India came shortly after Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addressed the UN Summit on Friday. Sharif parroted his new Field Marshall, Asim Munirs proclamation, saying Pakistan would not allow India to cross the red line by holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and endangering millions of lives for narrow political gains. Indias unilateral and illegal decision to hold in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of the Indus Basins water, is deeply regrettable, Pakistani news outlet Dawn reported, quoting Sharif as saying. India put the decades-old treaty into abeyance shortly after the Pahalgam terror attack that led to the deaths of 26 tourists in Kashmir on April 22. With inputs from PTI. The Appellate Division of Bangladeshs Supreme Court reinstated Jamaat-e-Islamis registration, allowing it to contest elections. The court asked Election Commission to reinstate the party without any delays read more The Appellate Division of Bangladeshs Supreme Court ordered the reinstatement of Jamaat-e-Islamis registration as a political party, making it legal to contest in polls. In the Sunday ruling, the court ordered the Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh to implement the order without any delay. However, the court did not issue any order regarding the partys electoral symbol, the scales. Instead, the court left the matter of the symbol to the Election Commission. The Sunday judgment was delivered by a four-member Appellate Bench headed by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed. The ruling overturned the ban imposed by the High Court on the party. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Bangladeshi news outlet The Dhaka Tribune, the Jamaat-e-Islami party was represented by Barrister Ehsan Abdullah in the court. On August 1, 2013, the Bangladeshi High Court declared Jamaat-e-Islamis registration illegal. The party was declared illegal in response to a writ petition. The fall of the Awami League led to the rise of JeI Following the 2013 judgement, on December 7, 2018, the Election Commission issued a gazette officially cancelling Jamaats registration. The party soon appealed the High Courts ruling. However, in November 2023, due to the absence of Jamaats principal counsel during the hearing, a six-member Appellate Division bench led by then-Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan dismissed the appeal, stating that the case was dismissed for default. As a result, the Jamaats registration remained invalid in effect. Things changed for JeI after the fall of the Awami League-led government; the party applied to have their appeal, seeking reinstatement of their registration, revived. The Appellate Division eventually accepted the partys petition, and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir appeared at the hearing on behalf of the party. With the JeI now declared legal, the next election in Bangladesh would have another old party contesting against the BNP. More than 25,000 residents in three provinces have been evacuated as dozens of wildfires remained active Sunday and diminished air quality in parts of Canada and the US. read more Wildfire smoke hangs in the air above Highway 97 north of Buckinghorse River, British Columbia, on Friday, May 30, 2025. AP Photo More than 25,000 people have been forced to evacuate across three Canadian provinces as dozens of wildfires continued to burn Sunday, sending thick smoke into U.S. border states and worsening air quality, officials said. Manitoba, which declared a state of emergency last week, has seen the largest exodus, with roughly 17,000 residents evacuated by Saturday. Another 8,000 people were relocated in Saskatchewan, while Alberta evacuated around 1,300 residents, according to provincial authorities. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Officials warned the number of evacuees could rise as conditions remain volatile and containment efforts are hampered by dry weather and shifting winds. Thick smoke from the fires is degrading air quality and reducing visibility across large parts of Canada and into several US states. Health officials on both sides of the border have urged residents to limit outdoor activity and wear masks where possible. Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour, Saskatchewans Public Safety Agency warned Sunday. As smoke levels increase, health risks increase. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said ongoing hot, dry weather is allowing some fires to grow and threaten communities, and resources to fight the fires and support the evacuees are stretched thin. The next four to seven days are absolutely critical until we can find our way to changing weather patterns, and ultimately a soaking rain throughout the north, Moe said at a Saturday news conference. In Manitoba, more than 5,000 of those evacuated are from Flin Flon, located nearly 645 kilometers (400 miles) northwest of the provincial capital of Winnipeg. In northern Manitoba, fire knocked out power to the community of Cranberry Portage, forcing a mandatory evacuation order Saturday for about 600 residents. The fire menacing Flin Flon began a week ago near Creighton, Saskatchewan, and quickly jumped the boundary into Manitoba. Crews have struggled to contain it. Water bombers have been intermittently grounded due to heavy smoke and a drone incursion. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service deployed an air tanker to Alberta and said it would send 150 firefighters and equipment to Canada. In some parts of the U.S., air quality reached unhealthy levels Sunday in North Dakota and small swaths of Montana, Minnesota and South Dakota, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys AirNow page. We should expect at least a couple more rounds of Canadian smoke to come through the U.S. over the next week, said Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in the U.S. Separately, a fire in the U.S. border state of Idaho burned 50 acres (20 hectares) and prompted road closures, according to Idaho State Police. Evacuation centers have been set up across Manitoba to shelter thousands fleeing wildfires, including one in Winkler, just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the U.S. border, officials said Sunday. In Winnipeg, public buildings have been opened to accommodate evacuees, as the citys hotels are already packed with tourists, business travelers, and convention attendees. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Indigenous leaders warned Saturday that cities receiving evacuees are running out of hotel rooms and urged the government to take emergency action. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson called on authorities to prioritize displaced residents over other guests. This is one of the largest evacuations our province has seen since the 1990s, Wilson said at a press conference, adding that the situation is particularly urgent for remote Indigenous communities. Manitoba has already evacuated an estimated 17,000 people, with more potentially on the move as fires continue to burn across the region. Its really sad to see our children having to sleep on floors. People are sitting, waiting in hallways, waiting outside, and right now we just need people to come together. People are tired, Wilson said at a news conference. Canadas wildfire season runs from May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies A fresh wave of violence has gripped Pakistans troubled Balochistan province, where multiple attacks in recent days have left at least three people dead, including a taxation inspector, and nine others injured. read more Pakistan: 3 killed, 9 injured in separate attacks across Balochistan, police station torched in Mastung. Reuters In Pakistans restive Balochistan province , multiple attacks unfolded in which three people, including a taxation inspector, were killed and nine others injured, according to reports from Dawn. A taxation official was shot dead in Dera Bugti, and a Levies police station was set on fire in Mastung district. Meanwhile, amid ongoing unrest and insurgent activity, a roadside blast near Quetta killed two siblings and injured nine others on Saturday, officials said. The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Surab district was also killed in an attack on Friday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The official, identified as Rehan, was on his way home when armed men opened fire on him in the Sui Tehsil Bazaar area of Dera Bugti. Later in the evening, armed fighters attacked a Levies police station in the Wali Khan area of Mastung. They set the building ablaze, causing extensive damage and destroying official records, a senior official said. No casualties were reported in the attack. The attackers attempted to encircle the area but fled when security forces arrived and launched an operation. Earlier, on the outskirts of Quetta, a roadside bomb exploded, killing two brothers and injuring nine others. The improvised explosive device (IED) went off in the Nawan Killi area as a car passed by. The two deceased were sons of a local tribal leader. Police and Frontier Corps personnel quickly arrived at the scene and transferred the victims to Civil Hospital Quetta. Dr Wasim Baig, the hospital spokesman, said two bodies and nine injured individuals were brought in. The deceased were identified as Abdul Salam and his brother Abdul Nafay. Of the injured, six were identified, while three remained unidentified at the time of reporting. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The bodies were handed over to the families after legal formalities. Police described the blast as a targeted killing. Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner Hidayatullah Buledi, who was killed earlier in an attack at his residence, was laid to rest on Saturday in his hometown of Bhag in the Kachhi district. Pakistan has long been accused of exploiting the people of Balochistan and neglecting the regions development. A fresh wave of fake encounters A fresh wave of suspected fake encounters by Pakistani forces has also triggered public anger in Balochistan. Baloch rights activists have accused security forces of killing three people while in custody and staging the deaths as armed clashes. The victims were identified as Abdul Rehman Buzdar, Fareed Buzdar, and Sultan Marri. However, Pakistan has consistently maintained such narratives, even as its agencies and forces are frequently accused of committing human rights violations, including enforced disappearances. Human rights abuses in Pakistan In March 2025 alone, the Human Rights Council of Balochistan documented 151 enforced disappearances and 80 killings, marking a sharp escalation in violence and repression. Balochistans struggle for independence The independence movement in Balochistan is a longstanding and complex struggle, rooted in historical neglect, political marginalisation, and widespread human rights concerns. In May 2025, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) briefly seized control of parts of Sorab city, attacking government buildings and looting a bank. The incident resulted in the death of a local official and injuries to civilians. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Baloch leaders subsequently declared independence from Pakistan, proclaiming the Republic of Balochistan and seeking international recognition, including appeals to the United Nations and India.